pets

Beautiful white cat, breed Siberian Neva Masquerade in a plastic collar

A veterinarian says pets have a lot to teach us about love and grief

4:53pm March 13, 2023

by Dave Davies

Karen Fine says "I feel like I learn from my patients all the time. ... They really have skills and senses that we don't." Her new memoir is The Other Family Doctor.

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Can cuddling or kissing a pet put you at risk of contracting an unknown virus? Can people pass a virus to pets? Those are questions that pet owners ponder. And if Centu (left) and Ruby (right) could talk, they'd probably ask as well.

Can you catch a hidden virus from a dog kiss or a cat cuddle?

12:47pm March 13, 2023

by Michaeleen Doucleff

What's the risk of contracting a virus from your Fido or Kitty? It's not a frivolous question, as one cat-owning virologist explains. And there's another question: Can you give a virus to your pet?

Alicia Day, 34, of New York City, was detained by Russian police while walking her pet baby cow, Dr. Calf, on Red Square last month.

World News

An American walked her pet cow in Moscow's Red Square. Spoiler alert: Trouble ensued

6:00am March 04, 2023

by Charles Maynes

Animal rights activist Alicia Day says she routinely walks her farm animals in public to encourage people to think twice about eating meat. Why she chose to do so in the center of Moscow isn't clear.

Kwame Alexander's latest crowdsourced poem explores the world through the eyes of Morning Edition listeners' pets.

Arts

What would Fido say about you? This community poem takes pets' point of view

5:56am December 15, 2022

by Rachel Martin

We asked Morning Edition listeners to share what their pets might be thinking about. Then NPR poet-in-residence Kwame Alexander combed through more than 700 submissions to create a community poem.

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Forsyth Humane Society says euthanasia rate could increase if county funding isn't boosted

3:54pm November 29, 2022

by April Laissle

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will soon vote on whether to continue contract negotiations with the local Humane Society.

Staff and volunteers load a camel into a vehicle to be evacuated from Feldman Ecopark in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on May 4. The zoo has been shelled repeatedly during the Russian invasion. At least five staff or volunteers were killed and nearly 100 animals at the zoo died as of April.

World News

War takes a heavy toll on animals too. See how people in Ukraine strive to save them

8:42am September 20, 2022

Thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced. Four-legged Ukrainians are also suffering, but there are groups working to help the animals.

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Country music legend Dolly Parton, pictured here in March, announced the launch of "Doggy Parton" on Wednesday. The collection includes pet apparel and accessories, some featuring the singer's face.

Barking 9 to 5! Dolly Parton launches 'Doggy Parton,' a pet apparel collection

4:15pm August 31, 2022

by Vanessa Romo

The line features fringe-trimmed cowgirl dresses, rhinestone-bejeweled harnesses, gingham shirts and bandanas, concert T-shirts, toys and even a blond wig inspired by the singer.

Yuri Mazurenko and Macha Levitin get ready to go on a walk with their dogs Rolly and Safra in a village in Burgundy, France.

World News

How a Facebook page for Irish setter lovers helped Ukrainians flee with their dogs

5:12pm May 29, 2022

by Eleanor Beardsley

A Russian woman living in Burgundy wanted to help pet dogs of Ukraine and their human companions get to safety. She turned to a Facebook group for lovers of a famous dog breed to find them.

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A Hong Kong hamster that evaded the cull.

Health & Safety

Coronavirus FAQ: Are pets a threat? My immunocompromised pal had COVID. Can I visit?

7:22pm January 28, 2022

by Marc Silver

Hong Kong's hamster cull has people wondering if they can catch SARS-CoV-2 from a pet. And here's a human dilemma: It is risky to visit an immunocompromised individual who recently had COVID?

As offices reopen, workers are scrambling to adjust their pets to life outside of the home.

Economy

You Adopted A Pandemic Pet. Now You're Going Back To The Office. What Next?

12:59pm July 22, 2021

by Savannah Sicurella

The luxuries of remote work were temporary for many. As workplaces reopen offices and resume in-person operations, pet owners are scrambling to adjust to a new routine.