Staff Newspaper Column
Critter Corner
Keeping cat from going stir-crazy
Dear Critter Corner: When the weather’s warmer and nicer outside, I let my cat Tigre out into his catio where he can watch birds and squirrels, and jump from perch to perch. With the rainy and colder weather, Tigre hasn’t had as much time in the catio and I worry...
Petsitters
Dear Critter Corner: I’m planning a few short and long trips this spring to visit friends and family and am wondering what options are there to care for my cat Sophia while I’m gone? There’s a quite a few different options available for your cat while you’re gone,...
Socializing new puppy
Dear Critter Corner: We are so excited; our family just got our first puppy but we could really use some guidance. We keep hearing about how important it is to socialize him now, but we are not really sure how to do this. This is such an important part of your puppies...
Spring Cleaning cat’s stuff
Dear Critter Corner: I’ve had quite a few cats over the years and have collected a lot of cat stuff. I plan on spring cleaning for the upcoming new year and didn’t want to just throw away these items as some are new that my cats didn’t use. Do you have any...
Memorable dog adoptions in 2022
Dear Critter Corner: Since we are nearing the end of the year, I was hoping to hear about some of the most memorable adoptions for the year? We have had so many, here are a few that stick out to me because of their time at our shelter. Bernard – This ball of energy...
Training cats with treats
Dear Critter Corner: I’m training my cat to follow a few basic commands like “come” and “sit”. When he does the command correctly, I give him a treat as a reward. But lately I’ve noticed that his stomach seems to be upset with all of the treats. What should I do?...
Dogs tied up outside stores
Dear Critter Corner: I have seen several dogs tied up outside of the grocery store I frequent and was wondering your opinion on if this is a safe practice or not? This is such a great question! No, this is not a safe practice or good idea for several reasons. Once you...
Helping to calm cat down
Dear Critter Corner: I just moved to a new apartment and my cat is bouncing off the walls. She’s been trying to climb up the closet, get into cabinets, and races around the room. How do I calm her down? A new move can be a big change for many cats, especially when...
Improving your dog’s manners during Thanksgiving
Dear Critter Corner: We will be hosting for Thanksgiving this year and are worried about our pup not behaving properly around our guest. Do you have any suggestions to help make the day go smoothly? Here are some easy solutions to 3 main problems people have when they...
When to introduce your new cat to your family
Dear Critter Corner: Thanksgiving is just around the corner and my family will be coming over for a big Thanksgiving dinner. Should I introduce my new cat to my family then? Thanksgiving is usually a holiday with lots of family celebrating, guests coming and going,...