Staff Newspaper Column
Critter Corner
Reintroducing a Dog to the Crate
Dear Critter Corner: We will be flying over the holidays and want to take our pup with us. We tried to crate train our pup when he was younger, but he didn’t care for it, so we gave up the idea. How can we introduce the crate so that we can have him fly with us? When...
Newly Adopted Cat Hides and Hisses at New People
Dear Critter Corner: I recently adopted a shy cat named Ollie. He tends to hide when my friends come over and when they try to interact with him, he hisses. Is there anything I can do? Congrats on your recent adoption! For shy cats, slow and steady can be a good...
Helping a Shy Kitty Get Into the Holiday Spirit
Dear Critter Corner: Loud noises make my cat very nervous, and she has had a difficult time during the rainy season over the past couple of years. She is very timid and hides in the back of my closet in a place where I am unable to reach her without having to move all...
Preparing a Dog for Holiday Gatherings
Dear Critter Corner: We are planning to host a few gatherings over the upcoming holiday season. Our pup is generally well-mannered, but I want to get a head start to ensure he is well-behaved when guests are here. What are some tips you can give us? There are many...
How to Help an Injured Stray
Dear Critter Corner: There’s a stray cat in my neighborhood that is limping and I’m not sure how to help him or where to go for help. He’s still eating the food I leave out, but when he walks away, he’s limping. He seems friendly if I go slow but will run away if I...
Prepping Kittens for a Halloween Party
Dear Critter Corner: Halloween is right around the corner, and I will be hosting guests over at my house for my annual party! I have recently adopted a bonded pair of kittens from my local shelter and each of them has their own quirky attributes. One of them loves to...
Pup is Frightened by Halloween Decorations
Dear Critter Corner: This is our pup's first Halloween. He tends to be cautious and has been startled by decorations while on our walks. Do you have any suggestions for Halloween night? Holidays are a fun time, but for some pups, it can be a difficult time. Many are...
Cat’s Appetite Is Fluctuating
Dear Critter Corner: My cat JoJo has been turning his nose up at his food for the past few days. His appetite has been hit-or-miss -- sometimes he eats all his food and sometimes he just nibbles. I’m worried he might not be eating enough. What can I do? When our...
What to Do When an Indoor Cat Is Marking His ‘Territory’
Dear Critter Corner: Recently I have noticed that my 5-year-old male cat has been inconsistently using the litterbox, resulting in a couple of accidents around the house. He has never had issues with this in the past, and additionally I have noticed that he has been...
Equipment and Training to Stop Pulling on Walks
Dear Critter Corner: We have tried multiple types of equipment on our pup, but nothing seems to help him stop pulling on our walks. Is there anything you can recommend to help? Having the right equipment can be very helpful, but you still need to do the training. For...