Staff Newspaper Column
Critter Corner
Trimming cat’s nails
Dear Critter Corner: I’ve been trying to trim my cat’s nails for the past week and he’s been hissing and growling when I come near. How can I help him get better with grooming? It’s best to take a slow and steady approach when helping your cat become more comfortable...
Exercising dog during hot days
Dear Critter Corner: With the warmer weather upon us, we are concerned with our pup overheating on our walks or outings. Can you give us some tips on how to avoid this and make sure we are still getting him appropriate exercise? This is a great question! Our dogs...
Pet sitter for cat?
Dear Critter Corner: I have a vacation planned in July and am wondering whether I should leave my cat Sheik with my mom or if I should have a pet-sitter come stay with her. Which do you think is the best option? It’s definitely that time of year when summer vacations...
Dining out with dog
We have recently started dining out more with the nicer weather and would like to take our pup along with us but are unsure how they will behave. Do you have any training tips for us to set our pup up for success with the outdoor dining experience? As our weather is...
First time kitten owner
Dear Critter Corner: My neighbor’s cat had a litter of kittens and I adopted a little female kitten named Miku that’s 8 weeks old. I’ve never had a cat before, where do I start with her care? Congrats on the new addition to your family and home! It’s an exciting time...
Hospice care for your cat
Dear Critter Corner: My senior cat Titan was diagnosed with kidney disease last year that has progressed into hospice care. How can I help him live out the rest of his days in the best way possible? I’m really sorry to hear that but glad that you’re able to provide...
Pup tinkles when he’s excited
Dear Critter Corner: My pup gets very excited and loves to say hi to people but we are having a problem with him tinkling with these greetings. It’s a rather embarrassing behavior, is there a way to stop him from tinkling on everyone and everywhere? I can’t tell you...
Cat coughing up more hairballs lately
Dear Critter Corner: My kitty Jiji has been coughing up more hairballs lately, sometimes two to three times a week. Are there any remedies for this? As the weather gets warmer during spring and into summer, some cats will experience an increase in hairballs. This can...
Barking and lunging
Dear Critter Corner: Our dog is a social butterfly and wants to say hi to every person and dog that we pass. If we don’t allow him to say hi, he pulls and is starting to bark and lunge too. When he was younger, we allowed him to say hi, but he is now 9 months and...
Keeping cat warm during cold days
Dear Critter Corner: It’s spring in my area but lately we’ve been having some very hot days and some very cold days. How can I help keep my kitty Mira warm during the cold days without worrying about leaving the heater on when I’m out of the house? Most cats...
