Staff Newspaper Column
Critter Corner
How to Prepare for Fireworks
Dear Critter Corner: There were a lot of fireworks this year in my neighborhood, and my cats were really scared. Anything I can do to prepare for the next holiday? Fireworks can be very scary, loud, and abrupt for many animals, causing them to go into hiding indoors...
Newly Adopted Puppy ― Tips for Success
Dear Critter Corner: We just brought home our newly adopted pup. What are some tips you can give us on setting everyone up for success? Congratulations on your newly adopted pup! I am a big believer in having strict rules to start, which you can loosen up on later in...
Introducing a Dog to a New Baby
Dear Critter Corner: We are bringing home a new baby soon and are hoping that he and our dog will be best friends. We can’t wait to introduce them—any tips? Congratulations on your new addition! A great place to start here is with your expectations: set them...
It’s Chaos When We Get Home
Dear Critter Corner: My cats keep getting into a fight whenever my kids and I get home. It’s always chaos at the front door. Any ideas about what we can do to address this? Door thresholds can be a little tricky as there’s so much excitement, especially since it’s...
Choosing the Right Pet for Your Family
Dear Critter Corner: After quite a few talks with my partner, we have finally decided that our children are old enough to understand the responsibilities that come along with adopting a new pet. They have been asking to expand our family over the past few years, but...
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...