Staff Newspaper Column
Critter Corner
Cat experiencing separation anxiety
Dear Critter Corner: I went on vacation for 3 days and left my cat Dallas at a friend’s apartment. Now at home she seems to be having separation anxiety, scratching at the door and meowing when I leave. I have another trip coming up and am worried I won’t be able to...
Resource guarding
Dear Critter Corner: I have noticed that when I give my pup a chew stick or other high-value item, he tends to go and hide from me while chewing on it. The other night, I got close to where he was chewing on the stick and he growled at me. I am not sure what to do,...
Introducing new cat to the resident cat
Dear Critter Corner: I recently adopted Peanut, a 1-year-old cat, and would like to introduce her to my senior cat Mama, but am worried about them getting into a scuffle. How should I introduce them to each other? It’s a good idea to introduce them as slowly and...
Barking dog
Dear Critter Corner: We feel that our once quiet pup has found his voice and is doing a lot of barking at home lately. We have told him ‘no’ and ‘quiet’ but these do not seem to do the trick. Is there anything we can do to get our quiet pup back? This is a great...
Cats need toys that fit their personalities
Dear Critter Corner: My new 9-month-old kitten has a lot of energy, jumping on the furniture, counters and cabinets. How can I prevent her from getting up to any mischief? Young kittens and cats do have a lot of energy and need to channel it in appropriate ways toward...
Harness for dogs
Dear Critter Corner: Our dog has taken to pulling while we are on walks or just about anywhere! We have been looking at front attach harnesses and head halters to help but are very confused as to what is best. Can you tell us the difference between the two and give...
Stray cat needs time alone before it can strut with other pets
Dear Critter Corner: I found a very friendly stray cat over the weekend while walking my dog. I already have a cat at home and have never taken in a stray. What do I do next to keep all of my pets safe and happy? Thank you so much for looking out for the stray cats in...
Socializing puppy
Dear Critter Corner: We are first time dog owners and just adopted a new puppy. We keep hearing about how important socializing our puppy is but are not really sure what that means or the best ways to go about doing it. Can you give us some pointers? Congratulations...
Tips on dealing with cat’s scratching and biting
Dear Critter Corner: Whenever I walk by my cat Fluffles whether in the hallway, through the bedroom, or around a corner, she grabs onto my leg and scratches me. Sometimes she even nips me. What can I do to stop this behavior? From what you’ve described, it sounds...
Keeping dog’s focus
Dear Critter Corner: With the warmer weather upon us, we have seen an increase in all sorts of outside critters like squirrels and birds which we love to watch. Our dog also loves to watch these critters but will not give us the time of day once he is focused on...
