Shelter Me, the uplifting PBS film series about pets and the people who help them, is sharing a very special sneak peek of a new episode with us! In Episode 9, “The Art of Kindness,” Lights Down Low singer MAX hosts concerts at animal shelters to help promote adoption. In this clip, you’ll see the amazing work MAX is doing across the country and why he believes spreading the message of pet adoption is so important. Check it out here!

Be sure to tune in to PBS this summer to watch the full episode. You’ll meet a famous painting pooch named DogVinci who helps to teach kids about creativity and sells his paintings to raise money for animal shelters. The episode also highlights a senior dog adoption fair that helps give exposure to pups that are often overlooked. We can’t wait for you to see the entire episode! You can also watch past episodes online now.

Shelter Me is presented by the Petco Foundation and produced by Steven Latham Productions. Learn more about Shelter Me here.

Looking to adopt a pet of your own? Get started here! 

Dog Chow is excited to introduce the Puppyhood program – your one stop shop to help raise your puppy right from the first bite.  With a wide range of educational content as well as interactive tools, Puppyhood is the go-to destination to help guide you and your pup through puppyhood.

TIPS AND TRICKS

Whether you’re looking for information about teething or potty training, finding the perfect vet or teaching your pup some basic commands, Puppyhood provides tips and tricks in the form of articles and videos.  With special sections dedicated to “Nutrition”, “Grooming”, “Exercise”, “Health”, “Behavior”, “Training”, and “Puppy Planning”, the Puppyhood has tips and tricks for everything your puppy goes through in the first few years.

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS

Joining the Puppyhood not only grants access to some great special offers, but you’ll also be able to take advantage of our exclusive online tools that will help your puppy grow up happy and healthy.  You’ll be able to sign up for video hangouts with our panel of experts, use our “Near You” tool to find puppy destinations around your location, and track every stage of your puppy’s development using our Milestone Tracker.

INTERACTIVE DOG WALKS

Part of the Puppyhood program is a great feature called The Dog Walk.  The Dog Walk helps people learn more about puppies through a 360°, interactive puppy world that offers up articles and videos about puppy topics along the way.  It makes learning about your new puppy fun and engaging as your explore!

PUPPY PLANNER

One of the truly unique aspects of the Puppyhood program is that it caters to those still considering pet adoption – which we of course love here at Adopt-a-Pet.com!  The Puppy Planning section has everything you need to know before getting a furry friend to ensure you’re ready for your new responsibility.  The breed selector even helps you pick just the right puppy to fit your lifestyle.

Join the Puppyhood today and get customized learning, helpful tools, and exclusive benefits and coupons on your puppy’s journey to doghood.

Can dogs and cats understand what you say?

Does a puppy or kitten know what you mean when you say “you are so cute”? While we don’t know exactly what goes on in their heads, it is very clear to see that animals, including companion dogs and cats can clearly understand the tone of speech (angry or loving).

Pets can also learn key words or phrases such as “let’s go for a walk” or “dinner time”. Just like people, they learn these words through repetition and association. Talking to your pets doesn’t mean you are crazy, except that you may be crazy about your pets. It is soothing to them, and even therapeutic for you. Check out this article on Petcentric.com: http://www.petcentric.com/article.aspx?C=0&OID=55

Thank you to everyone who voted for their favorite TasteMakers™ Finalists. After the votes were tallied, Carla Hall chose the Grand Prize winner and Fancy Feast donated $25,000 to Adopt-a-Pet.com! This contribution will help us unite more pets with loving families. You can see the winning entries for the new cat food recipes here. Thanks to all of you who voted, and thank you to Purina Fancy Feast!

This is a fun idea: how about a dog food commercial that is specially designed with images and sounds for you rdog to enjoy too! Our dogs are such avid TV watchers that we often  leave the TV on for them when we go out, and we’ve had them go into the other room if we’re watching a suspensful action movie, so it makes sense that advertisers would tap into this interest to make a commercial more compelling. This particular commercial is for Beneful dog food from Purina, our amazing sponsor. You can watch a two and a half minute behind-the-scenes video here with the vet who developed the toy squeaks and high-pitched dog-only sounds, and then click the link under that to watch the TV commercial yourself — and with your dog too of course! Does it get your dog’s attention? Let us know by posting your comment on our Facebook wall!

Since it is 3/13 today we decided to write about something a little out-of-the ordinary: a pet psychic! Or as she calls herself more officially, and animal communicator. It is one of the Mean Kitty videos, a fun series of videos on Petcentric who’s purpose is, says feline stars Sparta and Loki, “To remind us all that pets aren’t just a piece of furniture in our homes… even though they can look that way sometimes. : ) We’ll show you new ways to love your pets by simply spending a little more time with them each day.” They are both adopted rescue cats and their person Pete has a great sense of kitty humor that makes them a lot of fun! Plus Sparta and Loki are absolutely riveting to watch of course. But let’s get back to the Pet Psychic video <– you can click the link to watch it on Petcentric. The famous pet psychic visits and communicates with Sparta and Loki. Laura Stinchfield. Even if you are a sceptic, it’s pretty amazing to watch the surprizing answers the cats have for some of Pete’s and Laura’s questions!

Have you ever had a pet psychic communicate with your pets? Tell us about it on the Adopt-a-Pet.com Facebook page!

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The Friskies video contest is back! You can upload your awesome cat video (before noon ET July 15, 2013) at www.TheFriskies.com for a chance at $25,000 in case prizes! And while it’s true that “The Friskies” 2013 is a video contest, it also benefits rescue and shelter cats across the country. Friskies is helping 20 rescue organizations that dedicate their energies to finding loving, happy homes for cats across the nation – with lots of cat food! Specifically, Friskies is donating more than 250,000 cans of cat food to 20 partner animal rescue organizations. Each organization will receive a minimum of 7,500 cans and will have the opportunity to increase this donation (up to an additional 10,000 cans per charity) based on their overall participation.  We think that is can-tastic!

Friskies says: “But that’s not all, we also need your help! Look for special Friskies® messages on the Friskies Facebook and Twitter that will offer opportunities for our fans to TRIGGER an additional donation of 500 cans per charity (up to 50,000 cans total). Your support makes a real, living, purring difference. Thank you. Every cat counts.”