Petting other people's dogs, even briefly, can boost your health
You don't even have to own one. Research shows just 5 to 20 minutes interacting with other people's pooches can reduce stress hormones and increase well-being.
pets
5 tips to keep your pet safe — and comfortable — in extreme heat
"If it's hot outside for you, it's most likely even hotter for your pet," one expert tells NPR. Here's how to protect your pet outdoors, keep them engaged inside and respond to signs of heat stroke.
New ranking shows Greensboro and Winston-Salem among top cities for pet owners
Greensboro and Winston-Salem are among the best cities in the U.S. for pet owners. That’s according to a new study from Forbes magazine.
A lost dog treks 150 miles across Alaskan sea ice before he's reunited with his family
Nanuq, a 1-year-old Australian shepherd, went missing last month while his family was visiting relatives. Except for a swollen leg, with bite marks from a seal or polar bear, Nanuq was in good health.
A veterinarian says pets have a lot to teach us about love and grief
Karen Fine says "I feel like I learn from my patients all the time. ... They really have skills and senses that we don't." Her new memoir is The Other Family Doctor.
Can you catch a hidden virus from a dog kiss or a cat cuddle?
What's the risk of contracting a virus from your Fido or Kitty? It's not a frivolous question, as one cat-owning virologist explains. And there's another question: Can you give a virus to your pet?
An American walked her pet cow in Moscow's Red Square. Spoiler alert: Trouble ensued
Animal rights activist Alicia Day says she routinely walks her farm animals in public to encourage people to think twice about eating meat. Why she chose to do so in the center of Moscow isn't clear.
What would Fido say about you? This community poem takes pets' point of view
We asked Morning Edition listeners to share what their pets might be thinking about. Then NPR poet-in-residence Kwame Alexander combed through more than 700 submissions to create a community poem.
Forsyth Humane Society says euthanasia rate could increase if county funding isn't boosted
The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will soon vote on whether to continue contract negotiations with the local Humane Society.
War takes a heavy toll on animals too. See how people in Ukraine strive to save them
Thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced. Four-legged Ukrainians are also suffering, but there are groups working to help the animals.