Man’s best friend is increasingly being abandoned on the street, often by people facing financial hardships who can no longer afford to feed or house them.

“Animal shelters generally reflect what is happening to people in a community and where there is food insecurity,” Stephanie Filer, executive director of Shelter Animals Count, told CBS MoneyWatch. 

As 2023 came to close, there were 250,000 more animals in the shelter system than the year before, said Filer, whose group compiles data from nearly 7,000 shelters nationwide. 

“Through November, our numbers are showing a continued and persistent gap in the numbers entering our shelters and leaving,” said Filer, who also noted an increase in puppies and purebred dogs being brought to shelters.

“In the past year, San Diego Humane Society, which takes in over 30,000 companion animals each year, observed a 20% increase in lost pets not retrieved by their owners,” Dr. Gary Weitzman, president and CEO of San Diego Humane Society, said in an emailed statement. “Families relinquish their pets for various, often heartbreaking reasons, including escalating costs of care, insufficient housing options for pet owners and limited access to veterinary care. We also believe a pause in spay/neuter surgery accessibility during the pandemic has also increased the number of animals in our shelters.”

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Researchers have identified 2 strains of probiotics that can be used to reduce weight in obese dogs. The research is published in Microbiology Spectrum, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

In the new study, the research team investigated metabolic diseases in companion animals and set out to identify probiotics suitable for long-term and safe treatment. “The initial challenge involved selecting specific metabolic diseases for examination, leading us to focus on the prevalent issue of ‘obesity in pets,’” said study principal investigator Younghoon Kim, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Science (CALS), Seoul National University, in Korea.  

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Pet ownership is at an all-time high, with 66% of U.S. households owning at least one pet. The global pet care market is estimated to grow from $246 billion in 2023 to $368 billion by 2030. Spending on veterinary services in the U.S. alone exceeded $38 billion in 2023, with growth in emergency care and specialty services contributing significantly.

Today’s modern, multi-species family is more bonded to their pets than ever, increasing the demand for gold-standard veterinary care. As a result, we are witnessing how modern high expectations are putting pressure on veterinary clinics to provide tech-enabled conveniences.

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Having an emotional support animal means your animal is covered by many laws that can prevent a person with a disability from being excluded or limited from certain benefits, accommodations, and circumstances. There are several laws covering emotional support animals that every handler should know.

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As the population ages and life expectancy increases, a major public health issue around the world is the deterioration of cognitive function in older adults. Estimates indicate that the number of people with dementia worldwide will increase from 57 million in 2019 to 153 million in 2050.

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U.S. animal shelters will start 2024 the most overcrowded they have been in years, according to a broad survey of animal rescue facilities, a symptom of persistent economic concern as the country’s pandemic pet-adoption boom finally cools.

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By Tamara Hinson, The Independent

These cats are hybrids of traditional working animals and pets, which is a more recent concept. Meet the New York brewery cats living their best lives.

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HealthDay News

In imaging scans, dogs and infants showed brain similarities during the processing of speech with “exaggerated prosody,” sometimes referred to as motherese — that simple, playful and rhythmic speech style mothers often use.

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By Brett Yates, Veterinary Practice News

The vet shortage has led to long wait times at clinics, lagging surgeries at shelters, slowing adoption rates, and pet owners being more inclined to put their next visit off. Creating healthier work environments and more support systems for vets and their staff can not only reduce turnover rates, but can also inspire more folks into the field who may be otherwise turned off by the current state of veterinary medicine.

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Owning a pet is a serious commitment: Many pets can live for more than 10 years, leaving some pet lovers unprepared for the price tag attached to owning and caring for an animal in a responsible manner. If you’re thinking about getting a pet, you should be ready to back up your good intentions with a hefty contribution from your wallet. In this article we’ll look at some of the basic costs of pet ownership.

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Studies have shown that pets can provide emotional support, reduce stress levels, and increase feelings of social support and well-being. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans turned to pets for companionship and comfort as they navigated the challenges of isolation and uncertainty.

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The Global Learning Series is free for all registered attendees, including retailers, distributors and manufacturers. With over 40+ hours of live education, this is your chance to learn everything you need for a successful business. From workshops to presentations, exhibits to conversations, sessions are designed to reflect sound adult learning principles and the best thinking in the field, informed by theory, research and practice.

Global Learning Series takes place across four days, from March 19-22, 2024.

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