Author: Tracie Hotchner

TRACIE HOTCHNER: HOMEMADE SALT DOUGH ORNAMENTS DANGEROUS FOR DOGS

Who would have imagined that something as family-fun as decorating your home over the holidays could pose a deadly threat to your pets? No, I’m not talking about the usual seasonal dangers we’ve all heard about one time or another, which I list in my book “The Dog Bible” – those problematic things like breakable

TRACIE HOTCHNER: SHELTER DOGS HELP PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES

There is a detection-dog program called Conservation Canines (CK9), part of the University of Washington’s Center for Conservation Biology, that is putting to a brand new use the amazing sense of smell that dogs possess. These CK9 dogs are trained to help conservationists detect the presence of endangered animals by sniffing out their poop. Unlike

TRACIE HOTCHNER: ADOPTED PETS TEACH US PATIENCE (“LOVE DON’T COME EASY” FOR SOME)

Sometimes you hear the story of someone who adopted from a shelter and discovered the dog or cat was really timid and shy. They might have expressed disappointment, or even made the fatalistic judgment “this animal must have been terribly abused and will never be able to be a loving pet.” People can mistakenly give

TRACIE HOTCHNER: FAT DOGS DIE YOUNGER

If you’re honest, you’ll probably admit that your beloved Labrador Retriever is overweight, right? If you had to guess you’d say she’s maybe 5 or 10 lbs. overweight? But you probably don’t think it’s such a big deal – she’s happy and what else matters, right? Wrong! Maybe you think I’m being over-dramatic when I