Category: Tracie Hotchner

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

TRACIE HOTCHNER: A HAPPY ENDING FOR A HOMELESS LADY AND HER DOG

The recent inaugural Dog Film Festival in New York City gave me and the audience many opportunities to look at the human-canine bond from different perspectives. Many of us treasure and value our connection with our dogs and cannot imagine life without them – but for most of us, they are a part of our

TRACIE HOTCHNER: WHAT IS HIDING IN YOUR DOG’S TREATS?

Dr. Donna and I recently had a most delightful participant in our Halo Healthy Weight Challenge. Lola was a chubby Pug (quite honestly I don’t think anyone has ever actually seen a slender Pug?!) whose Mom, Heather, was a champ at documenting every little thing Lola ate each day during the 3 month challenge, weighed