Track-It Pets

MINNEAPOLIS -- "Ever had leprosy? Thanks to animal research, you won't."

That message, emblazoned on 15 billboards around the Twin Cities, strikes at the heart of a largely hidden but heated health care battle being waged beyond the national debate over access to medical care. Read more

Does your dog love to chase down a ball, but won't bring it back? The trick to turning Max into a true retriever is to have two balls; throw the first one, and as he runs out and grabs it, start to talk about and tempt him with the second ball in... Read more

Thanks for killing the planet, dog owners.

Well, that's a rough paraphrase of a New Zealand study that claims a medium-size dog leaves a larger ecological footprint than an SUV. Read more

CHICAGO -- About once a month, Carl and Ann Christoff visit the cemetery where Mindy and Buttons are buried. Read more

Betty Bates knows when a cat needs a helping hand.

Which is why her residence in Hampton, Va., is home to seven -- all rescued or stray cats. Read more

Oct. 29--THOMASVILLE -- Count Dogula, Sir Paws-A-Lot and other furry characters step into the spotlight this All Hallow's Eve with the annual canine-friendly Howl-O-Ween. Read more

HOMEDALE, Idaho -- The two-word command is barely audible.

"Come by," Lavon Calzacorta says, his voice just above a whisper. Read more

As a veterinarian I rely on the pet owner to comply to at home care instructions as well as to the proper administration of medications sent home. Read more

CHICAGO -- Any puppy training class will have its share of "eureka" moments. With endless repetition and a big enough bag of treats, even the most unmanageable dog eventually gets it. Read more

In the market for a dog? It pays to sniff around.

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We know someone who recently made a spur-of-the-moment stop at an animal shelter and walked out a few minutes later with a new dog. A dog that wasn't housebroken. That nipped. That needed a crate (which had to be hastily purchased). Read more