Blog Posts by vetstreet.com

By Lisa Granshaw

Here Claire Fraise is with another one of her adopted friends, Lucky the Pit Bull.Some teenagers may dream of helping animals when they grow up, but how many take their passion and start their own nonprofit animal rescue? That's what Connecticut teen Claire Fraise did. The 13-year-old started a nonprofit organization called Lucky Tails Animal Rescue.

See Also: 20 Trendiest Dog Breeds

The eighth-grader was inspired to start Lucky Tails after adopting her first dog, Tuggles, whom she found on Petfinder.com and adopted through a rescue. Tuggles had a rough start, roaming the streets as a puppy, at which time he was hit by a car, causing an injury that required a plate and screws inserted in one of his legs.

Soon after Fraise adopted Tuggles she realized something was wrong when he began favoring a leg. After taking him to a vet, she discovered that the previous surgery was not done properly.

"Of course, we got it all fixed, and he's now living happily," Fraise says, but the research she'd done prior to adopting Tuggles and the

By Vetstreet.com Staff

Is your pet part of your disaster plan?Tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires and floods can cause massive damage quickly. It is essential to have a disaster plan in place - for you and your animals.

Are you ready? Since today is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day, we're sharing several things you can do.

Video: Preparing Your Pet for a Disaster

1. Make a plan. Prepare for all situations, including the possibility that you may be away from home when disaster strikes. Get to know your neighbors, and be ready to help others out. Ask your neighbors if they will try to take care of your pets in an emergency and offer to take care of theirs. Learn about your local emergency and disaster services, including area emergency response plans. Speak with your vet and local shelters to find out if there are designated animal hospitals or shelters to go to during disasters and learn what help they can provide you and your pet.

2. Always keep ID on your pets. Most animals

By Amy Sinatra Ayres | vetstreet.com

You can almost hear them: "You go first." "No, you go first!"

Slowly but surely, this brood cautiously follows Mom.

More on Vetstreet.com:
* Video: Dog and Duck Play Fetch
* Why Does My Cat... Stare at Me?
* 20 Hottest Dog Breeds (and Mixes) in America

By Amy Sinatra Ayres

Nova, who was lost during Monday's tornado, is happily reunited with his owner.At least 51 people were killed in the massive tornado that struck Moore, Okla., on Monday afternoon, wiping out entire neighborhoods and two elementary schools. Although the storm missed areas with larger ranches, reports the LA Times, smaller ranches like the Orr Family Farm were devastated. Amid the destruction are stories of relief, like a Moore woman who was headed to work but turned around to ride out the storm in her bathtub with her dog. As the victims try to pick up the pieces, many groups are jumping in to care for lost pets and try to reunite them with their owners. Below is a roundup of some existing organizations that are helping, as well as some Facebook groups that have sprung up to help.

• Pet Food Pantry of Oklahoma City
• Animal Resource Center
• The Edmond Sun Found Pets
• OKC Lost Pets
• Moore Oklahoma Tornado Lost and Found Animals
• Oklahoma Animal Lost and Found Tornado Group

By Dr. Christopher J. Allen, JD

Dog bites happen to 4.7 million Americans each year.This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week.

It has always been a smart idea to keep proper control of your dog both indoors and outside the home, but new developments in the law now make that good habit a vital aspect of personal responsibility. In the past a minor dog (or cat) bite might have resulted in an argument with a neighbor or a small cash settlement with a stranger. Recent cases and legislation, however, mean that these sorts of bites can have serious financial consequences for a pet owner.

See Also: How Common Are Dog Bites? 4.7 Million People Get Bitten Each Year

What's the big deal about animals biting people and other animals? Isn't it just a quick trip to the walk-in clinic along with a corresponding apology? That thinking is sooo outdated. In today's world of litigious folks, aggressive attorneys and new theories of recovery, there is real money available to animal bite victims and their legal counsel. And

Some breeds, like Labrador Retrievers, have been popular pets for years, but other breeds (and popular mixed breeds) have moved steadily up the list over the past decade. For example, 10 years ago you might not have even heard of a Cane Corso, but these days you're likely to cross paths with at least one at your dog park or vet's office.

See Also: 10 Trendiest Male & Female Dog Names

To determine which breeds and hybrids are truly the hottest ones, we searched Vetstreet's data and looked at how many places each breed climbed between 2002 and 2012. The results included a plethora of designer mixes and about 800 pounds of giant breeds, plus a few surprises. Did your favorite breed make the list?

Goldendoodle1. Goldendoodle

No. 159 most popular breed in 2002, No. 31 in 2012

The Goldendoodle tops our list of hottest dog breeds with a meteoric rise of 128 places over the past decade. This lovable and intelligent cross between the Golden Retriever and the Poodle is a perfect

By Laura Cross

Thanks to dog shows and competitions like Westminster, you probably know your fair share about the many different breeds of dogs. Our feline friends, however, don't get as much attention, since they spend a lot more time indoors and out of the limelight. From the short-legged Munchkin to the affectionate Ragdoll, we've rounded up nine cat breeds with fun and clever names. You might not be familiar with them, but they all deserve your attention.

Munchkin1. Munchkin

No they don't come from Oz, but with a dwarf-like appearance, this short-legged feline is aptly named the Munchkin. In addition to being fun-loving and adorable, the breed has both a silly name and a funny (and surprising) nickname: the magpie. Munchkins love shiny things and won't hesitate to pilfer and hoard your valuables.


2. LaPerm
The curly-coated LaPerm looks like - well, like she just got a perm, hence her funny name. The breed's wavy locks are a result of genetic mutation (which is not unusual in the cat

By Amy Sinatra Ayres | vetstreet.com

Credit: Fox Carolina - A dog in South Carolina has adopted this kitten as her own.A South Carolina resident called police on Monday to report she'd heard a dog barking since Saturday. When animal control officer Michelle Smith followed the noise down a steep embankment to a ravine, she found a 5-year-old dog - who was nursing a tiny kitten. "I'm thinking that it just couldn't get back up with the kitten, and I don't think it was willing to leave the kitten," Smith said.

The officer brought the pair to a local shelter, Anderson County P.A.W.S., where the staff is now supplementing the dog's nursing with bottles. They said the dog appeared to be someone's pet, and they're hopeful that her owner will come to claim her - and to make the kitten a part of their home, too. - Watch it at Fox Carolina

More on Vetstreet.com:
* 20 Hottest Dog Breeds in America
* Can All Dogs Swim? No, and This Popular Breed Is Worst
* 11 Cat Breeds With Funny Names
* Kitten Plays With Patient Dog (Video)