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By WebVet.com

Facebook came to the rescue of a stray dog who somehow got her head stuck in a jug. A Nashville woman named Beth Gresham spotted the pup in its unfortunate predicament -- but the animal ran away as the would-be rescuer approached. Luckily Beth was able to snap a picture of the dog -- which she posted on her animal rescue Facebook page -- and pleaded for the public's help to find and help the pup.

10 Basic Health Checks For Your Dog

Volunteer Jess McClain underscored the importance of a speedy rescue, telling local TV station WREG, "If someone tied you up and went to go beating you or attacking you, there is nothing you can do. Same thing with that dog: If another dog came up and attacked him, he can't do a thing - or eat or drink."

As news of the dog's predicament spread, volunteers scoured the area. A man named Chester Burns was responsible for her eventual apprehension -- after which the plastic jug was removed from her head.

MSNBC reported that Read More »from Facebook Friends Save Jug-Head Dog

By WebVet.com
Cat needs a homeSpring is considered "kitten season," when the cat population in shelters explodes with thousands of new additions. These wonderful animals are in desperate need of homes -- which you can likely provide them!

Related: 5 Things I've Learned From Getting a Second Cat

Keep in mind that even if you can't personally adopt a new kitty, there are plenty of ways you can help the shelter population!

But before you adopt, here are 10 things you need to know before owning a cat:

1. Adopting a cat is a lifelong commitment. Cats can live up to 20 years; be sure you're ready to provide food, shelter and love for your cat's life. Major changes, such as switching owners and houses, can be very stressful for cats.
2. Be prepared for the financial responsibilities that come with having a cat. The average annual cost is anywhere from $800-$1,000. That includes quality food, litter, toys, and routine medical costs. Emergency care or treating an illness can range from $250-$2,000.

Read More »from June is Adopt a Cat Month!

By WebVet.com
Great Dane in bedAttachment parenting is all the rage in the news these days, with Time's infamous breast feeding cover and Alicia Silverstone's mouth-to-mouth feeding methods. But as Trevor MacDonald of milkjunkies.net pointed out -- we might be even MORE vigilant about parenting our pets than our children.

He explained that despite one's over-the-top parental behaviors during daylight hours -- most still choose to have their child sleep in a crib in a room other than their own. When it comes to pets, however, a large percentage are granted prime real estate in the master bed.

According to MacDonald:

"As an adult, I learned that dog trainers seem to agree that sleeping together (at least in the same room) is important for bonding with one's animal, and the practice is far from rare. As Cesar Milan, the "Dog Whisperer," notes, "It is perfectly natural for a dog to sleep with other pack members, and it is also a powerful way to bond with your dog." A 2007 survey by the American Pet

Read More »from Are We Crazier About Parenting Our Kids or Our Pets?

By WebVet.com

Another feline is becoming famous for his unhealthy waistline. Just months after the life and death of Meow, the 39-pound cat, became national news, a tubby tabby named SpongeBob has arrived in the headlines.

Similar to Meow, SpongeBob -- who tipped the scales at 33 pounds -- was taken to a shelter after his elderly owner could no longer care for him. But after two months, he's been unable to find a new home because of his girth. "I think people are intimidated," Kendra Mara, associate director of the Animal Haven shelter, told the New York Post. "They think they'll need more space for him, but really they don't."

After a life of free feeding, SpongeBob has been put on a strict diet and has lost three pounds so far. "We eliminated dry food and put him on an exercise program," Mara said. "Even if he just gets down to 24 or 25 pounds, that will make a huge difference on his body."

Unfortunately Meow and SpongeBob are not novelties. A recent study found that a whopping

Read More »from Famous Fat Cats

By WebVet.com
Dog going campingSummer camp has gone to the dogs. Or rather, the dogs are going to summer camp and they're taking their owners with them.

According to Jeannie Richter in a recent article on abcnews.com, if you're looking for a getaway for you and your dog, you don't have to look too far. Thanks to summer camps that cater to both dogs and their humans, you can "have a vacation," she said, "…and your best friend with you."

And Richter would know. After all, she runs Camp Gone to the Dogs, a retreat for both species in Stowe and Marlboro, Vt.

Shaving dogs in the summer | Webvet

You need only look at the photo gallery on her Web site and others to see why campers sign on. It's obvious in frame after frame that everybody's having fun - dancing, practicing agility and herding, walking nature trails, and even riding gondolas.

It's a multi-level bonding experience - one that has people connect with their pets and each other around the common denominator of wanting to have a

Read More »from Summer Camp for Dogs!

By WebVet.com
Smarty cat?

Cats like us to believe that they're independent creatures and can manage without us, thankyouverymuch, since they don't require walks and can be left alone for longer periods of time than their canine counterparts. This generalization also leads some to believe that felines exhibit an air of superiority -- and dare we say, intelligence.

But how smart are cats? Sure, they can groom themselves, have a natural inclination to use the litter box and are easily amused, but not too many have a repertoire of tricks or follow commands. Those who have more than one cat probably differentiate their kitties in terms of their smarts (being "the dumb one" doesn't mean you're loved any less!), so just like any other animal, we know there is an intelligence hierarchy.

5 Least Intelligent Dogs | Webvet

There's no scientific method to determine how brainy your cat actually is -- but we can try to figure it out! CatChannel.com devised this clever IQ test, which could

Read More »from What is Your Cat's IQ?

By WebVet.com

'Tis the season for diplomas and degrees! So get your flowers, congratulatory cards -- and doggie treats ready for the graduates. Doggie treats? Yes! Humans aren't the only ones marching to Pomp and Circumstance this month. Check out these smarty pups who've conquered higher education:

Ellis

It's hard enough for an intelligent, well-educated human to graduate law school -- let alone a dog. Yet Ellis, an 80-pound black lab, walked along with the New York Law School graduates in May of 2012 to receive his honorary degree from the school.

Related: Doggie Nurses: 6 Ways They Work

A fellow graduate, 24-year-old Amanda Davis, sought the help of a seeing eye dog when she choose to attend law school in Manhattan -- hundreds of miles from her hometown in Florida. The school accommodated Ellis in all of Amanda's classes and helped her arrange a schedule that took his canine needs into consideration. The New York Daily News noted that while Davis hopes for a career in financial

Read More »from 3 Dogs with College Degrees

By WebVet.com
How many cats are too many?Irreconcilable cat preferences. That was the cause of an unusual divorce in Israel -- with the husband saying that a mere 550 cats were too many for him to live with.

Related: How Does One Become a 'Cat Lady'?

The husband told the Rabbinical Court in Beersheba that the HUNDREDS of kitties his wife adopted ruined his ability to sleep, eat and go to the bathroom.

How exactly?

• The surface of the marital bed was constantly covered with cats who refused to lie on the floor.
• The frisky felines wouldn't allow him to prepare meals in the kitchen -- and when he did manage to secure some grub, they jumped onto the table and stole his food.
• The cats also blocked his access to the bathroom.

Despite his detailed complaints, the Rabbinical Court ordered the couple to try and work out their differences -- but the wife couldn't part with her cats. The husband? He was apparently dispensable.

Check out more from WebVet!

• How Old Is My Pet? Correctly Calculate Your Dog

Read More »from Divorce: Wife Chooses 550 Cats Over Husband