July 8, 2019
by dave
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In my book, Citizen Canine, I detail how cats and dogs rose from wild animals to the most valued creatures on earth. Some new stats are backing up that lofty status, thanks to an informative article in The Economist. Here are some of … Continue reading
September 3, 2017
by dave
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(A Texas Army National Guard soldier rescues a family’s pet during Hurricane Harvey. Credit: U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Zachary West) Hurricane Katrina was one of the most devastating natural disasters to strike the United States. But it was … Continue reading
January 11, 2016
by dave
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For the first time, the FBI will track animal cruelty the same way it tracks other crimes like homicides. The move is the latest example of the evolving status of animals—especially cats and dogs—in our society. But what prompted the … Continue reading
October 20, 2015
by dave
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You take a fat cat, and cut its throat, and after it is dead, behead it and throw the head away, because it is not something to be eaten because it is said that those who eat the brains will … Continue reading
September 11, 2015
by dave
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Very excited to see my Buzzfeed story on pet rescue during Hurricane Katrina included on this list of “17 Of The Best Things Ever Written About Hurricane Katrina”. Thank you, to all of you who have read, shared, and commented on … Continue reading
August 29, 2015
by dave
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Hurricane Katrina was a transformative moment in our relationship with cats and dogs. Here’s me on PBS NewsHour discussing how the storm and its aftermath forever changed how we treat pets during natural disasters.
August 9, 2015
by dave
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Nearly half the people who stayed behind during Hurricane Katrina stayed because of their pets. Helicopters and boats would come, but the rescuers largely refused to take cats and dogs. So many owners, unwilling to abandon a family member, refused … Continue reading
December 21, 2014
by dave
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This month, The Indianapolis Star runs a fascinating investigation about the true legal value of our companion animals. Some companies that make millions of dollars off our bond with our dogs and cats deny this bond when it comes to a court … Continue reading
December 8, 2013
by dave
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Last week, an animal rights group known as the Nonhuman Rights Project filed lawsuits in three New York counties in an attempt to get judges to declare that chimpanzees are “legal persons” and free them from captivity. The suits are the opening salvo … Continue reading
October 8, 2013
by dave
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“Dogs Are People, Too”. So ran the headline of a New York Times op-ed over the weekend. The piece, written by Emory University neuroscientist Gregory Berns, argued that because dogs experience some of the same emotions we do (as evinced … Continue reading