For better or worse, many people’s lives are vastly different than they were pre-pandemic. After adjusting to a “new normal,” including working from home, some employers want us to go back to our “old normal” and return to our office jobs. If you adopted a dog during COVID-19, it can be a difficult adjustment for everyone, and some find themselves considering if they are able to keep their new pet. Here are some things to consider…

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If you haven't personally seen or smelled it, then no doubt you've likely heard of it: Red tide. While red tide is nothing new (according to Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, "red tides were documented in the southern Gulf of Mexico as far back as the 1700s and along Florida's Gulf coast in the 1840s. Fish-kills near Tampa Bay were even mentioned in the records of Spanish explorers in the 1500s."), we are definitely seeing its effects like never before. St. Petersburg has become the state's epicenter for red tide, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

“Mutts are healthier than purebreds.” Maybe you’ve heard that before. But where did that idea come from, and what is the truth of the matter?

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The temperature outside is 93°F. The sky is partly cloudy, and the relative humidity is 53%. A light-grey minivan sits in a parking lot with its two front windows open about one-and-a-half inches. At 2:30 PM, when the van is parked, the temperature inside the vehicle matches the temperature outside—93°F.

After 10 minutes, the temperature inside the car rises to 110°F.

After 20 minutes, the temperature reaches 125°F.

After 40 minutes, the temperature stabilizes at 138°F.

Recently a friend was asking if it was okay that her new puppy had just swallowed a piece of rawhide. Being a first time dog owner as an adult, she was naturally worried and wanted to do the best thing for her new “baby.” After receiving instructions on the symptoms to watch for in the case of a possible bowel obstruction, it was also explained to her that rawhides are not good for dogs; and she was given ideas for some great alternatives to help with the chewing instinct. But, this interchange brought up a very good question: What do we wish every new pet parent knew?

The mosquito season is upon us! They aren’t just a nuisance; some mosquitoes may carry diseases that can cause Heartworm Disease or West Nile virus illness. Here are a few simple things that you can do to protect yourselves and your pets from mosquito-borne diseases.

We hope you're enjoying our "Traveling With Your Dog..." series about local places you can enjoy with your pet! A lot of things have changed in 2020, including the way we vacation. For a while, we weren’t able to vacation at all. Even now, with restrictions beginning to lift but news of possible new COVID strains developing, many are still hesitant to travel on a plane or stay in a hotel. More and more people are deciding that camping is a safe way to get away from it all, and socially distance from others, all while being out in the fresh air.

The winter holidays are a time many look forward to—time off from work and school, a chance to see and spend time with loved ones, sparkly decorations, and decadent foods that we treat themselves to only once a year. But as fun as they may seem, some of these things can spell disaster for our pets. Here are some tips and red flags to watch out for to help keep your pet safe this holiday season.