border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Feb 9

Like Presidents, Dogs May Go Gray When Stressed

Like Presidents, Dogs May Go Gray When Stressed A new study, co-authored by author and scientist Temple Grandin and published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science explores whether anxiety and impulsiveness may contribute to premature graying in dogs. The research focused on a sample of 400 dogs, age 1 to 4 years old, found... Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Jan 25

Cats In Quarantine

CATS IN QUARANTINE Scary avian flu infects shelter cats in NYC After a mysterious outbreak of bird flu swept through New York City shelters earlier this month, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) opened an emergency quarantine center to house the entire cat population in the city’s shelter system, according... Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Jan 23

Training Your Dog with a New Homemade Toy

Training Your Dog with a New Homemade Toy Dog toys can cost big bucks, reason enough to make your own. In my house, the favorite toy for chasing, tugging, gnawing---and even to cart around as a security blanket---is the Towel Burrito. These are my own invention, and I got the idea when I was reading... Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Jan 16

6 Ways to Protect Your Cats & Yourself from Cat Scratch Disease

6 Ways to Protect Your cats & Yourself from Cat Scratch Disease You can forgive the new kitten in your life for the bright red tracks her little claws painted down your arm, but keep an eye on those scratches --- they can lead to terribly serious health consequences. Cat scratch disease can actually put... Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Jan 12

Gone to the Dogs (And Cats!)

Gone to the Dogs (And Cats!) A Tennessee woman left her estate to homeless pets. Glenda Taylor DeLawder, a citizen of Carter County, Tennessee, bequeathed her $1.2 million estate to help care for the county’s shelter animals. DeLawder, who had worked as a telephone operator for AT&T in Washington D.C., passed away at age 72.... Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Jan 4

False Confidence about Microchipping a Pet – Some Scary Truths

In an article published January 1 in The New York Times, the columnist pointed out that by law city shelters and pet stores are required to microchip animals before selling them or releasing them for adoption. The author mentioned that the chip should be registered, but the “rest of that story” is where the slippery... Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Jan 2

Calling All Cat People To “Translate” For Their Kitties

Calling All Cat People To “Translate” For Their Kitties Researchers need the help of people who share their lives with cats to better understand why cats do what they do. Since cats are enigmas wrapped in a mystery, the veterinarians doing this study need the human companions of indoor cats to help make sense of... Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Dec 21

The 10 Best Fun Books

Tracie Hotchner’s year-end list of happy tales. Need a last-minute gift? From adorable photos, to laugh-out-loud humor, plus helpful tips: these delightful reads will capture your coffee table. Happy holidays from my pack, to yours! Neville Jacobs: I'm Marc's Dog, by Nicholas Newbold The world as seen through the eyes of fashion icon Marc Jacobs'... Read more »

border collieand tabby cat sitting next to each other Tracie Hotchner the Radio Pet Lady
Dec 14

Curcumin & Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Brain Food---for Pets and People!

Curcumin and Omega 3 Fatty Acids are Brain Food for Pets and People! Watching 60 Minutes recently, I saw an episode on the health value of curcumin, which is derived from the spice turmeric, a member of the ginger family.  It turns out that curcumin has been historically appreciated in many cultures as a powerful... Read more »