MINNEAPOLIS -- Julie Koch has seen 31 dogs come and go from her Minneapolis home over the last four years. She’s a foster for Ruff Start Rescue, which cares for animals across Minnesota.

Right now, she’s caring for a lovable 6-year-old white German Shepherd named Stone. He came to her from Texas in 2021 and was adopted in 2022. But in ...Read more

From silent companions in royal courts to viral sensations in the age of memes, cats have captivated human hearts for centuries. While thousands of felines have played a role in myth, art, and media, a few stand out as icons whose influence transcends their nine lives. Three such cats—Trim the Sailor Cat, Felix the Cat, and Grumpy Cat—each ...Read more

DENVER — A new dinosaur species unearthed from the famed Morrison Formation in Colorado has been identified, according to a journal article published last week in Royal Society Open Science.

Scientists have named the speedy, dog-sized dinosaur Enigmacursor mollyborthwickae, according to the article. Its skeleton, or what fossil hunters could ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Gilbert, the 4-year-old golden retriever trained by state Rep. Melissa Hortman to be a service dog, was too friendly for a working dog’s life. So, he became the family pet, much to Hortman’s delight.

“A lot of dogs just want to be around people — all people” — a wonderful trait that Gilbert shared, but a less-...Read more

When choosing a dog for a household with young children, temperament, energy level, and trainability are key factors. For families with kids under 10, the ideal canine companion is patient, friendly, and adaptable to a bustling environment. While every dog has its own personality, certain breeds are particularly well-suited for young families ...Read more

When choosing a dog for a household with young children, temperament, energy level, and trainability are key factors. For families with kids under 10, the ideal canine companion is patient, friendly, and adaptable to a bustling environment. While every dog has its own personality, certain breeds are particularly well-suited for young families ...Read more

For millions of people around the world, cats are more than just pets — they are companions, emotional support systems, and even unofficial therapists. Though cats are often seen as aloof or independent, research increasingly shows that owning a cat can have measurable benefits for both mental and physical health.

One of the most widely ...Read more

Cats are often praised for their elegance and independence, but pet owners know they come with a few less glamorous realities. One of the most common and messy of these is the hairball. While the sight and sound of a cat hacking up a hairball may be unpleasant, the issue is natural and usually harmless. Still, understanding what hairballs are, ...Read more

When a dog suddenly scoots its rear end across the floor, many pet owners respond with laughter, confusion, or mild horror—especially if it’s happening on a freshly cleaned carpet. The behavior, commonly referred to as “boot scooting,” may look comical, but it often signals that something is bothering the dog’s backside. While an ...Read more