Trains! Such adorable little vestiges of a golden era gone by, so rich in quaint customs like not allowing pets onboard, even as those young upstart airlines have accepted furry friends for decades. But Amtrak is possibly going to change that, with a new trial policy of allowing dogs and cats on trains — but just on certain routes for now. [More]
dogs
Customer Leaves $1,000 Tip To Help Bartender Pay For Her Dog’s Emergency Surgery
By 4.25.14
Kindred spirits are a wily sort of spirit — you never know when you’re going to run into someone who has a lot in common with your life. And while it’s reward enough to share interests with a stranger, when that sharing leads to a whopper of a tip, well then, that’s extra nice. [More]
These Dogs Are Totally Amused By FedEx Guy Chasing After His Runaway Truck
By 4.4.14
There are so many great things going on in this home surveillance video featuring a FedEx guy frantically chasing after his truck that I’m having a hard time believing such a perfect set-up. Are we getting Punk’d? Is that still a thing? Why not just leave the “e” in the word? [More]
Neighborhood Residents Can’t Get Mail Delivered Because Of One Chihuahua
By 4.3.14
In the latest round of that ancient fight between man and beast that is the tense relationship mail carriers have with residents’ dogs, a Chihuahua (to be fair, a Chihuahua mix) is effectively holding one neighborhood hostage. The United States Postal Service says the local mail carrier can’t deliver mail to a block in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, because the little dog’s reign of terror makes it impossible to do so. [More]
A Friendly Reminder For Those In States With Legal Pot: Keep Your Edibles Away From Pets
By 3.25.14
Just think about how much people food your dog could put away if given unfettered access to the kitchen. Now imagine you live in Washington or Colorado, where it’s legal to have edibles — cookies, butters, oils, bread, whathaveyou — infused with marijuana. Cue really important lesson for pet owners to keep the pot from your pooch. [More]
Sorry, But New “American Beagle Outfitters” Line Is Probably An April Fool’s Joke
By 3.24.14
We’re generally fans of big companies pulling April Fool’s jokes — who can get mad when there’s laughter involved? But it’s kind of waste of a perfectly good pun for American Eagle Outfitter’s new “American Beagle” line that we’re pretty sure will turn out to just be an April Fool’s stunt. [More]
Tibetan Mastiff Puppy That Sold For $2 Million Could Be Most Expensive Dog Ever Bought
By 3.19.14
So you call yourself a dog lover, huh? You’ve got pics of your favorite pup all over social media, a doggie closet full of outfits and a tendency to speak in the third person around Rover. But would you spend $2 million to have the perfect pooch? [More]
Flea Collar Makers Agree To Eventually Phase Out Collars Containing Toxic Chemical
By 3.14.14
Facing a lawsuit for allowing manufacturers to produce flea collars containing a pesticide that is a known neurotoxin and carcinogen, the folks at the Environmental Protection Agency, along with two major pet product companies, have agreed to phase out these controversial collars over the next few years. [More]
Dog Owners Beware: Someone Is Leaving Poisoned Meatballs On San Francisco Streets
By 2.24.14
The stuff dogs tend to pick up on the street is bad enough — really? That nasty container of gnawed up wings is tempting? — but to make matters worse, someone in San Francisco is putting out poisoned meatballs, threatening any dog with a nose and a taste for meat. So, basically, all dogs. [More]
United Leaves Dog Bleeding & Sick, Won’t Pay Vet Bill Unless Passenger Agrees To Hush Up
By 11.22.13
So the airline mistreats your beloved pet and you end up with thousands of dollars in veterinary expenses to keep the dog alive. Eventually the airline agrees to cover those vet bills, but only if you agree to not say anything publicly about what happened. What do you do? [More]
Legally Blind Man And Service Dog Kicked Off Plane Before Takeoff
By 11.14.13
It’s bad enough being stuck on an indefinitely-delayed plane when you’re a human who can play with an iPad or enjoy a book or something, but imagine being in that situation as a dog. Even the best-trained service dog must get tired of being crammed under a seat. When one guide dog became restless while a US Airways Express flight waited to take off, he and his owner were kicked off the flight. [More]
Air Canada Loses Dog, PR Guy Sends Dismissive E-mail To Reporters
By 10.11.13 — Updated: 9.23.14
Everyone in the news business knows that people love stories about animals. Is it the opportunity to gaze at photos of furry faces? A sign of the ultimate decline of American civilization? Probably a little of both. Larry the Italian Greyhound was flying from San Francisco to a new home in Canada when a well-meaning worker let the dog out for a walk. He ran away, and was last seen in a parking lot. [More]
Will A Pet Harness Actually Keep Your Dog (And You) Safe In A Car Crash?
October 9, 2013
In a new study looking at the durability and reliability of automobile pet harnesses, 36% of the 11 restraint systems tested failed initial strength tests, and of the seven harnesses that then went on to be subjected to an actual crash, only one showed that it would reliably keep both the dog and the vehicle’s passengers safe. [via Consumer Reports] [More]
Subaru Working On Canine Seat Belts Using Crash-Test Dummy Dogs
By 10.3.13
Rover McFuzzyBottoms III might like the feel of the wind in his fur as his tongue lolls out happily on a breezy car ride, but many pet advocates say it’s dangerous to have unrestrained pets in the car in the event of an accident. But it’s not like there are crash-test dummy dogs to test safety belts for pets… until now, that is. [More]
Walmart, Amazon & Sears Pull “Dead Dog Prop” From Online Listings Amidst Social Media Furor
By 9.17.13
Customers of Walmart.com, Sears.com and Amazon.com have taken up social media arms today over an item sold by third-party resellers on each of the three respective sites, resulting in the “Dead Dog Prop” vanishing quickly from listings. [More]
Pearl Izumi Sorry They Said Shoes Will Run Your Dog To Death
By 8.29.13
Dogs make great running, hiking, and walking companions: they (usually) go wherever you want, keep up a good pace, alert you to nearby squirrels, and don’t try to engage in any pesky conversations. So it’s understandable that people who run with their dogs found an ad for Pearl Izumi shoes that ran in Canada offensive. It shows a man performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on his dog, and implies that this is a good thing. [More]
iPad Classes For Dogs Are Stupid And You Should Feel Stupid
By 8.13.13
My dog has been known to paw at my iPod and smartphone, sometimes turning off the music, calling my friends, and once sending a gibberish text to one of the Consumerist bosses. I thought she was just being a dog and randomly stomping on things that I pay attention to instead of her, but there could be more to it than that. Maybe we should check out the iPad classes for dogs now offered in Manhattan. [More]
United Airlines Sends Passenger To San Diego, Ships His Dog To Hawaii
By 7.24.13
Handing your canine companion over to an airline, even for a few hours, can be stressful. So imagine how freaked out you would feel when you arrive at the airport only to find your furry friend is nowhere to be found. [More]
