"What's the deal with cat ladies?" asks an article. Maybe you saw the TV show, which could be "the grossest footage" on TV. Gross indeed, but read the studies from the Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium, or watch the documentary, and maybe you'll want to visit the little old lady that lives down the street and see if she's OK.
posted by Cool Papa Bell on Nov 8, 2009 - 46 comments

Should owning a great dane make you as much of an eco-outcast as an SUV driver? Yes it should, say Robert and Brenda Vale. Article about the environmental impact of pets.
posted by Neekee on Nov 1, 2009 - 145 comments

The New Yorker's "Critterati" contest invites you to "take a picture of your pet—dog, cat, ferret, iguana, or any other nonhuman member of the animal kingdom—dressed as a character from literature, and upload it to newyorker.com by October 25th." Gallery | About | Rules | Enter. [more inside]
posted by taz on Oct 22, 2009 - 42 comments

Respect Your Pet has launched with a mission of tracking down those individuals who mistreat and humiliate their pets with such tools as creative grooming and silly photography. Their "about" page hints at one reason this is such an important cause for the couple that started the site. [more inside]
posted by amelioration on Oct 13, 2009 - 78 comments

On July 31 of this year, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) introduced H.R. 3501, a bill aimed at granting tax deductions to owners of companion animals. Known as the HAPPY Act — Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years — it would create a deduction of up to $3,500 on federal tax returns for the care of "qualified" pets, defined as "legally owned, domesticated, and live animals." As of yet, there are no co-sponsors. So did McCotter introduce the bill due to being a genuine supporter of animal protections, or is this one Republican's way of trying to ensure taxpayers get to keep more of their money? Either way, the ASPCA approves, as do actors Leo Grillo and Robert Davi. via
posted by lovermont on Oct 8, 2009 - 37 comments

People are dying and grooming their poodles to look like panda bears, camels, and bison. Seriously. I apologize for the SL, but this is too weird not to share. Here's another link or two.
posted by k8t on Aug 28, 2009 - 86 comments

You've committed your life to Jesus. You know you're saved. But when the Rapture comes what's to become of your loving pets who are left behind?
Eternal Earth-Bound Pets takes that burden off your mind.
posted by plexi on Aug 25, 2009 - 82 comments

Cat-ladders around the world. 110 towns in 22 different countries. Cat's demands on their owners know no borders.
posted by kimdog on Jul 23, 2009 - 44 comments

At the Toronto Humane Society, veterinarians say animals die suffering unnecessarily in their cages while pleas to euthanize them are dismissed. Dozens of staff, volunteers and veterinarians have quit in protest. ... A note written by a staff member or volunteer on the medical chart of a cat, animal ID A127495, admitted last fall, reads: "Died Oct 19 3:15 am. Gasped and jerked and cried last breaths, because there was no one in shelter to euthanize or treat. This is not humane." ... [THS president] Mr. Trow says he strives to keep euthanasia rates low for ethical reasons. “How can anyone suggest that, because he might be here longer than anyone would want, that it's better to put [a dog] down?” Mr. Trow asked. “I think that's a strange suggestion, don't you? You live here as long as you can.” Images (yes, they're disturbing.) Video of a puppy adopted out with a broken leg. The THS web site. [more inside]
posted by maudlin on May 30, 2009 - 63 comments

Charlie plays. Charlie explores. Charlie bites. Charlie relaxes. Charlie sleeps. Charlie loves. [more inside]
posted by Joe Beese on May 1, 2009 - 41 comments

American Houndsman is a site dedicated to showcasing vintage hound hunting. Back when hunters didn't have all the fancy equipment and gadgets of today, it was a time that hunting was simple. Fetch the dogs, the light, and the gun and off to the woods for a night's hunt. Features vintage photographs of beloved coon dawgs, even the ones still learning, and stories of hunting dogs in days gone by. There's even a coon dog cemetery where the best of the best are laid to rest. [more inside]
posted by netbros on Mar 18, 2009 - 11 comments

Jim, The Wonder Dog. During the height of the Great Depression, a "plain black and white setter" entertained and mystified the citizens of Missouri with his "extraordinary cleverness" and his seemingly inexplicable ability to foretell the future. [more inside]
posted by amyms on Feb 21, 2009 - 5 comments

The title says it all: Pets Who Want To Kill Themselves.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy on Feb 7, 2009 - 32 comments

Woof Report has a litter of pup-perfect ideas, dog care tips, products, and more. Think of it as your daily dose of doggie delight. Woof Report works to promote awareness of animal welfare causes, pet adoption initiatives and charities.
posted by netbros on Jan 18, 2009 - 2 comments

"The animals all think he's Margaret when he speaks. He loves ordering them around and commanding them – it's very surprising. He's not frightened or scared of them at all."

The Dog Files is a website and video podcast about dogs and the people that love them.
posted by blue_beetle on Nov 14, 2008 - 7 comments

Amish puppy mills, outrage and controversy.
posted by Brian B. on Jul 3, 2008 - 66 comments

Dogs in wigs
Dogs in wigs
Dogs in wigs
Dogs in wigs
Dogs in wigs
This is a little weird.
Mouseover text for more info.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew on Jun 17, 2008 - 21 comments

A flipside of Kitty Wigs^TM, for the stylish kitty - pointed out previously - is available for the stylish kitty owner!
posted by Kronos_to_Earth on Jun 2, 2008 - 17 comments

How To Clean Stuff. From kitchen and bath, to flooring and carpets. Indoors, outdoors, your car, dog, colon and bong. More than 800 cleaning tips in all. Submit your best ideas. Each one that gets published, the site will contribute to the Clean Water Fund.
posted by netbros on May 29, 2008 - 5 comments

Your daily recommended allowance of YouTube: Trusting baby tries a lemon / Wary baby given a lime / Two dogs try a lemon / Lime makes dog crazy / [more inside]
posted by 2bucksplus on Mar 28, 2008 - 56 comments

This Is Charley. Charley is a cat with cerebellar hypoplasia.
posted by homunculus on Mar 19, 2008 - 68 comments

Have you ever wondered how much a hamster can store in his cheeks without exploding? Smoke will show you. (Single link YouTube post)
posted by onlyconnect on Mar 9, 2008 - 33 comments

How to wash a cat. Step #1: Dress for the occasion - a four-ply wet suit is suggested, with gloves and a face mask.
posted by plexi on Jan 7, 2008 - 43 comments

Working Class Cats documents the lives of gainfully employed felines in NYC. There is, of course, some controversy. [via]
posted by milquetoast on Dec 22, 2007 - 36 comments

Who invited the dog? People who think their pets are people vs. people who don't.
posted by dersins on Dec 13, 2007 - 149 comments

What I Killed Today. I work with a lot of injured wildlife. Also not wild animals that are just in a lot of pain. Sometimes I have to euthanize them. I decided to record each animal I euthanize here.
posted by monju_bosatsu on Dec 9, 2007 - 80 comments

The Foodle! Bassetoodle! A Chi-Poo and a Pomapoo!! Poogles, Doxiepoos, and Miniature Labradoodles! (oodles more here)
posted by Pants! on Dec 3, 2007 - 51 comments

The Hyena Men, seen a couple of years ago and now updated: Pieter Hugo's gallery of photographs of people with hyenas and baboons as pets in Abuja, Nigeria.Text. [more inside]
posted by nickyskye on Nov 3, 2007 - 12 comments

Taking care of an incredibly alien-looking, yet impossibly cute anteater isn't easy — in fact, it's a lot of aard verk!
posted by dmd on Oct 31, 2007 - 26 comments

The Cat Diaries. [Via The Underwire.]
posted by homunculus on Sep 24, 2007 - 19 comments

"Pet custody disputes have become an increasingly common fixture in divorce cases." Related: "Animal lawyers are careful to distinguish themselves from animal rights advocates... These lawyers are concerned primarily with getting the legal system to acknowledge that animals have an intrinsic value beyond mere property."
posted by amyms on Sep 17, 2007 - 15 comments

Oscar the cat. Harbinger of death. (more info available behind registration at the NEJM)
posted by revmitcz on Jul 25, 2007 - 95 comments

"We think what happened is that cats sort of domesticated themselves." A Washington Post article about new research into why our cats want to hang around with us. Also, a transcript of an online chat with research scientist Carlos A. Driscoll and an additional article about the ancient roots of domestic cats.
posted by amyms on Jun 30, 2007 - 48 comments

Earthlings (1 hr 35 min Google video) is "a feature length documentary about humanity's absolute dependence on animals (for pets, food, clothing, entertainment, and scientific research) but also illustrates our complete disrespect for these so-called 'non-human providers.'" Also in three parts on YouTube.
posted by homunculus on Jun 24, 2007 - 71 comments

What a menu: White meat chicken florentine in a delicate sauce with garden greens. Shredded white meat chicken in a savory broth with garden greens. White meat chicken and whipped egg soufflé with garden greens. Sound tasty? It's the new "Elegant Medleys" line of cat food from Fancy Feast, being pimped by none other than Mr. Restaurant himself, Rocco DiSpirito. So: a new way to show those kids in fur coats how much you love them, or just a bunch of overpriced hooey?
posted by shiu mai baby on Feb 28, 2007 - 70 comments

Washington State Legislature to Allow Dogs in Bars. And some people are just not happy about it. Dogs in bars. What's the big deal? Is it a health issue? In more civilized places, like Paris, they have been doing it for years - plague free.
posted by tkchrist on Feb 4, 2007 - 129 comments

Who is going to care for your pets after you are raptured into heaven? Many Christians believe that animals do not go to heaven. So when Jesus comes back and you return with him to heaven, will there be somebody to take care of your dog or cat?

That’s what JesusPets is for. We are assembling a community of heathen pet-lovers to care for pets that are “left-behind.” We are coordinating with feed mills and kennels in preparation for your post-apocalyptic pet care needs.
posted by jcterminal on Jan 19, 2007 - 40 comments

My Misio - a site for a pet crochet bear cat. Some nice pics in the diary section and a vid, too. {It be Flash}
posted by dobbs on Nov 28, 2006 - 8 comments

A recent article recently came out in the Wall Street Journal, which cited new study from Stanford about animal consciousness. Elephants grieve, bees create mental maps, dolphins recognize themselves in mirrors. Snakes have more brain cells than humans, and chickens worry about the future. What are your thoughts? Does this change the way we treat animals?
posted by PetBoogaloo on Nov 3, 2006 - 86 comments

Kitty litter was invented in 1946. Birds were the first pets to have their own full lines of products. Canned dog food first appeared in the 1910s. Lots of interesting stuff [wav] at the University of South Carolina's Pets in America site.
posted by mediareport on Oct 9, 2006 - 18 comments

There are approximately 77.6 million owned cats in the United States alone. And at least 20 million feral cats. There are many different breeds of cats. A very popular house pet, cats can be quite odd indeed. Cats can be tiny. And cats can be huge. Baby cats are called kittens and are extremely cute. Indoor cats are frequently overfed. But most importantly, cats can be very, very funny.
posted by weretable and the undead chairs on Jun 2, 2006 - 109 comments

What’s a dog worth? Los Angeles kills more animals in its shelters than any other metropolitan area in the United States. For that to change, we will have to figure out what to do with the pets none of us want.
posted by PenguinBukkake on May 13, 2006 - 56 comments

50 animals in casts. nuff said. (via mira y calla)
posted by madamjujujive on Mar 1, 2006 - 25 comments

I apologize to those who have found this site looking for solutions to their companion's pain and suffering.
posted by betaray on Feb 23, 2006 - 37 comments

Hamster driven micro Power Plants ... the Hamster powered Night Light from the Otherpower.com guys .... also the school project of a London teen ... "Every two minutes Elvis spends on his wheel gives me about 30 minutes talk time on my phone." The teenage inventor was given a C for his project and has been awarded a D overall for the course" Please no Richard Gere jokes OK?
posted by celerystick on Nov 7, 2005 - 17 comments

I've Got Cats - (In the tradition of MeFi cat links since Day One) - Can his server withstand the attack?  
posted by spock on Aug 3, 2005 - 5 comments

Looking for that perfect gift for your favorite dog-loving military buff? How about a picture of Rover in uniform?
posted by Katemonkey on Apr 25, 2005 - 11 comments

Melissa Kaplan's site is not just about green iguanas. Anapsid.org provides information on behavior, health, prey and feeding, captivity issues, and more regarding Cyclura (blue) iguanas, chelonians, amphibians, crocodilians, lizards, snakes, and even invertebrates and arachnids.
posted by breezeway on Apr 21, 2005 - 5 comments

Dye pets! That's right, for those of you who have always longed to color your furry friends in all the shades of the rainbow, Pet Ésthe rides to the rescue. Just look at those happy doggies! And when you've feasted your eyes why don't you head on over to one of their affiliated stores to watch the canine runway fashion show (embedded vid and awesome music)
posted by Kattullus on Apr 4, 2005 - 35 comments