Sheltered coaches, athletes add pets to provide joy through pandemic

Good News Notes: “Gophers defensive coordinator Joe Rossi couldn’t stop glowing about the newest addition to his team. ‘He loves defense. He’s really not interested in letting anyone score points,’ Rossi said. ‘… He’s high-energy. He’s got good speed, good lateral movement. And, you know, he’s just lovable, wants to play all the time.’” View…

Surprising therapy and emotional support animals

 Good News Notes: “Though dogs are the most common therapy animal, plenty of other animals support their owners. Pet Partners told ABC News that, “dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, guinea pigs, rats, miniature pigs, llamas, alpacas, horses, donkeys, and mini-horses” can all be therapy animals. There are important distinctions between therapy animals and emotional support animals. Therapy…

Rescue Animals Visit Nursing Home Residents to Spread Some Joy

 Good News Notes: “Petting dogs and cats can scientifically reduce stress. It’s one of the reasons we feel such immense comfort when we pet, hug and cuddle our pets. But given the current situation going on in the world, we need to keep our distance from each other. This means therapy animals that may have…

Shelter of Hope awarded $500,000 state grant

Good News Notes: “The Humane Society of Yates County (HSYC) and their Shelter of Hope have been award a major grant of half a million dollars for improvements at the shelter that will improve the quality of life for the animals, and increase their chances of being adopted. The HSYC is one of 12 shelters…

Local animal shelters team up to house pets affected by flooding

Good News Notes: “Mississippi Animal Rescue League and Community Animal Rescue and Adoption are teaming up to house animals affected by flooding in the community. MARL is housing cats and small dogs. CARA is housing large dogs. The owners bring them to the shelters and do the paperwork and the shelters will keep and care for…

Group Starts New Initiative To Reduce Tulsa Animal Euthanasia

Good News Notes: “A new statewide initiative is hoping to reduce the number of cats and dogs euthanized in Oklahoma shelters. A group called Common Bonds announced their statewide goals in Tulsa on Tuesday afternoon. Common Bonds said the latest data shows about 13,000 animals were euthanized in shelters across Oklahoma last year, and they…