Photographers See A Seal Being Chased By Orcas — Then He Jumps Onto Their Boat

Charvet Drucker @charvetd_photography

Being in the right place at the right time can change everything. For one harbor seal off the coast of Washington state, it meant the difference between life and death.

Earlier this week, a stranded seal got a lifeline when he spotted a boat carrying Smith Siromaskul, his wife, Terese Drummond, and their friend, Charvet Drucker, in Puget Sound. The trio of amateur wildlife photographers had set out that day, hoping to spot some orcas. But when they encountered a pod near Rocky Point, they found themselves in the midst of a high-stakes pursuit.

Read the rest of Watchdog Mary’s article in The Dodo.

What to Know About In-Home Euthanasia

Credit: Ivan Babydov

In-home pet euthanasia is skyrocketing in popularity. What are the pros, cons, and costs of dog euthanasia at home?

Read the rest of Watchdog Mary’s article in The Whole Dog Journal

Woman Tries To Help Giant Bird Standing in Street — And He Follows Her Home

Judie Schwager couldn’t believe her eyes.

She was inside her home when she heard an animal cry that sounded as if it belonged in Jurassic Park, not the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. She looked out the front window and did a double take.

Read the rest of Watchdog Mary’s article in The Dodo.

What to Do if Your Dog is Sprayed by a Skunk

Photo: Goochie Poochie Grooming

Was your dog sprayed by a skunk? It's the worst! We asked the experts what really works to remove skunk smell from a dog.

Click here to read the rest of Watchdog Mary’s article in The Whole Dog Journal.

Man Is So Excited That His Dog Has Been Found He Drives Lawnmower To Get Him

Photo credit: Johnny Chavez

John Aguilar is not in the habit of riding his lawnmower through the streets of San Antonio, Texas. But one day in July, he found himself doing just that — with his dog at his feet and a huge smile on his face.

To read the rest of Watchdog Mary’s article in The Dodo click here.

Cleanup Crew Opens Oven Wrecked in Flood and Miracle Cat Jumps Out

Beth Patterson/Kerrville Pets Alive!

At first, the phone call Kerrville Pets Alive! received stunned Karen Guerriero, the president and cofounder of the rescue organization based in Kerrville, Texas. The area is ground zero for the tragic floods that surged through the state in July.

Click here to read the rest of Watchdog Mary’s story in The Dodo.

Caring for Dogs with Disabilities

“Kanuk” Credit Catherine Prystup

Do you have a dog facing physical challenges? The key to caring for your four-legged family member is to be realistic about their condition and for you and your dog to adapt to the change.

To read the rest of Watchdog Mary’s article in The Whole Dog Journal, click here.

What Traits Make the Best Family Dogs?

Photo by Blue Bird

Confident, resilient, and outgoing dogs typically make the best family companions, but first, assess your household's traits to ensure you're the right fit for the dog.

Read the rest of Watchdog Mary’s article in The Whole Dog Journal.

Can Dogs Drink Alcohol?

Photo by Maria Orlova

Though you may have seen pictures, memes, and videos on social media about drunk dogs, we have a simple public service announcement on behalf of all canine-kind: Dogs should not booze it up. Why?

Read Watchdog Mary’s article in The Whole Dog Journal.

What Are the Top Calls to Animal Poison Control?

Photo by Sharon Snider

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center received more than 451,000 calls from pet parents last year who needed immediate answers: Could what their dog gobbled down cause a life-threatening problem? The organization crunched its data and just released its annual list of what pets managed to ingest the most.

Click here to read the rest of Watchdog Mary’s article in The Whole Dog Journal.

How to Check Out a Dog Charity Before You Donate

Photo by Mikhail Nilov

You’re scrolling through your social media feed, and a heartbreaking video of a trembling, filthy, emaciated dog with the saddest, haunting eyes stops you in your tracks. The post says, “Bella needs medical help. Please donate to our rescue…” But you’ve never heard of the organization.

What do you do? How do you know the group is a legitimate nonprofit? And that Bella will get the care she needs? Read Watchdog Mary’s article in The Whole Dog Journal.

Hitting the Road: How to Choose a Dog Ground Transport Service

Credit: Mogeb Alomeri

Need a professional to drive your dog cross-country? Choosing the right pet transport service is critical. You're putting your dog's life in an animal mover's hands.

How can you pick the right one? Read Watchdog Mary’s article in The Whole Dog Journal.

Why Do My Dog’s Feet Smell Like Fritos? Is This Normal?

Photo by Engin Akyurt

Canines are known for their many odors—but when your dog’s paws smell like Fritos, and no one opened a bag of corn chips (because surely your dog would have alerted you to the exciting sound of a plastic food bag opening), the Frito-feet scent can be puzzling.

Click here to read the rest of Watchdog Mary’s article in Chewy.

How To Help the Animal Shelter Crisis

Photo credit: halilibrahimxq

Record numbers of dogs and cats are in shelters across the United States. Some facilities are euthanizing animals because they don’t have the space to house them all.

How can you help? Read Watchdog Mary’s article in The Whole Dog Journal.

20 Dog Boredom Busters: What To Do When Your Dog Is Bored

Credit: Blue Bird/Pexels

We've all been there: You're on a call while your dog looks like they're telepathically messaging you, "Take me for a walk." Or they start barking, whining or chewing your shoe.

They're bored. What can you do? Watchdog Mary’s article in Chewy has 20 boredom busters to do with your dog.

Ten Siberian Husky Behavior Problems

Credit: Kateryna Babaieva

To know a Siberian Husky is to love them. But as with every dog, the breed is not without their challenges. To read about the top ten behavior problems you may encounter and how to handle them, click here for Watchdog Mary’s article in Chewy.

Dog Cones: All You Need To Know (Plus Cone Alternatives)

Mazzy Fritzel/Pexels

It's the phrase pet parents dread hearing from their veterinarian: "Your dog needs to wear a cone..."

How can you get your dog used to the cone? What are cone alternatives?

Read Watchdog Mary’s article in Chewy.

My Dog Bit Someone, Now What?

Photo credit: Alina Skazka, Pexels

A dog bite takes a split second to happen, and if your dog bites someone, it can haunt you, your dog and the person who was bitten for a long time. What should you do?

Click here to read Watchdog Mary’s article on Chewy’s Be Smart website.

How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Dog?

If you want to adopt, experts say dogs need you now more than ever.

Shelters across the country are full, adoptions are down, and euthanasia is up. Most adoption fees range from $100 to $500.

Read more in Watchdog’s Mary article originally published in Dogster Magazine:

How to Become a Pet Sitter

Want to become a pet sitter? You need a big heart, patience, and a bit of business know-how.

Watchdog Mary covers it all in her award-winning article originally published in Dogster magazine: