Pets are great for (your) heart health

The American Heart Association released a study that said pet ownership, especially dog ownership, is associated with a decreased risk of heart disease and increased survival among patients.

Open house for prospective pet fosters this Saturday

Have a passion for saving orphaned pets? Can you offer a between-homes home to a dog or cat? Have place in your heart and your house for a temporary visitor of the furry kind? Then this party is for you!

Cute baby animals and their moms [Pictures]

In honor of Mother's Day, browse pictures of cute baby animals and their moms -- cats, dogs, elephants, pandas and more.

Dogtopia Open House in Canton

Cutest Pets contest winners [Pictures]

Announcing the champions of our first competition for Baltimore's four-legged friends.

Baltimore-area dog thefts on rise, owners, observers say

As she struggled to unload groceries from the back of her car, Sherrie Schenning got an uncharacteristically queasy feeling.

Cinco de Gato Adoption Event

Dogs to ease final-exam angst at UB

Few situations are more stressful than law school final exams, and 'tis the season. But frazzled test-takers at the University of Baltimore School of Law will enjoy a stress-free zone full of soft fluffy dog love and puppy kisses tomorrow thanks to an enterprising student and Pets on Wheels.

Baltimore's Cutest Pet Contest finalists [Pictures]

We went through more than 900 reader submissions (view them all here) and narrowed them down to 10 dogs, 10 cats and 7 "others" of the cutest pets in Baltimore. A panel of judges will decide the cutest pet in each category. The winners receive a Baltimore Sun photo session, and a $50 gift certificate to Pooches N Purrs. • Also see: Unleashed: A blog for animals and the people who love them

For a night, a baby fox finds comfort from firemen

Pup was trapped and hurt in storm drain in Edgewood.

Dog Day Afternoon, this Saturday in Columbia

The Columbia Association invites you and your dog to Dog Day Afternoon at Hopewell Park this Saturday, April 27, for a day of music, raffles, demonstrations and seminars, and the chance to meet local business owners who focus on the health, happiness and well-being of pets.

Common plants can be toxic to pets

A recent post on the Lab Rescue Facebook page broke my heart: a woman wrote that her beloved dog died unexpectedly, and that an autopsy showed that her liver had been completely destroyed. The culprit? Heliotrope, a common flowering plant the woman had on her deck that the dog nibbled on.

March for the Animals fundraiser [Pictures]

See photos of the annual fundraiser for the Maryland SPCA.

Hot Dog: When to Leave Fido at Home

It’s super nice outside with mild temperatures, low humidity, and trees and blooms bursting to life. It’s tempting to take Fido along for a ride. But it can be surprisingly dangerous to leave your pet in the car, and few of us realize how quickly temperatures inside can reach life-threatening levels.

March for the Animals is Sunday

Get your walking shoes and your leash ready -- the Maryland SPCA is hosting its 18th March for the Animals, which promises great fun for humans and their dogs.

Some dogs need their space

Is your dog a DINOS? The acronym hasn’t quite caught on yet, but it stands for Dog in Need of Space. Coined by Maine dogwalker Jessica Dolce, the term is used to describe dogs who don’t like being approached by other dogs or strange people -- they need space to be comfortable.

Pets for Patriots

Active, retired and disabled military service members and their families will be connected with adoptable dogs and cats, and the pets will receive a second chance at life thanks to a new partnership between Pets for Patriots and the Humane Society of Harford County (HSHC). Through the partnership, service men and women will receive a discount on the normal adoption fee.

Maryland legislature votes on dog bills

The Maryland General Assembly passed two pieces of legislation aimed at protecting dogs in the state, but failed to vote on the "pit bill compromise" that made headlines earlier this year.

Want to make work better? Bring a dog

Bonnie Bessor's job can take its toll after a while. As executive director of Rebuilding Together, she's responsible for finding ways to help low-income Baltimore residents with home repair, maintenance projects and money to pay for the heat.

The waiting is the best part

Every day at 4 p.m., the Labragator follows me around the house and stares me in the eye, throwing in the occasional whimper just in case I didn’t notice the 96 pounds of black dog in my face.

Pet food stamps become a reality

It’s a heartbreaking decision that thousands of devoted pet owners are forced to make every year: pay the bills or feed the dog or cat? The choice between paying for heat, water, or groceries and buying a bag of pet food is all too real for many families and as a result, many dogs and cats end up in shelters -- not because they weren’t loved, but because they were just too expensive.

St. PAWtrick's Day adoption events

Could the path to the pot o’ gold be paved with pawprints? Two local animal shelters think so, and they’ve invited you to special St. PAWtrick’s Day parties to find out for sure.

Sit, Stay: dog seat belt study

On the surface, those doggie seatbelts and car harnesses featured in catalogs seem like a good idea. After all, if we buckle up on the road, shouldn’t our pets? The difference is that while human seatbelts are carefully tested and held to strict quality and design standards, the same is not true for pet restraints, so there’s no guarantee Fido or Fluffy is actually safer wearing one.

Study says dogs at work lower humans' stress

I work at home most of the time and usually enjoy the Labragator’s close company near my desk (except on rainy days, when she heads upstairs for a snooze on my bed). She’s a great office mate: She doesn’t burn popcorn, play awful music, gossip on the phone while I’m trying to write, or swipe my pens (unlike my children, but that’s a different post for another day), and she’s great for curing the mid-day slump with a quick walk around the block or game of catch. As far as I’m concerned, having my dog in my office is a serious perk.

Thou Callest Me a Dog

Shakespeare wrote about dogs several times (our headline is from "The Merchant of Venice"), but only one of his plays features a dog with a name. Until March 17, you can catch that show -- "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" -- and the stage debuts of two local pups.

SPCA to hold seminar on planning pet's future when you're gone

Sadly, the Maryland SPCA receives pets that are surrendered by neighbors of people who have passed away, because no one has made plans for the animals ahead of time. No pet lover wants to think of their dog, cat, bird, or other animal being put up for adoption, so the SPCA is hosting a seminar to help owners make plans for pets who may outlive them.

Cosmetic surgery for the canine set

From easing eye pain to installing fake testicles, some humans put their pets under the knife.

Another dog-treat recall

Here we go again. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced another voluntary recall of several brands of pet treats due to possible salmonella contamination, which can be dangerous both to pets and to people who handle the treats.

Happy hour, with dogs, to benefit SPCA this Friday

You and your dog are cordially invited to a happy hour Friday, Feb. 22, in downtown Baltimore to party with and help the Maryland SPCA, and the pets are guaranteed to have as much fun as the people.

Study raises concerns about raw food diet for pets

Researchers say the trend toward feeding pets, especially cats, raw food could endanger the animals' health.

Ask the pet expert: fearful dog

Tillman the skating dog visits Baltimore

You’ve probably run across a video of Tillman sometime in the last year or two -- he holds the Guinness World Record for fastest 100 meters on a skateboard by a dog (yes, it’s a real category, and no, your dog shouldn’t try it), and more than 25 million people have viewed his skating antics on YouTube. Friday, Tillman takes over Baltimore and Annapolis on national television.

Westminster Kennel Club dog show [Pictures]

Here are some scenes from the 137th Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York City.