Summer 2026 – Special Update

Welcome to summer, Friend!

If you, like so much of the country, have been affected by the recent heat wave, then I hope

1. Your air conditioning system is working;

2. The higher electricity bill won't be a burden; and

3. Your pets have found some comfort and are staying cool, too.

My A/C wasn't working for the first few weeks of the summer, and while it was far from comfortable for me, I was mainly thinking of my dogs' well-being. This time of year, I also think often of our unhoused neighbors and their pets, and how unfairly challenging it is to find relief. Nobody wants to see their pet suffer and have limited, if any, means of helping them. Stray animals, too, must contend with finding shade and plenty of water in an environment that's not designed for their needs.

The human-animal bond is so ubiquitous and prominent in my life, and I would imagine that's true for you as well. Long, hot summers remind me that, while we've made so much progress, there's still a long way to go to protect that bond – so I appreciate everything you do to support pets and the people who love them.

Summer isn't all bad news and melting pavement, though. Whether you're hiding from the sun or cautiously embracing it with copious sunscreen, here are a few ways you can celebrate and strengthen the human-animal bond from now until the fall.

JULY

Starting July 24, the RedRover Responders volunteers will be in New Jersey helping another domestic violence shelter build pet-friendly accommodations so survivors and their pets can find safety together. The 25 by 2025 campaign may be over, but we're still working hard to help more shelters create pet housing programs that suit their communities' unique needs through RedRover Relief and the Purple Leash Project.

Are you curious if your local domestic violence shelter accepts pets? You can search DomesticShelters.org to find out. If they don't have a pet housing program, there's no one better than a FurEver Friend to advocate for survivors with pets.

Don’t Forget the Pets (DFTP), our collaborative project with Greater Good Charities, is teaming up with animal behaviorist Dr. Annie Valuska of Purina to explore the science of optimizing pet well-being. This one-hour webinar will teach participants practical strategies to help pets feel safe and comfortable in the short-term, improve their confidence and resilience in the long-term, and understand and manage “undesirable” behaviors. Register for the July 29 presentation, Pet Behavior 201: Setting Pets Up for Success, today.

P.S. If you're interested in the laws that protect individuals with disabilities and their assistance animals, you won't want to miss this recording of a presentation from the California Civil Rights Department. Check it out here.

So, you braved the heat for a day at the lake or river with your dog. While the water may be refreshing for you, did you know it can hide some nasty dangers for your dog, including toxic bacteria? The folks at PetMD have put together a list of the most common waterborne pathogens and the signs of infection to look out for. Read up before your next big adventure so you and your dog are prepared – because it may not be so easy to just shake it off.

AUGUST

Did the waterborne pathogens turn you off of a day at the lake? If going to the pool is not an option or it's just too hot to go outside, there's plenty you can do to keep your pet engaged and entertained indoors. The ASPCA have come up with low- and no-cost DIY enrichment ideas for your cat and dog to have their best summer yet.

My dogs have never met a snuffle mat they didn't like.

Uncertainty is everywhere these days. From unpredictable weather to exploding costs and fast-moving politics, it's hard not to feel the effects. Chances are, our pets are feeling the effects, too. DFTP will host My Pit Bull is Family on August 12 for a one-hour webinar, Mutual Aid in Action: Supporting People and Pets in Times of Uncertainty.

They'll explore the power of mutual aid and discuss what it truly means to support both ends of the leash: rejecting judgment, dismantling traditional gatekeeping, and focusing on meeting people exactly where they are.

SEPTEMBER

School is back in session, and that means humane education is, too! Whether you're a parent or grandparent to school-age children, or you just think it's important to teach empathy for animals, you can help us #SpreadKindNews by sponsoring a classroom with an annual subscription to Kind News™ magazine or nominating an educator to receive a classroom bundle.

FurEver Friends Fun Poll

If I thought asking an open-ended question last time might discourage you from responding, I was wrong! Thank you, everyone, for submitting the question you would like to ask your pet.

Why do you love me so unconditionally?
Do you know how much you are loved?
Are you happy? What would you like me to do for you? How are you feeling today?
What can I do for you that would make your time more relaxed, easier on you when I'm not at home?
How come you don't like it when I hug my family?
Why do you ignore my command to come?

Among them, I see the challenge of wanting our pets to know how loved they are, but only being able to communicate that indirectly. Why the scientific community hasn't gone all in on figuring out how to communicate with our pets in a common language is beyond me – talk about world-changing!

I also see questions about our pets' little idiosyncrasies. I'd like to ask my own dogs, "Why do you try to eat things, food or otherwise, you find on the ground?"

This is where pet owners shine, in my opinion: nicknaming their fur babies. Do we do this with our friends or family to the same extent? I want to know what you've nicknamed your pet(s), not just your favorite or the most common, but all of them. And of course, I'd like to know their actual name, too (and if you ever want to send me a picture, my inbox is open).

I'll go, and I'll limit it to four each...

Zeppo: Zeppopotamus, Zeppy Doo, Zep Le Pep, Mr. Z

Delaney: Wiggles, Stinkylaney, Bug, Chubby Bunny (and the Roman version, Chubbius Bunnius)