Dog custody: Spain to consider pets’ welfare in divorce battles
Madrid, Spain Reuters Spain will consider a pet’s welfare when couples divorce or break-up from Wednesday in a legal shift that strengthens the case for couples obtaining shared custody of their animals. The decision follows similar moves in France and Portugal and obliges judges to consider pets as sentient beings rather than objects owned by […]
As Spanish volcano roars, drones drop food for dogs stranded by lava
La Palma, Spain Reuters Several emaciated dogs lie curled up in and around a walled, ash-covered yard cut off by volcanic lava in the mountainous area of Todoque on the Spanish island of La Palma, until a drone appears in the sky to drop packages with food and water. They lift their heads to look […]
Philippines pets receive blessings in drive-through ceremony
Manila, PhilippinesReuters Hundreds of animal lovers in the Philippines had their pets blessed via a drive-through ceremony on Sunday to mark World Animal Day and the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, forgoing the usual fanfare due to COVID-19. This was the second straight year that organisers had to hold […]
UK Government plans new pet abduction offence after rise in thefts
London, UKReuters The British Government said on Friday it was planning to make pet abduction a criminal offence in England after a rise in the theft of animals, especially dogs, during the COVID-19 pandemic. With pet ownership surging during coronavirus lockdowns as people spent more time at home, the price of some dog breeds soared […]
Dogs at church?: Meet Petey the Beagle, associate pastor and greeter
This week, the US marked National Dog Day. KATHRYN POST, of Religion News Service, reports on how some US churches are engaging with pets as a means of connecting with people…
South Korea to grant legal status to animals to tackle abuse, abandonment
Seoul, South KoreaReuters Jin-hui, a cream-coloured Pomeranian, was buried alive and left for dead in 2018 in the South Korean port city of Busan. No charges were filed against its owner at the time, but animal abusers and those who abandon pets will soon face harsher punishment as South Korea plans to amend its civil […]
Italian city puts pooches first with pet-friendly planning scheme
Rome, ItalyThomson Reuters Foundation Famed for its renaissance walls and mediaeval towers, the Italian city of Lucca hopes to boost its modern-day appeal by becoming Europe’s first pet-friendly “smart city”. An EU-funded initiative aims to nurture residents’ well-being by making the Tuscan city an animal-lovers’ paradise – with dedicated dog-walking paths and pet-therapy programs. A […]
ESSAY: ATHEISTS PREFER CATS, CHRISTIANS LOVE DOGS, STUDY SHOWS
In an article first published on Religion News Service, RYAN BURGE, assistant professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University, looks at what data about ownership and religious beliefs in the US shows…
Film: ‘A Dog’s Journey’ brings W Bruce Cameron’s Bailey back to life – and back again
HEATHER ADAMS, of Religion News Service, reports on the movie sequel to ‘A Dog’s Purpose’…
Grub’s up! Can insect pet food cut dogs’ carbon pawprint?
Thomson Reuters Foundation Love your dog, but worried about the environmental impact of their meat-heavy diet? Now one British company is offering a solution – feed your pooch insects instead. It launched a dry dog food on Thursday made from black soldier fly larvae in a bid to tackle the “carbon pawprint” created by pets […]