Miss Ellie had her game face on. This year, her fur was grayer, her sight poorer and her warts more plentiful. She was ugly and she knew it. But 2009 proved to be the year of the upstart.
AP Poll: Half of pet owners give pets human names
Almost half of American pet owners gave an animal a human-like name, such as Jack or Sophie, according to a poll of more than 1,000 pet owners.
Bad economy pushes visitors through zoo gates
To draw visitors, zoos count on gentle giraffes rolling out their long tongues to grasp treats, stingrays gliding through a pool to be petted and the playful tussling of tiger cubs. This year they're also getting help from the recession.
Cat dropped in mailbox adopted by postal worker
A postal worker has adopted a kitten that was abandoned in a mailbox.
Teaching man's best friend
Nearly 35 years ago, Bonnie Bergin invented — in Santa Rosa — the concept of training dogs to serve people with disabilities that historically prevented them from performing simple, essential functions.
Pets and your health
Sharing your life with a pet can be beneficial to your physical and mental health. Pets have been known to help combat depression, sickness and disease.
Keeping pets safe in hot weather
To ensure that pets have a safe and healthy summer, owners need to take certain factors into consideration, as well as following some basic guidelines.
Twitter's latest star is a microblogging cat
He's one of the most popular users on Twitter. More than 500,000 follow his growing celebrity, his every adventure and, well, his cat naps.
Fire departments get dog oxygen masks
A widower whose faithful companion is a 9-year-old Lab has donated oxygen masks designed for dogs to Santa Cruz County fire departments.
A new look at puppy love
Meeting the parents can be a test for any new relationship. But what about meeting the pooch?
The ABC's of bathing your pet
Unlike their owners, pets don't tend to see the shower or the bath very often.
Pets as perks at work
At the Marcus Thomas marketing agency, a pat on the head goes a long way. Not for the employees. For the dogs.
Tripping over pets
Pet owners are falling over their pets, literally.
Humane Society of Sonoma County director resigns
The Humane Society of Sonoma County has announced the resignation of Scott Anderson as executive director. Anderson left his post late last month.
