The Ruff Report: Don't be in the dark about this pet threat

A natural phenomenon that happens each year puts your pet at a much higher risk of injury or even death, and dogs and cats need careful guidance to deal with it, an animal welfare agency warns.

The Hunt of Her Life: A book about a rescue dog that will touch your heart 

This marvel of Mother Nature that endangers the well-being of pets occurs in late autumn and winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the period when daylight becomes scarce, nights are longer and the chances of your pet being hit by a vehicle skyrocket.

The Ruff Report: Holiday travel can be dangerous - even deadly - for pets

Your pet could be in danger of getting lost, injured or even killed unless you make proper preparations before hitting the road or hopping on a plane for the Thanksgiving weekend, the busiest four-day travel period of the year, a leading animal welfare agency warns.

The Hunt of Her Life: A book series about a rescue dog that will touch your heart 

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals advises pet parents to make sure their companions have proper identification, are healthy enough to make the trip and to bring all pet medications.

The Hunt of Her Life: A book series about a rescue dog that will touch your heart

The Hunt of Her Life Original Book ($29.99) is a nonfiction book about Samantha, an unwanted rescue dog who the author adopts at age 2. This beautifully designed full-color deluxe book, by longtime newspaper journalist Joseph A. Reppucci, contains more than 60 vibrant color photos of dogs to help illustrate the compelling and uplifting of Samantha - a pretty tricolor bird dog who uses her warm personality to win people over and build a new family after being put up for adoption by a hunter because she is gun-shy and afraid to hunt. Learn how she uses her special bonding abilities with people to help her eventually make a difficult, but successful, transition to family life.

Living Well with Your Dog: A series of short stories

Want a better life with your dog? MySetterSam.com's Living Well With Your Dog, a series of short stories for pet owners, is loaded with common-sense ideas to help make  life more fun, enjoyable and healthy for you and your dog. Find great tips about subjects such as: creating a comfortable lifestyle for you and your dog; making your home and environment safe; improving your pet's health and nutrition; choosing a pet sitter and veterinarian; and saving money on dog food, pet products, prescription drugs and pet insurance.

The Ruff Report: Dogs feel no guilt about misbehaving

Your dog has a "guilty look" on his face and you are certain your pet has misbehaved in some way, so you give him a stern warning while searching for evidence of the forbidden deed.

The Hunt of Her Life: A book about a rescue dog that will touch your heart

You check the trash barrel, look for creases on the bed spread and examine the latch on the food bin to see if your dog has gotten into some of those off-limits places, but you find no wrongdoing.

The Ruff Report: Dogs usually mouth off before they bite

More than half the dog bites that occur in the United States each year involve children who are household members, but some of these incidents are avoidable if pet parents simply learn the way dogs communicate, an animal behavioral expert says.

Pet parents need to understand the subtle ways that dogs communicate their frustrations, dislikes and fears and take remedial action before the behavior escalates into biting, according to Niki Tudge, founder of The DogSmith, a national pet care and training service based in Bonifay, Florida.