Rocky the Traveller - Around the world, one paw at a time

Majority of pet owners admit to canceling plans to spend time with their furry friends

October 16, 2020 Rocky the Traveller Comments 2 comments

Many of us consider pets to be a part of the family, so it’s no surprise that most pet parents admitted they have canceled plans in order to spend more time with their pets, according to a survey from Wisdom Panel. Wisdom Panel surveyed more than 13,000 pet parents from June to August 2020 (representing nearly 25,000 dogs and more than 6,000 cats!) for the 2020 Pet Census. The survey found that the bond with pets is so strong that…

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Having a pet helps with social development in teenagers, study finds

October 13, 2020 Rocky the Traveller Comments 0 Comment

Pets are known for their loving companionship and have many other wonderful benefits but a new study shows that they also help with social development for adolescents. The study, published in the Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, analyzed a sample of 700 middle school students aged 11–16 in the greater Boston area, in Massachusetts, US. Adolescents who have dogs were more likely to check social media more frequently, give and receive online social support, and feel less social isolation….

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Pet taxi service launches in Turkey

October 8, 2020 Rocky the Traveller Comments 0 Comment

A new pet taxi service has launched in Istanbul, Turkey for those pet parents who find it difficult to travel about in town their four-legged friends, reports The Daily Sabah. While dogs are allowed in certain forms of public transportation in Istanbul, such as the metro, there are strict rules that mean that not every pet is allowed to ride. For example, Metro Istanbul states that dogs and certain other pets must be carried in a cage and that it…

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Pandemic gives rise to drive-through pet blessings in The Philippines

October 7, 2020 Rocky the Traveller Comments 0 Comment

Pet parents in the Philippines had their pets blessed via a drive-through ceremony this past Sunday to mark World Animal Day and the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. Amid rising cases in the country, drivers brought their pets to a Catholic priest and from a safe distance inside their owners’ cars, the animals, which included cats, dogs, and birds, were sprinkled with holy water by the priest in Manila, reports Reuters. The Philippines has…

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5 tips to keep your pet safe this Halloween

October 3, 2020 Rocky the Traveller Comments 0 Comment

It’s officially October now which means Halloween is just around the corner. For many, it’s the most fun holiday of the year. Many pet parents even dress up their dogs in fancy or scary Halloween costumes. While Halloween is supposed to be a bit “scary” (but fun), dogs and cats can experience this holiday a lot differently than us humans. The candy, trick-or-treaters and costumes can create frightening and even dangerous situations for our furry four-legged friends. Now, Purina experts…

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Saudi Arabia opens first dog friendly café for coffee and dog lovers

October 1, 2020 Rocky the Traveller Comments 0 Comment

Dog parents in Saudi Arabia can now enjoy a cup of coffee alongside their beloved pets at a new café, the Barking Lot café. The dog-friendly café is a first for the ultra-conservative kingdom. In Islam, dogs are considered unclean animals, unlike cats, and are generally banned from public places in Saudi Arabia. But The Barking Lot, which opened its doors in June in the coastal city of Khobar, has delighted animal lovers in a country where there are few…

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Is this the coolest job for a dog? Canine Cottages is looking for four-legged staycation critics

September 28, 2020 Rocky the Traveller Comments 0 Comment

Is your dog looking for a job? Then maybe reviewing UK staycations is right up their alley. UK-based dog friendly holiday cottage accommodation site Canine Cottages is now “hiring” ten dogs to become dog friendly cottage critics. “We’re on a nationwide hunt for a pack of top dogs who are all up for reviewing our finest dog-friendly cottages and sharing their adventures,” Canine Cottages said in a Facebook post. The winners get to experience what it is like to stay…

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“A great way to keep your dog from getting bored”, the Dog Smart Hide and Seek puzzle review

September 26, 2020 Rocky the Traveller Comments 0 Comment

This year, due to the pandemic, we’ve gotten to spend more time with our dogs, which is a great thing for them and for us. But for a lot of us, we have had to stay indoors a lot more than we are used to. During the first lockdowns in March, some countries in Europe had restrictions on how long you can walk your dog for. Unless you have plenty of room in your home, plenty of toys and treats…

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Blind golden retriever has his own guide ‘puppy’ to help him

September 24, 2020 Rocky the Traveller Comments 1 comment

Guide dogs have the important task of helping blind humans get around, but what if a blind dog needs help getting their way around? That’s where a guide puppy comes in. A 10-year old golden retriever named Tao lost both of his eyes due to glaucoma and has been given his own guide dog puppy, Oko, to help him navigate through life. According to The Independent, Oko the guide puppy, who is also a golden retriever, keeps Tao company when…

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Covid-19 sniffer dogs arrive at Helsinki airport to sniff out infected passengers

September 23, 2020 Rocky the Traveller Comments 0 Comment

Covid-19 sniffer dogs have arrived at Helsinki Airport in Finland for a pilot project today that will see them attempt to sniff and identify infected passengers. Finnish airport operator Finavia said the dogs’ sensitive noses are expected to speed up the process of identifying those infected with Covid-19. The company said it is pleased with the city of Vantaa’s efforts to test new and efficient ways to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. Airport Director Ulla Lettijeff from Finavia…

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