Q: I'm doing an apartment purge and trying to figure out what to do with my pup's unused or gently worn toys. Can I wash and donate them to a shelter? Help! A: First off, it's so great that you're thinking of other animals in need! You'll have to check with your local shelter as some will accept pet toys and others will not. If you are planning to donate, don't give any heavily used, ripped, or Read more

Even though many people (wrongly) assume that all shelter dogs are big, that's just not the case everywhere, and there are more smaller dogs than ever in California. Recently replacing the breed most likely to appear at pounds — pit bulls — are the oft-teacup-sized Chihuahuas. There are so many lil pups at shelters in the Bay Area that staffers have to take matters into their own hands and Read more

Acting as ambassador to the Iams Home 4 the Holidays campaign, Hilary Swank gets cuddly with some cute puppies. What a tough job! The program already has over 3,400 shelters in 17 countries participating in their efforts — you can search by location to see if there's an establishment or breed rescue near you. If your home is not needing another furry face despite the temptation, find four other Read more