pets
Celebrate Your 4-Legged Friend: 3 ways to give back during National Dog Month

(Family Features) While most dog owners need little reason to celebrate their furry family members, National Dog Month provides a perfect opportunity to show pets a little extra love.
Established in 2004 by the Animal Miracle Network and the International Association of Pet Sitters, the month-long celebration promotes responsible pet ownership and honors dogs of all breeds and sizes. Consider these ways you can get involved:
- Adopt a dog from a local shelter or rescue organization
- Organize a dog-friendly event in your community, such as a dog walk or pet parade
- Donate dog food, toys or supplies to a local animal shelter
- Volunteer at a rescue organization or shelter
- Host a dog-themed party or gathering with your friends and their furry companions
- Share photos and stories of your dogs on social media
To take it one step further and help dogs in need in your community, reach out to local pet-focused organizations and see how you can help.
Support Local Shelters
Supporting local shelters by donating money, supplies or your time can aid in the well-being of dogs in your community. Consider organizing a fundraising event or a donation drive to collect essential items for the shelter, such as food, bedding or toys. You can also help spread the word about the importance of adopting dogs from shelters and encourage others to do the same.
Promote Responsible Pet Ownership
Lead by example by being a responsible dog owner yourself through showing love, care and respect for your furry companion. Encourage spaying and neutering to prevent shelter overpopulation and educate yourself and others about the responsibilities that come with dog ownership, such as providing proper nutrition, regular veterinary care and training.
Take Advantage of Volunteer Opportunities
There are many ways to help dogs in need, such as volunteering your time at a local animal shelter or rescue organization, assisting adoption events, walking dogs, cleaning kennels or helping with other essential tasks. If you have specific skills or expertise, you may also consider volunteering as a dog trainer, groomer or foster pet parent.
Find more tips for caring for your pet at eLivingtoday.com.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
SOURCE:
eLivingtoday.com
NATIONAL DOG DAY | August 26
National Dog Day on August 26th encourages dog ownership of all breeds, celebrating the joy and companionship that dogs bring into our lives. While seeking a new furry companion, be sure to consider the wonderful variety available, from lovable mutts and unique mixes to majestic purebreds and everything in between. Each dog, regardless of breed, has the potential to bring immense happiness and love into a home.
#NationalDogDay
Whether mixed or purebred, we must embrace the opportunity for all dogs to live a happy, safe, and abuse-free life. These loyal companions enrich our lives in countless ways. They not only offer companionship but also provide protection and assistance to those in need. Dogs take on many roles in our lives; they are our friends, guardians, and therapeutic allies. By fostering a caring environment for them, we enhance our own well-being as they keep us healthy, both physically and mentally. Let’s celebrate and ensure the welfare of these incredible animals who ask so little yet give so much.
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pets
Bully Max Unleashes New Seasonal Flavors in High-Performance Power Chew Line
Last Updated on October 22, 2025 by Daily News Staff
Pittsburgh-based brand brings pumpkin and mint varieties to its protein-packed dog treats for active breeds
Bully Max is giving working dog owners something new to chew on this fall — literally. The Pittsburgh-based performance nutrition brand just expanded its popular High-Protein Power Chews line with two seasonal flavors designed to keep active and working breed dogs fueled year-round.

Power-Packed Performance in Every Bite
Each Bully Max Power Chew delivers an impressive 75 grams of protein made from 100% natural ingredients. That’s serious fuel for dogs that work hard, whether they’re on the job, in training, or just keeping up with an active lifestyle.
The brand built its reputation on understanding what high-performance dogs need: lasting strength, sustained energy, and nutrition that supports their demanding routines. These chews aren’t just treats — they’re functional nutrition wrapped in a long-lasting chew format that dogs actually enjoy.
Seasonal Flavors Meet Year-Round Performance
This fall, Bully Max rolled out a limited-edition Pumpkin flavor just in time for Halloween. The autumn-inspired variety brings gut health benefits alongside the brand’s signature protein punch, giving working dogs real endurance in every pumpkin-fueled bite.
Come Christmas, dog owners can look forward to a refreshing Mint flavor that’ll debut as part of the holiday lineup. Both seasonal varieties maintain the same performance-driven formula that made the original Power Chews a hit with active breed owners worldwide.
The Last-Bite Innovation
Here’s a clever feature that sets these chews apart: when your dog has worked the chew down to a small piece, you can safely microwave it to soften the remaining portion. That means dogs can enjoy every last bit without waste — and owners get more value from each chew.
It’s the kind of practical innovation that shows Bully Max understands both the dogs using their products and the people buying them.
Beyond Chews: Expanding the Performance Lineup
The Power Chew expansion comes on the heels of Bully Max’s recent launch of a high-protein beef dog food, signaling the brand’s commitment to growing its product categories while staying laser-focused on performance nutrition.
Whether it’s food, treats, or supplements, Bully Max continues to build products specifically engineered for dogs that demand more from their nutrition — and owners who expect results.
Built for Dogs That Work Hard
Bully Max has earned trust among working breed owners by consistently delivering products that support muscle growth, endurance, and overall canine performance. The new Power Chew flavors give those owners more options to reward their dogs while maintaining the nutritional standards their animals need.
From police K9s to ranch dogs to athletic breeds that thrive on activity, these chews are designed for dogs whose lifestyle requires more than basic nutrition.
Ready to power up your dog’s performance? Check out the full Power Chew collection at shop.bullymax.com/collections/dog-treats or learn more about Bully Max’s complete line at bullymax.com.
About Bully Max
Bully Max is a Pittsburgh-based leader in high-performance canine nutrition, trusted by active and working breed owners worldwide. The brand specializes in protein-rich, performance-driven products designed to support strength, endurance, and overall health in dogs with demanding lifestyles.
Media Contact:
Lea Kinneman
Bully Max®
412-266-8136
Lea@bullymax.com
Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.
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Lifestyle
Wellness Beyond the Bowl: Exploring a holistic approach to happy, healthy pets
National Pet Wellness Month encourages pet owners to focus on comprehensive wellness beyond diet, including preventative care, nutrition, exercise, oral health, and mental stimulation. Tailoring care with veterinarians helps improve pets’ longevity and quality of life for happier, healthier companions.
Last Updated on October 14, 2025 by Daily News Staff
Wellness Beyond the Bowl
(Family Features) When you think about your pet’s wellness, it’s easy to focus solely on the food you’re placing in their bowl. However, true wellness encompasses a much broader spectrum, inclusive of nutrition, preventative care, oral health, exercise, mental stimulation and more.
This National Pet Wellness Month serves as an ideal reminder to examine your pet’s health. Consult with your veterinarian to customize a wellness plan to improve the longevity and overall quality of your pet’s life and consider these ideas from the experts at Swedencare, a leading pet health company, to play an active role in providing a happier, healthier life for your furry friend.
Focus on Prevention and Early Intervention
While many think of preventative care as an annual vet visit, that is only the beginning. Those yearly checkups should include a thorough physical examination as well as necessary vaccinations, screening for potential parasites and age-related diseases and updated prescription medications – giving your veterinarian a chance to spot any potential problems early.
Based on the findings of the exam, you can work with your vet to create a prevention plan tailored to your pet’s health and risk factors, including recommendations for spaying or neutering, maintaining good oral health and adjusting their diet to ensure proper nutrition and a healthy weight.
Emphasize Nutrition as a Building Block for Health
A balanced diet complete with the necessary nutrients is the cornerstone of pet wellness. Work with your vet to provide a combination of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals tailored to your four-legged family member’s species and life stage. Remember to review labels and certifications, choosing natural ingredients while avoiding artificial additives, fillers and preservatives.
Sometimes, even the best diets can leave nutritional gaps, however, and supplements can help fill voids and provide additional support for joint health, skin and coat condition, digestive function and dental health. Start small, swapping a regular treat for a functional dental bite, such as ProDen PlaqueOff Crunchy Dental Bites, which are formulated with clinically proven kelp to help support dental health and offer a Veterinary Oral Health Council stamp of approval for the dog version – offering owners an easy, reward-style supplement to fold into everyday routines.
Make Daily Movement a Priority
Daily movement, whether through walks, playing, agility training or even using puzzle feeders, is critical for weight control and joint health. Regular activity also improves mood and helps prevent boredom-related behaviors – such as excessive meowing or barking, digging, clawing or chewing on furniture and more – according to the Foundation for Animal Care and Education.
The amount of exercise your pet needs can vary by species, breed and age. Some larger dog breeds may need multiple hours of activity per day, including walks or hikes and fetch sessions, while smaller dogs and cats may benefit from short, active play sessions throughout the day.
Don’t Overlook the Importance of Oral Health
Proper dental care is an important aspect of overall pet care and helps prevent plaque buildup, tartar accumulation and gum disease, all of which can affect your pet’s energy levels and organ health. Use National Pet Wellness Month to refresh their oral care routine with an option like ProDen PlaqueOff Crunchy Dental Bites.
Easy to incorporate into any routine, these low-calorie bites can be given daily alongside a pet’s regular dental care regimen. They contain the unique, natural and clinically proven kelp ingredient A.N ProDen to help reduce plaque and tartar buildup while keeping breath fresh all in a bite-sized, crunchy form with a tasty veggie flavor.
Explore Mental Enrichment to Keep Pets Sharp
Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise for your pet. Engaging in training games, using interactive toys, conducting scent work and organizing social outings can boost cognitive function and help reduce stress.
Mental enrichment complements physical exercise and is particularly beneficial for older pets or during inclement weather when activities can be taken indoors. Introducing a new walking route or adding a 5-minute training game to indoor playtime can make a difference in your pet’s happiness and overall well-being.
Find more advice and products to help your pet live a long, healthy life at us.swedencare.com.
SOURCE:
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5 Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe This Halloween
Halloween thrills can turn into chills for your pets. From noisy trick-or-treaters to dangerous sweets, the holiday is full of hidden hazards. Learn how to keep your furry friends safe and stress-free this spooky season with expert tips from VCA Animal Hospitals.
Last Updated on October 3, 2025 by Daily News Staff
(Family Features) Costumes and candy make Halloween a highly anticipated event for children and adults alike, but the holiday can be particularly spooky for pets. Some of the same things that bring humans joy on All Hallows Eve can lead to poisoning, stress or anxiety, which may cause four-legged family members to run away or react aggressively.
To help ensure Halloween is fun for every member of the family, take note of these safety tips
from the experts at VCA Animal Hospitals, which has more than 1,000 locations across North America that cared for more than 4.5 million pets last year. Talk to your veterinarian if you need assistance dealing with pet anxiety.
Create a safe space for your pet at home. If your neighborhood is particularly busy on Halloween and the sidewalks are overflowing with exuberant trick-or-treaters, it may be best to leave your pet at home. Pets can be thrown off by extra people on the street or at the door in frightening costumes, which could lead to uncommon reactions such as growling or biting if they feel threatened. Even if your pets are mellow and enjoy greeting guests, consider keeping them inside as you sit by yourself near the door or outside to greet trick-or-treaters as they knock or ring the doorbell. Otherwise, consider keeping your pet in a room away from the frenzy with a TV, radio or white noise machine to dull the sounds.
Be cautious when taking your pet trick-or-treating. If you do decide to venture out with your pet, make sure he or she is always close to you on a secure leash (avoid retractable leashes). Observe your surroundings and assess people – especially friendly, excited children – approaching you and your pet, because physical contact from strangers in costumes may instigate a fearful or aggressive reaction.
Consider skipping the costume. It’s best not to dress up your pets for Halloween, but if you choose to, it’s important for pets to wear safe, comfortable costumes. They should be loose enough to provide freedom of movement but not loose enough to be a tripping hazard. On the other hand, costumes that are too tight can restrict breathing and make movement difficult. Make sure your pet’s costume does not interfere with vision or hearing. Also beware of small parts, like buttons or loose strings, that could be chewed off and swallowed.
Keep treats away from pets. Resist the temptation to share Halloween candy with your pet. In fact, keep all candy safely out of reach. Chocolate, candy or gum artificially sweetened with xylitol can be dangerous for dogs. Plus, cellophane or foil wrappers can cause problems if swallowed. Even natural treats like caramel apples should be off limits as eating items not normally on the menu can cause upset stomachs, GI blockages or pancreatitis.
Decorate with safety in mind. Festive decorations help set the mood, but they can also create health risks for your pet. While non-toxic, pumpkin and pumpkin seeds can upset stomachs, especially when consumed in large quantities. Lit candles in Jack-O-Lanterns may pose fire hazards if toppled by a curious four-legged friend. Decorative lights can brighten your porch but should be kept out of your pet’s reach as nibbling on electrical cords can cause electrocution.
To learn more, visit vcahospitals.com, where you can search for additional tips to make Halloween safe and fun for your furry friends.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
SOURCE:
VCA Animal Hospitals
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