Pets

Humane Society: Missouri Still Has Nation's Worst Puppy Mills

Three years after Missourians voted to crack down on disreputable dog breeding operations, the Show-Me State continues to lead the nation in the number of dangerous and unsanitary puppy mills. So says the Humane Society of the United States, which last week issued a report highlighting the nation' ... More >>

The Cat Galaxy

Get Thirsty

Even Chance Pit Bull Benefit

6 p.m. Sunday, July 15. Lemmons, 5800 Gravois Avenue.

The Many Feces of St. Louis (or Life in Lucas Park)

So here's a story we can all be proud of. Yesterday a 38-year-old white male (loft dweller?) was walking his dog in downtown's Lucas Park when the animal relieved itself in the vicinity where a (homeless?) girl was lying in the grass. The dog owner was about to clean up the mess when the girl's fath ... More >>

Dog Daze: A surprising number of venues offer summer respite for man and best friend

Rescuing the Pets and Stray Cats of Hopeville

Even in Hopeville, there were pets. The stray cats who wandered in found homes, of sorts, with the stray human who had set up camp there. "There aren't any feral cats," says Dawn Blaloch, a volunteer with the St. Louis Area Community Cat Coalition. "They're better socialized than my cats. They're t ... More >>

Three Local Bitches to Compete in Westminster Dog Show Tonight

courtesy Kathleen WeichertJazzy, one of the two beagles from Belleville who will be competing at the Westminster Dog Show tonight.​Update/spoiler at the end of the post. This is a great time of year for dog-lovers. Last weekend was Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl VIII in which adorable puppies tum ... More >>

Stephaney Kemper, Cat Whisperer Groomer

Stephaney Kemper and Martini.​Stephaney Kemper is a professional cat groomer, the only cat groomer in Missouri certified by the National Cat Groomers Institute of America in Greenville, South Carolina. She works at Dogs in Suds Grooming in St. Charles. And why, you ask, would anybody voluntar ... More >>

Bill Would Require Nearly All St. Louis Dogs and Cats to Be Sterilized

Bob Barker approves this message.​A bill under consideration in the St. Louis Board of Aldermen could make St. Louis one of the most restrictive cities in the nation when it comes to owning cats and dogs. Board Bill 107 would require all pet owners to spay or neuter their dogs and cats and microch ... More >>

St. Louis Firefighters Rescue Pit Bull Pups; Will It Come Back to Bite Us?

Pit bull pups. So adorable -- today.​I admit. Perhaps if they were golden retrievers or a less menacing breed of dog, I'd feel a bit more compassion for the big news story of yesterday. As you've probably heard, a team of as many as twenty St. Louis firefighters reportedly spent six hours yesterda ... More >>

Für Elise: White Flag Projects to Host Pet Hair Art Show

Kholood EidThis is not a fur-shedding machine. This is an artist!​It seems you can't throw a rock into a gallery in St. Louis these days without hitting a picture of an animal (or however that old cliche goes). At the Saint Louis University Museum of Art, in collaboration with Stray Rescue, ha ... More >>

Bags and Wags

Purina Now Official Dog Food Sponsor for Westminster Kennel Club

That dog is a champion! Get him some Purina Pro Plan.​Local kibble-mongers Purina are the new official pet food sponsor of the Westminster Kennel Club. WKC, of course, is the 135-year-old organization that runs a show for purebred dogs every year. The multi-year partnership was announced today."Pu ... More >>

Hey, Crafty Cats

St. Louis Police Get Two German Shepherds Courtesy of Foundation

Wikimedia CommonsA fine police dog at work. (Yes, we'll use any excuse to run this photo.)​The St. Louis department is the recipient of two new police dogs courtesy of the St. Louis Police Foundation. The foundation officially donated the German Shepherds today at a news conference at police headq ... More >>

Treat Your Cat Right With Soft-Bites

Deborah HylandSherman, professional treat-taster ​The Treat: Soft-bite cat treats from Treats Unleashed (8861B Ladue Rd.; 314-726-2330). Retail $1.00 for 5 treats. The Panel of Testers: Nikolai and Kitty; Fiona Falafel and Ziggy the Wondercat; Yma Sumac and Sherman; Marishi: cats Steuben and ... More >>

Treat Your Cat Right With Soft-Bites

Deborah HylandSherman, professional treat-taster ​The Treat: Soft-bite cat treats from Treats Unleashed (8861B Ladue Rd.; 314-726-2330). Retail $1.00 for 5 treats. The Panel of Testers: Nikolai and Kitty; Fiona Falafel and Ziggy the Wondercat; Yma Sumac and Sherman; Marishi: cats Steuben and ... More >>

Make a New Doggie Friend This Weekend

Awww, lookit that little face!!​Need a dawg? How about a big, goofy, friendly one? This weekend, the Humane Society of Missouri is holding "Pittie Parties" so you can mix and mingle with pit bulls and see what great pets they can make.Stop by any of the state's three Humane Society locations -- in ... More >>

Doggie Style Acrobatics Comes to St. Louis

The Missouri canine community has gotten a lot of press lately for its puppy mills and dog fighting. But did you know our local pooches are also amazing acrobats, too? Apparently, the region's dogs are among the best in the country when it comes to the long jump. That's according to Keith Johnson, a ... More >>

In Missouri, it's one puppy mill down, and how many more to go?

Purina Wants Your Help Proving Multiple Cat Owners Aren't Filthy Animal Hoarders

Purina hopes to dispel the above stereotype of multi-cat homes.​Did you know that 50 percent of Americans without cats have purposely not visited a home because the homeowner had two or more cats? And, three in five (60%) of Americans without cats say they would be willing to give up something lik ... More >>

100 Dogs Removed from Breeder in Mid-Mo, Rescuers Urge Public to Vote Yes for Prop. B

Because we're tired of those sad photos of caged dogs that always accompany stories like this one, behold: a literal "puppy mill". ​A dog breeding facility in Camden County voluntarily surrendered its animals to the Humane Society today. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Crue ... More >>

For the Love of Pit: Many former fighting dogs find new lives as family pets

To pull off the biggest pit bull fighting bust in U.S. history, investigators went deep undercover. So did their dogs.

Missouri Puppy Mill Initiative Makes November Ballot

At the Daily RFT, we're pretty skeptical of silly lists proclaiming that St. Louis is the sixth-manliest city in the country, or Missouri is the twenty-fifth stupidest state, or whatever.Proposition B is for the dogs.​On the verity of one survey, though, we're utterly convinced: Missouri really do ... More >>

Woman Assigned Essay as Punishment for Mistreating, Killing 7 Dogs

The thought of being left in a hot car makes this puppy sad.​Everyone says that high school never really ends. It turns out that the aphorism is true, as proven by the legal punishment doled out this morning to Mary Wild, a professional dog handler from Arnold. Wild's job was to transport and show ... More >>

Cat-stravaganza Headed to St. Charles; Respek da Feline Byitches!

icanhascheezburger.com​Told u dis day wold come. Dis our day. Respek de feline! Cat show for bootiful, sexy cats. Feline joolry for sale. Furballz galore. Raffle!Press ruhlease below tell more info.Wat!? Wat dis about no bring yur cat to show?! Who de hell made dat rule?? Show yur self muhdefuker! ... More >>

Ugly End for Dogs Who Devoured the Real Ham Bone

Wikimedia CommonsSome say their pups were just a pile of bones after devouring ham bones.​Bad news for a Washington, Missouri, supplier of enticing dog treats: According to an AP story today, the federal Food & Drug Administration is investigating a slew of complaints against Dynamic Pet Produ ... More >>

'Pampered Pets' Are Anything But, Says Animal Rights Group

Image via When pampering your pet goes too far. This dog looks like he would rather be in a puppy mill than wear this outfit.​Pampering your pets is good, but Pampered Pets is bad. So says a local animal rights group. Metro East Pet Lovers will be protesting Pampered Pets, a pet store ... More >>

Humane Society Launches Campaign to Put Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act on 2010 Ballot

This November, if a group called Missourians for the Protection of Dogs gets its way, Missouri voters will have a chance to vote on the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act. The Act proposes to curb the worst abuses in high-volume commercial dog breeding operations, known as puppy mills.flickr.com/phot ... More >>

Photos: Dogs Rescued from Largest Dog-Fighting Ring in U.S. History

Photo: Jennifer SilverbergMeet Junior. He's an eleven-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier who was handed over to Broken Hearts, Mended Souls Rescue. See more photos of rescued dog-fighting dogs.​Six dogs rescued from the largest dog-fighting ring in U.S. history were put up for adoption this week w ... More >>

They Have Licensed Puppy Mills?

unrealitymag.comDisney villain a potential Missouri representative?​It's déjá vu all over again in the puppy mill capital of America. Authorities raided a kennel near Rolla and rescued more than 100 little pooches- poodles, Yorkshires, and mini-Pinschers -- kept in filthy conditions and tin ... More >>

Paws for a Cause

Bad Dog: A reader sends the RFT to obedience school over our story on puppy mills

Pet Peeves: A Chesterfield pet store is dogged by accusations of selling mistreated puppies

Cooking for Your Cat: Shrimp Frozen Yogurt

Review Preview: Three Monkeys

Clowded House

Press Release of the Day

My Doggy Bites Peanut Butter

$4.95
Straub's
302 North Kingshighway

Puppy Love

Nintendogs' charm will win over the most jaded of gamers.

Best Poodle Hair Salon

Doggie Den

Bully on the Block

The Humane Society stands in the way of a grant that could step up spay-and-neuter efforts in St. Louis

Dog Day Afternoon

"Adopt a Stray on Bunny Day" seeks families for homeless pets

Best In Show

Co-written and directed by Christopher Guest

Letters to the Editor

Published the Week of March 22

High Society

It's flush with money and has a grand new building, but the Humane Society of Missouri is doing little to prevent the growing euthanasia rate for unwanted animals

RELEASE THE HOUNDS

Making fast friends with the noble greyhound

Dead Dogs Walking

Thousands of feral dogs -- abandoned to disease, starvation and inevitable death -- are leading short and brutal lives in the no-man's-land between domestication and wildness. For a lucky few, Randy Grim is their unlikely savior.