ASL Solutions Blog

Have you ever heard about certain breeds of dog being more dangerous than others? Well, some breeds of dog experience negative judgement based on misinformation, which has serious consequences for those dogs and for their caretakers. But, there is hope! Read on to learn more about breed stigma. Debunking "Dangerous Breed" Stigma The angelic, perfect face of the beautiful Dessa. What is breed stigma? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines stigma as "a mark of shame or discredit". It is also known as a negative preconception surrounding a group of people, animals, places, or things. So when we say "breed stigma" in reference to dogs, we mean to refer to the negative stereotypes that surround certain breeds of dog. Much breed stigma revolves around the apparently inherent danger, aggressiveness, and vicious disposition of certain breeds of dog, which is factually incorrect and serves to villainize innocent animals. The National Canine Research Council, the Ce...

This is the fourth blog in our series of 'Meet the ASL Product Models' by our intern, Skye Isabella Rose Iwanski. Shiloh Ochs Shiloh, exemplifying adorableness. Shiloh Ochs is very much a gentle giant. She's a nine-year-old St. Bernard with a huge caring streak. Shiloh watches over everyone to make sure they're safe, and she's great with kids. Shiloh can even tell when her humans are sick. She likes to show affection to people by licking her lips and smacking them together like she's giving kisses from afar. Shiloh sleeps in her humans' bed with her head on a pillow. She doesn't let her size stop her from acting like a lap dog, either, and if you stop petting her, she'll growl at you. She doesn't boss the other animals around, but she doesn't mind telling her humans a thing or two every now and then. Shiloh also pouts when she doesn't get her way. So you'd better keep on petting, unless you want to incur the wrath of Shiloh (which is ...

There's a lot going on during the winter holidays, so if you have pets and celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and/or Christmas, read on! There are lots of potential hazards to be accounted for during the winter holidays, but you don't have to let that ruin the fun! Just be aware of the hazards and have an emergency preparedness plan, and you'll be good to go to celebrate the holidays with your animal companions. Runa doesn't know what kriss-muss is, but she does know that she's stylin' in this sweater. 🕎  Hanukkah Tips: Hanukkah will begin the evening of Thursday, December 26th, and end the evening of Thursday, January 2nd! Hanukkah always begins on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, so the dates change every year by the Gregorian calendar (the commonly used secular calendar). You'll want to keep your pets away from the room with the lit menorah. They might get burned or knock it over, and nobody wants an injured pet or a house fire. The nine candles ...

This is the third bio in our series of Meet the ASL Product Models written by our intern Skye Isabella Rose Iwanski. Anna Klier Anna looking absurdly photogenic. Anna is a smart, spunky, and energetic dog who was rescued by her humans in 2011. Her favorite way to greet people? Lots of licking.   She's nine years old, and spends much of her time running around on her humans' farm. Anna sleeps in the spare bed, because it provides a stealthy vantage point from which to keep an eye on the local squirrels. Whenever she hears the word "squirrel", she needs to go check the window to make sure they know who's boss. After all, it would be embarrassing if they were causing a ruckus on her watch! Anna charming your heart through the camera. When she's not watching squirrels, Anna likes to play with her favorite toys: Sonic the Hedgehog and a plush possum. She's very gentle with them, so the stuffing doesn't get torn out. Anna loves playing with dogs her own size...

Ever wonder how many dog and cat holidays there are? Quite a lot. Journey on to learn about some of the weird and wacky holidays that people have come up with to celebrate our animal companions (and some more serious, educational days, too). [Updated semi-annually.] January (2024) I can't believe you make me poop outside in this. Month-long: Walk Your Pet Month National Train Your Dog Month Unchain a Dog Month Day-by-day: January 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day; Happy Mew Year for Cats Day January 7: National Alaskan Malamute Day January 6: National Cuddle Up Day January 8: National Labrador Retriever Day January 9: National Australian Shepherd Day January 13: National French Bulldog Day January 14: National Dress Up Your Pet Day; National Basset Hound Day January 15: National American Eskimo Dog Day January 21: National Squirrel Appreciation Day January 22: National Answer Your Cat's Question Day; National Yorkshire Terrier Day January 24: Change a Pet's Life Day ...