Life with pets, and the love that lasts

Practical guidance, research-backed insights into how animals help us, remarkable pet stories and gentle support for when it’s time to say goodbye — for everyone who shares their life with a pet.

Balto, the preserved sled dog, in a glass case at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History with a label reading “Balto, Siberian Husky, 1919–1933”

Famous Pets

Balto and Togo: The Sled Dogs of the 1925 Serum Run

The true story of Balto and Togo: how sled dogs relayed diphtheria serum 674 miles to Nome in 1925, and why Togo ran the hardest leg.

Nov 2, 2026 · 5 min read

A small grey-and-tan dog on a leash beside its owner on a red dirt trail, with red rock hills behind

Health Benefits

Do Dog Owners Really Get More Exercise?

Dog owners are far more likely to hit 150 active minutes a week, but only if they walk the dog. What the studies show, and the risks to know.

Nov 1, 2026 · 5 min read

An elderly yellow Labrador Retriever with a collar lying on a pavement in dappled light, resting its head on its paws

Pet Trivia

How Old Is My Dog in Human Years?

Forget “multiply by seven”. How to convert dog years to human years with the 15-9-5 rule and the 2020 DNA formula, and why big dogs age faster.

Oct 31, 2026 · 5 min read

A faint rainbow over wide green meadows under a grey sky, framed by bare winter branches

Pet Loss & Remembrance

The Rainbow Bridge: Meaning and Origin of the Poem

What the Rainbow Bridge poem says, who really wrote it, how it spread anonymously for decades, and why it comforts so many grieving pet owners.

Oct 30, 2026 · 5 min read

A light-brown dog and a grey tabby cat walking side by side along a path beside a grassy bank

Life with Pets

Dog or Cat: Which Pet Fits Your Life?

Dog or cat? Compare time, space, lifespan, allergies and lifestyle to find out which pet really fits your daily life, with figures from large studies.

Oct 29, 2026 · 5 min read

Two beagles peering out from behind white curtains in a ground-floor window

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Can a Pet Help With Loneliness?

Pets can ease loneliness, especially by sparking contact with neighbours, but the evidence is mixed. What studies on dogs, cats and isolation really show.

Oct 28, 2026 · 6 min read

A relaxed tabby cat stretched out on a white step, its front paw reaching forward as it looks towards the camera

Pet Trivia

Why Do Cats Purr – and How Do They Do It?

Cats purr when content, but also to ask for food, to soothe themselves and when in pain. How the purr is made, and what a 2023 study changed.

Oct 27, 2026 · 6 min read

The bronze Hachikō statue, wearing a face mask in April 2020, on its plinth beside an almost empty Hachikō Square outside Shibuya Station in Tokyo

Famous Pets

Hachikō: The True Story of Japan's Most Loyal Dog

The real story of Hachikō, the Akita who waited at Shibuya Station for almost ten years after his owner died: what is documented and what is myth.

Oct 26, 2026 · 5 min read

A light-coloured dog standing in shallow water at sunset, its reflection mirrored on the wet sand

Pet Loss & Remembrance

How to Cope With the Loss of a Pet

Grief for a pet is real and can run as deep as any loss. Gentle, research-informed ways to get through the first weeks and keep their memory close.

Oct 25, 2026 · 5 min read

A curly brown dog sniffing a person's outstretched hand on a pavement

Health Benefits

Can Pets Lower Your Blood Pressure? What the Research Says

Petting a dog can lower blood pressure in the moment and soften stress spikes, but long-term effects are small. What studies and heart experts say.

Oct 24, 2026 · 5 min read