pets – Topical Fruit

99% of Dogs Have Behavioral Issues—Yes, Even Yours

Think your dog is perfectly behaved? Science says: probably not.

A new study from Texas A&M University has revealed that more than 99% of dogs in the U.S. exhibit some kind of behavioral issue. Researchers examined data from over 43,000 dogs of all breeds, sizes, and ages, and found that a truly “perfect” pup—one with no problematic behaviors at all—is incredibly rare, showing up in less than 1% of the dogs studied.

The research looked at a range of behavioral categories, including aggression, separation and attachment issues, fear and anxiety, and house soiling (yes, we’re talking about those “oops” moments on your rug).

They found that 99.12% of dogs showed at least one behavior rated as moderately serious or worse, or at least two moderate-to-serious issues.

So what’s the most common problem? Attachment-related behaviors topped the list. These are signs of separation anxiety and emotional dependence, such as pacing, restlessness, clinginess, escape attempts, or destructive behavior like chewing and barking when left alone. In short, your dog missing you might be more of a red flag than a sweet quirk.

Aggression—like growling, snapping, and biting—was also a frequent issue.

Though not always dangerous, even minor signs of aggression can signal deeper behavioral or psychological concerns. While some behaviors may seem harmless or even cute, experts say it’s crucial to take them seriously. Your dog’s odd or disruptive behavior might be a symptom of anxiety, discomfort, or unmet needs. The researchers emphasize the importance of involving your vet, who can help you understand your dog’s mindset and determine if further behavioral intervention is needed.

Most pet parents admit their dogs aren’t perfect.

But many still believe theirs falls into that elite 0.88%. Until, of course, their “well-behaved angel” flips out on the mail carrier or loses it over a squirrel. Cue the classic defense: “Luna NEVER does this… I don’t know what’s gotten into her today!”

The takeaway? If you think your dog is the exception, the data says you’re probably not. But knowing that you’re not alone might help take the sting out of the next chewed-up slipper.

Can Your Dog Be a Tax Dependent? A Lawyer Says They Should

If raising kids feels expensive… raising pets is not exactly cheap either. Food, vet bills, grooming, boarding, training, toys you swear you will stop buying… it all adds up fast. And now, one lawyer is asking a question plenty of pet owners have at least joked about during tax season:

Why can’t pets count as legal dependents?

A lawyer filed a lawsuit against the IRS, arguing that pets should qualify as dependents for tax purposes, just like human family members. It sounds ridiculous at first, but once you dig into her argument, it starts to feel… possible?

97% of American pet owners say they consider their pets part of the family. And unlike your freeloading cousin, pets are truly dependent. They rely on humans for food, shelter, medical care, transportation, training, and basically every aspect of daily life. No side hustle. No allowance. No chance of paying rent.

The lawyer says her own eight-year-old golden retriever meets nearly every requirement the IRS looks for when defining a dependent. The dog has no independent income, lives exclusively with her, and racks up more than $5,000 a year in expenses. From a purely financial standpoint, the only thing the dog is missing is being human.

Right now, that is kind of a big deal. The IRS officially classifies pets as property, not people, which makes them ineligible for any dependent-related tax breaks.

That distinction is exactly what this lawsuit is challenging.

Still, even people who would love to write off their Labradoodle are not holding their breath. Legal experts say the case faces long odds. One major hurdle is something called legal standing. To sue, you have to prove you were directly harmed, and courts generally do not allow people to challenge the tax code just because they do not like it.

The lawyer insists she has been harmed, arguing that the tax rules are unfairly applied and discriminatory because they treat taxpayers differently based solely on whether their dependents are human.

As of now, the case has not been dismissed, so it is technically still alive. But realistically, do not expect to be claiming your dog, cat, or horse on next year’s return. For the moment, your pet is still family in every way that matters, just not according to the IRS.

If You’ve Canceled Plans to Stay Home with Your Pet, You’re Not Alone

Remember the “before times,” when having plans actually meant leaving the house?

Turns out, a lot of those nights out never stood a chance, especially if there was a dog waiting at home giving you that look‘According to a survey, three out of four dog owners admit they have bailed on plans at the last minute just so they could stay home with their pup. Not because they were sick. Not because they were tired. Just because the couch, the dog, and the idea of not putting on real pants sounded way better.

Cat owners are not totally innocent here either. About one in three people with cats say they have also canceled plans to hang out with their feline. Although, let’s be honest, the reaction was probably very different. Dogs were thrilled. Cats were likely annoyed that their perfectly planned night of ignoring you was suddenly ruined.

The survey also found that pet ownership has quietly turned into a full-blown lifestyle. The average dog owner has 1.7 dogs, while the average cat owner has 1.9 cats.

Which means a lot of people crossed the line from “I have a pet” into “this is now a household with a system.”

That might also explain another big takeaway from the survey, where pets actually sleep. The most common answer was not a dog bed. Not a crate. Not even the floor. It is the bed. Your bed. Right between you and any hope of personal space.

For many pet owners, especially dog people, staying home is not a backup plan anymore. It’s the preferred option. A night in with your dog means no small talk, no waiting for the check, and no pretending you’re having fun when you would rather be home anyway.

Your dog is always excited to see you, never asks where you want to eat, and thinks every evening is the best night ever. Cats, of course, are a little different.

Choosing to stay home with a cat is more of a gamble. You might get cuddles. You might get judgment. You might just get two forearms full of lacerations.

Still, the numbers do not lie. Whether it’s dogs wagging their tails or cats silently questioning your existence, a huge chunk of people are perfectly happy canceling plans to be home with their pets. And honestly, that sounds like a pretty great excuse to us.

The Cities Most Likely to Force Pets Into Holiday Festivities

Pets can tell when the holidays hit. One day everything is normal, and the next, a giant indoor tree appears, the house is glowing like a casino, and their humans are wearing sweaters with bells on them.

Sometimes the pets themselves are wearing the sweaters, which is when they realize humans are absolutely unhinged.

PetSmart just released a new list ranking the cities where people are most likely to drag their pets into the holiday spirit.

This is based on what people are buying in local stores, including festive toys, Santa sweaters, reindeer antlers, and whatever other glittery nonsense pets quietly judge us for.

Here are the Top 15 cities where pet participation is basically mandatory:

Midland, Texas
Dickson City, Pennsylvania
Lexington, Kentucky
Amarillo, Texas
Johnson City, Tennessee
Winter Garden, Florida
Lubbock, Texas
Pensacola, Florida
Florence, Kentucky
Athens, Georgia
Portland, Oregon
West Jordan, Utah
Antioch, California
Roseville, Michigan
Cape Coral, Florida

If your city made the list, your pet has already accepted their fate. They will be in at least one holiday photo… possibly wearing a tiny scarf or a pair of antlers they did not consent to.

And if you live in Midland, Texas, which topped the list, your dog is probably already in a costume with a matching hat.

Overall, PetSmart says 90% of pet parents plan to involve their pets in the holidays this year in some way. That includes snacks, toys, apparel, accessories, or whatever festive thing will make their pet briefly tolerate the situation before plotting revenge.

So if your cat gives you side-eye all December or your dog mysteriously disappears every time you pick up a tiny sweater, remember, they knew what season it was the moment the tree came out of the box.

Tom Brady’s New Dog Is Actually His Old Dog — Thanks to Cloning

Tom Brady’s latest pet story sounds straight out of Black Mirror.

The NFL legend revealed that his new dog, Junie, isn’t just any puppy — she’s the clone of his late dog, Lua. Yes, a literal genetic twin.

Brady worked with a company called Colossal Biosciences to make it happen. The same biotech firm has been making headlines for its goal to bring back extinct animals like the woolly mammoth, and now apparently, they’re also helping superstar athletes bring back their best friends.

Brady’s connection to Colossal isn’t just personal — it’s financial. He’s also an investor. So, when he talks about how amazing the technology is, he’s speaking both as a proud dog dad and as a stakeholder.

In a statement that definitely sounds like it went through a few rounds of PR polish, Brady said, “I love my animals. They mean the world to me and my family. A few years ago, I worked with Colossal and leveraged their non-invasive cloning technology through a simple blood draw of our family’s elderly dog before she passed.”

Junie, the clone, is now part of the Brady household — same DNA, new personality. And Brady says he’s “excited how this technology can help both families losing their beloved pets while helping to save endangered species.”

It’s a strange but very 2025 moment: the greatest quarterback of all time investing in the greatest scientific effort to bring back a dog — and possibly, one day, the woolly mammoth.

Whether you find it touching or slightly spooky, Brady’s love for Lua clearly runs deep. And thanks to some futuristic science, it seems that love found a second life.

A Zoo in Denmark Wants Your Pet—So They Can Feed It to a Lion

Move over, Disney. There’s a zoo in Denmark that’s rewriting The Circle of Life… and not everyone’s thrilled about it.

The Aalborg Zoo in northern Denmark just sparked a social media firestorm after a Facebook post invited the public to donate their pets – specifically so they can feed them to lions and other carnivores. Cue the outrage.

Seriously?? Who would do this??

Before you start clutching your dog or cat in horror, let’s clear something up: the zoo isn’t after Fluffy the golden retriever or Mr. Whiskers. According to its website, only healthy small animals are accepted, including rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, and – perhaps most eyebrow-raising – small horses. Yes, horses.

So what exactly is going on here? The zoo says it’s about giving their carnivores a more natural diet. Large predators in captivity, like lions, tigers, and lynxes, benefit from eating whole animals, fur and all, because it mimics what they’d consume in the wild. They argue it’s more enriching for the animals and reduces waste in the broader ecosystem. It’s not exactly a new concept in the zookeeping world, but advertising it to the public? That’s where things get a little… controversial.

Instagram is outraged

Understandably, social media users are losing it. Some are calling the policy “barbaric,” and others say they’re disturbed that anyone would part with their pet bunny or pony like it’s an expired can of soup. Memes, rage-posts, and lots of “What’s wrong with you?” comments are currently flooding the zoo’s social accounts.

But not everyone is upset

It’s not all outrage. Some folks are defending the move, calling critics “soft” and out of touch with how nature works. A few are even praising the zoo for being transparent and practical about food sourcing.

For the record, the zoo claims that any donated animals are “gently euthanized” before being offered as lunch to the apex predators, so it’s not exactly the Hunger Games happening behind the scenes.

Still, if you’ve got 10 surplus guinea pigs and you’re thinking about a donation run, be warned: the zoo has a four-animal limit per visit. You’ll have to schedule your pet purge accordingly.

The whole situation raises big questions about ethics, ecology, and the uncomfortable reality of what “feeding the animals” actually means. But one thing’s for sure: this zoo’s Facebook page is wild right now.

42% of Dog Owners Say the Best Part of Vacation Is… Coming Home to Their Dog

For dog people, traveling is basically a countdown to getting home and being smothered in fur and slobber.

A new survey of 2,000 dog owners confirms what every pet parent already knows: the highlight of any vacation isn’t the beach, the food, or the overpriced souvenirs… it’s that tail-wagging, zoomie-filled reunion at the front door when they return from the trip.

Here’s how obsessed we are with our dogs:

🐶 42% say coming home to their dog is the best part of the trip
🕐 53 minutes is how long it takes before the average person starts missing their pup
🧠 13 times a day is how often people think about their dog while traveling
📱 19% have asked a pet sitter to put the dog on the phone
📹 17% have FaceTimed their dog
🧳 76% say summer travel plans depend on whether they can find good dog care
😭 22% say missing their dog can ruin their trip
🔮 1 in 5 claim they “always” know what their dog’s going to do before they do it

People also have plenty of vacation anxiety when it comes to their dog.

40% of dog owners say they constantly worry about their pup while traveling
32% don’t trust anyone else to understand their dog’s quirks
34% are afraid their dog won’t get enough love
And the same number worry their dog won’t get enough walks or playtime

We’re so deep in the dog-parent lifestyle that 40% of us worry more about the dog’s needs than our own. (Only 19% say the reverse, which feels like a lie.)

But here’s the kicker: while we’re focused on belly rubs and ball tosses, only 28% think about giving their dog mental stimulation, and just 29% prioritize socialization. That’s like feeding your kid lunch but never letting them go to recess or read a book.

Moral of the story: If you’re going to leave your dog behind, make sure they’re living their best life too… because odds are, you’re the one who’s going to suffer more.

Confused Chicken Shows Up at Buffalo Wild Wings

If I was walking into Buffalo Wild Wings and saw this, I’d still eat there. But I’m probably getting a burger.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa got a call after someone spotted a chicken hanging out by the front door of a Buffalo Wild Wings in Des Moines.

They noted the hen must have been “confused,” since B-Dubs is the last place a chicken would want to be caught hanging out.

“WHAT THE CLUCK? Talk about a chicken on the wrong side of the road!”

How the chicken got to Buffalo Wild Wings is anyone’s guess, and whether it crossed the road to get there is also a hot topic.

People on Facebook were quick to offer up their own theories – a common theme being she’s finally buckled under the crushing weight of existence, and can’t deal with the unrelenting nature of life itself.

“She’d just given up. Was like ‘Just take me Lord!'”

“It wanted to be someone’s dinner.”

“How 2025’s been going, she just wanted to be done with it all!”

Thankfully, the story has a happy ending.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa was able to catch the chicken, adding that she was safe and receiving the care she needed. And the best news is it appears the wayward fowl never made it inside the restaurant.

Imagine the level of PTSD you’d endure if you realized you’d been just a few short steps away from becoming a combo meal.

10 Celebrities With Unusual Pets

Celebrities love their pets. They also love to get showy with their pets. And that includes adopting WEIRD animals. Here are 10 examples::

1. Kristen Stewart – Wolf-Hybrids

She’s basically living out Twilight in reverse. Props for her passion, but owning part-wolf animals is definitely not for the faint of heart, or faint of neighborly patience. She had to go to court against a guy who didn’t like her choice of pet, but she’s not doing anything illegal.

2. Kirstie Alley – 14 Lemurs

That’s not a pet collection, that’s a small forest exhibit. At least her lemur obsession stemmed from conservation work—not just a quirky impulse.

3. Salma Hayek – Owl

Naming her owl after her husband’s luxury brand group (Kering) is peak glamorous-weird. The mental image of her casually walking around with an owl on her head? Pure gothic fashion goals.

4. Paris Hilton – Kinkajous

They’re super cute, super unpredictable, and very much not meant for your Beverly Hills bedroom. The name “Baby Luv” is so Paris—until Baby Luv bites, and Paris needs a tetanus shot.

5. Leonardo DiCaprio – Tortoise

Of course Leo picked an eco-friendly, slow-living companion. Low-maintenance, long-living, and practically immortal—kind of like Leo’s career.

6. Tyga – Tiger

Illegal tiger ownership feels very on-brand for a rapper trying to flex. The tiger’s name? Not known. The ending? Predictable: animal shelter.

7. Ice-T – Shark Tank

A shark tank in a home studio screams “villain lair.” Sadly, it’s no longer there. But the idea of Ice-T laying down tracks next to circling predators is pretty metal.

8. Tracy Morgan – Giant Octopus

$400K for an octopus named Bwyadette? That is art. Morgan said the octopus helps him write jokes. Now we kind of need to see its Netflix special.

9. Nicolas Cage – Cobras and Beyond

This guy didn’t just own exotic pets—he curated a full-on apocalypse starter pack. The bulletproof glass cobra setup sounds less like a home and more like a Bond villain’s den.

10. Vanilla Ice – Wallaroo

He had a wallaroo. Of course he did. And of course it got too big for his house. That’s the most ‘90s rapper sentence ever.

Owning a Pet Now Costs a Small Fortune

If your kid asks for a puppy this Christmas, tell them sure… they just might not be able to go to college.

A study by Synchrony found the true cost of caring for a cat or dog over their entire lifetime can range from $20,000 to $61,000 – nearly three times what most people expect.

The poll asked people to estimate how much it would cost to care for a pet for 15 years. The average guesses were $5,735 for a cat and $8,158 for a dog.

But those optimistic ballpark figures fall well short of reality once you account for food, grooming, vet visits, and all those little extras we indulge our pets with. (Hey!! My cat likes dressing up for Halloween, okay!?!)

The actual estimated lifetime cost?

$20,000 to $47,000 for cats, and $22,000 to $61,000 for dogs.

It breaks down to roughly $1,500 a year—and that’s the minimum you should expect.

The cost of pet ownership isn’t just high—it’s also rising fast.

From 2022 to 2025, dog-related expenses increased by 12%, and cat costs have surged 19%.

Despite the financial burden, most pet parents have no plans to live a life without pets.

More than 75% of those surveyed said they see their pets as “family members,” “best friends,” or even “children.” That sentiment runs slightly stronger among dog owners—24% said they view their pup as a child, compared to 21% of cat owners.

With inflation and rising vet bills continuing to push costs higher, the findings serve as a reality check for current and would-be pet owners.

The takeaway? Pets are priceless, but definitely not free.