Digest: Dog and Cat News of This Week

Abused, Mutilated Kittens Found in Pennsylvania: Petside

We'll start this edition of the Petside Digest with a bit of incredibly sad news. According to the NBC Philadelphia affiliate, seven kittens were found yesterday abused, beaten and dismembered.

What is it saying about us that (especially this month, it seems) we have been seeing an increase in animal abuse and cruelty? How can people even fathom doing such things? We're not sure, and we suspect neither are you.

Share your thoughts on this terrible story in a comment.

Things Every Dog Should Know: New York Times

Does your dog know to sit and stay? Does he know his name? A blog over on the New York Times humorously suggests that he should.

Wondering what other commands made the list of "things that every dog should know?" How about: "leave it, go to bed, pay attention, let’s go, play well with others and swim.

For more on the things every dog should know, visit the blog!

What other things do you think dogs should know? Let us know in a comment!

First TV Commercial For Dogs: Petside

So Nestle made a TV commercial specifically for dogs. What?

Sounds odd, but it's true. Nestle made a commercial complete with sounds and images that are supposed to appeal completely to dogs.

Will this marketing tactic work? Only time will tell! It's currently being screened on Austrian television, so who knows if stuff like this will make it to the U.S.!

Vaccine Could Help Control Feral Cat Population: Cat Channel

A new study from the University of Florida found that a single dose of a new vaccine could control fertility in adult female cats for multiple years.

Researchers are hoping that the new vaccine will be able to, in the future, be used to help reduce the feral cat population, which has recently been cited as a contributor to the spread of rabies.

To find out more about the study, visit Cat Channel!

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Nimo

Our adoptable pet for this week is Nimo (pictured above), a 4-year-old Pomeranian, who has been turned into an upstate New York shelter because their owner's lost their home in Hurricane Irene. Nimo is already housebroken, he's spayed and up to date with all of his routine shots. Help give Nimo a home!