During the week of May 4-10, 2025, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) sponsors National Pet Week. AVMA suggests a few lifecycle themes to focus on:
Choose Well: Commit for Life
Behavioral Health: Good Habits
Nutrition & Exercise Matter
Love Your Pet? See Your Vet!
Planning for Senior Care
National Pet Week from AVMA: Choose Well to Commit for Life
The first step to happiness and good health is to choose the right pet for your family and to commit to caring for the animal for its years of life. Consider these questions before bringing a new pet home.
Will this pet fit with your family’s lifestyle? Cats, dogs and other pet species all have different needs, temperaments, hardiness and health considerations. For instance, a bunny does best in a quiet, calm home. Many dog breeds need lots of physical exercise and active play. Cats need a home free from the many houseplants that are toxic to them.
Do the adults in your family have time to care for this pet? Each and every day, your pet will need basic care like feeding, elimination, cleaning, exercise and more. And for a happy life, your pet will need socialization and enrichment. Children are quick to promise responsibility, but the adults are truly responsible for family members. Also, consider how long the pet will need to spend time alone, such as when you’re at work.
Are you comfortable with the costs of caring for this pet throughout its life? Food, housing, veterinary care, gear, toys, petsitting, grooming and more really add up. AVMA offers this guide: Money Tips for Caring Pet Owners
Will a new pet thrive with any existing pets? If you already have one or more pets in your home, you’ll want to consider if the new pet will be welcomed by them.
National Pet Week from AVMA: Behavioral Health with Good Habits
For dogs and cats, socialization and training are critical to enjoying these animals throughout their lifetimes. Shelters are full of unfortunate pets who were allowed to develop bad habits. Watch this socialization video from AVMA, and check out the resource Socialization of Dogs and Cats.
National Pet Week from AVMA: Nutrition & Exercise Matter
For today’s pet, maintaining a healthy weight is a top consideration. It’s easy to feed a pet more than is healthy for them (treats are so much fun!). AVMA shares a helpful guide for how to tell if your pet’s weight is healthy.
National Pet Week from AVMA: Love Your Pet? See Your Vet!
Regular wellness exams are so important for promoting your pet’s long, healthy life. Preventive care keeps your pet safe from dangerous illnesses through immunization and heartworm/flea/tick protection. And the earlier your veterinarian can catch and treat disease, the better the outcomes will be.
National Pet Week from AVMA: Planning for Senior Care
Cats are usually considered senior at 10 years old, while senior status for dogs varies by breed and size. (from six to 11 years old). Companion Care Animal Hospital has several Senior Pet Resources we recommend you look into. AVMA also offers a Caring for Senior Cats and Dogs feature with more information.
We want to emphasize that senior pets have many benefits over younger pets, so it’s not all about extra veterinary care. These pets are usually more relaxed and have fewer unwanted behaviors.
As you celebrate National Pet Week, we hope these lifecyle tips have been helpful. If you want to learn more about pets and their care, browse through our blog.
There are a million reasons we love pets, and a million more to love our own special cat or dog! The best way to show your pet love is to ensure their best health. Learn more about Wellness Care to help your pet live their happiest, healthiest life.
We wish a Happy 2025 to all of our patients, clients and team members! Let’s take a little time to reflect on the past year and some of our favorite photos.
Eclipse Day!
Who could forget the 2024 eclipse? We made sure to share safety tips for pets.
Sharing Our Pets for National Pet Day
Look at these sweeties!
Celebrating Veterinary Receptionist Week
Our amazing Veterinary Receptionists are the first voice you hear when you call and the first face you see when you walk in. They are critically important to patient care!
Recognizing National Mutt Day
We celebrated with Riggins.
Kitten Well Visits
We just love those kitty cuddles.
National Black Dog Day
Jedd came to see us on National Black Dog day!
Santa Visits Companion Care Animal Hospital
Thank you for sharing a wonderful year with us, and we look forward to seeing you and your pets in 2025!
As we reflect on 2024, we are grateful for the patients and clients who have walked through our doors, trusting us to improve and preserve health. We love each and every animal we treat, and we’d like to share some of our clients’ thoughts and praise from the year.
From Ell…
“I love it here!
Awesome staff, everyone very well trained and educated. Very direct about your pets care plan options and goal oriented in getting your pet what he/she needs. They treat your pet like family. 🩵 Upfront about prices as well, no hidden cost pop up.”
From Hoopinhips…
“The vet and her vet techs where very gentle with my cat and gave her the help she needed”
From Symantha…
“Love this place. They take care of my cats very well.I would recommend them to anyone. The veterinarians here give excellent care.listen to your problems and concerns for your pets.the staff here make you feel very welcomed and comfortable with your appointments.🦮🐈❤❤🐶🐯🐣🐸”
From Stephanie…
“This is an excellent place to bring your animal to. Today they fit me in because my dog was sick. They were so caring.”
From Ted…
“So kind and wonderful to all the doggies, kitties, and people. Love this place.”
From Daniel…
“Great service. The staff was welcoming and explained everything so there were no surprises. Got my fur baby taken care of and back to his normal self. Highly recommend.”
From Ute…
“This is the best vet office ever! The staff here is incredibly knowledgeable and compassionate. They are all about the animals, and they treat you and your companions as family members. My cat was born with a rare, congenital condition, and they figured out very quickly what that was and how to treat it. Morgyn and Jan, in the office, are the kindest, most hardworking, and patient people ever. They always know what to do, recognize emergencies immediately, and make sure to treat you with kindness as well. And then there is Dr. Simensen, who is a cut above. Gentle, and imbued with a dry sense of humor, she deeply cares about your pets and about you. For her this comes before everything else. The other veterinarians are amazing as well. You just can’t go wrong, The nurses here are equally as knowledgeable and caring, always offering smiles and kind words. This place is lovely. The clinic itself is beautiful as well, and always clean. This is the best vet clinic anywhere!”
From Steve…
“This is the only vet I will use. The staff and employees are very knowledgeable. Very friendly. My pugs are in good hands!! They also offer boarding. Get your pets there soon.”
From Lavender…
“My family’s trusted Vet. I trust them 1000% with all my animals”
Along with our patients and clients, we appreciate our team of veterinary professionals who devote their lives to the care of animals. We’re looking forward to a wonderful 2025!
Do you have the joy of a senior pet in your life? If you don’t yet, you will as your cat or dog ages. These golden years are often a beautiful time full of special moments.
Here are 10 reasons we love our senior pets.
Senior pets have time to cuddle (those younger pets don’t always have the patience!)
We have years of joy with our senior pets. Cats are considered senior around 10 years of age. Small dogs are also seniors around 10 years, while larger dogs are seniors around 8 years of age.
Senior pets have had years of life to learn how to show love and affection, i.e., socialization
Life is calmer with a senior pet, and they usually have outgrown mischievous behavior
These pets will take naps with you!
When we’ve shared our life with a pet for many years, we know each other so well. Your pet probably knows what you’re going to do or what you’re feeling better than you do
Your senior pet has also built up good habits specific to what you care about. For instance, my dog knows the difference between his toys and the kids’ toys
Senior pets are also wonderful to adopt and start a new relationship with. They are so grateful for the peace and love that come from finding their forever family
It’s easier to be present and treasure each moment you have with your pet, knowing they are in their sunset years
We can feel good about giving a senior pet their best life, helping them live happily and healthily. Wild animals don’t get to enjoy “retirement.”
You probably want to add to this list of “Why We Love Senior Pets!” Visit our Facebook page to share your stories and thoughts.
Spooky season is here, and people love it! About 60% of Americans celebrate Halloween. But 0% of pets enjoy being frightened, so let’s review some safety tips.
Candy is Never Good for Pets
For the health and safety of your cat or dog, keep all candy away from them. Chocolate candy or sugar-free candy are toxic, while sticky candies can become stuck in teeth or digestive tracts. Here are some tips to help your pet avoid the candy:
Make sure your kids understand that sharing candy with pets is dangerous
Put the trick-or-treat bowl out of reach of your pet
Store bags of candy in a cabinet your pet can’t reach
If you have your leashed dog at a Halloween event, watch the ground for dropped candy
Costumes Aren’t for Every Pet
We love seeing dressed up dogs and cats as much as anyone– they are just so cute in costumes! But not every pet wants to join in the fun. If your pet resists wearing a costume, don’t force it. Here are more costume guidelines:
Don’t put a mask on your pet for any length of time, even if your pet doesn’t seem to mind. Just long enough to snap a cute pic.
Choose a comfortable costume that isn’t too tight and allows normal movement (walking, sitting, lying down).
If your pet shows any discomfort or irritation, remove the costume right away
Home is the Safest Place
Halloween celebrations often happen at night, with large crowds. This experience isn’t for most pets, who are safest and happiest indoors at home. If you’re welcoming trick-or-treaters or going to a party, create a safe space in your home where your pet won’t come face-to-face with strangers.
For more Halloween safety tips, check out these articles:
Animal Adoption Foundation in Hamilton is hosting a massive, three-day yard sale to benefit the shelter animals in their care. Above, you can see just part of last year’s offerings. This year, you can be a part of this important fundraiser by both donating items and shopping the sale.
Here’s the address for AAF:
Animal Adoption Foundation
2480 Ross-Millville Rd
Hamilton, OH 45013
When to Donate for the AAF Yard Sale
Donations need to arrive in time for volunteers to organize them. Here’s when you can drop things off:
Donations August 3 – September 8
Saturday & Sunday: 9AM-1PM
Tuesday & Thursday: 4PM-7PM
Furniture donations are accepted only on September 12 from 11AM-4PM.
Please note, there are several items that can’t be accepted, including:
Mattresses or box springs
Upholstered furniture
Pillows, linens or stuffed toys
Small electronics, TVs, fans
Paint, flammables
Tires
Building material
Bathroom cabinets
Broken furniture
Broken items
Anything in poor condition
Last Year’s AAF Yard Sale
When to Shop the AAF Yard Sale
Now here’s the exciting part! Let’s get shopping! A quick survey of Facebook shows that over 250 shoppers are interested in this event so far (and Sunday looks to be the most popular day).
Organizers mention that they bring out new items each day, so every day has the best selection.
Seeing pictures of last year’s yard sale make us excited that 2024 is going to offer bargains for days. And the best part? We’ll unite to help shelter pets live happier, healthier lives.
When we learned about DOGust Universal Birthday for Shelter Dogs, we fell in love with the idea! For most shelter dogs, we don’t know exactly how old they are, let alone on what day they were born.
For adopted dogs, many families celebrate their “gotcha day” as a birthday, but for dogs waiting in a shelter, they are still dreaming of being “fetched.” Here’s how Natalie Buxton, director of marketing and communications at Operation Kindness describes Dogust 1st:
“Not knowing a dog’s true birthday means it’s difficult to celebrate their special day, but by having a universal birthday like Dogust, it allows us an opportunity to spread a little joy to all of the homeless pets that are looking for a loving, responsible home.”
Pets Celebrating Dogust!
Chewy invited followers to share their pet adoption stories for Dogust, and here are a few of our faves.
“We got Luna on May 4, she’s our little Star Wars pup! We adopted her 6 years ago from Rescue Pit and it’s been a non-stop party ever since!”
“We got my Duffy from Colbert Veterinary Rescue Services. She’s been my baby since the first day! I’m so thankful for them!”
Impersonating a dog? No matter, we love this kitty!
“This is Lexie (aka Itty Bitty). We adopted her from Community Animal Rescue Effort – CARE in Skokie, Illinois. They are a wonderful organization and are very deserving. 🙏 @chewy”
“I previously fostered with Adopt A Stray Rescue and Miss Kelley saves so many dogs and sometimes a cat or two! I’m thankful she’s in Arkansas saving so many! Moose is one she saved with about 12 others who were living near a swamp area! All now in loving homes and healthy because of her!”
This pup has made some big friends!
“Here’s our pup, Barkley aka The Barkman, with our 2 horses, Sierra & Nova ❤️ All 3 of them would LOVE to see a donation be made to Hasty’s Haven, a horse rescue that’s local to us and doing AMAZING work saving so many equines in need!”
“It’s my Ben’s birthday! So grateful to Nickel City Canine Rescue for saving him and bringing him to us. 💕 🐾”
How to Help Shelter Animals in Dogust
Help all animals celebrate Dogust by assisting your local animal shelters. We shared some tips in “Help Out for National Feed a Rescue Pet Week.” There you can see wishlists from Animal Adoption Foundation and Animal Friends Humane Society.
If you have free time, consider volunteering or fostering with shelters. Here’s more information:
June is National Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat month, and these five felines from Animal Adoption Foundation would love to find their fur-ever homes! Take a look, and perhaps you’ll feel a connection.
Angelica
Angelica is a young, black-and-white female cat with adorable white socks. AAF tells the story of her arriving at the shelter:
“This girl came to us pregnant and gave birth to five kittens. She is shy at first, but given time is very loving. She loves laps and belly rubs. She is even good with dogs (as long as they like her).”
Oh, a sweet black kitten! His sister may have already been adopted, so he is a wee bit jealous. Just look into his beautiful eyes and see if you’ve found a soulmate.
“Hello, I’m Karma! I was found as a stray with my sister, Drama. I am a friendly little man who enjoys attention. I adore my sister. After living on the streets for who knows how long, I am ready for my own home. Will it be with you?”
Cleocatra gets along well with other cats and is an adult female. AAF volunteers love her, but would love even more to see her find her forever home:
“Cleo is a very special girl with the most beautiful markings and the sweetest face ever. Cleo loves to play with the cats that are in other rooms. She has frequently been seen playing pattycake with cats in rooms 3 and 4 particularly. This awesome girl has a ton of personality and is a volunteer favorite!”
This adult female cat gets her name from her adorable bobtail. AAF is certain she would love to get to know you:
“Pom Pom is a sweet talker. She looks you in the eye and tells you sweet nothings while she rubs all over you. This girl simply cannot get enough love from people. She is a charmer. And, oh how pretty she is! Pom Pom has a bob-tail that we all think looks like a cute lil Pom Pom You just gotta meet this wonderful kitty!”
This young, female cat is full of life and character! AAF gives you a peek into her personality:
“Haven is the most photogenic cat at the shelter. Just take a look at her photos…she really mugs for the camera! Look at that smile! Haven is a sweet, outgoing little lady. She is so pretty! She makes the cutest little noises, and has a most unusual but endearing purr! Haven is full of sugar and spice! She is not shy about letting you know what she likes and what she doesn’t like. Haven enjoys playtime and chill time. She absolutely LOVES that little red dot that humans use to drive her crazy! She will stalk and chase that dot for an hour or more! Come in and meet Miss Haven, you’ll fall in love!”
Hours
Monday – Friday 11AM-7PM
Saturday 11 AM-4PM
Sunday Noon-4PM
* Adoptions are by Appointments Only
Adopting from Animal Adoption Foundation
To make your visit smoother, consider filling out this Online Application before you go. The caregivers at AAF want to ensure each and every animal is adopted out to their perfect family.
