Pets & Wildlife

Evan Smith, left, owner of Canine Utopia, shares a laugh with customer Kathy Bender of Vancouver while helping her at his Vancouver store Tuesday morning.

Working in Clark County: Evan Smith: owner, Canine Utopia

October 5, 2015, 6:01am Business

In 2011, Evan Smith left a career in which he had to make difficult, uneasy decisions. "As a Medicaid gatekeeper, I kind of held a lot in my hands negotiating prices and making approvals, and knew one day it could be my own mom's case. It hit home." Now Smith… Read story

Kirsten Becker, executive director of Autism Anchoring Dogs, center, attaches a tether connecting Saint Bernard Andy to 9-year-old Deklan Montes, who has autism, in the Montes family's Vancouver home.

Dog trains to be autistic boy’s ‘anchor’

October 5, 2015, 6:01am Clark County Health

Deklan Montes is an intelligent 9 year old. He's above-average compared to other kids his age, according to his mother. Read story

Nick, a 22 year-old appaloosa clydesdale cross, paints at the Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton, Ill. Nick has been taught to paint using the clicker method, which rewards behavior with a clicking sound and food. Margaret Gitter clicks and gives Nick his treats, as Dan Neustadt assists Nick with the paint brush.

Horse dips into new retirement hobby

October 2, 2015, 6:04am Life

WHEATON, Ill. -- There's a prolific new artist in residence at the Danada Equestrian Center near Wheaton. Read story

Cat’s bloody stool most likely linked to colon

October 2, 2015, 6:00am Life

Angela shares an apartment with her 6-year-old cat Andy. Andy has spent all his life indoors. Recently, Angela has noticed small amounts of blood in his stool. The stool is otherwise normal. It does not seem to show blood on every bowel movement but it has become increasingly prevalent. His… Read story

Snout, a Toso Japanese mastiff plays in the grass with a ball for one of the first times in his life at the Humane Society for Southwest Washington in Vancouver on Monday. The Humane Society, in partnership with Humane Society International, welcomed 58 dogs recently rescued from a South Korean meat farm as part of efforts to fight the dog meat trade throughout Asia.

Dogs rescued from meat farm to find local homes

September 28, 2015, 1:53pm Clark County Life

With big, lumbering strides, a Japanese mastiff named Snout chased a tennis ball across the grass Monday at the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, pausing his frolic to bite at a falling leaf. Read story

Bits ‘n’ Pieces: 4-H rabbit club ends its long run

The Country Critters 4-H Rabbit Club learn all things rabbit from veterinarian Alayson Phelps, left, during a 2013 tour of VCA East Mill Plain Animal Hospital.

September 25, 2015, 6:08am Clark County Life

The Country Critters will be hopping away into the sunset after 22 years. The 4-H rabbit club is dissolving and will celebrate its legacy with current and former members at a potluck banquet at 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at CASEE, 11104 N.E. 149th St., Brush Prairie. The club has about… Read story

Man bites at chance to become dog trainer

September 25, 2015, 5:13am Life

Larry Fine, 43, is founder and owner of Doggyality, which offers training for dogs and their owners. Fine started the business in 2010 part time while managing a valet-parking service. He has since expanded it to include video tutorials and a book. Read story