Mindy Norton

You may have heard the quip, “getting old is not for sissies”. That’s because bodies change as they age and don’t always function as well as they did in younger years. One of the common ailments associated with getting older is arthritis. We know it can certainly affect humans, but pets can also suffer from arthritis as they age. Our furry friends can exhibit symptoms of arthritis as the cartilage in their joints begins to disintegrate, resulting in pain, stiffness and mobility problems.

This July 4th marks two hundred fifty years of American independence. That’s a major milestone – but, were the early Americans concerned about animal welfare?

With the Fourth of July coming up next week, I’ve noticed a lot of commentary has focused on how different things are now from what they were when the Declaration of Independence was signed. Cats and dogs dominate the animal scene in America today, replacing the horses, cows, chickens and pigs of 200 years ago. And our attitudes toward animals have changed considerably since this country was founded. In 1776, people were heavily dependent on animals for food, transportation and other necessities.