Mourning Jack

(Web Exclusive) The stages of mourning apply to pets just as easily as they do to human family and friends. My black Labrador retriever, Jack, was 13 years old when he was put to sleep. Some owners say they would rather make the decision on their own instead of waking up to find out their pet has died during the night. In reality, knowing the day is coming doesn’t make letting go any easier.

Of pug and Pam

(Web Exclusive) When the wriggling, panting, practically smiling pug puppy arrived at my house in early December 1997, I was the happiest 9-year-old in the entire world. My aunt Pam brought him all the way from Jonesboro, Ark., to fulfill my dream of having a puppy. I had no idea that soon she would be little more than a dream to me, and he would be my only attachment to her. Less than a year after that Christmas, Pam died from ovarian cancer.

The parakeet Cold War

(Web Exclusive) At age 9, I had never wanted anything so much as I wanted a parakeet. Well, except for a cat. And those pink cowboy boots. And there was that one time with those miniature toy horses — but really, this parakeet was a cat, a pair of pink cowboy boots and several miniature horses all rolled into one.

The pet from hell

(Web Exclusive) Growing up on a farm, I was surrounded with animals. Horses, chickens, cats, dogs — we had them all. But what I really wished for was a pet to call my own. I dreamed of having a cute, cuddly animal that was all mine to care for and play with. Unfortunately for me, this fantasy of a loving animal companion was shattered by the reality of Max.

Love knows no lease

(Web Exclusive) My roommates tell me they pulled poor Cosette out from under a lawn mower. Her mother had become known as quite the “S-L-U-T” around the neighborhood. This led to where these things lead, and Cosette was born in early September 2007.

Scratches, Tiger and Toby

(Web Exclusive) To some, pets are family. To others, pets are merely roommates. My family and I consider our cats to be family. So when one got sick, we didn’t think twice about his medical care. Such committed pet owners are a rare breed.

Small deaths kill me

(Web Exclusive) Two weeks into my first semester at college, I received a phone call from my sister. Her voice was tentative and sympathetic as she uttered words she knew would ruin my day. “Megan,” she said. “G.P. died today.”

Working like a dog

Most pets get a treat for simply staying out of the flower bed, or they get rewarded with a brushing after they avoid knocking over their food bowls. But other animals don’t just perform adorable tricks; they execute important tasks that contribute to the lives of their owners and others. They help exercise muscles, put food on the table, act as instruments in the classroom and save lives.

Mythbusters

The real cost of pets

A pet can be a big responsibility. Between feeding, playing, grooming, cage cleaning, water changing and poop scooping, it can seem more like a chore than a companion. From the puny goldfish destined for the sewers to the Labrador in the suburbs, owning a pet is going to cost you.

Family resemblance

More than just affection links Columbia pets and owners.

What a pet wants

Vox's cutest pet winners

5 things not to feed your pets

Confessions of a Paranoid Cat Owner

(Web Exclusive) House cats are known to be affectionate. Who couldn’t picture a fluffy white feline marshmallow hopping up on their laps as they enjoy an after-dinner cup of tea? When it comes down to it, the little fuzz balls are just warm, caring and cuddly. That is except for TC.

Doggy OCD

(Web Exclusive) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is categorized as having unwanted thoughts or obsessions that result in repetitive, unwanted behavior. My family is convinced our scruffy brown dog Max is the poster child for doggy OCD. Max is a dog that specializes in human worries and quirks that would more likely fit a person with a prescription for Prozac.

Rabbit tricks

(Web Exclusive) During my childhood, there was a not-so-funny television show named America’s Funniest People, in which Full House star Dave Coulier voiced a character called the Jackalope. A rabbit with antlers fastened to its head, the Jackalope was notorious for playing mean tricks on people, such as attacking workers from fictional Big Brute Construction Co. with a jackhammer when they attempted to cut down a tree that housed a nest of bird eggs. The furry vigilante would then wrap the segment up with his favorite catchphrase, “Fast as fast can be, you’ll never catch me.” The Jackalope was the most amusing thing I had seen at age 6, but it instantly made me want a mischievous rabbit with antlers attached to its head. Thus began my love of all things rabbit related. When I asked my parents for one, I was told that my father was deathly allergic to animals with fur and would end up in the emergency room, or worse, if I ever brought a rabbit home.

A pet by any other name

Most of us have owned a pet in our lives, and if you’re a pet person, this is the Vox you’ve been waiting for. We’ve taken the issue and made it all about pets, right down to the last detail.

Animal house

Anxiously panting and licking their human companions, dogs in the Small Animal Clinic waiting room at MU’s College of Veterinary Medicine are anything but mellow. Watercolor paintings, stuffed animals and eerie pet statues exude a shrine-like feel. Fourth-year vet student Laura Nafe steps around canines and an inquisitive toddler to introduce herself to her 10:30 a.m. appointment. Although she flashes a Colgate-bright smile, Nafe has a long day ahead of her, and it’s just begun.

Fenced in

A life confined within the bars of a puppy mill cage is one of the many cruelties animals face in today’s world. The Humane Society of the United States’ definition of cruelty envelops everything from neglect to malicious torture and killing of animals. Animal abuse is severely underreported, so statistics that accurately represent its effects are elusive. And with a failing economy, chained dogs and tortured animals are often outside the public’s concern.

All aboard

Whether you’re looking for a trustworthy place to board your buddy or a reliable service to sit for your critters, a solution is at hand. Check out our handy breakdown of pet sitting and boarding services in Columbia, and figure out which pet care provider is right for you. Some pet care professionals have decades of experience behind their prowess, and most have animals of their own. From interactive boarding to pet sitters with an artistic side, these Columbia businesses will keep your creatures content while you’re away.

Columbia's menagerie

Although cats and dogs account for most of the pet population (70 percent of households own one or both, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association), some pet owners prefer unconventional animals. The thought of owning anything with eight legs might make you cringe, but some find the fuzzy creatures fascinating. Unusual pets can make for great pals, too.

Vet school: a closer look

(Web Exclusive) Step inside MU's vet school and see the day-to-day life of one student.

Menu: Pets unleashed!

(Web Exclusive) Whether you want to read about Columbia's pet celebs, the changing face of animal abuse in Missouri or pet myths, this menu provides a simple path to your story of choice. Dig in.