P.E.T.S. of the Kingdom

03/11/2026

Authorities are investigating possible animal cruelty after nearly 60 huskies, including puppies, were seized from a Vermont barn. - https://www.wcax.com/2026/03/11/sheriff-investigating-animal-cruelty-after-dozens-huskies-seized-hyde-park-barn/

02/19/2026

02/18/2026

“Oh those are the cutest puppies — we need one!” 🐶💕

We’ve all heard it.

Yes, puppies are adorable.
But choosing a dog based on looks alone is how so many families become overwhelmed — and how so many dogs end up surrendered.

Cute doesn’t tell you:

⚡ How much daily exercise they need
🧠 How much mental stimulation they require
🐾 What they were bred to do
🏡 Whether they fit your home and routine
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 If they’re compatible with kids, cats, or other dogs

A herding breed will herd.
A working breed without outlets will create their own job.
A vocal breed will be vocal.

That’s not a bad dog.
That’s genetics.

Responsible rescues don’t just adopt out dogs — they match dogs to lifestyles.

They evaluate:

✔ Energy level
✔ Drive and work ethic
✔ Stress responses
✔ Household dynamics
✔ The adopter’s time, experience, and activity level

Because the goal isn’t just adoption.
It’s the right match — where both the dog and the family succeed.

Medication has its place when medically appropriate — but normal breed traits aren’t disorders. They’re wiring.

Channel energy into:

✔ Training
✔ Enrichment
✔ Structure
✔ Scent work
✔ Hiking
✔ Agility

The real question isn’t: “Is this puppy cute?”

It’s: “Can I realistically meet this dog’s needs for the next 10–15 years?”

Cute lasts a few months.
Commitment lasts a lifetime. 🐾💛

01/23/2026

❄️COLD WEATHER ALERT FOR ALL VERMONT ANIMALS ❄️

Vermont temperatures are dropping into dangerous territory this week, and freezing weather can become life-threatening fast. Please take a moment to check on all animals — pets, farm animals, and any animals you may see in your community.

🐕 Companion Animals 🐈

(This includes dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, and other household pets.)

Companion animals rely fully on humans for warmth, shelter, food, water, and protection. They cannot safely regulate their body temperature in extreme cold without proper care.

During extreme cold, make sure to:

🔹 Bring pets indoors — even “outdoor dogs” can suffer frostbite and hypothermia
🔹 Limit outdoor time to quick bathroom breaks
🔹 Provide a warm, dry place away from drafts and cold floors
🔹 Check water frequently — bowls freeze rapidly
🔹 Keep a close eye on seniors, thin pets, and short-haired breeds
🔹 Report concerns if you see an animal without adequate shelter or care

🐄 Agricultural Animals 🐎

(This includes horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, poultry, and other animals kept for farm or agricultural purposes.)

Agricultural animals are evaluated under accepted husbandry practices, but this does not remove the obligation to protect them during severe weather.

Accepted husbandry in freezing temperatures includes:

🔹 A wind break or shelter (barn access, three-sided shed, or natural barrier)
🔹 Dry, insulating bedding to keep animals off frozen ground
🔹 Access to water they can actually drink — in freezing weather, this means water must be kept unfrozen or replenished often enough that animals are never deprived of hydration
🔹 Adequate nutrition to help maintain body heat
🔹 Monitoring animals regularly during extreme weather
🔹 Providing a way for animals to escape the elements when conditions become unsafe

Not considered accepted husbandry:

• Leaving animals exposed with no shelter
• Allowing water to freeze to the point that animals cannot reasonably access drinkable water throughout the day
• Keeping animals on bare frozen ground
• Failing to check animals during dangerous cold

For agricultural animals, this standard is applied using recognized, humane livestock husbandry practices, which still require real protection from cold, exposure, and suffering.

Vermont winters are unforgiving. Let’s make sure every animal — in the home and on the farm — stays safe, warm, and protected this winter. 💜❄️

01/04/2026

🐾 2,359 Vermont Lives Saved in 2025 🐾

In 2025, 2,359 Vermont animals — dogs, cats, small animals, birds, and more — were taken in by the local rescues, sanctuaries, and shelters VAACA works most closely with.

That number represents far more than a statistic.
It represents lives saved ❤️ — and the immense amount of work required to make that level of impact possible.

Behind every one of those 2,359 animals is:
🚨 Emergency response and safe intake
🩺 Medical care and veterinary coordination
🏡 Foster, sanctuary, or shelter placement
🚗 Transportation across towns and counties
📣 Fundraising, advocacy, and administrative work
🤍 Volunteers opening their homes, showing up after hours, transporting animals, cleaning kennels, answering phones, and doing the hard, unglamorous work that keeps rescue moving.
🙌 People willing to step in when animals had nowhere else to go.

Those lives include animals of all species, including:
🐶 Dogs
🐱 Cats & kittens
🐦 Birds
🐹 Degus, ferrets, guinea pigs, rats
🐰 Rabbits

This impact was made possible through collaboration with the following partners:
Potter's Angels Rescue
P.E.T.S. of the Kingdom
For the Love of Dogs Vermont
Apocalypse Farm And Sanctuary
Random Rescue
Paws of Promise
Friends of Duke Rescue
VT Dog Rescue
Humane Society of Chittenden County
North Country Animal League
Windham County Humane Society
Feline Rescue Project of Central VT
Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter
FB group link- https://www.facebook.com/groups/132366973466735/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
Friends for Life Dog Rescue
FB group link- https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsforlifedogrescue/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT

From small volunteer-run rescues, to sanctuaries, to community shelters, every organization plays a critical role. The size of the organization does not determine the value of the impact — every single life saved matters 🐾

This work is also made possible through ongoing coordination with Animal Control Officers, law enforcement, veterinarians, and volunteers 🤝 — especially in cruelty cases, emergency seizures, medical crises, and safe transfers. Animal welfare is not siloed; it is a shared responsibility, and real progress happens when systems work together.
As we move into 2026, VAACA will continue to expand the number of rescues, sanctuaries, and shelters we work closely with, strengthening statewide collaboration and increasing our collective impact. Growth means more partnerships, stronger support systems, and more lives saved 💪🐶🐱

We are proud of what this community accomplished in 2025 — and even more committed to what we can build together next.

🐾 2,359 lives mattered.
Every partnership mattered.
Every volunteer mattered.
And the work continues. 🐾