Homestead Veterinary Care

07/15/2025

I think we’re all in the mood for some ice cream or a Pup Cup with this hot day!

07/13/2025

Do you have a cat the fetches? Let us know in the comments.

Felines who fetch are an evolutionary mystery, Katherine J. Wu wrote in 2023. https://theatln.tc/8zSVUsBF

When her cat Calvin retrieved a yarn puff that Wu’s husband had offhandedly tossed across the apartment, Wu was “gobsmacked.” But Calvin, it turns out, isn’t that much of an exception. Cats that fetch are a minority, but not an extreme minority. Though data on the topic are limited, one 1986 study found that nearly 16 percent of cats reportedly fetch. Newer data suggest that the percentage might be higher.

Repeatedly retrieving a single object isn’t a regular occurrence in the wild; domestic dogs fetch because we bred them to do so, Wu writes. But if fetching seems to come naturally to a subset of felines, that would make sense from an evolutionary perspective. “Fetching is just a sequence of four behaviors: looking, chasing, grab-biting, and returning,” an evolutionary biologist explained to Wu. “Versions of the first three are already built into predators’ classic hunting repertoire.” The returning part of fetching could be drawn from feline mothers’ habit of bringing live prey back to their kittens to teach them how to hunt, or moving food to a safer area to eat, a behavior seen in both feline sexes.

Most fetching seen in felines seems to be initiated by the felines themselves, not, as with dogs, by humans. Both cats and dogs love a good chase, “but the average canine probably gets much more of a thrill out of obeying and pleasing us,” Wu continues. “The weirdness of cat-fetching can make it all the more special to the people lucky enough to experience it for themselves … Calvin needs me for a lot of things—food, water, tooth-brushings, veterinary care. But when he explicitly invites me to play with him, I’m transported to a part of his universe that feels especially intimate. He is choosing to have fun but also expressing that he’d prefer to do it with me.“

📸: Getty

07/11/2025

What are your pet’s Top 5 Favorite Things?

07/09/2025

Do you have a sinker or a swimmer? ☺️

07/04/2025

We hope everyone is able to enjoy some festivities for the 4th of July! Stay cool, stay hydrated and keep your pets safe and sound at home 🤩

07/04/2025

True!

07/03/2025

We can’t stress this enough!

🎇 3rd- 6th of July: The Busiest Time for Animal Shelters Nationwide 🐾

It happens every year. The fireworks start, the parties roll out, and suddenly… pets go missing.

Leash your dogs.
Even if they’re well trained.
Even if they’ve never run off before.
Even if you’re standing right next to them.

Because fear, curiosity, and the scent of a backyard BBQ down the street can override everything they know.

We’ve seen it too many times—a spooked dog darts from the yard, a curious pup chases a scent into chaos. And our shelter, like so many others, is already full and working overtime to reunite pets with their families.

Let’s prevent the heartbreak before it begins.
Leash your dogs. Love your dogs. Keep them safe.

💙 Thank you for helping us reduce the number of strays this holiday weekend.

07/02/2025

Be aware! Keep your dog away!

07/01/2025

Important Reminders with the 4th of July coming up:

✅ keep pets on a leash when outside in case of a runaway from fireworks!
✅ keep pets safe and calm from all the comings and goings of extra visitors!
✅keep a collar with an ID tag on your pet!

Many many many pets become lost and worse this time of year. Do your best to make sure it is not YOUR pet who goes missing 😽

06/30/2025

Who’s guilty of this one? 👍🏻

06/29/2025

June is adopt a cat month and although the month is nearly over we think every month should be adopt a cat month! Take a look at all the fuzzy friends available right here in Rhinelander https://www.ochspets.org/adoptions/cats/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLOX_hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHgUzn7BoJoHyGk1NdXDc1ffRUFCHblejvP3pmY9sNiVayMDyKZY5RHWzzFNF_aem_Kas5z-YerVXBuYZRyX34Dw
😻

06/25/2025

This gloomy day needs some giggles. Echo just loves this 🎶 😂