In today's issue:

-Meet our dog of the day

-Enjoy a laugh with our dog meme of the day

-Get great information in our featured article

-Take our action of the week

-Check out our family photo of the day

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7 Expert Approved Credits Offering No Interest Until Nearly 2027

Did you know some credit cards could actually help you get out of debt faster? Yes, it sounds crazy. But it’s true. The secret: Find a card with a "0% intro APR" period for balance transfers. Then, transfer your debt balance and pay it down as much as possible during the intro period. No interest means you could pay off the debt faster. Check out a list of cards you can use to do this here.

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The Sole Mates: Why Your Dog Is Obsessed With Fetching Your Shoes

Picture this: You just walked through the front door after a long, exhausting day. Before you can even drop your keys, a furry blur comes bounding toward you. Their tail is wagging at terminal velocity, their eyes are bright with pure joy, and clamped firmly in their jaws is... your favorite sneaker.

It is a scene familiar to almost every dog owner. While it can sometimes be frustrating to find your footwear slightly damp with canine droops, this quirky behavior is actually a profound, multi-sensory display of love, instinct, and communication.

You Smell Utterly Amazing (To Them!)

To a human, a well-worn shoe smells like, well, a shoe. But to a dog, whose sense of smell is up to 100,000 times more powerful than ours, your shoes are a glorious, hyper-concentrated perfume of you.

Our feet contain a massive concentration of sweat glands, which means our footwear absorbs our unique scent profile more intensely than almost anything else we wear. When your dog grabs your shoe, they are not trying to be a nuisance; they are wrapping themselves in your familiar comfort. Carrying it is the canine equivalent of hugging a favorite security blanket.

The Power of "Gifting" and Greeting

Dogs are hardwired to want to share experiences with their pack members. When you return home, your dog experiences a massive spike in excitement. For many pups, that intense energy needs a physical outlet.

By grabbing a shoe and presenting it to you, they are engaging in a behavioral ritual often called "gifting." They want to hold something valuable to show you how thrilled they are that you’re back. Because shoes are usually left at floor level and readily accessible, they become the default trophy of celebration.

A Clever Bid for Your Attention

Dogs are incredibly sharp observers of human behavior. They quickly learn the cause-and-effect of their actions.

Think about what happens when your dog picks up a random dog toy. You might give them a gentle pat, or you might ignore them while you unpack your groceries. But what happens when they pick up your expensive leather boot? You instantly stop what you are doing, look right at them, and engage—even if it's just to say, "Drop it!"

To a lonely pup, any attention is good attention. If fetching a shoe guarantees that you will interact with them right away, they will keep doing it.

It Just Feels Good to Hold

There is also a tactile element to consider. Shoes are made of pliable, textured materials like leather, canvas, and rubber. For a creature that explores the world primarily through its mouth, shoes offer a highly satisfying texture to grip, carry, and gently chew. It exercises their instinct to retrieve and hold objects without the intense destruction of a toy designed to be torn apart.

A Quick Tip for Pet Parents: If your pup's shoe-fetching habit crosses the line into destructive chewing, don't scold them. Simply trade the shoe for a high-value chew toy. This validates their urge to hold something special while keeping your footwear safe!

The next time your four-legged companion proudly marches over to you with your slipper hanging from their mouth, take it as the ultimate compliment. They aren't trying to mess up your wardrobe; they're just holding onto a piece of the person they love most in the world.

*Petition description may be disturbing

Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

Here are the recent recalls and advisories:

• Albright's Raw Pet Food - Chicken Recipe for Dogs: Potential Salmonella exposure

Want to help find lost pets?

Download our RoverAlert app to receive notifications of missing pets in your area.

We want to feature your pup!

We want to share your pup with our pack. Email us your favorite doggy pic or video with your pup’s name, and we'll try to feature it as a family photo in one of our upcoming newsletters or on our Facebook page.