In today's issue:

-Meet our adoptable 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

Want your pup to be featured here?

Join our Facebook group - Post Your Pooch!

Americans Born Between 1941-1979 Can Receive These 10 Benefits This Month

Your 50s+ are a great time to build wealth. Beyond basics like bulk shopping and retirement accounts, here are some fresh ways to grow your money you might’ve missed.

Learn More

What Your Dog Is Really Doing When They Howl in Their Sleep

It starts with a twitch of the paws, a gentle flutter of the eyelids, and then comes that unmistakable sound: a low, muffled howl from the depths of deep sleep. It can catch us by surprise, especially if we were asleep too. So what in the world is going on?

The Magic of the REM Cycle

Just like humans, dogs experience Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep—the stage where vivid dreaming occurs. Roughly 20 minutes after a dog drifts off, their breathing grows shallow, and their brain activity surges to levels surprisingly similar to when they’re wide awake. During this phase, your dog's brain stem sends signals to temporarily paralyze their major muscles so they don't act out their dreams. However, smaller vocal cues and foot twitches manage to slip past the barrier, resulting in soft sleep-howling, muffled barks, or tiny running motions.

Chasing Squirrels or Answering the Pack?

What are they actually dreaming about? Neuroscientists believe canine dreams process daily experiences. Your pup might be reliving a glorious game of fetch, chasing an elusive backyard squirrel, or alerting their human "pack" to a phantom intruder. Howling, in particular, is an ancient, deeply ingrained instinct. In the wild, canines howl to locate lost pack members, signal safety, or mark territory. In the dreamscape, your dog might simply be calling out to you or touching base with their imaginary furry friends.

When to Step In (and When to Let Them Sleep)

While a sudden sleep howl can startle you out of a quiet evening, it’s almost always completely harmless. Unless your dog shows signs of severe distress, the best approach is to let sleeping dogs lie. Waking a dog mid-REM cycle can cause disorientation or sudden startling.

If you do feel the need to comfort them, gently call their name in a soft, soothing tone rather than touching them physically. Most of the time, though, you can let them have their dreams.

Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

Here are the recent recalls and advisories:

• Northwest Naturals - Chicken Recipe: Potential Salmonella and/or Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination
• Fromm - Wet Canned Dog Food: Potential Metal Contamination
• Oma's Pride - Canine Food: Contaminated with Salmonella
• Pedigree - High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor Wet Dog Food: Potential Plastic Contaminants
• Steve's Real Food - Freeze-Dried Chicken Recipe Cat and Dog Food: Possible Low Thiamine Levels (B1)

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.