Many of you saw the recent account from one of our neighbors who shared their upsetting experience at a local boarding facility. They arrived to collect their dog and discovered a shock collar fitted so tightly around his neck that two adults struggled to remove it. They shared photos of the burn marks on their dog’s neck and reported that their dog is skittish and whimpers when touched near the neck. There's a lot we still don't know. How many times was the collar used on the dog? Over how...

This weekend there will be demonstrations happening around the country, including right here in Maple Valley and Covington. Whether you're attending a protest, a counterprotest, there's one thing people on all sides can agree on: We love our dogs. And because we love our dogs, this might be the weekend to leave them at home. Before anyone starts sharpening their pitchforks (or their retractable leashes), let me be clear: this isn't a judgment of people who bring dogs to public events. Most...

Before you hire a dog trainer, there is one extremely important thing you need to know: DOG TRAINING IS COMPLETELY UNREGULATED No licensing board. No minimum education requirements. No universal ethical standards. Nothing. Which means, legally and spiritually, anyone can wake up tomorrow and decide they’re a dog guru. No coursework. No exams. No supervision. Just a website, a logo, and an alarming amount of confidence. And yes, they can use methods that would get side-eyed (or straight-up...