As hundreds of people are being rescued across Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, pets are not being forgotten.

The U.S. Coast Guard documented a rescue of two people and three cats. They were stranded around Sanibel, Florida, on Thursday.

Sanibel is one of the hardest-hit areas. It's connected to the mainland by a causeway, which was destroyed.

Pets are among the top priority in other parts of the state. In Orange County, officials guided people and their pets through floodwaters.

Prior to the storm, Florida Urgent Rescue said it evacuated 49 cats and dogs from rural Florida shelters. The goal was to make room for stray animals as a result of the storm.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Deniece Young's cat, Mr. Moe, looks pretty good for a 20-year-old.

"Check this out! He has his own water bottle in our refrigerator,” she said. "And there he is – healthy now."

More than a companion, Mr. Moe is part of Young’s family.

"He's my world. He greets me when I come home,” she said. “My husband has passed away. So, it's just Mr. Moe and I."

On this day, though, they’re not alone. They're getting a visit from a group consistently making the rounds in her neighborhood.

The team knocking on her door is with "Pets for Life," a program from the Humane Society of the United States.

They work in 43 states across the country, to get pet care to places where people experience poverty or lack access to veterinary care.

"Just like there are 'food deserts,' there are 'pet resource deserts' and 'veterinary deserts' – and, oftentimes, the two overlap," said Pets for Life senior director Amanda Arrington.

That is where the Pets for Life teams come in, bringing supplies and arranging vet care.

"Just about every community in the country - whether it is urban, whether it's suburban, rural, Native - has pockets where there are concentrations of poverty and little to no access to pet resources,” Arrington said.

On this day, Melissa Corey and her team went door-to-door in one such community: North Philadelphia.

"We are going to one of our clients, Jessica Preston. Jessica is what we call a community ambassador,” she said, "and then she also is there to assist her neighbors with spaying and neutering a lot of cats in her neighborhood."

Preston and her daughter are currently caring for a number of kittens, hoping to find them homes.

"Anyone comes across cats, they come to me," Preston said. "If I can, I'm going to do it. I help. I take them in. I thank God I have the Pets for Life."

It’s a sentiment shared by Paul Diaz. One of his three small dogs is facing a serious illness.

"When I have a concern about whatever she's going through, I know Melissa's there, so I can ask her or the team, so they can guide me," Diaz said.

It’s a journey the teams share with pet owners.

"It's a package deal,” Corey said. “You know, you can't have the person without the pet. You can't have the pet without the person."

During the past 12 years, Pets for Life has helped more than 265,000 pets and just recently completed its one-millionth service.

"People will do anything for their pet, even putting their pets needs above their own," Arrington said.

It's the people they meet, though, that drives what they do.

"Everyone that you meet is so grateful for everything, you know,” said Sely Cumba, as she drove the Pets for Life van to another home. “Even if it's if it's a small bag of treats - they are so grateful."

They are treats that Deniece Young’s car Mr. Moe is happily partaking in, which makes her happy, too.

"Knowing someone needs you,” she said, “he's my someone."

To find the Pets for Life team operating in your area, click here.

A boy died and his mother was seriously injured in a dog attack in Idaho, authorities said.

According to The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, two rottweilers and two mixed-breed dogs attacked the pair at a residence in Fort Hall on Saturday.

The victims were taken to the hospital where the boy was pronounced dead.

A GoFundMe page for the family says the mother is being treated in the intensive care unit after sustaining nerve damage and a ruptured artery in her right arm.

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes said the dogs were euthanized. The owners were also cited for 15 violations.

An investigation is ongoing, authorities said. The case will be submitted to the U.S. Attorney for potential federal charges.

Fatal dog attacks in the U.S. are relatively rare. According to dogsbite.org, an organization that tracks attacks, 521 people were killed in incidents involving dogs between 2005 and 2019.

ARVADA, Colo. — To keep a barn running, there are of course the chores, and the mud, but when you get down to it, it takes more than that.

"A lot of heart work," said Margaret Blaha, the director of operations at the Horse Protection League.

There’s no shortage of heart here at HPL, a rescue that takes in neglected, abused, and surrendered horses in Colorado with no place left to go. Unfortunately, passion is not enough to keep the barn doors open.

"We've seen a number of increases in both the costs of everything and also animals that are coming into the rescue. We've also—the more alarming thing on my end—is that we've seen a reduction in adoption," said Blaha.

While the 32 horses in their care remain blissfully unaware, Blaha sees the impact of inflation on the work they do every day.

"In 2021, we were able to successfully adopt 21 horses, which was amazing, and then last year in 2022, we were only able to adopt three," she said.

The pandemic brought with it a nationwide adoption boom. Current inflation, however, has pet owners across the country second guessing their ability to keep their animals.

A recent study by Forbes says 63% of pet owners said inflation has made it more difficult to pay a surprise vet bill. Vet bills of $1,000 and under would cause 42% of pet owners to go into debt. At rescues like the Horse Protection League, where they spend thousands of dollars per horse per year, the lack of adoptions and the increase in surrendered animals coming in has created anxieties about how long they can keep going.

"We hope to see some changes probably within the next four months, three to four months, for us to feel a little bit more comfortable with the upcoming year," Blaha said.

Animal rescues need help from the public right now and Blaha says there are more ways to do that than adopting an animal or giving a big sum of money since times are tough for everyone. There are more creative ways like business sponsorships or donating equipment, and people can also look into membership options for rescues near them.

Although this rescue is struggling, they have a strong team of volunteers determined to carry on their mission. It’s the heart work that’s giving Blaha hope they can survive these turbulent economic times because when it comes to the animals in need they serve, they have no other choice but to keep going for them.

"With gratitude, we have volunteers of all different walks of life that have something in common when it comes to loving animals and wanting to provide the best that they possibly can," Blaha said.

Outside his home, Joshua Nola and his dog, Bud, love spending time together on their daily walks.

“No matter what, when I come home, he’s always happy," Nola said. "He’s always in a great mood. He always has a smile on his face."

It’s a bond he values deeply. Nola is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, who deployed to Afghanistan and when he returned home, felt something was off.

“I’ve dealt with depression with stuff, dealing with a little bit of survivor’s guilt,” he said. “I have friends that I knew in the Marine Corps, whether on their deployment or after coming home, who just aren’t here anymore. And it got to the point where I was tired of burying brothers.”

Those feelings are not unusual for veterans. The VA says more than 1.7 million veterans get treatment for mental health each year.

Enter the non-profit Pets For Patriots.

“Very simply, Pets For Patriots seeks to give veterans a new pet friend, while saving the most overlooked, undervalued shelter dogs and cats around the country,” said Beth Zimmerman, who founded the nonprofit.

Zimmerman said the organization works to help veterans heal emotionally while helping pets in need do the same.

“There were two different populations--veterans and shelter animals--that had different, but very complementary needs,” she said. “And if I could find a way to bring them together in a really intelligent way and an innovative way, that it would help both of them.”

In the 10 years since Pets For Patriots began, the program has paired together nearly 3,000 veterans with shelter pets around the country. They help not just with the adoption, but also with the pet’s lifelong care.

“We inspire veterans to adopt these animals by providing a range of benefits to make pet adoption affordable over the life of that pet,” Zimmerman said.

Yet, it amounts to more than that, said Nola.

“They’re constantly in contact. They’re asking how I’m doing, how [Bud’s] doing, " Nola said. 'If there’s anything they can do, help with anything, they’ve kind of become like a part of the family.”

Zimmerman said that’s part of the goal.

“Time and time again, you just see these stories where the veteran heals himself or herself by helping the pet overcome what he or she has been through,” she said. “And it's really pretty amazing.”

Back in New Jersey, Nola and Bud continue on their path to healing together.

“I wanted to save a dog, just as much as I kind of thought it would save me,” he said.

If you would like more information on Pets For Patriots, click here.

Researchers have determined there are five kinds of cat owners, when it comes to their feelings about their felines roaming and hunting outside.

Outdoor cats can be a danger to birds, rodents and small reptiles, and also create dangers for themselves from disease, larger predators and traffic.

Researchers at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom are trying to bring awareness to the downsides of cat outdoor roaming and the impact on wildlife, and published part of their ongoing study. They note that several attempts have been made to address the issues, including reducing the cat population, regulating ownership and restricting feline outdoor access.

“Such proposals rarely account for cat owners’ perspectives, however, and are frequently met with strong, principled opposition,” the study’s authors wrote.

They found cat owners fell into five “types”:

Concerned Protectors focus on cat safety. They are most worried about their pet’s safety outside and would feel guilty if the cat died while roaming. They are likely to keep their cats inside most of the time if not permanently.

Freedom Defenders prioritize cat independence and natural instincts, “like a wild animal,” and oppose restrictions on behavior. They believe keeping cats inside is cruel, and that any of the risks of being outside are outweighed by the benefits. They generally are not bothered by their cat’s hunting and some expressed pride in their pet’s hunting abilities.

Tolerant Guardians believe outdoor access is important for cats but dislike their hunting and are more likely to bring their cat inside at night. Generally, this group of cat owners try to rescue prey captured by their cats, accepting that their pet is a “carnivorous wild creature” while saving all wildlife.

Conscientious Caretakers feel some responsibility for managing their cats’ hunting. They are worried about their cat’s roaming, and the impact on birds and other smaller creatures. This group generally believes cats require outdoor access, but are not opposed to confinement. They are open to hunting-control measures that owners can take.

Laissez‐faire Landlords were largely unaware of the issues surrounding roaming and hunting behavior. This group generally is concerned their pet may be stolen, get killed in traffic or get lost if outside roaming. They also have never thought about the effect their cat has on wildlife outside. They also believe belled collars are an effective way to manage their cat’s hunting.

The large majority of study participants also felt that cats should be allowed outside at least some of the time. The study’s authors note that four of the five groups viewed hunting to be negative and may be open to more information about how to limit their pet’s predation.

They recommend policymakers stay away from “blanket restrictions” and instead work with cat owners on strategies. “Identifying, refining, and promoting viable management tools and alternatives may be a more constructive approach to resolving this issue than regulation,” the study concludes.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Judith Doughty cried tears of joy and disbelief as she was reunited with her dog, Skylar, who went missing three years ago.

Skylar is a 6-year-old Maltese. Doughty said she got him when he was a puppy, but one day he disappeared after going outside to use the bathroom.

She said he was with another dog but didn’t return. Her family searched for him and was devastated when they couldn’t find him.

Three years went by with no sign of Skylar, until last week, when Sherae Battle was driving to the hospital with her kids in Newport News.

“My kids were like, 'Mom, Mom, Mom, hold on. It’s a dog.' I'm like, 'Where?' He was just walking in the street, and I'm like, ‘Oh, my gracious,' so I did a U-turn in the middle of the street,” Battle said.

She said the dog went to a nearby wooded area to drink from a pond. She said she was worried he would fall in, and her kids used Goldfish crackers to lure him to them.

They brought him to the car and kept him for two days until the Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter opened back up.

“I immediately scanned for the microchip, which is standard procedure for us when strays come in,” said Susan Jacobs, an animal services technician at the shelter.

She called the number on the chip, and it was owner Judith Doughty’s daughter, Ginger Vassar, who answered.

“I could hardly speak to her because she was screaming in excitement,” Jacobs said.

Vassar arranged to bring her mom to the shelter, but they didn’t tell Doughty why.

“The lady told me to have a seat,” said Doughty. “They said, 'We've got a surprise for you.'”

Skylar came strolling out, and Doughty was elated to have her precious pooch back in her arms.

“He started licking me; I started crying,” Doughty said. “It was a miracle to me. I still can’t believe I got him back after three years.”

Skylar was found about 15 miles from where he went missing.

"I'm so happy she was able to get her dog back. That's all that matters. I'm so happy," said Sherae Battle, the woman who brought the dog to the shelter.

Jacobs said Skylar was in good condition and appeared to have been taken care of. She said it's rare to see a dog reunited with his owner three years after going missing.

“It doesn't happen that often, but it has happened before. We're always so happy when it does happen -- thank goodness for microchipping. It's just awesome,” Jacobs said.

“Glad we got him to his right owner. I'm so happy that she got her dog back,” Battle said.

“I was sad when he was gone, but I didn’t give up. I prayed and prayed, and the Lord answered my prayers. Anyone else who sees this, I hope they try to look for their dogs,” Doughty said.

Watch the surprise video below:

This story originally reported by Margaret Kavanagh on WTKR.com.

It looks like the Louisville Metro Animal Services' "Empty the Shelter" event was a big success.

According to LMAS officials, all 100 pets in last weekend's event were adopted.

Of the pets, 59 were cats and 41 were dogs.

The very last pet to get adopted was a good boy named Gorilla Glue. He technically got adopted first thing Monday morning, just after the event, but he was the only one left, so his fee was still waived.

This content is imported from Facebook.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

That dog spent 70 days in the shelter before finding his forever family.

The "Empty the Shelter" event was one of nearly 200 that happened around the country in partnership with BISSELL allowing for free adoptions.

While the event is over, here's a reminder that it’s always free for approved adopters to adopt adult dogs 40lbs. and up, and cats 6 months or older. Spay/neuter, microchip and vaccinations are included.

LMAS also offers free barn cat adoptions to approved adopters. For more info about LMAS adoptions visit https://louisvilleky.gov/animal-services.

Fireworks explode like magnified gunfire in the exquisitely sensitive ears of many of our pets.

Measuring between 150 and 175 decibels, fireworks are louder than gunfire (140 decibels) and even many planes at takeoff (120 decibels). Decibels measure the loudness of a sound while hertz measures the frequency of a sound.

Human ears are damaged at a mere 85 decibels. Yet we can hear to only about 20,000 hertz, while dogs can hear between 45,000 and 65,000 hertz. Just think of the physical and emotional damage that might occur to a dog left outside to face the noise.

Animal advocates say the pandemic has made it extremely bad for pets with noise phobias. Last year, instead of people going to central locations to watch a huge display, they bought fireworks in record numbers, setting them off in the streets next to homes for weeks.

This year, although orchestrated displays are back, there will likely be people use their fireworks stash to celebrate the Fourth of July. When frightened, dogs bolt and owners may lose their best friends in the night.

"Dogs have been known to dig under or jump over fences, break tethers or even shatter windows in response to their fireworks fears," said Temma Martin, the public relations manager for the Best Friends Animal Society, one of the nation's oldest no-kill agencies.

Prevention is key

Statistics show at least 40% of dogs have noise phobias, which can include fear of thunderstorms, leaf blowers, power drills, even hair dryers. But those noises are relatively constant, experts say, while fireworks are frighteningly sporadic and therefore unexpected.

"It's hard not to feel helpless when you see them shaking and panting and so obviously distressed," said Dr. John Howe, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, in a statement.

And it's not just dogs. Cats and many other domestic (and wild) animals have sensitive hearing, provided by nature to find and hunt prey.

Prepare your pet before dark

The key to helping your pet survive this onslaught, experts say, is being prepared.

"With a little advance planning and preparation you can ease your pets' anxiety and help get them through this time," Howe said.

Tags and microchips. Be sure your pet has a well-fitting collar with current identification tags. If your pet has a microchip, make sure your correct contact info is recorded with the vet clinic or shelter that implanted the chip.

That way, if your pet does escape into the night, you will be able to immediately call and alert the vet or shelter about their absence.

Exercise before dark. A tired dog is a calmer dog. A happy cat is a more relaxed cat. Fit in some extra playtime for your cats, and take dogs out for play and exercise earlier in the day. Such activities burn off extra energy, thus limiting anxiety later when it's time to sleep.

Bring all pets indoors. Don't leave your pet outside to suffer alone. Put a dog's crate or bed in the quietest, most enclosed room possible, and see if they like being covered with a blanket.

Cats like to go high to feel secure, so give them a covered cozy cave that is elevated off the ground, like a hut on an indoor cat tree or in a closet.

Distract your pet. Provide lots of new toys and long-lasting chews and treats. Food puzzles may also keep them distracted from the unnerving noises.

Use calming aids. Many pets respond to "thunder" shirts or blankets that wrap them in a heavy, calming cocoon. Cats and dogs often enjoy smelling species-specific pheromones. Cats can wear collars with scents that mimic the pheromone mother cats produce to calm their kittens. Dogs respond to the scent of lactating female dogs, called appropriately "dog appeasing pheromone," or DAP.

Use calming sounds. First, muffle sounds by closing curtains and doors near your pet. Calming music, white noise or television can be used to provide comfortable, familiar sounds.

"Some experts even suggest playing a war movie to blend the sound from the TV with the sounds from outside," Martin said.

Use medication as a last resort. While there's nothing wrong with turning to your vet for calming medications, experts worry that pet owners might rely on that first, without doing the behavior modification tips above. But if you've tried all these ideas and your furry friend is still in a panic, reach out to your vet for advice.

Related video: Vets backlogged, weary from COVID pet boom

Madison Vollbracht says she burned out after five years working as a veterinary technician.

Her work was already grueling before the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the pandemic sparked a dramatic increase in pet adoptions, "COVID puppies and kittens," as Vollbracht calls them, as well as a rise in inquiries about pet care, which greatly increased the workload.

Also, the mandatory lockdowns forced many people out of work, which meant some owners could no longer afford care for their pets, and in some cases, had to surrender or euthanize them.

The effects of the pandemic took a toll on Vollbracht. The vet tech says she "had more anxiety and depression than joy from the job," even after changing clinics.

"There were a couple of days where everything was dying," she says. "And it was around Christmastime. It was my first Christmas working emergency and it also happened (during) the pandemic and I had only discharged one patient that day. Everything else had been euthanized. And that was my, 'I'm kind of done with this' day. I euthanized 16 patients that day."

That holiday season in 2020, she realized she'd had enough, and is now a veterinary assistant instructor at the Pima Medical Institute.

Approximately half of all vet techs burn out of the profession within their first five years and 35% of them burn out altogether.

Rise in adoptions strain veterinary clinics

Inquiries about pet adoptions increased 70% between March 2020 and March 2021, according to Petfinder.com spokeswoman Lorie Westhoff. And an ASPCA survey released in May 2021 shows that 90% of dogs and 85% of cats adopted during the pandemic were kept by their owners.

Millennials and Gen Zers are also adopting pets at higher rates than their predecessors, says Mark Cushing, a founding partner and the CEO of the Animal Policy Group. Because baby boomers are adopting fewer pets as they grow older, millennials and Gen Z adults now make up half of all pet owners, he says.

"Millennials, last year where they had or got one dog, they got two or had one dog and thought a cat might be fun," he says. "People who are into it, they know how much fun it is and want to have a playmate for their pet when they go back to work."

While an increase in pet adoptions is generally a good thing, it also means that veterinarians and vet techs have to see more patients, field more calls from pet owners, which sometimes result in delayed visits and care. Dr. Douglas Kratt, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, tells CNN that a recent AVMA survey found that the average number of patients a veterinarian saw per hour was 25% lower in 2020 than in prior years, which means clients are waiting longer before their animals can be seen.

"This has also resulted in an increase in client wait times — our current data indicate an average 20-minute wait in 2020, up from 11 minutes in 2019," Kratt says. "While the amount of time it takes to see each patient has increased, total veterinary visits in the United States do not appear to have gone up — according to national data compiled by the AVMA and VetSuccess, the number of veterinary visits in the United States was about the same in 2020 as compared with 2019."

That number has remained about the same not because fewer people are trying to see their veterinarians; rather, it's because there aren't enough veterinarians to meet client demand. Dr. Karl Jandrey, associate dean for Admissions and Student Programs at the University of California, Davis, who also practices as an emergency critical care specialist, says that people working from home means they're seeing problems with their pets that they wouldn't have normally noticed, leading to more calls with concern. It also means the shortage of veterinarians and vet techs has led to a need to stop taking new clients and squeezing others in.

"(You go from) not having enough prior — veterinarians and technicians — to even worse during the pandemic, where everyone else has to work harder and more," he says. "Instead of having your average emergency shift, one patient every half-hour, you now have four every hour you're trying to deliver care to. Something's gotta give, right?"

Where are all the vet techs?

Andrew Maccabe, CEO of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, says that applications to graduate veterinary medicine programs increased by 19% this past cycle compared to the previous year. But for veterinary technicians, the promise of an enriching career is not as apparent, despite only requiring two years of schooling, and even less in some states.

Jennifer Serling, president-elect of the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators, tells CNN that 35% of all vet techs eventually "burn out," while Cushing says that half of them leave the profession within five years. Vet tech educational retention is also down about five to 10%, Serling says, which she believes is "directly related to the pandemic."

Cushing says that inadequate pay often leads vet techs to leave the profession. On average, he says, veterinary technicians are paid $32,000 a year, which is "close to the poverty level" in some parts of the country. That can be as much as half the starting salary of a registered nurse in human medicine, Serling adds.

Vollbracht tells CNN her highest pay as a vet tech "started with a $16" per hour and there were times when there were more veterinarians in her clinic's emergency room floor than vet techs themselves.

"What started my burnout was really the money aspect and always being constrained with what we can do treatment-wise based on owners' financial situations," she says. "(I would go over) treatment plans and estimates with owners but (was) being constantly told 'no' or being belittled and berated for requiring such costs, in advance or at all, for certain things to be done and then not being able to do those things because they couldn't be afforded."

In addition to being underpaid, vet techs are also underutilized. Cushing says that half of vet technicians' learned skills are often ignored, leading to decreased morale as veterinarians' working dynamics with vet techs can be less delegated and collaborative than those in human hospitals and clinics.

"I'll say publicly, if you chronically underpay someone, they'll be looking to leave," he says.

"If you're trained to do it all and only do half, and you're told by a veterinarian, 'I'll do the rest,' you create a morale issue that is systemic across the profession."

Serling points out that vet techs, unlike RNs and physician assistants, are responsible for providing care to "multiple species that can't talk and tell us what's wrong." Unlike a hospital or a doctor's office, which has specialty nurses and assistants for everything, veterinary technicians are required to do it all, and then some.

"We have the same training as an RN," she says. "It's not just the same things as them but anesthesia, radiology, (etc.). We do a lot of the human components of medicine combined into multiple species, so utilizing us fully is a huge plus to the practice (of veterinary medicine)."

That ubiquitous involvement in end-of-life care, which is more specialized in human medicine, also takes its toll.

"It's both a blessing and a curse in that we can end our patients' suffering with euthanasia but that does weigh heavily on the individuals and can be incredibly mentally taxing," Serling says. "Early on, we get into this because it is a labor of love, not one we'll get rich at doing. You love your patients, love animals and want to help them. When you get that emotionally attached and driven into this field, that can also be mentally taxing as well."

Serling also points out that pet insurance is often not used, meaning that the expenses that hospitals and health care practices can largely bill to insurance companies have to be absorbed by the veterinary clinics, if not billed to the clients themselves.

"Until we're able to charge appropriately for the services we're providing, it's going to be difficult for clinics and some vets (to afford their expenses)," she says. "Veterinarian salaries and the cost of all that, even that is significantly less than their MD counterparts. There's a lot of catch-up to do so we're earning what we deserve."

How the field is trying to adapt

Maccabe says that one of the biggest causes for the perception, or reality, of a workforce shortage, is the inefficiencies caused by the pandemic. COVID-19 infection control procedures have slowed the ability of veterinarians and their health care teams to handle caseloads, and in a field that has long relied on direct, in-person care, it has caused extended waits on top of the added influx of pets.

On the educational side, Maccabe says that many virtual programs offering models and simulations for students to practice on have eased the burden the pandemic has placed on training future veterinarians. So, what are veterinary clinics doing? Some of them have adopted telehealth policies for visits in order to alleviate the burden caused by waiting for in-person care.

"With video conferencing available, even when people were taking their animals to clinics, they oftentimes had to drop the animal off, get a phone call or video call to see what the vet saw, right?" he says. "(For) how much of that did the animal need to be transported, whereas some could have been done at home? So that's where I think every crisis like (the pandemic) drives innovation."

Cushing says that veterinary medicine is a conservative field and that, on the whole, vets "don't welcome change." He says the field is about 25 years behind human medicine in terms of delegation of tasks and proper use of staff.

Some schools, such as Lincoln Memorial University, are starting to institute a middle ground master's degree, akin to a nurse practitioner, that would allow for positive movement up the ladder. Cushing says it would help vet techs who may still not want to attend or can't afford the schooling required to obtain a veterinary medicine degree to advance their careers.

The rewards aren't just financial for veterinary professionals. Private equity firms are investing more money into veterinary clinics, Cushing says, after seeing how lucrative the field is. In order for them to feel like they can get a proper return on their investments, they want to see additional outlets to prevent the staff they're invested in from burning out.

Serling says some of the improvements can take place in how clients approach their visits with veterinary staff.

"I think that owners do need to understand there are some incredible wait times right now," she says. "It can be difficult to get appointments. Usually, surgeries can be scheduled within a couple of weeks, so two months out is very unusual."

Generally speaking, though, Serling says revenue remains high enough that there should be enough money to go around to pay vet techs a higher salary.

"I think an increase in pay is the number one thing and I think technician utilization is the other," she says. "I think training veterinarians to utilize us and our education (is key). There's an AVMA study that says for every credentialed technician, they bring about a $90,000 to $100,000 increase in revenue per year. So utilizing us to the best of our ability (would change things)."

Maccabe says that despite the stresses of the pandemic, he believes necessary changes and progress in the field are on the horizon.

"I'm very optimistic about the future," he says. "I think that as challenging as this last year and a half has been, not just for our community but society in general, ... it has driven some changes to have a long-lasting impact to improve quality of teaching, care, and access in a way that might have been delayed or postponed for many years if not for this pandemic."

Pets — like their humans — had to adjust during the pandemic.

They got used to people being at home most of the time, just as people learned how to juggle caring for their pets while also doing their jobs remotely.

But now, with COVID-19 vaccinations picking up, if you have a pet, it's time to prepare them for your return to normal — whatever that may look like post-pandemic.

And, according to some animal experts, it's going to take time for them to adjust.

Remember, they had to make adjustments too: Some pets had to make a real adjustment to the sudden 24/7 intimacy of people being home all day, especially in households with small children.

Others were adopted during the pandemic.

"The overall percentage of US households owning pets notched up to 56% in 2020, with 44% of households owning dogs, 25% owning cats, and 12% owning other pets (including fish, birds, small mammals, and reptiles/amphibians)," according to Packaged Facts, a market research firm.

"Among current pet-owning households, 35% adopted pets in the 12-month period ending February 2021," Packaged Facts said.

That means millions of pets have no sense of what "normal" life looked like.

Start leaving them alone for a few hours at a time: So, if you're planning a return to the office, Dr. Douglas Kratt, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, recommends you start by leaving your pet for two or three hours at a time daily, so they aren't caught off guard when you're gone for eight or more hours a day.

... but don't fully change routines just yet: While you may be changing your routine, Kratt told CNN it's helpful to keep pets as close to their routine as possible and make sure that "you're not forgetting things because you're into a new routine."

Dr. Dana Varble, chief veterinary officer for the North American Veterinary Community, suggests pet owners keep some of the habits formed during the pandemic, such as taking their dogs for a walk during their lunch breaks.

Consider a pet sitter: If your new normal doesn't include time for that, Varble said it may be time to re-hire the dog walker or pet sitter you had before the pandemic, which can then give your pet some familiarity.

"In the last several years we've done a lot of research that's shown that a lot of animals have a much more significant and longer lasting memory than we thought that they did," Varble said.

Realize that readjustment times will vary: Pets will need about four weeks to adjust to a new routine, Varble said — but noted that different animals are more adaptable than others.

Cats, for example, she said, need longer and may show signs of stress for up to six months.

"Although they're a lot more independent, I think that they really, really thrive on routine."

Regardless, if you see unwelcomed behavior in your pet — including vocalizing or shredding of toys — Varble said "it's really important" to stick with your routine. But, if you notice more harmful behavior, it's OK to correct it, she said.

Leave some distractions around: Ingrid Johnson, certified cat behavior consultant at Fundamentally Feline, suggests cat owners find fun distractions for their cats while they're gone, such as leaving cat videos or easy listening music on.

"We offer them these different novel things so we're leaving, but there's something fun to do," Johnson told CNN.

She also said food puzzles are a great way to distract cats while making sure they're able to eat in accordance with their internal clock.

"It gives them comfort to be able to control access to all their basic needs," Johnson said, urging the importance for cats to have as much consistency as possible and that small environmental changes can cause them to stress.

Keep an eye on any behavioral changes: "Cats will generally symmetrically groom themselves bald in easy to reach areas when they're anxious. Grooming is a comfort behavior," Johnson said.

While grooming is not a big concern, Johnson said if cats are going to the bathroom outside the litter box or if they are not eating, that could be a medical emergency.

Remember your bond with your pet: Some of the changes of returning to in-person work and school will stress us out just as much as it stresses our pets.

That's why experts say it's important to remember you need your pet as much as your pet needs you.

"Pets can help us manage our stress and keep our calm," Varble said. "I think it's still important you celebrate your bond with your pet, your human-animal bond, as a great source of stress relief in your life."

Training your dog is important, even if it's not always easy. There are a slew of dogs that are easy to train that can give you a leg (or a tail) up on the whole housebreaking endeavor.

Dogs receive important mental stimulation and purpose from training, according to Canidae, a pet food company. Training also helps your pet develop a stronger bond with you, their owner. Finally, taking the time to train your pup can help you understand their body language and personality, so that you know when they're happy, sick, lonely or just in need of a few extra snuggles.

But training a dog can be intimidating, even for the most experienced pet owners. Luckily, some dog breeds are easier to train than others. Certain dogs are more food motivated, more eager to please and really enjoy obedience training, which takes the pressure off any overwhelmed or first-time pet owner. That doesn't necessarily mean breeds that are easier to train are good for beginner dog owners — some of these breeds, in part because they're so intelligent, are high energy and require more exercise as a result. So if you're considering a dog that loves to learn, just be sure all the other parts of their personality match up with your lifestyle. With that in mind, here are 12 of the easiest dogs to train.

Related video above: Employees want to be able to bring their pets to work in a post-pandemic worldMany people forced into isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic credit their pets for keeping them sane through the lockdown. Hilton wants to reward those furry friends with some fine dining.Starting May 17, 32 of Hilton's pet-friendly hotels in the United Kingdom and Ireland will offer the hotel chain's new dog menu, Bone Appétit, according to a news release.The menu features four options:Beef Doguignon: Slow-cooked beef brisket served with mashed potato, carrots, green beans, sweetcorn, broad beans and gluten-free gravyMutt Roast: Gluten-free tomato pasta, topped with mature cheddar cheese and roasted in the ovenEarl Greyhound: A calming blend of lavender, rose petals, lime flower and orange flowersTailwagger Creek: A non-alcoholic wine infused with elderflower, nettle, ginseng, lime flower and black carrotHilton said the menu was developed with veterinary nutrition experts and approved by DogFriendly, which helps dog owners in the U.K. find pet-friendly hotels and restaurants.Hilton promoted the new menu as a chance to thank pets for how they've helped their owners through the pandemic, citing the hotel's research that found 82% of British pet owners said their dog was as valuable and supportive as family and close friends over the past year.Hilton's U.K. & Ireland vice president, Julie Baker, called the new menu "a way to help pet owners give their furry family members a special reward post-pandemic."Baker said she plans to treat her 7-year-old border terrier, Muttley, with a Mutt Roast soon.