Category: Animal rescue

Picture Parade Five Hundred and Thirty-Two

A lovely doggie video for today.

I came across this YouTube video while looking for something else.

“This is the heartwarming story of a shelter dog who found his voice — and completely changed my life forever. When I first walked into the animal shelter, I never expected to meet a dog like him. He didn’t bark like the others… he talked. Every sound, every expression, felt like he was trying to tell me something. This is the story of how one rescue dog went from being overlooked to becoming my best friend, and how adopting him changed both of our lives.”

Enjoy!

What are the odds?

Of me being born in London, ending up in Merlin, Oregon.

I was reflecting last weekend about how Jean and I ended up in Merlin.

We live in a fabulous property, a single-storey wooden house, on thirteen acres.

If I had not decided to come to California in 2007, I would still be in England (assuming I would still be alive).

In the Summer of 2007, I stayed with Dan, a friend of many years. I was with Dan for a month and near the end of that holiday, Dan’s sister, Suzanne called by and asked me what I was doing for Christmas. I replied, that I did not have a clue. Su then asked me to visit San Carlos, Mexico, where she and her husband, Don, were living.

Thus in December, 2007, I went out to San Carlos and happened to meet Jean. Jean and I fell in love. Jean’s husband had died in 2005. Jean had twenty-three ex-rescue dogs. In 2008 I went out with my GSD, Pharaoh, to live with Jean and her dogs (and cats). In 2010 we came North to Payson, Arizona, with sixteen dogs, seven cats, and we were married.

Coincidentally, Jean was born in North London, some twenty-six miles from where I was born!

My Pharaoh

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Mr and Mrs Handover

In 2012, we came West to Merlin, Oregon, and we purchased a property that the previous owner had lost to their bank.

That’s my story – what are the odds of it happening!

Making a difference

To our pets.

Penny Martin continues to write posts for Learning from Dogs and this latest one is brilliant.

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How You Can Make a Real Difference for Shelter and Rescue Pets

Busy parents juggling work and school pickups, local business owners trying to stay visible, and animal lovers who can’t bring home another pet often care deeply about local animal welfare but feel stuck between compassion and capacity. Shelters and rescues don’t run on good intentions alone; they rely on community support for shelter pets to keep care consistent and outcomes hopeful. When that support is thin, animals wait longer, stress rises, and the whole community feels the strain. The encouraging part is that animal shelter volunteers, pet rescue awareness, and understanding the real rescue pet adoption benefits can turn everyday concern into steady, meaningful impact.

Understanding What “Supporting Rescue Pets” Means

Shelter and rescue support is the hands-on help that keeps animals safe, calm, and adoptable while they wait for a home. In practice, it usually means fostering for a short window, volunteering time and skills, or giving targeted donations that cover food, vet care, and transport.

This matters because small, steady support shortens an animal’s road from intake to adoption. The need is constant since 2.8 million dogs and cats entered U.S. shelters in just the first half of 2025. Foster care helps too, and studies by the ASPCA show dogs in foster spend less time waiting for permanent homes.

Think of it like a relay team: one person handles weekend fostering, another covers a Tuesday walk shift, and a third funds vaccines. Together, those pieces reduce stress, prevent crowding, and make adoption feel more doable. Clear, consistent visuals can amplify that support when you share adoptable pets and campaigns.

Make Scroll-Stopping Adoption and Fundraiser Images in Minutes

Once you understand what rescue support looks like day to day, it’s easier to see why clear, consistent visuals can be a quiet force-multiplier for everything else. AI-generated visuals can help you create compelling images for adoption campaigns, fundraising posts, and educational materials that raise awareness and spark community support for pets in need. 

One especially handy approach is using an AI image-to-image generator, which starts with a reference photo you already have and then uses your written prompts to guide the creative output into new styles or variations. That means the same pet can be shown in different looks, while still staying recognizable, so your outreach graphics feel cohesive, readable, and shareable across social platforms and print. If you’re curious how this works in practice, Adobe Firefly is one example of an image-to-image tool that demonstrates the idea.

Choose High-Impact Ways to Help—Time, Space, or Money

You don’t have to do everything to make a real difference, you just need to choose a few actions that fit your life right now. Pick one from “time,” “space,” or “money,” and you’ll quickly become the kind of supporter shelters can count on.

  1. Foster one pet for a defined window: Ask a shelter about “weekend foster,” “two-week decompression,” or “foster-to-adopt” options so you can say yes without overcommitting. Fostering gets pets out of the noisy kennel environment and into a home routine, which often improves adoptability, one analysis of the foster care model reports better outcomes compared to traditional shelter housing. To make it sustainable, clarify who provides food, meds, crates, and what to do after-hours if something feels urgent.
  2. Offer temporary pet care for crisis moments: Many shelters and rescues need short-term help for pets whose owners are hospitalized, displaced, or escaping unsafe situations. Volunteer to cover 24–72 hours, a week, or “day boarding” while paperwork and placements are arranged. This is a great option if you can’t foster long-term but you can handle a short burst of responsibility.
  3. Volunteer in a role that matches your energy, not just your heart: If you love people, help with adoption counseling, event check-in, or donation sorting. If you prefer animals, sign up for dog walking, cat socialization, enrichment prep, or transport runs to vet appointments. Ask for a consistent shift (even 2 hours every other week) so staff can schedule around you and you build real skill.
  4. Become a “quiet helper” from home: Many rescues need behind-the-scenes support like answering messages, updating pet bios, building simple spreadsheets, calling vet clinics, or writing thank-you notes to donors. This is also where those scroll-stopping graphics matter: offer to turn a pet’s best photo into a clean adoption post, a “supply drive needs” image, or a mini success-story carousel people will actually share.
  5. Donate strategically, fill the gap, not the pile: Before buying anything, check the shelter’s wish list or ask, “What do you run out of every week?” Most places consistently need consumables like kitten formula, canned food, laundry detergent, paper towels, and enrichment items, plus gift cards for emergencies. If you want your dollars to stretch, offer to sponsor one specific cost (a vaccine day, a spay/neuter deposit, a heartworm test fund) and ask them what amount is most useful.
  6. Use your space for micro-logistics: If your home can’t take a foster pet, it might be perfect for holding donated supplies, assembling adoption packets, or staging a “pop-up pantry” for families who need short-term pet food help. Even one closet or a spare corner of a garage can smooth out the chaos between donation drop-offs and distribution.
  7. Organize a small, repeatable adoption event: Partner with a rescue to host a two-hour meet-and-greet at a community spot that already has foot traffic, like a café patio, hardware store garden area, or office courtyard. Offer to handle the simple pieces: a sign-up sheet, clear “ask me about adopting” badges, water bowls, and a few consistent photo backdrops so every pet goes home with a great shareable image.
  8. Recruit one friend and make it easy for them to say yes: People are far more likely to help when the task is specific: “Can you walk dogs this Saturday 10–12?” beats “We should volunteer sometime.” If you’re trying to build a volunteer bench, it helps to know 25% of Gen Z are actively volunteering, so asking students, interns, or early-career coworkers can be surprisingly effective.
  9. Help pets stand out with better bios and adoption follow-up: Pick one animal and improve their listing: 5 clear photos, 3 personality adjectives, 3 “loves,” 1 training note, and 1 ideal-home match. Offer adopters a simple handoff sheet with routine, food, favorite toys, and how to contact the rescue for support. Better expectations reduce returns and help the adoption stick.
  10. Commit to a “one-month impact plan”: Choose one action for each week, one shift, one foster weekend, one supply run, one post-and-share sprint, then repeat what worked. Consistency is what turns good intentions into saved lives, and it also makes it easier to decide when fostering, volunteering, or donating feels like the right next step for you.

Common Questions About Helping Shelter Pets

Q: How do I start fostering if I’ve never done it before?
A: Call or email a shelter and ask what short-term options they offer and what supplies they provide. Request a clear handoff: food, meds, crate needs, and who to contact after hours. A foster coordinator can also match you with an easier pet for a first run.

Q: What are the hardest parts of volunteering, and how do I avoid burning out?
A: The biggest challenges are emotional ups and downs and schedules that shift when the shelter gets busy. Choose one role and one repeating time slot you can protect, even if it is small. If you feel overwhelmed, ask to switch to a lighter duty like laundry, enrichment prep, or admin help.

Q: How do shelter donations usually work, and what’s most helpful?
A: Many groups sort donations by immediate use, storage space, and safety rules, so unrequested items can create extra work. Cash or gift cards often help cover urgent medical needs, especially since rising cost of veterinary care can affect adoptions and drive surrenders. If you prefer shopping, ask for a current wish list and stick to it.

Q: What basic legal things should adopters expect to sign or follow?
A: Most adoptions include a contract that covers fees, return policies, and required care like licensing or vaccinations. Read it carefully, ask what support is available if issues come up, and confirm what happens if the pet is not a fit. Keep copies of your agreement and medical records in one folder.

Q: Can fostering really change outcomes, or is it just a temporary fix?
A: It can be a big driver of success because it gives pets a calmer place to reset and show their true personality. A 30% higher adoption rate has been found at shelters with a full foster program. Even one short foster can free kennel space and help a pet get noticed.

Choose One Consistent Way to Support Shelter and Rescue Pets

Wanting to help is easy; figuring out how to fit it into a busy life, and keep going when it gets emotional, is the hard part. The most reliable approach is simple: choose one doable lane and lean into long-term shelter support through steady community involvement in animal rescue. Over time, that consistency means making a positive impact for pets with fewer disruptions and more second chances. Small, steady help saves lives. Pick one next step today, sign up for an orientation, commit to a regular shift, or set a monthly donation, and stick with it. That ongoing volunteering and follow-through is what turns ordinary people into empowered pet rescue advocates and gives shelters the stability to keep showing up, too.

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If this inspires just one person to support their local shelter then I’m certain Penny (and me) will be honoured.

Thank you, Penny!

Please help the animals

Dogs and cats need help.

Last Sunday I went for my usual bike ride, ending up at Riffle’s Cafe, Merlin.

The conversation soon turned to helping cats and dogs, and Tami said that the local Rogue Valley Animal Shelter was in desparate need for food. They are better known as the Rogue Valley Humane Society.

Tami then offered to use the Cafe to raise funds for the Shelter. The funds could be money or food. Tami promised that anything donated to the animals would be sent to the Shelter.

Riffle Cafe

450 Merlin Road, Merlin, Oregon 97532, United States

541-471-7000

So, please, do everything you can in providing food to Riffle’s Cafe.

Next Friday, 12th June, is the day when Tami will pass on food and funds to Rogue Valley Humane Society.

Please do not wait until then as food may be placed around the back of the Cafe if Riffle’s is not open.

Thank you, on behalf of all the animals.

Penny writes about home remodelling

With our dogs very much in mind.

Penny Martin’s latest post is about keeping dogs happy, and safe.

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Stylish Home Remodels That Keep Dogs Safe Happy and Your Space Beautiful

For dog owners planning dog-friendly home remodeling, the hardest part is admitting one simple truth: the home has to work for real dogs every day.

Pet-safe interior design can feel like a compromise when muddy paws, zoomies, shedding, and anxious moments meet the finishes and furniture people hope to love for years.

The core tension is balancing aesthetics and durability so home upgrades for dogs protect everyone’s comfort without making the space feel like a kennel. With the right mindset, a remodel can support calmer behavior, easier routines, and a home that still looks like home.

Choose 7 Upgrades That Take Paw-Print Life in Stride

If you’re aiming for that sweet spot, beautiful, calm, and built for real dog life, start with upgrades that quietly prevent damage and stress. Think “easy to wipe,” “hard to scratch,” and “nothing for a bored dog to pick at.”

  1. Start with scratch-resistant flooring where your dog actually lives: In high-traffic zones (entry, hallway, kitchen, living room), choose tough surfaces like luxury vinyl plank, tile, or sealed concrete, and add washable runners for comfort. Ask for samples and do a quick “nail test” with your dog’s normal walk and a dragged chair. This protects your style investment while making muddy paws and shedding a two-minute cleanup.
  2. Add a “landing zone” at the door to stop mess before it spreads: Create a small drop spot with a wipeable mat, a towel hook, and a closed bin for paw wipes and poop bags. A slim built-in bench or wall hooks keep leashes off the floor so nobody trips during excited greetings. Bonus: it teaches your dog a predictable routine, which can reduce zoomy chaos.
  3. Build a feeding station that looks like it belongs: Tuck bowls into a pull-out drawer, a base cabinet, or the side of a kitchen island so water stays off the floor and your dog’s setup doesn’t feel like clutter. One homeowner described how a station can create a seamless polished look when it’s integrated into cabinetry. Place it away from main walkways so nobody steps in the splash zone.
  4. Choose durable pet-friendly materials for the “mouth and paw” zone: Prioritize washable, tightly woven fabrics, easy-clean paint finishes, and scratch-tolerant trim in spots your dog rubs, leans, or patrols. If your dog guards windows, consider tougher screen options and hardware, secure window screens help prevent an excited launch after a squirrel. These changes are subtle, but they keep your home feeling polished.
  5. Install a secure fenced outdoor area with a simple, safe layout: A good fence isn’t just about height, it’s about no gaps, sturdy latches, and corners that don’t become “dig pits.” Walk the perimeter weekly for loose boards and soil shifts, especially after heavy rain. If you’re planning for resale, clean boundaries also make the yard feel intentionally designed, not “dog-proofed.”
  6. Use dog-friendly landscaping that survives play and stays non-toxic: Pick hardy ground covers or tough grass mixes for the run path your dog naturally creates, and use mulch or gravel in muddy choke points. Create shade and a water spot so your dog self-regulates on hot days, then keep delicate plants behind low edging. A defined dog path can actually protect the rest of your yard from becoming a patchy free-for-all.
  7. Protect home value by preventing the “pet home” signals buyers notice: Plan for odor control (washable slipcovers, a vented litter/gear closet, and easy-clean floors) and repair wear as you go, not all at once later. Some sellers worry about stigma, and one estimate notes the value of a home drops when buyers learn it was shared with pets. The goal isn’t to hide your dog, it’s to keep your home feeling cared for.

Map a Realistic Budget for Bigger, Longer-Lasting Remodel Choices

Once you’ve picked the upgrades that can handle real paw-print life, the next step is figuring out how to pay for the durable versions that won’t need replacing.

A home equity loan is one way to fund a dog-friendly remodel because it lets you borrow a lump sum of cash using your home’s equity as collateral, helpful when you’re tackling bigger, longer-lasting improvements all at once.

Lenders typically look for enough equity in your home, good credit, steady income, and a debt-to-income ratio they consider manageable.

If you’re comparing routes, reviewing the best home equity lines can give you a starting point for what to ask about.

Once your budget is set, simple upkeep routines will help those upgrades stay comfortable, safe, and good-looking over time.

Daily and Seasonal Habits for a Dog-Safe, Stylish Home

Dog-friendly remodels stay beautiful when you pair them with small, repeatable habits that support your dog’s comfort and your home’s finish. Think of these as the relationship-building basics that reduce stress, prevent wear, and keep your space feeling calm.

Five-Minute Floor Sweep

  • What it is: Sweep high-traffic lanes to remove grit, fur, and tiny pebbles.
  • How often: Daily
  • Why it helps: Less grit means fewer scratches and fewer slip-prone tumble moments.

Bowl Zone Reset

  • What it is: Wipe the feeding station and refresh the mat under bowls.
  • How often: Daily
  • Why it helps: It limits odors, stains, and sneaky mold around baseboards.

Nail and Paw Check

  • What it is: Inspect nails and paw pads after walks and play.
  • How often: Weekly
  • Why it helps: It reduces floor scuffs and catches small injuries early.

Toy Rotation and Tidy Basket

  • What it is: Rotate chew toys and store extras in one easy-to-reach bin.
  • How often: Weekly
  • Why it helps: It protects trim and furniture by giving chewing a clear “yes.”

Seasonal Safety Walkthrough

  • What it is: Use review routines to check gates, rugs, and outdoor surfaces.
  • How often: Start of each season
  • Why it helps: Small fixes prevent big repair bills and keep paths predictable.

Dog-Friendly Remodel FAQs Homeowners Ask

Q: What flooring actually holds up to nails and muddy paws?
A: Look for scratch-resistant, easy-clean surfaces like luxury vinyl plank, porcelain tile, or sealed concrete. Choose a low-sheen finish to hide scuffs and add washable runners in high-traffic paths. If you love wood, consider an engineered product with a tough topcoat and commit to quick wipe-ups.

Q: How can I keep my home stylish without adding dog hazards?
A: Pick closed storage, rounded furniture edges, and sturdy textiles that are still beautiful. Use non-slip rugs, cordless window coverings, and cabinet latches for anything toxic or tempting. The best designs feel calm because everything has a place, including leashes and treats.

Q: What materials should I avoid if my dog chews or licks surfaces?
A: Skip finishes with strong lingering odors and prioritize low-VOC paints and sealants. Avoid crumbly foam, exposed particleboard edges, and delicate trim in chew zones. Give chewing a safer “yes” with durable chew stations and wall guards near corners.

Q: When does it make sense to finance pet-friendly upgrades?
A: Financing can help if it lets you do the safety-critical work up front, like floors that prevent slipping or secure fencing. Keep the payment comfortable, and separate “must-haves” from “nice-to-haves” before you sign anything.

Remember the home remodeling market valued at $1,142.6 billion reflects how many homeowners are investing, so planning carefully is part of protecting value.

Q: Can dog-friendly upgrades still support resale value?
A: Yes, when you choose broadly appealing, durable finishes and keep the layout flexible. Focus on upgrades that help any buyer, like easy-maintenance floors and cleanable paint in entry areas. Some projects can be especially value-forward, and garage door replacement cost recouped 267.7% shows how a practical exterior update can pay off.

Small Remodel Choices That Keep Dogs Safe and Homes Beautiful

It’s hard to balance a space that looks pulled-together with a life that includes muddy paws, nervous chewers, and everyday wear.

The good news is that dog-friendly remodeling isn’t about perfection, it’s a steady mindset of making thoughtful, durable choices that support harmonious living with dogs while keeping style intact.

When homes are designed for real canine behavior, creating pet-friendly spaces gets easier, messes feel more manageable, and the benefits of dog-friendly remodeling show up in calmer routines and fewer “oops” moments.

A dog-friendly home is simply a human home that finally fits your dog, too.

Pick one improvement to do this month, one change that makes your dog safer, happier, or more relaxed.

Those small wins stack into a steadier home and an enhancing human-animal connection that lasts.

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This is a very useful article from Penny Martin. I find it fabulous. Well done, Penny!

What a find!

Eight Australian pups found!

I saw this article a couple of weeks ago and wanted to share it with you. It was published by The Dodo.

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Rescuers Open ‘Family Dollar’ Bin And Find 8 Australian Shepherd Babies Inside

They were only a few weeks old 🥺

By Maeve Dunigan

Published on March 12, 2026.

This past January, a man was walking through Onancock, Virginia, when he noticed a suspicious object outside Historic Onancock School, a local community center.

The man approached the object — a large black bin labeled “Family Dollar” — and carefully lifted the lid to see what was inside. There, wriggling against each other in the tight space, were eight 10-week-old puppies.

The puppies were weak, defenseless and clearly needed help. The man drilled air holes in the lid of the box and eventually contacted Eastern Shore Regional Animal Control Facility for help.

Tragically, one puppy passed away before rescuers could assist. The others quickly relaxed into the capable hands of animal control staff.

According to Eastern Shore Regional Animal Control Facility shelter manager Jeri Winn, it’s common to find puppies dumped along the Eastern Shore, but significantly less common in Onancock, a bustling seaside town.

Though she’d seen plenty of cases like this, Winn still felt a familiar sadness as she admitted the puppies into care. Despite everything, she was grateful that the pups were finally in a safe place.

“All we can be thankful for [is that] whoever left them realized they were in a good location to be seen,” Winn told The Dodo.

Team members transferred the puppies to Critters 4 U Rescue, an animal shelter and foster organization. Rescuers determined the puppies were Australian shepherd mixes, and they named them after the seven dwarfs — Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy and Dopey.

One pup has already been adopted, and the others are still safe at Critters 4 U Rescue, waiting to meet their forever families.

Eastern Shore Regional Animal Control Facility is grateful for Critters 4 U Rescue, along with all the other rescues who offered to help these needy pups find the homes they deserve.

“We are so grateful for every rescue that reached out,” Eastern Shore Regional Animal Control Facility wrote in a Facebook post. “In moments like this, our small shelter is reminded just how much we rely on the compassion and partnership of rescue organizations who step up without hesitation.”

You can keep up with Eastern Shore Regional Animal Control Facility by following them on Facebook. To help other animals like these puppies, you can donate to Critters 4 U Rescue

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What a beautiful account. Congratulations to all involved!

California learns more about its homeless shelters

A pet‑friendly homeless shelter pilot reduced the rate of homelessness among the people it helped in California.

This was an article published on the 16th March by The Conversation. It shows how the homeless shelters benefit from being pet-friendly. It’s sort of obvious but then again not common-sense.

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A pet‑friendly homeless shelter pilot reduced the rate of homelessness among the people it helped in California

A homeless woman in Los Angeles holds her dog after a free veterinary visit in 2024. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Benjamin F. Henwood, University of Southern California

When homeless shelters allow people to stay with their dogs and other pets, more unhoused people become more willing to stay in a shelter.

That’s what my team at the University of Southern California’s Homelessness Policy Research Institute learned when we evaluated California’s Pet Assistance and Support Program.

California’s Department of Housing and Community Development established this pilot program in 2019. Its goals were straightforward: to make homeless shelters more accommodating to people with pets – mostly dogs – so that people living on the streets don’t have to choose between staying in shelters or abandoning their pets.

The program disbursed US$15.75 million between 2020 and 2024 to 37 organizations across the state. The funding allowed shelters to build kennels or other pet-friendly spaces, provide pet food and supplies, and offer basic veterinary care. It also covered the costs of staffing and maintaining insurance required to operate pet-friendly shelters.

Evaluating the program

We did this evaluation in collaboration with My Dog Is My Home, a nonprofit that supports pet-inclusive housing and services for the homeless, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

By all accounts, the program was a success.

We found that the program helped 4,407 people experiencing homelessness keep their pets while getting support. Many were able to enter shelters, and their animals received needed veterinary care. A total of 886 people ultimately moved into permanent housing with their pets – a higher success rate than the statewide average for homeless people in California.

Theoretically, this funding should have reduced the number of pet owners living on the streets. Yet since 2019, the year the program began, the number of homeless people in Los Angeles with dogs and other pets has increased.

A homeless man walks a dog toward a group of tents lining a sidewalk.
A homeless man walks a dog toward a group of tents lining a Los Angeles sidewalk in 2026. Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images

I’ve seen this change firsthand.

Since 2017, I’ve led the USC research team that produces the annual homeless count estimates for Los Angeles. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires this exercise for any city seeking federal funding for homelessness services.

One of the questions my team asks when interviewing thousands of homeless people each year is whether they have any pets.

Before the pandemic, we generally found that roughly 1 in 8 people did. We also found that nearly half of homeless pet owners had been turned away from a homeless shelter because it couldn’t accommodate their animal.

Despite programs like California’s Pet Assistance and Support program, my research team has found that the share of people living on the streets of Los Angeles who say they have a pet increased to roughly 1 in 5 by 2025.

Share of homeless people in LA with pets is rising

The percentage of homeless people in Los Angeles with pets rose from 12% in 2017 to 20% in 2024 and 2025, according to an annual census.

Bar chart showing that the percentage of homeless people in Los Angeles with pets has grown since 2017.

5101520%201720182019202020212022202320242025

Need for more pet-friendly programs

We still don’t know why the share of homeless people with pets has gotten so much larger.

It could be that rising housing costs, which is the main driver of homelessness, is pushing more pet owners into homelessness. Or, perhaps more homeless are adopting pets to deal with their social isolation and loneliness, two common conditions for people with nowhere to go.

An apartment building with a rectangular green space is shown.
The Weingart Tower, where some of Los Angeles’ formerly homeless people reside and receive social services, has a small dog park. Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images

Either way, proposed cuts by the federal government to affordable housing and homeless services will only make matters worse.

The number of homeless people in Los Angeles has fallen by more than 4% since 2023 to just over 72,000 people in 2025. But based on my research findings, I would expect the number of people living on the city’s streets – with and without pets – to rise over time unless more affordable housing becomes available.

And growth in the homeless population may be hard to avoid without more efforts like California’s Pet Assistance and Support Program – on a larger scale than the pilot we studied.

Benjamin F. Henwood, Professor of Social Policy and Health, University of Southern California

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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I hope when this is published the bar chart presented towards the end of the article appears.

If not, and if you are interested in that chart, you will have to clink on this link to view it.

Professor Henwood is wise to present this article.

Guiding your pup through New Homes and New Faces.

… and New Routines.

Busy dog owners juggling moves, new jobs, breakups, new babies, or a new roommate often notice something unsettling: a dog who once seemed “fine” starts acting differently. These life changes affecting pets can quietly reshape household dynamics, disrupting routines that help dogs feel safe and understood. When a familiar schedule shifts, pet emotional well-being can wobble, and routine disruption may show up as clinginess, restlessness, accidents, barking, withdrawal, or other behavioral changes in pets. Knowing that these reactions are often signals, not “bad behavior”, gives dog owners a clearer, kinder way to respond.

Why Routine Keeps Dogs Feeling Secure

Dogs build comfort from repeated patterns like meal times, walks, and who comes and goes. When those patterns change, many dogs feel unsure, and their bodies switch into “alert mode.” That stress can look like pacing, panting, whining, hiding, barking, extra licking, stomach upset, or sudden accidents.

This matters because a disrupted routine can shake a dog’s emotional stability, even if nothing “bad” is happening. When you read these shifts as stress signals, you can respond with support instead of frustration. That protects trust and often prevents small issues from becoming long-term habits.

Think of a dog’s day like a familiar map. If the map suddenly changes, your dog may try different behaviors to find safety again, including sticking close or acting jumpy. With this lens, simple strategies can restore calm during moves, new family members, or schedule changes.

Use These 8 Transition Tactics to Keep Your Dog Calm

Big changes can make even a confident dog feel wobbly, because the predictable patterns they rely on suddenly shift. These tactics keep the message consistent: “You’re safe, and I’ve got you,” even when everything else looks different.

  1. Protect the “nonnegotiables” schedule: Pick 2–3 anchors that stay steady no matter what, usually breakfast, one walk, and bedtime. Cornell’s Riney Canine Health Center recommends you schedule your dog’s meals and other daily needs so your dog can predict what’s coming. If your life is chaotic during a move or a new baby, keep those anchors consistent and let the “flex” stuff (like extra play) vary.
  2. Pack and unpack in “scent-safe” zones: During moving week, choose one room as your dog’s calm base camp. Set up a bed, water, and a worn T‐shirt that smells like you, and keep that room off-limits to loud packing whenever possible. On arrival, unpack your dog’s things first so the new space immediately includes familiar smells and routines.
  3. Teach a comfort cue before you need it: Pick one simple cue such as “mat” or “settle,” then practice for 1–2 minutes a few times a day when things are calm. Reward your dog for lying on a blanket or bed while you sit nearby, then gradually add tiny distractions (standing up, opening a drawer). When life changes, you’ll have a practiced “go relax here” skill instead of trying to invent calm in the moment.
  4. Introduce new people with sideways bodies and short wins: For visitors, roommates, or a new partner, ask the person to ignore your dog at first, no reaching, no hovering, no face-to-face staring. Have them toss treats past your dog so your dog can approach and retreat without pressure. Keep the first few meetings to 5–10 minutes, then take a break before your dog gets overwhelmed.
  5. Run “baby practice” or “new family member” rehearsals: If a baby or new pet is coming, rehearse the sounds and movements now. Play baby noises softly during meals, walk around holding a doll or bundled blanket, and reward calm behavior. This kind of prep matters because how much they must learn during major transitions is easy for humans to underestimate.
  6. Buffer work-schedule changes with a mini routine: If you’re leaving earlier or coming home later, shift by 10–15 minutes every couple of days rather than all at once when you can. Add a predictable “departure ritual” (quick potty, 2 minutes of gentle play, food puzzle) and a predictable “reunion ritual” (calm greeting, then outside). This prevents your comings and goings from feeling random, one of the biggest routine disruptors.
  7. Use environmental enrichment to drain stress, not hype it up: Stress often looks like restlessness, pacing, or clinginess, so give your dog a job that uses their brain and nose. Try scatter-feeding in a snuffle spot, a simple cardboard “find it” game, or a frozen food toy during the loudest parts of the day. Choose calming enrichment over high-arousal games when your dog is already on edge.
  8. Aim for “slightly easier than your dog can handle today”: When your dog is anxious, progress is tiny and steady: one step closer to the new stroller, one extra minute in the new yard, one calmer greeting. If your dog freezes, hides, or won’t take treats, the challenge is too big, back up and make it simpler. That gentle pacing helps your dog rebuild trust in their environment, which makes it much easier to keep a steady week of routines going.
  9. Habits That Build Security During Big Life Shifts
  10. When change is unavoidable, consistency becomes communication. These practices help you read your dog’s behavior with more empathy, reinforce trust through predictable patterns, and build emotional resilience a little at a time.
  11. Three-Pillar Daily Check
  12. ● What it is: Do a 60-second scan of physical wellness, cognitive wellness, and nervous system wellness.
  13. ●  How often: Daily
  14. ●  Why it helps: You catch stress early and meet needs before behavior escalates.Predictable Decompression Walk
  15. ●  What it is: Take a low-key sniff walk with no training goals and lots of choice.
  16. ●  How often: Daily
  17. ●  Why it helps: Sniffing releases tension and helps your dog feel oriented.Two-Minute Connection Rep
  18. ●  What it is: Do two minutes of gentle play, grooming, or hand-feeding with full attention.
  19. ●  How often: Daily
  20. ●  Why it helps: Micro-bonding reduces clinginess and builds confidence in you.One New Thing, Then Easy
  21. ●  What it is: Add one small novelty, then follow with a familiar, simple activity.
  22. ●  How often: 3 times weekly
  23. ●  Why it helps: Your dog learns change predicts safety, not overwhelm.Adjustment Notes Log
  24. ●  What it is: Track sleep, appetite, and triggers during the adjustment period.
  25. ●  How often: Weekly
  26. ●  Why it helps: Patterns guide smarter tweaks to your routine and environment.Common Questions About Dogs and Big Life ChangesQ: How can moving to a new home affect my dog’s emotional well-being and daily routine?
    A: 
    A move can unsettle your dog’s sense of safety, so you may see whining, pacing, or accidents while they learn the new map of home. Many dogs may adjust within a few weeks, especially with familiar feeding, potty, and walk times. Next steps: track what seems to trigger stress and tighten the routine around those moments.Q: What are effective strategies to help my dog adjust when our household dynamics change, such as welcoming a new baby?
    A: 
    Your dog may become clingy or reactive because attention, sounds, and scents suddenly change. Keep key rituals steady, add a calm “safe zone,” and reward relaxed behavior near baby related items at a distance your dog can handle. Track triggers like crying or visitors, then adjust the daily plan in tiny, repeatable steps.Q: In what ways do changes in my work schedule impact my dog’s stress levels and behavior?
  27. A: Shifts in your hours can raise uncertainty, which often shows up as barking, restlessness, or door watching. Set predictable alone time practice, use a consistent pre departure cue, and increase enrichment that does not rely on you being home. If problems cluster at certain times, log them and reorganize exercise, potty breaks, and quiet time around that pattern.
  28. Q: What signs indicate that my dog is struggling with transitions, and how can I support them?
  29. A: Look for appetite changes, sleep disruption, increased startle, hiding, sudden accidents, or new shadowing behavior. Support starts with ruling out pain or illness, then simplifying the environment and rewarding calm choices. Your best two moves are to track triggers for a week and revise the routine plan based on what your notes reveal.
  30. Q: If I feel overwhelmed balancing pet care with pursuing a new healthcare career path, what resources can help me manage both effectively?
  31. A: Feeling stretched is common, especially when you are building a new identity and schedule. Create a short, written care checklist for mornings and evenings, then ask a trusted friend, family member, or qualified pet professional to cover specific tasks during peak stress weeks. For your own transition, consider flexible, structured learning options like this resource and time blocking so your dog’s essentials stay steady while you grow.
  32. Make One Gentle Routine Shift to Help Your Dog Adjust
  33. Big life changes can leave dogs confused, clingy, or out of sorts, even when everything looks “fine” on the surface. The steadier path is empathetic pet care: notice what your dog is communicating, keep support predictable, and focus on proactive pet well-being rather than waiting for stress to spiral. Over time, supporting pets through change this way often means fewer meltdowns, faster settling, and a calmer home for everyone. When life shifts, your dog needs clarity and kindness more than perfection. Choose one strategy to start this week, and stick with it long enough to see your dog’s body and behavior soften. That steady care strengthens the human-animal bond and builds resilience for whatever comes next.

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This is a guest post from Penny Martin. It is very comprehensive, especially for dog owners who are very busy people

Hedgerows

That’s right – planting hedgerows!

For many years I lived in South Devon, England. I never thought twice about hedgerows because they were so common.

Then today I read an article in The Economist about Brexit and the one thing that was favourable was this “Brexit delivers a win for British wildlife.

Here’s a small extract from the magazine:

No other country matches the rich heritage of hedgerows that weave across the damp (ideal for hedges) British Isles. Since the Bronze Age, Britons have reared sheep and cattle and have used hedges to mark the boundaries of fields and keep livestock in place. Some of these ancient bushes still stand. In West Penwith, one such prehistoric hedge, a gurgoe, might be over 4,000 years old. Most, though, were planted in the 18th century, when landowners enclosed the commons, an event that turned the country into a chequerboard of small, irregular fields. America, by contrast, passed a law prohibiting private landowners from enclosing public land in 1885, protecting its open ranges.

Here in Oregon hedges are not so common. But I did some research as to the cause and came upon this article by Oregon State University.

I trust it may be shared with you.

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A Guide to Hedgerows: Plantings That Enhance Biodiversity, Sustainability and Functionality

Pami Monnette and Jude Hobbs

EM 8721 | Revised June 2020, Reviewed 2023

An aerial photo taken above Forest Grove shows hedgerows bordering the urban growth boundary and used as buffers between fields. 
Photo: Justin Smith, © Oregon State University
This young hedgerow bordering a field features native plants that provide habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators.
Photo: Janet Donnelly, © Oregon State University

We see them at the edges of farm fields or along roads: long rows of trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses known as hedgerows. They are living fences with the ability to grow food, shelter wildlife, save water, manage weeds and look beautiful all year round.

Hedgerows are sometimes called shelter belts, windbreaks or conservation buffers. These layers of plant life enhance the beauty, productivity and biodiversity of a landscape. 

Hedgerows originated in medieval Europe and are enjoying a modern resurgence. People in England planted hawthorn cuttings and allowed them to grow about 6 feet. They were bent and trained to fill gaps in the trees, yielding a living fence. They called these fences “hagas” or hedges, form the word “hawthorn.” As the birds settled in the hawthorns and dropped seeds. more plants sprung up. Today, many farms in England are surrounded by ancient hedgerows that shelter beneficial organisms and conserve soil and water. 

Hedgerow plantings were uncommon in the early United States. In the 1930s, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Shelterbelt Program briefly supported planting trees for windbreaks to prevent soil erosion in the Midwest. Today, as interest surges in sustainable farming methods, more people are turning to this age-old practice.

Hedgerows can serve several ecological functions. Among their many benefits, hedgerows:

  • Enhance ecological biodiversity.
  • Offer food for livestock, humans and wildlife.
  • Provide habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators.
  • Facilitate water conservation.
  • Provide windbreaks.
  • Help manage invasive weeds.
  • Provide erosion control and improve soil health.
  • Support the health of aquatic habitats.
  • Enhance carbon sequestration.
  • Create borders and privacy screens.
  • Reduce noise, dust, chemical drift and other types of pollution.
  • Diversify farm income.
  • Generate year-round beauty.

Let’s look at these benefits in detail.

Benefits of hedgerows

Enhance ecological biodiversity

Biodiversity describes the variety of life forms within a specific ecosystem and the relationship of these organisms to one another and the broader environment. Hedgerows can be designed to attract a wide variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and plants, many of which offer beneficial relationships to each other. They also create more edges, or “ecotones,” between different habitats, which increases species diversity. Trees and shrubs provide shelter for larger mammals, and nesting sites and perches for raptors, which are important predators of rodents. Dense or thorny shrub thickets can offer songbirds a refuge to escape predators as well as a place to nest. The diverse composition and structure of a hedgerow creates a functional habitat where species experience vital interconnections with one another and the environment.

Offer food for livestock, humans and wildlife

Hedgerows provide undisturbed refuge for species of all kinds, creating wildlife corridors, travel lanes or habitat islands. Hedgerows help protect wildlife from predators and provide sheltered access to riparian zones or other water sources. These corridors are especially important in fragmented landscapes, such as fields where only a single crop is grown. Hedgerows provide shade to reduce heat stress and help to block wind currents. These measures support a healthier wildlife population. Berry-producing plants encourage insectivores, such as birds, that also prey upon common crop pests. The hedgerow habitat creates cover for wildlife so they can feed, nest and care for their young.

Provide habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators

Planting a variety of flowering trees, shrubs, forbs and perennial plants provides insect habitat, and nectar and pollen sources throughout the year for beneficial insects and pollinators. Plants in the family Umbelliferae attract parasitic wasps; predator flies such as hover flies, lacewings and ladybeetles; and true bugs, like ambush or minute pirate bugs. Flowering plants in this family include coriander, dill, fennel, parsnip, parsley and carrots. These plants are useful in the kitchen and are also very attractive to pollinators. Over 75% of successful production of food requires pollination. Increasing plant habitat for pollinator species improves fruit set, size and quality, as well as general biodiversity. Pollinator habitat also attracts beneficial insects, which prey on many crop pests. Increasing the numbers of beneficial insects can help farmers manage crop pests and cut down on insecticide use.

Facilitate water conservation

Hedgerows retain water and reduce evaporation by reducing wind speed and providing cover over the ground surface. Plants also catch and store water in their root systems, leaves and branches, slowing the rate of excess rainwater entering waterways and reducing the risk of flooding. Decaying matter from the roots, stems and branches of hedgerow plants increase the organic matter in the soil over time. This increases the soil’s ability to absorb and retain water. Planting hedgerows on hillsides helps conserve water and soil by reducing erosion. If planting near adjacent cropland, periodic root pruning can reduce competition for nutrients and water.

Provide windbreaks

Properly designed hedgerows can reduce wind speed by as much as 75% and improve crop performance. This is especially effective when plantings reach a density of 40%–50% and are planted perpendicular to the prevailing wind. Wind-resistant trees usually have flexible, wide-spreading, strong branches and low centers of gravity. Wind-tolerant shrubs often have small, thick or waxy leaves or very narrow leaves or needles, to help control moisture loss. Wind can disturb pollination and damage fruit and flowers when plant parts thrash against each other. During times when soil is exposed, a windbreak can protect topsoil from erosion. Crops under wind stress also put energy into growing stronger roots and stems, resulting in smaller yields and delayed maturity. Strong winds also cause lodging of grain and grass crops, bending the stems and making harvest more difficult. Winds dry out crops on the field edges, increasing pests such as two-spotted spider mites.

Help manage invasive weeds

Hedgerows planted along roads or between crop fields may prevent weed seeds from blowing into the field. The weed seed pods collect on hedgerow plants, where a farmer could remove and burn them. Hedges can prevent millions of weed seeds from entering the crop field. As hedgerows mature, these plantings displace invasive weeds. If well maintained, this weed management lasts the lifetime of the hedgerow.

Provide erosion control and improve soil health

Rain, irrigation, clean cultivation and vacant field borders can all increase erosion potential in an agricultural system.

Hedgerow plantings can significantly reduce the amount of soil erosion on a landscape. They can also provide a barrier to filter out pollutants, such as pesticides, and slow down sediments and organic material that can flow from farm fields into waterways. This is accomplished by increasing the surface water infiltration rate and improving soil structure around the root zone. This, in turn, decreases fertilizer runoff from farm fields. The biomass that plants shed acts as a soil conditioner and can enhance plant growth. In urban or suburban environments, hedges similarly reduce pollutants from neighboring sites.

Support aquatic habitat

Hedgerows can provide shade to riparian areas. Shade reduces water temperatures, prevents water evaporation and improves watershed quality. Though many factors influence watershed temperatures, studies have proven that lowland streams bordered by trees and tall shrubs exhibit cooler temperatures. The hedgerow’s latitude, stream aspect, leaf density and the height of its vegetation from the water surface all affect water temperature.

Enhance carbon sequestration

During photosynthesis, trees, shrubs and grasses absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, allowing the carbon to become part of the plant’s tissue. As plants die or shed tissue — either through natural processes or pruning — the carbon that was stored in the plant breaks down and enters the soil. Plants store relatively large amounts of carbon in their biomass, helping to offset some of the effects of climate change. A tree can absorb as much as
48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and can sequester, or store, 1 ton of carbon dioxide by the time it reaches 40 years old.

Create borders and privacy screens along roads and between properties

Hedgerows are attractive borders and can block undesirable views. Evergreens offer year-round screening. When selecting plants, consider the height at maturity for optimum screening. Evergreens can be pruned to control height and density. Plant a diverse mix of species to help protect against damage from a single pest or disease.

Reduce noise, dust, chemical drift and other types of pollution

As hedgerows mature and become dense, they can create barriers to reduce noise, dust, chemical drift and other pollutants. Open canopy trees are effective barriers to dust and pesticides; air and particles slowly filter through them instead of depositing clouds of pollutants on the other side of the hedge.

Plant hedges as close as possible to any areas where pollutants are a concern. This can help alleviate neighborhood conflicts where agriculture intersects with urban areas.

Hedgerows can act to contain contaminants from urban or suburban environments and keep them from entering agricultural areas.

Diversify farm income

Trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants in a hedgerow can also serve as sources of income. Potential products include nuts, fruits, berries, leaves, flowers, seeds, bark and medicinal herbs. You can grow plants to be propagated as seeds, rootstock, cuttings and transplants. Other potential crops are nursery stock and floral materials, including ferns, broadleaf evergreens, flowers and willows grown for craft material and furniture. You can grow fruits, berries and nuts for food. Hedgerows can shelter bees and encourage a higher pollination rate. Consider planting trees for secondary wood products such as lumber, veneer, firewood, chips for bedding and mulch. Game birds such as quail, pheasant and sage grouse are attracted to hedgerows. Managed hunting can provide a potential source of food and off-season revenue for landowners.

Generate year-round beauty

Hedgerows in the landscape add continuous beauty. You can design a hedge for year-round interest, considering the color and texture of leaves and bark, bloom color and timing, and the general growth habit or form of plants.

Hedgerow design
Graphic: Kerry Wixted with graphics from Tracey Saxby, IAN Image Library, courtesy of the Integration and Application Network, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Native red-flowering currant adds beauty to a hedgerow.
Photo: Janet Donnelly, © Oregon State University

Establishing and maintaining hedgerows

Whether in rural or urban settings, the principles of planning a hedgerow are the same: Evaluate the site, determine what you would like to accomplish with the plantings, match the right plant with the right place, and properly prepare the site.

Design

There are many essential components to consider when designing a multifunctional hedgerow. The first step is to observe the site where the hedge is to be planted and take into consideration the ecological and environmental conditions listed below. These elements influence the design, plant selection, location and the size of the area to be planted. Although a single line of trees will provide some benefits, four or more rows of plants are optimal for windbreaks, water and soil conservation, wildlife habitat and general biodiversity. When it works for the situation, place plants tallest at maturity in the center row, with shorter ones inter-planted between and along the edges. A diverse selection of plant sizes and characteristics is most beneficial. When possible, orient rows perpendicular to prevailing winds.

Hedgerows following land contours create meandering lines on the landscape, producing a natural appearance and larger buffer for wildlife habitat. If the goal is to attract pollinator species, reserve approximately one half-acre for every 40 acres planted in crops.

Plant selection

Plant a wide variety of multi-tiered plants for maximum habitat. Avoid varieties that are susceptible to common pests and diseases and choose plants that are non-invasive. Some perennial species such as blackberry can provide excellent wildlife habitat and food crops but are highly invasive and require frequent maintenance. See the plant lists on page 7 for plantings suited to the Pacific Northwest.

When selecting plants, consider the conditions plants need to survive in specific habitats:

  • Range: place of origin (indigenous, native/non-native).
  • Hardiness zones: frost dates.
  • Light requirements: sun or shade.
  • Size of plants at maturity, growth.
  • Soil type (pH, fertility, erosion concerns).
  • Drainage.
  • Water movement and moisture needs.
  • Planting time.
  • Bloom time: seasonal interest.
  • Day length.
  • Productivity.
  • Tolerance to heat, cold, salt, drought, pollution, wind and wild or domestic animals.
  • Evergreen or deciduous.
  • Plant structure: form or shape, texture, leaf and bark type.
  • Edible or poisonous: what parts.
  • Insect and disease resistance.
  • Plant size, costs and availability.
  • Maintenance needed.
  • Allellopathy: a chemical inhibitor of one plant to another which can impact germination or plant growth.

Ultimately, place plants together that have similar soil, water, sun and drainage needs.

General planting recommendations:

  • Plant trees and shrubs about 6 to 8 feet apart in rows 8 to 10 feet apart.
  • Plant one or two rows of tall trees flanked by a row or two of shrubs. A 20-foot wide hedgerow can have two rows of shrubs flanking a row of trees.
  • Hedgerows work best for wildlife when they are wider than 20 feet.
  • Depending on the site’s prevailing winds, a winter windbreak could have at least two rows of evergreen trees and a row of deciduous trees or shrubs. A summer windbreak could have at least one row of tall deciduous trees and a row of deciduous shrubs.
  • Make sure the planting holes are deep and wide enough to accept and cover the roots of each plant. Be sure to water in each new planting.
  • In a small area, place a 3-inch layer of straw mulch or cardboard around each tree and shrub after planting to discourage weeds and encourage plant survival.

Soil preparation

Soil preparation is one of the keys to plant survival. On a smaller site, an easy way to establish planting areas in existing grass or pasture is to apply a thin layer of compost or manure, followed by several layers of cardboard, and mulch such as straw or leaves. Worms are attracted to the manure and will work over the winter to decompose grasses and fertilize the soil. However, this method may not be practical on a large scale. In this instance, prepare the area for planting by tilling the ground in spring and planting an early cover crop such as crimson clover, followed by buckwheat. In late summer, till or disc in the cover crop and replant an overwintering cover crop such as crimson clover, field peas or vetch. Cover crops improve soil fertility, reduce weeds, stabilize the soil and attract beneficial insects. Till again the following spring and install the first set of plantings for the hedgerow.

Another option for sites with high weed pressure is solarization. Closely mow the ground and put down UV-stabilized anti-condensation greenhouse plastic in midsummer for several weeks to kill the weeds. After solarization, remove the plastic and follow with a fall planting.

Planting time

In more temperate environments, fall planting allows roots to become established before foliage emerges and gives plants the benefit of winter rains. In extreme cold climates, early spring may be the ideal time for planting. At the time of planting, apply amendments such as compost or manure as a top dressing.

Irrigation

To increase the success rate of your hedgerow planting, provide supplemental water for the first two or three years. Irrigate once a week during the heat of the summer during the first year. For the second year, water every two weeks. In the third year, irrigate once a month. Irrigation needs depend on the location and the plants selected. Be sure to water deeply to encourage deep root growth. Most hedgerow plantings may not survive if they do not get supplemental water in the first few years. Water can be supplied by swales, furrows, flood, drip irrigation or hand watering. If the hedgerow is next to cropland, overhead irrigation from the crop can be extended to water the hedge.

Keeping out weedy plants and destructive wildlife

One of the biggest challenges in establishing a hedgerow is keeping unwanted plants from taking over the new plantings. There are a variety of techniques to inhibit these weedy plants. The simplest method is to leave alleys between plant rows for mowing, cultivation or mulching until plants are well established. Ideally, an area 6 to 8 feet wide around the hedgerow should be mowed, flailed or tilled for weed management, fire protection and rodent control. It is also important to mulch heavily with a minimum of 3 inches of leaves, straw, sawdust or cardboard around each plant. As plants mature, they will eventually shade out most annual weeds. This is the ideal time to infill with low-growing, shade-tolerant plants.

If needed, protect plants from beaver and nutria with hardware cloth, and use partially buried plastic-coated cardboard or tubing around tree trunks to protect from voles and mice. If applying pesticides, follow the label in order to protect riparian zones along rivers, creeks and ponds from contamination.

Managing a hedgerow in the first few years is similar to managing a crop. Good weed management during establishment results in less labor to control weeds in seasons to come.

Cost of establishment

Planting hedgerows does not have to be expensive. Seedling plants are available at low cost, and you can propagate new plants from existing plantings. The larger the plant, the sooner it will reach maturity, which is especially important in creating a fast-growing privacy screen. This can be achieved by purchasing dormant bareroot plants and 1-gallon potted plants or larger. Remember, these larger plants will most likely require summer irrigation. Government programs are available to assist landowners with hedgerow development. Many counties have tax exemption programs for riparian lands, along with wildlife habitat conservation and management programs. See “Incentive programs to help with hedgerow establishment” and Estimated Costs To Establish Pollinator Hedgerows, in “Resources,” pages 9–10.

Conclusion

A hedgerow is a long-term commitment. With proper planning and care, it will take approximately four to eight years to establish a hedgerow and 30 or more years for it to reach maturity. To encourage success, draft a plan with planting installments for each year, depending on your goals and budget.

Hedgerows in rural agricultural or urban settings provide many benefits that increase over time, including the opportunity for supplemental income. With benefits for wildlife, humans and the planet, hedgerows are a practice that has stood the test of time.

Hedgerow plants

Hedgerows can contain native and non-native plants, although plants should not be invasive. The following trees, shrubs, groundcovers and perennial plants are appropriate for hedgerows in the Pacific Northwest. Remember to consider proper site selection and plant requirements. Plants that tolerate wet soil are indicated by an asterisk (*).

Sun-tolerant plants under 25 feet

  • Arbutus unedo Strawberry tree
  • Aronia Chokeberry Schubert
  • Baccharis pilularis consanguinea Coyote brush
  • Ceanothus velutinus Tobacco brush
  • Cornus stolonifera Red twig dogwood
  • Diospyros kaki Japanese persimmon
  • Diospyros virginiana American persimmon
  • Elaeagnus multiflora Goumi
  • Elaeagnus umbellata Autumn olive
  • Ficus carica Fig
  • Fuchsia magellanica Hardy fuschia
  • Lonicera caerulea Blue honeyberry
  • Lonicera involucrata Twinberry
  • Malus fusca West Coast crabapple
  • Malus sp. Apple
  • Morus Mulberry
  • Myrica pensylvanica Bayberry
  • Oemleria cerasiformis Osoberry
  • Philadelphus lewisii Mock orange
  • Prunus avium Cherry
  • Prunus domestica Plum
  • Pyrus pyrifolia Asian pear
  • Ribes sanguineum Red-flowering currant
  • Ribes divaricatum Black gooseberry*
  • Ribes nigrum Black currant*
  • Rosa nutkana Nootka rose
  • Salix fluviatilis Columbia River willow*
  • Salix hookeriana Hooker’s willow*
  • Sambucus cerulea Blue elderberry*
  • Spiraea douglasii Western spiraea*
  • Vaccinium corymbosum Blueberry*
  • Vaccinium ovatum Evergreen huckleberry
  • Viburnum opulus Highbush cranberry

Sun-tolerant plants 25+ feet tall

  • Abies grandis Grand fir
  • Acer macrophyllum Bigleaf maple
  • Alnus rubra Red alder*
  • Arbutus menziesii Madrone
  • Asimina Pawpaw
  • Calocedrus decurrens Incense-cedar
  • Castanea Chestnut
  • Chrysolepis chrysophylla Golden chinkapin
  • Diospyros virginiana Persimmon
  • Fraxinus latifolia Oregon ash*
  • Juglans regia English walnut
  • Picea species Spruce
  • Pinus ponderosa Ponderosa pine
  • Populus trichocarpa Black cottonwood
  • Prunus subcordata Klamath plum*
  • Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas-fir
  • Quercus garryana Oregon white oak
  • Robinia pseudoacacia Black locust
  • Thuja plicata Western redcedar

Groundcovers

  • Fragaria chiloensis Strawberry
  • Gaultheria shallon Salal
  • Mahonia nervosa Oregon grape
  • Polystichum munitum Sword fern
  • Vaccinium vitis idaea Lingonberry

Vines

  • Lonicera Honeysuckle
  • Akebia Five-fingered akebia*

Plants for pond edges

  • Typha latifolia Cattail*
  • Ledum glandulosum Labrador tea

Plants that tolerate shade

  • Chrysolepis chrysophylla Golden chinkapin
  • Cornus nuttallii Western flowering dogwood*
  • Corylus cornuta Hazel*
  • Physocarpus capitatus Ninebark
  • Polystichum munitum Sword fern
  • Sambucus racemosa Red elderberry*
  • Prunus virginiana Chokecherry

Plants for partial shade to shade

  • Acer circinatum Vine maple *
  • Amelanchier alnifolia Serviceberry
  • Berberis aquifolium Oregon grape
  • Gaultheria shallon Salal
  • Cornus stolonifera Red-osier dogwood
  • Holodiscus discolor Oceanspray
  • Lonicera involucrata Twinberry
  • Oemleria cerasiformis Indian plum
  • Philadelphus lewisii Mock orange
  • Rhamnus purshiana Cascara sagrada
  • Taxus brevifolia Western yew*
  • Vaccinium ovatum Evergreen huckleberry

Edge plantings

  • Achillea millefolium Yarrow
  • Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Kinnikinnick
  • Berberis nervosa Cascade Oregon grape
  • Calendula officinalis Calendula
  • Cichorium intybus Chicory
  • Foeniculum vulgare Fennel
  • Fragaria chiloensis Wild strawberry
  • Gaultheria shallon Salal
  • Lavandula angustifolia English lavender
  • Medicago sativa Alfalfa

Nuts

  • Carya illinoinensis Northern pecans
  • Carya ovata Shagbark hickory
  • Castanea Chestnuts
  • Ginkgo biloba Gingko
  • Juglans ailantifolia Heartnut
  • Juglans regia English Walnut
  • Xanthoceras sorbifolium Yellowhorn

Plants for arid environments

Plantings around vineyards

Some flowering plants attract specific kinds of beneficials, for example, carnivorous flies (Oregon sunshine), predatory bugs (stinging nettle) and Anagrus wasps (sagebrush). Research shows trends of reduced pest abundance and increased beneficial insect diversity and abundance in vineyards with a diversity of native flowering plants compared to vineyards lacking native plants.

  • Artemisia spp. Sagebrush
  • Chrysothamnus, Ericameria Rabbitbrush
  • Eriogonum compositum Northern buckwheat
  • Eriogonum niveum Snow buckwheat
  • Eriogonum elatum Tall buckwheat
  • Clematis ligusticifolia Western clematis
  • Eriophyllum lanatum Oregon sunshine
  • Crepis atribarba Slender hawksbeard
  • Asclepias speciosa Showy milkweed
  • Achillea millefolium Yarrow

Arid trees

  • Juniperus occidentalis Western juniper
  • Larix occidentalis Western larch
  • Picea pungens Blue spruce
  • Pinus flexilis Limber pine
  • Pinus edulis Pinyon pine
  • Pinus ponderosa Ponderosa pine
  • Pinus nigra Austrian pine
  • Populus trichocarpa Black cottonwood

Shrubs

  • Artemisia tridentata Big sagebrush
  • Atriplex canescens Four-wing saltbush
  • Cercocarpus montanus Mountain mahogany
  • Chamaebatiaria Desert sweet millefolium
  • Ericameria nauseosa Rubber rabbitbrush
  • Cornus stolonifera Red-osier dogwood
  • Mahonia repens Creeping Oregon grape
  • Potentilla fruticosa Shrubby cinquefoil
  • Prunus emarginata Bitter cherry
  • Prunus virginiana Chokecherry ‘Schubert’
  • Purshia tridentata Antelope bitterbush
  • Rosa woodsii Woods’ rose
  • Shepherdia argentea Silver buffaloberry
  • Shepherdia canadensis Russet buffaloberry

Herbaceous perennials

  • Antennaria species Cat’s ears
  • Anaphalis margaritacea Pearly everlasting
  • Aster alpinus Dwarf alpine aster
  • Aurinia saxatilis Basket of gold
  • Delosperma species Ice plant
  • Echinacea purpurea Purple coneflower
  • Ericameria nauseosa Rubber rabbitbrush
  • Erigeron annuus Fleabane daisy
  • Eriogonum umbellatum Sulfur buckwheat
  • Eriophyllum lanatum Oregon sunshine
  • Kniphofia uvaria Torch lily
  • Lavandula angustifolia English lavender
  • Linum lewisii Flax
  • Penstemon pinifolius Pineleaf penstemon
  • Rudbeckia species Black-eyed Susan
  • Salvia dorii Purple sage
  • Sedum spurium and album Stonecrops
  • Sphaeralcea munroana Globemallow
  • Rosa woodsii Woods’ rose
  • Yucca glauca Narrow leaf yucca

Groundcovers

  • Juniperus Savin juniper
  • Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Kinnikinnick
  • Sedum Stonecrop
  • Sempervivum Hens and chicks
  • Thymus pseudolanuginosus Wooly thyme
Jason Lueker, a horticulture student, helps maintain the hedgerow at the Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture at Oregon State University in Corvallis.
Photo: Hannah O’Leary, © Oregon State University
Mulching in a hedgerow’s early years controls weeds, which helps the plants become established.
Photo: Hannah O’Leary, © Oregon State University
A hedgerow at a Willamette Valley farm combines tall trees with shrubs and flowering plants.
Photo: Janet Donnelly, © Oregon State University

Incentive programs to help with hedgerow establishment

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program

In exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from production and establishing permanent resource-conserving plant species, farmers and ranchers are paid an annual rental rate along with other federal and state incentives. This program is administered through the USDA Farm Service Agency and local Soil and Water Conservation districts.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program

This program provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers in order to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation or improved or created wildlife habitat. The program is administered through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service via local field offices.

Resources

Agencies

Books and publications

  • Earnshaw, S. Community Alliance with Family Farmers. Hedgerows and Farmscaping for California Agriculture: A Resource Guide For Farmers.
  • Guard, J.B. Wetland Plants of Oregon and Washington. 2010. Lone Pine Publishing.
  • Imhoff, D. and R. Carra. Farming With The Wild: Enhancing Biodiversity on Farms and Ranches. 2011. Sierra Club Books.
  • Kruckenberg, A. Gardening With Natives of the Pacific Northwest. 1982. University of Washington Press.
  • Lee-Mäder, E., J. Hopwood, M. Vaughan, S. Hoffman Black and L. Morandin. Farming with Native Beneficial Insects: Ecological Pest Control Solutions. 2014. Storey Publishing.
  • Link, R. Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. 1999. University of Washington Press,
  • Mader, E., M. Shepherd, M. Vaughan, S. Black, G. LeBuhn, Attracting Native Pollinators. 2011. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
  • Martin, A., H.S. Zim, A.L. Nelson. American Wildlife and Plants: A Guide To Wildlife Food Habits. 1951. Dover Publications.
  • National Center for Appropriate Technology, Oregon Tilth and The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Conservation Buffers in Organic System: Western States Implementation Guide. March 2014.
  • Pojar, J. and A. MacKinnon. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. 2016. Lone Pine Publishing.
  • Rodriguez, O. and R. Dufour. A Pictorial Guide to Hedgerow Plants for Beneficial Insects, ATTRA — Sustainable Agriculture Program.
  • Rose, R., C.E.C. Chachulski, D.L. Haase. Propagation of Pacific Northwest Native Plants. 1998. Oregon State University Press.
  • The Xerces Society. Estimated Costs To Establish Pollinator Hedgerows.

Pollinator guides and publications

ooOOoo

This is a fantastic resource and my hope is that it will be read far and wide. We find it very inspiring here in Southern Oregon.

Are we asking too much of our dogs?

We have never thought of this before but the question is a valid one.

The article, which was presented by The Conversation, raised the question. As you will see the article starts with the sentence “Americans love dogs.” To my mind, it is many more people than Americans who love dogs. Let’s read the article.

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Americans are asking too much of their dogs

Some people appreciate relationships with pets to combat loneliness – but others simply prefer dogs’ company. Catherine Falls Commercial/Moment via Getty Images

Margret Grebowicz, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Americans love dogs.

Nearly half of U.S. households have one, and practically all owners see pets as part of the family – 51% say pets belong “as much as a human member.” The pet industry keeps generating more and more jobs, from vets to trainers, to influencers. Schools cannot keep up with the demand for veterinarians.

It all seems part of what Mark Cushing, a lawyer and lobbyist for veterinary issues, calls “the pet revolution”: the more and more privileged place that pets occupy in American society. In his 2020 book “Pet Nation,” he argues that the internet has caused people to become more lonely, and this has made them focus more intensely on their pets – filling in for human relationships.

I would argue that something different is happening, however, particularly since the COVID-19 lockdown: Loving dogs has become an expression not of loneliness but of how unhappy many Americans are with society and other people.

In my own book, “Rescue Me,” I explore how today’s dog culture is more a symptom of our suffering as a society than a cure for it. Dogs aren’t just being used as a substitute for people. As a philosopher who studies the relationships between animals, humans and the environment, I believe Americans are turning to dogs to alleviate the erosion of social life itself. For some owners, dogs simply offer more satisfying relationships than other people do.

And I am no different. I live with three dogs, and my love for them has driven me to research the culture of dog ownership in an effort to understand myself and other humans better. By nature, dogs are masters of social life who can communicate beyond the boundaries of their species. But I believe many Americans are expecting their pets to address problems that they cannot fix.

Dogs over people

During the pandemic, people often struggled with the monotony of spending too much time cooped up with other humans – children, romantic partners, roommates. Meanwhile, relationships with their dogs seemed to flourish.

Rescuing shelter animals grew in popularity, and on social media people celebrated being at home with their pets. Dog content on Instagram and Pinterest now commonly includes hashtags like #DogsAreBetterThanPeople and #IPreferDogsToPeople.

“The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog” appears on merchandise all over e-commerce sites such as Etsy, Amazon and Redbubble.

One 2025 study found that dog owners tend to rate their pets more highly than their human loved ones in several areas, such as companionship and support. They also experienced fewer negative interactions with their dogs than with the closest people in their lives, including children, romantic partners and relatives.

The late primatologist Jane Goodall celebrated her 90th birthday with 90 dogs. She stated in an interview with Stephen Colbert that she preferred dogs to chimps, because chimps were too much like people. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3xGvLApNrFQ?wmode=transparent&start=0 Jane Goodall said she appreciates dogs for their “unconditional love.”

Fraying fabric

This passion for dogs seems to be growing as America’s social fabric unravels – which began long before the pandemic.

In 1972, 46% of Americans said “most people can be trusted.” By 2018, that percentage dropped to 34%. Americans report seeing their friends less than they used to, a phenomenon called the “friendship recession,” and avoid having conversations with strangers because they expect the conversation to go badly. People are spending more time at home.

Today, millennials make up the largest percentage of pet owners. Some cultural commentators argue dogs are especially important for this generation because other traditional markers of stability and adulthood – a mortgage, a child – feel out of reach or simply undesirable. According to the Harris Poll, a marketing research firm, 43% of Americans would prefer a pet to a child.

Amid those pressures, many people turn to the comfort of a pet – but the expectations for what dogs can bring to our lives are becoming increasingly unreasonable.

For some people, dogs are a way to feel loved, to relieve pressures to have kids, to fight the drudgery of their job, to reduce the stress of the rat race and to connect with the outdoors. Some expect pet ownership to improve their physical and mental health.

A woman with short brunette hair sits on the floor in front of a sliding door and balcony, as a black dog sits beside her and looks at her.
Even years after the pandemic lockdown, many people are spending more time at home – often with pets. curtoicurto/iStock via Getty Images Plus

And it works, to a degree. Studies have found dog people to be “warmer” and happier than cat people. Interacting with pets can improve your health and may even offer some protection against cognitive decline. Dog-training programs in prisons appear to reduce recidivism rates.

Unreasonable expectations

But expecting that dogs will fill the social and emotional gaps in our lives is actually an obstacle to dogs’ flourishing, and human flourishing as well.

In philosophical terms, we could call this an extractive relationship: Humans are using dogs for their emotional labor, extracting things from them that they cannot get elsewhere or simply no longer wish to. Just like natural resource extraction, extractive relationships eventually become unsustainable.

The late cultural theorist Lauren Berlant argued that the present stage of capitalism creates a dynamic called “slow death,” a cycle in which “life building and the attrition of life are indistinguishable.” Keeping up is so exhausting that, in order to maintain that life, we need to do things that result in our slow degradation: Work becomes drudgery under unsustainable workloads, and the experience of dating suffers under the unhealthy pressure to have a partner.

Similarly, today’s dog culture is leading to unhealthy and unsustainable dynamics. Veterinarians are concerned that the rise of the “fur baby” lifestyle, in which people treat pets like human children, can harm animals, as owners seek unnecessary veterinary care, tests and medications. Pets staying at home alone while owners work suffer from boredom, which can cause chronic psychological distress and health problems. And as the number of pets goes up, many people wind up giving up their animal, overcrowding shelters.

So what should be done? Some philosophers and activists advocate for pet abolition, arguing that treating any animals as property is ethically indefensible.

This is a hard case to make – especially with dog lovers. Dogs were the first animal that humans domesticated. They have evolved beside us for as long as 40,000 years, and are a central piece of the human story. Some scientists argue that dogs made us human, not the other way around.

Perhaps we can reconfigure aspects of home, family and society to be better for dogs and humans alike – more accessible health care and higher-quality food, for example. A world more focused on human thriving would be more focused on pets’ thriving, too. But that would make for a very different America than this one.

Margret Grebowicz, Distinguished Professor of the Humanities, Missouri University of Science and Technology

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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I do not recognise the unhealthy culture as mentioned four paragraphs above. But Jeannie and me do understand and believe the alternative: “Some scientists argue that dogs made us human, not the other way around.”

I’ve said it many times before but perhaps some of our newer readers haven’t heard the fact that when I met Jean in 2007 she was looking after twenty-three dogs, and numerous cats, and it was pure magic. In 2008 I went to Mexico, where Jean lived, with Pharaoh. Then in 2010 we came north to Arizona to be married. We had sixteen dogs and seven cats with us.