Community cats — i.e., ownerless, free-roaming outdoor cats — can benefit from the help of their human neighbors. And a trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) program, also known as trap-neuter-release (TNR), is a great way to do that.

Do you want to get involved in advocating for community cats and implementing a TNVR program in your area? Here are some resources to help guide you through the process and educate people about TNVR for cats.

Three-legged dogs and three-legged cats — also called "tripods" or "tripaws" — can live long and healthy lives with minimal adjustments to compensate for their missing limb. The following are tips to help you keep your three-legged dog or three-legged cat safe and happy.

If you want a well-trained, well-socialized, well-behaved dog, you must interact consistently and practice skills to build a foundation of trust and a healthy relationship. All dogs benefit from learning and practicing basic cues daily. Keep all interaction fun; if you are stressed on a particular day and thus won't play nicely with your dog, skip your training session. Dogs are sensitive to your emotional state and can pick up on your stress.

Why this cue is useful for your dog to know: Guarding resources (food, toys, locations, etc.) is a common and natural behavior in many dogs. They do it because they are afraid they’ll lose the resource. A lot of dog bites happen as a result of guarding. Implementing this training plan can help to prevent a dog from guarding, keeping him and everyone around him safe.

End behavior: While the dog has food or a high-value object, he sits when a human approaches, and allows the human to take the food or object.

Teaching a dog to wait at open doors can be an incredibly useful skill. Not only can it allow you and others to pass through the door without a dog underfoot or jumping on people, but it also can protect your dog from potentially bolting out the door and into an unsafe situation. The goal for this dog training plan is that the dog won’t move through the door until their handler gives a release cue.

Teacup pigs for sale? Buyer beware: Baby piglets might not be true teacup pigs — also known as mini pigs, micro pigs, dwarf pigs, pygmy pigs, and nano pigs. Pet pigs who stay small are more myth than reality. Here’s what you need to know if you’re considering adopting a teacup pig.

Teaching your dog to come when called is a great safety tool to have in place. It can be used in emergency situations if your dog dashes out the door, slips their collar, or is off leash on a hike and is approached by a dog or other animal. Teaching your dog recall might save end up saving their life. Use the following steps to practice recall training for dogs.

Teaching a dog to come

Start the recall training in a quiet area with few distractions. Grab high-value treats, a long leash, and a clicker.

You can teach a dog the “off” command to get your dog to move from a spot where you don’t want them. This can help to teach your dog not to jump on furniture, put their paws up on counters, or even jump on people. Teaching “off” is a much kinder and gentler way of moving a dog on cue — compared to physically lifting them, for example.

Teaching a dog to go to a specific place can be helpful when you need your dog to settle down or stay in a particular spot for a while. Your dog can be out of the way but also in a comfortable and safe area. This is a great dog training cue to use when someone comes to the door, you are making dinner, or you just need to not have your dog underfoot.

Walking backward or backing up doesn’t come naturally to most dogs, so it’s a dog training skill they have to learn. Teaching a dog to “back up” can come in handy when navigating tight spaces. It’s also a way to help dogs who do agility become more aware of their hind end.

Steps to train dogs to 'back up'

The goal behavior with this training plan is the dog learns to walk backward on cue until they’re released. Follow these steps to teach a dog to back up: