What’s Making Global Cat and Dog News Today?

The Best Pet Daily Round-up of News, Research, Opinion or Fun published about Dogs and Cats from around the world:

1. South Korea (The Korea Times) Pet-friendly apartment complexes draw mixed reactions

   In Brief: The rise of pet-friendly apartment complexes in South Korea, a response to the country's high pet ownership rates and low birth rate, has sparked mixed reactions among residents. Major construction firms, recognizing the growing demographic of pet owners, have been incorporating amenities like dog parks and pet shower booths in new developments. However, these facilities have also led to conflicts among neighbors. In a recent example, future residents of the Olympic Park Foreon complex in Seoul voiced concerns over hygiene and the potential influx of non-resident pet owners using the amenities. This situation highlights the challenges of balancing the needs and preferences of pet owners with those of other residents in communal living spaces.

2. Australia (Psychology Today) Are Zoomies a Sign of a Happy Dog or a Crazy One?

   In Brief: When dogs suddenly race around the room, it's often called "zoomies" or scientifically, "frenetic random activity periods." This behavior, characterized by rapid, erratic movements and a seemingly joyful demeanor, is not an indicator of a disorder such as ADHD in dogs, but rather an expression of excitement or emotional overflow. This common phenomenon is likened to behaviors observed in young children, who can exhibit similar bursts of energy in response to excitement. While zoomies can occasionally be triggered by stress or confusion, they are generally associated with positive situations and are a harmless way for dogs to release pent-up energy. The occurrence of zoomies is more frequent in puppies and young dogs and tends to decrease as they mature. No intervention is usually necessary unless there is a risk of injury to the dog or others.

3. Australia (ABC) Coroner recommends tougher punishments for non-compliant dog owners after death of Ada Holland
   In Brief: A New South Wales coronial inquest has called for stricter penalties for dog owners following the tragic death of 90-year-old Ada "Sally" Holland, who was fatally attacked by a pack of unregistered dogs on a south coast beach in 2020. The deputy coroner, Carmel Forbes, highlighted a missed opportunity for preventative action by Shoalhaven Council, noting a prior incident involving the same dogs that was not adequately addressed. The inquiry has recommended increasing the maximum penalties for owners whose dogs cause serious or fatal injuries and has suggested improvements in training for rangers on handling dangerous dogs. The coroner's findings aim to enforce more stringent controls to prevent future tragedies and ensure better compliance with pet ownership laws.

4. United States (Curbed) Real Estate: The Listings Have Dogs Now
   In Brief: In the competitive New York City real estate market, a new trend is emerging in high-end property listings: the inclusion of dogs. Real estate brokers, once wary of presenting homes that suggested pet ownership, are now strategically placing dogs in listing photos to appeal to potential buyers. A champion-bred standard poodle named Lexis Cathexis in a Greenwich Village townhouse and a pug in an Upper East Side townhouse are just two examples where dogs have been used to create a warm, inviting image of the home. This shift in marketing strategy reflects a broader acceptance and appeal of pet-friendly living spaces, tapping into the emotional connection many have with animals to make properties feel more like a home.

5. United Kingdom (MNR Journal) 'Half of my collection is about cats': Sylvie Fleury reveals her love of feline art

   In Brief: Australia's top taxonomists have recently classified the dingo as a standard dog breed, Canis familiaris, aligning them with other ancient dog lineages rather than recognizing them as a unique or threatened species. This reclassification, led by the Australasian Mammal Taxonomy Consortium (AMTC), contrasts a previous 2019 study which identified dingoes as a distinct native species due to their unique characteristics and long history of geographic isolation in Australia. The new findings categorize dingoes within the east Asian dog lineage, which includes several Asian village dogs and the New Guinea singing dogs. This shift raises significant questions about the future of dingo protection and management policies in Australia, particularly regarding their status in wild dog control programs and conservation efforts.

6. United States (Brooklyn Mueseum) Divine Felines: Cats of Ancient Egypt

   In Brief: "Divine Felines: Cats of Ancient Egypt" is an exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum that delves into the significant role cats, lions, and other feline figures played in ancient Egyptian culture. It features nearly eighty representations from the museum's Egyptian collection, illustrating the cats' dual nature as domesticated animals and mythic symbols. The exhibition highlights how cats were revered for their fertility and protective abilities against vermin, while larger felines symbolized royalty and were associated with various gods. Key pieces include a large limestone sculpture of a lion, a bronze sphinx of King Sheshenq, a bronze figurine of a cat nursing kittens, and cat-shaped wooden coffins for mummies. The exhibition also briefly explores the role of dogs and jackals in ancient Egypt, offering a comprehensive view of how these animals were intertwined with daily life and religious beliefs.