dogs

Bar K on the Berkley Riverfront was a popular destination for dog owners, and had expanded to St. Louis and Oklahoma City. On Tuesday, the company announced all its locations were shuttered, effective immediately.

Don Cherry, a canine behavior consultant pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Missouri, wants to identify what makes a service dog successful — both behaviorally and biologically.

Jim the Wonder Dog gained fame for his alleged ability to predict the future and understand commands in multiple languages. A museum in Marshall, Missouri, dedicated to the arcane canine will host costume, trick, and look-alike contests this weekend to celebrate.

Urban and suburban school districts may have a funding and staffing edge, but small rural districts say their close-knit communities make it easier to identify and support unhoused students. Plus: A website called Sniffspot lets Kansans rent their backyards or other spaces as puppy playgrounds.

Sniffspot, a short-term rental website and app, lets property owners rent out their yards or other spaces as private dog parks. So far there are about 200 Sniffspots in Kansas, but the number is growing.

Kansas City officials have signaled they want to retake control of animal control services from KC Pet Project. City Councilmember Melissa Patterson Hazley says the next iteration of animal control must ensure irresponsible pet owners face consequences.

Dogs don’t talk to us the way our human best friends do, but they are biologically prepared to communicate with us in a range of ways. What if we could understand our furry companions better? Dr. Emily Bray, a canine cognition specialist, says that dogs are better at understanding us than we are them, but there are ways we can bridge the gap.

KC Pet Project has handled animal control services in Kansas City for the past four years, with an emphasis on education for pet owners. But some animal rescue groups say their approach is keeping dangerous dogs on the streets, and want the city to take back operations.

Violence is nothing new to Kansas City youth. The No More Bullying! program at Wayside Waifs, a no-kill shelter, wants to stop the cycle using education and prevention.

The child was attacked two weeks ago by three to four dogs and rushed to the hospital. KC Pet Project says it is still investigating in the incident.

As kids flock to libraries for summer reading programs, one of the most popular programs is Read to a Dog. Children get ten minutes to read a book of their choice to a therapy dog — or sometimes cat — trained to listen and watch calmly and without judgment.

Animal ordinance citations have dropped dramatically since KC Pet Project took over animal control from Kansas City. While the nonprofit says the drop in tickets is evidence of success, other animal advocates worry it's leaving dangerous dogs on the streets.