Dig this… a portion of this post is sponsored, but opinions are my own and 110% “pawthentic”! Today marks the official start of Pet Anxiety Awareness Week - an event that I created and launched in 2017 to help pet parents everywhere learn more about the triggers and symptoms of fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) in their pets. It's estimated that about 50% of pets suffer from FAS, but many pet parents may not recognize the signs or may not know where to turn for help. Left untreated, FAS may lead to destructive, dangerous, and self-harming behaviors. Sadly, many pets are surrendered to shelters by pet parents who feel under equipped to help them deal with their anxiety. I was inspired by my dog Buck's affliction with FAS and wanted to help others learn from our experience. Buck struggled with severe noise phobia and separation anxiety. He was absolutely terrified of thunder and fireworks. For a while his anxiety was so bad that my husband and I had to take separate vacations to avoid leaving him with ...
