Joan Morris –

According to a recent survey of pet parents, 58% said they're worried their pets will suffer from separation anxiety when the humans return to work following the coronavirus pandemic.

Preparing your pet for life after the shelter-in-place

June 30, 2020 at 3:31 p.m.

Whether it's a good idea or not, a lot of people are venturing out of COVID-19 cocoons, heading back to work and spending more time outside the home. I have...

Joan Morris: The pain of saying goodbye to a pet when social distancing

April 24, 2020 at 12:49 p.m.

DEAR JOAN: Our beloved dog had emergency surgery at MedVet in Campbell, Calif., on April 2. Her condition was advanced enough to cause her to not respond well to the...

A dog in Hong Kong apparently tested "weak positive" for COVID-19, but as the dog had no symptoms, medical and veterinarian experts believe the test results could have been the result of environmental exposure, infection, cross-reaction from other viruses or testing issues. The East Bay SPCA warns that having your dog vaccinated against coronavirus will not prevent COVID-19.

Should we let our pets lick us on the lips?

March 20, 2020 at 3:07 p.m.

DEAR JOAN: I just read your column about keeping pets safe from COVID-19. Thanks! However, what about all of us who let our dogs and cats lick our noses and...

Dog poop bags being abandoned on trails and in yards has become an ongoing problem around the nation. One tip for those not wanting to carry the bag with them on the rest of the walk is attaching a fanny pack to your dog's leash and storing it there until reaching a trash bin.

One woman’s quest to get dog walkers to pick up poop bags

February 28, 2020 at 12:10 p.m.

DEAR JOAN: I am writing to ask for your help to bring an issue to the attention of the general public. The issue is the dog poopy bags left on...

What makes these birds splash around in birdbath?

February 21, 2020 at 12:17 p.m.

DEAR JOAN: In the morning, I see a variety of birds splashing in our bird bath. Why do the birds do this? Rosemary Hagman, Oakland, Calif. DEAR ROSEMARY: Birds splash...

Dog walking etiquette: Should you walk your dog on the left or the right?

January 17, 2020 at 12:26 p.m.

Dear Joan: My dog, Wanda, is taking chemo for lymphoma and fortunately, she's doing great. I'm trying to get her on nice trail walks several times a week, and this...

Small dogs are known as yippy, yappy barkers, but it turns out that its nurture, not nature that makes them so noisy and excitable.

Are all small dogs naturally yippy, or is the owner to blame?

December 20, 2019 at 11:37 a.m.

Dear Joan: In a recent column you mentioned that your dog, Bailey, would be sent into fits of barking by the ringing of the doorbell. I have a couple of...

How to keep your dog safe and calm on Halloween night

November 4, 2019 at 4:45 p.m.

If you're wondering about how to keep your dog calm on Halloween, here are some tips from Jen Kasner, a dog expert and co-founder of Goldn, a web site that...

The older sisters love the dog but are having trouble keeping up with him

October 18, 2019 at 11:12 a.m.

Dear Joan: I'm wondering if you can suggest how someone might go about finding a new home for a very active border collie. My sister adopted Buddy after being asked...

Can Sweetie Pie, a stray cat, become a house cat again?

July 30, 2019 at 11:27 a.m.

Dear Joan: I have read about — and occasionally heard of — domestic cats who became feral and then returned to domestic life. Do you think it can happen to...

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