Every year, the American Kennel Club hosts an event called Meet the Breeds, where people get to interact with over 200 different breeds of dogs and cats.

We went to Meet the Breeds last fall, and immediately gravitated towards the Internet's favorite dog breed — the Corgi. 

Find out everything about the Pembroke Welsh Corgi above.

Produced by Kamelia Angelova & William Wei. Originally published in October 2013.

Music: "Corgi" by Dale North of Destructoid.com

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If 15% of all Internet traffic is cat-related, then how much traffic is generated by cute animals on Instagram specifically?

Instagram can't break down the most-followed animal accounts as a certainty, but pointed us to this list of pets as being among Instagram's most famous.

The social network's most famous critters get hundreds of thousands of likes and followers. Many even have their own clothing lines — you can buy T shirts of them.

Norm, an adorable pug from outside Seattle, has almost 200,000 followers.

Pudge the cat is so famous that you can buy nail decals with his face on them.

(Seriously.)

Mr. Bagel the chinchilla uses his fame for good by reminding his 53,000 followers to adopt new pets from rescue shelters.

“My work is about finding identity,” says Brooklyn-based artist Paul Nathan, whose photographic investigations have led him to capture everything from the heavily tattooed hipsters of Williamsburg (Generation Ink) to the finely dressed dogs of the Big Apple (Couture Dogs of New York).

Through the latter, he entered a circle of top groomers who coif these power pups. “I decided to see how much of the character of the dog was present in relation to the groomer’s taste.”

The answer, as demonstrated by his third book Groomed—out this month—is quite a lot.

Just ask über groomer Jorge Bendersky, the Vidal Sassoon of the canine world, who wrote the foreword for Nathan’s tome.

“My signature is that I tailor every haircut to the specific dog,” Bendersky tells DuJour. “I take into consideration the kinds of clothes they want to use, the kind of colors that they want to use, the lifestyle the owners have.” In other words, glossy-coated Afghans who prefer their penthouse views of Central Park over the real thing can leave it long while Yorkies and Poodles (Bendersky’s most frequent customers) might want a sportier cut. There’s also booties, ear poofs and mohawks to consider.

Growing up in Argentina, Bendersky spent his childhood grooming his neighbor’s Pekingese and Shih Tzus, and by the time he was 16, he was judging dog shows. After moving to New York 22 years ago, Bendersky started working at the New York Dog Hotel & Spa and quickly became the beau monde’s go-to-groomer—from Gisele’s Yorkie, Vida, to Diddy’s Maltese pups Chacha and Sophi.

Today, he looks after Ralph Lauren’s Yorkie, Bikini, and many of the pooches who comfort the Victoria’s Secret models. “Honestly, a lot of my clients—I don’t have the time to Google them. So unless they’re super famous or somebody tells me who they are, I’ll probably just think, ‘She’s a pretty girl,’’’ he admits. “I’ll have no idea she’s a Victoria’s Secret model.”

Bendersky, whose rate starts at $300 per hour, will candidly tell you he doesn’t charge his clients more because they’re celebrities. In his words, “you charge them more because they’re very complicated.” Throughout his career, he’s been flown to the Hamptons on a helicopter and Miami on a private jet—for grooming missions. He recalls one time being called up at midnight by a tony uptown client who couldn’t fathom cleaning her dog’s soiled foot.

“Her dog had stepped on a wee wee pad where she had peed. The owner freaked out and sent her driver to pick me up to wipe the dog’s paw. So I went and got a baby wipe and put her paw on it,” he laughs.

“There’s a lot of crazies”—something Nathan soon found out for himself.

Many of the dogs in Groomed—most of which come off as a mutation of LaChapellian celebrities, Charlie White’s pageant girls and Charlotte Dumas’s domestic animals—were shot at Intergroom, a grooming conference run out of New Jersey each April. “There’s a creative grooming section in the competition where the groomers turn their dogs into something totally ungodly,” says Nathan.

He sets the scene: “There were dogs that had been dyed, shaved and clipped so that they resembled fish, sea horses, pirates. The groomers then set up a little backdrop that fit with the theme of their dog, and some dressed up themselves and did a little performance. This really was one of the craziest things I have ever seen.”

For both the plutocrat and plebeian pet-owner, Bendersky has a case for keeping your pup groomed.

“A lot of people worry about getting their dog to sit, stay, give you a paw, but they’re not aware of the importance of grooming,” he says, noting it’s the “best tool” for early detection of most health issues. It’s not a matter of spending or saving money, says Bendersky, ”it’s about understanding your dog better.”

That’s solid advice for the owners of the Groomed pups. “Some were very supportive of the project, and others seemed very cautious of me and possibly even suspicious of my motives,” Nathan says. “I frankly can’t understand why, because what’s the worst I could do—put the picture on the internet?”

1. Angel, Bichon Frise

2. Comer, Kerry Blue Terrier3. Cosmo, Bichon Frise

4. Dice, Bedlington Terrier

 5. Giselle, Borzoi

6. Kermit, American Cocker Spaniel

7. Karma and Indigo, Standard Poodles

8. Mardochi, Poodle 

9. Sisu, Afghan Hound

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There are cat people and there are dog people. I don't generally like to lump myself in with one group (I grew up with three cats), but I can recognize the vast benefits of owning a dog over a litter-trained furball. Here are few.

1. Dogs make you laugh.

A pilot study of 95 people found that dog owners laughed significantly more frequently than cat owners. Cats might even be a drag — even participants without pets reported laughing more than those who just owned cats.

2. Dogs help you make friends.

"Pet dogs can act as catalysts for human social interactions, and it has been suggested this may enhance feelings of well-being," according to one study, which found that strolling around with a dog led to more interactions, especially with strangers, than when walking solo.

"When I'm outside with my dog, I always meet new people and chat with them," one respondent said in a survey of 23 elderly dog owners who were single.

Coerce a cat to go for a walk? I don't think so.

3. A dog's sense of smell can be useful. 

University of Pennsylvania researchers are currently training Golden Retrievers and German Shepards how to sniff out ovarian cancer.

4. Dogs are technologically-advanced.

While most cats are busy batting crumpled tissues around the house, some tech-savvy dogs are learning how to recognize and respond to written commands on an iPad, like "sit" or "whirly," as well as mastering the art of taking selfies. A London-based company called City Dog offers sessions to train your dog how to take flattering photos of himself by swiping his nose over the screen.

5. Dogs keep us fit.

Dogs need walks — which also encourages the owner to walk. Walking is a great form of exercise. "Older people with dogs are covering an average daily distance of approximately 0.95 miles," one study found.

A separate 5-year-study of nearly 2,000 people in Perth, Australia, noted that "dog walking has the potential to increase physical activity in a large proportion of the community."

6. Dogs are real-life heroes. 

Dogs are known for their discerning noses, which can be used to sniff out bombs, find missing persons, or track down criminals. Basically, dogs are four-legged crime fighters.

7. Dogs have a sixth sense.

So-called "seizure-alert dogs" have the innate ability to detect if someone is about to have a seizure. The dog will warn the victim using "attention-getting behaviors such as whining, pawing, or anxious barking" anywhere from "15 to 12 hours before the attack," according to National Geographic. The dogs can even be trained to hit a button on the phone that calls 911. Try getting your cat to use speed dial.

8. Dogs help save endangered animals.

Dogs are saving the world, one whale at a time. A black lab mix named Tucker, for example, has been trained to help scientists track killer whales by sniffing for their poop. By studying the whale feces, researchers can see how pollution is affecting certain whale populations.

9. Dogs may prevent people from developing allergies and asthma.

Children exposed to "dog dust" may be at a lower risk for developing allergies and asthma later on in life, based on a study in mice. Dog dust seems to contain microbes that influences the number of immune cells in the animal's airway that respond to allergens.

10. Dogs are loyal.

11. Dogs make life worth living, even when we get old.

Getting old is tough. After retirement, elderly people may feel like their everyday lives lack structure. Dogs, which require a fixed time for meals and walks, can help bridge that gap and provide a sense of purpose. "Dogs give a certain meaning to their lives, since the task of caring for a dog also means a great responsibility,"a 2011 review noted.

SEE ALSO: Owning a pet will make you happier

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If you own a certain breed of dog, you may have a harder time getting homeowners insurance.

Insurers balk at breeds and mixes that they believe are more likely to bite and cause injuries than other dogs.

Einhorn Insurance, a San Diego agency specializing in dog liability insurance, has compiled a list of the 10 breeds most often deemed dangerous by insurance companies.

These dogs are consider the riskiest by insurance companies: 

1. Pit bulls and Staffordshire terriers

Pit bull attacks frequently make the news.

A report in early 2014 said a 10-year-old boy in Newark, N.J., was hospitalized in critical condition after his father's two pit bulls repeatedly bit him.

The term "pit bull" encompasses both the American pit bull terrier and the American Staffordshire terrier.

The breeds have a reputation for being unpredictable and dangerous; advocates from The Humane Society of the United States and other groups say the dogs are unfairly demonized.

2. Doberman pinschers

Doberman attacks spiked in the 1970s, when the breed's popularity grew.

But in 2008, an 8-month-old baby was killed by his family's pet Doberman in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Neighbors said that while the child was lying on a blanket, the dog pounced and clamped his jaws around the boy's tiny head.

The baby's grandmother couldn't pry the dog off the child.

The American Kennel Club, or AKC, says Dobermans can be affectionate, obedient and loyal.

3. Rottweilers

The AKC says rottweilers make good police dogs, herders or service or therapy dogs and are very protective of their territory.

But North East Rottweiler Rescue & Referral in Portsmouth, R.I., notes that the dogs need obedience training, socialization and daily exercise and should always be kept under control.

Two roaming rottweilers ambushed an Atlanta high school student on school grounds in the fall 2013.

The girl's facial injuries required reconstructive surgery.

4. Chow chows

In 2012, a chow chow was euthanized after attacking an 8-year-old boy on a bicycle in York, S.C. 

The boy, who reportedly played with the neighbor dog regularly, needed stitches and staples for the facial injuries he suffered.

This breed, known for its scowling expression, black tongue and thick coat, likes to hunt, herd, protect and pull.

AnimalPlanet.com says the breed's need to protect its human family and other pets can make the chow chow aggressive toward outside dogs.

5. Great Danes

Many people associate Great Danes with the lovable Marmaduke from the comic pages and the 2010 movie.

Yet an incident in Fletcher, N.C., shows that the breed can have a not-so-cuddly side.

Police said two Great Danes critically mauled a woman when she entered the dogs' kennel.

Because a Great Dane can weigh upward of 100 pounds, veterinary website Vetstreet.com recommends early training against jumping or acting aggressively.

6. Perro de Presa Canario

The Presa Canario has become somewhat notorious because of a 2001 case in San Francisco. A woman who kept two of the massive dogs is serving 15 years to life in prison because of their actions.

The dogs fatally mauled a neighbor, who suffered more than 75 bite wounds when she was attacked in an apartment building hallway.

In places with breed bans, the Perro de Presa Canario often makes the list.

7. Akitas

Popular show dogs, Akitas have strong guarding instincts and temperaments that range from calm to aggressive, so the AKC says they should always be supervised around small children and other animals.

In 2013, an Akita on a leash in a Murrieta, Calif., home improvement store reportedly lashed out at a 3-year-old boy who was petting him, biting the child on the jaw, neck and forehead, and below the right eye.

His wounds required 50 stitches.

8. Alaskan malamutes

Originally bred as sled dogs for work in the Arctic, Alaskan malamutes have become popular as family pets.

Known for strength, endurance, intelligence and ability to learn quickly, the breed also can be strong-willed.

The Alaskan Malamute Club of Canada says the dogs want to fight and may require constant behavior training.

Police in Britain seized a pet malamute in early 2014 after the dog was suspected of killing a 6-day-old infant.

9. German shepherds

The AKC says the German shepherd is the world's leading police, guard and military dog. The breed also is "highly represented in biting incidents," according to a range of studies cited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

An 8-year-old girl from New Athens, Ill., was mauled in 2013 by two German shepherds owned by the town's former police chief. The girl was bitten on her left leg, chest and back.

10. Siberian huskies

Not all dog-bite incidents involve humans.

In 2012, a Siberian husky was accused of killing a Chihuahua at a dog park in South Euclid, Ohio.

Other park patrons said the woman with the husky had no control over him.

The dog was declared vicious under a city ordinance, requiring the owner to buy insurance, muzzle the dog in public, post a warning sign on her property and have the dog microchipped.

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This morning, Goldman Sachs put out a report on "Womenomics"— the crucial role that women will play in stabilizing Japan's economy.

There are tons of great nuggets which we are in the process of extracting.

But one stopped us in our tracks:

At 21.3 million, the number of registered pet and dogs and cats now outnumbers the total number of children under the age of 15, at 16.5 million.

Japan’s total population is forecast to shrink 30% to just 87 million by 2060. By that same year, people 65-and-older will comprise 40% of the country.

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Pet supplies retailer PetSmart is tumbling in pre-market trading after cutting its fiscal year 2014 outlook.

PetSmart cut its profit outlook to earnings of $4.29 to $4.39 per share from $4.42 to $4.54, and also slashed its comparable store sales growth outlook to "relatively flat" from up 2% to 4%. 

For the first quarter, PetSmart reported earnings per share that beat estimates, while sales grew 1.1% to $1.7 billion, lower than the 3.7% growth analysts had been expecting.

In its earnings press release, PetSmart CEO David Lenhardt said that a, "challenging and volatile consumer environment and a competitive market" held the company back from meeting its sales goals.

PetSmart is down more than 7% in pre-market trading. PetSmart fell 4.7% yesterday amid a tough day for retail stocks. 

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Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that 600 pets had died after eating tainted treats. Now, sadly, that number has climbed even higher.

The cause seems to be jerky treats made in China. Thousands of illnesses and more than 1,000 dog deaths have been linked to the treats since 2007, according to an ongoing investigation by the FDA.

The exact cause remains unknown, but the FDA reports that more than 5,500 dogs of all sizes, ages, and breeds have been affected by gastrointestinal illness, as well as kidney and urinary issues, that are believed to originate from chicken jerky imported from China. There have also been 24 cases reported in cats and — mysteriously — three in people.

The FDA did not name the brands involved, and pet owners resolved to stop buying all treats made in China may have a hard time doing so. Pet treats do not need to list the country of origin for each ingredient.

"Packages that do not state on the label that they are made in another country may still contain ingredients sourced from China or other countries that export to the U.S.," said the FDA update.

While individual consumers may be left feeling somewhat powerless, national pet retailer Petco has taken decisive action.

Earlier this week, the company announced that it would stop carrying dog and cat treats from China in all 1,300 of its stores by the end of 2014.

"We know the FDA hasn’t yet identified a direct cause for the reported illnesses, but we decided the uncertainty of the situation outweighs the lack of actual proof," said Petco CEO Jim Myers in a statement.

Rival PetSmart told The Associated Press it also plans to stop selling treats from China by March 2015.

In the meantime, officials advise pet owners to monitor pets that are consuming jerky treats and to watch for signs of decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or increased urination.

The FDA has been working directly with the American Veterinary Medical Association to identify potential cases and is encouraging pet owners to submit complaints.

SEE ALSO: The Smartest Animals In The World

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"Dog people" and "cat people" really do have different personalities, according to a new study.

People who said they were dog lovers in the study tended to be more lively — meaning they were more energetic and outgoing — and also tended to follow rules closely. Cat lovers, on the other hand, were more introverted, more open-minded and more sensitive than dog lovers. Cat people also tended to be non-conformists, preferring to be expedient rather than follow the rules.

And in a finding that's sure to spark rivalries among pet owners, cat lovers scored higher on intelligence than dog lovers. [Here, Kitty, Kitty: 10 Facts for Cat Lovers]

Part of the reason for the personality differences may be related to the types of environments cat or dog people prefer, said study researcher Denise Guastello, an associate professor of psychology at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin, who presented the findings here at the annual Association for Psychological Science meeting.

"It makes sense that a dog person is going to be more lively, because they're going to want to be out there, outside, talking to people, bringing their dog," Guastello said. "Whereas, if you're more introverted, and sensitive, maybe you're more at home reading a book, and your cat doesn't need to go outside for a walk."

The researchers surveyed 600 college students, asking whether they would identify themselves as dog lovers or cat lovers, and what qualities they found most attractive in their pets. Participants also answered a slew of questions to assess their personality.

More people said they were dog lovers than cat lovers: About 60 percent of participants identified themselves as dog people, compared with 11 percent who said they were cat people. (The rest said they liked both animals, or neither animal.)

Dog lovers found companionship to be the most attractive quality in their pet dogs, while cat people liked the affection from their cats.

It's possible that people may select pets based on their own personality, Guastello said. For example, cats are often seen as independent animals that keep to themselves, and are cautious of others.

"If you're like that, you appreciate that in an animal, it's a better match for you," Guastello said.

Studying the reasons people identify as cat or dog lovers may also improve pet therapy, leading to better matches between owners and pets who participate in pet therapy, the researcher said.

Because the study involved college students, it's not known whether the results apply to other age groups, Guastello said. But previous studies have had similar findings. A 2010 study of more than 4,500 people found that dog lovers tend to be more extroverted (or outgoing), and conscientious (or rule-following).

Follow Rachael Rettner @RachaelRettner. FollowLive Science @livescience, Facebook&Google+. Original article onLive Science.

• 7 Surprising Health Benefits of Dog Ownership
• 6 Secrets to Unlocking Your Cat's Personality
• 10 Things You Didn't Know About Dogs

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The above chart comes from Bank of America, and it's one that every animal lover should be thrilled to see.

The analyst, Erin E. Wilson writes:

According to Pethealth Inc., a leading provider of management software to animal shelters in North America, year over year growth in pet adoptions across 1,186 Animal Welfare Organizations increased 6.5% in May, a meaningful rebound following a 2.1% decline in April and a 2.4% rise in March. By species, feline adoptions spiked 9.1%, while canine adoptions increased 4.6%. The average price of a canine vet visit is ~30% higher than a feline visit. According to Pethealth, adoptions from animal shelters represent ~30% of new pet acquisitions. Euthanasia, inversely correlated to pet demand, sank 16.6% in May compared to a 13.6% decline in April.

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Even tech billionaires love their pets.

From Amazon chief Jeff Bezos, who named his dog Kamala after an obscure "Star Wars" character, to Salesforce founder Marc Benioff, who's brought his dog Koa to so many meetings he's given him the title "chief love officer," it seems that many tech executive aren't afraid to show off their adorable animal friends. 

We've rounded up some of the cutest ones here.

Tumblr founder David Karp has an incredibly animated French-English bulldog mix named Clark. Clark is internet-famous thanks to all of the hilarious photos and GIFs Karp posts of him to his personal Tumblr.

Source: Davidslog.com

Instagram cofounder and CEO Kevin Systrom has a golden retriever named Dolly. This adorable pup has more than 11,700 followers on Instagram.

Source: Instagram, @dolly

Not to be outdone by his Instagram cofounder, Mike Krieger has his own puppy, a 5-month-old Bernese mountain dog named Juno.

Source: Instagram, @junopup

Exhaling pot smoke into a cat’s face is not socially acceptable anymore, to say the least: Just because Fluffy stays put on the back of your Lay-Z-Boy when you fire up your bong doesn’t mean she likes getting stoned.

The practice is illegal, and many veterinarians are furious that this still goes on and advise strongly against sharing even a smoke-free vape or an edible weed treat.

“Getting an animal high is quite simply a form of torture,” says Dr. Robin Downing, a pet pain specialist in Colorado. “Animals cannot tell us how they feel, they cannot report their pain or anxiety, so they certainly cannot report how they feel after ingesting a substance.”

Downing would definitely call the cops on you: “While it makes no sense for personal use of marijuana to be prosecutable,” she says, “forcing an animal to get high certainly should be.”

Dosing a pet by mistake is shameful, too, and this seems to be happening even more in recent years. One study reported an increase in poisonings after Colorado legalized medical marijuana in 2000, and some emergency vets say such visits have peaked again since “medibles” and other recreational uses became legal on January 1. The herb itself can give Fluffy balance problems, incontinence or even an irregular heartbeat, but the big problem is the scarfing itself: Pot’s anti-nausea effects make it harder to induce vomiting of genuine pet poisons like chocolate or onions.

(Those upchucks are important! Just last week, my own dog sucked down a plastic bag from a Brooklyn sidewalk that looked like it contained an ounce or two of chocolate frosting or cake batter. The incident made me nervous enough to call a poison control hotline, where a vet helped me get the whole thing back out onto the sidewalk with a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide.)

Some of the recent alarm about animal poisonings can be chalked up to a generalized anti-pot panic since medical marijuana caught on (it’s now legal in 21 states). In 2013, the drug was involved in only 0.18% of calls to the ASPCA’s national Animal Poison Patrol Center. “I have seen a slight uptick in the traditional veterinary press about cases of pet intoxication and edibles,” says Niel Sivula, a veterinarian at Dancing Paws Animal Wellness Center near Cleveland, “but I think this will pass with time.”

The big news for Sivula is how quickly pot is gaining acceptance as a treatment for serious pet illnesses—especially if you remove most of the main intoxicant, THC, and leave the remaining “cannabinoids,” the part of the plant that has been widely shown to have medicinal properties for humans. Anecdotal evidence is piling up about the benefits of pot for animals with appetite problems, cancer-related pain and neurological diseases. One survey shows pet owners are using pot—in some cases with a little THC intact—to help their pets with separation anxiety, noise phobia, irritable bowel syndrome and feline immunodeficiency virus infection.

Vets like Sivula say they are being further coaxed by the loosening of human laws and high prices on pharmaceutical painkillers. Several connected me with pet owners whose dogs or cats seemed to find pain relief from Canna-Pet and Canna Companion, two new pet “supplements” that are made from hemp, a marijuana cousin that has practically no THC.

I learned the story of Eliot, for instance, a seven-year-old Miniature Pinscher-Beagle mix who suffered from severe back pain until trying Canna-Pet. Her owner, Kate Peake, opens up a capsule of the stuff and sprinkles it on Eliot’s breakfast. And now, says Peake, “Eliot is happy again, moving freely, loving walks, engaging us when she wants attention—and not in constant pain.” The owner of a 12-year-old Bichon with arthritis named Sammy reported similar improvements.

Eliot supplements her Canna-Pet with acupuncture treatments, and Sammy gets chiropractic adjustments and a prescription pain med. Both owners are quite sure they saw the hemp make a difference.

The late Dr. Doug Kramer, the first vet in the country to openly advocate for pet pot, came to his position by experimenting on Nikita, his own Siberian Husky. She had devastating cancer symptoms but perked right up on a glycerin marijuana tincture that Kramer concocted in his Los Angeles office. Nikita’s appetite came back and she went from lying around and whimpering to greeting Kramer at the front door when he got home from work each night, at least for the last six weeks of her life.

After that, Kramer made a brief career of offering relief to other seriously ill animals. “I grew tired of euthanizing pets when I wasn’t doing everything I could to make their lives better,” he told the Associated Press last year (just two months before Kramer himself died of cancer at age 36).

Like Kramer, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) figures that if humans have access to medical marijuana, then cats and dogs should, too. PETA president Ingrid Newkirk told ABC News,“Our position is that anything that can help animals—if it’s truly, properly administered in the right amount [and] can relieve a dog’s pain—then they should be given the same consideration that humans in pain are given.”

Unfortunately, because of federal law, all this compassion for animal suffering and all this well-meaning accumulation of anecdotal evidence only go so far: There have been no clinical trials in the US to test pet safety, efficacy or dosing because marijuana is still regulated as so-called Schedule I. Drugs in this category, which includes heroin, have “no currently accepted medical use” and are at high risk for misuse. Hemp is almost as tightly controlled.

Cats and dogs have cannabinoid receptors in their nervous systems, much likes humans, so there’s good reason to think marijuana and hemp will find their way into the mainstream vet world—as animal research in Europe and elsewhere suggests. But for now, it’s illegal for US vets to prescribe medical marijuana to their patients (not even the synthetic cannabinoids that are federally approved for humans).

Dr. Narda Robinson, a veterinarian at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, is one of several researchers poised to investigate pot for pets in a controlled, laboratory environment. She is starting out by collecting stories by email from people using Canna-Pet and Canna Companion on their pets. “We will begin by analyzing some of the currently available products for dogs, at least those that we can access. Eventually, I would like to begin clinical trials if regulatory constraints allow.”

That could take some time, though. And you could argue that, while Robinson is collecting data, the treatment is already going on—among hemp supplements users and also, more discreetly, at veterinary offices experimenting with Doug Kramer-style tinctures thatdo include a little THC.

Downing, the pain doctor in Colorado, is cautious to a fault about veterinarians or pet owners trying pot or hemp on their own before science weighs in: “Here is an area in which we have no scientific knowledge. It is unconscionable for any veterinarian to simply provide animals, who cannot consent to experimentation, with substances about which we lack any and all safety, efficacy, tolerability, side effect and application data.”

Doug Kramer, dubbed the Vet Guru, used his burst of media attention to argue that the social stigma of marijuana was getting in the way of genuine pet care: “The veterinary community needs to address the issue, but we don’t want to talk about it, even though it’s clear our clients are giving marijuana to their pets, with good and bad effects,” he said in another interview.

When Stephen Colbert interviewed him on The Colbert Report last year about the benefits of medical marijuana, Colbert seemed to find the idea of pet pot to be redundant. “We can’t let our dogs ride the Mary Jane train,” he warned, “or in no time they’ll be sleeping all day, eating whatever they find, humping anything that moves.”

I’m not sure how I would feel if Fluffy (actually, my cat’s name is “Maus”) dropped several pounds, stopped responding to painkillers or steroids…and a trusted veterinarian offered to titrate a dose of marijuana tincture that had already helped make life a little brighter for other pets in the neighborhood. It’s too bad Maus wouldn’t be able to ask me directly to help with his pain or nausea, or request that I help him get baked so that he can simply get back to life as a cat.

Sally Chew was an editor at Time Inc.’s Health.com as well as at Vibe, Out and POZ magazines. She also authored a true crime book and was a wire-service reporter overseas. This is her first piece for Substance.com.

SEE ALSO: 23 Health Benefits Of Marijuana

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New Englanders love cats, and Southerners love dogs.

The American Veterinary Medical Association's "2012 U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook" summarizes results from a survey of over 50,000 households on various aspects of pet ownership. One thing that they track are rates of cat and dog ownership among different states.

Here's a comparison of cat ownership with dog ownership. Orange states have more dog owners than cat owners, and purple states have more cat owners than dog owners:

We also looked closer at the extent to which each pet is favored in each state. In this map, purple again indicates more cat owners than dog owners, and orange more dog owners than cat owners. The darker each color, the bigger the difference:

New England is very much cat country. In Vermont, about half of households own cats, while about 38% own dogs. Similarly, 46% of Mainers own cats, but just 35% own dogs.

New York and Delaware are evenly split: in New York, 29% of households own cats, and about the same proportion own dogs, and in Delaware, cat owning and dog owning households are tied at about 34% each.

The South is much more favorable to dogs than to cats. In Arkansas, 48% of households own dogs, but just 31% own cats.

This regional divide can also be seen when looking at ownership of each animal. Here's dog ownership across the country. Dogs are very popular in the South:

Here's cat ownership across America. As we saw above, New England and the Pacific Northwest are full of cats:

One final observation is that neither cats nor dogs are overly common in Washington, DC. Only 13% of households in the capital own dogs, and just 12% own cats.

SEE ALSO: Motor Sports, Reality TV, And Wrestling Are Popular Interests Among The Least Educated People In America

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Cats are generally low-maintenance: feed them, pet them (when they want you to!), and clean their litter boxes, and they are often happy.

But like any pet, they can get sick or suffer accidents that can quickly result in large medical bills that could put your credit in jeopardy.

Here are three stories of owners who put their own credit at risk to care for the felines they love.

Bodey’s story: A scrappy survivor

The only surviving kitten of her litter, Bodey was just a few hours old when Chris and Natasha Ashton brought her home in 2000. Not long afterward, she traveled with them from the UK to Philadelphia where both pursued MBA degrees at The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

But when she was just a year old, Bodey began ignoring her food. After extensive testing, she was diagnosed with anorexia, pneumonia and possible kidney problems — and the couple ended up owing more than $5,000 in medical bills for two weeks of intensive veterinary care.

As students, the Ashtons lived on a tight budget. But without a second thought, they downsized their apartment, maxed out their credit cards, and dipped into student loan funds to pay the bills.

There is a happy ending to the story. Bodey lived another 11 years, happy and healthy. In the meantime, realizing many other pet parents must find themselves in similar positions, the Ashtons set out to develop a business model for a pet insurance program. They won the Wharton Business Plan Competition, and used the winning funds as seed money to start their business, Petplan, in 2006. Petplan now insures nearly 150,000 cats and dogs across the country.

Tomato’s tale: Cats get diabetes, too.

About a year ago, Sharon Young noticed her 12-year-old cat, Tomato, whom she has had since he was a kitten, began drinking a lot of water and urinating more than usual. He had also lost quite a bit of weight. A visit to the vet confirmed her fear: Tomato had feline diabetes.

The vet explained that Tomato would have to go on a special diet and receive insulin shots twice a day. That initial visit cost Sharon about $600, and that was just the beginning. Tomato now requires special food which runs about $50 for a 10-lb. bag of dry food and $45 for 36 cans of wet food; insulin ($200 / 10 mL bottle), and one-time-use needles ($15 for 50).

“All in all I’ve probably spent close to $3,000, possibly more, in the past year caring from Tomato,” Sharon said in an email. “In addition to the vet visits, food, and medication, I also have to pay for boarding anytime I need to leave town, even if it’s just for a weekend. Because Tomato needs his shot every 12 hours, if I can’t be home for whatever reason, I need to make sure that someone is there to look after him. It almost feels like having a kid!”

Sharon’s been putting those expenses on credit cards and “trying to pay it off when I can,” she said. “I’ve definitely been strugglin,g though. I would typically consider myself incredibly responsible financially, but this past year I’ve fallen a bit behind.” She said she has even missed a couple of payments.

“But, what can you do?,” she asks. “I love Tomato. He’s been my best friend for 12 years. I feel guilty for thinking of this as a burden at all.”

There is some potentially good news on the horizon for both of them. At a recent visit to the vet, Sharon learned that Tomato’s blood glucose test was normal, which means he may be able to wean off his insulin soon.

Rusty’s saga: The $1,800 rubber band

Rusty was Hannah Spry’s first pet on her own. He was a young, healthy orange tabby who had only been to the veterinarian for his annual exam and a short bout with fleas.

Hannah noticed that he wasn’t particularly interested in standard cat toys, preferring bottle caps and plastic bags, so she was especially diligent keeping things out of his reach.

Last Thanksgiving, Hannah took a three-day trip and left Rusty to the care of her roommates. When she returned, something was clearly wrong with her healthy, active little cat. Rusty had been vomiting — a symptom his cat sitters did not know was out of the ordinary — and was lethargic. Hannah rushed him to the emergency veterinarian. Stunned by the cost of the general exam and IV, Hannah took Rusty to another veterinary clinic the next day for X-rays.

A rubber band had created a blockage in Rusty’s intestines, gas was building up, and the veterinarian informed Hannah that, without surgery, he would probably not survive another day. Surgery alone would be close to $1,300, and that did not include the additional tests and overnight monitoring that Rusty required.

As a young woman with a part-time job and no savings, Hannah had to make the decision to lose her young cat or take out credit —something she had never done before. She chose the latter, even though the surgery was a huge risk, and it was possible Rusty still wouldn’t survive.

Hannah didn’t have any credit cards, so when the emergency vet suggested she apply for a Care Credit account, she figured it was her best option. Rusty pulled through and recovered well after weeks of special care, and is now back to his curious self. The bill totaled about $1,800, though, and Hannah soon realized it would take nine years to pay off the Care Credit with the amount of interest accrued. One rubber band meant up to nine years of debt!

So she decided to change things. Hannah recently started a new job at Trupanion, a medical insurance provider for cats and dogs, and believes from personal experience that medical insurance for pets is important. With Rusty insured, Hannah says she doesn’t have to worry about the financial impact of another incident.

While going into debt was not an easy decision to make, Hannah says that Rusty’s life was well worth the financial sacrifice. She was also recently able to set up a more aggressive payment plan that will allow her to work through the debt within the next year.

How far would you go?

These owners all loved their pets enough to go into debt, max out credit cards and make other sacrifices to ensure their well-being. What would happen if your cat was in an accident or suffered a serious illness? How would you handle the medical bills?

That’s a question you will ideally ask yourself now, and not when you are facing a life-or-death decision.

You may want to consider pet insurance, which could help deflect some of the costs, especially for an emergency procedure like the rubber band Rusty ate. As with all types of medical insurance, it’s typically cheaper and easier to get it when your pet doesn’t need it.

If you find you must charge medical bills to a credit card, choosing a low-rate card will, in the long run, be less expensive than some of offers you will see in veterinary offices. Those offers may feature no interest for a limited period of time, but typically charge a steep interest rate if it takes you a while to pay off the balance. Don’t have a low-rate card? You can read reviews of the Best Low-APR Credit Cards in America here and shop for a low-rate card at Credit.com.

Another option is a low-rate personal loan. It can save you money over a higher rate credit card and it may help protect your credit because you won’t have to worry about a high credit card balance hurting your credit scores.

Checking and improving your credit scores to make sure they are as strong as possible before you experience a medical pet emergency can give you some peace of mind. You can monitor your credit scores for free each month at Credit.com, and get an action plan for your credit.

Then, instead of worrying about how you are going to pay the bills, you can focus on helping your pet get well.

More From Credit.com

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SEE ALSO: 12 Words Never To Say To Your Insurance Company

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HOUSTON (Reuters) - A Texas company is offering a unique send off for beloved pets by placing a portion of their cremated remains in a capsule and blasting them off into space.

Celestis Inc, which has provided memorial space flights for human remains since 1997, will launch its first commercial pet memorial spaceflight in October 2014 with the remains of a blue merle Australian shepherd, named Apollo, the company said.

The pet services, such as one dubbed Earth Rise, start at $995 and include having the pet’s remains into flown into space on a commercial flight and returned to the owner.

The space send-off options go up to $12,500, which allows the pet’s remains to be launched into deep space or to visit the moon.

Memorial service are available before blast off and families can witness most of the launches, depending on location, the company said.

"Our pet service flights are an idea that’s been a long time coming," Celestis Chief Executive Charles Chafer said.

(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Bill Trott)

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At the trendy James Hotel in SoHo, New York, on Tuesday evening, pooches and their two-legged companions entered a room near the roof deck bar to snag couture costumes for the impending Halloween.

Lined up on tables were deflated caterpillars, bumble bees, and bats. Shiny sharks were next to hamburgers, banana splits, and cowboys.

And while the costumes seem silly, the industry isn't. Last year, 22 million Americans bought costumes for their pets, spending an estimated $330 million.

We couldn't quite gauge the enthusiasm of the dogs at this fashion show by PetSmart, but their owners seemed unabashedly stoked.

But as cute as our furry friends may be, their wide eyes and wagging tails can't save them from the scrutiny of the catwalk.

So, without further adieu:

This golden retriever opted for the banana split costume. While we like the theme of 'retro dessert,' we think she should have picked something that didn't wash her coat out so much. 

Meanwhile, this smaller pooch got flashy in a bright caterpillar rider.

A tiny Pomeranian exhibits some diva-like behavior in her Martha Stewart tutu and hair feathers. 

But it's not all fun and games. The Golden Retriever has returned in a no-nonsense shark costume...

...and there seems to be a bit of drama when this dog puts on a Miss Piggy wig. She is NOT having it.

Meanwhile, this guinea pig is loving its pumpkin-themed costume. PetSmart confided that guinea pig outfits "exploded" last year, prompting them to make a ton more.

Bearded Dragons get in on the fun too. This guy looks radiant in his ethereal purple wings. 

If you've ever seen behind-the-scenes of the fashion show, you know the styling isn't a one-man job. Here, concerned handlers help this dog transform into Eeyore.

And we'd say the finished product was well worth it.

This year's costumes range from $12.99 to $26.99, and come in sizes XS to XXL. They go on sale in PetSmart stores Monday.

SEE ALSO: A 17-Year-Old Yo-Yo Genius Won The World Title With These Incredible Tricks

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - PetSmart Inc plans to explore a potential sale of the company, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, after several shareholders led by activist investor Jana Partners LLC pressured the pet supply retailer to sell itself.

PetSmart, which has a market capitalization of nearly $7 billion, could announce the intention to explore strategic alternatives as soon as this week, although the timing could yet change, one person said.

There is no guarantee the review will lead to a deal and PetSmart could still determine that it would be better off on its own, the people cautioned, asking not to be named because the matter is not public.

Representatives for PetSmart could not be immediately reached for comment.

Shares of PetSmart were up 3.4 percent at $70.80 in late afternoon trading.

(Reporting by Soyoung Kim in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler)

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Pets can be a delightful addition to your household, but they aren't cheap, and dogs can be especially tough on families looking to save.

If you're looking to bring a canine into your life, there's a lot to consider from a financial perspective. There's the cost to buy the dog, of course. But then it's important to factor in the cost of ownership during the dog's lifetime. There's food, visits to the veterinarian, grooming sessions, and insurance, as well as dog walking, daycare, and other services you may need. This can add up to more than $1,000 annually, and can truly skyrocket if your dog has serious health problems.

The good news is that there are many dogs that, relatively speaking, can be bought and cared for without busting your household budget.

We've provided a list here of dog breeds that are considered relatively inexpensive to own. They have a number of things in common: They are smaller in size, relatively easy to groom, and are generally pretty healthy. (Note that this list applies to purebreds only — mixed breeds will be even less expensive.)

While many of these dogs are good-natured, they are also energetic and may give a beating to your carpets and furniture. So take that into account when factoring the cost of owning the dog.

We've given each dog a "Wags for your buck" score, based on a 10 point scale and reflecting the total cost of ownership of the dog. (The more wags, the better value.)

Cocker spaniel

Cost to acquire: Can be had for less than $100, often from a rescue.

Food: These are smaller dogs, between 15 and 30 pounds, so they won't eat an enormous amount. They also do not require any special kinds of dog food.

Grooming: Cocker spaniels do require some grooming, as they grow long hair and shed a moderate amount, and you may find that it's too much work to do yourself. Professional grooming is recommended at least every other month, at a cost of $50 a session.

Health: These are generally healthy dogs, but they are prone to eye and ear infections. One study from TR Cutler, a veterinary marketing program, placed Cocker Spaniels in the top 10 in breeds receiving the most veterinary care. Cocker spaniels generally live about 10-12 years, which is slightly shorter than other purebred dogs.

Wags for your buck: 8

Affenpinscher

Cost to acquire: These dogs can be purchased for several hundred dollars from breeders or rescues, but prices did go up after an Affenpinscher won the Westminster dog show in 2013.

Food: These are some of the smallest dogs around, usually topping out at about 10 pounds, so they won't eat you out of house and home. Half a cup of dry dog food should do the trick each day.

Grooming: Because these are small dogs, grooming is not a major chore, but they do have coarse hair that you'll need to take care of from time to time.

Health: Affenpinschers are healthy canines, but they can be prone to fractures and other orthopedic problems. Affenpinschers generally live about 11 years, which is a shorter lifespan than many dogs.

Wags for your buck: 7

Australian terrier

Cost to acquire: These spirited dogs may not be easy to find unless you buy direct from a breeder. (I was unable to find any available to adopt in my area.) These are small dogs, but don't be surprised if you end up paying $750 or more for a puppy.

Food: Like Affenpinschers, these are small dogs that weigh in at less than 15 pounds.

Grooming: Petfinder.com suggests going in for a professional grooming about twice a year. Otherwise, trim around the feet and your dog should be in fine shape.

Health: Like other small dogs, Australian Terriers are generally healthy, but keep an eye out for fractures and hip dysplasia. These dogs live an average of about 11 years.

Wags for your buck: 8

Feist

Cost to acquire: These small and energetic hunting dogs can be had for under $200, possibly less if you find one to adopt.

Food: Feist dogs rarely top 30 pounds, so they won't eat more than a moderate amount, though you may find that they'll eat more than expected due to their energetic nature.

Grooming: Unlike other smaller canines, feist dogs are not particularly hairy, and so grooming won't represent a major expense. Just brush them regularly and remove any dead hair.

Health: These are healthy dogs, but they are extremely active, and therefore more susceptible to injury than other breeds. Life span is about 11 years, which is average for a dog this size.

Wags for your buck: 7

 Beagle

Cost to acquire: $500 to $850, though you may find one for less from rescues.

Food: Beagles are a bit larger than some of the other dogs on this list, but can still be fed for less than $10 a week. They stand anywhere from 13 to 15 inches, weighing in at 22 to 25 pounds.

Grooming: Beagles have short and smooth coats, so they don't require heavy grooming. They do shed, but that can be handled by brushing the dog at home a few times a week.

Health: Beagles are healthy dogs, but have been known to get some forms of cancer, and some do suffer from heart arrhythmia. Life expectancy is good, between 12 and 15 years.

Wags for your buck: 6

Foxhound

Cost to acquire: English or American Foxhounds can be bought for as little as $200, and may even be available from shelters and rescues.

Food: These hounds are larger dogs, coming in at between 65 and 75 pounds. So they will eat more than the small dogs listed here. However, they still can be fed for less than $25 a week.

Grooming: These are short-haired canines, for the most part. Frequent brushing will be needed, but fancy grooming isn't required.

Health: These are healthy dogs and are free from many of the genetic maladies that plague some pure breeds.

Wags for your buck: 6 

SEE ALSO: 10 Ridiculously Easy Ways To Save Money Right Now

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It's time to start prepping Fido for trick-or-treating.

The pet Halloween costume business is booming, with consumers expected to spend some $350 million to dress up their pets, according to the NRF.

Earlier this year, we stopped by the trendy James Hotel in SoHo, New York for a dog Halloween fashion show put on by PetSmart.

From caterpillars to bats, cowboys to hamburgers, these are the hottest pet costumes this Halloween.

This golden retriever opted for the banana split costume. While we liked the theme of 'retro dessert,' we think she should have picked something that didn't wash her coat out so much. 

Meanwhile, this smaller pooch got flashy in a bright caterpillar rider.

A tiny Pomeranian exhibited some diva-like behavior in her Martha Stewart tutu and hair feathers. 

But wasn't all fun and games. The Golden Retriever returned in a no-nonsense shark costume...

...and there seemed to be a bit of drama when this dog put on a Miss Piggy wig. She was NOT having it.

Meanwhile, this guinea pig loved its pumpkin-themed costume. PetSmart confided that guinea pig outfits "exploded" last year, prompting them to make a ton more.

Bearded Dragons got in on the fun too. This guy looked radiant in his ethereal purple wings. 

If you've ever seen behind-the-scenes of the fashion show, you know styling isn't a one-man job. Here, concerned handlers helped a dog transform into Eeyore.

And we'd say the finished product was well worth it.

This year's PetSmart costumes range from $12.99 to $26.99, and come in sizes XS to XXL.

SEE ALSO: A 17-Year-Old Yo-Yo Genius Won The World Title With These Incredible Tricks

FOLLOW US: Business Insider is on Pinterest

Join the conversation about this story »