Cover Story
Central Oregon Pets Fall 2025
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” —Anatole France, French poet. A study released in September found that 51% of Oregon pet owners say their dog will come when called. That means just about half, which includes my dogs, basically run the show. The percent drops to 13% for…
Taking Dog Training to the Next Level
It is often said that the bond between a human and dog is unlike any other. Khasidy Lefthand, or Khas, as she prefers, is a freshman at Crook County High School. She has experienced this bond firsthand and has taken it to the next level with her canine friends. Lefthand has been in 4-H for…
A Cat Gets a Second Chance at Life
It was a sunny day in June 2023 when Sushi, an eight-year old-smoky calico, was brought into Feline Fine Cat Clinic in south Bend. Sushi had been aggressively biting her own tail, which veterinarians recognized as a sign of dental disease. After several appointments with the clinic, Sushi’s owners decided they preferred euthanization as they…
Cruisin’ with Canine Combustion
Mark Schuette spent a recent Sunday morning rolling through Drake Park. A roving landmark in Bend, Schuette delights passersby with his novel mode of transportation — a dog-powered scooter. “When I roll past people, I get lots of ‘Look at that!’” Schuette said. “I like passing by the crowds at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater. People…
Building Community, One Gecko at a Time
After more than a decade of hands-on reptile breeding and care, owner of High Desert Geckos, Samantha Weist, has turned a childhood passion into a thriving small business. What began as a hobby breeding crested geckos has evolved into a downtown Redmond storefront teeming with snakes, arachnids, lizards and more. In a field largely dominated…
A Place to Call Home
Donna Costley says that back when she decided to start a bird rescue operation in 2012, she didn’t even like birds. “I hated birds. My mom had parakeets,” Costley recalls. However, one of her sons, Jon, got into birds first and brought his mother along, under his wing, so to speak. And since then, Second…
Unleashing Happiness with Off-Leash Dog Hikes
Travis Fuller didn’t set out to build a booming dog-walking business in Bend. But thanks to a stoic old sled dog named Mutt — and a little trial and error — he ended up creating something special. Since 2016, Ponderosa Paws has grown into a go-to for off-leash dog hikes, thanks to Fuller’s deep connection…
Gentling Neglected Horses Back to Health & Happiness
Each week, 3 Sisters Equine Refuge receives five to six requests to surrender from horse owners around the state who can no longer care for their horses. According to Board President Amber Holm, they often have to turn them down. Volunteers are currently caring for 30 rescue horses, many of which are high needs. Some…
Life With Fancy Rats
When you walk into Shaena Ivey’s spotless home north of Bend, you see a giant bird cage against the wall. It’s the kind that might hold a cockatoo or parrot, but instead it holds three fancy rats who spend every waking minute racing from floor to floor, climbing up wire walls, zipping through plastic tunnels,…
A Program Keeping Pets with Low-Income Owners Expands
A new partnership between the Council on Aging and the Humane Society of Central Oregon is helping to expand a program that supports low-income adults and their pets. Pet Pals began when the Council on Aging saw Meals on Wheels clients struggling to afford pet food and vet care. It launched in 2021 with 30…
