TLC Pet Care Providers

10/10/2026

Love This Gov!

08/13/2026

Every year on August 12, people around the world celebrate World Elephant Day—a global day of awareness dedicated to elephants and the challenges they continue to face in both the wild and human care. 

08/13/2026

Your cat was purring. You were both relaxed. Then one pet too many and, chomp. 🩸🩹

That's petting-induced overstimulation, and it's one of the most common things I get asked about. It's not random, and it's not a personality flaw. Cats have incredibly sensitive touch receptors that, after a certain point, stop registering pleasure and start registering pain. The balloon fills up, and you're the one holding the pump. 🎈

Here's what to watch for:
✴️ Tail starting to twitch
✴️ Ears shifting back
✴️ That ripple of electricity running down the spine

Those are your signals. When you see them, stop. Don't push through hoping the mood passes, because it won't.

Two things that help most cats:
1️⃣ Learn where they actually enjoy being touched (head, cheeks, neck tend to be safer territory)
2️⃣ Try presenting a finger like a nose so they guide the interaction on their terms.

And play matters more than you think! When a cat's energy is worked through during the day, that balloon starts your petting session at a four, not a nine. You're in control of how much air goes in. Remember that.

Thanks to John & Annie for submitting this photo! Send us your photos and videos via the link in bio.

08/13/2026

04/29/2026

Big news for animals in Colorado: puppy mill sales are on their way out! 🎉

With Governor Polis’ signature, Colorado has officially become the 9th state to ban the sale of puppies in pet stores—a major step forward in cutting off a key pipeline that fuels cruel puppy mills.

We share this victory with advocates, lawmakers and supporters like you who spoke up for dogs who deserve better than a life of suffering.

04/29/2026

The North Carolina Zoo has lost something irreplaceable, and the heartbreak is hitting harder than anyone expected. Tammy, the zoo's oldest resident and most beloved chimpanzee, has passed away at the remarkable age of 55 — after veterinarians made the agonizing but compassionate decision to humanely euthanize her as her health continued to decline.
Here's what makes this loss so staggering: wild chimpanzees typically live only around 35 years. Tammy didn't just beat those odds — she shattered them by two decades. When she arrived at the Asheboro zoo in the early 1990s, no one could have imagined she would become the beating heart of her entire troop for the next 30+ years.
But that's exactly what she became. She wasn't just a survivor — she was a leader. Strong, present, and deeply nurturing, Tammy raised the young, steadied the uncertain, and held her community together with a quiet, unshakeable authority that even long-time keepers found extraordinary. How many lives did she shape without anyone fully realizing it until now?
Her story isn't just about longevity. It's about what it means to show up — day after day, year after year — as a source of strength for those around you. Tammy's legacy of leadership, care, and resilience will live on in every member of the troop she helped raise, and in every visitor whose life she quietly touched from behind the glass.
Some presences are so constant, you only feel their full weight when they're gone. The North Carolina Zoo will never be quite the same — and that says everything about who Tammy truly was.

04/15/2026

In a world where senior pets are often overlooked… one shelter in New York is quietly changing what adoption can look like. 🐾💛

At North Shore Animal League America, they created a program called Seniors for Seniors®—and it’s built around a simple idea:

Remove the barriers… and give both pets and people a real chance.

Because the truth is, older pets are passed over every day.

Not because they aren’t loving.
But because people worry about the cost, the care, and the unknown.

So this program steps in and removes that fear.

📍 If you’re 60 or older, you can adopt an adult pet with long-term support designed to make adoption sustainable:

• Reduced adoption fee (as low as $50)
• Discounted grooming services for life (for applicable pets)
• Regular wellness care, including exams and vaccines
• Annual diagnostic testing support
• Financial assistance toward medical procedures
• Ongoing discounts on food, medications, and preventatives

The goal isn’t just to help someone adopt.

It’s to help them keep that pet… for life.

Because many returns don’t happen from lack of love.

They happen when unexpected costs and challenges become overwhelming.

This program prevents that.

It creates stability.
It creates support.
It creates lasting homes.

And in doing so, it gives senior pets something they rarely get…

A real, lasting second chance.

At the same time, it gives older adults something just as meaningful:

Companionship.
Routine.
Connection.

Because sometimes, the perfect match isn’t about age.

It’s about meeting each other at the right moment in life.

And making sure neither one has to face it alone. 🐶🐱💛

04/15/2026

Absolutely!

Would you choose to shop at a store where homeless animals are welcomed, fed, and protected? 🐾 It’s a simple choice for many, but one that says a lot about the kind of businesses we want to support.

For stray dogs and cats, a safe place to rest, a bowl of food, and even a little kindness can make a huge difference. When a business opens its doors to protect them instead of turning them away, it creates more than just a storefront. It creates a space of compassion.

Supporting businesses like this means supporting a mindset that values life beyond profit. It shows that kindness can exist in everyday places, and that small actions can have a real impact on animals who have nowhere else to go.

Of course, some may have concerns about hygiene, safety, or practicality. But many believe that with the right care and responsibility, it is possible to balance both compassion and a welcoming environment for customers.

Would you go out of your way to support a business that looks after homeless animals? 🐾

01/04/2026

As 2025 comes to a close, we have some exciting information to end the year with.

Nearly half of all U.S. states have now issued no-kill proclamations in 2024 or so far in 2025. Twenty-three states (Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota, Utah, Montana, Virginia, Washington, Arkansas, Louisiana, West Virginia, Oregon, Connecticut, Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Indiana, Vermont, New Hampshire, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Illinois) have taken this inspiring step, setting a powerful precedent for other states to follow suit.

With this commitment to no-kill, we can't wait to see what 2026 has in store. Let's keep this momentum going! 🙌

01/04/2026

For decades, a unique program has been bringing dogs into prisons with powerful results. Inmates are given the responsibility of raising and training puppies that will one day become service dogs. What begins as structured work quickly becomes something far more meaningful.

The dogs offer companionship, routine, and unconditional acceptance. For many inmates, it is the first time in years they feel trusted or needed. Caring for another life gives them a renewed sense of purpose and accountability, while teaching patience, empathy, and consistency.

As the puppies grow, the inmates grow too. Bonds form quietly, replacing isolation with connection. Studies have shown that participants in these programs are less likely to reoffend after release, not just because they learned skills, but because they rediscovered their value.

The impact reaches far beyond prison walls. The dogs go on to serve people in need, while the inmates leave with dignity, confidence, and hope. It is rehabilitation at its most human, and its effects continue long after the dogs move on. Read the full story below and in the comments. 👇