Bark Ave

09/10/2026

08/28/2026

🌈 Today on National Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, we remember the animals who left paw prints on our hearts and changed our lives forever.

Anyone who has loved and lost a pet knows that they never really leave us. They live on in the routines we still think about, the memories that make us smile, the places that suddenly feel a little emptier, and in all the ways loving them changed us.

If you’re missing someone special today, share their name or a favorite memory in the comments so we can remember them with you. 🌈🕊🐾

🎨 Artwork by Jesseca Tyrrell | Ladybug Art

07/20/2026

If the air isn't healthy for you, it isn't healthy for your pet 🐶🐱

As wildfire smoke from Canada triggers air quality alerts across parts of the U.S., veterinarians are urging pet owners to limit their pets' time outdoors. Experts recommend keeping dogs, cats, and birds indoors as much as possible, especially if air quality is poor, and avoiding long walks or strenuous exercise until conditions improve.

Flat-faced dog breeds, pets with existing breathing problems, birds, and cats with asthma may be especially sensitive to smoky air. Veterinarians say owners should watch for signs like persistent coughing, difficulty breathing or unusually rapid breathing and seek veterinary care if symptoms become severe.

07/03/2026

05/25/2026

A new peer-reviewed study in Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that 2 out of 3 dogs with lymphoma were exposed to benzene at DNA-damaging levels, and nearly 9 out of 10 were exposed to xylene. But here’s what most people miss: over half of healthy dogs had similar benzene exposure, and nearly all dogs had xylene exposure too.

This isn’t rare, it’s everyday life. These chemicals, released from products like cleaners, air fresheners, candles, paints, furniture, and even gas stoves, are commonly found in indoor air and can damage DNA in lab studies. Most dogs are living in a constant background of exposure we rarely think about.

The good news is you can reduce it.🙌 Focus on your indoor air, improve ventilation, use an air purifier with activated carbon if possible, avoid synthetic fragrances, switch to simpler low-toxin products, and eliminate smoke exposure. It’s not one big toxin that matters, it’s the constant low-level exposure over time.

And while reducing exposure is step one, supporting your dog’s ability to handle what they’re still exposed to matters just as much.

If you want a science-backed detox support option, Liver Lift™ is a daily, multi-pathway formula designed for pets living in today’s chemical world. It supports liver detox and bile flow, kidney filtration, lymphatic movement, gut binding, antioxidant regeneration, and nervous system regulation.

👉 Comment CLEANUP and we’ll send a link your way.

05/15/2026

05/11/2026

Introducing the EMerald. 💚

I’m Auntie Em— storyteller, photographer, nurturer of animals, believer in equality and justice, and herald of creativity and magic.

Please take a moment to read, relate, and a subscribe. ✅

The Winding Road of Grieving an Animal

04/11/2026

Hello Furiends 🐾,

We hope you are all well and continuing to train your families to be the best people they can be as you celebrate National Pet Day.

This has been an occasion of deep reflection for your Auntie Em. After some time and many tears, I have put together a tribute on Bark Ave’s website to honor my beloved Gia. Each year without her is difficult, but I am reminded of all the love and joy she brought to my life, as many of you do for your people too. Please continue being the reason we strive to live life to the fullest.

With Love,

💗Auntie Em

A Tribute to My Soul Dog

04/01/2026

I can’t tell you how often this profession is looked down on, viewed as irrelevant and something “anyone” can do. It’s anything but. Lives are in your care. People’s homes are under your watch. So much of what people treasure is your responsibility to keep safe. It’s not something we’ve ever taken lightly. For those who do take the time to show their respect and appreciation, we thank you. Your animals mean the world to us. 🫶🌍🐾

“Is that your full-time job?”
“Can you really make money doing that?”
“Oh, I bet it’s so fun to play with cats and dogs all day!”

👂Sound familiar?

While pet sitting has gained recognition over the years, there are still a few misconceptions out there.

But ask any professional pet sitter or dog walker, and they’ll tell you:
this work is NO JOKE.

On a day known for pranks and punchlines, we want to pause and recognize something serious: the dedication, professionalism, and heart behind professional pet-care businesses.

Here at PSI, we always say that pet sitting isn’t for the faint of heart, and pet sitting is absolutely a real career. 💜

Professional pet sitters and dog walkers are small-business owners and vital contributors to their communities and local economies.

They are:
✔ Licensed (where required)
✔ Insured and bonded
✔ Trained in pet care and pet first aid
✔ Committed to ongoing education and professional standards

They work year-round—early mornings, late nights, weekends, and holidays—
so pet parents can have peace of mind and pets can receive quality in-home care.

And this profession?
It’s about so much more than dog walks and cat cuddles.

👉Ask any pet sitter who’s missed holidays with family, extended visits to comfort a sick pet, or felt the heartbreak of a client’s pet passing.

👉Ask the pet parent whose dog walker noticed something wasn’t right and helped save their pet’s life.

👉Ask the family whose professional pet sitter graciously agreed to sit with them as their 15-year-old cat had to be euthanized.

Spend just one day with a professional pet sitter or dog walker, and you’ll see what we know to be true:
📍Pet sitting is no joke.

It’s a career…a lifestyle…a passion.

🐾Today, we thank the professionals making the world a better place every single day for pets and the people who love them.