• 🐶 King’s amazing new chapter

• 🥰 Is pet insurance worth it?

• 🐾 Hidden Amazon Prime perks

• 🦴 Homemade dog food recipe

• ❤️ A special word from our pups

True or False?

Neutered dogs live longer.

(scroll to the bottom to find the answer!)

King’s story embodies resilience, love, and new beginnings.

At just 5 years old, King had already experienced far too much pain than most dogs do in a lifetime. He arrived at the Humane Society of Pinellas (HSP) from a partner shelter, escaping a life of severe neglect. The staff at HSP were heartbroken when they saw King for the first time. A large, ulcerated mass covered his face, weighing a startling 7 pounds—10 percent of his entire body weight. The poor pup could barely lift his head or move around, and it was clear that the suffering he had endured was unthinkable.

Yet, even in his dire condition, King’s sweet nature shined through. He was eager to give kisses and started to become known for his resilience. “King’s spirit was unbroken; even though he was uncomfortable and in pain, he had an inspiring upbeat attitude and only wanted to be loved,” the shelter wrote in a past Facebook post.

The dedicated team at HSP knew they had to act quickly to give King a fighting chance. The amazing veterinarians successfully removed the enormous mass, and to everyone's relief, tests confirmed it was benign. King was finally free from the weight he had been carrying—both physically and emotionally.

But King’s battle wasn’t over yet. During his post-surgery assessments, the vets discovered that he was also suffering from heartworm disease. Due to the heartworm treatment, King was limited to leash walks only. The dedicated staff members took him on long walks and kept him entertained with enrichment activities, all while cheering him on through his recovery.

It was during one of these walks that fate intervened. King met a construction worker who was working on HSP’s new Sjouwerman Adoption Center. Little did King know, this encounter would change his life forever. The construction worker slowly fell in love with King. As Tropical Storm Debby approached Florida, the worker asked if he could foster King during the storm. It didn’t take long for the temporary arrangement to turn into something permanent.

King had found his forever home.

HSP shared the happy news, celebrating King’s new chapter. “Fate stepped in, and King was adopted by this amazing man,” the shelter wrote. “Congrats to King and his furever family! We are so happy for him!”

We have insurance for just about everything—health, auto, home. But pet insurance? That one seems to fly under the radar for many dog owners. Surprisingly, some don’t even realize it’s an option until it’s too late. I’ll admit, when I first got my pups, I wasn’t familiar with pet insurance either. Now, fast forward eight years, and I have a dog worth $30k — no exaggeration!

Choosing to get pet insurance is entirely up to you, but one of the wisest choices is to enroll your dog as soon as you bring them home. Whether you’re welcoming a puppy or adopting a dog from a shelter, the earlier you secure coverage, the better. At this point, your pup likely has fewer, if any, pre-existing conditions, which is key when it comes to insurance.

Pre-existing conditions directly impact your ability to protect your pup with pet insurance. Typically, these conditions aren't covered, and they include any illness or injury that occurred or showed symptoms before you enrolled or during the policy’s waiting period. Unfortunately, once a condition is labeled as "pre-existing," it can be challenging to get coverage for anything related to it or anything they can tie it to. So, here are issues that can be considered pre-existing conditions:

• Excessive paw licking can signal skin allergies, which may be considered a pre-existing condition.

• Chronic issues like arthritis, diabetes, epilepsy, or heart problems.

• Breed-specific concerns, like hip dysplasia.

• Degenerative conditions, such as joint or ligament wear and tear.

• Respiratory infections.

• Urinary or bladder infections.

• Gastrointestinal issues.

• Even cancer, if it can be tied to a pre-existing condition.

It’s easy to think pet insurance isn’t worth the money when your pup is in good health right now. We never want to imagine our fur babies getting seriously sick or injured, but the unexpected can happen. Having coverage in place gives you peace of mind when life throws you and your pup a curveball. Trust me, I wish someone had told me this before I found out the hard way!

In the past, we relied on paper lists and brick-and-mortar stores, but Amazon Prime has revolutionized the way we shop. While free shipping and exclusive shows are great, don't miss these 10 hidden perks that can enhance your membership.

Just like us, dogs need a balanced diet to stay healthy. The saying "we are what we eat" applies to our pups as well. Naturally, we want to keep our dogs healthy and reduce the need for vet visits. We often focus on our own diets to improve our health, and we should extend that same care to them! While we’ve become used to the convenience of kibble, our dogs deserve fresh, nutritious food too.

This homemade dog food recipe is made with a combo of wholesome ingredients that contain a nourishing balance of carbs, fat, fiber, protein, and antioxidants and contains the AKC-recommended essentials for a balanced dog food diet. It's important to remember that every dog has unique nutritional needs, so before making any changes to your dog's food, consult with your vet to determine your dog’s complete dietary needs.

You’ll need:

• 2 carrots, chopped

• 1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped

• 1 ½ cups lentils (green or brown)

• 3 ½ cups water

• 2 lb. ground turkey or chicken

• 5 oz. chicken

Instructions:

1. Add the lentils and water to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover and simmer until the water is absorbed and the lentils are fully cooked.

2. Meanwhile, add the carrots and sweet potato to a food processor and pulse for a few seconds; set aside. In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground turkey or chicken until it's no longer pink, using a wooden spoon to break it up.

3. Add the processed carrots and sweet potato to the pot with the turkey, along with the spinach. Sauté for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are soft. Add a small amount of water or olive oil if needed.

4. Once the lentils are cooked, add them to the pot and stir to combine.

5. Store food in sealed containers in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Or, transfer to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months; thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Daily Dig is inspired and brought to you by our wonderful dogs. Our dogs, and all the other pups out there, make the world a happier, brighter place. ❤️

With lots of love,

Stitcher, Minnie, & Finnegan 🐾

🦴 A Little Treat

🤔 True or False: True, neutered dogs do live longer. Neutered dogs live about one and a half years longer than those who are not.

🐶 DOTD: Give your pup the spotlight by submitting them for the dog of the day! This month's theme is dogs and their furry friends. Reply to this email with the best pics of your dog with a buddy, a short description, and their name to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

🥰 Spread positivity: Do you enjoy starting your day off with our community? If so, please consider forwarding this email to help us spread our love of all things dogs!

💌 Reply for a surprise: If you are reading this reply with your favorite dog-approved recipe for a surprise in your inbox!

Welcome to Daily Dig! We’re a small team of dog lovers who strive to bring a pawsitive dose of pup content to your inbox every morning. Join our pack of over 180,000 paw pals when you subscribe today!