Posted September 30, 2026in People & Pets
Alexis Thompson’s life changed in an instant when she survived a horrific car accident as a young adult. The crash left her with broken bones, a ruptured tailbone and four brain hemorrhages. She was briefly confined to a wheelchair, and the traumatic brain injury forced her to leave college and
Read More →
Posted September 02, 2026in People & Pets
When Allison Kaiman moved back to Iowa with her dog, Bandit, a corgi, she admits her mischievous dog got away with “bloody murder.” “I felt bad for Bandit with all the changes he encountered. He was running the show, where he was the pack leader,” she said. “I wasn’t the
Read More →
Posted August 05, 2026in People & Pets
Parker Posey, a beagle mix, lets her owner, Sascha Crasnow, know when she’s hungry. But not by traditional means of barking or knocking a food bowl around. Instead, Parker “speaks” by pressing word buttons on a special floor mat. For breakfast, Parker orders food by pressing the “food” and “play”
Read More →
Posted July 01, 2026in People & Pets
When a co-worker encouraged Tammy Crall to become involved with a fundraising event for Pet Project Midwest, she eagerly agreed. With a passion for animals, she served as vice president and now serves as president of the nonprofit organization. She previously volunteered with other pet rescues in town, but those
Read More →
Posted June 03, 2026in People & Pets
As Caty Elgin rides her horse, Smokescreen, during a jumping competition, she leans in, guiding the horse over a fence. As the horse clears it and other obstacles in record time, Elgin wins another riding competition. In addition to competing, Elgin teaches riding lessons and trains riders for competitions. She
Read More →
Posted May 06, 2026in People & Pets
A four-legged media sensation in Pleasant Hill went viral in 2024. A water buffalo named Phill — named after Pleasant Hill and known as P-Hill — escaped from his handler’s home. The nearly half-ton animal wandered into the city before police shot him. Homeowners captured video on doorbell cameras, and
Read More →
Posted April 01, 2026in People & Pets
Animals, like humans, can suffer blood loss from injuries, illnesses or surgeries. Humans can rely on a blood bank for a life-saving transfusion. But what about animals? They, too, have a blood bank. One furry client, Sig, has been a regular blood donor for the past three years. Sig’s owner,
Read More →
Posted March 04, 2026in People & Pets
When Kim Smith took her dogs on hiking trips in nature, she let them run off the leash. After several hikes, she noticed the activity changed their behavior. After a long hike, they seemed more content and better behaved. “It really opened up my eyes about bringing dogs into nature,”
Read More →
Posted February 04, 2026in People & Pets
Ashlee Crawford’s two passions are her four-legged friends. Her dog, Layla, is a 4-year-old black labrador. She rescued her from a breeder who got out of the breeding business. “When I saw her, she was the only female. I liked her personality,” she recalls. Crawford’s love of the labrador breed
Read More →
Posted December 31, 2025in People & Pets
Two friends, who are both dog lovers, took several steps beyond caring for their furry friends. They established a nonprofit foster rescue, host a dog “pawdcast” and installed microchip stations for lost dogs. Kara Berhow and Holly Kilstrom began fostering rescue dogs 13 years ago. The pair established a nonprofit,
Read More →
