Dear Friend,
Some pets just know how to have a good time. They hear the sprinkler kick on and lose their minds a little. Their energy for fetch outlasts your throwing arm every time. They pounce on a feather like it owes them money.
This week is a celebration of that spirit. A young Malinois who lights up a room and a yard in equal measure. A goofy Lab mix who dances through the sprinklers. A cattle dog who treats fetch as a full-time job. And a confident young cat who plays like he has something to prove.
If your ideal home comes with a little happy chaos, meet the playful ones.
A golden-coated Malinois who does not enter a room so much as light it up. 1-year-old Belgian Malinois mix | Santa Barbara, CA
Gracie is pure sunshine with a striking black muzzle and a spark of joyful mischief in everything she does. She was raised alongside nine other dogs, which made her fluent in the language of play, and she loves nothing more than romping around a yard before trading it all in for a belly rub. Underneath the athletic build is a genuinely tender girl who is happiest curled up near her person after a busy day. She is especially gentle with children and formed a devoted bond with a seven-year-old who thinks the world of her.
Gracie is looking for an active family ready to keep up with a clever, high-energy dog and give her plenty to think about. Her intelligence means she learns fast and needs real mental stimulation, structure, and consistency to stay her best self, and she thrives on positive reinforcement. She does beautifully with other dogs and would happily share her home with a canine playmate.
For the household that wants a bright, affectionate athlete who works hard and cuddles harder, Gracie is contagious joy on four legs.
A 90-pound goofball who dances through sprinklers and checks in mid-zoomie just to make sure you saw. 7-year-old Labrador Retriever, Mastiff, and Black Mouth Cur mix | Austin, TX
Chulo turns everyday moments into mini adventures. He dives into a game of catch, sprints laps around the yard, and greets a running sprinkler like it is the greatest invention of all time. His goofy personality is an absolute delight, and he has a rare, empathetic streak, the kind of dog who senses a hard day and quietly leans in. He can entertain himself with a chew toy one minute and trot over to be your sidekick the next. He gets along wonderfully with other dogs, knows sit, stay, lie down, and paw, and has a charming way of talking with you in gentle gruffs when he wants your attention.
Chulo will thrive with a family who enjoys an active dog and can offer a calm, structured home with clear routines, including a predictable, low-key mealtime setup where he can relax and eat in peace. A fenced yard, patient guidance, and a steady supply of tennis balls are the recipe for his best life.
For the person who wants a big, joyful, tuned-in companion for the sunny months and every month after, Chulo is ready to play.
A blue cattle dog who treats fetch as a full-time job and is very good at his job. 3-year-old Australian Cattle Dog | Prineville, OR
Ranger is 60 pounds of loyalty, brains, and boundless energy, always ready for the next adventure. Fetch is his life’s calling: balls and sticks are treasures in his world, frisbees are mysteriously beneath him, and one to two hours of daily ball play in a big yard keeps his sharp mind and busy body content. He already knows sit, stay, lie down, shake, quiet, and drop it, he learns quickly, and he is so food-motivated he will happily run through his whole repertoire for a good snack. He can be a little reserved with new people at first, but toss a favorite toy and add a treat or two and his playful heart shines right through.
Ranger is looking to be the only pet in an active home with a securely fenced yard and a family who loves to stay moving. He is selective about dog friends and would rather be your one and only, soaking up all the attention and all the fetch. Give him a job, a yard, and a routine, and he truly thrives.
For the active person or family who wants a whip-smart, devoted teammate, Ranger is ready to run.
A confident young tabby who plays like an athlete and turns any lap into his favorite place. Almost 2-year-old Domestic Shorthair | Alto, GA
Poppa Bear carries himself with an easy assurance, but his favorite place in the world is right beside his people, ideally in a lap, soaking up every pet. He is affectionate, responsive, and wonderfully communicative, clearly letting you know when he is ready for play and when he would like a little space. Play is one of his great joys: a feather wand brings out his athletic sparkle, boxes are irresistible treasures, and an afternoon on the catio watching the world go by is pure bliss. His most charming quirk is a habit of offering enthusiastic back massages, a thoughtful little gesture from a cat who genuinely loves to connect.
Poppa Bear is looking for a calm, indoor-only home with predictable routines, daily interactive play, and people who respect his preferences around affection. He is a bit timid with other cats at first and warms up with patient, thoughtful introductions. He would also love to bring his companions Mama Bear and Baby Bear along if the right home has room, though he shines on his own too.
For the person who wants a lap cat with an athletic streak and a knack for surprising you, Poppa Bear is ready to settle in.
A weekly note from Barbie, our canine behaviorist.
A high-energy dog is not asking for a marathon. He is asking for a job.
It is easy to assume the busy, athletic dogs need endless miles to be happy, and then to feel like you are failing when an hour of walking does not touch their energy. The secret most people miss is that mental work tires a dog faster than physical work. A twenty-minute training session, a snuffle mat, a food puzzle, or a game of find-it in the yard can leave a dog more satisfied than a long run, because it asks his brain to engage, not just his legs.
This matters even more in July. On the hottest afternoons, when the pavement is too warm and midday exercise is off the table, lean on the thinking games instead. Scatter breakfast in the grass, teach a new cue in the shade, freeze a stuffed Kong for the afternoon lull. Save the real running for the cool of the morning and the evening, keep water close, and let the mental work carry the middle of the day. A dog whose mind is tired is a calm, contented dog, no matter the temperature.
A parasite called the New World screwworm has reached Texas, so keep an eye on wounds.
Animal health officials have confirmed New World screwworm cases in Texas this summer, and because the parasite can affect any warm-blooded animal, pets are worth watching too. The practical takeaway for pet parents is simple. Keep your pet’s prescription flea and tick prevention current, check any cut, scrape, or bite wound daily, and call your veterinarian if a wound grows quickly, becomes red and draining, or shows what look like tiny white eggs. Caught early, it is very treatable, and everyday wound care and prevention go a long way. You can follow current guidance at the Texas Animal Health Commission and your own state’s animal health office.
A PEDIGREE wet dog food recall was issued in early July.
On July 2, Mars Petcare voluntarily recalled two lots of PEDIGREE Can High Protein Chopped Chicken and Duck Flavor (13.2 oz) for dogs after the product was fraudulently diverted into the market and may contain metal or plastic fragments. No pet illnesses have been reported so far. If you have this food at home, check the lot numbers against the FDA notice and do not feed it. You can always find the current recall list at FDA.gov/animal-veterinary and AVMA.org/news/recalls-alerts.
$30 Off Rover Services – For the busy summer days you cannot run the morning fetch session yourself, a steady sitter keeps an active dog happy and tired.
30% Off Your Dutch Membership – Vet care from your couch and prescriptions to your door. Use code PETS30. Handy for the scraped pad or hot spot that summer play sometimes brings.
First Month Free with Trupanion – Direct vet pay and no payout limits, the kind of coverage that matters when an active pet runs into the unexpected.
$20 Chewy eGift Card on $49 First Order – Stock up on tough fetch toys, a feather wand, a cooling mat, and a travel water bottle for the hot months ahead. New customers only.
Every pet in this newsletter comes from a family who loves them and reached out to Joyful Pets for help finding the next loving home. Rehome Together is how we make that possible for families who cannot manage the cost on their own, covering the real expenses of a safe, thoughtful placement. If you would like to help a pet reach their next chapter, you can chip in here.
If you know someone whose home and heart have room for one of these pets, send this their way. And if this newsletter found you through a friend, subscribe so you never miss a week.
For the pets who never met a toy they didn’t like,
Lauren & the Joyful Pets team
P.S. There is a particular kind of happy that only a playful pet can show you, the dog flopped in the grass still eyeing the ball, the cat mid-pounce on a feather. If one of these four caught your eye, a summer full of that kind of happy is one message away.
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