"Let sleeping dogs lie" is a familiar proverb that actually means not interfering in a situation because you could make it worse. However, in the context of "dogs and sleep," it seems to be just as appropriate. Dogs sleep a lot -- on average as much as fourteen hours per day, according to sleep experts at Tuck -- so it pays to just, well, let them lie.

Tuck discusses other fascinating facts about dogs and sleep in a helpful article that includes information about dog vs. human sleep cycles, dog sleeping positions and things you can do to help your dog get better sleep.

The article on sleep is just one in a series of "pet sleep resources" provided by Tuck. You'll find them here: https://www.tuck.com/pet-sleep-resources/

Although the love of a pet is priceless, all of the following are still included when you adopt! Each adoption fee includes spay/neuter, all up-to-date vaccines, behavioral training when appropriate, microchip and free 1-year registration, a free starter bag of food, and a free wellness visit with a participating veterinarian. 

To see available animals, visit www.ashevillehumane.org. The Adoption Center is located at 14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville (off Brevard and Pond Roads, near the WNC Farmers Market). It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM (Tuesdays until 7 PM). The dog and cat rooms are closed daily for naptime from 1 to 2 PM, giving animals a much-needed break. The lobby remains open where you can speak with staff, enjoy refreshments, read or watch videos!

Hard 2 Recycle, sponsored by Asheville GreenWorks, is an opportunity to recycle difficult items that are not typically collected during recycling pickup. The next Hard 2 Recycle event will be held on Saturday, January 18 from 10 AM to 2 PM at 1298 Patton Avenue, Asheville, NC. Items that are accepted and not accepted are listed here: https://www.ashevillegreenworks.org/hard-2-recycle.html

Asheville Humane Society will be accepting donations for animals in need. The following items will be accepted:

Hiking Hounds is one of the most popular Asheville Humane Society volunteer activities. Each month, volunteers take shelter dogs on hikes as part of the enrichment programming. You'll spend a few hours in Bent Creek hiking the trails with dogs who will love you for it.

The next hike will be on Sunday, Jan. 19.

Start time is 10 AM for repeat hikers and 9:30 AM for new hikers. Hikes are typically 3-5 miles at a brisk pace with elevation changes and provide vigorous exercise for our volunteer hikers as well. They do not cancel hikes because of rain, as our pups don’t mind getting wet. Hikers generally return to the shelter at 16 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville around 11:30 AM to 12 PM.

Note: New and repeat hikers alike are required to sign up in advance. If you'd like to sign up for this hike, email ahshikinghounds@outlook.com. Hikers are signed up on a "first come-first serve basis" and you must have a confirmed reservation to attend a hike. If you don’t get an email from Hiking Hounds, assume they didn’t get yours! Please be sure you can actually make the hike; if we have late cancellations, a dog gets left behind without a hike.

For more information visit the Hiking Hounds Facebook page.

Interested in learning how genes, lifestyle and environment influence a dog's aging? Then you might like to participate in the Dog Aging Project, a nationally-funded research project run by the University of Washington and Texas A&M University.

The Dog Aging Project brings together a community of people committed to giving dogs the happiest, longest lives possible. Expert veterinarians and scientists will team up with 10,000 dogs and their owners to identify factors critical to improving healthy lifespan.

Dogs and their owners are the heart of the Dog Aging Project. If you nominate your dog, you’ll have the opportunity to partner with the research team as a citizen scientist. They’ll ask you to fill out surveys about your dog’s health and life experience. They’ll provide you with a kit to sample your dog’s saliva for genetic testing. They may ask you to complete special activities with your dog and report back on their performance. The goal is to make the experience easy and fun for you and your dog. The researchers hope you’ll join their team as they work together to accelerate medical breakthroughs for dogs and humans.

For more information about this unique project, visit: https://dogagingproject.org/