lifestyle.

Hazel the schnauzer and Wrigley the black lab mix mean everything to Harriet Buscombe. The dogs protect her on her pre-dawn runs around her Champaign, Ill., neighborhood, but mostly they make her feel great. "My children are grown now and having dogs around keeps me 'still a mom' in many respects," Buscombe said in an email interview. "I always feel a lot better - like all of my problems have lessened - because I have spent times with my dogs." The loving link between baby boomers like 49-year-old Buscombe and their pets is well documented. Boomers - typically defined as the generation born from 1946 through 1964 - are a major reason why Americans' spending on the likes of food, ...

Not only does your neighbor George bear a striking resemblance to his bulldog Barry, but chances are, their resemblance is more than skin deep. Turns out that pet owners may also share their dogs' personalities, according to new research. Researchers from Bath Spa University in England surveyed 1,000 dog owners to determine their personality types. Based on their answers, pet owners were categorized into one or more of these five personality types: extroverted, agreeable, conscientious, emotionally stable, and intelligent and creative. Researchers then drew connections between owners' personality types and what kind of dog they owned. Here's what your dog's breed may be saying about your ...

Cat Ear Hair: The hottest new hairstyle in Japan, or a poof gone wrong? RELATED: Who's Your Cat Mama (Or Cat Daddy!): The Results! Kotaku is reporting that feline fashionistas on the streets of Harajuku are ditching their ribbons and headbands in favor of styling their bumps to resemble a pair of cat ears sprouting from their head. The "neko mimi hair" trend borrows heavily from Japanese "cat girls" (an interesting subject in itself), and supposedly shows how otaku (geek culture) is going mainstream within the youthful group of trendsetters. RELATED: Kitty Shaped Mascara Tube Brings Humans one Step Closer To Achieving The Purrfect Cat Eye look In a country known for its mechanical ...

For both pets and their owners, getting organized is essential to health and well-being. A de-cluttering strategy will help to keep a pet happy and healthy -- and a pet parent sane. As the owner of recently adopted terrier mix, Cecil Armstrong noticed that in less than a month, his home had become messy. However, he wants to maintain a pet-friendly but clean home. "Lola is family. Like my friends with children, I now have toys, pet clothing and other items scattered throughout my home," said Armstrong. Owner of Organizing Goddess, Inc. and president of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers, Sharon Lowenheim, MBA, MSE recommends that in order for ...

Trend shows rise in pet parents choosing cremation for departed pets. While it's becoming more and more common for pet owners to include their pets in their wills, another, seemingly contradictory trend is on the rise -- opting for cremation of pets rather than a burial, reports the Los Angeles Times . It's no secret that everyone, animal lovers included, has been affected by the current economy, and pet owners choosing cremation for their pets is just another example of people finding ways to cut costs. Mike Detlefsen, president of Pet Haven Cemetery & Crematory in Gardena, told the Los Angeles Times, "The economy is cutting them back from spending $800 on a burial compared to an $80 ...