Woof Meow Pet Tip for FEB 1, 2026 at Star 977 with Don Hanson – UPDATE – Muppy & Don–Their Journey with Cancer
< Updated 2026-02-01 >
< The link to this page – https://forcefreepets.com/wfmwtip-muppycancerupdate/ >
MIKE DOW: – Welcome to Woof Meow with Don Hanson here on Star 977. When it comes to pets, how to best care for them, how to train them, and how to make that bond with your pet even stronger, do what so many people in Maine do: they go to Don Hanson at Green Acres Kennel Shop, 1653 Union Street in Bangor and online at greenacreskennel.com, and at the ForceFreePets website at forcefreepets.com
DON: – Back in September, I told you that my dog Muppy had been diagnosed with bladder cancer in June and how that was a learning moment for me as I struggled with how to handle my grief. I’m very happy to say that she is still with us and doing well. Muppy is still excited to greet the day, seeks out interactions with us, rarely shows signs of pain or discomfort, usually eats well, maintains her weight, sleeps well, and goes to the bathroom as normally as possible, given her condition. But more importantly, Muppy continues to teach me how best to care for her. I’ll discuss what she’s taught me over the past few months after the break.
MIKE DOW: – For 31 years, Don has been owner and operator of Green Acres Kennel Shop, 1653 Union Street in Bangor, offering pet supplies, boarding, daycare, and grooming. Learn more at. greenacreskennel.com. Don also offers education for pets and their people at forcefreepets.com.
DON: – While Muppy is doing well, she needs to go out more frequently to go to the bathroom, which requires more diligent attention by Paula and me. It also means sometimes Muppy is going to have accidents, but that’s ok. Unfortunately, in late November, I injured my back. I was not bedridden, but I could only work at my computer a few hours per day, taking frequent breaks to apply either ice or heat to my back. During the same period, I noticed that Muppy wasn’t eating as well, which made me worry more about her health, even though I knew dogs can have occasional illnesses. Muppy was picking up on my pain or anxiety, and it was affecting her. As soon as I realized that not every change in behavior was a 5-alarm fire, I became less anxious, and so did Muppy. To learn more about our journey with Cancer, check out my latest blog post at ForceFreePets.com.
MIKE DOW: – Animal lovers listen for Woof Meow with Don Hanson each Monday at 4:20, and at various times during the week only on Star 977
I maintain two blogs, where I write about a variety of topics related
to dogs and cats, or with a “Woof and Meow” theme. See what I did there? You can explore either by clicking on the links below. I also often share links to articles by others that I believe my subscribers will find interesting. If you like what you see, please subscribe. You can unsubscribe at any time. If you think friends and family members would like what I’m writing about, please share the link. – Don
.
ForceFreePets Blog – https://forcefreepets.com/blog/
Green Acres Kennel Shop Blog – https://www.greenacreskennel.com/blog/
Don Hanson lives in Bangor, Maine, where he is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop (