Kourosh Ebrahimzadeh
Founder, Dana
Founder of Dana — building the app and writing about the practical systems that make shared pet care hold up in real households.
Articles by Kourosh
Your dog's first day at daycare: rules and the assessmentDogtopia's published rules for a first day at daycare: vaccination records, neutering from seven months, a 20 to 30 minute assessment. What to ask your centre.Read post 
Found a dog with a rabies tag? How to trace the ownerA rabies tag may lead to the vet that gave the shot, a licence tag to the city. Call the office on the tag with its number and year, and get the dog scanned.Read post 
Lost cat: where to search in the first weekSearch nearby: a study found 75% of recovered cats within 500 metres of their escape point; a third of missing cats were found alive within seven days.Read post 
Lost dog in Toronto: 311, City shelters and where to lookReport a lost dog in Toronto to Animal Services at 416-338-7297 or 311, check the stray-animals list and the three City shelters, and update the microchip.Read post 
Moving in together with pets: two routines, two vet filesMoving in together with pets means merging two routines, two vets and two sets of records. Introduce the animals slowly, then decide who does what.Read post 
How many dogs and cats can you own in Ontario, by cityOntario has no provincial pet limit. Each city sets its own: three dogs in Ottawa, four animals in Mississauga, six in Brampton. Eleven cities compared.Read post 
Pet insurance pre-approval: when to ask before treatmentPet insurance pre-approval: Embrace, Petplan and Trupanion say it is not required. Some quote three to five business days; all ask for an estimate and history.Read post 
Pet sitting over Christmas: book early, hand over properlyBook pet sitting over Christmas early and plan for clinic closures. When to book, what a sitter or kennel asks for, and the emergency details to leave.Read post 
Vet cancellation fees: what clinics charge, and whenVet cancellation fees in published clinic policies: 24 hours' notice for a consultation, 48 to 72 for surgery, a flat fee or the exam fee, and what is fair.Read post 
Can a vet keep your pet if you can't pay the bill?UK vets may legally hold an animal for unpaid fees, and the RCVS says not to. Many US states allow it by lien law. The Ontario guides we read do not cover it.Read post 
How to read pet food labels before you buyCheck species, life stage and nutritional adequacy before comparing pet food labels. Learn what ingredients and guaranteed analysis can tell you.Read post 
How to make a pet medical history summaryMake a short pet medical history summary with dated sources, current instructions and open questions. Keep it checkable against the clinic's full record.Read post 
How to back up pet records before changing phonesKeep a recoverable copy of pet records outside your everyday app. Download originals, separate the backup and test that you can open it without the old phone.Read post 
A pet sitter daily report you can reuseUse a short pet sitter daily report for each animal: visit times, completed care, observations and what the next person still needs to do.Read post 
Taking multiple pets to the vet: plan each visitCoordinate a vet visit for multiple dogs or cats with separate bookings, secure transport, named records and a clear plan for each pet after the appointment.Read post 
Air Canada pet cabin checklist: before you bookUse an Air Canada pet cabin checklist to confirm a pet space, the right carrier for each aircraft, suitable seating and the agent check-in plan.Read post 
How to correct an error in your pet's vet recordsAsk the clinic to review a specific entry, supply dated proof and request the corrected copy. Keep the original and correction together when sharing records.Read post 
A foster pet care log the next caregiver can useKeep a foster pet's instructions, daily observations and coordinator updates together. A practical log for temporary care and the next-home handover.Read post 
Lost pet scam calls: verify who has your animalA caller says they've found your pet and wants money or a code. Check the claim through an independent contact and keep a record of the request.Read post 
Pet food recall: check the lot and keep the recordsMatch a pet food recall to your package's lot, size and date. Save label photos, receipts and a household record before following the notice's instructions.Read post 
Pet insurance claim checklist: before you submitAssemble the right claim form, itemized invoice and clinic details, then keep proof of submission. A practical checklist for a first pet insurance claim.Read post 
Pets on the TTC: times, carriers and the return tripPets on the TTC can travel on weekends and weekday off-peak times. Check leash and carrier rules, plan the return trip and give caregivers a backup plan.Read post 
Temporary pet care during hospitalization: a handoff planArrange temporary pet care during hospitalization with confirmed care, a written handoff and a return plan. Toronto respite support depends on foster capacity.Read post 
Toronto dog walker permit: what owners should checkCheck a Toronto dog walker permit against the person, group size and planned route. Know what the permit covers before agreeing to a group walk.Read post 
Veterinary specialist referral: from letter to appointmentA referral and a booked appointment are separate steps. Confirm receipt, records, preparation instructions and who handles the follow-up after the consultation.Read post 
Cat boarding checklist: check the space, then packBefore boarding your cat, check escape prevention, separate housing, medication limits and records. Then pack familiar supplies and agree on the pickup plan.Read post 
Dog adoption paperwork: what to check before handoverCheck the adoption agreement, health file, microchip transfer and follow-up contacts before bringing a dog home. Includes a document handover checklist.Read post 
How to check an itemized vet bill against the estimateCompare an itemized vet bill with the approved estimate, separate unclear charges from disputed care and ask the clinic for a useful written explanation.Read post 
Pet care app not syncing? Check before adding duplicatesA missing pet or record can mean the wrong account, an unlinked clinic or a failed update. Check the source before duplicating entries or deleting a profile.Read post 
Pet care reminders not working? Check iPhone and AndroidCheck whether a pet-care reminder was scheduled, delivered silently or blocked by phone settings. Start with the task, then check your phone.Read post 
Pet insurance claim denied? Build a clear appeal fileRead the reason for a denied pet insurance claim, match it to the policy and assemble a dated appeal file. Includes Canada's complaint process and its limits.Read post 
Questions to ask a dog groomer before you bookAsk a dog groomer about handling, supervision, housing, records and price changes before booking. A checklist for choosing a groomer.Read post 
Toronto off-leash dog park rules: before you open the gateCheck Toronto's off-leash boundaries, control and cleanup rules, plus the handoff details a walker needs before taking your dog to a park.Read post 
Toronto pet licence: apply, renew and keep it currentToronto requires licences for dogs and cats. Learn how to apply, check renewal details and your microchip registration separately.Read post 
How many dogs and cats can you keep in Toronto?Toronto's current Animals Bylaw sets separate dog and cat limits per dwelling. Check the rule, exceptions and household count before adopting or fostering.Read post 
Can a vet refuse to treat an animal? Canada, US and UK rulesYes, within limits. Ontario vets must continue care for a reasonable time while you find another vet, UK vets owe first aid, and US ethics cover emergencies.Read post 
How to check if someone has a dog boarding licenceIn England, check the council's list of licensed businesses, the star rating and the licence number on the operator's website. What a boarding licence covers.Read post 
Who to complain to about a vet practice, and what they can doConduct goes to the vet regulator, which cannot order a refund. Fees and service go to the practice, then mediation or court. Which office does what.Read post 
Moving to another country with a dog: what comes firstThe destination sets the rules, but some of the proof is issued by the country you are leaving, and the order decides whether the rest of it counts.Read post 
Does pet insurance require vet records? What a claim checksA pet insurance claim asks for more of the file than the visit itself. California defines a preexisting condition three ways, and only two happen at a clinic.Read post 
Pet passport vs health certificate: it depends where you goBritain, the EU and the US each want a different travel document. Which one your dog needs, who issues it, and how long each one stays valid.Read post 
Dog sitter vs boarding vs daycare: who has to record whatIn England, boarding for dogs is three licensed activities, each keeping a legal register. A sitter in your home needs no licence, so the record stays yours.Read post 
Someone else feeding your cat? How to tell, and is it legal?A roaming cat looks like a stray to a neighbour. How to find out who feeds her, and why feeding her is not an offence under England's microchipping rules.Read post 
Does your vet have to give you a written prescription?In Ontario, yes, by regulation. In the US, yes with two conditions. What the document must contain, what it can cost, and who tracks the refill at home.Read post 
Who takes care of your dog when you die, and what they inheritWho takes care of your dog when you die depends on the arrangement. What they inherit is the harder question: the animal, and none of its records.Read post 
How long does your vet keep your pet's records?Three to seven years after your last visit, depending on the province or state; the UK sets no period. The rule for 26 places, each linked to its source.Read post 
Sharing a pet with a roommate: what to agree on firstOne person owns the animal and everyone lives with it. Who may authorise treatment, who pays for what, and what happens when somebody moves out.Read post 
How to get a second opinion from another vetYou are allowed to ask, the second vet needs less of the file than you expect, and telling your current clinic is the part that protects your pet.Read post 
How to switch vets and transfer your pet's recordsThe new clinic usually asks the old one for the history. In Ontario an unpaid bill can't hold it back, and a previous owner must consent to release their part.Read post 
How to write a pet resume for a landlordA pet resume answers the only question a landlord has about your animal: will it cost me money or complaints? What to put on the page, and what to prove.Read post 
What a pet sitting contract should coverTemplates handle the money. What decides the 2am call is the vet authorisation, the spending limit, and one call to your clinic before you leave.Read post 
What an AI pet health app can actually doAn AI pet health app can judge urgency and remember your pet's history. It cannot diagnose. Where the AVMA draws that line, and how to read an answer.Read post 
The pet food diary your vet actually asks forList every food, treat and chew with brand, form, amount, times a day and start date, as the WSAVA diet history asks. Two ordinary weeks is a sensible start.Read post 
How to prove pet ownership when somebody disputes itNo single document settles who owns a pet. A licence, a chip record, a vet file and a care history do it together, and two laws now weigh the care specifically.Read post 
How to get a copy of your dog's rabies certificate onlineNo national database holds it. The clinic that gave the shot does, so ask for an emailed PDF or check its portal. What is on it, and why the tag won't do.Read post 
Feeding multiple pets when more than one person feeds themTwo animals on different schedules and two people in the kitchen is a coordination problem, not a feeding one. Separate stations, a treat budget, one record.Read post 
When a pet changes hands, the vet records do not followA pet's history belongs to the practice and to whoever was the client. A new owner starts empty unless somebody asks first, in writing, before the handover.Read post 
How long can you leave a cat alone, and who checks in?Merck Animal Health says an adult cat on dry food may be left 24 to 48 hours with fresh water. What ends that window, and what a check-in must cover.Read post 
Moving house with a dog: the paperwork nobody packsMovers' guides cover the crate and the truck. The part that strands people is the address on the microchip, the licence, and the vet record that never moved.Read post 
Boarding your dog for the first time: what the kennel needsThe paperwork, the food and the medication a kennel needs from you, plus the part most owners skip: who they may call, and decide with, when you do not pick up.Read post 
How to check and update your pet's microchip detailsRun the chip number through AAHA's free registry lookup, then check the record still names you, a phone that rings today and a second contact.Read post 
Leaving a dog home alone while you work: who covers the dayThe RSPCA says never leave a dog alone long enough to become distressed. Cover the midday gap with a named person, a written routine and a visit log.Read post 
Lost dog: what to do in the first hourSearch the area on foot, tell everyone not to chase him, call the shelters that cover your area, and check the phone number on his microchip record.Read post 
A pet emergency plan, and the one page it fits onWhat a pet emergency plan has to answer: who acts when you cannot, which records they can open, whether a vet may treat without you, and why you pack two kits.Read post 
Co-parenting a dog with an ex: a schedule that actually holdsHow to share a dog after a breakup: pick a custody rhythm, write one routine both homes follow, and keep a shared care log so handoffs need no conversation.Read post 
New puppy schedule: who does what in the first weeks at homeA first-weeks puppy schedule built around potty breaks, meals, and sleep, then split across the household so no one carries the 2 AM shift alone.Read post 
Pet care chores for kids by age, and the chart that gets usedWhich pet chores fit a toddler, a school-age child, and a teen; how to supervise without hovering; and why a shared log beats a sticker chart after week two.Read post 
How to get a copy of your pet's medical records from the vetThe AVMA says vets must provide copies or summaries of the record when asked. How to request the full file, and the five documents to keep at home.Read post 
Track your dog or cat's weight at home and read the trendWeigh monthly on the same scale, log the number with the date, and watch the direction rather than the digits. A home weight log is your earliest signal.Read post 
How to create a family pet care schedule that holdsAssign roles instead of chores, put the schedule where everyone sees it, and add a completion signal: the three parts of a schedule that survives real weeks.Read post 
Sharing a pet's medication schedule without double-dosingThe two-caregiver dose problem and its fix: one shared log both people trust, where a dose isn't done until it's recorded with who and when.Read post 
The pet sitter handoff checklist that survives contactWhat a sitter actually needs: the routine in writing, today's current state, and a way to confirm care happened, plus the checklist to hand over.Read post 
When one person does all the pet care: fixing the invisible loadThe default caregiver problem is invisibility, not laziness. Make the work visible with a shared log, and rebalance from data rather than grievance.Read post 
Vaccine records for travel and boarding, without the scrambleKennels, groomers, borders: who asks for what proof, and the record-keeping that means you're never hunting paperwork the night before.Read post 
Vet visit checklist: what to bring to the appointmentCurrent meds with doses, vaccine record, recent weights, and a timeline of the concern: the four things that make any vet visit faster and better.Read post 
Who fed the dog? Fixing shared pet care's oldest bugTwo people feed the dog, or nobody does. Why shared pet care fails on memory, and the two-part fix: log the action, sign it with who and when.Read post