Karen Schaffner

Tucson

Reporter at Marana News

Reporter at The Northwest Explorer

Reporter at Tucson Local Media

Reporter at Desert Times

Reporter at Tucson Weekly

Articles

Pot Warning For Pets: Veterinarian urges caution around cannabis

2 days ago | tucsonweekly.com | Karen Schaffner

Veterinary Emergency Group’s Dr. Chelsie Narito has seen her fair share of dogs acting oddly — loopy or wobbly. Diagnosis: They’re stoned. They’ve ingested their owners’ marijuana. Ingestion of marijuana by dogs has become increasingly common, with an 11% rise in calls to the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center in 2022 compared to the previous year, and an overall increase of 300% over the last five years. While marijuana rarely results in death for dogs, it can lead to severe symptoms.
Pup Paradise: Dogs of Tucson is barking up the right tree

2 days ago | tucsonweekly.com | Karen Schaffner

Summertime in Tucson can be intolerable to humans, let alone dogs. Canine family members need to run, jump, play and relieve themselves — all of which can be difficult in the heat. Frankie Lemer has the answer: Bark Park at Dogs of Tucson. “I jokingly say that we’re a social club for dogs,” she said.
Deep Dives And Dogs: Trading old food for new kibbles

2 days ago | tucsonweekly.com | Karen Schaffner

Five years ago, Jackson Nyx — a lifelong dog lover — faced a pet owner’s most difficult and heartbreaking decision. “When it came time to put my beloved Frenchie, Violet, down, I was completely shattered,” Nyx said. “I’d lost dogs before, but never like this. It literally broke my heart — I was a mess for a long time.” But the pain of losing Violet didn’t stop there. As he searched for answers, Nyx received another blow. “I asked the vet what had gone wrong,” he said.
Trading old food for new kibbles at My Culinary Canine

3 days ago | tucsonlocalmedia.com | Karen Schaffner

Five years ago, Jackson Nyx — a lifelong dog lover — faced a pet owner’s most difficult and heartbreaking decision. “When it came time to put my beloved Frenchie, Violet, down, I was completely shattered,” Nyx said. “I’d lost dogs before, but never like this. It literally broke my heart — I was a mess for a long time.”But the pain of losing Violet didn’t stop there. As he searched for answers, Nyx was sucker punched. “I asked the vet what had gone wrong,” he recalled.
Dogs of Tucson is barking up the right tree

3 days ago | tucsonlocalmedia.com | Karen Schaffner

Summertime in Tucson can be intolerable to humans, let alone dogs. Canine family members need to run, jump, play and relieve themselves — all of which can be difficult in the heat. Frankie Lemer has the answer: Bark Park at Dogs of Tucson. “I jokingly say that we’re a social club for dogs,” she said.
Veterinarian urges caution around cannabis

3 days ago | tucsonlocalmedia.com | Karen Schaffner

Veterinary Emergency Group’s Dr. Chelsie Narito has seen her fair share of dogs acting oddly — loopy or wobbly. Diagnosis: They’re stoned. They’ve ingested their owners’ marijuana. Ingestion of marijuana by dogs has become increasingly common, with an 11% rise in calls to the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center in 2022 compared to the previous year, and an overall increase of 300% over the last five years. While marijuana rarely results in death for dogs, it can lead to severe symptoms.
A Fire’s Story: New book recounts the Bighorn Fire

1 week ago | tucsonweekly.com | Karen Schaffner

Photographer Claire “Vimala” Anderson knows what it is to be unafraid to be near fire. On June 5, 2020, a lightning strike lit up the Santa Catalina Mountains, igniting the Bighorn Fire. That blaze went on for seven weeks before it was extinguished. During those weeks, Anderson was there to record the fire while it burned, the immediate aftermath and finally the regrowth. “I never felt in danger,” she said. “With the fire I just felt like it wanted me there.
Sundae Best: Handel’s is a cool stop for treats

1 week ago | tucsonweekly.com | Karen Schaffner

On a recent hot afternoon, Hazel and Lorenzo Hannah sat happily with their mother, Heather Hannah, while they worked on turning their tongues blue. Blame it on the scoop of blue monster ice cream, their favorite. The scene is often repeated for the newly transplanted Hannahs at Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream in the Foothills. “I come here for the coffee ice cream with chocolate chips,” she said. “It’s incredible, but my kids love the blue monster.
Learning from dad keeps this Tucson business successful

1 week ago | tucsonlocalmedia.com | Karen Schaffner

Asian Trade Rug Company is a true father-daughter success story. As a child, Hannah Massarat dismissed her father’s business. However, when Kasra Massarat came calling during the COVID-19 pandemic, the commercial interior designer responded. “As with most children who grow up with parents who own businesses, she had zero interest in the business,” Kasra explained. “Unexpectedly, we got super busy. So, I called her up.
Handel’s is a cool stop for treats in Tucson

2 weeks ago | insidetucsonbusiness.com | Karen Schaffner

On a recent hot afternoon, Hazel and Lorenzo Hannah sat happily with their mother, Heather Hannah, while they worked on turning their tongues blue. Blame it on the scoop of blue monster ice cream, their favorite. The scene is often repeated for the newly transplanted Hannahs at Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream in the Foothills. “I come here for the coffee ice cream with chocolate chips,” she said. “It’s incredible, but my kids love the blue monster.