Love Your Pet. Love Your Life: February 2017

Monday, February 27, 2017

Keeper Performs CPR to Save Baby Aardvark

February 27, 2017 at 10:25PM by
>br> After a long and difficult labor on February 2, aardvark Lotte finally delivered her baby at 2 a.m. at the Wroclaw Zoo in Poland — but the little one wasn’t breathing. Keeper Andrzej Miozga jumped in and performed CPR for nearly an hour, saving the baby’s life. The exhausted mom rejected her cub, so the baby is now getting around-the-clock care from a dedicated team of keepers. The baby has quickly become a favorite of the animal care team. — Read it at Zooborns

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Pet Scoop: Polar Bear Cub Takes First Steps, Firefighter Falls Through Ice Saving Dog

February 27, 2017 at 08:16PM by
>br> Feb. 27, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Hellabrunn Zoo polar bear cub

Adorable Cub Captures Hearts

At 18 pounds and 14 weeks old, a fluffy little polar bear cub made her debut last week at the Hellabrunn Zoo in Germany, taking her first steps. The cub was “wobbly on her feet, but full of enthusiasm,” said a zoo employee. The little girl, who hasn’t been named yet, likes to explore her exhibit while her mom, Giovanna, gets some rest. “For Giovanna, the real work as a polar bear mum now begins as she will have to keep an eye on the little one. But even this she will manage with no problem,” said zoo director Rasem Baban. Today is International Polar Bear Day, and hopefully this cutie will be ready to celebrate. — Read it at the NY Post

Baby Aardvark Saved With CPR

After a long and difficult labor on February 2, aardvark Lotte finally delivered her baby at 2 a.m. at the Wroclaw Zoo in Poland — but the little one wasn’t breathing. Keeper Andrzej Miozga jumped in and performed CPR for nearly an hour, saving the baby’s life. The exhausted mom rejected her cub, so the baby is now getting around-the-clock care from a dedicated team of keepers. The baby has quickly become a favorite of the animal care team. — Read it at Zooborns

Researchers Find Lemur Faces Are Unique

Scientists need to keep their distance to observe lemurs in a natural setting, which makes it difficult to identify individual animals and track their activity over time. Now a new method uses facial recognition software, which is described in a new study. LemurFaceID requires a “mug shot” or full frontal view of an individual lemur’s face, to be uploaded to a database. The software then identifies unique facial features like facial hair patterns to identify them. The study was published in the journal BioMed Central Zoology. — Read it at Live Science

Image: Boston firefighter ice rescue

Firefighter Rescues Dog From Ice

A firefighter in Boston made a daring rescue of a dog who fell through cracking ice on Jamaica Pond last week. A video shot by a witness shows Boston Firefighter Mike Ronayne crawling out onto the melting ice while wearing a suit designed to protect him from the frigid water. He ended up falling through the ice himself, but he was still able to pull Maggie out of the water, and she was able to walk across what was left of the ice to be happily reunited with her owner. “Maggie is such a sweetheart and I’m so glad she’s ok!” wrote Emily Andrea Robertson, who shared the video on Facebook. Firefighters then pulled Ronayne back to the shore. — Watch it at Boston.com

Dog Runs Into the Lead in Bike Race

An amazing video shows a dog joining a cycling race, and showing some incredible speed and endurance. The video has gone viral, and although the details of race are unclear, it’s believed to be from an Italian gran fondo. The dog sprints to keep up with the motorcyclists pacing the race, keeping ahead of all the racers. The cyclists seem unsure of what to do, staying behind the dog for some time before he finally starts to tire, giving the peloton a chance to go around him. We’re hoping the pup made it back home safely and got some much-needed rest! — Watch it at the U.K.’s Cycling Weekly

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Friday, February 24, 2017

Must-See Reality TV: "Keeping Up With the Kattarshians"

February 24, 2017 at 10:13PM by
>br> “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” may be fascinating reality TV, but it’s nothing compared to its adorable and even cattier spinoff, “Keeping Up With the Kattarshians.” The cast of kittens on Iceland’s new reality show, Guðni, Ronja, Bríet, and Stubbur, were discovered at a local animal shelter. They’re now living in the lap of luxury in a fully furnished cat house with hidden cameras that live-stream them adorably sleeping in tiny bunk beds and sitting in little chairs. The show has been educating the public in Iceland on animal adoption. The four original kittens have already been adopted and will soon be leaving the home. But not to worry — four new kitties will be moving in. — Read it at Time.com

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Must-See Reality TV: "Keeping Up With the Kattarshians"

Pet Scoop: Firefighters Save Dog From Cliff, Study Finds Cats Won’t Cause Mental Illness

February 24, 2017 at 08:25PM by
>br> Feb. 24, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: San Fran cliff rescue

Dramatic Rescue in San Francisco

A crew of 16 San Francisco firefighters came to the rescue of a dog who tumbled over a ledge and down a steep cliff in the Golden Gate National Recreation area on Wednesday. The dog got stuck on a ledge after the fall. The crew dropped ropes down the cliffside and lowered one firefighter down to get the dog. The firefighter and dog were then carefully pulled back up the embankment in a dramatic scene that was captured on video and shared on Twitter by the fire department. The dog was in an offleash area, but a spokesman for the San Francisco Fire Department recommends “animals need to be within range for verbal commands, and people need to be responsible and keep their animals away from the Cliffside.” However, he said the dog sitter who was with the pooch at the time did the right thing by calling for help instead of attempting to rescue the dog on his own. — Read it at SF Gate

Study: Cat Owners Not at Risk for Psychosis

Past studies have found that kids who grow up with cats are at a higher risk for mental health issues linked to a parasite cats are known to carry. But a new study has good news for cat owners. “There is no evidence that cats pose a risk to children's mental health," said study lead author Francesca Solmi of University College London. For the new study, researchers analyzed data from nearly 5,000 kids born in England between 1991 and 1992, and followed them until they were 18. Overall, there was no link between cat ownership and symptoms of psychosis at ages 13 or 18. “Previous studies reporting links between cat ownership and psychosis simply failed to adequately control for other possible explanations” for the link, Solmi said. The study was published in the journal Psychological Medicine. — Read it at Live Science

Giraffe Calf Gets Her Name at Maryland Zoo

Visitors at the Maryland Zoo have gotten their first glimpse of a female reticulated giraffe born on Feb. 6 to 4-year-old mom, Juma, and 11-year-old dad, Caesar. After a public vote, the zoo revealed Thursday that the baby has been named Willow. “Juma is an amazing mother! Her instincts are on target,” said Erin Cantwell, mammal collection manager. “She is very attentive and has been very patient with the calf as she learns to nurse. Mother and calf are bonding well and appear to be settling into their new routine with ease. All the other giraffes are curious about this new addition — it’s fun to watch them watching the calf.” — See photos at Zooborns

Image: Zoose Golden Retriever

Dog Digs Owner Out of Snow Fort

Steve Bayers, his son and his son’s friend were inside a snow fort they built in Bayers’ Nova Scotia yard on Saturday when it collapsed on them, trapping them under the heavy snow. “I knew it was very serious when my arms were pinned underneath me and my leg, my heel was into my back and my foot was twisted up and I couldn’t get any of my limbs free,” Bayers said. That’s when a four-legged hero came to their rescue. Zoose, Bayers’ 5-year-old Golden Retriever, dug through the snow and started to pull on Bayers’ jacket to help him break free. Once he was out, he was able to shovel the boys out. Bayers suffered a broken bone in his leg, but knew things could have been much worse if it wasn’t for Zoose’s quick response. — Read it at People Pets

Must-See Reality TV: “Keeping Up With the Kattarshians”

“Keeping Up With the Kardashians” may be fascinating reality TV, but it’s nothing compared to its adorable and even cattier spinoff, “Keeping Up With the Kattarshians.” The cast of kittens on Iceland’s new reality show, Guðni, Ronja, Bríet, and Stubbur, were discovered at a local animal shelter. They’re now living in the lap of luxury in a fully furnished cat house with hidden cameras that live-stream them adorably sleeping in tiny bunk beds and sitting in little chairs. The show has been educating the public in Iceland on animal adoption. The four original kittens have already been adopted and will soon be leaving the home. But not to worry — four new kitties will be moving in. — Read it at Time.com

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Thursday, February 23, 2017

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Girl and Service Dog

February 23, 2017 at 10:48PM by
>br> In a closely watched case, the Supreme Court has sided with a 13-year-old Michigan girl with cerebral palsy and her service dog, a Goldendoodle named Wonder. The court ruled unanimously Wednesday that Ehlena Fry’s family can pursue a lawsuit against her former public school district for denying access to her service dog. Lower courts had ruled the family had to first exhaust any remedies available under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act before seeking damages under the Americans with Disabilities Act, but the justices said that wasn’t necessary. "The Frys could have filed essentially the same complaint if a public library or theater had refused admittance to Wonder,” wrote Justice Elena Kagan. — Read it at USA Today

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Pet Scoop: Dog With Heartbreaking Notebook Adopted, FDNY Takes in Abandoned Pup

February 23, 2017 at 08:52PM by
>br> Feb. 23, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Rhino Lightning adopted

Dog With “Owner's Manual” Adopted

Rhino Lightning broke hearts across the Internet as news spread last week that he’d been surrendered to the Humane Society of Utah with an “owner’s manual” written by his family’s 8-year-old daughter. In a colorful notebook, the little girl left guidance for Rhino’s new owner, letting them know, “He likes sleeping under blankets. Take him on at least 2 or 3 runs a day. Tell Rhino I love and miss him every night.” The 65-pound dog had been adopted by the family with four children in December from the same shelter, but they said he was “unaware of his size” and wasn’t the right fit for the family. Luckily, there’s already a happy ending for Rhino. After seeing his story on the news, Melanie Hill knew he was meant to be hers. She visited him on Monday, and brought him home, where he has a new doggie sibling. “I want this little girl to know her puppy is smothered in love,” Hill says. — Read it at ABC News

High Court Rules for Girl and Service Dog

In a closely watched case, the Supreme Court has sided with a 13-year-old Michigan girl with cerebral palsy and her service dog, a Goldendoodle named Wonder. The court ruled unanimously Wednesday that Ehlena Fry’s family can pursue a lawsuit against her former public school district for denying access to her service dog. Lower courts had ruled the family had to first exhaust any remedies available under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act before seeking damages under the Americans with Disabilities Act, but the justices said that wasn’t necessary. "The Frys could have filed essentially the same complaint if a public library or theater had refused admittance to Wonder,” wrote Justice Elena Kagan. — Read it at USA Today

Cameras Reveal Hidden Lives of Dolphins

High-tech underwater cameras are giving scientists a glimpse of a dolphin’s life from the animal’s point of view. Researchers attached the cameras to eight dolphins off the coast of New Zealand, and the footage gave them a look at things like the interaction between mothers and calves and playtime in a kelp forest. “With these video cameras, we can 'see' from the animals' perspective and begin to understand the challenges they face as they move throughout their habitat,” said University of Alaska Southeast dolphin specialist Heidi Pearson. The findings were published in the journal Marine Biology. — Read it at Seeker

Image: Ashley FDNY dog

FDNY Adopts Rescued Pup

Last month, Ashley the Pit Bull was found inside an abandoned “crack house” in Staten Island, New York, with no food or water and covered in cigarette burns. At almost a year old, she was saved by Erica Mahnken and her fiancé, Michael Favor, with No More Pain Rescue. Without anyone to foster the freezing dog, they called their friends at the Lower East Side FDNY fire station known as Fort Pitt. The firefighters used to have a Rottweiler at the station, and agreed to temporarily take Ashley in. Just three days later, they called Mahnken back and asked if they could adopt Ashley. “My heart wants to explode,” Mahnken said. Ashley has quickly made herself at home with the firefighters, hanging out in the kitchen and finding her own spot on the fire truck, where she sits for ride-alongs. Nicknamed Ash, the pup even has her own Instagram account with nearly 10,000 followers, where she shares lots of photos. — Read it at CBS News

Puppy Siblings Reunited Thanks to Social Media

There was one adorable family reunion in Texas on Saturday. Frito, who was adopted from Texas Humane Heroes in October 2015, was reunited with five of his six littermates — and their mom — after a post about him looking for his family went viral. Frito’s owner, Corie Gemmiti, said there was a clear family resemblance between the dogs. “They all had the same body type and all their tails were tucked between their legs when they first got there,” she said. “It was nice to meet all the families of all the dogs. It was good to talk to them and figure out the personalities of all the dogs.” — Read it at ABC News

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Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Scottish Beer Company Offers "Pawternity" Leave to New Puppy Owners

February 22, 2017 at 10:16PM by
>br> Anyone who’s brought home a new puppy knows it’s hard to get them settled when you have to go to work. So, BrewDog, a craft beer company based in Scotland, is offering its 1,000 employees puppy parental leave: one week of paid time off when they bring home a new dog. “It’s not easy trying to juggle work and settle a new dog into your life, and many members of our crew have four-legged friends at home,” said BrewDog’s co-founder, James Watt. “So we wanted to take the stress out of the situation and let our teams take the time they need to welcome their new puppy or dog into their family.” BrewDog revealed the details of the new employee benefit on their web site earlier this month. The company is opening a new brewery in Ohio. — Read it at the Huffington Post

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Pet Scoop: Baby Kangaroo Cuddles With Surrogate, Dog Survives Eating Toxic Gum

February 22, 2017 at 09:02PM by
>br> Feb. 22, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Olive the baby kangaroo

Keepers Save Kangaroo Joey

A baby kangaroo who was rejected by her mom and found on a cold floor is getting lots of help from her keepers-turned-surrogates at the Bramble Park Zoo in South Dakota. Keeper Olivia Reimers said the staff tried to reunite the joey, Olive, with her mom, without any luck. “She was too worked up and the joey was chilly,” Reimers said. Veterinarians helped get Olive fluids and warmed her up, and now she spends her days being bottle fed and riding in a pouch that her keepers wear. As her carrier bounces up and down with her surrogates’ movements, it helps Olive develop her muscles. She met the public in a debut over the weekend, and her keepers say she’ll be introduced to her kangaroo family at the zoo starting next month. — Watch it at South Dakota’s KSFY

Florida Survey Counts Record Number of Manatees

For the third year in a row, an aerial survey has found more than 6,000 manatees in the waters off Florida. The new preliminary total was 6,620 manatees, up from 6,250 in early 2016 and 6,063 in 2015. There were nearly equal numbers on the east and west coasts of the state. The population count is way up from 1991, when only 1,267 manatees were counted. “The relatively high counts we have seen for the past three years underscore the importance of warm water habitat to manatees in Florida,” said Gil McRae, head of the state's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. — Read it at CNN

Elephant Population Devastated in Key Sanctuary

A new study lead by Duke University finds an 80 percent drop in the population of forest elephants in Gabon's Minkébé National Park due to illegal poaching for their ivory tusks. The research suggests more than 25,000 elephants were killed in the park between 2004 and 2014. Their findings indicate the decline was largely driven by poaching by hunters from neighboring nations in Central Africa, mainly Cameroon to the north. “A 78 to 81 percent loss in a single decade from one of the largest, most remote protected areas in Central Africa is a startling warning that no place is safe from poaching,” said lead author John Poulsen. The findings were published in the journal Current Biology. — Read it at Phys.org

Image: Ryker GSP

Dog Eats 52 Pieces of Toxic Gum

A German Shorthaired Pointer named Ryker survived eating a package of 52 pieces of gum containing the natural sugar substitute xylitol, which can be fatal for dogs. After eating the gum on Jan. 22, Ryker was having trouble standing and walking, so his owner rushed him to 24 HR Animal Care Hospital in Regina, Canada, where he started having seizures. “Even a single piece of gum in a small dog is potentially a toxic dose,” said Dr. Paige Wark. “Probably for [Ryker], even five pieces could've potentially been toxic, so he was ten times the toxic level and he presented seizuring to the clinic already and that had been less than an hour after ingestion.” Thankfully, 3-year-old Ryker was treated in time and has made a full recovery. His owner asked the clinic to share his story on Facebook to help educate more owners on the dangers of xylitol. — Read it at Canada’s CBC News

Scottish Beer Company Offers “Pawternity” Leave

Anyone who’s brought home a new puppy knows it’s hard to get them settled when you have to go to work. So, BrewDog, a craft beer company based in Scotland, is offering its 1,000 employees puppy parental leave: one week of paid time off when they bring home a new dog. “It’s not easy trying to juggle work and settle a new dog into your life, and many members of our crew have four-legged friends at home,” said BrewDog’s co-founder, James Watt. “So we wanted to take the stress out of the situation and let our teams take the time they need to welcome their new puppy or dog into their family.” BrewDog revealed the details of the new employee benefit on their web site earlier this month. The company is opening a new brewery in Ohio. — Read it at the Huffington Post

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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Pet Scoop: Police Dog Finds Missing Autistic Teen, Crowds Bid Farewell to Bao Bao

February 21, 2017 at 08:27PM by
>br> Feb. 21, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: K9 Freya

“Hero” K9 Finds Teen in Woods

Sheriff’s deputies canvassed an area in Louisiana for hours on Valentine’s Day, searching for a 14-year-old boy with autism who’d disappeared. When they didn’t have any luck, they called in Freya, a Bavarian mountain hound, and her handler, Deputy Ron Olivier. “K-9 Freya, who specializes in finding lost children, took the scent from the missing child’s clothes, and started searching. After approximately twenty minutes, K-9 Freya found the missing child, curled up, hiding in the woods,” the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday. The boy was scared but in good health, and the department called Freya a hero for her work. — Read it at People Pets

Hospital Workers Help Preemie Hippo

When the animal care team at the Cincinnati Zoo was having trouble giving its premature hippo, Fiona, an IV for fluids, they turned to their neighbors — the experts at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. The hospital, which is experienced in working with preemies, sent over two members of its vascular access team to help. The team used its sensitive ultrasound equipment to place an IV catheter in a deep leg vein, and it’s stayed in place since Friday afternoon, helping to rehydrate the baby, who was born 6 weeks early on Jan. 24. “Five bags of fluid later, Fiona is showing signs of recovery,” said the zoo’s Christina Gorsuch. “She is still sleeping a lot but has started to take bottles again and has periods of carefully supervised activity.” — Read it at USA Today

World’s Oldest Albatross Mom Hatches Chick at 66

A Laysan albatross named Wisdom became a mom to her latest chick earlier this month at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Wisdom, who’s at least 66 years old, is the world’s oldest known breeding bird in the wild. “Wisdom continues to inspire people around the world,” said Bob Peyton of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wisdom is quite the experienced mom. She’s reared between 30 and 35 chicks at the refuge over the last six decades. — Read it at CBS News

Image: Bao Bao says goodbye

Bye Bye to Bao Bao

With spring-like weather in Washington, D.C., over the long weekend, 3-year-old Bao Bao’s loyal fans from near and far arrived at the National Zoo to wish her well before she departs for China today. The young panda enjoyed lots of treats, including a specially made ice cake in the shape of a Chinese pagoda, in honor of her new home. Bao Bao’s parents are on loan to the zoo from China, under an agreement that any offspring be returned to the country before they turn 4. A veterinarian and a keeper from the zoo who held Bao Bao when she was just a day old will accompany her on the 16-hour nonstop flight to her new home aboard the FedEx Panda Express. — Read it at the Washington Post

Cat Alerts Sleeping Owner to Kitchen Fire

A 1-year-old calico cat named Gizmo is being credited with saving her sleeping family of five from a fire in their Florida home last week. Ron Perkins was asleep on a couch when an oven mitt on top of a toaster oven caught fire in the kitchen. Gizmo seemed to know what to do. “The cat had her front paws on the cushion, just meowing. She would not stop,” Perkins said. “When I opened my eyes, I realized the house was full of smoke.” Luckily, he was able to put the small fire out before it spread. “The cat definitely saved my life!” Perkins and the rest of the family are now showering their heroic cat with treats. — Read it at Florida’s Fox 13

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Monday, February 20, 2017

Pet Scoop: Army Veteran Reunited With Stolen Dog, K9 Finds Lost Toddler in Bushes

February 20, 2017 at 08:38PM by
>br> Feb. 20, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Veteran reunited with Bemis

Emotional Reunion for Vet and Dog

Seven years after her dog was stolen, Kelly Accettola and Bemis were reunited on Saturday morning. Accettola was living in Charlotte, North Carolina, when Bemis disappeared. But because she was in the Army, she has moved many times since then and is now living in California. A few days ago, the veteran was surprised to get a letter from a company that tracks down owners of pets with microchips that have outdated contact information. They told her that her beloved Bemis had been found and brought to a North Carolina shelter. She didn’t hesitate to fly across the country and was reunited with her long-lost pet. “I'm so grateful, and when I saw his little face, it was like nothing had ever changed,” she said. “I just can't believe it.” — Watch it at North Carolina's WSOC TV

Survey: Mexican Gray Wolf Numbers Increase in Wild

There’s good news for the Mexican gray wolf population. There are now more of them living in the American Southwest than there have been in the nearly two decades since the U.S. government started trying to reintroduce them, according to an annual survey released by the Fish and Wildlife Service on Friday. It shows at least 113 of the wolves between southwestern New Mexico and southeast Arizona — up from 97 the previous year. — Read it from the AP via Yahoo

Cat’s Adoption Is 1 Millionth in 3 Months

Gotham the cat marks the symbolic one millionth pet adoption in the Blue Buffalo Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption campaign, which ran from October 1 to January 2. “Gotham was such a special foster that we couldn't part with him. He livens up our home and we laugh at him on a daily basis,” said Amy McDonald, who adopted the black cat during the 18^th annual drive. The Home 4 the Holidays campaign, which has more than 4,000 participating adoption agencies, had a record-setting total of 1,333,692 adoptions in the 2016 campaign. Home 4 the Holidays has placed more than 12 million pets in total in loving homes.

Image: K9 Ava

Rescue K9 Finds Little Boy

A search and rescue dog named Ava tracked down a 2-year-old boy on Saturday after his mother reported him missing from his Portland, Oregon, home. The mom panicked when she woke up at 6 a.m. and River wasn’t in the bed with her. Mountain Wave K9 Ava found him in a blackberry bush about two blocks from his house, nearly six hours later. “She dragged me right in there,” said handler Becky Irving. River was taken to the hospital to be treated for scratches, bruises and exposure to the elements, but is expected to be OK. — Watch it at Portland’s KOIN 9

Raccoon Gets a Ride on Garbage Truck

A raccoon just outside Washington, D.C., got a little more than he bargained for when he was looking for a snack in the trash on Friday. Politico reporter Helena B. Evich snapped a picture of a raccoon stuck in a ladder on the back of a garbage truck in Arlington, Virginia, and an Internet seemingly desperate to indulge in anything that wasn’t political quickly sent it viral. Evich Tweeted that she alerted the driver and that the company, American Disposal, was helpful and responsive to the raccoon and his predicament. The driver pulled over and while he was waiting for animal control to arrive, the raccoon made his getaway on his own. — Read it at the Huffington Post

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Friday, February 17, 2017

Pet Scoop: Puppy Trapped in 230-Foot Well for Days, Elderly Rescue Goat Loves UPS Man

February 17, 2017 at 08:49PM by
>br> Feb. 17, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Puppy rescued from well

Firefighters Adopt Rescued Pup

A 3-month-old puppy was saved this week after spending 10 days trapped in a 230-foot borehole in Turkey. People could hear Kuyu’s cries for help but local emergency workers and animal groups couldn’t reach him. They lowered food down to him while they turned to the disaster and emergency management authority for help. The group, which usually helps in earthquakes, used thermal imaging to find the puppy, and then worked for days to free him, even getting assistance from a coal rescue crew sent by the Turkish energy minister. Kuyu was finally pulled safely from the well on Wednesday morning, where he was met by a cheering crowd. And there’s more good news for Kuyu: he’s now been adopted by an Istanbul fire station that helped with his rescue. — See photos at Buzzfeed

Study: Drones Work as Well as People at Counting Birds

Researchers from Gettysburg College compared drones with audio recorders hovering to “listen” for songbirds with human observers on the ground, and found the two methods compared favorably. The team didn’t observe a problem with drones themselves affecting bird behavior, but urged more study on that matter. They said using drones would allow counts to be made in dangerous and inaccessible locations where ground-based surveyors are hindered. The study was published in the journal The Auk: Ornithological Advances. — Read it at Seeker

Wavy Nerves Help Whales Avoid Pain, Study Finds

Baleen whales, like the blue whale, take huge gulps of water to filter for food, stretching a pouch of skin under their chins to accommodate the load. But a new study finds this huge stretch doesn’t hurt the animals because whales have nerves that are specially adapted to prevent them from feeling pain. Researchers found the whales have nerves that are coiled like a telephone cord so they can still work when stretched. As the whale empties its pouch, the nerves relax and begin to coil. The study was published in the journal Current Biology. — Read it at Live Science

Image: Sanctuary goat

18-Year-Old Goat Loves UPS Driver

Pearl, a goat who lives at a sanctuary for abused animals in Tennessee, found her favorite human in a UPS driver. “When she hears his truck pull in she will drop whatever she is doing to run and see him,” The Gentle Barn sanctuary said in a Facebook post last weekend. “She will wait right outside his truck for him and sometimes even get impatient and climb in.” And the feeling is mutual. “He always brings peanut butter treats for her and gives her lots of love while he is here … he has told us that no matter what kind of day he is having, when he sees Pearl run to greet him everything is better. Sometimes we find love in the most unexpected places!” — Read it at UPI

National Zoo Celebrates Panda Before Sendoff

Washington’s National Zoo plans to spoil its 3-year-old giant panda, Bao Bao, with treats and mementos this weekend before she departs for her new home in China on Tuesday. Bao Bao was the first surviving cub born at the zoo since 2005. As part of the zoo’s agreement with China, cubs born in the U.S. are required to be sent to China before they turn 4 years old. Bao Bao’s handlers plan to give her special treats including dumplings and a heart-shaped ice cake, and items to remind her of her birthplace. She will travel to China via FedEx. — Read it from Reuters via Yahoo

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Thursday, February 16, 2017

Pet Scoop: Dog Stuck in Pipe for 15 Hours, Exotic Animals Found After Dam Evacuation

February 16, 2017 at 08:46PM by
>br> Feb. 16, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Penny coonhound

Kids Help Save Trapped Dog

A red tick Coonhound chased a raccoon into a drainage pipe during a hunting outing late Saturday night in Greeneville, Tennessee, and wound up trapped. Knowing Penny was OK and concerned for the safety of their volunteers, the Greeneville Emergency and Rescue Squad waited until daybreak to respond to the situation. Then, they used an excavator to get closer to the pipe where the 5-year-old dog was stuck. Still, rescuers couldn’t get into the pipe — so they turned to the children in Penny’s family for help. Owner Casey Carter’s 12-year-old son, Bubby, and 9-year-old daughter, Kailee, crawled into the pipe to try to put a rope around Penny to pull her out. Finally, after using the excavator again, the group was able to free Penny. “She came out wiggling her tail,” Carter said. “She drank about a half gallon of water and got a sausage biscuit when she got out.” Other than some stiffness and a scratch, Penny was OK, and has been recovering after her ordeal. “I was amazed at the rescue squad and I’m proud of the kids. That’s something they will remember for the rest of their lives,” Carter said. — Read it at The Greeneville Sun

Zebras, Kangaroos Rescued After California Evacuation

Following the evacuation of homes near the Oroville Dam in Northern California this week, police officers were surprised to find exotic pets left behind. California Highway Patrol officers who were checking on abandoned properties came across kangaroos, mini deer and zebras. “We never know what we'll discover out here. We hope life gets back to normal here real soon and that the owners are able to return to their properties,” CHP North Sacramento wrote in a Facebook post with photos of the officers visiting with some affectionate animals. The animals were taken in by a “kind stranger” who lives outside the evacuation zone, and will be reunited with their owners once they’re able to return to their homes. — Read it at Yahoo

Two More Dog Foods Recalled Over Contamination

We have two separate dog food recalls to let you know about. Blue Buffalo Company has issued a recall of its Homestyle Recipe Healthy Weight due to possible aluminum metal contamination. The company has not received any reports of illness. Against the Grain Pet Food is recalling one lot of its Grain Pulled Beef with Gravy Dinner for Dogs for potential presence of of pentobarbital. The barbiturate can cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, nausea and nystagmus (eyes moving back and forth in a jerky manner). However, no complaints have been reported to the company. — Get recall details from the FDA and Dog Food Advisor

Image: Baby hippo bottle

Rescued Hippo Drinks From Bottle

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya is used to raising orphaned elephants, but they shared recently that they’ve been nursing a baby hippo back to health. The tiny calf was spotted stuck in a drying pond in a remote area. The baby was observed for a few days to ensure the mom wasn’t coming back, then plans were made to rescue her. She was flown to the DSWT headquarters in late December, and has been hand-raised since then by Frans, who’s been like a surrogate mom to the hippo. She was just a month old when she was found. Rescuers at first thought the baby was a boy and named him Humphrey. Later, they realized the baby was in fact a girl, so her name was shortened to Humpty. Even though she now has a new keeper, Joseph, she still adores Frans — and everyone who’s helped her. The DSWT shared this cute photo of her drinking out of her bottle on Facebook Wednesday. “Humpty may love her bottle now, but teaching her how to drink from it was quite a trick,” the caption reads. — Read it at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Facebook

Family Adopts Pup Found in Church Parking Lot

A loving puppy has a happy new home after a tough weekend. Lauren McKinzy and her grandchildren were leaving the United Pentecostal Church of Buna in Texas on Sunday when they saw a puppy alone in the parking lot. “He didn't have a collar and he was hungry so we took him home,” McKinzy said. It turns out that the puppy was abandoned in the mailbox of an animal hospital across the street from the church on Saturday, without food or water. Security footage shows a man driving by the facility twice before leaving the puppy in the mailbox. Police are now searching for the man, but thankfully, the sweet puppy, who’s been named Rari, seems quite content in his new home. — Read it at Arizona’s 12 News

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Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Rumor the German Shepherd Wins Westminster Dog Show 2017

February 15, 2017 at 10:20PM by
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Image: Rumor Westminster 2017 BIS

Rumor finally has it all. The 5-year-old German Shepherd who’s named after Adele’s “Rumor Has It” was favored to win Westminster’s Best in Show title last year, but she lost in an upset. But in January, she came out of retirement when her handler, Kent Boyles, decided to give her one more shot. Rumor snagged the prestigious award last night at 141st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden, after taking long strides through the ring. She’s only the second German Shepherd to win the top prize in the show’s history. The excited dog leapt up to lick Boyles after her win. “The German Shepherd standard talks about quality and nobility,” said Thomas Bradley, who was the Best in Show judge. “She is just magnificent.” Rumor bested a Norwegian Elkhound named Duffy; a Pekingese named Chuckie; a Miniature Poodle named Aftin; a Norwich Terrier named Tanner; a Boxer named Devlin; and an Irish Setter named Adrian. Now Rumor will really retire. “She's going to be relaxing for a while,” Boyles said after the win, and there are “puppies in her future.” — Read it from the AP via Yahoo

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Pet Scoop: 18-Year-Old Doxie Lives Bucket List, German Shepherd Wins Westminster

February 15, 2017 at 08:25PM by
>br> Feb. 15, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Morgan 18 year old Dachshund

Rescued Dog Loves Adventures

An elderly long-haired Dachshund has spent the last year of his life going on little adventures with Kate Reidy, the foster mom who rescued him. Morgan came to Reidy through the Senior Paws Sanctuary dog rescue in Florida after his original owner died. She decided to make the most out of the end of the healthy 18-year-old dog’s life. “Our adventures are usually an hour long, if that. I do think he enjoys it,” Reidy said. “Whenever I have his leash by the door ready to go, he runs right over. Maybe the day he doesn't run to the door, I'll know it's time to dial back.” For now, Morgan seems happy to go to baseball games, walk on the beach and visit the fire station. “I feel like he's gotten so much more lively. He loves to snuggle. He's a sweetheart,” Reidy said. — See photos at ABC News and follow Morgan on Facebook

Disease Could Be “Catastrophic” for Rare Antelopes

Scientists estimate a deadly infectious disease outbreak has killed about 25 percent of the critically endangered Mongolian saiga, a unique subspecies of antelope. About 2,500 of the population of 10,000 antelope have died just since December. The virus was introduced to the population in September from infected goats and sheep, scientists said. “The situation is tragic and widespread,” said Amanda Fine, a veterinarian and associate director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Wildlife Health Program in Asia. A rapid-response team in Mongolia is working to collect samples from infected animals in an effort to stop the spread of infection and help the species recover. — Read it at Live Science

Police Officer Jumps Into Frozen Lake to Save Dog

A Vancouver, Canada, police officer rushed to the rescue of a dog who was drowning in a partially frozen lake Friday afternoon. The dog had chased a ball onto thin ice and fell through. He was struggling to stay above water when officers arrived. “Concerned for the immediate well-being of the dog, one of our officers removed portions of his uniform, took hold of one end of a rescue rope, and with his co-workers holding the other end, he made his way to the dog,” said Const. Jason Doucette. “Both the dog and our officer made it back to shore, cold, but uninjured.” A bystander shared photos of the hero officer on Twitter, and thanks for the officer have poured in on social media. — Read it at Canada’s CBC News

Image: Rumor Westminster 2017 BIS

Rumor Wins Best in Show

Rumor finally has it all. The 5-year-old German Shepherd who’s named after Adele’s “Rumor Has It” was favored to win Westminster’s Best in Show title last year, but she lost in an upset. But in January, she came out of retirement when her handler, Kent Boyles, decided to give her one more shot. Rumor snagged the prestigious award last night at 141^st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden, after taking long strides through the ring. She’s only the second German Shepherd to win the top prize in the show’s history. The excited dog leapt up to lick Boyles after her win. “The German Shepherd standard talks about quality and nobility,” said Thomas Bradley, who was the Best in Show judge. “She is just magnificent.” Rumor bested a Norwegian Elkhound named Duffy; a Pekingese named Chuckie; a Miniature Poodle named Aftin; a Norwich Terrier named Tanner; a Boxer named Devlin; and an Irish Setter named Adrian. Now Rumor will really retire. “She's going to be relaxing for a while,” Boyles said after the win, and there are “puppies in her future.” — Read it from the AP via Yahoo

Man Reunited With Dog After Hiking Accident

It was Feb. 1 when Warren Muldoon was evacuated from a California mountain by helicopter. He was suffering from hypothermia, a broken leg, five broken ribs and a punctured lung — but his biggest concern might have been leaving his dog behind. The German Shepherd was 30 feet above him, unreachable near a waterfall. “I could see Dakota just standing there looking at me,” Muldoon said. “It just broke my heart to leave her.” Fortunately, the 3-year-old dog was rescued from the mountainside by another team, and she was delighted to be reunited with her recovering owner. A video of their sweet reunion was shared on Facebook on Friday. — Watch it at People Pets

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Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Pet Scoop: Lost Giraffe Calf Reunited With Mom, Rumor Makes Westminster Comeback

February 14, 2017 at 08:29PM by
>br> Feb. 14, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Giraffe reunion

Sweet Reunion for Baby Giraffe

A team from San Diego Zoo Global feared the worst when they saw a mother giraffe looking distressed and as if she’d lost something at a conservancy in Kenya. They were investigating the area for signs of predators when they spotted a scared giraffe calf hiding in the bushes some distance away. “After some gentle encouragement they managed to reunite mum and baby giraffe,” the Giraffe Conservation Foundation said in a post on Facebook Sunday, where they shared photos of the sweet reunion between mom and baby. — See photo at the Giraffe Conservation’s Facebook

Study: Your Dog Is Watching Your Behavior

A new study shows your dog may have a sense of morality. Researchers recruited dog owners to act out a scene in front of their pets. Each owner acted out a scene where they tried and failed to open a container. Then they asked two researchers for help. In one of their experiments, one researcher didn’t do anything to help and the one that did help acted like a jerk. Afterward, both researchers offered the dogs a treat. The dogs showed a clear preference for the researcher who didn’t help over the one who was a jerk. A similar reaction was found in monkeys. “If somebody is behaving antisocially, they probably end up with some sort of emotional reaction to it,” said study author James Anderson, an animal behavior researcher at Japan’s Kyoto University. The study was published in the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. — Read it at New York Magazine

The ARK Opens at JFK

The first phase of an elaborate animal terminal called the ARK officially opened at JFK International Airport in New York on Monday. The $65 million, 178,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility was set to include a pet resort and bone-shaped dog pool as well as resting stalls for horses and livestock departing from the airport. It also features an aviary quarantine with isolation rooms where birds can have an overnight rest stop before traveling through the U.S. The Ark will be fully operational by the summer, and will also include a veterinary clinic and pet grooming and boarding.

Image: Rumor German Shepherd Westminster 2017

Rumor Scores Big at Westminster

A German Shepherd named Rumor was favored to win the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last year, but lost in an upset to German Shorthaired Pointer CJ. Rumor, who’s 5, was expected to retire — but she came roaring back to win the Herding Group on Monday night. That gives her another shot at the Best in Show title tonight. She’ll face off against the six other group winners. So far, they include Duffy the Norwegian Elkhound who won the Hound Group, a Pekingese named Chucky who won the Toy Group and a Miniature Poodle who took the Non-Sporting Group. The Sporting, Working and Terrier Groups will compete before the seven finalists head to the Best in Show ring tonight at Madison Square Garden. — Read it from the AP via Yahoo

Boston’s SWAT Cat Gets Her Own House

At the end of 2015, a stray cat adopted by the Boston Police Department’s SWAT team, nicknamed Swat Cat, disappeared. The department put out an APB, and exactly a month later, the calico cat returned. The officers feed and take care of Swat Cat, who they consider part of the family. But despite their best efforts, they said they can’t convince her to come indoors. Last week, they revealed a new, fully-insulated kitty condo to keep Swat Cat safe and comfortable. “Officer Jamie Pietroski, a 15-year veteran of the Boston Police Department, stayed late after work for several nights painstakingly preparing Swat Cat’s new home,” the department said in a Facebook post with a photo of the kitty outsider her house. “The condo features a spacious studio interior layout, a large deck for outdoor dining and glass sliding doors offering panoramic city views. Swat Cat moved right in and looks very happy with her new custom kitty accommodations.” — See photo from the Boston Police Department’s Facebook

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Monday, February 13, 2017

I’m So Happy You’re Still Here: A Love Letter to My Dog

February 14, 2017 at 05:26AM by
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Image: Grizzly in 2017

Once my chocolate Labrador Retriever turned 7 years old, I spent each year dreading the fact that he was getting older — and fearing the end was getting closer. But after Grizzly turned 13, it was like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. Suddenly, I felt like any time we had left was icing on the cake.

You see, I’d spent my whole life wanting a dog, but my family never had one. So when my then-fiancé and I bought our first home in 2002, we immediately got the puppy we'd wanted for so long. Grizzly was in our home before the moving trucks arrived, and I was delighted to snuggle with the 8-week-old brown ball of fur I’d been dreaming of as the movers unloaded boxes around me.

Since then, Grizzly has comforted me through heartbreak, excitedly greeted our daughters when we brought each of them home from the hospital and inspired my oldest daughter’s first laugh.

Growing Older

Now that my girls are 8 and 10 years old, he loves playing hide-and-seek for treats and “helping” me make their lunches in the morning. For the last six years, I’ve worked from home, and he’s been the ultimate co-worker, getting up with me at 5 a.m. to meet a daily deadline and habitually taking his place at my feet while I write.

Dogs often become fixtures in your home, sleeping in the corner, greeting you at the door. As much as we love them, it’s easy to take it for granted that they’re there — and that they'll continue to be there. But many times recently, it has struck me how lucky I am that Grizzly has made it to 14 ½ years old. I stop what I’m doing and look right in his eyes and hug him, telling him how happy I am he’s still here.

The first time Griz needed help getting up the stairs at night, when he was about 11, I stood at the bottom with him and cried, assuming the worst. But it turned out that he simply needed encouragement — and he got just that from my younger daughter, who was 5 years old and made up a little song for him. “Put one paw in front of the other, and soon you’ll be walking up the stairs!” She’d sprinkle a trail of dog cookies to lead the way, and with a little nudge, he managed.

It wasn’t the beginning of the end as I’d feared. It was just the beginning of a new phase in Grizzly’s life.

Image: Grizzly puppy 2002

Golden Years

I’ve rushed to the vet many times over the last few years, fearful of getting news that this was it. But (knock on wood), we’ve been lucky so far.

It’s true that things aren’t as easy as they once were, and Grizzly’s health has declined over the years in many of the ways common to senior and geriatric pets. He can’t hear. He can’t see very well. He has a tendency to have accidents in the house, has grown rather lumpy with fatty deposits and he needs a lot more help on those stairs now, which, of course, we gladly provide.

But by looking at it as “assisted living,” as our vet calls it, we’ve learned to have a sense of humor about “Old Man Grizzly.”

He barks for help getting up off the hardwood floor or going up the stairs to the deck in the backyard — and also when he’s hungry or just feeling a bit lonesome. He’s become quite the determined food thief, likely because he’s deaf and doesn’t hear anyone tell him no anymore, so we really have to work to remain a step ahead of him when food is nearby. He barely notices when someone stops by the house these days, but once he realizes they've arrived, he happily greets them so they can give him some love. And we’ve realized he now needs more of a schedule for potty breaks, kind of like when he was a puppy.

Our veterinarian says she only sees about 10 percent of Labs live to this golden age. When we asked her about it recently, she attributed Grizzly’s longevity to keeping his weight down, getting good veterinary care and having good genes.

Although he’s slowed down in his old age, Grizzly still loves all the same things. Being a Lab, he devours anything he can get his paws on. He hops up for walks (although they're a little slower and slightly shorter these days) and adores the attention of his family. He’s happy to see anyone who pays him a visit — and we’re all so, so happy he’s still here.

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Law Enforcement K9 Kisses Partner During Official Portrait Session

February 13, 2017 at 11:00PM by
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Image: Kenobi kisses officer

The Internet has fallen for Kenobi, the chocolate Labrador Retriever who showed lots of puppy love for his partner, Indiana Conservation Officer Levi Knach, as they attempted to sit for an official portrait recently. Last week, Indiana State Parks shared one serious picture of the duo on Facebook — and three where Kenobi decided to kiss and cuddle with Knach. Not surprisingly, the pictures went viral. But the department warns he’s not all sweetness and snuggles. “Kenobi is cute, but make no mistake — he is a trained, working officer and can track people and locate a variety of objects ranging from venison to ginseng,” the post read. — Read it at the Huffington Post

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Law Enforcement K9 Kisses Partner During Official Portrait Session

February 13, 2017 at 11:00PM by
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Image: Kenobi kisses officer

Pet Scoop: Border Collie Wins Westminster Agility, K9 Kisses Partner in Photo Shoot

February 13, 2017 at 08:23PM by
>br> Feb. 13, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Trick Border Collie

Trick Takes Home Trophy

A speedy Border Collie named Trick won the first big prize at this year’s Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show over the weekend: the agility championship. The black and white dog from Rhode Island bobbed and weaved through the obstacle course in 32.65 seconds, becoming the third Border Collie to win the top prize in the competition’s four years. But Trick wasn’t the event’s only star. The audience laughed as Mia, a 12-inch Beagle, who got distracted several times on the course, stopped to sniff, scratch and take in the crowd’s adoration. The announcer can be heard saying, “Don’t be a Beagle, don’t be a Beagle …” in a video as Mia stops for a sniff. “That was a delightfully entertaining run,” the announcer said as Mia finished and got love from her handler. — Read and watch it at NJ.com

Cats Appear at Westminster

In a first, cats joined the dogs at “Meet the Breeds,” which showcased various breeds as Westminster kicked off in New York over the weekend. The cats even had the chance to show off in their own agility demonstration, some of them trying it for the first time. Luckily, the first feline appearance at the show was far from a “cat-astrophe,” as some Twitter users joked. A 1-year-old Sphynx cat named Misha had never tried the obstacle course before but caught on so quickly she bested 30 other cats to win. “Good for them,” said Tina Ackerman of New Hampshire as she handled her Bichon Frise. “There's no way we could ever have trained any of our cats to do agility.” The dog show will air on FS1 tonight and Tuesday night, when the prestigious Best in Show title will be awarded. — Read it from AP via Yahoo

Hero Cat Alerts Family to Fire

A cat was the first to notice flames inside his family’s home at about 3:30 a.m. Thursday, and is credited with saving his loved ones from the blaze. The parents and two children were sleeping in their home in Canada when the fire started. The cat pawed his way into his owner’s bedroom and bit the mother on the arm to alert her to the danger, reports said. The family escaped their burning home safely with the cat, and firefighters were also able to save a second cat from the fire. — Read it at CBS News

Image: Kenobi kisses officer

K9 Clearly Loves His Partner

Koalas Cool Off With Frozen Water Bottles

Blizzards and flooding may be hitting parts of the U.S., but around the world in Australia, residents are coping with a heat wave. Keepers at Symbio Wildlife Park helped their koalas battle Sydney’s high temperatures with frozen water bottles wrapped in cloth and tied to trees for them to sidle up to. In a video shared on Facebook Saturday, the marsupials looked quite appreciative of the help with cooling down. — Watch it at Symbio Wildlife Park’s Facebook

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Friday, February 10, 2017

Golden Retriever Delivers Newspapers to Neighbors Every Morning

February 10, 2017 at 10:25PM by
>br> Quincy has a job to do, and he’s thrilled to do it. Every morning for the last 11 years, the Golden Retriever has done his paper route in his Denver neighborhood. His owner trained him to deliver newspapers to the front steps of his neighbors’ homes, so they only need to open the door to reach down and get it. “It’s just nice to give to your neighbors,” said Quincy’s owner, Paul Golden.

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Pet Scoop: Dogs Love Snow Day in Northeast, Firefighters Free Puppy Trapped in Gate

February 10, 2017 at 08:26PM by
>br> Feb. 10, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Snow dog

Dogs Frolic in Big Snowfall

Blizzard conditions hit the Northeast on Thursday, closing schools and business. The storm left more than a foot of snow — and resulted in a flurry of pictures and videos of delighted dogs on social media. Pet owners from many of the big cities impacted by the storm, including Boston and New York, shared pictures of their pups racing along the empty sidewalks or having fun in the park. There were some cats, too — although they didn’t look quite as happy. While schools will reopen in Philadelphia and New York today, they remain closed in Boston, where more snow is in the forecast. So, watch for more cute pics tagged #SnowDay! — See photos at People Pets

Beloved 54-Year-Old Elephant Dies in Oregon

An Asian elephant born at the Oregon Zoo in April 1962 passed away on Thursday after a long battle with tuberculosis. Packy was one of the oldest elephants in captivity and the oldest male of his species in North America. Before Packy’s birth, an elephant hadn’t been born in captivity in the U.S. in 44 years. Saying they’d run out of options to treat Packy for his recurring TB, the zoo’s veterinarians said they made the decision to euthanize him. “A lot of people were involved in this decision, but that didn't make it any easier,” said Dr. Tim Storms, the zoo's lead veterinarian. “Anybody who's had a sick or elderly pet knows how painful this can be, even if you know it's the best thing for the animal.” — Read it at Oregon Live

Study: Young Penguins Getting “Trapped” Due to Changes

New research finds that young African penguins aren’t able to take all of the changes in their environment into account and wind up “trapped” in areas that can no longer support them. They aren’t finding their way to parts of the sea that would be better options. “Our results show that juvenile African penguins are stuck foraging for food in the wrong places,” says Richard Sherley of the University of Exeter and University of Cape Town. “When the young of this endangered species leave the colony for the first time, they travel long distances, searching the ocean for certain signs that should mean they have found an area with lots of plankton and plenty of the fish that feed on it. But rapid shifts caused by climate change and fishing mean these signs can now lead them to places where these fish, the penguins' main prey, are scarce with impacts on their survival — a so-called 'ecological trap.'” The findings were published in the journal Current Biology. — Read it at Science Daily

Image: Phoenix puppy stuck in gate

Pup Gets Head Stuck in Gate

Firefighters in Phoenix came to the rescue of a mischievous puppy who got his head wedged in between the metal bars of a security gate outside his elderly owner’s home. “With a little teamwork and ingenuity they were able to free Harley and reunite him with his grateful owner,” the Phoenix Fire Department wrote in a Facebook post with a video of the rescue on Tuesday. Cheers can be heard as Harley is gently pulled from the gate, and the relieved little dog had lots of tail wags for his rescuers. — Read it at UPI

Dog Delivers Newspapers to Neighbors Daily

Quincy has a job to do, and he’s thrilled to do it. Every morning for the last 11 years, the Golden Retriever has done his paper route in his Denver neighborhood. His owner trained him to deliver newspapers to the front steps of his neighbors’ homes, so they only need to open the door to reach down and get it. “It’s just nice to give to your neighbors,” said Quincy’s owner, Paul Golden. — Watch it at Today

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