April 28, 2017 at 08:58PM by
>br> We’ve seen dogs do trust falls, including this one of a Golden Retriever landing in the waiting arms of a giant teddy bear. But we couldn’t imagine most cats being willing to give it a try. Leave it to Didga, who takes part in other un-cat-like activities like skateboarding, to defy expectations. “She ‘trusts’ me to catch her as she falls straight back into my hands,” her owner writes in the YouTube description. “I rescued her from the shelter, so she can trust me. — Read it at People Pets
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/cute-video-cat-trust-falls-into-owners-lap?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Friday, April 28, 2017
Pet Scoop: Residents Rescue Blind Dog From Lake, Penguin Chicks Hand-Reared at Zoo
April 28, 2017 at 07:13PM by
>br> April 28, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.
Researchers have found that newborn humpback whales learn to use muted squeaks to communicate with their moms, perhaps to avoid attracting killer whales. Recordings offer a rare look at the development of the baby whales and a glimpse at the complex interactions they have with their moms while they migrate. The study found the sounds the calves made were about 40 decibels lower than calls produced by singing whales, and up to 70 decibels lower than other social sounds from adults. The study was published in the journal Functional Ecology. — Read it at Live Science
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-residents-rescue-blind-dog-from-lake-penguin-chicks-hand-reared-at-zoo?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> April 28, 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: Boston rescued from Miami lake
Struggling Dog Pulled Aboard Boat
Neighbors in Miami Gardens, Florida, jumped into action when they spotted a senior Cocker Spaniel who was blind struggling in a lake. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue was called, but in the meantime, residents took to the water in a boat to help. A Good Samaritan pulled Boston aboard and brought him to firefighters who were waiting on the other side of the lake. Boston was later reunited with Barbara Terry, who’s been dog sitting while her brother is out of town. Terry saw Boston on Local 10 News and contacted authorities. She was relieved he was OK — but laughed that she thinks she’s lost her job. — Watch it at Miami’s Local 10Dog Food Possibly Contaminated With Euthanasia Drug Recalled
The Texas-based company Party Animal is recalling 13-ounce cans of Cocolicious Beef & Turkey dog food (Lot #0136E15204 04, best by July 2019) and 13-ounce cans of Cocolicious Chicken & Beef dog food (Lot #0134E15 237 13, best by August 2019). The company said two cans of the food had tested positive for pentobarbital, a drug used for euthanasia. The food had been manufactured and distributed in 2015. "The safety of pets is and always will be our first priority. We sincerely regret the reports of the discomfort experienced by the pet who consumed this food," the company said in a statement. They urged customers to throw the food out or return it for a refund. — Read it at CBS NewsStudy: Humpback Calves “Whisper” to Mom
Researchers have found that newborn humpback whales learn to use muted squeaks to communicate with their moms, perhaps to avoid attracting killer whales. Recordings offer a rare look at the development of the baby whales and a glimpse at the complex interactions they have with their moms while they migrate. The study found the sounds the calves made were about 40 decibels lower than calls produced by singing whales, and up to 70 decibels lower than other social sounds from adults. The study was published in the journal Functional Ecology. — Read it at Live Science
Image: Penguins hand reared
Penguins Cozy Up to Stuffed Animal
Two Humboldt penguins who hatched in the days after Easter are being hand-reared at the ZSL London Zoo because their parents were unable to care for them. The fuzzy gray chicks are fed by hand three times a day and spend their time snuggling with a stuffed animal penguin under a heat lamp in a custom-built incubation room at the zoo. “They make sure we know it’s feeding time – they may be only weeks old but they’ve definitely perfected their squawks already,” said keeper Adrian Walls. Once the chicks are about 10 weeks old, they’ll move to the penguin nursery, where they’ll learn to swim before they’re introduced to the rest of their colony. — Read it at the London ZooCat Trust Falls Into Owner’s Lap
We’ve seen dogs do trust falls, including this one of a Golden Retriever landing in the waiting arms of a giant teddy bear. But we couldn’t imagine most cats being willing to give it a try. Leave it to Didga, who takes part in other un-cat-like activities like skateboarding, to defy expectations. “She ‘trusts’ me to catch her as she falls straight back into my hands,” her owner writes in the YouTube description. “I rescued her from the shelter, so she can trust me. — Watch it at People PetsOriginal From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-residents-rescue-blind-dog-from-lake-penguin-chicks-hand-reared-at-zoo?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Thursday, April 27, 2017
I Escaped an Abusive Relationship — Thanks to My Dogs
April 28, 2017 at 04:52AM by
>br>
We love our pets — often, they are like family to us. But when a family dynamic is damaged by abuse or neglect, pets can suffer just like their humans.
In domestic abuse, an abuser often exploits a victim’s devotion to a pet to control and manipulate that victim. Too often, abuse victims feel trapped and unable to seek help because they fear for the safety of their pets if they leave. According to the Urban Resource Institute (URI), a provider of domestic violence programs and services in New York City, up to 65 percent of domestic violence victims and 48 percent of battered women delay leaving a dangerous situation out of concern for their pets. (In May of 2013, URI launched a specific program, Urban Resource Institute People and Animals Living Safely, or URIPALS, that houses victims of abuse and their pets.)
I am sympathetic to abuse victims who stay: A few years back, I found myself trapped in an emotionally abusive relationship and delayed leaving for the sake of my dogs. At the time, I felt alone and ashamed; I was unable to reach out for help because I believed that no one would understand my situation. Today, though, I know that my story is one shared by many victims of emotional and physical abuse.
And yet I stayed with him, despite knowing that it was dangerous for me to do so. I stayed because my critically low self-esteem made it hard to believe that I deserved unconditional love and care. But what really prevented me from leaving the relationship was the terrifying prospect of what would happen to my two Pugs, Bruce and Willy, if I tried to stand up to my abuser or leave him outright. He made it clear that if we split up, he would keep one of the Pugs, even though it was also clear that he had no sincere interest in the dogs. He used them, and his knowledge of my love for them, to control me.
In fact, my Pugs were the stable ground I clung to during the storm of emotional abuse and neglect I faced. Their unceasing affection and unparalleled loyalty was a safe harbor for me. Whenever I felt weighed down with discouragement and despair, their wet kisses, wiggly snuggles and donut-shaped tail wags inspired me to keep coming up for air.
In the end, it was the dogs that saved me from the abuse. I had resigned myself to the fact that this was life as I would know it and had come to believe that I did not deserve any better. But as soon as I saw my dogs in danger, I knew I had to leave.
I felt so many things in that moment — heartbreak, terror, repulsion, fury, shame. I was raised to believe that a person’s true character is revealed in the way he treats a helpless animal. In my mind, anyone who mistreats or hurts an animal is evil. In that moment, I confronted the truth that I was in a relationship with someone who was dangerous in ways I could not even understand. I could no longer make excuses for him, give him the benefit of the doubt or even hope that he would somehow change. I knew in that instant that I was finally seeing him for who he was.
I swept Bruce into my arms and, for the first time, I stood up to my abuser: I told him that if he ever threatened or touched either dog again in a harmful way I would call the police and leave for good.
In hindsight, I know that I should have left him right then, but I didn’t. His tearful, pleading remorse made me feel responsible, like it was my job to stay and help him change. But more than that I feared that if I did take action, he would retaliate by taking the dogs — or worse.
Unfortunately, my worst fear came true: My abuser chose to keep Bruce with him, sending Willy with me. Driving away from our home and my beloved dog, I was hysterical. My tears were partially from relief, but mostly they were shed in grief of the loss of one of my dogs and the danger he faced as a result.
My constant prayer during those days of separation and the resulting legal battle was that I would be able to keep both of my dogs. And that’s exactly what happened: My prayers were answered and the Pugs and I were able to move forward together to heal from our years of abuse and sadness.
My story has a happy ending, but there are thousands of other pet owners just like me. I stand as one among many, many victims who have remained imprisoned in an abusive relationship because they fear leaving their beloved pet behind. Unfortunately, pets, who are often the victims’ greatest source of support, are frequently used as leverage by the abuser to intimidate and threaten the victim and prevent her from leaving. This may include everything from neglect or physical injury to the pet’s death.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of domestic violence shelters are not set up to support or house pets: Only an estimated 5 percent of shelters nationwide support pets with onsite housing.
By contrast, a national survey found that 85 percent of women in domestic violence shelters reported incidents of a pet being harmed by their abuser, while 63 percent of children discussed pet abuse in their family. In addition, animals were abused in 88 percent of homes where child physical abuse was present and abusers of animals are five times as likely to harm humans. Abusers tend to isolate their victims, both socially and financially, which makes it extremely challenging for the victims to obtain outside support or assistance — and this is compounded when a pet is involved.
Often this means that even when resources like shelters and support programs are available, a victim may choose to remain with an abuser rather than abandon a pet in a dangerous situation. This is often a no-win situation for the victim: According to URI, 71 percent of pet owners entering women’s shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control a victim.
Thankfully, there are a growing handful of domestic violence resources across the country that provide support for both pets and people. Such shelters allow both human and animal victims to flee to safety together — and in doing so remove one of the greatest barriers for abuse victims seeking help. These shelters also provide veterinary care for pets, who in many cases are in dire need of medical attention. Safe havens that support both pets and people also provide an opportunity for human family members to receive comfort from the ongoing support of a pet as they journey to healing together.
I am in a better place now. While Bruce is no longer with us, Willy and my daughter Regan and I have built a wonderful life with my new husband, Ben. But it is important to me to share my story, in the hope that other abuse victims will find the strength to walk away and find a safe place for themselves and their pets.
More on Vetstreet:
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/i-escaped-an-abusive-relationship-thanks-to-my-dogs?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br>
Image: BruceWillyAlmostHeavencreek 335
We love our pets — often, they are like family to us. But when a family dynamic is damaged by abuse or neglect, pets can suffer just like their humans.In domestic abuse, an abuser often exploits a victim’s devotion to a pet to control and manipulate that victim. Too often, abuse victims feel trapped and unable to seek help because they fear for the safety of their pets if they leave. According to the Urban Resource Institute (URI), a provider of domestic violence programs and services in New York City, up to 65 percent of domestic violence victims and 48 percent of battered women delay leaving a dangerous situation out of concern for their pets. (In May of 2013, URI launched a specific program, Urban Resource Institute People and Animals Living Safely, or URIPALS, that houses victims of abuse and their pets.)
I am sympathetic to abuse victims who stay: A few years back, I found myself trapped in an emotionally abusive relationship and delayed leaving for the sake of my dogs. At the time, I felt alone and ashamed; I was unable to reach out for help because I believed that no one would understand my situation. Today, though, I know that my story is one shared by many victims of emotional and physical abuse.
The Cycle of Abuse
Growing up, I was a people pleaser, wanting others to like and approve of me. As a teenager, I sought validation from outsiders and learned to put my own needs last. In my early 20s I became involved with a man who preyed on my desire to please. His constant manipulation, unpredictable anger, injurious words, degrading conduct and unfaithful actions left me in a perpetual state of confusion and anxiety. I started to believe him when he blamed me for the problems in our relationship.And yet I stayed with him, despite knowing that it was dangerous for me to do so. I stayed because my critically low self-esteem made it hard to believe that I deserved unconditional love and care. But what really prevented me from leaving the relationship was the terrifying prospect of what would happen to my two Pugs, Bruce and Willy, if I tried to stand up to my abuser or leave him outright. He made it clear that if we split up, he would keep one of the Pugs, even though it was also clear that he had no sincere interest in the dogs. He used them, and his knowledge of my love for them, to control me.
In fact, my Pugs were the stable ground I clung to during the storm of emotional abuse and neglect I faced. Their unceasing affection and unparalleled loyalty was a safe harbor for me. Whenever I felt weighed down with discouragement and despair, their wet kisses, wiggly snuggles and donut-shaped tail wags inspired me to keep coming up for air.
In the end, it was the dogs that saved me from the abuse. I had resigned myself to the fact that this was life as I would know it and had come to believe that I did not deserve any better. But as soon as I saw my dogs in danger, I knew I had to leave.
Rescuing Bruce — And Myself
One quick interaction changed my whole world. I was in my bedroom getting ready to go out and suddenly I heard a scream. I bolted into to the hallway and saw my abuser standing over Bruce with his clenched fist raised. He had pinned the Pug to the floor with his other hand and was preparing to deliver another blow when he saw me there.I felt so many things in that moment — heartbreak, terror, repulsion, fury, shame. I was raised to believe that a person’s true character is revealed in the way he treats a helpless animal. In my mind, anyone who mistreats or hurts an animal is evil. In that moment, I confronted the truth that I was in a relationship with someone who was dangerous in ways I could not even understand. I could no longer make excuses for him, give him the benefit of the doubt or even hope that he would somehow change. I knew in that instant that I was finally seeing him for who he was.
I swept Bruce into my arms and, for the first time, I stood up to my abuser: I told him that if he ever threatened or touched either dog again in a harmful way I would call the police and leave for good.
In hindsight, I know that I should have left him right then, but I didn’t. His tearful, pleading remorse made me feel responsible, like it was my job to stay and help him change. But more than that I feared that if I did take action, he would retaliate by taking the dogs — or worse.
The Road to Safety
While I didn’t leave him immediately, I did reach out to family and friends after that incident. I had cut myself off from the people who loved me, largely out of shame, but when I told them what had happened — and what had been happening — they urged me to leave him and get to a safe place. Eventually, I found the strength to do what they asked, even though I was terrified for myself and for my dogs.Unfortunately, my worst fear came true: My abuser chose to keep Bruce with him, sending Willy with me. Driving away from our home and my beloved dog, I was hysterical. My tears were partially from relief, but mostly they were shed in grief of the loss of one of my dogs and the danger he faced as a result.
My constant prayer during those days of separation and the resulting legal battle was that I would be able to keep both of my dogs. And that’s exactly what happened: My prayers were answered and the Pugs and I were able to move forward together to heal from our years of abuse and sadness.
My story has a happy ending, but there are thousands of other pet owners just like me. I stand as one among many, many victims who have remained imprisoned in an abusive relationship because they fear leaving their beloved pet behind. Unfortunately, pets, who are often the victims’ greatest source of support, are frequently used as leverage by the abuser to intimidate and threaten the victim and prevent her from leaving. This may include everything from neglect or physical injury to the pet’s death.
Finding Solutions for Abuse Victims and Their Pets
According to data reported by URI, 87 percent of batterer-perpetrated incidents of pet abuse are committed in the presence of the victim for the purpose of revenge or control. Children are also devastated by the abuse inflicted on pets: 76 percent of animal cruelty in the home occurs in front of children. Frequently these children will intervene or allow themselves to be victimized to save their pets from being harmed or killed.Unfortunately, the vast majority of domestic violence shelters are not set up to support or house pets: Only an estimated 5 percent of shelters nationwide support pets with onsite housing.
By contrast, a national survey found that 85 percent of women in domestic violence shelters reported incidents of a pet being harmed by their abuser, while 63 percent of children discussed pet abuse in their family. In addition, animals were abused in 88 percent of homes where child physical abuse was present and abusers of animals are five times as likely to harm humans. Abusers tend to isolate their victims, both socially and financially, which makes it extremely challenging for the victims to obtain outside support or assistance — and this is compounded when a pet is involved.
Often this means that even when resources like shelters and support programs are available, a victim may choose to remain with an abuser rather than abandon a pet in a dangerous situation. This is often a no-win situation for the victim: According to URI, 71 percent of pet owners entering women’s shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control a victim.
Thankfully, there are a growing handful of domestic violence resources across the country that provide support for both pets and people. Such shelters allow both human and animal victims to flee to safety together — and in doing so remove one of the greatest barriers for abuse victims seeking help. These shelters also provide veterinary care for pets, who in many cases are in dire need of medical attention. Safe havens that support both pets and people also provide an opportunity for human family members to receive comfort from the ongoing support of a pet as they journey to healing together.
I am in a better place now. While Bruce is no longer with us, Willy and my daughter Regan and I have built a wonderful life with my new husband, Ben. But it is important to me to share my story, in the hope that other abuse victims will find the strength to walk away and find a safe place for themselves and their pets.
More on Vetstreet:
- When a Dog Does Not Behave Like His Breed
- 6 Signs Your Dog Loves You
- Old Man Doug: An Ode to Our 17-Year-Old Dog
- Dog Earns Valor Award for Shielding Owner from Domestic Violence
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/i-escaped-an-abusive-relationship-thanks-to-my-dogs?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
5 Adoption Stories We Can’t Get Enough Of
April 28, 2017 at 04:43AM by
>br> We love a sweet story about a pet adoption, and once in a while there are those that stick with you — like the Pit Bull whose 8-year-old owner adored him so much that she wrote instructions for his new owner, or the 18-year-old dog whose adopter was so excited to meet her that he was waiting at the shelter when it opened.
In honor of National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, we’ve pulled together five of our recent favorites in the gallery below. If you’re thinking about bringing a shelter pet into your life, here’s what you need to know.
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/5-adoption-stories-we-cant-get-enough-of?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> We love a sweet story about a pet adoption, and once in a while there are those that stick with you — like the Pit Bull whose 8-year-old owner adored him so much that she wrote instructions for his new owner, or the 18-year-old dog whose adopter was so excited to meet her that he was waiting at the shelter when it opened.
In honor of National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, we’ve pulled together five of our recent favorites in the gallery below. If you’re thinking about bringing a shelter pet into your life, here’s what you need to know.
EmbeddableSlideshow: EMBEDDABLE SLIDESHOW Favorite adoption stories April 2017
5 Fantastic Forever Homes
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More on Vetstreet:
slide 2: slide 3: slide 4: slide 5: - Photos: Our Readers' Adorable Adopted Pets
- 8 Must-Haves for Your New Dog
- Advice for Your First Animal Shelter Visit
- 8 Essentials for Your New Cat
- Adding a Second Dog to Your Family? Consider This First
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/5-adoption-stories-we-cant-get-enough-of?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Pet Scoop: Dog Survives After Rescue From Fire, Top Names for April the Giraffe’s Calf
April 27, 2017 at 07:37PM by
>br> April 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.
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-dog-survives-after-rescue-from-fire-top-names-for-april-the-giraffes-calf?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> April 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: Dog rescued from fire survives
Dog Barely Survives Blaze
Owner Allyson Botterbusch panicked when she arrived at the scene of the fire in her home on April 15 and realized one of her dogs was still inside. York City, Pennsylvania, firefighter Erik Swanson found Nalah in her crate and feared the worst — until he saw her move her head. When he carried her outside, “she was limp in his arms, they had the oxygen mask on her face, and she was covered in soot — I didn’t think she was alive,” Botterbusch said. “As badly as I wanted her to pull through, as badly as I wanted her to come around, I didn’t think that it was gonna happen. But everyone who helped her and helped us along the way — that firefighter pulled her out of there and gave her a chance, these awesome doctors and the staff at this veterinarian office, they worked with her and they saved her and they brought her back to us.” Ten days after firefighters rescued her from a blaze in her home, Nalah is happily recovering, and Swanson and Nalah’s vet are relieved. “That feeling of saving a living creature who means so much to somebody else, is a pretty awesome feeling,” Swanson said. — Watch it at Pennsylvania’s York Daily RecordGiant Rabbit Dies on United Flight
Simon, a 10-month-old Continental Giant rabbit, who could have grown to record-setting size, somehow died on a United Airlines flight from England to Chicago last week. The rabbit was bred in England by Annette Edwards, and was on his way to a new home in the U.S. A veterinarian had declared him to be “in good physical condition” and fit to travel just a day before the flight. But Simon was found dead when the flight arrived. Edwards said she’s flown several bunnies to the U.S., on United and other airlines, without any problems. Both she and the new owner were heartbroken over the news. Headlines about the bunny have been another public relations disaster for United, which has suffered financially after a passenger was forcibly removed in Chicago earlier this month. United said it is reviewing what happened with the rabbit. — Read it at the Chicago TribuneWhole Foods Goes All Out to Protect Mother Goose
The staff at a Whole Foods store in Colorado has gone above and beyond to make a mother goose who laid her eggs in their parking lot feel safe and welcome. The store’s management contacted wildlife officials, who advised them to leave the mom there with her eggs, unbothered. The staff took that a little further, setting up a barricade around the area, providing her with a kiddie pool that they fill each day with fresh water, and bringing her fresh greens to eat. The chicks are expected to hatch next week, and the store has local police and animal control on call to help if the mom needs to get across the street once her babies are up and moving. — See photos at OneGreenPlanetImage: Finalist names for April the Giraffe's calf
Zoo Reveals 10 Names for Giraffe
After more than a week of open voting, Animal Adventure Park in New York has released the top 10 suggestions for names for April the giraffe’s famed baby boy. The choices are Apollo, Geoffrey, Gio, Harpur, Noah, Ollie, Patch, Patches, Unity or Alyssa’s Choice, which means the giraffes’ keeper will get to decide on the name. You can vote until April 30, and votes cost $1 each with a minimum of five votes. Money has poured in to the small zoo and its chosen charities thanks to the naming contest. The baby’s name will be revealed on May 1. — Read it at People PetsBaby Fiona Meets Her Mom
There’s good news about another well-known zoo baby, Fiona, the hippo who was born prematurely at the Cincinnati Zoo. Fiona has been getting more comfortable in the indoor adult pools, and the animal care team has been increasing its depth so she can learn to swim in deep water. In the meantime, Fiona is slowly being reintroduced to her mother, who couldn’t care for her when she was born so early. “Bibi is showing interest in Fiona and watches her eat, sleep, and go in and out of her pool,” the zoo’s Facebook post said. — See photo at the Cincinnati Zoo’s FacebookOriginal From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-dog-survives-after-rescue-from-fire-top-names-for-april-the-giraffes-calf?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Mama Shelter Cat Adopts Stray Kitten
April 26, 2017 at 09:26PM by
>br> A young kitten got a second chance at life at an animal shelter in Arlington, Virginia. Firefly was very pregnant when she arrived at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, and gave birth to five adorable kittens. Not long after, the shelter took in an orphaned kitten who was about the same age as Firefly’s litter, and decided to see whether the new mom would accept the little guy into her family. “It was immediately clear that Firefly didn't mind having a new kitten one bit — she let him nurse right away!” the shelter said in a Facebook post with a video of the cat family.
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/mama-shelter-cat-adopts-stray-kitten?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> A young kitten got a second chance at life at an animal shelter in Arlington, Virginia. Firefly was very pregnant when she arrived at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, and gave birth to five adorable kittens. Not long after, the shelter took in an orphaned kitten who was about the same age as Firefly’s litter, and decided to see whether the new mom would accept the little guy into her family. “It was immediately clear that Firefly didn't mind having a new kitten one bit — she let him nurse right away!” the shelter said in a Facebook post with a video of the cat family.
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/mama-shelter-cat-adopts-stray-kitten?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Pet Scoop: Rare Footage Shows Snuggling Snow Leopards, Dog Finds Kitten Trapped in Wall
April 26, 2017 at 07:37PM by
>br> April 26, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-rare-footage-shows-snuggling-snow-leopards-dog-finds-kitten-trapped-in-wall?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> April 26, 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: Snuggling snow leopards
Snow Leopards Cuddle for Camera
Cameras placed by researchers in a remote area of China caught a surprising scene: in a clip compiled from still photos taken over 10 to 15 minutes, one snow leopard walks in front of the camera and joins another for a nap. Soon, a third comes along and crawls on top of them before lying down at the back of the frame. Researchers said the three could be siblings, or a mom and her cubs. “Footage like this takes a bit of skill and a lot of luck,” said Byron Weckworth, program director for Panthera, the big cat conservation group that revealed the footage. Snow leopards are elusive and endangered, with an estimated 4,000 of the big cats left in the wild. — Watch it at the Huffington PostStudy Results in New Family Tree for Dogs
Researchers have sequenced the genes of 161 dog breeds and come up with a comprehensive new evolutionary tree that reveals how different dogs were bred for specific tasks. “What we [found] is four different groups of herders that developed in different parts of the world at different points in time,” said Elaine Ostrander of the National Human Genome Research Institute. “It makes sense, because the dogs that you would need to drive bison on the plains have to have a different set of skills than those who herd goats on rocky territory, which is going to be different than what you use to move sheep in a pastoral setting.” The findings were published in the journal Cell Reports. — Read it at SeekerEndangered Flying Fox Pup Raised by Keepers
A critically endangered Rodrigues flying fox is now one month old and on her way to recovering, after being rejected by her mom. Keepers at the Oregon Zoo were thrilled when mom Sara gave birth on March 10, but the next day, they found the 2-ounce baby bat on the floor of the habitat. “When you see a baby on the ground, that's not a good sign,” said keeper Laura Weiner. After several failed attempts to reunite the baby with her mom, the pup was brought back to the veterinary hospital, and she’s been hand-raised ever since, getting nine bottle feedings a day. The rare species is native to Rodrigues, an island 900 miles off the coast of Madagascar. — Read it at ZoobornsImage: Angel kitten saved from wall
Family Keeps Kitten Found in Wall
A tiny kitten was rescued from inside the wall of a Houston family’s apartment, thanks to the family’s dog. A few days ago, Little Momma became restless and started barking at the wall. “She would not stop growling so I said, 'What? Show mommy.' But she wasn't looking at the front door, she was looking this way,” said Alexis Guerrero. When she and her husband listened closely, they could hear a cat and kitten. As time went on, they could no longer hear the mom, and the kitten’s cries grew desperate, so they decided to take action and break through the wall to save the baby. The couple’s grandson has named the little gray kitten Angel, and the family has decided to keep the little one, who has a new friend in Little Momma. "I wasn't a cat person before but I guess I'll have to adjust. And we will, right, Angel?" said Guerrero’s husband, Alfred Griffin. — Read it at Houston’s ABC 13Mama Cat Adopts Stray Kitten
Another young kitten got a second chance at life at an animal shelter in Arlington, Virginia. Firefly was very pregnant when she arrived at the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, and gave birth to five adorable kittens. Not long after, the shelter took in an orphaned kitten who was about the same age as Firefly’s litter, and decided to see whether the new mom would accept the little guy into her family. “It was immediately clear that Firefly didn't mind having a new kitten one bit — she let him nurse right away!” the shelter said in a Facebook post with a video of the cat family. — Watch it at Animal Welfare League of Arlington’s FacebookOriginal From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-rare-footage-shows-snuggling-snow-leopards-dog-finds-kitten-trapped-in-wall?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Cat Who Lost Both Ears Becomes Instagram Star
April 25, 2017 at 09:43PM by
>br> When Molly Lichtenwalner started looking for a companion to help her cope with her anxiety, she decided she wanted to find a special needs animal who was considered less adoptable. That’s when she found a sweet white cat who had lost both of his ears due to a condition called Otitis externa, which his previous owners left untreated. The kitty had been named Otitis after his ordeal. “He has been nothing but amazing. He immediately adjusted to his new home with me and he truly saved me from my own anxiety. He loves to play and snuggle, and nothing is better than coming home to him and experiencing true unconditional animal love,” Lichtenwalner said. And the kitty has become a star on Instagram, with more than 17,000 people following his adventures. — Read it at People Pets
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/cat-who-lost-both-ears-becomes-instagram-star?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> When Molly Lichtenwalner started looking for a companion to help her cope with her anxiety, she decided she wanted to find a special needs animal who was considered less adoptable. That’s when she found a sweet white cat who had lost both of his ears due to a condition called Otitis externa, which his previous owners left untreated. The kitty had been named Otitis after his ordeal. “He has been nothing but amazing. He immediately adjusted to his new home with me and he truly saved me from my own anxiety. He loves to play and snuggle, and nothing is better than coming home to him and experiencing true unconditional animal love,” Lichtenwalner said. And the kitty has become a star on Instagram, with more than 17,000 people following his adventures. — Read it at People Pets
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/cat-who-lost-both-ears-becomes-instagram-star?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Pet Scoop: Goats Go for a Ride-Along With Cop, NBC Pundit Seated Beside Dog on Plane
April 25, 2017 at 07:50PM by
>br> April 25, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-goats-go-for-a-ride-along-with-cop-nbc-pundit-seated-beside-dog-on-plane?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> April 25, 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: Pygmy goats with police
Lost Goats Picked Up By Police
Two pygmy goats were taken into custody by the Belfast, Maine, police on Sunday — and spent the morning riding around in the back of a patrol car. “Got goats? We do, and they do not belong to us. We had these two little 'kids' turn up on High Street near the parking lot for the rail trail,” the department said in a Facebook post Sunday morning. “They are currently riding around with Sgt. Fitzpatrick, serenading him in goat music. Though he is thankful for the company on this cool Sunday morning, he would gladly return them to their owners. He is running out of vegetables to feed them.” Just a couple of hours later, the police said the kids were identified as Louis and Mowgli, and safely returned to their owner. “Louis and Mowgli enjoyed their day trip with Sgt. Fitzpatrick but alas, all good things come to an end. Perhaps in the next budget year we can inquire as to getting some patrol goats,” the department said in a Facebook update. — Read it at UPIEaglet Rescued and Returned to Nest
Last week, viewers of the live cam on the National Arboretum nest belonging to bald eagle couple Mr. President and The First Lady noticed that 3-week-old eaglet DC4 had become perilously lodged in a hole on the outside edge of the nest. When it was clear that the baby couldn’t free itself after a considerable period of time, experts with the American Eagle Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made the decision to carefully intervene. The eaglet was freed and removed from the nest so it could be examined by veterinarians. DC4 was returned to its home in less than 24 hours and was welcomed back by its parents and sibling. “We could all clearly see how much the eaglet was struggling and how human intervention might make the difference between life and death,” said AEF president Al Cecere. “We had the power in our hands to help, so that's what we did.” — Read it from the American Eagle FoundationTwin Otter Pups Born in Chicago
Two adorable North American otter pups were born on Feb. 23 to mom Charlotte and dad Benny at Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo, officials announced last week. The brother and sister pups will remain behind the scenes for a bit longer as they bond with their mom and learn how to swim. They are expected to make their public debut later this month. — See photos at the Chicago Sun TimesImage: Charlie seated with Mark Halperin
NBC Pundit Starts Twitter Feud Over Canine Seatmate
NBC political analyst Mark Halperin created a bit of a feud on Saturday when he Tweeted a photo of a cute, bow-tie-wearing dog who was seated next to him as he boarded a flight, with the caption, “Seriously, @delta??!?” As Halperin started to get backlash from dog lovers, he backpedaled, saying his point was that it was a long flight and the airline seated the dog apart from his owner. “We were abt to take off on redeye. Dog was cute. I was sharing pix & expressing surprise owner/dog hadn't been put 2gether.No time for essay,” he said in part of a series of Tweets that followed. However, the Bernedoodle’s owner, Delta flight attendant Anthony Pisano, said the dog was only seated with him next to Halperin at takeoff, and Halperin refused to sit next to the dog. Still, Pisano made it clear there are no lingering hard feelings when he Tweeted a photo of Charlie holding a message for the TV personality: “Dearest Mark, It was a pleasure meeting you, too! Warmest regards, Charlie.” — Read it at the ObserverCat Who Lost Both Ears Becomes Instagram Star
When Molly Lichtenwalner started looking for a companion to help her cope with her anxiety, she decided she wanted to find a special needs animal who was considered less adoptable. That’s when she found a sweet white cat who had lost both of his ears due to a condition called Otitis externa, which his previous owners left untreated. The kitty had been named Otitis after his ordeal. “He has been nothing but amazing. He immediately adjusted to his new home with me and he truly saved me from my own anxiety. He loves to play and snuggle, and nothing is better than coming home to him and experiencing true unconditional animal love,” Lichtenwalner said. And the kitty has become a star on Instagram, with more than 17,000 people following his adventures. — Read it at People PetsOriginal From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-goats-go-for-a-ride-along-with-cop-nbc-pundit-seated-beside-dog-on-plane?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Monday, April 24, 2017
Pet Scoop: “Spunky” Prudence Wins Beautiful Bulldog Title, Penguins March for Science
April 24, 2017 at 07:16PM by
>br> April 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.
A 2-1/2-year-old Bulldog named Prudence waltzed into Drake University’s 38th Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest sporting a sparkling blue tutu on Sunday. But it was the engaging looking in her eyes that won the hearts of the judges at the Iowa university. “Her full name is Prudence Grace With The Precious Face, because when she looks at you with her big brown eyes, you just can’t resist her,” said her owners, Angela and Tom Miller of Des Moines. The energetic but sweet Bulldog had a large cheering section at the contest. Her owners say she loves cuddling in her chair, watching basketball — and eating cookies. And she looked quite comfortable seated in her throne with a crown on her head. “She’s spunky and beautiful with a fun personality, and you can tell she has a great relationship with her owners,” said judge Sandy Hatfield Clubb, Drake’s director of athletics. — Read it from Drake University
Officials with Abu Dhabi’s civil defense department closed four lanes of a busy stretch of highway to rescue a kitten who’d wandered across the road and was huddled by a median. The team stopped their trucks on the highway and ran out to find the tiny black kitten. A video shows one member slowly approaching and scooping the little one up before it could run away again. The workers then quickly got the kitten into one of the trucks and off to safety. A press release said the department “always deals with such incidents seriously by upholding the humanitarian and animal welfare principles.” — Watch it at Autoblog
A vast tundra in Norway’s mountainous Lapland region is experiencing high temperatures that are threatening the way of life of the indigenous Sami people who herd reindeer. “We already feel the effects of global warming here,” said Per Gaup, a reindeer herder in his 60s. “I can see that we're losing more reindeer because of climate change.” The climate change affects grazing conditions for the 146,000 reindeer who feed on lichen and moss under the snow. The herders say the reindeer can’t get to the moss because the snow has been thawing and re-freezing, creating thick layers of ice that they can’t break through to eat. — Read it at Seeker
Thousands of people joined in the March for Science in cities around the country on Saturday, but the cutest participants may have been at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. There, endangered African penguins marched through the facility in the March of the Penguins for Science while onlookers held signs supporting them that read, “Science Gives Us Happy Feet” and “Climate Science is Black and White.” The march was streamed live on Facebook and went viral afterward. It’s been viewed more than 2 million times. — Watch it at The Hill
When he suffered life-threatening complications from the flu, Shane Godfrey had to spend five weeks in the hospital, and lost about 50 pounds. So, his dog, who may have feared he’d lost his owner forever, didn’t even recognize him when the two were finally reunited. Willie stayed with Godfrey’s sister while he was hospitalized. In a video of their reunion, Willie clearly doesn’t know who Godfrey is and even barks at him — until he gets close enough to smell him. In an instant, Willie remembers that smell and turns wild with wiggling, tail-wagging excitement. — Watch it at The Dodo
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-spunky-prudence-wins-beautiful-bulldog-title-penguins-march-for-science?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> April 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: Prudence beautiful bulldog
Judges Fall for Prudence
A 2-1/2-year-old Bulldog named Prudence waltzed into Drake University’s 38th Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest sporting a sparkling blue tutu on Sunday. But it was the engaging looking in her eyes that won the hearts of the judges at the Iowa university. “Her full name is Prudence Grace With The Precious Face, because when she looks at you with her big brown eyes, you just can’t resist her,” said her owners, Angela and Tom Miller of Des Moines. The energetic but sweet Bulldog had a large cheering section at the contest. Her owners say she loves cuddling in her chair, watching basketball — and eating cookies. And she looked quite comfortable seated in her throne with a crown on her head. “She’s spunky and beautiful with a fun personality, and you can tell she has a great relationship with her owners,” said judge Sandy Hatfield Clubb, Drake’s director of athletics. — Read it from Drake University
Abu Dhabi Highway Closed to Save Kitten
Officials with Abu Dhabi’s civil defense department closed four lanes of a busy stretch of highway to rescue a kitten who’d wandered across the road and was huddled by a median. The team stopped their trucks on the highway and ran out to find the tiny black kitten. A video shows one member slowly approaching and scooping the little one up before it could run away again. The workers then quickly got the kitten into one of the trucks and off to safety. A press release said the department “always deals with such incidents seriously by upholding the humanitarian and animal welfare principles.” — Watch it at Autoblog
Rising Temperatures Threaten Arctic Reindeer Herd
A vast tundra in Norway’s mountainous Lapland region is experiencing high temperatures that are threatening the way of life of the indigenous Sami people who herd reindeer. “We already feel the effects of global warming here,” said Per Gaup, a reindeer herder in his 60s. “I can see that we're losing more reindeer because of climate change.” The climate change affects grazing conditions for the 146,000 reindeer who feed on lichen and moss under the snow. The herders say the reindeer can’t get to the moss because the snow has been thawing and re-freezing, creating thick layers of ice that they can’t break through to eat. — Read it at Seeker
Image: March for penguins
Penguins Join March for Science
Thousands of people joined in the March for Science in cities around the country on Saturday, but the cutest participants may have been at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. There, endangered African penguins marched through the facility in the March of the Penguins for Science while onlookers held signs supporting them that read, “Science Gives Us Happy Feet” and “Climate Science is Black and White.” The march was streamed live on Facebook and went viral afterward. It’s been viewed more than 2 million times. — Watch it at The Hill
Dog Reunited With Sick Owner in Must-See Video
When he suffered life-threatening complications from the flu, Shane Godfrey had to spend five weeks in the hospital, and lost about 50 pounds. So, his dog, who may have feared he’d lost his owner forever, didn’t even recognize him when the two were finally reunited. Willie stayed with Godfrey’s sister while he was hospitalized. In a video of their reunion, Willie clearly doesn’t know who Godfrey is and even barks at him — until he gets close enough to smell him. In an instant, Willie remembers that smell and turns wild with wiggling, tail-wagging excitement. — Watch it at The Dodo
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-spunky-prudence-wins-beautiful-bulldog-title-penguins-march-for-science?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Friday, April 21, 2017
Salma Hayek Says Goodbye to Her Dog Blue
April 21, 2017 at 09:33PM by
>br> Actress Salma Hayek turned to Instagram last week to post a heartfelt tribute to her late dog, Blue. “My blue's body died yesterday. I understand he is in a better place but my eyes cry anyway,” she wrote. Two weeks ago, Hayek had said she was relieved that Blue was “bouncing back from a very rare autoimmune disease” thanks to an experimental treatment. Just last year, Hayek lost another dog, Mozart, who was shot on her ranch. Thankfully, this dog lover has several other pooches at home to comfort her as she copes with her loss. — Read it at People Pets
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/salma-hayek-says-goodbye-to-her-dog-blue?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> Actress Salma Hayek turned to Instagram last week to post a heartfelt tribute to her late dog, Blue. “My blue's body died yesterday. I understand he is in a better place but my eyes cry anyway,” she wrote. Two weeks ago, Hayek had said she was relieved that Blue was “bouncing back from a very rare autoimmune disease” thanks to an experimental treatment. Just last year, Hayek lost another dog, Mozart, who was shot on her ranch. Thankfully, this dog lover has several other pooches at home to comfort her as she copes with her loss. — Read it at People Pets
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/salma-hayek-says-goodbye-to-her-dog-blue?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Pet Scoop: Emotional Reunion for Airman and K9, Salma Hayek Pays Tribute to Her Dog Blue
April 21, 2017 at 07:22PM by
>br> April 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.
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-emotional-reunion-for-airman-and-k9-salma-hayek-pays-tribute-to-her-dog-blue?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> April 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 Emra reunion
Air Force Sergeant Adopts K9
Three years after he last saw her, Air Force Staff Sgt. Adam Wylie was reunited with Emra, the Belgian Malinois he handled while he was stationed in South Korea. Wylie said he thought of Emra as a person while they worked 12-hour shifts together, and he and his family are thrilled to adopt the 9-year-old dog as she retires from the military. Wylie was tearful when he finally got to see Emra on Thursday in Cincinnati, with the help of the non-profit American Humane Association. “I can’t express how happy I am right now to see her,” Wylie said. “I’m just so thankful.” — Watch it at the Cincinnati EnquirerStudy: Migrating Pesticides Threaten Honeybees
Researchers from Cornell University set up 120 pristine honeybee colonies near 30 New York state apple orchards and allowed the bees to forage for several days before examining their “beebread,” which is the place where they store food gathered from pollen. They found acute levels of pesticides in 17 percent of the colonies, and chronic exposure in another 73 percent. "Our data suggest pesticides are migrating through space and time," said lead author Scott McArt. He explained that bees may be gathering pollen from nontarget wildflowers and weeds like dandelions where pesticides seem to linger. The study was published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports. — Read it at Phys.orgNew Web Site Matches Dogs With Owners
If you’re looking for a date these days, you might turn to a web site like eHarmony or Match.com. Now, a new site called How I Met My Dog matches people and potential pets based on personality, lifestyle and behavior — rather than just appearance and breed, which is how dogs are often selected, the founders say. After a person seeking a dog fills out a profile, the site matches them with shelter dogs. So far, the service is only available in the Boston area, but the hope is to take it national later this year. — Read it from the AP via U.S. NewsImage: Salma Hayek and Blue
Hayek Posts Tribute to Blue
Actress Salma Hayek turned to Instagram last week to post a heartfelt tribute to her late dog, Blue. “My blue's body died yesterday. I understand he is in a better place but my eyes cry anyway,” she wrote. Two weeks ago, Hayek had said she was relieved that Blue was “bouncing back from a very rare autoimmune disease” thanks to an experimental treatment. Just last year, Hayek lost another dog, Mozart, who was shot on her ranch. Thankfully, this dog lover has several other pooches at home to comfort her as she copes with her loss. — Read it at People PetsPlayful Polar Bear Cub Sisters Entertain Visitors
It’s polar bear cub season, and we’re soaking up all the adorable photos of the fuzzy white bears we can as they emerge from their dens! Yesterday, we told you about three cubs who made their debut at the Columbus Zoo. Now, there are photos of two 6-month-old sisters who have been entertaining visitors to the Aalborg Zoo in Denmark with their antics. The twins played, snuggled and slept curled up next to their mom, Malik, as zoo guests watched. — See photos at ZoobornsOriginal From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-emotional-reunion-for-airman-and-k9-salma-hayek-pays-tribute-to-her-dog-blue?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Firefighters Rescue Kittens From Fire Truck
April 20, 2017 at 09:41PM by
>br> Firefighters are often called on to help free kittens from car engines. But a crew in Indianapolis found a litter of three in the hose bed of their own truck on Tuesday. The firefighters kept hearing chirping noises and found the newborns — two boys and a girl — huddled together in the back of Engine 35. They believe the mom crawled inside the engine while it was in the shop and gave birth, but they couldn’t find her anywhere. The firefighters wrapped the tiny kittens in blankets and brought them to Noah’s Animal Hospital, where they’re being bottle fed. They will be available for adoption in about eight weeks. — Read it from Inside Edition via Yahoo
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/firefighters-rescue-kittens-from-fire-truck?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> Firefighters are often called on to help free kittens from car engines. But a crew in Indianapolis found a litter of three in the hose bed of their own truck on Tuesday. The firefighters kept hearing chirping noises and found the newborns — two boys and a girl — huddled together in the back of Engine 35. They believe the mom crawled inside the engine while it was in the shop and gave birth, but they couldn’t find her anywhere. The firefighters wrapped the tiny kittens in blankets and brought them to Noah’s Animal Hospital, where they’re being bottle fed. They will be available for adoption in about eight weeks. — Read it from Inside Edition via Yahoo
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/firefighters-rescue-kittens-from-fire-truck?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Pet Scoop: Trio of Polar Bear Cubs Make Debut, Newborn Kittens Found in Fire Engine
April 20, 2017 at 07:07PM by
>br> April 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.
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-trio-of-polar-bear-cubs-make-debut-newborn-kittens-found-in-fire-engine?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> April 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: Columbus Zoo polar bears
Baby Bears Step Out in Ohio
Three adorable polar bears are making their public debut at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio this week. Mom Aurora and her twins — a boy and a girl — will make their first public appearance today. Aurora’s own twin, Anana, and her baby girl made their debut on Wednesday. The three cubs won’t be on view together because polar bears tend to raise their babies independently, the zoo said. The zoo’s staff will be naming the twins, but the public will get the chance to decide on Anana’s cub’s name. The choices include Amelia Gray (Amelia means defender and the cub has a little patch of gray fur); Denali (after the mountain peak in Alaska); Elisapee (a native Alaskan derivation of Elizabeth); or Vieta (which means spot, for her little patch of gray fur.) You can vote here until May 2, and the results will be revealed on Mother’s Day. — Read it from the Columbus Zoo’s FacebookEndangered Galapagos Tortoises Saved From Traffickers
Twenty-nine small Galapagos tortoises, who are vulnerable to extinction, were rescued from alleged traffickers on a bus in Peru, the Galapagos National Park said. Wildlife authorities in Peru found the tortoises in a cardboard box on the bus and seized them. They will be returned to Ecuador. Officials said genetic studies will help determine the zone of archipelago the small tortoises were taken from. — Read it at Phys.orgLast Baby Orca Born at SeaWorld
A year after SeaWorld announced it would stop breeding killer whales, its last orca calf was born at its park in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday. Mom Takara, 25, was already pregnant when the company decided to stop breeding the whales in captivity. There are now 23 orcas in residence at SeaWorld’s parks in San Antonio, San Diego and Orlando. Their famed killer whale shows will be phased out by 2019 after the company faced a public backlash, but the whales are expected to remain on display. Veterinarians have not yet determined whether the new calf is male or female, but said everything appears to be going smoothly for the calf and its experienced mom. — Read it from the AP via NBC NewsImage: Indianapolis firefighters save kittens
Kittens Rescued From Fire Truck
Firefighters are often called on to help free kittens from car engines. But a crew in Indianapolis found a litter of three in the hose bed of their own truck on Tuesday. The firefighters kept hearing chirping noises and found the newborns — two boys and a girl — huddled together in the back of Engine 35. They believe the mom crawled inside the engine while it was in the shop and gave birth, but they couldn’t find her anywhere. The firefighters wrapped the tiny kittens in blankets and brought them to Noah’s Animal Hospital, where they’re being bottle fed. They will be available for adoption in about eight weeks. — Read it from Inside Edition via YahooDog With Head Stuck in Jar Rescued
Neighbors in the Fort Worth, Texas, area worked together to get help for a young and scared Pit Bull who was wandering around the area with his head stuck in a plastic jar. Neighbors couldn’t catch the dog and contacted animal control for help. Two animal control officers were able to safely free the dog from the jar. They believe his head became stuck when he tried to reach some food at the bottom of the jar. The 1-year-old dog was nicknamed Pickle after one caller reported there was a pickle jar stuck on his head. Pickle is now recovering at the Fort Worth Animal Shelter, and will be adopted or go to a rescue group when he’s ready. — Read it at Dallas NewsOriginal From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-trio-of-polar-bear-cubs-make-debut-newborn-kittens-found-in-fire-engine?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
A Letter to My Dog Rudi on Her 10th Birthday
April 20, 2017 at 02:44AM by
>br>
My black Lab mix, Rudi, just turned 10 years old.
I'm not entirely sure how this happened, because I clearly remember bringing home a highly energetic, long-legged puppy whose head looked far too small for her body — and wasn't that just the other day?
That puppy, who was my second dog, showed me that I was not, in fact, the world's most natural dog trainer, but had just gotten lucky with a ridiculously trainable and obedient first dog. And that's not the only thing I've learned from Rudi, so, to celebrate her 10th birthday, here are a few words I'd like to share.
But you didn't always make that easy.
You were a rambunctious pup — and remained that way for four solid years. (Trust me. I counted.) You were stubborn and incredibly strong, and, quite frankly, walks with you were not all that pleasant. But I knew the work would pay off, and although you're still not the easiest dog to have on the other end of the leash, I look forward to our walks around the neighborhood — especially once we're a couple of blocks in and you've settled down, because even at 10 years old, you're still a pretty excitable pooch. You definitely taught me a lot about patience during your first few years.
And you know what else you are? Hungry. So hungry — even for a Lab! That insatiable appetite has led to a couple of really scary situations, but topping the list has to be your first trip to the emergency vet and spending a week in the intensive care unit with acute renal failure. You stole every heart in that hospital with your snuggly nature and beautiful brown eyes. I spent that week alternating between lying on the floor of the veterinary hospital with you watching you sleep and crying tears into your fur and steeling myself for the very real possibility that you'd never come home.
But you did, and the experience taught me that life will slow down for you if you just let it. Now, I try not to let a day go by without getting down on the floor for a snuggle session with you and your sister, Hollie, even if it's just for a few minutes. My productivity hasn't suffered for it, but my quality of life has definitely increased. It was a hard lesson to learn, but I'm so grateful you were able to teach it to me.
After all your body had been through, I was told to be prepared that you could enter chronic renal failure as you aged, so as relieved as I was to have you back, I remained prepared for bad news year after year and never allowed myself to imagine what you'd look like with a gray muzzle. You developed a few other health problems, like idiopathic seizures and osteoarthritis, but, happily, your kidney function stayed strong. As you entered middle age and sprouted more gray hairs, I allowed myself a sliver of hope that I'd see you into your golden years, but a big part of me still held back. Through that time, I learned more and more about being present, appreciating each moment we shared together.
The years went by. You became very good at going into your crate whenever I got ready to leave the house, which has been most helpful because, man, if you were a hungry pup before, your seizure medications have only exacerbated it. If you're left unattended, no box, book or food-related item is safe from your jaws. (I suppose it's worth noting that this has taught me to be diligent about putting everything away in its rightful place — a lesson my mother tried to instill in me for 18 years. Wow, Rudi — you're good!)
And now, you are 10 years old. Officially a geriatric canine. We do all of the "old lady" tests at the vet, and you have your own pill organizer so we can ensure you get all the medications and supplements you need each morning and night. Sometimes you leak a little in your sleep, and while I find your snoring to be soothing and melodious, it has been known to wake a sleeping human.
But you still greet me at the door with your favorite toy in your mouth, just like you did as a puppy. When you get a little spurt of energy and come running around the corner of the yard, it's easy for me to recall the way you bounded from one end of the dog park to the other.
Then you come closer, and the gray muzzle and white eyebrows come into focus and I'm reminded that you're not a puppy anymore. That's okay, though — you'll always be my puppy, and I'll do my best to make you feel like one today, tomorrow and for as long as I have the priviledge of caring for you. Because, as my colleague Amy Sinatra Ayres so eloquently said in a love letter to her 14-year-old dog, Grizzly, I'm just so happy you're still here.
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Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/a-letter-to-my-dog-rudi-on-her-10th-birthday?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br>
Image: Rudi the lab mix
My black Lab mix, Rudi, just turned 10 years old.I'm not entirely sure how this happened, because I clearly remember bringing home a highly energetic, long-legged puppy whose head looked far too small for her body — and wasn't that just the other day?
That puppy, who was my second dog, showed me that I was not, in fact, the world's most natural dog trainer, but had just gotten lucky with a ridiculously trainable and obedient first dog. And that's not the only thing I've learned from Rudi, so, to celebrate her 10th birthday, here are a few words I'd like to share.
Dear Rudi...
I never pictured you as an old dog. I guess I never dared to believe we'd make it to this point. Losing my first dog — your big sister, Yuki — when she was just 7 was a real eye-opener for me, and I learned that I should never take for granted that any of my beloved pets would be around for years to come. After all, she seemed perfectly healthy... until suddenly she wasn't, and then she was gone. I refused to allow myself to be taken by surprise like that again, so with you, I've always tried to appreciate you just as you were at that moment.But you didn't always make that easy.
You were a rambunctious pup — and remained that way for four solid years. (Trust me. I counted.) You were stubborn and incredibly strong, and, quite frankly, walks with you were not all that pleasant. But I knew the work would pay off, and although you're still not the easiest dog to have on the other end of the leash, I look forward to our walks around the neighborhood — especially once we're a couple of blocks in and you've settled down, because even at 10 years old, you're still a pretty excitable pooch. You definitely taught me a lot about patience during your first few years.
And you know what else you are? Hungry. So hungry — even for a Lab! That insatiable appetite has led to a couple of really scary situations, but topping the list has to be your first trip to the emergency vet and spending a week in the intensive care unit with acute renal failure. You stole every heart in that hospital with your snuggly nature and beautiful brown eyes. I spent that week alternating between lying on the floor of the veterinary hospital with you watching you sleep and crying tears into your fur and steeling myself for the very real possibility that you'd never come home.
But you did, and the experience taught me that life will slow down for you if you just let it. Now, I try not to let a day go by without getting down on the floor for a snuggle session with you and your sister, Hollie, even if it's just for a few minutes. My productivity hasn't suffered for it, but my quality of life has definitely increased. It was a hard lesson to learn, but I'm so grateful you were able to teach it to me.
After all your body had been through, I was told to be prepared that you could enter chronic renal failure as you aged, so as relieved as I was to have you back, I remained prepared for bad news year after year and never allowed myself to imagine what you'd look like with a gray muzzle. You developed a few other health problems, like idiopathic seizures and osteoarthritis, but, happily, your kidney function stayed strong. As you entered middle age and sprouted more gray hairs, I allowed myself a sliver of hope that I'd see you into your golden years, but a big part of me still held back. Through that time, I learned more and more about being present, appreciating each moment we shared together.
Image: rudi dog and toy
The years went by. You became very good at going into your crate whenever I got ready to leave the house, which has been most helpful because, man, if you were a hungry pup before, your seizure medications have only exacerbated it. If you're left unattended, no box, book or food-related item is safe from your jaws. (I suppose it's worth noting that this has taught me to be diligent about putting everything away in its rightful place — a lesson my mother tried to instill in me for 18 years. Wow, Rudi — you're good!)And now, you are 10 years old. Officially a geriatric canine. We do all of the "old lady" tests at the vet, and you have your own pill organizer so we can ensure you get all the medications and supplements you need each morning and night. Sometimes you leak a little in your sleep, and while I find your snoring to be soothing and melodious, it has been known to wake a sleeping human.
But you still greet me at the door with your favorite toy in your mouth, just like you did as a puppy. When you get a little spurt of energy and come running around the corner of the yard, it's easy for me to recall the way you bounded from one end of the dog park to the other.
Then you come closer, and the gray muzzle and white eyebrows come into focus and I'm reminded that you're not a puppy anymore. That's okay, though — you'll always be my puppy, and I'll do my best to make you feel like one today, tomorrow and for as long as I have the priviledge of caring for you. Because, as my colleague Amy Sinatra Ayres so eloquently said in a love letter to her 14-year-old dog, Grizzly, I'm just so happy you're still here.
More on Vetstreet:
- 13 Largest Dog Breeds
- Why Does My Dog... Go to People Who Don't Like Pets?
- How to Teach Your Pet to Use a Food Puzzle
- An Ode to Old Man Doug
- Listen Up: 10 Cat Breeds With Enormous Ears
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Ex-Inmate Adopts Puppy She Trained in Prison
April 19, 2017 at 09:34PM by
>br> When Mercedes Castillo, 19, was released from prison recently, one of the first places she went was to the Erie County SPCA to adopt the puppy she’d trained while she was behind bars. Castillo had been part of the New York prison’s Pups at the Pen program, which pairs inmates with shelter dogs who need socialization. Castillo had worked with Jed, a timid Lab mix, for seven weeks, helping to potty train and leash train him, and they formed a close bond. The program is less than a year old, and so far 11 dogs have graduated. All but one have found forever homes. — Read it at People Pets
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/ex-inmate-adopts-puppy-she-trained-in-prison?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> When Mercedes Castillo, 19, was released from prison recently, one of the first places she went was to the Erie County SPCA to adopt the puppy she’d trained while she was behind bars. Castillo had been part of the New York prison’s Pups at the Pen program, which pairs inmates with shelter dogs who need socialization. Castillo had worked with Jed, a timid Lab mix, for seven weeks, helping to potty train and leash train him, and they formed a close bond. The program is less than a year old, and so far 11 dogs have graduated. All but one have found forever homes. — Read it at People Pets
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/ex-inmate-adopts-puppy-she-trained-in-prison?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Pet Scoop: Beaver Inadvertently Herds 150 Cows, Ex-Inmate Adopts Pup She Trained
April 19, 2017 at 08:00PM by
>br> April 19, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-beaver-inadvertently-herds-150-cows-ex-inmate-adopts-pup-she-trained?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> April 19, 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: Beaver leads cows
Beaver Leads Cows in Funny Video
A beaver who was likely looking for a new place to build, accidentally wound up herding 150 cattle across a farm in Canada. Rancher Adrienne Ivey caught a video of the hilarious encounter in Saskatchewan, and the footage has gone viral. The cows loyally followed their rodent leader — without getting too close. “There was about a 3-foot space around him,” Ivey said. “They didn’t want to get closer than that.” Ivey said she knew the Internet would love the video. “A beaver leading cattle around? It’s the most Canadian thing ever!” she said. — Watch it at the Huffington PostMoose Population Rockets on Michigan Island
There are only two predator wolves left at Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park, which has resulted in a population explosion for moose. Without the wolves to keep the moose numbers in check on the island on Lake Superior, scientists said the area’s fir trees could be endangered, causing the moose to starve. “It’s a race between the slowly growing trees and the rapidly growing moose,” said scientist Rolf Peterson. The National Park Service is considering four alternatives for dealing with the wolf population at the park, but doesn’t plan to make a decision until the fall. — Read it from the AP via the Denver PostStudy: City Birds Are Better at Solving Problems
A new study finds that house finches who frequent cities and towns are better able to solve new problems than those who live out in the country, even when humans are around. "The findings suggest that city birds have habituated and/or adapted to typically benign human presence, but rural birds (with less frequent interactions with humans) may still perceive humans as threatening, which then interferes with their ability to solve a problem," said lead author Meghan Cook of Arizona State University. The findings were published in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. — Read it at Phys.orgImage: Prisoner adopts pup
Ex-Inmate Adopts Pup She Trained
When Mercedes Castillo, 19, was released from prison recently, one of the first places she went was to the Erie County SPCA to adopt the puppy she’d trained while she was behind bars. Castillo had been part of the New York prison’s Pups at the Pen program, which pairs inmates with shelter dogs who need socialization. Castillo had worked with Jed, a timid Lab mix, for seven weeks, helping to potty train and leash train him, and they formed a close bond. The program is less than a year old, and so far 11 dogs have graduated. All but one have found forever homes. — Read it at People PetsPolar Bear Makes a Splash
No one is having as much fun as Nora the polar bear is in her pool at the Oregon Zoo. In a series of videos that the zoo has recently shared on Facebook, the 1 ½- year-old bear delightfully tosses her toys into the water before plunging in on top of them. It’s not often you find a toddler having this great of a time all by themselves. Nora was abandoned by her mom, Aurora, soon after she was born at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio in November 2015. She was hand raised and moved across the country to Oregon in September. “When Nora makes a splash, everyone wins,” the zoo said in a Facebook post with a video of her most recent antics. — Watch it at the Oregon Zoo’s FacebookOriginal From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-beaver-inadvertently-herds-150-cows-ex-inmate-adopts-pup-she-trained?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Your Dog’s Guilty Look May Come From Wolves
April 18, 2017 at 09:28PM by
>br> When your pooch bows his head low and looks at you with big sad eyes after he’s done something wrong, he may be using a complex survival tactic evolved from wolves, writes Nathan H. Lents, a molecular biologist with the City University of New York, in Psychology Today. Young wolves use the “apology bow” as they begin social integration into a pack. If the young wolf bites too hard, for example, he might be spurned by the pack. He will then use the apology bow to get back in the pack’s good graces. "Dogs have inherited this behavior and they will use it after any kind of infraction that results in being punished," Lents wrote. "As social animals, they crave harmonious integration in the group and neglect or isolation is painful for them." — Read it at USA Today
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/your-dogs-guilty-look-may-come-from-wolves?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> When your pooch bows his head low and looks at you with big sad eyes after he’s done something wrong, he may be using a complex survival tactic evolved from wolves, writes Nathan H. Lents, a molecular biologist with the City University of New York, in Psychology Today. Young wolves use the “apology bow” as they begin social integration into a pack. If the young wolf bites too hard, for example, he might be spurned by the pack. He will then use the apology bow to get back in the pack’s good graces. "Dogs have inherited this behavior and they will use it after any kind of infraction that results in being punished," Lents wrote. "As social animals, they crave harmonious integration in the group and neglect or isolation is painful for them." — Read it at USA Today
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/your-dogs-guilty-look-may-come-from-wolves?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Pet Scoop: 25-Year-Old Horse Stuck in Mud, Dogs’ “Guilty Look” May Stem From Wolves
April 18, 2017 at 07:02PM by
>br> April 18, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.
Fire rescue crews in Palm Beach County, Florida, came to the rescue of a 25-year-old horse named Skip who was stuck in mud up to his belly near his home on Monday morning. Skip’s owners weren’t sure if he was spooked or somehow wandered into the mud. Firefighters struggled to free him because as they dug, the 1,100-pound horse sunk more deeply into the mud. But the team used what they’d learned in an equestrian rescue class to get straps around Skip and pull him free. Skip, who was sedated during the ordeal, was later able to stand on his own and was examined by a veterinarian on the scene. — Watch it at Florida’s WPTV
When your pooch bows his head low and looks at you with big sad eyes after he’s done something wrong, he may be using a complex survival tactic evolved from wolves, writes Nathan H. Lents, a molecular biologist with the City University of New York, in Psychology Today. Young wolves use the “apology bow” as they begin social integration into a pack. If the young wolf bites too hard, for example, he might be spurned by the pack. He will then use the apology bow to get back in the pack’s good graces. "Dogs have inherited this behavior and they will use it after any kind of infraction that results in being punished," Lents wrote. "As social animals, they crave harmonious integration in the group and neglect or isolation is painful for them." — Read it at USA Today
More than a million people were watching online as April the giraffe finally gave birth to a healthy baby boy at the Animal Adventure Park in New York on Saturday. Now, the zoo’s owner is asking April’s many fans to help come up with a name for her little guy. The naming contest is a fundraiser for the park, a charity that helps sick children and giraffe conservation, so votes are $1 each, and there’s a five-vote minimum. After about 10 days, the top 10 names will be selected by the zoo, and you can go back and vote on those finalists. — Read it at ABC News
Tank is back home with his family a year after he was stolen from their backyard after his owners spotted him on the local news. Michelle Miller and her son Josh Calderon, 10, were watching KSAT News when they saw a story about a dog being called Mr. Big who’d been shot in the chest, miraculously survived and was being cared for by the Animal Defense League. "I jumped up from the couch and was like, that's Tank! That's him!" Michelle said. "My son was really, really attached to Tank. So to hear what he went through and to see him like that it was very emotional." Josh was in tears. His dad had gotten the dog for the family before his death, so the loss was especially difficult. Once Michelle proved to the shelter that Tank belonged to her, he was happily reunited with the family. He’s now taking it easy at home as he recovers, and Michelle is keeping a close eye on him. — Read it at San Antonio’s KSAT
For many of us, animals are the key to getting through tough times. Maybe that’s why actress Jennifer Garner’s first public appearance after she and Ben Affleck jointly filed for divorce last week was to a cat café. Garner was seen leaving Crumbs & Whiskers in Los Angeles on Saturday with an iced coffee. “She was in a great mood and very sweet. She had a tour and seemed interested in learning more about the café,” an insider said. — Read it at People Pets
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>br> April 18, 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: Skip saved from mud
1,100-Pound Horse Freed From Mud
Fire rescue crews in Palm Beach County, Florida, came to the rescue of a 25-year-old horse named Skip who was stuck in mud up to his belly near his home on Monday morning. Skip’s owners weren’t sure if he was spooked or somehow wandered into the mud. Firefighters struggled to free him because as they dug, the 1,100-pound horse sunk more deeply into the mud. But the team used what they’d learned in an equestrian rescue class to get straps around Skip and pull him free. Skip, who was sedated during the ordeal, was later able to stand on his own and was examined by a veterinarian on the scene. — Watch it at Florida’s WPTV
Your Dog’s Guilty Look May Come From Wolves
When your pooch bows his head low and looks at you with big sad eyes after he’s done something wrong, he may be using a complex survival tactic evolved from wolves, writes Nathan H. Lents, a molecular biologist with the City University of New York, in Psychology Today. Young wolves use the “apology bow” as they begin social integration into a pack. If the young wolf bites too hard, for example, he might be spurned by the pack. He will then use the apology bow to get back in the pack’s good graces. "Dogs have inherited this behavior and they will use it after any kind of infraction that results in being punished," Lents wrote. "As social animals, they crave harmonious integration in the group and neglect or isolation is painful for them." — Read it at USA Today
April the Giraffe’s Baby Needs a Name
More than a million people were watching online as April the giraffe finally gave birth to a healthy baby boy at the Animal Adventure Park in New York on Saturday. Now, the zoo’s owner is asking April’s many fans to help come up with a name for her little guy. The naming contest is a fundraiser for the park, a charity that helps sick children and giraffe conservation, so votes are $1 each, and there’s a five-vote minimum. After about 10 days, the top 10 names will be selected by the zoo, and you can go back and vote on those finalists. — Read it at ABC News
Image: Tank
Family Spots Missing Dog on TV
Tank is back home with his family a year after he was stolen from their backyard after his owners spotted him on the local news. Michelle Miller and her son Josh Calderon, 10, were watching KSAT News when they saw a story about a dog being called Mr. Big who’d been shot in the chest, miraculously survived and was being cared for by the Animal Defense League. "I jumped up from the couch and was like, that's Tank! That's him!" Michelle said. "My son was really, really attached to Tank. So to hear what he went through and to see him like that it was very emotional." Josh was in tears. His dad had gotten the dog for the family before his death, so the loss was especially difficult. Once Michelle proved to the shelter that Tank belonged to her, he was happily reunited with the family. He’s now taking it easy at home as he recovers, and Michelle is keeping a close eye on him. — Read it at San Antonio’s KSAT
Jennifer Garner Visits Cat Café After Filing for Divorce
For many of us, animals are the key to getting through tough times. Maybe that’s why actress Jennifer Garner’s first public appearance after she and Ben Affleck jointly filed for divorce last week was to a cat café. Garner was seen leaving Crumbs & Whiskers in Los Angeles on Saturday with an iced coffee. “She was in a great mood and very sweet. She had a tour and seemed interested in learning more about the café,” an insider said. — Read it at People Pets
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Monday, April 17, 2017
IKEA Donates Doll Beds to Animal Shelter
April 17, 2017 at 09:43PM by
>br> Cats at the Etobicoke Humane Society in Ontario used to sleep on the cold, hard floor — that is, until furniture store IKEA stepped in. The company donated 10 doll beds (as well as $300) so the cats have a soft place to rest their heads. "Our floors are easy to clean but not terribly comfortable to lay on. Now cats like Catsby and Frankie have beds of their own to curl up in," the shelter’s Facebook post read. — Read it at Huffington Post Canada
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/ikea-donates-doll-beds-to-animal-shelter?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> Cats at the Etobicoke Humane Society in Ontario used to sleep on the cold, hard floor — that is, until furniture store IKEA stepped in. The company donated 10 doll beds (as well as $300) so the cats have a soft place to rest their heads. "Our floors are easy to clean but not terribly comfortable to lay on. Now cats like Catsby and Frankie have beds of their own to curl up in," the shelter’s Facebook post read. — Read it at Huffington Post Canada
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/ikea-donates-doll-beds-to-animal-shelter?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Pet Scoop: Giraffe Finally Gives Birth, Donated Doll Beds Help Shelter Cats
April 17, 2017 at 08:03PM by
>br> April 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.
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-giraffe-finally-gives-birth-donated-doll-beds-help-shelter-cats?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> April 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: April the giraffe and her baby boy
Giraffe Calf: It’s a Boy!
Arguably the most famous giraffe in the world, April at the Adventure Animal Park in Harpursville, N.Y. gave birth on Saturday. After an initial prediction that her calf would come in January or February, millions of people tuned into a live feed eagerly waiting to see the calf's birth. As the days passed and no calf appeared, the Internet speculated about the delay, including some humorous joking about April “faking” her pregnancy. But now, “both mom and calf are doing fine,” Jordan Patch, the owner of Animal Adventure Park, said in a statement. — Read it at NY TimesIKEA Donates Doll Beds to Animal Shelter
Cats at the Etobicoke Humane Society in Ontario used to sleep on the cold, hard floor — that is, until furniture store IKEA stepped in. The company donated 10 doll beds (as well as $300) so the cats have a soft place to rest their heads. "Our floors are easy to clean but not terribly comfortable to lay on. Now cats like Catsby and Frankie have beds of their own to curl up in," the shelter’s Facebook post read. — Read it and watch it at Huffington Post CanadaStudy: Hunting Threatens Hundreds of Species
A new study has found that hunting has a big impact on wild animal populations, finding that mammal and bird populations dropped on average by 83 percent and 57 percent, respectively, in areas close (within four to 25 miles) to access points such as roads or villages. "Strategies to sustainably manage wild meat hunting in both protected and unprotected tropical ecosystems are urgently needed to avoid further defaunation," said study leader Ana Benitez-Lopez of Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. "This includes monitoring hunting activities by increasing anti-poaching patrols and controlling overexploitation via law enforcement." — Read it at SeekerImage: Reindeer fawn at Brookfield Zoo
Reindeer Named Bunny Gives Birth
Just in time for Easter, a reindeer named Bunny delivered a fawn at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. This is the first reindeer birth at the zoo since 1980, and it's a welcome one: Reindeer populations are declining, largely due to climate change. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists reindeer as Vulnerable, and two of the 14 subspecies have already gone extinct. — Read it at ZoobornsTeam Rescues Cat From Car Dashboard
After escaping a house fire, a cat named Boots found shelter in the dashboard of a car — and then couldn’t get out. A team at Mark Thomas Motors in Albany, Oregon, worked for several hours to free him. “It was unreal how bad the cat was stuck in that dash, our team performed miracles how fast they got that dashboard apart to get that poor kitty out, it was a great team effort and I am very proud of everyone,” said Mark Patrzik, the dealership’s general manager. Boots is now home safe with his owners. — Read it at People PetsOriginal From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-giraffe-finally-gives-birth-donated-doll-beds-help-shelter-cats?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Friday, April 14, 2017
Pet Scoop: Kitten Rescued From Porsche Engine, Hero Goat Alerts Family to Fire
April 14, 2017 at 07:36PM by
>br> April 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.
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-kitten-rescued-from-porsche-engine-hero-goat-alerts-family-to-fire?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> April 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: Florida firefighter adopts kitten
Firefighter Adopts Rescued Kitty
This is one little kitten with a taste for luxury. David Burch had just bought a 2016 Porsche Cayenne SUV when he thought he heard a kitten purring. At first, he assumed it must have been outside the vehicle, but when it continued, he realized it was coming from his new twin turbo engine. He parked in the Galleria Mall parking garage and called Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Fire Rescue for help. “This can’t be for real. It’s not happening to me. I just got the car,” Burch said. “They wanted to hear it to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating.” The crew took apart the engine of the $100,000 vehicle, and managed to free the kitten — who wasn’t exactly pleased about it. She soon warmed up to her rescuers, though, and firefighter Eric Fillyaw decided to bring her home for his 3-year-old daughter. The kitten’s new name? Porsche. — Watch it at 7 News MiamiPanda Pair Arrives in the Netherlands
On Wednesday, the Ouwehands Dierenpark zoo in the Netherlands finally got the two black-and-white residents they’d spent 16 years waiting for: pandas Xing Ya and Wu Wen. The bears are staying in quarantine, but the zoo says their first night at their new home went well. The pair will be living in a brankd new $7.4 million compound that was built in a traditional Chinese style. The pandas are on loan to the zoo from China for 15 years, and their keepers are hopeful that they’ll start a family while they’re there. — Watch it at the Huffington PostWildlife and Selfies Don’t Mix
It’s pup season on the West Coast, and the Marine Mammal Center is reminding beachgoers that they need to stay at least 50 feet away from stranded seal or sea lion pups. “Please remember, pups and selfies don't mix. We know it's a once-in-a-lifetime pic. We get it. And you'll ‘be real quick,’” the rescue center said in a Facebook post this week. “What you don't know is the pup's mom is just offshore. She sees you even if you don't see her. And she will now abandon the pup.” If you do spot a marine mammal you think has been stranded, call the center’s stranding hotline: 415-289-SEAL. — Read it at The Marine Mammal Center’s FacebookImage: Speedy the goat
Goat Saves Family From Fire
Nick Bruce wasn’t thrilled when his daughter, Abigail, got a goat as an early 10th birthday gift last Thursday. But just two days later, Speedy won a place in his heart when he saved his new family from a fire in their Arkansas home. Speedy woke Abigail up at 1 a.m. “It was bouncing on me and screaming,” and that’s when she noticed smoke in her room. She ran to tell her dad. “I'm glad we got it before the fire happened or we wouldn't be here,” said Abigail. Her dad agrees. “He is not going anywhere!” he said. The family is now staying at a friend’s house until they can get back on their feet. — Watch it at Arkansas Matters#RallyCat Gets a Home
There’s good news for the cat who quickly became famous when he interrupted a Miami Marlins baseball game on Opening Day: The skittish cat has been adopted by an employee of the team. The gray kitty was affectionately known as #RallyCat, and video of the cat scampering around the outfield and onto a sculpture in the park went viral. Maybe the cat did bring the team good luck — they won their opener against the Atlanta Braves, but lost a 15-inning game to the New York Mets at the park last night. — Read it at CBS MiamiOriginal From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-kitten-rescued-from-porsche-engine-hero-goat-alerts-family-to-fire?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Pet Scoop: Cat Steals the Show at Marlins Game, Bald Eagle Protects Baby From Storm
April 13, 2017 at 07:11PM by
>br> April 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.
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-cat-steals-the-show-at-marlins-game-bald-eagle-protects-baby-from-storm?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> April 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: Cat at Marlins Park
Cat Entertains Miami Baseball Fans
Fans at a Miami Marlins game were treated to quite a show when a skittish gray cat entered the field, slinking along the outfield wall on Tuesday. When a player and groundskeeper tried to approach the wayward kitty, he darted away — and climbed an advertisement, finding himself on an eclectic sculpture that lights up and sprays water when the home team gets a homerun. “Look at this cat,” exclaimed Marlins announcer Rich Waltz on the team’s broadcast. “Terrific stuff by the cat. Outstanding!” The team said they wouldn’t spray the water if the Marlins scored, and the cat stayed in his seat. The Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 8-4, and the team said he ran off and out of sight more than an hour after the game finished. — Watch it at The New York TimesBald Eagle Mom Protects Baby in Storm
Last week, a tornado struck a mile from the nest of bald eagles Liberty and Justice in Washington, D.C. In an amazing video released by the Earth Conservation Corps, mom Liberty apparently knew the storm was coming and arrived back at her nest just as strong gusts of wind were beginning last Thursday. She sits on her eaglet to shelter her as the tree limbs supporting the nest wave in the wind. Luckily, the tree and nest stayed intact, and the eagles were fine. The eaglet was born on March 15 and her name will be selected from eight choices the public is being asked to vote on, including Spirit, Courage and Glory. — Watch it at the Washington PostOrphaned Coyote Gets a Second Chance
A kind rescuer brought a tiny coyote puppy to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care in California last week, the group said. The adorable little guy was the only survivor in his litter. “He is very little —only about four weeks old — but full of energy and very wriggly!” the rescue group said in a Facebook post Tuesday. After a difficult start at life, he’ll now get the opportunity to thrive. LTWC said they’ll do everything possible to keep the pup wild — teaching him to hunt and limiting human contact — so he can be released once he’s old enough to survive on his own. — See photos at Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care’s FacebookImage: Queen feeds elephant
Queen Elizabeth Feeds Elephants
Donna the elephant had a brush with royalty at England’s Whipsnade Zoo on Tuesday. Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, fed Donna bananas to celebrate the opening of the zoo’s new Elephant Centre. The queen also met little Elizabeth, an 8-month-old elephant who was named for her to mark her 90th birthday. The queen is the Patron of the Zoological Society of London. — Read it at TodaySoldier Reunited With Dog After Court Battle
Army Pvt. Katelyn Gallagher returned from a 9-month training program on Tuesday and was reunited with her beloved Bloodhound, Buck. It was a reunion Gallagher feared wouldn’t happen. When she left for training last year, she left Buck in the care of a family friend. But when she came home to Cleveland on leave in December, she went to get Buck and was told the friend had given him away — and wouldn’t tell her where he was, she said. Charges were filed against the man who gave the dog away, and Buck was returned to Gallagher’s family in February. “I didn’t want to battle. I didn't want other people to be hurt. I just wanted my boy back, that’s all,” Gallagher said. This was the first time she’d been home since Buck was returned — and he had lots of hugs and kisses for her. — Watch it at Fox 8 ClevelandOriginal From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-cat-steals-the-show-at-marlins-game-bald-eagle-protects-baby-from-storm?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Hiking Cat Becomes Social Media Star
April 12, 2017 at 10:17PM by
>br> Magic, a 1-year-old tabby cat, has been taking social media by storm thanks to his adventures with his owners Eric and Erika. The trio has hiked at Mount Baker, camped at Moran State Park and kayaked on Lake Wenatchee — and it’s all being documented through the Instagram account @furrymagic. "We knew he had a bit of a curious personality going into it," said Eric. "We kept taking him to parks and he liked it more and more. The social media stuff has been a surprise it's just been sort of a fun ride." — Read it at King 5
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/hiking-cat-becomes-social-media-star?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> Magic, a 1-year-old tabby cat, has been taking social media by storm thanks to his adventures with his owners Eric and Erika. The trio has hiked at Mount Baker, camped at Moran State Park and kayaked on Lake Wenatchee — and it’s all being documented through the Instagram account @furrymagic. "We knew he had a bit of a curious personality going into it," said Eric. "We kept taking him to parks and he liked it more and more. The social media stuff has been a surprise it's just been sort of a fun ride." — Read it at King 5
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/hiking-cat-becomes-social-media-star?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
Pet Scoop: Dog Stabbed 19 Times Finds Her Forever Home, New Baby Hippo Needs a Name
April 12, 2017 at 08:04PM by
>br> April 12, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.
Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-dog-stabbed-19-times-finds-her-forever-home-new-baby-hippo-needs-a-name?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
>br> April 12, 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: Frannie the dog survives stabbing and gets adopted by rescuer
Rescuer Adopts Dog He Saved
In March, the Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Cruelty Task Force received a call about a female Poodle mix who had been stabbed 19 times. At the time, they weren’t sure she would survive, but veterinarians treated the dog with IV fluids, antibiotics and pain medication. Not only did Frannie make a full recovery, but she found a forever family — the first responder who found her decided to adopt her. — Read it at Fox NewsSuper Cat Mom Surrogate Cares For 14 Kittens
A little cat with a big heart was living in a New York apartment with two other adult cats, when they all gave birth around the same time. Unfortunately, the other two moms had trouble nursing, so Izabelle stepped in to feed and care for all fourteen kittens! Overwhelmed by all the new arrivals, the cats’ owner surrendered them to a local animal shelter, whereIzabelle is still caring for the kittens and waiting for a foster or forever home. — Read it at People PetsStudy: Having a Dog Makes You a Better Person
It’s official: Ninety-three percent of dog owners in the U.S. say their dog has made them a better person, according to a new study released today by BarkBox. The study also found that about half of pup parents say their dog has made them more patient, and more than four in five (83 percent) say their dog has made them more active, with 72 percent saying their dog plays a role in their exercise decisions. — Read it at People PetsImage: Baby hippo needs a name
Zoo Needs Help Naming Baby Hippo
On March 23, the Memphis Zoo welcomed a big bundle of joy — a 76-pound Nile Hippopotamus — and now they want help naming the calf. The Memphis Zoo staff has carefully chosen five names for consideration, and the public is encouraged to vote for their favorite name: Venus (in honor of the Zoo’s first female hippo), Cleo (short for Cleopatra), Winnie (“happiness”), Zuri (“beautiful”) or Asha (“lively woman”). The winning name will be announced Friday, April 14 via the Zoo’s social media pages. — Read it at ZoobornsHiking Cat Becomes Social Media Star
Magic, a one-year-old tabby cat, has been taking social media by storm thanks to his adventures with his owners Eric and Erika. The trio has hiked at Mount Baker, camped at Moran State Park and kayaked on Lake Wenatchee — and it’s all being documented through the Instagram account @furrymagic. "We knew he had a bit of a curious personality going into it," said Eric. "We kept taking him to parks and he liked it more and more. The social media stuff has been a surprise it's just been sort of a fun ride." — Read it at King 5Original From:http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/pet-scoop-dog-stabbed-19-times-finds-her-forever-home-new-baby-hippo-needs-a-name?WT.mc_id=RSSFeed
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