Pig sick

A BAKER has been forced to rename her novelty pig tarts - because they don't contain any pork. Val Temple, who runs Sgt Bun Bakery, Weymouth, says officers from Dorset's trading standards department also told her she must swap the name of robin tarts as they are not made from robins. And she claims she was instructed to rename her paradise slice because ... it's not from paradise. Mrs Temple has made the novelty cakes in the shape of pigs and robins as a treat for her customers for years. She said: "It's a joke. "The officers came in and said they had had a complaint and I must change the names because they didn't contain pork, robin or paradise. advertisement "It's an insult to the public. Of course they don't contain pig, robin or paradise. (via)

Bull Wanders Into Elderly Woman's Garage

An elderly upstate New York woman had to put up with a lot of bull -- literally. Eighty-one-year-old Mabel Washburn says she was pulling into her driveway Wednesday when she spotted something big inside her garage. It turned out to be a bull. She drove to a nearby relative's home and called police. When she returned home a few minutes later, the bull was still there. Washburn said the animal rammed its horns into her car a couple of times. She blew her horn at it but says the bull then chased her car as she drove away.

Deer Open Door, Visit Retirement Home

A pair of deer took a quick tour of a retirement home after one accidentally triggered an automatic door. The animals were wandering near the home Wednesday when one stepped on a mat that triggered a clear sliding door, according to staff members and surveillance tapes. "The joke afterward was that they were trying to get in because it was taco day," said Frank Buhrman, spokesman for Cross Keys Village/The Brethren Home Community.

Fun with Sandwiches

Art from sugar (and chocolate)

Chocolatework.com is an informative site for chocolate enthusiasts, providing a reference and idea source for chocolate sculpture, wedding cakes, plated desserts, and pulled sugar work. Pulled sugar is a very versatile medium. Finished pieces can be produced quickly and on short notice. This pulled sugar showpiece swan is produced from blown sugar. The base is made of poured sugar that has been cast onto foil, which may be left on or removed after the sugar has cooled for a different effect. The body of the swan is the blown sugar portion. The wings are formed from a pulled sugar base and then covered with individual pulled sugar feathers. The grass may be made from pulled sugar as well but it is made stronger if air is first blown into it. A pulled sugar rose finishes the sugar centerpiece.

Are rawhide treats from i-pets.com safe for my pet?

Are rawhide treats from i-pets.com safe for my pet?

How do I know that rawhide treats are free of poisons?

In light of the horrific news reports, more and more each day, of pets sickening and dying from tainted additives in pet foods and pet biscuits, the management of i-pets.com would like to take this opportunity to explain the processing of rawhide treats and any imported items we may sell to our customers.

Pets in the US are becoming sick and dying because of melamine, a chemical found in fertilizers in Asia and which should not be in pet food in any amounts. Melamine was used as an additive in wheat gluten and rice gluten used in pet foods. Why? Food and Drug Administration investigators say the Chinese companies may have spiked products with the chemical melamine so that they would appear, in tests, to have more value as protein products.

How do you know melamine additives aren't in rawhide treats? Because rawhide is almost pure protein - there is no need to add protein value. Products sold by i-pets.com, which state "USA" are made entirely in the United States from cattle hides raised and processed in the United States. No chemicals are used to process these rawhides - the process involves repeated washes with purified water to remove fats which can lead to unpleasant odor and spoilage. In the last water bath, hydrogen peroxide, the same product used for first aid, is added to the water to retard spoilage.

Rawhide treats made in foreign countries are identifiable because these are the ultra white ones. Some disreputable companies will use chemicals to whiten the hides, because it makes them more attractive to customers. Dogs could care less!

i-pets.com sells imported rawhide treats in addition to those manufactured in the USA. Why? Because consumers like looking for bargains and it's impossible to manufacture in the USA as cheaply as overseas. US manufacturing is regulated by countless federal, state and local agencies, and also required to meet minimum wage and insurance requirements. Foreign companies are not bound by these same rules and can produce at much lower cost.

How does a consumer know if an imported pet product is safe? It's easy to say "Buy from a reputable manufacturer," but most consumers are not familiar with foreign companies. So take it a step further - buy from a reputable retailer. At i-pets.com, we have seen the gamut of good and bad manufacturing practices. We have visited factories in Mexico, Thailand, Taiwan, China and South America. We would not buy a product to sell to the public that we wouldn't wish to give to our own companion animals.

At i-pets.com, we pride ourselves on our ultra-low prices, but we will not sacrifice the safety of our customers' companion animals solely to sell a cheaper product. i-pets.com will only sell imported products from manufacturers we have personally visited and been satisfied with. If we can't find an acceptable product at a lower price than our competitors, we will not carry that product.

The brood of 29 waddling ducklings amazing drivers

iPod Nano Cozy (Hamlet)

iPod Nano Cozy (Hamlet) Hamlet takes his iPod holding job seriously. Sure, he gets moody sometimes ("to be... or not to be..."), but when it comes to toting around your nano in his softy, cushy body, he's a pig that's true to his calling. Hamlet is made of a sparkly pink acrylic felt, lined with a soft pink plushy fabric, stitched with pink thread, and has a pink button nose. Hamlet hangs from your bag with the aid of a metal lobster clasp, and sports a pair of white felt wings to lighten your load a bit!

The Refined Litter Box

The Refined Litter Box

• Large sliding platform which holds large litter tray and extra litter.
• Top storage drawer for cat toys and food.
• Reversible walls for left or right entry.
• Non toxic Polyurethane coating.
• Matches home furniture.
• Plastic barrier helps keeps in odor.

Amber Fish - Lampwork Animal Focal Bead

**Art Glass direct from the artist to you** A beautiful fish with great character that's ready for adoption and excited to get to it's new home. Transparent light amber base with light aqua fins, curious blue eyes and red lips. Etched for a nice smooth feel and matte finish. Which also makes this bead fingerprint resistant. Adopt him today and use him for display purposes or use in your jewelry projects.

Barbaro’s little brother is born

The colt took his first awkward steps away from his stall and out of the barn at Mill Ridge Farm, his back limbs nearly buckling, as a groom helped out with a firm hold on the horse's rear end. Out in the paddock, the colt, just 10 hours old, looked back to the groom with an expression of: "What now?" Friday was one glorious day in the Bluegrass, with barely a cloud in the blue skies above Mill Ridge's rolling 1,100 acres. "It's a good day to be born and get turned out," Michael Matz said. The trainer of last year's Kentucky Derby winner was at Mill Ridge because this was no ordinary newborn. Here was Barbaro's little brother, out to the paddock for the first time with his mother, La Ville Rouge. His foaling today on April 20 - exact time: 2:08 a.m. - had been routine. He's a big boy, 148 pounds. After just a minute standing in the grassy paddock, the colt was loping alongside La Ville Rouge, who instinctively leaned her head in front of her son, herded him away from a fence, taking him around his first turn.

Video: F1 vs F5

2 savannah kittens wrestling and just having fun.

Video: Duck vs. Dog

2 very unlikely playmates.

Ewe've been conned ladies

THOUSANDS of rich women were conned by a firm into believing LAMBS were valuable miniature POODLES. Entire flocks were imported to Japan from the UK and Australia then sold by the internet company as the latest “must have” pet. The bizarre scam was rumbled when Japanese movie star Maiko Kawakami complained on a talk show that her new poodle refused to bark or eat dog food. She showed photos of the animal and was devastated when told that it was a lamb. Hundreds of women contacted police to say that they had also been sold lambs instead of pedigree pups by the tricksters based in Sapporo, Japan. (photo credit) Too bizarre to be true? Yes!

Algae killing birds, sealife in Calif.

A bloom of ocean algae that produces a toxic acid has sickened and killed hundreds of birds, sea lions and dolphins in California, environmentalists said. Domoic acid is produced by microscopic algae. Birds and sea mammals ingest the acid by eating fish and shellfish who dine on the algae. The algae population increases or "blooms" every year as the ocean waters warm but this year's bloom seems early, extensive and "very, very thick," said David Caron, who teaches in the biological sciences department at University of Southern California. "In five years of study I have not seen a bloom this large at this particular time of year," Caron said. "It's having an extraordinary impact on pelicans and many other species." "There are conceivably thousands of animals being affected," Caron said. The Wetland and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach had received 73 sick or dead birds since Sunday, assistant director Lisa Birkle said. The toxin has been swifter and deadlier than usual, she said.

Samsung Donates Suicide Bomber Detection Dog To Iraq

A three year old Labrador called Pyeonghwa, which means 'peace' will be deployed in Northern Iraq in a few weeks. Her job will be to detect suicide bombers. The Labrador, who was trained in Korea by UK based specialised police officers, will prove to be an invaluable aid in Iraq, as British forces attempt to install order in the country. She will be joining Korean troops already stationed on the ground. The small Labrador is the first dog in history to be trained for the specific purpose of preventing would be suicide bombers from detonating their devices. She is trained to detect the specific explosive substances that are used in self detonating bombs used by suicide bombers. (via)

Amazing flying dogs!

from flickr, by lindquist from flickr, by McInnes.info from flickr, by chadh found here found here from flickr, by samson_snow found here found here from flickr, by Captain James T Kirk from flickr, by essexjan found here from flickr, by MyRidgebacks found here from flickr, by nbraier

China Bans Melamine in Food Products

Finally! A small step forward ... China said Thursday it has banned melamine from food products after the chemical was found in exports of vegetable protein shipped to the United States, but rejected it as the cause of dozens of pet deaths in North America. U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials say they suspect the substance, which is a chemical found in plastics and pesticides, is to blame. China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement there was no evidence to support the FDA's claim but that it would cooperate with the United States to find out what actually killed the animals.

A pox on the box

For finicky felines, there are remedies for litter box rejection. Americans adore their felines -- or so it seems. We own more cats than any other type of animal companion. Still, millions of them end up in shelters every year, where, according to estimates, 70 percent are destined for euthanasia. A great number of these cats are surrendered for behavioral issues that, experts say, can be corrected with a little thought and experimentation. And one of the most frequent problems often is simple to solve.

Dogs find counterfit DVDs

Lucky and Flo are touted as the latest weapons in the fight against movie piracy. They were trained after a study in 2004 determined that dogs could be used to detect polycarbonate and other chemicals used in optical discs. Neil Powell, a trainer in Northern Ireland known for training dogs to sniff bombs and other devices, trained the two animals. They are believed to be the first DVD-sniffing dogs in the world. Lucky and Flo, the Motion Picture Association's DVD-sniffing black Labrador retrievers, led investigators to an estimated 100,000 pirated movie and computer games DVDs hidden in secret storage compartments in shops and a warehouse in Malaysia last week. The canine duo also helped Philippines law enforcement officials seize an estimated 300,000 pirated DVDs from three malls in Manila notorious for the sale of pirated movies and music this week. Among the seizures, which had an estimated street value of $500,000, were a significant number of discs containing child pornography. Officials say that investigators also seized DVDs containing child pornography in Malaysia. The raids, on 11 retail outlets and a warehouse, took place in the same building where the canine duo, with Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA) and Motion Picture Association (MPA) investigators, discovered and seized an estimated one million pirated optical discs infringing movie and computer games titles on 20 March 2007. Movie pirates placed bounties on the dogs after a DVD ring was busted last month in the south of the country, according to Malaysian media reports.

Tigers for Tomorrow

Tigers For Tomorrow Exotic Animal Preserve, Inc. was founded in July of 1999, for the sole purpose of creating a safe haven for exotic animals in need of a permanent home. Tigers for Tomorrow (TFT) is a not for profit organization, that provides a last stop sanctuary for exotic animals, specializing in exotic cats. They specialize in exotic cats, lions and tigers but will not turn away other exotic animals in need. TFT believes that all animals deserve the right to live in safe surroundings.

Cute Baby Bamboo Lemur

Bilbo, a bamboo lemur, weighed just 30g when he was born on 22 February, 2007. Rejected by his mother at a zoo in Stockholm, Sweden, he has since gained a further 100g. It is thought there could be just 200 bamboo lemurs left in the wild.

Hunters kill one of last surviving Amur leopards

Hunters in Russia's Far East have shot and killed one of the last seven surviving female Amur leopards living in the wild, WWF said on Monday, driving the species even closer to extinction. Last week environmentalists said there were only between 25 and 34 Amur leopards -- described as one of the most graceful cats in the world -- still living in the wild. (Full story) "Leopard murder can only be provoked by cowardice or stupidity, in this case most likely by both," Pavel Fomenko, WWF's biodiversity coordinator in Russia's Far East said in a statement. A hunter shot the leopard through the tail bone. It tumbled over and was then beaten over the head with a heavy object, WWF said. Amur leopards have not been know to attack humans.

Rare Sumatran rhino filmed for first time

One of the world's most endangered animals, the Sumatran rhinoceros, has been filmed in the wild for the first time in a coup that could help save it from extinction. The night time footage from Borneo island in Malaysia showed a Sumatran rhino eating, peering through jungle foliage, before it walked up to the camera and sniffed the equipment. Malaysian officials and the WWF hailed the two-minute clip from a video camera mounted in a forest as a rare look into the rhino's life. "These are very shy animals that are almost never seen by people and so this video gives us an amazing opportunity to spy on the rhino's behaviour."

Exotic Animal Farm Owner Dies After 1,800-Pound Camel Sits on Her

WEWAHITCHKA, Fla. — The owner of an exotic animal farm has died after being kicked and then sat on by a 1,800-pound camel. Cathie Ake and the 4-year-old camel were being filmed by a local television station on Sunday when the camel kicked her and sat on her during a break in filming. The station was doing a story on Mini-Akers Exotic Animals, the farm Ake owned with her husband. Ake's husband, Donnie Ake, said he thinks Polo, the camel, was agitated by mating season. He said he would find a new home for Polo, which they bought three weeks ago, The News Herald of Panama City reported Tuesday.

Pregnant cow runs riot across city

A pregnant cow being chased by police and fire fighters caused 25,000 euros (17,000 pounds) of damage on a three-hour rampage through the German city of Hanover. Uschi escaped from a farm late on Monday and became increasingly violent as she encountered shocked drivers and pedestrians in the city. Pursued by the farmer, television camera crews and 30 police and fire fighters, the Charolais cow lashed out at cars, benches, garden fences and whatever else got in her way during the 5-km chase, authorities said.

Stumpy the duck loses one of his four legs

STUMPY, the Hampshire duck which became famous around the world after being born with four legs, has lost one of its extra limbs after getting caught in its pen. Stumpy caught the media's attention worldwide after it was born at the Warrawee Duck Farm in the New Forest on February 7. After catching one of its extra limbs in its special pen, the duck is now down to only three legs. However, the accident has led to a positive outcome for Stumpy, because now it can roam the farm free with the other ducks because it is no longer at risk of being caught in hedges, which could have put its life in danger. Farm owner Nicky Janaway said: "He's now only got three legs and a stump which means he's Stumpy by name and stumpy by nature.

Drunk man rides horse into bank, spends the night

A drunk German horse rider rode into a bank foyer to sleep for the night, after having one too many for the road during a stopover at his local beergarden. Wolfgang Heinrich, 40, from the German town Wiesenburg, had been riding with his Haflinger horse Sammy when he stopped to have a drink with friends. But when he left the pub he realised he was too drunk to ride all the way home - and because it was cold, he decided to use his bank card to open up a nearby bank foyer and take himself and Sammy inside to sleep it off. Heinrich and his horse were found in the early hours of the morning by local man Stephan Hanelt, 36, who came to the bank to take out some money.

China gives panda cub 2 more years in D.C.

Chinese officials granted Tai Shan, the National Zoo's popular giant panda cub, an extra two years at the Smithsonian Institution park with his parents. Under a panda loan agreement with China, any cub born at the National Zoo would be returned for breeding sometime after its second birthday. Tai Shan turns 2 on July 9 but will remain with his mother Mei Xiang and father Tian Tian at least until 2009. Chinese Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong presented the zoo with a giant green laminated passport to extend Tai Shan's stay. "As an envoy of goodwill from the Chinese people and a symbol of friendly cooperation between China and the United States, Tai Shan will continue to bring more happiness and delight to the American people," Wenzhong said.

Riggs named most 'Beautiful Bulldog'

DES MOINES, Iowa - Riggs hardly looks or acts like a beauty king. A 3-year-old male bulldog, Riggs is a drooler with protruding teeth and a penchant for attacking noisy appliances, begging for crumbs and hopping on furniture. Fortunately for the canine from Prairie City, Iowa, those traits endeared him to judges Monday in the "Beautiful Bulldog" contest, an annual event held to draw attention to the 98th running of the Drake Relays. Riggs beat out a 50-dog field that included the likes of Sir Grizwald Snorzalot, Napoleon Underbite and Crazy Legs Da Moose to take the crown. Contest organizers acknowledge the event is more about a winning personality than beauty.

Art by Matthew Armstrong

"Red Balloon"

Mother and child

AFP/Getty photo by Orlando Kissner An Amazon onca panther carries her baby at the zoo of Curitiba in southern Brazil. The onca, which had been living in a private house for 16 years, was seized by authorities and sent to the zoo, where she gave birth.

Animals in the depth of the sea

26 photos of sea creatures at such extreme depths that special devices are required to photograph them, like this one:

How to handle your pets' most annoying habits

He's a handful, all right. He keeps you up at night; he's always missing the facilities. And he goes nuts when a man in uniform approaches the door. But your pet partner - whether a dog, a cat or a hamster - need not drive you crazy. Try the practical tips to train your four-legged family members. After all, who else greets you at the door, running around in circles and giving you little love sniff-sniffs? Real Simple asked readers to share their biggest pet hassles at www.realsimple.com, then consulted experts for their solutions. Here are the results.

Almost Human, and Sometimes Smarter

Observed in the wild and tested in captivity, chimpanzees invite comparison with humans, their close relatives. They bear a family resemblance that fascinates people, and scientists see increasing evidence of similarities in chimp behavior and skills, making some of them think on the vagaries of evolution. Chimps display a remarkable range of behavior and talent. They make and use simple tools, hunt in groups and engage in aggressive, violent acts. They are social creatures that appear to be capable of empathy, altruism, self-awareness, cooperation in problem solving and learning through example and experience. Chimps even outperform humans in some memory tasks. “Fifty years ago, we knew next to nothing about chimpanzees,” said Andrew Whiten, an evolutionary psychologist at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. “You could not have predicted the richness and complexity of chimp culture that we know now.”

A lesson in chick hatchery

Things you probably never knew, such as: "Chicks, when they start to hatch, first break through the membrane to practice breathing. You know that pocket of air on the big side of the boiled egg? That's what that is for. Breathing practice. After the chick breathes up that pocket of air, they break through the shell to let more air in. The chicks have a special little "tooth" on their beak they use to do this."

Dog Polo Shirt

Short-sleeved dog polo shirt in our signature cotton mesh.

Two-button placket, ribbed polo collar and armbands, uneven vented hem. Finished with a discreet leash hole at the back neck.

Our embroidered pony accents the collar.

100% cotton. Machine washable. Imported.

Wowo Dog Pod

The Wowo Dog Pod, by Vurv Design, is targeted at hip, design-conscious pet owners and their pampered pets. Wowo's bent ply products have a distinct mid-century aesthetic, and cater to pet owners who want their pet accessories to complement the beauty of their modern furnishings. More of a recliner than a pet bed, it's like an Eames chair for your best friend. Bent ply with a choice of veneers. Solid wood legs. Removable, washable pad. Suitable for small dogs.

I'm just taking the cats out for a walk...

Jackie Morris is used to the odd stare when she takes her pets out for a walk. But it's not her dogs Bella and Floss that get the admiring glances, but rather her three ginger cats that accompany them. Maurice, Elmo and Pixie often tag along on the four-mile walks by the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales. The intrepid moggies pick their way through moorland and even negotiate tricky stiles on the route. They also leap onto the sign posts, perhaps to check they are going in the right direction. Their adoring owner Jackie said her cats were keen to come out in all weathers...but the preening felines didn't like muddy areas and avoided any bogs.

Doggy Bath Plug

Doggy Bath Plug Man overboard! Oh wait.. that's not a man, it's an adorable puppy to keep you company in the bathtub. Think you're too grown up to take a bath? Never! Grab your Mr. Bubble, floating battleship, and rescue the puppy!

China criticised for 'tiger wine'

China has come under fire for allowing tigers to be bred for the production of so-called "tiger bone wine". The drink is reportedly made by steeping tiger carcasses in rice wine. Those who drink the wine believe it makes them strong. Chinese delegates at the International Tiger Symposium in Nepal are arguing for the lifting of a current ban on the trade in tiger bones and skins. But other Asian nations with threatened tiger populations want the ban to stay.

Shark Catch In Florida May Earn Place In The Record Book

A 1,063-pound mako shark hooked close to shore in the Gulf of Mexico is being investigated as a possible world fishing record. The Sea Ya Later II was cobia fishing when its crew spotted the 12-foot 6-inch shark Wednesday afternoon between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach. The Mother Lode, a 45-foot charter boat, helped bring in the shark. They used flying gaffs to secure the fish and then tied the gaffs to the Sea Ya Later II, which was tilting. "If (the shark) hadn't been as tired as she was, this boat would be sitting on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico," said Lindsey Stanley, the Sea Ya Later IIs captain, told the Northwest Florida Daily News. After the shark died, it took eight men to pull it aboard the Mother Lode and take it to Destin. The registered weight of 1,063 pounds makes the catch eligible for the world record in the 30-pound line class for a short-fin mako. The class record is a 997-pound, 11-ounce shark caught in Sidney, Australia, in 1995. The largest mako recorded in the all-tackle division was a 1,221 pounder caught in Massachusetts in 2001.

Video: Tut the barking cat

This cat knows a foreign language! Well, it's not meowing ...

Video: Playful kitties

They tumble, they wrestle, they play with yarn! And there's a catchy song, too!

Video: Elephants at the Houston Zoo

For elephant afficionados - a whole page of videos featuring elephants.

Video: We are not alone

Some examples of the numerous life forms living on our body made visible by scanning electron microscopes. There are as many creatures living on our bodies as there are people on earth! (via)

Puppy Butt Wall Hooks

Puppy Butt Wall Hooks Cute enough to hang in a hallway, bathroom, pantry, garage, or anywhere you need a hook, these polyresin hooks are mounted on wood and will add a humorous touch to your home. Perfect for all the pet lovers in your life.

"Robofalcons" to take on UK city's pesky pigeons

LONDON (Reuters) - A flock of robotic falcons has been dispatched to tackle an influx of obese pigeons who are increasing in number and size thanks to an unnatural diet of fastfood. The mechanical birds -- called 'Robops' -- have been placed on rooftop locations around the British city of Liverpool, and will flap their wings and squawk loudly to scare the problem pigeons away. The initiative was launched to deal with the birds who are now considered a nuisance in the city, flying at people and leaving droppings everywhere, Liverpool council said.

Officials: Pet Food Poison May Have Been Intentional

FDA Investigators Say Chinese Companies May Have Added Melamine to Appear to Boost Protein Content For the first time, investigators are saying the chemical that has sickened and killed pets in the United States may have been intentionally added to pet food ingredients by Chinese producers. Food and Drug Administration investigators say the Chinese companies may have spiked products with the chemical melamine so that they would appear, in tests, to have more value as protein products. Officials now suspect this possibility because a second ingredient from China, rice protein concentrate, has tested positive for melamine. So has corn gluten shipped to South Africa. That means there is a possibility for another round of recalls.

Newborn Panda Baby

(via)

See Spot Run ... Up a Bill

About 43.5 million U.S. households own at least one dog, and more and more dog owners are lavishing pets with amenities like nail-polish “pawdicures” and banana biscotti—pampering that takes a serious bite out of the bank account. Consider three classes of dogs and what their varying lifestyles cost in the Chicago area.