from Disapproving Rabbits
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Many bird populations in trouble, report says
Just as they were when Rachel Carson published 'Silent Spring' nearly 50 years ago, birds today are a bellwether of the health of land, water and ecosystems.
From shorebirds in New England to warblers in Michigan to songbirds in Hawaii, we are seeing disturbing downward population trends that should set off environmental alarm bells.
The declines can be traced to a variety of factors, depending on a bird's particular habitat. But the causes most frequently cited in the report are agriculture, climate change, development and energy, and invasive species.
Source
Monday, March 30, 2009
Just wanted a pizza and a beer
Three people in the central Arizona community of Cottonwood were exposed to rabies after being attacked by a wild bobcat.
It all began when the animal attacked and scratched a woman who had gotten out of her car after thinking she had hit it.
A short time later, Cottonwood police got a report of a bobcat acting aggressively toward a woman outside a Pizza Hut.
Then, about an hour later, the bobcat wandered into the Chapparal Bar on Main Street forcing patrons up on their barstools.
Two men who were bitten before police shot and killed the animal in the parking lot.
Test later confirmed it was rabid.
Source
(via Perez Hilton)
Jasmine
I received the following story in today's email ... (Thanks, Lois)
In 2003, police in Warwickshire, England, opened a garden shed and found a whimpering, cowering dog. It had been locked in the shed and abandoned. It was dirty and malnourished and had clearly been abused.
In an act of kindness, the police took the dog, which was a Greyhound female, to the nearby Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, run by a man named Geoff Grewcock and known as a willing haven for animals abandoned, orphaned or otherwise in need.
Geoff and the other sanctuary staff went to work with two aims..to restore the dog to full health and to win her trust. It took several weeks, but eventually both goals were achieved.
They named her Jasmine and they started to think about finding her an adoptive home.
But Jasmine had other ideas.. No-one remembers now how it began, but she started welcoming all animal arrivals at the sanctuary. It wouldn't matter if it was a puppy, a fox cub, a rabbit or any other lost or hurting animal, Jasmine would peer into the box or cage and, where possible, deliver a welcoming lick.
Geoff relates one of the early incidents. "We had two puppies that had been abandoned by a nearby railway line. One was a Lakeland Terrier Cross and another was a Jack Russell Doberman Cross. They were tiny when they arrived at the centre and Jasmine approached them and grabbed one by the scruff of the neck in her mouth and put him on the settee. Then she fetched the other one and sat down with them, cuddling them."
"But she is like that with all of our animals, even the rabbits. She takes all the stress out of them and it helps them to not only feel close to her, but to settle into their new surroundings.
"She has done the same with the fox and badger cubs. She licks the rabbits and guinea pigs and even lets the birds perch on the bridge of her nose."
Jasmine - the timid, abused, deserted waif, became the animal sanctuary's resident surrogate mother, a role for which she might have been born. The list of orphaned and abandoned youngsters she has cared for comprises five fox cubs, four badger cubs, 15 chicks, eight guinea pigs, two stray puppies and 15 rabbits.
And one roe deer fawn. Tiny Bramble, 11 weeks old, was found semi-conscious in a field. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, Jasmine cuddled up to her to keep her warm and then went into the full 'foster mom' role. Jasmine, the greyhound, showers Bramble, the Roe deer, with affection and makes sure nothing is matted.
"They are inseparable," says Geoff. "Bramble walks between her legs and they keep kissing each other. They walk together round the sanctuary.
It's a real treat to see them."
Jasmine will continue to care for Bramble until she is old enough to be returned to woodland life. When that happens, Jasmine will not be lonely. She will be too busy showering love and affection on the next orphan or victim of abuse.
From left - Toby, a stray Lakeland dog; Bramble, orphaned Roe deer; Buster, a stray Jack Russell; a dumped rabbit; Sky, an injured barn owl; and Jasmine, with a Mothers heart, doing best what a caring Mother would do.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
How to piss off your neighbors
Terrible Tombstones are a good way to let your neighbors know that you do not enjoy their pets using your yard as their personal restroom.
You may not make many friends by putting this in your front lawn, but the point is well made.
$9.95 at Terrible Tombstones
(via Nerd Approved)
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Caturday funnies
I received this photo via email. If anyone knows the original photographer, let me know please.
from When Cats Attack
Friday, March 27, 2009
Ouch!
A man poses with the alleged largest egg in the world in central London. The egg was laid in the early 17th century by the now-extinct Great Elephant Bird of Madagascarto. It is priced at $7,340 and will be sold at The Chelsea Antiques Fair.
Photo Credit: Shaun Curry-AFP/Getty Images
Are cavers spreading lethal bat disease?
The white fungus that appears on bats' noses and wings — so-called white-nose syndrome — has killed more than a half-million bats over the past three winters, but scientists had not been able to figure out how the fungus got into the bat caves and why it spread.
Now, they have big clue: Humans, specifically cavers, who "may be spreading the causative agent."
Source
Photo Credit: Nancy Heaslip, New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Little brown bats with white-nose syndrome, New York
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Endangered and Dangerous
An Indonesian fisherman has been killed by Komodo dragons after he was attacked while trespassing on a remote island in search of fruit, officials said Tuesday.
Muhamad Anwar, 32, bled to death on his way to hospital after being mauled by the reptiles at Loh Sriaya, in eastern Indonesia's Komodo National Park.
Komodo dragons, the world's heaviest lizards, can grow up to 3 meters (10 feet) in length and have a toxic bite that they use to kill prey such as buffalo, returning to feast when the animal succumbs to the poison.
Despite their ungainly appearance, the carnivorous reptiles can run as fast as a dog in short bursts, jump up on their hind legs, and kill animals with a blow of their powerful tails.
Attacks on humans are rare, but Monday's incident is the latest in a series in which the monster lizards -- which have forked tongues and fearsome claws --have killed or injured people.
Last month a park ranger survived after a Komodo dragon climbed the ladder into his hut and savaged his hand and foot. In 2007 an eight-year-old boy died after being mauled.
In June last year, a group of divers who were stranded on an island in the national park -- the dragons' only natural habitat -- had to fend off several attacks from the reptiles before they were rescued.
Source
Photo Credit: Dita Alangkara-AP
Endangered and Adorable
In the end, Hannibal did not administer the fatal bite to his mate's neck. And Jao Chu did not immediately kill their offspring, as is often the case.
And so, early yesterday, despite murderous tendencies in the captive species, two newborn clouded leopard cubs were found alive, well and squealing at the National Zoo's Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Va.
They were taken immediately from their gorgeous mother before she could do them harm, or do them in, placed in an incubator set at 88 degrees and fed salt water from baby bottles. Born with dappled, reptile-pattern fur, they were the first such births at the zoo in 16 years.
Their births were a coup, and the end of a complex reproduction saga involving an exotic, endangered and beautiful species of animal that experts call the ghost cat.
It was also a genetic home run: The zoo said the cubs' genes, which come from outside the captive population, make them among the most valuable clouded leopards in North America.
Source
Photo credit: Tracy A Woodward-The Washington Post
Fursday Fun
from WebShots, by mbdaily
from Flickr, by loveisabeautifulthing
from Flickr, by Isa Costa
from Funny Pet Photos
The world's most persecuted parrot
Today, Monk (or Quaker) parakeets comprise the largest group of the nine species of parrots known to live in the wild in the United States. But their success in establishing an ecological niche for themselves didn't come easily.
The birds, Myiopsitta Monachus, originate from South America. A government-sponsored program in Argentina managed to kill more than 400,000 of them in the late 1950s and early 1960s. But in the mid 1960's, someone had a bright idea: instead of killing them, why not ship them to the U.S.A. and make a few extra dollars? More than 60,000 wild parrots were shipped from South America to the U.S.A. during the 1960s and early 1970s.
Brooklyn has a large population of these wild parrots and many theories as to how the birds first were released into the wild. In 1973, the Federal Government became aware of the parrots' existence in the New York area, and sent out SWAT-style eradication teams which captured many birds and shot those unwilling to surrender. One of the last remaining parrot strongholds, a nest complex on Rikers Island, Queens, managed to survive the eradication teams and are the probable ancestors of the parrots alive today all over Brooklyn.
These intelligent, non-aggressive birds, which no self-respecting scientist has ever claimed have caused any significant crop damage in the U.S., are regarded with extreme hostility in many states. In New Jersey and Connecticut, they are classified as a "potentially dangerous species." In Pennsylvania, they are reportedly euthanized on the spot whenever power companies find them nesting on transmission lines. In Florida, both the state Department of Transportation and the Florida Power & Light utility company do the same thing. Florida Power & Light has for years maintained secret gas chambers where captured parrots are killed en masse.
Stephen Carl Baldwin, at Brooklyn Parrots, writes, "The fact that North America has a new parrot on its shores is in my view a blessing, especially because our countrymen wiped out our only native parrot - the Carolina Parakeet - nearly a hundred years ago. Nature has given us the rarest of gifts: a second chance."
Source
Yes - we do have Monk parakeets in Illinois!
There are monk parakeet colonies in nearly 20 Chicago suburbs.
I took the following photo in Alsip, Illinois, on December 6, 2006.
It was 8:30 am, temperature was 36 degrees. There were about a dozen of these gorgeous, vivid green birds at 116th and Springfield.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Cute little mini-moos
As adorable as they are, the little cows at the Memphis Zoo shouldn't be mistaken for calves. At more than a year old, miniature cows Cloudy and Darwinia are the newest residents at the zoo's Once Upon a Farm.
Cloudy is only about 25 inches tall at the shoulders and was bred from Hereford and American Lowline stock. Her companion, Darwinia, is 36 inches at the shoulders and was bred from American Lowline and Belted Galloway, a heritage breed with a recorded history some experts say dates back to the 16th century, when farms were smaller.
Source
Photo credit: Lance Murphey/The Commercial Appeal
Hungry?
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Cupcake Party Train by Lyndsay of Coco Cake Cupcakes.
(via The Daily What)
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
A heroic bird
A parrot that alerted his owner about a baby who was choking was recognized as a hero by the Red Cross. Willie the parrot was given the Animal Lifesaver Award during the "Breakfast of Champions" event in Denver.
Willie received the award for his actions in November, when he and owner Megan Howard were baby-sitting a toddler. Willie repeatedly yelled "Mama, baby" when Howard went to the bathroom and the toddler started to choke on her breakfast.
Howard saved the baby by performing the Heimlich maneuver but she said Willie "is the real hero."
Source
A strange bird
This is a great frigate bird. These birds can puff out their inflatable pouch to almost the full size of their body - a display used to attract the opposite sex.
Photo source
Monday, March 23, 2009
Stranded whales die amid rescue efforts
More than 60 whales are dead and 17 remain stranded after beaching themselves on Western Australia's southwest coast.
More than 100 volunteers were desperately trying to keep the animals in a group because if they were sent into the ocean on their own, they could return to beach themselves after hearing the distress calls of other whales.
Mass strandings of long-finned pilot whales on Australian coasts have occurred on average once a year since 1970.
Earlier this month, on King Island, northwest of Tasmania, more than 140 pilot whales died after nearly 200 beached themselves on the coast.
A DEC spokeswoman said what caused the animals to strand themselves was a mystery that would be investigated.
Source
Photo credit: Steve Mitchell, AP
Rare reptile found first time in 200 years
A hatchling of a rare reptile with lineage dating back to the dinosaur age has been found in the wild on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in about 200 years.
The baby tuatara was discovered by staff during routine maintenance work at the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary.
Tuatara, which measure up to 32 inches when full grown, are the last descendants of a lizard-like reptile species that walked the Earth with the dinosaurs 225 million years ago, zoologists say.
There are estimated to be about 50,000 of them living in the wild on 32 small offshore islands cleared of predators, but this is the first time a hatchling has been seen on the mainland in about 200 years.
The New Zealand natives were nearly extinct on the country's three main islands by the late 1700s due to the introduction of predators such as rats.
Source
Sony World Photography Awards 2009: professional finalists
The professional finalists of the 2009 Sony World Photography Awards have been announced.
Here are some of those which feature animals.
Natural History: Lisa Maree Williams (Australia)
Winner - Wildlife Warriors: A kangaroo joey receives treatment at The Australian Wildlife Hospital
Natural History: Lisa Maree Williams (Australia)
Winner - Wildlife Warriors: An injured koala receives treatment at The Australian Wildlife Hospital
Second: Steve Morenos (Australia)
Australian Possum
Second: Steve Morenos (Australia)
Kestrels
Conceptual & Constructed: Tamany Baker (UK)
Winner - A series called Living With Wolfie, a response to the "presents" that her beloved cat brings into the home.
Fashion: Piotr Fajfer (Poland)
Winner - Princess of the Crows for Eva Danhofer
Source
A big batch of dragons
An Indonesian zoo is welcoming the arrival of 32 newborn Komodo dragons.
A zoo spokesman said the endangered lizards, believed to number less than 4,000 in the wild, all hatched in the last two weeks and 14 eggs are still under observation.
He calls it the Komodo's most successful breeding year ever at the zoo.
The giant reptiles first arrived in the early 1980s, but the new births brought their total from 34 to 66.
The Komodo dragon can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh as much as 150 pounds. They have a bite that can be deadly and can only be found in the wild on the eastern Indonesian islands of Komodo, Padar and Rinca.
Source
Photo credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Sunday, March 22, 2009
I'm not sure I would wear this
Everyone avoids the subject, and many people deny it even happens, but why fight it?
Celebrate life, people!
Show your commitment to never stop living life, and to never stop pooping!
at SEIBEI for $22.00
Think of the children
Have a whale of a time in the tub!
MOBY is a spout cover that brightens up the bath while keeping baby’s head safe from bumps. Its sleek design includes an adjustable fin strap that fits snugly on most tub spouts, and a tail that’s also a handy hook, so MOBY can hang around when bath time’s done.
$13.00 at Skip Hop
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Caution : Possible cute overdose
The following photos are from the Daily Mail's story about the Infant Care Unit at Bukit Merah Lake Town Resort - dubbed Orang-Utan Island - located in the Malaysian jungle. It is a very special hospital because all of its patients are from the endangered Borneo species of orangutans, the Pongo Pygmaeus. 
You learn something new every day
This is a Zibellini, or Flea Fur
Zibellinis were a popular accessory item for noble men & ladies during the 15th and 16th centuries. A zibellino, from the Italian word for "sable", is the pelt of a sable or marten worn draped at the neck or hanging at the waist, or carried in the hand. The plural is zibellini.
Some zibellini were fitted with faces and paws of goldsmith's work with jeweled eyes and pearl earrings, while unadorned furs were also fashionable.
The traditional costume historian's term for this accessory, flea-fur, is from the German Flohpelz, coined by Wendelin Boeheim in 1894, who was the first to suggest that the furs were intended to attract fleas away from the body of the wearer. There is no historical evidence to support this unlikely claim. Italians simply called these accessories "zibellini", their word for sables, and speakers of other languages called them "martens", "sables" or "ermines" in their native tongues.
Zibellini was the entire pelt of an animal, usually marten or sable, but also ermine and lynx were used, and was carried in the hand, over the shoulder or around the neck, and was suspended from a gold chain attached to a girdle. The head and feet of which were often bejewelled replacements for the animals original body parts. There are accounts of clocks being set into the heads. Gold and silver were the norm for the head and feet of the Zibellini, but crystal and jet were also used. Zibellini were further embellished with diamonds, rubies, pearls and enamel work.
The fashion for carrying zibellini died out in the first years of the 17th century, although fox-pelts were worn in similar fashion in the 19th and 20th century. [wiki]
(via Scribal Terror)
102 in dog years
Meet twenty-year-old dachshund Chanel, who is set to take the crown as world's oldest dog in September's new Guinness Book of World Records.
Chanel has lived with her family since she was 6 weeks of age. She currently suffers from a heart-murmur, cataracts and a tumor on her foot, but these haven't shortened her lifespan and they don't appear to negatively impact her life. Chanel's daily wardrobe includes red goggles for her light sensitive eyes, a bootie for her tumor affected foot and a cozy sweater.
Source
(via The Long and Short of It)
There really ARE pink elephants
A wildlife cameraman took pictures of the calf when he spotted it among a herd of about 80 elephants in the Okavango Delta.
Experts believe it is probably an albino, which is an extremely rare phenomenon in African elephants.
They are unsure of its chances of long-term survival - the blazing African sunlight may cause blindness and skin problems for the calf.
Mike Holding, who spotted the baby while filming for a BBC wildlife programme, said: "We only saw it for a couple of minutes as the herd crossed the river.
Source
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Let me give you a free bag!
March 19, 2009
WINNERS - WINNERS
I have selected Kelly and mandapanda to each receive a free bag.
Could you please email me and let me know the address to send to?
Thanks also to everyone who participated!
*****
I have two beautiful William Wegman Designer Tote Bags from the Doodle Dog Bag Collection to give away FOR FREE!
The bags are made from Crypton fabric - It is the only textile that offers stain, moisture, mold, mildew, bacteria, and odor-resistant protection coupled with an integrated barrier that ensures nothing will ever penetrate the fabric ... ever.
From a limitless array of fabrics in a limitless array of color and style options, Crypton Super Fabric is just that ... Super!
Cryton makes many pet products with their super fabrics - pet beds, mess mats, throws, vests, coats, and collars.
The bags are very large, they'll certainly hold a lot of stuff. The fabric is so soft and silky feeling, it's great to know that it's also totally water, stain and bacteria resistant.
The bags sell at the Crypton Super Fabrics site for $36.00.
You can win a bag by leaving a comment below ...
just tell me what you'll put in the bag.
Two responses will be chosen and announced on March 19.
What? We need laws for this?
A Florida legislator wants to introduce a law prohibiting bestiality.
Sen. Nan Rich is putting forward a bill (SB 448) that would make it a third degree felony to have sex with an animal. It's an issue that has gained attention after a series of goat rapes in the Panhandle town of Mossy Head.
Right now, people who have sex with animals can be charged with animal cruelty, but prosecutors have to prove animals were injured because of the act.
Rich wants to make sure defendants can't win their cases for lack of that proof.
Source
I know, I know ...
Some smart-aleck will ask,
"But what if it's consensual?"
"But what if the animal initiated it?"
"But what if they were married?"
Man continues to manipulate nature
You would think that we would have learned from past disastrous attempts to try to manipulate Mother Nature.
Alaska has now begun wolf killings to boost caribou for hunters.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, aiming to boost the survival of caribou calves, wants to kill up to 328 wolves, leaving behind 88 to 103. Killing them, state officials say, will allow the Fortymile caribou herd, ravaged by three years of bad weather and heavy snow, to expand from its current level of 40,000 animals to as many as 100,000.
The predator control effort has run into opposition from the National Park Service who argues that there aren't nearly as many wolves as state officials estimate, and that killing so many could devastate the packs. Also, the park service says that the Fortymile herd hasn't approached 100,000 since the early 1900s.
Wolves in other parts of the West, meanwhile, are also about to come into the gun sights, after the Obama administration's decision this month to let stand the removal of endangered-species protections for wolves in the Upper Midwest, Idaho and Montana.
Source
Here are a few lessons we should have learned from history:
* It is believed that the Sahara Desert has been formed due to the disruption of a food chain. Records point out that in ancient times the Romans captured lions, which resulted in the sharp reduction in the predator population. This in turn resulted in the increase in herbivore population since there was fewer lion to kill them. The increase in the herbivore population led to overgrazing which removed all vegetation. In this manner the Sahara Desert was formed.
* In 1935, a species of toad from Central America was introduced in Queensland (Australia). It was meant to eat beetles that were destroying the sugarcane crop. But not only did the toads eat the beetles, they also ate many other useful and harmless creatures. They ate lizards which help farmers by feeding on insects and also destroyed small frogs which are harmless to crops. Since the toad had no natural predators they multiplied into huge populations which are now destroying the native Australian wild life.
* In Europe, during the middle ages, the cat was considered a symbol of evil. Superstitious people associated the cat with witchcraft and the devil. For this reason, hundreds of thousands of cats were killed. The absence of cats led to a huge increase in the rat population of Europe and contributed to the spread of Bubonic plague. This disease which is transmitted to people by rat fleas killed about a fourth of the people who lived in Europe during the 1300’s.
* Rabbits are not native to Australia. In 1859, 24 wild rabbits were released for hunting purposes. The effect of rabbits on the ecology of Australia has been devastating since this time. Rabbits are suspected of being the most significant known factor in species loss in Australia. Rabbits often kill young trees by destroying their bark. Rabbits are also responsible for serious erosion problems because they eat native plants which leaves the topsoil exposed and vulnerable to sheet, gully and wind erosion.
* In 1960, the mayor of Chicago, Richard J Daley, presented Emperor Akihito (then Crown Prince) with a bluegill fish. It was hoped that the Japanese would learn to love bluegill for dinner as much as Chicagoans do. The emperor donated the fish to research centers, but many escaped to wipe out the royal bitterling and bring other native species to the brink of extinction. They have infested waterways across Japan, including the moat of the imperial palace in Tokyo.
* The following attempt to "fix Nature" may be the saddest of them all:
Things began to go wrong on Macquarie Island, halfway between Australia and Antarctica, soon after it was discovered in 1810. The island's fur seals, elephant seals and penguins were killed for fur and blubber, but it was the rats and mice that jumped from the sealing ships that started the problem. Cats were quickly introduced to keep the rodents from precious food stores. Rabbits followed some 60 years later, as part of a tradition to leave the animals on islands to give shipwrecked sailors something to eat.
Given easy prey, cats feasted on the hapless rabbits and feline numbers quickly grew. The island then lost two endemic flightless birds, a rail and a parakeet. Meanwhile, the rabbits bred rapidly and nibbled the island's precious vegetation.
By the 1970s, some 130,000 rabbits were causing so much damage that the notorious disease myxomatosis was introduced to Macquarie, which took the rabbit population down to under 20,000 within a decade.
The vegetation began to recover, but what was good for the vegetation proved bad for the island's wildlife. With fewer rabbits around, the established cats turned instead to local burrowing birds. By 1985, conservationists deemed it necessary to shoot the cats.
The last cat was killed in 2000, but the conservationists were horrified to see rabbit populations soar. Myxomatosis failed to keep numbers down, and the newly strong rabbit population quickly reversed decades of vegetation recovery. In 2006, the resurgent rabbits were even blamed for a massive landslip that wiped out much of an important penguin colony.
Scientists say the chain of events at Macquarie is an example of a "trophic cascade", the knock-on effects of changes in one species abundance. The next stage could be an "ecosystem meltdown".
The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service intends to fix the island once and for all, and has drawn up plans to eradicate all 130,000 rabbits, along with the estimated 36,000 rats and 103,000 mice that live there.
When WILL we learn?
Fursday Fun
from EyeFetch, by Marty Maynard
from Flickr, by brownpau
from Pixdaus, by Hans Peters
from Flickr, by peter_r
A Manly Guide to Canine Companions
Brett and Kate McKay at the Art of Manliness have done very comprehensive research into the selection of a proper "manly" companion: Choosing Man’s Best Friend: A Guide to Canine Companions.
There's an excellent recap here of the breeds best suited for the title “man’s best friend,” because they’ve been working, playing, and walking by man’s side for centuries. Whether helping their master land his next meal, faithfully guarding home and hearth, or directing a shepherd’s flock, these dogs have been man’s most loyal companions.
Here's a riddle for you
Totally "borrowed" from Daisy the Curly Cat:
Question: Why are cats very bad storytellers?
You might think it is because the books are very boring. But that is not the correct answer.
Start thinking, NOW! You have 30 seconds to figure out the answer, and you will be timed on this big clock.
(Yeh - to a cat, it's a clock!)
Do you know the answer yet?
Click HERE to see the answer.
Another hapless hairless animal
Vets at St Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Aylesbury are trying to establish how and why the male squirrel, who was found in Amersham, lost all his fur.
Bald squirrels are not that uncommon but the hair loss is usually because the animal is suffering from mange, an illness caused by mites.
But vets at St Tiggywinkles, who have nicknamed their new patient Smoothie, have no idea why he is bald, apart from few tufts of fur on his tail. He is undergoing tests and is being kept warm and dry while feasting on his favourite treat of pecan nuts.
Source
Yikes! Is this ugly!
Poor Spud, the hedgehog, lost his spines!
Spud was found wandering in a garden and taken to Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Aylesbury, Bucks, last August. Experts are baffled by his condition, which has caused his skin to dry and his spines to fall out. The hospital is asking practitioners of alternative medicine to suggest possible remedies.
The bald animal was christened Spud by hospital staff because, when curled up into a ball, he resembles a potato.
Source
Photo: JEFF MOORE
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Deer Antlers: Tough Chews for Tough Dogs
Naturally shed deer antlers
100% organic - now for sale at i-pets.com
Male white-tailed deer (bucks) have antlers during spring, summer, and winter moths. The antlers naturally fall off, or "shed" in late winter, early spring, when mating season is over.
Antlers are made of dead bone - they are a great alternative to rawhide chews, especially for dogs who are aggressive chewers or who have a sensitive digestive system, disturbed by the fat and protein in rawhide chews.
Antlers on deer are bone material.
During growth they are covered with a skin that helps provide blood and nutrients to the antler.
When the antler growth stops due to testosterone-levels rising in the animal, the skin is rubbed off - this creates the colorization and "staining" of the antler.
The antlers carried by i-pets.com are "natural sheds," collected in the forests of Illinois. Deer have not been harmed to collect these antlers. Because they were gathered in the wild, we have washed them with a mild peroxide solution, just to be sure they are dirt and germ free.
Deer antlers are a clean, odorless, non-staining, non-greasy treat to keep active chewers busy. The antlers will not crumble or splinter and harm your dog.
In the wild, shed antlers are not around for too long - they are a favorite treat for wild animals - even squirrels and rodents love them because they are rich in minerals and calcium.
But not all dogs like antlers.
Just as some dogs aren't crazy about rawhide or pig ears, there are those who aren't attracted to antlers, either.
Because antlers are odorless, your dog might not be aware of their excellent chewability. Try rubbing on a little peanut butter or some beef juice left over from your steak dinner when introducing antlers for the first time.
As with all treats, please supervise your pet carefully, especially the first few times you're offering this new treat.
(Holly, pictured above, is a four-month old pup, who really, really likes deer antlers. She says they're much more enjoyable than the table legs she was chewing before.)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Today, Everybody is Irish
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Grab a mug of green beer and enjoy the dogs of Ireland ...
Irish Doodle
The Irish Doodle is a cross between an Irish Setter and a Poodle (usually a standard poodle).
Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier
(Photo Source)
Irish Mastiff
The Irish Mastiff is a cross between the English Mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound.
Irish Setter
from Flickr, by kimberlyrenee
Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
(Photo Source)
Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Blue)
Irish Terrier
Irish Water Spaniel
Irish Wolfhound
from Flickr, by pat2757k
If you're not legally Irish, you can always pretend ...
from Flickr, by DonnitaMae
Ok, now go get a refill on that beer, we have more Irish stuff ...
Irish Blessings | |
Irish Curses | |
Irish Quotationsmore Irish Quotations | |
Irish Proverbs | |
Drinking Toastsand finally, a joke about an Irish Dog |
Monday, March 16, 2009
Internet Hoaxes: Bulls
Claim: Tourist's last photo is a close-up of an enormous charging bull.
Status: False.
Photo is genuine, but was taken by a professional photographer with a remote control camera, at the 2002 San Fermin Festival in Pamploma, Spain.
Source: Snopes
See the Pet Blog's other entries on animal related internet hoaxes.
Cute or not? Axolotl
The axolotl, is a species of salamander. Larvae of this species fail to undergo metamorphosis, so the adults remain aquatic and gilled. (wiki)
Photography by Murphy Dog Studios
Based in San Jose, CA, Murphy Dog Studios is the home of professional photographer, Robert Vreeland. Robert specializes in creating unique contemporary, fine art dog photography.
You can admire Robert's photography at
his website: Murphy Dog Studios
his Flickr collection: Murphy Dog Studios Photostream
or you can visit his blog: Murphy Dog Studios, the blog
Photo from Flickr, uploaded by Murphy Dog Studios
(via Fetching Dog Collars blog)
Sunday, March 15, 2009
blown up lights
Glass blown, floor standing lights combining the skills of the glassworker and the playfulness of clowns and children’s entertainers. If only glass were as pliable as balloons!
Supplied on a silver finished steel stand in frosted and clear glass.
Available at Thelermont Hupton
(via Cool Hunting)
Winged kittens
Available at Custom Creature Taxidermy Arts ($750 and up)
Photo credit: Custom Creatures
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
It must be love
Wait, let's take a closer look at that photo:
See the tongue?
From Cute with Chris, sent in by Carrie, of her dog, Gus and cat, Fido.
Take some time out to read this:
Excellent Op-Ed piece in The New York Times, "Something Wild," by Charles Siebert examines human interaction with chimpanzees in light of the horrific attack in Stamford, Conn., last month — in which a pet chimp named Travis mauled a woman, robbing her of her hands, eyesight and much of her face, and possibly causing brain damage.
Siebert theorizes that domesticated chimps are prone to psychological problems, "Wild chimps “recruited” by poachers for entertainment watch as their mothers are gunned down — the only way a chimp mother would ever relinquish a child.
Chimps born in captivity are spared that experience, but they suffer the same premature separation from their mothers, isolation from their normal social groups and often mistreatment from trainers and keepers, all traumatic events that have been shown to cause deep psychological scarring and, as in human beings, can lead an animal to overreact to the slightest stimuli."
He recounts the heartbreaking tale of Lucy, raised from infancy to age 10 as if she were a human child. When she reached sexual maturity and became difficult to handle, her "parents" sent her to a place that was the complete opposite of what she knew, a refuge that reintroduces captive chimps into the wild. Lucy refused to socialize with the other chimps, to climb trees, forage for food, make nests. She took to waiting beneath trees for the others’ crumbs to fall. Eventually, Lucy’s skeleton was found near the shores of the island refuge.
Read more
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Put a lid on it
Here's the ultimate irony
Attempts to breed a rare species of Blue Duck to avoid extinction in the UK have backfired after the only two remaining males fell for each other.
Keepers at a bird sanctuary in West Sussex hoped that the last remaining female Blue Duck in the country - called Cherry - might mate with either of the drakes, Ben or Jerry.
But neither male duck appeared interested and are now inseparable at the Arundel Wetland Centre, leaving Cherry to her own devices.
Centre warden Paul Stevens said he was disappointed that efforts to produce new Blue Duck offspring had failed but said the two male birds made "a lovely couple".
Paris Dog Cemetery
Back about fifteen years ago, on my first visit to Paris, I was surprised at how totally the Parisians included their dogs into every day life. We saw dogs in restaurants, sitting in their own chair at the table, dogs in stores, dogs in museums, and lots of dog crap all over the sidewalks, which didn't seem to bother anyone.
So I wasn't surprised now, when I just recently learned that Paris's Cemetery of Dogs, Le Cimetière des chiens d'Asnières-sur-Seine, is thought to be the world's oldest public pet cemetery.
In June, 1899, digging began on a narrow parcel of riverfront land in Asnières-sur-Seine. The new cemetery opened for business that summer, and over the years more than 40,000 animals have been buried in the Cimetière des Chiens--not just dogs, but also cats, a racehorse, a lion, a monkey, and domestic animals such as rabbits, hamsters, mice, birds, and fish.
Paris for Visitors has visitor information and captioned photos of the Le Cimetière des chiens d'Asnières-sur-Seine. They recommend a visit for anyone who's fond of animals -- and especially for families with young children, who may find a pet cemetery more interesting (and less overwhelming) than the great human nécropoles of Paris.
Here's a video accompanied by haunting Edith Piaf vocals.
Source
(via Smartdog's Weblog)
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Snap* What a great idea
Ever wondered if there was a stylish pet photographer in your area? Ever look at a pet magazine spread and wonder if your dog could look that good? Ever wonder if there was someone who could capture your pet’s unique personality, with an aesthetic that expresses your personal style?
Now, it's much easier to find a professional pet photographer because some of the best are showcased at Snap* the Pet Photography Showcase.
This sample is from April Ziegler Photography
April also has her own website: www.aprilziegler.com
(via Mod-Dog Blog)
Today's awwww
(A one-day-old pelican chick tries to crawl out of its eggshell at Rotterdam Zoo)
Picture: REUTERS
Here's a fishy story
Employees of a Pennsylvania pet store expecting a shipment of tropical fish and salt water received a man's dead body instead.
Mark Arabia owns the Pets Plus store in northeast Philadelphia, where the mix-up was discovered Tuesday. He said he learned the body was that of a 65-year-old San Diego-area man who died of early onset Alzheimer's disease.
The deceased man's wife said she was shocked initially, but found the former mailman's posthumous postal mix-up funny.
The body was supposed to go to a research laboratory in Allentown, 70 miles away.
The fish were left at the airport and probably died.
Source
Octopi just wanna have fun
In this photo provided by the New England Aquarium, Truman the octopus is seen squeezed inside an acrylic cube at the New England Aquarium in Boston, Thursday, March 5, 2009. Truman squeezed his flexible frame into the acrylic box while trying to snag a tasty lunch of crabs. He spent about 30 minutes in the box before slithering out, delighting staff and guests who witnessed the spectacle.
In California, the Heal the Bay Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is facing up to $20,000 in damages as a result of a mischievous octopus that flooded the building.
A female California two-spotted octopus swam to the top of her tank, disassembled a valve with her powerful arm, and released at least 200 gallons of seawater into nearby exhibits and offices.
At the Dunedin Aquarium in New Zealand, Sid the octopus, mysteriously vanished from his tank.
Five days later, he was spotted by a staff member making a dash for the door.
Sid had been hiding out in a drain, which pumps fresh sea water into the aquarium.
He was persuaded back into his tank. He was hungry but otherwise OK.
The aquarium's senior aquarist, Matthew Crane, says Sid has done his time and will be freed.
Photo #1 credit: AP Photo/New England Aquarium
And another use for funny pet photos ...
Duncan has started a website - Pets Who Want to Kill Themselves, and is looking for pets dressed in costumes, hideous clothing, or forced by their human companions into an embarrassing situation.
A portion of his upcoming t-shirts sales will be split between a local LA shelter and 4 Paws For Ability foundation.
Stop in at the blog, and send him a photo for Pete's sake!
Do you have a funny pet photo?
Diane at Fetching Dog Collars blog is running a Funny Pet Photo Contest.
Everyone who submits a funny pet photo will be entered to win one of NINE great prizes, including 3 customized pet tags, 3 dog collars, 1 batch of pet treats, a hand-painted leash hook and a gift certificate! The contest runs from March 10 to April 10, 2009.
Please go to www.fetchingdogcollars.com/
Photo by Julie Corsi
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Poor Ugly Chomper Needs a Home
For the 14th year, dogs lined up in the San Diego suburb of Del Mar for the Ugliest Dog contest.
This year's winner is a 4-year-old Boxer mix named Chomper with a bit of a drooling problem. Now that Chomper has won the Ugliest Dog contest, organizers are hoping he will catch the eye of a loving owner who will take him into their home.
Source
Art by Agapov Vladimir
Whimsical, and joyful - I'd love to have any one of this artist's works, or ALL of them!
See many more of Agapov Vladimir's paintings at Art Russia
Monday, March 9, 2009
and Martha looses hers
Martha Stewart's chow puppy was one of 17 dogs killed in an accidental propane explosion at an eastern Pennsylvania kennel.
The domestic maven wrote on her blog that she was "deeply saddened" by the death of her dog, Ghengis Khan, in Friday's blast at Pazzazz Pet Boarding, a kennel in the Pocono Mountains that breeds and trains show dogs.
Fifteen dogs were killed in the explosion, and two more died over the weekend.
The kennel in Lehighton was getting a propane delivery when the tank ignited, setting the pens on fire and injuring the driver, Timothy Kleinhagen, of Summit Hill.
Though badly burned, Kleinhagen managed to toss a cairn terrier over the kennel fence to safety. He was listed in critical condition Monday at Lehigh Valley Hospital.
"That man is a hero," said the kennel's co-owner, Karen Tracy. "My heart goes out to his family."
Genghis Khan was a grandson of Stewart's previous chow, Paw Paw, which died last April at age 12. He was a familiar face on her television show and in her magazine.
Source
Oprah's gets a new baby
Great news—Oprah has a new baby in her family! Meet Sadie, a blond cocker spaniel. "She's a beautiful little girl," Oprah says.
It's been a year since Oprah lost her cocker spaniel Sophie, and Oprah decided to do an O magazine photo shoot at PAWS Chicago, a no-kill shelter. During the shoot, sweet Sadie and her brothers captured Oprah's heart. "The dog chose me," Oprah says. "There were like six or seven dogs, and she was on my shoulder, nuzzling."
Sometimes even St. Bernards need rescuing
There was a rescue involving a St. Bernard in Billings, Mont., but this time it was the humans who saved the day.
A 16-month-old St. Bernard named Duke apparently fell through the ice on a golf-course pond after escaping from his yard. He was able to pull himself out but ended up getting frozen to the ice.
A maintenance worker saw the dog and got help. Two firefighters in dry suits pushed an ice rescue sled over about 10 feet of hip-deep water and 10 feet of ice to reach the shivering, 118-pound dog.
The firefighters broke the ice around Duke's tail with a mallet before hauling the dog and a chunk of ice back to shore.
Duke was feeling better after being de-iced and warmed up under a blow dryer at a veterinary clinic.
Source
AP Photo/Casey Riffe
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Spider frog magnet
Tired of traditional refrigerator magnets? Decorate your refrigerator or any other magnetic surface with these Spider Magnets! Each of the hands and feet are magnetic so that you may attach your grocery lists, photos or memos easily. Choose from a selection of fun animal characters: at, cow, monkey.
$9.95 at Wrapables
Fly Ear Buds
What's that buzzing in your ears? A fly, you say? It's true--these unique ear buds actually look like flies! Compatible ear buds to most MP3 players, portable gaming systems and laptops will help drown out the outside noise of everyday life. Accessorize your ears! Fly Ear Buds include 2 sets of silicone tips, one small and one large.
At Patina for $12.95
(via J-Walk Blog)
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
What recession? Our pampered pets are still living the good life
Americans continue spending heavily on their pets even as they have given up restaurant meals, vacations and new cars.
Even though job losses and foreclosures have forced some people to give up their animals, pet-related spending in the United States actually climbed by 5 percent from 2007 to 2008. Industry experts expect the numbers to rise again this year, to a total of $45.4 billion spent on food, supplies, medical care and animal purchases.
Though some consumers have scaled back on products such as accessories, American Pet Products Association President Bob Vetere said many remain choosy about what they feed their pets. The tainted-pet-food scares that killed dozens of animals in 2007 have led many consumers to buy higher-end brands. **
A survey conducted by BIGresearch, a market-research company, shows that 61.2 percent of people surveyed in December said they owned pets, up slightly from 59.4 percent the previous year.
Retail and animal experts say families staying home more may see getting a new pet — particularly one from a shelter — as a relatively low-cost investment that will reap benefits for years.
Source
** Obviously, great news for i-pets.com, where we continue to sell USA manufactured rawhide treats, free of chemicals and additives.
See what our happy customers say about i-pets.com.
Internet Hoaxes: Crabs
Claim: Photographs show Christmas Island robber crab or coconut crab.
Originated in 2007 with text identifying it as a Christmas Island crab.
Circulated in 2009 with description as coconut crab.Status: Partly true : The origins and authenticity of the photographs have not been verified, but there really are coconut crabs which can reach a leg span of 3.3 ft, a body length of 1.3 ft and weigh up to 38 pounds.
Reference: Snopes
See the Pet Blog's other entries on animal related internet hoaxes.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Reading Cats
Cats can read. They've successfully hidden that fact from humans for thousands of years, but now we have a repository of definite proof : Meow Reader
Bulldog Beauties
Thanks, Tom Andrews, photographer extraordinaire, for letting me know about the Long Beach Bulldog Beauty Contest.
The contestants were all extremely attractive ...
THE BULLDOG BEAUTY CONTEST was the main event at this year's Haute Dog Pageants produced by beauty pageant and bulldog enthusiast Justin Rudd. In addition to the Bulldog and French Bulldog contests, Rudd included pageants for Pugs and Senior Dogs this year for the first time. Contestants ranging in age from four months to 17 years traveled to Long Beach, Calif., from as far as northern California, Las Vegas, and Arizona, to compete for the coveted 2009 titles.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Say "Cheese!"
Photo: Bernard, Jeanette
ca 1890-1910
Miller Plummer Collection
From George Eastman House Collections
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Aggressive owner = aggressive dog
A veterinary study shows that if you're aggressive, you're dog will be, too.
Duh - this just seems like common sense, doesn't it?
In a new, year-long University of Pennsylvania survey of dog owners who use confrontational or aversive methods to train aggressive pets, veterinary researchers have found that most of these animals will continue to be aggressive unless training techniques are modified.
Source
Monday, March 2, 2009
Lots of Rats!
After disposing of 39,650 rodents, a man from Bangladesh has been crowned a rat-killing champion and has been awarded a 14-inch Sony color television for his efforts.
It took Binoy Kumar Karmakara one year to perform the daunting task and he used traps, poison and flooding to capture the animals.
He also kept their tails so that he could keep count.
Killing rats is a strategy that was launched by the government of Bangladesh because rats are responsible for the loss of about 10% of the country’s crops.
Source
A stolen rat?
Late French designer Yves Saint Laurent's two bronze sculptures went up for auction at Christie's last week. The highest bidder has been revealed: Cai Mingchao.
But Cai, who bid nearly $40 million by phone last week, has no intention of paying.
Cai is a member of China's Lost Cultural Relics Foundation, a group trying to stop the auction and reclaim the two relics, which were once housed in Beijing's Old Summer Palace.
The Chinese say the bronze rat and rabbit heads were stolen during the second Opium War in 1860 when British and French troops looted and then burned down the imperial palace.
Source
Rats!
"I know not everybody likes mice and rats but they can be beautiful. I think the headdress is really cute," explained French designer Charlie Le Mindu, 22, who unveiled this creation during London Fashion Week.
Le Mindu’s mice and rat carcass headdress features real rodent bodies.
<------ Oh, and check out the perfect outfit to wear this creation with.
Would you wear this to the grocery store?
To church on Sunday?
How about open house at school?
So - tell me - where would YOU wear this outfit to?
The Most Dangerous Bird on Earth
The rainforest of the northeastern coast of Australia is home to the Southern Cassowary and as the third largest bird on the planet it is strange that its reputation is not greater. Certainly, it is a remarkable looking animal, almost like something out of ‘Jurassic Park' with its large casque (a horn like crest which indicates age and dominance) positioned, dinosaur-like on its forehead. Estimates vary but it is thought that only around 1500 of this mysterious and ancient creature still survive in the wild.
Considered dangerous because when the birds become frightened (they are naturally skittish) they can attack and do damage with their claws, one of which is almost five inches in length. Their inner toe in the medial position looks like a dagger. When panicked these birds have been known to kick - and sometimes kill - dogs and humans.
Urban myths abound about the birds being able to disembowel a man with their claws. The last record human death by cassowary was in 1926. The claws however cannot do this - though they can leave a nasty puncture wound up to two centimeters in diameter.
Source
(via Webphemera)
'Ugly' Bald Cat is a Star at NH Vet Clinic
A cat named Ugly Bat Boy is attracting a lot of attention at an Exeter vet clinic, where clients say they can't take their eyes off his striking appearance. He's bald in most places except for flowing fur on his chest, and he spends his days on a warm computer at Exeter Veterinary Hospital.
The office staff was getting so many questions about the cat that they put up a couple of fliers saying he's about 8 years old and perfectly normal in every way -- just ugly.
He has the run of the place and all the attention he can handle.
Source
I wish I could take pictures like this
hummingbird, Rufous Female, breaking the topmost water bubble from the fountain spray with her beak. You can see the spray above and below her beak here.
Also by the same photographer:
hummingbird from a different view, atop the water droplets from fountain. Reminds me of a bumble bee here :) Note the little dash of bright red iridescence on it's throat in this shot. Don't know if its an immature male or female.
Photo credit: Alandrapal
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Great bear sleeping bag
Designed by artist Eiko Ishizawa
I don't think it's for sale, you'll have to make your own.
(via Blame it on the voices)
Puzzle Duck Calendar
Cute little duck desk calendar. The head of the duck is adjustable so that you can have it facing whatever direction you want it to. There are cubes with numbers on them for the date, cubes with months on it from the month, a cube for each day of the week and then a cube for the year. All the cubes sit on the side of the duck for easy access.
$8.00 at Homeloo
(via Nerd Approved)
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