Pope Scolds Couples Who Choose Pets Over Kids

Expressing concern about global birthrates, Francis said such couples were acting in a selfish way that diminished humanity.

ROME — Pope Francis has not been reluctant to offer his views on polarizing subjects, but on Wednesday, he waded into an issue involving two subjects on which consensus is almost impossible to find.

Pets and kids.

Speaking on parenthood during a general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, Francis bemoaned the global decline in birthrates — what he described as a “demographic winter” — and was bluntly critical of couples who prefer to have pets rather than children.

People who have pets instead of children, the pope said, were being selfish, exhibiting a “denial of fatherhood or motherhood” that “diminishes us, it takes away our humanity.”

To read more on this story, click here: Pope Scolds Couples Who Choose Pets Over Kids

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Video shows a bird in an Australian zoo that has learned to perfectly mimic a human baby's crying

• Echo the lyrebird appears to have learned how to perfectly replicate the sound of a wailing baby.

• The bird, who lives in a Sydney zoo, can also mimic a fire alarm and power drill, a zoo official said.

• The official told The Guardian that Echo had been "working on his craft" during the zoo's lockdown.

A lyrebird named Echo has picked up a peculiar song during his zoo's COVID-19 lockdown: The wailing of a crying baby.

Keepers at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, tweeted a video of Echo, a seven-year-old male, making the sound on Tuesday. Watch him here:

To read more on this story, click here: Video shows a bird in an Australian zoo that has learned to perfectly mimic a human baby's crying

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Mom-To-Be Captures the Emotional Moment Her Dog Realizes She’s Pregnant: ‘So Amazing and Beautiful’

This TikToker shared the beautiful moment his dog realized his wife was pregnant, and it’s so moving!

Ryan (@maxpotentialdogtraining) is a dog trainer, dog lover, and dad who shares sweet videos of his family on TikTok. When Ryan’s wife Stephanie was pregnant, he shared an incredibly heartwarming video of the moment his dog, Nova, realized Stephanie was expecting.

The emotional video begins with Stephanie sitting on a couch with one dog curled up beside her and her other dog, Nova, standing on her lap. Ryan films as Nova presses her head into Stephanie’s forehead. Stephanie smiles as Nova stares at her.

To read more on this story, click here: Mom-To-Be Captures the Emotional Moment Her Dog Realizes She’s Pregnant: ‘So Amazing and Beautiful’

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HGTV Star Defends Putting Her Infant Next To Her Big Dog After Bullies Try To Mommy-Shame Her

Mina is learning what it means to be a mom in the spotlight. She’s been pretty open with sharing her journey throughout pregnancy and her first few months as a new mom.

Of course, sharing your life publicly means you’re opening yourself up to criticism, as so many moms have learned in the social media age. Mina recently posted a sweet shot of Jack alongside one of her three dogs, Frank. The sight of the tiny 2-month-old lying with the large-breed dog seems to have upset some of Mina’s followers, but she’s not standing for it.

To read more on this story, click here: HGTV Star Defends Putting Her Infant Next To Her Big Dog After Bullies Try To Mommy-Shame Her

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Baby and French Bulldog Born on the Same Day Think They’re Brothers and They Do Everything Together

It has to be a special connection between dogs and little babies, since it’s really hard to find a more heart-warming duo. Whenever a furry companion and a mini-human team up, the result is simply adorable. And nothing shows this better than the bond between Dilan – a newborn and Farley – a French bulldog.

To read more on this story, click here: Baby and French Bulldog Born on the Same Day Think They’re Brothers and They Do Everything Together




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Adorable Babies and Their Cute Pets Sleeping

What's cuter than babies and pets? Babies and pets together! Take a look at these adorable babies and their cute pets sleeping.

WARNING: Extreme cuteness below!

 

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Mother Tells Courageous Story About Dog Bite Responsibility - If You Have Dogs and Children, This is a Must Read!

I came across this story in a Facebook post this morning, and the woman that wrote it is asking people to share it, so that’s why it’s being duplicated here.

This woman is to be commended for being so courageous and open with her experience.

She says:

I do not have a blog. If I did I would post this there, as this will be lengthy. I keep things here on Facebook pretty light and post about my crazy, funny family life. I am posting this for 2 reasons. First, I see more and more pictures of babies with their pups. I am absolutely not saying there is anything wrong with that… I do it, too. Second, I am noticing my son being more and more aggressive with Daphne, our amazing white lab.

Putting together these pictures and writing this post brings up so many emotions that I really never wanted to feel again. I have realized, that when faced with it, the pain never goes away, ever. I can put myself in that hospital again in my mind like it was happening now. It’s a horrible, heart wrenching feeling.

Our gorgeous Scrappy suffered constantly from ear infections. This we knew. We have a pool and there was no way to keep him out, he loves to swim. Oftentimes I would come home and he would be alone just doing laps… So funny!! He was on meds for his ear infections but I became lazy on taking him to the vet which seemed like constantly. I started splitting his pills in half so they would last longer. Why? To save a buck? Shame, shame, shame on me!! I assumed he learned to live with the pain… I mean, why keep swimming? He was a smart dog!

THIS WAS/IS THE SWEETEST DOG ON THE PLANET!!

Hey, I consider myself pretty sweet too but I snap on occasion.

I was not home when this happened, I was on a shoot. I got a call from Tom saying he was on his way to the hospital, he told me what happened. I could not understand? I got in my car and drove. I don’t think I said a word to Britt, who was with me. My mind was numb. When we got to the hospital Brittany was ahead of me when walking into the room. She tried to stop me from entering. I have never felt that kind of pain in my heart, never. It is a different kind of pain when it is your child. The pain was crippling, hurt me to the core. When they stitched up Zach I had to leave the room because they had 2 nurses holding him down and the doctor straddled over him. I seriously thought I was going to faint. Daddy was with him, Zach was not alone.

Zach was playing with Scrappy… Sitting on him and reached forward and grabbed both of his ears, hard. Scrappy snapped. In about 5 seconds he ripped my son’s face to shreds. It was knee jerk. Kind of like when someone steps on your broken foot, you lash out.

Dogs can’t yell, they can’t curse you out or say ‘OUCH!!’ It was a knee jerk reaction from the sweetest Golden Retriever that would actually die for Zach. It just happened.

When we came home from the hospital I went to the backyard and looked at him and just cried… He cried, too. He felt awful, I know he did.

Because the hospital considered this a mauling, it was reported and he was to be put down. Within 24 hours animal control was at our door for quarantine. He did his 14 days. In the meantime my mom, who happened to own property in Texas at the time (but lives here), made a massive plea and campaign to keep him alive and she would take him to Texas (he is with her still). This was granted.

I can’t tell you enough how this was such a blow to our family because Scrappy was family, he was not just our ‘family dog.’

I am sharing these pictures after all of these years because if your animal is trying to tell you something, please listen. If your dog swims regularly there is a good chance they will have ear infections. Be proactive, listen to their eyes… They really want to tell you.

I LOVE my pets so much and I have learned so much by this experience. I ask, no I beg, that you share this because I wish I would have paid closer attention. Please, take your pets to the vet, the clinic. Anywhere where they can get the help they need because they do love you so much.

Please Share!


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Pit Bull Gives Adorable Baby a Laugh Attack

Elliott just can't stop laughing while getting a bath from Gemma the pit bull. His reaction will definitely bring a smile to your face, check it out!

Tag: adorable pit bull adorable pit bull video cute pit bull video pit bull and baby pit bull and laughing baby pit bull makes baby laugh the rumble

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Popular Christmas Decoration Has Babies And Pets Being Rushed To The Hospital

True story: I was working the other day and decided to light one of my beloved Bath and Body Works holiday candles that I’d just scored during their huge seasonal sale. For the first few minutes, I reveled in the awesome, spiced-apple scent while working on the day’s assignments.

But after a few minutes, I started coughing uncontrollably and I felt so lightheaded. As I tried to think of what could be causing it, my eyes wandered to the candle and it hit me — this thing was making me sick. I put the candle out and after about 20 minutes, I felt totally fine. That’s when I knew I had to start researching side-effects of using scented candles. If you’re anything like my candle-loving self, you’re about to be so disappointed in what I found.

While your favorite candles may smell good to you, their chemical makeup could be making you sick. According to MCS-America, most fragranced products contain anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 different chemicals. Even more alarming is the idea that despite the U.S. National Academy of Science have declared that fragrances should undergo neurotoxicity testing, most of the products on the market have not undergone testing to make sure that they’re safe for humans.

To read more on this story, click here: Popular Christmas Decoration Has Babies And Pets Being Rushed To The Hospital

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What Did You Think About the Mountain Dew’s Puppy Monkey Baby Commercial?: Cute or Creepy?

Santa Clara, California – Mountain Dew’s puppy monkey baby Super Bowl commercial didn’t go over so well with some viewers, some said it was right on the edge of being cute or creepy.

The commercial showed some friends drinking the new Kickstart drink when the hybrid shows up and starts singing.

The drink is a combination of Dew, juice and caffeine.

#PuppyMonkeyBaby started trending shortly after the commercial aired.

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Bringing Home Baby to a Dog’s World

The scenario is far too common. The happy, expecting couple stroll into the clinic with their four-legged child for her Annual Wellness Exam. The first born of the family is healthy and has a great check-up so I turn my attention to the parents who are expecting their first two-legged child. “Have you starting thinking about how you will introduce your new baby?” All of the sudden, the happy couple becomes the bewildered couple and stares at me with the “deer in the headlights” look. I know it’s time to have “the talk”. Bringing home baby to a pet who has ‘ruled the roost’ for years can be done. We have a few guidelines for you.Many soon-to-be parents don’t realize that without proper precautions and planning, their new bundle of joy will be their pet’s worst nightmare and is even at risk to be harmed by their pet.

It is important that every pet owner who is expecting a child follow a few easy steps to ensure the new addition to the family is a happy addition.

1) Allow your pet to becomes used to “baby stuff” before the big day comes. While babies themselves are terrifying enough for pets, all their stuff can be even worse. Strollers, cribs, toys, high chairs, and car seats are all brand new items for your pet to adjust to. Stock the nursery early and allow your pets time to get used to all the new stuff before their is a screaming child who is taking all your time and energy sitting in them. Even going on walks with the empty stroller or having bonding time in the baby-less nursery can put your pets at ease. If your pet is anxious or scared around new noises, play recordings of baby noises in the months leading up to the delivery. Start at low levels that your pet doesn’t react to and slowly work up to “real life” levels. Do positive things with your pets such as eating, giving treats, brushing, and playing during these noise desensitization sessions to allow your pet to become comfortable with the change.

2)Teach a calm, controlled behavior. Many dogs get excited around new people and like to jump up on them to greet them. Teach your dog to “sit” or “lay” and make them do it before they receive anything (food, treats, toys, affection, etc.). Think of it as teaching your dog to  say “please” before they get something they want. Pets with good manners are less likely to injure children or be scolded by adults who are holding children. Remember, we want having a baby to be a happy experience for the pets and constantly getting scolded because the baby is around will lead to further fear and anxiety for your pet.

To  read more on this story, click here: Bringing Home Baby to a Dog’s World

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Parents Encourage Toddler To Kiss Pit Bull - What Are Your Thoughts?

Listen as these parents encourage their toddler to kiss the family pet pit bull. Pit Bulls do not have the best reputation, but most of this breed do not live up to the vicious creature they are often made out to be. What Are Your Thoughts?


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Why This Stray Cat Is Being Hailed a Hero

While some cats don't have the sweetest of reputations, Masha, a stray cat from western Russia, is being called a lifesaver. The long-haired cat stumbled upon an abandoned baby boy in a box on the street. With frigid temperatures, the baby ran the risk of freezing or worse. Before that could happen, Masha jumped into the box to keep the baby warm.

To read more on this story, click here: Why This Stray Cat Is Being Hailed a Hero FOLLOW US!

Sharing on this Veterans Day, A Beautiful Love Story of a Man Leaving His Family to Serve His Country - The Silhouettes, a Shadow Theatre Group on Britains Got Talent 2013 (Video)

This is a very emotional video: A guy and girl meet, fall in love. They get married and have a child. He is called to serve his country.

This act was performed by the group, Silhouettes, a Shadow Theatre Group on Britains Got Talent 2013.

The song is, 'Read All About It', by Emeli Sande'.

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The Dog Mom’s Brain

When people ask me if I have kids, my standard answer is, “I have a dog.” My husband and I are the first to admit that we tend to treat our pup like a “real” child. He eats organic food.

Our apartment is littered with ripped plush toys. We talk to him in stupid high-pitched voices. He spends almost all of his time with us, including sleeping and vacations. When he’s not with us he’s at a daycare center down the street — and I spend much of that time worrying about whether he’s OK. It’s probably not a full-blown separation anxiety disorder, but when we’re separate, I’m anxious.


To read more on this story, click here: The Dog Mom’s Brain

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Little Girl Giving a Big Dog a Massage (Video)

Post by 95.7 KJR.

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Baby and Pit Bull Puppy Snuggle Up - Mom, "We Are Trying To Show People That Not Only Pit Bulls But All Dogs Have and Want To Be Good Dogs" (Video)

Just a baby and a pit bull enjoying each other's company.

This video posted to YouTube on July 23 of weeks-old Eisleigh and puppy Clyde has gone viral. And it's no surprise given how adorable they are together.

In the video, Clyde snuggles next to Eisleigh and rests its head on the baby's face. The baby just smiles in a relaxed way. (Could watch this on repeat for days.)

Mom Brandi Hodges wrote in the comments section, "We are trying to show people that not only pitbulls but all dogs have and want to be good dogs." She added, "You just have to train them as such."

Pit bulls have been in the news this summer with awful stories of attacks on children as well as a heroic report of a 2-year-old pit bull named Ace that saved a deaf boy from a fire.

In case you want to see more cuteness of Eisleigh and Clyde, here are some photos of them from Instagram.

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How to Prepare Your Pet for Your New Baby

There's nothing as exciting as preparing for the birth of a baby. While you're planning the color of the nursery and picking out items for your baby registry, don't overlook one very important step in getting ready for your new baby - preparing the family pet.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)  says, shelters are still visited by tearful mothers-to-be with cats in tow, having made their appointments after well-meaning relatives or old-school obstetricians have convinced them that keeping a cat risks the health and well-being of their unborn child. Don't succumb to these old wives' tales. Knowing the facts will help provide ways to safeguard both fetus and feline.

You never, ever want to leave any animal alone with a baby. Your cat should never sleep with your baby, because a cat can accidentally smother an infant. There can also be severe allergic reactions at that age. Other people will think, ‘My dog loves people, so it’s okay to leave him in the room with the baby for just a minute,’ but it’s not true. Dogs don’t recognize babies as human beings for the first few months of their lives. For some reason, the baby’s smell is different than an adult’s and a newborn also sounds like an injured rabbit. This can spark an animal’s prey drive, even in an otherwise calm dog.

When you are in the room with the dog and the baby, make sure that the baby is always higher, physically, than the dog. You want the dog to know that the baby is dominant over him. Having pets and kids together can be a great experience. You just always want to err on the side of caution with how you handle it.


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