Taiwan Coffee Shop Creates Incredibly Realistic Latte Pup Portraits

Latte art is all the rage in coffee shops around the world, but you’ve never seen anything like the extraordinary portraits-in-foam created by the baristas at My Cofi café in Taiwan.

Many shops have invested in gadgets that allow them to turn your photos into intricate latte images, but the artists at My Cofi don’t need a machine to design their masterpieces. All of their three-dimensional portraits are created entirely by hand!

To read more on this story, click here:  Taiwan Coffee Shop Creates Incredibly Realistic Latte Pup Portraits

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In Vietnam There Is A Dog That Looks Like A Cat, Meet H’mong

“Do you like dogs or cats?” is a common question when you meet someone, and it automatically puts you on one side. Like being left-handed or right-handed.

But you probably didn’t see this coming. It seems that in Vietnam there is a dog that looks like a cat, and it may be the answer to the eternal division between cats and dogs. The people of this subreddit immediately began to share their conspiracy theories about the breed of this animal. Some said that it looked like a cartoon, others explained that it was the H’mong breed, and still others said that they did not care what it was because it was so adorable.

To read more on this story, click here: This Puppy Looks Like A Hybrid Between A Cat And A Dog, And His Expressions Are So Funny

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Invasive species of giant, parachuting spiders spreading across East Coast, experts say

 

ATLANTA (TND) — An invasive species of spider has made its way to Georgia, and will likely spread out to more states along the East Coast, according to experts with the University of Georgia (UGA).

The 3-inch long "Joro Spider" is native to Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan, according to Smithsonian Magazine. The spider thrives in Japan, which has a similar climate to the southeastern United States.

To read more on this story, click here: Invasive species of giant, parachuting spiders spreading across East Coast, experts say

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April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month: Do You Have a Pet First Aid Kit?

April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month. First aid care is not a substitute for veterinary care, but it may save your pet's life until it receives veterinary treatment. Our handy checklist tells you all the supplies to have on hand for pet first aid. 

You can download, print and save the full checklist at  

                                    PET FIRST AID

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Man Finds Baby Squirrel On His Bed, And It Grows Up To Be The Cutest Pet

Let’s just say that Thumbelina was special from the beginning. Because of her unusual birth and the loss of her sister, she had to grow up alone without interacting with other squirrels.

Everything was slow with her. Other babies have no interest in milk as soon as they taste real food, but Thumb was a big baby with a bottle. She wasn’t interested in jumping and climbing, she walked instead of running and sat instead of climbing.

To read more on this story, click here: Man Finds Baby Squirrel On His Bed, And It Grows Up To Be The Cutest Pet

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The Joys of Owning a Cat

Owning a cat can bring unconditional love and companionship to your life. Having a feline friend can also help to relieve stress and improve your heart health.

Owning a cat can be an extremely rewarding relationship. A cat has the ability to both calm your nervous system and provide an immediate outlet for fun and play. Although cats are independent animals who like to scavenge and explore on their own terms, they are also very affectionate with their owners and people they trust.

To read more on this story, click here: The Joys of Owning a Cat

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Do Parrotlets Make Good Pets? (Here’s The Truth)

Parrotlets are a tiny species in the parrot family Psittacidae, and yet they carry the same temperament as a large-sized Amazon. Not too noisy, but certainly very active, these curious birds pack a walloping punch in a pint-size body. 

But do they make good pets?

Often referred to as “pocket parrots” — parrotlets are loving and affectionate companion birds towards responsible and caring owners. These tiny feathered creatures are good pets that continue to attract many new adorning human owners.

To read more on this story, click here: Do Parrotlets Make Good Pets? (Here’s The Truth)

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Vomiting and diarrhoea in cats

Cats often vomit or develop diarrhoea, when should we treat? The reason for the vomiting or diarrhoea may be simple, such as a hairball, however the cause could be more serious. Whether the symptoms stop on their own, or whether your cat needs to see a vet, will depend on how he or she is in themselves and what the vomit or diarrhoea looks like.

To read more on this story, click here: Vomiting and diarrhoea in cats

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Caracals as Pets

When it comes to breeds, cat lovers have their pick of the litter with common types like the Persian and Maine Coon. What about more exotic cats? While lions, tigers, and leopards are generally confined to zoos and nature preserves, residents of certain states can keep smaller wildcats as pets.

In Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and South Dakota, it’s legal for licensed individuals to purchase and own caracals, a distinctive-looking wildcat.

To read more on this story, click here: Caracals as Pets

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CAN YOU HAVE A KOMODO DRAGON AS A PET?

Monitor lizards are popular pets for reptile lovers. They are fiercely territorial and spend their time eating, sleeping, and patrolling their turf. There are several species of monitor lizards, including the Komodo Dragon. Native to several of the Indonesian islands, Komodo dragons are the largest lizards still in existence. Their large size, fierce claws and prehistoric appearance make them quite an intriguing lizard. This leads many reptile lovers to wonder, can you have a Komodo dragon as a pet?

To read more on this story, click here: CAN YOU HAVE A KOMODO DRAGON AS A PET?

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Teacup Dogs Facts

They say that good things come in small packages, but that isn’t the case at all for teacup dogs. You may have thought of getting one, but it’s likely that you just don’t know how they’re created. Behind their cute compact size, teacup dogs suffer from many health issues brought by inhumane breeding methods. Find out more about these animals with these facts about teacup dogs.

To read more on this story, click here: Teacup Dogs Facts

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What are Teacup Dogs? - Everything You Need to Know

They may look cute and practical to take out in your handbag, but these genetically modified dogs have more health problems than you may think. There are many breeds that have their version of teacup dogs, such as the Maltese, the Yorkshire Terrier and the Chihuahua. Although they may be confused with toy dogs, breeders have gone one step further to create even smaller versions of these animals. If you're thinking about getting a teacup dog, please read this AnimalWised article: What are teacup dogs? And please reflect on the facts that we're about to expose.

To read more on this story, click here: What are Teacup Dogs? - Everything You Need to Know

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Image of 1 million Florida mosquitoes chills social media. ‘Makes me itch to look’

A photo of one million dead mosquitoes is giving people the willies on social media, but the scariest part may be that all of them came from one section of a Southwest Florida neighborhood. The pile stands 8 inches tall and about 18 inches across ... and amounts to about 5 gallons of dead bugs. Multiple photos of their little corpses were shared Feb. 16 on Facebook by Lee County Mosquito Control District in Florida. The coastal county is about 150 miles southeast of Tampa.

To read more on this story, click here: Image of 1 million Florida mosquitoes chills social media. ‘Makes me itch to look’

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Cat Has Very Own Custom Fish Tank with Inside Viewing Box

Look, we’ve all watched cartoons. So we all know one indisputable fact: you can’t own both fish and cats. Otherwise, at some point your feline friend will dive into the tank and eat all the fish. The cat will then get the bowl stuck on their head. It’s hilarious, yes. But it’s also dangerous, for all of the animals. If you want to keep both pets in your home though, one animal-lover has found the perfect way for them to coexist. Jasper the cat has his very own custom-made aquarium. It features a built-in viewing box that lets him safely get up-close and personal with his aquatic siblings.

To read more on this story, click here: Cat Has Very Own Custom Fish Tank with Inside Viewing Box

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Information about COVID-19, Pets, and Other Animals

A number of animals worldwide have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, including pets like cats and dogs, farmed mink, and large cats, gorillas, and otters in zoos, sanctuaries, and aquariums. Reptiles and birds have not been affected by this virus. The risk of animals spreading the virus to people is low, but people with COVID-19 can spread the virus to animals during close contact. The information linked to below provides guidance for pet owners, public health professionals, animal health and wildlife officials, veterinarians, and others on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 between people and animals.

To read more on this story, click here: Information about COVID-19, Pets, and Other Animals

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Our Pets Can Feel the Daylight Savings Shift More Strongly Than We Do

While pushing the clocks back only one hour might seem like business as usual for us, our pets’ are sometimes not as amenable and might act up!  Just by switching the clocks to Daylight Savings Times, our dogs and cat’s schedules can be completely off-kilter!  Our fur children are so in tune with when they are going to be fed, what time to go to sleep and eat, that we need to be prepared!

Dogs and cats have internal clocks that affect their rhythm

Just like humans, animals have internal clocks that tell them when to eat, sleep and wake up. This biological timekeeper, also known as circadian rhythm, is set in motion by natural sunlight. However, for pets this effect is minimized by the artificial environment they live in, where light comes on not with the rising sun but with the flip of a switch.  Household pets might get grumpy when they show up to an empty food dish at their perceived dinner time.

Our dogs and cats are used to their routine so we need to ease them into the new time

A dog or cat’s daily routine is something they would prefer to be written in stone. Unfortunately, things happen that can alter schedules and a simple time change can be perplexing for some pets. When we gain an hour and can sleep in, our pets are still on daylight savings time and don’t understand why we’re still in bed when they are up and ready to go. Their internal clock is saying morning has arrived and it’s time to get moving (and get fed!).

Our dogs and cats are more affected by daylight savings than we are

Our pets, however, might feel the daylight savings shift more strongly than us. Pay attention to them this week; they might be cranky themselves. Sleepy dogs might not want to end their naps to go out on a walk earlier than expected. Or some cats might turn their noses up at food if that comes an hour before the normal time.  In the wild, animals pattern their lives around the phases of the sun, but domesticated pets follow their own versions of our schedules. Daylight savings can really mess with our pets internal rhythms for a few days, or even a week, until they readjust.

Try to change their schedule in increments and they will adjust quickly

The good news is most pets will adjust to the time change fairly quickly.  A few things you can do to make the transition easier is to keep them on their normal schedule and slowly begin to change their daily routine by 5-10 minutes each day.  Keep doing this until you make up for the hour change adjustment. Moving their feeding times, play time and walks back a little each day can make it easier for dogs and cats to adjust.

Most cats won’t be as affected as dogs will while some pets won’t even notice.  
But, don’t be surprised if your dog or cat wakes you up earlier to be fed and might be a bit cranky this upcoming week!


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The Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Dog

Billions of dollars are spent annually on companion animals - we buy toys, treats, food, leashes, collars, food bowls, beds, crates and pay veterinarians, trainers, groomers, pet sitters, dog walkers, professional poop-scooping companies, pet psychics, pet masseuses, and pet health insurers thousands of dollars over the course of a single pet's life.


We do all these things because animals make our lives better. Most pet owners would agree that the money we spend on pets pales in comparison with the amount of joy they bring us.

All of these expenditures are directly related to improving the lives of the animals we share our homes with. While it is important to care for your pet in the best manner that circumstances allow, it is also important that we remember the one simple thing each of us can do to improve the lives of not only our own dogs and cats, but dogs and cats throughout the nation and internationally - spaying and neutering dogs and cats.

Why You Should Spay Or Neuter Your Pet
There are many benefits of spaying or neutering your pet. One of the most important is that spaying dogs and cats ensures that your own pet will not contribute to the pet overpopulation crises. Unaltered cats and dogs can be prolific breeders, and there are many more cats and dogs needing homes than there are homes for them. Pets without homes are often euthanized in shelters or left to fend for themselves, often unsuccessfully, in the search of food and mating opportunities.

Others spay/neuter pets for health reasons. Here are some of the benefits of neutering male dogs:

• Eliminates the small risk (probably <1%) of dying from testicular cancer
• Reduces the risk of non-cancerous prostate disorders
• Reduces the risk of perianal fistulas
• May possibly reduce the risk of diabetes

And here are some benefits of spaying female dogs:

• If done before 2.5 years of age, greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors, the most common malignant tumors in female dogs
• Nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra, which otherwise would affect about 23% of intact female dogs; pyometra kills about 1% of intact female dogs
• Reduces the risk of perenial fistulas
• Removes the very small risk (.5%) from uterine, cervical, and ovarian tumors
• Spaying and neutering also can reduce roaming behaviors, territorial marking behaviors, intersex aggression, etc. in dogs.

The Spay/Neuter Debate
As with any major surgery, there are both benefits and risks associated with spaying and neutering. While spaying and neutering pets seems to reduce the risk of many cancers and illnesses, there is evidence that it can contribute to others, and there is research that indicates that spaying and neutering can decrease some behavioral problems while contributing to others.

Most veterinarians advise spaying and neutering around six months of age. Some dog owners, particularly those with large breed dogs, prefer to wait until the dog has physically matured until neutering or spaying. Dogs that are neutered/spayed after reaching full maturity tend to be more muscular than early spay/neuter dogs, which is important in working dogs.

Some dogs may have health problems which might prohibit spaying or neutering. Educate yourself about the behavioral and physical health benefits and risks associated with surgery and have a discussion with your veterinarian about what is best for your dog.

If You Decide Not To Spay Or Neuter Your Pet
As of right now, the law cannot force you to spay or neuter your pet (although legislation to this effect has been proposed). If you choose not to spay or neuter your pet, it is imperative that you do not allow your pet breeding opportunities. If you have an unspayed female, she must be on leash at all times during a heat cycle and not be given the opportunity to interact with intact males. If you have an intact male, it is your responsibility to contain him safely so that he does not run through the neighborhood creating the next batch of puppies that will end up dying in a shelter because there are no homes for them.

Dogs should only be bred intentionally to other similarly accomplished purebred dogs if they have conformation championships, all health testing appropriate for the breed, are over two years of age, in top physical condition, display no behavioral problems (shyness, aggression, reactivity), if the breeder is prepared to spend a LOT of time and money whelping and socializing the litter, carefully interviewing potential adopters and educating them on the breed. Breeding should be left to those with a good working knowledge of canine genetics, the history of the breed and their goals for improving the breed.


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Be Careful What You Share on Facebook: A Picture of a Dog that Said it Had Been Badly Burned and Disfigured While Trying to Save his Family from a Fire…Was a Hoax

In these days of instant viral news, be careful what you share. In the past few weeks, many users have fallen victim to the story of Mark Zuckerburg giving you his money for copying and pasting a status (it's a hoax). A new one popped up in the days before Christmas and it is spreading quickly.

Stephen Roseman posted the picture of a dog that said it had been badly burned and disfigured while trying to save his family from a fire. He included the text "One like = one prayer, one share = ten prayers.”

The picture was shared 110,000 times in a week and has over 54,000 likes. But here's the deal: that's a piece of ham.

The dog was not badly burned in a fire. He's just got a piece of ham on his face. Hopefully, the pup got to eat the ham after being embarrassed online.

Inevitably, the photo was shared with people writing comments like 'poor baby' or 'bless his heart' or asking Jesus to heal the dog.

No healing necessary. It's a piece of ham.

  

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The National Zoo Has A New Ostrich Named Linda

As the National Zoo mourns of the loss of one long-necked lady (R.I.P. Betty the flamingo), keepers are welcoming a new towering bird into the family.

Meet Linda the ostrich.

According to Jen Zoon, a communications specialist for the National Zoo, four-year-old Linda arrived at the zoo in November 2021 from Hemker Wildlife Park in Merkel, Texas. While Linda is still adjusting to her new digs, keeper Tallie Wiles writes that some parts of her personality are already apparent; she’s social, observant, curious, and apparently, a bit of a wildcard.

“She keeps us on our toes,” Wiles writes in a National Zoo press release. “Just when we think we know what she’s going to do, she changes her routine and does something a little unexpected!”

To read more on this story, click here: The National Zoo Has A New Ostrich Named Linda

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The Terrible Dog Food Ingredients You Need to Avoid

You want the best for your dog, so you likely worry about the quality of your furry friend’s food. Every pet owner wants to feed their dog the most nutritious and delicious food possible.

Unfortunately, many of the most popular dog foods are full of dangerous ingredients – and poor-quality food with these ingredients can seriously affect your dog’s health. To keep your pup healthy, you need to know which ingredients to avoid and which to seek out.

Stay Away from These Ingredients

Different dogs may have different nutritional needs, but certain ingredients are harmful for all canines. Many common dog food brands use ingredients that can cause lifelong health problems for dogs of all kinds, which is why it’s important to carefully read the ingredients list before you choose a particular dog food. Here are the ingredients you absolutely need to avoid:

To read more on this story, click here: The Terrible Dog Food Ingredients You Need to Avoid

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