WASHINGTON — Since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico about one month ago, a team of scientists has trekked daily into El Yunque National Forest hoping to pick up signs or sounds of endangered Puerto Rican Parrots. Their habitat stripped of foIiage by Hurricane Maria, the parrots, both wild and those released after being bred in captivity, went quiet. “Hurricane Maria seems to be a major setback for recovery of the parrot,” said Jafet Veléz-Valentín, a wildlife biology/aviculturalist for the Iguaca Aviary, formerly the Luquillo Aviary. On Wednesday, 28 days after Maria, there was “a new hope,” as Veléz-Valentín described it in a string of texts from the island. Someone spotted a cotorra, the Spanish word for parrot, with a radio collar and an orange leg band in Barrio Caguitas in Aguas Buenas. The person notified the aviary through Facebook. The collar and band mean the parrot is part of a population bred during the 2016 season, Veléz-Valentín said. “One of our biologists, Gabriel Benítez Soto, contacted the person who saw and photographed the parrot,” he said, adding that another search is on in the forest and vicinity for more parrots.
A bald rabbit destined for death because of an ultra-rare genetic disorder leaving him completely hairless has become an unlikely social media star. The two-month-old bunny, named Mr. Bigglesworth after Dr. Evil's bald cat in the Austin Powers films, has picked up hundreds of online followers after getting a adopted. Cassandra Hall, a mother of two, from Wodonga, Victoria, was given the two-month-old rex rabbit last week by a breeder who planned to have him put down because nobody wanted him. But the mobile phone-sized bunny, who was born with an elusive hairless gene, has no shortage of support online and has quickly racked up 7,800 Instagram followers - who even send him fan art. Graphic designer Cassandra, 40, said, “I think people like how unique Mr. Bigglesworth is. Nobody has seen a rabbit without hair, and it shows how delicate they are. Some online commenters call him 'really ugly' and say things like “imagine waking up to that crawling on your face” and I'm upset by that. I had to write 'no negativity' on his account. But there are other people coming to his defense and even drawing pictures of him.” Cassandra adopted Mr. Bigglesworth after she spotted a photo of the rabbits a local breeder had available for sale. When she spotted the bald bunny she noticed there was a sign next to him which stated “hairless rabbit, not for sale.” After sending messages to Enquire about Mr. Bigglesworth, she found out that he was scheduled to be put to sleep because no one wanted to adopt him. She then found out another rabbit had been born with the same illness and had died. She was determined to save her new pet's life. She said she had only heard of a handful of cases worldwide of the undiagnosed condition, which makes him vulnerable but does not impact his health. The breeder asked if she wanted him. She said yes, that there was no way she could let him die. He was so adorable, so she took him home. “He has very soft, velvety skin, eats a lot, he's really hypo and always flipping around the lounge. He has to live indoors because he could get hurt playing on rocks of gravel. He has a hutch in our laundry. Our other bunny, Loafy, is not a fan, I think Mr. Bigglesworth has stolen all the attention.” She said.
Animal lovers in California, and their furry companions, are celebrating the passing of AB 485. Opponents of the controversial legislation targeting pet stores are not. On Friday, with the stroke of a pen, California Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 485 into law. In doing so, he put puppy mills and kitten factories on notice that their days are numbered. The passing of the anti-animal abuse bill marked an important milestone for the state: it became the first state in the country to require pet stores and retailers to offer only rescued animals in certain breeds for sale. The bill’s chief architect, California Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach), announced the news of pet store reform on Twitter. According to a press release from O’Donnell’s website, AB 485, or the Pet Rescue and Adoption Act, will mandate that pet stores or any legal entities in the state offering animals for sale offer breeds from animal shelters or not-for-profit rescue agencies. The new law only applies to dogs, cats, and rabbits. It’s unclear why these breeds were singled out. O’Donnell said the new legislation is a win for two target groups: “four-legged friends” and for California taxpayers, who often subsidize the $250 million in costs to shelter and euthanize animals. Proponents hope the new pro-pet law thwarts the proliferation and demand for animal trafficking, where operators often house prospective pets in enclosures rife with disease and under abusive conditions.
Ferrets teeth glisten and are bright white. Their teeth enable them to eat, to grab onto and hold or move objects, actually like another hand. Their hands are also a good indication of their age. Ferret owners should realize that their teeth are like those of humans and need proper care. Baby ferrets are usually purchased with milk teeth. These milk teeth are replaced by the permanent canine teeth at about age 7-9 weeks of age. They also have incisor teeth on both the upper and lower jaw, most commonly you will see six of these incisors between the canines. The ferret teeth grow from the tip down toward the root, which is why older ferrets appear to have larger teeth. Just like in humans, as the ferret gets older the gums will also start to recede, thus making the tooth again look larger than before. Often owners will notice a chip or abrasion on a ferret’s canine tooth. Usually, this is not an alarming condition. Ferrets love to chew their wire cages and sometimes an overzealous tug on the wire, or a fall onto a wood or tile floor will cause a chip or fracture of the upper canine. If a fracture occurs usually this will not require special dental care unless the pulp is exposed. Vets and owners however, should monitor the tooth for any signs of abscess or infection. Dental hygiene for ferrets is a necessary and a part of regular ferret care. Owners who regularly or occasionally enter their domestic ferrets in ferret shows realize that dental hygiene is taken into consideration by the show judges. Good health involves good dental hygiene. The majority of ferret owners do not realize that dental hygiene is very important for their ferrets overall health and well being. Some ferret owners are meticulous regarding the care and maintenance of their pets, while some do not realize the importance or the necessity of good dental care. Ferrets, like other companion animals, benefit greatly from a dental care regimen. Most veterinarians recommend a twice monthly basic tooth brushing as a recommended basic oral hygiene care. The reasons for a dental care regimen are varied. Basically, bacteria can enter the animal’s system through inflamed gums, which are caused by plaque buildup (commonly identified as periodontal disease). Periodontal disease can be a cause of several conditions in the ferret including: tooth root abscesses, endocarditis or periocarditis (heart disease), and low-grade chronic infections which can lead to: weight loss, susceptibility to infections in general, and lethargy. Some ferret owners will opt for a few minutes to care for their pet’s teeth when weighing the odds against illness and infection. Other health conditions which could be related to gum infections and poor teeth are enlarged spleens or splenomegaly. As the infection gets worst, the spleen enlarges, and can cause an enlarged mid section and lethargy. The items you will need to care for your ferret’s teeth: A feline toothbrush either latex thimble, or bristle brush, and some flavored pet toothpaste. You are probably wondering how to brush your ferret’s teeth? For routine maintenance at home, there are several toothbrushes on the market that can work remarkably well. Feline toothbrushes come in either the standard bristle toothbrush, or a latex finger toothbrush. The finger toothbrush is constructed of a pliable latex material, bristles and all, which fits over your index finger thimble style. These toothbrushes either bristled or latex are available in a variety of locations, your veterinarians office, pet supply or pet stores. Some people prefer to wrap their finger with gauze and apply the toothpaste using their finger. Do what you feel comfortable with and what gets the job done. In deciding which toothbrush to get for your ferret’s dental care you should first consider several things: How does your ferret deal with you handling its mouth and teeth? If your ferret is young and still nippy, then the best brush would be a bristled brush. If your ferret is older and mellow and you interact regularly with care and maintenance the thimble style toothbrush should do just fine. Several companies manufacture the above mentioned items along with flavored toothpaste for pets. Scalers are also available from either pet supply houses or at ferret shows, check with your veterinarian. If you have never brushed your ferret’s teeth, you may need to gradually get him or her used to having it’s mouth manipulated. Start by gently massaging the ferret’s cheeks and mouth with your finger. Over the course of several days, work up to rubbing his teeth and gums with your finger. When they seem to tolerate this well, you can let him taste the toothpaste and begin to introduce him to the toothbrush. You will probably want have someone else hold him/her. Remember to be patient, this is a new experience for your ferret. Using the toothbrush or finger toothbrush gently massage the gums and the canine teeth. You will notice that the buildup of treats and soft food items cleans off very easily. The toothpaste is edible so there is no need for rinsing. Never use human toothpaste or baking soda on any pets teeth, it can be harmful to the enamel. It is also advised to work back towards the molars to help reduce the tartar buildup in the areas that the tongue does not reach. This will reduce the need for frequent vet tooth cleanings. Crunchy food ( kibbled food) is recommended to help keep teeth clean, but it is not enough to do the entire job. If the ferret’s teeth already have a heavy buildup of plaque, you will need to start by having your veterinarian do a dental scaling. This usually entails the ferret being put under anesthesia. If your ferret is docile and you are knowledgeable and comfortable in doing so you can try this yourself without anesthesia. You may find that your vet will show you how to scale your ferrets teeth and provide instructions should you ask. A dental scaling cleans the surfaces below and above the gum line and should be done when you notice the teeth do not appear white anymore. The tan color material (plaque) is usually very soft and can be removed easily. If it is allowed to remain it will turn into tartar. Tartar (grayish or greenish spots on the teeth, usually most visible on the molars) can differ in color from a greenish, brownish or yellowish color. It may take on a reddish tint if the gums bleed from irritation and stains the tartar. Tartar is a hardened buildup which causes irritation to the gums, and infection in advanced stages, this is why it is imperative to keep the ferrets teeth clean. If you want to scale your ferret’s teeth you will need a dental instrument or scraper. These scrapers are available from either pet stores or at pet shows. Some of the scrapers differ in design, some have pointer ends, while others have a shovel end. Others have more rounded ends. In some cases using your fingernail will work for plaque and tartar below the gum line, however owners should be aware that the tartar above the gum line is important to remove as well. Developing a technique for scaling will depend on the type of tool you use, and how aggressive the build up of tartar is on the teeth. The motion will be either side to side (a scrubbing motion) or up and down starting at the gum line or just under and above it and pulling down where you pull the tartar off the tooth. You may need to break up the heavily built up areas and by applying pressure in the center this aids in the break up of the tartar on the tooth. It is well advised after scaling to either brush the teeth, of buff them with a gauze wrapped around your finger. This buffs the sharp edges which may be left from scraping and also cleans away any debris left from the scaling. It should be understood that a vet tooth cleaning may be required for scaling the tartar off your ferrets teeth about every one to two years for optimum dental health. How often your ferret needs a veterinary tooth scaling will vary according to your ferret’s diet. Ferrets who eat soft foods (not recommended unless health condition requires) and treats will require more frequent dental cleanings.
There are many species of guinea pigs, but Abyssinian, Peruvian, Coronet and Silkie guinea pigs are unique in their impressive, floor-length fur. These little creatures are beautiful to look at, but require a lot of care because of their unusual locks. Take a look at these long-haired beauties!
