Beluga Whale In Aquarium Teases Kids In An Incredibly Human Way [Video]

A video showing a Beluga whale trying to scare kids visiting an aquarium is going viral as we file this story. The video captured by YouTube user Michelle Cotton shows two kids watching over the Beluga whales through the thick glass walls of the aquarium.

While everything looks normal for the first few seconds of the video, the really interesting part starts at the 46 second mark when one of the Beluga whales sticks his forehead to the glass- making the children laugh. A few seconds later, the whale is seen opening its mouth in a scary manner – in an attempt to mock the kids and scare them. It really does look quite scary as the whale sports a terrorizing look on its usually serene face.

The most incredible part comes at the 1:03 second mark where the Beluga Whale turns back and then scares the kids again – similar to what many humans would do. In fact, it is at that moment in the video that you would probably realize how intelligent these marine mammals are. Following this, the whale tilts its head as to curiously study the strange little creatures it sees through the glass. Enjoying the attention it is getting from the kid audience, the Beluga whale continues to do what it had been doing much to the joy of the kids before moving away.

Beluga Whales are related to dolphins and killer whales and like the aforementioned species, are known to be highly intelligent animals. Like dolphins, Beluga whales are also known to be friendly to humans. This has been once again demonstrated by folks from over at Explore.org who have this year installed underwater cameras on the bow of a boat named Zodiac to study visiting Beluga whales – in real time in the Churchill river. Beluga whales are known to swim upstream in the river during this time of the year, says a report by CBC News Canada.

According to Charles Annenberg Weingarten, the founder of Explore.org;

“They’re curious and they’re somewhat uninhibited in a way, and friendly, and so when they hear the boats they have a tendency to swing closer.”

Unfortunately, this also makes them susceptible to hunters. Around 1500 Beluga whales are killed each year in Northern America alone. The species is however not endangered.

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Are You Contributing to Your Dog's Bad Behavior?

Before you blame your dog for annoying behaviors such as excessive barking, unruliness on the leash or bolting in the other direction when you call her, first consider that there are reasons your dog behaves the way she does, and some of those reasons have to do with you and the other humans in her life.

You're not entirely responsible for how your canine acts. Factors like genetics, early environment and inadvertent learning through experiences outside of your control all contribute to her behavior, but human-related factors greatly impact a dog’s actions.

Whether we realize it, our dogs are learning every moment. Learning to behave occurs mostly outside of structured training sessions. Canines at all ages and stages can learn new behaviors through training, but most behaviors are shaped in regular, everyday moments. Even canines who have not had a single training session have been trained — albeit inadvertently — by people through day-to-day interactions and experiences. Human-directed factors, like a canine’s daily environment and routine, work together to either set up a dog for success or make her more likely to display undesirable behavior.

There are numerous things people do to stress out their dogs, usually without even realizing it. Beyond that, how you interact with your dog and the training you provide either work for you and your canine or against you.

Here are the top three human behaviors that exacerbate a lack of manners and hinder desired change.

Human behavior 1:  Focusing on eliminating behavior rather than rewarding what you want

Punishment-based interactions tend to be harmful to your relationship with your dog and ineffectual for breaking unwanted habits. Punishment is rarely done right. It’s usually doled out too late and is too broad for the animal to pinpoint what she did wrong. Dogs also become accustomed to the punishment — such as a spray from a bottle or jerk on a leash — so it must increase in frequency or intensity over time to have any effect. In addition, it risks the dog making negative associations with the punisher and objects or people they are punished around. With punishment, a behavior may be temporarily stifled, but without the dog learning what to do instead. The behavior will typically come back or be replaced with another, equally irksome behavior.

Rubbing a dog’s nose in an accident she had in the home only makes the dog averse to humans; it teaches the dog nothing. The dog does not associate the punishment with the behavior or she might learn that voiding in general is bad. The dog may become conflicted around people, whom she sees as unpredictable, and start to hide from them when she goes to the bathroom, making the habit of going in the house harder to break. She doesn't learn to do her business outdoors instead. Punishment tends to escalate negative emotions such as fear and frustration, which contribute to unwanted problems. Thus, when the emotional state is turned more negative, the unwanted behavior, while temporarily inhibited, can escalate.

Punishment has been shown to increase aggression and conflict-related behaviors in dogs. When a dog is punished for growling or barking, she can no longer give a warning signal to show she is uncomfortable . That means the dog remains highly aroused, agitated or fearful, but rather than using her innate warnings, like snarling, a dog may escalate faster into aggression and even a bite.

Parents and grandparents be warned: Children often emulate the actions of adults, even if warned not to. That means that a child will model a parent’s yelling, scolding or physical intimidation of a dog. When a child copies the punishment techniques he witnesses, there is a good chance the dog will react with aggression toward him.

Instead of punishing your dog, use reward-based training with the entire family. It takes refocusing your mind on the good and what you desire to have happen, and rewarding your dog for those behaviors. Rewards can include treats, toys, praise and a favorite activity. Train your dog to do what you want, or reward the desired behavior she already does, while also limiting her ability to make an unwanted choice or get too upset to handle the situation. Allow your dog only into situations she can handle, and in those situations, show your canine what you want and reward her for doing it. Also, look at replacement strategies for channeling natural behavior in dogs. For example, if you have a problem chewer, offer acceptable chewing alternatives such as a stuffed Kong.

Human behavior 2: Lack of consistency and clear expectations

Canines need consistent guidance from the people in their lives regarding the behavior and manners that are expected of them. It’s unfair for the dog to have the rules change from person to person. If something is OK with one person and not another, it becomes very confusing to the dog. For instance, if the man of the house is allowed to hand-wrestle with a dog, but the dog cannot put teeth on other members of the family or play roughly with them, there is trouble to be had. The dog is likely, through practice and reward in the one scenario, to act the same way in others. The more predictable a dog’s life is, with clear boundaries and rewards only for certain behaviors, the better behaved the dog will be.

By the same token, the entire family and those who interact with the dog need to be on the same page with how the dog is treated and trained. The cues or commands for the dog need to be the same among all the people in the home. The dog also needs consistent consequences for her behavior, like a reward for listening. Otherwise, the positive behavior loses strength. In addition, the management of unwanted behaviors, like pulling on the leash and jumping up, need to remain unrewarded by all people by never allowing the dog to move forward on the leash while pulling or never greeting the dog when she's jumping. If the behavior is rewarded by even one person in the dog’s life, the dog will be resistant to change. The infrequent reward increases persistence in the dog.

Unfortunately, I’ve found people within the same home will use different styles of teaching: one with intimidation-based training and others with rewards. That is extremely confusing to the dog. Expectations, consequences and structure need to be as consistent as possible among everyone in the family.

Human behavior 3:  Expecting too much of your dog without doing your part to help her

Just as a child needs schooling from preschool to high school and college, dogs also need increasing levels of training and practice to be prepared for what is expected of them. A dog needs training that progressively gets her skilled enough, through practice, to handle higher-level expectations, like responding to "Come!" in high- distraction environments. A dog may respond when the situation is low-key and minimally distracting, but in a high-intensity situation, the dog is less likely to obey. Training needs to progress to the level of what the person requires. That means preparing the dog through success at easier levels and gradually training to a more demanding level.


Unfortunately, when a dog has practiced a behavior for a while, people often give up and feel they’ve tried it all. Many times, though, the owner just needs to change small variables. As a clicker trainer, I’ve encountered people who say they already tried the clicker and it didn’t work. When I delved into what they were doing, though, their mechanics of using the clicker and rewards were off. After they relearned how to use the clicker, the problem fixed itself. Even for complex behavior problems, working with a veterinary behaviorist or veterinarian in conjunction with a positive reinforcement trainer can turn a dog’s life around, but it takes time. If a dog has just learned “leave it” with food in the hand, for instance, she cannot be expected to leave unattended chicken on the kitchen counter without further training.

Most of all, be patient with your dog. It can take nine to 12 weeks — or longer — to break a habit, even with consistent work. It’s not a quick fix, but through clear boundaries and expectations, your canine will be on her way to good behavior, largely through your dedicated guidance.


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10 Adorable Dogs Taking the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

From a dachshund in a shower cap to a cavapoo in a raincoat

You might be at least a little sick of seeing people dump water over their heads everywhere you turn on the Internet, even if the hugely viral phenomenon is raising insane amounts of money for a worthy cause.

But the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has now taken a cutesy turn. Here, we present some of the best canine contributions to the ever-growing collection of icy videos.

The dachshund that’s totally prepared with a cute little shower cap:




The pug that would rather just donate the damn money and have you leave it alone:




The big guy named Jet that’s pretty chill about things:




The puppy named Buttons that’s all, “can you not?”:




The corgi that actually seems excited to complete the challenge:




This chill chihuahua named Jack:

The little dude named Phineas Ernest Sander that’s rocking a fly raincoat:
Click here to see his video:
http://instagram.com/p/rurmSgF58_/?modal=true








The little cutie named Tinkerbelle that chills in protective rain gear while her human sings for some reason:

 


The dog named Boomer that realizes the challenge isn’t so bad after all:



The courageous pooch that uses an actual bucket:



Honorable mention: this cutie named Lucky that almost completed the challenge:



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Stop Puppy Mills - It Starts With YOU - Pleas Sign the Pledge!

Help stop this cycle of cruelty simply by choosing to adopt your next pet from a shelter or rescue.

Sponsored by: Humane Society of the United States

Pet stores that care about puppies don't sell them. That's because the majority of pet stores that sell puppies carry dogs from cruel and inhumane puppy mills. Puppy mills are like dog-making factories with the mother dogs spending their entire lives in cramped cages or kennels with little or no personal attention or quality of life. When the mother and father dogs can no longer breed, they are discarded or killed. Consumers who purchase puppies from pet stores or over the Internet without seeing a breeder's home firsthand are often unknowingly supporting this cruel industry.

Help stop this cycle of cruelty simply by choosing to adopt your next pet from a shelter or rescue, or by only purchasing a dog from a responsible breeder who will show you where your puppy was born and raised. And that's not all—you can do even more by refusing to buy pet supplies from any store or website that sells puppies. Where you spend your dollars makes a difference. Make a statement when you shop!

To make your pledge, click here: I Pledge

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Love Pizza? Help Raise Money for Homeward Trails Animal Rescue on August 27 Malek's Pizza Palace Between 4-9 PM - Mention HTAR and We Will Receive a Portion of the Sales!

Help raise money for Homeward Trails Animal Rescue on August 27 - it's as easy a pizza pie! Just dine it, carry out, order delivery or catering at Malek's Pizza Palace between 4-9 PM on Wednesday, August 27 and mention Homeward Trails and we will receive a portion of the sales.

Stop by and enjoy delicious greek salads, gyros, pizza, pasta and much more and help HT animals. Please support this fundraiser at a great local restaurant for a great cause and help us spread the word!

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Canine Parvovirus, A Highly Contagious Viral Disease that Can Produce a Life-Threatening Illness Usually Spread from Dog to Dog by Direct Contact

"Parvo" is a word most puppy owners learn, and learn to dread. It's short for canine parvovirus, the most common infectious dog disease in the U.S.

Even though it's a relatively new disease in the dog world, parvo's ubiquitous--present at significant levels in every environment, from home to kennel to park. In fact, trying to shield a puppy from exposure is considered completely futile in this day and age. It's a ridiculously tough virus that can survive for months on living things, and even on objects such as furniture, toys, and carpets.

It's a serious infection, too: it can kill in a matter of days, and it's 80 percent fatal. Puppies less than six months old and older dogs are the most vulnerable. Luckily, a simple vaccine is all it takes to prevent this horrible disease.

Causes
Parvo is actually a family of viruses. Many mammals have some version of it, including humans, though fortunately parvo doesn't pass from species to species--each type of animal gets its own special version. It was first isolated back in the 1960s, but a mutant form called CPV-2 appeared virtually overnight in 1978. Then a mutation of that showed up in 1979, causing a true health crisis in the canine world--an epidemic that killed thousands of pets and triggered a vaccine shortage.

Today that virus has been supplanted by a version called CPV-2b, but because of vaccination for puppies and tight health controls, there are very few cases of adult parvo; it's considered a "puppy disease." Still, it's very serious: dogs catch parvo and die from it every year. (There's some talk of other strains beginning to emerge, but they've yet to be formally identified.)

The virus itself is deceptively simple: just a single strand of DNA, without the usual sheath of fat to protect it. This, ironically, makes it harder to kill with standard disinfectants and allows it to survive outside a host body for as long as five months.

Parvo is usually spread from dog to dog by direct contact (in parks, dog shows, kennels, pet shops, and the like) or by contact with infected feces. People can contribute to the spread of the disease by tracking fecal matter on their shoes. Since the virus can survive a wide range of temperatures and live outside the animal for months, it's extremely tough to eradicate. That's why vaccination is so important.

Symptoms
It's possible for adult dogs to have a mild form of parvo and show no symptoms at all. In its acute phase, however, symptoms include:

• loss of appetite
• depression
• fever
• massive dehydration
• lethargy
• bloody diarrhea
• severe, repeated vomiting

When it's time to see a vet
The disease can kill a dog quite quickly (sometimes in a matter of days), and it may leave surviving animals with intestinal and heart damage. So if you see symptoms or even suspect parvo, get to your vet immediately. The only way to know if a dog has parvovirus is through a diagnostic test.

However, the best time to see the vet about parvo is when you get your puppy vaccinated. That's the best thing you can do to prevent this killer of puppies from ever entering your life.

When your puppy's most vulnerable
The timing of protecting your puppy can be a little tricky. The mild and temporary immunities that the mother passes on to her pups actually interfere with the vaccine's effectiveness--but exactly when those maternal antibodies fade varies from dog to dog, depending on factors such as nutrition, medical history, and even breed. It's that window of vulnerability--the time after the mother's immunity has faded, and before the vaccine has kicked in--when puppies catch this ever-present virus.

That's why puppy vaccines have to come in at least two stages, and why it's vitally important that you don't skip that second visit to the vet. It's also important to not let your dog walk on the ground where infected dogs may have been until the vaccine has fully kicked in--ask your vet when it's safe to take your pup out and about.

What's next
Treatment generally means a lengthy and expensive hospital stay, with at least five to seven days in intensive care, rehydration through an IV, lots of antibiotics, and medications to control nausea. Even then the prognosis isn't good. Many severely infected animals die, even with the best available care. Without the correct amount of properly balanced intravenous fluids, their chance of recovery is very small. Beating parvo is a difficult challenge, even for the toughest of puppies.

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Washington Humane Society Announces 2014 DC Walk for the Animals & Pet-A-Palooza, September 27

Washington, DC - The Washington Humane Society (WHS) will host its annual DC Walk for the Animals & Pet-A-Palooza on Saturday, September 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHS is excited to return to The Kingsbury Center (5000 14th Street, NW), near the Carter Barron Amphitheater in Northwest DC. This is a community event with fun for both two- and four-footed members of the family.

Individuals and teams with their canine friends will walk approximately one mile to raise awareness and much needed funding for WHS. Plus, WHS adopters will now have the chance to become the Grand Marshal of the Walk! When you register to walk at www.dclovesdcanimals.org, just enter your pup’s information for a chance to be randomly selected as our winner. The Grand Marshal and winning pup will help us to kick off the festivities for the day, and lead our Walk!

In addition, Pet-A-Palooza is a festival of games, contests and activities for kids, adults and dogs. Adopt Force One, the WHS mobile adoption unit, will be on-site with plenty of adoptable animals looking to find their forever homes on this special day.

New this year, WHS has partnered with cartoonist Brian Basset, creator of the comic strip Red and Rover, which is distributed in over 250 newspapers. Red and Rover will be offering weekly tips for pet owners to get active and engaged in the Walk fun. Learn more at www.washhumane.org/redandrover.

This fantastic event is free to attend, but WHS encourages people to register as a walker or to create a team to help raise critical funds for DC animals; registration is $20 for adults, $15 for kids (4 - 12 years old), and free for children ages three and under. Registering online at www.dclovesdcanimals.org is easy, plus you can set up your own fundraising page to motivate friends and family to get involved.

Unable to join the walk? Become a “virtual walker” to support DC animals by making an online gift. 100% of the proceeds from this event support the animals and the work of WHS. For more information and to sign up, visit www.dclovesdcanimals.org.

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Cat Café's Taking Over the World! - Kit Tea to Open in San Francisco Soon! - Purr-Fect Coffee Breaks!

It started in Taiwan a dozen or so years ago with a cafe called Cat Flower Garden, the concept was most enthusiastically embraced in Japan where today there are more cat cafes than anywhere else in the world -- around 150 at the last count.

Now the rest of the world is cat-ching on.

In April the United States saw it's first feline coffee house open in New York, albeit only temporarily, London recently opened its first too and a number of major European cities now also offer purr-fect coffee breaks.

San Francisco - A unique cafe is coming to San Francisco.

KitTea is opening up shop on Gough Street in the Hayes Valley neighborhood. It will be similar to another cat cafe named Catachino in Manhattan.

The website Curbed SF reports the cafe will team up with rescue organizations to host about a dozen cats at a time. Customers will be able to adopt them as they sip teas and lattes.

Catachino in New York is so popular there are usually lines around the block. KitTea will be taking reservations.


For more information, and scheduled opening date, visit them on facebook at: Kit Tea

Take a look Cappuccino's, the first Cat Café that opened in New York City, in April 2014

 A Cat and a Cappuccino to Go: 1st  Pop-Up Cat Café, Was The First to Open in The US

A cat is pictured sitting at the window of the Cat Café in New York, April 23, 2014. The Cat Café, organized by Purina ONE, was opened to the public April 24-27 and offered lectures on cat health, the benefits of adopting a cat and cat-friendly interior design. All cats in the Cat Café are available for adoption through the North Shore Animal League.

A pop-up Cat Cafe, open in New York's Bowery district from Thursday to Sunday, is welcoming cat and coffee lovers who need a 'paws' from the daily grind. Even better: all of the cats can be adopted, and the Cat'achinos are complimentary.

It was a beautiful day for cat lovers: When the first Cat Café in North America opened in NYC.

The Cat Café is the product of a beautiful initiative undertaken by Purina One and the North Shore Animal League, America’s largest no-kill shelter: the Cat Café will be a temporary home to rescue cats, and visitors will be able to have a good cup of coffee while spending some times with their furry friends. The most beautiful part of this initiative is that if you bond with one of them, you can even adopt it.

This Cat Café, located on 168 Bowery, is temporary and will be open till April 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

If you plan to visit the Café, you can read a nice presentation of the adorable cats you will find there on this site.

New York - Along the Bowery in Manhattan, People Waited in a Line that Would Challenge Any Fancy Art Gallery Opening or Exclusive New York City Club

But what brought these people here on a cool sunny Thursday afternoon wasn't art or exclusivity, it was cats.

Well, cats and coffee.

Cat Café opened its doors Thursday, for cat lovers and the cat-curious to enjoy complimentary "cat'achino" cappuccinos, talk cat health and learn about cat adoption with 16 cuddly cats. Pet food brand Purina ONE is hosting the café as a pop-up shop, lasting only through Sunday, but organizers hope the event encourages cat health awareness and adoption.

"The goal of what we're doing here is try to start a conversation about cat health. What better place to do that then over a cup of coffee with some friends in a café? We thought if people are going to be talking about cat health, you should be among your subjects and have cats all around you," said Niky Roberts with Purina ONE.

"It's a great thing because dogs are very publicly social -- you can take your dog out and go for a walk, talk to people at the dog park -- but that's not a luxury most cat owners have, so this is a place you can talk with likeminded people about cat health and be among cats."

As cat people sipped cappuccinos with cat faces drawn in the foam and flicked furry, feathered balls attached to sticks by string at feline guests, Roberts said the café featured a "Cat Chat" speaker series with discussions led by a cat behaviorist, a veterinarian and other cat experts.

Nearby, Valerie the cat had been camped out on Casey Schimon for about an hour, when someone came over to say Valerie had been adopted.

"I'm so excited for her, because she is seriously the most precious thing, and somebody is going to be very happy," an only slightly sad looking Schimon said.

Purina ONE partnered with North Shore Animal League, a large, no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization based in Long Island, New York, to bring 16 specially chosen cats from around the country to hang out at the café.

"So far I think we've had about four cats adopted, but on Saturday we're having an event here where we'll have our mobile unit that will have additional cats available for adoption, and we're always encouraging people to come over to the shelter in Long Island where we have over a hundred adoptable cats," said Christina Travalja, shelter director for North Shore Animal League America.

Cat coffee houses started in Asia, have gained popularity in Europe, and there are talks of opening a few in such places as California, Oregon and Canada. Bu for now, organizers say the Cat Café in New York is the first feline coffee spot in North America.

"I just want to look at cats. I really like them. I go to school here, so I'm far from my cats. I just wanted to get my fill," said Melissa Torres, who waited nearly two hours to get in the café, "You hear about them in Japan, and I always thought I would have to go to Japan to go to a cat café.

For those who weren't in New York or couldn't handle the line, scenes from inside the cat café were Livestreamed with more than 5,000 people watching around the world. The hashtag #CatCafe was used to spark conversations about the event and cat health on social media.

By mid-day there had been more than 3,000 mentions of Cat Café on Twitter, about 74 per hour, and 178 "news mentions" of Cat Café. At least 30 videos had been posted with Cat Café in the title.

For others, social media merely spread the word and would never make up for seeing the felines up close.

"I'm just really excited about the cat café -- hopefully I'll be able to pet some cats!" said Stephanie Leoutsakos, who had been standing in line for a half hour and still hadn't made it around the block.

John Tolas was waiting in line next to her and said, "I heard it on Facebook, I told her, she loves cats, so now we're here."

Take a look as some of the pictures from Cappuccino's, in New York.

Click on images to enlarge.

           

           

           

           

           

           

           







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Washington Humane Society - Offering Two FREE Sessions for Fosters Interested in Taking in Feral Kittens - August 24th and September 17th

Learn how to turn your hissy kitty into a cuddle monster at Deferalizing School!
We are offering two FREE sessions for fosters interested in taking in feral kittens.

With a little love and attention from you, these cats can get off the streets and into adoptive homes.

Join Our Team of Feral Fosters!

Learn how to turn scared hissy kittens into adoptable lap cats!

Most kittens entering WHS need some type of socialization, which is best provided in a foster home. The more deferalizing foster homes we have, the more kittens we can take in off the streets.

2 Sessions Available
Sunday, August 24, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.

Location:
WHS Spay and Neuter Center
1001 L Street, SE
Washington, DC (Near the Navy Yard)

Ready to sign up? Click here: Deferalizing School: Teacher Training! 

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Emerging Solar Plants Are Scorching Birds in Mid-Air

Ivanpah Dry Lake, Calif. - Workers at a state-of-the-art solar plant in the Mojave Desert have a name for birds that fly through the plant's concentrated sun rays — "streamers," for the smoke plume that comes from birds that ignite in midair.

Federal wildlife investigators who visited the BrightSource Energy plant last year and watched as birds burned and fell, reporting an average of one "streamer" every two minutes, are urging California officials to halt the operator's application to build a still-bigger version.

The investigators want the halt until the full extent of the deaths can be assessed. Estimates per year now range from a low of about a thousand by BrightSource to 28,000 by an expert for the Center for Biological Diversity environmental group.

The deaths are "alarming. It's hard to say whether that's the location or the technology," said Garry George, renewable-energy director for the California chapter of the Audubon Society. "There needs to be some caution."

The bird kills mark the latest instance in which the quest for clean energy sometimes has inadvertent environmental harm. Solar farms have been criticized for their impacts on desert tortoises, and wind farms have killed birds, including numerous raptors.

"We take this issue very seriously," said Jeff Holland, a spokesman for NRG Solar of Carlsbad, California, the second of the three companies behind the plant. The third, Google, deferred comment to its partners.

The $2.2 billion plant, which launched in February, is at Ivanpah Dry Lake near the California-Nevada border. The operator says it is the world's biggest plant to employ so-called power towers.

More than 300,000 mirrors, each the size of a garage door, reflect solar rays onto three boiler towers each looming up to 40 stories high. The water inside is heated to produce steam, which turns turbines that generate enough electricity for 140,000 homes.

Sun rays sent up by the field of mirrors are bright enough to dazzle pilots flying in and out of Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

Federal wildlife officials said Ivanpah might act as a "mega-trap" for wildlife, with the bright light of the plant attracting insects, which in turn attract insect-eating birds that fly to their death in the intensely focused light rays.

Federal and state biologists call the number of deaths significant, based on sightings of birds getting singed and falling, and on retrieval of carcasses with feathers charred too severely for flight.

Ivanpah officials dispute the source of the so-called streamers, saying at least some of the puffs of smoke mark insects and bits of airborne trash being ignited by the solar rays.

Wildlife officials who witnessed the phenomena say many of the clouds of smoke were too big to come from anything but a bird, and they add that they saw "birds entering the solar flux and igniting, consequently become a streamer."

U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials say they want a death toll for a full year of operation.

Given the apparent scale of bird deaths at Ivanpah, authorities should thoroughly track bird kills there for a year, including during annual migratory seasons, before granting any more permits for that kind of solar technology, said George, of the Audubon Society.

The toll on birds has been surprising, said Robert Weisenmiller, chairman of the California Energy Commission. "We didn't see a lot of impact" on birds at the first, smaller power towers in the U.S. and Europe, Weisenmiller said.

The commission is now considering the application from Oakland-based BrightSource to build a mirror field and a 75-story power tower that would reach above the sand dunes and creek washes between Joshua Tree National Park and the California-Arizona border.

The proposed plant is on a flight path for birds between the Colorado River and California's largest lake, the Salton Sea, an area, experts say, is richer in avian life than the Ivanpah plant, with protected golden eagles and peregrine falcons and more than 100 other species of birds recorded there.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials warned California this month that the power-tower style of solar technology holds "the highest lethality potential" of the many solar projects burgeoning in the deserts of California.

The commission's staff estimates the proposed new tower would be almost four times as dangerous to birds as the Ivanpah plant. The agency is expected to decide this autumn on the proposal.

While biologists say there is no known feasible way to curb the number of birds killed, the companies behind the projects say they are hoping to find one, studying whether lights, sounds or some other technology would scare them away, said Joseph Desmond, senior vice president at BrightSource Energy.

BrightSource also is offering $1.8 million in compensation for anticipated bird deaths at Palen, Desmond said.

The company is proposing the money for programs such as those to spay and neuter domestic cats, which a government study found kill over 1.4 billion birds a year. Opponents say that would do nothing to help the desert birds at the proposed site.

Power-tower proponents are fighting to keep the deaths from forcing a pause in the building of new plants when they see the technology on the verge of becoming more affordable and accessible, said Thomas Conroy, a renewable-energy expert.

When it comes to powering the country's grids, "diversity of technology ... is critical," Conroy said. "Nobody should be arguing let's be all coal, all solar," all wind, or all nuclear. "And every one of those technologies has a long list of pros and cons."

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Afghanistan Veteran and His Former Canine Comrade for Two Years, Reunite After they Both Returned from War

Any reunion between two war buddies is bound to be emotional, but after a nationwide search brought together a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran with the bomb-sniffing dog he served with, tears and wags were in order.

Lance Cpl. Dylan Bogue served in Afghanistan for seven months with the black lab Moxie, but hadn't seen his former partner for two years.

'I'm very happy, very grateful for the people that made this come together. It's really truly a dream,' Bogue told (WHDH- TV).


Bogue and Moxie were paired up at a training course in North Carolina in 2011 before being deployed to Afghanistan, where they worked to detect improvised explosive devices.

Still, Bogue insists that Moxie did more than just protect his unit from bombs.
"It was comforting and reassuring to myself and my unit to have a dog there in the stressful situations of a combat deployment," he told the Boston Herald.

Bogue said that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, and believes that Moxie does too.

After returning to the U.S., Moxie began working with Boston's transit police and was an integral part of security at this year's marathon, searching for explosives on Boston's metro line.

"We did a lot of security work leading up to the last Boston Marathon, we were all over that Green Line," said Chip Leonard, the handler who gave up Moxie.

At the handover ceremony on Wednesday, Leonard was emotional as he saluted Bogue and said goodbye to his trusted partner.

"This was probably one of the toughest things I've ever gone through,' he told WBZ. Leonard later posted to Facebook that Bogue has "got his good pal back with him."

The reunion was made possible by Vietnam vet Lon Hodge, who sent out a call to find Moxie through his blog where he writes about the importance of service dogs to veterans' well-being.

Now that Moxie is retired from service, he'll join the civilian canines at Bogue's home, which include three pit bulls and an Australian shepherd.

Companion: Lance Cpl. Dylan Bogue had not seen his former partner Moxie for two years after the pair served together in Afghanistan.

Comfort canine: Bogue says that he and Moxie have PTSD but that his partner's presence with his unit was reassuring.

Service dog: Moxie will be with civilian dogs when he returns to Bogue's home. Here he dozes with Bogue and his unit.

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Lymphoma in Cats

Lymphoma (cancer that originates in the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell) is one of the more common cancers in cats. Male cats, and cats in the Northeast in general, have an increased risk-probably related to an increased risk of feline leukemia virus. Cats who test positive for FeLV have a 60-fold increased risk of developing lymphoma, while cats who are positive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) have a 5-fold increased risk for developing this type of cancer. Cats who are positive for both viruses have an 80-fold increase in their risk of developing lymphoma. Whether these viruses have a direct effect in causing the cancer or act primarily by interfering with the cat’s normal immunity is not known for certain.

The most common lymphoma sites in cats are the gastrointestinal system, the spine, and the chest cavity. The gastrointestinal type is the most common of the three forms of lymphoma and is not as closely associated with FeLV as are the other two. This type appears in older cats as weight loss and a drop in appetite. Some cats will vomit and/or have diarrhea, depending on the exact location of the cancer. Stomach cancers tend to cause vomiting and intestinal cancers are more likely to cause diarrhea. Siamese and domestic shorthairs seem to have an increased risk of developing this type of lymphoma.

Mediastinal lymphoma occurs in the lymph nodes inside the chest cavity. Cats under 5 years of age who are FeLV positive are at risk for developing this type of cancer, especially if they are Siamese or one of the Oriental breeds. Fluid will build up and leads to difficulty breathing, along with regurgitation and loss of appetite.

Spinal lymphoma tends to show up in 3- to 4-year-old male cats, especially if they are FeLV positive. The first signs may be problems with their hind legs.

How is lymphoma in cats diagnosed?
Diagnosis of lymphoma in cats is based on results of a physical examination and microscopic examination of biopsies or cells taken from affected tissues. This will not only confirm the diagnosis, but help to determine how aggressive the cancer may be, and provide a basis for treatment and prognosis. A complete blood count, serum chemistry, urinalysis, radiographs (X-rays), and/or ultrasound examinations are generally performed to assess the health of the cat and determine which organ systems may be involved. Testing for FeLV and FIV may reveal that a cat is positive for one or both of these diseases, which will affect the prognosis. A PCR for Antigen Receptor Rearrangement (PARR) test can help differentiate lymphoma from other diseases. Examination of samples taken from the bone marrow may also be indicated in some cases.

How is lymphoma in cats treated?
Treatment for feline lymphoma usually consists of chemotherapy. In almost all cases a combination of different drugs is given over the course of many weeks. These drugs may include chlorambucil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, L-asparginase and prednisolone or prednisone. In some cases, such as cats with nasal lymphoma, radiation therapy may also be used. In general, cats tolerate chemotherapy very well. If side effects become severe, the treatment protocol can be modified to decrease the effects.

Treatment: Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy have all been used to treat lymphomas, depending on the exact location and whether the cancer has spread. The prognosis is best for a cat with a single intestinal nodule and worst for a cat with a spinal growth.

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Lymphoma in Dogs

Canine lymphomas are a diverse group of cancers, and are among the most common cancers diagnosed in dogs. They collectively represent approximately 7-14% of all cancers diagnosed in dogs. There are over 30 described types of canine lymphoma, and these cancers vary tremendously in their behavior. Some progress rapidly and are acutely life-threatening without treatment, while others progress very slowly and are managed as chronic, indolent diseases. Lymphomas may affect any organ in the body, but most commonly originate in lymph nodes, before spreading to other organs such as the spleen, liver, and bone marrow.

What is lymphoma?
The term “lymphoma” describes a diverse group of cancers in dogs that are derived from white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes normally function as part of the immune system to protect the body from infection. Although lymphoma can affect virtually any organ in the body, it most commonly arises in organs that function as part of the immune system such as the lymph nodes, spleen, and bone marrow. By far the most common type of lymphoma in the dog is multicentric lymphoma, in which the cancer first becomes apparent in lymph nodes.

Other common lymphomas in dogs include cutaneous lymphoma (lymphoma of the skin), alimentary or gastrointestinal lymphoma (lymphoma of the stomach and/or intestines) and mediastinal lymphoma (lymphoma involving organs within the chest, such as lymph nodes or the thymus gland).

What causes lymphoma in dogs?
Unfortunately, the cause of lymphoma in dogs is not known. Although several possible causes such as viruses, bacteria, chemical exposure, and physical factors such as strong magnetic fields have been investigated, the cause of this cancer remains obscure. Suppression of the immune system is a known risk factor for the development of lymphoma in humans. Evidence for this includes increased rates of lymphoma in humans infected with the HIV virus or are on immune-suppressing drugs following organ transplantation surgery. However, the link between immune suppression and lymphoma in dogs is not clearly established.

How is canine lymphoma diagnosed?
The best way to diagnose lymphoma is to perform a biopsy. A biopsy is a minor surgical procedure to remove a piece of lymph node or other organ affected by cancer. The most common methods for lymph node biopsy are Tru-cut needle biopsy, incisional wedge biopsy, or removal of an entire lymph node (excisional biopsy). The larger the biopsy sample, the better the chance for an accurate diagnosis of lymphoma.

We routine perform biopsy procedures to diagnose canine lymphoma at the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (PUVTH). Dogs are placed under heavy sedation or general anesthesia to perform a biopsy. Although discomfort associated with this procedure is typically minimal, we often prescribe oral pain medication afterwards just to be sure your dog is comfortable following the biopsy.

How is canine lymphoma treated?
The most effective therapy for most types of canine lymphoma is chemotherapy. In some cases, surgery or radiation therapy may also be recommended. There are numerous chemotherapy treatment protocols for dogs with multicentric lymphoma. As discussed below, most dogs with lymphoma experience remission of their cancer following treatment, and side effects are usually not severe. Currently, the protocols that achieve the highest rates of remission and longest overall survival times involve combinations of drugs given over several weeks to months. The protocol we use as a “gold standard” for the treatment of canine multicentric lymphoma is a 25-week protocol called UW-25. It is based on a protocol called CHOP that is commonly used to treat lymphoma in humans.

The UW-25 protocol may not be appropriate for all dogs with lymphoma. Different types of lymphoma may be treated with different chemotherapy drugs. For instance, the most effective drug for cutaneous lymphoma is thought to be lomustine (CCNU). The veterinary oncologists and oncology residents at the PUVTH will help you decide on a chemotherapy treatment protocol that is appropriate for your dog.

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A Zoney, a Cross-Breeding Between a Zebra and a Donkey, Born at Crimean Zoo

A zoo in the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea has welcomed its latest arrival – a "zonkey", which was born after a lonesome zebra got intimate with a donkey.

Named Telegraph by keepers at the Taigan zoo park in southern Crimea, the foal's head and body are the solid brown of a donkey but his legs have the characteristic black stripes of a zebra.

Born last week, "Telegraph is very popular with visitors" who can watch him romping around with his mother, according to zoo director Oleg Zubkov.

Cross-breeding between zebras and other members of the equine family is not unheard of, although it is rare that the zebra is the mother.

But the breeding of zonkeys or other hybrids is normally frowned upon by the zoo community.

"Such things don't happen in civilized zoos, but can occur at private zoos or on farms," said Anna Kachurovskaya, a spokeswoman for Moscow Zoo.

"This sort of marketing is not justified or scientific ... zoos are for preserving wild species, that is one of their most important goals."

Zubkov said Telegraph's mother, who had not had a mate for a long time, was lonely and uncomfortable in her enclosure at the private zoo founded two years ago about 20 miles from Crimea's main city Simferopol.

"So on the advice of a zoologist we moved her in with several other hoofed animals and she really liked the donkey. As a result of their affection for one another we've gotten Telegraph," Zubkov said in an email to AFP.

Telegraph was named after a local newspaper which recently celebrated its fifth anniversary.

Russia seized the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in March in a move hotly contested by Kiev and the international community.

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