Bayfield, Wis. - John Unger and his dog Schoep became an internet sensation three years ago after photographer Hannah Stonehouse Hudson, snapped a sweet moment of them on Lake Superior.
Schoep loved the water but arthritis settled into his joints which made it hard to swim or even walk. So, Unger would just hold Schoep on his chest in the water, sometimes for hours.
"He was my life," Unger said.
Twenty years ago Unger was battling depression when he found Schoep in a shelter.
"He saved me that night and I could only do my very best for him after that," he said.
It was the best to the very end. A year and a half ago, Schoep passed away.
"It was really tough after Schoep left and didn't know what to do with my time," Unger said.
Months passed. The thought of moving on came and went. Unger thought about getting a new dog but nothing seemed right.
"It was re-learning how to live and once I learned that and once I got through the toughness of his love that's when I started searching again," Unger said.
Ninety miles away in Hayward someone else was searching too. A few days ago several dogs were surrendered to the Northwoods Humane Society. Among them was one-year-old Bear. Older dogs and black dogs like Bear often have trouble finding new homes, according to Kim Molitor, who works for the shelter. But a suitor was already at the front door.
"I was like cool. He's like a surfer dude from California. He's going to get along with all the dogs," Molitor said after the long-haired Unger walked in.
Molitor had no idea who the "long-haired surfer dude" was until a co-worker recognized the name.
"I got chills. I couldn't' believe it. He's in the water with the dog and it was beautiful," Molitor said.
Just as beautiful was the moment Unger met Bear.
"It was just unison. It was just you know, in love from the moment they said hello to each other," Molitor said.
In less than a week together Unger and Bear have their walk down. But there are some things they are still learning about each other, like whether Bear likes playing with sticks or a ball.
Starting over is never easy but Unger learned years ago from his first love that it's a chance worth taking.
"I talk to him still. Thank him for everything," Unger said.
If you'd like to send John and Bear a welcome message you can write to them at P.O. Box 434, Bayfield, WI 54814.
Residents in the northern Dutch town of Purmerend, have been advised to arm themselves with an umbrella when going out at night
There have been a rising number of owl attacks.
An European eagle owl has silently swooped on dozens of residents over the past three weeks, causing many victims to seek medical attention.
The latest attack, two members of a local athletics club were attacked. One person required stitches for six head wounds caused by the nocturnal bird of prey's talons.
The club has cancelled all training until further notice.
Residents and workers at Prinsenstichting home for the handicapped have been left terrified following at least 15 attacks, spokeswoman Liselotte de Bruijn told AFP.
"During the day there's no problem. We only venture outside at night armed with umbrellas, helmets and hats, anything really, to protect ourselves," said De Bruijn.
"The problem is that you don't hear the owl before it strikes. Its claws are razor-sharp," she said.
Purmerend city council said it was trying to find a solution.
"We want to catch the owl as our city's residents are in danger," it said on its website, noting however that the European eagle owl is a protected species that requires special permission to be trapped.
"These procedures can still take some time. Meanwhile, we are advising people to stay away from the owl," the city said, telling night strollers in the area to shield themselves with umbrellas.
Gejo Wassink of the Netherlands' OWN owl foundation said the bird's behavior was unusual.
"Either the owl was reared in captivity and released into the wild and now associates humans with food -- meaning it's not really 'attacking' people."
"Or it may have heightened hormone levels as the breeding season starts, which influences its behavior and makes it defend its territory," Wassink told AFP, saying the bird "appears to be a female".
He pointed to the wider problem of people hand-rearing owls and then releasing them into the wild when they become too big to handle, potentially leading to an increase in attacks.
The European eagle owl is one of the largest owl species, with a wing-span of up to 1.80 metres (almost six feet) and weighing up to three kilos (seven pounds).
You will no longer be able to feed the dolphins at SeaWorld Orlando. A new program, starting in March, will allow you to only touch and interact with the dolphins. The new program starting on March 2, will cost $15, and will be a reservation-only package, that allows small groups to spend several minutes touching and interacting with dolphins but not feeding them. "Dolphin Cove will continue to provide areas where all guests are able to view dolphins up close, and interact with animals that choose to interact with them," said spokeswoman Becca Bides in an emailed statement on Tuesday. Conservationists hailed the move as an incremental improvement in the treatment of captive marine mammals, saying the feeding pools are dangerous. "It’s out of date, out of style and it’s full of risk," said Courtney Vail, campaign and program manager for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. Vail said dolphins have been harmed in large feeding programs fighting over food and by guests dropping objects into the pools, not washing their hands and touching the dolphins’ eyes or blowholes. Guests occasionally are bitten, she said. Vail said feeding programs encourage people to feed dolphins in the wild, leading to dolphin-boat collisions and teaching dolphins to beg rather than forage. Vail said most aquariums other than SeaWorld ended feeding programs years ago. Feeding of dolphins will remain a part of SeaWorld’s sister park in Orlando, Discovery Cove, where a limited number of guests touch, feed and swim with dolphins. SeaWorld San Diego ended its large group feeding program in 2012, followed by the San Antonio park in 2013, according to Bides. Those parks still allow guests in small group interaction programs to feed dolphins. Attendance at SeaWorld Orlando park took a hit after a 2013 documentary focused on its captive killer whale program, and in particular on Tilikum, formerly a performing a killer whale that drowned trainer Dawn Brancheau. Her death led a federal administrative judge to order the theme park to maintain barriers between trainers and the whales. In August, the company announced a planned expansion of the whale pools, and a $10 million contribution to killer whale research.
FOLLOW US!
Grumpy Cat may have a new rival for online feline supremacy. Sauerkraut has a neurological disorder that makes her appear like she is constantly bummed. Still, the rescue cat actually seems to be pretty happy and healthy nowadays. Saurkraut's owner, Patrick Bender, joined RTM to talk about her story.
Twice in my life I've owned a dog. Both times, I was so enamored with the dog, all cooped up at the shelter and ready to escape to a loving home, that I pushed aside any serious concerns about the responsibility I was taking on. I figured I'd deal with problems when they happened. For the most part, that worked. After all, you can't worry too much about what hasn't happened. But you can be prepared.
Both of my dogs have given me very different opportunities to learn what truly goes into owning a living, breathing, eating, pooping, thinking, chewing, high-energy, accident-prone, vaccination-needing, attention-seeking being. And while nothing could make me regret bringing home either of my wonderful dogs — no matter how high the vet bills or how frustrating the training — I do wish that I'd have gone into the adoptions with eyes wide open. (And maybe a little more padding in my savings account.)
While I only have hindsight, it is 20-20. I hope that it can help someone else prepare a little more for what they're getting into when they sign up for a dog. Here are the seven things I wish someone would have said to me before I signed the adoption papers, just so I knew exactly what I was getting into.
1. You're going to spend a lot of money. A. Lot. Of. Money.
Whatever you think you're going to spend on a dog, triple it. Better yet, quadruple it. And depending on your dog, double whatever the sum of your quadrupling.
Americans spent $55.7 billion on pets in 2013. We spent an estimated $58.5 billion in 2014. In fact, every year, we spend billions more than the previous year on our non-human family members. Why? Because we care.
The bulk of what we spend goes toward better food. These days it's tough to trust just any old can of ground-up goodness-knows-what. Is it nutritious? Is it safe? Is it ethical? More and more pet stores are offering better options like dehydrated or frozen raw food made with organic ingredients. Honest Kitchen, Grandma Lucy's, Small Batch, Orijen, Stella & Chewy's, Primal, Natural Balance and other brands have come onto the market to offer dog owners only the best for their pups. And they aren't cheap.
Beyond the absolute basics of food, there are the basics of annual vaccinations and licensing your dog with your city. There's also microchipping your dog and getting him registered in search databases, which is a huge step in ensuring a lost dog can be returned to his or her owner.
Then there are the vet visits — not predictable in when they'll happen or why, but predictable in that they will indeed happen. Some dogs are prone to skin infections or allergies or ear infections. Young dogs run the risk of injuring themselves in overly rambunctious play. Old dogs run the risk of developing arthritis, or the scary c-word, cancer. And there's always the expense of monthly flea, tick and heartworm medications. Some pet owners opt to get pet insurance with monthly payments in case of an emergency or as a way to handle expensive prescriptions if the dog has special health needs, so there's another monthly cost to consider.
Then there is the money you don't spend on your dog but you spend because of your dog. Replacing furniture or carpets, for instance. I've had to get a toilet repaired (ball got stuck in it) and a window replaced (ball went through it) and a new fence installed (ball went under it so dog went through it).
There are the necessities like baths and grooming and nail trimming. And there's the fun stuff like collars, tags, treats, beds, crates, harnesses, leashes, sweaters or boots if you live in cold climates, cooling blankets if you live in hot climates, bully sticks and marrow bones, chew toys and stuffed toys, replacement toys, replacement toys for the replacement toys, Chuck-Its and tennis balls, training treat pouches, poop bags ... I could keep going, but I think you get the idea.
And there's the cost of classes. An obedience class or two is a must. But there's also private trainers to get one-on-one help. Special classes for dogs with particular issues like reactivity or shyness. There are canine good citizen classes or agility classes or rally classes or scent work classes.
What if you travel a lot and need to board your dog with someone while you're away? Or what if you work all day and need to hire a dog walker or enroll your pooch in doggy daycare so they get enough exercise and don't tear up everything in the house?
So when I say double what you quadrupled, I'm not exaggerating. You're not paying for an adoption fee, a collar, leash and some food — oh, not by a long shot. Still, all this doesn't add up to not getting a dog. It just means you'll need to do some serious thinking about budgeting for and making decisions about what you're going to spend money on and preparing for that fact.
All hail Miss Sauerkraut! As the newest kitty on the scene, this Oklahoma-based cutester with the scowling face looks set to rocket to the very top tier of the Internet's most adored cats. While it's her disproving and judgmental face that catches the social media eye at first, the look -- and her concomitant habit of dressing up in various outfits -- is a consequence of Sauerkraut's battle with feline hyperesthesia. (You can read more about the condition by digging through the Catster vaults.) Taking a break out from tracking Sauerkraut's rise to the top, I spoke to her human, Amy Bender, about the origins of her perturbed look, her views on Grumpy Cat, and whether she's actually a fan of the fermented cabbage dish she is named after. Catster: What made you decide to keep Sauerkraut, as opposed to just fostering her? Amy Bender: Her health issues made her less adoptable to the usual crowd. When you put so much care into a special needs kitty, you get attached and want the best for them. Getting to the big question, what's at the heart of Sauerkraut's grumpiness? I think she's very annoyed that she doesn't have thumbs and a driver's license. So what one thing in the world would make Sauerkraut a little less grumpy? Becoming the next leader of North Korea. How does she feel about Grumpy Cat, the world's most notable crabby cat? Definitely a role model. Actually, Sauerkraut would love to meet her some day. Sauerkraut's Facebook page mentions that she has a plan for world domination. How is she going about achieving that? She has a secret war room where she has clandestine meetings with some minions, a devil bear, and Domo. I'm not allowed in. I think we are all in trouble though. I'm working on a bunker. More >>>
These are the hilariously imaginative pictures of people in purr-fectly normal scenarios surrounded by playful felines. The photographer has put together this quirky set of photos to celebrate her love of cats. Andréanne Lupien, the 23-year-old photographer from Canada, believes in fairy tales, happy endings, magic — and cats. She said: “I had fun taking pictures of myself with my cat and putting it around me in the room.” (Caters News)
A Las Vegas pet shop owner who was caught on surveillance video torching her business before 27 puppies and dogs were rescued last year failed to sway her sentencing judge with a courtroom announcement Wednesday that she was three months pregnant.
Clark County District Court Judge David Barker said he thought Gloria Eun Hye Lee, 36, was using her pregnancy to try to get him to hand down a lesser sentence.
He sentenced Lee to five to 14 years in state prison, nearly the maximum that prosecutor Shanon Clowers sought.
Clowers accused Lee of using her pregnancy in a manipulative bid for a "get-out-of-jail-free card."
Lee's attorney, Tom Pitaro, didn't immediately respond later to messages.
Clowers noted that Lee told the court the father of her child was her husband, from whom Lee was estranged at the time of the January 2014 fire at the Prince and Princess pet shop in southwest Las Vegas, and who she once tried to blame for the crime.
Store security video showed Lee removing files in an office while co-defendant Kirk Bills poured liquid on the floor around locked kennel cages and ignited it.
Lee pleaded guilty in October to arson, insurance fraud and attempted animal cruelty charges in a plea deal that had 28 other charges against her dismissed.
Bills pleaded guilty to arson and attempted animal cruelty. He'll be sentenced Monday. His lawyer, Roger Bailey, said he hopes for leniency and a two-to-five year sentence that, with time already served, could get Bills out of prison as early as next year.
Ceiling fire sprinklers quickly doused the flames, and none of the 27 animals was fatally injured before firefighters arrived.
But the incident sparked intense passions among animal rights advocates who picketed the courthouse for nearly every court appearance. Lee was arrested in Las Vegas shortly after the fire. Bills was arrested days later in Crown Point, Indiana.
It also touched off a weekslong ownership battle that ended when 25 rescued puppies were raffled in March 2014 for $250 apiece to benefit a foundation that runs the local Lied Animal Shelter. Two adult dogs were placed by a rescue group called A Home 4 Spot.
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?
Amur leopard populations have more than doubled in just seven years. New census data reveals Amur leopards in Russia’s Land of the Leopard National Park now number at least 57 cats (up from just 30 cats in 2007). And an additional 8-12 leopards were counted in adjacent areas of China. For the census, camera traps were spread out over more than 900,000 acres of leopard habitat. Scientists then reviewed 10,000 images and identified nearly 60 individual animals, judging by the distinctive pattern of spots on the leopards’ fur. The census was carried out by the Land of the Leopard National Park jointly with the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, with the support of The Amur Leopard Center and WWF-Russia. Land of the Leopard National Park, established in 2012, includes all of the Amur leopard’s known breeding areas and about 60 percent of the critically endangered cat’s remaining habitat. Saving the world’s rarest cat Conservationists are also working towards monitoring leopard populations across the border in neighboring Chinese nature reserves. One of the highly anticipated next steps would be the establishment of a Sino-Russian transboundary nature reserve. “There’s still a lot of work to be done in order to secure a safe future for the Amur leopard, but these numbers demonstrate that things are moving in the right direction,” said Dr. Barney Long, Director of Species Conservation for WWF-US. The dramatic good news for Amur leopards comes on the heels of WWF’s release of the first footage of a family of Amur tigers inside China. Both animals share the same habitat.
Reno, NV - Rooster, a 10-year-old Karelian Bear Dog, and his daughter 10-month-old daughter, Dazzle play and integral part of the team when it comes to releasing bears captured in populated areas. There travel with their owner, Carl Lackey, a Bear Biologist with the Nevada Department of Wildlife. This includes trucks, ATVs, helicopters, ski lifts, classrooms and everywhere else! Their main job…to harass the bear by chasing it, barking in its face, and making it run away or climb a tree. Combined with a shotgun firing rubber bullets, the idea is to make the bears not want to return. NDOW has had more success with this procedure than by relocating the bears, many of which return to the capture site within days or weeks if no aversion techniques are used. "They're extremely important to what we do," Lackey said of the dogs. "They're our main tool in non-lethal bear management. Our No. 1 goal is to release bears." Karelians are a specialized breed, originally from Russia and Finland where they were used by grizzly bear and moose hunters. They have a body type similar to a husky and facial features similar to a border collie. Lackey said they also have tremendous instincts and physical attributes. "They're fearless and they're really, really quick," he said, comparing them to a mongoose that is able to keep away from a cobra strike. Lackey bought his first Karelian, Stryker, in 2001 from the Wind River Bear Institute in Florence, Mont., a facility that raises and trains the dogs. Stryker helped with more than 400 bear. Rooster, a son of Stryker, joined the team in 2004, and has helped with more than 300, Lackey said. Now Dazzle is working alongside Rooster. Some of his other offspring is working as bear dogs with wildlife departments in Montana, Alaska and Washington State. Along with chasing the bears during release operations, the dogs can also be used to search under houses when its suspected bears might be trying to hibernate there, tracking, patrolling, finding food attractants and a variety of other duties. Lackey also uses his dogs in schools when he gives presentations. "They're great ambassadors," Lackey said. "The kids love them. They're great family dogs, too." Lackey owns his dogs and provides for their care. He would like to see the bear dog program expanded in Nevada. "We'd like to get one or two more dogs and be able to place them with a warden or two," he said.
Guinea pigs are small members of the rodent family native to South America, but they have been domesticated for several hundred years. They were popular lap pets in European courts, and their names have become synonymous with "test subject." Many people find them to be an excellent pet for a home or apartment.
A guinea pig is often thought of as a good pet for children, and this is true, but as with all pets, parents must make certain the child is old enough to be gentle with the animal and mature enough to care for it properly. They are sociable animals and need homes where they will receive attention and affection. Being left in a cage and ignored is a harsh life for the animal since they are affectionate and love to be held. Owners should be prepared for this.
A prospective owner should get a good book on guinea pig care and read it carefully. The animal's needs are not elaborate, but at the most basic, one needs a roomy cage, safe bedding, a ceramic food bowl, a water bottle with a sipper spout, pellets, and timothy hay.
Some people put a little plastic or wooden shelter inside the cage, but this is not recommended for the first week or so at home. The rodent may retreat inside the shelter and refuse to come out, except to eat. A shelter should only be added after the pet has become accustomed to its environment.
Guinea pigs are strict vegans: they do not eat any kind of meat product and do not need dairy products or sweets. A nugget of corn or wheat cereal once in a while may be a nice treat, but these should not be given regularly. Pellets formulated especially for these animals should compose the bulk of the diet, along with timothy hay.
Some cages have ricks where hay can be placed for eating at leisure, but most piggies do not nibble throughout the day &mdsah; they will eat an entire rick-full and "week" for more. Incidentally, the “wheek!” is a noise that the animal does not make in the wild. It is a call reserved for humans opening the refrigerator, and the animal knows exactly what is in there: treats.
Within their limits, these rodents are fairly bright. They know what the refrigerator is for, or at least that opening the door means a treat might be in their future. Pets seem to respond to their owners coming in from being absent, and they certainly relish being picked up and loved. They return affection with nuzzles, head butts and gurgles of contentment.
The guinea pig is a prey creature, and so will mask illness. An owner should look for any nasal discharge or diarrhea and notice if the animal is not drinking water. These are sure signs of illness, and time is always of the essence when treating this rodent. If possible, the animal should be taken to a veterinarian specializing in exotic pets for treatment.
The animal’s cage should be kept out of direct sunlight and drafts. The room temperature should be fairly consistent to help keep illness away. Loud noises should be kept to a minimum, when possible.
One great advantage of the guinea pig as a pet is that it is quiet. It will wheek and squeak and gurgle, but not loudly. They rattle their water bottles and bang items around in their cages, but do not create much commotion.
When their cages are kept clean, these pets also have very little odor. People are rarely allergic to them, which makes them good pets for those who love animals but can't have a cat or dog. Most are also generally fastidious little animals and keep themselves groomed, although gentle brushing with a soft-bristled brush is also appreciated.
Guinea pigs are often packed with personality and friendliness. They rarely bite and are sociable, likable little animals. As such, they can make excellent pets.
Tomatillo looks like any horse. To those in the know, the 18-month-old looks like one horse.
Tomatillo is the clone of Tamarillo -- a famous eventing horse who reached the Olympics in 2004.
Twelve years have passed since humans first successfully cloned a horse. The science is developing fast, but remains imperfect.
The current process takes a sample of cells from a horse's neck, swaps the nucleus of one of those cells into an equine egg, then gives that egg a small electric shock to stimulate development before it is placed inside a recipient mare and carried to term.
Yet Tomatillo, and a handful of others, represent near-exact replicas of sporting excellence and pose an important question: are we going to start seeing clones at the world's top equestrian events?
At the Olympic Games of the future, will a horse compete against itself for gold?
Tomatillo's owners are Finn and Mary Guinness, who also own Tamarillo.
The Guinnesses watched British eventer William Fox-Pitt ride the latter to glory at the Olympics, World Equestrian Games and a succession of other major events until Tamarillo's retirement in 2008.
At that point, there arose a problem.
Like many horses at the top of equestrian sport, Tamarillo is a gelding -- in other words, the horse has been castrated, in the belief that geldings are calmer, easier to handle and therefore more readily prepared for the rigors of competition.
But the decision to castrate the horse is taken well before it's apparent that the horse carries world-class genes.
"When you've finally got your champion, it's too late, because it's a gelding," in the words of Finn Guinness, who brings a learned background to ownership of Tomatillo.
Guinness was a one-time student of cloning at Edinburgh University and holds a doctorate in genetics.
His wife, Mary, adds: "When Tamarillo turned out to be this treasure, my husband was regretting it like anything, because he was just interested in keeping the genetics going with the animal.
"And now we can."
A Different Breed:
The Guinnesses have cloned Tamarillo not to replace the horse in the arena, but in the bedroom.
Without a clone, Tamarillo's world-beating genetics would be lost when the horse died. Now, Tomatillo can do the breeding in Tamarillo's place.
"They have the same head, the same personality, the same coloring. It's completely uncanny when you deal with them all the time," says Mary.
"It's especially in the eyes, for me. Looking at the eye, the eye is so similar. They are similar in the way they move, too, and my husband is obsessed with the swirls on his head.
"We are going to try to breed from him, not this year but next year, to see what sort of animals he produces before we go on the open market."
This is in keeping with a broader trend in equine cloning: the focus is on breeding, not sport.
In mid-February this year, two clones of Irish stallion Cruising were revealed.
Cruising died last year at the age of 29. Now, the existence of two clones (Cruising Encore and Cruising Arish) allows his phenomenally successful genes to continue, or so the breeder in question -- Mary McCann -- hopes.
"Cruising would be the number one Irish sporthorse stallion in terms of producing both showjumpers and eventing horses," says Dr Tom Reed, a fellow breeder based in Ireland at Morningside Stud.
Dr Reed says the Irish Sport Horse stud book -- or registry of horses, used by breeders -- "would be very interested in encouraging the owners to clone the horse."
The stud book has struggled to find horses of Cruising's genetic caliber, he believes, and cloning represents a roll of the dice to preserve its greatest equine asset.
Dr Reed sees that as a bad thing. "They're basically counting on 26-year-old genetics to bring the showjumping side of the stud book back into relevance and that's not going to happen," he argues.
Fertile Ground?:
Yet for Eric Palmer, that is the joy and purpose of his work.
Palmer founded Cryozootech, in France, in 2001. He has since become a world-leading authority on the cloning of horses, responsible for the cloning of champion showjumpers like ET (one of the first to be cloned) and Quidam de Revel (the first horse cloned in the U.S.)
"The job I'd done before involved technologies for reproduction, like artificial insemination. All the time, the reason for these technologies was giving people a tool to increase their genetic progress," Palmer tells CNN.
"When I saw that cloning was possible, I realized it could be used to make fertile animals out of infertile ones. For me, this is the ability to make a gelding become a stallion."
In 2005, Palmer worked with Dr Katrin Hinrichs, at Texas A&M University, on the cloning of Quidam de Revel.
A decade later, Hinrichs still finds it hard to comprehend why anyone would clone a horse for sport, rather than breeding.
"As a scientist and as a horse owner myself, it never occurred to me that people would want to clone horses to compete them. That's totally sideways," says Dr Hinrichs.
"The reason these horses compete is to show they are really good at what they do, so you can choose the animals to breed to and improve the breed. It's because we want to know which horses are good, so we can choose the stallions and mares we want to breed, so the next generation is better.
"If you compete a clone, what good is that? If the original animal showed great talent, then of course the clone will -- it can't really improve the breed."
And yet some of the advantages are obvious. If you own a champion horse and want to carry on winning medals in future, a clone prolongs your access to that horse's winning genetics for a decade or two. The cost of cloning, at a shade above $150,000, is a fraction of the seven-figure sums routinely spent on champion jumping or dressage horses.
Despite that, Palmer says clients at Cryozootech don't typically have their hearts set on sporting achievement from cloning.
Rewriting the Rule Book:
If they do, his advice is: cloning is not a sure thing.
"Of the few cloned horses starting to compete, Levisto Alpha Z [the clone of Levisto Z], was a champion at four years old in Belgium, showing that clones can do sport," says Palmer. "So it may happen, but it's not really a good reason to make a clone.
"When you clone a big champion, remember he had everything going for him: the best genes but all the rest, too. He formed a good combination with the rider.
"Genetics is only 30%, 70% is other factors. So there's little chance that you will get all 100% of the factors being optimum.
"I would say it's a bet. It's a bet where you have control over 30% of your chances, but you still have 70% that you have not yet controlled."
Not only that, the science does not yet deliver a perfect replica -- as might be implied by the word "clone."
The process produces a foal that is almost, but not 100%, identical to the original horse. Moreover, Dr Hinrichs says it's only successful around a third of the time.
"Cloning is such a science-fiction thing -- the idea that you can duplicate somebody," she says.
"But this doesn't work the way it does in science fiction. The best simile is that it's an identical twin, born years and years later. It's going to have many of the same genetics but it's going to be very different, too."
In 2012, the FEI -- equestrian sport's world governing body -- changed its rules to allow clones to compete, arguing that the move would encourage the preservation of the genes of leading geldings.
That was the moment that concerns first surfaced in the wider media about the presence of clones in events.
In reality, though, it appears more likely that the offspring of clones will be future Olympic champions, rather than the clones themselves.
Returning to the theory that stallions are harder to train for sport than geldings, it's a given that for your clone to breed, they cannot be castrated. However, there is nothing to stop you turning the clone's offspring into geldings.
Like today's stallions, clones are set to be used to sire hundreds of foals -- raking in money for their owners and spreading the clone's genes far and wide.
Why castrate your clone and their expensive, world-beating genetics for sporting purposes when, a few years down the line, you can take your pick between dozens of the clone's foals?
"We are sure that offspring of clones will be there in competition," says Palmer.
From Blood Line to Production Line?:
Dr Reed worries about the concept.
"I have a couple of fundamental problems," he says. "I have questions about the possible long-term effects. We don't know whether there will be negative outcomes associated with these clones that, once introduced into a population, could be detrimental to that population.
"Another problem I have is that we're horse breeders, not horse manufacturers. What we basically have here is some very wealthy people getting hold of some genetic material and trying to gain some competitive advantages in breeding, and potentially in the arena, through cloning.
"And once you let cloned genetics into your population, how do you get rid of it?"
Dr Reed agrees is probably a matter of time until clones, or their offspring, show up in the sporting arena.
"I'm not aware of any of them in sport [but] the door's been opened and there is no turning back, at this point, in terms of international sport," he says.
It's unlikely that Tomatillo will be among them. But it isn't out of the question.
"Who knows? it's very interesting to watch Tomatillo trotting, he does seem pretty similar to Tamarillo," says Finn Guinness.
"I don't think we're going to be able to resist taking him a little way [in eventing], anyway. My main interest is getting his foals. We'll see. We're some way off all that."
Mary Guinness says Fox-Pitt, the rider of Tamarillo, is preparing to have his second look at Tomatillo -- just in case there is something there. If anyone gets to ride Tomatillo in competition, she adds, it will be him.
"People are so nervous about cloning," she continues.
"I remember 35, 36 years ago when they had the first IVF baby and everybody thought it was a freak of science. Now it's the norm. I tend to think that cloning will be a fairly common thing in 30 years' time -- we're just ahead of the game, as it were.
"Tomatillo looks absolutely like any other horse you would see in the field. He doesn't have five toes coming out of a hoof or anything like that. He's just normal. That's what people can't get their heads around."
Dr Hinrichs, in pondering the prospect of clones in sport, comes up with a suggestion many people are unlikely to get their heads around.
"I was just in a meeting," she recalls, "where somebody argued that if you want to test the ability of a person to train a horse and ride it to the top of the field, the ultimate challenge would be to have everybody riding the same clone.
"Everybody receives a clone of the horse 10 years ago, trains it up and competes it at the Olympics. Then the variable would be the training, the upbringing, the handling and the riding.
"Is the Olympics a test of the training and riding ability, or of the horse? It's probably the former. The Olympics is all about people, right?"
It’s a story with a sad refrain: a neglected old dog (or old cat) sits alone in a shelter, hoping for a second chance at life. For one such dog in a rural Tennessee community, that second chance came in the form of a retired Air Force veteran and longtime animal lover. In the company of dogs Growing up on a farm in a small town in Pennsylvania, Zelva – who likes to be called Zee – always had a strong connection with animals. “They have been a comfort to me most of my life,” she says. Long after her retirement from the military, Zee finally had time to volunteer and dedicate her life to animals in need. She started by walking dogs at her local shelter; two days a week quickly turned to five. Eventually she found herself working the front desk, at the surgery center, and helping with adoption and vetting. Although a full-time employee now fulfills most of these responsibilities, Zee simply found other ways to help. “I go every Saturday and do medications for all of the animals,” she says. “I still teach a class once a month and do events.” The Air Force veteran found new channels for her passion and now serves as Vice President of the Smokey Mountain Animal Care Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the Blount County Animal Shelter. In this capacity, Zee gives new volunteer orientations, and serves as the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base liaison for non-commissioned officers performing community service at the shelter. “They come in flights,” she says, “maybe have 15 people, show up for about four hours [to volunteer] about every six weeks or so.” Zee’s love of animals was not always so well received. She smiles when she thinks about the one time during her long military career when she got in trouble. “I got lectured by my commander for taking dogs home to the barracks,” she recalls. “My roommate came home one night and there was an Irish Setter in the room, and she got mad at me.” Neglected old dog loses her way Shelley was rescued from a dog trap set by animal control officers to catch wild dogs. It was immediately apparent that the old dog was not wild, but an abandoned, severely neglected pet. The Shepherd-Lab mix was in pretty bad shape when the officers took her to the Blount County Animal Shelter for care. She had arthritis, thyroid problems, hip dysplasia, rotten teeth, untrimmed nails and to top it all off, she was heartworm positive. Zee believes that at one time in her life, Shelley had a family. “Shelley, I think, wandered off,” she says. “Someone probably had her for years and years. We have some country folk around here that just don’t look at dogs the same way I do. They are an extension of my family.” The shelter staff estimated Shelley to be about 12 years old. During her otherwise unremarkable stay there a couple adopted her, only to return her three days later. “She got really depressed,” Zee remembers. “I took her home with my other dogs where she had company, and to get her out of the shelter…The family that brought her back said it was because she chased cats, but she doesn’t.” Blazing a trail for other female veterans Zee came from a small town where jobs were scarce. She knew that higher education was the ticket to a better life, but her options were limited after her father passed away when she was young. Then there was an uncle. He was in the special forces, and Zee always admired his travels and adventures. She decided that a military career would allow her to serve her country while creating a better future for herself. “For years,” Zee says, “I think I was the first female in my high school to join the military.” Zee started her long career in the Women’s Army Corps in 1972, working in personnel and then as a Military Police Officer. She spent a short time in the Air National Guard, and served the remainder of her career in active duty Air Force in law enforcement and administration. During her years with the Guard, she worked full-time in civilian law enforcement. “I enjoyed police work,” she says. “My last year in the military, I was also a reserve [Sheriff’s] Deputy with the local county.” Looking back on her 27-year military career, the dual Army-Air Force veteran realizes that she was a trailblazer for other female veterans. “When I joined the Army women weren’t allowed to be military police,” she says. “August of 1973 I signed into the Military Police Corps and trained in Germany as one of the first female MP Officers. Three years in the Army and I was only issued skirts, not pants. And I had to do police work in a skirt!” In August 2001, Zee retired after 27 years of dedicated service to our nation. She tried to re-enlist after 9/11, but her request was denied due to a lack of need in her military career field. With her children grown and with free time for the first time in her life, Zee started volunteering at her local animal shelter. An old dog is finally at home Zee first became acquainted with Shelley when the old dog was featured in a story about the Blount County Animal Shelter’s new partnership with Pets for Patriots, a nationally operating companion pet adoption program for United States military veterans. The Air Force veteran was instrumental in bringing the program to Blount County, and serves as its program manager at the shelter. Everyone thought that featuring Shelly’s plight would be a great way to introduce the community to their new partnership and, at the same time, find a veteran who might adopt this sweet yet unwanted dog. But with no response to the article, Zee could sense that being at the shelter was taking its toll on the old dog. The rest, as they say, is history. Shelley officially joined the rest of Zee’s rescue pack: Itzy, Amos, Schnitzel, Schotzy, Tennessee, and Nutmeg. Two of the larger dogs came from abusive situations as well, and along with Shelley often spend time in the family room. From unwanted to loved Although estimated by the shelter to be about 12 years of age, Zee’s veterinarian believes the big dog is closer to 14. That does not matter to Zee. The Air Force veteran is no stranger to adopting senior dogs and giving them happy retirements. “Over the last six or seven years,” she says, “I have had three elderly dogs that I took in when they were old.” Zee’s rescue work has allowed senior dogs to enjoy their retirement and spend their last years surrounded by love. She estimates that Shelley may have only “about another good year or so…I just wanted her to have a happy ending.” Since joining the veteran’s pack, Shelley – often called Shelley Bear because she looks like a bear from a distance – has been settling in well. She has put on some much-needed weight, is receiving treatment for her heartworm, and is fed a high quality diet with supplements for her arthritis and thyroid. The big old dog has plenty of room to roam on Zee’s multi-acre property, and has been showing off her excellent manners. Years of neglect, however, have taken their toll. Shelley will need to have several teeth pulled. Her first real bath will come in the spring, when the lake near Zee’s property warms up. Because of her hip issues and her size – about 80 pounds – Zee is unable to lift Shelley into a tub. The dog’s physical limitations are limiting other, more enjoyable activities as well. “She loves riding in the car,” Zee says, “but I don’t take her very often because it’s hard to get her in and out of it, and she’s hard to pick up.” Companion pets for veterans Zee’s entire life is a testament to the power of companion pets. Long before she entered the military, animals were an integral part of her life and her family. “I grew up without a whole lot of neighbors, but we all had pets,” she explains, adding that she thinks Pets for Patriots is the way to go for any veteran considering pet adoption. “It’s a great way to get a companion animal – a super way!” she exclaims, recognizing that the partnership is good for older veterans and those returning from service alike. “A lot of what has happened in the Middle East in the last couple of years has been bringing back some things for Vietnam era and older veterans,” she says. “Having an animal around when they are feeling down, I can see how that would be helpful.”
Bayfield, Wis. - John Unger and his dog Schoep became an internet sensation three years ago after photographer Hannah Stonehouse Hudson, snapped a sweet moment of them on Lake Superior.
