This bizarre range of shoes may make the owner feel like they have one foot in the grave. Crafted from dead animals, Iris Schieferstein's outlandish designs fetch up to £3,900 ($5,051.94 U.S. dollars), and have proved a hit with extreme dressers such as Lady Gaga. Some of the most controversial pieces include a pair of sandals sporting stuffed doves with their wings spread wide and a collection of heels fashioned from hollow horse hooves. The 45-year-old designer, from Berlin, Germany, collects carcasses from her local butcher which are discarded after the meat is used for sausages. She spends a week stripping out any remaining meat and bones from the animal's feet and the skin is sent to a tanner to be treated for preservation. The sculptor then sets the skin - complete with fur still in place - around a shoe model before hand-stitching insoles and lining. She said: 'Creating the shoes is ugly work, taking the meat out is not nice, like any taxidermy. 'When I began working with dead animals I would pick them up from the street. 'But they are protected by the government in Germany, and so after ten years they tried to put me in prison. Now I use my butcher.' The horse boots feature horse fur, a zip up the front, an intact hoof and horse bone as a heel. While a pair of snakeskin stilettos feature a replica pistol as a heel with the reptile seemingly eating its own tail. Describing her inspiration Ms. Schieferstein added: 'I love horses and I love shoes so I thought this would be perfect. 'Horses have a beautiful walk and I wanted to recreate that with my footwear.' The footwear has been displayed at numerous exhibitions around the world and have even inspired a range from Dolce & Gabanna. Despite the high price tag the footwear can only be worn for several hours at a time before becoming too uncomfortable. Ms Schieferstein said: 'As yet no company has been willing to produce them for the high street.' Last year the artist made a pair of custom-fit shoes for Lady Gaga.
Extreme dressing: A pair of shoes featuring cream horse fur with a front zip and bone heel
Suffer for your art: The heels can only be worn for several hours at a time before becoming too uncomfortable
Macabre: This pair of snakeskin heels show a snake seemingly eating its own tail
Some of Iris Schieferstein's most controversial designs include a pair of sandals sporting stuffed doves
Sculptor and artist Iris Schieferstein has been using dead animals for her works, here she models a hat made from a dead bird
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She lost everything in the Valley Fire three years ago -- and was able to rebuild. Now, Helen Owen is opening her property to animals displaced by the Mendocino Complex Fire. You can think of it as Noah's Ark -- with dozens of animals being cared for. FOX40 photojournalist Rachelle Riley met up with Owen at her ranch.
THE Cuban solenodon is one of the most curious animals on the planet. The small, shrewd-like creature is a mammal, but a highly venomous one — resembling the kinds of creatures that lived around the time after the dinosaurs died. Between 1890 and 1970 there wasn’t a single specimen found and it was thought to be lost forever. Then, unexpectedly three were caught just a few years later. The “extinct” species marched on. The story of animals seemingly coming back from the dead in this fashion is not that uncommon. Forrest Galante is a wildlife biologist who’s made it his life mission to search for animals that have wrongly been deemed extinct — and among the species on his list is the Tasmanian tiger. “Animals are often declared extinct wrongly and without the proper investigation,” he told news.com.au. “The process in which a species is declared extinct is very vague. It’s almost impossible to say something isn’t there … that difficulty of proof leads to an ease of declaring something extinct.” He has been travelling around the world searching for evidence that species like the Tasmanian tiger, pachylemur and the Newfoundland white wolf still exist. To read more on this story, click here:The Bold Effort to Prove the Tasmanian Tiger is Still Out There
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Right as Brad Herring and his family were unpacking their car after going on a canoeing trip, a fawn walked right across their yard. Even more incredibly, the baby deer wandered right into the arms of Maya, Brad's daughter. Maya was aware that the fawn was in need of his mother. However, the mother was most likely trying to get some nourishment and rest after giving birth to her baby. So, Maya did the best thing she knew she could do and led the baby back into the woods. Later, the family spotted fawns on two occurrences. One day, there were two fawns with two doe in a neighboring yard. Another day, there was a doe with her fawn in their yard. So, the family is very relieved that the baby was most likely safely found.
Concern may arise if you see that your turtle is refusing to eat. Not only does it increase the possibility of starving, but it also could have fallen ill. This article will show you how to get your turtle to eat and what to do if it still refuses to chew. Many turtle owners have trouble getting their pets to eat. Your turtle is most likely not eating due to environmental issues. However, your turtle may also be suffering from some sort of illness. By adjusting your turtle's environment, recognizing signs of illness, and being creative during feedings, you can get your turtle to eat. Determining Why Your Turtle Won't Eat Check the temperature. Turtles are cold blooded reptiles and will not eat if the temperature is too cold.[1] If you have an indoor box turtle, provide a warm area and a cool area. The cool area should be between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit and the warm area should be 85 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. At night, the temperature can drop to between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.[2] For aquatic turtles, the water temperature should be about 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The basking area should be between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If your box turtle lives outside, the turtle will become too cold if the outside temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. You may need to add a ceramic heater to your turtle's environment to get it to reach an adequate temperature. Check the temperature of your turtle environment using a thermometer and make adjustments if necessary. To read more on this story, click here:How to Feed Your Turtle if It is Refusing to Eat
According to Hungarian scientists, fat dogs have a lot in common with overweight people. The two traits they seem to have in common is the preference for top quality food and the unwillingness to settle for second best. Dogs And Humans Are Alike Researchers from the study suggest that dogs could be used as a model for future research into the causes or the psychological impacts of human obesity. The researchers of the study conducted the experiment by placing two bowls in front of a series of dogs. One bowl contained a good meal and the other held less appealing food or was empty. The study showed that the dogs that were of a normal weight obeyed instructions and would continue to check the second pot for more food but the dogs that were overweight refused after the first round. The leader of the study, Orsolya Torda, stated that the researchers expected the overweight dogs to do anything to get the food but discovered in the test they saw the complete opposite. Instead, the dogs that were overweight took a negative a view to the test. "If a situation is uncertain and they cannot find food, the obese dogs are unwilling to invest energy to search for food - for them, the main thing is to find the right food with least energy involved," Torda stated. The study was published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. The scientists continued that these findings may be similar to how people who are obese view food as a reward. Obesity Rates According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2015-2016 obesity affected at least 93.3 million Americans. Obesity can lead to other severe health conditions, including type-2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers. The CDC states that Hispanics and non-Hispanic blacks had the highest-age-adjusted obesity rates in America, with non-Hispanic whites and Asian closely behind. For young adults between the age of 20-39, at least 35.7 percent are obese and for adults who are between the ages of 40-59 years old, there at 42.8 percent are considered to be overweight or obese. The CDC states that the levels of obesity decreased if a person has a higher level of education. For American that did not have a high school degree, they had the highest self-reported obesity rates. Tips that have been given to help prevent obesity include healthy eating, maintaining a healthy weight, and engaging in physical activity
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning against certain types of dog food that are linked to canine dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM. On July 12, FDA released a statement making all dog owners aware about a possible link between the dog heart disease and specific dog foods that contain peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes as the main ingredient. The cases were observed in Golden and Labrador Retrievers, a Whippet, a Shih Tzu, a Bulldog, and Miniature Schnauzers and other mixed breeds. The cases were particularly worrisome as these breeds are not genetically prone to DCM. The heart condition is also less common in small and medium breed dogs, except American and English Cocker Spaniels. FDA Warns Pet Owners In its announcement, FDA said they received reports from the veterinary cardiology community about the growing cases of dog breeds that developed DCM even when they were supposed to be not at risk for the condition. The dogs observed were found to have relied on the said types of dog food as their main source of nutrients from months to years. "The FDA is investigating the potential link between DCM and these foods. We encourage pet owners and veterinarians to report DCM cases in dogs who are not predisposed to the disease," said Martine Hartogensis, deputy director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine's Office of Surveillance and Compliance. The FDA advised pet owners to still consult with licensed veterinarians if they decide to change their dogs' diet. The board said it is now working with pet food manufacturers and the veterinary community with the investigations. For the meantime, anyone who suspected DCM in their dogs and a possible link to their pet food are encouraged to report to the FDA. Canine DCM The condition mostly results in congestive heart failure. However, cases in dogs that are not genetically at risk with the disease may improve given the timely medical intervention. The major symptoms of DCM include lethargy, anorexia, rapid and excessive breathing, shortness of breath, coughing, abdominal distension, and transient loss of consciousness. The dogs affected with the disease may also have muffled or crackling breathing sounds due to the accumulation of water in the lungs. The cause of DCM is largely unknown. In certain breeds, causes are found to be nutritional deficiencies of taurine or carnitine. As for susceptibility, male dog breeds are more likely to be vulnerable to the disease. DCM is characterized by an enlarged heart that does not function properly. Specifically, both the upper and lower chambers of the heart become enlarged. The one side can be more affected than the other. When the lower chamber becomes enlarged, it cannot pump blood out into the lungs. When this happens, fluid builds up in the dogs' lungs. Soon, the heart becomes overloaded and congestive heart failure follows.
It turns out dreams really do come true, at least for cat lovers. Earlier this week, an organization known as God’s Little People Cat Rescue announced it’s hiring a new caretaker to oversee its cat sanctuary and to take care of its few dozen kittens. The job posting seems normal enough until you learn that the sanctuary isn’t in some sad brick building lined with cages, but is instead located on the stunning Greek island of Syros, where all the cats run free. “A very special position and living circumstance on offer on a little Greek island called Syros (a small paradise no less!) for a mature and genuinely passionate cat lover who knows how to handle many cats and would love their company,” the job posting stated. It added that they are specifically on the hunt for someone who can “take over the daily running of my Greek cat sanctuary in my absence. You will have 55 cats in your care and need to be able to overview them all + feed and medicate (big added bonus if you’re trained vet. nurse!).” To read more on this story, click here:Greek Cat Sanctuary Hiring Caretaker to Live on Island, Supervise 55 Cats
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American health care is weird and expensive. Those are about the most sure-fire things anyone can say about the sprawling behemoth of insurers, health professionals, hospitals, clinics, and pharma companies in the United States. Is it good at actually making people healthy? For the most part, but sometimes it depends. Is it the best system in the world? Probably not, but some pieces are really good. Why is it so expensive, and can we fix it? Well, those are the three-trillion-dollar questions. Good luck. A new study suggests that we might consider taking some tips from our pet health-care system. A NBER working paper by Liran Einav and Atul Gupta at Stanford University and Amy Finkelstein at MIT finds that pet health care in the United States has exhibited growth, accessibility, and end-of-life spending patterns that almost directly mirror patterns in the American human health-care system. Their work suggests that pet health care is a useful comparison point for analysis and research. The high cost of (human) healthcare in the U.S. is often attributed to the labyrinthine structure of our insurance-based system. But a close study of the pet health-care system hints that something else might be at work, because it still suffers from the same high cost problem, despite being streamlined by comparison. To read more on this story, click here: Our Pets, Ourselves: The Surprising Similarities Between America’s Human and Animal Health-Care Systems
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Veterinarians are used to dealing with sick animals. In fact, the vast majority of their daily routines usually involves patching up dogs and cleaning out kitty ears. There isn’t a lot that shocks them, really. Even wild animals like wolves, bears, and eagles sometimes need a doctor’s care before they can return to the wild. And though they’re not typical patients, seasoned veterinarians have no problem treating them. After all, a sick animal is a sick animal. Still, one Israeli veterinary team sure got the shock of a lifetime when a parks department official knocked on their door and left a rather unusual—and dangerous—wounded animal in their care. They were nervous, but they knew they had to do the right thing… During a routine patrol, Israeli soldiers noticed a rather unusual sight: two people walking a striped hyena. They didn’t approach the pair right away. After all, hyenas are dangerous wild creatures. But they realized that something seemed… off… with the animal, and so they decided to intervene. As they approached the pair, the officers immediately knew something wasn’t quite right with the hyena. Once they were close enough to really inspect the scene, they learned that the animal—which is considered endangered—was being held in metal chains under harsh conditions. It was clearly suffering. The abuse did not stop with the chains, either. Upon closer examination they discovered that the poor striped hyena was starving and dehydrated. He did not even have the strength to resist their ministrations. The soldiers alerted the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, which quickly dispatched a veterinarian to the scene. The vet managed to stabilize the hyena’s condition, but there was only so much that could be done on-site. The hyena was quickly sedated so that he would be comfortable and his stress levels could be kept to a minimum. It would also make him easier to work with. Once sedated, he was transferred to an animal hospital where he could receive urgent care The veterinarians continued trying to stabilize the poor hyena’s condition as they ran multiple tests to uncover the full scope of his injuries. While they could identify all of the external injuries from a quick examination, they had no idea what was happening inside the poor creature. Soon, though, they would learn what was wrong. The vets discovered numerous bruises all over the hyena’s body. They had no concrete evidence how the bruises were caused, but they suspected that the hyena had been beaten and abused by whoever captured him. The bruises were far from the hyena’s only injuries. He had suffered several broken teeth as well. Some of his teeth were even split right down to the root. He must have been in excruciating pain every second of every day! The restraints used by his abusers had made it impossible for the hyena to protect his eyes from dust and debris. Sometime during his time in cruel captivity, grit or another foreign object made its way into his eye, cutting it and causing it to become infected. Finally, the rest of the hyena’s test results were back. The X-rays showed extensive broken bones throughout the creature’s body. He had very clearly been badly beaten, either during his capture or during his time in captivity. The worst of his injuries was a badly broken front leg and paw. The veterinarian treating the hyena said that the break looked as though he had gotten his paw caught in a massive trap; if this was true, it would make sense, seeing as that’s mostly likely the easiest way his captors would’ve been able to apprehend him. The hyena was badly dehydrated, and if he was going to stand any chance of getting well, that would need to change! The team working at the animal hospital quickly provided him with food and water through an IV. They also showed him some affection through reassuring pats and head scratches to keep him calm. Although the team was initially concerned that their new charge would not pull through, this hyena was determined not to go anywhere! It was clear that he was a survivor and a fighter, and he had the spirit necessary to power through even this. The vets named him Amos, and before long, he was one of their favorite animals. He might not have been as tame or as friendly as some of their other patients, but he won them over with his dignity and resilience. The team worked quickly to treat Amos’s injuries to the best of their ability while he was still under anesthesia. They couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by what a gorgeous specimen this remarkable hyena was. He truly was special.
Miami-Dade County, Florida - A kinkajou, which is normally found in rain forests in South America, was discovered in the attic of a southwest Miami-Dade County home during the weekend. "This 99-year-old woman is sound asleep, she feels something, she wakes up and this kinkajou -- this furry, big animal -- is curled up asleep on her chest," Dr. Don Harris of South Dade Animal Hospital said. Harris said the woman and animal were both startled, and the kinkajou eventually made its way to the attic. Cathy Moghari was able to help lure the kinkajou out. "I start thinking, 'How are we going to get this animal out?' So I googled kinkajou sounds and found a video," Moghari said. "And I was holding it up to the ceiling, and we hear a rumbling. And, sure enough, it came out to the opening that we had in the ceiling." Kinkajous are nocturnal animals that rarely are seen in the day and are native to Central and South America. However, special permits allow people in the U.S. to keep the animal as exotic pets, and this one likely slipped out from its owner sometime over the past few weeks. "This particular animal is kind of a cross between a raccoon and a monkey," Harris said. "It's in the raccoon family, so they're very dangerous." Moghari said she picked up the kinkajou, took it home for the night and took it to the veterinarian Tuesday morning. Moghari said she wasn't scared by the animal. No, but I have respect for it," she said.
The axolotl is a type of aquatic salamander that looks somewhat like a cross between a fish and a lizard! While axolotl are definitely unusual and have a very distinctive appearance- being somewhat like a standard looking lizard, but with gills and an underwater habitat- they are actually relatively easy to keep as pets, with a little research and understanding of their nature and what is involved. Intrigued? Read on to find out more! Why do axolotl make interesting pets? As well as being very distinctive looking (most of your visitors will never have heard of axolotl at all, unless they happen to be reptile enthusiasts)! Axolotl have a range of other uniquely interesting characteristics that are appealing to many pet lovers. They have superior regenerative qualities, even in comparison to other lizards, such as those that can regenerate their tails and scales. Axolotl heal very easily if injured, and can re-grow limbs such as a leg if hurt or attacked by other animals. While they are not hugely energetic and active all of the time, they are not generally prone to hiding or lying still for long periods of time, and so are eminently watchable and fascinating to observe. All about axolotl Axolotls are neotenic, which means that they don’t generally undergo the distinct metamorphosis from larvae to adult that usually occurs with other types of salamanders. They become sexually mature (and so reach adulthood) and reproduce within the water, instead of maturing and moving onto land. To further add to the confusion, axolotl do sometimes metamorphose into terrestrial animals, although almost without exception this only happens in the wild, and very rarely. Axolotl are native to Mexico, where many different sub-species of the genus exist. The type of axolotl that is commonly available to buy as pets within the UK are of the Ambystoma Mexicana genus. Correctly cared for, they are hardy animals that can live for well over ten years under suitable conditions. Axolotl should not be handled if at all avoidable, as their skin and gills are very soft and malleable and can easily become damaged. Young axolotl can become cannibalistic to others, and so should not be housed together while young. Sometimes adult tank mates can also be aggressive, especially if the tank is overcrowded, so this should be carefully managed. Axolotl will eat other fish and organisms in the water, so they should not be kept with other aquatic pets! Axolotl can grow quite large when mature- around 25 cm is not uncommon, although even larger domestic axolotl are by no means unusual either! What do I need to care for axolotl? The basic kit required to care for axolotl is not too dissimilar to that required for fish, with a few minor changes. You will need a sturdy glass or acrylic tank of at least 45 litres capacity to keep a couple of axolotl happily, as well as a suitable secure lid for the tank as axolotl are no strangers to climbing. You should keep the water temperature between 16 to 18 degrees celsius ( around 60 to 64 degrees fahrenheit), higher temperatures can lead to stress and possible death. It is also important that your axolotl are not subjected to the glare of bright light. While a tank light can be incorporated within the lid so that you can watch what your axolotl are doing, ensure that it is not too bright or intense, and that it is turned off for sufficient periods of time during the hours of darkness. You will also need to provide a substrate for the base of the tank. It is usually advised that you should use sand as the substrate, or alternatively, don't use any substrate at all. Ensure that you don’t use gravel or small stones, as axolotl may ingest these inadvertently which could get caught in their digestive tracts. Some hiding places such as ornaments and plants are also recommended. Finally, as with all aquatic creatures, water quality and filtration are incredibly important. A water filter should be incorporated into your axolotl’s tank, and the tank should be cleaned out regularly with partial water changes performed as needed. If you use tap water in the tank, this should be treated first with appropriate supplements for the water quality in your area, much as is the case when keeping fish. What do axolotl eat? In the wild, axolotl eat a wide range of foodstuffs such as fish, crustaceans, worms and other reptiles. When kept in a tank, it’s important to note that regular fish food is not a suitable substitute for their natural diet, and you will have to pay a little more attention to your axolotl’s feeding routine than you would if keeping fish. Brine shrimp, tubifex worm, bloodworm and other suitable meals can all be bought easily from most pet stores in frozen packages, which can be stored at home and administered as appropriate. Axolotl can also eat pre-packaged dried fish food pellets such as those fed to farmed salmon and other carnivorous fish. Axolotl should be fed at least once a day, with any uneaten food cleared out of the tank promptly. Keeping your axolotl well fed is important, as hungry axolotl are exponentially more likely to see each other as a snack! Where can you buy axolotl? Axolotl are often available in larger pet shops that stock reptiles and fish, and from specialist retailers and breeders such as you can find online. Axolotl are relatively hardy and low maintenance animals to keep, but as with any potential pet, it is vital to research them thoroughly before considering a purchase, and ensure that you have both the time and financial resources available to be able to care for them for the duration of their lives.
The term "seizure" is often used interchangeably with "convulsion" or “fit,” but what do all of these terms really mean is happening? A seizure starts as a result of abnormal, excessive electrical activity in the brain. According to Chelsea Sonius, of the Zimmer Feline Foundation, whether in humans or animals, all seizures:
Start as a result of these electrical misfires in a part of the brain called the cerebrum
The abnormal electrical impulse spreads from cell to cell.
This unregulated activity in one region of the cerebrum causes increased activity in other regions, a phenomenon termed "hypersynchronous activity."
The brain becomes uncontrollably "hyper excitable," which leads to seizures. Convulsions can then cause a cat’s body to shake rapidly and uncontrollably.
How can one cat seizure differ from another? Epilepsy.com says, “Seizures may take many forms.” The outward effect can vary from uncontrolled, violent, jerking movements (tonic-clonic seizure) to a subtle loss of momentary awareness (absence seizure), which may go unnoticed by others. The syndrome of recurrent, unprovoked seizures is termed epilepsy. Seizures can be brought on by either primary brain disorders, or they may develop as a result of a process outside the brain. Conditions like low blood sugar, liver failure (when it leads to “hepatic encephalopathy”) or conditions that make blood thicker (as happens with high red blood cell or protein levels), are examples of processes outside the brain that may cause seizures. In addition, certain cardiac events look a lot like seizures, but don’t predictably alter the brain’s electrical activity in the same way. Temporary loss of consciousness (syncope) or collapse, associated with some heart rhythm disturbances, can be very hard to distinguish from seizures in some cases. How common is a cat seizure? Seizures occur in both dogs and cats, but occur less commonly in cats. Zimmer.com estimates that approximately 2% of all cats are affected by some seizure disorder. To read more on this story, click here:Cat Seizures and Epilepsy 101
Not a lot has changed regarding the fear and myths surrounding canine epilepsy since the first person observed seizing dogs when animal/human cohabitation started. Throughout history, thousands of people suffering from epilepsy have been killed because they were thought to be possessed by the devil. Sadly, despite all the scientific improvement and understanding of this medical condition, there is still a need to demystify one of the most common but devastating neurological diseases. Thus, even though enormous progress has been made in the last century in understanding the biological basis of canine epilepsy, and even more in developing effective antiepileptic drugs, our first reaction is not so different from that of our ancestors: the animal is often destroyed and the epileptic status not recognized. Let us throw some light on the situation. An epileptic dog can have a happy and long life, as long as the seizure activity is well under control. Seizures can have a very dramatic appearance, but are not painful. However, a dog can feel confusion and can have episodes of panic. So a seizing dog, or a dog recovering from a seizure, needs to be approached carefully to avoid unintentionally biting other dogs or people.
This bizarre range of shoes may make the owner feel like they have one foot in the grave.
Extreme dressing: A pair of shoes featuring cream horse fur with a front zip and bone heel
Macabre: This pair of snakeskin heels show a snake seemingly eating its own tail
