Chance The Service Dog Kept Boy With Autism Safe, Until Dog Suspiciously Disappeared.

Chance is more than just a beloved family pet. He’s a specially trained service dog for nine-year-old Ashton, who has autism. Ashton has a tendency to run away from a situation when he’s feeling overwhelmed, which puts him at risk of getting lost. But 100-pound Chance has been trained to stop Ashton from running and keep him safe.

But Chance can’t do his job if he’s the one who’s gone missing.

Chance went missing on September 11, and Ashton’s mother, Debi Zamora, is desperate for anyone with any information to come forward—no questions asked. The family was in the process of moving to new neighborhood in Clarksville, Tennessee, and someone left the fence open at their new home.

To read more on this story, click here: Chance The Service Dog Kept Boy With Autism Safe, Until Dog Suspiciously Disappeared.




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Florida: Zoo Employee Killed While Attempting to Rape an Alligator

A zookeeper was killed this morning in the alligator enclosure of the Naples Zoo, while he was attempting to sexually assault a 12-foot long reptile.

According to Captain Henri White, spokesman of the Naples Police Department, 24-year old Jimmy Olsen was engaged in full sexual intercourse with one of the younger reptiles, when he was surprised by one of the larger animals which attacked from behind.

The young man was caught by the throat by the alligator who dragged him underwater and drowned him.

Jimmy Olsen’s death took place around 6:00 AM this morning, but his disappearance was noticed only an hour later by other employees.

They finally discovered his dismembered body floating in the pool of the alligator enclosure around 8:30.

“The images captured by the security cameras show that Mr. Olsen had clearly placed himself in a very vulnerable position,” Captain White told reporters.

“He had his pants around his knees and was lying down on top of one the animals, with his back to the others. The poor guy didn’t stand a chance! We can see him being dragged into the water, then he disappears from sight. He was probably dead within thirty seconds of the attack.”

To read more on this story, click here: Florida: Zoo Employee Killed While Attempting to Rape an Alligator

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Scientists Give Ecstasy To Octopuses And Are Astounded By What Happened Next

A couple of scientists have taken MDMA out of the clubs and into the aquarium by giving ecstasy to octopuses.

Gül Dölen, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, has been studying the effects of MDMA for “a long time,” she told NPR.

In the process, she says she and her colleagues “have worked out a lot of neural mechanisms that enable MDMA to have these really, really profound pro-social effects.”

Humans and octopuses both have a gene for a protein that binds serotonin to brain cells. Since MDMA also targets this protein, Dölen wanted to see how the drug would affect the octopus, a notoriously shy, solitary animal.

She wasn’t sure how it would go since octopus brains are built completely different from humans.

“It’s organized much more like a snail’s brain than ours,” Dölen told The Atlantic. She wondered, then, if that would mean the octopus would respond unpredictably to being dosed with Molly.

To read more on this story, click here: Scientists Give Ecstasy To Octopuses And Are Astounded By What Happened Next


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Chile's Annual Military Parade Took Place on Thursday, Capturing The Crowd's Attention with Adorable Golden Retriever Puppies

Chile's annual military parade took place on Thursday, capturing the crowd's attention with adorable golden retriever puppies.

Indeed, a row of golden retriever puppies, tucked into neon green bags  and carried by the country's national police force canine unit, became a highlight of the parade. A line of adult retrievers wearing boots followed suit.

The Great Military Parade in Santiago was held in honor of Chile's 208th Independence Day anniversary and featured more than 9,500 troops. It had millions of viewers nationwide, The Evening Standard reported.



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INSECT PROBLEMS FOLLOWING FLOODING CONDITIONS

Homeowners in southeastern North Carolina, especially those living in low-lying areas, may be faced with additional insect problems if their property has been flooded. Severe summer thunderstorms and excessive rainfall from hurricanes and tropical depressions often create flooding conditions that create ideal environments for certain insects. The following problems are those most often encountered.   

MOSQUITOES Residents can expect to encounter more severe mosquito problems about 7 to 10 days following flooding conditions. The Asian tiger mosquito is the major species encountered, since they take advantage of opportunities to breed in standing and stagnating water that has been trapped in poorly drained, low-lying areas; ditches that are clogged with silt and debris; clogged rain gutters; and carelessly discarded containers. Although spraying with an insecticide may give temporary relief, homeowners should first consider a little "R&R": 

To read more on this story, click here: Insect Problems Following Flooding Conditions

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Florence's Flooding Kills 3.4 Million Poultry, 5,500 Hogs

(AP) -- About 3.4 million chickens and turkeys and 5,500 hogs have been killed in flooding from Florence as rising North Carolina rivers swamped dozens of farm buildings where the animals were being raised for market, according to state officials.


The N.C. Department of Agriculture issued the livestock mortality totals Tuesday, as major flooding is continuing after the slow-moving storm's drenching rains. Sixteen North Carolina rivers were at major flood stage Tuesday, with an additional three forecasted to peak by Thursday.

The Department of Environmental Quality said the earthen dam at one hog lagoon in Duplin County had breached, spilling its contents. Another 25 of the pits containing animal feces and urine have either suffered structural damage, had wastewater levels go over their tops from heavy rains or had been swamped by floodwaters. Large mounds of manure are also typically stored at poultry farms.

To read more on this story, click here: Florence's Flooding Kills 3.4 Million Poultry, 5,500 Hogs

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8 Secrets Zoos Keep Under Wraps

Zoos exist to display exotic animals for all the world to see. But what's going on at zoos away from the public's view?

Few destinations conjure up as idyllic an image as an afternoon at the zoo. Strolling about on a nice day with some lighthearted animal-themed ice cream treat and checking out monkeys, bears, and a few sleeping reptiles is as wholesome as apple pie on the Fourth of July.

But certainly, some secrets must be hidden in the shadows of those cages and fake rock formations. For those who have ever wondered about what’s really going on at your local zoo behind the locked gates and after closing time, allow us to drops some zoo truths on you.

To read more on this story, click here: 8 Secrets Zoos Keep Under Wraps


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World's Gentlest Dog Befriends A Little Boy With Down Syndrome [Video]

A little boy named Hernán and a female yellow lab called Himalaya have been melting hearts around the web with a viral video of the moment the two became friends.

Hernán, of Buenos Aires, has Down Syndrome, which causes him to shy away from physical contact, according to his mother Ana.

In a comment on YouTube she wrote, "He does not like be touched, but Himalaya insisted so patiently, and she was so soft that's why it is so moving, she is left to do anything."

In the video, which now has over 10 million views, Hernán sits on a patio, with a persistent Himalaya inching closer to him. Himalaya makes several attempts to touch Hernán with her paw, but he keeps pushing her away. She rolls onto her back in a playful fashion, while little Hernán presses closer to the wall behind him.

Finally Hernán begins to play with Himalaya's feet and nose, and by the end of the video, what began as an attempt to move away from the dog has turned into something of a game.

Dogs are often used by those with special needs, like Hernán. On its website, Assistance Dogs for Achieving Independence (ADAI) writes:

"There are times when the simple presence and loving nature of a dog can help persons with special needs to open up to the world around them. Special needs therapy dogs have been particularly beneficial for persons with Autism, developmental disabilities, Down's Syndrome and those who have suffered a stroke. With the presence of these dogs, persons can work on therapies that help improve speech, coordination, and social skills."
According to Assistance Dogs International, Golden Retrievers and Labs in particular have good characteristics for service to special needs individuals, including confidence and sociability. They are also easy to care for, and not overly protective.

Watch the video of Hernán and Himalaya below, then jump into the comments and share your favorite stories of loving and amazing pets.


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Cat Born Without Eyelids: Surgeries and a Lot of Love Helped Him Get a Second Chance

A cat born without eyelids is getting a second chance and a new owner, according to WESH.

In March, the 11-month-old cat was found roaming the streets of Stuart, Fla. The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast took the cat in and named him Sauron.

Sauron was checked over by veterinarians, who determined that multiple surgeries would be needed to fix his eyelids. His eyelids were damaged and his eyes must have pained him as if he constantly had something in his eyes. The damage to his eyes would continue to get worse, and if he didn’t have the surgeries, he would go blind, the Humane Society was told.

The surgeries would cost thousands of dollars, yet that didn’t stop two of the Humane Society volunteers who fell in love with the young cat. Les Thomas and Roxie Smith decided to foster him until he could be adopted. And they went above and beyond giving him a foster home. They helped save his sight and used their own money to do so.

Sauron was taken to the University of Florida in Gainesville by the volunteers. For the first surgery, Smith said corners of Sauron’s mouth were used to make new eyelids. Two more surgeries followed. The surgeries cost more than a thousand dollars out of their own pockets.

While at the University of Florida, third year veterinary student Chelsea Mendola saw Sauron, and she too fell in love with the cat with the sweet personality. So much so, that Mendola adopted Sauron on Tuesday.

Click HERE to follow the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast on Facebook. If you would like to donate to the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast’s Emergency Medical Care Fund, contact Karen Bellucy at 772-600-3212 or visit their website. http://www.hstc1.org/

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How To Help Animals Affected By Florence

While many families were able to evacuate safely with their pets, many were left behind in their homes or at animal shelters.

Florence was downgraded to a tropical storm late Friday, but heavy rains and life-threatening flooding are still drenching the Carolinas. Florence hasn't just affected humans. Hundreds of animals have been caught up in the deadly storm as well.

While many people safely evacuated with their pets, other animals were left behind either at shelters or in homes. In North Carolina, hundreds of people stood in line to pick up foster dogs from coastal shelters for the weekend before the storm made landfall.

Here's how you can get involved in the efforts to help animals affected by Florence.

Adopt a new furry friend with waived fees
Several shelters outside of the storm's path have already taken in animals from shelters that evacuated. Many of these shelters are now waiving or providing discounted adoption fees for the animals they rescued.

To read more on this story, click here: How To Help Animals Affected By Florence


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Tear Stains in Dogs: Why They Happen and How to Help

When your dog’s otherwise sweet expression is marred by dark, rust-colored tears running down their face, it’s hard to notice anything else. Tear stains can be unsightly and distracting, even mildly repulsive to those who don’t know your dog, and they can be hard to get under control. But there are ways to treat and even eliminate tear stains with a little time and attention.

What Causes Tears Stains in Dogs?
It all stems from your dog’s tearing, a natural process to keep the delicate eye and its membranes lubricated.

Both normal and excessive tearing can cause tear stains, but if you feel like you’re constantly wiping gunk or goobers out of your dog’s eyes, and particularly if it’s thick and has a yellow or green tint, you should take him to the vet. Eye infections, glaucoma, eyelash issues or entropion (where the eyelid is inverted), foreign objects in the eye, and even an ear infection can cause tearing with thicker discharge. These issues require a veterinarian’s help to diagnose and treat.

If the discharge is clear and/or watery but excessive, it could be a blocked tear duct, allergies, or simply due to your dog’s physiology—larger eyes in small breeds or skin folds around the eyes. Some breeds are prone to the issue and require regular attention to keep the area below the eye clean and dry and free of discharge.

To read more on this story, click here: Tear Stains in Dogs: Why They Happen and How to Help

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Dogs And Cats Were Rescued From Flooded Homes In Jacksonville, NC, During Hurricane Florence

On Friday, dogs and cats in Jacksonville, North Carolina, were rescued from flooded homes and brought to safety.

Live video showed dogs being removed from a boat in the flood waters of Hurricane Florence. Later, the same rescue team saved cats who were stranded near a flooded home.

The hurricane made landfall just before 7:30 Friday morning Category 1 storm.







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Beautiful Giant Horse Head Sculptures, "The Kelpies”, by Artist Andy Scott - Transforms the Scottish Skyline

“The Kelpies” is an enormous installation consisting of two giant horse head sculptures by artist Andy Scott. The 100-foot-tall structures, which were eight years in the making, are inspired by a legend from the artist’s Scottish background that tells of a water spirit that takes the shape of a horse. More than just a pair of broncos to Scott, the sculptures serve as monuments of the artist’s national pride.


Long faces: Stunning pictures show 300-tonne steel horse 'Kelpies' glowing in the Scottish night sky as coloured spotlights are pointed towards 30-metre high tribute to country's industrial past

Against the backdrop of a moody Scottish dusk, these towering steel horse heads loom 30 metres tall, aglow with shifting colours.

The 300-tonne statues, called The Kelpies,( watch over the entrance to the ocean, where the Forth and Clyde canal meets the North Sea in Falkirk.

Their patterned skin, made of stainless steel, is held aloft by an intricate steel framework. At night the two statues glow in unison as the glow of upward-pointing spotlights spills out round the gaps in their surface.

They borrow their names from mythological horses which haunt lochs and rivers in Celtic legend. Kelpies were said to be able to transform into beautiful women to ensnare travellers. The massive sculptures, designed by Glaswegian Andy Scott, pay tribute to the working horses which once fired Scotland's economic prosperity by dragging industrial barges along the extensive network of canals.

Construction work on the sculptures was completed in November, and the towering, luminescent artworks will be opened to the public later this month. Mr Scott has said of his sculptures: 'They are the embodiment of the industrial history of Scotland.'

Take a look at these videos:

'The Kelpies' : by Walid Salhab
Using a unique hyperlapse technique, this video features footage captured within a live construction site. Filming under these conditions is rarely possible; filming under these conditions using the hyperlapse technique is close to impossible. Created from over 60 days of stop-motion filming across 7 months, and tracking construction through to completion, this film uses over 12,000 individual photos, none of which have been edited or manipulated beyond settings inside the camera. Walid captured 120,000 individual images to create this seven minute masterpiece.


Aerial shots of The Kelpies
Aerial footage filmed by Alan Corrie, showing The Kelpies with the Forth & Clyde Canal and their surrounding landscape which will be completed by end of April 2014. This amazing footage shows The Kelpies from otherwise unattainable angles and gives a real sense of their scale.

The Kelpies : Artist Statement
The title and theme of The Kelpies as mystical water-borne equine creatures was inherited at the outset of the project, almost eight years ago.  Since then it has evolved dramatically and in the process the ethos and function has shifted from the original concept.   Falkirk was my father’s home town and that inherited link to the town has been one of my driving inspirations.  A sense of deep personal legacy has informed my thinking from the outset, with old family connections anchoring me to the project.   As an artist I frequently tackle the theme of equine sculpture in my practice.  My horse based works are always rooted in a socio-historical relevance or respond to a brief from the client.  In almost every project they are related to the site, the audience, history or a combination of themes.

This is the case with The Kelpies.  The mythological associations behind the original brief have been absorbed by other sources of inspiration in the creative processes, and the ancient ethereal water spirits have been forged into engineered monuments.   The Kelpies are modelled on heavy horses (two Clydesdales of Glasgow City Council actually served as models in the process) and it is this theme of working horses which captured my imagination and drove the project.  Clydesdales, Shires and Percherons, the equus magnus of the north.   They are the embodiment of the industrial history of Scotland and the Falkirk / Grangemouth area.  Heavy horses would once have been the powerhouse of the area, working in the foundries, the fields, farms and of course the canal itself, pulling boats along the Forth & Clyde from coast to coast.  Falkirk was also home to reputedly the worlds biggest horse: in the 1930′s Carnera hauled wagons laden with soft drinks around the town (made in Scotland from girders, of course)

The materials of the sculptures are deliberately those of Scotland’s former industrial heartland, steel construction on an architectural scale:  equitecture   The towering horse heads have an industrial aesthetic with structural columns and beams visible through the riveted laser cut steel plates of the skin, the manes rendered as geometric overlapping slabs of steel.  The entire structures are illuminated inside and out to create a stunning spectacle in hours of darkness.   They elevate Falkirk and Grangemouth to national and international prominence and bring with them a sense of pride and ownership, having achieved global media coverage.  As a canal structure they partner the iconic Falkirk Wheel, and echo its grandeur.  They stand as a testament to the achievements of the past, a paean to artisanship and engineering and a declaration of intent for the future of Scotland.

As with all of my works, they will doubtless create many narratives and the original Kelpie myth will inevitably resurface.  The title will spark a mystical interpretation in many viewers.  That is up to the beholder and of course I welcome the engagement of the widest possible audience in the sculptures.   My intent however is built around a contemporary sculptural monument more than an ancient legend.  Water-borne, towering gateways into the canal system, The Helix park, and the nation, translating the legacy of the area into proud equine guardians.   Andy Scott, November 2013.

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How To Be Your Pet Bird's Best Friend

Think about your best friend. What makes them that? Maybe it’s that you can always talk to them. They know when to be blunt, and when to give you space. They see you at your worst and encourage you to be your best. They’re always there for you, as you are always there for them.

That type of relationship is one you should have with your bird, especially as they get older. (Young parrots need a mentor-student relationship, so they learn how to live in our homes.) To develop a BBFF relationship with your bird, here are several things to do and consider.

Communication is Key
Having a best friend means you have someone you can share all your secrets with. You can do the same with your bird if you really want (they may only repeat their favorite words), but the point is that communication is important. Where this gets complicated is your bird can’t speak and tell us what they like, at least vocally.

Through body language, a parrot speaks volumes, and that’s how they chiefly communicate with us. We’re talking pining eyes, ruffled feathers, tail wags, etc. Each of those movements means different things, and it’s up to us to learn to “speak” parrot. If you don’t learn to understand parrot, the only conversations you’ll be having with your bird will be bites.

While learning body language (or how parrots speak to us), we also need to learn how to communicate with our parrots. Luckily, we can talk through training, where you tell your parrot what you would like it to do through cues. It’ll take some work to get the hang of positive reinforcement training, so do your research and don’t be afraid to reach out to people for guidance. It’ll help create a great relationship with your bird in the long run.

To read more on this story, click here: How To Be Your Pet Bird's Best Friend

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