‘A SENSE OF RELIEF’: Meals on Wheels offers pet care assistance to clients

HANCOCK COUNTY — Peggy McConnell was moved to tears when she opened her Meals on Wheels delivery a couple months ago.

It wasn’t the sight of the food that made her emotional, but the flyer attached on top, announcing that Meals on Wheels of Hancock County would start offering financial assistance for pet food, veterinary care and pet boarding.

To read more on this story, click here: ‘A SENSE OF RELIEF’: Meals on Wheels offers pet care assistance to clients

Can cats have twins? We asked a vet!

Unneutered cats are prolific breeders when left to their own devices, with females often becoming pregnant from multiple fathers. One of our readers asked us whether kittens from the same litter can be twins, and we asked Dr. Hannah Godfrey for an answer. So, can cats have twins?

Twins in cats

Wikipedia defines twins as two animals born during the same pregnancy. If we go by their definition, all kittens born in the same litter are technically twins, so cats can indeed have twins. But this is not the end of the story ..

To read more on this story, click here: Can cats have twins? We asked a vet!

Trumpet the bloodhound wins best in show at 2022 Westminster Kennel Club dog show

Trumpet, a soulful-looking bloodhound with low-hanging ears and deep folds, won best in show at the 2022 Westminster Kennel Club dog show.

Trumpet’s victory sounded a clarion call of sorts for his breed Wednesday — the dog made history with his best in show win.

Bloodhounds have been competing at the long-running dog show since the 1800s, but Trumpet is the first bloodhound to take best in show.

The 4-year-old dog from Saint Joseph, Illinois — registered name GCHB CH Flessner’s Toot My Own Horn — won the hound group Tuesday alongside his handler-owner Heather Helmer to advance to the final. The dog is co-owned by Chris and Bryan Flessner and Tina Kocar.

To read more on this story, click here: Trumpet the bloodhound wins best in show at 2022 Westminster Kennel Club dog show

Galago Pet – Can I have a Bush Baby as a Pet?

The Galago, also referred to as a bush baby, or nagapie, are small nocturnal primates native to continental, sub-Sahara Africa, and make up the household Galagidae can also be a pet. They’re typically included as a sister taxon to the Lorisidae or Loridae. This article will discuss more of Galago pet.

Galago Pet facts

Both that or they need to have a human proprietor who can spend important quantities of time with them.

To read more on this story, click here: Galago Pet – Can I have a Bush Baby as a Pet?

Man Feeds 80 Street Dogs In Thailand Every Day

A few years ago, at the time a starving and injured dog showed up behind a restaurant in Thailand where Michael Baines worked, he used his immediate natural instinct to feed and take care of her. He didn’t think that this kind gesture would result at some point in the hungry dog being one of around 80 street dogs he now monitors and care for every single day. Noticing that she was only one of countless local dogs in serious need of nutrition, he turned his canine compassion into a powerful passion project.

To read more on this story, click here: Man Feeds 80 Street Dogs In Thailand Every Day

Oregon Zoo Names Its Baby Orangutan After One of Dolly Parton's Most Famous Songs

Dolly Parton is an inspiration to many around the world –– including the keepers at the Oregon Zoo in Portland who have named their new baby orangutan after the singer's big hit "Jolene."

According to zoo, Jolene the orangutan was named for her "flaming locks of auburn hair," which references the Patron's description of the sexy bank teller whose "beauty is beyond compare / with flaming locks of auburn hair."

Baby Jolene was born on April 13 to mother Kitra, the zoo's 20-year-old critically endangered Bornean orangutan. According to Kate Gilmer, who oversees the primate area, zookeepers were unable to determine the newborn's sex for weeks as they gave the mom and baby "plenty of room to bond."

To read more on this story, click here: Oregon Zoo Names Its Baby Orangutan After One of Dolly Parton's Most Famous Songs

Animals and COVID-19

What You Need to Know

•  The risk of animals spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to people is low.

•  The virus can spread from people to animals during close contact.

•  More studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by COVID-19.
• People with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should avoid contact with animals, including pets, livestock, and wildlife.

To read more on this story, click here: Animals and COVID-19

Puppy Development From Newborn to One Week Old

The birth of puppies is an exciting time. It's beautiful to watch a mother care for her newborns, especially in the early stages of life.

A newborn puppy is completely helpless and dependent upon its mother. The first week of a puppy's life is mainly about sleeping and eating so it will grow.

Puppies should remain with their mother and littermates until about age eight to 12 weeks. However, it is most crucial to have a mother during the first few weeks of life. A puppy that has been separated from its mother will need human intervention. Raising a newborn puppy takes a lot of time and intensive care. This is not quite the same thing as caring for a young puppy.

To read more on this story, click here: Puppy Development From Newborn to One Week Old

Pufferfish Poisoning

The poison found in pufferfish, blowfish, balloon fish, toads, sunfish, fish, toadfish, globefish, and swellfish is a tetrodotoxin.

This is one of the most toxic poisons found in nature.

Most people who eat pufferfish do so intentionally as pufferfish are considered an Asian delicacy, served in some types of sushi and sashimi.

To read more on this story, click here: Pufferfish Poisoning

Understanding Animal Ministers and Chaplains

Twenty years ago the idea of an animal minister or chaplain would have induced a fit of the giggles. These days if you say something about an animal chaplain, you are likely to be asked where a person might find one. Animals have become the cornerstone of many of our lives and these spiritual leaders don’t preach to pets, but rather assist others in finding meaningful way of living with animals.

What is Animal Ministry?

Animal ministry is actually about people and how we interconnect with the animals around us. Most religions have traditions regarding the spirituality of animals and that intersects with human life in a positive way. Some would argue that in American culture, this reverence for feathered, furred and scaled creatures has disappeared. This is where animal ministries step in.

To read more on this story, click here: Understanding Animal Ministers and Chaplains

Komodo Dragon

Komodo dragons, or Komodo monitors, are the largest, heaviest lizards in the world — and one of the few with a venomous bite. These stealthy, powerful hunters rely on their sense of smell to detect food, using their long, forked tongues to sample the air. They can spend hours waiting for a sizable meal to wander within range before launching a deadly attack with their large, curved and serrated teeth.

To read more on this story, click here: Komodo Dragon

90-year-old Woman who Loves German Shepherds Donates Over $32,000 to the Sheriff’s Office for K-9 Bulletproof Vests and Training New Dogs for the Force

90-year-old Pamela Mobbs, passed away in October 2020, donating over $32,000 to the Volusia Sheriff’s K-9 officers. The sizable donation was from the generous woman’s estate and was whole-heartedly given to the K-9 police force.

Half of the money donated will be for supplying K-9 bulletproof vests for the German Shepherds working in the field, and the other for training additional dogs who will be joining the force. The Volusia Sheriff’s Office was given two separate checks from Pamela’s estate, each for $16,428.16 (which totals to $32,856.32).

To read more on this story, click here: 90-year-old Woman who Loves German Shepherds Donates Over $32,000 to the Sheriff’s Office for K-9 Bulletproof Vests and Training New Dogs for the Force

Kitten Feeding Schedule: From Newborn to One Year

This chart shows you when, what, and how much to feed your fluffy bundle of joy.

Kittens, like human babies, start out life consuming liquid nourishment and slowly graduate to solid foods. Mother cats take care of a kitten’s nutritional needs through their milk from the day their kittens are born until they are around 4 to 6 weeks old. 

Feeding An Orphaned Kitten

But if you have a kitten without a mother, you need to provide food that’s formulated for kitten health. Whether your orphaned kitten is a newborn or one that's a few weeks old, you should bottle feed them. Bottle-feeding a kitten isn’t difficult, but it does take a little know-how to do it properly. These tips for how to bottle feed a kitten can help. 

To read more on this story, click here: Kitten Feeding Schedule: From Newborn to One Year

Dog With Infected Leg And Crooked Jaw Can’t Stop Kissing Her Rescuers

Several years ago, a small white dog named Delilah was abused and neglected to the point where she could’ve died. But luckily, the Mr. Mo Project stepped up and provided her with a safe environment where she could heal. Mariesa and Chris Hughes created the Mr. Mo Project to save senior dogs after their beloved rescue dog passed away.

Now, the couple has dozens of dogs in their home, both fosters and permanent residents. When Delilah needed a place to stay, they didn’t hesitate to welcome her to the pack. Her transformation from day one to the present day will melt your heart!

To read more on this story, click here: Dog With Infected Leg And Crooked Jaw Can’t Stop Kissing Her Rescuers