Washington Humane Society - Meet Kaelyn, For Her 7th Birthday She Requested Donations for WHS Instead of Presents - She Raised $472!

Washington, DC - The Washington Humane Society and our animals are giving a big huge shout out to Kaelyn! For her seventh birthday, instead of asking for presents, Kaelyn asked her friends and family donate to WHS. She raised $472 dollars and collected toys, blankets, food, and much more for our animals. She even braved the snow to drop it all off! Help us give Kaelyn a huge 'Thank You!'

This is a great way for anyone under the age of 18 to help out the Washington Humans Society. If you know anyone who would like to volunteer like Kaelyn did, please e-mail volunteer@washhumane.org.




Website: Washington Humane Society

Remember John Unger? His Video Went Viral Showing Him Cuddling Schoep, His 19-Year-Old Dog in Lake Superior to Help with His Arthritis Pain - He Gets a New Puppy

 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.

In a Northern Dutch Town, the Residents Are Being Terrorized by an European Eagle Owl

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

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.