WARNING: Dogs Missing from Nanjemoy and Laplata Areas in Maryland: 9 Dogs Missing in the Past 10 Days - Watch Your Pet

Sharing from, Southern Maryland Lost and Found Pets Facebook Page:

Everyone, please watch your pets at all times, even in your own yard. In the past 10 days, there have been a total of nine dogs missing between Nanjemoy and laplata area, and several more in the days before that.

Pet theft is on the rise, there are many reasons people will steal a pet. Some reasons are pet flipping, to be used as bait in dogfighting, to be sold to laboratories for experimental testing.

Please be vigilant and watch for any suspicious people or cars, and more importantly please watch your pet.

Southern Maryland Lost and Found Pets Facebook 

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You Can Help Raise $1,250 For Animal Allies, a Volunteer No Kill Organization Dedicated to the Rescue of Homeless and Abandoned Animals, With Your Purchase of an 'Adopt Don't Shop' T-Shirt

Fairfax Station, VA - If you have ever rescued an animal from a shelter, rescue organization or took in a stray, then you know the warm feeling you get caring for them. As you look into their eyes, it's if they are saying, 'thank you'.

There is no love, like the love that you get from an animal that you have rescued! They will never, ever forget what you have done for them.

I have setup a fundraiser campaign for Animal Allies of Fairfax, Virginia. My goal is to raise $1,250 to help this wonderful organization by selling t-shirts, that I designed with my favorite quote "Adopt Don't Shop!"

What a wonderful way to show the world that you have saved a life, while also getting the word out that animals should be adopted and not purchased!

About Animal Allies:

Animal Allies, a nonprofit, all-volunteer no kill organization dedicated to the rescue of homeless and abandoned animals. We are a registered 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in the State of VA. Founded in 1984, Animal Allies is devoted to curbing the irresponsible breeding of pets in an effort to end the overpopulation of homeless animals.

Animal Allies volunteers work to rescue lost, abandoned, or stray animals and find loving homes for them if possible. All animals in our system are vetted to check for disease and spayed and neutered to stop the cycle of unwanted animals.

Through a detailed process, we do our best to make sure each animal goes to a suitable home where they can enjoy love and shelter and the necessities for the rest of their lives, and provide their human companions with love in return. Our organization is funded solely through the generosity of the public and countless hours put in by our volunteers.

Ready to order? Click here: Adopt Don't Shop T-Shirt

Animal Allies, Inc.
Fairfax Station, VA 22039
(703) 940-9183
Website: http://www.animalallies.com/

Front of shirt reads: I rescued my best friend!

Back of shirt read: Visit your local animal shelter...and save a life! 'Adopt Don't Shop'

Front of shirt reads: I rescued my best friend!

Back of shirt read: Visit your local animal shelter...and save a life! 'Adopt Don't Shop'

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Meet The Texas Couple Who Shares Their Home with an Eight-Stone Capybara, Named Gary: It's No Different Than Having a Dog or Cat

Finding an eight-stone rodent on the couch would see most people racing for the phone to dial pest control.

But it's a daily occurrence for Melanie Typaldos, 57 and her husband Richard Loveman, 54, who share their home in Buda, Texas, with a giant capybara named Gary.

Ms Typaldos adopted Gary after falling in love with the semi-aquatic mammals - the world's largest rodent - during a holiday in Venezuela. They love their pet they even let him sleep in their bed.

"Athough some people might find it strange, it's really no different than having a dog or a cat," said Ms. Typaldos. 

"Gary is really very smart and he's very affectionate. He comes when he's called and he likes to sleep with me," she added.

Ms. Typaldos adopted the capybara from an owner who was no longer able to care for him, and said the cuddly eight-stone creature quickly became a part of the family.

The 57-year-old even claims to have taught Gary to perform tricks.

"He learns tricks very quickly, faster than your typical dog would," she said.

"He knows how to shake, turn in a circle, and stand up on his hind legs. He even jumps up on things on command."

In their natural habitat, capybaras spend most of their time in the water - so Melanie installed a giant pool in her garden to make Gary feel at home.

He was also introduced to the animal lover's menagerie of other pets; including a horse, rabbits tortoises, dogs and a cat.

She said: "He gets on well with the other animals, although he likes to chase the rabbits for fun.  He does sometimes get angry with the tortoises because he thinks they invade his space and there is nothing he can do about it."

Ms. Typaldos takes Gary, who lives on a diet of grass, to visit pupils at schools around Buda to help educate the children about different animals.

She said: "Most people don't know what a capybara is but as soon as they see him, they want to come pet him and feed him treats. He loves the attention," she added.

Despite her affection for her pet, Ms. Typaldos warned that capybaras were not your standard domestic pet.

"Capybaras can be quite aggressive sometimes and their teeth are very, very sharp," she said.

"Gary is not at all aggressive, but a capybara bite can be pretty serious."

"He gives you that same sort of companionship and affection that other animals do, I can't imagine life without him." She said.

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Thinking About Adopting a Capybara? You May Want to Reconsider Your Choices

While they are extraordinary animals and are very tame, there are many drawbacks to keep a capybara as a pet.

First and foremost, in some places, it is illegal to keep them as pets. In Texas and Pennsylvania you are allowed to keep them, and in many other places, you would need to consult your local legislation to see if you need any special permit.

But legal formalities aside, make sure you understand what keeping a capybara as a pet involves.

Capybaras live in groups, thus adopting one animal only will not be good.

You would need to adopt at least two capybaras, but preferably more.

Secondly, consider their size. They are huge. They are more than twice the size of a jackrabbit, they are the biggest rodents. Keeping at least two big rodents in good condition may be challenging and costly in itself, but besides that, they have special needs as well.

Because they are semi-aquatic creatures, you would have to provide them with plenty of water at all times.

And they need plenty of space. It is not a wise idea to keep them indoors, as they will chew on everything they find. Your carpet and furniture won’t be safe with a capybara nearby.

If you still decide to get a capybara as a pet and provide them everything they need, make sure you have a nearby vet who can take care of the pet if needed. And make sure to fence the place where you keep them, as otherwise they will run away, as they are very fast animals.

Finally, if everything that was written here didn’t deter you from trying to keep one as a pet, reward yourself with watching this video of Garibaldi Rous, a pet capybara. 

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REWARD! Washington, DC - Missing Dog in the Howard University Area, 811 Euclid Street, NW - Have You Seen This Dog?

Ollie was recently adopted from the Washington Animal Rescue League. He is missing.

On March 30th he was being walked, and pulled loose, and ran off. This happened around 2:00 p.m. in the area near Howard University on Georgia Avenue (811 Euclid Street, NW).

Ollie is 40 pounds, and is wearing a pick collar that says 'WARL' and a light blue harness with a grey leash attached.

He will likely have his tail between his legs because he is scared. 

DO NOT CHASE! Just note the location and call Roger at 914-844-7692 or AnneMarie at 801-971-2836. Reward offered.

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People With Disabilities from the Misercordia Heart of Mercy House, Are Invited to Watch as Staff At the Brookfield Zoo Give a 450 Pound Lion a Check Up

Brookfield, IL - In a small but state-of-the-art medical room at Brookfield Zoo, this 450-pound lion is about as dangerous as a sleeping house cat. Doctors put Zenda under to give him a good once-over and give people a chance to learn about the animal and conservation.

“We look at everything,” said Dr. Michael Adkesson with the Brookfield Zoo. “So we look at him from head to toe on a physical exam, we draw blood for various testing, to look at his organ function. We do a full set of X-rays on him, ultrasound, really everything we can do we take care of him while we got him here.

In addition to making sure the 8-year-old is in good physical shape, the Brookfield Zoo invited a few people over from the Misercordia Heart of Mercy House. It’s a facility that helps people with mental and physical disabilities, and on this day, they are learning about the lion and conservation.

Before they got comfortable shaking hands with the sleeping giant, they admit they were more than just a little nervous.

But within minutes and a few reassuring words from the zoo’s staff, their fear quickly transformed into just plain fun.

“For us to able to share that and showcase the care we provide the animals, as well as the conservation messages behind that, with some really amazing people today, a very neat opportunity,” Adkesson said.

While they may not remember everything they learned about the lion this day, you can bet no one will forget the time they got to try and make the “king of the jungle” purr.

The Brookfield Zoo medical staff says they put Zenda and the other lion under every two years for their checkup and they say he’s in really great shape.

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