Vending Machines Encourage Recycling, Feed Stray Animals in Istanbul - The Bottle-Powered Dispensers Dish Out Pet Food Every Time Someone Places a Plastic Bottle Inside the Machine

Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city with a population of 14 million, but it also has one of the world’s largest stray animal populations at around 150,000. Instead of overlooking the problem as is all too common, the Turkish company Pugedon has struck a deal with the government to place food dispensaries around the city. Not only do these provide food and water, but they also help to promote recycling.

The bottle-powered dispensers dish out pet food every time someone places a plastic bottle inside the machine. It also has a container where you can pour the remainder of your water to make sure stray cats and dogs also have something to drink. Apart from keeping the urban animals alive, the vending machine also makes people stop and think about their plight and could perhaps be enough to make some consider adopting an animal to help deal with the problem.

As far as solutions go, this one is a much more humane option when you consider those that have occurred before. In 2012, the government drafted a law that allowed city dogs to be sent to “wildlife parks” on city outskirts. This outraged animal rights activists who referenced a brutal act of animal cruelty in 1910 when the city’s stray dogs were sent to an island and forced to eat each other for survival.

While the solution is a good one, it’s worth noting that it only targets the symptoms of the stray animal problem. Animal smuggling, illegal pet shops, and the desire to have the latest “fashionable” animal are all factors. As pointed out on BigThink by Ahmet Senpolat, an Istanbul-based animal rights lawyer:

Animal smugglers only face a fine of a few hundred euros at worst, they continue to bring expensive pure-bred puppies and sell them to pet stores. People often buy the puppies from pet stores, and abandon them when they become too tough to handle.

Facing up to problems is harder because it usually requires doing something about them, but it’s still a better option than ignoring them altogether.

Plastic for pet food is a better option than sending dogs to isolated islands.

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How Do Cats Rank in Popularity with Dogs in the U.S., and All Over the World

We all know there are only two types of people in the world: cat people and dog people. But data from market research firm Euromonitor suggest that these differences extend beyond individual preferences and to the realm of geopolitics: it turns out there are cat countries and dog countries, too.

Here in the U.S., slightly more households own dogs than own cats. But Euromonitor’s numbers show that in terms of raw population, cats outnumber dogs to the tune of 2 million (the number is closer to 4 million, by the American Veterinary Medical Association's estimate). Why? One simple explanation is that cats are more compact. You can fit more cats in a house than you can, say, golden retrievers. (You can also geolocate a lot of them, which is fun, but entirely besides the point.)

At the state level in the U.S., cats outnumber dogs in the Northeast and Upper Midwest. Dogs are the favorite in the South and Southwest. The most dog-friendly state is Arkansas, where dogs outnumber cats 1.35-to-1. At the other end of the spectrum stands Massachusetts with 1.87 cats for every dog.

                                                                   Click on picture to use interactive map.

"A lot of that simply has to do with population density," Jared Koerten, a pet industry analyst at Euromonitor, said in an interview. "Many cities just aren't that dog-friendly."

Still, overall, most states have a pretty balanced cat-dog ratio.

Around the world the story is quite different. Euromonitor gave us estimates of the pet dog and cat populations in 54 countries, and some show a stark dog/cat divide. In India, for instance, pet dogs outnumber cats 10-to-1. Dogs enjoy a 2.5-to-1 advantage in China. On the other hand, cats outnumber dogs 3-to-1 in Switzerland, Austria and Turkey.

                                                                    Click on picture to use interactive map.

Overall, cats are the favored pet in most of Western Europe, with the exception of Spain, Portugal and Ireland. South America is strictly dog country, as is much of Asia.

"Some regions, like the Middle East and part of Africa, have an especially long-standing appreciation of cats," Koerten said. "In Latin America it's the complete opposite. Dogs are part of family life there."

World pet populations also appear to follow a few interesting—if inexplicable—trends. For one, highly developed countries, for reasons yet unclear, tend to have more balanced cat and dog populations. "Looking across all countries, there's a correlation between developed economies and balanced pet preferences," Koerten said. Brazil, as is turns out, has a strange affinity for small dogs—it has more small dogs per capita than any other country. And there's legitimate reason to believe young Americans might be having dogs instead of babies.



Top 10 dog-loving states

Rank State Cats Dogs Ratio, dogs to cats
1 Arkansas 810,000 1,097,000 1.35
2 New Mexico 533,000 703,000  1.32
3 Texas         5,565,000 7,163,000        1.29
4 Oklahoma 1,041,000 1,327,000 1.27
5 Louisiana 877,000 1,115,000 1.27
6 Mississippi  668,000 846,000 1.27
7 Arizona 1,438,000 1,798,000 1.25
8 Tennessee 1,749,000 2,157,000 1.23
9 Missouri 1,653,000 1,978,000 1.20
10 Georgia 2,162,000 2,479,000 1.15


Top 10 cat-loving states

Rank State Cats Dogs Ratio, cats to dogs
1 Massachusetts 1,593,000 850,000 1.87
2 Maryland 1,677,000 915,000 1.83
3 Maine               498,000      300,000 1.66
4 Vermont               234,000 142,000 1.65
5 Connecticut       796,000 507,000 1.57
6 District of Columbia  63,000  42,000 1.50
7 New Hampshire      309,000 212,000 1.46
8 Pennsylvania 3,544,000 2,485,000 1.43
9 New York 4,261,000  3,054,000 1.40
10 Ohio                    3,786,000   2,730,000 1.39


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Porcine Family was Rescued from a Trailer Park in Rural North Carolina Recently - Adopted and Taken to a 400-Acre Sanctuary in Western Montgomery County, Maryland

Poolesville, Maryland - A mama pig and her seven piglets are happier than -- well, at least happier than where they used to live, according to the folks at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

The porcine family was rescued from a trailer park in rural North Carolina recently, and on Monday was taken to a 400-acre sanctuary in western Montgomery County, Md., that's home to more than 200 abused and neglected farm animals.

"Today, these pigs are going to start the first day of the rest of their lives," says PETA's Lindsay Rajt.

"They were discovered by two PETA field workers who were out delivering dog houses to neglected dogs," she adds. "There were big, rusty nails protruding from the wood that was around the facility that the pigs had to walk on. And the air was so thick with flies that it actually looked hazy."

Rajt says the pigs' owner was an elderly man who could not care for the animals any longer and was planning to send them to the slaughter house.

Now they are at Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary in Poolesville.

"And we have about 200 rescued animals here -- horses, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens and turkeys," says sanctuary director and co-founder Terry Cummings.

"Initially we just took two pigs from that rescue," Cummings adds, "and then they told us one of the pigs had just given birth to seven babies and said they were unable to find placement for them, so we offered to give them a permanent home here."

"The pigs have reached their new and forever home," Peta's Rajt boasts. "So they can look forward to enjoying their long and natural lives here at Poplar Spring."









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Baby and Pit Bull Puppy Snuggle Up - Mom, "We Are Trying To Show People That Not Only Pit Bulls But All Dogs Have and Want To Be Good Dogs" (Video)

Just a baby and a pit bull enjoying each other's company.

This video posted to YouTube on July 23 of weeks-old Eisleigh and puppy Clyde has gone viral. And it's no surprise given how adorable they are together.

In the video, Clyde snuggles next to Eisleigh and rests its head on the baby's face. The baby just smiles in a relaxed way. (Could watch this on repeat for days.)

Mom Brandi Hodges wrote in the comments section, "We are trying to show people that not only pitbulls but all dogs have and want to be good dogs." She added, "You just have to train them as such."

Pit bulls have been in the news this summer with awful stories of attacks on children as well as a heroic report of a 2-year-old pit bull named Ace that saved a deaf boy from a fire.

In case you want to see more cuteness of Eisleigh and Clyde, here are some photos of them from Instagram.

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Did You Know That There Are Purebred Dogs in Animal Shelters?

People often think that dogs found at shelters or through breed rescue groups are special-needs pets with health or behavior problems. The reality is that plenty of nice, healthy canines are available for adoption, including purebreds, crossbreeds, mixed breeds, young dogs, adult dogs and senior dogs.

Thousands of breed-specific rescue groups across North America post their adoptable pets on sites like Petfinder, where you can search by breed, age, sex, size and location. Petfinder's search results also include dogs in shelters, but the types of purebreds found at shelters vary across the country.

The number one obstacle identified about people adopting shelter dogs is their completely valid desire of wanting a purebred dog. After all, you can find perfectly healthy, happy purebred dogs at a shelter or with a purebred rescue organization.

Most buyers also tend to want something tangible to prove a dog is a purebred. Some consumers get overly hung up on having “papers” for their dog. What may surprise paper-enthusiasts though is this: unless you are buying from a seriously legitimate kennel-club registered breeder, the oh-so-coveted papers you may get is really paperwork that can be generated by anyone with a computer. It guarantees nothing about the quality of the dog being purchased. Not health. Not sound temperament. Not breed. No guarantees at all.

Another great benefit of adopting a pet from a rescue group is these groups know their dogs. Most are foster-home based organizations, which mean the dog lives with a host family that likely knows everything there is to know about your future family member. You know who you are going home with which naturally makes the process of adding your new dog into your daily routine easier.

Further, the National Council on Pet Population Study & Policy reports that 25-percent of pets in shelters are purebred. That’s a lot of coveted purebred pets that are not meeting their forever families because of preconceived notions about what buying a purebred pet guarantees.

Adopting from a shelter or rescue almost always comes with stellar perks that you will rarely get from a pet retailer or breeder, such as shots and basic up-front veterinary care, behavioral and training support (which is always awesome if you’re adopting a younger dog or puppy), and a network of assistance in the event something unexpected pops up, like an unforeseeable health issue. This level of service is a 180 from your typical pet store or breeder, which will rarely care about the future of your pet after they take your money.

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Animals Australia - Faith in Humanity … Restored! - (Videos)

Animals Australia

At a time when tragedy dominates world affairs, it’s easy to despair at the path some ‘leaders’ have led us down. But if you’re worried about losing faith in humankind, despair not: we have the antidote. Cue happy tears…

Post by Animals Australia.

About
Animals Australia is Australia's foremost animal protection organization. See what we've achieved:



Mission
Animals Australia’s vision is a world where all animals are treated with compassion and respect and are free from cruelty. We believe that we can create a kinder world for all by fostering respect for animals and that our treatment of animals reflects who we are as individuals and as a society

"Like" them on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalsAustralia?fref=photo

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What You Need to Know Before Purchasing a Retractable Dog Leash

One of the most popular devices used to restrain dogs when taking them out for a walk is the retractable leash. Many owners, however, wonder if such a leash is appropriate or even safe to use. Well, the answer generally depends on a person’s reason for using the device. While there are several ways to utilize the retractable leash properly, it is important to remember that they also pose some danger to you and your dog if not used correctly.

Before using a retractable leash, make certain you’ve got one that’s strong enough to handle your dog. Dogs that have a tendency to bolt or take off running after perceived prey should never be restrained with a retractable leash. Aside from those dangers, there are other things to keep in mind when using one of these popular leashes.

What You Need to Watch Out For

• Prickling leash burns. Retractable leashes, especially the thin string variety, can very easily cause leash burns. This could happen when you let your pooch race past you with the retractable line zipped up across your bare skin. Unwarranted injuries, however, can be prevented if you try the flat, tape style retractable leash.

• Entanglement or strangulation. Not only can retractable leashes burn us, they can also get twisted around a dog’s neck or legs. Worse, if your pooch panics and jerks the moment they get hog-tied; it could cause the leash to pull even tighter. Although you can loosen the cords that have wrapped around his neck, the situation could quickly become life-threatening.

• Fatal accidents. There are times when our dogs dart away all of a sudden, and with a retractable leash on him, your dog might dart even farther, faster. Nevertheless, it’s the reeling that’s a serious issue here. It is possible that Fido may spot a squirrel or anything interesting across the street, and suddenly take off after it. If you’re not alert enough, his abrupt behavior and an un-sturdy retractable leash could put him smack on the road, right in front of a speeding car.

Other Things You Would Never Want to Happen

• The leash drops. Because these leashes rarely have a wrist strap and are sometimes heavy and bulky, dropping them is a regular occurrence. What’s worse, if you drop the handle, the lack of tension can send the heavy handle hurdling toward your dog. Not only could the heavy leash handle smack your dog in the head, if your dog is spooked by the leash handle zipping deafeningly toward him, he may take off running.

• The cord is grabbed. If you grab the cord/tape while it is being pulled from the handle, you might suffer from immediate injury like cuts and burns.

• The cord wraps around you. Poor handling can also cause the cord/tape to twist around you or someone else’s fingers resulting in deep wounds, or worse, amputation.

• The collar breaks or comes off your dog. The moment this occurs, the leash could retract at top speed while the other end of the line whips around at the same full momentum leading to serious injuries to face, teeth, and eyes.

Injury to You, Your Children or Others

• Amputation of fingers
• Cuts, burns and deep Lacerations on hands, arms and legs
• Broken teeth (if collar breaks or leash clip fails and cord retracts at maximum speed to smack you in the face.)
• Eye injuries/blindness (same)
• Serious falls (when full speed dog hits end of 20+ foot leash or when bicyclist tangles with leash).

Injury to Your Dog or Other Dogs

• Amputation of legs or tail.
• Getting lost (when plastic handle “chases” them).
• Hit by car when they dart into the road (know several dogs, personally, who died that way. Still on leash but dead.)
• Injured when they get tangled with other dogs or bicycles.

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Dog Breeds Who Are Most at Risk in the Summer Sun

While cats have enough sense to nap their way through summer afternoons, dogs need a little more guidance in warm weather. If you let them, dogs will follow their masters into the inferno. That loyalty comes at a price. Dogs are not good at keeping themselves cool, so they rely on us to keep them out of trouble.

Dogs can become dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of water when it's hot outdoors. If they are panting heavily, bring them to a cooled-off area and give them water.

Dogs will not limit their own activity, so pay close attention to how your dog is acting as they play.

Provide your dog with a shady place to escape if they're out in the sun or keeping them completely indoors when it's very hot

Limit exercise to the coolest part of the day, no matter how happy your dog seems when it's warm. Even in the coolest part of the day, watch for signs of trouble: Glassy eyes and frantic panting indicate a dog who needs help. Get to a veterinarian immediately if you see these symptoms!

Remember that older, obese or short-nosed dogs (Pugs, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, Boxers, Shih Tzus and French Bulldogs) are less tolerant of heat. However, all dogs need constant access to shade and an endless supply of cool, clean water.

Although many of the breeds on this list are brachycephalic, or have short noses and wide, flat heads-it's important to take proper precautions for keeping any dog cool in warm weather and never (ever!) leaving them in a hot car for any period of time.

#1 - Pug
Playful, confident and friendly, Pugs are well loved for their charisma and charm. With a wrinkled face, short legs and compact body, the Pug's unique expression and physique is well known among dog fanciers and pet parents alike. Because of its small size, Pugs can happily adapt to both city and country living.

Brachycephalic breeds-or dogs with short noses, compact skulls and compressed upper respiratory systems-like the Pug are inefficient panters, which means that they're unable to cool themselves as effectively as other dog breeds. Because of this, brachycephalic breeds are more prone to overheating and require extra care in warm weather, particularly access to shade and plenty of water.
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#2 - Pekinese
An ancient toy breed that originated in China over 1,000 years ago, the Pekinese is a happy, loveable lapdog. Loyal and devoted to it's family, the Pekinese can also be wary of strangers. With a thick undercoat and long, dense overcoat, Pekinese require regular grooming, in addition to special care in warm weather.

If you anticipate spending a lot of time outdoors with you dog, it's important to check with your veterinarian to make sure they're healthy enough to participate in the plans you make. Every dog is different, so there's no set of guidelines that can apply to every one.

#3 - Bulldog
Originally used for bull baiting, the Bulldog is now one of the most popular companion animals in America and is one of the most popular AKC breeds. A short yet powerful dog with a heavy build, trademark under bite and lots of loose skin, the Bulldog makes an adorable couch companion, albeit one that may be prone to snorting and drooling.

While the Bulldog may require some prodding to go out for a walk, they might have some trouble breathing as they run or play because they are brachycephalic, so take care not to over-exercise them.

#4 - Shih Tzu
Another ancient dog breed that was kept as a companion and lap dog by Chinese royalty, Shih Tzus remain popular family pets and companions. A playful breed that loves learning new things, Shih Tzus are generally good with children and other dogs. With a dense undercoat and long, straight outer coat, the Shih Tzu requires regular grooming and may snort and sneeze (in addition to overheat in warm weather) frequently because of its short muzzle.

You'll want to avoid spending too much time on the pavement with your dog in warm weather, as the ground can heat up quickly and can create blisters or burns on the pads of your dog's paws.

#5 - Boston Terrier
One of the first breeds established in the United States, the Boston Terrier is a lively, intelligent breed with a gentle and easy going disposition. A compact breed with large ears and a wide smile, Boston Terriers generally require a minimal amount of exercise and grooming and, aside from their propensity to overheat in warm weather, tend to be easy keepers.

#6 - French Bulldog

This little lap-warmer was bread as a companion for French royalty beginning in the 19th century. With a small, compact body and large, rounded ears, French Bulldogs also have short muzzles and broad, flat faces. Sweet, affectionate and friendly, French Bulldogs get along well with everyone but tend to become attached to one person in particular. In addition to their high risk of over heating in warm weather, French Bulldogs also need to have the spaces between the wrinkles on their face and neck kept clean and dry to prevent skin infections.

#7 - Boxer
Used for fighting and bull baiting in the 18th century, Boxers have become popular family pets, police dogs and military dogs. Large and muscular with a square head, short nose and high-tucked abdomen, Boxers love to play and spend time with their people. Particularly affectionate with children, the Boxers can be protective of their families in the presence of other dogs and require lots of attention.

If dogs are allowed to be active during the hottest parts of the day, they are at risk for heatstroke, which can be fatal if not corrected quickly. If at all possible. It is  recommended limiting extended outdoor time to early afternoon or evening on hot days. If your dog must be out and about during the hottest hours of the day, provide them with plenty of water, access to shade and time to take breaks and catch their breath.

#8 - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Considered a fashionable lap dog for women in the 17th century, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel remains a popular and friendly companion. An easygoing breed that falls in love with everyone it meets, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is small bodied with a round head, short nose and fluffy drop eats. A breed that loves attention, its medium-length coat requires regular grooming. Although the breed can fare well in either the city or the country, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels-like the other breeds on this list-will need to have access to air conditioning or plenty of cool places when the temperature heats up.

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