Did You Know That Your Dog’s Nose Can Smell Things That Cannot Be Seen?

Did you know that dogs breathe in and out through a different part of their nose? This allows them to experience and process more smells than we could ever even imagine. In fact, their sense of smell can pick up things that can’t even be seen at all. How awesome is that?

Snowy Owl Caught on Traffic Camera

A Montreal traffic camera captured stunning images of a snowy owl in flight over a highway earlier this week.

A series of images were taken on Jan. 3 by a traffic camera over Montreal’s Highway 40, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported.

The owl appears in the corner of the frame, flies toward the camera and past it.

American Airlines Introducing the First-Of-Its-Kind "Pet Cabin"

It looks like some dogs will be traveling with a little bit more style thanks to American Airlines introducing the first-of-its-kind "pet cabin".

The airline has just announced the offering of their "pet cabins", which has been nicknamed "Cuddle Class" and will allow pet owners to keep their pets in a larger, private space versus being kept in a carry-on under the seat.

The pet cabins have vented doors and will be able to fit a pet carrier to a maximum of 19 by 13 by nine inches if hard-sided, or a little larger if soft-sided. It will be available on select flights between New York and Los Angeles and JFK and San Francisco. The pets will be seated adjacent to their owner's seat and can sit with their owners during the flight or in the cabin.

AA's outside PR firm said, "Each of the two bulkhead First Class suites on the American Airlines A321T at the front of the cabin has an attached pet compartment with vented door where a passenger traveling with his/her pet can place the pet, in its carrying case, for taxi, take-off, and landing. During other phases of the flight, the pet, in its carrying case, can be kept on the floor space of the passenger’s First Class suite. The two berths at the front bulkhead each have a space with a vented door to hold a kennel or carrying case for takeoff and landing."

The same rules the airline has for carry-on pets will apply, along with their usual carry-on pet fee. There's no word on whether the dogs will be treated to free beverages and biscuits.

Washington, DC - Smithsonian National Zoo Has Announced That the Red Pandas Are Back on Exhibit in the Nation’s Capital

Smithsonian National Zoo has announced that red pandas are once again on exhibit in the nation’s capital, after a two-year absence.

For now, male Tusa and female Asa, both 1 year old, will be on display at the zoo’s small mammal house. The ginger cuties will move at a later date into swanky new digs -- boasting indoor heat, air conditioning, new perches, and plenty of quiet -- now under construction for them on the larger "Asia Trail" red panda exhibit.

The zoo’s previous pair of red pandas, Shama and Rusty, were transferred to the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) two years ago this month, so they could breed. The couple did produce three cubs in June 2014, but, sadly, Shama died soon after they were born.

Rusty, however, is “thriving” at the SCBI, according to zoo staff. The clever male made a name for himself in June 2013 when he staged a very public, and Internet-viral, escape to the streets of D.C.

While Tusa and Asa will call D.C. home, their species — listed as endangered on the IUCN’s “red list” of threatened species, with fewer than 10,000 thought to remain in the wild — is native to Nepal, China, Bhutan and India. SCBI has long studied the adorable animals.

“We’ve made a commitment to study red pandas,” said curator Steve Sarro in a release, “and we hope that they inspire the public to help us conserve this endangered species and their habitat for many generations to come.”

Watch as Hope For Paws Miraculously Save a Pit Bull from a Busy Los Angeles Freeway

Living near a busy, dangerous freeway is no place for a dog to call home, which was sadly the case for a pit bull named Veyron.

The animal rescue organization Hope For Paws received a call that a homeless pit bull was scared and stranded near a Los Angeles freeway.

Dedicated workers from Hope for Paws spent ample time trying to get the timid dog away from his surroundings, and in a terrifying life-or-death moment near an overpass, the team was eventually able to rescue the shaken pittie.

With the efforts of Hope for Paws and trainers, Veyron is now a happy, healthy dog. He gets to run and play and no longer lives in fear. Veyron is ready to leave his old life behind and be adopted and brought into a caring forever home.

Watch Veyron's journey from the streets to the hearts of animal lovers everywhere below:

Have You Heard of American Airlines “Cuddle Class” Cabins For Pets?

If your pup’s tired of getting stuffed under your seat during long flights, you may want to try out American Airlines’ new pet cabins, which they’re affectionately calling “Cuddle Class.” The snug cabins have vented doors and let pets sit adjacent to their owner’s seat, which lets them see their best buddies during flight and, hopefully, keeps them a bit more relaxed.

The pet cabins don’t come cheap, as they’re only available in First Class suites. For the initial roll-out of the pet cabins, they will only appear on flights from New York to Los Angeles and from JFK to San Francisco.

While Cuddle Class will only be for a limited few passengers and their lucky dogs and cats, at least it’s a step in the right direction to make flying more comfortable for our furry friends. Anything that lets us stay close to them and keep them from being stressed is fine with us. And at least they can beg us for some of our airline peanuts.

The Problem With Pit Bulls

It's horrible that KFC kicked out that 3-year-old girl, but let's focus on the real problem: pit bulls were bred to be violent

The social media universe became furious at KFC this week after an employee reportedly asked a 3-year-old victim of a dog attack to leave one of their restaurants because “her face is disrupting our customers.”

But it wasn’t KFC employees who broke down the door to Victoria Wilcher’s grandfather’s house and mauled the toddler until half her face was paralyzed and she lost the use of one of her eyes. Three pit bulls did that.

Pit bulls make up only 6% of the dog population, but they’re responsible for 68% of dog attacks and 52% of dog-related deaths since 1982, according to research compiled by Merritt Clifton, editor of Animals 24-7, an animal-news organization that focuses on humane work and animal-cruelty prevention.

Clifton himself has been twice attacked by dogs (one pit bull), and part of his work involves logging fatal and disfiguring attacks. Clifton says that for the 32 years he’s been recording, there has never been a year when pit bulls have accounted for less than half of all attacks. A CDC report on dog-bite fatalities from 1978 to 1998 confirms that pit bulls are responsible for more deaths than any other breed, but the CDC no longer collects breed-specific information.

Another report published in the April 2011 issue of Annals of Surgery found that one person is killed by a pit bull every 14 days, two people are injured by a pit bull every day, and young children are especially at risk. The report concludes that “these breeds should be regulated in the same way in which other dangerous species, such as leopards, are regulated.” That report was shared with TIME by PETA, the world’s largest animal-rights organization.

To read more on this story, click here: The Problem With Pit Bulls

Bringing Home Baby to a Dog’s World

The scenario is far too common. The happy, expecting couple stroll into the clinic with their four-legged child for her Annual Wellness Exam. The first born of the family is healthy and has a great check-up so I turn my attention to the parents who are expecting their first two-legged child. “Have you starting thinking about how you will introduce your new baby?” All of the sudden, the happy couple becomes the bewildered couple and stares at me with the “deer in the headlights” look. I know it’s time to have “the talk”. Bringing home baby to a pet who has ‘ruled the roost’ for years can be done. We have a few guidelines for you.Many soon-to-be parents don’t realize that without proper precautions and planning, their new bundle of joy will be their pet’s worst nightmare and is even at risk to be harmed by their pet.

It is important that every pet owner who is expecting a child follow a few easy steps to ensure the new addition to the family is a happy addition.

1) Allow your pet to becomes used to “baby stuff” before the big day comes. While babies themselves are terrifying enough for pets, all their stuff can be even worse. Strollers, cribs, toys, high chairs, and car seats are all brand new items for your pet to adjust to. Stock the nursery early and allow your pets time to get used to all the new stuff before their is a screaming child who is taking all your time and energy sitting in them. Even going on walks with the empty stroller or having bonding time in the baby-less nursery can put your pets at ease. If your pet is anxious or scared around new noises, play recordings of baby noises in the months leading up to the delivery. Start at low levels that your pet doesn’t react to and slowly work up to “real life” levels. Do positive things with your pets such as eating, giving treats, brushing, and playing during these noise desensitization sessions to allow your pet to become comfortable with the change.

2)Teach a calm, controlled behavior. Many dogs get excited around new people and like to jump up on them to greet them. Teach your dog to “sit” or “lay” and make them do it before they receive anything (food, treats, toys, affection, etc.). Think of it as teaching your dog to  say “please” before they get something they want. Pets with good manners are less likely to injure children or be scolded by adults who are holding children. Remember, we want having a baby to be a happy experience for the pets and constantly getting scolded because the baby is around will lead to further fear and anxiety for your pet.

To  read more on this story, click here: Bringing Home Baby to a Dog’s World