Today is National Pet Day: What Plans Do You Have for Your Pet(s)?

Pet Day is a chance for those of us who own pets to show them how much we love them. Now, we all can think of the traditional things: a new toy, some tasty treats, or a long walk in the park, maybe a game of fetch, assuming you have a dog! But, think outside the box and come up with some ideas to celebrate your relationship with your pet. Once you have indulged your own animals with their favorite treats, why not consider donating to a shelter or other animal welfare organization?

There are so many neglected and unwanted animals waiting for some love and attention. You can donate your time, or you can donate food or other supplies. Every little bit helps. If you don’t already own a pet, what better time to adopt one? A good phrase to keep in mind is “adopt, don’t shop.”

Granddaughter Shares Photos of Her 90-year-old Grandfather and His Brand New Fluffy Friend, Penny on Twitter: Brings Users to Tears

Three weeks after viral photos of 'sad pawpaw' being 'neglected' by his grandkids broke the web's heart, a different senior is getting the exact opposite reaction out of internet users.

Twitter user Jessica Amante shared photos of her 90-year-old grandfather and his brand new fluffy friend, Penny, on March 6, Mashable reported Sunday. Her mom also posted images on Facebook.

And over the past month the pics showing the adorable couple have gone viral, literally bringing tears to the eyes of web users around the world.

Amante's grandfather is in an assisted living facility, and had pictures of his new dog sent to her at the start of the month.

“My grandfather just got a new dog and had his caregiver take pictures of him to send to me,” she Tweeted, along with three crying emojis.

And those thoughts were echoed by the thousands - 81,374 at last count - of web users who 'liked' the Tweet and the 40,771 who shared it.

Twitter user @phunkfina was one of many who responded positively to the idyllic scenes of the grandfather walking his new pal, writing “Why is this one of the most heartwarming things ever?”

But a large number of the users were even more moved than that, with several saying that they had been moved to tears.

'OMG,' gasped @lgbtleeds, saying that the grandpa bore an uncanny resemblance to 'the cute little old guy' from the Pixar movie 'Up.' “I'm crying this is too cute,” she wrote.

And @jewishuncle wrote “That's so adorable I'm gonna get emotional.”

“It makes me so happy I'm teary,” echoed @explicitstiles.

But some fans of the sweet story went even further.

Those crying emojis in Amante's original post proved prophetic for @nAAAYEomi, @kissingjohnson and @valerieamazing.

They were among the users so touched by the story that they couldn't even put it into words.

Instead, they simply send selfies showing their tearful faces, with long lines of mascara running down each cheek.

Pawpaw and paw-paw-paw-paw: Images of the 90-year-old man and his new dog, Penny, went viral after they were posted on Twitter this month by his granddaughter, Jessica Amante.

New dog, old tricks: The sweet photos brought tears to the eyes of many Twitter users. He has been likened to 'saw Pawpaw,' the elderly man whose grandkids 'abandoned' him after he made them burgers this month.

Sweet Tweet: The crying emojis in Jessica's Tweet were prophetic, as many who saw the adorable pictures were moved to tears.

Happy Easter from The Pet Tree House

Fairfax County, VA - Police Received Two Reports of Black Bear Sightings in the Vienna/Oakton Area

Fairfax County, Virginia - Police received two reports of black bear sightings in the Vienna/Oakton area between Wednesday and Thursday morning, the Fairfax County Police Department said. This follows an earlier sighting of a black bear and a cub in Vienna on Sunday, March 20. 

According to police, a black bear and a cub (possibly a yearling) were spotted in the 2700 block of Bowling Green Dr., Vienna Thursday morning. Police say a residence in the area reported the spotting. In a press release sent out Thursday police said, "The bears were reported to have taken down a bird-feeder and plastic cabinet on the resident's patio. The bears also took a bag of birdseed from the cabinet before heading into the wooded easement along Interstate-66."

On Wednesday morning police also received reports of two small black bears seen crossing Oakton Road. Police say the bears were spotted near Waples Mill Meadow, Difficult Run Stream Valley Park and Tattersall Park.

Police said in the release, "Bears typically avoid humans, but in their search for food it is not uncommon to see one. Residents should not panic or feel alarmed when they see one. Bears are attracted by bird feeders, garbage, outdoor pet food, compost piles, fruit trees, and berry-producing shrubs. If addressed quickly, situations can be resolved almost immediately by removing the food source. Sometimes, the bear may return searching for food, but after a few failed attempts to find it, will leave the property. Most often, bears will keep moving through an area once they fail in their attempts to find food."

The Fairfax County Wildlife management Specialist and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries give the following suggestions as precautions if encountered by a black bear:

• Keep a respectful distance! In most cases, the bear will move on quickly.

• If a bear is up a tree on or near your property, give it space. Do not approach, and bring your pets inside to provide the bear a clear path to leave your property.

• If you see a very small cub, do not try to remove it from the area or "save it."

• The best way to encourage the bear not to return is to remove food sources.

• Do not store household trash, or anything that smells like food, in vehicles, on porches or decks.

• Keep your full or empty trash containers secured in a garage, shed or basement.

• Take your garbage to the dump frequently.

• If you have a trash collection service, put your trash out the morning of the pickup, not the night before.

• Take down your birdfeeder for 3-4 weeks after the bear visits.

• Encourage your neighbors to take similar precautions.

• Unless the animal is sick or injured, or poses a threat to public safety, Animal Control Officers do not take actions to attempt to remove bears from a neighborhood.

Police say bear sightings should be reported to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries through the Virginia Wildlife Conflict Helpline at (855) 571-9003.

For more information on bear sightings and how to respond safely click HERE. 

Heartbreaking Photo of a Stray Dog Hugging a Teddy Bear Has Gone Viral: Triggering a Bit of Controversy

Houston, Texas - This heartbreaking of a stray dog hugging a teddy bear on socialmedia -- and triggered a bit of controversy.

This is the picture. A sadder-than-sad stray dog who has found a tiny bit of comfort...by snuggling up to a forsaken teddy bear.

The picture was taken by a Houston woman named Yvette Holzbach with the group 'Forgotten Dogs of The Fifth Ward'.

When she posted it on her Facebook page, there was criticism.

Why didn't you rescue the dog?"

This is her explanation: "We can feed up to 50 stray dogs [daily]. Of those 50 dogs we are lucky if we are able to save one because...there are not enough foster homes."

"[To] understand what we are faced with we welcome you to do a ride along with us. You will be astounded at how many homeless dogs there are."

That is as true in Southern California - as it is in Houston.

First Responders Called to a Sushi Restaurant After a Man Allegedly Threw a Giant Python on the Floor and Walked Out

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, L.A. first responders say they were called to a sushi restaurant on Sunday after a man allegedly threw a giant python on the floor and walked out.

“Probably one of the weirdest calls that I’ve ever heard us respond to,” LAPD Lt. John Gavin told Fox 11.

Police say the man had already showed up at the restaurant with a smaller snake earlier that night. When he started arguing with another diner, he was asked to leave.

So the man did – but then he came back, this time with a 13-foot python.

“Customers are yelling, ‘Get this thing out! Are you crazy,’” Jessie Davaadorj, a server, told KCAL 9.

Lt. Gavin said the suspect, who was later arrested, didn’t deny his involvement.

He said that “he was mad, and that he felt that was the only way he could get even,” said the lieutenant.

Thankfully, the fire department and animal control were able to safely corner the snake into a box.

Police say the man, who is homeless, has been charged with criminal threats from “using the snake as a weapon and threatening the patrons.”

Former Ravens Defensive Tackle Terrence Cody: Sentenced to Nine Months in County Jail, After He Was Convicted on Misdemeanor Animal Cruelty Charges

Former Ravens defensive tackle Terrence Cody was sentenced to nine months in county jail, after he was convicted on misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.

According to Alison Knezevich of the Baltimore Sun, Cody faced more than two years in jail. He was convicted in November of two misdemeanor drug charges and multiple misdemanors regarding the death of his dog Taz.

Prosecutors said the dog was starved to death. He was also convicted of illegally possessing an alligator (of course).

The Ravens drafted Cody in the second round in 2010. He only played one game in 2014, and was released last February.

You may be interested in reading:

Ravens Defensive Tackle Terrence Cody Being Investigated For Animal Cruelty

Ravens Will Cut DT Cody Amid Animal Cruelty Investigation

Terrence Cody Indicted On Animal Cruelty Charges 

Cat Parasite Linked to Mental Illness, Schizophrenia

Everyone loves cuddling with kittens. But there can be a little-known danger lurking behind that furry little face and that innocent-sounding meow: a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii).

T. gondii is the most common parasite in developed nations, according to Schizophrenia Bulletin. The cat-carried parasite can infect any warm-blooded species, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates more than 60 million people in the U.S. may have it.

Most people never suffer any symptoms at all. But in those with weaker immune systems, infection with T. gondii can cause an illness called toxoplasmosis, which can result in miscarriages, fetal development disorders, weeks of flu-like illness, blindness and even death. It has also been associated with mental disorders including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Now two more studies explore the mental health issues in greater detail.

E. Fuller Torrey of the Stanley Medical Research Institute and Dr. Robert H. Yolken of Stanley Laboratory of Developmental Neurovirology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have been studying the link between infection with T. gondii and schizophrenia for close to three decades.

Their most recent study, published in Schizophrenia Research, along with researcher Wendy Simmons, compared two previous studies that found a link between childhood cat ownership and the development of schizophrenia later in life with an unpublished survey on mental health from 1982, 10 years before any data on cat ownership and mental illness had been published. Results of the analysis indicated that cat exposure in childhood may be a risk factor for developing mental disorders.

To read more on this story, click here: Cat Parasite Linked to Mental Illness, Schizophrenia