Same-Sex Penguin Couple Welcomes Baby Chick After Adopting And Hatching An Egg Together

A pair of female penguins at an aquarium in Spain have welcomed a baby chick, the Oceanogràfic València aquarium announced this month. The two penguins, Electra and Viola, adopted an egg from another penguin couple, incubated and hatched it, and will now raise the chick, the aquarium said in a press release.

Of the 25 Gentoo penguins at the aquarium, three couples have welcomed babies so far this breeding season, Oceanogràfic València said.

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Tiger King Zoo Closes Suddenly After License Suspended

The Oklahoma zoo at the centre of hit Netflix series Tiger King has announced its immediate closure after having its license suspended.

The US Department of Agriculture suspended Greater Wynnwood Exotic Animal Park’s exhibitor license on Monday. On Tuesday night, owner Jeff Lowe said the zoo would be closing with immediate effect, citing pressure from the animal rights charity Peta.

He wrote on Facebook: “The Tiger King phenomenon has definitely changed our lives in many ways. It has brought us more attention than any human deserves, good and bad. It has, and probably will continue to make us a target of every nutjob and animal rights loon in the World, but we are prepared.”

To read more on this story, click here: Tiger King Zoo Closes Suddenly After License Suspended 

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'Tiger King' Zookeeper Jeff Lowe Willfully Violated Animal Welfare Regulations, Feds Say

Zookeeper Jeff Lowe is facing possible civil penalties for alleged willful animal welfare violations at the roadside park made famous by the hit Netflix documentary series, "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness."

The allegations number in the dozens and date from 2017.

Among the most serious are claims animals repeatedly did not get proper veterinary care at the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park and vet records were falsified to cover up the neglect.

In one incident, a federal inspector in June ordered the park to get immediate help for "Nala," a 16-week-old lion cub described as lethargic, depressed and thin, unable to get out of the mud even when prompted and breathing rapidly and shallowly.

To read more on this story, click here: 'Tiger King' Zookeeper Jeff Lowe Willfully Violated Animal Welfare Regulations, Feds Say

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Family's Horse Goes Missing For 10 Years, Then They Spot A Suspicious Ad On Craigslist

The bond between a horse and its owner is a special one. Just like dogs, horses can develop deep feelings of attachment for the people who are responsible for feeding, brushing, and generally taking care of them.

That's one of the many reasons Texas-area woman Michelle Pool was devastated when she awoke to find her beloved steed, Opie, missing. Nearly a decade passed before she found any hints as to the fate of her beloved horse.

To read more on this story, click here: Family's Horse Goes Missing For 10 Years, Then They Spot A Suspicious Ad On Craigslist

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Community Steps Up to Help Non-Profit at Risk of Losing Animal Rescue Farm – Please Share!

The farm is dedicated to fostering relationships among its sanctuary animals and the people who visit.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — A rescue farm in Prince William County is in danger of closing. Hope and Serenity Farm Sanctuary has rescued nearly 150 animals and works closely with people who suffer from depression, anxiety or PTSD. 

The owners of the non-profit spent years helping not just the animals, but the people who visit them. Now, they are the ones who need help and the community has stepped up in a big way.

President Renee Small said she gets to see miracles happen every week. 

"It’s been my dream to make this come to fruition and to see everybody working together and all of this happening is just, I cannot describe how good it makes me feel," said Small.

To read more on this story, click here: Community Steps Up to Help Non-Profit at Risk of Losing Animal Rescue Farm – Please Share!

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Do You Think People Should Have Their Pets Tattooed?

What is our society thinking?...or are they! I hope these pictures are photoshopped.

Apparently, a new trend is getting tattoos put on your pets, particularly any pet that is hairless. In Russia, the hairless Sphinx is the most frequent tattoo victim. Yes, I said victim.

In the 1980s before the microchip was invented for identifying pets, it wasn’t uncommon to tattoo pets with an identification number, often on their inner ear or bellies while they were under anesthesia for another procedure such as spaying or neutering. I think animals should never, ever be put under just for a tattoo.

Note: some of the images may be photoshopped. Very hard to verify.

    Body Modified Dog - Thank GOD this one is totally photoshopped. I hope.

Cosmetic Tattoos - This poor Dalmatian had a pink nose, which is a failure in the breed standard. So his owner got his nose tattooed.

In the ear tattoos - Dogs are often tattooed in their ears, usually with an ID number to help find them if they get lost. But this whole image thing is new.

Sphinx Cat with Ink - By far the most common pet that gets tattooed appears to be the hairless breeds, such as the Sphinx cat pictured here. This could be fake/photoshopped, but it looks pretty much like human tattoos do.

  Jack Russel Belly Tattoo - So this poor dog got a Hello Kitty tattoo on it's belly.

Cat immediately post-tattoo - In this photo, the cat is still anesthetized following it's tattoo. I found several shots of this cat being tattooed while under, so I do think it's real. It's a beautiful tattoo. Just wish it was on someone that could give consent.

                              It's likely these are fake...I hope.

Yes, another hairless Sphinx sporting what looks like real ink. That's a lot of ink for a little cat. I'd say it took 3 hours at least.

Daschund Belly Ink - This little guy has a tiny tattoo on his belly. Likely done when it was spayed/neutered and didn't take too much time.

 Louis Vutton Pigs - Apparently, tattooing pigs is a HUGE thing. Seriously, 

      google it. Scary.

                                         Small Tribal on a Sphinx

                         Demon bat wings tattooed on both sides...sad!

                                                    Tattooed Pigs

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Dehydration In Cats Occurs When There Is An Excessive Loss of Fluid From The Body

Dehydration occurs when there is an excessive loss of fluid from the cat’s body. It is not just water that is lost, but also electrolytes like sodium, potassium and chloride, which are important for normal body function.

Dehydration is usually a symptom of another disease -- one which makes the disease that much worse. Rehydration (replacing water and electrolytes) thus becomes an important part of many treatment plans.

 What to Watch For
 The classic sign for dehydration is skin tenting. If you take a pinch of skin over the cat's shoulders and pull up gently, the skin should snap back into place when released. As the cat gets more dehydrated, the skin goes back in place more and more slowly. If the pinch of skin stays up (the "tent"), it is a sign of severe dehydration. The cat should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Other signs that may be noted include:

• Dry, tacky gums
• Listlessness
• Refusal to eat
• Symptoms related to the underlying health problem

Primary Cause
Inadequate water intake or excessive water loss results in dehydration. Vomiting, diarrhea, fever, trauma, heatstroke, diabetes, and other illnesses can all lead to dehydration.

Immediate Care
Since most cases of dehydration are the result of another problem, that issue should be attended to directly. If the cat is able to drink, put him in a cool, quiet place with fresh cool water. Cats can be encouraged to drink by using a water fountain for cats, putting juice from canned tuna or salmon in the water, or using a meat flavored water and electrolyte supplement available at some pet stores.

If you are familiar with the technique of giving fluids subcutaneously (under the skin) and have the right supplies, you can give your average adult cat up to 300 ml of lactated ringers solution under the skin. Do not do this in burn or trauma cases. If you are unsure about the correct type of fluid to use or or the amount which to give, contact your veterinarian.

Veterinary Care

Diagnosis
Your cat’s history, skin tenting, and dry, tacky gums are the parameters first used by your veterinarian to determine dehydration. Blood tests may be done to confirm dehydration in some cases. Your vet will also do such tests as necessary to determine what medical problem may have led to dehydration.

Treatment
Depending on the cause and the severity of the dehydration, your veterinarian may give fluids under the skin, which only takes a few minutes, or hospitalize your cat and give fluids intravenously for 1 to 2 days. Your veterinarian will also start treatment for the underlying problem that caused your cat to become dehydrated.

Other Causes
Dissatisfaction with the water or the water bowl may keep your cat from drinking. Accidental confinement in a place with no access to water can also eventually result in dehydration.

Prevention
Make sure your cat has easy access to plenty of fresh water. Some cats have a preference for running water. Therefore, investing in a water fountain designed for cats may be worthwhile. Some cats have sensitive whiskers and will prefer to drink from a wide, relatively shallow bowl that doesn’t rub his whiskers.

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The Most Common Rabbit Diseases

Rabbits are well-loved parts of many families that have the joy of caring for them. But unfortunately, and just like other pets, rabbits are prone to a variety of problems and diseases. Some diseases are more common than others and by being educated on these problems you may be able to prevent them or at least learn to recognize the signs and symptoms more quickly in order to get your rabbit help.


Rabbit Teeth Problems

Rabbits have 28 teeth that help them grind their food. These teeth, unlike those of a dog or cat, grow continuously throughout the life of your rabbit. Without proper items to help keep these teeth trimmed (like hay and safe wood) the teeth can end up becoming overgrown and prevent your rabbit from being able to eat.

Molar teeth (the teeth in the back of the mouth) can grow and create a bridge over the tongue which can inhibit chewing and swallowing. Teeth that become this overgrown can cause your rabbit to starve. 

Incisors teeth (the front teeth) will grow and start curling into the cheeks or other parts of your rabbit's mouth. This is very painful and can also cause your rabbit to stop eating.

Abscessed teeth can occur due to trauma or periodontal disease and are painful to your rabbit as well. These teeth need to be extracted in order to prevent the infection that is located around the tooth from spreading throughout your rabbit's body.

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