The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too

Sunday, January 9, 2022

Betty White fans hatch plan to celebrate her 100th birthday by giving back to animals


In loving animals, she’s just unstoppable.

Before we moved into 2022, tragic news spread across the internet. The iconic television personality Betty White died just on the eve of the new year.

But even so, she left a legacy of kindness, joy, and generosity. And as fans celebrated her life and work, they put to the spotlight a side of White that people always cherished – her love for animals.

To read more on this story, click here: Betty White fans hatch plan to celebrate her 100th birthday by giving back to animals




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Saturday, January 8, 2022

Pope Scolds Couples Who Choose Pets Over Kids


Expressing concern about global birthrates, Francis said such couples were acting in a selfish way that diminished humanity.

ROME — Pope Francis has not been reluctant to offer his views on polarizing subjects, but on Wednesday, he waded into an issue involving two subjects on which consensus is almost impossible to find.

Pets and kids.

Speaking on parenthood during a general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, Francis bemoaned the global decline in birthrates — what he described as a “demographic winter” — and was bluntly critical of couples who prefer to have pets rather than children.

People who have pets instead of children, the pope said, were being selfish, exhibiting a “denial of fatherhood or motherhood” that “diminishes us, it takes away our humanity.”

To read more on this story, click here: Pope Scolds Couples Who Choose Pets Over Kids


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Meet the ‘Horse Barber’ creating spectacular equine designs


CNN — By combining her two passions, Melody Hames produces some of the most unexpected and spectacular designs in the equine world.

Dubbed the “Horse Barber,” the design graduate has set up her own business clipping creative artwork into the hair of horses.

“They’ve all got a unique meaning,” Hames told CNN Sport. “I’ve always been into art and design anyway so I love to do it.”

To read more on this story, click here: Meet the ‘Horse Barber’ creating spectacular equine designs


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How to Determine Your Cat's Age


There are a lot of mysteries about cats that have been adopted or rescued, and that includes the feline's age. A veterinarian is your best partner in determining the current age of a cat, as well as in planning a care program to ensure the optimal quality of life and longevity. A thorough veterinary examination of the cat's entire body will generally help to determine an approximate age of the cat; however, vets tend to look at a few body parts in particular when trying to estimate how old the cat might be.

To read more on this story, click here: How to Determine Your Cat's Age


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Dogs can differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar human languages


 

They are the first non-human animals to be able to tell the difference between human languages.

If you were to move to a new country with a different language and bring along the family dog, your pet would likely have a hard time understanding commands from the locals, according to a new study looking at how dogs' brains react to different languages. 

MRI scans revealed that dogs' brains can distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar languages, making them the first-known, and so far only, non-human animals to be able to tell the difference between human languages.

To read more on this story, click here: Dogs can differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar human languages


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10 of the World’s Most Dangerous Fish


Many people around the world depend on fishes or products made from fishes for their food and economic livelihood. More than 30,000 different species ply Earth’s oceans and bodies of fresh water. The beauty of many fish species is highlighted in fish stores, aquariums, and in home collections. Some species, however, have darker, more terrifying aspects. A select few of these may attack human beings, while others might deliver a dose of poison when handled carelessly or not properly prepared for consumption. Some species are maligned due to their shocking appearance or by their ferocious reputation in folklore and myth; however, one species, though cute and tiny, threatens bathers in a very, shall we say, personal way.

To read more on this story, click here: 10 of the World’s Most Dangerous Fish


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Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Black-Winged Kites Charm With Their Unique Glances


The Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) is a small diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae best known for its habit of hovering over open grasslands in the manner of the much smaller kestrels. This Eurasian and African species was sometimes combined with the Australian Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris) and the White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) of North and South America which together form a superspecies.


This kite is distinctive, with long-wings, white, grey and black plumage and owl like forward-facing eyes with red irises. Although mainly seen on the plains, they are sometimes seen on grassy slopes of hills in the higher elevation regions of Asia. They are not migratory, but make short-distance movements in response to weather. Image credit: Basawant Annigeri‎


Their Appearance: Small, stout, unmistakable raptor with pale grey plumage. Strikingly broad wings and short tail. Large, round, owl-like head with black "mascara" and short neck. Underside of wing-tips, and upper median and lesser coverts black. Immature birds often with rusty underparts and white fringes to flight feathers and scapulars. Glides with wings raised high like a harrier. Frequent and skilfull hovering.


The Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) is unmistakable due to the extremely long, red legs. High contrast plumage with pointed, black wings (both upper and under-side) and white underparts. Tail white, with white wedge extending up back. Back of adult male sooty black, while brownish black in female and immature. Head all white or with black markings independent of sex (males more often have black markings than females though). Immature with faint, pale fringes to coverts, and white trailing edge to secondaries visible in flight.



Their sound is not very vocal. A soft "Pjuu-harrr". Starting as a mellow, ascending whistle and ending with a harsh screech. Also uttered without the harsh ending, or only a Barn Owl-like screech. Other sounds: rapid series of soft "kekekekekekekekeke" and short whistles.


Most vocal at breeding ground. Various short,sharp "kyp" may resemble both Avocet, Coot and Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus). While a tern-like "kee-arr" is more distinct. Note that immature birds have a different contact call closely resembling Wood Sandpiper, but do not utter it in series.



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Why Do Cats Put Their Butt in Your Face? We Got to The Bottom of This Strange Behavior


Your cat loves to stick his butt where it doesn't belong, including in your face. Let's be real, cats wouldn't be cats if they didn't do all sorts of weird things and that includes putting their butts wherever they please, regardless of personal boundaries.

We asked a certified cat behavior consultant to help us get to the bottom of why cats put their butt in your face—and spoiler alert: It's not as bad as you might think! Next time your cat puts his rear end right in front of you, you might even find yourself saying "Aww" instead of "Eww!"

To read more on this story, click here: Why Do Cats Put Their Butt in Your Face? We Got to The Bottom of This Strange Behavior


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