Meet Donald, a Duckling Born with 4 Legs

Sulphur, LA - Hatching animals is nothing new to one Sulphur, Louisiana, family, but they were surprised when one of their young ducklings was a little different.

The duckling has not two but four legs.

Claude Aucoin told KPLC that he has hatched more than 1,000 ducks in his lifetime, but he was shocked with this surprise.

The duckling grew a fan base when Aucoin's daughter, Kylie, quickly exposed the duck, who goes by Donald, on social media.

This little duck has shocked everyone who has encountered him, and when the family is asked how this happened, they said it must have been a birth defect.

Luckily, the duck is in no harm and gets around fine even with his extra legs.


Video:

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Love Working with Animals? The Washington Humane Society is Hiring! - Take a Look at Their Current Job Openings!

We're hiring! If getting to hang out with cats and dogs and advocating for animals sounds like a good day to you, then apply at WHS! You can join our administrative team, or work directly with DC animals.

Apply now at www.washhumane.org/jobs.

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Grieving Pup Almost Dies of a Broken Heart Until Cop Swoops In - A Heartwarming Story!

What could have been a truly tragic tail has a silver lining thanks to Virginia police officer Karen Spencer-Boyles! The dog-ruving officer spotted two pups in the middle of the highway and just knew she had to paw it forward.

In 2009, Spencer-Boyles’ pup, Tex, ran out into the road and was hit by a car. A stranger stopped to help save her dog’s life that day, and Spencer-Boyles didn’t hesitate to return the favor when she saw the chance.

When she approached the scene, Spencer-Boyles realized that one of the dogs had been hit by a car and died, and his grieving friend wouldn’t leave his fallen friend’s side. The kind-hearted officer removed the pup from harm and soothed him.

The rescued pup has been nicknamed Giusseppe and was collected by Richmond Animal Care & Control, who believes he has an owner because he is neutered and was wearing a flea collar. If the owner does not collect him within 10 days, Guisseppe will be put up for adoption. Contact Richmond Animal Control at (804) 646-5573.

UPDATE: Boomer, a.k.a. Giusseppe, escaped when someone accidentally left the gate to his yard open, but he was happily reunited with his owner thanks to Richmond Animal Care & Control and his microchip. High paws all around!

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Approximately 132 Dogs and 4 Birds Searching for New Homes After Being Rescued from Puppy Mill in Virginia

Page County,VA  - More than 130 small breed dogs are looking for a home after being rescued from a deplorable puppy mill in Virginia.

The puppy mill in Page County closed permanently in early July. On the property were more than 130 dogs and even a few birds giving birth non-stop while mill operators collected mounds of dough.

“There are 10,000 to 15,000 puppy mills in operation across the United States and our goal is to shut each and every one of them down,” said Scotlund Haisley with Animal Rescue Corps.

The nonprofit tipped deputies to the breeding facility after investigating reports of a large amount of animals living in disgusting and nasty conditions. The majority of the dogs were underweight and had untreated eye and ear infections, skin issues, severe matting and respiratory conditions.

“They live like this their entire existence, producing litter after litter until they can produce no more, then they are discarded,” said Haisley.

Most of the animals were treated by doctors and then sent to dozens of shelters and small rescues in Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and Canada. Now the transition is on to get them a permanent home.

“A lot if these dogs come out and they’re afraid of human touch,” said Kristin Lamoureux with Mutts Matter Rescue. “They’re not house broken so they are kind of living the life of a feral animal.”

The goal is to bring normalcy to these animals -- from sleeping in a bed to even drinking water out of dish -- the little knowledge that is needed before adoption. It is a bumpy road to recovery that won’t be easy for these little faces. But at least it is a better direction than the one they were in.

“The great reward is reaching into this cage, looking into the eyes of an animal that's known nothing but pain and suffering, and promising them new life,” said Haisley.

Charges for the mill operators are still pending. Animal Rescue Corps says if you want to help stop these operations, their advice is get your pet from a shelter. That is pretty much a guarantee that it didn't come from one of those mass breeders in the United States.

Video:


                The Pet Tree House will update with they become available for adoption!

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Ikea in Tempe, Arizona and Singapore Have Found a Brilliant Way To Help Homeless Animals Get Adopted - They Are Placing Life-Sized Cardboard Cutouts of Homeless Cats and Dogs in Their Showrooms!

Ikea has found a brilliant way to help shelter animals find homes.

The retailer's stores in Tempe, Arizona and Singapore are placing life-sized cardboard cutouts of homeless cats and dogs on the couches, rugs and bunk beds of its showrooms.

The cutouts all display a different barcode, which customers can scan with their phones for more information on the pet pictured.

"We thought it was a perfect way to show people what their home would look like with a pet in it," Becky Blaine, Ikea Tempe's marketing director, told Business Insider.

The program has been successful so far. Of the six cutouts that have been featured at the Tempe store, all have been adopted, Blaine said. More cutouts of adoptable pets will be featured in the store beginning July 29.

The idea for the program originated in Singapore, with a partnership between Ikea and Home For Hope, a coalition of pet adoption agencies that includes Save Our Street Dogs and the Animal Lovers League.

The Tempe store partnered with the Arizona Humane Society to create its own pet adoption program.

The process to make the cutouts is documented in a video made by Home For Hope. First, the animals have their photos taken, as in the image below.

                  The photos are enlarged, printed on cardboard, and placed in various showrooms throughout the store.

                 The photos are enlarged, printed on cardboard, and placed in various showrooms throughout the store.

                                                                        Here's a cutout perched on a child's crib.

                                                                 Here's another of a dog in a mock living room.

Watch the video on the program below.




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The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) - Support Legislation to End Cosmetics Testing on Animals

You may be blinding a bunny without even knowing it if you use shampoo, moisturizer, or any other cosmetic that's been tested on animals. The Humane Cosmetics Act will make animal testing for cosmetics a thing of the past, and you'll be able to use products without the worry.

TO TAKE ACTION, CLICK HERE!

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URGENT! Proctor & Gamble has Issued a Press Release Regarding a Voluntary Recall they are Performing on Select Iams and Eukanuba Dry Dog & Cat Foods, Due to a Possibility of Salmonella Contamination

Proctor & Gamble has issued a press release regarding a voluntary recall they are performing on select Iams and Eukanuba dry dog & cat foods, due to a possibility of Salmonella contamination. Fortunately, according to P&G, there have not yet been any reports of illness due this contamination.

A dog who has ingested salmonella may be lethargic and have diarrhea (possibly with blood), fever, and vomiting. Some dogs will have only decreased appetite, fever and stomach pain. Infected dogs can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian ASAP.


                                                                             List of Affected Foods

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Loyal Dog Stands by Deceased Owner in Scorching-Hot Oklahoma Temps - Guards his Body for Hours Despite Nearly 100F Heat

A fiercely loyal dog was found in the searing Oklahoma heat Saturday steadfastly refusing to leave the side of his deceased owner.

Animal control officers in Oklahoma City were called to the scene as the bull terrier fought hard to stay in the 100 degree Fahrenheit heat.

Now at the local shelter, the dog's defiance has turned to sorrow as he displays behaviors strongly associated with mourning: he refuses to eat, to drink or even lift his head.

Loyal: Oklahoma City officials are seen here struggling to get a fiercely loyal bull terrier away from his deceased owner in the searing summer heat.

Sad: Even with temperatures nearing 100F, the dog stayed with his dead owner and fought hard to stay with him as officials dragged him away.

"The dog kept wanting to pull back to go back to where the remains of where the deceased owner was," Oklahoma City Animal Shelter supervisor Sheridan Lowery told KFOR.

Officials said the dog had remained at the body of his likely transient owner, who died from natural causes, despite having every opportunity to go find water and shelter from the relentless sun.

After authorities arrived and eventually pried the pooch away, he was taken to the animal shelter, where he remained Monday.

                  Mourning: The pooch is now exhibiting classic signs of grief: he won't eat, sleep or even lift his head.

"Their owner is deceased. They don¿t know what is going on. They don't know how to act. They don't know how to react," said Oklahoma City Animal shelter supervisor Sheridan Lowery.






Footage of the dog shows him unable at times to even muster the will to lift his head.
They're the classic signs of grief, from which even dogs can suffer.

"Their owner is deceased. They don’t know what is going on. They don’t know how to act. They don’t know how to react," said Lowery.

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The Center for Pet Safety Announces Safety Harness Certification Research (Crash Test Dog Video)

Washington, DC - The Center for Pet Safety, the 501(c)(3) research and consumer advocacy organization dedicated to consumer and companion animal safety, today announced the publication of its landmark certification program.

As the first scientific approach to pet product safety in the U.S. market, the Safety Harness Crash Test Protocol and Rating system provides essential guidelines for pet product manufacturers. The test protocol, which is a result of the 2013 Harness Crashworthiness Study conducted by Center for Pet Safety, outlines a consistent test methodology and evaluation program to ensure pet safety harness restraints offer crash protection.

“The Center for Pet Safety took great care evaluating the data returned from our 2013 study to understand what safety harness products should do to protect life,” said Lindsey Wolko, founder of Center for Pet Safety. Pet product manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure that these safety devices protect human life and provide the best chance of survival to the pet in the case of an accident.”

To further elevate the pet product industry’s commitment to safety, the Center for Pet Safety (CPS) will accept pre-orders from test facilities on a limited production run of the version 2.1 CPS Crash Test Dogs.

The CPS Certification program will begin immediately. While the certification is a voluntary program, pet product manufacturers are highly encouraged to participate in order to qualify for a Safety-Certified Seal on their product packaging. Interested manufacturers can contact Info(at)CenterForPetSafety(dot)org or call 800.324.3659.

The test protocol and ratings system may be purchased through the CPS online store: http://www.CenterforPetSafety.com.

The protocol and rating system was reviewed by Chris Sherwood of Biocore LLC and Dr. Priya Prasad of Prasad Consulting, LLC.

About the Reviewers:

Chris Sherwood is a former senior research engineer for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). He is currently employed by Biocore, LLC, a biomechanics consulting and research firm. Mr. Sherwood holds a Master’s Degree in Biomechanics and has been actively involved in the research and development of automotive child safety standards.

Dr. Priya Prasad is retired from Ford Motor Company and has a distinguished career leading safety research efforts. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow Member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, and the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering. Dr. Prasad was the first recipient of the National Award for the Advancement of Motor Vehicle Research and Development, and has also received the NHTSA Excellence in Safety Award.

To learn more about the CPS mission or to make a direct contribution or in-kind donation, visit http://www.CenterforPetSafety.org, contact Info(at)CenterForPetSafety(dot)org or call 800.324.3659.

About the Center for Pet Safety®:

The Center for Pet Safety (CPS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and advocacy organization dedicated to consumer and companion animal safety. Based in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area, the Center for Pet Safety's mission is to have an enduring, positive impact on the survivability, health, safety, and well-being of companion animals and the consumer through scientific research and product testing. Welcome to the Science of Pet Safety™. For additional information, visit http://www.CenterForPetSafety.org.

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Would You Ever Consider Having Your Dog's Vocal Cords Partially Removed Because of Excessive Barking?

"Debarking," or cordectomy, is an elective surgical procedure involving partial removal of a dog's vocal cords. Debarking does not take away the dog's ability to bark - it just makes it sound quieter and raspy (considered annoying by some).

Some say debarking surgery is unnecessary and unfair to the dog. Others say that the surgery and anesthesia are always risks, so any procedure that is purely for human convenience and does not medically benefit the patient or animal community should be avoided.

In addition, some behaviorist have said that excessive barking indicates an underlying issue that is usually behavioral. Surgery takes the noise away, but the anxiety, fear or similar problem remains unaddressed. Rather than debarking your dog, spend your time and money on training and/or visiting a veterinary behaviorist.



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