Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Meet the Half-Blind Sanctuary Owner Who Hand Feeds His 14 Big Cats and Lets Them Cuddle in His Bed
He has been bitten on the nose by a leopard and had his shoulder separated after wrestling with a full-grown Bengal tiger.
But Carl Bovard, who is blind in one eye, believes living with 14 big cats including two lions, six tigers and a desert lynx, is a risk worth taking to raise awareness about endangered species.
They all spend time living in his Florida home before moving into the outside enclosure and are seen clambering over the pool table and cuddling up in his bed.
To read more on this story, click here: Meet the Half-Blind Sanctuary Owner Who Hand Feeds His 14 Big Cats and Lets Them Cuddle in His Bed
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The Cheapest Dog Toy is Right There in Your Own House
Are Those Spiders Falling From The Sky?
The weather forecast calls for it to be cloudy with a chance of spiders! Erick Reis was leaving an engagement party in Santo Antonio da Plantina in Brazil when he was stunned to see thousands of spiders raining down!
The spiders were crawling up and down silk threads attached to telephone pole wires and trees. The creepy footage was taken in February 2013 and gives the impression of spiders falling from the skies!
As scary as it seems, it turns out that this is a common occurrence with this kind of colonial spider, which is quite social and lives in large communities, catching prey in their huge, interwoven webs. High winds must have blown them out of the woods and into the town!
Share this unusual sight with your friends!
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Turkey Still Thinks This Guy Holding a Baby Bear is A Terrorist: Is He?
To read more on this story, click here: Turkey Still Thinks This Guy Holding a Baby Bear is A Terrorist: Is He?
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Former Puppy Mill Dog Experiences a Bed for the First Time (Video)
Delilah spent 9 years living in a wire cage in a puppy mill until she was saved by National Mill Dog Rescue. This video shows her experiencing a bed for the first time in her life.
Puppy mills are large-scale dog operations that are notorious for breeding dogs without considering the well-being of the animals. Puppy mill dogs experience endless suffering and little to no care while living in breeding facilities.
Fortunately for Delilah, her time in a mill ended in early October, and it’s all thanks to the National Mill Dog Rescue. After living in a wire cage for nine years, this pooch sure is excited to see her first real bed. The softness of the padding and the warmth of the fabric definitely has Delilah’s approval. This lucky pooch won’t be sleeping in any more wire cages from now on!
Clearly, puppy mills aren’t exactly the most comfortable place for our four legged friends to end up in, but unfortunately, with 2,000 to 3,000 USDA-licensed breeders (aka legal puppy mills, according to the ASPCA), there could be around 10,000 puppy mills operating in the United States. You can help prevent the proliferation of puppy mills by always choosing to adopt and not shop for a furry friend. For more information, visit the National Mill Dog Rescue website.
Please consider making a donation so more dogs can have the chance to learn about soft beds and most importantly, love: http://milldogrescue.org/donate/.
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Howl-O-Ween Adoption Special – October 31 to November 1:Washington Humane Society Hosts $31 Dog Adoptions and $10 Cat Adoptions
Washington, DC – The Washington Humane Society (WHS) is getting in the Halloween spirit and offering reduced adoption fees on cats and dogs! From Friday, October 31 through Saturday, November 1, dog adoption fees will be reduced to $31 (normally $170) and cat adoption fees will be reduced to $10 (normally $85).
Despite the long-standing myth that animals are at risk of potentially dangerous or failed adoptions around Halloween, many animal welfare organizations like WHS are finding that this is not true. All animals, including black cats and dogs, can find loving homes during any time of the year!
All pets adopted from WHS go home spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped. Our standard adoption interview and approval process applies to all adoptions, and a $15 DC dog license fee is required for dogs adopted by DC residents.
WHAT: “Howl-O-Ween” Adoption Special
WHEN: Friday, October 31, 2014 to Saturday, November 1, 2014
12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Washington Humane Society Adoption Centers
1201 New York Avenue, NE
7319 Georgia Avenue, NW
SPECIAL: $31 dog adoption fees, $10 cat adoption fees
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Monday, October 27, 2014
Are Domestic Dogs Losing The Ability To Get Along with Each Other?
Six months ago, I traveled to a small town in Belize. Over a
week’s time I had several opportunities to observe the “village dogs”. These
are free-roaming dogs that may or may not have owners. My first response to
them was sympathy. As a rule they are thin and lack the robust look and
activity level of the typical European or American pet dog.
But the more I watched them, the more I started to feel
sympathy for my own dogs back at home instead.The Village dogs were free to
come and go. They slept in yards and outside the doors of local shops. Some
approached people for attention or food, others played with each other without
incident. Their body language was loose and relaxed.
After six days of observation, I had not seen one fight
between dogs or any aggression towards people. What do these dogs know that the
average dog in the United States doesn’t know? Are domestic dogs in “developed”
countries losing the ability to get along with each other?
Based on the number of phone calls behavior specialists like
myself receive in a month about dog-dog aggression, I’d say the answer is, YES.
So, with all the advantages money can buy, why are our pet dogs becoming more
and more aggressive with each other?
The answer:
Isolation
Confinement
Lack of regular, frequent interaction with a variety of
stable dogs of varying ages
Ignorance of dog culture and social communication skills
Expectations that all dogs must get along with each other
Isolation, Confinement, Lack of Good Teachers, Ignorance of
Dog Culture, Mistaken Expectations
Typical pet dogs start their socially isolated lives when
they leave their litter mates and move in with humans, often as an only dog.
Isolation during puppyhood prevents them from learning critical social skills
and body language from stable adult dogs and other puppies.
But, socialization is a buzz word that is poorly understood
and often dispensed without specific techniques for success.
By the time I met her, Emma had become a statistic; she was
the Grand Slam of socialization mistakes. A new client had adopted Emma from a
local rescue at 4 month of age. They were told, “This dog needs plenty of
socialization”. They were sent on their way to guess what “plenty of
socialization” means. The dog spent the next 4 months being flooded with trips
to the dog park, leash walks through the crowded streets of the local farmers
market, being led right up the noses of other dogs, and a week long stay at a
boarding kennel.
As it turns out, Emma’s natural temperament was extremely
cautious and she had learned some disastrous lessons about the world. Her
owners, like many others, had only good intentions, but no reliable
information.They believed what most people believe, “all dogs must get along
with each other and with every person they meet“. By 8 months, Emma had become
fear aggressive towards other dogs and extremely timid meeting new people.
The village dogs in Belize have so many advantages over dogs
like Emma. They are never leashed so they always have the ability to move a
safe distance from potential threats. Compared to our dogs, who are tied to us
and set out like the goat in Jurassic Park, with no way to escape, the Village
dogs learn to use innate body language signals to work out social contact
peacefully.
When a pet dog is presented to another dog on leash the
result will normally be one of two responses:
Over-exuberance (brought on by a lack of education about
social skills)
Avoidance and fear
The first scenario may cause the other dog to “correct” the
dog with growling or snapping. The second situation may result in the fearful
dog learning to skip all the lower level warning signals and go straight to the
bark, snap or bite to protect themselves because it’s the only thing that
works.
According to Dr. Ian Dunbar, veterinarian, dog behaviorist,
speaker and author, “Free- Roaming Village puppies enter a functional social
group. They are low man on the totem pole and they learn pretty quickly who to
avoid and when to avoid them.
Dr. Dunbar shares that village puppies are taught the
following lessons without overt aggression by stable adult members of the
group.
Be polite. It’s not okay to run up to an adult dog’s face
Avert your gaze
Acknowledge your lower rank
Ask for permission to approach, investigate or play
Our puppies and dogs, in order to live safely in our
culture, are fenced, crated, confined inside the house and leashed. In general,
they have no social group to teach them how to get along with other dogs. So we
take them to puppy class to give them at least a few weeks of social exposure.
If the owners are lucky, they find an instructor who has an extensive education
about puppy behavior from which to learn. But many owners don’t continue the dog’s
education into adolescence.
More and more young dogs become unruly and socially awkward.
Some become bullies and others are just downright dangerous. A few of these
dogs end up being “socialized” in our dog parks. It’s a dog’s natural instinct
to avoid dogs that are threatening, but how can a frightened dog avoid an out
of control “canine missile” that is barreling towards them across an enclosed
park? It is rare for either of the owners to intervene when this happens.
Animal ethologist, Marc Bekoff, Phd, writes in The Animal
Manifesto: Six Reasons for Expanding Our Compassion Footprint
“Animals at play are constantly working to understand and
follow the rules and to communicate heir intentions to play fairly.They
fine-tune their behavior on the run, carefully monitoring the behavior of their
play partners and paying close attention to infractions of the agreed-upon
rules. Four basic aspects of fair play in animals are: Ask first, be honest,
follow the rules, and admit you're wrong. When the rules of play are violated,
and when fairness breaks down, so does play.”
What Needs To Change to Keep Our Dogs Productively Social?
Operation Socialization: Follow the common sense rules set
out by Operation Socialization, an online resource for creating an emotionally
and behaviorally healthy puppy
Never force: Take it slow with your dog or puppy. Don’t
force him to face something he finds scary or unpleasant. Instead, gradually
create a positive association with the scary situation until your puppy
confidently and willingly meets the challenge.
Help Them Create Appropriate Distance: Because our dogs need
to walk safely on a leash, create distance for them by moving away from other
dogs and then evaluating that dog’s behavior. Read Calming Signals by Turid
Rugaas to learn how to “arc” around other dogs to simulate natural calming
behavior.
Educate Yourself: Take classes where the dogs are treated
with respect. Use positive methods that will instill trust in the dog and
create safe and favorable associations with other dogs (and other people). Get
help from a professional.
Safe Socialization Scenarios: In addition to puppy
socialization, consider Day care for adolescent dogs. Many dog day care facilities
offer play groups that respect each dog’s play style so that rambunctious
players don’t mix with shy or quiet dogs. Your dog should be evaluated by a
knowledgable staff member for play “fitness”. Or find a neighbor who’s dog has
appropriate play skills that match that of your own dog and get these dogs
together for play regularly.
Dogs need fences: Based on laws governing property rights
and for the safety of our canine family members, we do need fences. If your dog
can see other dogs through windows or fences and their response is to bark,
fence fight or become overly aroused, create a visual obstruction so the dog
can’t rehearse this frustrated or territorial aggression. Many owners want
their dogs to “see” the world go by because it’s the dog’s only boredom busting
activity. Give your dog safe chew toys or problem solving “puzzle”
activities.Take them for long runs in the park to work off excess energy.
Interrupt fence running or window barking and take away the dog’s access to
this scenario.
Dog Park? If your dog has a history of aggression or fear,
do not take them to dog parks. Dog Parks are for the safe play of socially
healthy dogs who have the right to play without being set up as “bait” for
other aggressive dogs. If your dog is fearful, it is a short ride to aggression
if even other friendly players approach them. Contact a behavior specialist or
trainer who will help you to find appropriate activities for your dog and who
will teach you how to safely and compassionately improve your dog’s responses
to other dogs.
Dogs discriminate. It is to their advantage to be able to
decide who is safe to have contact with and who isn’t. Nobody’s dog needs to be
friends with every dog they meet and if your dog “corrects” another dog for
inappropriately dangerous social behavior, don’t punish the corrector. A dog
who growls or snaps at an unruly adolescent is well within their rights to
teach the other dog what they are doing wrong. The unruly dog actually needs
this kind of response to learn the rules of social interaction. Move the dogs
away from each other. Don’t let the “correction” escalate to self-defense.
Sharing is not a survival strategy. Don’t expect your dog to
share valuable food or chew items. If your dog covers his filled Kong with his
head, freezes and lifts his lip at an approaching dog, understand that this is
normal dog behavior and a productive communication to the other dog.The higher
the value of the resource, especially food resources, the more likely a dog
will actively guard them. If necessary, separate dogs when offering high value
chew items.
Be your dog’s advocate. Respect who they are and keep them
safe.
There are still many dogs in North America and Europe that
are dog friendly, but, the scales are starting to tip towards a new “norm”
where dogs have no practical social skills when it comes to getting along with
other dogs. We are our dog’s guardians. We take on the responsibility to create
lives for them that are safe, happy and productive. We need to become the
facilitators of a good social education. We owe them at least that much.
Sharing from: Laura Brody
FOLLOW US! Meet Tom, the Cat that Comforts Dying Patients at the VA Medical Center in Salem, Virginia
In the final moments of his life, Edwin Gehlert was
surrounded by his family and loved ones. But as he took his last breaths, a
somewhat unfamiliar face was curled up right next to Gehlert on his hospital
bed. That face belonged to Tom, the tabby cat.
"We had seen Tom in and out of daddy's room on a few of
our visits," Gehlert's daughter Pam Thompson said. “But on that day it’s
like he knew something was different.”
Tom sat with Gehlert and comforted him and his family,
placing his paw in Gehlert's hand immediately after his passing.
“I would never have believed a cat could have touched my
heart like this cat did, but I truly felt like God was speaking to me that
afternoon through Tom,” Thompson said. “It was as if Tom's paw was God's hand
leading my daddy up towards that light to heaven, just as I had been begging
him to do for weeks.”
Tom is responsible for many comforting stories since
arriving at the VA Medical Center in Salem, Virginia, in May 2012.
Laura Hart, the lead physician's assistant at the Salem VA,
said she came up with the idea to bring Tom to the palliative care unit after
hearing Dr. David Dosa speak at a conference in Denver. Dosa is the author of
“Making Rounds with Oscar,” a book about a cat named Oscar who comforted
Alzheimer’s patients in a nursing center in Rhode Island.
"We’re trying to make it a home-like environment, which
is hard to do in a hospital,” Hart said. “But we know the little things, like a
pet, make it more bearable.”
Hart and colleague Dottie Rizzo, the VA's hospice and
palliative care coordinator, then began their search for the perfect cat. They
found a veterinarian in Salem who asked local shelters for a cat that they
think would fit the bill. Salem Animal Shelter immediately thought of their cat
Tom. He ended up being the perfect match.
“We have seen first-hand the impact that he makes on the
families and the patients and even our staff,” Rizzo said. “A hospice can be a
really sad place to be and work and Tom brings a calmness and normalcy to our
unit. We try to be a home-like environment and a pet kind of takes it to the
level that maybe it is a little more like home here with him.”
Tom helps lift the spirits of patients, families and staff
alike, Hart said, noting that families are comforted by his presence, knowing
that when they leave the VA their loved ones will find company in a small,
furry friend.
“Families don’t want their loved ones being alone, and it’s
comforting for them to know Tom is there,” Hart said. “And it’s amazing how
many of the families really feel that Tom is there to be with their family
member when they die, whether he kind of comes and herds the family into the
room right before the patient passes, or he just curls up on a patient’s bed in
their final hours.”
And that experience leaves families with a little more peace
and serenity in some of their toughest moments, just like it did for Thompson
and her family.
“I left the VA that afternoon with a smile on my face and
love in my heart knowing that my father was now at peace and on his way to a
wonderful new adventure and it was all with the help of Tom the Cat,"
Thompson said.
FOLLOW US! How This Baby Orphaned Bat Reacts To Being Loved Will Steal Your Heart - It’s Priceless!
Lil’ Drac is a little orphaned short-tailed bat. This little baby bat was very lucky as it got rescued by Weatherford, Texas Bat World Sanctuary. It is a no-profit organization dedicated towards the preservation of hundreds of bats.
Bat World Sanctuary offers rehabilitation and release programs and even lifelong sanctuary programs to non releasable bats. Bat population is in a rapid decline. More than half of the native bats of USA are endangered. Watch this man giving a loving care to this baby bat.
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Feline Panleukopenia Virus Outbreak Hits Indianapolis Animal Care and Control
An outbreak of feline panleukopenia virus has hit the Indianapolis Animal Care and Control shelter, according to WTHR-TV Channel 13, and numerous cats have been infected.
Panleukopenia is highly contagious and often fatal. It is A feline disease similar to parvovirus in dogs. There is no cure for the virus and cats receive supportive care if infected.
Most of the cats at the Indianapolis Animal Care and Control (IACC) have been placed in local rescues and shelters. Those infected will receive supportive care. The virus spread quickly amongst the shelter cats due to close quarters. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and abdominal pain, and is spread through direct contact. Some cats may exhibit no symptoms at all.
The IACC has closed its cat section so the staff can disinfect the area. The shelter will need anywhere from 72 hours to two weeks to decontaminate the cat housing area. The shelter will not be accepting owner-surrenders during this time. Any cat surrendered while the cat section is closed is at high risk for euthanasia. Stray cats will be brought to Indy Feral, A Ttrap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program for community cats. FOLLOW US!
Yakima Valley Pet Rescue Volunteer Finds Four Filthy, Freezing Puppies Stranded in a Crate by the Side of the Highway
On Friday afternoon, a volunteer for Yakima Valley Pet Rescue was driving along the highway in Yakima, Washington, when she saw the crate on the side of the road. According to Yakima Valley Pet Rescue’s Facebook page, when the volunteer, named Gina, stopped to retrieve the crate, she saw “four freezing cold and filthy puppies all huddled together in back of this crate.” The tiny pups were pushed tightly together to provide warmth and comfort to one another.
Yakima Valley Pet Rescue took in the four puppies, cleaned them up, and provided them with warm baths. The puppies have now been vaccinated and de-wormed. They have full bellies and are full of hope, thanks to the organization’s staff and volunteers.
The organization stated on their Facebook page on Friday:
We think they are a mix of many, looks like some scruffy wirehair and maybe some blue heeler with that coloring...They are 3.5 months old and the smallest weighs 7.4 pounds. They have nice, soft, medium-length coats. They’re three brothers and one sister.”
The puppies have been thriving with the care of Yakima Valley Pet Rescue’s staff and volunteers. The organization stated on their Facebook page today: “The little highway pups are coming along! They are happy little ones!”
Thank you to the dedicated rescuer who found these dogs! To learn more about Yakima Valley Pet Rescue, including how you can donate to this organization, visit the organization’s website HERE and Facebook page HERE.
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6 Common Illnesses to Watch for in Puppies
Your puppy is brand new and you want to protect him. The best thing you can do is to feed him a healthy, balanced diet, says Dr. Jim Dobies, a veterinarian with South Point pet hospital in Charlotte, N.C., and a member of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Association.
To read more on this story, click here: 6 Common Illnesses to Watch for in Puppies
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Sunday, October 26, 2014
The Prince George's County Police Department, Prince George's County, Maryland - Today is Honoring Our Fallen K9 Hero "Rebel" Lost This Day in 1984 While Searching for a Suspect
A perimeter was established and several announcements were made into the building instructing any suspects to surrender. When the suspects ignored those orders, Corporal Wing and Rebel deployed into the school, entering through the boiler room. As the search moved towards the far end of the school, Rebel gave indication to Corporal Wing of possible human presence within a particular classroom. Rebel entered the room, which was completely dark, and became aware of a suspect. As Rebel moved towards the suspect to make apprehension, the suspect stabbed Rebel in the chest. The armed suspect then advanced towards Corporal Wing, forcing him to deploy lethal force. Rebel was rushed to a veterinarian where he died of his injuries.
Rebel served the Prince George’s County Police Department for two years and was the first K9 member of this agency to give his life in the line of duty. At the time of his death, Rebel was five years old.
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Top Dogs: Australian Predators Can Provide 24-7 Feral Cat Control
Feral cats are devastating our wildlife, so we need a long-term, sustainable solution. This is where Australia's natural predators come in.
A few moments on the internet will reveal that, as companion animals, cats are rivalled only by dogs. Our love affair with them is hardly surprising: they are elegant, graceful and affectionate animals. But they are also highly adaptable and successful hunters. Sadly our soft spot for them brings with it disastrous consequences for smaller wildlife species, particularly mammals, birds and reptiles.
To read more on this story, click here: Top Dogs: Australian Predators Can Provide 24-7 Feral Cat Control
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