Stray Dogs Show Up at Funeral Home: Attend Funeral of the Woman That Always Fed Them

Margarita Suárez, a humble woman from Mérida, Mexico, did not run a shelter or work with a registered animal organization.  She was not rich and only earned enough money to get by, however, she never hesitated to help animals in need. Suarez fed over 20 stray cats that came to her door every morning, and whenever she went out, she carried food to feed the stray dogs she met on the streets.

At the beginning of March, Suarez relocated to Cuernavaca, Mexico, for health reasons. There, she continued to feed and look after the homeless animals in her community. Sadly, Suarez’s health took a turn for the worse and she passed away. Family, friends and stray dogs attended her funeral.

Patricia Urrutia, Suarez’s daughter, said that on March 15, 2015, stray dogs started arriving at the funeral home early in the morning. At first she thought they were area dogs welcomed at the funeral home, but then she noticed the animals were entering the room where her mother’s body was resting. Urrutia asked workers if they knew the dogs and everyone said they had never seen them before.

When Suarez’s body was moved to the church, the dogs followed behind the funeral car, and when the body returned to the funeral home, so did the dogs.

Urrutia believes the stray dogs were some of the pets her mother fed and they came to show their respect. The dogs were respectful and some even played with funeral attendees. The pets only left once Suarez’s body was prepared for cremation.

Family members cannot explain how the dogs knew where they could find Suarez, but they were happy to see the dogs Suarez cared so much for, also loved her.

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Washington, DC - Meet Mayni and Muniri, The Two Andean Bear Cubs at the National Zoo

On Thursday morning as zoo officials announced the bears’ names, they played in their yard. The zoo said in a Twitter message that they “just heard their first helicopter fly overhead and headed to Mom for comfort.”

After the public voted, the two Andean bear cubs were named, Mayni and Muniri

Mayni is a moniker that means “unique” in the Aymara language. Muniri means “loving” in the Quechua language. The names are meant to reflect the cultural significance of the indigenous peoples of the Andes region, to which the bears are native.

The 19-week-old cubs will go on display to the public, at 10:00 a.m.,  Saturday, Marcg 28th, weather permitting. The brother bears were much celebrated when they were born in November.

Telling the two black balls of fur apart is a bit tough, but zoo officials said the two cubs have distinctive facial markings. Muniri has a slightly longer light brown line in between his eyes; Mayni does not have such a pronounced line.

They definitely have different personalities. Zoo officials have said Mayni is a bit more rambunctious and “seems to need Mom’s attention a bit more than his brother.” His brother, Muniri, is described as playful and “likes to wrestle but is more laid back.”

Zoo officials said that now that the bears have been named, it will help staff members as they teach them certain behaviors like opening their mouth, showing their paws, getting up on a bench and lying down. These learned behaviors are necessary, zoo officials said, to help staff give them vaccinations and care for their health.

The cubs are trained one-on-one, and zoo keepers will call the cubs by their respective names into different enclosures, officials said. Every time a bear does one of its new, learned behaviors, the keepers will use positive reinforcement and call them by name. And they’ll get a treat — either grapes or peanuts, which are their favorites.




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Animal Rescuing Really Does Work: Look At These Before And After Pictures of Rescued Cats

A pet cat will bring love and joy into any home that accepts them with open arms and hearts, but that love gains a special meaning when the cat is a rescue from the streets.

Many of these adopted cats have been saved from the brink of death. If you're considering getting a cat, we hope that this list will convince you to to adopt. They need your love!

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David McCandless' New Book Knowledge is Beautiful, Ranks 87 Dog Breeds

This chart is from, from David McCandless' fascinating new book Knowledge is Beautiful, ranks 87 dog breeds and compares those rankings to the actual popularity of the breeds in the US.

The ranking is based on a number of factors: trainability, life expectancy, lifetime cost (including the price of food and grooming), and suitability for children, among others.

The result: Border Collies, according to McCandless, are the finest dog breed in existence. Labs, Beagles, and Golden Retrievers, while not at the very top, are other popular dogs (at the top right of the chart) that he rates highly.

On the other hand, the formula seems to penalize big dogs. German Shepherds, Great Danes, and Saint Bernards, all in the top left quadrant, are in McCandless' words, "inexplicably overrated." The formula also uncovers some overlooked breeds, at the bottom right, that should be more popular, like Border Terriers and Pointers.

Finally, on the bottom left, the chart shows the breeds that are unpopular and properly so: Old English Sheepdogs, Borzois, and Afghan Hounds.

To view larger image click here: Dog Chart

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California Family Believes 'Dynamic Pet's Real Ham Bone', Purchased from Walmart, Killed Their Dog

A family from Vista, California, believes that their dog died after eating a Dynamic Pet's Real Ham Bone' that they purchased at Walmart.

It seems that this family is not the only ones full of anger and anguish over Dynamic Pet's Real Ham Bone.

Lily Reed, who is an eighth grader, could not help but break down when talking about the unexpected loss of her furry friend, Fred.

Fred was the family's nine-year-old basset hound, and they had to put him down on Monday.

Lily held onto his toys to feel a little closer.

"I don't know," Lily said through tears. "I just want to remember him."

Fred's owner, Victor Paulson, already misses their guy time.

"He would lay on me and he would love to just lay there in my recliner and just fall asleep," Paulson said.

Paulson still has the bone he believes killed his dog. They bought the Real Ham Bone by Dynamic Pet Products from Walmart. Paulson said they were all in the room when Fred enjoyed it for an hour.

However, the next day was a horrific one.

"There was vomit and diarrhea, and he was lying in a puddle of his own blood," Paulson explained.

Fred was in such bad shape when they took him to California Veterinary Specialists in Carlsbad that the family said their good byes, and put him down.

The veterinarians told 10News they did not have a definitive answer about what made Fred ill because the family could not afford to run the tests.

The family seems certain the bone broke apart and ripped apart Fred's insides.

"It couldn't have been anything else," Lily said. "It just couldn't have."

The warning on the Real Ham Bone is more detailed than most. It says:
"Supervise your pet while enjoying any natural bone product. Bone is to be chewed over several sittings, not eaten. Always provide a fresh supply of water to pet. Not recommended for dogs with digestive problems or aggressive chewers. Remove bone immediately if splintering occurs or small fragments break off. Recommended size is slightly larger than your pets mouth. Pet owner assumes liability associated with the use of this or any natural bone product."

10News found dozens, if not hundreds, of comments online with a similar story. Owners gave their dog a ham bone, often the same brand, and the dog started vomiting. Some dogs had surgery, while others died, according to some of the online comments.

10News reached out to Dynamic Pet Products, and they issued this statement:
ST. LOUIS, March 4, 2015 – Dave Frick, President, Dynamic Pet Products, released the following statement today in response to the complaint filed by a consumer regarding Real Ham Bone for Dogs.

"At Dynamic Pet Products, our goal is to offer the best pet products to owners and their dogs. We are saddened to learn of the illness of any of our customers' pets.

Dynamic Pet Products has been producing 100% Human food grade bones approved by the FDA since 2001, including the Real Ham Bone for Dogs. The quality of our products and the safety of the pets that enjoy our products are our top priorities. That is why every package contains a label that provides detailed instructions to owners on how they can help their pets best enjoy our products. We strongly encourage owners to supervise their pets with any treats or snacks. We will continue to provide quality, safe products to our customers."

On a Consumer Affairs web page, the product ranked one of five stars.

The Food and Drug Administration says bones are unsafe across the board. They say problems range from broken teeth to blocking the windpipe, and bone chards can poke holes in the stomach or intestines.

Giving your dog a bone can result in a vet visit, surgery or death. Read more here: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm208365.htm

Walmart told 10News: "We did reach out to the manufacturer and they are aware of this situation and had been in touch with the customer."

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Cat Walks Into New York Police Department: Has Not Been Claimed, Available for Adoption

 Manhattan, NY - Police are trying to locate the owner of a white and gray cat that strolled into the 34th Precinct, Washington Heights, on Monday.

“This cat walked into the 34 Pct today. Officer Andrea DiNella would like to know if anyone is missing him #uptown,” the precinct tweeted.

DiNella told NBC 4 New York Tuesday, "He looks like he came from someone's house. He was very clean, his paws were not long, he had a great disposition, didn't bite. Very friendly."

DiNella named the cat Frankie, who's believed to be about 10 months old. When no one claimed him, she brought him to Regina Galente, who runs local rescue group Adore-a-Bullie Paws and Claws https://www.facebook.com/adoreabullie.

After his short stint in custody, Frankie's new friends in blue were sad to say goodbye.
"Everybody loved him. We didn't want to see him go," said DiNella.

Adore-a-Bullie Paws and Claws:

This is Frankie! He was in lock up at a police pct in the Bronx today! He is a 10th old male kitty that needs a home! The police released him to our custody and he has been ordered to find a home. He will be fully vetted and up for adoption by Tuesday of next week. He is super sweet and lots of fun! Please help Frankie stay out of jail by applying for him today!

To apply to adopt Frankie, click here: FRANKIE

Website: Adore-a-Bullie Paws and Claws

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Reverse Sneezing and Gagging in Dogs

Sneezing refers to the normal behavior of expelling air to remove matter through the nasal cavity. Reverse sneezing, on the other hand, refers to the reflex of bringing air into the body to remove irritants in the upper area that lies behind the nostrils. Dogs may gag to remove irritants from the larynx; this is commonly misinterpreted as vomiting.

Symptoms and Types

Sneezing is often accompanied by a sudden movement of the head downwards, with a closed mouth, and may cause the dog's nose to hit the ground. Reverse sneezing is often characterized by a backwards head motion, a closed mouth and lips sucking in. Gagging usually causes the dog to swallow after extending its neck and opening its mouth. Read more about dog sneezing episodes, and how they could impact your dog's health, using the PetMD Symptom Checker.

Causes
 Any breed of dog can be affected by these medical behaviors. The most common causes for younger dogs include infections, the existence of a cleft palate, or bronchial infections. Another primary cause is the involuntary movement of the hairlike cilia that line the respiratory tract and act to remove foreign matter from the air before it reaches the lungs. This involuntary movement of the hair is medically termed ciliary dyskinesis. The most common causes for older dogs include nasal tumors and dental diseases. Other causes can be mucus irritation, nasal passage obstruction, inflammation, excess nasal discharge or secretion, pneumonia, chronic vomiting, and gastrointestinal disease. Under vaccinated or unvaccinated dogs are at a higher risk of developing infections, which may lead to consistent sneezing. Chronic dental disease can lead to both chronic sneezing and reverse sneezing. Mites found in the nasal openings can also be a cause for any of these physical reflexes.

Diagnosis
 The first method of diagnosis is to distinguish between sneezing and reverse sneezing in the dog. Next, if the condition is serious, more in depth testing may be performed to see if there is a more serious underlying medical condition.

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Hundreds of People Donate More Than $16,000 Save 'Bruce Almighty,' Cat Found Bound in Tape

The story of an abused cat dubbed "Bruce Almighty" has led hundreds of people to donate more than $16,000 in hopes the animal can be saved.

The black-and-white cat had its legs and paws bound by electrical tape that cut off blood flow and led to tissue loss, according to the Facebook page of the Regina Humane Society in Saskatchewan, Canada .

The injured animal "collapsed into the arms" of officers after he was rescued last Wednesday, and then "purred" as they extracted the tape from the cat's injured legs, the society said on Facebook.

"The pain and suffering he has endured is unimaginable" Senior Animal Protection Officer B. Lerat said in a statement. "He is fortunate that a caring member of the public alerted us to his whereabouts. The public really is our eyes and ears when it comes to reporting cases of neglect and abuse involving animals."

Lisa Koch, executive director of the Regina Humane Society, said the rescue officers were amazed that the cat was able to survive with his injuries.

“[The officer] said it was almost like he knew he could quit fighting because he knew we were going to fight for him,” Koch said of Bruce during his rescue.

Koch said she was amazed that an online fundraising page for Bruce has been able to raise more than $16,000.

Unfortunately, Bruce had to have most of his toes removed because of necrotic tissue, but the vets at the Regina Humane Society are hoping the animal will be able to keep all of his legs.

"In the coming days, the focus will remain on wound care to reduce the likelihood of infection and ensuring he is comfortable as he works to heal," read a statement from the Regina Humane Society. "On behalf of Bruce Almighty we’d like to share our thanks for the incredible outpouring of support."

Anyone who knows anything about the case is encouraged to called the Humane Society’s Animal Protection Services at 306-777-7700.

Update: March 23, 2015

Regina Humane Society (RHS) Veterinarians removed Bruce Almighty’s bandages and re-assessed the damage caused by the electrical tape that was tightly wrapped around his legs and paws. As a result, a total of eight necrotic toes were removed (four from each of his front paws). As Bruce Almighty is a polydactyl (he has an extra toe on each front paw), he is left with two toes on each of his front legs. The veterinary team is now working in consultation with the specialists at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine on his treatment plan. At this point we are hopeful he will be able to keep all four legs but the risk of amputation remains. In the coming days, the focus will remain on wound care to reduce the likelihood of infection and ensuring he is comfortable as he works to heal. On behalf of Bruce Almighty we’d like to share our thanks for the incredible outpouring of support. We ask that anyone who has information about this case to contact our Animal Protection team.

Website: Regina Humane Society

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