Americans love their pets, and they aren't afraid to open up their wallets to take care of them. Americans spent close to $60 billion on pet expenses during 2014, according to estimates from the American Pet Products Association. Between food, veterinary care and other supplies, it's easy for costs to add up. As the dog days of tax season approach, one question that many people have is whether there's any way they can get any sort of tax break for their pet expenses. As outlandish as it might sound, there actually are some perfectly legal tax deductions you can claim from what you spend on your pets. Before turning to those deductions, let's first take a look at what you can't do with pet expenses. Pet Dependent? Forget About It The most obvious tax break that might tempt you is the personal exemption for dependents, which on your 2014 return will give you a reduction of $3,950 on your taxable income. Certainly, your dogs, cats or other pets rely on you for their survival. But the Internal Revenue Service takes the view that only human dependents can qualify for the valuable personal exemption. Several other similarly enticing deductions also don't work. Veterinary care might cost you as much as a doctor's visit for yourself, but you're not allowed to deduct those vet charges as medical expenses on your tax return. Similarly, if you're traveling on business, you can't write off the costs of boarding your dog in a kennel as a travel expense. When You Might Have a Legitimate Write-Off Even if pets aren't the perfect tax breaks in all situations, there are limited circumstances in which you might be able to deduct some of their expenses. Here are a few: 1. If You Need a Guide Animal Pet medical care isn't deductible, but if you need a guide animal for your own health, the expenses of keeping that animal become eligible medical expenses. Those costs include food, veterinary care, grooming and other expenses that the guide animal needs to give you assistance. In addition, therapy animals can also qualify, as long as you've received a medical diagnosis for a condition for which you need the animal. Keep in mind, though, that you'll need to overcome the special threshold for deducting medical expenses -- 10 percent of adjusted gross income for those under age 65 -- before you can deduct guide-animal costs. 2. If You Use a Guard Animal The IRS has allowed taxpayers to deduct expenses for guard animals protecting business property. Watchdogs are prime candidates for this deduction, as long as the dog is of an appropriate breed and you can document your expenses and the amount of time the dog spends on guard duty. 3. If You Move If you move, you can deduct special expenses of moving your pets as long as the overall move qualifies for moving-expense deductions generally. Typically, the move has to be for work purposes, and your new job has to be at least 50 miles further away from your previous home than your old job was. If you qualify, the deduction is available even if you don't itemize, although a special form is necessary to claim the deduction. 4. If You're in a Pet Rescue Program With an Animal Shelter Many animal shelters are nonprofit organizations, so if you agree to provide a pet a foster home, you might be able to write off some of your expenses as charitable donations. In addition to pet food, vet bills, and supplies, you can also get a modest write-off for vehicle mileage. However, be sure to keep good records and get an acknowledgement of your work from the shelter in question, or else the IRS might challenge your claim. 5. If Your Pet Turns Into a Profession Some pet owners are able to turn their love of animals into a moneymaking profession. Whether it's racing horses, showing dogs or breeding animals of all sorts, you might be able to count some or all of your pet expenses against the income they generate. A lot rides on whether you're considered to have a business or merely a hobby. Hobby losses are deductible only to the extent you have gains, and you have to treat hobby losses as a miscellaneous deduction, which can limit the amount you can actually claim. The hurdle for establishing a legitimate business is higher, but you may be able to deduct all of your expenses for a business, even if it results in a net loss. Every situation is different, and you should work with a tax professional before claiming any of these expenses in your own specific case. Nevertheless, if any of these situations applies to you, you might be able to turn your pet into a nice tax break come April.
There are at least 36 breeds of dogs that grow hair in lieu of fur. Many of these breeds are registered with the American Kennel Club, while some are less commonly known. If they aren't trimmed, hair coats can grow to indeterminate lengths. However, a few of these breeds are predominantly hairless. Many do not shed. Several of these breeds are even hypoallergenic. Large Breed Dogs
Irish Water Spaniel Of the large breed dogs, the hair coats are curly, flowing and straight, wiry and rough, and nearly hairless. The standard poodle, Portuguese water dog and Irish water spaniel possess curly hair coats. The bearded collie grows a flowing straight coat. Wiry rough coats can be found in the airedale and giant schnauzer. The standard xoloitzcuintli, commonly referred to as the xolo, and the Peruvian inca orchid are predominately hairless breeds with straight hair growing only on some parts of their bodies. The xolo does come in a coated variety in addition to the hairless version. Grooming needs are particular to each breed, with most needing monthly grooming or daily care. Medium Breed Dogs
Wirehaired Fox Terrier The widest variety of hair-coated breeds can be found in the medium group. With ratters, herders, companion pets, working breeds and small working hounds, this group is diverse. Curly coats can be found on the miniature poodle and logatto romagnolo; wiry rough coats on the bedlington terrier, kerry blue terrier, wirehaired fox terrier and standard schnauzer; and more flowing straight coats on the Tibetan terrier, Polish lowland sheepdog (which is also referred to as a PON), lowchen, lhasa apso, miniature coated xolo and soft coated wheaten terrier. The only hairless variety in this group is the hairless variety of miniature xolo. Three unusual hair coats can be found in the medium-sized group. The basenji has a very short soft coat. The coats belonging to the puli and bergamasco, both of which are herding breeds, will almost naturally fall into rastafarian style cords if left to continually grow. Small and Toy Breed Dogs
Yorkshire Terrier Of the small and toy breeds with hair coats, several quite popular breeds are included. The miniature poodle, bichon frise, maltese, yorkshire terrier, miniature schnauzer, shih-tzu and havenese have differing coat characteristics, but are widely accepted as wonderful small companion pets with monthly grooming needs. The less commonly known of these small and toy hair breeds are the Bolognese (also referred to as the bichon Bolognese), the Brussels griffon, both hairless and puff varieties of the Chinese crested and toy xolo, the coton de tulear and the dandie dinmont terrier. References Vetinfo.com: Dogs With Hair Rather Than Fur
The Atlas Moth, Attacus atlas, is one of the largest species of butterfly that can be kept by insect enthusiasts. The moth is beautiful and very large, but also the caterpillars look amazing. The caterpillars are green-whitish with strange soft spines on their backs. Their last feet have a bright red spot on them. Originally this species is from Sout-East Asia. This is the caresheet for the Atlas Moth. Appearance of the Atlas Moth The Atlas Moth has a wing span of 25 cm. The front wings have two triangle shaped ‘windows’ made of translucent wing material, the back wings also each have a window. The wings itself are a rusty brown color, with light yellow, red, purple, black and pink accents. The caterpillars are greenish white in color with soft spines on their back. They almost look a bit powdered. On the side of the last feet the caterpillars have a red and blue spot. Food The butterflies of the Attacus atlas species do not have a mouth and therefore cannot feed. They live off the energy reserve that they obtained as a caterpillar. This means they do not live that long, generally only 5 to 7 days. The caterpillars of the Atlas Moth do eat, and a lot as well! They eat leaves of privet, Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), citrus trees, cinnamon trees and mango trees. As you can see they are not too picky regarding their food plant, but they won’t eat any leaf. Behavior of Attacus Atlas Atlas Moth caterpillars are easy pets, they do not require attention and won’t try to escape. As long as they have food, they will just eat. When they are about to make a cocoon, they will walk around to find a suitable place. During the day the moths are inactive, during the evening and night they will start to fly in search of a mate or for a suitable place to lay their eggs. During the day they are easily handled, you can pick them up by forcing them to step onto your hand or finger. NEVER grab them at their wings, because they are very fragile. Housing A suitable housing for the caterpillars is a clear plastic box with a lot of ventilation holes. On the bottom of this container you can place paper towels. The caterpillars will live on top of their food leaves and do not need any other decoration. If you choose to place the branches with leaves in a cup of water to keep them fresh, make sure that the caterpillars cannot fall into the water. The moth should be kept in a well ventilated cage or room. This space can never be too big for them. If you use a glass terrarium or cage with wide gaps between the bars, the moths will destroy their wings when flying against the cage or the glass. Environmental Requirements The ideal temperature to keep Atlas Moths and their caterpillars is 25 °C, but room temperature is also find. The temperature should not go below 14 °C Do not keep the caterpillars too moist, as humidity makes them prone to fungal infections. If you just wet the fresh leaves that you feed them before you put them in their enclosure, than it is already moist enough. Hanging Cocoons When the caterpillars made their cocoons of silk and changed into pupa, you can collect them and hang them nicely. Hanging the cocoons in a planned fashion will ease the eclosion of the butterfly, opposed to having them eclose at whatever place the caterpillar has chosen. With a needle you can pin a piece of the silk of the cocoon to and hang it from the ceiling of a cage. You can also use a needle and thread and hang the cocoon from that. Try to put it as far to the edge of the cocoon as possible, so you won’t hinder the butterfly when he wants to get out. Hang the cocoons in a space with at least 30 cm free space all around the cocoons. Make sure the cage has sides that are climbable for butterflies, so they can climb up again if the accidentally fall down. The cage cannot be too big. Developmental time of Atlas Moths The eggs take 10 to 14 days to hatch. The caterpillars will eat for 35 to 45 days. The pupa will develop into butterflies in around 21 days. The butterfly will live for 5 to 7 days. Reproduction and Breeding The males of the Atlas Moth are easily recognized by their broad, feathered antenna. The females have thinner antenna and have fewer feather-like hairs on them. The wings of males and females are also very different. The ‘windows’ in the wings of females are much bigger than in thewings of males. The females are a bit larger in general. Very shortly after the butterflies eclose from their cocoon, mating starts. The female will spread pheromones to attrackt a male. You do not need to do anything to make this happen. Some people say movement of air, wind, will facilitate mating because it makes it easier for the male to find the location of the pheromones. The female will produce around 200 to 300 eggs. She will also produce them if she is not mated or if the eggs are unfertilized. Do not release this moth, its eggs or the caterpillars into nature.
Washington, DC - An annual tradition continues as the DC Walk for the Animals takes place on Sunday, September 18th at the Capitol Riverfront. The event includes a one mile walk around the Capitol Riverfront area, admission to Pet-a-palooza and, for the first time, admission to “Barktoberfest” – all to raise money to benefit the 60,000 animals cared for by the Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League. WHAT: DC Walk for the Animals WHEN: Sunday, September 18, 2016 TIME: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM WHERE: Capitol Riverfront Corner of M St SE & First St SE (across from the Navy Yard Metro Station and adjacent to Nats Park) Look for our mobile adoption center - Adopt Force One
EVENT: This event includes admission to Pet-A-Palooza and Barktoberfest all for one ticket price! PRICE: $35 The entry fee is $35 for walkers, $20 for those under 21, and includes a t-shirt and gift bag and admission to Pet-a-palooza and Barktoberfest. Walkers are encouraged reach out to friends and family to raise at least $125 to help the animals cared for by WHS-WARL (this is a suggested goal; there is not a fundraising requirement for the event). This year’s DC Walk for the Animals has something for everyone! Come out and participate in the walk, enjoy vendor booths, contests for your dogs, win prizes, music, pet adoptions, kids’ entertainment, and much, much more at Pet-a-Palooza! And, you don't want to miss the delicious food trucks and unlimited beer tastings (for those 21+) at Barktoberfest. Visit our webpage to register to walk or purchase tickets and for more event information! More about the event: The DC Walk for the Animals is a one mile walk around the Capitol Riverfront area to raise money to benefit WHS-WARL and the 60,000 animals we serve each year. Registered walkers will also have access to Pet-A-Palooza and be able to participate in Barktoberfest. Entry fee is $35 for walkers, $20 for those under 21, and includes a t-shirt and gift bag.
Barktoberfest gives beer lovers a chance to bring their four legged friends out for an afternoon, sample craft beers and food trucks. Beer enthusiasts will enjoy sampling a wide variety of unique craft brewed beer and grabbing a bite to eat from local food vendors. Quench your thirst at Barktoberfest! For those that do not participate in the Walk for the Animals, tickets are $35 and include a tasting glass (for those 21+). Tickets for designated drivers and those under 21 are $20. Participants in both the DC Walk for the Animals and Barktoberfest will have access to Pet-A-Palooza, which includes vendor booths, pet entertainment, contests, pet adoptions, games, kid’s entertainment, live music provided by 94.7 Fresh FM, and much more! The location for this one-of-a-kind event is the SE Capitol Riverfront at the corner of M St SE & First St SE in D.C. (across from the Navy Yard Metro Station and adjacent to Nats Park). Get your tickets today at www.dclovesdcanimals.org. For more information or to donate, visit the websites below: Register here to walk: REGISTER
About Washington Animal Rescue League-Washington Humane Society (WARL-WHS) The Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League combined organization cares for more than 60,000 animals annually. The broad range of programs offered include: rescue and adoption, humane law enforcement, low-cost veterinary services, animal care & control, behavior and training, spay-neuter services, humane education, and many others. Operating four animal-care facilities in Washington, D.C., the organization occupies a significant footprint in the District, and serves as a resource to current pet guardians and prospective adopters across the region.
High school teacher Barry Stewart has an interesting way of motivating his students to learn their way around the basics of construction. His biggest assignment is to build small dog and cat houses for pets and feral animals, which are then donated to organizations and families in need at no cost. Construction of these miniature houses is similar to the way large houses for humans are built. It presents similar challenges and prepares kids for possible careers in the industry, and it’s all for a good cause. Mr. Stewart started this project in 2002 as a way to give his shop students at a career center some experience in the field of construction. He had heard about Forsyth County Animal Control’s Houses for Hounds program–a program that works with animal welfare groups to give free dog houses to low-income residents. The project worked amazingly well as a teaching tool. Not only did students learn about construction, they innovated new ways to make animal houses more functional. For example, they moved doorways from the center of the house to the side to protect against wind, added two-inch entryways to prevent pets from removing their beds, and created removable roofs so feral cat caretakers could take kittens in for spaying and neutering before returning them to their families. Stewart’s students have made over 600 dog houses and over 110 feral cat homes since he began assigning the project. Mr. Stewart now works in Jacksonville, Florida at Englewood High School and donates the pet houses made by students to organizations like Friends of Jacksonville Animals and Epic Animals Outreach. The students have also added feeding stations to their designs. The animal homes are often carried by animal welfare officers to warn people of the danger of leaving pets exposed to the elements. They are then provided to low-income families for free.
Sea Isle City, New Jersey - Bob Schoelkopf, founder of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, said it was a young male, about 33 feet long, and probably weighs about 20 tons. There were no visible signs of injury or trauma. Schoelkopf said one or two whales beach themselves along the Jersey coast each year; this is the second of 2016. The whale was first spotted before noon, floating offshore around Ocean City. It eventually washed onto the beach at Sea Isle near 20th Street around 2 p.m. A crowd of about 100 people had gathered on the beach behind yellow police tape, braving the overwhelming stench to get a glimpse of it. "It’s sad to see such a beautiful animal dead on the beach like this," said Ann Heffer, a vacationer from Exton, Pa. "I’m glad this doesn’t happen every day." Officials with the Stranding Center and the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife were on the scene, said Sea Isle City spokeswoman Katherine Custer. A necropsy will be performed on the beach Saturday morning to learn how it died. Until then, officials brought in heavy machinery to draw the body further up the beach and away from waves that could drag it out to sea again. A heavy-duty chain tied around its tail snapped under the weight of the animal. Crews had to shorten the length of the chain and add a second, canvas strap to successfully drag it up the beach. No one was injured when the chain snapped. The necropsy should take about eight hours, Schoelkopf said. Humpbacks can live up to 50 years, Schoelkopf said, but this one was a juvenile.
Join us for our Annual Spaghetti Bingo Fundraiser event! All you can eat spaghetti, salad, bread, dessert and soft drinks and 6 bingo cards. Additional bingo cards, raffle tickets, t-shirts and other Homeward Trails merchandise, and beer and wine will be available for purchase and there will be many great items on the silent auction. WHAT: Annual Spaghetti Bingo Fundraiser WHEN: Saturday, September 24, 2016 TIME: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM LOCATION: Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, VA 4444 Arlington Blvd, Arlington, Virginia 22204 To sign up for this event on facebook, click HERE. Tickets $21.99 Sold by Eventbrite
I want to tell you about a special friend of mine. Her name is Sazzy. Since the summer of 2015, Sazzy has been living with her foster mom, Lisa LaFontaine, CEO and President at Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League. She's had a horrendous start in life, and is now raising money to help other animals Please read Sazzy’s story, told by her foster mom: My pretty little lady came into our lives about a year ago, when we took her home in the summer of 2015 to provide foster care. Sazzy had was covered with infected puncture wounds, the result of a dog attack in her former home. Even worse, her jaw was shattered, most likely from being kicked in the face. Although we tried many medical interventions, ultimately she lost a good portion of her mandible. That didn't stop her; in fact, we decided to adopt her the day we took her home from Friendship Hospital for Animals, because she kissed every person on her way out of the lobby. Who wouldn't want to have such spirit in their lives on a daily basis! Over the past year we've learned a lot about each other. She is my sidekick and comes to work with me at WHS/WARL on most days that I am based in an office. Sazzy graduated from eating hand-fed meatballs to doing everything a fully-mouthed dog can do. She gives sideways kisses, and she is a sloppy eater, but none of that matters because she exudes love and joy and curiosity. We are raising money this year to give back to other animals who, like her, had a rough start - but carry sunshine in their souls. When I have a rough day Sazzy fills my heart with joy and inspires me to go out and do all I can to help other animals. Any gift you can give would be appreciated! People say that Sazzy is lucky to have found us and while that is true, I see us as the lucky ones. I have infinitely more smiles and laughs than I had before she came into my life. She brings more love into our home. What more can you ask for when you adopt! Sazzy is grateful for every new day, and I will be grateful for any gift you can give to honor my sweet, special girl. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Lisa (and Sazzy)
If you would like to make a donation to help Sazzy raise money to help other unfortunate animals, click on the donate button below, no amount is too small.
Washington, DC - An annual tradition continues as the DC Walk for the Animals takes place on Sunday, September 18th at the Capitol Riverfront. The event includes a one mile walk around the Capitol Riverfront area, admission to Pet-a-palooza and, for the first time, admission to “Barktoberfest” – all to raise money to benefit the 60,000 animals cared for by the Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League. WHAT: DC Walk for the Animals WHEN: Sunday, September 18, 2016 TIME: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM WHERE: Capitol Riverfront Corner of M St SE & First St SE (across from the Navy Yard Metro Station and adjacent to Nats Park) Look for our mobile adoption center - Adopt Force One
EVENT: This event includes admission to Pet-A-Palooza and Barktoberfest all for one ticket price! PRICE: $35 The entry fee is $35 for walkers, $20 for those under 21, and includes a t-shirt and gift bag and admission to Pet-a-palooza and Barktoberfest. Walkers are encouraged reach out to friends and family to raise at least $125 to help the animals cared for by WHS-WARL (this is a suggested goal; there is not a fundraising requirement for the event). This year’s DC Walk for the Animals has something for everyone! Come out and participate in the walk, enjoy vendor booths, contests for your dogs, win prizes, music, pet adoptions, kids’ entertainment, and much, much more at Pet-a-Palooza! And, you don't want to miss the delicious food trucks and unlimited beer tastings (for those 21+) at Barktoberfest. Visit our webpage to register to walk or purchase tickets and for more event information! More about the event: The DC Walk for the Animals is a one mile walk around the Capitol Riverfront area to raise money to benefit WHS-WARL and the 60,000 animals we serve each year. Registered walkers will also have access to Pet-A-Palooza and be able to participate in Barktoberfest. Entry fee is $35 for walkers, $20 for those under 21, and includes a t-shirt and gift bag.
Barktoberfest gives beer lovers a chance to bring their four legged friends out for an afternoon, sample craft beers and food trucks. Beer enthusiasts will enjoy sampling a wide variety of unique craft brewed beer and grabbing a bite to eat from local food vendors. Quench your thirst at Barktoberfest! For those that do not participate in the Walk for the Animals, tickets are $35 and include a tasting glass (for those 21+). Tickets for designated drivers and those under 21 are $20. Participants in both the DC Walk for the Animals and Barktoberfest will have access to Pet-A-Palooza, which includes vendor booths, pet entertainment, contests, pet adoptions, games, kid’s entertainment, live music provided by 94.7 Fresh FM, and much more! The location for this one-of-a-kind event is the SE Capitol Riverfront at the corner of M St SE & First St SE in D.C. (across from the Navy Yard Metro Station and adjacent to Nats Park). Get your tickets today at www.dclovesdcanimals.org. For more information or to donate, visit the websites below: Register here to walk: REGISTER
About Washington Animal Rescue League-Washington Humane Society (WARL-WHS) The Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League combined organization cares for more than 60,000 animals annually. The broad range of programs offered include: rescue and adoption, humane law enforcement, low-cost veterinary services, animal care & control, behavior and training, spay-neuter services, humane education, and many others. Operating four animal-care facilities in Washington, D.C., the organization occupies a significant footprint in the District, and serves as a resource to current pet guardians and prospective adopters across the region.
Washington, DC - Calling all turtle lovers! Red Head and Golden Girl are just two red eared sliders looking for their forever homes. They've been at our New York Avenue Adoption Center for far too long and deserve a pond of their own. Red eared sliders are named for the little red stripe on their ears and the way they easily slide in and out of water. If these two sound like the perfect pets for you, adopt them today! www.washhumane.org/adopt
Red Head Animal ID: 32164229 Species: Reptile Age: 5 years 2 months 3 days Sex: Female Color: Black/Red Declawed: No Site: Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League To learn more about Red Head, click HERE.
Golden Girl
Animal ID: 32203269 Species: Reptile Age: Sex: Female Color: Black/Red Declawed: No Site: Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League To learn more about Golden Girl, click HERE.
District of Columbia Animal Care and Control (New York Avenue Adoption Center - WHS is contracted by the Department of Health to operate this facility) 1201 New York Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 202-576-6664 Adoption Center Hours: 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday* Closed for adoptions on Mondays Click for holiday hours » Stray animals are accepted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Please Share!
Psittacosaurus to create a model which challenges everything you thought you knew about the typical dinosaur. Research led by Dr Jakob Vinther of the University of Bristol and published in a paper in the journal Current Biology showed that a Psittacosaurus — nicknamed a "parrot-lizard" — is about the size of a turkey, has bristles on its tail and a birdlike beak. In other words, a bit weird, but also pretty cute. It's also quite likely that the animal had feathers and a horn on each cheek, the experts say. Quite aptly, Psittacosaurus belongs to the group ceratopsians, which basically means "horned faces" in Greek. It's the same group that contains Triceratops. The scientists say Psittacosaurus would have lived in what is now China roughly 100-123 million years ago in what may have been a forested region, where several other feathered dinosaur fossils have also been found. The model that brought Psittacosaurus to life Some limited information could be gathered about the colouring of Psittacosaurus from preserved melanin patterns inside the fossil, but to get a more accurate glimpse, the team asked paleoartist Bob Nicholls to create a real size 3D model of the animal. Vinther said that the dark colouring and light belly of Psittacosaurus indicates that it probably lives in forests with dappled lighting, where it could blend into its surroundings and hide from predators. "The fossil preserves clear countershading, which has been shown to function by counter-illuminating shadows on a body, thus making an animal appear optically flat to the eye of the beholder," he said. "We were amazed to see how well these color patterns actually worked to camouflage this little dinosaur." Dinosaurs were probably feathery, not scaled like in Jurassic Park. Vinther’s research with pigmentation began while he was at Yale University, where his studies revealed that structures previously believed to be dead bacteria were actually things called melanosomes; small structures that carry melanin pigments, which are found in skin and feathers. There have been growing theories over the past few decades that dinosaurs were probably more bird-like than lizard. In 1964, Yale Professor John Ostrom discovered a fossil called Deinonychus and hypothesised that it might be warm-blooded and covered in feathers. Several years later, paleontologist Robert Bakker described the famous T-rex as "the 20,000 pound roadrunner from Hell." Since 1983 hundreds of feathered fossils have been found around the world, but mostly in China. Each new fossil finding provides clues about previously discovered ones, and brings up new questions about whether dinosaurs were scaled at all. For example, new ideas about where feathers could have been attached on arm bones of theropods such as velociraptors. The researchers now want to explore more types of fossils to further understand how other species might have been pigmented to be able to camouflage themselves.
Psittacosaurus lived about 100 million years ago.
The turkey-sized Psittacosaurus in the Bristol Botanic Garden.
The Chinese fossil was preserved with skin and pigments intact.
Tampa, Florida - It's a fat, furry caterpillar that is popping up in trees across Florida, and it's known as the "puss caterpillar," or Megalopyge opercularis. Its fur is actually covered in venom. Doctors from the University of Florida say the second you touch this caterpillar you feel instant, intense pain, which Holly Nokes can attest to. "Had one land on my camera strap last year," Nokes told FOX 13. "Burning-stinging-on-fire pain within a second of coming in contact with it. No itching just nonstop, excruciating pain. Six hours after, experienced chest pain, too," said Nokes, which led her to the emergency room. Nokes shared a photo with FOX 13 that was taken on September 14 of the caterpillar at Lettuce Lake Park. Doctors say the pain is worse than a bee, jellyfish, or scorpion, and it can also cause vomiting and convulsions. They say be aware of them while working outdoors because they are known to fall out of trees, which Nokes says is what happened to her.
