As much as we adore them, it can drive cat lovers crazy to see their beloved feline claw at their furniture. Cats are capable of precious snuggles, amazing acrobatics, and hilarious antics but watching furniture get torn to shreds is not fun! Of course, clawing is a completely natural behavior for cats. According to PAWS, cats will scratch at furniture, carpet, and other objects for numerous reasons, such as to remove the dead outer layer of their claws, to mark their territory by leaving a visual mark and scent (cats have scent glands on their paws), as well as to stretch their bodies and paws. Unfortunately, for some inexperienced guardians, a cat’s need to claw might drive them to return or abandon their new feline. 70 percent of shelter cats end up being killed including strays, feral and surrendered cats, so it’s important we keep cats happy and safe in their home by any means possible, and keep them out of shelters. So, if your cat is scratching at furniture and other items in the house, here are some tips for how to deter them. To read more on this story, click here:How to Keep Your Cat From Scratching Furniture – and Why You Should Avoid Declawing at All Costs
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Tardigrades have a reputation as the toughest animals on the planet. Some of these microscopic invertebrates shrug off temperatures of minus 272 Celsius, one degree warmer than absolute zero. Other species can endure powerful radiation and the vacuum of space. In 2007, the European Space Agency sent 3,000 animals into low Earth orbit, where the tardigrades survived for 12 days on the outside of the capsule. To a group of theoretical physicists, tardigrades were the perfect specimens to test life's tenacity. “Life is pretty fragile if all your estimates are based on humans or dinosaurs,” said David Sloan, a theoretical cosmologist at Oxford University in Britain. The tardigrade lineage is ancient. “Tardigrade microfossils are reported from the Early Cambrian to the Early Cretaceous, 520 million to 100 million years ago,” said Ralph O. Schill, an expert on tardigrades at the University of Stuttgart in Germany who was not involved with this research. “They have seen the dinosaurs come and go.” Sloan, with his Oxford colleague Rafael Alves Batista and Harvard University astrophysicist Abraham Loeb, decided to try to rid the planet of tardigrades. In theory, anyway, in a report published Friday in the journal Scientific Reports. Through the powers of mathematical modeling they tossed three of the most devastating cosmic events at Earth: killer asteroids, supernovae and gamma-ray bursts. “These are the biggest ways you can transfer energy to the planet,” Sloan said. The tardigrades kept on theoretically trucking, outlasting 10 billion years' worth of cataclysms. Until the point that the sun failed or engulfed the planet. In picking their apocalyptic poison, the scientists first tried to sterilize the planet with radiation. In the lab, some tardigrade species can survive radiation doses of 5,000 to 6,000 grays. (“You would be very, very lucky to walk away” from a dose of 5 grays, Sloan said.) But long before the scientists blasted Earth with enough radiation to kill all the tardigrades, they calculated that the radiation's energy would boil the oceans away. The sticking point for tardigrades, then, was the evaporation of the planet's water. For an asteroid to deposit that much energy into the ocean, it would need a mass of at least 1.7 quintillion kilograms. Of all the asteroids in the solar system, only 19 fit the bill. (By way of comparison, the asteroid that finished the dinosaurs was six miles across; an asteroid called Vesta that is one of the potential ocean killers has a diameter of 326 miles.) The chances of such a massive collision are so small, the scientists said, that the sun would die first. Likewise, the closest stars that could explode into supernovae are too far away to boil the oceans. Gamma-ray bursts were a bit more complicated — “we don't really understand where they come from,” Sloan said — but not impossible to calculate. And though the bursts would strip off parts of the atmosphere, killing animals like humans, tiny and durable creatures under the ocean, huddled around hydrothermal vents, would be “sufficiently well-shielded,” Sloan said. But lumping all tardigrade species into one unkillable chimera was a fatal flaw in this argument, according to tardigrade expert William R. Miller. “I can't say anything about the physics,” he said, “but they can't say anything about the animals.” Not all tardigrades dwell in water; some species live in moss and lichens on trees. (Their variety of habitats is reflected in nicknames like “water bear” and “moss piglet.”) Miller, a biologist at Baker University in Kansas, said that the authors of the new work treat tardigrades as a single animal, ignoring that they are in fact a phylum of 1,250 different species. He compared this approach to arguing that “a sixgill shark at the bottom of the ocean is the same as a snow leopard in Siberia.” Sloan emphasized that he was approaching the tardigrade apocalypse as a physicist, not a biologist. He said such doomsday calculations commonly take a human perspective, but such an approach misses the true resilience of life. The cosmic implications of this study, he said, “means that if life did get started on another planet in our galaxy, it probably should still be there.” Land-dwelling tardigrades endure extremes thanks to an ability called cryptobiosis, in which the animals lose all but 3 percent of the water in their bodies. It is in this state that tardigrades can survive the hottest heats, the coolest colds, crushing pressures or the complete lack of it. They desiccate, and then they persist. Joseph Seckbach, a biologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said that a tardigrade “can be in dormancy for 30, 40 years, and wake up and say, ‘Hello!’ ” But there is no indication that water-dwelling tardigrades are capable of the same process, Miller said. “The illusion that marine animals survive with a cryptobiotic plan is just dead wrong.” Nor are they indestructible. “We work with active animals and they're quite easily murdered,” he said. “We kill thousands of them every day.” Shill noted that tardigrades had evolved to survive in particular microhabitats. “I believe that the resistance to radiation is a product of chance,” he said. “If an astrophysical event sterilized all life on Earth, it does look also bad for the future of these amazing animals.” That's not to say cosmic tardigrades are out of the question. In 2014, Miller and physicist Ran Sivron calculated that tardigrades could survive the 4.37-light year trip to Alpha Centauri (and then longer, if they presumably landed on a friendly exoplanet). Even then, though, “the ability to go into this cryptobiosis survival mechanism probably isn't going to work,” Miller said, “if they still don't have food, water, habitat or atmosphere.”
Did you know more than 40,000 pets die each year in house fires and that 1,000 dogs cause fires every year? As the summer heats up, so too does the danger of fire. Here are some tips to keep both you and your dog safe. How Pets Start Fires Candles create a beautiful glow, but can be a fire hazard as your dog or cat knocks them off a table. Now they make flameless candles, which are just a pretty as the real ones … plus they are less messy! Pets are curious so be careful of them approaching fireplaces as well. Do not let your dog or cat chew electrical cords. Be careful of crock pots that can be tipped over while you are away from home and your pet is alone. Believe it or not, many dogs and cats have managed to turn on a stove or range with their tails! Consider stove top covers like the kind used to baby proof your home. Puppies can often chew through cords and start electrical fires. You may want to keep your puppy in a crate while you are gone during the day to keep him out of mischief. Beware of water bowls on wooden decks. The hot rays of the sun, when filtered through a glass water bowl can actually ignite the wooden deck. To read more on this story, click here:July is National Pet Fire Safety Month
Boston -- Police dogs simply follow their noses to sniff out narcotics. But inhaling powerful opioids can be deadly, so officers have a new tool to protect their four-legged partners: naloxone, a drug that has already been used for years to reverse overdoses in humans. Law enforcement officers have started carrying naloxone with them on drug raids, when K-9s are often sent into houses or cars to find narcotics. Three police dogs in Florida were rushed to an animal hospital last year when they ingested fentanyl, a powerful painkiller that is often mixed with street heroin but 50 times more potent. Massachusetts State Police started carrying naloxone for their K-9s in March. Police in Hartford, Connecticut, started in January. Even just a small amount of powdered fentanyl can sicken police officers who come in contact with it during an arrest. Just last month, Ohio police officer Chris Green nearly died from an accidental overdose after patting down a suspect and getting white powder, believed to be fentanyl, on his hands. To read more on this story, click here:New Drug Kits Save Police Dogs from Opioid Overdoses
During the dog days of summer, the last place your dog should be is in a car alone. In Maryland, it is illegal to leave a cat or dog in a standing or parked car in a manner that endangers the health or safety of that animal. It is also illegal for a bystander to smash a car window to save a pet trapped in a hot car. The law allows for police, local and state public safety employees, animal control officers, and fire rescue volunteers to use reasonable force to remove a cat or dog left in a car without being held liable for any damages. “Even if you have the windows down, even if it's in a shady place, I recommend just trying to avoid [leaving a pet in a car] at all costs” said Dr. Amelia Kaeding with Falls Road Animal Hospital. Different breeds can feel the effects of heat faster, particularly older dogs and puppies. “Swollen tongue, so if their tongue is looking really big. And then once heatstroke gets much more serious, I worry about vomiting and diarrhea, especially if there's blood in it; muscle weakness, shaking, tremors, they can even get seizures,” said Dr. Kaeding. Dogs with a lot of hair or smooshed faces are also very susceptible to heat stroke, and it doesn't take long for a car to get hot. “Even on a 70 degree day and it feels nice and cool out, if you leave a dog in a car, it can get to 90 degrees in about 10 minutes,” said Stephen Wells the executive director with the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF). The ALDF tracks various “hot car” and “Good Samaritan” laws in different states. Twenty-nine states have some form of a hot car law that prohibits leaving a companion animal in an unattended vehicle. However, the laws differ place to place. “In Maryland, there is a law that allows emergency responders to be able to break into a car but not members of the public, at this time,” Wells said. Wells added it’s not likely for someone to face charges if they saved the animal, but there’s always a chance. He said it helps to do a few things to make sure you’re covered. “It's good to have a witness, have somebody there. Make sure you're prepared to take care of that dog once you get them out. Do the least amount of damage possible and just make sure you don't risk the dog's or anyone else's safety while you're doing that,” Wells said. Eleven states currently have Good Samaritan laws that grant immunity to anyone freeing a trapped animal. Dr. Kaeding also warns pet owners to watch that their pets don't overheat while playing outside. If they do, it's recommended you take them to the veterinarian. You should also blow a cold fan on them, and dip them in cool water. Do not use ice or ice cold water. It can constrict the blood vessels and cause the dog to actually retain heat.
At 4' 4" tall and weighing in at 50 pounds, Darius is currently the biggest rabbit in the world! The craziest part? He may not hold that title for much longer because his son is on track to be even bigger. Jeff is 3' 8" and still has about 6 months of growing left. His owner, Annette Edwards, expects him to be much bigger than his dad. The two are members of the Continental Giant breed, which was bred for their meat, but are now loving house pets. They are so large that they must sleep in large dog crates instead of rabbit cages. The rabbits eat their way through 2,000 carrots and 700 apples a year.
Montgomery County Humane Society: We are low on a few items: *Fabuloso *Toilet paper *Paper towels *Canned kitten food *Dog & cat toys *trash bags (30 gallon) If you can help us, our hours to drop off are from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. daily at 601 S. Stonestreet Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850 Thanks you guys so much for your support!
Indianapolis, IN - Second lady Karen Pence paid tribute to the cat Saturday on Twitter, saying Oreo "touched a lot of hearts in your little life." Oreo along with the family's other cat, Pickle, and rabbit, Marlon Bundo became famous in January, when the family moved to Washington, D.C. Oreo made his national debut in a photo of the U.S. Air Force flight, which Vice President Mike Pence tweeted. Since then, Marlon Bundo, better known as BOTUS (Bunny of the United States), has remained in the spotlight with an Instagram page. The black-and-white rabbit even has made White House appearances, recently stealing the show at an event for Military Appreciation Month. At the time, Karen Pence said he was "kind of famous," as the first bunny to ride on Air Force Two. CNN reported Oreo was 13 years old, according to an aide to the vice president.
Lakeland, Florida – A Lakeland couple is making sure their 17-year-old rescued Chihuahua’s golden years are his best, experiencing the love every dog should, the love he missed out on during years of abuse and neglect. Tiffany and Billy Hutto rescued Coffee Bean after he was left abandoned and abused on a street in Miami. The Huttos have now created a bucket list for Coffee Bean and are determined to check off as many items as possible. Coffee Bean has met Miss Florida, walked on the beach at sunset, and had a massage, complete with a manicure and pedicure. “I wanted him to know what it felt like to have unconditional love. So I decided, why not do ia bucket list,” his new mom Tiffany Hutto told WFLA. Tiffany contacted the city hoping to fulfill a few more items. Coffee Bean met City Manager Tony Delgado and was presented a “Bone to the City”. A trip to the Lakeland Fire Department made this little dog’s day when he got to sit in a big fire truck. Coffee Bean was also made an honorary K-9 for the day, with a badge placed around his neck by Lakeland Police Chief Larry Giddens. “I would say perseverance. Leading that kind of life and still have the will to get up and go and live out 17 years is pretty Extraordinary,” Lakeland Police Officer and K-9 Handler Chad Whitaker said. “We picked things around here that wouldn’t be so difficult to do, and wouldn’t tire him out. I think it’s helped him perk up because when we got him he was severely depressed,” Hutto said. They found Coffee Bean two months ago at Pawlicious Poochie Pet Rescue in Pinellas County. The organization rescues dying, critically ill and old dogs. According to the owner of the nonprofit rescue, Jaime Mcknight, Coffee Bean was a critical case. When he was rescued, she spent weeks at a vet clinic trying to save him when he originally arrived. His new family has several dogs with special needs. Hutto said she hopes to encourage other people to adopt animals with special conditions. As for Coffee Bean, he still has more items to cross off his list. You can follow Coffee Bean at his Facebook page.
Eighty ducks have allegedly died in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool within a matter of two days, the National Park Service reports. From May 20th to May 21st, approximately 80 ducks were found deceased in the Reflecting Pool, a press release reads. National Park Service (NPS) says a necropsy performed on the ducks revealed their death was caused by "high levels of parasites that developed and grew in snails that live in the pool." Chemicals alone are not sufficient enough to fully reduce the parasite and snail population, so the pool must be drained and cleaned, NPS says. NPS says humans who come into contact with the parasite could develop a "swimmer's itch:" an allergic reaction in the form of a skin rash. They say it is not contagious and rarely requires medical attention. It will take around two days for the pool to be fully drained, NPS says. Crews are set to clean the pool on Tuesday, June 13 and the pool is expected to begin refilling on Friday, June 16.
Vice President, Mike Pence owns an adorable black-and-white rabbit named Marlon Bundo. Bundo, along with his cat half-siblings, Oreo and Pickle, now are residents of Washington, D.C. Oreo and Pickle were carried off the U.S. Air Force passenger jet in the arms of then Vice President-Elect Mike Pence's wife, Karen, and daughter, Charlotte, but it took two men to transport Marlon Bundo's cage down the plane stairs to a waiting SUV. Pence tweeted a photo of the family with the pets mid-air, thanking the U.S. Air Force for the ride. Bundo's eyes seemed wide with excitement about his future home. The bunny isn't the first elected pet with a unique name: Jimmy Carter's daughter Amy had a Siamese cat named Misty Malarky Ying Yang. Herbert Hoover had a dog named Weejie. Benjamin Harrison had two opposums: Mr. Reciprocity and Mr. Protection. No word on whether Bundo has a plot to get fancier carrots in his food dish once he's in D.C., but it seems likely he made the Pence family an offer they couldn't refuse.
You’re about to meet an amazing woman who gave up her spacious home, complete with a pool and a view, just to care for her beloved cats. Lynea Lattanzio, 68, now lives in a small mobile home so she can better care for more than 1,000 felines. Over the course of her life, Lynea says she has taken in and lived with 28,000 cats! The self-proclaimed “ultimate crazy cat lady” loves their beauty, independence, and grace. Out of her own pocket, she began adopting and re-homing cats in the early ’90s. Once she became a vet technician, she was able to grow her mission and find the funds needed for food, litter, maintenance, staffing, and vets. Lynea’s trailer is situated on her six-acre property in California, known as Cat House on the Kings. It’s the state’s largest no-cage, no-kill sanctuary for feral and abandoned cats. She and her team of volunteers care for about 800 adult cats and 300 kittens. In the video below, courtesy of Barcroft TV, you’ll get a glimpse into the incredible Cat House, where feisty felines roam freely throughout a five-bedroom house. I guarantee that you’ve never seen anything like this before.
An Alabama man has found internet fame for his hat-making skills — not suited for humans, but for a toad that keeps frequenting his home. So, he decided to put a hat on it. “I have a background in art and design, but I’ve never made hats,” Newsome said. “I just sort of winged it, and used scissors to figure it out." He said he folded together some foam paper, and placed his design on the amphibian’s head. “It just sat there,” Newsome said. “[The toad] did not seem to mind, and I didn’t keep the hat on him for longer than the time it took to take a picture.” He explained toads often come out to play in his area over the summer, but this one, which he named Mr. Toad, would keep showing up on his porch, and even made friends with his cat and dog. Newsome said he eventually revisited the photos, and uploaded them to Imgur last week, where fans have now started commissioning him to make foam hats for their own pets. "I’m sure I can make a few more," Newsome joked.
When she was just 3 weeks old, Luna’s family found her wandering along the side of the road — and decided to adopt her. They have spoiled her with endless love and attention ever since, and when her 15th birthday was approaching, they decided to throw her a very special party. A quinceañera is a cultural tradition and rite of passage where a girl’s 15th birthday is marked with a big celebration. Since they love and cherish her so much, Luna’s family decided that she needed one, too. “Luna is an absolute sweetheart, loves curling up with people and loves laying on her back on the floor,” Angel Olavarria, Luna’s brother, told The Dodo. “We have spoiled her with abundant love and she has outlived all of our pets. On her 15th birthday we decided to give our little cheese ball a surprise quinceañera.” Olavarria’s mom came up with the idea to throw Luna a quinceañera almost a year before, and began working on plans for the party a week in advance. There would be lots of food, a cake, decorations, a guest list — and of course, a dress for the birthday girl. “My mom found the dress on Amazon,” Olavarria said. “I totally thought my mom was joking when she said she was going to order a dress for her, but my mom never jokes about our pets.” The party room was decked out with a pink tablecloth, balloons and even flowers. The family went all out, so that Luna would know just how special she is to them. When the big day arrived, Luna’s family put her in her fancy pink dress, sat her at the head of the table, and began celebrating the wonderful 15 years they’ve spent with her. There were 12 family members and friends in attendance, and they partied for three hours, enjoying good company and lots of food, including a traditional tres leches cake. Even Luna had fun — especially when she got her own special treat. “She was such a good sport through the whole thing that we think she actually knew we were celebrating her,” Olavarria said “She loved it even more when we opened up a nice can of tuna for her.” You can follow Luna and all of her adventures on her Instagram account.
