Ft. Walton Beach, Florida - An opossum that apparently drank bourbon after breaking into a Florida liquor store sobered up at a wildlife rescue center and was released unharmed. Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge officials say the opossum was brought in by a Fort Walton Beach, Florida, police officer on Nov. 24. A liquor store employee found the animal next to a broken and empty bottle of bourbon. "A worker there found the opossum up on a shelf next to a cracked open bottle of liquor with nothing in it," said Michelle Pettis, a technician at the refuge. "She definitely wasn't fully acting normal." Pettis told the Northwest Florida Daily News the female opossum appeared disoriented, was excessively salivating and was pale. The staff pumped the marsupial full of fluids and cared for her as she sobered up. "We loaded her up with fluids to help flush out any alcohol toxins," Pettis said. "She was good a couple of days later." Pettis says the opossum did not appear to have a hangover. The store owner, Cash Moore, says he never had an opossum break in before. "She came in from the outside and was up in the rafters, and when she came through she knocked a bottle of liquor off the shelf," Moore said. "When she got down on the floor she drank the whole damn bottle." "But it just goes to show that even the animals are impressed with Cash's," he said. The animal was released on Thursday.
Our dogs are like our family members and if something ever happened to them we’d be devastated. That’s why the Food and Drug Administration is warning dog owners not to buy bone treats after 15 dogs died from them. “Giving your dog a bone treat might lead to an unexpected trip to your veterinarian, a possible emergency surgery, or even death for your pet,” Carmela Stamper, a veterinarian at the FDA, said according to Business Insider. The Food and Drug Administration received reports about 15 deaths and 68 reports of dogs who became ill after consuming packaged dog bone treats. “Veterinarians see many problems related to chewing and ingestion of bones by dogs of all sizes and breeds. Bones can be swallowed whole or they can crack and splinter, leading to choking, vomiting or blockages in the digestive tract,” Spokesperson for the American Veterinary Medical Association Michael San Filippo said. “In extreme cases, splintered bones can perforate a dog’s esophagus, stomach or intestines, which can be fatal without emergency intervention.” To read more on this story, click here:After Dogs Die Eating Packaged Dog Bone Treats, Government Warns Dog Owners About Their Dangers
These adorable brothers are ligers—lion-tiger hybrids. Ligers are extremely rare. There are only about 1,000 of them in the world, and most of these animals live in captivity. Yeti, Odlin, Sampson, and Apolo are even rarer than other ligers. They’re believed to be the first white ligers ever born! The brothers’ parents are Ivory, a white lion, and Saraswati, a white tiger. White lions and tigers are almost as rare as ligers—there are just 1,200 white tigers and 300 white lions in the world. Ivory, Saraswati, and their cubs live at the T.I.G.E.R. Sanctuary in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. To read more on this story, click here: White Lion and White Tiger Had Babies Together and They’re the Most Adorable Things on Earth
One of the nation’s leading experts on animal cruelty and dog fighting joins Washington, DC’s animal welfare organization WASHINGTON, DC – Humane Rescue Alliance President and CEO Lisa LaFontaine announced today that she has named Chris Schindler to the position of Vice President of Field Services for the organization. Schindler brings more than 20 years of animal welfare experience, specifically expertise in the areas of animal cruelty and dog fighting. Schindler will oversee HRA’s Humane Law Enforcement and Animal Control divisions. He begins his duties today.
“Chris Schindler is one of the nation’s leading experts on animal crimes, dog fighting and emergency response and we’re proud that he will be leading HRA’s field services division,” said LaFontaine. “Chris’s skill set and experience are a perfect match this role and his vast national and international network in this field will be invaluable as HRA continues to grow.”
Schindler comes to HRA from the Humane Society of the United States where he served as the Director of Animal Cruelty and Fighting for HSUS and Humane Society International. In 10 years at HSUS, he led their efforts against animal fighting, resulting in the nation’s most significant takedowns of those engaged in this horrific activity. His work made it possible for thousands of animals to be rescued and the most heinous of perpetrators to be prosecuted. Chris has also overseen the HSUS national investigations on animal cruelty, puppy mills and equine animal cruelty as well as led the field responses on major disaster response throughout the country.
Schindler is a native of the Washington, DC region and he spent three years as a senior law enforcement officer and field supervisor for the Washington Humane Society from 2004 to 2007.
“I am thrilled to join HRA, the organization that inspired me to work in this field” said Schindler. “I’m looking forward to continuing the outstanding work this team does every day in law enforcement, animal care and control, and urban wildlife management.”
During his tenure at HSUS, Schindler worked on strategic national and international animal cruelty investigations, compiled intelligence and maintained a comprehensive database on known or suspected animal fighters, which was instrumental in helping law enforcement and prosecutors make their cases in court. Schindler has also consulted with and educated local law enforcement agencies on the signs and substance of animal cruelty and fighting operations. He has worked extensively with the FBI and other federal law enforcement agents on cross-state cruelty, abuse and neglect cases.
Schindler and his wife Amy return to the DC area with their six dogs. They have a special affinity for senior dogs, as three of their canines are 16 years old and older.
About the Humane Rescue Alliance: The Humane Rescue Alliance has protected and served the animals of the community for more than 145 years and serves 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 and control, behavior and training, spay-neuter services, humane education, and many others. The organization is dedicated to ensuring the safety and welfare of all animals, bringing people and animals together, and working with all communities to support these relationships. HRA is based in Washington, DC, the only major urban area in the country that has all of its animal protection programs and services unified in one organization, making the Humane Rescue Alliance a model for the nation.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning dog owners about store-bought "bone treats," saying they have led to multiple reports of pet illnesses and even death. In a consumer update, the FDA said they have received nearly 70 reports of pet illnesses related to "bone treats." The illnesses reported by owners and veterinarians include: Gastrointestinal obstruction (blockage in the digestive tract) Choking Cuts and wounds in the mouth or on the tonsils Vomiting Diarrhea Bleeding from the rectum Death. Approximately fifteen dogs reportedly died after eating a bone treat. To read more on this story, click here:These Store-Bought Bone Treats Could Kill Your Dog, FDA Warns
A performing elephant, famous for his appearances in movies and commercials, recently trampled and gored his handler to death in Thailand. Phlai Ekasit, a 32-year-old elephant who has spent most of his life in the entertainment industry, has turned on his handler. An English-language Thai news site called Khaosod English reported that the unprompted, yet enraged Asian elephant turned toward his handler, grabbed him with his trunk, and trampled and gored the man with his feet and tusks. According to Agence France-Presse, witnesses at Chiang Mai Zoo said elephant handler Somsak Riangngern had just unchained the animal so that Ekasit could drink and bathe. Other handlers insist that Ekasit had never been violent, and that Somsak hadn’t agitated the elephant in any way that day. To read more on this story, click here:Famous Elephant Tramples and Gores His Owner to Death in Thailand
A performing elephant, famous for his appearances in movies and commercials, recently trampled and gored his handler to death in Thailand. Phlai Ekasit, a 32-year-old elephant who has spent most of his life in the entertainment industry, has turned on his handler. An English-language Thai news site called Khaosod English reported that the unprompted, yet enraged Asian elephant turned toward his handler, grabbed him with his trunk, and trampled and gored the man with his feet and tusks. According to Agence France-Presse, witnesses at Chiang Mai Zoo said elephant handler Somsak Riangngern had just unchained the animal so that Ekasit could drink and bathe. Other handlers insist that Ekasit had never been violent, and that Somsak hadn’t agitated the elephant in any way that day. To read more on this story, click here:Famous Elephant Tramples and Gores His Owner to Death in Thailand
Has life got you down today? We’ve got exactly what you need to turn it around – a baby bat going absolutely HAM on a banana until her tiny cheeks are stuffed to the brim. The young flying fox, lovingly named ‘Miss Alicia,’ was rescued in Queensland, Australia, after a scary encounter with a car left her in need of urgent care. She was taken into the loving arms of bat conservationist Denise Wade (Batzilla The Bat), and is poised to make a full recovery with no major injuries sustained. She’s also still managed to look adorable as hell in the aftermath, if you haven’t noticed. While little Miss Alicia was resting and recharging, swaddled in a cozy blue towel, Wade shot a video of her feeding time. Given the fact that flying foxes have a known sweet tooth (their diet consists mostly of fruit and nectar), you can imagine how Alicia reacted when a fresh banana was presented to her. Scroll down to see the precious clip for yourself, and tell us in the comments if you’ve actually ever seen anything cuter. To read more on this story, click here:Rescued Baby Bat Stuffs Her Cheeks With Banana After Being Hit By Car, And This Video Will Make Your Day
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