Two subspecies of giraffe have been listed as 'critically endangered' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Numbers for the mammal have declined by 40 per cent over the last 31 years due to humans encroaching their habitat. In an IUCN report the giraffe has been moved from the list of 'Least Concern' to 'Vulnerable' in their Red List of Threatened Species. Two specific subspecies, the Kordofan and Nubian, have been added to the list of 'critically endangered'. According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, the Kordofan giraffe is mainly found in southern Chad, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and western South Sudan with just 2,000 of the species existing. Nubian giraffes, mainly found in west central Kenya, South Sudan, western Ethiopia and northern Uganda, and there are 2,645 left. To read more on this story, click here:Giraffes Have Been Added To The Endangered Species List
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A veteran with physical and emotional disabilities was allegedly kicked out of Dollar Tree for using a service dog. Katherine Mera, 51, a Maryland employee of the U.S. Department of Justice, says she uses a service dog to help her PTSD after she was the victim of attempted murder while serving in the Army Military Police Corps in 1987. An attack with a crowbar gave her a brain injury, tremors and speech problems, and Mera’s Chihuahua, K.C., has helped her since the dog was 11 weeks old. As reported by WTOP, on Jan. 1, Mera visited a Dollar Tree in Germantown, Md., to buy a dog bowl for K.C., who was not wearing his service vest. “I went to Dollar Tree the day before and I had no problems with K.C.,” Mera tells Yahoo Lifestyle. However, on the second trip, a manager saw the dog and said that animals weren’t allowed, Mera said. Mera says the employee wanted proof that K.C. is her service dog and asked why Mera needed one, and for details about the woman’s health. To read more on this story, click here:Disabled Veteran Says She Was Kicked Out of Dollar Tree For Using A Service Dog
Eddie, a sea otter at the Oregon Zoo, died this morning, as reported by the Oregonian. He was 20, a remarkably old age for otters, which usually live to be around 15. His main pastimes were dunking a little ball into a hoop, and blowing himself. A clip of Eddie dunking a ball into a hoop became popular when the zoo posted the video in 2013. This wasn’t just for show: The otter performed this exercise to work out his arthritic elbows. As for the purpose behind excessively licking his own genitals—well, he probably liked it. To read more on this story, click here:Dunking, Autofellating Otter At Oregon Zoo Dies At 20 You may be interested in reading:Sea Otter Plays Basketball to Help Alleviate Arthritis Pain
New research has found breeding threatened native animals like quolls as pets could become a lucrative industry that would help prevent their extinction. A team of biodiversity researchers has released the study examining the feasibility of a breeding industry for native mammals, focusing on the eastern quoll and mitchell's hopping mouse. Like the northern quoll, which is threatened by the spread of cane toads, the eastern quoll has been all but eradicated on the mainland by predators such as foxes. The study found that breeding native mammals as pets could lead to them replacing domestic cats, which threaten small native animals. A pet breeding program could also help build a greater understanding of the animals' needs. The study recognises that a breeding industry would have to be regulated but as long as keepers are well trained, there should not be any major welfare issues. One of the report's authors, Rosalie Chapple, says she hopes the research leads to more captive breeding programs. "I do have a fair bit of scepticism about it," she said. "I think to have the debate is really good because that in itself has the chance of raising public awareness of the problems of extinction, but to the extent to which a small initiative like this can make a difference to conservation is very questionable."
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Christmas puppy surprise: Oklahoma parents secretly adopt dog daughter had been caring for at shelter originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Christmas came early for one Oklahoma daughter whose father adopted the dog she was caring for at a shelter — and the moment was caught on camera. Hallee Fuqua had been asking for a dog for years, her father, Lance Fuqua, said in a Facebook post. However, her parents had told her to wait until after she graduates to get one. She began volunteering at the local Humane Society in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in during her Thanksgiving break. She quickly fell in love with Rambo, a Plott Hound and Mountain Cur mix. To read more on this story, click here:Christmas Puppy Surprise: Oklahoma Parents Secretly Adopt Dog Daughter Had Been Caring For At Shelter
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In the past, cat accessories and beds proved to be difficult to place in a room because they didn’t fit well with the overall ambience and aesthetic. A litter box just ruins the pristine cleanliness of a bathroom while a bulky cat bed ruins the inviting atmosphere of a bedroom. However, Japan could change just that. A Japanese group of artists makes downsized furniture for cats In their craftsman MADE collection, a group of artisans called Okawa Kagu decided to take advantage of the growing population of cat lovers by taking modern-day furniture and downsize it to a cat’s scale. Fukuoka is home to over 150 furniture factories To read more on this story, click here:Japanese Artisans Launch Line Of Miniature Furniture For Cats
WASHINGTON, D.C. –. The Humane Rescue Alliance announced today that the organization’s two adoption centers and foster homes have an overabundance of cats six months and older up for adoption. In an effort to encourage cat adoption this weekend, the organization will waive adoption fees Saturday and Sunday. Part of the increased influx of cats is due to two back to back field services cases. “We have more than 200 cats waiting in our adoption centers and foster homes, ready to go home with their new families,” said Becca Stern, HRA’s director of adoptions. “We encourage people to come and meet them.” Those interested in adopting a cat this weekend should visit one of HRA’s two adoption centers: 71 Oglethorpe, NW and 1201 New York Avenue, NE. Pets available for adoption from HRA have been spayed or neutered and microchipped. Check www.humanerescueallance.org to see all animals available for adoption. 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. Please Share!
