-Dawn dish detergent is ready to donate $1 for every bottle of dish washing liquid they sell to the “Marine Mammal Center and the International Bird Rescue Research Center.” The proceeds will be up to $500,000. The catch is that you register your bottle on their website. Go and help some animals today! Added: 8/27/09
-Now you can find out what your mixed breed dog is genetically! Is she part collie or part Yorkie?! Added: 8/23/09
Source: Szabo, Julia. “DNA Reveals Mutts’ Makeup.” NY Post. 23 Aug. 2009.
Source: “Time to Stop Monkeying Around: Baby Baboons Show Why They Are Historic Zoo's Star Attractions.” Mail Online. 23 Aug. 2009.
-Sad that his guardian went on vacation, Diesel the dog hitched a ride and went looking for her! Added: 8/23/09
Source: “He's Got a Ticket to Ride: Diesel the Dog Catches the Train to Stansted - On His Own.” Mail Online. 21 Aug. 2009.
Source: Lombardi, Frank & Colangelo, Lisa. “Wily Racoon Claw Way to Roof of City Hall.” NY Daily News. 18 Aug. 2009.
Source: Hill, Catey. “Rivkah, an Israeli Woman, Paid $32K to Fly Her Dog, Orchuk, in Business Class from Paris to Tel Aviv.” NY Daily News. 12 Aug. 2009.
-What a sweet story! A blind comedian has a guide dog who helps him get to the stage to perform! Added: 8/15/09
Source: Sacks, Amy. “Yellow Lab Guides Blind Comic Brian Fischler to the Stage.” NY Daily News. 1 Aug. 2009.
-It is true...most dogs love going for car rides. However, there are some precautions you should take before embarking on your next trip. Added: 8/15/09
Source: Koblenz, Jay. “Safety First, Fido: Dog Poking Head through Car Window is Dangerous.” NY Daily News. 29 July 2009.
Source: Doyle, John. “Police: Snake Found Slithering Down Harlem Street.” NY Post. 11 Aug. 2009.
-A pocket is not a acceptable place to store a pet snake...and this excuse for a car accident is baloney. Added: 8/15/09
Source: Gurubacharya, Binaj, “Tiny Deer Among 350 New Species Found in Himalayas.” AP via Yahoo! 10 Aug. 2009.
Source: “Max the Terrier Becomes `World’s Oldest Dog’ as He Celebrates 26th Birthday.” Mail Online. 10 Aug. 2009.
-It is now so much easier to go one vacation with your pet. To date, there are over 25,000 hotels, motels, and inns that are pet-friendly. Added: 8/10/09
Source: Johnson, Kristine. “Pet-Friendly Vacation Options Becoming the Norm.” WCBStv. 10 Aug. 2009.
Source: “Short On Luck” Meet Koda the Miniature Horse...Who Was Also Born a Dwarf.” Mail Online. 7 Aug. 2009
Source: Hall, Allan. “Knut the Polar Bear Gets an Italian Girlfriend.” Mail Online. 6 Aug. 2009.
-It’s about time! Hardworking police dogs in England are now being provided for when they retire. Added: 8/8/09
Source: Levy, Andrew. “Police Dogs to Retire on Their Own Gold-Plated Public Pensions.” Mail Online. 6 Aug. 2009.
-Did you know that your cat is either right-pawed or left pawed, just as we humans are right –handed or left handed?! Added: 8/8/09
Source: MacRae, Fiona. “Now Here’s Paws for Thought...Is Your Cat Left or Right Handed?” Mail Online. 3 Aug. 2009.
-Holy cow! This pooch was found over a thousand miles from her home...NINE YEARS after she disappeared! Added: 8/8/09
Source: “Found NINE Years After She Disappeared, Muffy the Mutt Turns Up 1,200 Miles From Home.” Mail Online. 31 July 2009.
Source: Krulwich, Robert. “The Crow Paradox.” NPR.org. 27 July 2009.
-Perhaps people should give a little more thought to the names they bestow on their pets. Added: 7/26/09
Source: Barnett, Nick. “Golden Rules for Naming a Pet.” stuff.co.nz. 27 July 2009.
-Ha! You have got to see this! Someone trained their pet rats to pose with “musical instruments” so it looks like they are playing them! Added: 7/26/09
Source: “Look to Your Laurels, Bob Geldof, Here Come the Real Boomtown Rats!” Mail Online. 24 July 2009.
Source: “Barking Mad? The Gadget that Translates Your Dog’s Woofs into Words.” 21 July 2009.
-Congratulations to Theresa G. of Middletown, New Jersey on her adoption of Jude. Jude is a beautiful betta fish and he is adjusting well to his new home! Added: 7/21/09
Source: “Dog Wet Nurse Saves Panda Cubs in China.” Associated Press via stltoday.com. 17 July 2009.
-Contact lenses for animals?! Why yes! It has been discovered that animals with cataracts had improved vision when they wore contacts! Added: 7/17/09
Source: “Contact Lenses Save Sight of Animals with Cataracts.” Mail Online. 18 July 2009.
Source: “Benny the Giant British Bunny Vies to Become World's Biggest Rabbit.” Mail Online. 13 July 2009.
-When are people going to realize that animals being overweight is just as bad as people being overweight? So much extra fat on such a small frame is so unhealthy for a pet! Perhaps poor eating and exercise habits of pet guardians are repeated in their pets. Added: 7/11/09
Source: Johnston, Jenny. “Fat Cats: Britain's Porkiest Pets - and Their Even Fatter Owners.” Mail Online. 10 July 2009.
Source: Landerm Sebastian. “Dog Hotels: Pooches Set for a Pampering at Best Western.” Mail Online. 9 July 2009.
Source: “Cheeky Monkey: Baby Primate Strikes a Pose as He Makes His Public Debut.” Mail Online. 7 July 2009.
Source: Wareham, Melissa. “It's a Celebrity Dog's Life! How Geri Halliwell, Kevin Spacey and Jemima Khan First Hit It Off With Their Pets at Battersea.” Mail Online. 4 July 2009.
-A lady in Great Britain called that country’s version of “911” after her hamster escaped! Added: 7/5/09
Source: “'My Hamster's Escaped!' Police Fury as Woman Dials 999 to Report Rodent on the Run.” Mail Online. 4 July 2009.
-This is funny, and the story has a happy ending, but it shows how easily cats can be lost. Added: 7/5/09
Source: Cohen, Tamara. “Pet Owner Spots Her Lost Cat on TV... Strolling Across the Set of BBC's Question Time.” Mail Online. 1 July 2009.
-This pooch won the “World's Ugliest Dog Competition” at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in California. Miss Ellie (Yeah! a “Dallas” reference!) Added: 6/28/09
Source: Oliver, Amy. “I Just Had a Ruff Night! Pure-bred Miss Ellie Wins Title of World's Ugliest Pedigree Dog.” Mail Online. 28 June 2009.
-No the smartest person...a man took his pet alligator on his long train ride from Sweden to Norway. Added: 6/28/09
Source: Gordon, Sarah. “Pet Alligator Found Travelling in Train by Startled Customs Officials.” Mail Online. 24 June 2009.
-This is a wonderful program that helps people who are terminally ill deal with the care of their pets. It is called the “Pet Peace of Mind Program.” Added: 6/23/09
Source: Peters, Sharon. “Pet Peace of Mind: A Caring Program for Ailing Owners.” USA Today —Pet Talk. 23 June 2009.
-I admit that I am just like the people discussed in this piece: a person who gave their pets human names. Added: 6/23/09
Source: “Pet Names Reflect Trend to Humanize Furry Pals.” AP via NPR. 23 June 2009.
Source: Howarth, Angus. “Pet Collie That Vanished in Cornwall is Discovered North of the Border.” The Scotsman. 24 June 2009.
Source: “Maryland Shore Pet Resort Now Officially Open.” PR Web. 23 June 2009.
Source: Smith, Brady. “Hero Pet Attempts to Wake Up Owner During Fire.” KWWL.com 11 June 2009.
-The generosity of people is amazing: anonymous donors are paying the adoption fees of 6 dogs and 12 cats. Added: 6/13/09
Source: Staff Report. “Anonymous Donors Cover Pet Adoption Fees.” The State Journal-Register—Springfield, IL. 13 June 2009.
-This is so great! Some airports now have special areas for travelers’ pets to relieve themselves! Added: 6/13/09
Source: Baskas, Harriet. “Airports Offer Relief For You and Your Pet.” MSNBC.com. 11 June 2009.
-I cannot believe I am posting an item about Paris Hilton, but this is a cute one. She has built a miniature version of her mansion for her 13 dogs! Added: 6/9/09
Source: “It's a Dog's Life, Beverly Hills Style: Paris Hilton Reveals Her Pampered Pooches' Kennel Mansion.” Mail Online. 8 June 2009.
-It took a poor hen in England 30 minutes to lay this egg...it normally takes a chicken 5 minutes to do so. That’s because this egg was so big! Added: 6/9/09
Source: “Pictured: The Egg So Big That It Took Poor Efel the Hen 30 Minutes to Lay.” Mail Online. 8 June 2009.
-A pair of gay penguins was removed from their group at a zoo because they were stealing heterosexual penguins’ eggs and replacing them with stones! But their needs were met and they were given eggs of their own. Added: 6/9/09
Source: Graham, Caroline. “Gay Penguins Expelled from Zoo Colony for Stealing Eggs Are Given Their Own to Look After Following Animal Rights Protest.” Mail Online. 9 June 2009.
Source: Bates, Claire. “Revealed: The Fossil Treasure Chest That Was Home to 'Missing Link' Ida.” Mail Online. 5 June 2009.
Source: Greenfieldboyce, Nell. “Parrots Join Humans on the Dance Floor.” All Things Considered—NPR. 30 Apr. 2009.
-A newborn stoat, which is a type of weasel, was rescued by a human performing mouth to mouth on him! And this baby was so small, he was the size of a human thumb! Added: 6/6/09
Source: “Baby Stoat Given the Kiss of Life: Kind-Hearted Rescuer Performs Mouth-to-Mouth on Animal.” Mail Online. 5 June 2009.
Source: Gordon, Sarah. “Monkey is the Star Waiter at Remote Japanese Restaurant.” Mail online. 1 June 2009.
Source: Amir, Insiya. “Politicians and Pooches: The Pet Peeves of Our Netas.” The Times of India. 31 May 2009.
Source: “Ever Felt Hounded into Staying Fit? Kirin the Border Collie Puts Humans to Shame with Her Exercise Plan.” Mail Online. 28 May 2009.
-The tallest horse in Great Britain is 6’8” tall! He keeps growing and it is attributed to eating green tea and apples! Added: 5/28/09
Source: “Britain's Tallest Horse Challenges for World Title After Herbal Tea Gives Him Growth Spurts.” Mail Online. 26 May 2009.
-A cat in China looks like he has wings! These odd appendages are baffling animal experts. Added: 5/28/09
Source: “Don't Get in a Flap, it's Just a Cat with Furry Wings.” Mail Online. 27 May 2009.
-It turns out a species of bird, the rook, has a much higher level of intelligence than people may have believed. Added: 5/25/09
Source: Cohen, Tamara. “Rook with a Hook is the Bird Brain of Britain.” Mail Online. 26 May 2009.
-This cat figured out how to get back inside his home when he is locked out! Now, I am against cats roaming outside of their homes, but this is a funny story. Added: 5/24/09
Source: Wardrop, Murray. “Cat Amazes Owner by Climbing the Walls of Her House.” Telegraph.co.uk 19 May 2009.
-Do animals know right from wrong? Do they have morals? New research suggests they do. Added: 5/24/09
Source: “Animals 'Can Tell Right From Wrong': Scientists Suggest It's Not Just Humans Who Have Morals.” Mail Online. 24 May 2009.
-A wallaby was found hopping through a garden in England. The problem is wallabies are not native to England and there was no zoo or preserve nearby! Added: 5/24/09
Source: Thornhill, Cher. “Strewth! There's a Wallaby at the Bottom of Our Garden (in Deepest, Darkest Cornwall).” Mail Online. 23 May 2009.
Source: “The Elephant Whisperer: How Re-homing a Violent Herd Was the Start of a Unique Relationship Between Man and Giant Beast.” Mail Online. 22 May 2009.
Source: Wilkes, David. “Have You Been on the Dog and Bone? Bailey the Labrador Sparks 999 Alert After Biting Phone and Spooking Operator with his Whining.” Mail Online. 21 May 2009.
-What a lucky cat! These pet lovers traveled to the United States from England to adopt him! Added: 5/17/09
Source: “British Couple Travels to Michigan for Purr-fect Cat.” Telegraph.co.uk 18 May 2009.
-An elephant was fitted with a prosthetic leg! The poor girl had stepped on a landmine. Added: 5/17/09
Source: “Mosha the Elephant Gets Prosthetic Leg.” Telegraph.co.uk 10 Mar. 2009.
-A missing large turtle, um tortoise, was reunited with her family. She actually ran up to her guardian after he called her name! Added: 5/16/09
Source: Samuels, Tanyanika. “Tortoise Home After Hairy Trip Reptile & Owner Reunited.” NY Daily News. 5 May 2009.
-This is a wonderful episode of an NPR show, “Talk of the Nation,” where dogs are discussed. Topics include how dogs affect child development. Added: 5/16/09
Source: “From Genes to Growls, Decoding 'The Modern Dog'.” Diversions—NPR.com. 15 May 2009.
Source: “Dog-Owner's Shock As His Pet Receives Letter in Post for Eye Test.” Mail Online. 10 May 2009.
Source: Shears, Richard & Alan Hall. “Karta, the Ingenious Orangutan Who Escaped Cage by Short-Circuiting Electric Fence with Stick.” Mail Online. 10 May 2009.
Source: AP. “Ohio Zoo's Baby Elephant Ready for the Spotlight.” 3 Apr. 2009.
Source: Lee, Lauren. “Go Green with Pet Goats.” My Fox—Memphis. 8 Apr. 2009.
-New satellite technology is helping scientists determine which animals are threatened by extinction. Added: 4/6/09
Source: Gray, Louise. “Satellite Images Could be Used 'To Predict Animal Extinction Threat from Climate Change'“ Telegraph.co.uk. 5 Apr. 2009.
-Pet therapy...this article shows how hospital patients are feeling better after they spend time with pets in a pet therapy program. The link has a video to watch! Added: 4/6/09
Source: WHAS 11. “Hospital Patients Can Now Enjoy “Pet Therapy.” WHAS11.com. 6 Apr. 2009.
Source: “Pet Rabbit is a Life-Saver.” The Sun. 6 Apr. 2009.
Source: Mrozinski, Josh. “Pet Pig Association Gaining Popularity in
-Do you look like your dog? Research suggests people look like their pooches more than you might think. Added: 4/3/09
Source: MacRae, Fiona. “We're Not Barking Mad... We Really DO Look Like Our Dogs.” Mail Online. 3 Apr. 2009.
-Awww! These leopard cubs are buddies with a baby orangutan! You MUST see the picture!!! Added: 4/3/09
Source: Mail Foreign Service. “The Adorable Leopard Cubs Who Are Best Friends with a Baby Orangutan.” Mail Online. 3 Apr. 2009.
Source: Rathke, Lisa. “Salamander Roadside Assistance: People Try to Keep Amphibians from Getting Squashed by Cars.” AP. 5 Apr. 2009.
-Here is a link to an NPR story about how Americans spend so much time, money, and energy on their pets. It’s an audio download. Added: 4/5/09
Source: NPR Booknotes. “Michael Schaffer: America's Going To The Dogs.” Fresh Air—NPR. 1 Apr. 2009.
-This is an article about the AMAZING animal organization “Best Friends Animal Society.” They are also known as “Best Friends Animal Sanctuary,” because they have acres of land where they care for the animals they save. For example, they have been caring for the dogs Michael Vick abused. This wonderful group rescues animals and the organization also legally goes after groups that purport to help animals but in reality hurt them. Here is a direct link to the group. Added: 3/29/09
Source: Pesek, Margo B. “TRIP OF THE WEEK: Best Friends Animal Sanctuary Offers Critters Amongst Beautiful Scenery.” Las Vegas Review-Journal. 29 Mar. 2009.
Source: Wilkes, David. “Pictured: Sue the Clever Little Piggy with High Hopes to be a Real-Life Babe.” 24 Mar. 2009.
Source: Mail Foreign Service. “'Mama, Baby!' How Hero Parrot Saved Little Girl Who Was Choking on Her Breakfast.” Mail Online. 24 Mar. 2009
-Here is another story about a pet food bank. Because the economy has been hit hard, people are having trouble paying for pet food. (The link includes a video report of the story.) Added: 3/24/09
Source: News 14 Carolina Web Staff. “Animal Care Unit Sets Up Pet Food Bank.” News 14 Carolina. 24 Mar. 2009.
Source: Lomabrdi,. Linda. “Pet First Aid Classes Save Lives.” The Associated Press. 20 Mar. 2009.
Source: Pascoe, Neil. “Hug a Pet...Alligator.” Naples Daily News. 27 Feb. 2009.
Source: Mail Foreign Service. “Meet Robo-Croc: Ten-Foot Crocodile Gets Four Metal Plates and 41 Screws in his Head After Reconstructive Surgery.” Mail Online. 18 Mar. 2009.
-Here’s a dog who continually saves his guardian’s life by detecting when her throat might close up! As a bonus, he also does chores! Added: 3/14/09
Source: Daily Mail Reporter. “Edward the Wonderdog Regularly Saves Owner's Life... and Lends a Paw Around the House.” Mail Online. 13 Mar. 2009.
Source: Daily Mail Reporter. “'Wonder Dog' Recycles Thousands of Bottles He Sniffs Out on Walks.” Mail Online. 13 Mar. 2009.
-This woman found a cat in the used couch she just bought! Luckily, the scared and hungry kitty was reunited with her family. Added: 3/14/09
Source: Yahoo! News. “Woman Finds Hungry Calico Cat Hiding in $27 Couch.” 13 Mar. 2009
-This chimp has shown that apes are able to plan ahead just as human can. Specifically, he gathers rocks each morning and when people stop by his area at the zoo, he throws the rocks at them! Added: 3/10/09
Source: Rising, Malin. “Study: Belligerent Chimp Proves Animals Make Plans.” My Way News. 9 Mar. 2009.
-The world’s oldest dog wears goggles to protect her eyes from the sun when she goes outside. Added: 2/28/09
Source: Telegraph.co.uk. “World's Oldest Dog Needs Jumper and Goggles.” 23 Feb. 2009.
Source: AP. “Calif. Aquarium Blames Flooding on Curious Octopus.” 27 Feb. 2009.
Source: Dolan, Andy. “Saved by the Dog-tor: Pet Collie 'Sniffed Out' that Owner had Breast Cancer.” Mail Online. 27 Feb. 2009.
Source: Owen, Richard. “Rome Bans Horsedrawn Carriages After Cruelty Campaign.” Times Online. 26 Feb. 2009.
-This rare cheetah was photographed in the desert. It had been eluding scientists for years. Added: 2/24/09
Source: Daily Mail Reporter. “Rare Saharan Cheetah Caught on Camera.” Mail Online. 24 Feb. 2009.
-Whoa! This giant rabbit, he’s 20 lbs., ran through traffic and was finally caught by police! Added: 2/24/09
Source: Daily Mail Reporter. “Bunny and Clyde: Tiny the Escaped Giant Rabbit Gives Police the Slip and Brings Chaos to Town Centre.” Mail Online. 23 Feb. 2009.
-This dog saved a man’s life—and the man and his wife were dog sitting! He was not even their pooch. Added: 2/20/09
Source: Levy, Andrew. “Hero Dog Saved Dying OAP's Life by Waking Up His Wife After He Had a Stroke and Fell Out of Bed.” Mail Online. 16 Feb. 2009.
Source: Morris, Desmond. “Can Jumbo Elephants Really Paint? Intrigued by Stories, Naturalist Desmond Morris Set Out to Find the Truth.” Mail Online. 20 Feb. 2009.
Source: Hale, Beth. “Pictured: Miss Snooks the Friendly Fox Who Has Her Own One-Bedroom Flat, Complete with TV and a Three-Piece Suite.” Mail Online. 17 Feb. 2009.
Source: “NY Restaurant to Liberate 140-year-old Lobster in Maine.” Telegraph.co.uk. 21 Feb. 2009.
-This AMAZING documentary about how wonderful cats and dogs are is so worth watching! It’s called, “Nature: Why We Love Cats and Dogs?” Loved it! Added: 2/15/09
Source: Etherington, Jan. “A Dog is for (Saving Your) Life.” Telegraph.co.uk. 12 Feb. 2009.
Source: Daily Mail Reporter. “Pictured: The 6ft 'Ostrich' Which Terrorised an English Village for Seven Hours.” Mail Online. 9 Feb. 2009.
Source: Schmid, Randolph E. “Animal Smarts Surprise Researchers.” AP Science. 12 Feb. 2009.
Source: Kiefer, Emily. “'Ha-chan' The Baby Bull Attracts Special Attention Before Valentine's Day.” KSBY.com 11 Feb. 2009.
Source: Mail Foreign Service. “Pictured: The Badly Burned Koalas Who Became Best Friends After Surviving Australia's Deadliest Bush Fires.” Mail Online. 11 Feb. 2009.
-Pet guardians (owners) say they would stop smoking to protect their dogs’ health rather than stopping to protect themselves. Added: 2/10/09
Source: Devlin, Kate. “Smokers 'Would Rather Give Up for their Dog's Health than their Own'.“ Telegraph.uk.co. 10 Feb. 2009.
-Ha! This parrot imitates his guardian’s voice to boss around the other pets in the house! Added: 2/10/09
Source: Telegraph.co.uk. “Parrot Mimics Owner's Voice to Boss Around Her Other Pets.” 16 Jan. 2009.
-This parrot was banned from attending British soccer (football) games because he kept imitating the referee’s whistle! Added: 2/10/09
Source: Telegraph.co.uk. “Parrot Banned from Football Ground for
Imitating Referee's Whistle.” 21 Jan. 2009.
-Scientists in Israel are using DNA to determine owners of dogs whose poop is left on the street! Added: 2/10/09
Source: K9 Magazine. “Officials in the Israeli City of Petah Tikva Have Come up with an Innovative Method of Identifying Poop Scoop Dodgers by Setting up a DNA Database of Local Dogs.”
-New evidence suggests that animals survived an earlier frozen period than was once believed. Added: 2/9/09
Source: Ehrenberg, Rachel. “Animal Ancestors May Have Survived ‘Snowball Earth’ – Chemical Fossils Push Back the Date for Animal Life to at Least 635 Million Years Ago.” Sciencenews.org. 4 Feb. 2009.
Source: White, Debra J. “Woof! Woof! from Tehran: Iran’s First and Only Animal Shelter.” New America Media. 8 Feb. 2009.
Source: Melancon, Merritt. “Soup Kitchen for Pets Grows.” Americus Times-Recorder.” 7 Feb. 2007.
