The Beautiful White Horse

Guinea Pig Again Play

How Big is a Marmot?

I've seen some pretty big marmots, usually not any longer than 20 inches, but much fatter than the one pictured here. Of course, I've also encountered smaller, more slender marmots.

If you want to see really fat marmots, go out hiking up in the high elevation meadows of the Cascades in mid September. This is right before marmots climb in their burrows to hibernate, so they are spending alot of time eating and getting fat. I've also noticed that marmots seem to be more accepting or ignorant of human presence during this time of year.

Beautiful Rabbit

Elephant

Golden Gold Cat

GOLDEN Gold Cat or cat can now hardly we meet again or we see because these animals are almost extinct along with the extinction of their forest habitat, where they live and breed in Asia and in Africa.

Golden cat of Asia has long been regarded as very close to the gold of the African cat species. His name alone shows how wonderful and beautiful cat, a body wrapped in golden fur, feathers, although it may also appear brown, gray or bright golden red.

As usual brother's cat, this animal is sometimes seen piebald without eliminating the specific color. The animal was slightly longer than the usual cats and never met with entirely black. The back of the roundabout there is a line short black ears. White lines are limited to white color found in the cheek, which emerged from the inner corner of his eye. The stomach is always a lighter color than the hips.

Bigger than her cousin from Africa, Asia Temminck gold cat-sized dog. There is another called the Fishing Cat is found in several parts of the world, the size is also somewhat similar.

Video: A Cat Rescue Fail

via Say OMG

Video: The Penguin Dilemma - Translation

Paper Art FAIL

I think these guys must have seen my last post, the one about Paper layers can create stunning art, but I really don't think that this is the correct way to do it.

The stars of the above photo are Jake (Jacob Sylvester, when in trouble) and Fergi (The Lovely Miss Fergi) who have a wonderful blog, Two Special Wires.

Got lots of spare time?

from Paper layers can create stunning art

via Reddit

Smile!

Shoveling again

via Bunny Food

Pug joins list of Top Ten dogs

They are stubborn, affectionate, fiercely loyal – and small enough to cuddle in one hand.

Now, more than 300 years after they were popularized, the pug has entered the nation’s top ten best loved dogs. They are now more popular than boxers, whippets, beagles or bulldogs.

Chihuahua numbers have also gone up threefold, while last year saw the miniature smooth-haired dachshund make it into the top 20 for the first time.


Source

Can't sew them back on

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A valuable pedigreed cat that went missing from its New Zealand home turned up two days later a little different — it had been surgically castrated.

Owner Michelle Curtis said she was furious when Buddy, her prized Siamese-Bengal cross, came home "fixed."

Curtis had owned Buddy for almost two years and was considering using him as a stud cat.

"What am I supposed to do now? I can't exactly get someone to sew them back on," she said.

Source

An unusual painting

While we often see dogs in art, one very seldom finds a cat. Painted many, many years ago - but preserved forever ...

I love this painting:

Francois Boucher, La Toilette (A Lady Fastening Her Garter). 1742, oil on canvas.
Fundacion Coleccion Thyssen-Bornemisza.
(click for larger)

via

'Godzilla-like creature' nabbed in Calif. town

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The 5-foot Monitor lizard wandering around a condo complex in the city of Riverside had residents freaking out and reporting a Godzilla-like creature in their neighborhood.

Black-throated Monitor lizards are carnivorous, legal to own in California and native to the African grasslands and parts of Asia. Juveniles go for about $100 in pet stores, but they grow.

The animal was captured and taken to Riverside County Animal Services.

Photo: Riverside County Department of Animal Services

Source

Sleeping with pets carries disease risk

Nonsense! Nonsense! Nonsense!

Sleeping with and “kissing” your animals on their little pet lips puts you at risk for some serious medical problems — even when those pusses and pooches are seemingly healthy, according to “Zoonoses in the Bedroom,” a study published in the February issue of the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

“The risk of contracting something is rare, but if you’re that person who gets a disease from a pet, rare doesn’t matter that much,” says the paper’s co-author Bruno Chomel, a professor at the University of California-Davis school of veterinary medicine and an expert in zoonoses, the transmission of disease from animal to human. “I know this will make me unpopular, but pets really don’t belong in your bed.”

Source --- Please remember: you can't believe everything you read on the internet.

The American Veterinary Medical Association doesn’t have a formal recommendation about pets sleeping with their humans. But AVMA president Larry Kornegay affirms that zoonotic diseases are “uncommon, if not rare.”

He should be the next mayor of Chicago

Ann at paper bag & string blogged about Freddy, the unofficial mayor of the Village of Sharon, in Walworth County, Wisconsin.

The cat known as the mayor of Sharon, or Freddy, lives at the Village Hall, greeting folks who come to pay water or property tax bills. He meows to go out twice a day to make his rounds in the small downtown, visiting the post office, the back doors of restaurants and at least one tavern, as well as stopping to catch mice in a wooded area across from the Village Hall.

"This is his town," said Sharon Postmaster Scott Vinke. "Everyone looks out for him. If he's crossing the street, everybody stops and gives him the right of way. He's the mayor."

Read more

Wouldn't it be great to get Freddy's name on the ballot for Mayor of Chicago?

Animal cruelty laws among fastest-growing

Incidents of abuse and a shifting national consciousness have made animal anti-cruelty laws one of the fastest-growing fields in the legal profession. In 1993, just seven states had felony animal cruelty laws; today, all but four do.

"Animal law is where environmental law was 20 years ago. It's in its infancy but growing," said Pamela Frasch, who heads the National Center for Animal Law at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, where she has been an adjunct professor for 10 years.

Lewis & Clark opened the first Animal Legal Defense Fund chapter in 1992. Today it has branches at more than 115 law schools in the United States and Canada.

In 2000, nine law schools had animal law studies. Today about 100 do.

READ More

Fighting in the pack: What went wrong

A note from the Secretary:

Dear friends, your insights are a big help as I attempt a "postmortem" on the  "mayhem" ( as Asta puts it)  that happened in our dog pad lately.  I am considering some factors that could have triggered a power struggle between Jappy and Moymoy on one hand, and between Trudis and Bambi on the other.

1. Trudis' sickness (suggested by Maxie and her Mom)- Trudis' absence after being confined for weeks inside our house presented as an opportunity for Bambi to challenge  Trudis'  rank in the pack. Looking back, I distinctly remember reading fear and distress in Trudis's body language, but I dismissed it. Sensing Trudis' weakness, Bambi attempted to fight back the next time she and Trudis had a  spat. Though thinner and weaker, Trudis refused to back down at Bambi's initial show of dominance.   What used to be a spat turned into a full blown, bloody fight between them.

2. Bambi had killed a cat (Pussy) during Trudis' absence- Note that only Jappy ( alpha dog) and Bambi ( rank 4th in the hierarchy) attacked Pussy. Having  killed another animal, Bambi could have experienced new found strength and began aspiring for a higher ranking.

3. Jappy's insecurities- Of the five dogs in the pad, it was Jappy who received the most affection from me.  Jappy and I have gone a long way, even before I lived with the Animal Doctor and before  I took Moymoy, Trudis, Bambi, and Woody in. I would often bring Jappy inside the house  at night to sleep with us or with Scarlet during the night.  But I ignored him for days  after he killed Pussy. It was also around this time when the Human Pup came home after  spending the holidays with my Mom in my hometown, and became the focus of my attention once more.

Alpha dogs are usually not  the type to  bully middle ranking dogs because they are confident of their position in the pack order. Jappy's insecurities could have triggered him to pick a fight with Moymoy, to ensure that the latter forever remains below him in the hierarchy.

4.  Moy's unresolved issues- When Moymoy was younger, he had behavioral issues that were party resolved when we took classes on obedience training  I became complacent when Moy stopped chasing his tail; not realizing that his inner demon could be unleashed when he is cornered against the wall. This is exactly what happened when he and Jappy fought.

5. ME-  Many of you are correct in pointing out that I should be the alpha of the pack. I must admit that my tendency to be overly affectionate with my dogs, to a point of treating them like babies  led to the development of  their undesirable behaviors.

6. Diet Changes- This may sound remote but the idea came to my head after our  readers, Jed and Abby offered us a theory to explain the fatal attack on Pussy. Several weeks prior to the incident, I modified  and reduced the dog's diet in my effort to reduce their weight ( all of them except for Trudis are overweight!) . Could it be that  hunger jumpstart  their prey drive and drove them to attack Pussy? Could hunger also be the reason why they became combative with each other usually during mealtimes? (we feed them simulataneously at meal times)

Keeper Lui told me that Bogart ( when he was still on Earth)  and Sumo  fought each other after being friends for several years! I know its possible for dogs to become suddenly enemies, but I never anticipated this to happen with the five dogs in the pad because  four are neutered/spayed.  Well, this experience has taught me that the pack order is very fragile and many factors could break it up, not just competition for food or mate.

Next timeI will share to you the  changes that I've instituted to address the situation in the dog pad.  Last night we already started the exercises suggested by Jasper and Ruth. It remains to be seen if the five dogs can be reunited again or forever separated in smaller groups.

I do not claim to know a lot about animal behavior but I am glad that I am not groping in total darkness.  I am so thankful for all your advice, support and prayers. I  wish to post happier news next time.

Here's a real Christian for ya

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Authorities have charged a South Carolina woman with felony animal cruelty, saying she hanged her nephew's pit bull from a tree with an electrical cord and burned its body because the dog chewed on her Bible.

Animal control officers said Monday that 65-year-old Miriam Smith told them she killed a female dog named Diamond because it was a "devil dog" and she worried it could harm neighborhood children.

Source

World's oldest dog?

Meet Uncle Chi-Chi, A miniature poodle who has had three owners, traveled the world, survived a rescue home, cataracts, glaucoma and at least two near-death experiences is being hailed as the world's oldest dog.

Believed by his current owner to be at least 23, and possibly 24, he takes eight short walks a day in Manhattan's exclusive West Village where he has been doted on by film producer Frank Pavich for the last 15 years.

Source

Giant new crayfish species

A new species of giant crayfish, Barbicambarus simmonsi, has been found in Tennessee. At about 5in (12 cm) long, the huge crayfish is twice the size of other species. Its 'bearded' setae on the antennae, bright red highlights and aquamarine tail fins add to its distinctiveness.

Photograph: Courtesy of Carl Williams
Source

Remember Leo the Lion?

Leo the Lion is the mascot for the Hollywood film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and one of its predecessors, Goldwyn Pictures, featured in the studio's production logo.

Slats was the first lion used for the newly-formed MGM studio. He was born at Dublin Zoo, Ireland on March 20, 1919. The photo above is Slats the Lion being filmed for his cinematic debut as the MGM Logo, c. 1924.

Slats was used on all black-and-white MGM films between 1924 and 1928. Slats was trained to growl rather than roar (although in the logo he did nothing but look around), and for the next couple of years, the lion would tour with MGM promoters to signify the studio's launch.

Slats died in 1936. His skin is now on display at the McPherson Museum, in Kansas.


The original logo was designed by Howard Dietz and used by the Goldwyn Pictures Corporation studio from 1916 to 1924.

PHOTO 1: via The Daily What
PHOTO 2: Wikipedia

Bloody and violent fighting in our pack

Following Pussy's violent death, the thread binding our pets together, allowing peaceful co-existence in our multiple pet household, unravelled so fast and so out of control. 

Left to Right: Bambi (female, spayed), Jappy (male,  intact), Woody ( female,spayed), Moymoy ( male, neutered), Trudis (female, spayed)

For two years, the dogs had no problem sharing a pad. Except for the occasional spat between Trudis and Bambi, where the latter would immediately assume a submissive pose, I didnt not observe any other kind of power struggle within the pack. 

On Saturday, after returning from weeks of confinement inside our house, Trudis was attacked by Bambi in their pad. Trudis was wounded and bleeding on her leg so we had to whisk her away and keep her on a separate dog house. Come Monday, it was Moymoy and Jappy who  had a fight inside the pad. It was obvious that Jappy had the upperhand, but Moymoy would not give up easily. He maintained his stance (although his eyes were turned away) and was matching Jappy growl for growl.   Fifteen minutes through the stand off, the humans decided to intervene before any blood is shed- Moy's most likely. Even with Moymoy outside of the dog pad, Jappy continued to bark furiously at Moymoy,  like he wanted to kill Moymoy. Moy was so scared and stayed on one corner and would not even move when we tried to coax him to cross the playground and transfer to the garage.

Now the pack is divided in two factions and are separated from each other until I figure out a solution. Jappy, Bambi and Woody are staying in the dog pad and are let out periodically in the playground. Moy and Trudis are roaming freely  in the garage right now. I intend to borrow a spare cage from the Animal Doctor's Clinic and put it in the play ground for Trudis and Moy to sleep tonight because the garage will be occupied by the car by then. I cannot let the dogs inside the house because I fear for the Human Pup's safety. He has been attacked by my two dogs in my Mother's house a year ago. All dogs that I live with see the Human Pup as a threat. 

I am trying to analyze the events that preceded the fights. The pack hierarcy has been disrupted, thats one thing I am certain. But do you think it was right that we intervened? If I had a choice, I would have let the dogs settled their differences on their own, that technique works like magic sometimes. But when it reaches the point where they will kill each other for the alpha status, what will you do?

This experience reminds me that the pack hierarchy is dynamic, just like everything else in this world.

Today's awwwwwww

Flickr Bernhardt '66

Video: Now THIS is L-O-V-E!

via Say OMG

Video: Feline Fruit Stacking

via

Smile!

Source: one of my favorites, Awkward Family Pet Photos

Phone keeps ringing in croc's tummy

KIEV, Ukraine — Gena, a 14-year-old crocodile at an aquarium in the eastern city of Dnipropetrovsk, has been refusing food and acting listless after eating a cell phone dropped by a woman as she tried to photograph him.

Aquarium workers initially didn't believe Rimma Golovko, a new mother in her 20s, when she complained that the crocodile had swallowed her phone.

“But then the phone started ringing and the sound was coming from inside our Gena's stomach and we understood she wasn't lying,” said Alexandra, an employee.

The mishap has caused problems for the crocodile, which has not eaten or had a bowel movement in four weeks and appears depressed and in pain.

"The animal is not feeling well," said Alexandra. "His behavior has changed, he moves very little and swims much less than he used to."

Source

1,022 words - largest vocabulary of any known dog

Chaser, a border collie who lives in Spartanburg, S.C., knows 1,022 proper nouns, a record that displays unexpected depths of the canine mind.

John W. Pilley, Chaser's owner, bought her as a puppy in 2004 from a local border collie breeder and started to train her for four to five hours a day. He would show her an object, say its name up to 40 times, then hide it and ask her to find it, while repeating the name all the time. She was taught one or two new names a day, with monthly revisions and reinforcement for any names she had forgotten.

It was hard to remember all the names Chase had to learn, so he wrote the name on each toy with indelible marker. In three years, Chaser's vocabulary included 800 cloth animals, 116 balls, 26 Frisbees and a medley of plastic items.

Source

Orang Utan

Well, This Has Been One Crappy

Over the few years we've had our little Liliput, who turned into a very large Liliput, she became accustomed to her surroundings. Clearly she knew where her food was kept, the litter pan and her safe hiding places. Because she was blind, she could be a little over sensitive and only gave out her kitty cuddles when she decided it was ok, generally when one of us was in the bathroom. 24 claws balancing on a bare lap, but purrs you couldn't resist.........

She came to us in early October of 2006. A little blind thing crawling between Stephen legs at our local hay farmer's barn, "Mew, mew, mew" . They seemed to get louder. I scooped her up and said, "Stephen, we can't leave her here." Bill, the farmer said, "Ya know, if you don't take her, she'll be dead by morning, her mother rejected her." Our heart strings tugged and I slipped her into my coat as we finished up and drove home. I spent the first 3 hours with her bundled in my arms trying to clear her crusted shut eyes with warm water compresses and then when I had finished discovered what I considered a bonus and shouted to Stephen, " Steve, come look, we have a bonus! She has extra toes and lots of them!" He had never seen that before. The next several week, I fed her warm milk with an eyedropper and we made several trips to the Vet for various meds to try and save her sight, which to no avail, did not work, so we accepted our blind little kitty and began to "baby" proof the house with gates and chicken wire and wooden barriers built to keep her from falling from one floor to another and it worked.

Drug-Smuggling Pigeon Nabbed

Colombian police say they have captured a carrier pigeon that was being used to smuggle drugs into a prison.

The bird was trying to fly into a jail in the north-eastern city of Bucaramanga with marijuana and cocaine paste strapped to its back, but did not make it.

Police believe the 45g (1.6oz) drug package was too heavy for it.

Police, who believe the bird was trained by inmates, say they've caught other pigeons attempting to carry phone cards into the jail.

Source

Jim Carrey to star with penguins

Think penguin movies peaked about five years ago when March of the Penguins and Happy Feet were playing?

Hollywood believes audiences will come waddling back on Aug. 12, when 20th Century Fox releases the big-screen adaptation of the 1930s children's book Mr. Popper's Penguins, starring Jim Carrey, Angela Lansbury and a half-dozen real-life, flightless water fowl.

Audiences will be watching the real penguins for roughly half the movie. In some scenes, CGI animals were used.

Source

Gone fishing

This afternoon, our  cat* was mauled to death  by our dogs Jappy and Bambi.  She was approximately 4. 

I am still trying to make sense of the violence that erupted in our household. The rational part of  me would like to believe that no amount of care and affection can turn an animal other than what it is. In the concrete playground where they do their zoomies and play with their squeak toys,  it is still the law of the jungle that operates.  

Thing is,  I could come up with a thousand justification, but nothing can ease the  tight knot in my stomach, not seeing our cat in her usual spot tonight. She is gone forever.

* I named our cat, Pussy, not knowing that in certain parts of the world, her name had negative connotations. My apologies.

steampunk music can make things better

I finally finished my first bag commission! I owe my thanks to Meream's tute. 

This baby (cat not included) will go to Guia, officemate and chum. Marching birdies!

Here's a view of the lining. I put in two pockets for pens. 

I was truthfully quite surprised to discover how easy these bags were to make. I reckon I'll make more and experiment with them in the future. 

This bag would also not have been possible without the music of Jordan Reyne. I discovered her just an hour ago, and I am hooked. Her music reminds me of Paula Cole, if only edgier and graver. Here, have a listen for yourself. This would certainly be great music to sew to when I start trying my hand at making steampunk-inspired apparel. 

Now! Sleep!

Goodbye, my Kuya Lowie

It is my Kuya Lowie who gives me a bath when my stink-o-meter goes off...

He is always very gentle and nice with me...

It is my Kuya Lowie who takes me out for my daily  "walks" ...

He plays with me...

He and I have lots of fun together...

Kuya Lowie is one of the Animal Doctor's assistant at the Greenwoods Pet Clinic.

Left to Right: Animal Doc, Doc Jun, Kuya Jun( Animal
Doc's brother), Kuya Lowie, Human Pup, Ate Joylene, Kuya Nonony ( Animal Doc's assistant)

 He is part of our family...

Left to Right: Animal Doc, Doc Jun, Kuya Jun, Kuya Lowie, Human Pup, Ate Joylene, Nana ( Human Pup's nanny), Kuya Nonoy.

Left to Right: Animal Doctor, Human Pup, Nana, Kuya Lowie, Kuya Nonoy, Ate Joylene

Our Secretary/Mom considers it almost like a miracle that caring for a special needs dog like me never feels like a burden in our household.   It is because my human family is so blessed to have people working for them who are compassionate and loving to animals. Kuya Lowie did his job with joy in his heart.

Kuya Lowie passed away suddenly in his sleep at around 2:30 this morning. There was no sign  that we would lose him.  He still played with me before retiring last night.

The humans are still reeling from shock. The Secretary is still vacationing with her family in Iloilo City, the fact of Kuya Lowie's death simply refuses to sink in to her mind.  Our veterinary clinic is closed today; everyone is still trying to come to terms with such a sudden loss. The Animal Doctor is taking care that Kuya Lowie's remains be transported to his family in San Miguel, Iloilo. We have to make sure that he gets a proper burial and  prayers for the repose of his soul.

Much has been said about the grief that humans endure when their beloved pets pass on.  My humans will never know how much my heart bleeds for my Kuya Lowie.

I WILL ALWAYS MISS YOU KUYA LOWIE. IT IS YOU WHO WAITS FOR ME AT THE RAINBOW BRIDGE.~ SCARLET