17 Breeds of Dogs at 6 Weeks Old

Puppyhood is an awe-inducing showcase of 25 breeds of dogs all photographed at six weeks of age. Professional animal photographer J.Nichole Smith of Little & Large shot 25 different litters over a hectic 30 day period. We caught up with Smith who was kind enough to give us some background info on the project.

http://tinyurl.com/n5ebd6q

Video: Frosty the Goat Takes First Steps in Wheelchair

It's 5 p.m. ET on a Tuesday and this is breaking news: there is a baby goat named Frosty the Snowgoat walking around in a wheelchair. Taken in by Edgar's Mission Farm Sanctuary, an Australian not-for-profit farm sanctuary, Frosty's hind legs didn't work so well -- which is why they gave him a tiny wheelchair.  We'll continue to update the story as more information becomes available. In the meantime, watch this video.

http://tinyurl.com/nr5m3f3

Poppy Named World's Oldest Cat at 24

Poppy the cat is certainly feline her age - after being recognized as the world’s oldest cat at 24 years.  The tortoiseshell puss from Bournemouth was born in February 1990, making her a ripe old 114 in human years.  She has lived through five British Prime Ministers but is now a frail old lady and spends most of her time indoors relaxing. Poppy, who has been recognized by Guinness World Records, is one year younger than Misao Okawa of Japan, the oldest person in the world.

http://tinyurl.com/m4ojvxu

-Igor Purlantov

"Alien" Catfish Baffles Scientists

A small, toothy fish, which researchers say resembles the terrifying creature from the movie "Alien," is turning out to be a big mystery for the scientists who study it.  Kryptoglanis shajii is a tiny, subterranean catfish with a number of defining skeletal features, including a bulging lower jaw similar to a bulldog's. The fish's strange, bony face has baffled researchers, who have been unable to classify the odd species.

http://tinyurl.com/mmmcrbe

-Igor Purlantov

Video: Cat Saves Little Boy From Dog Attack

The video is entitled “My Cat Saved My Son.” A little boy is seen slowly riding a bike in front of his home. A dog is seen from another angle circling a parked car. Without provocation, the dog attacks the young boy and pulls him off the bike and drags him while biting his leg. Out of nowhere, Tara,  the family cat, races in and chases the dog off.

http://tinyurl.com/l44p543

-Igor Purlantov

103 Year Old Orca Recently Spotted

SeaWorld could be in trouble because of “Granny,” the world’s oldest known living orca. The 103-year-old whale (also known as J2) was recently spotted off Canada’s western coast with her pod -- her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But while the Granny sighting is thrilling for us, it’s problematic for SeaWorld.
http://tinyurl.com/kfvk552

-Igor Purlantov

How to Safely Pet Different Animals

My dog loves belly rubs. I do, too, but I rarely get one even when I roll over into an appropriate position. Even from strangers my dog is more likely to get belly rubs than I am. I try not to be jealous.  But not all animals like belly rubs. Cats, for example, will likely bite you if you try (note: I will not bite you). Different animals like different types of physical contact. Adam Ellis of BuzzFeed has helpfully rounded up 15 charts illustrating how animals typically feel about you touching particular body parts. You can view them all here.

http://tinyurl.com/m68pokp

-Igor Purlantov

Rewilding Bison from Romania to Alaska

Just days after seven European ‘wood’ bison or wisent (Bison bonasus) cows born and raised at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Highland Wildlife Park were soft released into the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park in Romania as part of the largest wisent reintroduction effort in history, the United States moved forward on it own plans to reintroduce bison to parts of their historic range.  Alaska, which comprises the historic U.S. range of the once endangered wood bison, is preparing for a big comeback of bovine proportions.

http://tinyurl.com/lh6rahw

-Igor Purlantov

Video: Fisherman Saves Baby Whale

It's not often you see a fisherman cutting a fish free, but that's exactly what one New Zealand man did after a baby humpback whale became trapped in cray pot lines off the coast of Australia.  Fisherman Joe Brogan, 42, grabbed his knife and jumped right into the water. At first the whale tried to swim away and escape, but Brogan swam even closer, taking direction from his friends on board.  "Cut it closer," the man holding the camera directed. "Don't try and get it off, mate; just cut the line."

http://tinyurl.com/n2hdcvx

The 100 Most Important Cat Pictures Of All Time

OK, this is it. This is the one. We can all finally shut down the internet and go home after this.

http://tinyurl.com/qx6fpqw

-Igor Purlantov

Bear Released In The Wild Decides To Return

A bear that apparently became too accustomed to the good life at a ski resort at Lake Tahoe is headed for an animal sanctuary or zoo after wildlife officials decided he's unfortunately become too domesticated to be returned to the wild.  The year-old black bear, dubbed "Heavenly," was captured in March after it settled in next to a ski lift at the Heavenly Mountain Resort at Stateline on the California-Nevada line.  Veterinarians at the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care Center nursed him back to health. California wildlife officials released him last week in the Sierra near Monitor Pass, about 25 miles south of the lake. But they say he made it back to Tahoe within a matter of days and started approaching people again.
http://tinyurl.com/nm852jj

-Igor Purlantov

Hamster Gets To Eat Two Tiny Burritos

It's Friday afternoon, when we finally get a chance to muse on hamster burrito videos and on our evolving notions of what to feed our animals.  Some people whip up feasts of liver and hamburger for Fido. Some throw some celery leaves into Tweety bird's cage or peel a carrot for the bunny. But we've never seen anyone go to the lengths this man does for his hamster.

http://tinyurl.com/k8pyevv

-Igor Purlantov

Listen To These Lovely Cats

"Oh, evolution," writes Mara Grunbaum in her new, about-to-come-out book, WTF Evolution,"You were doing so well with the lynx. You made it a fierce and graceful hunter, you gave it a luxurious spotted coat, you gave it pretty yellow eyes and tufted ears — and then you made it sound like this ..."

http://tinyurl.com/ptqv7ft

-Igor Purlantov

Video: Military Dog Cila Comes Home

Thanks to generous supporters of American Humane Association, and the help of Mission K9 Rescue, after two years apart military war heroes Cila and Sgt. Jason Bos were reunited at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport!

http://tinyurl.com/nxg95dx

-Igor Purlantov

Los Angeles Bans Use of Painful Tools on Circus Elephants

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to ban the use of bullhooks, pitchforks, baseball bats and other tools “designed to inflict pain” on circus elephants and other exotic animals. It’s being heralded as a major victory by animal rights activists, the Los Angeles Times reports:  Animal rights activists argue that bullhooks are cruel and abusive. Circus producers have countered that such tools are needed to exhibit the animals safely and that banning them means banning the circus entirely.

 http://tinyurl.com/nwp5cdk

-Igor Purlantov

Should Animals Have Same Legal Rights As People?

Our legal system divides the world into people and everything else. People (and associations of people) have legal rights. Everything else does not. But should animals — or at least certain highly intelligent animals — be given some of the same legal rights as people?

http://tinyurl.com/phnu85m

-Igor Purlantov