Scientists Discover How Animals Develop Patches

Scientists have solved what shall henceforth be known as the piebald mystery: by discovering the origins of the broad white patches that can adorn the belly and head fur of cats, dogs and farm animals.  The distinctive patterns were known to be caused by a mutated gene, but how the faulty DNA produced the signature white bellies and other splashes of light on animals’ coats was far from clear.

http://tinyurl.com/j3low2w

Video: Monkey Delicately Pets Puppies

This capuchin monkey feels the same way about puppies as you do.  In the above video, which was submitted to Reddit, a small monkey tenderly pets a litter of puppies, giving each one a thorough scratching — then, remembering its instincts, stops every so often to check their fur for grubs.  If there was a scale to measure cuteness, this video would register dangerously off the charts.

http://tinyurl.com/nutjse7

West Hollywood Set to Ban the Sale of Fur

Taking a stand for animal rights over fashion, the tiny, tony municipality of West Hollywood is poised to become the first U.S. city to ban the sale of fur clothing within its boundaries. The five-member City Council voted unanimously on September 20 to give tentative approval to the ban, and the panel is expected to officially adopt the measure at a meeting next Monday.

http://tinyurl.com/3gg4byk

Bald Bears in Germany Mystify Everyone

You'd have thought a fur coat would have been the ultimate bear necessity. But not for the unfortunate Dolores who has lost all her body hair and has just been left with a few tufts around her head.

http://tinyurl.com/3jpg2cc