Loyal Dogs Refuse to Leave Side of Dying Baby Girl

A family’s loyal basset hounds have refused to leave the side of a dying baby girl who suffered a major stroke.  Nora Hall’s parents have taken the heartbreaking decision to turn off their five-month-old daughter’s life support after the stroke caused brain damage and left her in a medically-induced coma.

http://tinyurl.com/za4egyu

Video: Orphaned Animals Learn to Love After Losing Their Mothers

The bond shared between animals and their parents is just as strong as that in humans. With this in mind, when a baby animal loses their parent – for any reason, the impact is absolutely devastating.  Sadly, many baby wild animals are forced to face this tragedy as a result of poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. Many think that when an elephant is killed for their tusks, for example, they are the only victim. But what we don’t realize is that these animals live in family and social groups as complex as our own. And many times, when an adult is killed, they leave behind children.

http://tinyurl.com/zyvkmpx

We’re Killing Off All The Animals

Take note, parents: The next time you take your kids to the zoo, if you really want to give them the full experience, be sure to tell them that behind all those cages full of super happy animals, zoos have vials upon vials of animal sperm.  That’s right — vials of frozen elephant sperm might not be as exciting as Dumbo himself, but they’re just as important to wildlife conservation. As Elizabeth Kolbert, author of The Sixth Extinction, discussed in her interview with Grist last year, scientists are hoping to use all that frozen goo to keep endangered species alive through artificial insemination.

http://tinyurl.com/ne88yz9

Couple Forgot to Tell Cat They Have a Baby

Prepping for your first child is a beautiful and exceedingly stressful transitional period. Between making sure your home isn't an infant death trap, buying Instagrammable onesies and wondering whether their or not parental instincts will kick in, expecting parents have a lot on their minds.  But that's no excuse to keep pets in the dark.  Kitties should always have a say in any major life changes you might be making. Whether it's marriage, children, moving, taking new job or going back to school — consult your cat. They will not be even a little bit helpful, but it's important to keep them involved.

http://tinyurl.com/oeorp3y

Animal Parents And Babies Will Make Your Day Better

Like humans, many animal parents look after their offspring with tender care, giving them hugs and keeping a close eye on their little ones. Animal babies are pretty cute on their own, but it turns out they are even more adorable when photographed with their family.

http://tinyurl.com/9wbyx53