As Ice-Free Periods Lengthen, Polar Bears May Face a Higher Risk of Starvation
Ice-free periods are lengthening in the Arctic, with the annual freeze-up in fall happening nearly a month later than it was in 1979. That means that polar bears are forced to wait even longer before they can head back to the ice, where they’re best able to catch their primary food, the energy-rich seal. A new study shows that as polar bears spend more time on land with little access to seals, their risk of starvation may go up. Research recently published in Nature Communications tracked the daily energy expenditure, diet, weight, and...
How Can We Help Unhoused People with Pets? Study Shares Five Strategies
More than 650,000 Americans experienced homelessness in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Point-in-Time report, which looks at figures from a single night in January. This was a 12% increase over 2022. Officials say the increase was likely due in large part to high rents, limited rental units, and pandemic eviction protections winding down. An estimated 10% of these unhoused people own pets, so what can be done to keep them both healthy? A new study investigated. Research recently published in the...
“Canine Lovebirds” Adopted Together After Three Years At North Carolina Shelter
Six-year-old hounds named Romeo and Juliet are madly in love and refuse to be separated. They arrived as strays at Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society in December of 2020 and have been waiting for a home ever since. While their love for each other is undeniable, they still have room in their hearts to love a family. The friendly hounds have won the hearts of staff and volunteers who call them “canine lovebirds”. The no-kill shelter wrote, “These two kids aren’t hound dogs. They are lovebirds trapped inside canine bodies....
Race Against Time to Save the World’s Most Trafficked Mammal
In the shadowed underbrush of the world’s tropical forests, a small, scaly creature ambles in search of ants and termites. This creature, the pangolin, is an ecological marvel and an evolutionary enigma. Despite its innocuous lifestyle, the pangolin holds the dubious distinction of being the most trafficked mammal on the planet. World Pangolin Day, observed on the third Saturday of February, casts a spotlight on the urgent need to protect these unique animals from the brink of extinction. Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Frendi Apen...
Cordyceps – An Adaptogenic Mushroom for Your Dog or Cat’s Adrenal Glands
Find out how an adaptogenic mushroom called cordyceps may help your dog or cat’s adrenal glands deal more effectively with stress. Handling stress is an important function of your dog or cat’s adrenal glands. These small, paired glands on each side of her body, just above the kidneys, are responsible for producing the “fight-or-flight” hormones, mainly adrenaline, when the body perceives an existential threat. They also produce stress hormones, mainly corticosteroids, when the body experiences stressors. In this...
Kitten Runs Up to Picnickers, Steals a Drumstick, and Bolts Away
This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Submit your own rescue story here. Your story just might be the next to be featured on our blog! When my family decided to attend a conference down in Cincinnati, Ohio, we did not expect to come back with an additional member of the family. The conference took place in an outdoor park equipped with a gazebo and picnic tables scattered about. The park was also surrounded by woods. When my sister came back to our family picnic table, plate piled with food (including a drumstick), an...
Teasing Isn’t Just for Humans, Our Great Ape Cousins Seem to Enjoy It, Too
Playful teasing is a good way to connect with our loved ones, or just to give them a bit of a hard time. Infants are capable of this behavior, so it stands to reason that other animals that lack verbal skills could be capable of it, too. That idea led scientists to investigate whether our great ape cousins like to tease each other. Multi-institute research recently published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B involved studying zoo-dwelling bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans for signs of teasing. The researchers say that based...
Free Spay/Neuter Clinics Are Saving Lives In United States And Ukraine
According to Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP), one unspayed female cat and her offspring can give birth to roughly 4,948 kittens over seven years. One unspayed female dog and her offspring can have over 500 puppies. The solution to overpopulation of dogs and cats is to spay and neuter. The last Tuesday is February is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of spay/neuter on what is known as World Spay Day. It all started with Doris Day and her Animal League in 1995. At that time, the euthanasia rate at animal shelters was a...
Even For Stylish Humans, Pet Proofing Your Home Saves Lives
Balancing the aesthetics of a home with the needs of its four-legged occupants can seem like a daunting task. However, with strategic planning and the right materials, maintaining a stylish living space while ensuring the comfort and safety of pets is entirely achievable. Homeowners can achieve this balance by drawing on the following expert advice and innovative solutions. Photo: PexelsA regular grooming schedule can help your pet to reduce shedding. Choosing the Right Materials When it comes to furnishing a home that’s both stylish...
Christina Ricci Heartbroken Over The Loss Of Her “Best Friend”, Dog Karen Carpenter
Actress Christina Ricci took to Instagram this past weekend to share some devastating news. Her senior dog, Karen Carpenter, had passed away at the age of 15. She paid tribute to her “best friend” who died on Friday with three separate posts on Instagram stories, which disappear after 24 hours. According to People, the first post read, “My beautiful little best friend Karen Carpenter died on Friday. She was a lady and the best little soul I’ve ever known. My best friend for 15 years. So many of you knew her and loved...
