Sea Otters Save California’s Kelp Forests from Extinction
Southern sea otters, known for their playful antics and endearing appearances, are more than just charming residents of California’s central coast. Over the past century, they have played a crucial role in preventing the widespread decline of kelp forests, providing an unexpected yet vital service to these underwater ecosystems. Photo: PexelsSouthern sea otters are crucial to the survival of California’s kelp forests. From Near Extinction to Environmental Stewards In the 19th century, southern sea otters faced near extinction due...
Rescue Dog Becomes Beloved Companion in a Home for Adults with Special Needs
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 I was 11, my dad got a job as the on-site manager at a home for adults with special needs. We moved to the Bombay Hills in New Zealand and we had 10 acres, so we could get some sheep, cows and pigs (which I loved). However, this was a huge change for me, and a month after we moved, my parents said we could get a dog. DOG. PHOTO: PIXABAY / PUBLICDOMAINPICTURES On December 2, we went...
Neighborhood Works Together to Save Kitten, Who Repays the Favor By Becoming the Best Foster Mom
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! During the 2013 kitten season, a group of neighbors heard a kitten crying deep in a bougainvillea bush. The cries began near dark and the bush was too thorny to safely extract the kitten, so they placed a bowl of food near the edge and planned to check back. KITTEN. PHOTO: PIXABAY / MIRCEA IANCU Sure enough, one of the neighbors spotted the calico kitten in a nearby courtyard at dawn the...
Ad in Paper Offers ‘Three Ugly Kittens in Need of Good Homes’
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! Twenty-one years ago, when I was 15-years-old, I picked up the local newspaper when I got in from school and I saw an advert that read “Three ugly kittens in need of good homes.” Can anyone ignore that? Certainly not! KITTEN. PHOTO: PIXABAY / MIKHAIL So the phone was picked up, number dialed, and me pretending to be my mother. I gave my mother’s name, date of birth, etc,...
Fertilizer Runoff is Suffocating Fish and Polluting Our Lakes
Excess fertilizer use poses significant environmental challenges, impacting wildlife and water quality. Fertilizers, particularly those containing nitrogen and phosphorus, can lead to various negative outcomes when improperly managed. One of the primary environmental concerns with excess fertilizer is its effect on water bodies. When fertilizers run off into lakes and rivers, they promote the growth of algae and other aquatic plants. This process, known as eutrophication, leads to oxygen depletion in the water. As microorganisms decompose the...
71 Pets From NYC’s Largest Shelter Adopted In One Day At Petco’s Block Party
Animal shelters across the country are overflowing with homeless pets who are all waiting for a loving home. Animal Care Centers (ACC) of NYC, the largest animal shelter in the city, has several locations filled with cats and dogs who deserve to find their special someone. It is a great day when one pet gets adopted and a huge celebration when over 70 pets find homes in one day. Screenshot: TikTok/@nycacc New Yorkers formed a line in Union Square to meet adoptable pets from local shelters at Petco’s 25th Birthday Block Party. ACC shared...
Orphaned Baby Beaver Is Stealing Hearts At Wildlife Rescue
A video of an orphaned baby beaver taken in by a wildlife rescue in Canada called WILDNorth is going viral due to the adorable kit. Beavers are the largest rodents in North America and stay with their moms until the age of two to learn how to swim, build, and find food. The video showed the team examining and caring for the one-week-old baby and explaining what her recovery would entail. They asked, “Have you ever seen a baby Beaver?” @wildnorthab Have you ever seen a baby Beaver? This cute little North American Beaver was found...
How animal well-being organizations are using artificial intelligence to help pets and people
Curious about how artificial intelligence (AI) might help your animal organization? We asked folks on Maddie’s® Pet Forum to share how they’re using it to help pets and people (and themselves!). Here are a few answers below. Writing anything and everything from adoption biographies (bios) to newsletter stories, thank you notes and even grants“As a small volunteer-run rescue organization, we struggle to find time around our jobs to do all the little things to promote animals for adoption,” shared one...
Kittens Give ‘Quality of Life’ Back to Woman Dealing with Autoimmune Disease
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! In 2013, my health took a turn for the worse. I was in almost constant pain. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease where my body attacked my joints and organs. I could no longer work, and even getting out of bed some days required help. My social life was limited. I really wanted a small inside pet, but I was unsure. KITTEN. PHOTO: PIXABAY / GUNDULA VOGEL My son said he would help me...
Congress Pushes Farm Bill Threatening Animal Welfare Gains
The U.S. Congress’s Farm Bill, a substantial piece of legislation governing agricultural and food programs, faces scrutiny for its potential to harm animal welfare. The 2024 Farm Bill, recently approved by the House Agriculture Committee, is particularly concerning for animal rights advocates. The bill includes provisions that could reverse progress in animal welfare, endanger public health, and negatively impact countless animals. Photo: PexelsThe 2024 Farm Bill could undo years of animal welfare progress. Nullifying Proposition 12 One...
