UCLA Researchers Identify 65 Species Capable of “Laughing”
Considered one of the most natural impulses in human beings, laughter is both spontaneous and contagious. Babies exhibit the behavior before they can even talk or walk. It comes naturally to us, but we seldom associate it as a trait among animals. But in 2021, researchers at UCLA were able to identify 65 different animal species capable of making what are called “play vocalizations,” or what we humans think of as laughter. Photo: Pixabay/R_Winkelmann Laughing Cows, Not Hyenas Some of those vocalizations we’ve been aware of...
How One Sweet Puppy Shot and Left for Dead Beat the Odds and Went on to Steal Hearts
Devoting your life to the welfare and care of the most vulnerable among us is not an easy task. But you don’t get into it because you think it’s going to be. It’s more of a calling that you don’t necessarily even recognize at first. It can just sort of sneak up on you, and before you know it, you’re in and spending the better part of each day trying your hardest for those that have come to count on you. That’s what it’s like in animal advocacy. You love animals, and you’re passionate about their...
5 Effective Exercises To Engage Your Dog’s Mental Muscles
Exercise is required for any type of dog. Regardless of its breed or age, every dog needs some kind of exercise to maintain its health, both physical and mental. It’s probably more common for anyone to think about physically demanding training when it comes to exercising your dog, but it doesn’t always have to be! Here Are 5 Exercises Your Dog Needs For Mental Stimulation Behavior Training PHOTO: Pixabay/Andrés Carlo This might not come as a surprise, but behavior training stimulates your pet’s brain as the constant...
Special Needs Kitten Abandoned By Mom Gets A special Helmet To Protect His Brain
A tiny kitten in Southern California was gifted a second chance at life thanks to a Good Samaritan. The Good Samaritan found the 2-week-old kitten, Otter, and his sister, Bunny, after they’d been abandoned by their mother. According to GeoBeats Animals, both kittens were in terrible condition when they were found. Photo: YouTube/GeoBeats Animals Bunny was missing parts of her legs and Otter was missing part of one leg and suffering from a hole in his skull! Beyond those major ailments, both kittens were sick and flea-infested....
The Andean Cat Is Going Extinct, Here’s How We Save It
The Andean cat is one of the rarest and least-known cats in the world. Measuring up to two feet long, 14 inches high and between 8-13 pounds, the Andean cat is distinguished by its ash grey and yellowish-brown facial markings, InHabitat reports. The cat’s ears are rounded and stick up, while their long tails stretch 70% of their body length to help them balance on the mountainous Andes terrain. According to Animalia, this elusive creature lives exclusively in the Andes Mountains and Patagonia steppe, where climates are harsh and food is...
Man Puts Together 118 Care Packages And Donates Them To Animal Shelter Workers
Working at an animal shelter is taxing work. It can be rewarding and joyful, but also exhausting and heartbreaking. Having to work with and care for animals that are neglected, abused, abandoned, and more is not for the faint of heart, and that work is often underappreciated. Photo: Wikimedia Commons To give back to animal shelter workers, Bryan Tsiliacos came up with a thoughtful way to make a difference in their lives. Bryan decided to do something nice for animal shelter workers as part of his commitment to do 30 big acts of kindness...
Excited Corgi Runs Circles After Seeing Snow For The Very First Time
For people who live where it snows, winter weather is just another part of life. But for those who live in more temperate climates, like parts of California, snow can be something new and exciting. Growing up, my coastal town in the California redwoods rarely experienced snow. We lived close enough to the mountains that we could drive to it, though, and we’d take weekend trips to go skiing or sledding. Photo: Pexels/Pixabay One year, I took my dog, Jax, along for a snow trip. It was his first time seeing snow and I had no idea how...
5 Ways Dog Training Facilities Can Make All the Difference
Dog training facilities are dedicated spaces for training dogs. They’re controlled environments with fewer distractions, and they’re staffed with experts who can ensure your dog gets the attention they need to succeed. Dog training can be done anywhere. In a public park, at home, on the streets —even at pet-friendly retailers like PetSmart. So why spend money to train at a special facility? Dogs are easily distracted during training, and they also might not get the attention they need during regular training sessions, which...
How to Find a Lost Dog
Though the number of animals that end up in local shelters and are reunited with their families varies by community, Best Friends Animal Society surveyed more than 2,000 shelters nationwide and found that in 2021 only 21% of lost dogs got back home. “It’s terrible. There’s a huge percentage of pets that probably could be returned to their owners that are not getting returned right now,” says Marc Peralta. He is the chief program officer for Best Friends and has run shelters and animal control departments across the...
Pusha The Cat Adopts Orphaned Baby Squirrels With The Help Of Her Human Friends
Oftentimes when baby squirrels get adopted, it’s by humans. We’ve covered so many stories about it like how this soldier found a baby squirrel and nursed it back to health, or this woman who tried to foster one but ended up with a roommate instead, or the story of how a couple went on a date and one of them came home suddenly a pet parent. PHOTO: Unsplash/Alexas_Fotos These are all wholesome stories, sure, but how can they become doubly cute? Add a cat and her kittens. Cats usually chase off squirrels, but that’s not the...
