Pig Rescued Days Before His Slaughter Date is Living the High Life at a Refuge
Pigs raised for meat often face poor conditions, including crate confinement for pregnant sows. Not long after birth, piglets are also taken away from their mothers. Those slated for slaughter typically only live for six months. One lucky pig escaped this fate and is now living his natural life out at a sanctuary. Firecracker the pig was rescued by Farm Animal Refuge days before he was set to be slaughtered, at six-months-old and about 180 pounds. PHOTO: THE HUMANE LEAGUE / FARM ANIMAL REFUGE Refuge co-founder Matt Lieurance says, “He...
Pigs Can Play Video Games, and Other Interesting Facts About Swine
March 1st means spring is just around the corner, it may soon be light after 6 p.m., and blooming plants are on their way. It also happens to be National Pig Day. To mark the occasion, here are some surprising facts about our swine friends. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK / DAVID Pigs Can Learn to Play Video Games If you need a gaming buddy, you could look to… a pig? Well, possibly. A Purdue University study found that pigs could learn how to use a joystick to play a game similar to Pong. It involved hitting line targets around the edge of the...
Bear The Dog Gets A Second Chance At Life
Bear was in bad shape when he was rescued. The poor dog had been living in a very neglectful situation for a while. The dog, who was rescued from a life of neglect in Smith County, Texas, and it was clear that the poor dog had suffered for quite some time. His back legs were so weak from constantly sleeping on a concrete slab exposed to the elements night after night, that he ended up being unable to walk without assistance. Photo: YouTube/The Humane Society of the United States Photo: YouTube/The Humane Society of the United States It was...
500-Pound ‘Hank The Tank’ Was The Suspect In Dozens Of Break-Ins, But His Name Has Been Cleared!
There are an estimated 30,000 and 40,000 black bears living in California. The typical adult male weighs between 150-350 pounds, but Hank the Tank is not your typical black bear. This 500-pound animal has drawn the attention of Californians and people around the world as the lead suspect in dozens of home break-ins in South Lake Tahoe Keys, the New York Times reports. Black bears typically avoid human contact. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department received more than 150 complaints about Hank the Tank. According to the Sacramento Bee, locked...
Kentucky Firefighters Rush To Rescue A “Hypothermic” Horse Stuck In The Mud
On a cold and rainy night last week the Scott County Fire Department (SCFD) received a call to help a horse who was stuck in the mud and couldn’t get up. When the firefighters arrived, they found the hypothermic horse exhausted from trying to escape the mud and in desperate need of help. Thankfully the crew is trained in horse rescues and knew exactly what to do. Photo: Scott County Fire Department “SCFD Crews were able to set up an A Frame, and apply a harness to ‘Todd’ while vet Mallory Meyers from Park Equine...
3 Reasons You Need to Map Your Community’s Pet Support Resources Now
The world has officially changed. And with it, animal welfare professionals have taken this opportunity to rethink everything we do. NOW is the time to go all-in on supporting pet owners and caretakers. NOW is the time to slow (I dare say, stop) the unnecessary flow of loved and cared-for animals coming into our shelters. It won’t be us doing this on our own. We will be both supporting and getting the support of our community, too. Here are three reasons to provide people access to information and the resources to...
Why Human Animal Support Services? An Interactive Introduction
[embedded content] Animal sheltering is changing. Community-focused animal services are the future, and the Human Animal Support Services project is a way for you to be a part of that future. But what is the HASS project and is it right for your organization? Whether you’re thinking about joining the project, have no idea what it’s all about, or are simply looking for a refresher, this webinar is for you. There is no better time for your team and volunteers to learn about how HASS is transforming animal services across the globe...
Cat Foster Mom Transforms Kittens Into USA Bobsled Team
Fostering a litter of kittens is no easy task. You’ve got to keep track of them, care for them, and then, hardest of all, let them go when they find the right match for a forever home. But that challenge hasn’t stopped Amber Blankenship, AKA “The Crazy Kitten Lady,” from going for the gold! Photo: Pixabay/Jan-Mallander “I foster kittens for a rescue here in Oregon and am always thinking of fun new ideas to bring awareness to shelter animals. I hope this will spread some kitten joy and lots of smiles!”...
Man Gets Called ‘Crazy’ For Taking Care Of An Injured Puppy
It’s not always easy to do the right thing, but one man’s act of care and protection for an injured puppy is the perfect reminder that it’s always worth it. A video of the encounter between two men in India shows that one had run over the paw of a stray dog with his scooter. The other man scoops the pup into his arms and looks at his injured paw, and in response, the man with the scooter begins to laugh at him, calling him crazy. Photo: Max Pixel Others around him laugh at him too; touching stray dogs is an unusual thing for...
Mom Creates ‘Drinking Pond’ For Her Pet Cats
When you have a cat in your life, there is nothing you wouldn’t do for them. You make sure they have all of the food they need, plenty of toys to play with, and some TLC when they ask for it or even when they don’t. Two felines that understand this all too well are Phoebe and Sox. As far as felines are concerned, they are some of the more finicky and they have a particular taste that needs to be fulfilled. Their mom decided that they could have a cat fountain because a regular water dish just wasn’t cutting it. At first,...
