Japanese Inn Offers Guests ‘Trial Run Sleepovers’ With Rescue Cats To Encourage Adoption
Cats are such wonderful pets, but sometimes they can be a little intimidating to those who’ve never had a cat before. As someone who loves cats and has had plenty of cats as pets, I can see how a first-time cat owner might not know exactly what to do. Cats can be a little aloof, but once they show their affectionate side, it’s pure love and joy. And one Japanese inn is allowing people to test out what it’s like to live with a cat by giving their guests a chance to have a feline sleepover. The idea is to hopefully facilitate...
Firefighters Rescue Tiny Calf From The California Wildfires
The West Coast of the US has seen some really bad wildfires in the last few weeks, and firefighters have been tirelessly battling the flames with almost no end in sight. But there is a small victory to be had in the face of all the destruction, and that is that a few firefighters were able to save a baby calf from becoming a fire victim. Over the weekend, firefighters from the Douglas Forest Protective Association shared that they were able to save the small cow from death as they took on the fires that were raging through a field of...
Owner Is Heartbroken After Reviewing Pet Cam Footage And Discovering What Her Cat Does All Day
We all think that of cats as fiercely independent animals who don’t need an owner – except for at mealtimes. But for those of us who have cats of our own, we know that cats can actually be quite affectionate animals. The only difference is that cats are more affectionate on their own terms. In other words, when it suits them. But when they show how much they care, it’s actually quite sweet to behold. And for one cat owner, Alexa, she happened to discover by accident just how much cats really do care about us. The first time...
The Origins Of 4 Domestic Cat Breeds
If there is one thing that we know about cats, it’s that cats come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. That’s because there are different breeds of cats. But have you ever wondered where all these different breeds came to be? Or how they rose to be so popular as pets? Each breed has a pretty unique origin story of their own, and below are four popular cat breeds and the interesting facts behind the felines: 1. Siamese These cats are very popular pets, however, their exact origins aren’t entirely known. But it is...
Dog Baffled To Discover She Can Turns The Lights On And Off With Her Nose
Dogs are so adorable when they discover something interesting. And one precious pup was filmed discovering that she held the power to control light with the touch of her nose! The wholesome discovery was filmed on camera, and we can’t help but chuckle at how cute the pooch is when she going on a power trip with the light. It’s particularly cute when you stop and think about how foreign this concept must be to dogs. They don’t understand what lamps are or how they work, so it must be magical to them to see humans turning them...
Almost 400 Whales Die In Historic Mass Stranding Disaster Off Australian Coast
When we first wrote about 270 whales mysteriously stranded off the Australian island of Tasmania, rescuers knew the clock was ticking. Stranded whales have only days before their massive weight — which is usually buoyed by water — collapses upon them, causing fatal organ damage. “They end up being suffocated by the weight of their own bodies, which is why it’s an incredibly painful way to go,” Nicola Hodgins, from the UK’s Whale and Dolphin Conservation charity, told NBC News. But although dozens of whales...
Critically Endangered Crocodile Photographed With Dozens Of Babies On His Back
If you’re lucky enough, sometimes you can witness some truly incredible moments in nature. And wildlife photographer Dhritiman Mukherjee was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time in order to photograph a very rare moment in the National Chambal Sanctuary, in India. His show stopping photo is that of a freshwater gharial, which is a type of fish-eating crocodile, that is swimming through the murky waters with a bunch of its offspring along for the ride on its back. And it’s not just one or two little baby...
Toothless Chihuahua Helps Nervous Patients Relax While Getting Their Teeth Cleaned
There is only one thing worse than going to see the doctor, and that is going to see the dentist. Everyone hates the dentist. No matter how great your dental hygiene routine is, or how nice your dentist is, no one likes going to see the dentist. But some patients in California are getting the ultimate incentive to go for their six-month check-up. 13-year-old Kismet, a toothless little Chihuahua, has been brightening the lives of the patients who visit the Corte Madera Family Dentistry. According to CNN, the little senior pup brings plenty of...
Cat Raised By Shiba Inu Siblings Thinks He’s A Dog
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so perhaps that is what Kiki the cat is going for as she pretends to be just like her three Shiba Inu buddies: Saki, Ibuki, and Hazuki. The adorable little feline is an American Shorthair cat who lives in Japan alongside her family which includes the three canine siblings. While most cats will get along well with a dog and somewhat enjoy the company, Kiki takes it a step further. She doesn’t just hang out with the dogs, she also tries to be one! It is just too cute. In fact, the...
Learn about access to veterinary care from the expert himself, Dr. Blackwell
Now, more than ever, low income families are struggling to find access to veterinary care due to COVID-19. Learn more about this important topic from Access to Care expert and the 2020 Avanzino Leadership Award recipient, Dr. Michael J. Blackwell, in the recorded webcast, Access to Care: A National Family Crisis. In the webcast, Dr. Michael Blackwell, Director of the program at Pet Health Equity, and Dr. Susan Krebsbach, Assistant Director, discuss barriers to vet care that pet owners face. “The overwhelming barrier for all...
Maddie’s Weekly Roundup: Dr. Michael Blackwell receives the 2020 Avanzino Leadership Award, using technology to reunite lost pets with their families and more!
Below is a brief round-up of new blog posts and resources we’ve added over the past week. Meet the 2020 Avanzino Leadership Award recipient!We’re thrilled to announce that the 2020 Avanzino Leadership Award goes to Dr. Michael J. Blackwell for his outstanding leadership and purposeful dedication to honor the human-animal bond. The award is named after Rich Avanzino, the father of the no-kill movement and Maddie’s Fund President from 1999 – 2015. This award recognizes significant achievement and… Learn...
Conservationists Help ‘Smiling’ Turtles Once Thought To Be Extinct Make A Comeback
It doesn’t matter how much we study nature, it has a way of surprising us on occasion. It happened recently when the Burmese roofed turtle (Batagur trivittata) did something totally unexpected. These turtles are one of the world’s most endangered and at one time, they were thought to be extinct. Eventually, they were rediscovered in the early 2000’s, and now they are making a comeback, thanks to a breeding program. Burmese roofed turtles were once plentiful in the rivers of Miramar but the exploitation of their eggs and...
Video Of A Chimpanzee Trying A Popsicle For The First Time Goes Viral
There are many things that we may take for granted but it is only because we can’t remember the first time that we tried them. If we were able to look back on those moments, we would have an even greater appreciation for the things that we have on a day-to-day basis. At times, we can enjoy this by living vicariously through others. That is exactly what we do when we see this 2018 video of Limbani the chimpanzee enjoying a strawberry popsicle. He was at home at the Zoological Wildlife Foundation in Miami when the video was captured. Max...
A Rescue Goat And A Duck That Has Trouble Walking Become The Unlikeliest Of Friends
We hear about a number of different types of animal rescues but Goats of Anarchy (GOA) is dedicated to rehabilitating and rescuing goats with special needs. They own 30 acres of animal sanctuary in Hampton, New Jersey. That is where you will find a 7-month-old goat with a big heart, named Gigi. Gigi is well known for mothering some of the other goats on the property. She also happens to be close friends with Merlin, a duck that is not able to walk. When they rescued Merlin, they tried to help with splinting, a wheelchair, and prosthesis....
Only In Florida: A Turtle And An Alligator High Five Each Other
I think by now, most of us have become accustomed to seeing videos online. Watching videos is one of the most popular things that people do, and sometimes, they just tend to blend in. Every once in awhile, however, we see a video that really stands out. I think that is how most people feel about a video that has been making the rounds on Twitter recently. It was posted on the “Gator Daily” account and the simple video has gone viral. After all, it shows a gator and turtle passing each other and giving a “high-five.”...
Rescued Baby Piglet Befriends Dog And Sleeps On His Back Every Night
We often don’t give animals enough credit for being emotionally intelligent. But they are more than capable of forming strong bonds amongst one another, just like humans. One might even make the argument that animals are more caring and compassionate towards each other than some humans. And of all the animals, dogs seem to be some of the friendliest around. Dogs love to make friends with anyone and everyone. And we love to see the unique little friendships that blossom between animals of different species. It’s such a wholesome...
Meet the 2020 Avanzino Leadership Award recipient!
We’re thrilled to announce that the 2020 Avanzino Leadership Award goes to Dr. Michael J. Blackwell for his outstanding leadership and purposeful dedication to honor the human-animal bond. The award is named after Rich Avanzino, the father of the no-kill movement and Maddie’s Fund President from 1999 – 2015. This award recognizes significant achievement and courage to look beyond the status quo and make bold decisions to improve the lives of pets and their people. The award is presented with a $25,000 grant to be...
Jennifer Garner Dressed Her Dog As The Characters From Her Most Popular Roles
Over the course the pandemic this year we’ve all found our different methods of coping. Most of us have gone more mainstream routes, like trying to become our own sourdough bread bakers, while others have gotten very into Marie Kondo-ing their spaces with all the extra organization time that there’s been. For celebrity Jennifer Garner, lockdown has meant making videos staring her golden retriever, Birdie. The precious pup is often featured wearing costumes that draw inspiration from her many films and TV shows. Jennifer’s...
How animal welfare organizations can use technology to reunite lost pets with their families
Animal welfare organizations have been transitioning to a more community-centric model of animal sheltering, including how animal shelters and rescue organizations can support their community reunite with their lost pets. Does your organization offer services to your community that increases return to owner rates AND decreases your intake? Do you know the biggest obstacles someone trying to pick up their lost pet faces? Return-to-owner (RTO) expert, Gina Knepp, states that the two barriers blocking reunification are lack of...
Underwater Footage Shows The Weird Feeding Habits Of Flamingos
Flamingos are a funny breed of bird. They’re pink. They stand on one leg. They’re so quirky, you can’t help but wonder what their other habits look like, like when they eat. But because flamingos dip their heads underwater when they chow down, it’s difficult to tell exactly what is happening under the surface. But there is no need to wonder anymore. Thanks to the San Diego Zoo, the feeding habits of the flamingos are now public knowledge. The zoo inserted an underwater camera into the flamingos’ feeding pool,...
