For the Love of Ponies and Mini-Pardners…

 

h/t to Jay Osborne

The Japanese Macaque

This is a video of the Japanese macaque taken from the BBC’s new "Life" documentary series.

Video:  The Japanese Macaque

Video: Monkeys swimming in Japanese Hot Springs

Related:

Gotta Love Those Monkeys

The Eagle Handler

One of friends mentioned that his wife is the eagle handler at a zoo.

He posted some links to pictures of his wife with the bird. Golden eagle by the looks of it. Here’s a couple of selected shots:

Quote: “My wife is a docent at the zoo where she volunteers. She is the eagle handler. They take them places and show off the animals. The eagle they have, Aspen, is the sister to the eagle that flies for Auburn. I forget his name.”

Hat Tip: Garry Hamilton from the NoisyRoom

Ridiculous Pet Weight Loss Products Continue to Flood the Market

Story at-a-glance

• Pet food manufacturers continue to try convince consumers their too-heavy dogs and cats can lose weight by being stuffed full of grains and fiber-filled pet food.
• The goal of many pet weight management formulas is to create a temporary feeling of fullness in dogs and cats so they won’t beg for food. This takes the heat off owners who don’t want to say no to a begging pet.
• One company has even gone so far as to invent a bizarre ingredient that when added to pet food impedes digestion so the animal feels full longer.
• And the gimmicks being employed! There’s a ‘meal replacement’ drink for cats that contains not a scrap of animal protein. And then there’s the ‘weight management’ dog food loaded with seven different kinds of grains and a special ‘fat-burning’ ingredient.
• Parents of overweight pets would be wise to steer clear of the ever-evolving gimmicky ‘weight loss’ products appearing on store shelves. Almost without exception, these formulas contain as much if not more of exactly the type of food that is making pets fat in the first place.

By Dr. Becker

As pets keep getting fatter, pet food companies get ever more creative developing ‘weight management’ formulas to peddle to uninformed consumers.

It’s a discouraging trend, since most of these special formulas consist of the same inappropriate, low quality ingredients that contribute to pet obesity in the first place.

And in fact, these foods actually contain more of exactly the wrong type of nutrition for overweight pets … or any pet.

The Goal: Fool Pets into Thinking They’re Full

According to PetfoodIndustry.com, one of the goals of pet food companies is to develop formulas for overweight dogs and cats that create a feeling of fullness or satisfaction.

Per the article, inducing satiety is important because, "… as long as the pet doesn’t act hungry we will be less likely to give in and overindulge begging behavior."

And according to one pet food manufacturer, studies show overweight dogs fed ‘fiber-enhanced’ foods consume fewer calories and appear less hungry.

So if I understand this correctly, the goal is to stuff carnivorous dogs and cats full of species-inappropriate fiber rich food so they won’t act hungry, and in turn, their owners won’t overindulge them.

This thinking is so wrong on so many levels I’m not sure where to begin.

Let’s just say I’m adamantly opposed to intentionally feeding companion animals biologically inappropriate nutrition, so their owners don’t have to deal with begging behavior or the temptation to overfeed their pets.

Certainly if we have an overweight pet we can find the energy and ambition to feed our dog or cat the nutrition she was designed to eat, in reasonable portions?

And certainly we can muster the patience to ignore begging behavior (which is typically temporary when ignored) for the sake of our pet’s health?

But Wait … It Gets Better …

Another pet food company has created a ‘satiety-triggering ingredient’ which they say reduces calorie intake in pets.

This magical ingredient is described by its manufacturer as a "patented emulsion of highly purified palm and oat oils." What this emulsion does is delay digestion of the fat in the food. This leads to the presence of free fatty acids in the small intestine.

When food is ‘delayed’ in the small intestine, it slows down gastric emptying and gut motility. According to the manufacturer of the ‘satiety-triggering ingredient,’ this permits better digestion of gut contents (hogwash) while creating a feeling of fullness and reducing appetite.

So if I understand this correctly, certain oils can be added to certain pet foods that are designed to significantly impede the normal, natural digestive process of dogs and cats.

And this is, again, for the purpose of creating pets that don’t act hungry, and therefore run less risk of being overfed by their owners.

Certainly we don’t need to feed bizarre, unnatural ingredients to our pets that gum up their intestines and interfere with normal digestion in an effort to help them lose weight?

More Gimmickry

The PetfoodIndustry.com article also mentions another company’s ‘meal replacement and food supplement’ to help adult cats maintain a healthy weight.

A meal replacement for cats?

Needless to say, I had to take a look at the ingredients in this meal replacement/food supplement. It’s apparently a powder you mix with warm water. The ingredients:

Maltodextrins, dried milk protein concentrate, dried whey protein concentrate, canola oil, casein, vanilla, fructooligosaccharide, potassium chloride, choline chloride, dicalcium phosphate, disodium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, niacin supplement, copper gluconate, vitamin E supplement, manganese sulfate, biotin, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, pantothenic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin D supplement.

So this is a ‘meal replacement’ intended for obligate carnivores that contains not a speck of animal protein. How is that not an absolutely terrible idea?

And then we have a ‘weight management’ food for dogs being promoted for its L-carnitine ingredient, which is touted as a "proven fat-burner that helps dogs naturally burn fat instead of storing it."

L-carnitine may help burn fat, but when the food it’s added to has seven different grains listed in the first dozen ingredients, making the formula wildly inappropriate nutrition for dogs at any weight, the addition of the L-carnitine isn’t going to matter one iota.

Parents of Overweight Pets Beware

For the sake of your beloved, overfed four-legged companion, I recommend the following:

• Beware any pet food marketing ploy aimed at making you believe the newest grain and fiber-filled bag of pet food is the answer to your dog’s or cat’s obesity. It isn’t.
• Beware any pet food marketing gimmick that names a specific ingredient (example: L-carnitine) as being the secret key to your pet’s weight loss. It won’t be.
• Beware any pet food marketing scheme that uses human diet buzz words (‘meal replacement’) to convince you the same nutritional principles apply to your pet. They don’t.
• Feed a balanced, species-appropriate diet to your pet. Regardless of her weight, your dog or cat still needs the right nutrition for her species, which means food that is high in animal protein and moisture, with low or no grain content.
• Practice portion control — usually a morning and evening meal, carefully measured. A high protein, low carb diet with the right amount of calories for weight loss, controlled through the portions you feed, is what will take the weight off your dog or cat. And don’t forget to factor in any calories from treats.
• Regularly exercise your pet. An overweight body gets back in shape by taking in fewer calories and expending more energy. Daily exercise, including at least 20 minutes of consistent aerobic activity, will help your pet burn fat and increase muscle tone.

The key to getting and keeping your pet lean and healthy can’t be found in the latest bag or can of inferior quality, species-inappropriate pet food, no matter how slick and convincing the marketing campaign.

The key to keeping your dog or cat nutritionally fit at the cellular level is with a high protein, moisture rich diet fed in controlled portions, and augmented with plenty of physical activity.

Source: PetfoodIndustry.com December 5, 2011  -  Cross-posted at Dr. Mercola.com

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• Valuable Tips for Helping Your Heavy Cat
• Is the Fox Guarding the Henhouse? Purina Launches ‘Project: Pet Slim Down’ for Pets

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Scuba Dooby Doo: Amazing photos of the dogs who love to play fetch underwater

This is what you call the underwater doggy paddle.

Photographer Seth Casteel watched a series of pets diving into the water – many chasing a ball – and the result is lost of gnashers, bubbles and some incredible photographs.

Catch the ball: Photographer Seth Casteel specializes in lifestyle pet photography, ’embracing the at-ease mentality of pets on location in the natural surroundings’

Diving deeper: In his work Mr Casteel manages to capture the moment the dogs open their jaws to catch the all-important ball

Dedication: He enjoys working with animals whether he’s on location in Beverly Hills photographing a pampered pooch or volunteering at the local shelter taking pictures of dogs and cats to give them a better chance of finding homes

Based in Los Angeles and Chicago, Mr Casteel’s agency Little Friends specializes in lifestyle pet photography, embracing the ‘at-ease mentality of pets on location in the natural surroundings.

Mr Casteel has worked with a variety of celebrities including Ellen DeGeneres, Amy Smart, Denise Richards, Perez Hilton and the cast of GLEE.

He enjoys working with animals whether he’s on location in Beverly Hills photographing a pampered pooch or volunteering at the local shelter taking pictures of dogs and cats to give them a better chance of finding homes.

Open wide: Some dogs looked more menacing as they bared their teeth to grab the balls

Worldwide praise: The series of underwater photos have had a positive reaction after Mr. Casteel posted a few of them on Facebook

Some dogs looked more menacing as they bared their teeth to grab the balls, but a few of them don’t even have a ball to chase and just look like they are posing for the shoot.

Some dogs appeared to be better swimmers than others, with a few diving down to the bottom of the pool, while the less adventurous preferred to stay nearer the surface.

The series of underwater photos have had a positive reaction after Mr Casteel posted a few of them on Facebook.

Duck and dive: Some dogs appeared to be better swimmers than others, with a few diving down to the bottom of the pool, while others preferred to stay nearer the surface

Wet and wild: Depending on the breed of dog, some of the subjects looked more comical in the water than others

Source:  MailOnline – h/t to AJ

PAWsome… President’s Day Pet Adoption Specials–Check in Your Area~~

There are more pets and animals being given or returned to shelters all over the country… dogs, cats, horses, pocket pets, birds, reptiles, fish amphibians, zoo animals, domesticated cross-over animals and the list goes on.  If each have love in your heart and room in your home please adopt just one (or two) more pets.

If you can’t adopt another pet consider fostering or donating money and supplies… or to someone with pets who is having a hard time keeping them.

If you missed the main event or are gone for the holiday… some will honor the special for an extra day.

Below are a few shelters and rescues sponsoring specials over President’s Weekend, but check in your area as well

Austin Animal Center offers ‘PAWSidents’ Day special Feb. 17-20

The Austin Animal Center will observe Presidents Day with a $5 “PAWSidents” Day adoption special Feb. 17-20 on all ready-to-go pets.

Visitors to the Center can meet Pawsidents such as George Waggington, Abraham Linkitten and James A. Garfield, unless someone has elected to take them home.

Also, potential adopters have a chance to participate in Mutt Match from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Animal Center’s front entrance grounds. This will be an opportunity to take home an adult dog that is in foster care and talk to those who have taken care of it. Those fostering will be available to discuss a dog’s personality and training. The reduced fee of $5 applies to Mutt Match adoptions.

All pets will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and will go home with a collar, tag and microchip. These services are valued at more than $200 and will help these pets stay healthy and safe.

Visit the Austin Animal Center’s website to view pets available for adoption or on Facebook to meet these notable pets.

The Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop, is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For more information about Animal Services and the Austin Animal Center, visit the Austin Animal Center website.

About Austin Animal Services

Austin Animal services runs the largest animal shelter in Central Texas, providing shelter to more than 23,000 animals each year and animal control services to all of Austin and Travis County. The Animal Center is an open-intake facility where stray and owned animals from Travis County in need of shelter are accepted regardless of age, health or species.

Additionally, to help save animal lives the City of Austin entered into a temporary license agreement with Austin’s Pets Alive!, a non-profit animal rescue group, to operate the former shelter, Town Lake Animal Center, 1156 W. Cesar Chavez St., as an adoption site for City shelter animals that are at risk of euthanasia. The TLAC facility is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Are you looking to add a new furry member to your family? Check out these area adoption events in the Seattle area this weekend.

Kitty Harbor will be hosting one more special adoption event this weekend on February 18 and 19, from 12pm-6pm both days. They will have over 70 cats and kittens available for adoption. Some of these wonderful kitties include the Siamese that were rescued from a camper in Auburn last month. Kitty Harbor’s adoption event will be located at 3422 Harbor Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126. You can find out more at www.kittyharborseattle.org. This will be your last chance to adopt until Kitty Harbor reopens in June.

Purrfect Pals has a kitten and cat adoption event every Saturday at the Everett PetSmart store. Once the kitties (babies and mammas) have been spayed/neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated, foster families bring them to this event to find loving forever homes. Some weeks there are 20-30 kittens available! In addition to all the medical care these cats have already received, they also come with a free vet check certificate and carrier for the ride to their new home. The Everett PetSmart is located at 1130 SE Everett Mall Way, Everett, WA.

Pet Adventure will be hosting a cat adoption event this Saturday February 18th from 11am-4pm. This will mark their first adoption event with Purrfect Pals. For more information you can call Pet Adventure at 425-771-0676. They are located at 22803 44th Ave West E-5, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043. You can find out more on their website or their Facebook page. Pet Adventure provides the best in dog and cat nutrition with premium holistic pet foods and treats. They also have a large selection of supplements, toys, grooming supplies, as well as a growing selection of foods for small animals, birds and fish.

PETCO “Think Adoption First” National Adoption Weekend, starting at 12pm on Saturday February 18th. Visit the Purrfect Pals Adoption Centers at the PETCO stores in Kirkland (on 85th, near Costco), Northgate (on Northgate Way in the Target shopping complex) and Issaquah (on Gillman, next to ROSS). These events are sponsored by Purina Pro Plan, and will have plenty of wonderful cats and kittens ready to meet you and to be adopted into their forever homes.

Dooley’s Dog House, February 19th. What better way to celebrate your 21st birthday than with an adoption event? This will be no ordinary adoption event…Phoebe the cat is turning 21 on February 19th and her family Chuck and Marti are throwing her a birthday party/adoption event. Purrfect Pals volunteers will be there to help celebrate, and to help with the adoption event from 10am-3pm. There will be a party from 3pm-5pm. Dooley’s Dog House is located at 1421 Market St in Kirkland, WA 98033. You can visit their website at http://www.dooleysdoghouse.com/. They are a store that strives to offer products and information that will improve the nutrition, limit the susceptibility to disease, and improve the quality of life of cats and dogs.

Great Adoption Specials (Humane Society of North Texas)

Are you looking for the purr-fect new addition to your home??
HSNT is running a massive adoption event, lowering ALL adoption fees— now thru Presidents day (2-20)!!
Located at: 1840 East Lancaster Ave in Fort Worth
We have tons of adoptable pets available in all shapes, sizes, and ages.
If you visit; we are sure that you will be able to find the pet you have been searching for!
Every animal adopted will go home spayed/neutered, microchiped, current on vaccinations, and will get health insurance for 30 days plus a free vets office visit!

ALSO, every animal adopted will go home with a FREE GOODIE BAG filled with great treats, toys, coupons to local pet places and more!
>>>> All adoption fees are greatly discounted!<<<<
**As always item and monetary donations are always greatly needed!**
Thank you for choosing adoption!!!!!! 🙂

• Location: Humane Society of North Texas
• it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

OK Humane Place Low-Cost Spay-Neuter Clinic | low-cost spay/neuter…  73109 Cat Special Help us bring Oklahoma City zip code 73109 cat populations under control! We will spay/neuter ANY cat in zip code 73109 for FREE!

Gotta Love Those Monkeys!!

 

Video:  Baby Monkey Francois Langur

Tiny baby Elke of Taronga Zoo

Video: Capuchin Monkey Frankie Takes a Bath

Baby gorilla arrives at Pittsburgh zoo – Updated… It’s a Boy

PITTSBURGH —

The Pittsburgh Zoo has a new baby gorilla in its midst.

Zoo officials say 15-year-old Moka gave birth last week after a year-and-a-half courtship with the zoo’s lead gorilla, 20-year-old Mrithi.

Zookeepers don’t yet know the baby’s gender, but say it appears to weigh between three and five pounds.

The new baby was born sometime after workers left the evening of Feb. 8. By the next morning the band of gorillas had grown from six to seven.

The baby is the first gorilla born at the zoo since 2001. Its father was the first born at the Pittsburgh Zoo, while Moka arrived from Miami in 2007.

Zoo officials say the other gorillas are keeping a respectful distance.

Visitors can see the new arrival at the zoo’s Tropical Forest exhibit.

The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium celebrates the birth of its first baby gorilla since 2001. The baby boy’s father, Mrithi, was the first gorilla born at the zoo.

–> Video:  Pittsburgh Zoo Welcomes Baby Gorilla  <–

Animal Fun Photos – JOMP

Received (most of) these from my cousin in Germany… Two things that are universal… great photos and cute animals!!

h/t to Monika Streicher

136th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (2012)

Visit the the Westminster Kennel Club and Events
Here

Wiener is a winner: Wirehaired Dachshund is best of the Hounds at Westminster

A female Wirehaired Dachsund named “Cinders” (officially named “GCH Raydachs Playing With Fire V Gleishorbach SW”) has been named “Best of Group (Hound)” at the 136th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The rest of the top performers in the Hound Group were, in second place, a female Petits Bassets Griffons Vendeen (“GCH Jodell Boogie Back To Texas”); in third place, a female Whippet (“Ch Starline’s Chanel”); and, in fourth place, a male Norwegian Elkhound (“GCH Vin-Melca’s The Norseman”).

Cinders is owned by Shirley Ray, Maria Sakoda and James Sakoda. He was bred by his owners as well as Jessica Smith.

Cinders after her Best of Breed win at the 2012 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. (Photo provided by Westminster Kennel Club.)

The Westminster Kennel Club website describes the Wirehaired Dachshund breed as follows:

The Dachshund, developed in Germany three centuries ago, is a perfect example of form following function. With his long, low body, prominent forechest and front legs designed for digging, the Dachshund is well equipped for going underground to hunt badger and other den-dwelling animals. A versatile hunter, he has the instincts and intelligence to excel in conformation, earthdog, obedience, agility and tracking events. The clever, affectionate Dachshund is an entertaining and devoted pet. The three Varieties – Longhaired, Smooth, and Wirehaired – compete separately. Within each variety the two sizes, miniature and standard, are shown together.

Cinders, who is almost 3 1/2, will compete in the Best of Show judging at approximately 10 PM EST tonight against the winners of the other Groups: Toy (“Malachy” the Pekingese), Non-Sporting (“Ian” the Dalmatian), Herding (“Cap”, the German Shepherd), Sporting (“Emily” the Irish Setter), Working (“Fifi” the Doberman Pinscher), and Terrier (still to be determined).

Read more about other categories at Canine Nation

Martha Stewart’s Dog Triumphs at Westminster

Casting call for Best in Show II?

Martha Stewart has suffered some professional setbacks of late. But today was a moment of unvarnished triumph: Stewart’s chow-chow, Ghenghis Khan, took the Best in Breed ribbon at the Westminster Dog Show this morning. What makes the victory all the more sweet for Martha is that this isn’t the first fluffy puppy she’s named after a legendarily fearsome Mongolian warlord. Today’s victorious chow-chow replaced Ghengis Khan the First, who died in a 2009 explosion at a kennel club and training center for show dogs in the Poconos.

Ghengis II, though, is no pale imitation, and more than meets up to the famously exacting Stewart standards. We never knew until today that Martha was into show dogs, but we’re not surprised she’s doing it better than you are. As a delighted and proud Martha tweeted, Ghengis simply outclassed the competition: "Jan kolnik showed ghenghis. She knew he was the best and he proved it by winning." Dogs just look more festive with a nice blue ribbon, don’t they?

Update: Stewart’s dog also probably had the most expensive pre-show meal. Below, he and Stewart dining at the Plaza on Sunday. Note the excellent table manners — and Martha’s are okay, too. Even if Ghengis hadn’t taken the prize, he would have been the fanciest dog at the show.

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show: Malachy the Pekingese Takes Top Prize

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

The 136th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show had a surprise winner this year when a Pekingnese took the coveted Best in Show prize in New York.

Malachy, the four-year-old winner at this year’s Westminster show, made it to the final round at the 2011 show but ultimately lost to Hickory, the Scottish Deerhound. This year marks the first time since 1990 the breed took a victory lap at the nation’s top dog show prize.

“He doesn’t run. He has a dignified Pekingese gait,” handler David Fitzpatrick had told The Associated Press.

PHOTOS: Finalists at Westminster 2012

Reaction on the ground Tuesday night was that the Malachy has come close so many times that it was an “owed” win. Fitzpatrick, however, has had multiple winners.

This win marks Malachy’s 115th overall Best in Show title. On Westminster’s opening night he had been named best in the Toy group, which is considered the show’s most competitive category.

Judge Cindy Vogels selected the four-year-old Pekingnese amidst a packed crowd at Madison Square Garden, where he defeated a Dalmatian, German shepherd, Doberman pinscher, Irish setter, a Kerry blue terrier and wire-haired dachshund to win the silver bowl.

Although the winner at Westminster does not receive any prize money, the prestige of a win is priceless and will undoubtedly bring in plenty in breeding potential.

ABC News’ Carlos Boettcher contributed to this report. h/t to MJ