08.27.08
Do you ever
notice how the laws of gravity never quite apply to puppies?
A handsome doggie frolicking in a lush landscape
“His name is Heino and he’s a 1.5 year old Finnish Lapphund. Lapphunds were earlier used as reindeer-herders by the Sami people, but nowadays people just keep them as pet dogs or use them as tracker dogs. Other than that, Heino is a crazy doggie with lots of energy - he can’t get enough of other dogs and he loves to chase cats and catch mice!” - Kristina Birkeland
Thanks to Kristina for sharing her lovely photography and Heino her beautiful dog. I wish I could give him a big hug, such a cutie!
08.26.08
Tiniest bunny in the world!
Just kidding, that was Squishy. The pet dwarf hamster I had sophomore year of college, not a bunny but doesn’t he look like a microrabbit?
08.11.08
Baby Baby Hippos!
Baby hippos swim the moment they are born because they are born underwater. And female hippos are great nannies too, they will actually baby-sit a group of other female’s babies. Conservation status for the hippopotamus is worrying: these fascinating animals can be bought for around $50, and hippo canine teeth often end up as part of the illegal ivory trade. Even if so tempting for poachers, the hippo is not without defense: even wounded, the animals can be dangerous and is capable of biting a man in two with its massive mouth and huge teeth.
07.11.08
What the eff is an Okapi?
The okapi is a solitary animal which exclusively populates the rainforests of the Congo. On first glance, it looks to be a cross between a zebra and a donkey, but is presently categorized as the closest living relative of the giraffe. While its body structure, apart from its short neck, appears to bear this out, chromosomal data has shown that it may in fact be more closely related to an antelope native to India. Here, then, is an example of an animal with no good fossil record (the giraffe’s is equally sparse) which has assumed the role of “living fossil” largely because the information necessary to prove the case otherwise does not exist. (It has, however, evolved one trait in common with the giraffe—a tremendously long and flexible tongue. It’s one of the few mammals with the ability to lick its own ears.)
07.08.08
Beagle Is Top Hound at Westminster Dog Show
Photo from ABC News
On Monday, at Madison Square Garden, a nearly 3-year-old, 15-inch-tall beagle named Uno took one small step toward the coveted title for his breed by winning the hound group, the first beagle to do so since 1939.
Eddie Dziuk, one Uno’s owners, could not explain why a beagle, whether 13 or 15 inches high, has never reached the summit. “Others this special,” he said, looking at Uno after his victory, “are few and far between.”
Uno, or Ch. K-Run’s Park Me In First, was the sixth-ranked dog in the country last year, according to Dog News, after a toy poodle, an Akita, a standard poodle, a Sealyham terrier and an English springer spaniel.
On Monday night, he defeated 25 other dogs, including a long-haired dachshund, a harrier and a whippet.
“He was his usual self,” said Aaron Wilkerson, his handler, as Uno relaxed contentedly in his arms. “Perfect, as always.”
06.27.08
California’s first gay marriages!
Del Martin [left] and Phyllis Lyon were the first couple to be married in San Francisco as same-sex marriages become legal in a landmark move in California
06.22.08
Minipan gets her first pet guinea pig
Well, Minipan has been my only guinea pig for almost 2 years. She is a great pet but I know she gets lonely when no one is around to pay attention to her. So she says to me “Can I please have a pet? I will love it and take good care of it? Please please?”
I kept my eye out for one to possibly adopt or buy. And yesterday we found a good young healthy girl. I don’t know what to name her.. Minipan has suggested “Blrrrrrrrrrrrr! and wheek wheek wheeeeeeeek and murmurmurmurmur” But since those are hard to pronounce for us humans I am still trying to figure out a good name. Any suggestions?
Here she is the new little girl. 
Minipan loved her immediately! They’ve been following each other around and are so adorable!
06.17.08
no drama for this couple
Prairie dogs are very social and often greet each other with kisses!
