Archive for the ‘Random’ Category

Introducing Boo – The Cutest Dog in the World?

As animal lovers, some of our readers may already be familiar with Boo, the four year old Pomeranian who has recently become an internet sensation, gaining nearly a million Facebook friends. The adorable pom has been dubbed ‘The Cutest Dog in the World’ and has even released his own calendar for 2011. Boo’s hobbies include wearing shirts, watching Oprah, eating dirt, and being photographed for all his loyal fans to see. For more delightful pictures and videos, head over to Boo’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Boo

By Sinéad. Posted in Dogs, Random

Feline Woozy

This video has been around for a while, but it’s ability to make you laugh never stops. The cat had just woken up after been sedated at the vet’s for a minor procedure. As it attempts to take a drink of water, hilarity ensues…

By Juan. Posted in Cats, Random

Puppy Doesn’t Like Snow

Think going outside in the cold is unpleasant? At least you can wear shoes. Check out this dog’s unique method of keeping his paws from freezing…

By Edel. Posted in Dogs, Random

Paul the Octopus II makes Public Debut

It’s been less than a fortnight since his world famous predecessor joined the big tank in the sky, but Oberhausen Sea Life Centre have already introduced the world to Paul II. Named in honour of the original oracle octopus, who rose to fame by predicting the outcome of FIFA World Cup matches, the five-month old was today placed in his new tank after two months in quarantine.

Staff at the aquarium had originally hoped that Paul I would impart his extraordinary abilities to Paul II, but with his sudden death last week, his legacy could not be passed on. Football pundits still have high hopes for the new Paul, however, and are expecting his first predictions in time for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament.

The news comes amid growing conspiracy theories that Paul I had actually been dead for several months. Some even say he died during the World Cup, and was replaced with a body double. Jiang Xiao, a Chinese filmmaker who is working on a documentary named ‘Who Killed Paul the Octopus?’ says she is 60 – 70% sure that this is the case.

Paul II was hatched in Montpellier, France, and as yet has not predicted anything.

By Edel. Posted in Aquatics, News, Random

Pet Myths Busted

Do Guinea Pigs really eat their babies? Do dogs and cats really hate each other? Should you feed carrots to your rabbit? Some of the most common pet myths are hereby busted.

1. A fish’s memory is only 2 seconds long

   Experiments have proved that fish are capable of learning, and of remembering. A research team in Israel trained fish in captivity to associate a certain sound with getting food. After being released into the sea some five months later, the fish still reacted when they heard the sound and returned. It’s not quite up to the standard of elephants, perhaps, but it’s a lot better than two seconds.

2. One dog year equals seven human years

   This one is completely dependent on the breed of dog. Smaller breeds, generally speaking, live longer than bigger breeds. Dogs reach maturity much faster than humans, but their growth rate slows considerably once they reach adulthood. So a 10-year old dog of average size is probably closer to 50 than 70 in human years.

3. Rabbits should eat carrots

   On the contrary, rabbits should eat mostly hay, and vegetables in moderation. The sugar content of carrots is too high for their diets, and since obesity is a big problem for domesticated rabbits, leafy greens are a much better option.

4. Cats hate babies

   They don’t hate babies specifically, but they aren’t big fans of major changes in the household. It’s natural for a cat to feel put out with all the upheaval a new baby brings, but your child is not in any grave danger from your feline friend. The usual precautions should still be taken though: don’t leave them both unattended, and keep the cat away from where the baby sleeps.

5. Mice carry disease

   Not (necessarily) true! Mice have gotten a bad reputation ever since the small matter of the bubonic plague, which they were blamed for. In fact, it was the fleas on the mice – and just about everything else – that were infected. Domesticated mice, as long as they are kept in clean environments, remain clean and disease free. Wild mice may be another story, however.

6. Dogs and cats are natural enemies

   Wrong. There are innumerable cases of dogs and cats living peacefully in the same house, or even being friends (or at the very least, allies). This myth stems from both animals being natural predators. Often, the nearest thing around for a dog to hunt or chase is a cat, and vice versa. Add to this their opposing characteristics – dogs are loyal and fun-loving, cats are aloof and independent – and it’s easy to see how situations can be misconstrued.

7. Birds will explode if they eat rice

   This is the most ridiculous myth of the lot. It comes from the belief that dried rice will absorb the moisture inside the bird, swell up, and thus kill it. In reality, the grains will long be broken down by the bird’s digestive system before they get a chance to absorb anything. Birds regularly eat various grains, rice included, with no harm done.

8. Guinea pigs eat their young

   It is extremely rare for this to happen, although admittedly there are some exceptions. Guinea pigs are not protective of their young, and the males are not involved in rearing the pups. However, they are herbivores and aren’t usually violent. In some cases, a mother can cause damage by trying to revive a stillborn pup, but the chance is she wasn’t hungry, just worried!

9. Dogs can’t look up

   Yes they can, as anyone who has seen a dog ‘bark up the wrong tree’ will attest. What they can’t do is raise their eyes upwards without moving their head.

10. Cats always land on their feet

    Cats have a ‘righting reflex’, meaning that in a fall, they automatically twist their bodies around so that they land feet first. By no means does this help them land without any injury, however. Falling from a great height still means broken bones, or worse, while falling a short distance means they may not have a chance to right themselves.

By Edel. Posted in Cats, Dogs, Random