Watch this amazing VIDEO of this dog whose Frisbee gets stuck in a tree… that doesn’t stop her. She just climbs the tree and gets it to the amazement of her master and friends.

The Pinta Island tortoise is the rarest animal in the world because there is only one left in the world. Lonesome George lives on the island of Pinta, and is somewhere between sixty to ninety years of age. He’s happily living in good health… too bad there will be no more after he’s gone.

For More Information: CLICK HERE

Okay so I have an odd question for you. I’ve been looking on line and I can’t find an answer.

I have a rescue cat who is awesome. I love him. He loves when I pet him and scratch him but after a minute or so he always grabs my arm and tries to bite me. He digs his claws into my arm. I know lots of cats like that… they love to be petted and stroked but it releases some kind of aggression in them.

And for the record, I am very gentle with him. VERY gentle, never rough or aggressive in my petting. Gentle strokes to the cheeks, neck and back. I never touch his legs or feet. I try to do nothing that will get him excited but sometimes he’s so cute laying there that I want to give him some love and I often don’t because I don’t want to get scratched.

I’m not sure if there’s a way to stop it. I’ve had him for many years. I just stop petting him and walk away every time he starts to get aggressive. I figured he would learn that the petting stopped when he shows aggression but it doesn’t seem to do anything.

Also, he really seems to be enjoying the petting when it’s happening, he’s purring and rubs his cheeks against my knuckles and arches his back then BAM he takes a swipe at me outta nowhere.

Do you have a cat like this?

Do you know what makes some cats act like this?

Do you know how I can fix this problem?

I want to hear from you. I know you’re out there.

Over the years the news has started highlighting cases of animal abuse. I think the arrest of Michael Vick brought a lot of attention to dog fighting and showed the world that animal abusers can be anyone. The guy next door. How does that affect you? Well, people who abuse animals are more likely to be guilty of other crimes: guns, drugs, spousal and child abuse, rape and murder.

The criminal system has gotten wise to this fact.

Sgt. David Hunt, a dog-fighting expert with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in Columbus, Ohio,  told the NY Times in THIS article, “I’m starting to see a shift in that mentality now.” Hunt travels the country teaching law-enforcement personnel about the dog-fighting underworld, often stressing the link between activities like dog fighting and domestic violence. “You have to sell it to them in such a way that it’s not a Fluffy-Muffy issue,” he said of teaching police officers about animal-abuse issues. “It’s part of a larger nexus of crimes and the psyche behind them.”

I’m glad it’s bringing more attention to animal abuse. When you are cruel and murderous to the smallest and weakest of us, you show a flaw in character that is reprehensible… BUT if the court system got wise to this fact they could institute a program of heavy psychiatric therapy for those found guilty of animal cruelty that may help the criminal deal with whatever issues may be causing them to act out cruelly to defenseless creatures. Doing that may save more human lives in the future and make our communities safer places.

You always hear them say, “As a child he tortured animals” about serial killers. What if that child were to get the therapy he/she so desperately needs? Test their brains… see what’s making them do this? Science and Psychology could then take steps and create treatments to help make it happen less in our future.

I think that people should give a lot more attention to this subject. Torturing animals is one of the first signs that something is really REALLY wrong with a person. We can’t turn our backs on this fact. But now that we know… what do we do that might actually make a difference in the future?

Getting angry about animal cruelty does nothing. Taking action toward bringing an end to the problems of society takes more than anger. It takes action. So write articles, share this on Facebook, get people talking. If you see animal cruelty don’t be afraid to call authorities. You may be helping someone to take the first steps toward getting the help they need… and helping to stop a future criminal.

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

I wanted to talk about veterans since it’s Memorial Day. I know that Memorial Day is for those who have fallen, but we also to remember those who came home… those who came home and need help… and what a better way to put animals and our honored troops together than to talk about the wonderful programs that bring dogs and veterans suffering from PTSD together.

In an article that you can read by clicking HERE they say:

“One of the greatest obstacles these veterans face is their own resistance to admitting they need help. The physical injuries suffered by these veterans are caused by combat, are visible and are both explainable and, in certain ways are acceptable. However, because PTSD falls into the category of a psychiatric disorder, many soldiers think of it as stigmatizing and unacceptable.”

I mean is the “vet with the service dog” a cliche at this point? I think it’s sad that someone might not get the help that they need. Especially when that service involves a dog. Dogs change your life… for the better. Dogs change your world. You have to get out more. Talk to people at dog parks and out on the street. They give you something to talk about and focus on rather than what ever is going on in your head. That’s true of everybody… not just Vets.

If you’re interested in finding out more about getting a psychiatric service dog for PTSD contact

Puppies Behind Bars:

http://www.puppiesbehindbars.org

http://www.popeater.com/2010/05/17/john-travolta-dogs-killed-airport-accident/

For those of you who travel with pets, please be extra careful. Even the most famous of travelers can suffer a traveling tragedy.

“At approximately 1 a.m. on Thursday, May 13, 2010, an airplane carrying members of the John Travolta family landed at BIA. While there, two small dogs were taken for a walk by someone who is not a family member. An airport service pickup truck was approaching the airplane to service the airplane and did not see the dogs. Unfortunately, the dogs were struck and killed. The airport is investigating the accident. Out of respect for the family’s privacy the city will make no further comment.”

The article went on to say:

“Travolta, who starred in ‘Old Dogs’ in 2009 and voiced a computer-animated canine in 2008′s ‘Bolt,’ is a serious pilot who often flies himself into Bangor’s modest airport. The Bangor Daily News was unsure whether Travolta was flying the plane on the day of the incident.”

This is my nightmare. I travel with pets. It’s horrifying. How could the truck not see the person and the dogs? How the person walking the dogs not get out of the way? They were walking the dogs on a leash? I don’t understand how this could happen. What a horrible bummer.

The Toronto Humane Society is looking to the government to take another look at a pit bull ban that went into effect 5 years ago. The ban has done little to reduce the number of dog bites in the province. The law requires pit bulls to be neutered and spayed and, when out in public, muzzled and on leashes. Surveys before and after the ban show that it has done little, if anything, to reduce the number of dog bites in the area.

Five years ago when the ban was first implemented, there were 5,428 dog bites reported. Last year the number of reported dog bites was 5,345. Barely a change at all.

If you want to change the number of dog bites in any area I think you need to really punish irresponsible dog owners. Not the dogs.

In ANCHORAGE, Alaska a State Trooper’s dashcam captured video of a dog leading them through winding back roads to a blazing fire at his owners’ property.

They’ve been showing the video on the news all day. You can see the German shepherd running to meet the trooper’s vehicle, then racing to the house.

Troopers say Buddy and his owner were in the family workshop when a heater set some chemicals ablaze. His owner told Buddy: “We need to get help.”

The dog took off running and eventually found a trooper who was actually responding to a call about the fire.

The State Troopers are presenting a special award Friday to the dog. Buddy will receive an engraved silver-plated dog bowl in Anchorage.

Heinrichs suffered minor flash burns on his face. The workshop was destroyed, but only some window trim on the house was damaged.

Scarlett, a purebred boxer girl who was 3 years old, was rescued by Take Me Home from the Camarillo shelter on May 6, 2010.

She had been suffering from demodectic mange her entire life.

She was almost completely hairless and underweight.  Scarlett’s skin was tough and crusty, covered in sores, callouses, and total, utter filth.  She looked as if she had been burned, but it was just years of neglect.

Her mange was never treated and she had a slight heart murmur that had never been diagnosed or treated.  Scarlett had open wounds on each ankle that were leaking fluid, she was a complete mess.  Immediately after being rescued, her heart murmur was diagnosed, and easily treated by a simple pill twice a day, and she began treatment for her mange.

Immediately, Scarlett’s life turned around.

Her hair began to grow back, she no longer collapsed from her heart condition and she knew compassion and love.  TMH went the extra mile for Scarlett and enrolled her into a training program so that she could become a model canine citizen.

Scarlett is good with other dogs and has shared her home with multiple other dogs without issue, no cats.  Scarlett loves children and humans, she craves human attention and affection.

But still, no one has come for Scarlett.  Scarlett he is wondering why others are finding their forever homes, and she still sits and patiently waits. Scarlett has not given up, and neither has the dedicated team at Take Me Home.  TMH has spared no expense in providing Scarlett with everything she needs to succeed in life, but money cannot buy a forever family.

If you would like to adopt Scarlett contact LeegieRescuer@earthlink.net

What do you think this cat is thinking?