Sure, "March of the Penguins" was a great penguin movie -- it was educational and touching and beautiful. But, come on, you have to admit that "Happy Feet" was pretty much the greatest penguin movie of all time. They sang! And danced! It's no wonder these penguins wanted to get together to reinact one of the scenes. It's like our friends at Daily Squee say: A human flash mob is cool, but penguins are a million times better.
Many of us envision farm life as idyllic: cattle grazing against a blue sky, chickens pecking at the grass outside an airy red henhouse. Sadly, that's not the reality for the majority of farm animals in the United States, who live in overcrowded factory farms or even small farms where they are neglected or abused.
Which is why Gene Baur co-founded Farm Sanctuary in 1986 to protect animals that suffer at human hands. The organization rescues and advocates for farm animals through a variety of outreach efforts, ranging from grassroots pamphleting to legislative support. It also operates two shelters for rescued farm animals -- in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif.
Farm Sanctuary
Curious about what a day at the shelter is like, we asked Farm Sanctuary's California shelter director, Leanne Cronquist, to fill us in.
6 a.m.: An intern opens the shutters and doors to the sheep barn, letting the sheep out of their nighttime housing where they've been kept safe all night. Barns and hutches protect the residents not only from large predators, but also smaller ones, such as raccoons and opossums.
6:30 a.m.: A calf, recognizing the intern who has opened his barn, comes over looking for a neck scratch before strolling outside to enjoy a day at pasture.
7 a.m.: Eager to get outside, chickens run excitedly into the sunshine and peck at the ground.
7:30 a.m.: Wendy, a generally shy sheep, follows a caregiver to a stall in the barn, where she will receive a bowl of special food. Many residents are fed separately, so that they can be treated for medical issues or have special needs tended to.
8 a.m.: The turkeys are fed the first of two daily meals. Turkeys raised for food are bred to be much heavier than their natural weight, so the staff regulates what they eat.
8:30 a.m.: Time to clean the pig barn. With some encouragement, the pigs move down to the pond. A few are not so eager to leave their comfy digs.
9 a.m.: Hank, Joanie and Neil -- members of the geriatric cattle herd -- are given pain medication for their arthritis. The special herd allows older cattle to live a slower lifestyle than the younger, higher-energy herd who likes to travel the pastures a lot.
9:30 a.m.: Chrissie (a cow) and Quartz (a donkey) wait eagerly at a gate, knowing it's time for their special feeds. The caregiver is running a little late, so Quartz stomps at the ground and talks a lot until she arrives.
Each week, Ben Westhoff shares the ups and downs of owning Pippi, the dalmatian mix he and his wife, Anna, adopted as a puppy in late 2009.
Since moving into a new house in a new town, we've got a whole new list of pup-related challenges.
Not long ago, Anna wrote about some of our indoor issues, but there are outdoor troubles as well, particularly when it comes to finding a place for Pippi to romp around. We have a backyard, but it doesn't have a fence; we plan to get one of those invisible fences when the snow goes away, but considering it's shaping up as one of the more brutal winters in memory, that won't happen soon.
Our former next door neighbor used to give us the run of her fenced-in backyard, but we don't have something like that here. Letting Pippi off the leash late at night was another strategy we used to employ, but temps are down near the single digits when the sun goes down, so that's no fun.
Join the crowd! Fifty percent of owners share their hearts with pets age 7 or older. Modern veterinary care helps many dogs stay healthy a decade or more, and small dogs sometimes double that and age gracefully well into their twenties.
A longer life increases the odds dogs develop "old fogy" problems, though. Medical help is important, but you can keep your old-timer happy and healthy with simple and/or inexpensive tips for dealing with these eight common aging dog issues.
Arthritis: This can affect all dogs, but large breeds are most prone. Extra weight puts greater stress on the joints. Achy joints cause limping, difficulty climbing stairs or getting up after naps. A heating pad placed under the dog's bed soothes creaky joints. Gentle massage as well as OTC supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids and glucosamine-type products also help. Low-impact exercise -- walks or swimming -- and slimming down pudgy pooches delays problems. Provide steps -- even a cardboard box -- to help old dogs navigate stairs or hop onto the sofa.
Cataracts: Dogs suffer from cataracts more than any other species, but blindness rarely slows them down. They compensate by relying more on sense of smell and hearing. Owners may not notice vision loss unless the dog visits unfamiliar surroundings. Avoid rearranging furniture so blind dogs can rely on their memory of familiar landmarks. Baby gates placed near stairs protect blind dogs from falling. Avoid startling blind dogs by announcing your presence before walking near or petting. Blind dogs enjoy games with noisy toys they can hear or hide-and-seek with strong-scented objects.
Well, it looks like someone found this guinea pig's sweet spot. Listen closely as the little thing makes an enthusiastic sound of approval while getting tickled right above the chest area.
Did we just write "chest area" in reference to a guinea pig? Man, we've been working this beat for way too long! (Of course, now we're on the hunt for more videos of guinea pigs giggling because that's how we roll at Paw Nation.)
We know that the cost of keeping Fido and Fifi in premium kibble can really add up. We have a fantastic giveaway happening right now that will make purchasing pet food a little less painful. If you "like" us on Facebook, you can enter to win an entire year of free pet food from PetSmart!
All you have to do is visit the Paw Nation Facebook page before Jan. 31 and click the Enter To Win! tab at the top of the page. (If you aren't a Paw Nation fan yet, you'll be guided to click the "Like" button to complete the entry form.) From there, you can enter the sweepstakes and invite your friends to join you.
We know that the cost of keeping Fido and Fifi in premium kibble can really add up. We have a fantastic giveaway happening right now that will make purchasing pet food a little less painful. If you "like" us on Facebook, you can enter to win an entire year of free pet food from PetSmart!
All you have to do is visit the Paw Nation Facebook page before Jan. 31 and click the Enter To Win! tab at the top of the page. (If you aren't a Paw Nation fan yet, you'll be guided to click the "Like" button to complete the entry form.) From there, you can enter the sweepstakes and invite your friends to join you.
While most of us think of our pets as family, many of us have two-legged children, too.
That's why we are letting you know that our sister site, ParentDish, has just launched a newsletter that covers great parenting tips, money-saving bargains, breaking news and the occasional pet and parenting story -- everything a busy mom or dad needs to keep family life on track.
Sign up for the newsletter, and by doing so, you'll be eligible to enter your child in the ParentDish Kid of the Week contest as well.
While most of us think of our pets as family, many of us have two-legged children, too.
That's why we are letting you know that our sister site, ParentDish, has just launched a newsletter that covers great parenting tips, money-saving bargains, breaking news and the occasional pet and parenting story -- everything a busy mom or dad needs to keep family life on track.
Sign up for the newsletter, and by doing so, you'll be eligible to enter your child in the ParentDish Kid of the Week contest as well.
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