Elephants head east
The elephants at the Oklahoma City Zoo traveled up the turnpike yesterday to move into their new home in Tulsa. (You can read about it, watch a video about it or listen to the discussion on our Pet Show podcast.)
One of the photos of the day made it into the paper, but I wanted to share all four pictures we had. All are taken by Gavin Elliott of Tulsa Zoo Friends.
Read about the elephant move – and why it’s vital to the captive Asian elephant population – at our special Web site, Elephant Nation.
- Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
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Cocoa is a no-go
The use of cocoa bean mulch is becoming more popular because of it’s nice smell and color, and it’s bad news for pups. If you’re do is anything like mine, she’ll taste everything in sight at least once. If an animal eats this mulch in small quantities, the reaction will likely be vomiting. If large quantities, the mulch can cause seizures or death.
Read more about coca bean mulch from the ASPCA Poison Control Center. While you’re there, you can also get a free magnet with the number of the ASPCA Poison Control Center.
If you’re the gardening type, listen to our of our past Pet Shows and hear Staff Writer Dawn Marks give tipes for creating a pet-friendly garden.
- Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
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Pet Show: The weird, the gross and the random
Our favorite vet ever, Dr. Zac Coldiron, joined us to answer all kinds of random questions. Find out about your dog’s scooting, the way flea preventatives work and how long your pet can hold it before going to the bathroom. Dawn gave us some excellent Tail Tips about what to do if you find a bunny nest in your back yard. Read her blog entry about it.
- Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
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BREAKING NEWS: Last baby bird dies
The only swallow that survived an attack has died. Read an update or watch this video from yesterday. Join the conversation about what should happen to the culprit.
- Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Animals in need a world away
South Africa is crawling its way out of an uncharacteristic series of race riots. A worldwide food shortage coupled with a flood of immigrants escaping impending disaster in Zimbabwe caused tensions uncommon of a country characterized by peace for more than a decade.
One of the unexpected victims of the riots: animals.
I spent a month in South Africa last year meeting my future in-laws. It’s a beautiful country working to overcome a complicated past. Of course there was so much to learn and observe. South Africans are loving people who are quick to forgive, and that gentleness is evident in their treatment of animals. They’re a part of nearly everyone’s life, and lots of folks have multiple pets. Even the poorest of the poor set aside enough resources to have pets. That’s why I know so many people’s hearts are breaking about the loss of their animals. Some pet owners had to flee their homes; others lost their animals in the melee. But that gentle spirit is already shining through. Rescuers are helping reunite families with their pets. Here’s hoping calm returns quickly to the country and to the families living there.
- Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
These photos are ones I took on my trip last year. From the top: a friend with his dog in George, a litter of Daschund puppies in Cape Town, a dog showing off at a flea market in Johannesburg, a boy and his family dog in Coffee Bay, a family dog roaming in Coffee Bay, and children gathering firewood with their dog in Coffee Bay.
Here comes Peter Cottontail
This is the time of year that you might find a bunny nest in your yard and think maybe the bunnies have been abandoned. But chances are, they haven’t been abandoned, according to some wildlife experts. Charlotte Downs with Wild Care recently talked to me about what to do if you find a bunny nest in your yard.
- It is normal for rabbits to nest on the ground and for the babies to be alone for extended periods of time.
- Watch the bunnies to make sure they don’t appear injured and are moving around.
- Place something like sticks or yarn on top of the next and return a couple of hours later to see if it has been moved. Then you know whether the mother has returned.
- Cottontails don’t often make good pets and can die from stress.
- If you do rescue the bunnies, feed them Pedialyte until you can get them to an organization like Wild Care.
- Staff Writer Dawn Marks
Pig in boots
Unlike other pigs, Cinders the piglet didn’t take to the mud. Her owners, who own a sausage business in England, think she may have mysophobia, a fear of dirt. Their solution was to put some miniature boots on Cinders (named after Cinderella). The result are these pictures, which speak for themselves.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Kyle goes extra mile for pups
NASCAR driver Kyle Busch wants to help rescue dogs in shelters — and he wants his fans to help. He has teamed up with PEDIGREE to launch a new program and online sweepstakes titled “Kyle’s Mile.” Winners could meet Kyle at the Checker Auto Pats 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in November.
To help raise awareness and funding for the 4 million dogs in shelters and breed rescue organizations, Kyle’s Miles was created with a goal of raising $100,000 for The PEDIGREE Adoption Drive Foundation. From now through October 15, people can log onto www.Dogsrule.com to make a monetary pledge to sponsor miles of any of Busch’s Sprint Cup races during that window. Donations from pledges will directly benefit The PEDIGREE Adoption Drive Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides funding to animal shelters and breed rescues nationwide.
“As the owner of two dogs I know how happy they can make you, so to me it’s really sad that each year four million dogs end up in animal shelters and breed rescue organizations and two million never make it out,” said Busch in a release.
“Kyle’s Miles hopes to raise money and awareness for the dogs that are so often overlooked and I’m excited to be able to do my part to help.”
Anyone who sponsors miles is automatically entered into the sweepstakes to win a trip for two to Phoenix in November to meet Busch and attend the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 9, 2008. Those who’d like to enter the sweepstakes but not sponsor Kyle’s Miles can also do so at www.Dogsrule.com.
- Assistant Features Editor Matt Price
Law enforcement should set example with bird killer
If you read the paper this morning, you probably saw the story about the horrible deaths of 186 migratory swallows living in a boat dock on Lake Hefner. Someone knocked down the nests holding the baby mud swallows, which are protected under the federal migratory bird act. They’re bodies were smashed. One tiny bird, shown here, survived.
Police say they have an idea of who did it. Good. I hope they have an idea of how important their investigation is. Whenever there’s a high-profile animal cruelty case, police and prosecutors have an obligation to do their best to punish criminals for their crimes. Animal cruelty cases aren’t always the top priority. Understandably, there are other things to deal with – murder, robbery, assault. But when the community’s eyes are focused even for a minute on an animal cruelty case, law enforcement must show that harming creatures of any species is not acceptable.
- Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
You Don’t Mess with the Cromwell
Note to thiefs: When choosing which home to rob, try to avoid the one being protected by a 300-pound mastiff. A burglar in England made the mistake of trying to rob a home occupied by Cromwell, the mastiff. All the thief left behind was a tattered shirt.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
