Rare piglets born in England
Ten British Lop piglets born recently in England are giving both animal and bacon lovers hope that the breed will survive. 
The breed is Britan’s rarest, and is increasingly disappearing as other breeds which grow and sell faster take over the market.
The breed is said to have more succulent meat because of its laid back nature, although my only thought when I look at the pictures of these guys is just how cute they are. Those floppy ears are also a trademark of the breed.
Only about 2,000 of the breed are born each year, and numbers are dwindling. Pure bred Lops, like these, are even more rare. Only 54 bulls and 267 sows are registered with the British Lop Society.
Breeder Maggie Todd said at least a couple of the piglets will be kept for breeding or showing. The rest will end up as sweet, juicy bacon.
As much as I love bacon, I’d be in favor of keeping all of these guys alive. I just can’t get over how cute their ears are.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Free coupon for $20 off vet bill
These are tough economic times for everyone, including our pets. To help make sure our animals get the preventative care they need, Advantage and Bayer Health Care are kicking off the “Help Your Pet, Get to the Vet” campaign.
The companies are handing out $20 vouchers for pet owners beginning today and running through Feb. 28.
“In these challenging economic times, many pet owners are facing difficult choices about how to pay for and prioritize their pets’ care and wellness. And unfortunately, veterinary visits and preventive veterinary care are often cut due to financial struggles and concerns,” according to the campaign Web site.
They’re limiting the giveaway to about 83 vouchers every hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CST so that everybody has a shot at getting some help. After all is said and done, about $260,000 in free vet care will be handed out.
The way it works is simple. You print out the voucher, take your pet to the vet, have your vet fill out the form and you mail it in. The result: you get a $20 check in the mail.
The vouchers are open to any adult in the United States, with a few restrictions. For example, the voucher must be used on preventative care.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pet advice after the tornados
The tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma were a reminder to pet owners how important identification is.
Severe weather can rip down fences, pull down walls and leave pets confused and scared. At least one veterinarian is helping reunite lost dogs with their owners. The best way to ensure a pet is returned is by microchipping, he said. Collars and tags can sometimes be caught and torn by debris. Microchips stay under the skin and can be tracked by any vet or shelter official.
Here is some more information from the ASPCA about disaster readiness:
- The Pet Evacuation Transportation Safety (PETS) Act, passed after Hurricane Katrina, allows owners to take their companion animals with them to shelters. Contact the shelter before you show up to make sure it’s OK. Some shelters are designed for animal owners.
- Practice getting your animal out of the house so it isn’t scary or difficult. This is especially important for cat carriers.
- Owners with pets that require special temperature settings, such as reptiles, need to have duplicates of everything, such as heaters. Fish owners should have a small, transportable tank ready.
- Socialize your pet as much as possible in case they come in contact with rescuers or other people at the shelter.
- Keep an emergency kit of your pets needs, such as any medicines and some food, that you can take with you. Be sure to keep a photo of you with your pet if you get separated and have to claim him.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Recipe – Homemade Liver Treats
The fabulous folks at HealthDogFood.org sent us this recipe:
Homemade Liver Treats
1 c whole wheat flour
1 c cornmeal
1/2 c wheat germ
1 t garlic powder
1 lb. beef liver
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Blend liver in blender until in liquid form. Add dry ingredients.
Grease cookie sheet. Drop teaspoonfuls of mixture onto cookie sheet and flatten with bottom of glass dipped in water and cornmeal.
Bake for 15-20 minutes.
Note: small amounts of liver are good for your dog but do not let your pet consume more than two servings of cooked liver in a week.
Pigs get tattoos
I did a story a while back that got more feedback than just about anything I’ve done. The city council banned the practice of tattooing fish, which surprised a lot of people who had no idea anyone was tattooing fish.
Apparently owners of an art gallery in Shanghai agree in spirit with the Oklahoma City Council, as they have banned designer tattooed pigs from an art show.
A Belgian artist tattooed the pigs as part of an art exhibition, but gallery owners found it in poor taste. I have nothing against tattoos, but I doubt if a pig would freely choose to be tatted with the Louis Vutton logo. Maybe if he let the get inked with a lovely slop design…
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Dogs know when we’re happy
Apparently, dogs are the only animals who can interpret human emotion from our faces, according to a recent study by the University of Lincoln.
Turns out, dogs and people both have a “left gaze bias.” When we encounter a face, our eyes tend to look left, so we’re looking at the right side of the person’s face. Why? Researchers think it’s because the right side of a person’s face is better at showing emotion. Dogs and people don’t exhibit this “left gaze” bias” when we look at inanimate objects or animal faces.
Researchers also discovered an interesting element fo the “left gaze bias.” When people see an upside down face, we lose our biased altogether. But dogs still look left.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Ride ‘em Cow … pig?
I’d always heard pigs were smart but this wild pig named Squeaky, who lives on Nolan Ryan’s ranch in Texas, really exceeds my expectations. She’s smart enough to herd cattle and seems to have the farm’s manager wrapped around her little hoof. Ranch manager Mike Veara found Squeaky when she was a baby and raised her himself, so her devotion to him probably isn’t a surprise. Squeaky acts as a watch pig for the ranch and often gets treats like cookies and marshmallows. She has been known, however, to raid the ranch refrigerator. Though Veara indulges Squeaky’s sweet tooth, he draws the line at too much candy.
Staff Writer Dawn Marks
Wooo Pig Sooie
I’m not a person who thinks pigs are ugly. I think they are actually kind of cute, especially piglets, and especially piglets like this one who wear rubber boots.
This, however, is one ugly pig. The piglet, born in China, has what many are calling a monkey-face. It’s owner calls it “hideous.” I’ll let you make your own judgments. I’m sure it’s a sweet animal, but I have to agree with the owner on this one.
Staff Writer Bryan Dean
