Some rather large hotel guests
A luxury hotel in Zambia has gotten used to some rather large guests who make an annual visit.
A herd of elephants visit every November to munch on some nearby mango trees when the fruit gets ripe. Seems the elephants, who are migratory, made a habit of visiting the trees before the hotel was built. When they found the hotel in the way one year, they
simply strolled through t
he reception area to find theirfavorite food. When the fruit is in season, the herd of 10 elephants visit every day or every other day, walking right through the reception area and coming and going as they please.
The herd is led each time by its matriarch, nicknamed Wonky Tusk by the staff.
The wild elephants get relatively close to the staff, but staff members said they are careful to keep guests at a distance because wild elephants can be extremely dangerous, though there have been no incidents between humans and the elephants thus far.
– Staff Writer Bryan Dean
This woman has too many animals
Animal welfare officials in Ross Township, Penn., seized more than 100 animals from a two-bedroom house recently, with cat feces nine-inches high in one room.
Police said the residents, Mary Lu Frankovic (pictured at right holding a rooster) and her son, Christopher Frankovic, had a virtual zoo in their home which included 50 rabbits, 30 cats, 20 to 30 chickens, nine dogs four goats and a duck. The animals were taken for proper medical care and housing.
No word on whether there was a partridge in a pear tree.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Owners Must Pay Pet Funeral Taxes
A court ruling in Japan means monks performing funerals for people’s departed pets must still pay taxes on the services. Buddhist monks argued that the funerals are religious ceremonies and should be tax free as human funerals are, but judges didn’t agree. The ruling stated that the money monks make off the ceremonies is seen as taxable income.
It seems, at least for these Japanese pets, that it is true there are two things that can’t be avoided – death and taxes.
- Staff Writer Dawn Marks
Oklahoma City Pet of the Week
Peggy is a beautiful beagle mix. She’s an endearing dog who makes friends with every dog and person she meets. Peggy likes to play fetch. She’s 9 months old and weighs 35 pounds. Her shelter number is 38.The shelter is having a special event, Fall in Love with a Shelter Pet, during the month of September, and the adoption fee for cats and dogs has been reduced to $25. This includes spay or neuter, shots and health check. Pictures of many of the adoption pets can be seen at www.okc.petfinder.com and www.okc.gov. The shelter, 2811 SE 29, is open from noon to 5:45 p.m. seven days a week for adoptions, and from 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. seven days a week for receiving. For more information, call 297-3100.
Adoption options
Bethany Animal Control Shelter, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first Saturday, 5100 N College. 789-3431.
. 262-8883.
Free to Live, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Wednesdays and holidays, northwest of
Mustang Animal Shelter, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 520 SW 59. 376-4474.
Norman Animal Shelter, 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 1 to 4:45 p.m. Saturdays, 3428 S Jenkins Ave. 292-9736.
Pets and People Humane Society, noon to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week for adoptions, 701 Inla Ave.,
Real Rescue, dogs, cats and potbellied pigs. 414-5651 or 277-3139.
Rocky Spot Rescue, 699-7358. www.rockyspot.com.
Second Chance Animal Sanctuary of
The Village Animal Shelter, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 1701 NW 115. Call 751-0493 before visiting the shelter.
Warr Acres Animal Shelter, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. 789-9025.
Yukon Animal Shelter, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, 501 Ash Ave. 354-6312.
Responsible Dog Ownership Day
On today’s Pet Show co-hosts Bryan Dean and Dawn Marks and guest host Nick Trougakos talked about the American Kennel Club’s Responsible Dog Ownership Day Sept. 20 and the pledge that people can sign to be responsible dog owners. Some of these pledges sound like they would apply to all pet owners. Here are a few:
- I will socialize my dog via exposure to new people, places and other dogs.
- I will pick-up and properly dispose of my dog’s waste.
- I will adhere to local leash laws.
- I will never overlook my responsibilities for this living being and recognize that my dog’s welfare is totally dependent on me.
Bryan reported some news about a speeding hamster overtaking rush-hour traffic and a case in Oregon where investigators found 728 turtles inside a woman’s home. Nick also gave us some tips from the AKC about thinking first before becoming a pet owner.
- Staff Writer Dawn Marks
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Dog dials 911, saves owner
Buddy the German Shepherd recently made a call to 911 when his owner, Joe Stalnaker, of Arizona, had a seizure.
Stalnaker had a brain injury 10 years ago that makes him prone to seizures. Buddy, his service dog, is trained to bring the phone in case his owner begins having health issues. Last week, Buddy brought the phone and dialed himself by biting down on the speed dial.
The dispatcher who took the call heard Buddy barking, sensed there was a medical problem and sent help. She said in all her years as a dispatcher, she’s never taken a 911 call from a dog before.
No word on whether Stalnaker is buying buddy the steak he undoubtedly deserves.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
One bushel of bananas, hold the deadly spider
A grocery store in England was shut down recently after a Brazailian Wandering Spider,
the world’s deadliest species of spider, was found under a box of bananas.
A worker spotted the creature, listed in the Guiness Book of World Records as the world’s most venomous animal, as she was stacking boxes of bananas and noticed protruding black, hairy legs.
Those bit by the Brazilian Wandering Spider usually die within an hour. The spider has a 4-inch legspan and often hides in shipments of bananas, which has earned it the nickname “banana spider.”
Brisith animal welfare authorities responded and eventually captured the spider, which was very aggressive. Authorities considered keeping the animal to let it pose for photos, but it was deemed too dangerous and was euthanized.
The store was closed for several hours while officials made sure there were no other spiders in the banana shipment.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Police kick in door to find bird was making distress calls
Police in Trenton, New Jersey, kicked in a door after receiving 911 calls and hearing a woman’s voice calling for help.
Problem was, the voice wasn’t a woman’s. It belonged to Luna the cockatoo.
Apparently the bird was saying “Help me, help me,” so loudly that neighbors thought a woman was in trouble and called police. Police heard the same voice, along with a barking dog, when they arrived, so they kicked in the door with guns drawn.
The 10-year-old blue-eyed cockatoo has apparently drawn attention from the cops before. Her owners say Luna once imitated a crying baby all day, prompting neighbors to complain about an abandoned child. Police and protective services found only the bird when they arrived.
My girlfriend collects birds and has a blue and gold macaw named Melvin. Melvin imitates her voice, and I have to say he is spot on. I’m not surprised police could mistake a bird’s voice for that of a real person.
No word yet on calls to authorities that someone named “Polly” wants crackers in the apartment next door.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Get the tissues ready
This is just an amazing story and video that will likely make the tears flow for many animal lovers, including my Pet Show co-host Carrie Coppernoll.
In 1969, two British men who were roomates saw a lion cub for sale. They adopted the lonely cub, taking it home to their flat and letting it exercise on the grounds of a church with permission from the vicar.
The cub, which they named Christian, quickly grew too large, and they decided to re-introduce him to Africa. The plan was a success. A year after Christian was released, the men decided they wanted to visit him. Christian was now the head of his own pride and wildlife experts warned the men he would not remember them now that he was wild, and they would be in danger. They visited anyway. This was what happened when they found him. Sorry for the sappy music.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Dogs help sniff out pirated DVDs
British authorities are relying on a couple of black labrador retrievers to stamp out the country’s growing pirate-DVD trade.
Lucky and Flo can sniff the plastic used in the manufacturing of the bootleg DVDs and are apparently so good at their jobs that gangsters have put a $30,000 bounty on their heads.
Whether you get excited about bootleg DVDs or not, putting out a hit on a couple of lovable crime-fighting pups is about as low as it goes.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
