Here’s a look back at some of the week’s top animal headlines…
Fur Real?
Have you ever brushed your precious pooch and been left with a mountain of fur? How about donating that pile of fuzz to a good cause? Dog fur is being used to help clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Environmentalists are “begging” for as much dog fur as they can get, as it helps absorb the oil. The hair is put into nylon stockings (which are also in demand) and fashioned into booms that will be sent to the Gulf.
Click here for more information on how you and your dog or your groomer can help.
Sweet Mango
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary again comes to the rescue of a poor animal who has been the subject of abuse. Mango, an adorable Calico cat from Merced, CA, slipped out the door of her home and was caught by an unknown person, doused in lighter fluid, and set on fire. Three boys playing on the street outside Mango’s home found her and put the fire out. Mango’s family couldn’t afford the thousands of dollars in vet bills, so they turned the sweet cat over to a local rescue group. That’s when Best Friends stepped in. They took the cat in and are providing her with state-of-the-art care. Once she fully heals, the angels at Best Friends will help her find a new forever home. You can learn more about Best Friends and make a donation to help with Mango’s care by clicking here:
Real Cats Eat Meat
Zootoo.com had an interesting article this week about whether vegetarian diets are healthy for cats. Some vegetarians and vegans are choosing to put their cats on an all veggie diet, but according to the ASPCA, a proper feline diet includes meat. This is actually a topic with which the pet team here at Coyne is familiar. We asked pet parents about vegetarian diets in a recent survey we conducted for 9Lives. It turns out that nearly a quarter of feline pet parents are unaware of the risks of feeding a cat a meat-free diet. Want to know why it’s not good for kitties? Check out the entire article at http://www.zootoo.com/petnews/felinefoodtipsarevegetariandie-1587
Can’t We All Just be Furiends?
Today is the last day of Be Kind to Animals Week. The American Humane Society offers up tips on five ways you can be kind to animals:
1. Adopt a pet from a shelter or breed-specific rescue
2. Report animal abuse
3. Spay or neuter your pets
4. Live humanely with wildlife
5. Get active in local animal welfare policies and legislation
Got Milk?
There was an unusual story reported twice (or should I say repurrted) by the Associated Press this week. Two domestic cats, one in South Carolina named Zoe and one in Florida named Bobbi, are each nursing a trio of homeless bobcat kittens. In both cases, attempts to reunite the bobcats with their real mothers were unsuccessful. Bobbi and Zoe, who have both just finished nursing their own babies, accepted the bobcats and are treating them as their own. Both will continue to nurse the bobcat babies until they are ready for solid food (i.e. wild game). Bobbi and Zoe are two unselfish and brave mamas, as bobcats develop razor sharp teeth. Both Bobbi and Zoe (and their kittens) will be available for adoption once the bobcats are finished nursing.
http://www.carolinawildlife.org/bobcats.htm
