Every once in a while, political parties or local groups will put an animal on the ballot for public office. Every once in a blue moon, that animal will be elected! These eight stories include three critters who actually served (although how well they served is a matter of opinion). Pictured is Clay Henry III, the beer-drinking goat who was once mayor of Lajitas, Texas. Link

Thousands of mummified animals have been recovered in Egypt over the past hundred years. They include gazelles, shrews, rams, crocodiles, hawks, fish, dung beetles, and of course, cats. In the early days of excavation, they were considered unimportant, as things to be pushed aside in order to get to the treasure. Scientists are now studying them in detail for clues about the way ancient Egyptian humans lived. National Geographic looks at how the animals were preserved, and why. Link

(image credit: Richard Barnes)

Seeing-eye dogs, police dogs, and cutting horses: they have nothing on these unexpected employable animals. Some animals have very dangerous jobs. Well, certainly more dangerous than mine!

Since the late 1950s the U.S. military’s Marine Mammal Program has been working with dolphins and sea lions to see if they could be employed for the purpose of national security.

The dolphin’s echolocation and high intelligence make them ideal in detecting mines, patrolling harbours, guarding boats against unwanted underwater incursions and aid in the retrieval of lost equipment.

Link

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Nightcrawlerx.

They discovered that a starfish will ingest cold seawater to lower its body temperature before a hot day on the beach.  Sucking up water large amounts of water increases a starfish’s body mass, which means its body temperature increases more slowly.  Pretty cool!

Infrared photo above by B. Helmuth and S. Pincebourde shows cool areas in purple and warm areas in red, via BBC News.

]]> http://www.neatorama.com/2009/10/28/starfish-bulk-up-to-cool-down/feed/ 2 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/10/26/grape-dog-costume/ http://www.neatorama.com/2009/10/26/grape-dog-costume/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:07:47 +0000 Jill Harness http://www.neatorama.com/2009/10/26/grape-dog-costume/

Looking to torture your four-legged friend with the sound of squeaking balloons and the feeling of extra bumpers that prevent him from getting comfortable? Look no further than this adorable, yet highly unfunctional dog grape costume.

Link Via Craftzine Image Via Doggie Stylish

Just in time for Halloween, adorable bats bundled up with their baby bottles. These little guys have a bad reputation, but how could you imagine anything evil from these beautiful babes?

Link Image Via Ugly Overload

Bunnies make great pets, but there’s something about them that’s just so condescending. For those of you who need a few more snarky rabbits in your life, try DisapprovingRabbits.com.

Link Image Via Disapproving Rabbits

Higgins A.K.A. Benji

Los Angeles trainer Frank Inn was a true animal lover who was always taking in animals from shelters to save them from euthanasia. When he couldn’t train them, he would work to find them a home with his friends or fans. He found Higgins in the Burbank Animal Shelter. Higgins was only a puppy at the time, but Inn saw a world of potential in the little critter.

His first role was in “Petticoat Junction,” where he appeared in six of the show’s seven total seasons. During that time, he also made guest appearances on “Green Acres” and “The Beverly Hillbillies.” Directors and co-stars quickly noticed his ability to convey broad range of facial expressions and his aptitude at learning new tricks on a regular basis. Inn said he was the most talented dog he ever worked with and that Higgins could learn a new routine every week. Some of his tricks included climbing ladders, opening mailboxes, and yawning and sneezing on cue. He was such a capable animal actor that he was featured on the cover of TV Guide and won the Picture Animal Top Star of they Year (Patsy) award in 1967.

In 1971, he starred in “Mooch Goes to Hollywood” with Zsa Zsa Gabor and Vincent Price. He retired after this movie, but he came back at age of 14 to star in “Benji,” his best known role. His daughter, also trained by Inn, continued his legacy in the following “Benji” films.

Source Image Via Wikipedia

Pabst The (Current) World’s Ugliest Dog

It may not be the most distinguished of titles, but Pabst, the current holder of the “World’s Ugliest Dog” title was also once a shelter dog. Notably, he was the first mixed breed winner of the competition in the last seven years –most of the past winners have been pedigree Chinese crested hairless dogs. Some of his stunningly ugly features include a prominent under-bite, a scrunched face and floppy ears.

Before winning $1,600 in prize money for his owner, Pabst was rescued from a shelter in Citrus Heights, California. He was also awarded a modeling contract with House of Dog –not bad for an ugly shelter mutt.

Source Image Via AP Photo/Noah Berger

Spike A.K.A. Old Yeller

Animal trainer Frank Weatherwax found Spike in a Van Nuys, California shelter. He was very young at the time and soon became Weatherwax’s star pupil. His first big role was also the one he was most famous for –”Old Yeller.” After that, he starred in “A Dog of Flanders” and he periodically played in the TV show “The Westerner.”

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Jake The 9-11 Rescue Dog

Jake was adopted when he was only 10 months old. His owner, Mary Flood, found him abandoned on the streets with multiple injuries, including a broken leg and dislocated hip. After he recovered from these injuries in 1995, Mary trained him to rescue humans and he ended up being one of the most famous search and rescue dogs from both September 11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina. He served as a rescue dog for almost 10 years when he had to retire due to cancer in 2006.

Source Image Via FEMA

Chanel The World’s Oldest Dog

Chanel was only around 6 weeks old in 1988 when she was adopted from a Newport News, Virginia shelter by Denice Shaughnessy, a soldier in the U.S. Army. In her older years, Chanel had to be transported in a stroller because he had difficulty walking around and she also had to wear special goggles for her cataracts.

In 2009, Denice’s husband noticed there was no Guinness Book of World Records listing for the World’s Oldest Dog, so he sent in records verifying Chanel’s age to the organization. The dog was awarded a certificate announcing her official title at her 21st birthday bash in Manhattan. In the next few months, she because a major celebrity and appeared on The Today Show and Live! With Regis and Kelly. She died a few months ago on August 29.

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Mr. Winkle

Mr. Winkle’s unique, teddy-bearish appearance has made him a minor celebrity. No one really knows what his mix is, but some claim he seems to be a Pomeranian and Chihuahua cross. Before he started appearing in newspapers, magazines and TV shows like Sex and the City, he was living on the streets.

Fortunately, magazine photographer Lara Jo Regan found him as a stray and adopted him. She immediately fell in love with his quirky look and began photographing him in various costumes, settings and poses. It wasn’t long before she started publishing calendars and books with Mr. Winkle and soon enough, he was scouted out for a wide array of media appearances.

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Wheely Willy

When Willy was only a puppy, he was found abandoned in a cardboard box, suffering from severe spinal injuries and a cut throat. He was rescued and treated for his injuries, but he was rendered a paraplegic and was left unadopted for over a year. Eventually, pet groomer Deborah Turner heard that Willy would soon be euthanized if no one adopted him, so she took him home.

At first, Deborah had to carry Willy everywhere, but she was determined to find a way to help him move on his own. One of her attempts included attaching helium-filled balloons to his rear end and then placing him on a skateboard. Her efforts were met with little success until she read an advertisement for K-9 Carts, a wheelchair designed specially for dogs. Willy took to his chair immediately, and the curiosity he attracted by those who saw him eventually led to news coverage, then appearances on Animal Planet. Eventually, he became the subject of two bestselling children’s books, where he was nicknamed Wheely Willy.

Wheely Willy now makes frequent public appearances and Turner works with him to promote disability awareness. He often attends hospitals, where he serves as an inspiration to patients and staff alike.

Source Image Via Wheelywilly.com

The Real Rin Tin Tin

The original Rin Tin Tin was discovered by a soldier in WWI, who insisted his battalion check out a kennel that was bombed in Lorraine, France. Inside, Corporal Lee Duncan and the rest of the troops found the only survivors of the bomb were a mother German Shepard and her litter of five puppies. All of the dogs were brought back to camp, but Duncan chose a boy and girl pup to call his own. He named them for the French puppets given to soldiers at the time for good luck, Rintintin and Nenette. He then began training the dogs to perform the tricks he had seen the German war dogs perform.

Upon his return home to Los Angeles, Nenette died and the boy pup ended up being the only dog from the French kennel to have survived. Duncan continued to work with Rin Tin Tin and ended up bringing him to a dog show where the dog wowed the audience by jumping over 11 feet and 9 inches. After the show, a movie maker asked Duncan if he could shoot the dog in action. At that moment, the young soldier realized there might be a future for his dog in the film industry. At the peak of his career, Rin Tin Tin received up to 10,000 fan letters a week and was one of Warner Brother’s top stars. Some credit him with saving the movie studio from bankruptcy. The Rin Tin Tin legacy was continued through the years by generation after generation of his heirs.

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Faith

You may have seen videos of Faith walking on her hind legs before. She’s become quite famous for her successful adaptation to only having rear legs. When Faith was born with only two rear legs and one deformed front leg, her mother attempted to smother her to death. A boy saved her from the mother and brought her home to his family. When Faith was seven months old, she had to have the deformed front leg removed all together as it began to atrophy. A lot of people, including veterinarians, urged owner Jude Stringfellow to euthanize the puppy, but Stringfellow instead taught Faith to hop by using a spoon with peanut butter as an incentive. Faith soon surprised everyone by developing a unique walk on just her hind legs.

Since then, she has appeared on the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” “The Montel Williams Show,” “Animal Attractions Television” and “Ripley’s Believe it or Not.” She also has been the subject of a book, With A Little Faith. She now even has her own website and MySpace.

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Maui A.K.A. Murray from Mad About You

Sitcom fans might recall the lovable, slow and bratty dog Murray that was a central character in “Mad About You.” The dog that made the show was really named Maui and was rescued from an animal shelter in Castaic, California by animal trainer Boone Narr, he was also co-trained by Betty Linn. Before his role in “Mad About You,” he acted in commercials and as a stand in for the lead dog in the movie “Bingo.”

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Farmer Richard Johnson in Humberside, England, has an effective solution for chilly piglets who can’t grab a spot next to mom … Hit play or go to Link [YouTube]

It seems he was going to sell the rare critters, but they have instead been given to local zoos.

Link Via Autoblog

The Museum of Animal Perspectives gathers videos from inside animal nests, cameras carried by animals, camera traps, and remote vehicles. You could spend days watching these! I suggest starting with the armadillo cam for a laugh. Link -via Weather Sealed

This rumor was probably started in the early 19th Century. Scientists would see sudden bursts of the lemming population that would just as suddenly shrink, and they couldn’t figure out why. In 1908 a man named Arthur Mee decided that “mass suicide” seemed as good an answer as any and published it in his The Children’s Encyclopedia.

Link

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by lifeinrealtime.

This poor little one has rolled over and can’t get up. He looks like a poor little tortoise on his back. I hope his parents don’t teach him to “roll over.”

Link Via Laughing Squid

Heart-Kun is an adorable dog with a heart marking on his side. He’s a minor internet celebrity and was even featured on the post we recently linked to featuring animals with heart markings. His parents recently gave birth to a new litter, including little Love-Kun who also has a heart marking. Now that is one special family.

Link

(image credit: L.A.Times)

Although the fifth leg didn’t seem to bother the pup, Siegel intended to have it removed, but was shocked to learn it would cost another $2000 to do so. Fortunately, a Manhattan vet was so touched by Siegel’s actions that he offered to remove the leg free of charge.

“She is beautiful, she’s not a freak, she’s a normal little puppy dog and she should be just like all the others,” Siegel said.

Precious was born with a fifth leg protruding from her stomach, between her hind legs. The extra leg has six toes.

Link Via Dogster Dog Blog

If you were impressed with the dog who wet nursed the red panda cubs, just wait till you read about the dog who adopted these tiger cubs. The page also has photos of a dog in the same area that adopted two lion cubs.

What I want to know is why are all these wild animal mothers being so negligent to their young in the first place. Thank goodness for these good natured dogs or these cubs would be in big trouble.

Link

In yet another sterling example of interspecies loving, here’s a great video of a deer giving sweet kisses to an adorable kitty. I love how into it the kitty gets near the end.

Link Via Cute Overload

Ever wonder where the zoo critters get their names? Well, most of them are named by the keepers, but if you’ve ever wanted to name one yourself, particularly the baby tapir shown above, here’s your chance. The Belfast Zoo is holding a naming competition for the little babe born on June 22, 2009.

All you have to do is send us your chosen name and up to 100 words explaining why you think it would suit our new tapir to namingcomp@belfastzoo.co.uk

Link Via ZooBorns

This little guy was found with a broken leg, but vets couldn’t convince themselves to put it down, so instead they gave it a bionic leg made with steel pins, nuts and bolts so she could start walking around on her own.

Cathy Jackman, a diver, spotted the tiny blue bird struggling to keep afloat off Brixham in Devon.

She plucked the distressed budgie – nicknamed Captain – from the sea and looked after him until they returned to shore.

She said: “When I first saw him he was flapping and disappearing under the water. He nearly drowned as he couldn’t take off or swim.

Link Via BoingBoing

Photo Via Urville Djasim [Flickr]

The Platypus Is Not A Fake
Many of you have likely never seen a platypus in your local zoo. In fact, because most zoos only like to take animal species that are 1)native, 2)endangered or 3)can be successfully bred in captivity, few zoos actually have these weird critters. Platypuses are only native to a small area of the world, are completely not endangered and only a few platypus babies have been born under human-induced conditions. Given its sparse appearance in zoos and its truly bizarre appearance and features, it’s not entirely uncommon to hear people jokingly refer to the platypus as an imaginary creature.

Now just imagine you’re living back in 1798, when Europeans first discovered the creature. The first things they sent to the UK to prove its existence were merely a pelt and a sketch of the animal. Is it any surprised that most British scientists believed the creature was fake? Scottish zoologist Robert Knox was so certain that the dead animal was a fake that he actually took scissors to its skin to look for stitches.

It’s Named For Its Flat Feet and Bird Snout
This is one critter that is very adequately named. Most of us know the platypus by its common name, which is Greek for “flat foot.” This title was the original name of the creature, but couldn’t be used for its genus name because it turned out that the ambrosia beetle already had the title in its Latin name.

In 1800, physiologist Johann Blumenbach described the platypus as Ornithorhynchus paradoxus, meaning “paradoxical bird snout.” His name later developed into the official title for the animal, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, or “duck-like.” This is why you so often hear the term “duck-billed platypus,” even though there is only one species of the animal.

Plural Problems
You may have noticed this article has so far only mentioned the animal in its singular form. That’s no accident, pluralizing the creature has proven to be quite a problem not for just laymen, but even to scientists. There is still no universally accepted plural to the word. Most people believe the plural form should be “platypi,” but the real Greek plural would be “platypodes.” Scientists stay away from both of those terms and prefer to use “platypuses” or just “platypus” no matter how many in question.

If you ever get in a heated debate with someone about the subject, just remember –you’ll probably be right no matter what you say.

Watch Out, They’re Poisonous
Yes, on top of being one of only five mammals to lay eggs, the platypus also had to distinguish itself by being one of the few mammals to be venomous as well.

While both male and females are born with spurs on their rear ankle, the female’s will fall off within her first year. The males will begin to produce a venom mix in a kidney shaped-area behind their spur. This venom contains three proteins that are only found in the platypus and is powerful enough to kill small animals, including dogs. The venom is not lethal to humans, but may cause severe pain that lasts for weeks.

Because the males are the only ones with venom and the poison production rises during breeding season, it is believed that the main function of the venom is to help the animals assert dominance over one another.

Platypus Women Are All Funky
The males have poisonous barbs. That doesn’t make the female any less strange than the males. The platypus females are lacking teats of any kind and though they have two ovaries, only the left one is functional. In order to feed their young without any nipples, the female platypus secretes its milk through pores in its skin that are collected in grooves on her abdomen, where the babies lap it up.

How their chromosomes choose the animals sex in the first place is also strange. Whereas most mammals have only two sex chromosomes, platypuses have ten! While they are mammals in most ways, these chromosomes seem much closer to the sex chromosomes of birds. Scientists still don’t know how their sex determination system works.

Image Via ccdoh1 [Flickr]

It’s Electric!
Ok, that’s a little misleading. The platypus isn’t electric, but it does hunt using electric fields generated by the muscular contractions of its prey. These animals and echinadas are known as monotremes and are the only mammals known to hunt by electric current.

The platypus has electroreceptors in the skin of its bill that can be used to help it search for fish while underwater. When they are hunting, they close their eyes, ears and nose completely and dig in the bottom of a stream with their bill. They then load up their cheeks with food until they get back to the surface. Unlike many other semi-aquatic mammals, platypuses cannot hold their breath very long –only about 30 seconds or so.

They’re Quite Popular in the Media
The general public didn’t really know much about platypuses until 1939, when National Geographic published an article about the challenge facing scientists who were trying to raise the animal in captivity.

Since then, many people have fallen in love with the creature and its become a popular mascot for a variety of different things, including Mac OS X, the Brisbane Expo ’88 and the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It also is featured on the back side of the Australian twenty cent coin. Green Day and Mr. Bungle have songs about the animal and it is also a popular characters on children’s TV shows including Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Source #1, #2, #3

An animal rescue helped save three baby bunnies that were attacked by a dog and orphaned. The clinic workers noticed that a one-legged homing pigeon that also resided at the clinic began watching the babies through their cage and even sleeping just outside the cage door.

”Then suddenly, there were only two bunnies in the cage. To everyone’s surprise there was the tiny bunny under Noah’s wing sound asleep! That little bunny rabbit had crawled through the cage, preferring a featherbed!”

Now Noah, the pigeon looks after the bunnies and makes sure they are warm and well-cuddled.

Link

Netherlands residents now have a place to watch their fish when they go on vacation. It’s the world’s only fish-resort. My question is how can they stop the fish from fighting each other?

Link

Of course, my first suggestion might be putting up lost dog posters and checking the local shelter, but I’m no animal behavior expert.

Link

Photo via Duo de Hale [Flickr]

A man in Kenya found his dog had ate eaten his rent money. To get even, he brought his dog to the police station and ordered the police to arrest his dog. When they wouldn’t do it, he offered them a “fee” to get them to lock the dog up. The officers put the dog in jail and ended up getting fired for taking a bribe as a result. The dog was returned to his owner who now is trying to sell the pup and trying to figure out how to pay rent.

I’m somehow doubting the landlord will buy the old “my dog ate my rent money” story.

Link

These helmet toppers are a great way to get kids to actually wear their helmets while they ride their bike. The bunny one is my favorite. What’s yours?

Link Via Nerd Apporved

This is one well-trained pug puppy. Who needs a nanny when you can just have your baby and dog go out on a walk together?

Link Via I Has A Hot Dog

For those of you who love animals in costumes, WebEcoist has a collection of 20 great pet cosumes. There’s bunnies, kitties, doggies and more. I personally perfer the Harry Potter cat above. What’s your favorite?

Link

Ulrock the rottweiler adopted this eight week old wolf cub and the pair is quickly becoming best friends. If you’ve ever wondered how well wolf cubs could get along with a domesticated dog, here’s your answer. They sleep together and even howl at the moon in unison. Little Beldaran the wolf was abandoned by his parents at only four days old.

Preserve director Heather Grierson, 49, said: ‘It’s a true love story that has touched the hearts of everyone who visits the preserve.

‘You just can’t be in a bad mood when these two are around. It’s impossible to look at them and not feel good.’

Link

Artists Christoph Steinbrener and Rainer Dempf created this art installation in the Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna to show the potential effects our negative actions take on the evironment.

According to the artists, these scenes of ecological nightmares are “experimental set-up[s]” in which “the viewer is forced to reconsider traditional modes of animal presentation and simultaneously to question the authenticity of concepts which are restaging ‘natural’ environments while they are increasingly endangered.”

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