(Video Link)

Lazy dog owners across the world could use these brilliant inventions to help exercise their pets without actually having to walk themselves.

(Video Link)

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, these kitties want to show us just how to celebrate the upcoming holiday. Isn’t love beautiful?

Via I Can Has Cheezburger

(Video Link)

Getting ready for a big move is tough, especially when you have a cat. Fortunately, this video shows you just how to box up your kitty so you the move to your new house is quick and smooth as possible.

Via I Can Has Cheezburger

(Video Link)

I don’t know about you guys, but I have never had a dog that actually enjoyed baths, especially one that pretty much laid back and soaked like this one does. I can tell you it would be a welcome change though.

Via Cute Overload

(Video Link)

Wikki wikki wikki what. Go Frenchie, it’s your birthday.

Via I Has A Hot Dog

Of course, I’d hate to see this Dovahkiin actually slay the equally adorable elder dragon.

Link Via Geekosystem

(Video Link)

Silly rabbit, herding sheep is for dogs, not herbivores.

Via io9

(Video Link)

What more could an amorous porcupine ask for than a heart-shaped box of corn and a bouquet of red roses? It’s all just so romantic.

Via BoingBoing

(Video Link)

This is what I look like after a night of hardcore blogging. To be fair, a dog this lazy could only belong to a lazy person who obviously didn’t want to bother cleaning up the spilled food himself.

(Video Link)

We’ve shown videos of the Big Cat Rescue group before, but one thing left out of their usual videos are all the tiny cats and the non-cat species living on the organization’s property.

Via I Can Has Cheezburger

(Video Link)

Just like the king of internet kitties, little Bo just swears he’s small enough to fit in any box.

Via Reddit

(Video Link)

When they’re too young to play with squeaky toys, they actually sound just like squeaky toys and their legs seem to work just about as well. Who knew?

Via Cute Overload

(Video Link)

What happens when a little dog finds a giant pile of leaves to play in? Hilarity, of course.

via Geekosystem

(Video Link)

You never know which box he will choose and how he will approach entering each one. Likewise, you never know if he will actually fit into each box.

Via Cute Overload

(Video Link)

This might just be the happiest the dog I’ve ever seen online…which is saying a lot.

Via Laughing Squid

(Video Link)

I don’t often use the word “squee,” but this video just evokes the noise from my lips. What about you guys?

(Video Link)

You’ve already seen a picture of the AT-AT dog, but this shot of the little one munching on dinner is simply too precious to ignore.

(Video Link)

As a proud chinchilla owner, I can tell you, it’s hard enough to socialize them, let alone train them. That’s why this video is just so darn impressive -aside from how adorable the little guy is on his own.

While some people criticize the efforts put into these prosthetics, particularly in species that are not under threat of extinction, it is important to realize that these developments could help save a critical breeding member of an endangered species one day. Additionally, many of these techniques are brand new and by testing them on animals, researchers are developing useful insights to see if they may one day work on humans. If you end up losing a body part and get a bionic replacement twenty years from now, you might just have a cat or dog to thank for your top-of-the-line prosthetic.

Oscar the Cat

(Video Link)

Oscar lost his two rear legs in an accident with a combine harvester. After losing so much blood, his owners were told to expect the worst, but even after he survived the ordeal, their vet warned that cats rarely live happy lives with only two legs. Fortunately, he referred Oscars owners, Kate Allen and Mike Nolan to a veterinary surgeon who specializes in state-of-the-art animal medicine.

After looking at Oscar’s situation, Dr. Noel Fitzpatrick agreed to take on the new patient, surgically fitting him with implants that can eventually be attached to prosthetic paws. The surgery makes Oscar a notable kitty as he is the first cat to ever have prosthetic paws.

While the process was a success, Oscar’s paws haven’t yet been perfected for outdoor use. He has been made to be a house cat for the rest of his life, but really…that’s not all that bad now is it, especially when you consider how he was injured in the first place.

Storm the Dog

The first animal to receive such treatment though was Storm, a Belgian Sheperd, who lost his paw after it became infected with a tumor. The same vet that would later provide Oscar with his bionic paws, Noel Fitzpatrick, was the first to offer this service to any animal and Storm was the perfect candidate. Fitzpatrick says that he hopes his developments can eventually be used to help soldiers returning from Iraq and victims of the July 7^th bombings in London.

Naki’o the Dog

(Video Link)

Earlier this year, Naki’o became the first dog in the world to be fitted with a full set of bionic paws from Orthopets, a leader in the pet prosthetics industry. Far from just helping him walk easier, the paws are so well attached that he can now run and swim just as he did before the accident. Naki’o lost his paws due to severe frostbite after his previous owners abandoned him to fend for himself throughout the freezing winter in Nebraska. Despite the fact that the poor pup had to crawl on his stomach to move, he still found a loving adoptive family who worked tirelessly to raise the money to get Naki’o the prosthetics he desperately needed. Their efforts paid off as Naki’o is now thrilled to have his bionic paws and is eager to run, jump and fetch with his new family.

Boonie the Goat

(Video Link)

Boonie was a happy little goat, until he got tangled in a rope and broke his leg trying to escape back in 2008. Unfortunately, the break was so bad that his leg had to be amputated. Fortunately, Boonie’s owner cared enough about her little goat to get in touch with Orthopets, the same company that would later help Naki’o. He now happily frolics and forages with his own specially-designed leg.

Coal the Dog

Coal was eight years old in 2008, when his left paw had to be amputated due to cancer. Vets warned that he might have to be put down because his other legs were too weak to carry him. But his loving owner, Reg Walker, refused to accept this fate and instead shelled out more than $15,000 to get Coal his own bionic leg that was completely compatible with Coal’s tissue. The titanium alloy used is specially designed to mimic the dog’s skin so the natural skin and bone will seal with the metal implant without being rejected by the body. Veterinarians involved with the process are hopeful this new technique can be adapted to help bombing victims recover from their traumatic injuries much more quickly and easily.

Fuji the Dolphin

(Video Link)

Fuji was a popular inhabitant at the Okinawa aquarium where she lived…that is, until an unknown disease started eating away at her tail fin. To save her life, veterinarians had to amputate almost all of her tail. Unfortunately, for a dolphin, that is practically a death sentence in itself as it leaves them unable to swim, jump or dive in the water.

Fortunately, the Bridgestone tire company heard about poor Fuji and stepped in with a team of researchers dedicated to helping the little dolphin get back to her old hijinks. They tried design after design, carefully perfecting a prosthetic tail that Fuji would feel comfortable with that would also be strong enough to support her swimming. Eventually, they got it right and now Fuji is back in the limelight where she is most happy, swimming and jumping with a new lease on life.

Winter the Dolphin

Image via crimfants [Flickr]

While Fuji was the first dolphin to receive a prosthetic tail, Winter is certainly the most famous. In fact, after Winter received her prosthetic, a documentary was soon made about her, titled Winter, the Dolphin That Could, and not long after that, Warner Bros made a fictionalized version of the story starring Morgan Freeman, Dolphin Tale.

Just in case you haven’t seen either of the movies though, it all started when the three-month-old dolphin got tangled up in a crab trap line and ended up losing her tail and two vertebrae in the process. Like Fuji, she was left unable to swim. Fortunately, Hanger Orthopedic Group stepped forward to help provide her with a prosthetic. Eventually Winter learned to swim again and become a star attraction at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Yu Chan the Sea Turtle

Images via Kawamura Gishi

Of course, dolphins aren’t the only critters that rely on their fins to swim. When Yu Chan was discovered without two front flippers, presumably due to a shark attack, the Sea Turtle Association of Japan stepped in to help her out with two prosthetic flippers. Many designs were tested, with the Association hoping to eventually develop fins that could be bionically attached to the animal, as the prosthetics will have to be very sturdy and attached quite tightly if they are to be expected to last throughout the rest of Yu Chan’s life, which could go on another 50 years.

Not only is the rescue a big deal for Yu Chan, but also for sea turtle enthusiasts throughout the world, as only one other sea turtle was ever fitted with a false flipper, but the attempt failed after her stump proved too small to hold the prosthetic.

Beauty the Eagle

Beauty lost her top beak due to a reckless poacher. She had difficulty preening her feathers, drinking and eating had become practically impossible for her until she was taken to a recovery center in Anchorage.

It took a full three years for researchers to develop a working artificial beak that would help her grasp food. Even so, the beak pictured isn’t even a permanent solution. This first model was created to help engineers develop more precise measurements for her second prosthetic. While the final beak will fit better and be designed with tougher materials, there are no plans to release Beauty back into the wild, as the team fears she has spent far too much time relying on humans to survive on her own again.

Motala the Elephant

Motala made headlines in 1999 when the Thai elephant lost her foot after stepping on a landmine. While vets were able to save most of her leg, it still was left shorter than the others. It took researchers six years to develop a prosthetic that would work for the pachyderm. She then had to use a temporary prosthetic made with wood shaving for another eight months until she became strong enough to be fitted with the permanent one made with fiberglass and silicone. That’s because poor Motala became so used to not using that leg that she had to become reaccustomed to walking with it.

Of course, there are plenty more animal prosthetic stories out there. In fact, while this article focuses on the newest and most high-tech versions, I’m sure many of you know an animal that has been fitted with a prosthetic of one kind or another. If you have any of your own stories, feel free to share them in the comments.

(Video Link)

You may recall Teddy’s earlier video where he eats corn, but here he is getting into the holiday spirit with a delicious Christmas cookie.

Via I Can Has Cheezburger

BuzzFeed brings us this silly little gallery full of chuckle-worthy images of bizarre things on leashes. Some of them are questionable in terms of strangeness (people leash their kids all the time, right?) while others are truly weird, and really make you wonder what we humans will be leashing up next?

Link

(Video Link)

You’ve already seen a dog dance the meringue, but if you prefer solo dances, then you’ll love seeing Stuart salsa dance.

Via The Laughing Squid

(Video Link)

Huskies have evolved to survive in some of the most extreme environments on earth, so what do they do when removed from the cold and allowed to live in a warm home? Help themselves to cooling implements of course.

Via BuzzFeed

Meet the newest critter at Perth’s Zoo, a baby echidna. It’s even known by an adorable/ugly name, as echidna babies are called “puggles.” There are even more pictures over at the link.

Link

It’s the Nightmare Before Dogmas over in Hershey, PA at the great dog grooming expo. Don’t miss all the other great dog designs over at Vice.

Link Via BoingBoing

Humans love to hold a warm, furry cat in their arms or in their laps (with some exceptions, of course) but humans aren’t the only primates who like pets. Monkeys and apes seem to have a similar affinity to cats, as you’ll see in a gallery of cute pictures at Environmental Graffiti. Link

(Image credit: Flickr user Salim Virji)

Just look at this tiny little low rider pony. According to Flickr user suvodeb, who took the picture, this cutie even has the personality to match.

Link Via Cute Overload

“Why? Why? Why?” That has to be what these dogs are thinking. While they may be embarrassed by the shots their owners seem to love, the rest of us can enjoy just how hilariously bizarre these pictures are.

Link

Admit it, you’ve done exactly this at one party or another during your lifetime, haven’t you? From cartoonist Gemma Correll. Link -via reddit

WebUrbanist has some great animal houses on one of their recent articles, but I have to say my favorite is definitely the fish tank adaptation that allows the fish to swim across the room from one tank to another. Do any of you have similarly cool adaptations at your home?

Link

Sure turtles carry their own homes on their back, but why limit yourself to such a small hut when you can move in to a mansion instead? If you need more proof of how much he loves his home, then don’t miss the rest of the pictures.

Link

Sure Thanksgiving is over, but while watching your family members stuff their faces might not be all that entertaining, seeing a hamster munch down a pint-sized dinner is certainly enjoyable.

Link

What could be cuter than a squirrel eating penne? A hamster eating ramen? A guinea pig eating mostaccioli? A hamster eating macaroni and cheese? A chipmunk eating noodles? The adorable hamster enjoying spaghetti here is named Lupin. See the rest of the collection at Environmental Graffiti. Link

(Image credit: Flickr user LuLu Witch)

Have you met Luna the Fashion Kitty yet? She is indeed the most stylish kitten around, with a full wardrobe of clothing, and BuzzFeed’s collection of photos of her is simply irresistible.

Link

I don’t know about you guys, but this is the kind of pool party I want to be invited to. Say it together, “awwwww.”

Link

(Video Link)

If you still aren’t convinced that turtles are utterly adorable, then just look at this precious little guy working so hard for a few bites of delicious pumpkin pie. Is anyone else getting hungry?

Via BuzzFeed

(Video Link)

Lizards aren’t particularly well known for their powers of friendship, but if I was a gecko, I’d certainly want to hang out with this guy, who is willing to risk his own life to save his friend.

Via Geekosystem

(Video Link)

It might not be the fastest method of transportation, but it is certainly luxurious.

Via BuzzFeed

New York’s Tompkins Square Dog Parade is the biggest dog costume contest on earth and this year’s participants certainly did not fail to disappoint. You can enjoy 50 pictures from this year’s event over at BuzzFeed, but my personal favorite is this Bulldog of Frankenstein.

Link

Video after the jump:

(Video Link)

Via BuzzFeed

If you love corgis and pets in costumes, then you’ll love this great BuzzFeed post featuring a whopping 90 of these little shorties in absolutely precious costumes. If you don’t like corgis, well then, I feel bad for you.

Link

(Video Link)

This just might be the most literal use of the term ever.

Via BuzzFeed

(Video Link)

It’s always hard to resist Maru, but when he’s up to his antics in slow motion, it makes you want to reach out and grab him for all the cuddles he could handle.

Via ICanHasCheezburger

(Video Link)

Serious Eats may be a food blog, but like the rest of us, they have a serious soft spot for animals. That means every now and again the site has been known to create delightful YouTube lists of animals eating different foods. This time around, it’s pumpkins and the videos are simply adorable. Find more fun clips on their list at the link.

Link

Jeff Wysaski printed up a public service announcement based on the HBO series Game of Thrones. It was posted at a veterinary office. Look how healthy his dire wolf is! See it full size at Pleated Jeans. Link

(Video Link)

You’d think the mastiff would fare better, but sometimes being big is both a blessing and a curse.

Via BuzzFeed

A lot of people shy away from adopting special needs animals, but these pets can often provide a whole new level of companionship that most people will never experience. Photographer Carli Davidson knows just how special these animals are, which is why her images portray them in such a loveable light.

Link

You are probably familiar with Tillman, the famous skateboarding bulldog, but there are plenty of other animals who have taken to the activity as well. In this gallery from Environmental Graffiti, you’ll meet guinea pigs, cats, turtles, birds, rabbits, and even a rat on a skateboard! Some are shown in action on video, too. Link

(Image credit: Flickr user kthypryn)

Fish tanks are usually judged solely by the variety of fish inside, but these unbelievably cool fish tanks would be amazing even without their underwater tenants. I particularly love the one on the top left that looks more like a mini-forest than a fish tank.

Link

Did you know snakes and hamsters can be friends? Or cats and crows? Or pigs and tigers? Ok, these friendships might not be common, but the do happen. Cracked has a great list of animal friendships that could make writers of Disney movies feel ashamed of their lack of ingenuity.

Link