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A 6-month-old cat named Boots became stuck high in a tree in Melbourne, Australia, early on Wednesday morning. The RSPCA and the local fire brigade declined to help. The cat’s owner couldn’t afford to hire a professional animal rescue service, and the tree branches were too spindly for anyone to climb.   

To raise the money needed, neighbor Susie Butler  started a Go Fund Me account. The required $205 was raised within a day, and Thursday morning Nigel's Animal Rescue managed to get Boots out of the tree. He had been there over 24 hours by then. You can see video of the rescue operation here. -via Arbroath

The home of police officer Margo Feaser of Longwood, Florida caught on fire on Monday night. Neighbors smashed in windows to give Feaser an escape route from the home, which was rapidly filling with smoke.

Feaser got out, as did her dog and her husband, who promptly collapsed on the front lawn. But their 4 and 2-year old children were still inside.

Maxx, the family's German Shepherd mix, led firefighters back inside to the location of the kids. The entire family, including the dog, suffered severe smoke inhalation. But they're all alive, thanks to Maxx the dog. The Orlando Sentinel quotes Deputy Sheriff Dennis Lemma:

"The family canine was just absolutely remarkable leading firefighters inside," Lemma said. "It absolutely saved their lives."

Lemma said the Sheriff's Office is grateful for the quick-actions of neighbors and fire crews, but also called the deputy a hero.

"She came out and her No.1 concern was to get back in there and save those kids," Lemma said. "She's a hero and acted as such."

-via Ace of Spades HQ

A lamb born without fleece at a farm in Chilton Foliat in Wiltshire, UK, was rejected by his mother. It was just too odd. Farmhand Sally-Ann Fisher says they named the lamb Skippy because he looks like a kangaroo. He’s now being hand-raised by humans.

Ms Fisher, who farms with her partner near Ramsbury, said the lamb had been born 10 days ago but they were "not aware" that its lack of wool was a condition or a "health problem".

"He's just unlucky, but he's doing great," she said.

They don’t yet know whether Skippy will be hairless for life, but he’s already got the next best thing -a coat made out of a fluffy old white sweater. It will not only keep him warm, but may make him look more like the other sheep on the farm. -via Arbroath

We know how to trap a cat. But have you ever thought about the anxiety you cause for a cat trapped in such an awful way?

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This dramatic video shows the angst and desperation of a helpless cat trapped in a hexagon taped to the floor. He cannot escape on his own, but needs a little help from a friend. Together, they create an opening in the infernal trap and allow escape. Yay! -via Boing Boing

It's pretty easy for house pets to take flattering selfies considering they're so darn cute, but the internet is already full of cute animal pics and the virtual world is becoming bored with beauty.

So what does the future of pet social media posts look like? Probably something like this:

The selfies cats are posting to the Unflattering Cat Selfies Tumblr are so much better than those posed and filtered pics you see on everybody's Instagram pages these days.

And if cats, the vainest and most superficial of all pets, can laugh at themselves by posting unflattering pics online can the rest of the selfie kings and queens be very far behind?

-Via Cheezburger

This is a Western Barred Spitting Cobra (Naja nigricincta). During molting, our little friend needs to drink water. So YouTube user Частный экзотариум feeds him water from a glass. Then, after he's back in his tank, he gives him pats on the back. So apparently cobras are like dogs in that they liked to be petted.

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Despite the similarity, I think that I'll stick to dogs.

-via Gifsboom

Twice a day, you can see a parade of ducks in Stellenbosch, South Africa, when hundreds of ducks go to work at 9:45 AM, and when they come home at 3:45 PM. The Vergenoegd Wine Estate keeps 700-800 ducks as pest control specialists for the vines.

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The ducks eat slugs, bugs, and other pests that threaten the vineyards. They have been employed since 1984 (not the same ducks), and have proven invaluable. Since no chemical pesticides are needed, the vineyard has a WWF biodiversity certificate. -via the Presurfer

A video posted by Greg Baskwell (@gregbaskwell) on Apr 23, 2016 at 10:06am PDT

Whenever Greg Baskwell needs a helping paw, he can count on Finley. Finley will do anything to contribute. Need to wash the car? Finley is there. Need a helicopter landing pad? Count on Finley. Need bail money? You're on your own. Sorry, but there are limits.

-via Tastefully Offensive

This is PuiPui, a Holland Lop and celebrity in the rabbit world. He's a fashion model without equal, dressing in only the most perfecty designed and crafted outfits. Whatever PuiPui wears is guaranteed to be the new look, so pay close attention.

That is one fat ‘possum. Redditor P_bryant562 has a friend who works at a pet store and had to snap this customer. If it wasn’t a marsupial, you’d call this a Rodent Of Unusual Size. She’s obviously raised this opossum from a very young age, or else it would be skinny, bitey, and would not be wearing a tutu. In the discussion under this picture, there are many tales of more common, yet funny, encounters with yard vermin.

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Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele of the famous comedy duo Key & Peele bring us this promotional video for their new movie Keanu. The roughest, toughest, most muscle-bound and tatted thugs face off against the cutest kittens in a staring contest. Who will prevail?

-via Tastefully Offensive

This is Poldi, a pet owl. He's just one and a half years old.

Poldi lives with Tanya Brandt, a photographer. Recently, when Poldi and Brandt went out together, it started to train. Poldi sought shelter under a mushroom. The resulting photo is like something out of a fantasy movie!

You can see more photos of Poldi at play at Bored Panda.

-via My Modern Met

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The little fella still hasn't left his egg shell. Instead, he's carrying it around as extra armor around his own shell. It's sturdy and fashionable.

-via Nothing to Do with Aborath

Robert Dollwet took his Bengal cat Boomer (previously at Neatorama) to a dog show. Boomer is on a leash, and all those dogs acted like that was a cue that he’s just another dog, although at least one seems to have caught on. 

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It ended up as an adorable encounter. Remember, this is a well-trained cat and the dogs are show dogs, so you can bet they are well-disciplined, too.  -via reddit

Tigers are like all cats in that they need to squeeze in eighteen plus hours a day of beauty sleep, and they really don't like to be disturbed while they're catching some z's.

But unlike most other cats a tiger will launch a furious attack at anyone who dares disturb their sleep, even if that attack leads to an awkward tension between bros in a shared enclosure.

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Is that the tiger from The Hangover? Looks like Mike Tyson has taught him some moves!

-Via FAILBlog