Animals of the Chinese Zodiac

HORSE
Years: 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
Traits: Popular, cheerful, friendly, needy

Chronic lateness is not one of the traits of the horse in the Chinese zodiac, but this newborn foal must not have known that. He was born on Jan. 26, exactly one month after his predicted due date. The Aldenham Country Park in Hertfordshire, England, adopted the foal’s mother, Fennel, because she had nowhere safe to give birth. Both mother and child are well now, but the baby still needs a name. (Borehamwood and Elstree Times)

GOAT
Years: 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Traits: Artistic, creative, sensitive, socially awkward

This baby goat displayed his socially awkward side when he ran into a Redditor’s home uninvited. “Today this cute little baby GOAT broke into my house in search of grass,” was the caption posted with this adorable photo. The Redditor, who is from Pakistan, added, “I was alone in the house, and door was open, so the cutie came in. Looking at her, I quickly grabbed my camera and then she started modeling.” And thus a potentially awkward situation went better than expected. (Reddit)

MONKEY
Years: 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Traits: Intelligent, practical, curious, arrogant

Mimi and Eddie are a couple of Wolf’s guenon monkeys who took up residence at the Sacramento Zoo this past fall. The pair soon rewarded the zoo with a newborn. This adorable little monkey was born on Jan. 26, an important birth because of how rare these animals are, and how little we know about them. There are precious few in zoos, and they’re hard to spot in the wild. The Wolf’s guenon has a furrowed brow that displays the monkey’s characteristic intelligence. (The Sacramento Bee)

ROOSTER
Years: 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
Traits: Clever, shrewd, analytical, selfish

When this batch of Rhode Island Red chicks was misdirected in the mail, they ended up taking an impromptu visit to our nation’s capitol. The chicks were meant to be shipped to Blountsville, Ala., but somehow ended up in Washington, D.C. The Washington Humane Society swept in and took care of the chicks until they could find a new home for them at Farm Sanctuary in New York. Now these cute chicks will have the chance to grow into majestic roosters and hens.  (Washington Humane Society)

DOG
Years: 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Traits: Loyal, honest, generous, worried

Whoever was cruel and thoughtless enough to stuff this puppy in a plastic bag and throw it in the garbage certainly doesn’t have a drop of the generous spirit that nature gave a dog. Thankfully, 8-week-old Oscar, named for the grouchy Muppet who lives in a trash can, was found and rescued. Now Oscar is recovering at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. After some more care, he’ll be made available for adoption, and we’re sure he’ll be loyal for life to whomever gives him a loving home. (Arizona Daily Star)

PIG
Years: 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
Traits: Selfless, tolerant, optimistic, naive

This little piggie is using his optimistic nature to make the most out of a tough situation. Chris P. Bacon the piglet was born without the use of his hind legs. But Chris, who is less than a month old now, has been learning to get around with a “wheelchair” that was designed using some creative engineering and a few K’NEX toy pieces. Look at him go! (HLN)

RAT
Years: 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Traits: Ambitious, responsible, perfectionistic, opportunistic

Curly is a hairless rat who was one of many rats, mice, guinea pigs, ferrets and other small and furries having a day of fun recently at the Winter Wonderland Party for Small Animals, held at Animal Nature in Pittsburgh, Pa. Nearly forty human small-animal lovers came with their pets for fun, photos and fellowship. But little Curly, with his unique look, was a standout. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

OX (CATTLE)
Years: 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
Traits: Patient, thoughtful, self-assured, stubborn

It was almost curtains for an unborn baby calf and his pregnant mother when a fire destroyed their ranch and hundreds of homes in the Waldo Canyon fire last summer. The calf’s mother, unnamed but nicknamed Baby, suffered some serious injuries, including cuts from barbed wire and burns from the fire. But Baby gave birth to her own baby in the first snow of winter, and both are doing OK now. We guess it was their stubborn, never-say-die attitude that kept them going. (The Gazette)

TIGER
Years: 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
Traits: Aggressive, noble, courageous, short-tempered

Serengeti Park Zoo in Hodenhagen, Germany, enjoyed a big-cat population explosion in the fall. Four white tiger cubs were born at the zoo, along with four white lion cubs. The tigers, majestic even at their young age, posed for their first photo shoot last week. It’s not clear yet if the tigers will be part of an exhibit for public viewing, but if that happens, we’re sure their noble bearing will impress. (AP)

RABBIT
Years: 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
Traits: Talented, kind, affectionate, cautious

Who could abandon these adorable, fluffy bunnies? Someone who wasn’t concerned about the possibility of them being run over by cars or gobbled up by foxes, that’s who. Thank goodness for Josie Turner, a generous passerby who found the bunnies in Chessington, England, and enlisted the help of an animal rescue to round them up and care for them. It took a few hours to catch them all (rabbits being naturally quite cautious and wary), but now they’re safe, and will soon be made available for adoption after spaying and vaccination. (Kingston Guardian)