As 2009 draws to a close, Paw Nation is taking a look back at our favorite viral videos of animals from this year. They're the clips you stumbled upon, friends forwarded or were even featured by big news outlets -- simply for being cute, ridiculous, eye-opening or hysterical (or all of the above).
Go ahead and treat yourself to a few minutes of fun by reflecting on these awww-worthy moments:
1. Tickling Slow Loris
Sonya, a Slow Loris owned by Dmitry Sergeyev, made her ascent to web fame at an ironically lightning-fast speed. The sluggish primate with saucer-like eyes and what appears to be a smile on her face lazes in pure bliss as she gets "tickled" in this clip. The popularity of the video lead to hundreds of thousands of Web viewers asking the same two questions: "What is that creature and where can I get one of my own?!" Well, we don't know where to get one, but we suggest you don't. They're illegal in the U.S.
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Elizabeth Brady
Elizabeth Brady loves staring at pictures of cute creatures as well as blogging about animal news, viral video, pet products and more. She lives in Brooklyn with her Great Pyrenees, Lola, where they go bar hopping and take naps together. Elizabeth also writes for FREEwilliamsburg.com and Asylum.com.
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Skeeter the poodle is one such example. "Inside Edition" has highlighted the struggles that Skeeter endures while trying to accomplish the most basic of canine tasks, like going for a walk or climbing onto a couch to cuddle.
Skeeter's story might seem absurd or even humorous at first, but most viewers feel a combination of sympathy and curiosity for unique pooches like him.
According to experts, narcolepsy isn't as debilitating or traumatic for dogs as it is for humans. However, the quirks of the condition continue to amaze veterinarians. Canine narcolepsy was first identified as a hereditary disease in the early 1970s, and seems to be limited to specific breeds, including dachshunds, poodles and dobermans. Narcolepsy in cats has also been reported, but is said to be extremely rare. Most dogs will develop the condition when they are young and symptoms tend to present themselves when animals become excited, as Stanford University researchers demonstrate in this video.
Treatments for canine narcolepsy, such as anti-depressants, are available, but vets have yet to identify a cure. If you think your pet might be sleeping inordinately often, consult PetWave's list of symptoms and discuss the issue with your vet.
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The prize is especially meaningful for the dog's owner, Dr. Leslie Capin. Several years ago, Papidies was diagnosed with Addison's Disease, an endrocine disorder which almost cost him his life.
Capin plans on using the cash prize to help other pets in need. She has said that she'll donate half a million dollars to the Dumb Friends League and half a million dollars to the Max Fund Animal Shelter "because thousands of pet owners have been forced to surrender their animals at shelters as they can't afford to care for them."
According to the Cutest Dog staff, "The decision was obviously very difficult for the judges. Each of the top 12 dogs was extremely cute and had a great back story, a loving family and many thousands of supportive fans."
Do you think they made the right decision? Leave us your thoughts in the comments below!
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Keep Human Food on the Table
According to the ASPCA, feeding your pet table-scraps is the biggest Thanksgiving Day hazard. They recommend avoiding problems altogether by leaving your pet in the kitchen, yard or elsewhere with a chew toy or snack while the humans eat the good stuff. If you feel an uncontrollable urge to let Fido sample your meal, scale it back to a small amount and avoid food with lots of seasoning, onions, raisins, garlic or chocolate (all of which can cause abdominal pain, complications or even death).
Meats and Doughs
Be sure to not feed your pets any uncooked dough or meat. Salmonella is present in raw eggs and meat, and the ASPCA notes that "when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency requiring surgery." Even cooked meat can be harmful if it is coated in gravy or grease. If you are going to allow your dog to scarf down turkey, make sure there are no bones that could splinter and be harmful to the pet.
The Quack Pack
On behalf of animal lovers on Twitter, Paw Nation did some research to find the 12 most useful and entertaining animal Twitter accounts for our readers to follow:
1. @ASPCA
The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has taken to the Twitterverse to reach out to the animal-loving masses, and it's working. With more than 14,000 followers so far, @ASPCA brings the latest updates about their campaigns, victories and efforts.
2. @TheQuackPack
No, it's not an afternoon animated series with Huey, Dewey and Louie. The Quack Pack's tweets are deployed by the "parents" of two mallard ducks (named Laylah and Saydee) who are being raised as children. Think "My Monkey Baby," with ducks.
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