Paw Nation http://www.pawnation.com Paw Nation http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.pawnation.com/media/feedlogo.gif Paw Nation http://www.pawnation.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chicago Organizations Help Elderly Care for their Petshttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/15/chicago-organizations-help-elderly-care-for-their-pets/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/15/chicago-organizations-help-elderly-care-for-their-pets/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/15/chicago-organizations-help-elderly-care-for-their-pets/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Pets bring joy to people of all ages but also daunting responsibility. cielokatie, Flickr

It's always a difficult moment when a senior citizen has to enter a hospital or nursing home, especially if it means a pet is going to be left without care - even temporarily. Enter Sister Marijon Binder and her two organizations, Touched by an Animal and Cats-Are-Purrsons-Too. Binder's Chicago-based organizations help the elderly take care of their pets.

Depending on the situation, that can mean sending volunteers into people's homes to help provide pet food, walk dogs, or clean litter boxes, which often makes the difference between a senior being able to keep a pet or having to give it up. Binder also boards cats for people who have to go to a hospital or nursing home, and takes the cats to visit their owners.

Binder came to her current vocation after moving to Chicago from her California convent in 1976 and soon realized that she could make a difference helping people in need with their pets.

At one point, the convent called her back to service and she considering returning, but ultimately she had to say no. "I wanted to go back [to the convent] but too many elderly people were relying on me," Binder told the Chicago Sun Times. "I simply felt in my heart that God wanted me to continue taking care of these people and animals." She went on to say, "These pets are their family. They're desperate to find someone who will love and care for their pet after they are gone. So what we do is provide them with peace of mind."

Her passion for caring for this community does add a particular challenge to her life -- Binder cares for about 70 cats in her Chicago home, which has a screened-in backyard so the kitties can play outside. If the cat won't be returning to its owner for some reason, sometimes the cats are put up for adoption and Binder helps facilitate the process.

So just what is it like to live with 70 cats? Binder told Paw Nation, "Living with cats is a full-time job. As the saying goes, 'dogs have masters; cats have servants.' That's us."

The organizations are kept going by donations and volunteers. Says Binder, "Every day, I pray for volunteers and donations. Sometimes we're really low on money, but I trust in God and people to pull us out."

To participate in any way -- including adopting a cat -- call (773) 728-6336 or visit www.touchedbyananimal.org.

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]]>chicagopet adoptionPetAdoptionSenior CitizensSeniorCitizensseniorsRebecca QuimbyMon, 15 Mar 2010 13:00:00 ESTCharlie's Journey: More on the Dog Who Traveled 1,200 Miles and Found Its Ownerhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/01/travels-with-charlie-more-on-the-dog-who-traveled-1-200-miles-a/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/01/travels-with-charlie-more-on-the-dog-who-traveled-1-200-miles-a/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/01/travels-with-charlie-more-on-the-dog-who-traveled-1-200-miles-a/#commentsFiled under: ,

Stephan Soleas (on the unicycle), his wife Gemma (holding the accordion) and daughter Namané Amorea (on the horse) are thrilled to have their dog, Charlie, home with the family. Photo: Stephan Soleas

Those stories about dogs traveling hundreds of miles to be reunited with their owners are always pretty unbelievable, but this one takes the cake. Just a few days after 26-year-old musician Stephan Soleas hitched a ride from his home in Taos, N.M. to New Orleans, his 6-year-old Lab mix went missing. On Feb. 5, Soleas heard that his dog, Charlie, had reappeared about 50 blocks from where Soleas was staying, over 1,200 miles from their home. Turns out Charlie really, really, really didn't want to miss Mardi Gras.

Charlie's journey "home" began when a New Orleans couple vacationing in Taos spotted him running down the street. He wasn't wearing a collar, so they assumed he was a stray. The couple fell in love with the white dog, who jumped into their car as soon as they opened the door. As Soleas told Paw Nation, "It is very common for Charlie to run off because he is very cute and he understands his affect on people. He is the most free willed dog I have ever met." And if this doesn't blow your mind, nothing will: By coincidence, the couple even named the dog Charlie.

After spending a few days trying to locate Charlie's owner, the vacationers decided to keep him, driving with him for three days to their home in New Orleans. But when a vet at Magazine Street Clinic scanned Charlie's chip, they discovered that not only did the dog have an owner, but that owner was staying nearby. Soleas told Paw Nation, "It blew my mind when he showed up. I thought I was dreaming. People didn't even believe me because the story is so crazy!"

He went on to say, "Charlie is the same as ever. The craziest part of all this to me really was that I was having a hard time in NOLA. Ever since I rolled into town, things just were not right, and the moment I picked up Charlie, things got increasingly better. That's how I know Charlie came down there for me."

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]]>lost and foundlost petsLostAndFoundLostPetsnew orleansNewOrleansRebecca QuimbyMon, 01 Mar 2010 17:00:00 ESTWorking With the Cat That Senses Deathhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/01/working-with-the-cat-that-senses-death/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/01/working-with-the-cat-that-senses-death/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/03/01/working-with-the-cat-that-senses-death/#commentsFiled under: ,

Stew Milne, AP

Oscar, a pet cat who lives at a nursing home in Providence, R.I., gained national attention several years ago for his apparent ability to predict which of the facility's patients was about to die. David Dosa, M.D., a geriatrician and assistant professor at Brown University who works with the facility, recently published Making Rounds with Oscar, a book about life with the amazing animal. Paw Nation spoke with Dr. Dosa to learn more about his experiences with Oscar.

Why was Oscar brought to live in the nursing home in the first place?
Oscar was adopted by the nursing home in the summer of 2005 as a replacement for a companion animal that died. Oscar was found in a shelter and came to reside at Steere House with a fellow cat by the name of Maya.

How did his abilities come to your attention?
As one death after another occurred with Oscar holding his vigils, they became harder to ignore. Family members and hospice staff started talking about his visits and soon we all started asking the question when someone died, "Was Oscar there?" Invariably the answer was yes, so it became easier to believe. I suppose the episode that brought it home for me was an occasion where there were two patients dying on the unit. We all thought that one patient was going to die first but Oscar was nowhere to be found. An aid went looking for Oscar and found him curled up next to another patient on the other side of the unit. We knew that patient was sick but did not suspect that they were close to death. The aid picked Oscar up and brought him down the hall so he could be with our patient. Oscar took one look around and then raced out of the room right back to where he was sitting. The patient Oscar was with died that evening. Our "sicker" patient rebounded somewhat and lived for a few more days. Hours before that patient died, Oscar was back.

Continue reading Working With the Cat That Senses Death

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]]>dr. david dosaDr.DavidDosaexpire-images:2011-6-30making the rounds with oscarMakingTheRoundsWithOscaroscarRebecca QuimbyMon, 01 Mar 2010 13:00:00 ESTRabbit Fever -- A Behind the Scenes Look at a Bunny Competitionhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/26/rabbit-fever-a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-bunny-competitions/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/26/rabbit-fever-a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-bunny-competitions/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/26/rabbit-fever-a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-bunny-competitions/#commentsFiled under:

We probably don't need to tell you that 2010 marks the 100-year anniversary of the American Rabbit Breeders Association. And what better way to celebrate than by watching the brand-spanking-new, hot-off-the-presses official trailer for "Rabbit Fever." This fascinating, educational, and often hilarious documentary follows some of the competitors at the National American Rabbit Convention, which is sort of like the Westminster Dog Show, but of course, for rabbits. (Check out our interview with "Rabbit Fever" filmmaker Amy Do to learn more about this "hare-raising" documentary.)

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]]>Amy DoAmyDobunniesRabbit FeverRabbitFeverrabbitsRebecca QuimbyFri, 26 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST3-Legged Shelter Dog Wins Talent Competitionhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/23/3-legged-shelter-dog-wins-talent-competition/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/23/3-legged-shelter-dog-wins-talent-competition/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/23/3-legged-shelter-dog-wins-talent-competition/#commentsFiled under: ,

Westminster-winning Sadie's got nothing on Prince. The three-legged pit-bull mix won "Best in Show" at a shelter dog talent competition at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The two-year-old wowed the crowd at the New York City event by catching three baseballs thrown by his handler/pitcher.

Prince's major league talent won over the judges, who included singer-songwriter Roberta Flack, actress Bernadette Peters, ballroom dance champion and So You Think You Can Dance choreographer Melanie LaPatin, and Assistant Director of ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement Joseph Pentangelo.

Prince lost his leg after being hit by a car, but Gail Buchwald, Senior Vice President of the ASPCA Adoption Center, said Prince's disability doesn't hold him back. "The talent show demonstrates the resilience of these wonderful dogs," Buchwald also said, "but the real prize will be finding their two-legged soul mates and homes to call their own." Yes, Prince and the other competition contestants are up for adoption. Visit ASPCA.org to learn more about adding him to your team!

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]]>aspcabest in showBestInShowinjured petsInjuredPetsPitBullRebecca QuimbyTue, 23 Feb 2010 15:00:00 ESTPetfinder.com Introduces New FurKeeps Programhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/22/petfinder-com-introduces-new-furkeeps-program/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/22/petfinder-com-introduces-new-furkeeps-program/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/22/petfinder-com-introduces-new-furkeeps-program/#commentsFiled under:

put that down, Flickr

Did you know that 34.2 percent of people who give up their pets have had them for over two years? Clearly, these folks didn't give up their furry family member at the first sign of inconvenience--which, lets be honest, happens the first day you bring a pet home. But due to changes in housing, the potentially high costs of pet-owning, behavior problems, and a host of other reasons, many animal adoptions don't quite take.

That's why this March, Petfinder.com is introducing their new FurKeeps program. (Though you can go online now and preview some of the features.) Prospective pet parents can go the section "Starting Your Adoption Right" which features an adoption checklist as well as an explanation about what to expect in the first 30 days with your new pet. Current pet parents will be able ask pet professionals their questions about animal care, health, and behavior in a free "Ask the Experts" online forum. The FurKeeps Web site also includes resources addressing the most common reasons people give up their pets. From tips on finding animal-friendly housing (36.4 percent relinquish their pets because of a move) to pet training tips (17.9 percent of pets are given up because of behavioral problems), the site aims to help you plan ahead. As the site says, "Part of being a great pet parent is planning for the long haul. Your adoptive pet could be with you for a very long time, and even pet parents who have the best intentions at the time of adoption run into problems sometimes. This is nothing to be ashamed of."

In other words, pets can be a pain. We all love them, but it is common for there to be tough times with furry family members and its good to remember that there are resources to help.

Continue reading Petfinder.com Introduces New FurKeeps Program

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]]>pet behaviorpet healthpet health questionsPetBehaviorPetHealthPetHealthQuestionspetresourceRebecca QuimbyMon, 22 Feb 2010 13:00:00 ESTI Work With Animals! Circus Elephant Trainerhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/17/i-work-with-animals-circus-elephant-trainer/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/17/i-work-with-animals-circus-elephant-trainer/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/17/i-work-with-animals-circus-elephant-trainer/#commentsFiled under:

Ageless Northshore

We all occasionally dream of running off to join the circus. Well, Larry Carden didn't have to dream. He was born into one! Carden took some time from his busy schedule traveling with the George Carden Circus, International (started by his father) to answer our questions about being an elephant trainer.

Name: Larry Carden

Age: 29

Job title: Elephant Trainer

What do you do?
My father owns 10 elephants. I work with all of them but when I'm on the road I work with four. I grew up around elephants and have been training them for 12 years -- as did my father before me and his father before him.

What is it like to work with elephants?
Taking care of an elephant is a 24-hour job. They are always eating and pooping, so I am always on one end or the other. They also get washed with soap and water every day, up to three times a day. Along with that, if they aren't performing I train them every day. They are just like people with their personalities and they have different moods depending on the day.

What's the best thing about your job?
I get to see the U.S and perform for thousands of people a day, Best of all, I get to spend my time with my best friends the elephants Betty, Cindy, Vicky and Bo.

Do you have any advice to aspiring elephant trainers?
To someone who wants to train elephants: Start learning all you can about them and try to get around them. The more time you spend with them, the more they get to know you. All elephant trainers start at the back and work their way to the front.

See more photos of Larry and the George Carden Circus.

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]]>circuselephantelephantsi work with animalsiworkwithanimalsRebecca QuimbyWed, 17 Feb 2010 13:00:00 ESTPygmy Goats: The New 'It' Pet?http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/02/pygmy-goats-the-new-it-pet/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/02/pygmy-goats-the-new-it-pet/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/02/pygmy-goats-the-new-it-pet/#commentsFiled under:



Cats? Dogs? Iguanas? Played out. The hot new family pet just might be the pygmy goat. Publications like the San Francisco Gate and the New York Times are reporting that more and more people are choosing goats as pets.

Many urbanites are reclaiming the art of growing their own vegetables, and even keeping bees and chicken coops, so why not goats? Pygmies are particularly well-suited for urban and suburban yards. They stand 17 to 23 inches tall and are said to be as intelligent and good-tempered as some dogs. Plus, they provide milk and cut your grass for you. They range in cost from $100 to $300 -- cheaper than a lawn mower, and way cuter.

But before you pick up your new pet, check local laws to avoid grazing violations or other snafus. And because they are herd animals, you'll need to get more than one. Your neighbors are going to loooove that.

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]]>farm animalsFarmAnimalsgoatpygmy goatPygmyGoatRebecca QuimbyTue, 02 Feb 2010 15:00:00 ESTPet Bull Rescued from Pondhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/01/pet-bull-rescued-from-pond/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/01/pet-bull-rescued-from-pond/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/01/pet-bull-rescued-from-pond/#commentsFiled under:

gjeewaytee (off), Flickr

We've heard of firefighters saving cats stuck in trees, but this is a whole other bull, er, ball of wax!

Firefighters in the U.K. rescued a pet bull from a pond in Essex last week, according to the BBC. No word on why in the world the 20-year-old bull fell into the pond, but it could not stand up after four fire crews freed it with rescue equipment, so they propped it up with bales of hay. The sickly animal was taken to a shelter overnight and examined by a vet.

Watch the amazing rescue video on the BBC.

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]]>bullbullsfallinginpondsenglandessexrescueRebecca QuimbyMon, 01 Feb 2010 17:00:00 ESTPETA Wants Punxsutawney Phil Replaced With Robot Groundhoghttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/01/peta-wants-punxsutawney-phil-replaced-with-robot-groundhog/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/01/peta-wants-punxsutawney-phil-replaced-with-robot-groundhog/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/02/01/peta-wants-punxsutawney-phil-replaced-with-robot-groundhog/#commentsFiled under: ,

The "tortured" Phil is worshipped by tens of thousands of followers. Flickr/SchultzLabs

We love robots as much as the next cyborg, er, human, but not nearly as much as the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The controversial animal-rights group has demanded that the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club replace their famous weather-predicting groundhog with a robot, reports the Los Angeles Times.

With Groundhog Day almost upon us, PETA's Animals in Entertainment specialist, Gemma Vaughan, wrote to Groundhog Club president William Deeley last week, asking him to release the most famous of the regional Groundhog Day groundhogs, Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil (Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary), from his life of servitude at Gobbler's Knob.

Suggesting that Phil be replaced with an animatronic substitute, Vaughan wrote that the rodent is "forced to be on display year round at the local library and is denied the ability to prepare for and enter yearly hibernation," and that the hubbub probably distresses the humble 'hog, as they are typically shy creatures. Vaughan may be on to something; Phil has actually made several attempts to escape his Punxsutawney home in the last year. Although, to be fair, that may have been related to marital discord between Phil and his wife, Phyllis.

Unsurprisingly, Deeley says no deal. He told the Associated Press that the famous groundhog is "being treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania" (which, to be honest, makes us worry about the Keystone State's kids). PETA insists they're not trying to be total buzzkills, though. According to executive vice president Tracy Reiman, an animatronic Phil "would attract new and curious tourists" to Punxsutawney's annual event.

The weird thing is, they also want the movie "Groundhog Day" remade, with a robot replacing Bill Murray. That seems like a bit much, don't you think?

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]]>groundhog dayGroundhogDaypetaPunxsutawneyPhilRebecca QuimbyMon, 01 Feb 2010 11:00:00 ESTPets Welcome at Stetson Universityhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/29/pets-welcome-at-stetson-university/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/29/pets-welcome-at-stetson-university/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/29/pets-welcome-at-stetson-university/#commentsFiled under:

Cindi Brownfield, Stetson University

Ah, college. All those tough classes, the crazy parties, the dog walking, the flea-collar-purchasing...

That's right. Florida's Stetson University has tapped one of its dormitories to provide the first pet-friendly housing on campus starting next fall, reports WESH News in Orlando, Fla. School administrators say they believe that students bringing along pets will help relieve the stress of living away from home for the first time. According to Dean of Students Rina Tovar, "If they can bring Fido, or one of the Fidos, the family pet with them to school, it's going to help with that transition and really help with them feeling comfortable."

Stetson's Director of Housing and Residential Life, Justin Williams, tells Paw Nation that the pet-friendly housing will be found in Nemec Hall. 36 of Nemec Hall's rooms will be included as part of the program, allowing residents to share space with hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, rats, cats, and dogs under 30 pounds. The building will even feature a dog park just outside its walls. A pet council will deal with any problems that may arise -- the animal residents fighting like cats and dogs, maybe? No word yet on whether the rooms will be connected by hamster tunnels or plain old human hallways.

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]]>collegedormpet-friendlyRebecca QuimbyFri, 29 Jan 2010 11:00:00 ESTLily the Bear Cam Captures Live Birth of Cubhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/28/lily-the-bear-cam-captures-live-birth-of-cub/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/28/lily-the-bear-cam-captures-live-birth-of-cub/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/28/lily-the-bear-cam-captures-live-birth-of-cub/#commentsFiled under:

Do you ever get the feeling you're being watched? Well, it might be true -- if you're Lily the Bear, anyway. This three-year-old black bear, living outside of Ely, Minn., has been observed via live Web cam throughout the course of her hibernation as part of a research experiment led by the Wildlife Research Institute. The "Lily Show" was established to observe her behaviors in the den. And people watching on January 22 got to see a very special episode: the birth of Lily's cub!

This marks the first time a bear giving birth has ever been recorded in the wild (or on Facebook). Thousands tried tuning in, causing the Bear Cam to experience server overload. A video of the event later was posted on YouTube for all to see. No screaming at the father and carrying on for this new mother. A few grunts here, a cub squeak there, and, as the official tweet announced, "Mother and cub are resting peacefully." No word on where Lily registered for baby gifts.

You can see what Lily is up to on camera right now, and if you missed the birth, you can watch it in the video below. If that's not enough Lily action to satisfy you, you also can follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

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]]>black bearBlackBearlily the black bearLilyTheBlackBearyoutube birth videosYoutubeBirthVideosRebecca QuimbyThu, 28 Jan 2010 13:00:00 ESTAlyssa Milano Is 'Godmother' to Rescued Doghttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/27/alyssa-milano-is-godmother-to-rescued-dog/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/27/alyssa-milano-is-godmother-to-rescued-dog/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/27/alyssa-milano-is-godmother-to-rescued-dog/#commentsFiled under: ,

Fuzzy Rescue

A two-legged dog named Scooby-Roo has gone from rags to riches. The stray mutt, who was found under an abandoned car in a gang-ridden neighborhood, has captured the interest of celebrities including Michael Jackson's children, Demi Moore, Shannon Elizabeth, and Alyssa Milano. According to People Pets, the celebs tweeted his photos, asking fans to donate money to fund Roo's rehabilitation at Fuzzy Rescue, the Los Angeles organization responsible for the 11-month-old dog's care.

Actress Alyssa Milano has taken a particular shine to the pup, even inviting him over to her home to hang out with her and her 10 horses. Posh playdate, right? Milano tweets, "I fell in love w/ Scooby Roo. I helped him get wheels. How could I not? He's coming to see me today."

"[Milano] said he had the most perfect nose, the most beautiful eyes, beautiful coloring," Fuzzy Rescue CEO Sheila Choi told People Pets. "We decided she would be his godmother."

Scooby-Roo spends three hours a day in his cart, but is still adjusting to the wheeled life. The wheels help him to strengthen his back legs and get around more easily. He will need life-long therapy including massage, hydro-therapy, and acupuncture.

While the bipedaled pooch is enjoying love from his movie-star patron, he still is in need of a permanent home. For more information and updates, visit Fuzzy Rescue's Web site.

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]]>Alyssa MilanoAlyssaMilanoRebecca QuimbyWed, 27 Jan 2010 13:00:00 ESTSome Pig! A Heartwarming Tail of Pig Friendshiphttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/26/some-pig-a-heartwarming-tail-of-pig-friendship/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/26/some-pig-a-heartwarming-tail-of-pig-friendship/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/26/some-pig-a-heartwarming-tail-of-pig-friendship/#commentsFiled under: ,

Jean Liebenberg / Farm Sanctuary

Faithful Paw Nation readers will recall past stories about Farm Sanctuary's work providing homes for rescued goats, lambs, and ducklings. Farm Sanctuary rehabilitates animals who have escaped from farms, slaughterhouses, or inadequate homes, and lets them live out their days in peace on one of its two countryside properties, located in Watkins Glen, NY, and northern California.

Susie Coston, Farm Sanctuary's national shelter director, recently wrote a heart-warming blog post titled A Reason to Get Up in the Morning that made us fall in love with the place all over again.

Coston shared the story of Angie, an elderly pig living at Farm Sanctuary's New York property who found herself alone after her pig companions died. Coston told Paw Nation that Angie had always been a happy pig who loved playing with her friends. Once she was on her own, however, Angie became depressed. She even lost interest in going out to the pasture.

"We were thinking Angie was done," Coston told Paw Nation, "She was old. She wasn't eating and she was just laying there. We were thinking we might have to put her down." Coston went on to say that pigs are very intelligent and exhibit sophisticated emotions. Like humans, they are even prone to getting ulcers when they are stressed and upset.

Farm Sanctuary staff tried introducing new friends to Angie, but she rejected each with "a bite on the rump or a run around the stall." Eventually, though, a new porcine pal would win Angie's heart. The tiny piglet, named Fiona, arrived at the sanctuary and became curious about Angie. And so, Coston told Paw Nation, with much trepidation the staff placed the piglet in the pen with the grouchy old lady.

Continue reading Some Pig! A Heartwarming Tail of Pig Friendship

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]]>farm animalsfarm sanctuaryFarmAnimalsFarmSanctuarypigsRebecca QuimbyTue, 26 Jan 2010 17:00:00 ESTCat Goddess Temple Discovered in Egypthttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/26/cat-goddess-temple-discovered-in-egypt/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/26/cat-goddess-temple-discovered-in-egypt/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/26/cat-goddess-temple-discovered-in-egypt/#commentsFiled under: ,

Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities / AP

We know some cat people who worship their pets, but nothing like this.

Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a 2,200-year-old temple dedicated to the ancient Egyptian cat goddess Bastet. According to Discovery News, the temple, measuring 200 feet in height and 49 feet in width, probably belonged to Queen Berenike II, the wife of king Ptolemy III. The cat goddess was worshipped in the ancient city of Bubastis, which featured a cemetery of mummified cats. Bastet started out as a lion goddess, then later became a domestic cat goddess with a cult centered in Bubastis.

The Supreme Council of Antiquities released a statement saying, "This is the first Ptolemaic temple discovered in Alexandria to be dedicated to the goddess Bastet." The site also contained 600 Ptolemaic statues, including many representations of the cat goddess Bastet.

Also found was an usually large deposit of mummified catnip. Okay, not really.

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]]>archaeologybastetcat goddessCatGoddessegyptegyptian godsEgyptianGodstempleRebecca QuimbyTue, 26 Jan 2010 11:00:00 ESTLos Angeles Feral-Cat Program Extinguishedhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/22/los-angeles-feral-cat-program-extinguished/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/22/los-angeles-feral-cat-program-extinguished/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/22/los-angeles-feral-cat-program-extinguished/#commentsFiled under: ,

Flickr/parhessiastes

The city of Los Angeles has been barred from subsidizing a trap-neuter-release program for feral cats, the Los Angeles Times reports. A Superior Court judge sided with the Audubon Society and other bird and wildlife groups who opposed the city's support of such a program, which they say isn't effective at controlling the feral cat population.

According to the American Bird Conservancy (one of the plaintiffs in the case), this type of TNR program "turns cats loose so they can continue to kill birds. Scientists estimate that owned and feral domestic cats are responsible for up to one billion bird deaths each year, perhaps the single largest ongoing cause of avian mortality on the planet."

But cat people have a different take. The volunteers who bring about 80 feral felines to Sun Valley's FixNation every day to be neutered feel like they are helping their communities. Francis Battista, founder of Best Friends Animal Society, which helps fund FixNation, told the Los Angeles Times, "This program has been a boon to animal-control folks because it helps them manage an issue in a way that the community approves. If you take feral cats to a shelter, they're dead."

Cat advocates fear more of L.A.'s homeless felines will be euthanized as a result of the ruling.

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]]>feral catsFeralCatslos angelesLosAngelestrap-neuter-releaseRebecca QuimbyFri, 22 Jan 2010 17:00:00 ESTArabian Sand Cat Kittens Now on Display at Cincinnati Zoohttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/22/arabian-sand-cat-kittens-now-on-display-at-cincinnati-zoo/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/22/arabian-sand-cat-kittens-now-on-display-at-cincinnati-zoo/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/22/arabian-sand-cat-kittens-now-on-display-at-cincinnati-zoo/#commentsFiled under:

Cincinnati Zoo

They're living at the zoo in Cincinnati... two Arabian sand kittens, that is. These tiny cats (each weighs less than two pounds) are now on display at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Najah (the boy) and Fath (the girl) are the second litter from mother Jala and father Naji, from Qatar's Al Wabra Reserve.

Sand cats, aka "sand dune cats," can be found in any arid environment between North Africa and Russia, according to a Cincinnati Zoo press release. Sand cats are a near-threatened species, and only 26 live in captivity in the United States. They are small animals with broad heads and paws covered with fur, which allow them to walk on hot sand. They are also super, duper cute. Who's up for a field trip?

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]]>arabian sand catsArabianSandCatsCincinnati Zoo and Botanical GardenCincinnatiZooAndBotanicalGardenRebecca QuimbyFri, 22 Jan 2010 13:00:00 ESTHelping the Animal Victims of the Haiti Earthquakehttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/21/helping-the-animal-victims-of-the-haiti-earthquake/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/21/helping-the-animal-victims-of-the-haiti-earthquake/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/21/helping-the-animal-victims-of-the-haiti-earthquake/#commentsFiled under:

Getty

Last week's 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti caused severe damage and unthinkable loss of life, and as with Hurricane Katrina and other large-scale disasters, animal-lovers the world over have been left wondering about the fates of Haiti's companion animals and pets.

Humane Society International has already dispatched a team of vets to Port-au-Prince, and is partnering with Veterinary Care & Humane Services, Caribbean Project, a group in the Dominican Republic. The team includes a French-speaking veterinarian and a paramedic trained in disaster response and animal handling, along with veterinary technicians and a translator.

According to the Humane Society's Web site, "The team will provide immediate animal care as it can, and also assess conditions for animals in the capitol city and surrounding areas. As circumstances permit, our experts will also advise emergency and relief workers on extra steps they might take in the coming days to alleviate the suffering of animals while the desperate work to help the island's human population continues."

Best Friends, one of the largest no-kill shelters in the United States, has assisted in such natural disasters as hurricanes Katrina, Ike, and Gustav; floods in Mexico and Iowa; earthquakes in Peru; and the airlifting of dogs from the war zone in Lebanon. In response to the earthquake, the organization has posted the following message on their Web site:

"Best Friends is prepared to help, but our involvement will depend on information as it becomes available. Given the complete collapse of infrastructure in Haiti, transportation problems, and little or no telephone service, any animal rescue operation would be fraught with difficulties, as well as potentially dangerous for the personnel involved.

Continue reading Helping the Animal Victims of the Haiti Earthquake

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]]>haitihaiti earthquakehaiti petshaiti reliefhaiti rescueHaitiEarthquakeHaitiPetsHaitiReliefHaitiRescueRebecca QuimbyThu, 21 Jan 2010 17:00:00 ESTDog Adopts Kitten As Her Ownhttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/14/dog-adopts-kitten-as-her-own/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/14/dog-adopts-kitten-as-her-own/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/14/dog-adopts-kitten-as-her-own/#commentsFiled under: ,

Barcroft/Fame Pictures

It's basically scientifically proven to be the cutest thing ever: an animal adopting babies of another species. Just look at this fluffy pup from China's Guangxi province.

According to People Pets, the dog recently had puppies that its owner gave away. When the family obtained a small kitten, the dog adopted it as her own. The dog nurses the kitten when it's hungry, and they sleep together all curled up. Now that is some serious, serious cuteness.

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]]>dog adopts kittenDogAdoptsKittenunusual animal friendshipsUnusualAnimalFriendshipsRebecca QuimbyThu, 14 Jan 2010 17:00:00 ESTPsychic Reunites Woman With Lost Cat After 2 Yearshttp://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/13/psychic-reunites-woman-with-lost-cat-after-2-years/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/13/psychic-reunites-woman-with-lost-cat-after-2-years/http://www.pawnation.com/2010/01/13/psychic-reunites-woman-with-lost-cat-after-2-years/#commentsFiled under: ,

Flickr/ddebold

Lost pet posters? Strictly for amateurs. A Florida woman was recently reunited with her lost cat thanks to the help of her friendly neighborhood psychic.

The cat, a Himalayan called Fluff, had been missing for two years, but Deitra Jones never gave up hope. Finally she reached out to a psychic, and according to Examiner.com, "The psychic told her that Fluff was alive, but confused. The psychic sensed the cat wanted to come home, but no longer knew how to get home. The psychic reached out and planted a suggestion in the cat to misbehave for her new owner, as often as possible."

And a few days later a woman turned Fluff in to the Hillsborough County Animal Services, explaining that "something might be wrong" with the cat. Fluff's implanted chip confirmed what Jones (and perhaps Fluff) already knew, and they were reunited later that same day.

The sweet story makes us think of some of the other amazing lost pets we've been hearing about lately. Whether they come back with two broken legs or take public transportation to get back to their families , these brave animals know there's no place like home.

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