All Pets.

Whilst sitting happily on my sofa in London, I came across a Facebook photo of two donkeys in Serbia. The photo was taken by someone who fosters dogs for the shelter we support and I noticed the donkeys were in very poor condition, so I contacted the person who posted it for more information. He explained that the owner of the donkeys was a drunk who had threatened people who attempted to rescue the donkeys before with an axe and a knife, as well as a massive dog. He also told me that there was a third donkey who got hit by a car and while still alive, the owner came to cut its throat with a knife as he refused to have the vet come and tend to the poor donkey. I felt I had no choice but to ...

The swine flu virus that caused a 2009 pandemic has been found in elephant seals off the central California coast, according to new research. The study, published in the journal PLoS ONE, is the first report of the virus H1N1 in any marine mammal. RELATED: Most Athletic Monkeys Researchers are now being advised to wear protective personal gear when working around marine mammals, to avoid the possibility of infection. "H1N1 was circulating in humans in 2009," lead author Tracey Goldstein said in a press release. "The seals on land in early 2010 tested negative before they went to sea, but when they returned from sea in spring 2010, they tested positive. So the question is where did it ...

When we see "cruelty-free," "not tested on animals" or a bunny picture on a product label it seems safe to assume that the products in question were actually made without harming animals and may actually be the reason consumers choose these products. Unfortunately, these labels are often misleading. Products with these labels may have been tested by other companies, in other countries, at the ingredient level or at certain stages of development making it confusing for consumers who can be duped into thinking they're supporting an ethical product when they are not. CHOICE, a consumer watchdog organization based in Australia, conducted an investigation and found that many companies are ...

I turned 2 years old recently. I know. Doesn't the time fly when you're having fun? This milestone really got me thinking about my life, adventures I've had, places I want to go and just about living in the now and being me. I felt I should write a song to capture this feeling and moment in time. You're probably thinking, "What a typical 2-year-old-snake thing to say." Maybe I'm a cliché, but the song was inside me and I just had to let it out. Then recently, while listening to my Pandora app on my iPhone, a Taylor Swift song played. It's her new song, "22." I was a bit shocked to hear it. I had to listen to it several times and just let it sink in. I'm sure it's a coincidence. I mean, ...

JOHANNESBURG, May 14, 2013 (AFP) - A South African safari firm said Tuesday they had sacked a guide who caused an Internet storm when video of him drunkenly charging an elephant went viral. The Singita Game Reserve said the man, initially thought to be a tourist, was in fact an off-duty field guide and was "no longer employed by the reserve." Kruger Sightings/youtube 1 of 27 Kruger Sightings/youtube 2 of 27 Kruger Sightings/youtube 3 of ...

Recent wildfires in southern California have affected the lives of both people and their pets. The Los Angeles Times's L.A. Now Wildfires section shows some haunting images of the tragedy along with the valiant efforts of the firefighters working to contain the blazes. Having lived in Los Angeles since 2006, I've witness the impact fire damage has on homes and lives on multiple occasions in the past few years. Although I've never been forced to leave my home, noticeable changes in the air quality (which is overall fairly good on a day to day basis, despite what everyone thinks) could seen, smelled, and felt, even in West Hollywood. In locations directly downwind or adjacent to wildfires, ...