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Posts tagged "MiniatureAnimals"


Is it possible that this year's crop of baby lions, lemurs, pigs and other animals are even more adorable than ever? Check out the gallery below to decide.


donkeys picture
Miniature donkey Juniper and her mom Cypress.
Longmeadow Rescue Ranch

Show Mom you appreciate all her love and affection by giving her a present that honors her nurturing nature – and helps needy animals.

At the Longmeadow Rescue Ranch near St. Louis, Missouri, you can support their rescue and rehabilitation efforts by giving your mom a potbellied pig, a thoroughbred quarter horse cross, or even Juniper, the miniature donkey pictured with her mother here. The gift comes in the form of a Barn Buddy sponsorship which helps cover the cost of feeding and caring for the 350 neglected horses and farm animals who live at -- or move through -- the ranch after having either been rescued from abusive homes or turned away by owners.

The 165-acre ranch, a division of the Humane Society of Missouri, offers other Barn Buddies for sponsorship including a hen, duck, goose, sheep, miniature steer, llama, pygmy goat, and several miniature and regular horses -- all with amazing rescue stories. The gifts can range from $25-$2,400 depending on the animal and the length of the sponsorship and include a certificate, a biography card and a frame and color photo of your Barn Buddy.

Juniper, the miniature donkey, is a true Mother's Day gift -- she's celebrating her first birthday today. Juniper's mom Cypress came to the ranch in August 2008 as part of one of the Humane Society of Missouri's largest rescues. She was underweight with malformed hooves and a huge growth that blocked her vision. Today she's healthy and enjoys being a mom to her bold and playful filly Juniper, who was born into a much happier life because of animal lovers like you.

For more information about sponsoring a Barn Buddy or to watch one of the Ranch Cams showing the lives of these animals, go to longmeadowrescueranch.org.

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miniature horse pictureJim Cole, AP

This miniature horse is just one week old and is already in the running to be the world's smallest horse. Einstein was born April 22, weighing only six pounds and standing at just 14 inches, reports Tonic. That's seven inches and 12 pounds smaller than the average, according to the Concord Monitor.

The wee little foal was born in New Hampshire, at Tiz A Miniature Horse Farm and while breeder Judy Smith knew Einstein was tiny, she was surprised to learn that he has a shot at a Guinness World Record. (The current record holder is a chestnut mare named Thumbelina, who was 11 inches tall and 8.5 pounds when she was born in 2001.)

Despite his eensy-weensy stature, Einstein appears perfectly normal and healthy. He was born three days after his due date, and, according to the Concord Monitor, is perfectly proportioned.

The folks who bought and named Einstein -- Rachel Wagner and Charles Cantrell -- did so in part to keep the petite pinto out of "some kind of circus thing," reports the Concord Monitor. They're focused on the animal's quality of life, and hope that by naming him Einstein, they can put a spotlight on the wisdom of supporting farms, such as Tiz, where the goal is a healthy horse and not on breeding the tiniest pet possible.


Sure our birthday is officialy over but we couldn't resist bringing back one last gallery of photos. Whether you caught these images of service animals the first time around or not, we hope you'll enjoy this trip down memory lane with us. Besides, what's not to love about the relationship between these amazing animals and the people they are helping?


We are still celebrating Paw Nation's first birthday by taking a second look at some of the most popular posts of the last year. Everybody loved seeing the animals from this miniature farm, and for good reason. They're adorable! See for yourself below.


Miniature Pigs pictureGeoff Robinson Photography

There is no doubt that celebrities live the glamorous life. Sure, fame can cause you to lose your dignity, sanity and any reasonable concept of how many bedrooms one could possibly need. On the flip side, you do get tons of free stuff. And who wants to say no to free stuff? Especially if it is an adorable micro pet.

At last month's Golden Globes ceremony, the swag -- aka the free stuff -- was flowing as usual. Except that amidst the fancy clothes, sparkly jewelry, decadent spa treatments and more, celebs were being gifted with those cute little micro pigs everyone's been clamoring for -- and concerned about -- since Paris Hilton trotted out her own squealing piglet.

GBK, a luxury lifestyle gifting and special events company, included in its Golden Globes swag some lovely truffle salt, truffle oil and oh, yes, a certificate from Patty's Royal Dandie Miniature Pet Pig farm for a free pig -- valued at $5,000. New owners would be required to complete a one-hour course (a whole hour!) on caring for the squiggly piggly (which can range in size from 19 to 39 pounds depending on the type of pig) and then the animal would be hand delivered to the celeb.

Kenny Chesney's pictureSteve Granitz/WireImage.com

Country music star Kenny Chesney has found love with not one, not two, but three gorgeous gals. Of course, there's his girlfriend, Amy Colley (a former Miss Tennessee USA who currently works as a nurse), but now there are two more girls in his life: a pair of teacup maltipoo puppies!

According to CMT, Chesney and Colley flew into Bardstown, Ky. to meet with a breeder and buy a puppy. The breeder told the Kentucky Standard News that she had no idea the man playing with her puppies was a big star because she'd only spoken to Colley, whose name was on the contract.

While the pair had only planned on a single pooch, they ended up with two females, who they named Molly and Dolly. Since they'll only be around four pounds each when fully grown, we're thinking two is probably pretty manageable. And after all, the only thing cuter than a maltipoo puppy is multiple maltipoos!

Teacup Puppies pictureFlickr/michaelmata

Teacup puppies are an unofficially named miniature size of breeds like poodles, Maltese, chihuahuas and terriers that weigh between 2 and 5 pounds when they are fully grown. These puppies are awfully cute -- and who wouldn't want a pet that could fit in the palm of their hands! -- but because the breeding of teacup puppies is unregulated, these animals can have some serious health problems. So before you head to your local pet store or call a teacup breeder there are a few things you should know about picking up a teacup puppy.

- Because there is no official breed standard of teacup puppies, these dogs are bred by trial and error to be very, very small. This process leads to bones so tiny and fragile that they may be susceptible to breaks when your puppy so much as jumps off of the couch.

- Teacup puppies may have had less time to develop in the womb than the rest of their litter, resulting in a smaller birth size. This arrested development can lead to respiratory and other organ failure problems later in life.

- Teacup puppies' tiny size makes them more vulnerable to stress-related diseases like hypoglycemia. (You would be too if the whole world were bigger than you.)

- Because teacup puppies may not have gotten enough nourishment in the womb, their cranial bones may not have developed fully, leaving them with a permanent soft spot in their skull that makes it dangerous for them to play with other animals. 

MIcro Pigs pictureGeoff Robinson Photography

Micro pigs are the biggest newest trend in itty-bitty pets. They're adorable, extremely clean, and look quite manageable at only 14 inches high.

Looks can be deceiving. Micro pigs maybe not be as manageable as they appear on the surface. Besides carrying a possibly unattainable $1,160 price tag, these cuties are more high-maintenance than you might think. The UK's Daily Telegraph has rooted up another side to ownership of the pint-size porcine that is considerably less cute than the pigs themselves, saying the micro pigs could be a maxi-disaster. The Telegraph spoke with Kirsty Bayley, who is the Pig Herd Manager at the Institute of Animal Health, and who shared a few details that might make you think twice before bringing home a tiny piglet.

For one thing, because the precious pigs are bred so exclusively for their size, the risks of inbreeding and its associated health risks go up. Among these myriad health risks is decreased fertility, which is a major problem if you're hoping for a portly profit.

Pigs are very social and surprisingly active creatures, so they're happiest with at least one companion pig, lots of room, and lots of toys. If they're not properly entertained, they can quickly begin exhibiting signs of depression, such as lethargy or repetitive movements, according to what Bayley told the Telegraph.

Bayley also warns potential pig purchasers to be wary of buying from a breeder without a reference, as there have been numerous documented stories of people purchasing what they believed to be micro pigs, only to have what were actually piglets grow into full-sized pigs once they hit their growth spurts.

Though the urge to get your hands on one of these delightful, darling pets may be irresistible, don't let it become an impulse buy. A toy-sized animal isn't a toy. Do your research, and make sure you and your family are thoroughly prepared to handle a micro pig or any other pet before you reach for your wallet.

Story update: For more information on this trend check out the video from ABC News below:




victoria Beckham's picture

Todd Williamson, WireImage

The UK's micro pig obsession is about to get bigger. According to the UK's Daily Mail, singer-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham recently splurged on this season's must-have: Micro Pigs.

At $1,160 (£700) each, Victoria and David Beckham's two new micro pigs are living like the rich and famous at the couple's home in Hertfordshire, England.

At only 9 oz. at birth, these micro pigs are surprisingly clean and sociable pets, reports the Daily Mail.

While the former Spice Girl wishes to name her trendy pets after her good friends Elton John and David Furnish, her soccer star husband prefers to call his piglets something more traditional: Pinky and Perky.

We wonder how long it will be before the two piggies make it into Victoria's purse.

See adorable micro pigs in action:



Miniature dogs, like micro-pigs, are small, compact and too cute for words. From the Miniature Schnauzer to the Miniature Dachshund, these mini pups may be smaller in height and weight, but their personalities are undoubtedly full-scale.



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Micro-Pigs Take Over the UK
Teacup pigs are all the rage in Britain right now. These micro-pigs are much smaller than a standard farm pig and weigh 9 oz., making them the size of a teacup when they're born. The adorable pets are sold for up to $1,125 (£700) each.
Geoff Robinson Photography

Micro-Pigs Take Over the UK

    Teacup pigs are all the rage in Britain right now. These micro-pigs are much smaller than a standard farm pig and weigh 9 oz., making them the size of a teacup when they're born. The adorable pets are sold for up to $1,125 (£700) each.

    Geoff Robinson Photography

    The trendy pigs, which grow to just 14 inches tall, have become nearly impossible to get hold of in the UK!

    Geoff Robinson Photography

    Jane Croft, breeder of the teacup pigs, now devotes all of her time to breeding the UK's newest obsession. "Demand for micro pigs is soaring and we are inundated with inquiries every day," Croft told UK's Daily Mail.

    Geoff Robinson Photography

    The irresistible little piggies are even being snatched up by celebrities, including Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint.

    Geoff Robinson Photography

    "It's amazing how popular they have suddenly become and just how many people want pigs as pets," Croft told the Daily Mail.

    Geoff Robinson Photography



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Koda the Dwarf Miniature Horse
Nope, that's not a stuffed toy you're looking at. Koda the miniature horse was the size of a cat when he was born a year ago near Melbourne, Australia, reports Australia's ABC News Online. Today the pint-sized horse stands 23.2 inches tall, and weighs a mere 77 pounds.
Fame Pictures

Koda the Dwarf Miniature Horse

    Nope, that's not a stuffed toy you're looking at. Koda the miniature horse was the size of a cat when he was born a year ago near Melbourne, Australia, reports Australia's ABC News Online. Today the pint-sized horse stands 23.2 inches tall, and weighs a mere 77 pounds.

    Fame Pictures

    Miniature horses are usually the size of a small pony. Koda's parents were typical miniature horses, according to ABC News Online. But Koda was born with dwarfism, making the tiny equine even tinier. He's not the smallest horse on record, though. The Guinness Book of Records gives that prize to Thumbelina, an American miniature horse just 17.5 inches tall, reports the Diamond Valley Leader.

    Fame Pictures

    Koda had a rough start in life. His dwarfism has caused a number of health problems, reports the Diamond Valley Leader. He was born with leg abnormalities that caused his stumpy legs to buckle and bend. He's already undergone surgery to repair a joint in his front leg that dislocated when he walked. The surgery was a success, and Koda now trots around much more easily. Next he'll need dental work to remove some of the large adult teeth that don't fit in his miniature mouth.

    Fame Pictures

    Koda's owner, veterinary nurse Karen Stephenson, was smitten with Koda from the start. "I fell in love with him straight away," she told ABC News Online. For now, Koda is living at the Yarrambat Veterinary Hospital, where Stephenson works. After he recovers from additional surgeries, he'll move back to Stephenson's farm, where he'll have a chance to romp with her normal-sized horses.

    Fame Pictures

    Koda's surgeries have cost $10,000 so far, and the bill is expected to top $30,000 before all is said and done. "But he's well worth it," Yarrambat Veterinary Hospital vet Andy Lynch told ABC News Online. Despite his early health problems, Lynch said he's hopeful that Koda will live at least a decade, if not longer. "He's very brave and he responds very well to pain relief," he told ABC News Online.

    Fame Pictures

    Koda reportedly loves the attention he gets. It's a good thing. School kids and vanloads of elderly visitors have traveled to the Yarrambat Veterinary Hospital to lay eyes on the diminutive horse, reports ABC News Online. We don't blame them. Really, have you ever seen a cuter critter?

    Fame Pictures


Boo Boo the long haired chihuahua dog picture

Photo: Rebecca Grunwell, The Gisborne Herald

Current world record holder for smallest dog, Boo Boo, is facing some big, er, little competition. The tiny long-haired chihuahua who lives in Kentucky measures 10 centimeters tall (that's smaller than an iPhone!). But compared to some other petite pups, she may soon be considered a giant.

This year, a six-month-old Maltese named Scooter has been the talk of the small dog block. According to The New Zealand Herald, the pooch measures just slightly over three inches tall from his feet to the top of his shoulder blade, and according to his owner, he hasn't grown since he was two months old. The diminutive dog is so tiny that he can't be put on leash or taken for a walk. And climbing stairs? Not a chance. He eats from an egg cup and weighs less than a block of butter. If Scooter no longer grows, he could take away little Boo Boo's title, but he's not the only teacup pup with his eye on the prize.

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Photo Gallery: Celebrity Pets
LeAnn Rimes and her Pomeranian, Virgo, take a stroll on a sunny California day.
Ice / X17online

Celebrity Pets

    LeAnn Rimes and her Pomeranian, Virgo, take a stroll on a sunny California day.

    Ice / X17online

    Animal rights activist Nicolette Sheridan is so close with her Golden Retriever Oliver that she even took him with her on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

    Bauer-Griffin

    Matthew McConaughey and his pup BJ are more than best buds -- they're exercise partners! They're regularly spotted out in L.A. running, jogging, skateboarding, and even do yoga together!

    X17online

    Selma Blair takes a walk with her rescue dog, a one-eyed Welsh Corgi named Wink.

    X17online

    Vanessa Minnillo scoops up her dog Wookie for a day out with boyfriend Nick Lachey.

    X17online

    Supermodel Giselle Bundchen made sure all three of her puppies, including her Yorkie Vida, attended her wedding to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady – wearing Dolce & Gabbana, of course!

    Bauer-Griffin

    She loved Trouble! "Queen of Mean" Leona Helmsley's grandchildren were barking mad when the real-estate heiress excluded them from her will and left her Maltese, Trouble, a $12 million trust fund when she died in 2007. A year later a Manhattan judge reduced the pooch's inheritance to $2 million. Trouble, now residing at Florida's Helmsley Sandcastle Hotel, is making due.

    Jennifer Graylock, AP

    In his Golden Globe acceptance speech, Mickey Rourke thanked his 18-year-old Chihuahua Loki, who passed away soon after the win. Loki is survived by four other Rourke pups: a black pug named La Negra, a fluffy white Samoyed named Ruby Baby, and two Chihuahuas named Taco Bell and Jaws.

    Todd Williamson, FilmMagic

    Drama surrounding her 17-or-so pets hasn't stopped Paris Hilton from acquiring more of them.
    Her latest companion is a tiny teacup Pomeranian, a gift from her new boyfriend Doug Reinhardt. We're pretty sure Tinkerbell will be walking her within a month.

    X17online.com

    Jessica Simpson has made some bad decisions (remember those high-waisted jeans?) but her adorable maltipoo Daisy is not one of them.

    Bauer-Griffin



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