all pets.

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." It added that "further disciplinary procedures are in progress with regard to others involved." SEE: Police Dog Dies After Being Left in Patrol Car Overnight The footage, posted on wildlife site Latest Sightings (www.latestsightings.com), showed a clearly inebriated man charging towards the startled animal. SEE: 40 Bald Eagles Descend on a ...

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, ...

My horse, Atticus, is acting like an idiot. Let me set the stage. Up until a few months ago he was living at a perfectly acceptable boarding facility. He was out on pasture 24/7 with a large herd. They had shelter, an automatic waterer, grass, hay ... all the basics. I wasn't looking to move him, but when a friend called to say she had an opening at her farm, I leapt at the chance. This is a "forever home" type of place - just 9 horses, acres and acres of pasture, a knowledgeable and devoted caretaker. In fact, the farm reminds me of the one my husband and I owned in Virginia, where Atticus lived after I first bought him. For me, the biggest downside of moving to Colorado six years ago was ...