Animals Evolved

The black fur domesticated bunny named Rabbit, was a pet of Melbourne based couple Michelle Finn and Gerry Keogh. Gerry, who works as a nightclub employee returned home and hit the sheets only in the morning. At 6am the couple was awoken by scratching and thumping sounds made by Rabbit at their door as black smoke smouldered through the house. The couple finally realised that their house was on fire; Rabbit had successfully alerted its owner  to escape in the nick of time.

Neighbours came by with their hoses in attempt to fight the fire before the fire brigade arrived. The fire investigators believed the cause of fire was due to a heater that caused the spark. The house however was badly burnt together with the 2 years worth of efforts in renovation; the estimated loss was approximately A$80,000.

Due to the on-going renovations, the smoke alarm was removed from the ceiling as painting was going on in the room. Fortunately for the couple, Rabbit was allowed to roam about freely in the house unless there were guests; hence saved their lives. Miraculously, Rabbit managed to survive 45 minutes of heat and smoke inhalation before their escape.

Whilst lives were saved the night, the couple and Rabbit were left homeless with their house lost to the fire ablaze.

Source: The Australian, Times Online

Again in the U.K, another big creature has been discovered. Barry, a 4 foot long ’sea’ worm was found to be culprit of disrupting coral reefs and the aquarium’s prized fish, which before its discovery was left a mystery for the aquariumstaff.

For months, the aquarium suffered from the unknown attacks. By random chance during the last resort to dismantle the aquarium display, Barry was found hiding between the rocks. As the bristles on the worm could cause permanent numbness if stung, precaution has to be taken when dealing with the removal of the worm.

Previously, traps were laid to lure Barry, but the worm had wolfed down the bait full of hooks. Eventually fish scraps and a 20lb fishing line was used to succesfully lure Barry. Now, Barry is kept in another tank of its own in the Newquay’s Blue Reef Aquarium.

Source: Asylum, MailOnline

Have you met Goldie?

He was reportedly one of the bigger goldfish ever lived in the world. Goldie currently stands at 15.7 inch (data as of April 2008) and is set to compete against the world’s record of the largest goldfish, Carassius auratus, at 18.7 inch. In addition to his size, Goldie has outlived the 10 years lifespan of an average golfish and is now 15 years old.

The secret to this longevity hulk? His owner, a 84 year old Britian, Ada Shaw claims that meticulous care and love probably aids in its growth. Fish flakes are given twice a day, once every morning and evening. If the sunlight is too strong the curtains are drawn; and at night, a light is left on for Goldie. Ada talks to Goldie in order to keep it occupied. Once a week, the tank that Goldie resides is cleaned and topped up with a minute amount of hot water.

The thorough regime has helped Goldie not only in his growth in size, Goldie has also enjoyed a longer lifespan. This was the same for his fellow tank-mate, the other massive goldfish which was bought together with Goldie that passed away 5 years ago.

Source: MailOnline

Most dogs won’t take their medicine lying down. They can react worse than when you try to give a child medicine. Not only can many dogs hide in smaller hiding spots than a child could, but they can also run a lot faster. I’m convinced that when a dog comes into their owners home, they memorize the layout of the house so that they can make their escape from the medicine that much easier. So how do you give a dog medicine without it having to be an ordeal and a hassle every single time?

First off, right from the beginning when you start giving your dog medicine, make it so that it isn’t a frightening experience for him. Some owners just corner the dog, pry their mouth open and jam the pill in. To give him medicine via an eyedropper, some owners will shove the eyedropper in his mouth out of nowhere. Obviously neither of these methods are the correct way to give a dog medicine. Why? Would you want someone to jam medicine down your throat while prying your mouth open? I would be frightened too.

Never, ever take the medicine and go directly toward the dog. The dog sees the way that you are coming at him like you are on a mission and his first instinct is going to be to run. The best approach is not to be forceful and demanding. Dogs respond to that approach the same way that humans do; they become nervous, defensive and possibly aggressive. Make the experience as relaxed as possible for the dog while at the same time letting the dog know that you are his boss and he has to follow directions that you give him. Bring the dog into a room or area where he cannot escape, preferably a room where you can close the door, but not a room so small that he feels cornered.

Playing catch with the dog, basically doing any fun game that the dog likes to play, will make him at ease. Give him a lot of praise and scratch his belly and back. Make him feel relaxed so that every time he gets medicine it’s not associated with something negative and scary.

Be patient. Don’t get frustrated if giving him the medicine doesn’t work right away. It may take a few times for him to take it. The more frustrated you get, the more nervous he will get. Staying calm and relaxed and being patient is the key.

Giving a dog medicine isn’t difficult if you have the correct approach. The easier you make it for the dog to identify that this isn’t a scary process, the easier it will be for you to give the medicine to him.

Is your closest canine friend a bit malodorous? If your dog spends a lot of time outside he may pick up scents that make him socially unacceptable. If you don’t have time to bathe your dog to remove these odors, you may be tempted to pick up some cologne for dogs to freshen your best friend up a bit. While this can be a viable alternative, there are certain points to keep in mind when choosing and using a dog cologne:

Cologne for dogs: Choose a safe dog cologne

When selecting a dog cologne, look for one with all natural ingredients. Certain cologne additives can not only cause skin irritation but can also aggravate your dog’s smell receptors. It’s important to keep in mind that dogs have much more acute smell perception than humans which means you don’t want to use cologne with a heavy odor. Also pick a product that’s free of alcohol which can irritate and dry the skin.

Cologne for dogs: Consider a spritz

If your dog is sensitive to cologne or you feel the scent is too heavy, you may want to consider a spritz which is a more dilute version of a dog cologne. This may a nice alternative if your dog sneezes or appears irritated by the use of dog colognes. Again, look for an all natural product without ingredients that will cause irritation to the eyes, mucous membranes, or skin.

Cologne for dogs: Look for ingredients that condition fur and skin

Some colognes and spritz sprays have ingredients that condition your dog’s fur and help to relieve dry irritated skin. Look for ingredients such as jojoba oil, shea butter, aloe, almond oil, vitamin E, and vegetable glycerine. The addition of essential oils can also have positive benefits on the condition of your dog’s skin and fur. If you do choose a product with essential oils, resist the urge to use it on your cat. Certain essential oils can be toxic to cats.

Cologne for dogs: Apply cologne appropriately

Use common sense when applying dog cologne or cologne spritz to your dog’s fur. Avoid spraying his face or eyes since this can cause irritation to the delicate mucous membranes. Apply scent as lightly as possible to avoid overwhelming your dog with smells that may not be pleasant to him. Since most dogs aren’t enthusiastic about being sprayed with scent (they rather like their natural odor), give your dog lots of pats and positive reinforcement once the job is done.

By using a dog cologne, you can reduce the number of baths your dog has to endure while still keeping your canine friend socially acceptable. This means lots more hugs and cuddles!