Florida's Indian River lagoon is home to dozens of endangered and threatened species, including manatees who feed on the seagrass. The lagoon has been in decline for years due to development, septic systems, storm water runoff, algae blooms blocking sunlight from the water and warming temperatures from climate change. Over the past ten years, 58% … Continue reading Treats on the Internets
A Need to Do Better with Animal Hoarding Cases
Animal hoarding is classified as a mental illness and may need to be considered its own type of illness, rather than a subtype of general hoarding disorder. Characterized by a compulsion to obtain and keep more animals than the person is capable of caring for, oftentimes both the person's and the animals' health are neglected. Animals … Continue reading A Need to Do Better with Animal Hoarding Cases
Weekend Jade
Throwback since the weather didn't cooperate for a new pic.
Housekeeping
Chameleon, stock photo via Pexels. I have a favor to ask: if you like a particular post or what you read here in general, please share a link on social media. It will take some time to rebuild the blog's readership after being largely absent for several years. Any help getting the word out is … Continue reading Housekeeping
Treats on the Internets
The Indus River dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor) is found only in the middle and lower areas of the Indus River in Pakistan. Functionally blind and an endangered species, the last population survey in 2019 found just 1419 dolphins. Men from an area village recently captured a dolphin calf from a stream, bagged him, then carried … Continue reading Treats on the Internets
Bugs in the Pet Food Bowl
One of the more surprising things that happened while I was on hiatus is the insect based pet food trend. Developed in response to concerns about the deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions and unsustainability associated with the use of protein obtained from livestock, insect based pet foods purport to offer a reduced carbon footprint. But Swedish … Continue reading Bugs in the Pet Food Bowl
Weekend Jade
Sound off unless you are partial to beagle barking (which is the best). Newt starts a mole hole, Jade takes it over, Newt lodges a complaint.
Down the Rabbit Hole with the Buzzard and the Monkey
In looking up a bit of information today, I went down a rabbit hole and decided to share, or drag you with me, as it were. There is a folktale that explains why buzzards only eat carcasses of dead animals, as opposed to prey they catch and kill. John O'Neal tells it very well to … Continue reading Down the Rabbit Hole with the Buzzard and the Monkey
Treats on the Internets
Silver carp image via KY.gov A dog food company called Chippin partnered with a fishery in Kentucky to obtain a non-native species, silver carp, for use as the protein source in its food. In studying three different shapes of pupils in animal eyes, researchers observed that horses and sheep, when lowering their heads to graze, … Continue reading Treats on the Internets
The Comfort Zone of Death
I am going to make you uncomfortable. Got your hackles up? That's understandable. As a society, we spend considerable energy making sure everyone is comfortable. Items from clothing and shoes to toilet paper and bed sheets are marketed as comfortable. Cooking shows teach us how to make comfort foods. We ask people their pronouns, their … Continue reading The Comfort Zone of Death
YesBiscuit! 