In January 1925,doctors realized a potentially deadly diphtheria epidemic was poised to sweep thu Nome,Alaska's young people. The only serum that could stop the outbreak was in Anchorage, nearly a thousand miles away. The only aircraft that could deliver the medicine was taken out of winter storage. But it's engine was frozen and would not start. Officials decided the only way to move the medicine was by Sled dog. The serum was transported by train from Anchorage to Nenana,where the first musher embarked as part of a rely.More than 20 mushers took part,facing a blizzard with -23 deg.F. and strong winds. On Feb.2,1925,the Norwegian Gunnar Kaasen drove his team led by Balto into Nome. The longest and most hazardous stretch of the run was actually covered by another Norwegian,Leonhard Seppala and his dog team led by Togo. Kaasen did not consider Balto to be a particularly good lead dog.But Balto proved himself by saving his team in the Topkok river.Balto was also able to stay on the trail near whiteout conditions which Kaasen said he could not see his hand in front of his face. During the blizzard Kaasen and his team missed the last sled dog team and had to take the medicine twice as far. Togo was the star dog for Leonhard Seppala even before the great serum run.At the time of the serum run, Togo was nine years old.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio zoo is ready to show off its newest additions — a trio of lion cubs.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said that beginning Tuesday Kitambi (ki-TAHM'-bee) and his two sisters, Adia (AH'-dee-uh) and Mekita (meh-KEE'-tuh), were allowed to roam in an outdoor habitat.
The cubs were born Sept. 22 to first-time mother Asali (uh-SAH'-lee) and were the first African lion cubs born at the zoo in nearly a quarter century. Their father Tomo also lives at the zoo.
Kitambi was named by zoo staff, using the Swahili word for "pride" to reflect the cub's take-charge personality. The names for the two females came from winners of a name-the-cubs fundraising auction.
This came in an email and it was too good not to pass on to everyone. Black bears typically have two cubs; rarely, one or three. In 2007, in northern New Hampshire, a black bear Sow gave birth to five healthy young. There were two or three reports of sows with as many as 4 cubs, but five was, and is, very extraordinary. I learned of them shortly after they emerged from their den and set myself a goal of photographing all five cubs with their mom - no matter how much time and effort was involved. I knew the trail they followed on a fairly regular basis, usually shortly before dark. After spending nearly four hours a day, seven days a week, for more than six weeks, I had that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and photographed them. I used the equivalent of a very fast film speed on my digital camera. The print is properly focused and well exposed, with all six bears posing as if they were in a studio for a family portrait. I stayed in touch with other people who saw the bears during the summer and into the fall hunting season. All six bears continued to thrive. As time for hibernation approached, I found still more folks who had seen them, and everything remained OK. I stayed away from the bears as I was concerned that they might become habituated to me, or to people in general, and treat them as 'approachable' friends. This could easily become dangerous for both man and animal.
After Halloween, I received no further reports and could only hope the bears survived until they hibernated.
This spring, just before the snow disappeared, all six bears came out of their den and wandered all over the same familiar territory they trekked in the spring of 2007.
I saw them before mid-April and dreamed nightly of taking another family portrait, a highly improbable second once-in-a-lifetime photograph.
Monday 16 November 2009
This is Priscilla.A sweet bloodhound who came to us with another bloodhound. But Priscilla has tested positive for heartworms. We need to treat her asap so that she can find her forever home.
Meet Lad. He charms everyone because he actually can 'smile' he to,has heartworms.
This is Honeybear.She came with five precious pups who have all been adopted. Honeybear is the most curious sweet dog. She has heartworms. Could you please help us get treatment for these beautiful dogs so that we can place them in a home where they will get the love and attention they so deserve. All donations are tax deductible. thank you in advance. CrossingPaths Animal Rescue Alabama contact: met@otelco.net
ZooBorns is thrilled to feature its first baby hyena, three month old Kai from the Denver Zoo. Contrary to popular myths about hyenas' bad attitudes, they are actually extremely intelligent and affectionate animals. While little hyenas might look like puppies, they are actually more closely related to cats.
A baby gorilla was seized from animal traffickers in the Democratic Republic of Congo by the Congolese Wildlife Authority following a three-month undercover investigation to bust an international wildlife smuggling ring, Virunga National Park said today.
"One suspected trafficker was caught and arrested at Goma International Airport on Sunday while disembarking from a flight from Walikale (in the interior of the country and close to gorilla habitat) with an eastern lowland gorilla," according to a statement released by the park.
Photo of rescued gorilla courtesy Virunga National Park
The gorilla was found concealed under clothes at the bottom of a bag and was suffering from over-heating and dehydration after spending more than six hours in transit. "Investigations have yet to reveal where these animals are being sent and who is buying them, but on-the-ground sources tell us that a baby gorilla can fetch up to U.S. $20,000," said Emmanuel de Merode, director of Virunga National Park, which is in the eastern part of the Congo and home to populations of both mountain gorillas and lowland gorillas.
"We must remember that for each trafficked baby gorilla, several gorillas have probably been killed in the wild," De Merode continued in the news release. "If we want to preserve our gorillas--and other wildlife--significant resources must be invested to put a stop to these trafficking rings." The female eastern lowland gorilla, approximately two years old, is in the care of the Congolese Wildlife Authority (ICCN) and the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project (MGVP). She has a puncture on her right leg and injuries on other parts of her body. It is not known how long ago she was taken from the forests of eastern Congo.
"She remains weak, and is suffering from dehydration and malnutrition, but is responding to treatment administered by MGVP," the news release said.
Photo of rescued gorilla courtesy Virunga National Park
Some 1,100 Park Rangers protect the national parks of eastern Congo, a region affected by a 12-year civil war and current political instability, the news release said. "These parks are home to mountain gorillas, lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, forest elephants and rhinos, among other wildlife. The Rangers have remained active in protecting these parks, four of which have been classified as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Poaching, wildlife trafficking and habitat destruction remain the key threats to the survival of the wildlife in Gorillas are the largest of the living primates. The Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) is one of the two subspecies of Eastern Gorilla and is found in the Virunga volcanoes region of Central Africa and in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda. The Lowland Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri), also known as the Grauer's Gorilla, is a subspecies of Eastern Gorilla and is only found in the forests of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Virunga National Park, Africa's oldest national park (established in 1925) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, is home to 200 of the world's mountain gorillas and a small population of eastern lowland gorillas.
Oreo, Abused NYC Dog Put to Sleep; Ex-Owner Faces Sentencing Oreo, the dog who was thrown off a six-story roof in Brooklyn by Fabian Henderson, her teenage owner this spring, was put to sleep by the A.S.P.C.A. in Manhattan this afternoon.
Yesterday The New York Times reported that an animal behaviorist hired by the A.S.P.C.A. to assess Oreo's disposition -- after several months of unsuccessful therapy and rehabilitation at the organization's facility -- concluded that Oreo displayed "exhibited intense aggressive behaviors," and concluded that "Oreo should not have any access to the public or uncontrolled areas outdoors. Oreo shouldn't be around children."
In a statement, the A.S.P.C.A. revealed further details on Oreo's suffering: [After Mr. Henderson's arrest in July, it was learned that several of his neighbors reported hearing the sounds of the dog being beaten for at least 20-30 minutes--and the dog whimpering as a consequence.
Despite extensive behavior rehabilitation efforts undertaken by ASPCA staff, Oreo continued to lunge, growl, snap and attempt to bite. She would lunge at a behaviorist, only to spontaneously and unpredictably redirect her aggression toward her handler. She could not be socialized with other dogs for fear of an attack -- her aggression toward other dogs was clearly evident during her evaluations...In fact, employees were even directed to refrain from making sustained eye contact with Oreo so as to not incite aggression. After exhausting a host of options, the organization said that it came to a "painful yet clear decision to humanely euthanize Oreo."
Her abuser pleaded guilty to cruelty charges, and is scheduled to be sentenced next month.
Here is the grand jury's indictment of 19-year-old Fabian Henderson on animal cruelty charges for throwing Oreo off a six-story apartment building roof: LIFE IN PRISON WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH FOR THIS ABSOLUTE DEMON!
A sniffer dog lost in battle in Afghanistan 14 months ago has turned up safe and well and rejoined its Australian unit.
Defence officials said Sabi the dog was recovered by a US soldier at an isolated patrol base.
The dog was returned to a celebrity welcome from visiting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and US commander Gen Stanley McChrystal.
Sabi is being tested for disease before a possible return to Australia.
The black labrador bitch was with a joint Australian-Afghan patrol that was ambushed in Uruzgan province in September 2008.
Nine Australian soldiers, including Sabi's trainer, were wounded in the exchange.
After the battle there was no sign of the dog, and months of searching failed to find her. Sabi was officially declared Missing In Action.
An Australian military spokesman said it would probably never be known exactly what had happened to Sabi in the 14 months she was missing, but the fact that she was in good condition indicated she had been cared for by someone.
'Nice pooch'
And despite being MIA for more than a year, she showed through a simple game of "catch" with a tennis ball that she hadn't forgotten her training.
After meeting the dog, Mr Rudd said: "Sabi is back home in one piece and is a genuinely nice pooch as well."
One of the army patrol injured in the attack where Sabi was lost was Trooper Mark Donaldson.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross in January for rescuing a wounded interpreter under heavy machine gun fire during the ambush.
"She's the last piece of the puzzle. It's a fantastic morale booster for the guys," he said when he heard of Sabi's return. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/8356224.stm
Wednesday 11 November 2009
On this day we honor our vets. Please never forget the other vets who gave their lives and served with valor. Never forget these brave military dogs who were left behind in Viet Nam as though they were just another piece of equipment.God bless our Military dogs.
Tuesday 10 November 2009
A bill, introduced by Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich.is being referred to as the HAPPY Act, a.k.a the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years Act. The HAPPY Act covers a multitude of expenses that owners of domestic animals can accrue in a given year. What it doesn’t cover is the purchase or adoption cost of the animal itself. Consider this.Most pets are considered a part of the family just as are children. Think of the value that would place on pets and recognize their worth. Less abandonment. Better treatment. I truly believe that would be so. Especially in these hard economic times. Hopefully the bill would pass.
