Abandoned piglet is lost and hound:

Giant farm dog saves baby pig's bacon by adopting it as one of its own

By Liam Milller



A giant farm dog and a tiny piglet cuddle up as if they were family after the baby runt was dismissed by its own mother.

Surrogate mum Katjinga, an eight-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback, took on motherly duties for grunter Paulinchen - a tiny pot-bellied pig - and seems to be taking the adoption in her stride.

Lonely Paulinchen was luckily discovered moments from death and placed in the care of the dog who gladly accepted it as one of her own. Thankfully for the two-week old mini porker, Katjinga fell in love with her at first sight and saved her bacon.

Giant farm dog saves baby pig's bacon

Motherly love: Baby piglet feeds on its new surrogate mum

And the unlikely relationship has made the wrinkly piggy a genuine sausage dog. In these adorable images Paulinchen can even be seen trying to suckle from her gigantic new mum.

The two animals live together on a huge 20-acre farm in Hoerstel, Germany, where Katjinga's owners Roland Adam, 54, and his wife Edit, 44, a bank worker, keep a pair of breeding Vietnamese pigs.

Giant farm dog saves baby pig's bacon

Nose place like home: The baby piglet nuzzles up to its new mum

Property developer Roland found the weak and struggling piglet after she was abandoned by the rest of her family one evening after she was born.

He said: "The pigs run wild on our land and the sow had given birth to a litter of five in our forest.
"I found Paulinchen all alone and when I lifted her up she was really cold.

Giant farm dog saves baby pig's bacon

"I felt sure some local foxes would have taken the little pig that very night so I took it into my house and gave her to Katjinga.

"She had just finished with a litter of her own, who are now 10 months, so I thought there was a chance she might take on the duties of looking after her.

"Katjinga is the best mother you can imagine. She immediately fell in love with the piggy. Straight away she started to clean it like it was one of her own puppies.

"Days later she started lactating again and giving milk for the piggy. She obviously regards it now as her own baby."

Mum of the year? Quite possibly.

Giant farm dog saves baby pig's bacon

Doting: Caring pooch checks up on her new addition

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1210909/Abandoned-piglet-lost-hound-Giant-farm-dog-saves-baby-pigs-bacon-adopting-own.html#ixzz0QoJNV1O0

According to ARAs this is unnatural

An elephant produced an impromptu balancing act to make the most of an opportunity to get its trunk on a treat.

Elephant produces balancing act to snatch treat

Elephant: It reached out its long trunk out to gently grab the food from the toddler tourist who was being held up by his father. Photo: BNPS

The animal spotted a curious toddler holding a snack clambered up onto a narrow wall on the edge of its enclosure to snatch it.

Balancing on its tiptoes the elephant teetered precariously on the four inch wide ledge.

It then reached out its long trunk out to gently grab the food from the toddler tourist who was being held up by his father.

The moment was captured by amateur photographer Tobias Haase, during a visit to Hamburg Zoo in Germany.

Mr Haase, 34, from Hamburg, said: "The zoo is famous for its open animal areas.

"They keep the harmless animals like elephants in these enclosures without a real fence – just a big ditch which they can't jump over.

"People bring vegetables and other green food to give to the elephants – it's not forbidden and they love it.

"They're quite used to it and have learned to reach over and pluck the food out of visitors' hands.

"Sometimes they even do a bit of acrobatics to get there.

"On this day, the elephant was particularly agile. It saw the tourist holding out a bit of food and scrambled up on the ledge.

"It teetered there for a while, trying not to wobble off, as it stretched its trunk out for the food.

"It stayed there for a while trying to get more before it climbed down.

"It even looked like it was nodding thank you to the tourist before it wandered off into its enclosure."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6162152/Elephant-produces-balancing-act-to-snatch-treat.html

Giant pandea faces extinction in two to three generations

China's giant panda faces extinction in 'two to three generations'

China's giant panda faces extinction in 'two to three generations'

China's giant panda faces extinction in 'two to three generations'

China's giant panda faces extinction in 'two to three generations'

China's giant panda faces extinction in 'two to three generations'

China's giant panda faces extinction in 'two to three generations'

China's giant panda faces extinction in 'two to three generations'

China's giant panda faces extinction in 'two to three generations'

China's giant panda faces extinction in 'two to three generations'

China's giant panda faces extinction in 'two to three generations'

China's giant panda faces extinction in 'two to three generations'

China's giant panda faces extinction in 'two to three generations'

China's giant panda faces extinction in 'two to three generations'

China's giant pandas could be extinct in 'two to three generations' as the country's headlong rush for economic development destroys the animals' habitat, the WWF has warned.


By Peter Foster in Beijing
17 Aug 2009

Giant pandas: China's giant panda faces extinction in 'two to three generations'


The threat to the country's signature animal is caused by the increasing fragmentation of its living areas. This is making it difficult for different panda populations to inter-breed, said Fan Zhiyong, a leading conservationist and the species programme director for the World Wide Fund for Nature in China.

"If the panda cannot mate with those from other habitats, it may face extinction within two to three generations," Mr Fan told the state-run Global Times newspaper. "We have to act now."

Many Chinese panda populations are living in belts of bamboo less then a mile wide, leaving them dangerously vulnerable to human interference, he said.

In-breeding among pandas, who are notoriously selective when it comes to mating in captivity, leads to reduced resistance to disease and lower reproductive rates.

"The construction of highways at nature reserves permanently dissects the panda's habitat, obstructing migration, mating and healthy gene exchange," Mr Fan said.

"We may have to give up building some infrastructure or the panda will face a bigger threat to its existence than in 1980," he said.

Wild panda numbers dropped to as low as 1,000 in the late 1970s, but a painstaking conservation programme has increased numbers to around 1,600 today scattered across six mountain ranges in southwestern China.

However, according to WWF estimates, 43 per cent of panda habitats and 29 per cent of its population are not yet effectively protected by nature reserves and protected areas.

The conservation programme was suffered a set-back last year when the Wolong Reserve was devastated in the Sichuan earthquake. Restoring the reserve is now Mr Fan's top priority.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/6041990/Chinas-giant-panda-faces-extinction-in-two-to-three-generations.html

Tiger pups

These cubs belong to Tom and Allie Harvey, owners of the Safari Zoological Park — a private zoo in Caney, Kansas.

The Harveys' have published a book, Tiger Pups, that tells the popular story of how Isabella came to raise the tiger cubs and is filled with exclusive images by Tom Harvey and National Geographic photographer Keith Philpott.

Tiger pups

Tiger pups

Tiger pups

Tiger pups

Tiger pups

Tiger pups

Tiger pups

Tiger pups

Tiger pups

Tiger pups

Tiger pups

Tiger pups

Tiger pups

You can read more about this story here, and watch viseos too:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26778656
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/25945650/ns/technology_and_science-science/
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26787955/
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31541834/?GT1=43001

Real-life Ram-bo

The sheep who abseiled down electricity cable after snagging his horn

This hapless sheep has become a real life 'ram-bo' after inadvertently abseiling down a hill when its horn became snagged on an electricity wire.

The unfortunate sheep was spotted bleating for help more than 15 feet above the ground next to an telegraph pole.

Amazed onlookers watched the ram descend from a grazing pasture - apparently accidentally - while dangling from a live wire.

Enlarge Help? The sheep dangles some 15feet above the ground, its horn caught in the live electrical wire

Help? The sheep dangles some 15feet above the ground, its horn caught in the live electrical wire

Luckily he did not catch the current from the wire.

The drama unravelled at the small town of Helgoysund on the Norwegian coast on Wednesday.

Tourists at the scene mounted a rescue attempt and eventually roped him to pull him back to ground level in little over an hour.

Bemused spectators suggested he may have been trying to take the fast route down to a herd of ewes grazing in the field below.

Marita Vestersjo Landsnes, aged 13, caught the calamity on her camera phone. The schoolgirl said she couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the sheep sliding down the live wire.
Spectators suggested the sheep may have been trying to reach a field of ewes at the bottom of the hill

Spectators suggested the sheep may have been trying to reach a field of ewes at the bottom of the hill.

After nearly an hour, and some ingenious rope work, the German tourists managed to bring the sheep down

After nearly an hour, and some ingenious rope work, the German tourists managed to bring the sheep down unharmed

Her dad Geir Landsnes, 45, also watched the dramatic events unfold. He said Marita would never to go out without a camera again.

He said: 'As a reward for his embarrassing predicament we helped him to achieve his quest by allowing him access to the ladies.

'My wife saw something surreal from the kitchen window and realised it was the sheep hanging five to six metres off the ground from the wire by its horn and called me straight away, asking what to do.

'I asked my daughter Marita to photograph the rescue operation so I could see the images of what had happened.

'Marita is so proud that her images and I've encouraged her not to leave the house without her camera.'

The sheep had been grazing on the hill. He had got his horn stuck on the zip wire and as he got more agitated, was pulled down the hill on the wire he was attached to and ended more than up five metres above the ground.

The German tourists were in the area because the Landsnes family, alongside the sheep farm, run a small vacation place on the Norwegian island.

The sheep escaped unharmed.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1205004/Pictured-Ram-bo-Amazing-abseiling-sheep-tries-unorthodox-method-attracting-ewes.html#ixzz0NcbOQ9KV
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1205004/Pictured-Ram-bo-Amazing-abseiling-sheep-tries-unorthodox-method-attracting-ewes.html

Sealion hijacks patrol boat

Sea lion at the controls of a Orange County sheriff's Department patrol boat

Sheriff's Department officers in California got more than they bargained for when they took a sealion aboard their patrol boat. They were forced to vacate the cockpit when the animal started climbing around the helmsman's seat and control console, and it managed to turn the steering wheel, sound the horn and put the throttle into reverse.

It took more than an hour and several sprays with a hose to persuade the sealion to leave the boat and return to the sea. The incident began when the Orange County Sheriff's Harbor Patrol fire boat was called to pontoons at Newport Beach to deal with the sealion which was reported to be acting aggressively towards children.

Attempts to get the animal back in the water failed, so the officers took it aboard with the intention of releasing it further from the land.

Sea lions are smart creatures and this attempt to take over the boat just proves their superior intelligence. He obviously thought the crew weren't experienced enough with matters concerning the sea so he should take over the controls.

Maybe he was trying to kidnap them to take them to his secret hideout where he would torture them until they agreed to their demands to give rights to sea lions.


Motor Boats Monthly, 1 July 2009
http://www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/2009060119

The bay of pigs

Swine swimming in crystal clear water in the Bahamas

Shame about this guy's connection to the Sea Shepherd, but lovely pics.

Enjoy.

On the beaches of Big Major Spot Island, the Bahamas, a family of brown and pink boars and piglets live freely on the sandy white beaches and swim in the tropical surf

Swimming pigs

Underwater photographer Eric Cheng stumbled across the unusual residents during a diving expedition to the area

Swimming pigs

"We were in the southern Bahamas to photograph oceanic white-tip sharks," says the 33-year-old. "Our captain, Jim Abernethy, had heard that there were pigs on Big Major so we decided to go and check it out"

Swimming pigs

"Upon approaching the white sandy beach, it is easy to spot the pigs - both pink and dark brown - laying in the sand"

Swimming pigs

"I'm not sure how these domestic pigs (gone feral) came to live on this particular beach in the Bahamas, but they are well-known to locals, who have been feeding them for years," says Eric

Swimming pigs

"Because locals bring food, the pigs will run into the water and actually swim out to the oncoming boats, as if to greet them individually"

Swimming pigs

Spending several hours photographing and playing with the pigs, Eric and his team even managed to join them for a swim

Swimming pigs

"Nadine Umbscheiden, one of the photographers, was so at ease with them," reveals Eric

Swimming pigs

"We dubbed her the 'pig whisperer' because she was so good at getting the pigs to swim to our cameras!"

Swimming pigs

Eric is the editor and publisher of Wetpixel.com, and is technical advisor and photographer for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Swimming pigs

Eric says his his trip to the "bay of pigs" proved to be one of his strangest photo-shoots to date

Swimming pigs

Happy, happy swimming pig

Swimming pigs

Pictures: Eric Cheng / Barcroft Media

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/5844059/The-bay-of-pigs-swine-swimming-in-crystal-clear-water-in-the-Bahamas.html?image=4

More from Pet Defense

180 AR H$U$

Anti-Pet Laws

Intro’d So Far in 2009

in 34 States

http://petdefense.wordpress.com/180-ar-anti-pet-laws-introd-so-far-2009-34-states/

HSUS Pushes ANTI-PET, Animal Rights Laws Nationwide–in PARTICULAR dog and dog breeding/related………….

….YES………….over 180 laws….

New Jersey leads the pack, with 23 separate bills, followed by

18 in Illinois,

15 in Massachusetts,

14 in New York,

13 in Hawaii,

9 in Tennessee,

8 in Connecticut,

7 in Texas,

6 in New Hampshire and Florida.

Other states with more than one bill are Arizona, Arkansas, California, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

Wyoming, Washington, Vermont, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kentucky, Kansas, Delaware and Colorado face one bill apiece

http://www.cfa.org/exhibitors/bill-tracking.pdf [Cat Fanciers Association site]

If for one second, you believed that supporting HSUS was a good idea, you better wake up and realize where your $$ are going. It’s going to support ANTI-PET LAWS against the buying, selling, breeding, showing, and owning of animals.

More information at http://petdefense.wordpress.com/

The gospel according to H$U$

From The Endangered Owner

Unless you've been living under a rock this year, it's impossible to avoid the onslaught of "ANTI-dog breeder" bills that have been introduced in no less than two dozen states pushed by none other than the Humane Society of the United States.

These two dozen bills are worded almost identical in all states, with the common theme being to limit the number of intact animals a person can own and in most cases, allowing for WARRANTLESS searches of the breeder's premises.

Are these laws really about cracking down on substandard breeders? Or is it a nationwide push to make dog breeding so troublesome and expensive that hobby breeders will just quit?

According to Wayne Pacelle's blog,

• "There are perhaps more than 10,000 mills in the nation, with Missouri accounting for more than 3,000, and then Oklahoma and Iowa the next biggest."
• Last year Virginia was the "hub" of puppy mills (the "Virginia Is For Puppy Mills" campaign), and Pennsylvania is "the puppy mill capitol of the East"

Gee, with Wayne stating facts like that, it makes you wonder WHY legislation is needed in states like Nevada, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, Tennessee, Illinois, Maine, West Virginia, Arkansas, Delaware, Texas, California, Florida....you get the idea. Are all of these states infested with "puppy mills" as well?? The real reason for these bills? To ensnare the "other guy"...the hobby breeder; those breeders who are not required to operate under USDA guidelines.

From the H$U$ website: "Under current law in most states, and under current regulations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, individuals running breeding operations that only sell puppies directly to the public are not required to be licensed and inspected by an oversight agency." (YEP, show folks, that's YOU!)

And further: "USDA exempts breeding facilities – regardless of the number of animals they have or financial thresholds they meet – where the puppies are bred and sold directly to private pet owners as "retail pet stores."........"Without oversight, the operations can easily fall below even the most basic standards of humane housing and husbandry."

A good breeding facility law: (According to H$U$)
applies to all breeding operations with animals or animal sales numbering over a specified threshold. (can you say "limit laws")

• requires a licensing fee and pre-inspection. (Like $500 per intact animal fee...and "must be of good moral character", as we have seen in bills proposed this year)
• includes routine, unannounced inspections at least twice yearly. (Warrantless searches of private property, unconstitutional last time I checked)
• is enforced by an agency with adequate funding and properly trained and tested staff. (Oh yeah, we're just in the worst economic crisis since the Depression, but I'm sure Wayne and company would love to step in and take over this job, huh)
• rotates inspectors to cover different areas of the state. (Uh-huh, I can see that happening...who would want to uproot their families to move to a different area...)
• is equipped with strong penalties when facilities are in repeated non-compliance, including but not limited to cease and desist orders. (H$U$ translation: raids, intimidation of breeders into "signing over" all dogs so said dogs can be sold for profit to further stuff their warchests)

Do you get it yet?

Have you connected the dots?

The current nationwide push to "end puppy mills" is NOT about protecting animals...it is NOT about cracking down on substandard breeders...it is NOT about regulating commercial breeders that are already under USDA guidelines...

What it IS about is ending purebred dog breeding. Period. Using incrementalism (limiting the number of animals someone can own, which can easily be lowered next time, in a new law), the Animal Rights group, the Humane Society of the United States, is pushing it's REAL agenda: to eliminate the hobby breeder, who has now become "just another puppy mill" in the eyes of the public...There is no one left to throw under the bus. The bus is headed straight for OUR breeding programs.

Are you willing to throw away years of dedication to your breed and your breeding program? Are you still one of those breeders that thinks "this law won't apply to me"? Now it does. There can be no compromise, no backing down.

The only way to defeat the bullies is to get in their faces and scream, "HELL NO!! You will NOT take away MY rights...you will NOT tell me how many dogs I can own...you WILL NOT tell me how or when or to which dogs I can breed to!!!"

The "Anti-dog breeder bus" is roaring down the street...in YOUR state, or will be headed there shortly. There will be no "other guy" to sacrifice like we have done in the past because we are now the "other guy".