Pit Bull Saves Woman From Blaze At Long Island Home

A pit bull saved a woman from a fire in her home in Long Island, New York, barking to alert her to the blaze.

Pit bull saves woman (Youtube screengab, News 4)

Jackie Bonasera credited her pit bull for escaping from her burning house on Friday. She said she was drying her hair in an upstairs bathroom when she heard him barking frantically. When she checked on her dog downstairs, she saw the flames on the side of her garage and so she immediately rushed outside before realizing her pet was not with her.

"I ran out of the house and my neighbors came running over, and then I thought about the dog –I'm like, 'He saved my life, I have to save his,'" Bonasera told News 4 New York.

Bonasera said she put her robe over her head and ran back into the home to find her pit bull, named Cain.

The cause of the fire, which needed over 70 firemen to be put out, is now being investigated by the arson squad. Authorities, however, indicated that it's not suspicious.

Earlier this year, another dog was hailed a hero after she saved her 72-year-old owner from a spreading fire in Bristol, England. According to reports, Barbie, a 7-year-old Jack Russell, licked her owner's face to alert her after a fallen bedside lamp caused her mattress to catch on fire.

Just last Wednesday, a 12-year-old cocker spaniel named Oz was credited with saving his owner's life after a fire broke out in a neighbor's home in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania. Randy Merlo, 47, said his dog woke him up when a fire began spreading through the unoccupied neighboring house.

"He was nudging me, and I smelled smoke and we left," Merlo said. "Saved my life, yes, he probably did." FULL STORY...

Two-Headed Pig Born In Chinese Village (Photo)

Two-Headed Pig (Photo courtesy of AFP, NBC News)

Following recent news on the discovery of a two-headed bull shark, Mother Nature has surprised us with yet another one of her showcase of weird creations, this time, a two-headed piglet reported to have been born in China.

It was reported that in a village in Jiujiang, east China's Jiangxi province, an AFP photographer was able to capture on camera the birth of a piglet with two heads. A photo taken last April 10, 2013 showed that this two-headed piglet has two snouts, two ears and a shared eye between its two heads.

Sadly, this unique creature may not have much time to live on this earth. A local veterinarian checked this animal out and told the AFP news agency that the pig is suffering a rare deformity which is most likely the same condition as the other recently reported two-headed species have.

This rare condition, called polycephaly or "axial bifurcation," is a result of an incomplete or interrupted splitting process of an embryo into two separate organisms. Because of this condition, more complications might cause this creature to die even before it can reach adulthood. FULL STORY...

Bunnies attacking cars at Denver International Airport

Bunnies attacking cars at Denver International Airport’s parking area are giving headache to a lot of people.

Bunnies Attacking Cars In Denver

The bunnies reportedly chew on the insulator part of the ignition cables of the cars, causing damage of up to a few thousand dollars.

In an effort to solve the problem, about 100 rabbits are being removed from the area each month. Apparently, the method has not been successful as the problem still persists.

USAirport Parking is now planning to install new fences to make it harder for the bunnies to burrow under.

Meanwhile, local mechanics have advised car owners to coat the cables with predator urine, such as that of coyote and fox. It said to be an effective way to keep the little nibblers away. FULL STORY...

Lolong The Crocodile Is Dead

Lolong, the world's largest crocodile in captivity, has died, a local official announced Sunday, February 10, 2013.

Crocodile Lolong Is Dead

According to Bunawan, Agusan del Sur Mayor Edwin Elorde, Lolong was pronounced dead Sunday evening by Dr. Alex Cullantes of the Davao Crocodile Park.

The cause of Lolong's death is still being investigated.

Caught in September, Lolong was declared the world’s lаrgеѕt crocodile captured alive after an Australian zoologist Adam Britton measured the saltwater beast at more than 6.2 meters (20 feet and 4 inches).

The effort to capture the giant crocodile was intensified after several residents have reportedly gone missing. Residents also reported witnessing the crocodile preying on their carabaos (water buffaloes).

Lolong was named after a wildlife expert who died of a stroke during the two-week hunt for the croc. FULL STORY...

Tonik, Dog With Human Face, Up For Adoption In Indiana [Photo]

Tonik, the dog with human face, is up for adoption in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Tonik The Dog With Human Face (Photo credit: Petfinder.com)

The 2-year-old poodle-Shih Tzu mix became an instant celebrity online after his photos went viral earlier this week. Netizens were buzzing about his facial features, how they resemble that of a human being.

Homeward Bound Animal Welfare Group, which rescued the dog from being put down, is now accepting applications from people who can provide Tonik a new home.

"It seems he has not had too much socialization. He is great with other dogs. He is not dangerous, but should not be placed with young children because he will get too overwhelmed. He will need a home with lots of patience & good energy," reads Tonik's Petfinder profile.

The dog with human face, whose approximate birth date is February 1, 2011, weighs 11 pounds and is up to date on all shots. 

"He has been vet. checked, neutered, micro chipped, heart worm tested negative is up to date on routine shots & wormings including rabies & has been treated with advantage multi per our protocol. He has been pro. groomed since his photos were taken."

The group is asking for an adoption donation of $250 and does not allow shipping or transport. Interested individuals can visit the group's website for more details about the adoption process. FULL STORY...

Saudi Arabia Baboon War: Hungry Monkeys Raid Villagers' Homes

A "minor war" between baboon monkeys and villagers in Kiad, Saudi Arabia has broken out, local media reported Sunday.

Saudi Arabia Baboon War (Photo: Mirror)

According to the Arab News, residents are in daily war with a large troop of hungry baboon monkeys that are breaking into their homes in search of food and drink.

"It’s a daily game of hide and seek. The baboons are targeting empty houses and are well aware of what they are doing. The assault on the village is not random, as some believe. They proceed according to studied plans. That’s why their attacks do not fail. For example, imagine a resident who is absent from their home for a period of time. Even though it’s just one day, he is surprised to return to find his home in disarray. Some people in this situation thought that thieves had broken into and ransacked their houses … The problem is that the village’s houses are old and non-roofed, and our daily guest is hungry," Adel Medini of Helli town told the Arab News.

Many village residents are living in fear of a possible attack by baboons at any time. Thus, they have employed a variety of methods to cope with the attacks. At one point, they tried putting poison in bananas to exterminate the baboons but the primates "figured it out and stopped eating the poisonous bananas."

Baboons raiding residences for food have been attributed to urbanization and severe drought that led to the destruction of their natural habitat. FULL STORY...

Sleepy Bulldog Puppy Captures Redditors' Hearts

A photo of a sleepy bulldog puppy made its way on Reddit yesterday, capturing the hearts of many users of the popular social news and entertainment website.

Sleepy bulldog puppy (Image credit: "youarenowpromoted")

The photo, which was posted by Redditor "youarenowpromoted," shows the adorable bulldog puppy in an unusual napping position, lying on his back on the floor like a worn out human.

The sleepy bulldog puppy photo has received more than 12,000 up votes and has amassed more than a hundred comments. Among them are as follows:

"I was in a hateful mood all day until I saw this, thank you," write Reddit user "bunsofcheese."
"This is my new favourite picture of anything, ever."

"I honestly didn't think a dog's front legs could go down like that. Makes me picture him standing up like that and looking a lot like a person," writes "xShamrocker."

"Wish I could relax to THIS level!!Sigh!," another user who goes by the handle "tranceway" says.

The puppy's picture is also getting viral in social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

FULL STORY...

New Eyeless Fish Species Discovered In Vietnam

A new eyeless fish species has been discovered on a small island in Ha Long Bay in the Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam, Fauna & Flora International (FFI) reported Friday.

New Eyeless Fish (Photo courtesy of FFI)

Apart from having no eyes, the inch-long fish also has no markings and lacks scales, which are common adaptations for animals that have evolved in the total darkness of deep limestone caves, FFI said.

The new fish, named Draconectes narinosus, was discovered by University of Ljubljana biologists Boris Sket and Peter Trontelj on the tiny and contorted Van Gio Island during an extensive survey of Ha Long Bay’s biodiversity.

The name of the new eyeless fish derives from the Greek for dragon (drakon) and swimmer (nectes) – a reference to Ha Long which means ‘descending dragon’ (so-called because, according to local legend, the landscape was created by a dragon). The Latin ‘narinosus’ means ‘who has large nostrils'.

According to FFI, the fish appears to be restricted to the island, which has long, narrow arms with a maximum width of just 400 metres. The cave’s freshwater lake (where the fish was found) is barely 200 metres from the sea and at about sea level. It is thus extremely sensitive to rainfall and climate change, as well as human activities.

FFI is a leading NGO for the conservation of limestone karst and cave conservation, and has run a variety of projects in karst landscapes throughout the Asia-Pacific region. FULL STORY...

Dog nurses tiger cubs

Tally nursing the orphaned cubs (Youtube screen grab)

At a zoo in Sochi, Russia, a White Swiss Shepherd dog, named Tally, adopted and nursed three tiger cubs after they were abandoned by their birth mother.

Vets reportedly made an advertisement online, seeking for a "feeding" dog – a female that is producing milk for its own litter.

Tally was eventually chosen and is now treating the young tigers as her own puppies.

Check out this adorable video of Tally nursing the three tiger cubs patiently below:
Video courtesy of Youtube, AFP and "jake ialand" FULL STORY...

Dinosaurs Lose Weight In New Study

Dinosaurs may have been much lighter than previously believed, a new study suggests.

Dinosaurs Lose Weight

Researchers of the said study took into consideration the curves and other irregularities in the bone structure of dinosaurs when computing the prehistoric animals' weight. Their computation yielded lesser values than previous estimates.

Scientists would traditionally calculate the mass of dinosaurs based on a leg measurement, understanding the relationship between body mass and this circumference in modern animals, and scaling this up to the size of a dinosaur.

With the new approach, the researchers came up with a body mass of 25 tons for a Giraffatitan, which was estimated at 31 to 86 tons in earlier studies.

Researchers analyzed the leg bones of eight species, from the 220-gram Senegal bushbaby to the 1.2-metric-ton giraffe.

The new study was published Wednesday in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface. FULL STORY...

Mammoth Skeleton Found Near French Capital

A mammoth skeleton has been found by archaeologists near Paris, France.

Illustration of a wooly mammoth skeleton

The nearly complete skeleton of a long-haired wooly mammoth was unearthed along the Changis-sur-Marne riverbanks just 30 miles away from the French capital during the excavation of an ancient Roman site.

Researchers at the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) said the remains date back to some 200,000-500,000 years ago and include a femur, a complete pelvis, jawbones and four connected vertebrae.

Archaeologists said such a discovery is rare as only three specimens of the mammoth have been unearthed in France in the last 150 years.

They added that the mammoth, they named "Helmut," was in its 20's at the time of its death. FULL STORY...

Dog That Lost Snout Saving Children Needs Chemotherapy Before Surgeries

Kabang, the dog that lost her snout after saving the lives of two young girls in the Philippines, will need to undergo chemotherapy before the planned surgeries to repair her snout.

Dog That Lost Snout Saving Girls (Photo: Facebook)

Veterinary specialists at the University of California-Davis (UC Davis) discovered through an examination that Kabang has an early-stage Transmissible Venereal Tumor, which is treatable by chemotherapy.

An X-ray also revealed that the hero dog has heartworm disease, which is "not too advanced."

According to Dr. Jane Sykes, Director of the Small Animal Clinic at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at UC Davis, both of these issues must be addressed before Kabang is healthy enough for the planned dental and facial surgeries.

The female Aspin dog lost half of her snout after she was hit by a motorcycle while saving the lives of two girls in Zamboanga City last December.

Dina Bunggal, 9, and cousin Princess Diansing, 3, were about to cross a busy street and failed to notice a motorcycle heading straight towards them. Kabang, the family dog, was well aware of the impending harm about to befall the children and came to their rescue, an eyewitness said. The witness saw the dog throw herself onto the motorcycle. The crash took off Kabang's upper snout.

Kabang arrived in the United States last week for the surgeries to fix her snout. Her trip to America was made possible by donations from all over the world. An online fundraising campaign, spearheaded by American nurse Karen Kenngott, was able to raise the $20,000 needed for the dog's surgeries. FULL STORY...

Kabang, Hero Dog From Philippines, Flies To U.S. For Surgeries

Kabang, the hero dog from the Philippines, has arrived earlier this week in the United States, where she will be undergoing facial reconstructive surgeries.

Kabang, Philippines' hero dog (Photo: Care For Kabang)

The female Aspin dog lost half of her snout after she was hit by a motorcycle while saving the lives of two girls in Zamboanga City last December.

Dina Bunggal, 9, and cousin Princess Diansing, 3, were about to cross a busy street and failed to notice a motorcycle heading straight towards them. Kabang, the family dog, was well aware of the impending harm about to befall the children and came to their rescue, an eyewitness said. The witness saw the dog throw herself onto the motorcycle. The crash took off Kabang's upper snout.

Veterinary specialists at the University of California (UC), Davis have examined the hero dog on Thursday and determined that the canine will be needing at least two surgeries for the next few weeks.

"The first likely would focus on dental work," UC Davis said in a press release. "The second would attempt to close the gaping wound on the dog’s face, protecting her from infection and improving her quality of life."

Kabang's trip to the U.S. was made possible by donations from all over the world. Through an online fundraising campaign, Team Kabang, spearheaded by American Nurse Karen Kenngott, has raised the $20,000 needed for the dog's surgeries. FULL STORY...

Lion Adopts Antelope Calf After Killing Its Mother

Lion Adopts Antelope Calf (Photo: ABC News)

A lioness turned from killer predator to caring parent when she adopted a baby antelope.

The intimidating beast took pity on the calf when it emerged shaking from its hideout just moments after slaying the antelope's mother at the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda.

The two animals took some time to warm up to each other but the lioness eventually let down her guard and befriended the youngster. When a park ranger appeared on a motorbike, the lioness picked up the impala like she would her own and carried it away.

Some tourists later reported seeing the antelope running around unharmed, so its luck clearly held out.

Photographer Adri De Visser captured photos of the the heartwarming moment. Check out his shots through the Youtube video below:
Video courtesy of ABC News FULL STORY...

Cyclops Kitten Cleyed Born To Bengal Cat

A cyclops kitten was delivered alive via C-section last week.

Cyclops Kitten Cleyed (Youtube)

The one-eyed Bengal kitten, named Cleyed the Cyclops, was born with a single large eye in the center of his face. He, however, survived for "only a short time," his owners said.

Cleyed's owners were available to capture his brief existence on video, which they shared to the rest of the world through Youtube.

"We have a Bengal cat that was pregnant and only a day past her due date," the video description reads. "On Thursday October 4th 2012 I brought her into our vet and I am SO Glad that I did, We have an amazing veterinarian who did the C-Section procedure and if she didn't..... Mamma Kitty would be dead now."

It further states: "All of us in the operating room experienced a VERY RARE once in a lifetime (Hopefully) kitten births. To start off, both horns of the uterus were twisted together THREE times. After untwisting the horns our veterinarian started the surgery and she removed the first baby, the baby was handed to me and I started drying her off. A vet tech came in and I handed her the first baby and got the second kitten that our vet removed. WOW!!!! He floored me, I was in shock as I have only seen a picture of a Cyclops kitten like this ONCE ever... and that was on the internet. He was born alive and survived only a short time. This was a horribly sad experience, but very intriguing to us all."

Check out the said video below:
Cleyed was not the first cyclops kitten to have been born.

In 2006, a photograph of a one-eyed kitten named Cy drew a little skepticism when it made its way online. It was, however, proven that the photo was authentic. The kitten, born in Oregon, lived for only a day.

Experts said Cy had the condition called "Holoprosencephaly," which causes facial deformities.

Another cyclops kitten, who survived for 15 minutes, was also born in Colorado in 2010. FULL STORY...

Adopt-A-Dog Month: How To Participate

October is recognized as the Adopt-A-Dog Month, which aims  to encourage people to adopt their next canine companion from an animal shelter or breed-rescue group.

There are tons of ways to get involved in the Adopt-A-Dog Month, ranging from sending a single tweet to making the commitment to adopt.

Here are some ways the public can get involved and make a difference this October:

Adopt, Don't Shop. Visit your local shelter or rescue organization and give a lucky dog a loving home. Consumers who purchase a puppy from a pet store or website run the risk of taking home an unhealthy puppy in addition to the likelihood of supporting the cruel puppy mill industry. Operators of puppy mills breed dogs in unsanitary, overcrowded conditions where profit is given priority over the well-being of the dogs.

Take the Pledge. Join the more than 100,000 people who have already taken the "No Pet Store Puppies" pledge to help fight puppy mill cruelty by refusing to buy anything—including food, supplies or toys—at pet stores and on websites that sell puppies.

Spread the Word. Spread the adoption message to all of your friends and followers online! Join the ASPCA in a live Ustream event on October 30 from 7 to 8 p.m. when veterinarians and behaviorists will be chatting and answering your best pet questions. A Halloween costume contest will also be held, with prizes being awarded in several categories. In addition, send a Tweet with Twitter, post a Facebook status, shoot a YouTube video, take an Instagram photo, and pin on Pinterest throughout the entire month of October; every mention makes a difference.  
   
Get Active for Animals. Volunteering at your local shelter is a great way to make a difference in the lives of shelter dogs. Volunteers can take dogs for walks, socialize them, make the rounds during meal times, or just offer a friendly face for attention. Rescue organizations are always in need of supplies; gather up gently used blankets, towels and toys from friends and family to donate—just be sure to check first to see what rescue groups and shelters need most.
Sources: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, American Humane Association FULL STORY...

Most Venomous Snake Bite Endured By Australian Teen (Video)

Inland taipan, world's most venomous snake (Youtube)

An Australian teenager has survived a rare bite from inland taipan, the most venomous snake in the world.

"He needs to take out a lottery ticket. He is extremely lucky to still be alive," said Judy Martin, a local reptile rescuer.

The 17-year-old took himself to the emergency unit of  a hospital in the town of Kurri Kurri with a snakebite on his left hand. He was later transferred to Calvary Mater Hospital in Newcastle.

The snake was also brought to the hospital and was identified as an inland taipan.

It is not yet known how the boy came into contact with the world's most venomous snake, which was found around 1000km from its natural inland habitat.

"We were shocked. We've never seen a Taipan before. They're not from this area and to have somebody bitten by an inland Taipan is quite serious," said Martin, who was asked to identify the snake.

Taronga Zoo spokesman Mark Williams told the Sydney Morning Herald that a drop of venom from inland taipan is enough "to kill 100 adult men and 250,000 mice."

Check out a video report about the incident below:
FULL STORY...

Rare 655-Pound Sea Turtle Rescued, Released After Treatment (Video)

A rare 655-pound sea turtle was rescued Thursday on a mud flat in Truro, Massachusetts.

655-Pound Sea Turtle (Youtube)

The 7-foot endangered leatherback sea turtle was then transported to the New England Aquarium's Animal Care Facility in Quincy, Mass., for treatment. 

After the turtle's condition improved, he was released in the waters south of Cape Cod on Saturday, September 22. Aquarium officials decided that the animal’s best chance of survival was back in the sea with its blood values stabilized and energy restored.

He was fitted with a satellite tag was outfitted with a satellite tag to monitor its movement and hopeful survival.

"The sea turtle was still underweight and the prognosis remains unclear," New England Aquarium wrote. "But this individual sea turtle has been afforded another chance at survival as an endangered species that is staring down extinction."

Leatherback sea turtles are the world’s largest reptile, and adults commonly weigh in excess of 1000 pounds. They are open ocean sea turtles that migrate thousands of miles and consequently have enormous front flippers to pull their giant bodies through the water.

Check out the video of the 655-pound sea turtle's release below:
Via New England Aquarium FULL STORY...

Grandpa Wrestles Gator To Save Pet Dog

A Florida grandpa leaped into a pond and wrestled a 7-foot gator to save his dog, The Daily Mail reported.

Grandpa Wrestles Gator To Save Pet Dog

According to the report, when 66-year-old Lake County resident Steve Gustafson saw his pet being dragged into the water by the hungry reptile at his garden, he did not think twice to jump on the 130-pound gator's back and wrestled with it until it released his dog named Bounce, a West Highland Terrier.

"I didn't have a choice," Gustafson told The Daily Mail. "If I hesitated I would have lost my best friend."

Gustafson and his dog were both dragged by the alligator underwater but the fit grandpa was able to stabilize himself and overtook the reptile. Eventually, they were able to get away and the gator was trapped and killed two days later.

Gustafson, who sustained minor wounds from the battle, said he has bought the dead reptile and he plans to get the carcass processed and put it on display to remind him of his close call.

Photo courtesy of The Daily Mail, Steve Gustafson FULL STORY...

Trampolining Bulldog Video Goes Viral

Meet Mudd, the trampolining bulldog whose video showing his acrobatic skills is getting viral online.

Mudd the trampolining bulldog (Youtube)

In the 1.23 minute clip, the four-year-old bulldog can be seen bouncing around on the trampoline in excitement, doing back and side flips and other awesome moves.

Mudd's video was posted on Youtube on September 10th but has just been picked up by popular websites such as Buzzfeed, MSN, The Daily Mail and The Huffington post.

As of posting time, the trampolining dog video has amassed over 213,000 views.

Watch the latest animal internet sensation's trampoline routine below:


How do your skills compare? FULL STORY...