Animal Report

Once again, Animal Planet brings us the entertainment that we want - nay, crave!  If you ask me, Puppy Bowl VI is THE premier sporting event of the year, and the fact that it's timed to coincide with certain other (non-puppy) sporting events is just a quirk of fate.

This year Pepper the Parrot was sorely missed.  Pepper's bizarre, crackpot rendition of the national anthem last year had me in tears of laughter from start to finish.  And how many other singers are wheeled out onto the field perched atop an RC car?  Pepper's childlike mangling of the lyrics was nothing short of hysterical.  Wherefore art thou, Pepper?

Fortunately, Animal Planet brought in two new things which helped cut the sting of a Pepper-less national anthem:
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There's a thing that cats share with small children. That is, that you buy them a toy, and the cat, much like the toddler, favors the empty box over the shiny new toy.

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If the idea of clubbing baby seals (and no, I don’t mean adolescent water mammals dressed in midriff-revealing skirts and halter tops shimmying drunkenly at some place called Spanky’s or Porky’s) turns your stomach, you’ve probably signed a petition or two against the act. You may have even emailed a friend or two to ask for his or her support. Read more

Your pet’s teeth are likely pretty low on your list of priorities. Did you know that two thirds of pet owners pretty much ignore their pets’ dental health? It’s actually considered the most overlooked area of pet care by the American Animal Hospital Association.

Since February is National Pet’s Dental Health Month, you might want to start taking notice in preserving your canine or feline’s teeth. Here are NUMBER ways to do just that. Read more

Groundhog's DayPETA, PETA, PETA......whether the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals is protesting against people “throwing dead fish” at Pike Place Market by having naked “mermaids” lie all over the pavement, enraging gays and lesbians, or complaining about the ethical treatment of groundhogs, they are always making headlines.
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Megalodon JawsEvery time I watch MonsterQuest, I'm reminded of why I like Destination Truth so much more.  You know the old saw, "If you hear hoof beats in Central Park, think horses, not zebras"?  When MonsterQuest hears hoof beats, it thinks "Unicorns!"

In this episode from last season, MonsterQuest travels to the Baja Peninsula to track down rumors of a giant black shark local fishermen call "the Black Demon."  Despite the fact that the legend of the Black Demon matches whale sharks and great white sharks perfectly, MonsterQuest speculates that this could be a Megalodon on the loose.  See what I mean?
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Researchers fully decoded the dog genome about four years ago, and we have still only scratched the surface of what this means for the advancement for scientific knowledge.  Most recently, researchers have identified a particular gene as being the cause for compulsive behavior in dogs.

It must be stated up front that a lot of dogs who exhibit compulsive behavior come from challenging backgrounds.  Puppy mill dogs and dogs which have been abused often display strange compulsive behaviors.  The same can be said for dogs which are confined without enough exercise.  Dogs are meant to get exercise, and if you keep a dog cooped up day after day without regular walks and outdoor play sessions, they can slowly be driven insane.
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These otters are clearly playing with pebbles. They're using pebbles from their enclosure at the London Zoo as toys.

This video was excerpted from the TV program "Jailed Polar Bear" on FirstScience TV. The bears are very carefully, gently, playing with the dogs, who are just as courteous with the bears.

January 17 is Bald Eagle Appreciation Day. Did you know that our national bird is the only eagle that’s unique to North America? Here are some other facts about bald eagles you can use to celebrate the day or teach your children (or use at your next trivia contest). Read more