Ancient sea monsters & continuing beagle rescue

“Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” – Henry James 

                                                                                          AMNH pic

For many of us, a summer afternoon is even better when an ocean is part of the picture too. But of course, oceans come with hazards way more serious than too many other people on the beach. For starters, think: sharks and other large marine creatures with variable attitudes toward humans.

And that suggests this question: which are you more scared of when you’re in the ocean: sharks or orcas (aka “killer whales”)? Or . . . (fill in the blank – if you can!) The answer will surprise you. https://tinyurl.com/4ym6x5nu

However, since sharks get the most “credit” for biting people, this clarification seems in order: Surprisingly enough, juvenile white sharks are responsible for most bites of humans, and that’s thought to happen because their eyesight is so comparatively bad, along with suspected color blindness! They can’t easily distinguish between “a swimming person, a paddling surfer or a meandering seal or sea lion.” https://tinyurl.com/yckncvht

However, if we were (admittedly very rare and short-lived) humans millions of years ago, we’d have a truly colossal reason to be terrified: megalodons, now described as “prehistoric megatooth sharks,” “the biggest sharks that ever lived” and “the biggest predatory fish of all time,” according to New York’s American Natural History Museum (amnh.org/exhibitions/sharks) and other sources.  

But we’re lucky today to be able to see enough of the fearful megalodon to feel a proper awe because the “Shark” exhibition at AMNH for the next year includes “dozens of life-size models [of ancient and modern sharks] ranging from 33 feet (you read it right!) to 5.5 inches long.”  https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/sharks (don’t miss the short video) and https://tinyurl.com/3sckhw9u

The second site above reports new findings based on 3-D computer modeling that suggest megalodons were in fact even bigger, faster and hungrier than believed till now. 

Two Princeton University researchers offer their take on megalodons in this video that provides the sea-setting for the prehistoric marine terrors – and a couple chuckles. https://tinyurl.com/2p82tmt5

Megalodon and shark fans in general still have more than a year to get to the museum for the shark exhibit.  https://www.amnh.org/plan-your-visit

To the rescue of 4,000 beagles

Simply watch this video about beagles being rescued from a hideous laboratory situation (one of many such sites in the US) and fall in love.  https://tinyurl.com/57bxth3x

Some 4,000 beagles – a breed widely known for friendly and trusting animals – are being removed from the site, tested and treated, and eventually adopted out to people eager to give them love, a home and a chance to be beagles.

No longer are they living in cages and destined to be subjects in animal experimentation.  Till now, they had neither toys nor names – just a number tattooed inside an ear – and no familiarity with sun, grass. . . or love.   

The Humane Society of the US was charged by the Dept. of Justice to free and care for the helpless dogs, with rescue groups and shelters around the country joining the effort.  Here are a few more links to some of those pitching in on the rescue.    

https://tinyurl.com/5c4ux2dr

https://tinyurl.com/2fy5wsy6

https://tinyurl.com/63tk3w9s

https://tinyurl.com/y6pp8wn5

One warning: Be careful! After seeing such beagle videos, you may go to great lengths to adopt one of these dear dogs! 

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Pre-planning $$$ helps smooth the road to pet adoptions

Annie

Way long ago, it was much easier to adopt a cat or dog. There were few formal adoptions with paperwork or fees or scheduled vet visits.  And, many of those casually-acquired pets lived outdoors: remember dog houses?

It's all different now, with more steps and costs, and ways of treating pets never thought of before. Clearly, today’s approach is much better for animals, who get preventive medicines, all sorts of comforts (typically inside) and amusements, and ranking as beloved family members.  

Considering current complications to pet-adoption, people are advised to consider the costs involved beforehand, so they can do right by the animal they want.  (I’m focusing on cats here because I’m in the market – and I hope many others are too.)  

As illustrated by a recent, cautionary Catster article, total adoption costs are up there, what with variables that can affect adoption fees as well as numerous other “necessaries” to count too.   

Age, from beguiling kitten to senior feline, can determine the adoption fee.  So can cat breed: how rare and how popular the desired cat may be.  Adoption location is in there too, with urban adoption fees typically higher than rural fees. The same goes for source: whether the pet comes from a shelter or rescue group, or from a breeder.   

Also necessary to calculate: what services and vaccines come with the adoption fee.  These can include spay/neuter; a vet exam; microchipping; deworming; flea and tick treatment; core vaccinations; feline leukemia test; collar and ID tag – all, ideally, taken care of by the rescue or shelter as part of the adoption process.   

Still other costs connected with adopting a cat are litter and food; vet check-ups and/or booster vaccines; dental work; regular flea and tick treatments; pet insurance (if desired).  

Both basics too: litter boxes – (1 per cat plus one extra is the “rule of paw”) – and a cat bed.  (Sure, cats may ultimately settle on or in their people’s bed, but they deserve to start with something uniquely theirs, a “bed of their own.”) 

After those basics comes a wide range of possible, including a cat tree – a vertical haven for height-loving felines; a cat carrier – for vet trips and visiting; food and water bowls – easy-clean stainless steel advised; toys and (edible) treats – to aid bonding and training; a brush and other grooming tools; a toothbrush and paste -- for the brave souls who’ll attempt feline dental hygiene; a scratching post – for cat claws, instead of furniture!

And too, allowance for pet-sitters and/or pet boarding. 

Everything listed above is only secondary to the greatest, most important expenditure to make when adopting a cat: time.  The cat-adopter must give generously of time if the new cat will settle in and become comfortable, affectionate, bonded. 

So, moving toward adopting a cat can (and should) be serious, time-consuming business (besides great fun).  But. . . after all the drum-beating about what’s needed and cost-estimates, there’s a new, other side to this story!

Just today, the Dodo (TheDodo.com) published a story with a new take on the situation.  Now, the report goes, with an over-abundance of possible adoptable pets, shelters and groups are lowering (and even waiving) prices for available animals.  The reasons given for this: today’s current inflation problems, causing people to be more frugal about expenditures.

https://tinyurl.com/3de98z5t

OK, then, all you wanna-be cat-adopters: get going!    

A blog post alert

It’s August, a traditional vaca time – for me too!  That means fewer if any more blog posts here till closer to month’s end.  But to help tide you over, the helpful link above, about planning to adopt, and the wonderful one right here, about pandemic puppies!  https://tinyurl.com/58hk2kzk   

Taking my own advice -- a happy foreshadowing:

                         Jersey                         Obi pic

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Round-up: news briefs about animals

Once again, my files runneth over with stories about animals to share here.  So I’ll handle each topic in brief, with a link to full coverage if possible.

Monarch in royal purple

Starting with monarchs – the butterflies, that is, not the rulers -- the news isn’t good.  Their loss of habitat continues, along with climate change, agricultural pesticides and predators, so these beautiful insects continue to decline.  “Poor butterflies,” for sure.

The only recommendation I’ve seen for those wanting to help monarchs is to plant milkweed, which they require.  But judging by how my backyard offering came late and little this summer – with no monarch sightings at all – we’ll have to do more and better than that!

Time to travel

Knowing the time was right, three adventurous African sisters started a long, perilous trip last October.  They “braved lions, crocodiles, poachers, raging rivers and other dangers on a 1,300-mile transnational effort to forge a new dynasty.”

A species known as “elite predators,” the three African wild dog siblings knew they had to leave their birth pack now, while in their prime, to avoid spinsterhood there and to be able to start their own families elsewhere.

From eastern Zambia they crisscrossed that country and parts of Mozambique and the edge of Zimbabwe and back to central Zambia, where they settled in a national park.  During their nine months on the road, the sisters overcame challenges that would have defeated lesser wild dog travelers.

African wild dogs

One sister wore a GPS collar, while the other two are presumed to have stayed with her, given wild dogs’ reliance on “bonded interdependence.”

https://tinyurl.com/2p98b5wc

More hummer lore

I’ve learned even more since spotting and writing about the hummingbirds enjoying my trumpet vine. It started of course with Kim Kurki’s delightful “bird book.”  (See July 17 post.)

Artist-writer Kurki seems to have included the most surprising facts about hummers.  Larger than a ping-pong ball and no heavier than a nickel, they’re found only in the Americas.  And, “with very small feet and legs, (the bird) can’t walk, but it can scoot sideways on a perch.”

Finally, beautiful, tiny, lightweight hummingbirds make a long migration before winter: from eastern North America it’s 1,850 miles, including a 500-mile nonstop flight over the Gulf of Mexico.

Animals abound

Judging by her writing acclaim and subject choice for her recent book, you might expect much more than you get from Susan Orlean’s On Animals.  Claiming to have loved animals of all kinds from childhood, she has devoted each of her 15 chapters to a different animal: dogs to donkeys, lion to whale, rabbits to pandas, with even a chapter on taxidermy that I simply skipped.

It's a book to dip into and move on when it gets too thick with back stories that are much less captivating than discussion of the animals themselves.  Yes, there are clever laugh lines, though most of them appear on the back cover.  Not enough!

Yoked oxen

Overall, worth trying On Animals, liking parts, and quitting.  

Another hero for animals

A recent obituary in an area newspaper honored a 31-year old man who lost his life saving his dog “in a tragic swimming accident at Virginia Beach.”  The piece described the man’s giving nature and his love of the outdoors, where he enjoyed “adventures with his best friend and loving dog, Gadsden,” who survives him. 

Pets: Cool it!

The high-heat days of summer can be lethal for pets – especially dogs and cats who are very old, very young or who have underlying health issues.  Breeds with thicker coats (huskies to Siberian cats) or shorter snouts (pugs and bulldogs to Persian and Himalayan cats) are at special risk.

It’s ideal to keep pets inside with air-conditioning, but if outside’s a must, provide shade and fresh water.  Walk dogs at off-peak sun times and take water.  Most important: never leave a pet alone in the car!

Bonus video

You'll love this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68dmwNpf7A4

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