That was the case recently, after one California zoo came to the rescue of an orphaned mountain lion cub. According to a press release from the Oakland Zoo, the orphaned five-month-old cub, now named Rose, was first discovered by hikers at Thornewood Open Space Preserve in San Mateo, and was clearly in need of help. 

She was severely underweight, weighing 8.8 pounds when the average size at her age is 30 pounds. Teams from the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and California Department of Fish and Wildlife worked to catch the cub so they could get her the help she needed. 

The zoo says she was found “in the nick of time,” and was in danger of starvation: they estimate she hadn’t eaten anything in weeks. “She is excruciatingly thin,” said Dr. Alex Herman, the zoo’s VP of Veterinary Services. 

“To survive, her body resorted to consuming its own muscle mass. She is also suffering from extreme dehydration, and her temperature was so low it couldn’t even be read.” 

Now, Rose is receiving treatments at the Oakland Zoo, where vets are providing round-the-clock care. She was covered in fleas and ticks, and had a very low blood cell count, and could receive a blood transfusion. They say that while the mountain lion cub has a long way to go, they are cautiously optimistic about her recovery. 

They are continuing to keep an eye on her vitals and do blood tests, and say she has regained some strength and ate meat. But the zoo says that, even if she recovers, Rose won’t be able to be released into the wild. 

This is because mountain lions learn survival skills in their early years from their mothers, and as an orphan Rose wouldn’t survive. 

But Rose will have a place to stay for the next few months as she continues her hopeful recovery, and if all goes well she will find a new, permanent home in an accredited zoo.

  We’re so glad this poor mountain lion cub was found just in time, and these kind vets are working hard to save her life.
Source

  She was all alone and appeared to be a stray kitten who had been abandoned or separated from her family. Guzman brought the kitten home, but quickly discovered that this ‘kitten’ was not acting like a regular house cat. 

Elber thought that someone may be off, so he called his region’s environmental agency. It turns out that the kitten Elber rescued was not a cat, rather a baby cougar! 

Since the cat was so young, it truly did look very similar to a cat, so it was easy for Elber to think that. They agreed to pick the cougar up, and gave her a vet exam before bringing her to their rescue facility, where she will receive the proper care. 

Watch more of the story in the video below:

 
Source

But wouldn’t it be nice if people were that eager to adopt pets? Imagine a world where people line up outside before shelters even open just for a chance to adopt the dog of their dreams. 

Well that’s what happened at one shelter recently, as one man lined up early to make sure a beautiful shelter puppy would be his. 

Elliot, a border collie puppy, ended up at Palm Springs Animal Shelter in March after being found as a stray, according to The Dodo. The scared, shy dog was put in a foster home until he could be put up for adoption — and there, he made a big impression on the foster’s neighbor, Dr. Brian Eberhart. 

“He had the opportunity to get to know Elliot before he was available and fell in love,” Anthony Mercurio of the shelter told Newsweek. So when Elliot was put up for adoption, Dr. Eberhart knew he had to be the one to give the pup a home — and he made extra sure no one else would claim the dog before him. 

On the day Elliot was up for adoption, the shelter didn’t open til 1 pm — but he waited outside for five hours before the opening, ensuring that he’d be the first. “He was there from around 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. when we opened. We saw his lounge setup outside and just had to talk to him and found out he was there to ensure he had a chance to adopt Elliot,” Mercurio told Newsweek. 

Dr. Eberhart camped outside, relaxing in a folding chair with a book. “His wife later relieved him for a bathroom break just before noon. It was a team effort,” Mercurio said. He was certainly more dedicated than most people are when it comes to adopting a dog. 

“Other people came by that morning as well, but once they found out that we didn’t open until 1 p.m. that day, they gave up and left,” Mercurio told The Dodo.

@palmspringsanimalshelter We’re not crying, you are😢 #adoptionstories #puppiesoftiktok #dogsofttiktok #doglover #adopt #animalshelter #shelterdog #cute #realmvp #fyp #foreverhome #palmspringsanimalshelter #peopleareawesome #dog #puppy ♬ Steven Universe - L.Dre

Thankfully, his patience paid off, and Eberhart indeed had the first chance to adopt Elliot. If his camping outside wasn’t enough to prove that he was the perfect owner for the pup, Elliot’s reaction certainly was. 

“Elliot acted like he was being reunited with an old friend and it was obvious to us that there was a match there!” Mercurio said. Dr. Eberhart went home with Elliot that day, and gave him a new name, “Leo.” 

According to The Dodo, it stands for “Love Each Other.” After the heartwarming moment went viral, Eberhart set up his own TikTok account to show his adventures with Leo. 

Videos show that the man and dog are very happy together, and can often be found relaxing together around the house. “Life is good together,” Eberhart wrote.

@drbrianeberhartandleo I’m the goodest boy until I chase my cat brother #puppiesoftiktok #puppyrescue #rescuestory #petdad ♬ Cute - Bensound

What a sweet story. It’s clear that this man truly loves his new puppy, and we know they will be devoted to each other forever.
Source

Nonetheless, the majestic flamingos are rather clumsy when they’re young. And this little ones attempts to act as an adult stands for it, even though it is just 4-days-old! The sweet tiny bird was caught on camera while desperately trying to be an adult, but as it turns out, that job is far from easy. 

Though the cute baby flamingo fails on its goal, the interned reward it with a worldwide fame. A permanent resident at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh, the baby flamingo was caught on camera when it tried to stand on one leg, just like the adults do. 

But, this technique is much more difficult that it looks, so the cute little thing adorably fails. But it warns millions of heart instead. An adorable photo of the baby flamingo initially urged online, after the National Aviary shared it on Facebook. 

“National Aviary staff and visitors can’t stop ooh’ing and ahhh’ing over this little one!,” the caption reads. Speaking for Bored Panda, Robin Weber, staff member at the National Aviary, explained: “We all go through a bit of an ‘awkward stage’ and flamingos are no different! 

Source

"Awww,you are so beautiful! You have such long legs, my sweet girl. The best mom in the world! You allow me to be here... you are showing such a strong trust in me .. This is such a gift." The mountain farm lies around 1.000 metres above sea level. The construction of the farm started i 1978 to realise the family Thorson's dream of a sanctuary for animals, birds and people. 

Langedrag lies like a fairy-tale castle in beautiful surroundings, with magnificent views of the lakes and mountains between Hallingdal and Numedal. 

With great respect for the natural selection throughout millions of years, Long Ridge nature park (Langedrag) has attempted to preserve wolves, lynx, reindeer, artic fox, horses, goats, Telemark cattle, Highland cattle, Yak, Mouflon sheep, fowl, duck, geese, and rabbits. Warning: Please do not try to approach a moose, normally they can be quite dangerous, especially when protecting their young.
VIDEO

Source

And for one man, his beloved dog was there when he needed him the most: on his death bed. It’s a sad story, but one that ultimately shows the beautiful bond that exists between people and their pets. John Vincent, a veteran Marine who served in Vietnam, is facing the end of his life. 

The 69-year-old was admitted to hospice care at Raymond G. Murphy Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Sadly, this also meant having to part ways with his beloved dog, Patch, a 5-year-old Yorkshire terrier. 

Since he had no family in the area, he surrendered the dog to Albuquerque Animal Welfare.

  John is likely in his final days, so Amy Neal, a palliative care social worker, asked him if he had any final requests. For John, the choice was simple: he just wanted to see his dog one more time. 

Moved by his dying wish, the workers decided to make it happen, setting up a beautiful final reunion between the man and his dog. “I asked him if that’s something that would be meaningful for him,” Amy Neal told the Albuquerque Journal. 

“And it came together very quickly.” “When the request came in, it was an immediate ‘absolutely,’ and let’s do whatever we can to get it done,” said Danny Nevarez, director of Animal Welfare. “It was as simple as getting Patch over here.” 

Team members from Albuquerque Animal Welfare brought Patch to the hospice. John was deeply moved to see his old friend again:

 

“Yeah, that’s me, that’s daddy,” Vincent said to Patch. “Are you so happy to see me? I’m so happy to see you.” 

Patch was reportedly quiet during the ride, but became emotional as they approached the hospital. “It’s almost like he knew, he just started whimpering,” Nevares told the Journal. 

Vincent adopted Patch when a neighbor had a litter of puppies. He named the dog after his little patch of white fur, which matched John’s sole patch of white chin hair. 

“We were the patch brothers,” Vincent said. He says he also liked that Patch was the smallest of the litter, so he could take him for rides on his motorcycle.

  It was a touching reunion between two old friends. Sadly, it is likely to be their final farewell. Still, it is nice that they were able to make the reunion possible, giving the vet a little bit of joy in his final moments. 

“It was such a heart warming moment!” Albuquerque Animal Welfare wrote on Facebook. “They were so happy to see each other and to say their good byes.” 

And if there’s a silver lining, it’s that Patch will still be well taken care of when his owner is gone. He has returned to the animal shelter where he is looking for a new home—and Animal Welfare says they have an interested adopter lined up. 

But of course, part of his heart will always be with John. It’s a beautiful, bittersweet story that shows how sometimes our pets really are our best friends, even in our final hours.
Source

But most of his grub had gone - after a crafty hedgehog got there first. There were no hard feelings, however, and the animals were spotted happily sharing what was left in Sue Massey's back garden in Leicester. 

Ms Massey, 60, was taking a video of a hedgehog lapping from a bowl in her garden in when a fox decided to join in. She said: 'I'd never seen anything like it before. 'We've got a lovely window for looking out at the garden and foxes and hedgehogs come regularly, but I nearly fell off my chair when I saw this. 'The hedgehog was there first and was just drinking away when the fox came along. There was no animosity and the hedgehog didn't seem fazed. 'After a while, the fox just seemed to give up and wander off.' 

Foxes have been known to eat hedgehogs but are more often than not put off but the layer of spikes covering the body. Hedgehogs are more likely to be a predator.
Source

We don’t really imagine a rabbit the size of a small dog. But these giant rabbits do exist. 

As a result, social media is losing their mind over Cocoa Puff, the Continental Giant rabbit who lives in Seattle, Washington.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cocoa Puff the Giant Rabbit (@big_cocoa_puff)

Despite his large size, he’s still so adorable. And it is his impressive body that has gotten him lots of attention as well as new followers on social media. 

This big boy has 322,000 followers just on Instagram alone. Cocoa Puff’s owner, Lindsay, shared with The Morning Show the family’s decision that led to them adding Cocoa Puff to the family. Her daughter, Macy, really wanted a pet but because the family are renters, they decided against a dog or cat. Instead, they decided to explore the option of rabbits. 

It was during this exploratory foray that the family discovered two things: giant rabbits do exist, and they are great with kids.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cocoa Puff the Giant Rabbit (@big_cocoa_puff)

They ended up with Cocoa Puff. The gentle giant took a little time to get used to his new home, but once he was comfortable he quickly settled into the routine of being a house bunny. 

Lindsay explained, “I would say the house training took between six and seven months. But rabbits are actually very smart – I don’t think they get enough credit. It doesn’t take him long to learn a trick.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cocoa Puff the Giant Rabbit (@big_cocoa_puff)

Even though Cocoa Puff isn’t a dog, he still gets to go on adventures with the family. However, the family is careful not to take Cocoa Puff to places where dogs might be just on the off chance that one gets too close and decides to use him as a chew toy. 

The family shared with 7News.com.au that Cocoa Puff has quite the appetite on him. Even though he’s a rabbit he easily goes through two big plates of greens a day, plus his regular rabbit kibble, hay, and some yummy treats like dried bananas or mango slices.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cocoa Puff the Giant Rabbit (@big_cocoa_puff)

The family has also expressed gratitude that their giant bun doesn’t seem to have too much interest in chewing on things that aren’t food. 

Since rabbits natural chewers, those who own indoor rabbits need to be careful that they don’t get into things like electrical cords, iPhone charger cables, or computer charger cords. 

As a former rabbit owner myself, I can definitely attest to their need to chew on things, which is why I always made sure mine had plenty of rabbit chew toys to play with like wooden blocks, balls of twigs, etc.
Source

While our approaches to them may differ, they have the potential to bring us together. For a long time, humans and animals have formed strong ties with one another. 

While most people prefer to have a pet that they can keep at home with them, others have been able to form close ties with less-domesticated animals. This could range from owning horses to traveling with animals to nurturing barnyard pals. Whatever the case may be, humans and animals have repeatedly demonstrated that they can form genuine friendships and express genuine feelings for one another. 

Thanks to the internet’s power, a touching video of a donkey reconnecting with the young girl who nurtured him has lately gone viral. It can be difficult to educate a pet where to find their food bowl or where to go to the bathroom, but it is necessary for winning the animal’s trust and teaching them responsibility. 

Non-domesticated animals, like the donkey in the video, can also be trained. The amazing friendship between the two buddies has been witnessed by people all around the world. The donkey was overcome with emotion when he saw the girl in the video, and the girl warmly embraced him into her arms for a beautiful embrace. 

As they demonstrated their affection for one another, their friendship was evident and beautiful to see. Make sure to go all the way to the bottom of this page to see the entire movie It’s crucial to keep an eye on donkeys’ behavior, especially when they’re near other animals, according to the Donkey Sanctuary, because they may become highly possessive. 

While they prefer the company of other donkeys, they can form bonds with horses or mules on occasion. Donkeys can benefit greatly from having a long-term friend, but losing that friend can be damaging. 

According to the Donkey Sanctuary, “donkeys can form very strong relationships with their companions, and separating bonded couples can cause enough stress to cause the dangerous condition of hyperlipaemia, which can be fatal.” 

Hyperlipaemia is a condition characterized by an excess of fat in the bloodstream and is exacerbated by high levels of stress. Donkeys are intelligent animals that can learn and be trained rapidly. Throughout their entire lives, they never stop learning. 

According to the Donkey Sanctuary, donkeys who have been able to mingle with others, particularly with animals other than their own kind, are less prone to develop behavioral problems. Because donkeys are able to learn from humans every time they interact, this could potentially involve developing a deep attachment with people. 

Humans have a big influence on how donkeys learn and behave, which is why knowing how to train and communicate with them is so important. Because it is not normal for a donkey to be ridden or transported in a trailer, its conduct may be less than ideal during these activities. 

According to the Donkey Sanctuary, donkeys behave incredibly well when they are properly handled and have an expert trainer who knows how to connect with them. A video of a donkey’s reunion with the young girl who raised him has lately gone viral. 

The girl was seen standing in front of the gates, which were the only thing separating her and the donkey, in the touching footage. The donkey approached the young girl fast and let out a sound filled with mixed emotions. As he got closer to the girl, the animal’s braying became more regular. She grabbed him by the sides of his face once he was directly in front of her, and the two shared a nice moment together. As the little girl who nurtured him gave him a gentle kiss on the bridge of his nose, the heartfelt animal continued to bray. 

Although the animal’s movements were noisy and urgent, his face appeared calm as he was embraced by the girl in a tender embrace. He closed his eyes and drew his ears back, indicating that he was at ease with her. For a brief moment, the two friends hugged while the donkey tried to come as close to them as possible without crossing the gate. The donkey even appeared to be smiling at the end of the sweet footage, as he was still being held carefully by his compassionate pal. 

This movie demonstrates that animals have feelings much like humans. Humans and animals can form deep and unbreakable bonds with love and care that last a lifetime.

 
Source

Nature photographer Suzi Eszterhas, 40, spotted the adorable pair of southern sea otters swimming in Monterey Bay, California. The mother otter lifted the pup out of the water and on to her belly to keep it warm and dry. 

The loving mother also blew air into the young pup's fur to groom it. Ms Eszterhas said she was surprised to see the otters come close to where she was standing. She watched as the mother left her child to float alone in the water. Young otters have a layer of natal fur that helps them to float unaided while their mother hunts for small animals below the surface.

'She did this so many times; it made me feel like a babysitter. It was adorable and it also really showed how vulnerable and trusting wild animals can be.' There are almost 3,000 sea otters living along the California coast - all of which are descendants of a colony of 50 otters discovered in 1938.
Source

She was hungry and clearly unwell. The couple, taking pity on the animal, began to take care of her, and when it was time to give birth, they helped her, and then – her newborn puppies. 

After the pups grew up a little, and they could be weaned from their mother, kind people found them a new home. 

Despite the fact that the couple became attached to Negrita – that’s what they called the dog, they could not take her to them, because they felt that due to their age they would not be able to take care of her. Then they found a new owner for her – an old friend from the neighboring city of Jáchal – and they themselves took the ward to him. 

Everything was going well, but two weeks later, Negrita’s new owner called and said that the dog had run away from home. He searched for her everywhere, but it seemed like her trail went cold.

Days and weeks passed, but Negrita did not return. The owner had already lost hope of finding a pet, when suddenly one day Negrita appeared on the threshold of the house of that elderly couple who helped her in difficult times. It turned out that all this time she was looking for them! The dog walked 161 kilometers to return from Jáchal to Rivadavia. 

The long journey had robbed her of her strength: Negrita had lost a lot of weight and was covered in dirt and wounds. Back at home, the dog drank a whole bucket of water and then slept for 24 hours straight. The astonished couple called their friend and told him that Negrita had returned. 

The man offered to come and pick her up, but this time the couple decided not to part with the dog – after all, how can you betray such loyalty!

“It took a few minutes for me to realise what a once in a lifetime moment that was.”

Source