After all, no one wants to abandon their pet in a fire. When my house was under evacuation for a wildfire fire in 2020, we had to figure out how to pack up all the dogs, chickens, and ducks safely and we had to do it in the dark, in the smoke, with an eerie orange-red haze filling the sky: All of our animals were smaller which made it a lot easier, but there were plenty of people working to evacuate horses, cows, and other livestock to transport to safety. Sometimes, it’s not possible to get your animals to safety. 

Sometimes, the best you can do as an owner is set your pets free from a cage or hope and pray for the best. If you’re not home at the moment and can’t get back, you just hope that somehow your pets make it out. During the Easy Fire that burned 1,806 acres in Simi Valley, Ventura County, California in October of 2019, some horses were left to evacuate on their own. People were there working to guide the horses once they made it out of the worst of it, but one horse refused to be helped. 

In fact, the horse kept turning around and running back into the fire and the people couldn’t figure out why – until they saw her family! The sweet horse was going back to save her foal and another horse that hadn’t made it out yet. In the end, the horse family made it to safety and they stuck together to get there. 

Footage was captured of the horse running back into the fire to unite with its family. Watch the incredible footage below:

 
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  “It was such an uplifting thing to see. Just incredible,” Robert Addie said. The Portsmouth man, now a home remodeler, spent decades on the water as a commercial fisherman in Massachusetts and Alaska. In that time, he said he’s seen thousands of whales. 

But he never witnessed anything like Monday’s whale encounter on a tuna fishing trip off Cape Cod. The excursion with his daughters was for his 59th birthday, as well as to celebrate his safe return from a humanitarian aid trip to Ukraine where he came under heavy artillery fire. 

During the fishing trip, he was trying to film some humpback whales about 300 yards (275 meters) from their boat and was having no luck, until he got what he called a “whale ballet.” “A triple breach is unheard of and a synchronized triple breach is even rarer,” he said. “It’s once in a lifetime. Just very fortunate. I feel God shined down on me to allow me to capture that.” To add to the thrill, seconds after the three whales breached and twisted through the air, a juvenile whale did the same thing. 

Whale experts later told Addie that the aerial maneuvers may have been an attempt to remove parasites or aid digestion. 

He has another theory: “I have a feeling that maybe they were teaching or training” the younger whale. Those same experts also know how rare the spectacle was.

 

“Even some of the whale experts that have reached out to me, they’re all jealous because they’ve never seen it,” Addie said.
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The impact of all of these things, along with a life spent outside, had its effect on Ugly. To begin with, he only had one eye, and where the other should have been was a gaping hole. 

He also lacks his left ear on that side; his left foot appears to have been severely fractured at some point. Meet Ugly, this is his story (we think he’s beautiful).

After losing her husband, Jana was struggling with sleep and emotional turmoil. It was then that Chewie entered her life, providing comfort and support during those difficult times. Jana and Chewie’s bond grew stronger over the years, and now, they spend their summers at Rummy’s Beach Club, a place where dogs can enjoy warm water swimming therapy alongside their owners. 

This unique experience has not only brought joy to Chewie but has also helped her with some health issues. As Chewie has aged, she has developed light sensitivity, making it difficult for her to be out in the sun. The staff at Rummy’s Beach Club noticed this and provided Chewie with special goggles made for dogs to protect her eyes. 

Jana also uses an inflatable cone to keep Chewie’s head above water, as she doesn’t like it when her ears get submerged. These small adjustments have made a significant difference in Chewie’s comfort and enjoyment during their swimming sessions. Despite her age, Chewie continues to be a happy and energetic dog. Every morning, she wakes up with enthusiasm, ready to face the day. Jana credits Chewie with helping her through some of the most challenging times in her life, and now, she is committed to taking care of Chewie in her golden years. 

This heartwarming story of Jana and Chewie serves as a reminder of the incredible bond that can form between humans and their pets. The love and support that Chewie provided Jana during her time of need is a testament to the healing power of animals. 

As they continue to enjoy their time together, Jana and Chewie’s story is sure to inspire others to cherish the special relationships they have with their own pets.

 
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The heavy downpour caused a nearby river to overflow, sweeping the helpless puppy away in the forceful current. As “luck” would have it, Duke was nearby and witnessed the puppy’s desperate struggle. 

Without hesitation, Duke leaped into the raging river and swam determinedly towards the distressed pup. Despite the powerful current, Duke managed to reach the puppy and guide him back to the safety of solid ground. Following the rescue, Duke took on the role of a nurturing figure, adopting Lucky and caring for his needs. The bond between the two dogs grew rapidly, with Lucky faithfully following Duke wherever they went. 

Their heartwarming story quickly spread across social media, touching the hearts of countless individuals and highlighting the importance of animal rescue and adoption. Thanks to Duke’s love and devoted care, Lucky has transformed from a helpless puppy into a content and thriving dog. Their companionship remains strong, with Duke continuing to watch over Lucky’s well-being and ensuring his safety at all times. 

Together, they embark on various adventures, with Duke serving as a constant guardian. Lucky’s journey serves as a powerful testament to the remarkable resilience of animals and the profound connections they can forge with one another. 

This heartwarming tale also emphasizes the significance of animal rescue and adoption, reminding us that there are numerous animals waiting for the opportunity to find a loving and nurturing forever home.

 
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A post shared by Hayden Kittler (@kittlerhayden)

From Kittler’s exhausted and irritated response, you can tell this isn’t BoomBoom’s first time breaking into the home. In another social media comment, Kittler explains that BoomBoom was orphaned as a baby, and Kittler spent time raising the bison inside the home. Since then, the animal has been trying to get back inside. 

However, a full-grown male bison can weigh between 1,000 and 2,200 pounds, so it’s probably not something you want in your home. The video shows the damage left behind by the massive animal. Besides the damage at the entrance, you can see that BoomBoom overturned furniture and pushed a whole table aside. Kittler enters slowly and tries to keep the animal calm. 

Even as his longtime owner, Kittler is hesitant, as bison are known to ram in self-defense. Kittler slowly moves a table and chair out of the way and tries to calm BoomBoom down. He eventually convinces BoomBoom to get back outside. 

However, it ends a little disappointingly for BoomBoom, who was hoping for food, only to be tricked. BoomBoom has been popular enough on TikTok and Instagram that Kittler is now selling a plushie toy of the bison to help raise money for its care. 

Kittler’s video is a good reminder of the dangers of bison. Park rangers are continuing to remind visitors to national parks that they should keep a safe distance from wild animals. So far this year, there have been two cases of bisons injuring tourists.

  Mayane Rodrigues observed something beautiful happen outside her Brazilian apartment window last week on a soggy and dismal day. Rodrigues saw a little girl halting on the drizzly sidewalk as she made her way home from school from a range on the street below. She would undoubtedly set her umbrella down, take off her bag, and then take off her coat. 

Rodrigues knew it was all for the girl when he observed a tiny, stray dog that was dripping wet at her feet. Rodrigues watched as the girl moved forward while holding the puppy in her arms. She saw her as an angel. Everything occurred so swiftly. 

The Dodo was told by Rodrigues that it was really emotional. “I sent the video to a friend who shared it with a neighborhood group, and then I learned who the angel was,” the speaker said. Cibely Stigelmair is her name. She is twelve years old. She also helped save a life that day. 

Rejane Stiegelmair, Cibely’s mother, told The Dodo, “I was startled when she arrived with the dog since she was quite hot and wet from the downpour. “Her clothes was covered with blood. Although she said the tiny dog was damaged, I initially believed she had been hurt. Fortunately, there wasn’t much damage done to the tiny dog. 

There was nothing that a little tender care and love couldn’t fix. Cibley realized she had to make the offer personally after seeing the tiny dog there by herself. Cibely has a wonderful heart. She has a great deal of sympathy for stray pets,” Rejane alleged. She would bring everyone home if she could. Cibely gave the puppy, whom she called Pretinha, a warm welcome into the household. 

Nobody is really sure how Pretinha ended up abandoned on the pavement that day, but one thing is certain: Her future has never looked better due to Cibely. Cibely’s mother declared, “As parents, we are and always have been proud of Cibely.” “And right now, we’re even more so!”
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Now, one zoo is celebrating the birth of a clouded leopard kitten, which is being called a “significant birth” for a “vulnerable species.” 

On Friday, the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden announced that their clouded leopard Rukai gave birth to a male kitten on July 18, following a 90-day gestation period, according to a release from the zoo.

  The clouded leopard has been listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List since 2008. The species is threatened by large-scale habitat loss due to deforestation and the illegal wildlife trade. 

They are locally extinct in areas including Singapore and Taiwan. The Oklahoma City Zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan for clouded leopards. 

This marks their first clouded leopard arrival of 2023, and they called it a “significant birth.”

 

“Immediately following the kitten’s birth, the Zoo’s carnivore carnivore caretakers stepped in and began providing round-the-clock care for this little cloudie,” the zoo wrote on Facebook. “Caretakers report the kitten is healthy and doing everything a newborn should be doing – eating, sleeping and growing!” they added. 

They explained that the newborn kitten will eventually be brought to another accredited zoo to continue the careful repopulation of this rare species. “As the kitten continues to grow strong, he will be making his way to another AZA-accredited facility to be another important ambassador for his species and hopefully have little cloudies of his own one day!” 

 What a beautiful newborn and great news for this at-risk species!
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Hundreds of thousands of these beautiful animals are in the wild, so they aren’t in danger of extinction, according to National Geographic. Like any other type of fox, they are wild animals, so restrictions are placed on who can own them. According to Wise Voter, in the United States, there are only 15 states that allow people to own a fox, and even those states have restrictions. They are considered to be dangerous to humans. They are also loud and have a lot of energy. And then there is Archie. 

According to GeoBeats Animals, he was dropped off at a Colorado dog shelter when he was eight. He is an Arctic Fox that is also blind. No one knows why Archie got dropped off at the dog shelter. Perhaps his former humans couldn’t keep up with his care, or they had to move. Regardless, he went from the shelter in Colorado to Minnesota, where he was moved to a fox rescue. Archie didn’t care for it and didn’t want to socialize with the other foxes. That is when the Arctic Fox Daily Wildlife Rescue came in. They do more than provide a safe place for foxes that cannot be released into the wild. They rehabilitate native wildlife in New York, doing what they can, if possible, to give them a home or safely put them back in the wild. 

According to GeoBeats Animals, the founder of the organization, Kimberly DeFisher, said: “When Archie first got here, he was definitely very reserved, but what’s really cool is that Archie, fast forward a little bit, has completely come out of his shell.” Archie was born blind, so he has become accustomed to living without eyesight. He does well remembering his boundaries but still bumps into things occasionally. He also knows the word “treat.” Lulu is a special person in Archie’s life. 

They often hang out with each other at the sanctuary. They even go on dates with another couple of foxes, Cleo and tundra. Kimberly says that people sometimes ask her why she puts so much into caring for these animals. 

Many people think they aren’t worth the trouble, but she has seen the rewards of doing it. Kimberly also shares how Archie is getting near the end of his life. An Arctic Fox will typically live up to 10 years old and the wild, and Archie is now 10 years old. 

Kimberly wants to make sure he is happy now that he is older. There is a video showing Archie’s beauty and how much these wonderful animals mean to Kimberly. 

You can see it below but be warned, it will touch your heart:

 
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  Cherub was tended to quickly. Her sprained leg was splinted and her scraped-up nose was cleaned properly and then treated with antibiotic ointment. She was in better spirits, knowing these kind humans were there to help. Now it was time for Cherub to rest! After some much-needed R&R, Cherub was given a healthy meal which she lapped right up! This was an excellent sign. The pup was in good spirits and feeling well, considering all she had been through. The best part: she thanked the tenderhearted volunteer with the sweetest kisses. Dogs have such beautiful souls! To see Cherub’s rescue and transformation, click play on the video below. Animal Aid Unlimited is an incredible rescue organization that helps so many animals in need. 

Let’s give them a big shoutout by sharing this video!

 
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  By providing animals with the opportunity to explore and interact with paint, zoos allow the animals to tap into their innate curiosity and creativity. 

Activities and objects that enhance an animal’s life or environment are called “enrichment.” You can see just how much fun they’re having:

@dailymail Such skill. Much art✨ Credit: Caters/FARM SANCTUARY SA #dailymail #pig #pigs #farmlife #cute #skills #love #MaxPlumpJump #TostitosUnspokenBonds ♬ Live Music Classic, Vivaldi, Fun(125601) - air music

Why exactly does painting improve an animal’s mental health and welfare? Whether you’re looking at a chimpanzee, elephant, bird, or dog, all animals possess an inherent desire to explore and interact with their environment. 

Through painting, they can channel their curiosity and creativity into creating something new. This form of enrichment allows animals to express their individuality and provides them with a means of interaction that goes beyond their typical behaviors. 

Engaging in painting activities also provides animals with physical exercise and helps improve their coordination. Painting requires animals to use their limbs and manipulate brushes or other tools. 

For example, elephants can use their trunks to hold brushes and make deliberate strokes on canvas, which not only provides them with exercise but also stimulates their trunk muscles and enhances their dexterity.

  So, what exactly is enrichment? Enrichment is an essential component of animal care that aims to enhance the quality of life for animals in captivity. It involves providing animals with stimulating environments, activities, and experiences that mimic their natural interactions and behaviors. 

Some other types of enrichment include: Food-based enrichment: 

Enrichment encourages animals to engage in different types of behaviors, promotes physical and mental exercise, and reduces boredom and stress. 

Painting is just one of the many types of enrichment that can be implemented to improve the well-being of animals. 

Zoo Atlanta provides a great explanation of all of the mental stimulation involved in the training and execution of creating a painting with their ground hornbills, Zazu and Gumby:

@zooatl Are Zazu and Gumby the very best and most talented birds in the world? No way to be sure we guess but seems like a strong possibility! #bird #birdsoftiktok #training #hornbill #animals #cuteanimals ♬ original sound - Zoo Atlanta

Animal painting as enrichment is a wonderful way to tap into the creative potential of animals and provide them with a stimulating and enriching experience. 

By engaging in painting activities, animals can express themselves, engage in physical exercise, and improve their overall well-being. 

You might even teach your pets to paint using water-based child paints… but it might be a good idea to try that outside if you value your carpets!
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Sparking conversations about family priorities, Elena’s sweet and hilarious TikTok video, titled “When your priority is your dog, not the child,” shows the father, dog and son crossing the street and continuing down the sidewalk. Once the trio reached the sidewalk, it appears they are joined by a woman who, trailing close behind, is pushing a child’s three-wheeled stroller or bike that’s holding a big-boxed item. One TikTok user suggested the kid had to walk because his transportation was poached by his mother. 

“No one mentioned the mom in the back with the push trike. The kid is walking because mom put something in the trike. Maybe dog is sick?” Others said the sidewalk was too hot for the dog’s paws and that the child’s feet are protected by his shoes: “The puppy’s legs are burning, and the child is wearing shoes so it’s better to carry the puppy.” While another writes, “This is actually super sweet. The pavement is probably way too hot for the dogs paws so he is carrying him.” 

The majority of users praised the dad for carrying the dog, providing evidence to the growing population of non-traditional, interspecies families, that today are oftentimes completed with the addition of a fur child. “He is (showing) a lot of empathy and responsibility for his pet and his son because he takes him by the hand. a thousand blessings.” Writes one person. 

Another, relating to this father’s love for both the child and dog, adds: “Super dad. I would have done the same. Kid has shoes on and the doggy doesn’t. It looks hot too. Plus his mom was there maybe he wanted to walk,”

@lega819 #humor ♬ Televisa Presenta - soucitigrafix

It really is adorable how this dad is expressing love for his dog and child! We wish everyone treated animals with an equal kind of love.
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  This video has recently been making its way around online and it’s not hard to see why. The clip shows a white deer nursing her minutes-old brown baby boy and giving him all the love a newborn needs. This is obviously amazing to witness, but what happens a little later in the video is even more incredible. 

The newborn brown fawn is the latest addition to this deer family, and his mom really gives him the love he needs. But how nice it is to see the next surprise the family has in store for it—the fawn’s twin! 

Keep a careful eye on the color of the twin’s coat—he may be a twin, but he’ll certainly stand out in the world. When you see this clip, you’ll once again be struck by how beautiful our world still is. 

 While the whole video is quite beautiful, the most surprising part comes at the 8:10 mark:

  How amazing was that? Don’t forget to share these beautiful twins with your friends on Facebook
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  A Virginia woman passionately enjoys pets. She especially enjoys helping individuals who seem to have no one to turn to or who no one wants to care for any longer. 

Shelly Blount adores dogs, as evidenced by the fact that she already has three rescue dogs living in her house. After spotting an internet advertisement for a dog seeking an adoptive home, she decided to expand her current pack by one. She made plans by calling the shelter after deciding to adopt the puppy online. She had originally intended to buy the puppy online and bring him home, giving him a second shot at life. Her warmth and sincerity are without dispute. 

But when she arrived to the shelter, something even more extraordinary took place. Instead of adopting one rescue dog as originally planned, Bella, Caleb, and Charisma were adopted instead. Although Shelly had no intention of saving all three canines, something happened during her discussion with the shelter that forced her to intercede and save the lives of more puppies. She almost had to put down the first dog she tried to save, but another person claimed the animal first. 

Despite not being able to complete her original plan, Shelly was happy that the pup was saved because that is what she really wanted.

The first dog that she wanted to rescue was almost put down but someone else came before her to take the said dog. The pup was rescued and it was what Shelly wanted although she was not successful in doing what she initially planned to accomplish. 

Although Shelly had no intention of saving all three canines, something happened during her discussion with the shelter that forced her to intercede and save the lives of more puppies. She almost had to put down the first dog she tried to save, but another person claimed the animal first. 

Despite not being able to complete her original plan, Shelly was happy that the pup was saved because that is what she really wanted. The woman’s heart broke when she learned that a dog was in risk of being put down. Shelly enquired about his background and current circumstances. She supports giving animals more chances at life since she loves animals, therefore she couldn’t help but worry about the dog. Shelly immediately drove to the shelter after finishing her phone call, and it took her four hours to get there. She set up the adoption of the dog because she wanted to see Caleb. 

When Shelly finally caught a glimpse of Caleb, she instantly felt a need to protect him, but what occurred next was even better. She learned that two more dogs will also be put down along with Caleb. She could not help but feel sorry for Bella and Charisma when she saw them. The staff said that there is no cap on the number of dogs that may be adopted by one person when the woman asked them about it without hesitation. She then made the decision to adopt all three of the pets. The woman asked the staff whether there was a cap on the number of dogs she could adopt without giving it much thought, and they said that there was none. 

The decision to adopt all three of the dogs was made at that same time. This made Shelly’s choice even more worthwhile because the dogs were overjoyed to have a new home. Caleb was “sooo excited,” according to Shelly, “kept blowing kisses from the back seat, and his tail was wagging so fast.” Bella sat in my friend’s lap and did not move at all since she was so happy to be held. My precious little angel Charisma was almost holding me the entire time. 

She saved all three dogs from the shelter by adopting them, but she was unable to keep them all at home, so she sought for other pet lovers who were eager to adopt rescue puppies. Bella and Caleb ultimately got new everlasting homes since she fortunately discovered those family. Charisma, who was left with her, had something special for Shelly. There was an excellent reason why Charisma was constantly drowsy. They discovered the pup’s pregnancy after taking it to the veterinarian. Shelly is ecstatic by the news that she ended up with more puppies than she anticipated. Wow! What a motivational tale, in fact! 

We sincerely hope that more individuals are like Shelly, who are willing to contribute more in order to preserve the lives of animals in need.
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What they discovered inside has shocked the nation and now police are investigating. They saw the tied up sack move and pulled it out of the water to find six newborn puppies inside. 

Thankfully, they were all alive. The kayakers were able to rescue the dogs and contact the relevant authorities, CBS reported.

Uxbridge puppies are healthy after being dumped in Blackstone River. Adoptions in 8-9 weeks. pic.twitter.com/Qhm1TCtzLO

— Lana Jones (@Lanawbz) September 25, 2017

“I believe as a police chief they had guardian angels looking over them, these kayakers,” Uxbridge Police Department Chief Jeffrey Lourie said. “It was only a matter of time before they were all submerged and perished.” 

The puppies are thought to be seven days old. Officers are looking for the “low life” person responsible, according to a post from the department on Facebook.

Expecting to hear soon from Uxbridge Animal Control about the puppies found in a sack along the Blackstone River. pic.twitter.com/cb5wNiCVRb

— Lana Jones (@Lanawbz) September 25, 2017

“Obviously this is a heinous act, unconscionable,” Lourie said. “We definitely want to be able to charge [the suspect] with six counts of cruelty to animals.” 

They are now in the care of Uxbridge Animal Control, Lourie added. These acts of animal cruelty astound me. It’s heartbreaking. Thankfully someone was watching over them and they are now in safe hands.

She is currently 6 feet tall, and zoo staff believe she is one of a kind, with the phenomenon being an incredibly rare occurrence for giraffes in captivity, and in the wild. Spots are used by giraffes to camouflage themselves in the wild. A series of veins on their skin also means the spots can help with heat regulation. 

Normally, giraffes inherit a unique set of spots from their mothers - which makes the birth of this animal incredibly unique. The zoo hopes the baby animal can help raise awareness for challenges faced by giraffes in the wild, including illegal poaching and habitat destruction. “The international coverage of our patternless baby giraffe has created a much-needed spotlight on giraffe conservation,” the founder of Brights Zoo, Tony Bright, told local television news station WCYB. 

“Wild populations are silently slipping into extinction, with 40% of the wild giraffe population lost in just the last three decades.” The zoo is holding a public contest to name the baby giraffe.
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According to a Facebook post, the owl had been trapped in the pit for at least two days and was in rough shape. He was dehydrated, weak, and covered in layers of caked-on manure which took several baths to get off.

 The adorable reaction of one furry audience member that day, however, was not. “The character I played was injured and in great pain,” said Uzunsoy. “He’d fallen off a horse, and was breathing hard.” As Uzunsoy lay on the ground, his pretend suffering didn't go unnoticed. From the wings, a concerned stray dog made his entrance — interrupting the play to offer the "injured" stranger comfort. Uzunsoy didn't see it coming. 

“I felt warmth on my face. First, I thought my costar was approaching me,” Uzunsoy said. He was wrong. Realizing the truth, Uzunsoy couldn’t help but break character. His face gave way to a smile. “I was very happy when I felt the dog's kisses,” Uzunsoy said. “I was very touched. He was like an angel who wanted to help me. It was a very emotional moment for me. I was not expecting it.” 

No one seemed to mind that pause in the action. Rather, the reaction to the pup’s interruption was quite the opposite. “My castmates loved the dog, and the audience was very happy,” Uzunsoy said. “Everyone cheered.” A crew member eventually escorted the sweet dog offstage, where he remained awhile before strolling away. Uzunsoy, however, hopes their meeting that day is just the first of many acts to come. He wants to reunite with the pup and help him find a home — returning the favor for the kindness he’d shown Uzunsoy. 

“The next day I went to the same place, looking for him. People told me he usually hangs out there. I went again today,” Uzunsoy said. “I'll look for him until I find him. I've always loved animals.”
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