Gretchen is a 22 year old giraffe that has become one of Maryland’s Zoo biggest attractions. Over the years it has shown its true and inquisitive nature for which it has earned itself the nickname “Lady of the House”. Yet, the zoo was forced to say farewell to the giraffe as they ended its life due to the extreme pain that it was in from fast moving arthritis.
Close to 200 animals were removed from a farm in Minnesota when authorities found the bodies of a dog, a duck, and a llama rotting on the property.
The Olmsted County Sherriff’s office stated that they found other bodies after they searched and raided the 40 acre farm in Viola Township. According to the Humane Society the owner of the farm was running ‘a puppy mill’.
Many owners will place collars on their pets so that if they run away someone will know where and who to give them back to. When it comes to birds there is usually nothing you can do if they fly away; unless you have a very smart parrot like Yosuke who was taught how to say his address if ever he was lost.
When it comes to picking out a new pet people can get down right picky. They want the yellow puppy that doesn’t get too big or the brown and white cat not the black. Jim Monsma at the Washington Animal Rescue League out in Washington D.C. says that it is common for people to have a specific look in mind when finding a new pet. “People come in and say, I had a black and white tuxedo cat before, so that’s what I want. But cats are not all the same. They have widely divergent personalities.”
Veternarians are hoping that the calories per serving listed on the pet food labels will help owners to control how much their pets eat and will help to keep them from becoming overweight.
“Pet owners do not always know how much to feed,” said John Branam, testifying on behalf of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The FDA held the hearing to help it devise pet food labeling standards.