PetSugar

The Scoop: Skunks Love Peanut Butter, Too

PetSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:50:13 -0700

Mmmm, peanut butter. Not only is it one of my pup's favorite snacks (along with my own), apparently even skunks can't get enough as one unassuming Tulsa mail carrier spotted a stuck skunk in a ~~pickle~~ jar and called for backup. It took her a while to reach the proper party - no joke, called "The Skunk Whisperer" - which was enough time for news crews to come and capture the big rescue. Did everybody make it through unharmed and unsprayed? Watch the video and see for yourself.

Sarah Sets New World Record For 100 Meter Dash!

PetSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:00:03 -0700

Cheetahs have long been hailed as the zippiest land mammal but just how speedy can these big cats go? Naturally, it's likely that cheetahs run as fast in the wild but Sarah, the pretty feline pictured here, set a new record for a recent race in Ohio. See the "course" and learn how her physical feline characteristics helped her reach a top finish time when starting this slideshow.

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What's Your Take: Legal Ban on Declawing?

PetSugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:00:59 -0700

Considered mutilation by many, a simple mention of the word "declaw" warrants an adamant response from even nonfeline fans. Even though the vocal aversion to declawing is already a no-brainer to most of you, the recently proposed ban on the procedure here in SF has earned (what may appear to be) some unlikely challengers - the SPCA.
Even though the organization both opposes the procedure and doesn't practice onychectomy at its hospital, it doesn't agree with legal regulation and SFSPCA President Jan McHugh-Smith worries the proposed law could have other negative side effects:

"The SFSPCA is opposed to declawing . . . but we are concerned about the option being taken away from the guardian. They could potentially give up the pet, and it could end up in a shelter and end up being euthanized."

So the argument is not just about the morality of the procedure but on the involvement of politics in medicine and that city council members have no place regulating such procedures - what's your take?

Source: Flickr User Muffet

The Scoop: All Dog Coat Types Come From Just Three Genes

PetSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:30:06 -0700

Doggie coats range from sleek and straight to coarse and wiry with a lil bit of everything in between. However, a recent study reveals that nearly all types of dog coats come from just three genes!

Combinations and variations of RSPO2, FGF5, and KRT71 create the different types and some breeds, like Bo, the Portuguese water dog, have alterations of all three. I'll leave the more sciencey facts to the experts, but here's some noteworthy trivia tidbits:

Short-haired dogs (like Beagles) have only the ancestral forms of the genes, no variations.
Wire-haired dogs (like the German Wirehaired Pointer) come from a variation of RSPO2.
Regular long-haired dogs (like Golden Retrievers) come from a change in the FGF5 gene while long-haired dogs with beards (like Bearded Collies) have variations of the RSPO2 gene as well.
Curly-haired dogs (like this Irish Water Spaniel) come from a combination of both the FGF5 and KRT71 genes.

What kind of coat does your pooch have?

Would You Keep a Giant Cockroach as a Pet?

PetSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:15:25 -0700

He's a contender. This giant burrowing cockroach made the news for (potentially) being the world's heaviest insect. Related to, but not the same as the roaches we see stateside, these creatures can range from 1 to 1.5 ounces
While it's not yet certain if Heathcliff measures up to the title, I'm torn between wanting to look away . . . and not being able to! As it turns out, in Australia, these popularish pets can cost up to 100 Australian dollars (about $85 in US) for two! They give birth to live young, care for babes in a burrow, and dine on easily attained fresh leaves - would you wish for one as a pampered pal, too?

Source: Cameron Richardson

RIP, Gibson: World's Tallest Dog Loses His Cancer Battle

PetSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:05:39 -0700

Gibson (the Guinness Record holder for the world's tallest dog) was diagnosed with bone cancer back in April and, sadly, he recently lost his battle with the disease. The beautiful Harlequin was undergoing chemotherapy and, when he needed to have his front right paw amputated, his owner started Three Paws For the Cause to raise awareness about canine cancer.

Gibson's vet, Dr. Peter Walsh said:

Last week Gibson began having trouble using his back legs. X-rays showed that the cancer had spread to his spine and his lungs. Ms. Hall made the very difficult decision based on her concern and love for Gibson to have him humanely euthanized. Gibson died peacefully in the loving arms of Ms. Hall.

See a classic video of Gibson showing off his tallness and generally being cute when you read more.

Source: Guinness World Records

An Unconventional Love Story: When Monkey Meets Bunny . . .

PetSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:00:34 -0700

Once upon a time (yet recently), in a land far, far away (Thailand), there lived a macaque named Boonlua. Boonlua had a tough life and, although his story wasn't always a happy one, it ends well . . . in an adorably satisfying sense. Learn about the monkey and his newfound family when you start this slideshow.

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Dog Swallows an Arrow, but Her Name Isn't Cupid

PetSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:10:48 -0700

I said give the dog a bone, not give the dog a bow! Betty, a lucky pup from London, recently swallowed a toy arrow that got lodged in her tummy. Betty's family noticed her gulping down an object and rushed her to the vet's office where doctors were stunned to find a 10-inch arrow! And after a risky surgery, doctors were able to put the pup on the road back to recovery.

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Curious pets are prone to swallowing everything from pennies to action figures and toys, so if you have a pup in the house, be sure to puppy-proof your home. Need some tips? Check out ways to keep your home safe for your pets here!

The Scoop: Woman Pays $32,000 to Fly With Her Dog

PetSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:45:54 -0700

Nope, I didn't tack on some extra zeros - one woman paid $32 grand to fly her beloved Boxer (not shown here) in the cabin with her, business class no less. We know that air fees can add up, but an Israeli woman identified as Rivkah paid for the whole compartment to carry "Orchuk," his vet, and herself from Paris to Tel Aviv on Airline El Al. While she wouldn't discuss the price, Rivkah said:

He is my child, not a dog. And he deserves the best.

Do you think this news is plain nuts or, if you had the cash and the pull, would you make it happen, too?

Survived the Bushfires But Not Surgery - RIP, Sam the Koala

PetSugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:15:55 -0700

Remember Sam - the cute Koala rescued from Australian bushfires back in February? She became an Internet star after videos of a kind firefighter pouring bottled water into her parched lips and the badly burnt "bear" was later brought to a wildlife rescue center.

It turned out she had urogenital chlamydiosis (aka, chlamydia), a disease that plagues up to 50 percent of the country's Koala population. During a surgery to treat the resulting abdominal cysts, doctors discovered her disease to be too advanced and inoperable, so they put Sam to sleep. Remember her fondly with the original footage when you read more.