Category: Animals & Nature

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Therapy Dogs for the Survivors of the Parkland School Shooting Get Their Own Yearbook Page

It’s graduation season all across the country, and students everywhere are saying their goodbyes for the summer (or longer, if they’re graduating seniors) and of course, getting their yearbooks signed.

Unfortunately for the students of  Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the festivities are still clouded by the looming shadow of the tragic shooting that happened in February 2018, claiming the lives of 17 students and teachers. Staff and students are still dealing with the trauma of that day, a burden they will likely carry with them for years (if not the rest of their lives).

In an attempt to help its community cope with that trauma, Stoneman Douglas High School enlisted the help of 14 therapy dogs, and this year the helpful animals got their own yearbook page.

The yearbook’s editor-in-chief, Caitlynn Tibbetts, said:

“It’s a balancing act. After the shooting we wanted that yearbook to be perfect and had to cover as much as possible. This year, we wanted to give proper representation of our school and who we are now without giving so much focus to what happened to us in the past. The therapy dogs are the one thing from last year that is permanent and positive.”

The dogs attend classes with students and hang out in the courtyard outside the cafeteria as students go to and from lunch, so the students can stop for a quick pet.

Teacher and yearbook adviser Sarah Lerner was thrilled with the addition of therapy jobs to the Stoneman Douglas High School campus. Lerner said, “There’s nothing a dog can’t fix. I’ll be teaching and in comes a dog and these big 18-year-old adults all the sudden become mushy 5-year-old kids and it’s been such a comfort for us.”

Lerner had the idea to include the 14 therapy dogs in the school’s yearbook: “We sat them up on chairs, they were smiling for the camera. It was the greatest day of my life.”

A few of the pooches even ended up going to the prom.

A great, uplifting story that was born out of a tragic day that these students and staff will never forget.

The post Therapy Dogs for the Survivors of the Parkland School Shooting Get Their Own Yearbook Page appeared first on UberFacts.

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8 Seriously Stupendous Facts To Impress Your Friends

I’m the type of guy who has never once come across a fact I didn’t like. I love collecting bits of random information, it’s a habit that’s helped me win many a trivia content in my day!

Today, I’m giving the gift of facts to you. Enjoy!

1. It’s that fast

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2. The Can Opener

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3. Feisty kitties

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4. For comfort

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5. Decoys

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6. The best

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7. Brilliant idea

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8. Figure it out

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#TotallyStupendous

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10 Facts That’ll Totally Open Your Eyes

They say you learn something new every day, but just in case you didn’t today, we’ve got you covered!

Here are 10 incredible facts that you can use to smarten up with right now!

1. Let’s be official about it

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2. Wow!

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3. I’d like to see one of those

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4. Doesn’t sound right…

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5. I don’t know if I want one of these…

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6. First Amendment

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7. As they should

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8. Awwwwww

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9. That comma is important

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10. Trippy

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See what I mean?

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This Woman’s Looks Just Like Steve Buscemi, and the Internet Can’t Get Enough

Whenever you see an animal that looks like a person, it’s definitely a little jarring. It can also be among the superficial reasons that people turn down a perfectly lovable pet. My dog, for instance, has the cutest little underbite, which I was told was a reason that a few other prospective families turned her down. I’d say it worked out though, because I now have the world’s sweetest little puppy and those other people lost out!

Perhaps her looks are the reason this cat spent 2 whole years in a shelter (she was there from the time she was 2 days old!) before someone finally loved her for who she was on the inside…and the outside.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Marla “Buscemi” Cat (@buscemi_cat) on

Because y’all, she looks exactly like Steve Buscemi.

When Jen Chavez went looking for another member to add to their family – they already had 3 rescue cats and 3 little boys – she had no idea what she would find.

But when she saw Marla, Jen was immediately intrigued with the funny-looking, but sweet, feline.

 

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A post shared by Marla “Buscemi” Cat (@buscemi_cat) on

When she inquired, Jen found the shelter staff very protective of the little girl. She’d been dumped there at 2 days old and had waited 2 long years for someone to take her home.

 

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A post shared by Marla “Buscemi” Cat (@buscemi_cat) on


That someone was Jen, who knew that her “little strange face” would fit right in with their family.

 

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A post shared by Marla “Buscemi” Cat (@buscemi_cat) on

The shelter employees did let Jen know there was a meme floating around the internet that compared her to Steve Buscemi, and that was when it clicked – that was exactly who Marla looked like!

 

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A post shared by Marla “Buscemi” Cat (@buscemi_cat) on

Marla is 5 now, an internet sensation, and happy at home with the other cats and her humans in the home.

 

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A post shared by Marla “Buscemi” Cat (@buscemi_cat) on

Jen describes her as sweet, playful, a good eater, and a fan of her husband’s singing.

As long as she doesn’t start taking on traits from Buscemi’s character from Boardwalk Empire, they should be fine.

The post This Woman’s Looks Just Like Steve Buscemi, and the Internet Can’t Get Enough appeared first on UberFacts.

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Man Discovers a Bear Has Been Bribing His Dog with Deer Bones to Gain Access to the Trash Can

Personally, I’d be scared s***less if I found a bear was hanging out near my dog/house. Twitter user Jesse Jordan is clearly a better man than I am, as he was mad about this situation for an entirely different reason.

Jordan, who lives in a remote part of Canada, was shocked to find that his dog, Brick, has been accepting deer bones as a gift from a smart bear who is, in turn, granted access to Jordan’s trash. And you know how much bears loooooooove trash.

As you can see, Brick was bribed with some pretty big bones, so you can sympathize with his situation. I mean, how could he possibly turn those bad boys down?!?!

Jordan had to face the hard truth that Brick is just not cut out for this kind of work.

Indeed, this is an impeachable offense. And although Jordan was pretty miffed by this offense, he had to admit that Brick is a damn good boy.

People on Twitter loved the story and shared their thoughts about Jordan and his sidekick, Brick.

And Jordan had one final thought for all the Tweeters out there.

Oh Brick, you really did it this time…

But we shouldn’t be too hard on him, right? I mean, find me a furry doggo that would ever turn down a heaping helping of deer bones.

Go ahead…I’ll wait.

That’s right, the answer is, they would all do the same exact that good ol’ Brick did in this situation.

Do you have any similar stories with your pets? Share them in the comments below, por favor!

The post Man Discovers a Bear Has Been Bribing His Dog with Deer Bones to Gain Access to the Trash Can appeared first on UberFacts.

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8 Great Facts That’ll Put a Smile on Your Face

Some facts will bum you out, like finding out that honey bees are seriously endangered.

These facts, however, are the opposite of that. They will make you smile, maybe even laugh. So let’s get to it!

1. Resting place

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2. It’s easy!

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3. Look at ’em go!

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4. Perfect!

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5. It really does

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6. You better believe it

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7. Love, South Korean style

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8. Think about that

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I saw that frown go upside down…

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Releasing Balloons May Look Pretty, but It’s an Environmental Disaster

Releasing balloons has been a staple of many celebratory events, from graduation ceremonies to funerals. They may have been inspired by the Chinese tradition of sky lantern ceremonies, but while sky lanterns are usually made of paper and bamboo and float down in a short time, helium balloons sail high and far away.

A gazillion balloons carried in the wind are pretty to watch and certainly can add buoyancy to the spirit…

But unfortunately, this cheerful sight portends an oncoming disaster for the environment.

Balloons waste is especially hard on wildlife. Sea animals, like turtles, pelicans, whales, as well as forest-dwellers, frequently come in contact with deflated balloons and string. Turtles may think a deflated balloon is a tasty jellyfish, while a seabird might see it as a fish to be snatched up.

Either way, they’re both wrong – and their errors can be deadly.

Not too long ago, a sperm whale corpse washed up on the beach of a resort town in Spain. An autopsy showed the whale had ingested 64 pounds of garbage, including plastic. This incident highlighted how polluted the earth’s waterways are, how clogged with waste. Though it may not seem an obvious effect of joyously sending some balloons soaring, marine life is dying because of what we do without considering the consequences.

People who patrol beaches and shoreline report finding sea turtles and birds tangled in balloons and ribbons. Some of these animals are rescued and cleaned up for rehabilitation and eventual release. Others are already dead.

Photo Credit: Pam Bedsole

Along with plastic bags and fishing nets, balloon are classed by the Ocean Conservancy as one of the three deadliest litter types.

Nick Mallos, Trash Free Seas’ program director for Ocean Conservancy, told The Dodo, “It’s not uncommon for sea turtles to be found emaciated, sick or dead, only to find out later after X-rays or a necropsy that they’ve ingested a balloon.”

His team often finds balloon fragments and string inside the GI tracts of turtles.

Even if the balloons are released many miles inland, they are often carried out over water where they burst or float down. Mallos said balloons released in the U.K. have reportedly been found as far away as Hong Kong and Australia.

But, like the balloons, information about how celebrations that literally call for releasing garbage into the environment has traveled to faraway places. Cities and towns all over the U.S. and other countries are banning balloon releases in favor of less impactful commemorations. Colorful streamers or paper spheres can be released and cleaned up afterward. And even if they floated away and out of reach, they would biodegrade fairly quickly.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Other alternatives are banners, kites or bunting.

To learn more about keeping balloons and other trash out of the sky, forests and waters, visit Ocean Conservancy and South Florida-based Balloons Blow.

Maybe do something a little more environmentally friendly for your kid’s next birthday party? Just a thought.

The post Releasing Balloons May Look Pretty, but It’s an Environmental Disaster appeared first on UberFacts.

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Amsterdam Enacts a Ban on All Gas and Diesel Vehicles

Pollution is the global issue of our time, and around the world more and more cities are trying to take measures to reduce their carbon impact.

Most recently, the city of Amsterdam has taken a MAJOR step towards cleaner air: the Dutch city has announced that it is planning to phase out all gas and diesel vehicles by 2030.

Amsterdam’s traffic councillor recently said, “Pollution often is a silent killer and is one of the greatest health hazards in Amsterdam.” You might be surprised that such a world-renowned bike-friendly city (30% of Dutch commuters travel by bike) has such an awful pollution problem, but air pollution in the Netherlands is worse than European rules permit. This is mainly due to the heavy traffic in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

The city’s plan is to replace all gas and diesel engines with electric or hydrogen cars, or other emission-free alternatives, by 2030. The plan will begin next year when diesel engines built before 2005 will be banned from Amsterdam. The plan then calls for gradual banning of more vehicles from city streets.

The current levels of nitrogen dioxide and particle matter in Amsterdam’s air can cause respiratory illnesses and shorten life expectancy by more than a year. The city plans to get rid of public buses that run on gas by 2022, to increase the number of electrical charging stations to 23,000 by 2025, and to offer subsidies and special parking permits to encourage residents to make the switch to electric and hydrogen cars sooner than later. We all know how crucial a nice parking spot can be, right?

Hopefully, other cities around the globe will take note – and in fact Brussels, Belgium, is already looking to follow Amsterdam’s lead.

The post Amsterdam Enacts a Ban on All Gas and Diesel Vehicles appeared first on UberFacts.

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20 Tips to Help You Get Closer to Having Zero Waste

If you and your family are working toward a greener way of life, then chances are you’re looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint in your daily life. If you’re feeling green, here are 20 ways you can inch your household closer to zero waste.

#1. A compost bin on your countertop.

Image Credit: Amazon

You know you need to compost, but when you’re cleaning up in a hurry, you don’t want to make two trips – one to the trash and one to the compost bin/pile. This little bin is the answer to all of your concerned-but-lazy prayers!

#3. A solid reusable water bottle.

Image Credit: Amazon

This one even collapses so you can save on precious cabinet space.

#3. Re-chargeable batteries and a charger.

Image Credit: Amazon

Do you know how many batteries you toss in the trash? Don’t start counting; it’s just depressing.

#4. Ditch your dryer sheets.

Image Credit: Amazon

These dryer balls come infused with lovely scents, fluff your clothes, and erase static cling.

#5. If you love baking, silicon cupcake wrappers are a must.

Image Credit: Amazon

These are adorable, too – bonus.

#6. Toss your pads and tampons for good.

Image Credit: Thinx

Reusable period panties are all the rage for a great reason – they’re awesome.

#7. Glass storage and meal prep containers.

Image Credit: Amazon

You’ll literally keep them forever. As long as you don’t lose the lids.

#8. Toss your floss in favor of a Waterpik.

Image Credit: Amazon

Plus, you know. Actually start flossing!

#9. Ditch your bottles of body wash.

Image Credit: Amazon

Swap it for a rich lather bar soap, instead.

#10. Replace cling wrap with something washable/compostable.

Image Credit: Amazon

These beeswax wraps are a good option, but there are many reusable products on the market.

#11. Reusable shopping bags.

Image Credit: Amazon

A classic! You’ll love these so much there’s no way you’re going to forget them at home.

#12. Switch your plastic baggies out for reusable silicon baggies.

Bonus – you will feel so organized, too.

Image Credit: Amazon

#13. A washable puppy pee pad.

Image Credit: Amazon

No more tossing the ones they soil while you’re training them.

#14. A coffee cup you’ll love to reuse.

Image Credit: Amazon

This one comes with a cork “sleeve” to save your fingers, too.

#15. A reusable earwax kit.

Image Credit: Amazon

No more cotton swabs! (Be careful with these – they may be satisfying, but you really don’t want to damage your eardrum)

#16. A loofah that lasts.

Image Credit: Amazon

And doesn’t gather microbes like it’s its job.

#17. Stainless steel coffee pods.

Image Credit: Amazon

Stop feeling guilty about your Keurig today – just fill with ground coffee, and you’re golden!

#18. Ditch your parchment paper/foil.

Image Credit: Amazon

These silicone baking mats work even better.

#19. If you’ve got kids, these washable squeeze pouches are a must.

Image Credit: Amazon

We throw away so. many. pouches.

#20. Get rid of your single-use straws.

Image Credit: Amazon

Stainless steel, bamboo, or whatever – but make sure you’ve got good cleaning implements, too!

I know I’m going to give a few of these a try!

The post 20 Tips to Help You Get Closer to Having Zero Waste appeared first on UberFacts.

Posted on

20 Tips to Help You Get Closer to Having Zero Waste

If you and your family are working toward a greener way of life, then chances are you’re looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint in your daily life. If you’re feeling green, here are 20 ways you can inch your household closer to zero waste.

#1. A compost bin on your countertop.

Image Credit: Amazon

You know you need to compost, but when you’re cleaning up in a hurry, you don’t want to make two trips – one to the trash and one to the compost bin/pile. This little bin is the answer to all of your concerned-but-lazy prayers!

#3. A solid reusable water bottle.

Image Credit: Amazon

This one even collapses so you can save on precious cabinet space.

#3. Re-chargeable batteries and a charger.

Image Credit: Amazon

Do you know how many batteries you toss in the trash? Don’t start counting; it’s just depressing.

#4. Ditch your dryer sheets.

Image Credit: Amazon

These dryer balls come infused with lovely scents, fluff your clothes, and erase static cling.

#5. If you love baking, silicon cupcake wrappers are a must.

Image Credit: Amazon

These are adorable, too – bonus.

#6. Toss your pads and tampons for good.

Image Credit: Thinx

Reusable period panties are all the rage for a great reason – they’re awesome.

#7. Glass storage and meal prep containers.

Image Credit: Amazon

You’ll literally keep them forever. As long as you don’t lose the lids.

#8. Toss your floss in favor of a Waterpik.

Image Credit: Amazon

Plus, you know. Actually start flossing!

#9. Ditch your bottles of body wash.

Image Credit: Amazon

Swap it for a rich lather bar soap, instead.

#10. Replace cling wrap with something washable/compostable.

Image Credit: Amazon

These beeswax wraps are a good option, but there are many reusable products on the market.

#11. Reusable shopping bags.

Image Credit: Amazon

A classic! You’ll love these so much there’s no way you’re going to forget them at home.

#12. Switch your plastic baggies out for reusable silicon baggies.

Bonus – you will feel so organized, too.

Image Credit: Amazon

#13. A washable puppy pee pad.

Image Credit: Amazon

No more tossing the ones they soil while you’re training them.

#14. A coffee cup you’ll love to reuse.

Image Credit: Amazon

This one comes with a cork “sleeve” to save your fingers, too.

#15. A reusable earwax kit.

Image Credit: Amazon

No more cotton swabs! (Be careful with these – they may be satisfying, but you really don’t want to damage your eardrum)

#16. A loofah that lasts.

Image Credit: Amazon

And doesn’t gather microbes like it’s its job.

#17. Stainless steel coffee pods.

Image Credit: Amazon

Stop feeling guilty about your Keurig today – just fill with ground coffee, and you’re golden!

#18. Ditch your parchment paper/foil.

Image Credit: Amazon

These silicone baking mats work even better.

#19. If you’ve got kids, these washable squeeze pouches are a must.

Image Credit: Amazon

We throw away so. many. pouches.

#20. Get rid of your single-use straws.

Image Credit: Amazon

Stainless steel, bamboo, or whatever – but make sure you’ve got good cleaning implements, too!

I know I’m going to give a few of these a try!

The post 20 Tips to Help You Get Closer to Having Zero Waste appeared first on UberFacts.