Good News for Pet Owners! Silent Fireworks Exist and a Town in Italy Is Already Using Them.

You know who doesn’t love the excitement of a good fireworks show?

Your dog or cat, that’s who.

Which explains why July 5 is the busiest day for animal shelters throughout the United States. The spectacular fireworks shows used to celebrate the nation’s freedom means a night of confusion and fear for many pets who will do anything to get away from the noise. Even if it means running away from home.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

If the poor runaways don’t get scooped up and taken to a shelter, they can sometimes end up getting hit by a car.  They can also suffer nausea and heart problems from the stress.

But one town in Italy has decided to put pets and wildlife first when it comes to city-wide celebrations.

Collecchio in the Parma province has required its citizens to use only silent fireworks, protecting animals from the stress and anxiety of a traditional cracking and booming fireworks display.

Photo Credit: Pexels

Silent fireworks have all the brightness and illumination of regular fireworks. There’s even the noise of the ignition, but it’s not loud enough to frighten animals. No big bang and pop to scare pets or birds. Just a lovely trail of sparkles in the sky.

Setti Fireworks, an Italian company, designs the quieter pyrotechnics with customized colors and designs for Collecchio, which has made it against the law to use normal fireworks within their city.

The result is better visual effects, colors and even lasers that have replaced the noise, keeping spectators’ excitement levels up and animals’ stress levels down.

Photo Credit: Pixnio

How do silent fireworks…work?

Actually, they are not a new invention. Classic shows use silent fireworks all the time to accompany big bangs. Comet tails that fizzle are a good example of these. So maybe they aren’t technically silent, but they are much less startling.

Animal friendly displays are beginning to catch on in popularity in many countries around the globe. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone – small children, veterans dealing with battle trauma and our pets – could enjoy the fun of a celebratory fireworks display?

Let’s hope less scary fireworks shows become the norm soon.

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A Study Found That Great White Sharks Are Scared of Killer Whales

Sharks are pretty fearsome creatures – plenty of people are pretty scared of them. So you might not imagine that even one of the largest, fiercest predators in the world fears something else.

And no, it’s not human beings (though with the rate we’re demolishing the shark population, it probably should be – we kill between 100 million and 273 million).

According to new research published in Scientific Reports, the great whites off the Northern California coast turn tail when a pod of orcas show up – and then they avoid the area for up to a year afterward, says scientist Scot Anderson in a statement.

“These are huge white sharks. Some are over 18 feet long, and they usually rule the roost here.”

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Quero que assista esses dois vídeos e sinta a vibração depois, feche os olhos se puder, ouça os sons de cada um deles. Quando estão livres, consegue sentir a energia? Se conecte com o som, com o sonar. Por trás das risadas do segundo vídeo, consegue sentir? Existe um ser senciente, que de assassino não tem nada. Muitos não sabem, mas o filme que deu origem a esse nome, baleia, orcas são golfinhos, e assassina, é sobre uma orca que busca vingança dos pescadores que matam sua família. Sentem. Tem família. Se reconhecem. Sim. Mas vingança não. São seres evoluídos, desenvolvidos e infelizmente por isso foram colocados em tanques de cloro e sabem que se não fizerem o que comandam não irão se alimentar. Isso é ser? Não há ser em ser humano. E pessoas ainda continuam visitando, continuam rindo, mais lugares como esse são abertos. Pesquisa? Sim eles têm muitos dados, mas temos outro caminho e esse, eu não escolho. Fale por eles. Compartilhe 💙 #Tilikum #SaveOrcas #WildAndFree #EmptyTheTanks

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Every September and December, great white sharks migrate to the Farallon islands to hunt elephant seals – a meal that orcas also enjoy. And when the latter decide to show up for dinner, the former decline to share hunting grounds.

“When confronted by orcas, white sharks will immediately vacate their preferred hunting ground and will not return for up to a year, even though the orcas are only passing through,” confirms Dr. Salvador Jorgnsen, a scientist at Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the lead author of the study.

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Morbidity and Mortality of Orcas Living in Captivity: Causes of Illness and Death (Part 6) – A 1979 review of the causes of death of 17 captive orcas in North America who had died since 1965 revealed that infectious diseases were the primary cause of death. Published statements and records from the US National Marine Mammal Inventory and USDA Inspection Reports demonstrate that, between 1971 and 2017, there have been 35 documented orca deaths at SeaWorld facilities alone. Regarding the causes of death, the most commonly implicated conditions were viral, bacterial, and fungal infections, gastrointestinal disease, and trauma. Despite “world class" veterinary care and therapeutic intervention, at least 15 of the 22 orcas who have died in US marine theme parks between 1990 and 2010 succumbed to infectious and inflammatory diseases, including eight who reportedly died of pneumonia; three of encephalitis; three of bacteremia; and one of leptomeningitis. – Many of the infections captive orcas succumb to are opportunistic infections – infections by pathogens that are usually harmless but can cause disease under certain unnatural, unhealthy, or compromised conditions. These include a weakened immune system, chronic exposure to chemical irritants or trauma to the skin, excessive or improper use of antimicrobials, and an imbalance in the microbiota of the body or environment (which may exist in tanks). Jett and Ventre found that another common cause of death of captive orcas was gastrointestinal ulceration. Gastric ulceration is typically caused by prolonged stress, as well as being associated with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Gastric disorders such as ulcers have also been associated with behavioral stereotypies in other captive animals. – Although unreported – and unlikely, due to their kinetic nature and time spent below the surface – in free-ranging orca populations, mosquito-transmitted diseases have killed at least two captive orcas in marine theme parks. – Continued Below “The Harmful Effects of Captivity and Chronic Stress on the Well-Being of Orcas” edited by @cetacean.inspiration

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Everyone is afraid of something, I suppose, and from what I know of orcas, I wouldn’t be hanging around while they were eating, either!

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10 Facts to Sharpen Your Intellect

Let’s get smart! Now!

With facts!

And not just any facts…these 10 quality facts!

1. Not sure if I want to know that

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2. Badass

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3. Fascinating

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4. Faker!

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5. Yikes

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6. Choose your friends wisely

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7. Hmmmm

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8. A happy accident

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9. Freaky-deaky

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10. Shunned!

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I feel smarter already…

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15+ Wholesome Posts About Dogs

Ahhhh, our beloved four-legged friends.

I’m sure you’ve seen this popular opinion on social media, but it keeps popping up because it’s true: We don’t deserve dogs. They’re the best. And it’s not up for debate.

So, to put you in a much better mood than you were in before you clicked on this link, I present to you, 20 Wholesome Dog Posts!

Enjoy.

1. I love this!

A Puppy Saved From A Fire Becomes A Firefighter from aww

2. BFF

I volunteer for a dog rescue, we love seeing updates of the dogs in their new homes. This one made me smile! from aww

3. Good job, Stanley!

Stanley my medical alert pupper got to call 911 for the first time when I had ignored his alerts and fell into a seizure. He followed every step and tasked perfectly until medics arrived. from dogswithjobs

4. Comfort

5. Hello!

I haven’t met my new neighbor yet, but her dogs love me from aww

6. A warm place to sleep

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There are heroes out there.

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7. She loves it

My little girl who is 15 years old wanted to go to the park today, she’s a bit too old so I carried her down there, when we got there this is how she sat enjoying the sunshine. Love her to bits! from aww

8. Fitness plan

My 90yo neighbor hasn’t walked her dog in years so I volunteered to do it for her. So proud of Buddy’s weight loss!!! from aww

9. He might be your dog now

Hig will sit on my steps and howl until I open the door and acknowledge him. Also Hig is not my dog. from aww

10. Another rescue

My daughter has a huge heart for dogs and begged for months to get another rescue. She even used all her money to pitch in for the fees. Here she is with our third rescue pupper, Daisy. from aww

11. Time flies

Where does the time go? from aww

12. You have a new member of the club

A local farm where I live had trouble with their flock all wanting to sleep in the same house, each night they have to go break them up. The other night they found their dog had joined in from funny

13. Can’t say no

14. I just miss him

15. Walter

This is Walter. Walter waits by the front gate every Monday for his friends the binmen, who always shower him with love and treatos. 11/10 patient boy from aww

16. In love

My husband-to-be and my doggo have this great thing going on. from aww

17. Together again

My boys were separated for two years due to a divorce. My ex agreed today that I can keep my 9 year old boy!!! from aww

18. Oh, Ralph

19. New dog

Headed to a concert last night when something ran in front of my car. Needless to say I missed the concert and now have a new dog. from aww

20. Two of a kind

My dog Curtis (left) with his best friend Simon at doggy daycare from aww

About as wholesome as it gets!

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A Woman Wanted Her Pet Buried with Her, so the Healthy Dog Was Euthanized

This is pretty messed up.

We all love our pets like family, but this story makes my blood boil. It reminds of when some billionaire leaves a ton of money to their cat or something.

I mean I know we all love our pets like family, but this is absurd.

And cruel.

A woman in Richmond, Virginia, had it clearly stated in her will that her beloved dog Emma, a Shih Tzu mix, was to be put to sleep and buried with her at the time of her death. Workers at the Chesterfield County Animal Services were heartbroken that they had to honor the recently deceased woman’s wishes, but they still euthanized the healthy dog. They actually tried to appeal to the woman’s estate, but to no avail. The dog’s owner was 67-year-old Anita Cullop-Thompson.

The manager of the animal care facility said, “We did suggest they could sign the dog over on numerous occasions — because it’s a dog we could easily find a home for and re-home. But ultimately, they came back in on March 22nd and redeemed the dog.”

Emma was taken directly to a vet’s office, euthanized, and then cremated. Her ashes were returned to the deceased woman’s estate. As you can imagine, this story went viral and greatly upset many people, including big-time celebrities.

The Humane Society of the United States is clear on where they stand on the issue. Vice President Amy Nichols said, “It is a heartbreaking situation. While we don’t know the specifics of this case, as a general matter, we don’t support the euthanasia of healthy and adoptable animals when other alternatives exist, such as re-homing of the pet.”

Share your thoughts about this story in the comments. We’d like to hear from you!

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This Is Why Cats Can’t Get Enough of Cardboard Boxes

Cats and cardboard boxes go together like PB&J, right? Cats are drawn to those brown cubes like white on rice – or in this case, brown on cardboard. But why? Trying to decode cat behaviors may seem nearly impossible, especially when this obsession is universal in felines. But let’s explore anyway…

Cats crave security

Mark Freemen, DVM and an assistant professor at the VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine told Readers Digest,

“Cats are, by nature, cryptic animals, meaning they prefer to have a safe hiding spot from which they can observe the world around them. Cats are both hunter and prey, so having a secure space from which they can monitor for threats from predators as well as for appealing prey is ideal.”

Pretty neat. We cat owners tend to humanize our kitties, making us forget they have their own instincts for survival.

Photo Credit: Pexels, FOX

Kitties want to be warm

Cats need to maintain a certain temperature to remain comfortable. Wired quotes a 2006 study by the National Research Council as saying that “the thermoneutral zone for a domestic cat is 86 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s the range of temperatures in which cats are ‘comfortable’ and don’t have to generate extra heat to keep warm or expend metabolic energy on cooling.”

It would make sense that our furry felines find comfort within boxes. Corrugated cardboard is a type of insulator which can help regulate their inner temperature, ensuring the cat is comfortable. This can also help them preserve body heat when cold.

Cats may be searching for stimulation or an escape from anxiety

Have you found your cat loves to scratch, bite, and chew on cardboard? Some cats need to be stimulated more, and so find this activity fun. “You’ll often find them scratching, chewing, and otherwise mangling the cardboard, which is a great source of entertainment and pleasure for the cat,” said Freeman.

Photo Credit: Pexels, Peng Louis

But that’s not all! Felines have scent glands on their paws, so scratching leaves behind their signature mark – it’s part of how they mark their territory.

Cardboard can also be a great escape, particularly for cats that suffer from anxiety. “When a cat is over-stimulated, tired, or just in need of a break, a box gives them the ability to recharge until they’re ready to come out and play again,” Daniel Rotman, CEO of PrettyLitter, told RD.

 

Before you give your cat a box, make sure sure to remove any objects that may cause harm, such as staples in the seams. After that, let them enjoy their new space – and have a good time watching them.

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8 Weird Facts About Animal Sex

Ahhhh, sex makes the world go ’round, doesn’t it? Without it, few species would survive. And while humanity’s getting pleasure from procreating is unusual, with many animals it gets way weirder than that.

Way. Weirder.

Below are 8 of the more bizarre ones we’ve come across.

8. Water bugs make quite a racket while in search of a partner.

Micronecta scholtzi are the loudest animal in the world relative to their size. They can reach nearly 100 decibels by rubbing their penis against their abdomen – a very loud, very penis-y mating call.

7. Turtle mating sounds make for good sound effects.

Filmmakers used the loud, distinct mating sounds of tortoises to create the velociraptor sounds in Jurassic Park.

6. Duck vaginas have defense mechanisms.

Duck penises are long and corkscrew-shaped, and can be used like a lasso to pull in females trying to escape unwanted advances.

Yeah. Terrifying.

In response, female ducks have evolved vaginas that twist in the opposite direction – what Discover magazine refers to as “organic chastity belts.”

5. Sharks can reproduce asexually.

A female zebra shark named Leonie has laid eggs both with and without male involvement, and she is not the only one – when the circumstances call for it, sharks are capable of asexual, virgin births.

4. Only 3% of bird species have penises.

Ostriches and ducks have them, but eagles and penguins do not. Also, when birds get erections, their penises fill with lymph fluid instead of blood.

Birds without penises transfer sperm via a cloacal kiss – meaning the male just kind of squirts sperm from his cloaca into the female’s cloaca without any sort of penetration.

3. Big cats love a good cologne.

Synthetic colognes have sex appeal to tigers and jaguars, who have shown signs of stimulation after being exposed to the scents. Forest rangers have even used Obsession for Men to lure tigers out of the wild!

2. Animals have reproduced in space.

Humans have never had sex in space (according to NASA), but we know animals have.

Rats, frogs, and even geckos have gotten it on – and procreated – in space.

1. Barnacles have adaptable penises.

Barnacles have penises that can stretch up to 8x the length of their bodies, and they can also adapt to their environment by altering their shape.

Those definitely qualify as weird in my book.

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A Study Shows That Cat Owners Pass on Their Own Personalities to Their Cats

Sometimes, humans and their pets seem eerily similar to each other, and it’s not just in our imagination, according to a new study.

In a study published in Plos One, researchers surveyed over 3000 cat owners. They asked them a variety of questions about five broad personality traits: extroversion, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism. Then they observed their cats’ behavior.

The researchers found that the traits that were dominant in owners were also observed in their cats.

For example, owners who rated higher in neuroticism had cats who exhibited behavior problems. Owners who rated themselves as more extroverted had cats who enjoyed being outside more.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Cats are notoriously independent animals. They’re not really into being told what to do or how to act. So, how do they end up picking up on so many of their humans’ traits?

It may be due to the tight bond that many humans and cats share.

“Many owners consider their pets as a family member, forming close social bonds with them,” explained Dr. Lauren Finka, co-author of the study. “It’s therefore very possible that pets could be affected by the way we interact with and manage them, and that both these factors are in turn influenced by our personality differences.”

Photo Credit: Pixabay

She added that “further research is needed to investigate the causal nature of this relationship – and to look at if, and how, owner personalities are directly influencing their cat’s behavior and welfare.”

Cool!

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More Than One Million People Say They’re Going to Storm Area 51. Here Are 20+ Memes About It.

People are really gonna storm Area 51! Supposedly…hundreds of thousands are going to Nevada and just burn the whole fucking thing down.

Yeah, that’s right. How do I know? A Facebook event says so! 1.2 million people are ‘attending’ the September 20th showdown. And, get this… the U.S. Military has even had to come out and warn against it!

“Area 51 is an open training range for the US Air Force, and we would discourage anyone from trying to come into the area where we train American armed forces. The US Air Force always stands ready to protect America and its assets.”

But aren’t those our assets? We pay for ALL of that.

Well, whatever, here are some fun memes. Don’t overthink any of this…

1. Nothing to see here…

Photo Credit: Bored Panda

2. Oh yeah… it’s gonna happen!

Photo Credit: Bored Panda

3. Here come the Men In Black…

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4. Oh shit…

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5. Fucking time traveler!

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6. So… does that mean they won?

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7. Good doggie!

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8. lol

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9. “NOTHING!”

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10. The Simpsons fucking predicts the future!

Photo Credit: Bored Panda

11. I’m gonna go home now…

Photo Credit: Bored Panda

12. Well, who does REALLY know how?

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13. Smoke weed every day…

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14. We asked for it.

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15. Run away!

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16. He knows… he knows…

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17. Let me tell ya about an area called 51…

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18. He ready!

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19. Ohhhhhhh shiiiiiiitttttt

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20. She’s got a point!

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21. Looks legit…

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Well, those were certainly out of this world!

😬😬😬

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An 89-Year-Old Woman Generously Knits Blankets for Shelter Dogs

If you’re a dog lover like me, it often hurts our hearts that we can only save so many of the good girls and boys who need homes and humans to love them. People who volunteer for shelters have the biggest hearts of all – seeing and assuaging suffering every single day and knowing the entire time that there’s only so much they can do.

When an English dog shelter, Dogs Trust, put out a call a few years ago for knitted dog coats, 89-year-old Maisie Green answered with gusto.

“Nifty with needles or handy with a crochet hook? We’re calling all crafty types to contribute home-made dog coats for our Hope Project Christmas hampers,” said the Dogs Trust Facebook page.

She’s been bringing in home-knitted blankets and coats three times a year for the past three years – around a dozen each time (around 450 total) – and has no plans to stop.

“I love knitting and I love dogs, so this combines both wonderfully! It takes me three days to knit a blanket and one day to knit a doggy coat. It keeps me busy and often, I like to knit whilst watching television. I’m delighted to be helping the four-legged residents at the center in some way,” Green said.

The dogs are happy, Maisie is happy, and the shelter is happy, too.

“Maisie regularly brings along her knitted donations and we are so grateful for her support. With the chill of the winter months really starting to creep up on us, I know our dogs are very pleased to put the items to good use – and love feeling extra cosy!” said the rehoming manager at Dogs Trust.

A win, win, win – and a bunch of too-cute pictures to boot!

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