fact
In the Middle Ages there was a belief animals understood the concept of morality and possessed rationality. They were summoned to court, put on trial for a variety of offenses, and given the same punishments as humans. Lawyers defended pigs, rats, and sheep. Even flies and slugs faced judgement.
The post In the Middle Ages there was… appeared first on Crazy Facts.
I remember when I was young, my dad had to walk around the yard every weekend scooping up all the dog poo before he could mow the lawn.
Sometimes I had to do it too, and you could always tell when the dog had gotten hold of some crayons…
Well now it seems like there’s a robot for every unpleasant task–vacuuming, mopping, even cutting the grass–so of course it was only a matter of time before someone invented a robot that scoops the poop for you.
You read that right.
The scrappy start-up Beetl Robotics, led by CEO Xiong Chang, has developed a prototype for a machine that will rove through your yard picking up all the little presents that your four legged friend left behind.
Their Facebook page, which explains that the robot will deposit the doo into a compost bin, shows the development of their design over time, from this early concept…
…to a finished product that debuted at the 2017 CES (consumer electronics) trade show, where Beetl placed 3rd for Best Tech:
The company follows the Agile method of product development, which allowed them to deviate from their original design to make the concept even better.
According to their website:
We iterated on our robotic poop-scooper idea to add lawn mowing functionality.
We opted for a sickle-bar grass shear mechanism to get the added benefit of releasing the clamshell jaws from long grass.
All navigation was processed via computer vision and advanced sensor fusion.
Consumers are very excited about this technology, but unfortunately it can take a long time to get from concept to market, so the Beetl isn’t available for sale yet.
Still, I love a good robot, so sign me up when it is. What do you think about this idea? Do you need one for outside, and another for inside, to pick up your kids’ toys before you run your Roomba? Tell us in the comments!
The post Dog Owners Can’t Wait to Try a Robotic Pooper-Scooper appeared first on UberFacts.
Three things I love in this world: hockey, tacos, and DOGS.
Fat dogs, skinny dogs, ugly dogs, pretty dogs, I love all of ’em!
And I also really love dog memes! And we’re gonna dig into some good ones today!
Also, tell your pooch hi for us and give them some extra love!
You’ve heard that thing ring a million times!
Photo Credit: someecards
What do you have in there?!?!
Photo Credit: someecards
You know you have to!
Photo Credit: someecards
That’s my guess…
Photo Credit: someecards
It happens over and over and over again.
Photo Credit: someecards
In fact, I KNOW IT.
Photo Credit: someecards
Always on guard…
Photo Credit: someecards
By a very cute pooch.
Photo Credit: someecards
These dogs are amazing!
Photo Credit: someecards
Dads are always doing this kind of thing.
Photo Credit: someecards
Just look at the research!
Photo Credit: someecards
It helps! Really!
Photo Credit: someecards
Do you have a pooch at home?
If you do, please share a pic with us in the comments and introduce us to them.
We can’t wait to meet them!
The post If You Have a Dog, You’ll Love These Memes appeared first on UberFacts.
Herding dogs are smart and high energy.
When we first met ours at a rescue shelter, she was so excited she raced around the yard in circles like a cartoon Tasmanian devil.
That combination of energy and intelligence makes Border Collies the perfect breed for a very special and unexpected environmental task.
Meet Das, Olivia, and Summer:
They live in Chile, where in 2017, fores fires decimated the landscape.
TreeHugger.com described the fires in El Maule in stark terms:
The worst wildfire season in Chile’s history ravaged more than 1.4 million acres early in 2017, destroying nearly 1,500 homes and killing at least 11 people. More than a dozen countries sent fire-fighting specialists to help battle the dozens of destructive blazes.
According to Green Matters, the damage was estimated at $333 million, but the loss of trees and their impact on the environment as a whole is likely immeasurable.
It will take decades to regrow the forest land–but first, new trees must be planted.
Enter sisters Francisca and Constanza Torres and their three Border Collies:
Together, they train the dogs to race across the forest floor wearing backpacks full of native seeds, which they purchase with their own money.
As the sheepdogs run, the seeds spill from holes in their special doggy bags, and spread out where they can begin to take root and regrow the once-lush environment.
It may seem like work to humans, but for the dogs, it’s just a raucous good time.
In an email exchange with Mother Nature Network, Francisca explained:
“They reeeeeally love [it]!! It’s a country trip, where they can run as fast as they can and have a great time.”
And when their bags are empty, the dogs return to their owners for treats and cuddles, and a refill on the seeds.
It’s quite the sight, to see the dogs bounding through the scrub.
And it’s a good thing they have so much energy. According to Green Matters:
This system is also more efficient than having people spread the seeds manually. These speedy canines can race through a forest and cover up to 18 miles a day. Humans, on the other hand, can only cover a few miles each day. These pups can scatter over 20 pounds of seeds, depending on the terrain.
Johnny Appleseed, watch out!
They may not be able to cover the entire forest, but the work these very good girls are doing is already paying off.
The BBC even did a story about them:
It seriously blows my mind to think that two women and their gorgeous pups are changing the world all by themselves and in such a big way.
This Earth Day it makes me wonder, what more could I be doing? What about you? Did your heart just grow three sizes like mine did? Let us know in the comments.
The post These Border Collies Replant a Burned Chilean Forest appeared first on UberFacts.
I’ll be the first to admit that cute dogs in cute clothes slay me.
On a flight some years ago, my husband flipped through SkyMall until he found a beagle wearing Pugz, which he showed to me, and I absolutely lost it.
Is this real life? #dogs #uggs #pugz #shoes #whattheheck #MURICA
pic.twitter.com/alekNocMw4
— Rachel Black (@Rachelisneat) April 15, 2013
It still makes me laugh.
Now a new company has created new dog shoes for the Instagram and TikTok generations.
Dogs have long been interested in Crocs footwear.
Mine likes to chew them if they get in the way of her evening treat, so I had to start keeping them by the back door.
Now Crocs enthusiasts can buy a matching pair for their favorite pooch.
Crocs? For dogs? pic.twitter.com/xPViCdYzqL
— BNH (@bnh1313) April 30, 2021
According to Mental Floss, the Croc-like shoes are made by an unaffiliated company called GEHARTY, and people are going bananas.
So you can now buy Crocs for your dogs …. but please don’t
pic.twitter.com/nVcbcQ6ygb
— RuggerLover (@Tjj70Jones) May 1, 2021
These shoes are only for little canines though.
Measuring 2.76 by 1.15 inches, the footwear is designed to fit tiny paws, so larger dogs will have to get their novelty shoes elsewhere.
And unlike real Crocs (and Pugz!), these sandals are not actually meant to be comfortable–or worn while walking.
But if you want to make your pet look cute and comfy while lounging around the house—or posing for pictures—these are the perfect shoes.
From the Instagram #dogcrocs, it looks like people are taking them at their word.
Olive, a Boston terrier from the account @oliveandgus, dressed up in her finest for Valentine’s Day.
Gus looks less amused.
But Olive seems to own a pair in every color.
Meanwhile, this Corgi put its foot down and refused to play along.
But Michael Anthony the Chihuahua doesn’t seem to mind.
They were selling on Amazon for $13 until recently.
After going viral, the shoes sold out in every color.
Now two colors are back in stock at the new price of $20.
What do you think? Cutest thing ever or a trend that should disappear? Let us know in the comments.
The post Tiny Clogs for Dogs Went Viral…and Got Mixed Reviews from the Dogs appeared first on UberFacts.
Cats. We love them, they sometimes love us, but the bottom line is, we’re not going to kick them out of our houses anytime soon. I mean, who wants to deprive the internet of their cat videos?
Not I.
Since we’re all going to continue cohabitating with our feline friends, wouldn’t you like to know how you could make sure your cat is more comfortable when you’re around?
Image Credit: Pexels
If it leads to less insane behavior, like random bites and scratches, then I am all for this – so let’s hear what the experts have to say.
Basically, it all boils down to this: even though cats can’t speak human language, that doesn’t mean they’re not communicating in their own way.
And since they are cats and we’re people, it’s our job to adjust the way we communicate specifically to them, instead of trying to shortcut it using the tricks that work on babies, or even dogs.
Image Credit: Pexels
Ohio State University veterinarian Tony Buffington spoke with Wired.com about how he thinks cats see us in our shared space.
“You hear the unmistakable sound of claws on couch. You snap, shout, squirt water, and maybe even throw a pillow. It’s all futile, because eventually, he’s at it again. Your cat isn’t ignoring you. He just doesn’t know how to connect your negative reinforcement with his behavior.”
This is because, he says, cats are typically solitary creatures and have little need to read social cues.
So basically, your cat doesn’t actually care about modifying it’s behavior to please you, because they aren’t designed to need to please anyone but themselves.
“How the h*ll is your cat supposed to know that you’re yelling at him because you want him to stop scratching the couch? To the cat, you’re this crazy primate who is attacking him for no reason.”
His advice?
Instead of “attacking” your cat, try communicating with your cat in a way that he or she might be better able to understand.
Image Credit: Pexels
Since your cat will see you as a threatening primate if the correction comes directly from you – and will therefore just learn not to do those behaviors when you’re around – most experts advise remote correction in the form of bad tastes, offensive sounds, icky textures, or off-putting smells.
You’re connecting a behavior you don’t like to something unpleasant, which should encourage your cat not to do them in the future.
Try sticky paper, aluminum foil, or heavy plastic (textures) in areas you don’t want your cat to climb or traverse. Spray citronella, perfumes, citrus scents, aloe, or eucalyptus oil anywhere you want your cat to avoid (you can soak cotton balls in these scents, too).
Bitter apple, citrus products, hot sauces, or aloe gel are also tastes that will convince your cat they don’t want to chew on something.
Any loud sound, like a whistle or pennies shaken in a can, can help divert your cat’s attention.
Image Credit: Pexels
When it comes to scratching, make sure they have an area they are allowed to scratch, and then put the opposite – inviting tastes and smells – there to encourage them to use it.
The bottom line is that for everyone to get on, the corrections should not come directly from you. Cats learn from their environment, not from others, and so convincing them that it was their idea to avoid the counters or not scratch the couch is the best way to go.
Good luck, cat people. You’re probably going to need it.
The post This is How You Can Make Your Cat More Comfortable in Your Presence appeared first on UberFacts.
I’m not sure what kind of a person would pull a “prank” like this, but the world is filled with a lot of strange people.
And I can’t wrap my head around why anyone would think something like this would be funny…but the world is a strange place.
And this woman got put in a very weird and terrible spot thanks to a cruel prank played by her husband…but she wants to know if she was wrong for how she reacted about it.
Here’s what happened:
AITA for yelling at my husband then leaving him at the clinic after his prank?
“Me F28 and my husband M34 have been married for a year. Before I met him I got a dog named Ollie (A German shepherd) that was originally my sister’s but she passed away and I immediately took him to live with me.
My husband adores Ollie he sometimes jokes that he’s married to me only because of Ollie. He likes making jokes and doing pranks but some of them are downright nasty. He’d always get me worried by lying saying Ollie ran off when he was hiding him in a place I didn’t know about.
He knows how much worried and stressed out those pranks make me but he says my reaction is priceless and worth the yelling/lashing afterwards.
Ollie needed to be taken to the veterinary clinic for a check-up. My husband said he’d handle it. During the second visit to get the results. I received a call from my husband and his voice sounded like he wasn’t okay. I asked what was wrong. I got really worried after he said it was about Ollie.
I was starting to shake I kept asking what was going on and he told me that Ollie’s been diagnosed with cancer. He said he wanted me to come over to the clinic as soon as possible because Ollie was with the vet.
I couldn’t stand. I started asking is that why Ollie lost weight lately? And such. I rushed to the clinic and found my husband standing near the entrance with Ollie. First thing I noticed was him laughing hysterically telling me that I really bought in to his lie.
I was confused he said it was just a prank Ollie is perfectly healthy and handed me the results to check. After I checked I lost it. I lashed out at him. Ngl I called him awful names and his face suddenly turned red like he didn’t expect me to react that way.
He argued that I made it a big deal “obviously” and was being mean to him over a prank that didn’t even last an hour. I kept lashing out I didn’t give him a chance to keep talking I took Ollie and the keys then I left. I arrived to the clinic in a taxi. I left him at the clinic while me and Ollie went home by the car.
3 hours later he came back and was upset. He usually laughs even in serious situations but this time he didn’t. He argued that I shouldn’t have left him like that and that I overreacted. Said he was trying to make good memories to look back on and laugh at but I was unnecessarily overreacting. He stopped talking after that.
Just wanted to mention that this started months after his father’s passing. His family said he never mentions his dad nor keep anything of his although they were very close.
I never met his father but they told me he wasn’t suffering from anything and his death was sudden and my husband had a hard time processing it. This could be the reason for his behavior.”
Here’s how Reddit users responded.
This person made it clear: this was abuse.
Photo Credit: Reddit
Another reader also said that this is an abusive relationship and that her husband needs some help.
Photo Credit: Reddit
This reader said that this is gaslighting…”trying to make good memories”? I don’t think so…
Photo Credit: Reddit
Another reader pointed out that the husband needs some serious help.
Photo Credit: Reddit
Finally, this Reddit user said there’s no doubt about it: this woman’s husband is a huge *sshole.
Photo Credit: Reddit
So what do you think?
Did this woman act like an *sshole, or is she in the clear?
Talk to us in the comments!
The post A Woman Left Her Husband at a Clinic After He Pranked Her. Does This Make Her an A-Hole? appeared first on UberFacts.
We all love our pets and we like to honor them in different ways. Paintings, t-shirts, jewelry, etc. Heck, for Christmas last year, my sister got me a pair of socks with her dog Bea’s face on them because I’m the designated dogsitter for that wonderful pooch and, to be frank with you, Bea and I have fallen in love over the years.
And I wear those Bea socks everywhere!
But a dog owner named Soleil Pond might just take the cake when it comes to honoring her pet, a pooch named Nimbus.
Pond had been keeping all of Nimbus’ fluffy fur because she knew she wanted to use it to create something special as a tribute to her beloved pooch.
I mean, just look at that face! How could you not be in love with him?!?!
As the fur piled up, Pond thought more and more about what she might be able to create that would be unique…
And then it finally dawned on her!
Why not make a pair of boots to keep warm? So Pond gave all of Nimbus’ fur to a friend of hers who made her these beauties that Pond says will “tolerate temperatures as low as -40 degrees.”
Whoa! I think she might have started a hot new trend with these…
Photo Credit: Facebook
This is what living your best life looks like, people!
Have you done anything creative like this with your pets? If so, tell us about it in the comments.
And share some pics if you have ’em! Thanks fam!
The post This Woman Saved up Her Dog’s Excess Fluff to Have a Pair of Boots Made appeared first on UberFacts.
Most of us think that rats are dirty, invasive rodents that creep around alleys and our trash cans, freaking us out. Which is true, but rats are also very intelligent animals and they supposedly make great pets.
My eyes were opened when I read the book Rats by Robert Sullivan and let me tell you, they are pretty impressive creatures. And here’s another reason to like these little fellas.
Meet Magawa, a rat that has been awarded a gold medal for exceptional bravery by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) in the UK for detecting landmines.
Magawa now joins the ranks of dogs, horses, pigeons, and cats that have received the prestigious honor over the past 77 years that the organization has been giving out awards.
He was trained to detect landmines by an organization called APOPO and so far has been able to sniff out 39 landmines along with 28 other pieces of unexploded weaponry.
Because of his work, over 1.5 million square feet of land in Cambodia has been deemed safe for the local population. And Magawa even received a miniature medal to wear around his neck for his efforts!
Amy Dickin of the PDSA , said,
“Because of the impacts COVID has had on the UK—and wider world—our original presentation plans had to be completely re-worked.
Meaning Magawa actually brings two firsts to PDSA—the first rat honored with a PDSA Medal and our first-ever virtual presentation.
We’re thrilled to be shining the spotlight on his amazing work and can’t wait for everyone to see him in action!”
Check out this video about Magawa’s great work!
Have you seen any interesting animal stories lately?
If so, please share some links with us in the comments.
We’d love to hear from you!
The post Learn About the Landmine-Detecting Rat That Received a Medal for Bravery appeared first on UberFacts.
We might think that we know our pets well and we know what’s best for them, but when professional groomers talk, we should all listen to what they have to say.
A groomer in Canada named Vanessa De Prophetis has made several TikTok videos for pet owners highlighting things that she thinks they need to know about their pets.
This video she shared shows some behind-the-scenes realities of pet grooming and how it’s not all fun and games. And also how it isn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination.
@girlwithedogs Don’t forget to tip your groomer #petlife #foryou #fyp #viral #foryourpage #dogsoftiktok #petthings
One video she posted is full of tips about how to properly brush your pets, which every owner should know about.
And here’s another video from De Prophetis where she talks about some of the things that pet groomers might not be comfortable telling owners about their animals.
@girlwithedogs Sadly this has happened more than once. And one time…there was worms in it.
#petlife #foryourpage #dogsoftiktok #viral #fyp #groomersoftiktok
In this video, she talks about how it can be hard for her to get her point across to pet owners when she talks about their health care needs.
@girlwithedogs The struggle with skin allergies and ear infections is real. Don’t give up trying to find solutions
#dogsoftiktok #foryou #fyp #groomersoftiktok
De Prophetis also made it clear that groomers get attached to the pets they take care of just like their owners do.
@girlwithedogs We also wonder, what did we do wrong? #groomer #foryourpage #groomersoftiktok #fyp #viral #foryou #petlife #dogsoftiktok
And one of the most important videos that De Prophetis posted is directed towards people who want to have an “end of life” grooming for their pets and why that really isn’t a good idea. This is really good to know.
@girlwithedogs We know your intentions are pure #foryourpage #groomersoftiktok #fyp #viral #dogsoftiktok #foryou #petlife #dogsoftiktok
Now we want to hear from you.
What do you think of this groomer’s videos? Did they give you any new perspective on your pets?
Talk to us in the comments and let us know. Thanks!
The post A Pet Groomer Shared Videos About Things All Animal Owners Should Know About appeared first on UberFacts.
(@colorful_manatee)
