* Thanks for the link, Zee Myers!!

* Thanks to my mom in law for this!

Allison, a rescued green sea turtle who has only one flipper, swims with the aid of a fin attached with neoprene, on April 8. Without the attached fin, Allison can only swim in circles. Sea Turtle Inc., a not-for-profit in South Padre Island, Texas, helped outfit the turtle with a black neoprene suit, with a carbon-fiber dorsal fin on the back, that allows her to swim with other turtles. Researchers think the five-year-old turtle lost a flipper in a shark attack, The Associated Press reports. (Eric Gay/AP Photo )

* Thanks to Irene Kim for the link!

* via Natalie's blog!

Dear Diary:

On early mornings, the path ringing the Great Lawn in Central Park is densely populated with unleashed dogs and their owners, all busily interacting. Trying to maintain a semblance of discipline amid the canine and human socializing can strain communication between master and dog.

On a recent outing, I heard someone calling, “Chester! Chester! Chester!” first sweetly, then with increasing intensity, and finally, angrily.

When no Chester appeared, the frustrated caller tried a new tactic: “O.K., Chester, I’m leaving. Goodbye. Have a nice life.”

Henry Sacks

* via BuzzFeed!

* Thanks to Mary Dailey Pattee for the invite!

From his foster parent:

Madison "Maddy" is a male, 10 years old, mutt, looks like a half German Shepherd half Corgi.

Maddy needs a home right away. He's been down on his luck lately, and as an older dog he needs a comfortable place where he is the only animal and can get all of the love. I have been fostering Maddy for a few months now, and it breaks my heart that I can't keep him, but I am moving into a living situation with many other animals.

Maddy came to me very upset, and confused, and scared. His owner, an elderly man, had been in the hospital for a week and Maddy was left alone in their home. When his owner found out he was dying, he checked himself out of the hospital and brought Maddy to a city shelter, begging them to not kill his dog. From what I was told, Maddy and his owner were hysterical to let each other go. The woman at the shelter promised she would find Maddy a home (usually at his age they would put him to sleep).

Maddy missed his owner and was very depressed when I got him, but he has since turned into a different dog. He loves being outside, walking and smelling flowers. He loves snacks (even though he's on a diet). He is friendly to strangers when he is outside. Inside, it takes him a few meeting to feel comfortable with new people and doesn't like other dogs in his space. Indoors, he's not a high energy dog but he does love being outside. He is also 100% housebroken - I work all day and he doesn't love being left alone but he has never once had an accident.

The other day he was playing in the dog park and was attacked by a Boxer. He has just had surgery on his front leg, and will be back to normal in a few weeks. I hate to leave him, especially now that he is sad about his leg (he can't run and play right now), but it is down to the wire. His picture has been on an adoption website but it is not the best time for adoptions right now, and people tend to be turned off by his age. He's really the perfect combination of an inside/outside dog.

Maddy needs to find a home by March 1st.

* via BuzzFeed!

Apparently, it wasn't a deer she killed, but a BEAR.

My mom told me that Nahna's apple tree was damaged by a bear so she called in people to catch it. Two days later they caught the whole bear family alive and killed one to scare the rest of them away. According to Nahna, in California, the total number of bears that can be killed annually is 1700 because of increasing bear numbers.

* I do not care to inquire about this incident further.
** The second I heard "the whole bear family," that was it. I don't care about the apple tree.

If you're a dog person this may make you cry. The close-up of Jack expression while he's being an obedient dog is so hilarious you may pee. For more info click here.

My Name is JACK - Please ADOPT ME! from adriene hughes on Vimeo.

* via BuzzFeed!

Online video chat by Ustream

* via BuzzFeed!

* Click here for more!

Great art show you will LOVE!*
TODAY IS LAST DAY!
Location: 89 7th Ave between W.4th & Bleecker

If you search online there are plenty of photos of the show but I encourage you NOT to do this. Just go. The surprise is worth it. This is what the front of the exhibit looks like. It takes place in a pet store:

* It perfectly highlights my conflict: I feel such a kinship with animals yet I eat them.

"Whenever the baby monkey gets bullied, [the dog] dashes up and drives the others away," said one zookeeper.

"And the baby monkey is also very smart. Each time he smells danger, he runs to jump on the dog's back and holds on tight."

* Thanks to a reader named Andrea for sending me this via NY Post: Wierd & True!

* via BuzzFeed!

Thanks to a reader, I now know that Kathryn Erbe whom I accidentally ran into the other night while adoring her dog, is an ardent dog-rescue and anti-cruelty advocate which delights me to no end! Detective by day and dog lover and advocate 24/7??? She's my hero.

Check out her video!

Thanks to Aunt Suzi for sending this email gem along and making my day.

A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolf hound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'

As anybody who has grieved inconsolably over the death of a loved one can attest, extended mourning is, in part, a perverse kind of optimism. Surely this bottomless, unwavering sorrow will amount to something, goes the tape loop. Surely if I keep it up long enough I’ll accomplish my goal, and the person will stop being dead.

Last week the Internet and European news outlets were flooded with poignant photographs of Gana, an 11-year-old gorilla at the Münster Zoo in Germany, holding up the body of her dead baby, Claudio, and pursing her lips toward his lifeless fingers. Claudio died at the age of 3 months of an apparent heart defect, and for days Gana refused to surrender his corpse to zookeepers, a saga that provoked among her throngs of human onlookers admiration and compassion and murmurings that, you see? Gorillas, and probably a lot of other animals as well, have a grasp of their mortality and will grieve for the dead and are really just like us after all.

Nobody knows what emotions swept through Gana’s head and heart as she persisted in cradling and nuzzling the remains of her son. But primatologists do know this: Among nearly all species of apes and monkeys in the wild, a mother will react to the death of her infant as Gana did — by clutching the little decedent to her breast and treating it as though it were still alive. For days or even weeks afterward, she will take it with her everywhere and fight off anything that threatens to snatch it away. “The only time I was ever mobbed by langurs was when I tried to inspect a baby corpse,” said the primatologist Sarah Hrdy. Only gradually will she allow the distance between herself and the ever-gnarlier carcass to grow.

Hey readers and animal lovers! Look to your left at that curious lemur! The Wildlife Conservation Society has graicously purchased a month-long ad. Can we show them love by clicking on their ad and checking out their site? Also, don't forget to visit the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo or the Prospect Park Zoo this summer!!

This ad pleases me deeply because my lifelong goal is to be an animal philanthropist* and it felt like just as I was looking into what WCS was all about, they reached out to me! I've been researching organizations that would be best to support based on my intellectual interests, emotional connection and the charity's track record such as how much they allocate to programs versus salaries. So far, I have a short list of two: 1) WCS and 2) ASPCA. If you have any thoughts, let me know!

* FYI, you need not be loaded to be a philanthropist There are tons of worthy charities that would be delighted to have your $10 a month donation! Let's consume less and donate more [end of preachy message].

Thanks to my brother for this article! I suppose I will give humans some credit for how awesome dogs are...

Dogs are becoming more intelligent and are even learning morals from human contact, scientists claim.

They say the fact that dogs' play rarely escalates into a fight shows the animals abide by social rules.

During one study, dogs which held up a paw were rewarded with a food treat.

When a lone dog was asked to raise its paw but received no treat, the researchers found it begged for up to 30 minutes.

But when they tested two dogs together but rewarded only one, the dog which missed out soon stopped playing the game.

Dr Friederike Range, of the University of Vienna, who led the study, said: 'Dogs show a strong aversion to inequity. I would prefer not to call it a sense of fairness, but others might.'

* Thanks to Andrea Spratt who sends me these photos because she loves me and because she loves to torture me.

Chimp Steals Gun From Zookeeper In Japan: Watch the video!

* via BuzzFeed!

* There's more where that came from here!

For more info on the fellas click here.

* Thanks to Amy Wood for this!!

* via BuzzFeed!

* Thanks to Mark for adding to the piglet trend!

* Thanks to Zee for the glee!

DOG DIARY

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 PM - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 PM - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 PM - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 PM - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 PM - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 PM - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 PM - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

CAT DIARY

Day 983 of my captivity. My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards! There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage. Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies
and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is
regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

* Thanks to Beth for this!

* Thanks to Sally for this exceedingly lovely way to start my Monday!!

* via Kottke as I never read the Shouts and Murmurs section of the New Yorker but am glad I found my way to it for this piece!

Who could have done this??!!

The killers waited until dark.

On July 22 of last year unknown assailants crouched in the forest, preparing to execute a family of gorillas. Hidden on a side slope of the Mikeno volcano in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, armed with automatic weapons, the killers had hunted down the twelve-member Rugendo family, well-known among tourists and well loved by the rangers of Virunga National Park. The patriarch of the gorilla family, a 500-pound silverback named Senkwekwe, would have sensed that the assailants were near, perhaps wrinkling his wide, black nose at their unfortunate smell, but he would not have been alarmed. Senkwekwe had seen thousands of people and had come to accept their proximity as irritating but unavoidable. So habituated to humans was the Rugendo family that the gorillas would occasionally wander out of the forest into cornfields for an impromptu picnic, angering local farmers.

Park rangers at the nearby Bukima barracks said they heard shots at eight that night. On foot patrol the next morning they found three female gorillas—Mburanumwe, Neza, and Safari—shot to death, with Safari's infant cowering nearby. The following day Senkwekwe was found dead: blasted through the chest that same night. Three weeks later the body of another Rugendo female, Macibiri, would be discovered, her infant presumed dead.

* Thanks to Michelle for the photo!!

* via Animal Medical Center!

I know I shouldn't fetishize his puffed up little body because they die after a few puffs but how can I not when it's soooooooooo cute??!!!!

This was hands-down the most glorious day. We hiked then snorkeled among the most abundant fish friends.

* I was too afraid of getting Steve Irwined :-( so I wimped out. Luckily John took this great photo instead!

Met two of these thus far on this trip.

Oh my god!!! This photo is captioned 'Lovable Lumps' and I didn't even consult on that!! The New York Times wrote that cuteness all on their own!!! And the article only gets cuter!!! Who knew that walruses were so awesome??...

I was about to meet a walrus for the first time in my life, and I felt fabulous. After all, Ronald J. Schusterman of the University of California, Santa Cruz, who has studied them for years, had assured me over the phone that to meet a walrus was to fall in love with walruses — the mammals were that smart, friendly and playful. “They’re pussycats!” he said.

“Just push back on the snout with the palm of your hand and blow in its face,” Dr. Schusterman instructed. “A walrus really likes to be blown in the face.” Continue reading...

The chemistry is palpable...they are desperate to become friends!!

* Fantastic photo by KO!

* Via BuzzFeed!

* Thanks to my hubby for knowing I can never be sent too many cute animal pics.

So sad and scary.

He spent his life helping animals and then he gets killed by an animal - cruel, cruel, fate. Makes me think of Born Free.

I'm out in California right now and I overheard someone say that they felt bad saying it but they were looking forward to renting Jaws.

Humans are complicated.

* Thanks again to Chelsea for the link!

* Thanks to Chelsea for the link!

This is horrific. Why is it not surprising that China is the offender? No need to answer.

* Thanks to my brother for the link

If I didn't have a hubby who's allergic to cats I would have adopted George yesterday. I met this cat a few months ago and instantly fell in love. He is a big cat with an even bigger personality! He loves being with people even more than just being his sexy self. If you're someone who prefers a cat you don't see much, George isn't for you. If not, I encourage you to meet George! He needs a home by mid-May as his owners are leaving the country or he goes to the ASPCA. Please spread the word about this awesome cat. He is BFF potential!

A thrilling trio!
so painfully cute to watch,
nose grease smudge on glass.

Shortly after, Bodhi's tail snapped in half but fortunately cat's tails grow back...

Thanks to my brother (who just landed in Tokyo) for this!

"Conan started to pose in prayer like us whenever he wanted treats," said Joei Yoshikuni, a priest at Jigenin temple on the southern island of Okinawa.

"I'm glad that people feel more comfortable visiting the temple because of Conan," he said as he jokingly joined his hands and bowed to the dog.

Friends of mine are adopting this little guy in a few weeks. No joke.

* Thanks to Kendyl for the link!!!

Disabling embedding is lame!

Here is a sweet sweet taste of our trip to BVI. Watch the little fella (~2 ft long shell) fake me out twice!

While in the Bay Area over the holidays, Annie Maxwell so awesomely drove up from Santa Barbara to hang out with us! However, she not so awesomely bet against our fish parenting skills. Over dinner she bet that one of our three fish would be dead upon our return to NYC. It was a $10 bet and we were very serious about it. Who ended up winning the bet? The answer lays within this little piece of mail I received about 10 days after the bet.

Dip the Brita pitcher gently...GENTLY!! all the while muttering soothing sayings like, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, fishies..."

Once CAPTURED!, gaze at them through the embossed Brita logo and ponder if they know what's happening:

Do not forget to bring at least a third of their tank water. Be prepared for your hubby to complain about how heavy the water is and for you to grab it out of his hands and carry it yourself and to wake up sore the next morning.

LOCK THEM IN in case of nasty fall which would be their certain death:

Embody a loving and optimistic attitude as you embark on their transport:

* Thanks again for the gems, CP!

* Thanks Chelsea!

Introducing cuteness! Flocke the dog and Felix the rabbit:

* Thanks to Kristoffer Kaspersen for the photos!

Andrea Spratt's bunny Nigel/Nigelina/Nigelingers in stripes:

These two things:

1) While driving in Berkeley last month we watched a woman drive towards us with her dog in the passenger seat, lean over, kiss her pooch and continue driving without missing a beat.

2) Just a few minutes ago while walking back from the beach in Santa Monica to the car, I saw an older lady walking her dog and when her dog stopped walking for a few seconds she looked around then bent down and kissed her pup. There was no one but me when she looked around so I can only guess she sensed that I would understand. She was right.

* via BuzzFeed.

Here are some from the selection.

A-:

A- for effort:

I always think pooches are cuter than humans so I am stunned that this girl's cuteness actually rivals her pooch's!

This is wrong:

Hail:

Cute:

The winners:

What a sad dream to have dreamed. I sat down for dinner at an unknown location with dinner mates I now can't recall but remember feeling not super comfortable with (not BFFs). I then saw that we were about to eat from a plate with a medium sized grilled fish surrounded by three little grilled fishes (it's cute to make this grammatical error). All of a sudden the possibility hit me and I asked, "Are these our goldfish?" (The fact that I am pretty sure I said "our" makes me think Jonah was there which is unnerving because why was he ok with this?! - I will have to have a talk with him immediately upon his return from California on Sunday! Everyone pretty much acknowledged that they were the carcasses of my goldfish and were completely relaxed about it. I was tortured but confused about how I should feel and I am pretty sure I felt I should suck it up since I was in the minority and I may have eaten my goldfish.

This makes me so sad!! Especially because I have been having so much fun watching them recently (endless procrastination hours served) and talking with Jonah about how at first they were nervous and shy but they know nibble at my fingertips and when I do their weekly tank cleaning they graze my arm and I get as close as I'll get to petting them! And then I eat them...ugh. I am so over myself.

Daily Coyote is about an orphaned coyote cup, adopted by a woman living in a Wyoming log cabin. who was orphaned and this woman in Wyoming has adopted him. The photos are incredible as you'll see from the samples below and I am excited to follow the story.

* Thanks to MnL Della for the tip!

Poor forgotten animals...

Unnoticed and unappreciated for five decades, a large female turtle with a stained, leathery shell is now a precious commodity in this city’s decaying zoo. She is fed a special diet of raw meat. Her small pool has been encased with bulletproof glass. A surveillance camera monitors her movements. A guard is posted at night.

For many Chinese, turtles symbolize health and longevity, but the saga of the last two Yangtze giant soft-shells is more symbolic of the threatened state of wildlife and biodiversity in China. Pollution, hunting and rampant development are destroying natural habitats, and also endangering plant and animal populations. Continue reading...

* via KO.

Thanks to Amy Wood for capturing this crazy-looking cat in Nakameguro, Tokyo!

Thanks to everyone who wrote in. We have our names!!

Introducing Dog as in Alpha Dog, Dirty Dog. We came up with this one because well, he is so overwhelming Dog. And yes, that is a poopy. He who eats the most, poops the most!

Introducing Chicken!!!!! Chicken, Chicken, Chicken!!! I love this name submitted by my cousin Harmony Davis!!

And finally thanks to Amy Weintraub, we have Bugsy!! Not only does he have bug eyes but Bugsy Siegel is a pretty cool character so we love the name:

This past weekend we bought three goldfish for the 10-gallon tank we had been prepping for three days (having goldfish isn't as easy as you may think!) and we are head over heels in love with them and are loving having a fish tank in the apt.! They are lively, cute little fellas and I have spent long periods of time just watching them do their thing which consists of sucking at the top of the water which creates bubbles, doing the cutest little shimmys, inhaling little plant leaves then spitting them back out whole and seemingly searching for food all. day. long. They are all personality but lacking names! So I ask you, based on the photos and descriptions below can you give me some suggestions??

Fantail Fish: The most typical looking goldfish of the bunch. Fastest swimmer, clearly most clever, at one feeding he ate almost all the food (consequently the longest poops!) which is when we realized we may have to feed each according to their intellectual ability and some as you will see need more help than others. Clearly he's the alpha of the group but whether or not he's superior or a bully depends on your political perspective!

Oranda Fish: Orange guy has a carrot top fro that I can't wait to see grow!, has a flat face like a bulldog and is the most beautiful glistening gold color. He gets just one or two fewer food pellets during free for all feeding frenzy time. He likes to hang out with the "alpha" fish and I think of him as the middle child of a sibling trio - not as aggressive at his older sibling nor as slow as his younger - just in the middle and consequently gets passed over a bit while attention is mostly paid to the sibling drama between the oldest and the youngest.

Moor Fish: Black beauty with a pea brain. He swam against the filter current once or twice which may not seem like such a weird thing to do but trust me, it's a little special. He swims backwards sometimes which is of course adorable although it was less adorable the time I saw him bump his head into the branch sitting in the middle of the tank - ok so it was newly placed there but the point is that the others have not come close to doing things this little guy does - he has his own marching band whose offbeat he follows. His inbreeding takes the heaviest toll on his...eye sight! Goldfish are near-sighted to begin with but man is he sight-challenged. Food pellets will be sprinkled evenly in the tank as instructed and this guy doesn't see them while his mates are feasting and once he does figure it out he still can't get to the pellets most of the time. Of course this was distressing to us so we bent over backwards as only ridiculous parents would and Jonah has taken to custom feeding him - this involves placing the pellets at just the right angle in front of him as he happens to be swimming towards us. This has seemed to work and of course as he is our special needs baby we can't help but favor him a bit. Just a bit.

I'm sorry to make you sad this fine Tuesday but here's a whole lot of realness for you:

* You're jonesing for more George. Here it is.

The moment I set eyes on the large gray kitty George, I was in obsessive love. He was gregarious, hilarious, filled to the brim with 'tude and even though huge, he thought he was svelte and sexy. Unfortunately he terrorizes Black Cat - the only black cat in the photos and whose eyes you see in the background of a photo in which she sits atop a dresser, her only "safe place". George doesn't realize his awesomeness nor his terrorist tendencies. He may be looking for a new home. If and when that day comes it will be a fight to the death to see who gets to lay their paws on George first!

* Thanks again to Evan Roth & Michele Walther for a fun party!

* Thanks to Uncle Derek for the photo!

Foxy and Nicholas are buddies who like to terrorize the turkeys:

Foxy and newer to the ranch but slower! Nicholas follow Aunt's Suzi's truck:

Nahna has a little chat with Cukurs:

This is too much! Check out kitty's prideful gait like, "yeah, he's my buddy and I'm his righteous guide!" TOOOOOOOOOOOOOO awesome!!!

Thanks to Jodi for the tip!

* Kyoto.

* From Natalie and Josie's trip to the Bronx Zoo - both are around 1 years old and and it was unsupervised!!

apparently they really sleep like this!!!

* Thanks for this photo Heather Grossmann!!

* Thanks to Aunt Susan for this investigative report on rearing a panda in captivity!

Is this a hoax? I mean, if there were one place in the world this would happen, it would be Japan of course (Go, weird Japan!) but still...the first article claims that the same pig that was squealing a second ago (ew and poor pig) was roasted and served on a plate a few minutes later...the question is...how long does it take to roast a pig??? I think longer than a few minutes!! What do you think?

Bestiality Restaurants

Jonah's been fortunate enough to observe me watching this treasure trove of National Geographic YouTube videos while I narrate, in my own special way, the intense dramas of the underwater world. He suggested, "maybe you should be an Aquatic Forensic Psychologist!" Hey, great idea! I'll market myself as an Aquatic in addition to a Terrestrial Forensic Psychologist!!

:-)
:-)
:-)

While watching the second of the three tests, Jonah said, "maybe it'll be smart enough to tip over the container in order to get the crabs out" and then we see that the octopus is able to squeeze in and capture the crabs. I said to Jonah, "the octopus is smarter than we imagined! Had it tipped over the container the crabs would be harder to capture and eat!" And Jonah said, "So you're saying the octopus is smarter than me?" "Yes" :-)

Check out its strategic tentacle placement - brill!

A: Rat.

Say hello to BuzzFeed's mascot for a day and night - he was released back into the wild (Chinatown) last night. We're still not sure if he was a baby mouse or baby rat.

* Susan's sweet Hrairoo.

Ze showed us this last night and I almost cried. Here's the incredible backstory you should read before watching the video.

* Taken by Zee!

If you haven't yet been to the NY Aquarium, you should!

* Thanks to Uncle Derek for the photo!

There are few things better than swimming in a warm ocean with fish friends!! I was in heaven.

* On South Beach, behind The Raleigh Hotel.

How do you guys feel about the dog rental thing? It's taken me for a roller coaster ride! My initial thought was that the service sounded like a fantastic idea and created especially for me! A second later it felt wrong and sad and bad. Who are these pups and where did they come from? Where do they live most of the time? I suppose sporadic human attention is better than none but what about the whole concept of attachment to an owner/companion? Oh this is just too much reality for me today!

* Thanks to Bram for the introduction of a lifetime!

Once in a blue moon a video so great inspires a haiku!

Puppy's exhausted expression.
Duckling forces kiss and cuddle.
TGIcuteFriday!

One more whistle and I would have died:

Continuing the trend of interspecies friends I submit to you the world's cutest couple:

* Thanks to my Uncle Derek for the photo!!

I think this is an oldie. Certainly a goodie.

One of New York City's many weird and cute offerings:

* Thanks to Lily for the photo!

* Along the Seine near the Tour Eiffel.

I had the awesomest dream last night. I was riding my grandmother's horse Foxy (who after a lifetime of being ridden a lot then not so much is almost feral) bareback which I've never attempted before. What amazed me was that even without reins and a saddle I was able to navigate Foxy and we had a great system down pat. At the end of the fantastic day I jumped off her and while trying to hold back tears of joy I signing her: I (I pointed to myself) love (I crossed my arms as if hugging myself) you (I pointed to her). Foxy then picked up her front legs and signed the same message back to me. We beamed and embraced and I was the happiest girl on the planet.

* At the Palais Royal.

Read more about this Japanese heartthrob here!

Thanks for the great link, Gemma!!

* In the Marais.

Wait! Where did he go?! Oh no! We're going to have to spend the weekend turning the apt upside down looking for him again!!

* Thanks to my bro for the photo!

My friend Hannah's kid Tex and his friendly dogs:

I understand that Jonah's allergic to cats and dogs therefore we can't have one but...no one said anything about a little bitty, cute cute cute donkey right???!!! They're all the craze and I won't let us miss out on it! Jonah, this serves as your warning - be ready for a super cute and wet donkey kiss when you get home!

Go ahead, sexualize this poor little puppy, you dirty dogs:

* Thanks to my Uncle Derek for the content!

* In Costa Rica New Jersey via the Harmony Blog!

* Chibi of Chibi's Sake Bar.

Southern California marine mammal hospitals have been overwhelmed by sea lions sick from the acid, which appeared in record levels off the coast of Los Angeles in April. Domoic acid poisoning has killed hundreds of the animals across Southern California this spring and thousands since a major outbreak in 2002, and has also afflicted animals in Monterey Bay, south of San Francisco.

“In over 22 years of marine mammal rescues, I’ve never seen such distress of marine mammals,” Mr. Wallerstein said. “The stress and the fright, it’s kind of shocking.” Continued...

I dare you to say the title of this post over and over in rapid succession. Only things that are hard are worth doing, people! Think of the immense payoff!!

While reading a half a year old person's blog, I happened on these photos and they have me jonesing big time for the zoo. I have never been to the Central Park Zoo nor the Bronx Zoo. I know, lame. I think I just might visit one of the two within the next 7 days. Until then I will gaze longingly at peacock butt, a regal zebra and giraffe eyes so emotive I could cry.

Taken right outside friend and prof Duncan's doorstep in Oxford this morning!!

You have to watch until the end for the coup de grace. I screamed when I saw it - you might too.

If you're not one of the 6 million plus people who have already seen this you now have seen the best video of 2007!!

I've just had my (shark) heart broken one too many times to put up with any more males! I'm just over it ok? I'm gonna do it on my own! Watch me procreate DIY style!...said the shark that spawned this little guy:

At the time of the birth, many scientists thought that the female had mated with another species, or that it had used sperm obtained years before. Female sharks are capable of storing sperm, although none have been known to store it as long as these sharks had been isolated. But through the analysis “it was pretty clear that there was no male contribution,” said Mahmood S. Shivji. continued...

* via BuzzFeed!

Thanks again to the NYT crossword, we now know that the answer to 16 Down: Hawaiian goose is Nene!

The official bird of the State of Hawaiʻi, the Nēnē is exclusively found in the wild of the islands of Maui, Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi. The Nēnē gets its Hawaiian name from its soft call. Its strong toes have much reduced webbing, an adaptation to the lava flows on which it breeds. It mates on land unlike most other wildfowl. This is the world's rarest goose.

Thanks to today's crossword puzzle featuring the following clue 38 Across: Eurasian duck we now know about the smew! And aren't we better for it?! I'm not sure.

The Smew breeds in May and lays 6-9 creme-colored eggs. It nests in tree holes, such as old woodpecker nests. It is a shy bird and flushes easily when disturbed.

I love octopi. Apparently others do too!

They are so cool looking, mischievous! and brilliant to boot! Did you know that octopi are the only animals that aquarium keepers bother to name because they have such distinct personalities? Also, they have been known to imitate behavior which suggests smarty-pants!! Watch out - an octopus will morph its body into a teeny-tiny thing and slither out of the tiniest crevice - or attempt to open your coke bottle:

My desktop wallpaper is often this:

* The Roman natural historian Claudius Aelianus wrote at the turn of the third century A.D, via Discover.

* Thanks to Sally for the link and the email intro, "NOTHING IS CUTER THAN THIS...NOTHING!!!!" All caps and four exclamation marks to be exact.

If she were alive today I would buy this for her in a heartbeat even though my leg would cry from withdrawal.

* via BuzzFeed.

You'll know if his tail is wagging ~to the right, to the right...to the right, to the right~ Sorry, Beyonce.

Every dog lover knows how a pooch expresses its feelings.

But there is another, newly discovered, feature of dog body language that may surprise attentive pet owners and experts in canine behavior. When dogs feel fundamentally positive about something or someone, their tails wag more to the right side of their rumps. When they have negative feelings, their tail wagging is biased to the left. continued...

* via ModernPooch and Jamie - thanks!

I vividly remember a trip to the LA Zoo last year. While observing the chimps we were told that some of the chimps there had developed diabetes because the zoo keepers didn't think there was any harm in feeding them endless amounts of fruit and that the female chimps beyond a certain age were given the same birth control pills as humans take. We also learned that the oldest female chimp was severely depressed (and you didn't have to be told to see it) because her companion/gay best friend, with whom she had lived in the zoo for over 20 years, had died a few weeks prior. The zoo keepers were alerted to the death that morning because they heard screaming and wailing and found the older female chimp screaming, weeping and jumping up and down around her dead friend. Ugh. It's heartbreaking to think about it and even more so to see them caged behind bars with the saddest, familiar eyes.

Oh dear! I am definitely one of the rabbits in that scenario - the chickens are scary parental figures! Come here, you bad bunny...I'll mess you up!

* via Kottke.

Let me start by saying, I can easily name a handful of people I know that aren't as smart as chimps!!! LOLOLOL.

“Jane suffered early rejection by the establishment,” Richard Wrangham, a Harvard anthropologist, said. “Now, the people who say chimpanzees don’t have emotions and culture are the ones rejected.”

Dr. Goodall recalled that when she went to Africa nearly a half-century ago, at least a million chimps lived in the continent, and “now there are perhaps only 150,000.” In that time, they have impressed scientists with physical and emotional reminders of their kinship to humans and their occasional triumphs over them at a computer screen.

The Wolverine (Gulo gulo) is the largest land-dwelling species of the Mustelidae or weasel family (the Giant Otter is largest overall), and is the only species currently classified in the genus Gulo (meaning "glutton"). The Wolverine is a stocky and muscular animal, considered carnivorous but known on occasion to eat plant material. The wolverine is still trapped for its fur in some parts of its range. Since 2003 Canada has classified its eastern population of Wolverines as "endangered.

We caught Wolverines Revealed last night and it was incredible - supposedly the closest documentarians have ever gotten to wolverines. The part where the runt bear cub gets stuck up in a tree while his mother and siblings are run off by another bear family (while wolverines lurked) was excrutiating.

Truly incredible Japanese video. The inventor says it took him 10 years to achieve this. I can hardly wait for his next lightbulb above his head idea!

* via Kottke.

I am so excited for my sock delivery from Joy of Socks! Check out my carefully chosen selection:

* In case you were wondering, I chose the orange chili pepper socks over the black - extra spicy!

There is such a thing as cruelty-free carnivorism right?! As an animal lover sometimes I feel guilty for being a carnivore and other times, I feel like it's only natural...conflicted carnivorism??

Was just cruising around on the internets, can't imagine what I was searching for!, when I stumbled on this - cute right?!

I've never felt one way or the other about Wolfgang Puck until I read this article and now I'm a fan!

Wolfgang Puck, the Los Angeles chef whose culinary empire ranges from celebrity dinners at Spago to a line of canned soups, said yesterday that he would use eggs and meat only from animals raised under strict humane standards.

“We applaud the fact that he sells a whole lot of chickens,” Mr. Lobb said. “But we think our program is very progressive and he should look at ours before he goes off with the Humane Society.”

Penguins can jump 6 feet in the air.

Emus and kangaroos cannot walk backwards.

Beavers can hold their breathe for 45 minutes under water.

Elephants are the only animal that can't jump.

Polar bears are left handed.

A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.

A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

Reindeer eat moss because it contains a chemical that stops their body from freezing.

Snakes can see through their eyelids.

The praying mantis is the only insect that can turn its head 360 degrees.

Butterflies' taste sensors are in their feet. They taste their food by standing on it.

Katydids have ears in their front legs.

The strongest animal in the world is the rhinoceros beetle. It can lift 850 times its own weight.

Flamingos are pink because shrimp is one of their main sources of food.

The Chameleon can focus its eyes separately to watch two objects at once.

Flamingos eat with their heads upside down to strain the water out of their food.

The Basenji is the only dog which does not bark.

For more, click here (yes, I read kid websites) and try to ignore all the typos - shame on them!

Thanks to Nicole for the photo!

The okapi (Okapia johnstoni) is a mammal of the Ituri Rainforest in central Africa. Although it bears striped markings reminiscent of the zebra, it is most closely related to the giraffe. Native just to the Ituri forests situated in the north east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it was known only to the local people until 1901.

Cool fact: The tongue of an okapi is long enough for the animal to wash its eyelids and clean its ears: it is one of the few mammals that can lick its own ears!!!

* Thanks to today's New York Times crossword puzzle for reminding me of the existence of these cool fellas.

Looking past the Flo-Jo nails and concentrating really hard on just the part where it falls asleep...Baby sloth gets a 5 on the cute scale*!

* modeled after the Hot or Not 1 - 10 scale with 10 being the Hottest.

** Thanks to the three people who sent me this video!

I may not actually look like this on the outside but believe me, this is how I feel and what I look like on the inside:

* Flying back to NYC from Austin today. Exhausted.

** Thanks to Mark for the picture!

Answers here.

Mama Kitty: It's better this way. When he grows up he'll feel indebted to us and hopefully, won't bite our heads off.

Thanks to Meg for the link!

These are fantastic! Ow. Fantastic! Ow. Fantastic!

Thanks to Pete for the submission!!

This is not ok.

Google images, I OWE YOU!!

Dance, girl, dance!!!

She probably wasn't dancing considering the situation but can't a girl dream??

Thanks to Anil Polat for the link!!

Look at this breathtaking picture:

The ending of Barbaro's life has made me sadder than I had anticipated. If his veterinarian had not become emotional and nearly unable to talk I would have been concerned that they had the wrong vet all along.

There's just something about horses.

Look at how happy this kitty is.

Thanks to my MnL Della for this photo!

GOT IT???!!!

We didn't think Bodie* would like it...

But we were wrong:

Dead wrong!!

Look at that joie de vivre!

And the talent !

* Thanks to Meg and Jason's cat for modelling!

So cool. I want to be Borneo bound!

Check out our new friend in existence - look deep into his eyes even if you have to run from side to side because they're wide-set - he holds the secrets of the world:

It's Get To Know Cheetahs Day!

Thanks to Chris for the great pic!

Woah. Easy there tiger panda!

Watch mom's defensive hunchback and check out her "talk to the hand" that she does with her right hind paw.

Recommended viewing style: Over and over and over again. It's the only way to ensure "getting it".

Thanks to Sally/Sal Pal/Petal Pop for the link!

As per usual, an awesome video from Japan. Makes me miss Japan even more but I'll be there soon enough - just one month to go!!

* Angus (showing tongue) and Ruby courtesy of Julie.

We saw this sign on display in front of a gaggle of puppies for sale in a pet store on 6th Avenue.

I walked over to Bellevue.

At dinner the other night my friend Jaime mentioned that I might be interested in a program her friend participates in called Puppies Behind Bars. Interested?! It is now my current obsession. A very cool woman Gloria Gilbert Stoga approached prisons asking if they'd be interested in helping their inmates train guide dogs for the blind. The program has taken off and now you and I can help by volunteering to be a foster parent of sorts. Once a month, you can pick up your pooch in training and live with him/her to help socialize them since they spend most of their time in the prison environment. If this is something you are willing and able to do responsibly, I encourage you! Just make sure to bring the puppy by Chez Andrea.

Anyone know the allergy inducing level of labrador puppies?? I should probably know that for Jonah's sake before signing up.

What are the top three cutest frames you ask? Ranked in order of cuteness:

1) The old foot-drag:

2) Soft-focused paw:

3) Close-up of intensely sleeping face:

Thanks for the link Jamie!

My favorite new article in a long time: Doggies are drug addicts too. Pathetic, just pathetic.

"We couldn't keep our dog's addiction a secret any longer," Laura Mirsch says. "The neighbors all knew that Lady was a drug addict, and soon the other dogs weren't allowed to play with her."

In the end, Lady seems to have found a way to manage her problem.

"She seems to have outgrown the wild toad-obsessed years of her youth," Mirsch says, "and now only sucks on weekends."

Suuuuure.

via Kottke.

Wow. This movie has been so hyped and with teasers like this, I'm believing the hype! Hope it lives up to it.

Thanks Hannah!!

...at least for the box:

* Greta of Cats 24/7 fame!

I finally have proof that the guys who ride bikes with modified pipes have tiny testicles. Thanks, New Scientist!

via Kottke.

This skunk resides on Martha's Vineyard...right there with you folks with homes on the Vineyard!

* Yay, my friend Mary has a blog! Check it!

Lights! Camera! Kitten!

As Connoisseur of Cute, it's usually easy for me to determine who's cuter - child or animal - but this is just too much:

The Meowing Order:

Thanks to Kersten for sharing all three cuties with us!

I mean it. You'll agree when you see her up close - it's creepy really - she's the kind of pretty that makes you look the other way because she's just so pretty. Meow.

Thanks Jason!

and this video helped to make it happen. Actually, this video was the deal clincher:

I get so much joy from this little octopus living in our bathtub. Every morning it's like, "Hey, Octopus! So happy to see you! What's shaking this morning? I love you, I love you, I love you!"

Your very own bathtub friend can be adopted here.

Thanks to my Aunt Suzi for this photo!

These horses belong to people who live near the bottom of our ranch (like how I subtly made us sound better and them lesser?) but I like taking pictures of them as if they're ours.

Pretty right? I mean the horses.

Hey, pretty lady...

Sometimes fouls sleep laying down:

Even if it looks really scary and the other horses seem concerned, don't panic.

Psst. Photography tip: If you forget to zoom out before taking a photo you might just end up with a masterpiece on your hands:

* Labor day weekend '06

My friend Hannah and her husband and baby went to Maine for a little family vacation and brought back these souvenirs for me! Ranked in order of my affection.

Love this guy like I love Hurley.

My new art gallery-going friend:

Birds have been ruined for me since 1963 but as long as it keeps its beak pointed there and not here, we're ok.

Thanks to Michelle for the link!

Thanks to Kendyl from Canada for the link!

Hey, tumbler! Hamster hazard: tumbling.

Bam! In the mouth.

There are furry babies on my fingers.

What up doc? High five.

It's not so bad to have flat ears! His sister has no idea how to calm him.

Woah. Arms wide cautiously open to you too!

Gottcha!

Thank God for youtube. We get to watch a kitten act like a junkie who just shot up heroin:

For bigger screen click here.

Hhhmmmm, how am I going to do this??

I'm going to have to give it my all, that's for sure!

Shake things up a bit, tear some ligaments, reset some bones

Chew on the toes furthest away from the problem area

Gnaw a little closer to the source

Try a deadly gas attack

Damn, this was harder than I thought, I'll just cover it up

A for effort, Angus!

I saw this, passed out, was in a 5 minute coma and finally woke up thanks to smelling salts.

First things first - TWINS!

Pre-walk Maggie is all arms spread out, all attitude:

Then she's all action!

Look at that spring in her hind legs! Mine isn't so bad either:

Jonah brought Maggie water. Maggie downward dogs to Jonah in thanks:

Every dog has a tongue but none so cute:

She's taking a break. She needs a break! (if you knew that was from Dirty Dancing, you rule):

At the dog park she flipped her ear over for the drama of it:

Maggie and Jonah are the best:

They have moments. Maggie, Jonah and Sidekick:

Her head folds are first-rate:

Maggie wants to go home:

Maggie is restored to Queen Maggie after her walk:

I'm certain Maggie's favorite part of the walk was getting fondled by me:

Nearly molested:

Except it's not molestation if you're both in love right? And come on, you can tell by our body language that we are madly in love:

Lily, if you can't find your dog when you get back, don't worry!! I'll give her back when I feel like it.

An online auction for a lunch date with Beyonce?? Who wouldn't throw down for that??!! PETA would! Little did Beyonce know who her lunch date would be...

WATCH THE VIDEO.

Have you been on this earth long enough (5 minutes) to be able to read this body language??

An expected but still dissappointing reaction (or lack thereof) from Beyonce.

Nice going PETA!

Thanks to Lily's puppy Maggie for posing for this shot - it took 12 takes!

For more Maggie click here.

From the dog, tiger and pig website that is ModernPooch.com we have this amazing story.

In a zoo in California, a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of
triplet tiger cubs. Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy,
the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size, they died shortly
after birth.
The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started to
decline in health, although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt
that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into a
depression. The doctors decided that if the
tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.

After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news
was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the
mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try something that had never
been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother of one species will take
on the care of a different species. The only "orphans" that could be found
quickly, were a litter of weaner pigs.
The zoo keepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin and placed the
babies around the mother tiger.

Thanks to Jodi for this!

Emotional Support Goat:

Emotional Support Duck:

A few days after I heard that Talia was the new hip name that Jewish New Yorkers are naming their daughters, I got proof when introduced to Princess Talia, the newest addition to the Rubin-Rosenberg household. Congrats to Beth, Richard, Willa and Jackson!!

The kitten was born little but healthy, came into this world whiskers first and Beth said that other than a tickle and a giggle she birthed Princess Talia painlessly and silently.

* From an email forward.

It's horrific.

This little guy reminds me of my first pet, Julie, the sweetest, smartest rabbit who was potty trained and would snuggle right up to me and my brother and sleep.

For more cuteness, click here.

Thanks to Wonder Girl for the link!

I encourage you to check out these sites to learn about animal testing for beauty products. Is there anything more incongruous? When a *beauty* product needs to be dripped into a rabbits eyeball to see its effect, it's clear how far removed we've become from what is sensical and humane. I say we buy products that don't need to be tested on animals because they don't contain potentially toxic ingredients to begin with and leave the poor animals out of our madness. Cruelty Free products abound!

PETA: Caring Consumer

Leaping Bunny: Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics

HSUS Animal Testing Info

Skin Deep: News about the safety of popular health & beauty brands

I donate a small but well intentioned amount every month to the HSUS, ASPCA and PETA. If anyone wants to join me I'll increase my contribution now!

P.S. Urban Decay is cool.

My face still itches like a mother. I wish I had this paw to scratch it with.

* This paw belongs to Peter Green's kitty D.

The only thing *almost* as cute as real live puppies are cartoons about them. Check out Modern Pooch now!

* Taken years ago in Chelsea. Have rediscovered draft entries while preparing for a very sexy re-launch!!! Stay tuned, excited and don't blink.

Thanks to Peter Green for exposing this dog abuse.

This is about the age when you can start staring down the family kitty.

Any younger and it would be a mess.

Thanks to my friend Annie Maxwell for having such a cute niece named Holly. Good work!

I'm not even reading this article.

I just love looking at this bigass bunny.

This is what I'm dreaming of today. I'm the monkey being petted.

Check this out for a slide show of more awesome photos.

Thanks again to my bro for the great links from the Internets!

The Colored Bull Terrier took Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show!! And that's what you call french kissing a dog.

Speaking of French and bull terriers, you have to watch this great, twisted movie about Baxter, a talking, horny, homicidal dog...brought to you by the French, of course.

I hope that when my body is unearthed aeons from now, they'll say, Found: Decrepid little woman. Jasmine scented.

You will thank me for this being one of your first forays into the world this morning. Volume turned up please.

Can you believe this love affair began like this??!!

So much apprehension on the part of human and dog - So close~ Yet so far away~:

Extended arm and cupped, immobile hand - Stay away...Stay far, far away:

Furrowed brow and joyless expression - This could maybe one day become fun:

Stiff body language and robotic dog playing - Its jaw looks pretty strong:

Militant expression and the return of the exented arm - Here, play with this stuffed dog. You'll have more fun with it. Believe you and me.

But remember! This is the current state of their relationship so the moral of the story is that even seemingly hopeless relationships can blossom into undying love:

I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult.
-Rita Rudner

I~don't~think~so~!!

Hey Jonah! I still owe you a birthday present...can you guess what it is?? It's a dead dog except not the dead part.

I can't believe I almost missed this but thanks to friend Annie Maxwell I didn't.

Watch carefully, you'll see the poor poocher in the bottom right corner...looking like he wants to commit suicide but hasn't gotten around to it yet.

I was 110% in love at this point:

And well now I've been reduced to 100% in love but that's still great!

Nice work, Katy Oliver! Always looking in nooks and crannies and under bed sheets for treasures!

looks like:

Thanks to Chelsea for sharing this picture of her pooch.

Isn't this the sweetest, most sensual thing you've ever seen?

They are two little kitties I found behind a trashcan in an alley, rescued, posed for this sexy, sweet glamour shot and then let back into "nature".

Thanks for the pic Jodi!

Watch this vid.

Thanks to Krishna for for being brave enough to send this to the highly selective, extremely discerning editorial desk!

I was explaining to my colleage Lance Harkin the cruel fate of having found the love of my life but that he's allergic to cats and dogs. [Disclaimer: This is an irony I am more than happy to grapple with, since it means that I've found my Jonah!]

So then Lance sent me this link and said that these little guys are too cute to be allergic to. I've shown Jonah and we are dying to try these marsupials out!!

Description:

The diet of wild sugar gliders consists mainly of sap, nectar, bugs, and small animals such as baby birds. They are nocturnal, so as pets they're most fun late in the evening and early in the morning, and they are capable of making an interesting variety of sounds. They are very clean little animals, and although they do have their own unique scents, they don't smell bad if their diet is correct. There are also some health problems that glider owners should be aware of.

Read: You'll have to catch and maim baby birds to feed your little qt. They will not let you sleep so you'll find yourself at your computer late at night with bleeding eyeballs and your little qt sitting and staring at you and occassionally throwing pecans at you in efforts to strike up a little playtime. You'll be scared and titillated by the bizarre sounds the little qt will make. If you don't catch enough baby birds (preferably yank them away from their nests while their mother is in mid-feeding session), they'll stink up your living space bad, real bad. Face it, your qt pie will develop a rare sugar glider disease causing it to bleed out of its anus and onto everything you own while it moans and cries all day and night until you throw a pillow over it for 5 minutes.

As for their smells, I hope ours will do the first thing more than the third thing...will let you know.

Gliders produce at least three distinct odors. One is a sweet, flowery smell; another I don't know how to describe, but it is not really offensive. It can get relatively strong at times, when they are breeding, but after a few days it dies away again. The third is a pungent smell that is produced by the anal gland when a glider is afraid.

And onto breeding...

Yes, fathers will breed with their daughters if they are left together.

The hubris of humans...as if we are above this behavior!!

And taming...

...there are some ages when they're really hard to tame. "Teenage" gliders are the worst, and I guess second worst are adults who have never been tamed.

Humans and gliders, one and the same.

Diet do's and don'ts:

Gliders have a real sweet tooth, and can be little pigs when it comes to sweets and fatty foods. My first pair of gliders were not tame, so when I discovered foods they particularly liked, I'd use them as bribes to get them to trust me. Pecans were a favorite, as were sugar cubes. I had enough sense not to give them much sugar, but pecans seemed safe enough... Within a few months I had two gliders who were very tame, and also very very FAT.

I think this glider owner hates fat people. This is what a sugar glider starvation tank looks like:

Oh.
my.
GOD!!!

Too cute! Too cute! Too cute! (One for each).

Thanks to my friend Katy Oliver for this!!!

[The owner] yelled when he saw the tongues flicker.

Thanks to my brother for the link!

Update: Here's a cuter picture of the squirrel that crashed the dog family.

Families come in many shapes and sizes!

Oh dear...do we see something amiss here?!

Let's look a little closer...oh my squirrel!!

This is the face of a pooch that'll give up her teet to anything:

ModernPooch.com is quickly becoming BitchyPooch.com and I like it!

This is a great e-card which can be sent from here.

I am a proud supporter of the ASPCA (you're probably thinking 'righteous and preachy too!' and I am).

Check out their newly launched ASPCA Speak campaign by Saatchi & Saatchi (I imagine the people who worked on this were like, 'Yay! Finally we're advertising for something we don't hate!) and information on the Dog Walk for the Animal Victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita on October 15 at Riverside Park.

If you don't have the time to volunteer or don't have the ability to adopt, you can join me as an ASCPA Guardian!

See that little cutie in the post below...the model in the foreground???

Well a photo I took of her sitting atop her 'New York Times to be receycled' throne - full page and *completely naked* - on page 24 of Cats 24/7!!!

It's the perfect gift for cat lovers and especially for cat haters - you can have endless fun planting it all over their house!

I think the jeans he planted his ass on are his preferred jeans.

For more pooch check out ModernPooch.com!

Thanks to Meg for the photo!

Here's the test: Which is cuter?

My sleeping Sparky?

Or my sleeping Uncle Robert?

* The OC, CA 08.05

I mean it.

JUST IN...

I heard a story from a distraught friend that would break your heart. It involves puppies bought at American Kennels on Lexington between 61st & 62nd. The details are grim and the amount of emotional (nightly hospital visits to the puppies for weeks) and financial suffering are great. The saddest thing is that I know he's not the first and only person to experience problems with this store . Do you know of other similar stories concerning this pet store? Or other stores or breeders? Please let me know.

:-(

Now that Jonah and I are married, we're in a constant embrace like this - morning, noon and night:

Only the two of us though...three's a crowd.

* Thanks to Frederick Cundict for the pic!

Penguins rock!!

See for yourself but I warn you, you may squeel at how cute, funny and truly impressive these little bird-fish are and fall dangerously in love.

* See how a Beyonce reference really works in this post??

We've got some great stuff on ModernPooch.com right now...check it out!

Click, listen & see:

Thanks Lars!

THANK YOU KENYATTA!!

Just imagine walking around your house/apt, maybe even humming and then hearing a little something, looking down and seeing this little guy...I know what I'd do...what would you do?

It's no wonder this is the most widely circulated image on Yahoo...

via reBlog.

The silly sleeping pose olympics post inspired Joi to post this photo so I'm proud and loving this image:

SOS.

We need a new word to describe this kind of over the top CUTENESS.

The Silly Sleeping Pose Olympus - Duets:

The Silly Sleeping Pose Olympics - Solo:

Now this is my kind of blog post...straight up documentary photos arranged in comic book style and feuled by commentary born out of a love of the funny, incongruous details that make up our lives.

Jake rescues one of those big fish in the tanks in Chinatown and frees him in the river!

Highlights:

I mean, look at the sadness.
�I�d take you all with me if I could boys��

Getting him to hold still for the weigh-in was no simple matter. My happiness was building though�

I was running low on funds, but I figure it you come to New York and don�t ride in a single cab you�re missing out on the experience. Ideally he would�ve been able to look out his clear bag at the city as we drove� we could�ve even taken a victory lap or two around the neighbor hood. Oh well.

"It�s alright little guy. It�s not just about us anymore. This is for everyone who�s ever felt like a fish out of water� everyone who�s ever felt helpless� like life is out of control�"

�Go boy, go!�

The End!

via Kottke.org.

"I walked out onto the porch and there were snakes having relations!" Perry's mom recently exclaimed from Texas...

Fortunately she had a camera nearby and we now know what snake intimacy looks like.

Looks kinda fun, doesn't it??

So is this the comfortable but not so risky snake equivalent of "missionary position?" or are they constantly jockeying for position: "I'm on top and you're on the bottom!" "Not now! I'm the top and you're the bottom" and the winding goes on and on...

There are kitties...and there are hams...and only if you're lucky do you meet a kitty who's also a ham!!

While I'm too busy to blog (what?! no?! never!) please enjoy one cute little kitten after another cute little kitten after another and another... such as...

I'm madly in love:

I'm desperately in love:

I'm crazy in love:

...is the best cat ever.

If more cats were like this...I guess they'd be...dogs!! Ouch!

Check out these great very very short videos. There are some impressive feats accomplished by this one little kitty:

This is hilarious. Turn up your speakers, especially if you're at work.

~Starting a Ze Frank's cat Annie International Fan Club~

Please don't give $ to this guy!!!

Toby the victim:

Catnapping just entered a whole new level of crazy cuteness.

Thanks to Jodi for the link!!

Be sure to check out Modern Pooch as guest blogger, funny lady and dog lover Chelsea Peretti will be taking the doggy reins from me for one week...I'll see you and the doggs in a week!

Thanks to the great service Flickr we can all share each other's photos...such as this great one:

I love this cat's spirit. If I could bottle it up and rub it all over me I would...its spirit, not the kitty.

Some call me CYCLONE...

That's ok. I'll just meow her ear off.

* Cute, funny, portly, awesome Louis appears courtesy of his owner/companion/mother, Christine Hanaway.

Ultra Hanami was a wonderful success and too much fun (thank you so much to everyone who attended-pictures will be posted soon!) so I've now entered the land of ear to ear smiles...like these kitties.

These kitties were part of a larger email with smiling doggies but as you know, doggies now belong on Modern Pooch and kitties now happily and independently reside here!

Thanks cuz Harmony for the email forward.

Dear Online Family,

It is with great pleasure and a heart thumping with pride, that Sparky and I announce the launch of ModernPooch.com, where the dog obsessed can get their daily doggy fix of cute pics, funny stories and useful tips.

So everyday when you feel that familiar ache for the pooch...you now know where to look - ModernPooch.com!

Sincerely,

Sparky & Andrea Harner

P.S. This site will keep on truckin' with everything but dogs.

Take the highly scientific CATS quiz (Canine Algorithmic Transfer System) to determine what breed of dog you'd be if you were lucky enough to be a dog.

Click into this flash site and then click on "games" which appears on the upper left corner and test take away!

I'm a Piccolo Levriero Italiano (Italian Greyhound) and Jonah's a Sloughi (Slughi) so what are you?

Of course the descriptions are all postive so everyone can enjoy this fantastical game:

You've got to watch this:

* Thanks to Mena!

Today is a sad day because Lucy the Dog passed away over the weekend. She was a super sweet dog who had a rough life until she was rescued by Janice and from that moment on she was deeply loved as every doggy should be. Although Janice only had a short three years with Lucy they shared a bond that was plain for all the world to see.

Poised with my camera and my patient, winning attitude, I waited for nearly 5 hours to capture this tongue shot and let me tell you folks, in this situation as in life, you can get what you want as long as you're willing to sacrifice a balanced and productive life.

*Thanks to Peter's awesome cat D who looks like a Weimaraner...cat.

If Finnegan were a chick, she'd be a chick other girls hated for being unbearably cute and photogenic.

* 4 month old Finn posed patiently near Columbus Circle on Nov. 7, NYC Marathon Day.

Two weekends ago, the city mice went to the country!

While packing for the trip, Jonah asked me, "Will there be any animals there?" and I replied, "I highly doubt it."

This is what greeted us on arrival. Oops, oops, oops, oops.

And then this little 6 incher.

And this pig:

And this horse:

And this sheep:

And these miniature goats:

And these miniature donkeys:

And this crazy cat:

Bonzo supposedly acts depressed sometimes because he only gets 23 hours of constant love and affection per day. No one felt too sorry for him so it didn't seem like he'd get that additional vital hour but I pumped him up by teaching him that persistent moping and whining would eventually pay off.

He was amped by my teachings.

The Spaniels loved backseat driving.

And front seat driving.

Someone else also likes zipping around dangerously huh? Sandy??

It's the apple cider making siblings! They discovered that there was one crucial apple missing from the barrel.

Jonah has an apple shaped bicep.

Here's Neev zooming in on my teeth. See that? Teethtacular.

Here's good and evil.

One of the best things is discovering baby pictures of your friends. There she is, Lily the American Indian with a Monocle.

All good things must come to an end...an ending in which I got carsick for the first time and tried Lamaze breathing for the first time too.

Was city mouse missing the country?!

I'm so so sorry, cute little kitty, that you're named Olivia Sage.

When you're not getting beaten up by the other kitties for your name, be sure to stop and smell the flowers along the way.

Get right up in there. Yup, just like that.

This photographer comments that this is one of the most horrendous things ever. I agree about the paisley shirt the pooch's owner/stylist/slave master is wearing. Paisley only looks good on invisible people.

As for the pooch's outfit, as a pooch whisperer I can safely say that he's saying, "Finally. Before this, I felt like a pre-op tranny. Now, I look how I always should have looked."

Check out this unjustifiably melodramatic and thoroughly enjoyable investigation of "Who Let the Dogs Out at Battersea?"

Skip the text and nose dive into the video link on the right, turn up the volume and prepare yourself for mystery, intrigue, drama...British style.

Excerpts:

A picture of innocence but there's more to Red than meets the eye....

Anyone coming to Battersea looking for a pet should be warned, they might find themselves with a pet who lets the burglars in...

A sneak peak at the ole bugger:

I challenge you to show me cuter legs than Freddy's...animal or human...I'm sorry you lost:

Paws down, uncontested Cute Champion:

Pink suits Freddy:

Andrea: Hey sweet Greta, how's it going?

Greta: Paws off my Bag o' Barbituates, lady.

If that wasn't an invitation I didn't know what was, so I gratiously accepted and then...

Even a chatterbox becomes speechless in the presence of such sweetness...

such cuteness...

* taken by Jonah on 8.29.04 in Newport Beach, CA.

This is not even that serious:

Neither is this:

* Photo studio window display in Tokyo.

~I watch you when you are sleeping...you belong with me~

* Thanks to Margaret's Internet connections for this precious pic.

Cameras really do love pugs.

Paul, my friend and bandmate in Air Kiss on Mars has a friend with a photogenic Pug.

But on another note...What happened here was, this little Pugger was a bad girl so she was sent away to fend for herself for a while...but not without the cutest accoutrement!

Here's her expression when upon returning from 5 days of street living she was told, "it was just a joke, grrrrrl!"

Closer up on betrayed subject:

"The nerves in Zsa Zsa's right ear are nearly dead. We're going to have to awaken and train the nerves by wrapping her ear with something strongly resembling a tampon" is roughly what I imagine the vet saying to Zsa Zsa's owner.

The neighborhood dogs in Chelsea will tease her until her dying day but she'll have a right ear much less prone to infection.

Way to hit Zsa Zsa over the head with that 'life isn't fair' lesson, Dr. Doolittle.

The irony here was that the owner put these booties on her dog to protect him from the dirty Chinatown streets only to have to wrestle him for the nasty piece of bone he chomped on for what seemed to be 20 minutes...

Notice the similiar pattern on his bootie and his tongue...hhmmm...means nothing, absolutely nothing.

Allow me to introduce to you, an Italian Greyhound puppy by the name of Macy.

Truth be told she gave me the money shot right here in this first photo snapped and I could have refrained from taking the subsequent 250 shots...

Oh, she would have been a much happier puppy but it's my duty to push people and dogs to the point of discomfort and rage...in the name of Street Photography:

10 minutes later in the blistering sun...look at the naive little princess, thinking that by looking away I'd take the hint...what hint? thought the photographer:

20 minutes later and for a full 10 minutes she stared up at the sun (which in dog speak is "fuck you"). Note the eyeballs melting:

30 minutes later, to the tune of my incessant high energy encouragements such as "Come on, show us one more good shot, huh? We've almost got it, cutie! Let's see that smile and winning attitude! Isn't this fun?!" she tried leaping in front of a taxi in the midst of a high speed chase:

With the sun nearly set, she finally resigned to the power and calling of the aforementioned Street Photography and slumped her ears and body downwards (which in dog speak is "I once was alive. Now I am dead.")

Freddy the bad ass roams carefreely in the grand piano with no regard for his fur and dander droppings:

If he were human this would be his car:

When Rico is able to respond to,

"Hey Rico! Go make money and bring it back to me,"

I'm getting a dog...even though JP's allergic...

Finally an Old Dog That Can Learn New Tricks

I want a bag with a cute face!

But since JP is allergic to furry animals, I'll just have to stick a salamander in a satchel or wait until my firstborn is old enough to stand up and smile out of a purse...

*Rex was spotted in the men's suit section of the new Bloomie's in SoHo

There is nothing badder than a dog that dares to look head on into traffic:

Meet Freddy, Greta's new friend & ...and air guitarist!

His whiskers:

His paws:

I feel bad that my feet are cuter than his:

so I gave him my laptop and they're inseparable:

His favorite thing to do is lay on his back, cock his eye and read books online:

There are great dogs and then there is Mr. Simon Cauley, the greatest reindeer in dog disguise ever!

Simon's dog costume is so thorough, be sure to check out his ass to see his fantastic dog tail!

Having met this wonderful Simon, I've now found a worthy running mate for Sparky!

Sparky for President, Simon for VP!!

Oh Chupa and all other ladies out there...we have our crosses to bear, don't we?

Don't worry, avec et sans pantyliner, you are still completely adorable.

Now here's a cat I could spend eternity with...political views and appetite aligned!

HELP!! THIS CUTE CUTE CUTE CUTE CUTE CUTE DOG NAMED CHUPA HAS BEEN DOGNAPPED!!

IF FOUND, RETURN TO ME AND I'LL RETURN HER TO HER RIGHTFUL STEPOWNER CHELSEA PERETTI.

TIP: SHE WAS LAST SPOTTED WITH CHELSEA PERETTI.

1st milk carton pic:

2nd milk carton pic:

Here is the curliest and most upside down dog on the planet!

...with an owner who hated me and my camera...

Here's a special little video by the American Kennel Club featuring the exciting moments in the lives of Portuguese Water Dogs.

LA really is a super friendly city...especially when you hang out with furry friends and fondle them non-stop...and here they are:

1) Sparky!! as you all know already...15 years old but feeling younger and sassier every day...Sparky for President!

2) My brother's girlfriend's (sister's, brother's, daughter's...) baby Beagle, Chloe:

Perhaps you can guess why her nickname is Left-Eye Chloe?! (as in Left-Eye Lopez, of course...RIP):

3) and Moby, Andrea Spratt's cat who guarded my new spring heels from those crazy LA girls...wow, looking at those hot shoes makes me feel better about that loan I took out to pay for them...

As for the people in LA, they are animals, I tell you...simply animals...

Does this little dog seem happy to be wearing shoes?

I'll let you answer that one.

Nevertheless, cute, cute, cute!

*near Washington Sq. Park this past weekend

It really has been cold here recently...as this little doggy can attest!

He's checking out a honey he spotted on the southeastern corner of Mott & Houston.

It's my blog, so I can indulge pictures of my dog Sparky, who came into my life 15 years ago! and a cat named Greta whom I have gotten to know and love over the past 2.8 years, right?

Right!

Here's Smiling Sparky!

And here she resigns to my planting one on her...it's been done a few times over the past 15 years...too bad there isn't a "remove nose grease" option in photoshop!

Here's my favorite picture of Greta...I imagine she's saying, "yeah, yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before..."

And here's us having one of our moments...when Greta tells me all that's on her mind and I listen like a good friend...and top if off with a kiss...

What all this means, is that if you have a problem with your pet being kissed, keep him/her away from me because I will kiss your pet.

Cats are funny.

Cats are cute, especially with outstretched paws.

If you're into cute and funny cat things, check out this book:

277 Secrets Your Cat Wants You to Know: A Cat-Alog of Unusual and Useful Information

Here's a concise Economist article on dog behavior and why and how dogs have secured themselves in the hearts of humans:

Sensitive Souls: How dogs became man's best friend

Greta noticed an interesting looking box the other day...

Perhaps it housed great treasures, she thought...

There was only one way to find out so she ventured in...

Got a feel for things...

and prepared for a cat nap...

when it all came crashing down...

And she now spends her free time turning her back on boxes...

I nearly tripped and fell over this cute kitty in the Indian spice store on 6th & 1st Ave...you know, the one between the Indian restaurant and the Indian restaurant.

He was so mellow yellow...seeming...

Then I saw something in his eyes that made me a little nervous...

Sure enough he faked me out...

And took a lunge at me...

Moral of the story: You should buy spices, Indian beer, gum, something...as kitties don't take kindly to silly photo taking and no business making.

This recent NYTimes article details gay behavior among animals.

We thought, would this article incense the friendly homophobes out there with declarations such as, "See?! Even the animals in New York City turn gay!" or serve as proof of how animalistic homosexuality is??
OR would this simply illustrate that homosexual is natural behavior that exists in both human and animal kingdoms!?

Somehow, I don't think it's the latter.

Then, I remembered a tale a friend relayed over the weekend.

For what it's worth, he swears by it and it goes something like this:

If there are a bunch of bulls (male cows) in an enclosed area, they will soon enough start "humping each other." That is, until you unleash a donkey among them. Enter the donkey and no more homosexual behavior.

A crock of bull?

I don't know.

But I'm just dying to know! So let me know what the verdict is if you test it out!

Here are photos from yesterday's Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden!!

Here's me and Jonah!

Here's a Pointer fan!

Irish setters were popular in the ring and in embroidery:

Note her doggy bone necklace & the poodle feet in the distance:

I got a few of these and wrapped 'em up for Christmas 04!

I tried to snake this purse by tugging and tugging but it just wouldn't budge!

The doggy scarf for fancy folks:

Dog show folks have their bling blings too!!

Who says dog shows are slow? They are fast!

Especially those handlers! I barely saw any dogs!

Rumor had it, this Irish Setter refuses to be groomed without his purple scrunchies:

Sheltie practices striking a pose:

Sheltie reflects before the big moment:

This little guy did this for so long he couldn't get up and had to be picked up!!
J/K.

Here's the recipient of the andreaharner.com cutest dog at the dog show award:

Don't you think its a bit inappropriate to wear a great dane coat to THE dog show?

Uuum, excuse me lady...that's a WOLF, not a DOG. Get out of here before you get thrown out!

It's a tiring two days, folks.

Articles on the delightful dog show that graced our fine city:

It's slightly wierd that Yamada, the Best in Show judge explains that while he was sequestered before the judging, he shopped and did blah blah blah "and my wife, daughter and daughter-in-law bought fur coats." Uuum, ok.

Judge of Best in Dog Show Secluded Until Big Moment

Handler on Newfie: "He showed his heart out."

Slobbering Newfoundland Named Top Dog

I've finally discovered the perfect career for the lover of animals and psychology that I am...

Pet Psychologist!

Although, I quickly discovered that "pet shrinks" strongly dislike this term and prefer Applied Animal Behaviorist...and for those with canine and feline clients, Companion Animal Behaviorist ...probably because most of them have PHDs and are often also veterinarians. Most importantly, this field is rapidly becoming more accepted and seen as a reliable source for curbing problematic pet behavior.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading up on this profession and mostly reading books by Nicholas H. Dodman, vet + companion animal behaviorist who heads the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts Veterinary School. He is a good writer, is clearly competent in psychoanalyzing pet behavior and also has a talent for analyzing pet owners and demonstrates an all around humanitarian outlook. Andreaharner.com has found a role model!

What I know for certain is that when I start taking photos like these to grace the backs of my books on "pet psychology" (I'm trying to take back and be empowered by the name) I will know I have finally landed in the right profession.

If Only They Could Speak: Stories about Pets and Their People

The Cat Who Cried For Help: Attitudes, Emotions and the Psychology of Cats

I miss this lovely, musically inclined kitty, Greta.

*Oh! For those who don't know Greta and why I would miss her, don't worry, it's nothing tragic...it's just that she's not my cat so I don't get to smother her with love as often as I'd like, that's all.

Finally, what I've been waiting for! Approval to marry Sparky!

Look at how happy the newleyweds are!

You're only a click away, fellow pet freaks whom I love!

It's another Mouse Over Creation! Intentionally sloppy to juxtapose this sophisticated, highly advanced web trick so just humor me!

This is the cool little white kitty I stalk when I'm in Chinatown.

I'm finally responding to the overwhelming RFWs (Request for Wishlist) that I received before the holidays from all you friendly people out there...well aaaaall right, I'll give in...here it is!

Monopoly with cute ass dogs all over it.

I can see it already!...fitting beautifully in our little game center, flanked between two editions of Trivia and my pepto pink patent leather backgammon set.

After quite a nice trip visiting family in CA and a hectic but fun move into our new awesome apt, I am back in blog action.

A major highlight from my trip was being with my little peanut, Sparky.

This little sparkplug likes being clean but prefers other activities to bathing:

Note her specialty "lazy hang over the tub" and the shampoo drizzle down her forehead:

And here she planned her Great Escape:

Mission accomplished and !oh! there's the inevitable shake!

And the sparkling clean face!

And finally, enjoying her Freedom Run!

After a day of bathing, playing and posing, Sparky is a tired little lady:

My dear dear friend Celeste just sent me this photo saying

"thought you'd appreciate this lovely kitty"

and boy, was she right!!

This catalog arrived in the mail and I nearly molested the thing.

Could there be a cuter picture ever taken?

Could there be a more rhetorical question?

No, no, no, NO!!

If you're feeling willing and able to help a little doggy or kitty in need this season, here you go.

Update: I had not done any research into this site when I first posted this. Having looked into this business, I'm not sure it's as kosher as it may seem...the verdict is apparently still out but I just want it to be known that andreaharner.com neither condones nor condemns this site. The site and the picture I excerpted from it were merely funny to me and in line with my puppy inclinations.

Bizarre website, courtesy of Jodi, containing really really cute little puppies (with an emPHAsis on little) for sale in ridiculous outfits and sets (see below).

See for fun times!

This little guy was so cute and commanding in this puffy silver suit I audibly uttered to myself oh my god and ran after him for a photo...

Clearly I couldn't be blamed...in fact, I kept thinking, Murry is so special he must be a superhero!

I'm fairly certain he was...
Isn't it obvious that with his hat down on his shoulders, he was getting ready to fight injustice?

The icing on the cake was Murry's owner facilitating the photo shoot by saying, "Show your tongue, Murry."

Long time readers may recall another dog in a space suit...Note the tongue teasing by the little daschund too!

Some of you may recall the adorable and sleepy Jack spotted in SoHo a few weeks back...well, in the midst of the blizzard, out popped Jack again!

Look at how sporty and stylish he is standing tall in his argyle sweater...this little guy can't be bothered by a little ole blizzard!

I just watched Errol Morris' exceptional and hilariously hilarious documentary Gates of Heaven (1978) so I've been inspired to post photos from the pet cemetery we discovered on Catalina Island this summer.

This is Frida, my friend Jeremy's newly rescued pooch.

Isn't she sweet...and cool with the David Bowie eye thing...

Oh! Doggies just can't help themselves can they?

Can you imagine if us people were more doggy like in public?! Yikes!

This weekend in NoLita, I fell madly in love with these 2 bulldogs, Lucy & Lola.

There there are...playing hard to get in unison.

Lucy & Lola, easily the cutest ladies in NoLita! I'm sure all the boys would agree...

Here is the magnificent lady Adina Cherkin discussing the *much debated* topic, "Short legged vs. Long legged dogs." (2.2 MB)

She is also the author of this fabulously fun book aptly titled "Terse Verse & Oodles of Doodles

Cats haven't been represented enough recently so here's my friend Lily's kitty...with dangerously seductive green eyes...watch out.

Don't even think about overlooking the super cute curled paw on the right:

Also, take a tour through Cat Town.

I promise you won't be sorry...I only wish I had been the creator of this purrrfect project.

It was a usual Saturday in SoHo with tourists shopping their guts out and blocking the sidewalks...when I spotted two dogs, so cute I nearly fell over.

Here was the reason for my first near heart attack:

Not surprising that her name was CoCo huh?

And then followed Chloe, a Mini Maltese weighing 3 pounds...

If you roll over the picture below you'll see the little game she played with me:

Oh CoCo and Chloe, so fist clenchingly cute...I'll always save a spot on SoHo sidewalks for you two!