This amazing, short animated video tells one very weird story. How come that chicken’s eyes glow red? Can that crab really shoot plasma death lasers? Is it really healthy for a moose to drink beer? Watch now and find out!

Last week i saw something called Chichi man he is a creaature in kinistin SK. He has no mouth, no nose and red glowing eyes. Me and my mom where driving to Tisdale and when I was looking back I saw something human like but he seen me looking at him so he went low in the grass and crawled all the way back in the bush. Thats my story I never thought I would tell anyone.

My sister also saw him she was at home and she looked at my late grandfathers house and put a flashlight on it and it did the same thing as when I seen it i crawled away and she also said it had no mouth or nose.

We have alot of weird crap on this rez like some reptile like thing in the creek so im only 12 and Chichi man really freaked me out i know more creature in and aroun Kinistin this is my first time saying anything so I didnt know where to put this. I just found this website so lol.

Absolutely amazing goat acrobat with a monkey on its back doing other tricks.

This story is for people who believe that dreams can manifest in reality.

At the end of a long day, I slipped into bed and drifted off to sleep. I hardly ever remember my dreams, but this one I remember vividly. I was on vacation with my family and for some reason I had a black Labrador that I loved very much. The main focus of the dream was tossing the frisbee. A recurring theme was that he would steal frisbees that were lying around a parking lot near other people's cars (no idea why).

Every time he would bring the frisbee back to me, I would have to take it back to the owner and apologize for my dog. The ritual was that we would go from the parking lot to the park for more wide open and peaceful environment. I would hop in my car and start driving and the dog would run and grab the frisbee and jump into the passenger seat while the car was moving; it was kind of cool.

Well it came time for whatever reason for me and the dog to part. I stood sobbing on my doorstep; I seemed to be conversing with the animal and knew it had to be this way.

I told the dog "see ya" and woke up.

A few days later as I was walking to the park to sit quietly and read, was distracted by a man and a dog playing catch with a frisbee. To my shock and amazement the dog was exactly as I had pictured it in my dreams; black Labrador. Astonished, I walked up to the pair and the dog didn't bark at all, it simply ran up to me and began wagging its tail.

I asked the man about his dog and could not believe what I'd heard. Apparently he had found the Labrador in the parking lot to his apartment complex with a frisbee in its mouth. He had put up posters advertising a lost dog and nobody had claimed him, so he simply kept the dog, which he named Cerberus after the three headed dog who guards the gates of Hades in Greek mythology.

Strange.

My mother had quite possibly the ugliest dog of all time. Despite the eyesore that the terrier mix was, she loved that dog more than anything. It was her first dog and she had rescued it from the animal shelter where it would have most definitely been put down had she not adopted it. Her name was Isabella.

I was about then when she got Isabella. I grew to dislike the dog for whatever reason (I attribute it to teenage angst and lack of compassion). At any rate I and my friends would constantly joke about how that dog would live forever just to spite me; and it pretty much did. Isabella lived for about 16 years after my mom had gotten her (we estimated her being about two before my mother rescued her).

Last year, we could tell that she was nearing the end of her life, you could tell that she was in pain when she walked and she hardly moved. Mom was reluctant to per her to sleep. With her children being out of the house, the dog was her main source for company during the long winter days.

She finally gave in and had Is put to sleep. She went through the next few weeks with a heavy heart, and my sister and I did our best to cheer her up. After a few weeks she decided that she was ready to get another dog to replace her beloved Isabella. She had called me to tell me the news and so I came to look at the new dog....it looked exactly the same.

My mom had explained that while looking for the next Isabella, she saw ChiChi staring at her through the bars of a cage, not barking at all. My mom said to the dog "There you are,".

Posted on Wed, Sep. 30, 2009

By Peter Mucha

Inquirer Staff Writer
'Sticky' has found a family.

The cat that became a media sensation after being found body-wrapped in duct tape joined its new adoptive family yesterday, according to the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

A handful of people called to claim ownership, but no one followed through, according to spokeswoman Liz Williamson.

"They were given the opportunity to come in and meet with our officers and prove ownership," she said. "Only one person even set up an appointment and that person did not keep the appointment."

More than 100 adoption requests came in, and they were considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

This family's request came soon after the news broke Sept. 22 about a cat found bound from neck to toes in a North Philadelphia yard, Williamson said.

The female cat was nicknamed "Sticky" by workers at the PSPCA, where she was sedated so the tape could be removed with scissors. The cat was doing well after her ordeal.

The family wishes to remain anonymous, and Williamson didn't know where they live or whether they have children or other pets.

She was also waiting word on whether the name "Sticky" would stick.

The case captured public attention, generating all sorts of news reports that led to increases in adoptions, donations and phone calls for the society's headquarters in North Philadelphia.

Last year, from Sept. 23 to 29, 15 cats were adopted at the headquarters at 350 E. Erie Ave. This year, during the same period, 58 cats found new homes, an increase Williamson called "awesome."

Donors who mentioned Sticky gave $2,075, she said.

Callers clogged phone lines with leads for investigators, who were offering a $2,000 reward.

On Saturday evening, acting on a tip, Pennsylvania SPCA law enforcement officers arrested James Davis, 19, of the 2100 block of 22d Street in North Philadelphia.

If convicted of the animal cruelty, Davis faces up to two years in prison and a fine of at least $1,000, the PSPCA said.

"He did not have any previous convictions or complaints related to animal cruelty," Williamson said.

"We're very pleased that Sticky's story is one of our success stories," she said. "We're very, very pleased with the outpouring of love and support that not only Sticky received, but also our law-enforcement officers and staff during the past week."

Many other cats and kittens are available for adoption, she pointed out.

"We encourage everyone who was interested in adopting Sticky to visit our headquarters at 350 E. Erie Ave. or the Animal Care and Control Team at 111 West Hunting Park Ave.," Williamson said.

Adoption hours at Erie Avenue are 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. They're more limited at West Hunting Park Avenue: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20090930_Sticky_the_duct-taped_cat_is_with_her_new_family.html

Sept . 3, 2009

NEW YORK - A firefighters union says a New York City engine company had to close its firehouse for 30 minutes to bathe a circus elephant on city orders.

The Uniformed Firefighters Association says Brooklyn's Engine Company 245 didn't want to participate in the photo opportunity with circus elephant Suzie, part of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey show in Coney Island. But it says city officials ordered the engine company to participate.

The firehouse closed Wednesday while four firefighters and an officer went to scrub Suzie. About 10 firefighters stayed behind.

The fire department says firefighters were only supposed to spray the elephant when it walked by the firehouse and weren't ordered to close. It says closing the firehouse was a mistake.

It hasn't said if any emergency calls came in while the firehouse was closed.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32681476/ns/us_news-weird_news/

Carl Hulsey was determined to turn his white billy goat, Snowball, into a watchdog, whether Snowball wanted to be one or not. To that end, 77-year-old Hulsey, a retired poultry worker from Canton, Georgia, took to beating Snowball with a stick to make him more aggressive. "Pa, this goat's going to kill you if you keep that up," Alma Hulsey warned her husband. She was right.
On 16 May 1991, Hulsey once again approached the goat, brandishing a stick. This time Snowball landed the first blow. The 110-pound goat attacked his tormentor, butting Hulsey in the stomach, twice knocking him down. Hulsey scrambled onto the porch in an effort to get away. The goat bounded up the steps after him. While Alma Hulsey watched, Snowball rammed his master over the edge. Hulsey fell to the ground five feet below and died where he landed. "Blunt trauma to the abdominal cavity," said the coroner. Snowball had ruptured Hulsey's stomach.

As a dangerous animal who might harm another, by rights Snowball should have been put down. Once the goat's story was known, however, the officials who were to decide Snowball's fate were inundated with pleas to spare the creature. More than 500 protesters from around the nation called Cherokee County animal control after it was announced Snowball might be put to death. Many offered to adopt Snowball.

Some even made death threats. "What happens to the goat happens to you," one caller reportedly warned. There was also talk of a bomb being planted if the goat didn't walk.
Snowball got his reprieve. He was turned over to Noah's Ark, a private animal shelter for neglected and abused animals in Locust Grove, a little town south of Atlanta. Four hours after his arrival, he was laid on a kitchen table and neutered, an operation intended to make him less aggressive. He was also rechristened "Snow."

Why this furor over a goat and the seeming lack of concern for the man whose life it had ended? In the small community Hulsey had been part of, he was well and truly mourned. Yet outside that pocket of acquaintance, sentiment ran the other way many animal lovers saw a certain divine justice in his fate. He'd brought harm to an animal, and the animal had struck back.

http://www.quizilla.com/quizzes/result/3387587/294672/

by David Emery

Emailed photos show a chihuahua puppy born in Japan with a heart-shaped pattern in its coat.

Description: Emailed images
Circulating since: July 2007 (see update)
Status: Authentic


Email example contributed by Lisa M., 9 Oct. 2007:
FW: The love puppy

SO CUTE I had to share..........

A PUPPY has been born in Japan with a large, clear, love-heart-shaped pattern in his coat. The Chihuahua was born in May as one of a litter to a breeder. Shop owner Emiko Sakurada said it was the first time a puppy with the marks had been born out of a thousand she had bred. She had no plans to sell the puppy, which has been named "Heart-kun". The long-coated male Chihuahua puppy was born in Odate, northern Japan.

This may seem at first glance a story too cute to be true, but trust me, it's the real deal. According to news reports from multiple sources, "Heart-kun" the chihuahua was one of a litter born on May 18, 2007 at Pucchin Dog's shop in Odate, northern Japan. Owner Emiko Sakurada has been quoted as saying that out of 1,000 puppies she has bred, Heart-kun is the only one with such a mark. Locals believe that playing with the puppy brings good luck.

A heart warming video showing photographs of a surprising, friendly encounter between a polar bear and a husky. Stuart Brown describes Norbert Rosing's striking images of a wild polar bear playing with a husky in the wilds of Canada's Hudson Bay.

http://www.all-creatures.org/stories/a-animalsatplay.html

Contributed by Robert Ellwood and Benjamin Urrutia in Vegetarian Friends

A Quaker parrot named Willie, residing in the home of guardian Megan Howard in Denver, Colorado, has been named a hero and awarded the Animal Lifesaver Award by the local Red Cross chapter.

Megan was babysitting little Hanna Kuusk, to whom she had given breakfast, then stepped out of the room.

Before long she heard Willie flapping his wings and screaming "Mama, baby!" repeatedly--obviously not "parroting" pre-learned phrases! Megan ran in to find that Hanna had choked and was already turning blue. Megan gave the child the Heimlich maneuver, which pulled her back, but did not hesitate to give full credit to Willie.

http://www.all-creatures.org/stories/a-quaker.html

By Mike Jaynes

About three years ago, I was two years into a commitment to be a vegetarian and an animal rescuer. Having a history of adopting dogs that were considered aggressive or violent, I felt I knew my way around the canine mind. One day a friend found a medium sized small brown dog staggering near the back wall of a gas station, knew my commitment to animals, and brought him to me. He was rangy, near starvation, completely terrified of humans, and had a look I couldn't quite place. I had seen plenty of pre bred American muts before; all I have ever adopted have been mixed breeds. He had an intriguing grace about him, even in his near starvation state. Long snout, downward pointing skinny tail, beautiful brown color. I was at a loss. I had never seen a Coy Dog.

After some weeks of living skittishly in my garage away from my other rescued dogs and cats, he finally came around and warmed up to me. The first thing I noticed was an extreme aggression toward two of my other dogs. He was friendly with the rest, but two of them really rubbed him the wrong way. I took necessary precautions and chalked it up to the fact he was an intact male and my other two were extremely territorial. Taking him to my vet for his initial "look see" she gives all the dogs I rescue, I was soon surprised. She told me she couldn't be sure, but she thinks he might be a Coyote-Dog hybrid, commonly called a Coy Dog or a Dogote. She told me they can be very dangerous and I should proceed with much caution to see how he socializes. Coy Dog, I thought. I was fascinated.

After some internet research, I was disheartened. Most of the sites, journals, and veterinarians I encountered recommended against keeping Coy Dogs as companion animals, and plenty of them recommended immediate euthanasia for human safety. I read their information, kept him closely segregated, and watched. After some months of observation it was apparent my small beagle mix was much more violent than he. As I observed him over the months, I continued my research.

I live in a portion of Tennessee which is seeing coyotes more frequently enter into subdivisions and the realm of humans. I am also sickened that they are often killed or maimed by ranchers, farmers, or ignorant persons. Understanding the need for human and companion animal safety, I think we should understand what is driving coyotes further into suburbia. If humans would work on conserving their natural hunting grounds and being more eco-friendly, perhaps hunger and need wouldn't drive coyotes into suburbia to find food.

I will be the first one to point out that I am not an expert on the indigenous aspects and predation habits of coyotes; however, I do feel animals are equal to us in suffering and need and if we can be more mindful of them and their habits, we should. A coyote on the wood line inspires fear and paranoia in many people. It does not necessarily guarantee the killing and carrying off of your companion animal or child, but it does signify the need to study these creatures and see what we can do to help them.

Alas, I did not euthanize the Coy Dog that made his way into my life.

After neutering and several passing years, Cave - his name - has become the sweetest of all my rescued companion animals. I am down to a cat and three dogs: A beagle hound, a Chihuahua mix, and Cave the Coy Dog. Surprisingly enough, if one is to read the currently circulating literature, Cave is the least aggressive and the biggest cuddle monger.

Allow me to clarify, all Coy Dogs are different and I do not believe anyone should put their animals, children, or person in true danger. However, if one is willing to be patient and work at helping a coyote hybrid feel safe and comfortable, euthanasia becomes only one of many options, and hopefully the last one. It is my hope more people will at least take the time to research these animals and understand humans are called to be compassionate to the animals at their mercy. Simple dismissal and eradication is not an action of the most sentient species on Earth.

Coyotes, Coy Dogs, and other wild and semi wild animals need our understanding and patience. Though theories abound, we do not seem to know why they are leaving the wild for more frequent excursions into suburbia. It may very well be our fault. Moreover, they need our intelligence to help understand what they are going through. They need our understanding and our goodness. Quite likely, they also need our help.

http://www.all-creatures.org/stories/a-cave.html

By Allan Hall on DailyMail.com

Two 'gay' male penguins have hatched an egg and are rearing the adopted chick.

The birds, at Bremerhaven Zoo in northern Germany, were given an egg rejected by its biological parents.

Named 'Z' and 'Vielpunkt', the penguins became famous when they refused to separate or to mate with females.

Joachim Schoene, a zoo vet, said; 'Another pair abandoned an egg by pushing it out of their nest and so we placed it in the care of the homosexual penguins.

'They accepted the egg immediately and took turns in incubating it with their body heat. They did this for 35 days and the baby was born on April 25.

'It is in a little cave in the enclosure which is fiercely guarded by one or the other at all times so we don't know yet if we have a little boy penguin or a little girl one.'

The two daddies feed their offspring with fish mash that they chew up and regurgitate into its ever-open beak.

Mr Schoene added: 'In eight weeks the baby will have its downy fur and be able to be removed to move about the colony.'

Bremerhaven Zoo in northern Germany made headlines in 2005 as it investigated homosexual traits in penguins.

Gay rights activists were outraged after the zoo flew in female penguins to try to get them to reproduce with three pairs of male penguins who had been seen trying to mate with one another and hatch chicks from stones.

http://www.all-creatures.org/stories/a-mytwo.html

But now the zoo has relented, leaving the six gay penguins to live happily with their chosen mates - Z and Vielpunkt among them.

From Telegraph.co.uk

The Mistle Thrush had built her nest on top of a downpipe, blocking the water's passage and causing the gutter to flood.

But desperate to protect her young, she puffed herself up to twice her size and sat in the drainpipe to stop the tide of rain water swamping the nest.

She was so occupied with her task that her mate was left to feed her and their young.

The images were captured by amateur wildlife photographer Dennis Bright at a house in Fareham, Hampshire.

Mr. Bright said he was astounded by the female bird's behavior.

"The nest was tucked away from the weather in the shade of the roof but it was so close to the downpipe the gutter flooded when it rained.

"It was only a matter of seconds before the pipe flooded, and water cascaded over the sides."

Mr. Bright said he was amazed by the bird's ingenuity.

"She had to come up with a solution so she puffed herself up so she was twice the size of her mate and used her body as a cork to stop the water - it was absolutely amazing.

"She was very dedicated, sitting there even when the rain was hammering down. Then every half an hour she would get out, dry herself off and come back.

"The male was doing most of the work - feeding her and the chicks when she was sitting in the pipe. I feel so lucky to have witnessed something so rare and unique."

Hester Phillips, from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), said she had never seen such a situation.

"We've heard of them nesting in some unusual sites before, namely on the top of traffic light, but we've certainly not come across anything like this before.

"Birds can be amazingly hardy creatures, their endurance is incredible - especially when protecting their young."

Freedom and I have been together 10 years this summer. She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left wing doesn't open all the way even after surgery. It was broken in 4 places. She's my baby.

When Freedom came in she could not stand. Both wings were broken, her left wing in 4 places. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vet's office. From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, and it was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to lay in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight; and she would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube feed her for weeks.

This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn't stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn't stand in a week. You know you don't want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon. I didn't want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn't bear the thought of her being euthanized; but, I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone was grinning from ear to ear. I went immediately back to her dog cage; and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle. She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day.

We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to jesses, and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington. We wound up in the newspapers, radio (believe it or not) and some TV. Miracle Pets even did a show about us.

In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. I had stage 3, which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere), so I wound up doing 8 months of chemo. Lost the hair - the whole bit. I missed a lot of work. When I felt good enough, I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams and help me fight the cancer. This happened time and time again.

Fast forward to November 2000, the day after Thanksgiving, I went in for my last checkup. I was told that if the cancer was not all gone after 8 rounds of chemo, then my last option was a stem cell transplant. Anyway, they did the tests; and I had to come back Monday for the results. I went in Monday, and I was told that all the cancer was gone. Yahoo!

So the first thing I did was get up to Sarvey and take the big girl out for a walk. It was misty and cold. I went to her flight and jessed her up, and we went out front to the top of the hill. I hadn't said a word to Freedom, but somehow she knew. She looked at me and wrapped both her wings around me to where I could feel them pressing in on my back (I was engulfed in eagle wings), and she touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and we just stood there like that for I don't know how long. That was a magic moment. We have been soul mates ever since she came in. This is a very special bird.

On a side note: I have had people who were sick come up to us when we are out, and Freedom has some kind of hold on them. I once had a guy who was terminal come up to us and I let him hold her. His knees just about buckled and he swore he could feel her power coarse through his body. I have so many stories like that.

I never forget the honor I have of being so close to such a magnificent spirit as Freedom's.

submitted by Animals in Print

Suryia the orangutan and Roscoe a Blue Tick hound became friends when they crossed paths at a South Carolina preserve for endangered animals. Now they swim together, play together and Suryia even takes the dog for his walks.

The pair first encountered each other two years ago when Roscoe followed staff from The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (TIGERS) in Myrtle Beach home.

He was immediately spotted by the orangutan who ambled over to make friends.

Dr Bhagavan Antle, founder of TIGERS said: 'Roscoe looked really thin and a little lost so we fed him and took care of him;

'He followed us through the gate and ran over and found Suryia. As soon as he saw Roscoe, Suryia ran over to him and they started playing. It was unusual because dogs are usually scared of primates but they took to each other straight away. We made a few calls to see if he belonged to anyone and when no-one came forward, Roscoe ended up staying.'

Suryia is an animal ambassador at the preserve helping to raise baby primates but likes nothing better than spending quality time with his canine friend on his day off.

'They will spend a few hours each day together rolling around, swimming,' said Dr Antle. 'Suryia will take Roscoe for walks around the enclosure and even feeds him some of his monkey biscuits. When they are both feeling a little lazy they will go for a ride on the back of Bubbles, our 27-year-old African elephant.'

http://www.all-creatures.org/stories/a-suryia.html

From Telegraph.co.uk

Yang Yun thought she was going to die when her legs were paralyzed by arctic temperatures during a free diving contest without any breathing equipment.

Competitors had to sink to the bottom of an aquarium's 20 foot arctic pool and stay there for as long as possible amid the beluga whales at Polar Land in Harbin, north east China.

But when Yun, 26, tried to head to the surface she found her legs were crippled by cramps.

"I began to choke and sank even lower and I thought that was it for me – I was dead. Until I felt this incredible force under me driving me to the surface," she explained.

Mila, the Beluga whale, had spotted her difficulties and using her sensitive dolphin-like nose guided Yun safely to the surface.

"Mila noticed the problem before we did," explained an organiser.

"We suddenly saw the girl being pushed to the top of the pool with her leg in Mila's mouth. She's a sensitive animal who works closely with humans and I think this girl owes her life."

http://www.all-creatures.org/stories/a-captive.html

He has been making the journey for so long that all First Bus drivers have now been told to look out for him to ensure he gets off at the right stop.

Casper, who 12 years old, boards the No3 service at 10.55am from outside his home in Plymouth, Devon, England, and travels the entire 11-mile route before returning home about an hour later.

On the route, the cat passes an historic dockyard and naval base, a city centre, several suburbs and the city's red light district.

He has been making the journey for so long that all First Bus drivers have now been told to look out for him to ensure he gets off at the right stop.

Susan Finden, 65, a care worker who is Casper's guardian, said: "Casper has always disappeared for hours at a time but I never understood where he was going.

"I called him Casper because he had a habit of vanishing like a ghost. But then some of the drivers told me he had been catching the bus.

"I couldn't believe it at first, but it explains a lot. He loves people and we have a bus stop right outside our house so that must be how he got started - just following everyone on.

"I used to catch the odd bus too so maybe he saw me and got curious what I was doing.

"Casper is quite quick for his age so he just hops on to the bus before the doors close. He catches the 10.55am service and likes to sit on the back seat."

Rob Stonehouse, one of the drivers on the route, said: "He usually just curls up at the back of the bus. Sometimes he nips between people's legs but he never causes any trouble."

Casper has traveled an estimated 20,000 miles but Mrs. Finden says because he is getting old the drivers often have to shuffle him off at the right stop.

A spokeswoman for First Bus said the firm has put a notice up in the office asking them to look after the non-paying passenger.

http://www.all-creatures.org/stories/a-casper.html

A wildfire in Santa Barbara, California, in June 2009 helped forge some unlikely bonds. Rescued from the Jesusita Fire, a three-week old bobcat kitten and three-day old fawn became fast friends. The animal rescue in California brought predator and prey together. But these babies simply took comfort in each other’s company, snuggling under a desk at a dispatch office for hours.

The bobcat and fawn would not normally be placed together, due to regulations, but the rescuers had no choice. They snagged the bobcat kitten first, finding it dehydrated and near death. Later, they brought in the fawn and discovered they didn’t have a crate large enough for it. No matter - the kitten ran right over to the fawn, and the two became fast friends.

Thanks to the tireless dedication of volunteer efforts of the Animal Rescue Team, and the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network, these two animals, and many others were rescued from the destructive Jesusita fire.

http://www.all-creatures.org/stories/a-bobcat.html

15 April 2009 13:53 PM

Kintyre group secures £150,000 as part of search for the elusive Scottish big cat.

Environmentalists have secured £150,000 to help determine - once and for all - if big cats exist in and around the Scottish home of Sir Paul McCartney.

Sir Paul has a farmhouse on Kintyre, Arygllshire, which he famously immortalised with the single Mull of Kintyre. Now the peninsula is getting a reputation for big four-legged creatures.

A number of sightings of a large black cat have been reported at Machrihanish - on the southern tip - and other places on Kintyre over the last few years. The big cat claims have now prompted a formal fact-finding mission.

The survey will focus on the 88-mile stretch from Tarbert to Southend known as the Kintyre Way. Locals and visitors alike will be asked to report sightings of big cats along the route.

The Kintyre Way Big Cat survey is part of a broader biodiversity project to improve the route. The £150,000 package includes contributions from Scottish Natural Heritage, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Argyll and Bute Council among others.

Once the cat hot spots are identified, infra-red cameras will be installed along the route in an effort to resolve the mystery.

John Bakes, the Kintyre Way treasurer, firmly believes in the existence of the cats. He is planning to visit Kenya later in the year in hopes of seeing a variety of big cats in the wild.

The big cat cameras are part of the major upgrading and marketing of the route - which is already bringing significant economic benefits to Kintyre.

The way is fast becoming one of Scotland's favourite long distance walks. In 2008 around 500 people walked the route.

With or without the cats, it is anticipated that 4,000 people a year will walk the way, which will potentially inject almost a million pounds a year into Kintyre.

(http://news.stv.tv)

13 May 2009
Matt Walker
Editor, Earth News

A king penguin has been observed trying to adopt the baby of its mortal enemy.

The adult penguin kidnapped a skua chick on Marion Island, in the sub-Antarctic, then attempted to raise it.

During the incident, reported in Polar Biology, the penguin vigorously defended the chick and tried to brood it upon its feet.

Penguins often try to raise chicks that aren't their own, but it's surprising for one to try raise the young of its natural predator, say scientists.

King penguin and skua chick
The king penguin tried to brood the skua chick on its feet. (C. Oosthuizen)

Chris Oosthuizen and Nico de Bruyn of the Mammal Research Institute at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, spotted the king penguin while en route to Goodhope Bay on Marion Island, where they research southern elephant seals, fur seals, killer whales and penguins.

"We initially thought the penguin was brooding a king penguin chick," says Oosthuizen.

"However, it was too early in the breeding season, and not at a regular breeding site. Closer inspection revealed it was actually brooding a skua chick."

Mature skuas eat penguins, preying on their chicks and occasionally taking adults.

An hour later, the researchers returned to find the chick's real parents, two skua birds, attempting to win back their offspring. One skua repeatedly harassed the penguin, spreading its wings, and calling in a bid to have its chick returned.

It's surprising that the penguin adopted a chick of a species that preys on penguin chicks.
Zoologist Chris Oosthuizen, who witnessed the incident

Twice, it succeeded in driving the penguin from the chick, only for the penguin to retaliate by beating its flippers and pecking at the skuas. After each attack, the penguin won the chick back, placing it back on its feet as it would if it was brooding a chick of its own.

The tug of love only ended when a human observer stepped in and returned the chick to its real parents.

Adopting others

King and Emperor penguins often adopt chicks that aren't their own, either taking on abandoned baby birds or kidnapping those of other penguins.
Adult penguins with chick
A parenting hormone bonds adults and offspring. (C. Oosthuizen)

They may be driven to do so by an increased level of the hormone prolactin, known as the "parenting hormone" because it's thought to help maintain the bond between chicks and adults when they're away foraging.

It's not unheard of for a bird to try to raise the young of another species.

Although it is rare, one scientific review collated 140 separate records of it happening, involving 65 species.

Usually it occurs when a parent fails to correctly identify their offspring, because their original nest has been lost and they've flown to another nearby, or because they can't resist the begging cues of chicks that are not their own. But, usually, the behaviour and diet of adopting and adopted species are analogous.

"It's surprising that the penguin adopted a chick of a species that preys on penguin chicks," says Oosthuizen.

Mercy mission

Why it would do so remains a mystery, but Oosthuizen has his suspicions.

"It's likely the penguin simply happened to stumble across this chick, and adopted it, perhaps due to the similar brown colour of the down in both species' chicks," he says.
Skuas eating a penguiin chick
Skuas like to prey on penguin chicks. (C. Oosthuizen)

Thinking it to be a penguin, the adult then thought it should defend the chick against the skuas, which are natural predators, rather than "knowingly kidnapping a skua chick and defending its claim from the rightful parents".

"Seeing an 'abandoned penguin chick' at the mercy of the predatory skuas might have been enough to stimulate the parental care instinct," he says.

(http://news.bbc.co.uk)

From Times Online
May 6, 2009
Sophie Tedmanson in Sydney

Australia is known around the world for its large and deadly creepy crawlies, but even locals have been shocked by the size of the giant venomous spiders that have invaded an Outback town in Queensland.

Scores of eastern tarantulas, which are known as “bird-eating spiders” and can grow larger than the palm of a man’s hand, have begun crawling out from gardens and venturing into public spaces in Bowen, a coastal town about 700 miles northwest of Brisbane.

Earlier this week locals spotted an Australian tarantula wandering towards a public garden in the centre of town where people often sit for lunch. They called in a pest controller, but not before using a can of insect spray to paralyse the spider.

Audy Geiszler, who runs Amalgamated Pest Control in Bowen, said that the spider was a large male with powerful long fangs and was so big that when he placed it – dead – in the palm of his hand its legs hung over his fingers.

Mr Geiszler said that he had been inundated with calls from worried locals reporting sightings of the giant tarantulas, which have been pushed out of their natural habitat over the past month by heavy, unseasonal rain.

"There have been a number of reports. It's not plague proportions but a number have been spotted around the district,” Mr Geiszler told The Times today shortly after receiving a call from a resident who had spotted another spider on the outskirts of town.

While not deadly like other Australian spiders, the eastern tarantulas are venomous and can grow up to 6cm (2.4in) long with a leg span of 16cm (6.3in). Despite their common name, they do not eat birds, but can kill a dog with one bite, and make a human very sick.

They are also known as whistling or barking spiders for the hissing noise they emit when they are disturbed or aggravated at close range.

Mr Geiszler said that they were common in the east of Australia, but usually kept out of the way and lived under mulch and logs and in natural rocky outcrops.

“I’ve warned folks around here to make sure they wear shoes and gloves when they are gardening at the moment as it can be a very nasty bite,” he said.

Asked what he would do with the giant spider he caught this week, Mr Geiszler said: “I think I’m going to mount this one in acrylic to show people how big it is. It’ll make a great paperweight.”

(http://www.timesonline.co.uk)

13 May 2009

A species of bream, sarpa salpa, which can trigger hallucinations when eaten, has been been discovered in British waters due to global warming.

The species of bream is normally found in the balmier waters of the Mediterranean and South Africa, was found by fisherman Andy Giles in his nets in the English Channel.

Mr Giles, 38, caught the fish, which is instantly recognised by its gold stripes running along its body, six miles south of Polperro, Cornwall.

"We were trawling for lemon sole and hauled up the net at the end of the day and almost immediately saw this striped fish, we didn't have a clue what it was," he said.

"I had never seen one before and after taking a photograph of it I tried to look it up on the internet and called some friends to see if they knew what it was.

"I put it in the fish box and brought it back for experts to have a look at it.

"Now I realise what it was and the effects it can have, perhaps I should have taken it into town to sell to some clubbers!"

There have only been three previous recordings of sarpa salpa in British waters before, with one of them being off the Channel Islands in 1983.

James Wright, a senior biologist at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, said: "These are a fairly common fish off Tenerife, Malta and Cyprus but it is very rare to get them this far north.

"It could be a single fish that was shoaling with a different species but it could be that there are more of them in our waters."

Sarpa salpa are a popular dish in many Mediterranean restaurants.

But according to marine experts, certain species of plankton-eating fish, like the sarpa salpa, can give off hallucinogenic fish poisoning if the heads or other body parts are consumed.

The effects include vivid hallucinations within minutes of eating it which can last for days.

In 2006 two men, one aged 90, were hospitalised in the south of France after eating sarpa salpa.

The elderly man suffered from auditory hallucinations a couple of hours after eating the fish followed by a series of nightmares over the next two nights.

The younger man, aged 40, endured similar effects which took 36 hours to disappear.

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk)

Wednesday, 13 May 2009
Matt Walker
Editor, Earth News

A king penguin has been observed trying to adopt the baby of its mortal enemy.

The adult penguin kidnapped a skua chick on Marion Island, in the sub-Antarctic, then attempted to raise it.

During the incident, reported in Polar Biology, the penguin vigorously defended the chick and tried to brood it upon its feet.

Penguins often try to raise chicks that aren't their own, but it's surprising for one to try raise the young of its natural predator, say scientists.

King penguin and skua chick
The king penguin tried to brood the skua chick on its feet. (C. Oosthuizen)

Chris Oosthuizen and Nico de Bruyn of the Mammal Research Institute at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, spotted the king penguin while en route to Goodhope Bay on Marion Island, where they research southern elephant seals, fur seals, killer whales and penguins.

"We initially thought the penguin was brooding a king penguin chick," says Oosthuizen.

"However, it was too early in the breeding season, and not at a regular breeding site. Closer inspection revealed it was actually brooding a skua chick."

Mature skuas eat penguins, preying on their chicks and occasionally taking adults.

An hour later, the researchers returned to find the chick's real parents, two skua birds, attempting to win back their offspring. One skua repeatedly harassed the penguin, spreading its wings, and calling in a bid to have its chick returned.

It's surprising that the penguin adopted a chick of a species that preys on penguin chicks.
Zoologist Chris Oosthuizen, who witnessed the incident

Twice, it succeeded in driving the penguin from the chick, only for the penguin to retaliate by beating its flippers and pecking at the skuas. After each attack, the penguin won the chick back, placing it back on its feet as it would if it was brooding a chick of its own.

The tug of love only ended when a human observer stepped in and returned the chick to its real parents.

Adopting others

King and Emperor penguins often adopt chicks that aren't their own, either taking on abandoned baby birds or kidnapping those of other penguins.
Adult penguins with chick
A parenting hormone bonds adults and offspring. (C. Oosthuizen)

They may be driven to do so by an increased level of the hormone prolactin, known as the "parenting hormone" because it's thought to help maintain the bond between chicks and adults when they're away foraging.

It's not unheard of for a bird to try to raise the young of another species.

Although it is rare, one scientific review collated 140 separate records of it happening, involving 65 species.

Usually it occurs when a parent fails to correctly identify their offspring, because their original nest has been lost and they've flown to another nearby, or because they can't resist the begging cues of chicks that are not their own. But, usually, the behaviour and diet of adopting and adopted species are analogous.

"It's surprising that the penguin adopted a chick of a species that preys on penguin chicks," says Oosthuizen.

Mercy mission

Why it would do so remains a mystery, but Oosthuizen has his suspicions.

"It's likely the penguin simply happened to stumble across this chick, and adopted it, perhaps due to the similar brown colour of the down in both species' chicks," he says.
Skuas eating a penguiin chick
Skuas like to prey on penguin chicks. (C. Oosthuizen)

Thinking it to be a penguin, the adult then thought it should defend the chick against the skuas, which are natural predators, rather than "knowingly kidnapping a skua chick and defending its claim from the rightful parents".

"Seeing an 'abandoned penguin chick' at the mercy of the predatory skuas might have been enough to stimulate the parental care instinct," he says.

Britain's first mobile blood bank for dogs is out on the road and looking for donors.

Britain's first mobile pet blood bank /PA pics

The specially-designed trailer comes complete with weighing scales, waiting room and hydraulic table, reports Sky News.

Dogs visiting the unit can expect dinner afterwards, as well as a goodie bag containing toys to thank them for donating.

The process of giving blood takes five to seven minutes, but owners are advised to allow half-an-hour per visit so their pet can have a check-up.

The blood donations are then stored according to type, and can be held for up to five weeks.

The idea is the brainchild of Pet Blood Bank UK. Over the coming months, it will be visiting veterinary schools across the country.

Executive director Wendy Barnett said: "We have always had a shortage of donors, so it is exactly the same as it is for humans. As soon as the blood comes in, it is straight out again.

"If you went into hospital, you would expect the blood to be there. We are aiming to ensure it's the same for our pets."

The charity was launched in March 2007, and was the first service to collect, process, store and supply pet blood.

(http://www.ananova.com)

Drugged up wallabies are being blamed for creating crop circles in Tasmania.

Authorities on the island say the animals eat opium poppies, get high and then hop around in circles, reports the Mercury.

Attorney general Lara Giddings told a budget hearing: "The one interesting bit that I found recently in one of my briefs on the poppy industry was that we have a problem with wallabies entering poppy fields, getting as high as a kite and going around in circles.

"Then they crash. We see crop circles in the poppy industry from wallabies that are high."

Tasmanian Alkaloids field operations manager Rick Rockliff confirmed that wildlife and livestock which ate the poppies were known to "act weird".

"There have been many stories about sheep that have eaten some of the poppies after harvesting and they all walk around in circles," Mr Rockliff said.

"But as growers we try our best to try and stop this sort of consumption, particularly by livestock, due to concerns about the contamination of the meat.

"There is also the risk to our poppy stocks, so growers take this very seriously but there has been a steady increase in the number of wild animals and that is where we are having difficulty keeping them off our land."

Tasmania is the world's largest producer of legally grown opium for the pharmaceutical market.

http://www.ananova.com

By TERRENCE PETTY, Associated Press Writer

Published: January 11, 2006 12:35 PM ET

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A photo of a one-eyed kitten named Cy drew more than a little skepticism when it turned up on various Web sites, but medical authorities have a name for the bizarre condition.

"Holoprosencephaly" causes facial deformities, according to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institutes of Health. In the worst cases, a single eye is located where the nose should be, according to the institute's Web site.

Traci Allen says the kitten she named Cy, short for Cyclops, was born the night of Dec. 28 with the single eye and no nose.

"You don't expect to see something like that," the 35-year-old Allen said by telephone from her home in Redmond in central Oregon.

Allen said she stayed up all night with the deformed kitten on her recliner, feeding Cy a liquid formula through a syringe. She says she cared for the kitten the next day as well, until it died that evening.

Allen had taken digital pictures that she provided to The Associated Press. Some bloggers have questioned the authenticity of the photo distributed on Jan. 6.

AP regional photo editor Tom Stathis said he took extensive steps to confirm the one-eyed cat was not a hoax. Stathis had Allen ship him the memory card that was in her camera. On the card were a number of pictures -- including holiday snapshots, and four pictures of a one-eyed kitten. The kitten pictures showed the animal from different perspectives.

Fabricating those images in sequence and in the camera's original picture format, from the varying perspectives, would have been virtually impossible, Stathis said.

Meanwhile, Cy the one-eyed cat may be dead, but it has not left the building.

Allen said she's keeping the cat's corpse in her freezer for now, in case scientists would like it for research.

She said one thing's for certain: "I'm not going to put it on eBay."

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001841912

Dolphins proved to a swimmer’s best friend when they saved a group of swimmers from attack by a great white shark.

The amazing rescue took place at a beach near Whangarei on New Zealand’s North Island when the swimmers were threatened by one of the ocean’s most deadly predators.

Lifesavers Rob Howes, his 15-year-old daughter Niccy, Karina Cooper and Helen Slade were doing lifeguard training 100 meters (300 feet) off Ocean Beach when their frightening ordeal began.

Menaced by a 3 meter (9 feet) great white, a pod of dolphins raced immediately to their rescue. The seven animals surrounded the swimmers for 40 minutes until they could swim to safety.

Initially Howes and his group thought they were being attacked by the dolphins. He described how the dolphins began to herd them up, pushing the four of them together by doing tight circles around them.

He attempted to drift away from the group, but two of the bigger dolphins herded him back. Just then he spotted a 3 meter great white shark swimming towards the group.

The shark, he said, was only about 2 meters (6 feet) from him and he recoiled at the sight of the mighty predator. It was then he realized the dolphins, far from attacking them, were trying to keep them from harm.

For a full 40 anxious minutes their dolphin friends formed a protective barrier around the swimmers, as the shark lurked menacingly beneath the surface. The dolphins slapped the water with their tails to scare off the great white.

Howes and his group said they were in no doubt that the dolphins were trying to protect them.

Dolphin experts say that the creatures are known to attack sharks to protect themselves and their young, so they could have sensed the dangers the hapless swimmers were in and moved in to protect them.

It wouldn't have been the first time dolphins have been hailed for saving humans from a shark. In Greek mythology, the writer Herodotus tells how Arion a musician was saved by the sea creatures after sailors had thrown him from their ship. The dolphins carried him back to land on their backs, according to the legend.

- November 23, 2004 (http://www.thatsweird.net)

Yes there are sea monsters! The giant squid lives in the deepest, coldest parts of the sea, growing up to 18 metres in length. It can weight up to a tonne. Considered a mythical monster of the sea, often appearing in stories, it is only in the last hundred years that any convincing evidence has been offered of its existence. Very little is known about this creature. No giant squid has ever been captured alive. The only specimens we have of them are dead ones that have been washed up on shores around the world.

The huge eyes of the giant squid, which can measure as much as 25 centimetres in diameter, are the biggest eyes in the animal kingdom. Giant squid have eight powerful arms and two long tentacles, which surround a parrot-shaped beak that is strong enough to sever steel cable, and which is used to crush prey into bite-sized pieces. They are capable of attacking whales.

The existence of the even bigger 'colossal squid' has been suspected for many decades, as arms from the creature have occasionally been recovered from the stomachs of sperm whales. But it wasn't until an actual specimen was caught near Antarctica near New Zealand in March 2003 that the reality of this new type of squid was brought home to scientists. The specimen was larger than any previously seen giant squid, and it was only a young one, just half to two-thirds grown. It was the first recovered with all its bits intact from the surface of the ocean.

This squid has one of the largest beaks known of any squid, and seems to have more muscles attached to its tentacles. It also has unique swivelling hooks on the clubs at the ends of its tentacles. All of these things make it a very deadly predator.

The fully-grown colossal squid is bigger than a double decker bus. It has one of the largest beaks known of any squid and appears to have more muscles attached to its tentacles. It also has got 25 teeth-like hooks as sharp as razors on the clubs at the end of its tentacles. It can turn around 360 degrees. All of this make it one of the most frightening predators out there!

The first evidence of the colossal squid's existence came in 1925 when two arms were recovered from a sperm whale's stomach. Only six specimens of this squid were ever recovered prior to the 2003 Antartica find: five came from the stomachs of sperm whales and the sixth was caught in a trawl net at a depth of 2,000 to 2,200 metres.

(http://www.thatsweird.net)

She may be small, a mere 17 inches and weighing only 60 pounds. But she is all horse.

Born as a dwarf to a miniature horse, Thumbelina is officially the world’s smallest horse.

She may never aspire to be a champion show-jumper – she is so tiny she would find it hard to jump over a bucket.

But these things matter little to the feisty Thumbelina, who has been officially recognized as the world’s smallest horse.

That title was conferred on her in 2006 when the five-year-old entered the Guinness Book of Records.

The real-life My Little Pony was born on an American farm to a couple who specialize in breeding miniature horses.

Normally these horses weight about 250lb and rise to a height of 34 inches when they are fully grown.

But from the day she was born it was clear that tiny Thumbelina would never grow to that size.

She weighed in at only 8lb – the size of a new-born baby - when she was born. Eventually she grew to just 60lb.

Her amazing size has been explained as dwarfism. This makes her a miniature of a miniature.

She may be a mini-horse, but small means beautiful as far as her owners, the Goessling family in Goose Creek farm in St. Louis, are concerned.

She likes to hang out with the cocker spaniels rather than the other horses on their 150-acre farm.

“When she was born, she was so small we thought she wasn’t going to make it. She looked very ill. We feared the worse.

“Because her legs are proportionally smaller than her body and her head, she has to wear orthopaedic fittings to straighten them out a lot of the time.

“But we love her and wouldn’t want her any other way,” said Michael Goessling, whose parents Kay and Paul bred the miniature horses.

She only measures up to the shins of the normal-sized horses in the paddock.

Michael’s parents have bred hundreds of miniature horses, but they have never had one as small as Thumbelina. She has become something of a celebrity in her home town in America.

She lives on a cup of grain and a handful of hay, served twice a day.

She is expected to live to the age of 17 years because of her size – normal horses live for about 35 years.

“She was just a complete fluke and we call her a mini mini. She is too precious to sell. I think my parents would sell me before they part with Thumbelina. She has that special Wow factor, which you only get when you see how small she really is,” said Michael.

While she has the ability to get pregnant and give birth, the Goessling family have decided not to allow this to happen.

There could be complications during the pregnancy, they believe, so it is better to avoid the risks. And also they don‘t feel it is right that the gene which creates dwarfism in horses be carried on through future generations.

(http://www.thatsweird.net)

A devastated Englishman learned the horrible truth that his girlfriend was cheating on him - straight from his pet parrot's mouth.

Chris Taylor's parrot Ziggy began squawking "Hiya, Gary" every time his girlfriend Suzy Collins's mobile phone rang.

The African Grey also made kiss noises each time it heard the name Gary on television or radio.

At first amused owner Mr Taylor, a computer programmer, dismissed it as something the bird had picked up watching TV.

But then he snuggled up beside Suzy on the sofa in their flat in Leeds and Ziggy cried out in Suzy's voice "I love you, Gary." The cat was finally out of the bag.

Call-center worker Ms Collins, 25, broke down in tears and confessed to having a four-month fling with a former colleague. She had met her lover in the flat while Ziggy looked on.

Her confession ended their two-year relationship. It also led to 30-year-old Mr Taylor parting company with his pet - because it kept screeching out her lover's name.

Mr Taylor wasn't sorry to see the back of Suzy after what she did, he said. But it really broke his heart to part with eight-year-old Ziggy which he had bought as a chick.

"I lost my girlfriend and best mate at the same time. But it was torture hearing him repeat that name Gary over and over," he said.

Mr Taylor named the parrot after Ziggy Stardust, David Bowie's alter ego. It learned to reproduce the line "Put on your red shoes and dance the blue!" from the Bowie song Let's Dance.

Ziggy has since found a new home with the help of a local parrot dealer.

- January 20, 2006 (http://www.thatsweird.net)

A Tibetan terrier named Arnie who went missing for nearly two years made his way home to his delighted family.

Eleven-year-old Arnie, named after former movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger, disappeared from the garden of his home near Bantry, County Cork, Ireland, 21 months ago.

His owner Gillian Singleton believed he was stolen for breeding purposes. She said her "happy, beautifully groomed dog" had been playing in the garden one minute and he was gone the next minute.

Her children David aged 9 and Emily aged 6 were devastated following the disappearance of their dog and the family immediately launched a full-scale search for him.

But despite a countywide search, and contacting animal shelters and dog wardens, Arnie was nowhere to be found.

During the search the family found another stray dog named Lucky who was at death's door and took him in and cared for him. He joined the family cat at the Singleton home.

When they thought all was lost with Arnie, he lived up to the famous catchphrase of the movie idol he is named after: "I'll be back."

While the family were on vacation in Portugal Arnie turned up outside their home in County Cork. They got a call to say a dog that looked like Arnie had been seen by a neighbor hanging outside their house.

Family members confirmed it was indeed Arnie, though he was in bad shape and had lost a lot of weight.

"We were sad at the treatment he received at the hands of whoever stole him," said Mrs Singleton. "I don't know who had him or where he was for the last 21 months."

She said she was telling her story so that people who have lost dogs will have hope.

Arnie was introduced to Lucky and the two of them are getting on famously, though both are competing to prove who is top dog in the house.

- June 18, 2007 (http://www.thatsweird.net)

Since March, when the temperature began to warm up here in Tidewater Virginia,
I have been helping my best friend Alan, dig and install an in ground swimming pool, and is now nearing completion.
One late night in March, when my friends daughter came home from her restaurant managers job... she pulled into their driveway to see this large black dog, coming out from between the huge piles of soil we removed from the pool area.
Al's daughter was at first, afraid to get out of her car when she saw the dog... but the dog didn't seem to be aggressive at all.... The family looked at the dog, fed her, and let her stay the night... She is still there.
After cleaning her up, and with no name on her collar, we all gave her a bath, as she was a dirty matted mess... then we all took turns giving her a clipping.
"Lola" ...we named her...since no one could come up with a name she would respond to...the dog is very easy going and fun natured and playful... and very loving... so Al's daughter adopted "Lola"...
Lola has been very close to my friends family and their two little white Bichon Frise dogs...in fact the large black dog took to the little white Bichon's right off, and are nearly inseparable ...
We all had no idea what breed of dog Lola was... I thought Portuguese Water dog...others, that she was a standard poodle...
With the swimming pool completed and filled with water, we were all afraid that Lola might want to jump into the water and go swimming... she will walk around the pool, but doesn't seem inclined to get in...odd we thought...but oh well, no big deal right??

Well now nearly four months later, and after radio and newspaper ads, and word of mouth... just by shear accident, of my friend being at the office of the county animal control officer...he saw "Lola's" large photo tacked up on the wall, like a post office canine mug shot, placed there by her real owner, in an attempt to find her dog, after it had wandered away, and had wandered a couple of miles to my friend Alan's house. ... Finally...the mystery dog, that emerged from the darkened shadows that March night...was a mystery no more. And, after doing a little research we found out that back in February, our local newspaper, had published a strange story...about a dog rescuing another dog. .... it was "Lola".

"Lola" as we all called her, had come out of the darkness to a loving home, where she was treated like one of the family, and bonded with the 2 little white dogs she found when she arrived... and what follows is along the vein of the paranormal. .

This is ..."Gracie's Story".............

A few years ago, my orange and white striped cat was struck and killed by a car. A few months later I was sitting in my bedroom at night. I got up to go into my living room which was dark. As I approached the doorway, I noticed my cat walk out from behind the sofa towards my room like he used to do. He did not look up at me , or even seem to notice me. As he came into the light he faded away.

I thought to myself, "I just saw my cat's ghost". I never saw it again.

The End?