Ralph the Rabbit live in Uckfield, U.K. The rabbit is making headlines for his enormous size. Ralph is a British Continental Giant rabbit. He weighs 40 lbs. and is 4 ft. long. Ralph looks like quite a heavy load for the little girl who takes care of him. Take a look:
Video: Cat Enjoys Being Wrapped Like Christmas Present
Flippy cat is one of the world's most patient cats. Flippy doesn't mind being slowly wrapped up. It looks like this special cat even enjoys it. Take a look:
Uno, a cocker spaniel living in Sherman Oaks, California is unofficially the world's oldest dog. Uno recently celebrated his 22nd birthday. Uno's owners say he stays very active. He still looks very spry despite some trouble with stairs. Take a look:
The New York Daily Newsreports that pet frogs were identified as the source of a recent multistate salmonella outbreak. It has long been known that frogs can be a source of salmonella. Young children are advised not to handle them.
In the most recent outbreak involving frogs, reports of illness came from 25 states and occurred from June through November, according to the CDC. More than three-quarters of the patients are younger than 10 years old, and the median age is 4 years. No deaths have been reported, according to the CDC.
When health officials investigated the reports, they learned that many of the sickened individuals indicated they had been in contact with pet frogs, the AP said. The strain of salmonella was found in aquariums that housed frogs in three of the homes where people had gotten sick.
"Preliminary analysis of this study suggests contact with frogs, including water frogs such as African dwarf frogs, is a likely source of the infections," said a CDC statement.
The CDC advises people to wash their hands thoroughly after handling a frog or a turtle. Anything the frog or turtle comes in contact with can also be a salmonella source.
The Long Beach Press-Telegramreports on a new trend where pets are served sushi. Pussy & Pooch, which has locations in downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach, welcomes dogs and cats to the Pawbar where they can dine on different meats.
The raw food bar - which she calls the Pawbar - looks like a tiny version of those found in most sushi restaurants, but with one major difference. Three rectangular holes at knee level act as serving windows.
In front of each window sits a rectangular platform holding a ceramic dish.
Up to three pets can sit on the platform and try free samples of the raw food the store sells. Best of all, Zakrajsek said, it gives the pets a chance to socialize.
"It's all about the social experience for your dog," she said. "It's dogs eating sushi."
The Pawbar menu includes raw meats, stews, soups, organic prepared meals and treats. You can see it here.
Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles Offers Sessions With Pets
A Presbyterian church in Los Angeles is offering a weekly 30-minute service that allows members to bring their dogs. The idea behind the pet service at this church and others nationwide is an attempt to boost its connection with the community. The offering included treats for the dog. Take a look:
Thousands of mummies of animals have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. Unfortunately, the value of many of these pet mummies was not respected early on and many were lost. The ones that remain have become very popular tourist attractions. There were mummies of cats, dogs, birds, fish and even crocodiles. You can read the article here on National Geographic. A photo gallery can be found here.
A Jack Russell Terrier named Levi barks at seeing himself on YouTube. The YouTube entry says "Levi can't help but bark at animals on TV, including himself." Well, you can't blame the little guy for being excited by his YouTube video.
Backpackers traveled with a kitten on a 9,000 mile journey from Miami to Argentina. The kitten seems to enjoy the backpacking experience. You can see more here from the backpackers' French website.
A cat was found in a Pennsylvania neighborhood covered in duct tape. It is unclear how the poor cat ended up being covered in duct tape. There is a $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of whoever was cruel enough to wrap duct tape around the poor cat and then abandon it. The cat named "Sticky" by staff at the Pennsylvania SPCA. They believe the cat is 1 to 2 years old and once had a home. A local CBS news station reports that police are also looking for whoever was cruel enough to do this.
Update 9-28-09: A 19-year-old was arrested for the cruel duct taping incident.
A giant African tortoise named "spike" gets taken for walks by his owner, Dunan. Spike has helped his owner Duncan who is a recovering alcoholic. Duncan says Spike inspires him everyday to keep taking care of him. Spike is likely to get much bigger. He could eventually weigh 150 pounds.
Muffy - a dog that disappeared from an Australian family's home nine years ago - has been found alive and well. The dog was found sleeping on some cardboard 1200 miles from home. The dog was identified by a microchip. Muffy has missed many years with his family but at least now she will get to spend the rest of her life with them. You can read more about Muffy being reunited with her family here.
Police Say Florida Cat Killer Fits Profile of Sociopath
A south Florida teenager who has been accused of killing more than a dozen cats reportedly responded with laughter when police first talked to him about the cat deaths. A detective says the teen fits the profile of a sociopath.
LiveScience reports that the The Lancet Infectious Diseases has reported an increased risk of pets passing the MRSA to humans through bites.
Only about two years ago, scientists began to seriously suspect pets were transmitting the bacteria.
In the July edition of The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Richard Oehler of the University of South Florida College of Medicine and colleagues lay out the latest thinking on MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and pets.
The infections can be transmitted by animal bites and most threaten young children, the researchers note.
"As community-acquired strains of MRSA increase in prevalence, a growing body of clinical evidence has documented MRSA colonization in domestic animals, often implying direct acquisition of S aureus infection from their human owners," they write. "MRSA colonization has been documented in companion animals such as horses, dogs, and cats, and these animals have been viewed as potential reservoirs of infection."
The journal also provided the following data about pet bites:
Women and the elderly are most at risk of being bitten by a cat.
Men in general and those aged under 20 of both sexes are most likely to be injured.
Most bite exposures occur in young children, involve unrestrained dogs on the owner's property, and about 20 percent involve a non-neutered dog.
Risk is highest in young boys aged 5 to 9 years, due to their small size and lack of understanding of provocative behavior.
The Lancet researchers said, "Proper treatment of dog and cat bites should involve treatment of the immediate injury (whether superficial or deep) and then management of the risk of acute infection, including washing with high pressure saline if possible, and antibiotics in selected cases. Bites to the hands, forearms, neck, and head have the potential for the highest morbidity. Much more remains to be learned about MRSA and pet-associated human infections."
