Smart as … an octopus?

My brother, P.J., passed along a fascinating story to me today.

“I know you focus on the cuddly creatures, and an octupus is far from it,” he emailed me today, “but this article I read is very interesting.  Australian researchers have studied a species of octupus storing coconut shells in what they believe is the first example of an invertebrate using tools.”

You can read the AP story here.

“I was gobsmacked,” AP quotes Julian  Finn, a research biologist at Museum Victoria in Melbourne. “I mean, I’ve seen a lot of octopuses hiding in shells, but I’ve never seen one that grabs it up and jogs across the sea floor. I was trying hard not to laugh.”

Funny? Sure. But fascinating, and a discovery with far-reaching consequences? Undoubtedly.

Kitten needs home

Hudson Monthly Editor Stephanie Fellenstein came home Thanksgiving to find an unexpected guest — this cute little kitten on her back steps. She thinks the kitten is around two months old and says it’s very sweet, uses a litter box and likes dogs and other cats. Since she already has a yellow lab and three cats, she’s looking for a home for their little pilgrim. If you or someone you know is looking for a kitten, let me know and I’ll get you in touch with Stephanie.  Make someone’s Christmas special!

Asking Santa about pet who passed

One of the perks of my position at the weekly newspapers this time of year is that I am our official Santa’s helper. I get all of the letters to Santa that boys and girls write so I can type them up for the paper before I ship them off to Santa. The letters can be sweet, funny and sometimes touching.  And some really hit my hard, like this one I keep rereading:

Pet rescue needs volunteers

Akron-based One of a Kind Pet Rescue  is looking for volunteers. The rescue needs help from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day of the week to help walk and spend time caring for its cats and dogs. The minimum age for volunteers is 18, age 15 with adult supervision.

One of a Kind Pet Rescue is a non-profit organization founded in November 2005 and funded by private donations. The organization rescues pets in imminent danger of euthanasia, spaying/neutering animal and getting homeless animals adopted into appropriate, loving homes.  

For more information about volunteering, contact The Volunteer Center, 90 N. Prospect in Akron, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at 330-762-7601, ext. 5512 OR online. Or visit the rescue’s Web site and click on the “Volunteer” tab at the top.

Tail Waggin’ Tutors help shy readers

 Many libraries are sponsoring programs where children read their  favorite stories to therapy dogs, and Hudson Library is no exception. Hudson Monthly Magazine has a cover story on “Tail Waggins Tutors” this month.  Check it out — it’s a wonderful program. From the story:

The objective of “Tail Waggin’ Tutors” is to encourage children to read by providing a non-judgmental listener and furry friend to read to that won’t laugh at them if they make a mistake or stumble over a word. Children learn to associate reading with being with the dog, and begin to view reading in a positive way. Over time, the child’s reading ability and confidence can improve because they are practicing their skills.

I think programs like these are a godsend, and I wish they were around when I was a child. I suffered a severe stutter growing up and developed a real fear of reading aloud. Often I would practice reading to my dog and do my speech therapy homework in front of him precisely because he was a non-judgmental, patient listener. Kudos to the volunteers who keep such programs up and running.

My sweet prince has been gone a year?

When my brother reminded me this morning, I could scarcely believe it. One year ago today, we put Todd down. A year? How can that be? Some days, it seems like he’s been gone forever. Other days, I wake up surprised he’s not cuddled up with me, snoring away. Realizing it has been a year was difficult to accept. And sad. Those little guys do burrow into our hearts, don’t they?

Today, I’ve been focusing on the happy memories that I shared with that fuzzy little goofball. And there were plenty, as a perusal through “The Todd Chronicles” here will show you. I miss you, Toddie-oddie. May you be pain-free, full of Snausages, and know you are loved!

Nominate courageous critters

Every year, the Summit County chapter of the American Red Cross  presents its annual Acts of Courage Awards to those residents of Summit County who have acted courageously and selflessly in a time of emergency. This year, for the first time, there is an award recognizing an Animal Hero, or an animal who deserves recognition for assisting in saving the life of a human. The examples the Red Cross gives are police dog who saves a  handler, or a seeing eye dog who rescues an owner.

I have heard of some amazing stories about dogs saving their owners over the years. And personally, I have my childhood dog to thank for helping our family avert a potential tragedy. Read the rest of this entry »

Humane Society telethon Sunday

The Humane Society of Greater Akron will host its first telethon on Time Warner’s Channel 23 from 2 -5 p.m.  Sunday, Nov. 8, to help raise money for both the shelter’s operating costs and the new building campaign. The Humane Society will move to a new facility in Twinsburg Township in January 2010 and is working to raise money to buy the building.  It also needs help caring for the large influx of animals it has had recently. In the past six months, the shelter has taken in large numbers of dogs and cats due to hoarding cases and the costs to care for these animals have greatly increased.

The telethon will be broadcast live from the Akron Aeros stadium and invites people to collect money and bring it to the stadium to turn in during the telethon broadcast.   For more information, check here.

Cat catches swine flu

Mindi and I were discussing the swine flu the other day, and I wondered aloud if pets could catch it. I know that dogs and cats can catch seasonal flu, and myriad other bugs, from their humans. But I wondered if any had caught the swine flu yet. That answer would be yes.

A cat in Iowa has tested positive for the H1N1 swine flu, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. The 13-year-old cat apparently caught it from one of the people living in the house, marking the first documented case of human-to-pet transfer of the virus.

Thankfully, the cat and humans have recovered. But I fear what this development might do to the already overtaxed animal shelters across the country, as panic inevitably sets in. And apparently I’m not alone.

Read the rest of this entry »

Get out and vote!

It’s Election Day! Don’t forget to get out there and vote