verizonringtones-rij

April 29, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Lions airlifted to South Africa

South American Lions Begin Journey

Thirty-three circus lions from Peru and Colombia boarded a flight to freedom today. After negotiating their release, the animal rights group Animal Defenders International is moving them to Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in Limpopo, South Africa, in the largest lion airlift ever. The lions were gently coaxed into their custom travel crate before the flight. The seating chart was carefully arranged so the lions face others in their family groups during the 14 to 15 hour flight, which includes one refueling stop in Brazil. The lions can't be released into the wild because they've suffered injuries that would prevent them from hunting, ADI said. - Read it from The New York Times

Plus: In other circus animal news, the Ringling Bros. elephants will give their last circus performance on Sunday in Providence, Rhode Island. The animals are headed for retirement at the Center of Elephant Conservation in Florida. Animal rights groups had fought for years for their retirement. The “Greatest Show on Earth” will continue to feature lions and tigers. - Read it at Providence's WJAR

Baby Boom for Rare Flightless Bird

The critically endangered kakapo, a flightless parrot species, has had a much-needed boost in its population. With only 123 adult kakapo remaining, there are now 37 new chicks. The New Zealand birds have had a hard time defending themselves from threats without being able to fly. They are the only flightless parrot and, at 8 to 9 pounds each, they're the heaviest one in the world. Wildlife officials say better technology has allowed them to keep watch over the birds in a non-invasive way. - Read it at Discovery News

Image: K9 Riggs

K9 Comes to Elderly Man's Rescue

When an elderly man went missing from an assisted living facility in Massachusetts on Wednesday night, state police dog Riggs was called in to help. After smelling something that belonged to the man, Riggs started tracking along a path into the nearby woods. He and his human partner, Trooper Sean Kenney, walked for about a mile into the forest before Kenney heard a “faint cry for help.” Just before midnight, they found the man lying on the ground, covered in cuts and bruises and shivering from the cold. The man had been missing for about five hours. The team kept him warm while Fire and Rescue responded to the scene to transport him to the hospital. “Without Riggs locating the man, the outcome could have been very different. Nice work!” the Massachusetts State Police posted on Facebook. - Read it at Masslive

Happy Lab Races Onto Soccer Pitch

An unexpected player jumped into the match between professional soccer teams Deportivo Táchira F.C. of Venezuela and Pumas UNAM from Mexico - and he brought his A game. The delighted yellow Labrador Retriever darted around the field, playfully jumping around and playing keep-away from the players who tried to catch him. But his burst of fun was short-lived. One player caught him and picked him up to carry him off the field - while getting lots of kisses from the friendly dog. - Watch it at People Pets

 

Student debt is an increasingly critical issue for the entire veterinary profession, and how to reduce that debt and improve the overall economic picture for young veterinarians was the focus of a summit held at Michigan State University last week. … read more >

The Senate Appropriations Committee on April 14 passed by a 29-1 roll call vote the fiscal 2017 allocations for its 12 individual subcommittees. The only senator to vote against the allocations was Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who sees … read more >

The House Appropriations Committee passed by voice vote its fiscal 2017 Agriculture Appropriations bill on April 19. The legislation funds important agricultural and food programs and services, including programs for animal health and welfare, food safety and rural development programs. … read more >

Important tax legislation was recently passed by Congress and signed by President Obama to help small business owners, including those who own veterinary practices. “Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015″ (PATH Act, P.L. 114-113) became law on Dec. … read more >

Finding viable solutions to financial issues related to student debt and the cost of veterinary medical education is among the highest priorities for our profession. That's why we're excited to be co-sponsoring the Fix the Debt Summit, which opens Wednesday … read more >

April 14, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Rodney the guinea pig

Guinea Pig Rescued From Fire

We've often covered stories of firefighters saving cats and dogs from burning homes - but a guinea pig is a little less common. Polk County, Florida, firefighter John William was doing a sweep of a home after extinguishing the flames from a grease fire in the kitchen on Friday when he spotted Rodney the guinea pig in his cage. "He did not hesitate. He grabbed the cage and took it outside into the fresh air, where rescue workers assessed that Rodney had inhaled a lot of smoke and gave him oxygen and water,” Kevin Watler, a representative from Polk County Fire Rescue told Today. Resident Kristi Waller was at a doctor's appointment with one of her daughters when the fire broke out. It started when her boyfriend was at home cooking French fries. When Waller arrived at home, she saw the firefighters with Rodney and rushed to hold him while they gave him oxygen. "I want to, personally, thank you for saving my Rodney (the guinea pig) and what you could of my house,” she said in a comment to Polk County Fire Rescue on Facebook. “He is the coolest little guinea pig I have ever met,” she told Today. - Read it at Today

Inky the Octopus Makes Daring Escape

An octopus in New Zealand has proved just how clever the species can be. Inky, who's about the size of a soccer ball, apparently broke out through a small gap at the top of his tank at the National Aquarium of New Zealand, made it eight feet across the floor and slid down a 164-foot drainpipe to freedom in the North Island's Hawke's Bay. He executed his plan overnight, when no staff members were around to see him. Although it happened several months ago, the story has only recently been shared, and Inky's tale has made headlines around the world. “He managed to make his way to one of the drain holes that go back to the ocean, and off he went,” said Rob Yarrall, the aquarium's manager. “Didn't even leave us a message.” - Read it at The New York Times

Prince William and Kate Feed Baby Rhinos

In one of the latest stops on their royal tour of India, Prince William and Kate looked like they were delighted to get the chance to bottle feed and visit with baby elephants and rhinos at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation in Kaziranga national park. “They were absolutely thrilled and loved being with the animals. The duke said if he could he would have spent the whole day there,” said Vivek Menon, chief executive office of the Wildlife Trust of India, who joined them on their tour. Prince William has been active in the fight against ivory poaching, which has decimated populations of rhinos and elephants. - See photos at the U.K.'s Guardian

Image: Ann Rodgers Arizona

Woman and Dog Survive 9 Days Lost in Wilderness

Ann Rodgers, 72, and her 2-year-old rescue dog managed to survive for nine long days lost in an Arizona desert after she took a wrong turn and ran out of gas on the way to visit her daughter in Phoenix. Rodgers and Queenie eventually abandoned their car to go in search of water, bringing with them a red satchel filled with supplies to make campfires. “Queenie became my pathfinder,” Rodgers said. “She was the one who would range ahead of me to find the game trail, or cowpath or place to cross a river safely.” Rodgers knew how to survive in the wild and formed a large sign that read “HELP” using the bones she'd found from an elk. Rescuers eventually spotted it, and narrowed down their search area. They found Queenie first, and 15 minutes later, they found Rodgers. She was airlifted out for medical attention. The tough senior citizen was found to be dehydrated and suffering from exposure but amazingly, she was otherwise OK. - Read it at the Washington Post

Tiger Is Not Happy to Be Disturbed

This tiger is all of us when we're rudely interrupted during a good nap. The reaction is just a little scarier. Footage of one tiger at the Dublin Zoo in Ireland disturbing its lounging friend was caught on video by a mom named Linzi, who was visiting the Dublin Zoo with her husband, Ger, and their 2-year-old daughter. She can be heard telling her terrified toddler that it was OK after the sleeping tiger lashed out at its friend. The friend didn't seem to care, and helped itself to some water while the rudely awakened tiger glared at it. We've all been there, tiger. - Watch it at Time

When Wes McGuirk returned to his Nebraska home after going out to dinner on Saturday night, he couldn't find his Great Dane. Using a flashlight, he searched the backyard and thought he heard something. “I heard the whimper again, and it was above me,” he said. There was Kora, his 120-pound pooch, standing on a tree branch 20 feet up. “I was like, 'How on earth did you get up there?'” he said. After trying unsuccessfully to get her down, McGuirk called for help. Local firefighters and police responded and were able to lower her from the tree to a tarp that they positioned under her. Kora wasn't injured in the incident, and was happy to be back on the ground. “This is one of those calls that had a great outcome and will not soon be forgotten,” the Plattsmouth Volunteer Fire Department posted on Facebook. - Read it at Ohio's Fox 8

April 15, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Orangutan mom Jahe and baby

Mom and Baby Are Inseparable

Reunited and it feels so good. A 1-month-old critically endangered Sumatran orangutan is doing well with his mom at the Memphis Zoo after being born in a rare C-section performed by a human obstetrician. The baby boy was hand-reared by zoo staff members while his 18-year-old mom, Jahe, recovered from her surgery. She was able to visit with him while she recovered and they were reintroduced 12 days later. The first-time mom scooped him right up and held him close, and they've been inseparable ever since, the zoo said. The pair is now resting behind the scenes, and the zoo is asking the public for help with naming Jahe's little boy. You can vote this week on five choices, including Jasper, Kalbu, Rowan, Bijack or Flynn, and the winning name will be announced on April 22. - Read it at the Memphis Zoo

Coast Guard Flies Rehabilitated Monk Seals Home

Seven endangered Hawaiian monk seals who've been nursed back to health since late last year are beginning their journey back to their remote island homes. The seal pups, who are all females, were found by NOAA either abandoned or malnourished on the northernmost Hawaiian Islands, and they were treated at the Marine Mammal Center's monk seal hospital on the Big Island. On Thursday, they were flown by the Coast Guard to Honolulu, and they'll stay in a NOAA facility until Sunday. From there, they'll be transported by boats to the islands where they were each found, in voyages that could take up to a week. "At the Coast Guard, we pride ourselves on being lifesavers, and this is a unique opportunity where we can actually contribute to saving a species," said Eric Roberts, a marine mammal response coordinator with the Coast Guard. There are only about 1,200 monk seals left in the world. - See photos from AP via Yahoo

Stuck Cat Freed From Chimney

A couple in England was reunited with their missing cat, Snitch, after firefighters freed her from their chimney on Monday. Snitch had been missing for three days when Roger and Susan Gardner noticed meows coming from the chimney and called for help. "We bored a hole into the actual chimney, and the cat's paw shot out from the hole as if to say, 'I'm here!'” said Chris Jelfs of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service. They were able to pull the cat out through the hole. “We are delighted, it was brilliant watching them save our Snitch,” said Roger Gardner. - See photos from the U.K.'s Daily Mail

Image: Racine County K9 Nox

Police Dog Races to Partner's Aid

Nox, a Racine County, Wisconsin police dog, is being commended after coming to the aid of his partner during an attack on Saturday. While Deputy Clemens was monitoring traffic from inside his squad car, Nox started barking. Clemens “turned and saw a white male walking at an extremely fast pace going around the passenger side and front of the squad,” the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post on Sunday. “Before he could open his door the subject was within inches of the driver's side door. The subject's lips were separated and he was baring and clinching his teeth.” Clemens got out and escorted the subject to the front of the car, where he was about to pat him down for weapons. But the subject pushed him, and Clemens slipped on the ice. Nox jumped into action, leaping the open driver's side door and biting the subject on the left wrist. “Awesome job, Nox!” read the post. The subject was taken into custody and charged with battery to an officer.” - Read it at People Pets

Anderson Cooper Introduces New Puppy

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper has a new love in his life. Seven months after the death of his cherished Welsh Springer Spaniel Molly, he shared an Instagram photo of his new pup of the same breed, Lilly. “My dog Molly passed away a few months ago. This weekend Lilly showed up! She's a Welsh Springer Spaniel. #TheRainbowComesAndGoes” he wrote. The Rainbow Comes and Goes is the name of the new best selling book he wrote with his mother, 92-year-old heiress Gloria Vanderbilt. Cooper is a well-known dog lover. In January, he made headlines when he donated enough money to cover the costs of ballistic vests for every police K9 in Norfolk County, Virginia, after a police dog died in a shootout there while helping to respond to a domestic violence call. - See photos at Today

April 13, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Fergie rescued from South Florida waters

Dog Rescued Off South Florida

A senior black Labrador Retriever mix was pulled out of the waters off Biscayne Bay in South Florida by a Miami Fire Rescue boat after swimming approximately 9 miles from her home in Coral Gables. A local resident spotted 14-year-old Fergie in the middle of the bay and called 911, and help was dispatched immediately. She swam directly at the rescue boat when she spotted it, and was warmed up once she was on board. Apparently while Fergie's owners were out, she jumped into the water in search of them. They didn't realize she could get out of the house. Wagging her tail ecstatically, Fergie was reunited with her family once she was safely back on shore. - Read it at People Pets

Britain's Foreign Office Hires Shelter Cat

A 2-year-old cat who was found wandering the streets of London now has a new job at an exclusive address in the city. Britain's Foreign Office worked with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to fill the position of Chief Mouser at their King Charles Street building with its most qualified feline. “He's a very confident cat, loves being with people, and enjoys a good chin rub,” said Battersea's Lindsey Quinlan. “If his behavior at Battersea is anything to go by, we predict Palmerston will be a formidable feline, very deserving of his new name.” The cat was named after a former prime minister. He joins the government's other famed mousers, including Larry, who lives at Prime Minister David Cameron's home at 10 Downing Street, and Freya, who lives next door with the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne's family. - Read it at the U.K.'s BBC News

Wolf and Lynx Meet in the Wild

Endangered wildlife in Europe is on the rebound, and a remote camera captured rare footage of a wolf and a lynx family having an unusual encounter. The animals didn't seem to know what to make of each other, and would challenge each other as they got closer. Eventually, the lynx appears to chase the wolf off into the snowy landscape. - Watch it at Live Science

Image: Great Dane stuck in tree

Great Dane Stuck in Tree

When Wes McGuirk returned to his Nebraska home after going out to dinner on Saturday night, he couldn't find his Great Dane. Using a flashlight, he searched the backyard and thought he heard something. “I heard the whimper again, and it was above me,” he said. There was Kora, his 120-pound pooch, standing on a tree branch 20 feet up. “I was like, 'How on earth did you get up there?'” he said. After trying unsuccessfully to get her down, McGuirk called for help. Local firefighters and police responded and were able to lower her from the tree to a tarp that they positioned under her. Kora wasn't injured in the incident, and was happy to be back on the ground. “This is one of those calls that had a great outcome and will not soon be forgotten,” the Plattsmouth Volunteer Fire Department posted on Facebook. - Read it at Ohio's Fox 8

Dog and Cat BFFs Adopted Together

Days after a sweet video showed their touching reunion at the Helen Woodward Animal Center in California, a dog-and-cat duo was adopted together. Ami, an 18-month-old Shepherd, smothered her companion, a 9-month-old cat named Mikaela, with kisses when they were able to visit with each other at the shelter. They were being kept in separate kennels because of their size difference. Their former family, who surrendered them because they had to move out of the country, said the pair connected from the moment they brought the kitten home. The shelter said on Monday that the besties had been adopted together, and shared a photo of them with their new family on Facebook. - Read it at NBC Los Angeles

Image: Prince William and Kate feed baby rhinos and elephants

In one of the latest stops on their royal tour of India, Prince William and Kate looked like they were delighted to get the chance to bottle feed and visit with baby elephants and rhinos at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation in Kaziranga national park.

“They were absolutely thrilled and loved being with the animals. The duke said if he could he would have spent the whole day there,” said Vivek Menon, chief executive office of the Wildlife Trust of India, who joined them on their tour.

Prince William has been active in the fight against ivory poaching, which has decimated populations of rhinos and elephants. - See photos at the U.K.'s Guardian

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper has a new love in his life. Seven months after the death of his cherished Welsh Springer Spaniel Molly, he shared an Instagram photo of his new pup of the same breed, Lilly. “My dog Molly passed away a few months ago. This weekend Lilly showed up! She's a Welsh Springer Spaniel. #TheRainbowComesAndGoes” he wrote. The Rainbow Comes and Goes is the name of the new best selling book he wrote with his mother, 92-year-old heiress Gloria Vanderbilt. Cooper is a well-known dog lover. In January, he made headlines when he donated enough money to cover the costs of ballistic vests for every police K9 in Norfolk County, Virginia, after a police dog died in a shootout there while helping to respond to a domestic violence call. - See photos at Today

The AVMA is looking for a few smart veterinarians and their practice managers interested in learning how to build the profitability of their practice. We'll be introducing a new curriculum of practice profitability core sessions as part of the practice … read more >

The AVMA & AAVMC (Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges) today released the 2016 Report on the Market for Veterinary Education, making it available for free download by all AVMA members as part of the AVMA's 2016 economic reports series. … read more >

We're working busily as we plan and coordinate all of the CE, special events and logistics for our upcoming AVMA Convention 2016, and we've just released the full Convention lineup. Meanwhile, all of us at the AVMA are getting excited … read more >

Why does the AVMA's relationship with the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) matter to us as AVMA member veterinarians practicing here in the United States?  First of all, through our relationship with the FVE, we share vital information with … read more >

Dr. Karen Bradley has been elected to the AVMA Board of Directors. The Vermont resident is a small animal practitioner and surgeon, and will begin her six-year term as District 1 representative in August 2016 during the AVMA Convention in … read more >

April 1, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Charlie fosters small dogs

Gentle Dog Earns Pups' Trust

Tiny, fearful dogs have found a friend in Charlie. The 100-pound Catahoula-American Bulldog mix was a foster himself from the Dumb Friends League in Denver. His family fell in love with him, and when they continued fostering, they quickly discovered that Charlie had a way with small dogs. “Charlie's easygoing, laid-back sense of calm seemed to really influence the tiny, scared pups,” wrote his owner, Alaina Bupp, in a post on the league's web site. “They would seek him out and lay with him on the couch, and some even seemed to fall in love with our big guy.” Charlie has now been fostering small dogs for three years. “He makes no demands of these dogs and accepts their fears and reservations,” Bupp wrote. And there's one thing nearly all of Charlie's fosters have learned quickly, according to Bupp: “the best seat in the house is wherever Charlie's big belly happens to be.” - Read it at People Pets

Experts: Cats Can Get Canine Influenza

It may be April Fool's Day, but this is no joke: cats can get canine influenza, too. Dr. Sandra Newbury of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine confirmed that the H3N2 virus, which has sickened a large number of dogs in the Midwest, has also infected a group of cats in the area. The virus was suspected in a group of cats with respiratory disease at an Indiana shelter. “While this first confirmed report of multiple cats testing positive for canine influenza in the U.S. shows the virus can affect cats, we hope that infections and illness in felines will continue to be quite rare,” Newbury said. It appears that the virus can replicate and spread from cat to cat, and the shelter where the cats were found to have it is keeping the animals quarantined. An H3N2 vaccine is now available for dogs but there is not a vaccine recommended for cats. - Read it from the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Study: Frog Makes Dramatic Transformation

New research finds that a species of purple frog that spends most of its life underground goes through a drastic change from its tadpole days. Most tadpoles swim in water, but as a tadpole, this Indian frog clings to the underside of rocks with its suckerlike mouth. It then becomes an adult who burrows underground, emerging only to breed. The new study finds that the frogs keep their suckerlike mouthparts much longer than other frogs and develop strong digging arms and a wedge-shaped skull for digging. The findings were published in the journal PLOS ONE. - Read it at Live Science

Image: Nancy reunited with Muscat

Cat Found 6 Months After Fire

Nancy was separated from her cat, Muscat, when she was forced to evacuate her northern California home due to an encroaching wildfire in September. On March 23, she was driving on a street close to her home and spotted a cat who looked like Muscat. “She stopped and he came to her!” the Middletown Animal Hospital wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday. He's now been checked out by the hospital and had his vaccines updated. “She is so happy to have him back. A wonderful reminder to never give up hope!” the post continued. Many other people in the area are still looking for their pets six months after the Valley Fire, which killed four people and burned more than 76,000 acres, reported CBS San Francisco. - Read it at Time

Orphaned Mountain Lion Kitten Rescued

The 6-month-old cub is being nursed back to health at the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Facility after being found stuck in a tree outside of Tucson, Arizona, on Wednesday. The orphaned mountain lion kitten weighed only 13 pounds - less than half the average weight for a cub her age. By Thursday morning, her caregivers said the fluids she'd received overnight seemed to have made a big difference, and she was doing much better. "We've been crossing our fingers and hoping for a full recovery for this little girl," said Amy Burnett, a spokeswoman for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. "Our job is to get some food into her and try to keep her as little stressed as possible so that she can heal." They're hopeful “she can start to be a normal mountain lion kitten again." - Read it at Arizona Central

Veterinarians in practice often find themselves wishing they could read not just their patients' minds, but clients' minds as well. Did she understand why I'm recommending that vaccine for her dog? Does he really see what I'm doing when I … read more >

Veterinarians in practice often find themselves wishing they could read not just their patients' minds, but clients' minds as well. Did she understand why I'm recommending that vaccine for her dog? Does he really see what I'm doing when I … read more >