The call of the New Guinea singing dog sounds like a wolf’s howl crossed with a whale song. It’s  haunting, beautiful, and rare. So rare, in fact, that no one has heard it in the wild since the animals went functionally extinct in the 1970s.

Or so we thought.

In fact, the wild dogs were pushed to high altitudes. Scientists have found evidence of their unique DNA at 14,000 feet above sea level on the island of New Guinea. They detailed the discovery in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The dogs are currently classified as a breed of domestic dog by the IUCN, and therefore not considered threatened. In contrast, the new study posits that these dogs maintain enough genetic and behavioral differences to be considered a distinct … Read the rest

During a time when emotional support animals are needed more than ever, the  U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced that it is revising its Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) regulation on the transportation of service animals by air to ensure a safe and accessible air transportation system.

Under the new rule, airlines will now recognize emotional support animals as pets, rather than service animals.

As per the DOT, the Traveling by Air with Service Animals final rule “defines a service animal as a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.”

Much to the dismay of people worldwide who rely on their emotional support dogs, the DOC claims that they are no longer recognized as service animals “because providing emotional support,

When Jill Stewart decided to adopt a Golden Retriever, she did it to save a disabled dog from China’s dog meat trade. But when the North Carolinian flew to Shanghai to meet her new pup, she learned more about the grisly fates awaiting dogs in China, where canines are routinely maimed, beaten, and killed in markets, restaurants, and slaughterhouses operating under the belief that torture yields the best meat.

“At that point, I said, you know, I just don’t really want to stop there,” said Stewart, who partnered with her dog’s rescuer and raised $7,000 to rescue 5 additional dogs on a GoFundMe page. But despite this achievement, Stewart couldn’t rest easy – not when hundreds of thousands of dogs were being cruelly killed every year. “You know, I just don’t think I want to stop there,” the nurse decided again, this time resolving to start a non-profit – a … Read the rest

Last year, the bipartisan Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R. 1380 and S. 2561), which prohibits the ownership of big cats and makes it illegal for exhibitors to allow public contact with cubs, was introduced by Congressman Mike Quigley of Illinois, along with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.

A sweet calico kitten kneaded her way into the hearts of a family after being found by herself in a backyard.

Sarah Kelly @kellyfosterkittens

A little kitten was discovered outside a resident’s home in North Carolina. The man who spotted her, looked around for other kittens but could’t find any.

There was no sign of a mother cat after hours of waiting. He reached out to Sparkle Cat Rescue, a volunteer-run organization, and hoped to get the kitten the care and medical attention that she desperately needed.

Sarah Kelly, a volunteer of the rescue, rushed to get the kitten as soon as she received the plea for help. The calico was hungry and had an eye infection. Despite it all, she started kneading with her front paws when she was placed on a soft blanket. She went on stretching her toe beans throughout her trip to her foster … Read the rest

There’s a new bridge over Utah’s Interstate 80. It’s 50 feet wide and 320 feet long, covered in rocks and logs and is now gaining national attention–not because it’s a hassle for humans but because it’s incredibly useful for wildlife.

Completed in 2018 by the Utah Department of Transportation, the wildlife overpass provides a safe path over a previously precarious stretch of highway. Its location was chosen as the prime spot to accommodate migratory populations. Recent video evidence shows that the UDOT made the right choice. Footage recorded by the state Division of Wildlife Resources has shown dozens of animals crossing the bridge.

According to the Smithsonian, wildlife experts thought it might take several years before the overpass saw some use. The DWR footage says otherwise, with proof of deer, … Read the rest

This holiday season it is more important than ever to make healthy choices that save the lives of millions of innocent animals by simply leaving them off your plate. To help spread this critical message, Peace 4 Animals and World Animal News (WAN) have launched another impactful billboard campaign to encourage people to go plant-based.

“If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that significant changes must be made in order to save our planet and all of the sentient beings that inhabit it,” said Katie Cleary, Founder and President of Peace 4 Animals and World Animal News. “There needs to be a cultural shift in the U.S. and throughout the world to change the way we are conditioned to think about ‘farm’ animals. One that includes recognizing animals as individuals, not deserving to be exploited and killed for human consumption.”

The powerful new ‘Choose Compassion This Holiday Season,

A cat with three legs went back to the house where he once found kindness. It led him to a family of his dreams after years on the streets.

Sarah MacLeod

An orange cat named Bubby was wandering the streets until he came across a kind-hearted man eight years ago. The stray who was already missing an arm and part of his tail, sauntered into the man’s kitchen and claimed it as his own. From that day on, the tabby kept showing up to the same residence and started hanging out with the man’s feline companion, Seson.

The 3-legged wonder would call out for his feline friend at the door every time he came for a visit. The beautiful friendship really blossomed and went on until the day Seson crossed the rainbow bridge.

The man and his family fell in love with the orange cat from the day he stepped … Read the rest

Monarch butterflies are as beautiful as they are delicate.

Before reaching that stage, however, they begin as ravenous brutes, willing to chew anything and everything in their way.

Before metamorphosizing into their final form, monarch butterfly caterpillars allow absolutely nothing to get between themselves and food, not even other caterpillars. According to the New York Times, when two caterpillars find themselves fighting over the same source of food they become tiny terrors. They will attempt to bump, tackle or push the other away.

“I went to grad school with a guy who played rugby in college,” Alex C. Keene, a neuroscientist at Florida Atlantic University and author on a study on caterpillar aggression, told the New York Times. “A flying head butt is a fair assessment.”

Obviously, this is behavior they grow out of once they become adults. But it’s fascinating science, … Read the rest