(E.B.W.) Critter Corner
Feature:
Slain French Dog ‘Diesel’ To Be Awarded Medal For Gallantry
“A French police dog named Diesel, who died during an apartment raid targeting Abdelhamid Abaaoud, alleged mastermind of the November 13 Paris attacks, will receive a posthumous medal of honor for her bravery.
The honor comes from the U.K.’s leading veterinary charity, People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, (PDSA), which will award Diesel the Dickin Medal, recognized as the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross...
‘Diesel is a truly deserving recipient. His gallant actions helped to protect human life in the face of imminent danger,’ PDSA Director General Jan McLoughlin said in a statement.
Note: Diesel was actually a female dog...
Diesel, a 7-year-old Belgian Malinois, served with the French National Research, Assistance, Intervention & Deterrence special anti-terrorism force (RAID).
‘When news emerged of Diesel’s death there was a huge outpouring of grief,’ said McLoughlin...
PDSA said the award is the highest animal honor in the world. ‘The PDSA Dickin Medal recognises conspicuous devotion to duty in the theatre of conflict & Diesel is a truly deserving recipient...His gallant actions helped to protect human life in the face of imminent danger & we are very proud to honour him in this way.’
The medal was introduced by PDSA founder Maria Dickin in 1943; since then it has been awarded to 30 dogs (including Diesel), 32 World War II messenger pigeons, 3 horses, & one cat...”
Judy M.
Jan. 3/2016
care2.com
Cute Critter Pic
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Memorial
Peanut RIP
Jan. 31/1997
What a little spitfire...so much fun. Peanut never got a chance to grow up...he left us way too soon.
(E.B.W.) Critter Corner
Feature:
5 Expert Tips for Winter Dog Walks
“Winter weather can make it difficult to get your dog out for walks, particularly if you live where ice, snow, & freezing winds are the norm. But skimping on winter walks can have a negative impact on your dog’s behavior...
Here are 5 of my favorite tips for making winter walks manageable for you & your dog.
Dress Yourself First
... Gloves with some traction will make it easier for you grip the leash. You might consider a thinner pair of gloves...that can allow you to easily deliver treats, pick up after your pooch, & hold the leash...
Bundle Up Your Pup
Most dogs can comfortably be walked out in the cold for short periods of time, but some canines need additional help staying warm. Most dogs benefit from a jacket, but it’s an especially important consideration for puppies, elderly dogs, smaller breeds & hairless or shorter-haired dogs, who may have a harder time staying warm. Choose a jacket or vest built for the cold & for repelling moisture...
Keep Fido’s Feet Warm
Protect paws with dog booties. In the winter, paws can be at risk from deicers used on the ground — many salts & ice melters are toxic to dogs — & from freezing temperatures... Look for booties with secure traction on the bottom & Velcro straps that snugly hold them in place...
Protect Bare Paws, Too
If your pet simply won’t tolerate booties, bare paws can be given additional protection by using pet-safe gels. You can also use petroleum jelly...
Choose an Effective Leash
...a front clip harness is ideal to minimize pulling while you train your dog. Use a solid leash, not a retractable one, for better control. Another option is a jogger leash that goes around your waist & attaches to the dog’s collar...”
Mikkel Becker
Vetstreet.com
Jan.9/2016
care2.com
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Weekly Chuckle
(E.B.W.) Critter Corner
Feature:
Snowy White Owls Enjoying The Menu At Trudeau Airport
“Seen a snowy white owl lately?
These feathered refugees from up north are increasingly flocking to the big city in search of food & a better life than what’s currently available in the Arctic tundra & elsewhere.
By now, millions of Internet users around the globe have likely seen the photo of the magnificent white owl captured in full flight by a Transport Quebec traffic camera in the West Island.
The photo went viral this week after it was tweeted by Quebec Transport Minister Robert Poeti... ...says there has been a spike in the snowy white owl population in recent years...
The snowy owl’s airport menu includes small rodents like mice & rabbits, & anything else that catches their prying eye.
‘It’s like a buffet for them,’ Molina said. ‘The habitat there makes it very attractive just because of the airport lights & short grass.’
'Because they’re kind of a stubborn bird, a predator at the top of the bird food chain, they just adapt to what we throw at them.’
The most effective way of managing snowy owls at the airport is to capture them & relocate them hundreds of kilometres away...
Until the traffic cam owl photo went viral, the most popular snowy owl in Montreal might have been Casper, the one-winged star at the Ecomuseum in Ste.-Anne-de-Bellevue.
An all-white male who lost a wing after he was hit by a car, Casper has been a fixture at the Ecomuseum for decades, said zookeeper Nicola Fleming.
'He’s got these big yellow eyes. He’s very relaxed. People are struck by how beautiful he is...
'There’s a lot wildlife hiding in plain sight because people don’t think to watch for it. It’s there.’”
John Meagher
Montreal Gazette
Jan. 9/2016
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(E.B.W.) Critter Corner
Feature:
3 Impressive Ways Animals Adapt to Winter Conditions
“...Here are 3 of Canada’s iconic species with unique winter adaptation strategies to survive in the land of ice & snow...
1. Padded paws - Canada lynx
The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) is one of Canada’s big cats. The main distinction from the bobcat is the lynx’s thick grey fur, longer ear tufts, & black-tipped tail. Despite their size, with males weighing up to 17 kilograms (37 pounds), Canada lynxes have no problem trekking on deep snow thanks to their large furred paws that act like snowshoes. This feature makes them well adapted for stalking & ambushing prey...
2. Grow a coat, & more – the moose
The majestic moose (Alces alces), which comes from the Algonquian First Nations “moosh” meaning stripper & eater of bark, is the largest member of the deer family. Several key adaptations help to keep the 450-kilogram (on average) vegetarian comfy throughout winter. Both sexes are outfitted with a thick coat of hollow guard hairs that provides insulation &, buoyancy on land & in water. Their cloven hooves also keep them from sinking in deep snow & soft mud. In the winter, male moose also shed those massive antlers to conserve energy & nutrients.
3. Sleep it out – grizzly bear
...For the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), one of the strongest & most impressive mammals in North America, winter is a time of dormancy. To prepare for the season, grizzlies fill up their energy reserves by eating an omnivorous...diet & dig dens with their powerful muscles & sharp claws. Contrary to common belief, grizzlies are not true hibernators because their body temperatures only drop a few degrees & respiration rate slows to slightly below normal. In fact, bears can wake up & even become active if weather turns uncharacteristically warm!
...these animals are their own one-stop-shop to wilderness survival, & one can’t help but marvel at nature’s ingenuity...As the height of the holiday shopping season approaches, stop and take the time to help protect the wildlife in your area.”
Wendy Ho
Dec./2015
care2.com
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