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Pit Bulls get a bad rap unfortunately. These dogs were bred as fighting dogs, and the media has portrayed them as aggressive. While some pit bulls have been associated with severe injuries to other dogs and even people, the vast majority of pit bulls are loving family members who just want to please their owners.
As we’ve explored in previous features, animal sexual relationships can be as loving as the human variety, but also – and again like humans – can sometimes lean towards strangeness and darkness. It therefore shouldn’t surprise us that just as sex can place humans at risk from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), the same applies to the animal kingdom. Or, as Dr Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, a consultant for the Los Angeles zoo, told the Huffington Post rather more bluntly: “wild animals don’t practice safe sex – of course they have STIs!”.
[Read more…] about Do Animals Get Sexually Transmitted Diseases?
Butterflies often indicate the beginning of spring and summer and are a welcomed pollinator throughout the world. While beautiful, the butterfly has one sole mission in its short life – reproduction. Below you’ll discover more about how butterflies find a partner and reproduce.
Some dogs have naturally short tails. Other breeds, however, have their tails shortened through a procedure called docking. The practice has existed since at least Roman times for a variety of reasons. This hotly debated topic rarely sees middle-of-the-road positions. People are either for or against docking. Let’s explore docking so that you can form an opinion on this surgery.
The Canary Islands are an archipelago that tectonically lies in Africa but is part of the European Union, specifically Spain. While many may think of the little yellow bird when hearing the name of this area of the world, the name comes from the Latin for “dog.” And for good reason! Pliny the Elder talked of the significant number of large dogs on the island. These dogs are called Presa Canario and many believe them to be dangerous. Are they? We’ll break that down today.
If you’ve been reading our recent posts about animal mating but found the sexual habits of hippos and snails a little disgusting or the behavior of male ducks downright disturbing, then this next article will come as a relief. Bald eagles are much more romantic in their sexual attitudes, beginning their courtships in extravagant and moving dances in the air, and then bringing up their offspring as loving and monogamous couples. They are one of the few animals whose love lives really do seem romantic and affectionate, rather than alien and terrifying.
[Read more…] about Why Bald Eagles Are Some Of The Most Romantic And Monogamous Animals
Most snails, including the commonly known garden snail, are hermaphrodites. This means they contain both male and female reproductive organs and produce eggs and sperm. The pomatidae family is the exception, in which males and females are separate, denoted by a smaller and larger shell, respectively. Although in species that host both parts the snails are capable of self fertilization, or asexual reproduction, they will still often mate with another snail.
If you’re looking for a dog to act as a guard dog, it can be overwhelming with all the information out there. Everyone seems to have an opinion and a favorite breed of guard dog so it’s hard to just get the facts. We’re here to settle an age old question of whether a Rottweiler or Cane Corso makes the better guard dog.
[Read more…] about Rottweiler vs Cane Corso: Which is the Better Guard Dog?
There’s just something about crocodiles. Are they immortal? Are they vestiges of the dinosaurs that once walked the earth? People are curious about these creatures who can go from chill to deadly in a second. A common question people have about crocs? How they mate. If you’re someone who’s wondered that, you’ve found the right article because we’re going to break down exactly that today. Spoiler alert: Elton John was right. Crocodile Rocking is something shocking!
Cropping the ears of a dog is a very controversial subject around any dinner table. Some breeders are adamant it’s in the dogs best interests or there’s nothing wrong with it but others are fundamentally opposed to ear cropping under any circumstances. We’re going to take a look at what exactly ear cropping is, why people do it and whether it’s necessary or even harmful to the dog. In particular, we’re looking at the cropping of Pitbull’s ears.
Raccoons are common in many local wildlife populations throughout the world. These crafty critters are some of the most adaptable animals, able to survive in both the wild and urban environments, as well as many different continents- a feat not seen in many species. Due to their adaptability, they are one of only a few species that have actually benefited from the exponential growth of the human race.
(photo: David Brossard)
Pangolins are small animals found in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. While they might look like simple creatures, they have a unique built-in defensive system to help protect themselves from danger.