Washington Capital’s defenseman Karl Alzner’s dogs make a pretty, Twitter-worthy mess

After a marathon triple overtime loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday, Washington Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner headed home, and was greeted by his dogs – who had a little surprise for him:

Karl Alzner's dogs weren't happy about the Washington Capital's loss. But they were happy to show off their handiwork! (photo @KarlAlzner)

Alzner tweeted the photo early Thursday morning (1:57 a.m, to be exact), with the message, “Dogs not happy about the loss either.”

Poor Alzner. I didn’t see the game and can’t imagine how exhausted he was when he opened his front door. But you know that those dogs were so happy to have him home, they didn’t even remember they’d left a path of destruction in plain sight.

I’d bet money that there isn’t a dog owner who saw that photo and didn’t laugh out loud.

That’s what’s so great about dogs. No matter what staggering loss we’ve suffered, what horrible day at work we’ve endured, how tired we are, our dogs will always welcome us home with wagging tails and happy grins – and sometimes, a pretty, Twitter-worthy mess. Puts life into perspective, doesn’t it?

Two paws up for Karl Alzner for having a sense of humor about the whole thing! (I have a feeling these happy, mischievious pups are going to get as much – or more - attention than the hockey game.)

Celebrate birdsong on International Dawn Chorus Day, May 6, 2012

Not all of the bird song is, well, song. Woodpeckers provide the percussion for the morning (and afternoon!) concert in my own backyard.

My friend Mike is a morning show producer here in town. He told me once that he leaves for work around 4 a.m. and he’s always surprised at the  number of birds chirping at the hour of the morning. In total darkness. I think he used the word “eerie” to describe it.

Back when Scout was sick and we were up every hour or so all night long, I got to hear what he was talking about. Three in the morning, and Scout and I would  be in the backyard, he not sure what he wanted to do or where, me following around with the flashlight, and a cacophony of birds providing the soundtrack.

Eerie. But so very cool, too. [Read more...]

Seneca Park Zoo celebrates first artificial insemination of polar bears

Aurora the polar bear (Photo courtesy Seneca Park Zoo website; used with permission)

I love being able to shine light on my wonderful hometown of Rochester, NY and today there’s super news that makes animal history: The Seneca Park Zoo, in partnership with the Cincinnati Zoo’s Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW),  is celebrating the first successful artificial insemination of polar bears in the world.

Zero takes a swim. (Photo Jeff Gerew)

Aurora and Zero, the Seneca Park Zoo’s polar bear couple, have been together for two years without any cubs to show for it. And while the bears are older – both are 22 years; polar bears typically live 20 to 30 years although some in captivity have lived to as old as 40 - the Zoo’s Animal Health team are sure Aurora is fertile and cycling normally.

Aurora has produced offspring in the past (from 1996 to 2002, Aurora and her late partner Yukon produced and raised four cubs) but for whatever reason she and Zero haven’t taken the polar parenting plunge together.

Polar bears are an endangered species, so the Association of Zoo and Aquarium’s Species Survival Plan deemed Aurora and Zero viable candidates for artificial insemination and recommended the procedure. Since 2008, CREW members have been monitoring Aurora’s cycles (it’s a non-invasive procedure that involves testing feces) and when the timing seemed right, both bears were anesthetized and … well, you know. [Read more...]

Animal testing and a little Monday morning crankiness

(source: Wikipedia Commons; Janet Stephens, photographer)

It’s Monday, and to be quite frank, I’m feeling a little cranky, animal-wise. It’s 10:30 AM and I’ve already been out to clean and feed the chickens, who are raising such a ruckus the neighbors must think I’ve been plucking them bald. The dogs are engaged in their daily in and out and in and out, and considering that Bailey and Bandit still can’t be in the same room, it’s a little exhausting.

So when I read this article at GlobalAnimal.com, my initial response is probably more sarcastic than it might be, had I not had a terrible night’s sleep and a morning filled with barking and bawking and several cups of tea turned cold before I had a chance to drink them.

GlobalAnimal.com author Tazi Phillips shares a post today on 8 household products most people don’t know are tested on animals. It’s enlightening in some ways - and strangely vague in others.

For example, I had no idea Windex is sprayed on animals’ skin and in their eyes to test the amount of irritation. Really? Is that necessary? I know a few humans who might actually be less irritating after being spritzed with window cleaner; maybe we can test the product on them. [Read more...]