Animals

Most people don’t give much thought to where their food comes from. The biggest grocery store dilemma tends to be whether organic and free-range really matter. But meat doesn’t just appear on refrigerated shelves—it comes from real animals, raised for the sole purpose of ending up on a dinner plate. A group of cows in St. Louis, Missouri, were facing that fate when one determined bovine decided he had other […]

The Old Lock and Weir pub, nestled along the banks of the River Avon just outside Bristol, England, had an unusual guest show up on Sunday, January 2—a seal pup estimated to be between six and twelve months old. The young seal swam up to the riverside pub around 11:30 in the morning, much to the shock of the staff. “It was amazing. Totally out of the blue,” said general

Sometimes, animals surprise us with just how human-like they can be—and one cat seems to have been paying extra close attention to her two-legged servants. Lily, an 8-year-old indoor-outdoor cat, gave her family quite the shock when she rang the doorbell to be let back inside. Her family had recently moved to a new neighborhood, and after heading out to explore, she didn’t return as expected. Stefanie Whitley, Lily’s owner,

If you’ve never heard of the Cat Distribution System (CDS), there’s a good chance you’re either not a cat owner or you acquired your feline in a perfectly normal way—like adopting from a shelter or taking in a kitten from a friend. And while that’s a totally valid way to gain cat parent status, some people are chosen by the CDS instead. Is the Cat Distribution System real? Only cats

Returning to school was an emotional challenge for many children in Uvalde, Texas, as they stepped back into classrooms on Tuesday, CNN reported. For some, it was their first time in a school setting since the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022, which claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers. “I’m so scared and shocked after what happened at my old school, and I’m still

For many pet owners, cats are more than just companions—they’re family. And while felines have a reputation for being independent, they have a way of sneaking into their humans’ hearts. That’s why a troubling trend involving knock-off automatic litter boxes has cat owners raising alarms online. It’s no secret that scooping a litter box isn’t exactly a fun chore, so when automatic litter boxes hit the market, they quickly gained

Elephants are already known for their incredible intelligence, deep social bonds, and unique physical traits—like their multi-functional trunks and near-silent footsteps despite their massive size. But new research suggests they may have one more remarkable ability: calling each other by name. A study conducted in Kenya indicates that elephants might use specific, individualized vocalizations to communicate directly with members of their herd, much like humans do with names. Researchers had

A 17-year-old boy experiencing homelessness found both shelter and an emotional reunion with his puppy after a compassionate community stepped in to help. The teen, who remains anonymous, arrived at the Senatobia-Tate County Animal Shelter in Mississippi with his Rottweiler/German shepherd mix, Jada, and a bag of dog food. His heartbreaking request left shelter staff stunned. “He asked if he could leave his dog here, and I told him, ‘Buddy,

Adolescent orcas off the coasts of Europe have been making life difficult for boaters, repeatedly ramming and biting rudders, often causing major damage. These unusual encounters, which have been happening for over two years, have mostly taken place near Portugal and Spain. But now, as NPR reports, the same behavior has appeared off the coast of France. Ester Kristine Storkson described being violently awakened on her father’s 37-foot sailboat by

Bringing home a new puppy or kitten is exciting, but those first few days can be overwhelming. Helping a new pet adjust to your home and routine takes time, and if you already have other pets, the process can be even more challenging. That’s where the idea of “pawternity leave” comes in. It might sound made up, but for some companies, it’s a real benefit. Several businesses now offer pawternity—or