For centuries, LGBTQ individuals have faced discrimination worldwide, largely because non-heterosexual relationships have been labeled as unnatural by religious and governmental institutions. These relationships were often condemned for defying traditional family structures or engaging in non-reproductive sexual behavior. However, scientific research continues to dismantle the notion that homosexuality is unnatural, proving it exists across a wide range of species—from bonobo monkeys to black swans and even fruit flies. A groundbreaking […]

When searching for the “smartest dog breeds,” you’ll typically find Border Collies at the top, followed by Poodles, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers. However, a 2023 study on canine cognition conducted by the University of Helsinki reveals a surprising new leader: the Belgian Malinois. Often recognized for its work as a police or security dog, the Belgian Malinois is a shepherd breed closely resembling the German Shepherd. The two breeds

It’s difficult to walk into a dog shelter without wanting to adopt every dog there. For Meghan Wedge and Sarah Bauer, that impulse led to a much larger family than expected. The story began outside Meghan’s workplace in Dalton, Georgia, when some colleagues alerted her to an injured dog lying in the parking lot. Meghan recalled, “She would try to get up, but kept falling down. When she finally managed

When Rocky Kanaka first met Katie, a scruffy Australian Shepherd mix, he assumed she was a senior dog. In reality, she was just a year old. Found wandering as a stray, Katie’s fur and skin were in poor condition, her paws were painfully swollen, and her spirit seemed broken. When Kanaka first sat with her in her kennel, she wouldn’t even look at him. But everything began to change as

Imagine browsing through secondhand treasures at your local thrift shop, only to discover an unexpected bonus—an extra cat included with your purchase. Montequlla, an orange tabby, somehow missed the memo about his family’s move. As his owners dropped off their furniture, including a large recliner, at the Denver Arc Thrift Store on New Year’s Eve, they unknowingly left Montequlla hidden inside. It wasn’t long before the staff began to hear

Sheep are known for their toughness and adaptability. They can thrive in harsh environments, from the driest deserts to snowy mountain ranges. However, as social animals, they can’t endure isolation for long. This was the case for Fiona, a sheep who spent over two years stranded alone at the bottom of a cliff in Scotland. Once called the “loneliest sheep in Britain” and later in the world, Fiona became a

A mother’s instinct to care for her newborn is one of the strongest in the animal world, but sometimes things don’t go as expected. Occasionally, a mother will reject her baby, refusing to care for it in any way. That was the case with Beau, a lamb born on Olivia Akers’ farm. Beau’s mother simply didn’t want to be a mom, and despite Akers’ best efforts—rubbing the placenta for scent,

Dogs are known to have an incredible ability to sense emotions, like fear, but did you know they can also detect dishonesty? A study led by Akiko Takaoka at Kyoto University in Japan reveals that dogs can tell when humans are being untrustworthy. The experiment involved using a well-known trick: dogs are trained to follow human gestures, like pointing at an object. Researchers pointed at a container filled with hidden

Earlier this month, Stephen Colbert stunned audiences by showing a video of a female orangutan driving a golf cart. Not only was she an expert driver, but she steered with just one hand on the wheel, exuding a level of cool confidence that could rival any human motorist. While Colbert humorously suggested the orangutan was in Florida, the actual location was Dubai, where she resides in a menagerie owned by

When one Redditor, EmiliaFromLV, humorously imagined a cat’s take on its newfound life behind bars, she said, “None of you seem to understand. We are not locked in here with you. You’re locked in here with us! Meow!” Though we can’t know for sure, it seems the shelter cats in South Carolina, now living in prisons, have found a new purpose—and so have the inmates. Through the “MeowMates” program at