Snow Leopard

Snow Leopard
Snow Leopard cub (7 mos old) - Cape May County Zoo

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Bunnies are Cute....

..but they do require a lot of care! 




This is the time of year when people think it might be cute to get their child a bunny. It is worth considering the "cost" before you make a decision based on emotion.

While rabbits are cute and can make excellent pets, there are some caveats and things to consider.

1. Is this rabbit going to be inside or outside (in a hutch)?

2. Are you aware of the proper feeding requirements of a rabbit?

3. Are you aware of the proper habitat (be it in or out) for a rabbit?

4. Are you prepared for veterinary expenses? 

5. Is there a veterinarian in your area that sees rabbits (not all vets do!)?

A great resource for rabbit owners and those interested in rabbits is The House Rabbit Society.  

Some caveats from my personal experience:
-they don't live that long overall - 6 to 7 years, with a rare 10-12 year old
-once they get sick - or rather, show YOU that they are, they decline rapidly and fairly often, die even with treatment
-they can be aggressive (see my comment below)
-if not handled properly, they can literally break their back, leading to the need for euthanasia
-some need to have their teeth trimmed every 4-6 weeks by a vet

FYI..*I* do see rabbits for medical and surgical conditions. Spaying and neutering of rabbits is also often recommended for behavioral and medical reasons. 




Thursday, March 28, 2013

Tiger Gets New Surgery

A novel way of eliminating pain is to remove the "signal" pathway. In the case of Tacoma, the 13 year old Siberian tiger this means cutting the nerves that "tell" his brain his aging hips hurt.  


Thursday, March 7, 2013

Meet Tama

This is too cute and heartwarming NOT to share!

Check out this story about a cat and a Japanese train that, well, saved each other.

Feline Station Master Tama

PS. I love the ailurophilia going on in that nation!