Good Living Guide

Animals

Retiree Builds Dog Train To Take Rescued Dogs On Little Adventures

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Eugene Bostick saw a man pulling wagons attached to a tractor and had a great idea. “That would make a great dog train,” he thought.

Yes, he said a dog train.

Every week, Forth Worth residents can watch Bostick with his train full of rescued stray dogs joyriding along like the celebrities they are.

Dog Train Is a Real Trip for These Lucky Canines

To make his train, Bostick welded together several sturdy plastic barrels. He then attached them to a tractor.

The dogs love going out for a spin. They tour the city, check out local parks and visit their fans.


All Aboard the Dog Train 

This special train has become a favorite among Fort Worth locals.

Bostick and his brother Corky care for several stray dogs on an 11-acre property just outside of town. The brothers also feed the ducks, geese, beavers, foxes and other critters that visit their property.

The Dog Train Keeps Rolling

Did the dog train inspire you to do something special for animals? We can’t all build an amazing train like this, but we can all try a little tenderness when it comes to our furry friends.

 

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You Can Now Buy Matching Hawaiian Shirts For You And Your Dog

Man Who Recorded Pig’s Treatment Banned From Iowa State Fair

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Wheaten Mather was enjoying a day at the Iowa State Fair when he saw something that horrified him. A young boy was beating his pig in the face with a show stick. A show stick is a small, lightweight whip used to guide pigs and livestock in show rings.

Was the Fair Unfair?

Mather filmed the incident and contacted authorities at the fair. What happened next isn’t clear. Mather admits that he became agitated.

The fair’s director accused Mather of being “threatening” and banned him from the fair for life.

Difficult to Watch

Mather posted the footage on his Facebook page with warning that, “This is a difficult video to watch and a difficult video for me to post.”


Although Mather received a lot of support from fellow animal lovers, he also faced criticism from a few people.

What Is Painful to a Pig?

These people pointed out that pigs are very thick-skinned and that using a show stick is an acceptable way to get a stubborn pig to move.

Guides from the 4H, however, recommend using a light touch with a show stick and never hitting pigs on the face.

The animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) also intervened.

“It is shameful that the Iowa State Fair sanctioned the good Samaritan who spoke out against whipping a crying pig and didn’t take allegations of animal abuse seriously,” the organization said in a statement.

PETA has offered a $5000 reward for information about the pig or his owner.

 

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You Can Now Buy Matching Hawaiian Shirts For You And Your Dog

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We all know that families wearing matching clothes is an Instagram craze that refuses to die.

Now, you can show up all those showoffs by wearing a Hawaiian shirt that matches the one on your dog.

Matching Hawaiian Shirts

Image by Pablo & Co Boutique

Get Tropical with Your Pooch

You read that correctly. Pablo & Co Boutique is an Etsy seller based in Australia who sells Hawaiian shirts as sets.

You’ll both be stepping out in style when you wear these colorful matching shirts.

Matching Hawaiian Shirts

Image by Pablo & Co Boutique

Haute Dogs

In addition to those spectacular Hawaiian shirt sets, the Pablo & Co Boutique makes high-fashion accessories for dogs. You can buy bow ties, bandanas, dog caps and leashes that feature unique, whimsical prints.

Matching Hawaiian Shirts

Image by Pablo & Co Boutique

Does your dog love Piglet from Winnie the Pooh? Do you both share a love of Beyoncé, Seinfeld or peanut butter? You can get all of them and more on these great-looking dog accessories.

Image by Pablo&Co Boutique

Image by Pablo & Co Boutique

Where to Buy Matching Hawaiian Shirts

You can get your paws on all this doggy couture at the Pablo & Co Boutique Etsy shop.

Just keep the credit cards away from your pup.

Matching Hawaiian Shirts

Image by Pablo & Co Boutique

 

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7 Amazing Photos Of Hummingbirds’ Wings Shining Like Rainbows

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A photographer has captured a magical moment that only nature could create. Christian Spencer was watching a Black Jacobin hummingbird when he noticed that the sun shining through the bird’s wings looked just like tiny, flying rainbows. As a photographer, he knew he had only moments to capture the images on film.

Photos Of Hummingbirds’ Wings

Image by Christian Spencer

The stunning pictures have sparked amazement everywhere. Spencer’s photos of hummingbirds’ wings have been featured on Bored Panda, My Modern Met and other outlets.

Photos Of Hummingbirds’ Wings

Image by Christian Spencer

Capturing Images and Hearts

Spencer said he used no special effects or filters to create the photographs. He said they portray clearly how the bird’s iridescent wings looked with the sun shining through them.

Photos Of Hummingbirds’ Wings

Image by Christian Spencer

“Nobody ever could have ever dreamed that this was a reality,” he told the Modern Met. “I receive emails every day from people across the world touched by these images.”

Photos Of Hummingbirds’ Wings

Image by Christian Spencer

Gift of Nature

Spencer’s stunning pictures are a reminder that nature can continue to amaze and inspire us.

Photos Of Hummingbirds’ Wings

Image by Christian Spencer

Spencer is an Australian-born painter, photographer and filmmaker who lives in Brazil. His nature documentaries have won dozens of international awards. You can learn more about his work on his website.

Photos Of Hummingbirds’ Wings

Image by Christian Spencer

 

Photos Of Hummingbirds’ Wings

Image by Christian Spencer

 

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Miracle Dog Shot 17 Times Becomes Registered Therapy Dog

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A formerly abused dog is spending the rest of her life sharing her unsinkable spirit as a therapy dog. Have a tissue handy when you read the story of Maggie the Wunder Dog and her incredible story of strength and survival.

Maggie the Wunder Dog

Credit to Maggie the Wunder Dog

Horrific Abuse

Last year, a woman in Lebanon contacted the international animal rescue organization Wild at Heart about Maggie. The young German Shepherd mix was living on the streets. She was pregnant and alone.

She was also in terrible shape. As her rescuers discovered to their horror, Maggie had endured 17 bullet wounds. She had a broken jaw. She lost an ear and both eyes to the abuse she suffered.

The rescuers were determined to save her. Getting an animal out of a foreign country is not an easy feat. The volunteers at Wild at Heart launched a viral campaign to bring Maggie to the U.K.

Maggie’s New Family

Kasey Carlin of Brighton saw Maggie’s story and instantly decided that she wanted Maggie to join her family. Maggie had to undergo surgery before she could travel.

Six months later, Maggie was welcomed into her new home. She has formed a close friendship with Carlin’s other dog and is finally enjoying the happy life that she deserves.

Maggie the Wunder Dog

Credit to Maggie the Wunder Dog

Maggie’s New Life: Therapy Dog and Superstar

Carlin said that Maggie’s incredible spirit makes her a natural as a therapy dog. Maggie has completed her training and is now officially licensed to bring joy to people who need it.

A virtual campaign saved Maggie’s life. Now, she’s taking full advantage of her viral moment. She has her own Instagram feed with over 95,000 followers.

“She’s got a great life and she wants so much out of it,” Carlin said.

 

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Watch Snowball The Dancing Cockatoo Bust Out 14 Hilarious Dance Moves

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Forget Dancing with the Stars. It’s time for dancing with the birds. Scientists have determined that a sulphur-crested bird nicknamed “Snowball The Dancing Cockatoo” was able to figure out his own dance moves without coaching, training or dance lessons. Snowball’s natural rhythm would put most of us to shame.

The Celebrity of Snowball The Dancing Cockatoo

This is not Snowball’s first time in the limelight. Back in 2009, the talented cockatoo became a YouTube sensation for grooving to the Backstreet Boys.

In the wake of his fame, Snowball became a “spokesbird” for the bird rescue group Bird Lovers Only.

New Dance Moves

In the new study, researchers wanted to know if Snowball still had the moves. They knew he had developed the head bob and the foot lift. They were curious to learn if he could learn new dance moves by listening to different types of music.

Dancing Queen

The researchers played a new set of tunes for Snowball and carefully documented all of his separate dance moves. You can see him getting down to “Another One Bites the Dust” here. They cataloged 14 different moves that Snowball developed on his own.

As Science Daily reported, lead researcher Anriduddh Patel said, “What’s most interesting to us is the sheer diversity of his movements to music.”

What Does It Mean?

The researchers weren’t just trying to make a cute, viral YouTube video. They believe that humans and parrots might share certain traits that lead both to develop dance movements. Other parrots have shown an ability to dance, but Snowball is the first to create a large number of dance steps.


Not a Surprise to Snowball’s Mom

Snowball’s mother Irena Schulz always knew that Snowball was special. She wrote that she knew that from the moment she rescued the talented fellow.

 

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Harry the Farting Hippo Video Watched By Over 30 Million People

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The online world has given us Grumpy Cat, Crasher Squirrel and other unforgettable animal stars. They’re all going to have to make way for the web’s latest sensation, Harry the Farting Hippo.

Harry the Farting Hippo

An Impressive Performance

Yes, you read that right. The latest viral sensation is a video of a hippo at a zoo who was captured taking a long, relaxed fart in front of zoo visitors. The video has now been viewed by more than 30 million people.

Once you see the video, you’ll understand why. The happy hippo waddles slowly out of his wading pool, swings into position and then delivers a death-defying rattle. His long, drawn-out fart sounds like a lawnmower running. It’s so powerful that you can see the dirt and leaves stirring from the blast.

Harry is a Typical Hippo

Hippos are a hefty bunch. The average adult hippo can weigh from 3500 to 9900 pounds. And just think, they get that big while on a totally vegetarian diet! A hippo can eat 80 pounds of grass, fruit and other plants a day.

As the saying goes, what goes in must come out. Harry was just answering nature’s call when he was caught on camera.

Hippos are also very loud. Scientists have found that their vocal sounds can reach 115 decibels. That’s about as loud as the average rock concert.

Clearly, they’re just as loud on the other end.

Harry the Farting Hippo

Silent But Deadly

Hippos are fierce fighters. They move quickly and silently through the water and can attack when they feel threatened. You don’t want to mess with an angry hippo. That’s why it’s safer to watch them from a safe distance.

You might even get the chance to watch one doing what Harry was doing.


Harry the Farting Hippo Made Us Happy

It’s obvious that Harry’s fame rests on his ability to produce lots of gas and lots of laughs. If the internet has taught us anything, it’s that laughter should be shared. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Let’s congratulate Harry. He made 30 million people happy just by being himself.

 

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Brazilian Artist Creates Beds For Stray Animals From Old Car Tires

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We’re all trying to recycle, reuse and repurpose, but one young artist is taking that trend to the next level. Amarildo Silvio Filho is a 23-year-old Brazilian artist who upcycles old car tires into beds for stray animals.

Compassion and Creativity

Filho was trying to come up with a way to recycle the old tires he saw littered all over his city. It occurred to him that they would make durable, waterproof beds for animals. He began experimenting and soon realized that he had a winning idea.

Two years later, Filho has made thousands of his colorful, comfortable beds for stray cats and dogs.

Colorful Enterprise

To make each bed, Filho begins by cleaning each tire. He then paints the tire in bright colors, adds some pet-friendly touches and attaches a mattress. The beautiful, eye-catching beds quickly caught the public’s eye.

Soon, people wanted tire beds for their own pets. Filho has set up his own business called Caominhas Pets. He has an active Instagram account where he updates followers on the stray animals who are using his beds.

Branching Out

Filho has since branched out. In addition to the pet beds, he makes and sells planters, furniture and recycling bins, all made from old tires. He also teaches workshops on recycling.

Filho donates a percentage of his profits to nonprofits that support the environment. He estimates that he has saved over 6,000 tires from landfills.

Can You Buy Beds For Stray Animals?

This talented young artist can only sell his pet beds and other products in Brazil at the moment. He’s hoping to find an investor or partner to help him expand worldwide.

In the meantime, you can enjoy looking at those adorable beds. Maybe you’ll be inspired to turn one of your old tires into something wonderful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hand-Knitted Baby Bird Nests Needed For Local Rescue Group

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Hand-Knitted Baby Bird Nests Needed For Local Rescue Group

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If you’re like most knitters, you probably have more yarn than you know what do with. Now, you can put your yarn to good use creating hand-knitted baby bird nests.

Knitted Baby Bird Nests

Carolina Waterfowl Rescue (CWR) needs tiny, knitted or crocheted nests for their orphaned and abandoned baby birds. CWR takes in thousands of baby waterfowl and songbirds every year. Rescuers need soft, cozy nests to keep these fragile babies warm. A secure nest ensures that the birds’ legs will grow properly.

Knitted Baby Bird Nests

Tremendous Response

The need for nests is especially critical in the spring. CWR puts out a plea for the handmade nests every year. In the past, they only received a few hundred. This year, the call went viral.

Knitted Baby Bird Nests

An adorable picture of a baby bird in a handmade nest went from CWR’s Facebook page all over the country. The post included a link to a pattern for wildlife nests.

Knitted Baby Bird Nests

CWR has been stunned by the response. Thousands of soft, knitted and crocheted nests have poured in from caring, compassionate knitters and crochet enthusiasts all over the country. CWR volunteers and staffers say they’re overwhelmed by the generosity of the stitching community.

Knitted Baby Bird Nests

Hand-Knitted Baby Bird Nests Are Still Needed

Despite the outpouring of support, CWR says that they can always use nests. They can also send extra nests to rescue groups that need them.

If your fingers are itching to create some handmade love, patterns are available on CWR’s Facebook page or on various YouTube videos.

Once your nest is completed, you can send it to:

Carolina Waterfowl Rescue
PO Box 1484
Indian Trail, NC 28079

CWR asks that you use tracking on your package if you want to know when it arrives. They don’t have time to acknowledge each one.

This is great way to support a wonderful organization, so get those needles going.

 

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Doggy Paddle In Style This Summer With A Mermaid Dog Life Jacket

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Do you love getting out on the water to fish, boat, scuba dive, water ski or just chill out and enjoy the sunsets? Now, your best buddy can join you on every boating adventure. With the Mermaid dog life jacket, your furry friend will stay safe and enjoy the ride.

Most Dogs Love the Water

Many people bring their dogs along when they’re boating, camping, hiking or enjoying the great outdoors. Dogs love adventure, and they love hanging out with you. Some breeds are especially fond of water and love the chance to swim.

Mermaid Dog Life Jacket

The boating blog boats.com offers some great tips for taking your dog on the water. Among other things, they suggest:

  • Bring drinking water for your dog.
  • Let your dog off the leash.
  • Reinforce the fun with dog treats.
  • Get a safety vest for your dog.

The animal care site vetstreet.com recommends getting a life jacket and keeping your dog’s first outings short.

Your buddy will enjoy suiting up and hitting the high seas in the great-looking, functional Mermaid dog life jacket.

Be Safe and Stylish

This practical jacket from Albabarba is a good investment in your dog’s safety. You’ll find it useful even if you don’t go on any wild adventures.

  • The reflective color makes your dog easy to see at night.
  • The sturdy construction allows you to pick up your dog using the jacket strap.
  • Flotation inserts help your dog stay afloat while swimming.
  • Foam padding supports your pet’s dog and neck.

Mermaid Dog Life Jacket

Suit Up for Adventure

The next time you go fishing, kayaking, snorkeling or diving, don’t deprive your dog of all the excitement. Put your pup in the Mermaid dog life jacket and double your fun.

 

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