Sharing is Not Always Loving

Kate M. Serrano

That’s correct. Sharing may not always mean loving. Such is the case for sharing a bed with your pets. According to a survey by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), roughly half of all dogs and 62 percent of cats in the U.S. sleep with their owners. While humans do benefit with this arrangement, there are a few factors to consider when sharing a bed with one’s pet.

Pets offer physical comfort. Animal company provides a positive result and may mean a more restful night. Having pets around lowers blood pressure while reducing loneliness and stress. These benefits are magnified when your dog is allowed to sleep with you. Cats are also cuddly and therapeutic but it may be a little trickier to sleep with. Because of their nocturnal nature and hunting instincts, a little of your tossing and turning may be enough to provoke a playful kitty. It can be harder to fall back to sleep after booting it out of the bedroom  as cats do not react well if you take away territory.

The risk of getting sick is another consideration. In rare cases for example, pet owners can become ill after making mouth-to-mouth contact with their pets which can easily occur while sleeping. Children can contract diseases after sharing beds with a flea-ridden cat. Or people who are sensitive to dust, pollen and fur may develop pet allergies. Kids, the elderly, and individuals with unstable immune systems will have to consider this as they are most vulnerable to diseases.

Dogs shed fur, cats may have dirty paws. If you don’t mind changing sheets or sending the comforter to the dry cleaner, then it shouldn’t be an issue. If you worry about the sheets being ruffled or the pillows scratched then it may be a good idea to make room for your pet in another spot.

There is no harm letting your pet share a bed with you but if this causes sleep-related issues then it is best to reconsider your night time arrangements. You may want construct a designated sleeping space for your dog or cat in another part of the house, somewhere warm and comfortable for them so you don’t feel as guilty booting them out of the bedroom.

                            

The Horror: Grinded Alive

By: Daniela Silva

Poultry industry kills millions of hatchings alive

The horror begins as young males are tossed, tumbled and thrown into a chute where they are ground and crushed alive, in one of the worlds largest egg-laying industries. In one sole industry, the one of the largest known in the world 150,000 hatchings a day face this unimaginably brutal and painful fate; equalling to over 22 million deaths a year.

The lives of the females begin with being whirled and tossed by their heads, followed by the snap of their sensitive beaks. The chicks are then shipped in packed tight boxes and shipped internationally.

This practice is not only limited one sole industry but it is practised worldwide as a standard in all egg industry businesses. Educated consumers can make a difference by protest and promotion to better provide the little yet significant lives humane treatment; becoming vegan should not be the only way one can make a difference.

The following video shows the whole process ** WARNING** this is graphic and may be very discomforting to many.

One Beautiful, but Unbalancing, Result of Climate Change

By: Jessica Robertson

Climate change is responsible for many environmental shifts that no one appreciates. With climate change still desperately needing addressing, one recently recorded shift is something we can all enjoy visually, but hopefully it skirts any negative effects on the surrounding wildlife.

            Scientists who track flower blooming patterns within the meadows of the Rocky Mountains have noticed a surprising pattern. As the climate changes, the season for blooms has lengthened by more than an entire month. Thirty-nine years ago, when records first began, the beautiful flowers would bloom beginning in late May and flower until early September. The newest studies are showing the first blooms in late April and the last blooms in late September.

            No one wants to complain about the extended presence of flowers, right? If that were the only facet of the story, we could all be happy. However, since climate change affects the millions of Rocky Mountain flowers with more complexity than first understood, some flowers are responding in unexpected ways.

            With the changes, the flower combinations that bloom together are different than they once were. It is expected that these shifts will affect the insects, birds, and animals that rely on the changing plant life. Take, for example, the hummingbird; every year, hummingbirds nest deliberately so that their eggs hatch when the flowers are at their peak bloom, meaning plenty of nourishing nectar for the growing baby birds. Now, with the blooming season spreading over a longer period of time but the same number of total flowers, peak bloom holds fewer flowers for hungry bugs and birds.

            This summer, the study will continue, finding valuable information on how these changes do affect the wildlife. One researcher plans to study the hummingbird population, particularly. Hopefully the findings will show we can appreciate the extended presence of flowers and not need to worry about unbalance in this ecosystem. 

Parasite Found Responsible for Mass Deaths

By: Daniela Silva

A unknown disease that affected the lives and killed hundreds of seals in cape Breton and 406 in 2012 has been identified as a new strain of sarcocystis. It is not known to affect the lives of humans but has contributed to the deaths of many animals including walruses, bears and sea lions. It is not known if the strain has died off.

Sarcocystis can affect reptiles,birds and mammals and is a genus of parasitic protozoa. With over 130 species, new discoveries are continuously ongoing and receive their name from the animals they take as a host; vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness and and paralysis are the effects caused by a toxin the sarcocystin produces.

The strain is  spreading through global changes in temperature to many animals, and it is not the only pathogen affecting animals, Toxoplasma Gondii is also increasing its boundaries due to the change in temperature. This is and can be fatal to humans, and causes miscarriages in women, commonly found in domestic house cats.

Suffocating among the dead.

By: Daniela Silva
To an inspector's dismay over 1600 animals were found tightly packed in crates in a south african airport earlier today. The smell had caught the inspectors attention and he immediately opened it to discover hundreds upon hundreds of reptiles and amphibians crammed into small containers with other species. One third of the animals were found dead and decomposing, crates and boxes included  vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered species. Many are in critical state but are slowly but surely stabilizing, some may not recover.

It is believed that the animals are supplied from Madagascar; a country that is well known for its diverse multitude of wildlife and was destined to arrive at the united states. It is believed that the animals were predestined to be sold in exotic pet markets. It is being determined whether or not this it animal cruelty, however it should not difficult to conclude.

Animal cruelty is an appalling reality in our world. We have a duty to protect innocent beings, and this should not be limited to our people. Many animals could not turn around  in these containers, nor were they given food or water for their journey. These animals were left for five days in conditions that had taken the lives of many due to cannibalism, organ failure, dehydration and skin infections from the decomposing animals beneath them.