Bunnies need homes too!

It's not just dogs and cats that need to find forever homes, all sorts of pets, including bunnies, need homes! There is a great rescue in California that is working hard on behalf of bunnies, The Bunny Bunch. They serve the southern part of California, so if you are in that area and looking for a bunny as a pet, please check there first.

They even have a "bunny dating service" just in time for Valentines day!

Wolves

Today I read that there was good news, wolves are now making a comeback and are no longer endangered! This means that the government has taken away their endangered status.

However, this good news comes at a very bad time for the wolves that live in Idaho. According to Defenders for Wildlife Action Fund, "last week, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission even set a price for the tag to kill wolves -- $26.50 for in-state residents and $256 dollars for out-of-state people". This couldn't be happening if the wolves were still considered endangered.

It should be very interesting to see how things play out, there is a movement in the works to get wolves back on the endangered species list. I hope that these beautiful animals will get a chance to keep their amazing come back going strong!

Valentines day gifts.

Is your sweetheart a pet lover? The Humane Society has a lot of great ideas for Valentines day gifts. I think that the following things are really fun (and there are plenty more fun things too, this is just a small sample).



So, if you are looking for gifts that are unique, you should check out their shop. The animal lover in your life is bound to be happy, and you will be helping a great cause with your purchase.

Smallest Primate

How cute is this? The world's smallest primate!

Read more about the slender loris, and why people are working hard to protect them and other rare mammals!

Good news for pigs!

A lot of people don't realize that pigs are very intelligent animals. Sure, they like a good roll in the mud, but that doesn't mean they aren't smart! The good news is, these smart animals are finally going to be getting a bit of a break.

Voters in Florida and Arizona have made a big difference in how pigs are treated in pig farms. They voted to do away with the abusive practice of using gestastion crates. To qoute the article:

"Gestation crates are 2-foot by 7-foot metal cages that house breeding pigs. The sows have a gestation period of four months, and are in the crates for nearly their entire pregnancy. After giving birth, they are re-impregnated and placed back in the crates, enduring perhaps eight or 10 successive pregnancies in the crates before the animals are reproductively "spent." The crates are so restrictive that the animals can't even turn around for months on end."

Doing away with this practice is a move in the right direction. Just because they will eventually be used for food in the future doesn't mean they don't deserve a good life.

Free endangerd animal ringtones

The Center for Biological Diversity has free ringtones that feature endangered animal sounds. You can choose from the sounds of rare owls, tropical birds, frogs, and even whales or Orcas!

What a great way to personalize your phone!

Why we need rescue groups.

I just read a great story about a retired Greyhound. It reminded me of the many reasons why rescue groups are important, and it's not just about finding animals good homes. There is a secondary reason that people tend to forget about; sometimes a person just can't care for their pet (health, job relocation, and many other reasons). It's in situations like this that rescue groups come to the rescue! Sometimes the pet is placed in a new forever home, but other times they live their lives out with the rescue group in foster. This is great, a much better alternative to the pound where pets are killed.

If you ever have to give up a pet, please look into your local rescue groups first. Check out of state if you have to, a lot of rescues are able to help even if you aren't in the same state. Ask if the place you are taking your pet is no-kill, and it it isn't, find someplace that is. Placing a pet with a rescue group gives your beloved buddy a chance at a happy life, which is what all pet owners want for their pets.

You "otter" check this out!

Great news coming from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, two otter pups were born! They will be making their first public apperance in March at a special wild otter exhibit. You can see more photos, and even watch the pups in action by visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium website.

First ever "Furry Friday"!

Furry Friday is a weekly meme that I will be hosting from this blog, and today is the very first one! All you have to do is share a photo of your pet (and all kinds of pets are welcome, fur or not). Come leave a comment if you have a Furry Friday photo on your blog so everyone can come visit! :)

Pet Adoption

There are a lot of pets for adoption that people rarely think about. It seems that when people think of animal rescue and adoption, the main focus is cats and dogs. Well, there are a whole bunch of rescue groups out there who are saving (and placing) some of the less thought of pets. You can find bunnies, rats, mice, ferrets, hamsters, birds, horses, snakes, and even turtles!

So, if you are thinking about adding other kinds of animals to your life, be sure you check for rescues first. You will find a great pet, a good deal, and save a life too!

Wordless Wednesday

Alex the African Grey

I first read about Alex on the Alex foundation website. They even have a clip of him counting blocks, telling the difference between two keys, and asking for the things he wants. Here is a great news story about how parrots are learning to communicate with humans, and it features Alex.

This is exciting!

I always get really excited when I see more people, especially when they have influence, getting involved in saving animals! It's great news for the animals and for those of us who are trying to help save them. :)

Animal Planet is running a program called ROAR (click the image to find out more). It's free, it's easy, and they have a photo of a frog on their main page! They are even holding sweepstakes right now. There is a wealth of great information on their site, it is worth visiting and joining your promise to the cause.

Steve Irwin

I don't know if you had a chance to watch the last adventure of this great conservationalist or not, but they had a special right after that was equally neat. The first show, "Oceans Deadliest", was amazing, but I think that the celebration, "Crikey, What an Adventure", was even better!

There is always something great to be learned from watching passionate people and learning about their lives. Steve is a great example of what one person can accomplish, and proof that one person really can make a difference! I had no idea that he was in constant pain, he never once let that stop him from doing the things that he wanted to do. His positive attitude is also an insipration, and will be missed.

The Discovery Channel is selling Wildlife Warrior wristbands in memory of Steve and to help his foundation. All of the proceeds from the wristbands will be donated, and $10.00 for 10 wristbands is a pretty good deal!

Welcome!

This is the new home of the Aimee's Animals Blog. I am in the middle of a major site re-do, and with that comes a new name to reflect the many changes that are going to be made to the site.

As you may know, the main focus of my original Aimee's Animals website was to help animal rescue groups gain exposure online so more animals can be rescued and placed in happy, forever homes. The new site has that same focus and beyond! Truly exciting things are going on, and I can't wait until it launches (hopefully summer 2007)! Until that time, feel free to visit the old site and find rescue groups.

This blog will focus on animals, rescue and otherwise.