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Every third week in September, shelters, rescues, and veterinary clinics raise awareness during Adopt a Less-Adoptable Pet Week. It’s an opportunity to recognize that even though certain pets are deemed “less-adoptable” because of their age, looks, or other factors, they deserve a loving home just as much as any other pet. Petfinder.com classifies animals who spend 48 weeks or more on their website as “less adoptable.” The average amount of time pets spend on the website before they are adopted is 12....

Behavior and Temperament Housing Heat Light Humidity Substrate Food and Water Health Problems Choosing Similar Species Panther geckos (Paroedura pictus) are popular exotic pets thanks to their interesting markings and ease of care. Also known as the Madagascar ground gecko, this species hails from the island of Madagascar and is often found in the leaf litter of forests. Panther geckos are predominantly brown with black markings and big eyes. And they have a healthy appetite for crickets....

What Is a Unicorn? In the Bible Fossil Remains and Skeletons Sightings Creating Unicorns Sea Unicorns Unicorns aren’t just a modern trend. Throughout history, unicorns have appeared in many Eastern and Western mythologies. But are unicorns real? Did they ever exist beyond people’s imaginations? Although there has never been any substantiated evidence, certain events have helped to fuel the myth of unicorns. What Is a Unicorn? Unicorn means “one horn....

Characteristics Origin Colors and Markings Tankmates Care Diet and Feeding Gender Differences Breeding Further Research Hardy and easy to care for, the black widow tetra (or black skirt tetra) is a schooling fish that, contrary to its name, comes in several colors. While the wild black widow tetra is dark in color, consider the many-colored varieties that have been captive-bred. At least six or seven specimens create a healthy, happy school of fish, but avoid housing them with smaller species (particularly those with long, flowing fins) as black widows do sometimes nip....

Most athletes and workers wear proper footwear for their job. It’s just as important to wear proper footwear when working around and riding horses. Good boots or shoes help protect your feet if they get stepped on, and help prevent your foot from sliding through the stirrup should you fall off your horse when riding. Flip-flops, high heels, sandals, clogs, garden shoes like Crocs, and canvas running shoes have no place in the barn....

What Is a Cleft Palate? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention A cleft palate may not be immediately noticeable in a puppy, but it’s a serious birth defect that needs special attention. This physical deformity can leave an opening from the mouth to the nose, which can allow food and liquids to get into the airway. It helps to know what is involved in treating and caring for a dog with a cleft palate....

Fleas and ticks are not only an annoyance for your pet, but they are dangerous as well. Both fleas and ticks carry diseases that can sicken your pet and your family members. If your pet is exposed to these pests, it is essential to protect them with an effective prevention product. In today’s world, many consumers desire to eliminate dangerous chemicals from their homes as much as possible. The past decade has seen a massive increase in searches for “natural” products for pets....

Have you set up an aquarium and then noticed that the pH of the water continues to rise? Could rocks or gravel that were added as decor in the aquarium affect the water pH? Yes. If your rocks are actually limestone, they are the cause for the pH elevation in your aquarium water. Limestone is calcareous (contains calcium) and is known for its ability to both harden the water and increase the pH....

Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research Frequently Asked Questions One of the most popular dog breeds in the world, German shepherds are large dogs known for their noble, diligent, loyal, and highly intelligent dispositions. They’re characterized by a brown and black coat and a streamlined, athletic build that makes them both strong and agile. Though they are excellent herding dogs, German shepherds are also very well suited to work as service animals, such as guide dogs for the blind....

Teach your dog, old or young, a new trick of doing a twirl on command. You can train a dog to simply spin in one direction, or you can train your pup to discriminate between left and right. Either way, all you need to train a dog to spin is a handful of treats. If you are clicker training, you should also have a clicker on hand. Teach a Basic Spin To teach your dog to spin, you’ll want to start with your dog in a standing position....

Characteristics Breed History Care Health Problems Appearance Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research The Kurilian bobtail is a Russian cat breed known for its wild appearance and short “pom-pom” tail. Although it looks a bit like a wild cat, this breed is gentle, friendly, and completely domesticated. The breed developed naturally on remote islands of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula and was perpetuated by the likes of sailors, soldiers, and cat fanciers in Russia and Europe....

What is a baby horse called? It’s called a foal. A foal is a baby horse, donkey, mule, zebra or pony under one year old. If you need to specify what species the foal is of, you can describe a baby zebra as a zebra foal, a baby donkey as a donkey foal or a baby mule as a mule foal. Specific foal genders are colt for a male foal and filly for a female foal....

Characteristics Origin Colors and Markings Tankmates Care Diet and Feeding Gender Differences Breeding Further Research The dazzling crown jewel of aquariums everywhere, the hardy little neon tetra fish was originally imported from South America. Neon tetras must be kept in groups of at least a half-dozen, as they are a shoaling species. With peaceful dispositions, they are also able to be kept with other species of non-aggressive fish. They have a decently long life expectancy of 5 or more years....

Characteristics History Care Health Problems Appearance Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research The name tabby cat conjures a specific image for most people: a miniature tiger, complete with wild stripes. Tabbies are often thought of as a breed, but their characteristic markings are a coat pattern that can appear in different breeds with a surprising amount of variation. Tabbies can be brown, gray, orange, or even black, and their markings include stripes, spots, whorls, and bands....

Choosing the right cat carrier is the first step to providing your cat with a sense of security when traveling outside your home. We looked at a wide variety of carriers, including soft-sided carriers, backpacks, and cat carriers designed specifically for car or air travel. The best carriers are reliable, have multiple methods of access, and are light enough to be easily carried. Our favorite cat carrier is the Petmate Two-Door Small Dog & Cat Kennel, which offers multiple ways to load your pet....

Gerbils make nice pets and are fascinating to watch. But what does their interesting behavior mean? Interactions With Other Gerbils Gerbils are very social animals, and it is not a good idea to keep them singly. Pair-bonded or family units of gerbils are usually quite affectionate with each other. They will play, chasing each other around, wrestling and boxing. They will also groom one another, sleep in piles, and cuddle together....

Persian cats are, perhaps, best known for their flat faces, big eyes, and long, luxurious coats, but there’s much more to these pretty kitties than just looks. From their interesting—and somewhat mysterious—origins to the genetic change-up that contributed to their famous flat faces back in the 1950s, there’s a lot to learn (and love) about Persians. If you’re considering adding a Persian cat to the family, already own a Persian, or just want to learn more about one of the world’s oldest and most famous breeds, read on to learn some fascinating facts about Persian cats—and check out some seriously cute pictures....

Rabbits are important parts of many families that have had the experience of caring for them. But unfortunately, and just like other pets, rabbits are prone to a variety of problems and diseases. Some diseases are more common than others but by being educated on these problems you may be able to prevent them, or at least learn to recognize the signs and symptoms more quickly in order to get your rabbit help....

What Is Coronavirus? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Feline coronavirus (FCoV) is a common multi-strain virus that affects cats. It rarely causes serious symptoms, but it can cause diarrhea and may also lead to a fatal disease called feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Coronavirus is highly contagious among cats, so it’s important to isolate infected cats that show symptoms of illness. Currently, there is no reliable vaccine for FCoV....

Most owners recognize their special cats have a distinct cat personality. But are there behavior differences between a black cat and an orange kitty? Some surveys say cat color matters, though most researchers say otherwise. On the other hand, cat breeds (Siamese, Russian Blue, and so forth) really do have personality types. Perception Vs. Reality Most household cats are domestic shorthairs. These cats come in a wide range of colors and patterns but share a common ancestry....