Posted By: Allison Sonfist | April 30, 2009 at 9:59 am
It’s great news for animals in Massachusetts! Two of the three adoption centers slated to close will remain open under new management.
The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says its Springfield center has been sold for $1.2 million to the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society. Closed since March 31, it will reopen August 1.
The Martha’s Vineyard facility, scheduled to close tomorrow, will be leased at no cost to the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard.
The MSPCA is still trying to find a way to keep its Brockton center open. Tough economic times have taken their toll on the shelters.
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | April 28, 2009 at 9:44 am
This heartbreaking story, at least, has a happy ending.
A dog, caught in an illegal trap in Alaska, chewed off two of his own paws — in an attempt to free himself.
Now, with the help of some Good Samaritans, Andre is getting a new lease on life.
Video provided by KDVR.
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | April 27, 2009 at 10:13 am
Earlier this month, animal trainer Scott Dunmore introduced one of his canine clients to the basics of clicker training. Scott returns to the studio to show us how Scarlet the Westie (a West Highland White Terrier) is doing in his clicker training classes.
Want to learn more about clicker training?
Check out “Click to Calm” by local author Emma Parsons.
You can find the book at Especially For Pets.
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | April 27, 2009 at 10:08 am
Ever wondered about those curious bumps on your cat’s chin? Ask Dr. Smithie! She’s got the answers to your “cacne” questions and more.
Want to learn more about the good work going on at the Animal Rescue League of Boston? Log on to www.arlboston.org.
Posted By: Julie Cunningham | April 27, 2009 at 10:06 am
DisneyNature is already turning ticket sales from its new movie “Earth” into seeds of hope for the Brazilian rain forest.
Earlier this month, Disney announced it would plant one tree in the endangered Atlantic rain forest for every ticket sold during the movie’s first week.
The final number…$16.1 million, which translates to 2.7 million new trees.The trees are being planted by the Nature Conservancy, which is trying to reforest 2.5 million acres.
And if you haven’t seen the movie yet, check out this sneak peek.
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | April 27, 2009 at 10:02 am
Even if you’ve never seen one…you’ve probably smelled one. Vicki takes a look at the secret life of skunks, thanks to animal curator Bunny Watson and Scarlet, the resident skunk at the Museum of Science in Boston.
Want to know more about skunks? Check out this fact file:
-Weight: Up to 14 pounds
-Average lifespan in the wild: 3 years
-Diet: Fruit, plants, insects, small mammals and sometimes fish
-Skunks usually nest in burrows constructed by other animals, but can also make homes in hollowed logs and abandoned buildings
-Females give birth to between two and ten young a year
-Asian stink badgers were recently added to the skunk family
Posted By: Julie Cunningham | April 27, 2009 at 10:02 am
More than a decade ago, a chemist named Paul Krebaum stumbled across a recipe that effectively removes that unmistakable skunk stench. Vicki shows us how to mix it together…
Full recipe:
-1 quart of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
-1/4 cup of baking soda
-1 to 2 teaspoons liquid soap
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | April 27, 2009 at 9:58 am
Can’t figure out how to get rid of that skunk smell on your pet? NECN’s Editor of Digital Media Allison Sonfist steps out from behind the computer screen to offer up some products designed for cleaning your pet.
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | April 24, 2009 at 6:58 am
This beautiful, tiny cat is named Spooky. She is two-years-old and is looking for a loving home.
Click here to visit the MSPCA’s Web site.
Click here to learn more about foster care.
Posted By: Vicki Croke | April 21, 2009 at 3:16 pm
A robin pecks at his reflection
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Over the last couple of days, we’ve been lucky enough to have some surprise animal visitors — a confident cat and an irritated robin.
First of all, we had a robin pecking away at his own image in the basement window, so I snapped this shot of him (right). Many of you may see similar behavior from robins at this time of year — they even go after the side mirrors on cars. They are defending their breeding territories — and they’re not alone: Cardinals and some others do it too. Though it may seem funny, these birds can actually exhaust themselves this way over several hours. So it’s best to cover the offending window if you can and give the poor robin a break! One year when I lived in Framingham, our whole neighborhood had to put garbage bags over the car mirrors.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a nice Web page that addresses this (and other bird/window interactions).
