20 Amazing Animals
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read. ~ Groucho Marx
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
~ Mahatma Gandhi
~ Mahatma Gandhi
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Our affinity with animals is nothing new. Some have trained goldfish and others have refused to kill mice, insisting on releasing them into the wild. One gentleman nursed a pigeon back to health after setting its broken wing. The same man befriended a bull by sitting in the mud with it for hours. Today, pets or livestock become companions and/or partners, and are treated as members of the family.
Shown below are 20 animated animal images, mostly dogs and cats because they are the most common pets. The images are shared from many different sources, seen in small italics, and included for your enjoyment.
1. The Great Corgi Vacuuming
The Corgi is a small type of herding dog that originated in Wales. Two distinct breeds are recognized: the Pembroke Welsh corgi and the Cardigan Welsh corgi, with the Pembroke being the more common. Be aware; They are typically good with children, but due to their herding behavior, may nip at their heels during play.
2. Rocking Panda
Looked upon as the ambassador for all endangered species, the panda is a well-recognized symbol of international wildlife conservation. Being a rare wild creature and endangered to boot, it is against some laws to have one for a pet! I'm sure there is probably someone who doesn't care about the law so... if so, that person should take heed: a New York Times Article noted "That a Panda Bear's up keep was 5 times more expensive then keeping the next most expensive animal, the elephant!"
3. The Caracal/Lion Grooming
The caracal, also known as the desert lynx, is a wild cat. The image shows the presence of a long tuft on the tip of the ears, exceeding half their length and typical of the breed. It is a slender, long-legged cat of medium size with a relatively short tail. While resting, they may be busy grooming or taking brief spells of sleep.
Lions, in this case it is a cub, still... well, you know about them.
4. Sleepy
This little guy is an American Long Island duck, after a small number were imported to Long Island from China in 1873, and is the most popular commercial duck breed in the United States. Ducks can be both outdoor and indoor companion animals. They are successful indoor pets because they are adaptable to house life.
5. "Let Me Touch Your Body!"
Sloths are related to anteaters and this cat need not worry... sloths main food type are leaves. They are not very fast, moving at maximum speed, for the tree-toed sloth, of about of the three-toed 2 m or 6.5 ft per minute.
6. Happy Little Penguin
Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. The little guy is probably an Adelie Penguin but it is hard to tell if it won't stand still. There are at least 17, possibly more, types and this may be a young Emperor but one thing is sure, it likes the snow.
7. "My Teddy!"
It’s the tactile qualities of stuffed animals which make them so appealing. They offer a cuddly heft which mimics another mammal, and a highly textured surface which holds scents well. A cat’s sensitive nose can recall layers of memories in a well worn toy. Their own special stuffed toy can become their “security object” that we can use to reassure them during stress and anchor them through changes.
8. The Otter Nailing A Layup
This is a North American river Otter, with a diet based on fish. Otters are playful animals and appear to engage in various behaviors for sheer enjoyment, such as making waterslides and then sliding on them into the water. That basket looks pretty low... or is that me?
9. “Go Home, You’re Drunk”
Cats sleep an average of fifteen hours a day, and some can sleep up to twenty hours in a twenty-four hour period. Beer, liquor, wine, any food containing alcohol -- none of it is good for your cat. Alcohol has the same effect on a cat's liver and brain that it has on humans. But it takes far less to do its damage.
10. Hang On, Buddy!
A cat's claws are versatile, multi-purpose tools. Cats use their retractable claws every day, for climbing, scratching, pouncing, turning, balancing, or defending themselves against other cats, dogs, other predators, even humans who might try to harm them. What is needed is a cat post. Cats should have at least one post that's tall enough for a full vertical scratch, sturdy enough to stand when he puts his full weight on it, and covered with a nice rough material like sisal.
11. Thar She Blows!
Whale watching day trips and vacation packages are perfect for family fun. You might consider the Pacific Northwest, home to a huge diversity of wildlife, incredible scenery and calm protected waters. Or you might consider the San Juan Islands. They provide one of the best whale watching opportunities anywhere in the world, offering calm waters and a huge variety of wildlife which include resident Orca whales.
12. The Dog Who Rolls Himself Up
You say you want your dog to do this? Why? Doesn't matter, here is one way. Start your dog in the down position and put a blanket next to him. Grab a corner of the blanket and tell your dog to “Take It”. Treat time! Once your dog has a hold of the blanket instruct him to “Roll Over”. Treat time!
Keep practicing until your dog can do the trick in one motion. Treat time! Treat yourself, too.
13. Hi!!
Why do we as humans find dogs to be SO cute? I mean you'd think it would be counter productive to evolution to have such feelings of care and nurture for another species. When it comes to playing, well, because their instinct is to live in a pack, they are very social and so they find things to do within the pack which, more likley than not, is to play with you or other dogs.
14. A Day At The Beach
This is definitely an elephant on a beach. That is all you need to know. Yes, there is more information available somewhere about the elephant, why it was there, what was going on, et cetera. But stop for a moment and ask yourself: Do I really want to know why the elephant was there? Will that information help me in any way? It’s an unusual animal sighting. There is a type of beauty in that self-explanatory concept.
15. The Puppy Who Can’t
Most dogs are non drinkers, so they never have a good excuse for losing their balance, especially when you consider that they have four, not two, legs to stand on. A dog that suddenly loses its sense of balance could in fact be suffering from a serious health problem -- one that requires immediate veterinary attention. But here, this is not the case. This mutt is just uncoordinated.
16. The Tuck-Me-In Bird
I bet you are probably wondering if a bird really wants a blanket. Well, it depends on the situation. In my experience, I've met birds that simply couldn't sleep without their "security blankets". On average, birds need about 12 hours of good, quality sleep each night to remain in peak condition. As long as a dark, quiet, and somewhat secluded area is provided for a bird to sleep in, most will thrive without a blanket at night. Remember, however, that sleep is vital to a bird's well-being.
17. Sooo Tired !
No, this isn't the White Rabbit in Lewis Carroll's book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk. The average sleep time of a rabbit in captivity is said to be 8.4 hours. This one has had a rough day and is more than ready to call it a night. Maybe even giving up his evening carrot.
18. Peek-A-Boo Cat
This is Maru (まる), a male Scottish Fold (originally called lop-eared or lops) cat in Japan who has become popular on YouTube. He even has his own blog, written by his owner, Mugumogu. My first thought was that Maru was untouchable just because he's been internet famous since 2008, but I was wrong. Maru now has a new buddy and she is fearless. As of August 2013, a female tabby kitten named Hana (はな, "flower") joined Maru's family.
19. "Wait For Me... I'm Coming!!"
Another American Long Island duck. I didn't realize they could move so fast. Be aware, these guys can imprint on a human and when they do can provide enduring companionship. This breed of duck is very intelligent, and capable of a lifelong, strong and loyal bond with humans, and often preferring human company over the company of other ducks.
20. Misuse of a Stability Ball
A stability ball is an exercise tool, and like all tools must be used properly for safety reasons and to get the most out of it. Although the stability ball is promoted as a gentle workout tool, certain types should avoid using it. While pictures of standing on stability balls might appear on the Internet, do not ever do this unless you plan on joining the circus. Don't risk falling while exercising.
Honorable Mention
I wasn't going to include this but the gorilla got huffy that his video wasn't among the 20, so here it is:
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