fact or fiction
Is it fact or merely fiction? Fact or Fiction explores the myths and beliefs we hold about our pets, like why dogs wag their tails and cats purr.
The Wrong Choice
What do I do now? Can I be as happy as I once was? I lie in my bed, fixated on a small photograph that I possessed in my purse. This was no stereotypical photograph.. you know, a lover, a child, a mother or father. No, this was far from any of those.
By Lucy Robinson4 years ago in Petlife
Economics Gone Wild
Economics seems like a man-made concept beyond the comprehension of other intellectually inferior animals. Economists jokingly gave man the name Homo economicus due to man’s unique rational self-interest. Adam Smith once said, “Nobody ever saw a dog make a fair and deliberate exchange of one bone for another with another dog”. As it turns out, economic theories are present in the animal kingdom and it’s more the rule than the exception.
By Mohammed Paliwala5 years ago in Petlife
The Eagle and the Gauntlet
A razor winged aerialist effortlessly soars deep across the bleak horizon, talons pointing fierce as the winged death stalks his prey. A glimmer of light caught the mighty birds’ attention as a mature male Salmon crests the water top anticipating to mate with a willing partner in hopes of a successful propagation of this ichthyic species. But it is not to be on this day, as the ever present Eagle soars overhead confidently surveying his territory. An equal not found, a true majesty unsurpassed, the Eagle makes another sweeping pass, planning his assault on the unsuspecting Salmon below. For this is what this species was designed for, mighty talons of steel and a scalpel sharp beak designed for tearing and ripping flesh from bone and cartilage, the Eagle is in his true splendor today and every day that the sun sets splendidly in the East. For the Eagle can sense its prey, unsurpassed vision, acute hearing and a deathly touch, no prey stands a chance once the Eagle makes up his mind and focuses all his efforts on the task at hand. Far off in the distance, the rider appears. Gauntlet firmly affixed, the Eagle suddenly has new purpose, new focus and renewed energy. The juicy Salmon waits just below but the Eagle will have none of it on this day as the Gauntlet’s pull is far too much, too alluring to waste, too tempting to pass up. Shinning off the setting sun with a glimmering repose, the Gauntlet calls to the Eagle, bending his will and changing his determined focus, the Eagle changes course and makes a dead line straight for his new target. For the Gauntlet’s calling cannot be resisted or ignored, it must be made center of attention, paramount of focus, intrinsic decider of fate and nobility, the Gauntlet has power unsurpassed over the Eagle and today is the day of reckoning for the mighty one. A final tempt of flight, willing fate to bend his will, the Eagle forgets the juicy mating Salmon splashing surreptitiously below in the silky stream and follows his natural lead and mastery of the talon to recoup his final mission, his final journey. The Eagle, pierces the twilight with a primordial scream heard from the heavens, nails his target front and center. Landing with a penetrating thump, the Eagle realizes now he is home, safe and secure content with his mission, the Eagle accepts his fate and settles in for winters slumber. The Gauntlet, full with purpose and responsibility, allows the Eagle to roost—confident in the future and reassuring in the essence, the Eagle realizes he has arrived, he has chosen correctly, the Salmon be damned, the Eagle now realizes the truth of the situation, he is right where is meant to be, doing exactly what needs be done, the Eagle and the Gauntlet can now be one.
By Patrick Roberts5 years ago in Petlife
Of Whales and Man: A Reflection
It was just another hot, humid, and sunny day at SeaWorld San Antonio in August of 2010 when my counselor led our camp group to Shamu Stadium to watch an afternoon presentation of the show, Believe. Although the trainers were no longer doing any water works with the orcas at that point, they were still interacting with them during the show, and doing the regular behaviors they would often do during the show, regardless if there were waterworks, or not. After the show ended, and everyone left to see the other animals at the park, our group stayed behind at the stadium to watch baby orca Sakari interact with her mother Takara, and paternal half-sister, and “foster” aunt Unna, and talk to the trainers about their experience working with the orcas. This is where John Hargrove arrived on the scene.
By Jenna Deedy5 years ago in Petlife
Facts About Pet Food You (Probably) Never Knew
Loopholes in advertising and nutrition laws mean that brands can be verywily with their products, marketing low-quality foods as the "freshest," "most nutritious," or "all-natural" when they're really loaded with unhealthy preservatives. When it comes to buying pet food, this is especially true. It seems every brand nowadays advertises themselves as the best quality, the freshest, and the most natural. It's not like you have a list of human foods your cat can and cannot eat hanging on your fridge at all times. Many of them are not only bad for your pets, but can be actively harmful. It's important to get the real facts about pet food and know what to look for when you're out shopping, so you can guarantee your furry roommate gets all the nutrition they need, and none of the harmful substances they don't.
By Nicola P. Young6 years ago in Petlife
Strange Things Every Pet Owner Has Secretly Done
It may be difficult to comprehend if you've never had a pet (you poor soul), but there is an undeniably special and undeniably weird bond that develops between a pet and its owner. My wife and I have developed our fair share of idiosyncrasies when it comes to spending time with our two cats, so we have firsthand experience of this unique connection.
By Joseph D. N. Kendrick6 years ago in Petlife
We Treat Our Pets Like People Because We Can't Rely On Humans Anymore
When I discovered puppucinos for the first time, I was flabbergasted. Coffee for dogs, whaat?! There is no way caffeinated bean water is good for my pup, I thought to myself. I can barely make it through a cup of coffee on my own (tea drinker, sorry) and suddenly it was supposed to be trendy to give that stuff to my dog? Of course, I later learned that a puppucino was really just a bit of sugar and whipped cream which of course, I then consulted the internet to find out if it really was OK to give straight whipped cream to my dog. It was in this, unscientifically-biased search that I found the internet as conflicted about this situation as a bunch of parents debating about if they should feed their child McDonalds hamburgers.
By Delilah Jayde6 years ago in Petlife
The Irony of Conservation
Long before an American dentist shot the village icon, Cecil the Lion, the debate on African conservation has raged. The “war,” it seems, was only fiercened by the events that followed the fatal shot by Walter Palmer. Conservationists have been debating for many years now on whether or not hunting played a part in conservation. However, in recent years, studies and research has begun to show that hunting is part of conservation. Despite the recent evidence, most of the general population believe that banning trophy hunting altogether will solve the wildlife problem. While this solution may seem to be the best option, once one looks at the whole picture, it becomes evident that hunting plays an essential role in conservation. Banning hunting will not help the conservation effort due to the fact that, without hunting, there is no incentive for the African population to protect wildlife, and eco-tourism as an alternative to hunting will not be effective in remote or unstable areas.
By Isaiah Sheffield7 years ago in Petlife
What Is Considered a "Large Dog Breed?"
Dogs are man's best friend, and from the day that partnership first came to be, we've been breeding dogs for tasks of every kind. Selective breeding has made dog breeds of just about every size, and breeders often will categorize dogs by the size they become by the time they reach adulthood.
By Rowan Marley7 years ago in Petlife