Animals And Pets Making News In 2009

Posted on 3 January 2010 by Stenberg-Tendys W.L. in Society

Many animals and pets have made news big time in the past year.

Fined For Finding A Dog

When bichonmaltese cross went missing, the finders ended up being fined NZ$750 dollars when they wanted to hang onto the lost pet until the owners were found. Mrs. Hedges contacted three vet clinics, the Invercargill City Council, the SPCA and several businesses, trying to find the dog’s owners.

The city council officers fined Mrs Hedges for ‘wilful obstruction of a dog control officer,’ when she refused to hand the dog over to the officers from the pound, believing she could do a better job of looking after the dog, until the rightful owners were found.

White House Pet

White House Dog

At his first press conference Bo, the White House pet dog, tried to eat a microphone.

Teacup Pigs:

Paris Hilton has announced that she owns a ‘teacup pig’, along with many British fans. The owners are told their miniature pig will grow to only 40 cms and around 30 kilos. However, many of the 1990’s buyers purchased so called miniature pigs, but found they had a full size hog on their hands. Animal sanctuaries were inundated.

Fluorescent Beagles

South Korean scientists inserted fluorescence genes into beagle eggs, before implanting them in their surrogate mother, of mixed breeding. The skin of the four beagle puppies glows red in the dark. The scientists believe the transgenic experiment has promise for curing human diseases.

Thriving Black Market For Geckos

Apparently there’s a thriving black market for geckos in Europe. German tourist Hans Kubus was arrested at Christchurch Airport in New Zealand for attempting to leave the country with 23 geckos and 20 skinks hidden in his underwear. Prosecutors say Kubus’s lizards would have had a street value of around 50,000 New Zealand dollars (approximately $38,000 Can.)

Pets Get Plane Rides

As of July 1, Air Canada allowed cats and dogs, weighing less than 10 kilograms, to fly with their owners as carry-on luggage. Pet Airways is another alternative, flying pets exclusively since 2009.

Hot Hamsters

Described by talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel as a “matchbox car with hair on it,” the Zhu Zhu retails for $10, though entrepreneurs have been selling them for much more on eBay. These robot hamsters are the hottest thing in the market at the moment.

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