Beauty the Bald Eagle Gets a New Beak

Beauty the Bald Eagle was slowly starving to death after a poacher shot off her upper beak three years ago.

But thanks to a team of volunteers an ARTIFICIAL BEAK has been attached to the 15-pound (7-kilogram) bird to help her grasp food.

Nate Calvin, an engineer from Boise in Idaho, designed the new beak, which will eventually be replaced with a permanent tougher one.

Jane Fink Cantwell who found the bird scrounging for food and slowly starving at a landfill in Alaska said: "A bullet had to be removed from her curved upper beak, leaving her tongue and sinuses exposed, with a stump useless for grasping food.

"Eating with her beak was like using one chopstick. She also had trouble drinking and couldn’t preen her feathers." :'(

Despite the success of the operation, Beauty will never be released back into the wild.

Who the eff shoots a Bald Eagle?!?!?

This saddens me almost as much Inukshuk, an orphaned baby polar bear who lost her mom to hunters in Ontario. [Jezebel]

Info. and photo via The Sun.
I also saw this story on DListed.

Grizzly Bear From "Semi-Pro" Mauls, Kills Trainer

The grizzly bear who wrestled Will Ferrell's character in the recent film Semi-Pro seemed to obediently follow cues - which made his killing of his trainer with a bite to the neck all the more stunning.[AP]

Three experienced handlers were working with the grizzly Tuesday at Predators in Action wild animal training center when the bear attacked Stephan Miller, 39, said San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Beavers.

Stephan Miller is the cousin of training center owner Randy Miller, she said.

Pepper spray was used to subdue and contain the bear, and there were no other injuries, Beavers said.

Sheriff's Sgt. Dave Phelps said the bear was a 5-year-old male named Rocky. The Predators in Action Web site said Rocky is 7 1/2 feet tall and weighs 700 pounds.

The Web site also identified Rocky as the animal who appeared with Ferrell's character in the scene from Semi-Pro. Randy Miller doubled for Ferrell in the bear wrestling match, according to the site.

There was no word whether the bear would be euthanized because of the attack. Morse said the attack occurred outside the agency's jurisdiction.

For more info. read this [AP] article.

That's totally not cool if they kill Rocky!

"In a February interview, Randy Miller called Rocky 'the best working bear in the business,' The Sun of San Bernardino reported Wednesday. But the paper quoted him as adding: 'If one of these animals gets a hold of your throat, you're finished.'"

Megan Fox on Cover of "Paw Print"

I'll get it out of the way at the outset. Note the obvious pun.

Tansformers star Megan Fox is featured in the latest issue of Paw Print the "Coolest Little Pet Magazine." I checked its Web site. And it is a cool little publication.

But I originally decided to do this posting because the mag showcases Fox's Über cute pet pig, Piggy Smalls. (FYI: he has score of other, uh, pet names).

[Click to Enlarge]

Fox is currently filming Jennifer's Body, written by Juno scribe Diablo Cody. The IMdb plot outline: "A newly possessed cheerleader turns into a killer who specializes in offing her male classmates. Can her best friend put an end to the horror?"

Oooh I don't know. Can she?

Fox is hot. And Cody is quirky. It could be good.

FYI: I've been reading around and other blogs are saying this fox is her pet. He is not. She was photographed with him [Tanner] solely for the shoot.



Images via Megan-Fox.net. I also saw them on Hollywood Tuna.

P.S. This issue is supposed to be "out in a week." But the Fox article, including pictures, is available, in its entirety, on Megan-Fox.net. Still check out Paw Print!

This Cat Has a Grill

Okay, so technically it's not a grill because it wasn't fitted for cosmetic reasons.

Apparently this kitty's owners blinged out his mouth, with gold crowns, to protect the "abnormally protruding" bottom teeth he was born with. His adoptive parents were worried his fragile, bulldog-like, teeth would break. He's a 3-year-old Persian. And his name is Sebastian.

Holla!


Photo and some content for this blog entry courtesy Associated Press.

FYI: This pic is from a story that ran a couple years ago. But if you hadn't seen it then...

It's Animal Cruelty/Human Violence Awareness Week

Are you being nice to your pets?

The Humane Society of the United States wants you to know," that pets in violent homes are often hurt, too. Animals in these situations are silent victims, who may be threatened, injured or killed by a violent family member to control or intimidate other members of the household. Just like other family members, animals need a safe haven."

During one week in April--this week-- the HSUS "highlights the importance of Safe Haven for Animals™ programs, which involve collaborative relationships between domestic violence shelters, animal shelters, and care and control agencies to provide temporary housing for victims' pets."

Here are some tips on how to spread the word. I think we can make the world a better place for out furry friends.

However, I admit this is kind of a weird week. There seems to be more emphasis on raising the awareness level. When it comes to actually doing something about animal abuse, not so much.

Images via me. The top pic is of Pappy--my 7-year-old perfect Pomeranian. The photo below is of my ugly ghetto cat George. I love him, but boy is he hard to look at. Sorry George. It's true.

Is pet favoritism a form of animal abuse?