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Wash. DC – Over the past year a rash of news stories surfaced speculating whether gold-medal winning Olympic decathlete Bruce Jenner, 65, is undergoing a gender transition from male to female. Though Jenner has yet to publicly confirm the story, members of his extended family, including the Kardashian clan, have recently approached various news outlets confirming Jenner’s intention. Now it appears a number of world leaders have picked up on the story and are wondering aloud “What will happen to Jenner’s balls if he completes the transition?” Sources this week quoted Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu as suggesting it would...

It's thousands of years since mankind won dominance over nature, and we're still pretty proud. But a top researcher says we've been giving ourselves too much credit - because we were helped by our oldest friends. Humans paired up with dogs as early as 40,000 BC, it is claimed, giving us such an advantage in hunting that it prompted the wipeout of our Neanderthal rivals.

It might be slightly degrading, but being a pillow is better than the fear of constant attack. Okay dog, you can stay Via: kamil1308 I suppose there's no reason we can't get along Via: kamil1308 Even if you're slobbery and not too bright Via: kamil1308 You're still fluffy, like an oversized pillow Via: kamil1308 As long as you just lie down and don't move Via: kamil1308 Maybe we can actually be friends Via: kamil1308 Seriously, not a muscle Via: kamil1308 Don't think this works two ways though Via: kamil1308 I always get top bunk Via: kamil1308 Naps are dictated by...

UPDATE: Both Joni and Chachi have been adopted to a loving home in Florida. They will get to spend the rest of their days together as friends! An unlikely pair of dogs that were found roaming around on the streets of Savannah have formed an unbreakable bond, and now animal control officers are hoping to place both pups in a home together so that they can remain lifelong friends. The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department found a white Pit Bull wandering around neighborhoods in the Georgia city carrying a small, longhaired male Chihuahua in her mouth. The Chihuahua had a terrible...

Puppies may be the cutest animals on the planet. They wag and wobble and smell completely amazing. We love puppies. But there is one thing we love even more than baby canines—when puppies and other adorable animals become best friends. That’s exactly what is going on at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in California. Ruuxa, one of the park’s new cheetah cubs was recently paired with Raina, a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy, and the pair have become inseparable. The park began to socialize Ruuxa with Raina when the cheetah was 6 weeks old and the dog was just 7 weeks...

The Labrador Retriever has been revealed as the nation's favorite dog for the 24th consecutive year. The American Kennel Club, which released its annual rankings on Thursday, praised the breed for being 'intelligent' and 'family friendly'. Despite its supremacy, bulldogs hit a new high at number four and their bat-eared cousins, French bulldogs, sauntered into the top ten for the first time in nearly a century. The AKC notes that bulldogs make 'excellent family companions with a natural tendency to form strong bonds with children, an easy-to-care-for coat, and minimal exercise requirements.'

Lots of people love the birds in their garden, but it's rare for that affection to be reciprocated. One young girl in Seattle is luckier than most. She feeds the crows in her garden - and they bring her gifts in return.

Hugh and Developing!! Loose Llamas in Sun City!!

The American Kennel Club is releasing its annual rankings of the popularity of different dog breeds. THE TOP 10 FOR 2014: 1)Labrador retriever 2)German shepherd 3)Golden retriever 4)Bulldog 5)Beagle 6)Yorkshire terrier 7)Poodle 8)Boxer 9)French bulldog 10)Rottweiler HOW THE LINEUP CHANGED: The French bulldog entered the top 10 for the first time since the decade of the 1910s (the breed was ranked 11th in 2013). The dachshund dropped out; it was number 10 in 2013.

Judge the German shepherd helped make over 150 arrests during his long and distinguished career. Corporal Michael Franks took the heartbreaking decision to put the 9-year-old German shepherd down after watching his health deteriorate.

The 280-pound catfish caught by an Italian fisherman is a record-setting wels catfish. With an enormous weight of 280 pounds and a length of 8.8 feet, the catfish caught by Dino Ferrari has some people wondering whether the monstrous catfish could in fact eat a man if it wanted to do so. According to a Feb. 24 USA Today report, the photo taken of the Italian fisherman and his massive catch certainly seems to show “that this thing could just swallow an adult if it wanted to. It’s enormous.” Italian fisherman Dino Ferrari caught the wels catfish on Thursday in...

These are the hilariously imaginative pictures of people in purr-fectly normal scenarios surrounded by playful felines. The photographer has put together this quirky set of photos to celebrate her love of cats. Andréanne Lupien, the 23-year-old photographer from Canada, believes in fairy tales, happy endings, magic — and cats. She said: “I had fun taking pictures of myself with my cat and putting it around me in the room.” (Caters News)

In a cramped city like Tokyo, where owning a pet is a luxury and most apartments have strict no-pets policies, it’s hard for cat lovers to spend quality time with their favorite animals. In response, cat cafés have cropped up all over the city, where people get to sip delicious beverages while petting a purring kitty. But even that doesn’t come close to having a cat in your own home, because the time spent with the furry creatures is quite limited. That’s why a Japanese company has come up with a great idea to get its employees to interact with...

For centuries, it has now been revealed, the Swedish had given birds some names that now could be considered offensive to certain groups. One species, for instance, was called "gypsy bird," whereas another was named "negro." The insult "caffer," which was used by white against blacks in South Africa, also resembled a Swedish bird species called "kaffer." There were other offensive bird names in Sweden, such as "Hottentot" — apparently inspired by the name of the language of an indigenous southwest African tribe called Khoikhoi, yet also a derogatory term for that tribe.

The West Deptford Police Department in New Jersey gave a ceremonial hero's farewell to its retired K-9 dog Judge, who was put down down due to unbearable medical complications. Dozens of police officers, K-9 officers with their dogs and medical staff lined up outside the Swedesboro Animal Hospital St. Francis Veterinary Clinic to say goodbye to Judge last Frida

My friend Jerry works for the Fish and Game. I guess they teach fish how to play Monopoly or something. He's had some interesting jobs. One time, he had to shock fish. I saw that movie about the Cuckoos Nest, so the fish must have been wiseacres and deserved it. I went along as an unpaid volunteer. Dad always said, "The workman is worth his wages". I had to carry this metal pole out into the river. Normally, as I found out later, they use a car battery for electricity when they shock fish. Jerry figured that if a little...

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – A beloved K9 suffering from seizures and arthritis received a final salute and a police escort, with lights flashing, to the Maine vet clinic where he was euthanized. Dozens of officers and firefighters turned out this month to pay their respects to Sultan, a 13-year-old German shepherd who sniffed out drugs and bad guys with the Yarmouth Police Department. Officers gave a last pat or scratch to the dog. Then they provided an escort for Sultan's final trip to a veterinary clinic.

Missan, 29, may be the world’s oldest cat, according to its Swedish owner who says that aside from suffering from some minor back and kidney problems, there is no reason why her furry friend won't make it to the grand age of 30. Missan the Swedish farm cat is turning 30 this spring and may be the world oldest living cat. By far. “I read an article about another cat that was supposed to be the world’s oldest, and I just thought to myself: ‘mine is older!’,” Missan’s owner Åsa Wickberg, from Karlskoga, told the TT news agency. According to...

While there are few things more relaxing than a good massage, there’s something in this instructional video that slightly takes away from the peaceful environment.Oh, that’s it – a vomiting cat.An eagle-eyed Reddit user spotted the sickly animal, which can be seen barfing its guts up outside a window at approximately 12 seconds into the clip.Here’s the elusive puking cat’s location (Picture: YouTube) While the whole clip lasts several minutes, it becomes fairly tedious pretty quickly, and we can’t help thinking that the inclusion of more puking pets would have livened it up a little bit.It’s not clear why the animal decided to...

A World-Weary Puppy In Antarctica, Circa 1912 This poignant image (cheer up, buddy!) of a pup named "Blizzard" was taken in 1912 by Antarctic adventurer Frank Hurley, who two years later would be the photographer on Ernest Shackleton's famed Endurance Expedition. This shot is from the First Australasian Antarctic Expedition, which set out in 1911. Over a period of years, Hurley visited the frozen continent six times and came away with a trove of stirring images.

Buying two goats in August 2008 was little more than an experiment for farmer Paula Olson and some entertainment for her daughters. Six and a half years, 14 milking goats and roughly $300,000 later, she's in the midst of constructing a small-scale creamery in Madrid, Iowa, that's set to feature goat milk, cheese, ice cream and more. And though her creamery isn't yet open, Olson said local businesses have begun inquiring about her products, prompting her to already consider expanding.

A small kitten enters the living room when, to its horror, it spots a mysterious green object on the floor. Not sure how to approach it, the little feline jumps around it in circles. Finally, the cat decides it's safer to just leave the scary thing alone.

The stubborn pelican had landed on the ramp that takes the 90 Freeway onto the northbound 405, and would not leave, according to City News Service, so California Highway Patrol officers blocked both lanes and a SigAlert was issued.

The couple was driving their pit bull through a shopping center in Costa Mesa on their way to Huntington Beach when the dog turned on them. Authorities said the couple both sustained serious injuries. Witnesses said both were bitten repeatedly in the arms. ... The husband was driving, his wife was a passenger. They said the dog attacked inexplicably. ... During the attack, the wife was able to call 911 while the husband pulled into a parking lot. The husband jumped out of the vehicle and the dog followed, continuing to attack the man. Police said when the woman tried...

This cat is determined he is not going out for a walk A good morning chuckle. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sy1MDHZ27M&feature=youtu.be

Looks like there's a new sourpuss in town. Meet Sauerkraut. The 2-year-old kitty with the permanent look of disdain lives in Oklahoma after being adopted from an animal shelter by Amy and Patrick Bender. Her disapproving look is caused by a neurological disorder called Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome and has to wear clothes to stop her from injuring herself. But don't mistake her look for her personality: Sauerkraut's owner's say she's one happy cat.

BELEN, N.M. (KRQE) – A little dog is being hailed a hero for saving his much larger buddy. One dachshund’s persistence led to a dramatic water rescue of a St. Bernard.[PHOTOS: Hero dachshund helps save St. Bernard]Belen firefighters and police officers raced to the rescue to save Tim Chavez’s St. Bernard named Jazzy. Chavez believes the 180-pound dog was stuck in a cold, muddy ditch for about 18 hours.Chavez’s tiny dachshund named Razor is credited with making the rescue happen.Sunday afternoon, the 9-year-old St. Bernard got loose. By Monday, Chavez had to go to work, and in retrospect, Chavez realizes Razor was...

After biting two people within three months — a police officer and a doughnut shop worker — a Coconut Creek police dog has been bounced off the force.. Renzo, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois, had been with the department about a year and a half. In November, he bit a Coconut Creek officer while tracking a suspect, wounding the officer's leg. In a more severe attack last week, Renzo burst from a squad car and tore into a doughnut shop employee's calf. The worker has hired a lawyer.

The competition was ruff, but it didn’t matter: Miss P, 4-year-old beagle extraordinaire, took down all comers at the Westminster Dog Show. “She is a princess,” handler Will Alexander told the Associated Press. But P’s royal bearing didn’t prevent her from totally humiliating all members of the species Canis lupus familiaris that dared enter Madison Square Garden to challenge her for Best in Show. Those with their eyes on the prize included a Skye terrier, a standard poodle, an English springer spaniel and a shih tzu owned by former kidnapping victim and pardoned bank robber Patty Hearst.

A soft-spoken beagle really raised a ruckus Tuesday night. Wagging her tail a mile a minute, Miss P became America's top dog by winning best in show in a big surprise at the Westminster Kennel Club.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Have you ever wondered what your dog is thinking?Researchers at Yale University are determined to find out. They’ve enrolled hundreds of dogs into an unusual testing program.

Cat knows how to make an entrance (H/T AOSHQ)

“Dogs are just fascinating,” Santos said. “We love them, they live in our homes. Anyone who hangs out with a dog is kind of wondering, ‘what are they thinking, do they love me’."

CONROE, Texas - A Houston-area man has been accused of dragging a donkey behind his vehicle as other drivers called 911 to report the apparent animal abuse. Montgomery County jail records show 21-year-old Nasim Irsan was being held Monday on a charge of cruelty to livestock animals. Online jail records do not list bond or an attorney for Irsan, who was booked Saturday night into the jail in Conroe. Deputies responding to reports of a pickup truck dragging a donkey located the moving vehicle and rescued the animal, which had a rope around its neck. The rope was tied to...

Beaver walking about on two legs while carrying sticks

Just a reminder: MONDAY & TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16-17, 8PM-11PM (eastern) Monday night is LIVE ON CNBC from 8-11 PM Tuesday night is LIVE ON USA from 8-11 PM The American Kennel Club has made the Coton de Tulear (Non-Sporting Group) and the Wirehaired Vizsla (Sporting Group) eligible for competition in 2014 and they will be making their first appearance at Westminster in 2015.

Nala is our 5 year old Norwegian Forest Cat / Maine Coon mix living in Norway

It’s well-known that cats love their sleep. After all, they don’t call it a “cat nap” for nothing! Your bed may not be the place of rest and relaxation that you’d hoped for, but if you’re a cat lover, you’ll put up with almost anything just to be able to cuddle up with your furry friend.Take a look at the infographic below for some of the pros and cons of sleeping with your cat. These funny feline sleeping habits are sure to make you laugh. — Global Animal

Cissy has never run away from home before. But on Saturday the miniature schnauzer from Iowa did, in order to find the person that ishome.  Cissy disappeared from her yard in Cedar Rapids, only to show up about 20 blocks away at Mercy Medical Center. Her owner, Nancy Franck, has been at the hospital for the last two weeks, after undergoing surgery for ovarian cancer. But it remains a mystery how the dog managed to find her way back to her beloved 'mom'.

What Ann didn’t know was that 20 minutes after she left Mr. Fancy at the shelter, he escaped. One month later, Ann woke up at 5:30 AM to the voice of her husband talking with someone in the kitchen. When she went to investigate she saw Mr. Fancy sitting at her husband’s feet. She started to cry as the cat ran into her open arms. Mr. Fancy had found his way home. “I think he had a guardian angel looking out for him, directing him back to my house. I love him so much and feel we were meant to...

CEDAR RAPIDS — There’s no denying the bond that develops between people and their pets. A miniature schnauzer in Cedar Rapids proved that nothing, even distance, can break that bond. Nancy Franck and her two miniature schnauzers, Sissy and Barney, live in southeast Cedar Rapids. Franck, however, has been staying 15 to 20 blocks away at Mercy Medical Center following a surgery. She’s been in the hospital for about two weeks. Last Saturday Nancy’s husband, Dale, was devastated when Sissy unexpectedly ran away from home “We looked up and there was this dog just that was just running across the...

Dogs can tell the difference between happy and angry human facial expressions, a study has revealed. Researchers from the University of Vienna devised an experiment where 11 dogs were trained to associate either a happy or an angry face with a food reward. In a subsequent test, the scientists showed the dogs images , either of human faces they had not seen in their training, or of just half a human face.

Photographer Christophe Courteau was taking images of mountain gorillas in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park forest when the group's alpha male charged him. Courteau is a pro: he got the shot of that incoming fist before the punch hit him. The ape was reportedly "drunk" from eating bamboo stems, which ferment in the stomachs of gorillas. Basically, their bodies make their own beer. “In less than a second, he was on me, and strongly hit me like a rugby player. With the shock, I felt all his power and weight on my body," Courteau told Caters News Agency.

RALEIGH, N.C.- A North Carolina woman who bought a cockatoo from a divorcing couple said the bird keeps reenacting its former owners' arguments. Elaine Sigmon said she and her husband, Don, recently obtained Peaches the Moluccan cockatoo from a couple who separated and the former owners apparently weren't shy about having arguments in front of the bird. Sigmon said Peaches reenacts her former owners' squabbles "once or twice a day."

With their little faces looking up to the camera, six breeds of foxes stand patiently awaiting their lunch. This is Fox Village, in Japan’s Miyagi prefecture, where for less than £4 (700 Japanese Yen) visitors are allowed entry and can feed the animals. Foxes are heralded in Japan, with many believing they have mystical powers, as well as others who believe they bring good luck as they descend from Inari Okami, the Shinto deity of fertility, prosperity and rice.

I try to be a good neighbor and get in the spirit of things in the neighborhood. At Christmas, I put up some lights on the front of the house. The really smart neighbor lady at Church kept talking about her "crèche". I didn't want to appear any more ignorant than I am (and some people say they don't think that's possible) so I didn't ask her what a crèche is. Using my superior talents of deduction, I figured that crèche was French for "creek". I like to be a part of the conversation, so I told her that we...

Terrified witnesses babble confused stories. Many claim that Edzilla has stupid, bloodshot eyes. He seems shortsighted, barely able to focus on anything beyond his own ravenous appetite for demolition. Sometimes he sways in one spot like a heroin addict waiting for a fix. Sometimes he lurches like a drunk, and marches through a structure as if he never noticed it. A dark ray shoots from Edzilla's forehead, rendering logic impossible. His breath is an electromagnetic pulse that makes the stupidest sophistry seems to be one of life's obvious truths. He hates coherent thinking and will screech until he overwhelms it...

Using sophisticated 3D imaging to analyze several fossil skulls, a study in this week's Nature Scientific Reports found dogs emerged much more recently than previously thought. Other studies in recent years had suggested dogs evolved as early as 30,000 years ago, a period known as the late Paleolithic, when humans were hunter-gatherers. Abby Grace Drake, a biologist at Skidmore College and one of the co-authors of the latest study, said there is an abundance of evidence -- including the skulls as well as genetic and cultural evidence -- to show dogs arrived instead in the more recent period known as...

Losing a family member is always hard. And not just for us, but for our pets, too. They sense that something is awry, and they quickly notice the absence of that person or other pet. This cat is mourning his dog friend, and expresses his grief in such a heart-touching way.In January, Redditor enns5320 posted a photo of his cat with the caption:My dog recently passed and we got a statue and have its collar around it in memory. This was my cat’s reaction when he found it.   It looks like someone could use a hug. And maybe soon, a...