Animals
Compassion for Paws Thanks Donors
This past month, Isabela Skincare in Mission Hills was the site of a fundraiser for Compassion for Paws. To help with this effort, Isabela Skincare provided raffle items as an incentive to help with the fundraiser. Candice Dodge, who is an author of the children’s book “Phyto The Friendly Firefighter,” is also supporting this effort […]
Giant Panda Xiao Liwu Turns Six
Giant panda Xiao Liwu (pronounced “sshyaoww lee woo”) turned six-years old this past month, and the San Diego Zoo held a “Super Hero for Wildlife” conservation-themed birthday celebration to honor the much-visited white-and-black bear. Zoo guests and animal care staff packed the Barlin-Kahn Family Panda Trek and watched as Xiao Liwu—also known as “Mr. Wu” […]
Visually Impaired Horse Has New Home with Old Mate
Two new equines have arrived at Horses of Tir Na Nog. One is an eighteen year-old gelding that has been diagnosed with moon blindness. Moon blindness is an eye disease that is also known as equine recurrent uveitis. The causes of this disease are not completely understood. As an appaloosa, this gelding had a greater […]
Save Our Bees!
I have attended three lectures on bees since I began writing this column. Years ago, a speaker gave an anecdotal talk to Mission Hills Garden Club about how she and her sister took over their father’s hives after his death. A few years later, at the San Diego Horticultural Society a speaker from UCSD brought […]
Walkabout Australia Opens at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
The Safari Park is known for its expansive habitats featuring African and Asian species, but now it offers a view into the Land Down Under, featuring Australia’s interesting and unique species. Walkabout Australia takes guests through four different types of Australian habitats: grassland, rain forest, wetlands and desert. Featured animals include western gray kangaroos, red-necked […]
Orphan Pets Seek Superhero Adopters at 6th Annual Event
As comic book enthusiasts prep the perfect costumes for this year’s Comic-Con Convention, local pets are busy creating their superhero “paws-tumes” for Helen Woodward Animal Center’s 6th Annual PAWmicon Convention. The 2018 PAWmicon will, once again, be held one week prior to Comic-Con to allow attendees to take in both types of animated characters. The […]
What Now?
The Emperor of Entitlement Entitlement: The belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. Fen did not start out in life as an entitled dog. “Au contrar!” Having been born with a defective leg, he arrived hobbling pitifully on three. In fact, that’s why we rescued him, in the wake of the […]
Wild in the Country Returns to San Diego
Lions Tigers & Bears Annual Fundraiser Lions Tigers & Bears, San Diego’s only accredited big cat and exotic animal rescue, announced today the date for their annual springtime fundraiser. This year’s theme is Rock ‘n’ Roar! And takes place from 3 to 7 p.m., Saturday, May 19 at 24402 Martin Way in Alpine, CA. A […]
“The Big Bang Theory” Star Adopts From San Diego County Animal Services
by Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office Actress Kaley Cuoco of TV’s “The Big Bang Theory” is happily settling in with two new pet rabbits after adopting them from County Animal Services. According to an Instagram post by her fiancé, Karl Cook, Cuoco woke up that day saying she wanted to adopt some […]
The Oldest Breeding Male Gorilla in the U.S. Gets a Heart Exam
Winston, the oldest breeding male gorilla in the United States, is resting at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park after undergoing a thorough medical exam that included an in-depth assessment of his heart. The assessment was made after animal care staff noticed a decline in his general health earlier this year, when he showed nonspecific […]
