Archive for December, 2009

Cute, Lucrative Alpacas

Associated Press  —  In a May 3, 2005, photo Kristina Flegel carries a cria, a young alpaca, at Dos Donas Alpaca Farm in Florissant, Mo. According to the Midwest Alpaca Owner and Breeder

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — When Pat Mujica first saw alpacas at a Missouri auction he thought they were simply cuddly and adorable. Then he heard how much they were selling for and realized the llama-like animals presented his family with a great investment opportunity. Mujica and his parents, Patricio and Veronica, bought a pair of ...

‘Animal Whisperer’ Controversy

Associated Press  -  Debbie Johnstone pets a horse named Tilly Nov. 20 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Johnstone is an animal whisperer and her practice, Listen 2 Animals, attracts clients from across the country and as far away as Japan.

PHOENIX (AP) — Debbie Johnstone's clients are sick, lonely or frightened. Sometimes, they express their fears about finding a home, or connecting with that one special person. But they can't speak. They are animals, and it is Johnstone's job to speak for them, she said. Johnstone relies on her senses of sight, hearing, smell and taste to ...

Canine Aggression

Each and every puppy is born with its own unique personality, just like humans. Some are outgoing, some are shy, some will love you unconditionally, and some are angry and aggressive. Canine aggression does not necessarily come from an abusive past, but is usually a part of the animal’s personality. Animal aggression is a big ...

Two-legged Dog Gives Hope

Anthony M. Tortoriello/Associated Press   —    Faith, a two-legged dog, walks down Michigan Avenue, turning the heads of human pedestrians.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For several years, Jude Stringfellow and her Lab-chow mix have toured the country with a simple message: Faith walks. Born without front legs to a junkyard dog around Christmas 2002, Faith the puppy was rejected and abused by her mother. She was rescued by Rueben Stringfellow, now an Army E-4 specialist, who ...

Pigeons Come Home

Associated Press - John Celia is shown with one of his pigeons at his home Nov. 21 in Silver Spring, MD.

WASHINGTON (AP) — At first glance, the animals in three small, white-painted wooden buildings in John Celia's backyard look like the street birds that get little respect in cities all over the world. But look a little closer and you see that these pigeons are different: clean, sleek, shapely, and with an alert spark in their ...

Page 1 of 41234