Animals

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, there are about 62,000 sheep in the Concho Valley region. There are also approximately 700,000 head of cattle. You won't find any active ostrich farms, however. It wasn't always that way

A new study at the University of California-Davis shows a connection between sheep and better mental health. Too bad Californians discovered this. We should have beat them to it.

There are a lot of people who hate possums, and that is at least partially due to a belief in things that aren't true. There are lots of possum misunderstandings.

Petsmart has announced today that they are looking for one dog and one cat to become Chief Toy Testers. The job pays $10,000. That's a start, although my last trip to the vet to have my cat's abscessed tooth pulled cost $1800.

The San Antonio Zoo hosting a Valentine's Day "Cry Me A Cockroach" fundraiser. For a donation, they'll let you symbolically name a vegetable, rodent, or cockroach after an ex, bad boss or even annoying in-law. Then, the creature will be fed to an animal.

While there is no evidence that antibiotic-free meat is safer and some antibiotic use is necessary to prevent disease and keep animals healthy, the danger is that antibiotic resistance is killing us.

We have all seen those heart-rendering commercials on television, asking for donations to save animals at risk. The images are graphic and horrendous. Animal cruelty can occur anywhere. That's why Texas law has made it illegal for pet owners to leave their animals outside in extreme weather, including temperatures below 32 degrees.

Let's face it. San Angelo has a dog problem. Wild and vicious dogs are attacking people and livestock. Some of these dogs are running wild in packs. Some of these dogs, like the one shot and killed while attacking a man in the 3300 block of Oxford Drive Tuesday, are family pets.

Most of us would never consider eating an animal we find by the side of the road. However, a quick check of google finds many recipe books filled with ideas for roadkill. Some of the most popular include squirrels. There was also a recipe for roadkill possum meatloaf.

Texas is now one of the hardest-hit states for canine influenza. Basically, canine influenza is the doggie version of human flu. Symptoms are very similar including fever, cough, and runny nose. The dog's appetite also will most likely diminish.