Do Wolves Really Howl at The Moon?

Gray wolves were once common throughout all of North America, but were exterminated in most areas of the United States by the mid 1930s. Today, their range has been reduced to Canada, Alaska, the Great Lakes, northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest. 

Wolves have a complex communication system ranging from barks and whines to growls and howls. While they don't actually howl at the moon, they are more active at dawn and dusk, and they do howl more when it's lighter at night, which occurs more often when the moon is full.

Did you know that wolves have unique howls,like fingerprints, that scientists (and other members of their pack) can use to tell them apart?

Source: Defenders of Wildlife 

Animals That Mate For Life

Humans are not the only species that can express faithfulness, many other animals can offer examples of how to keep a relationship together. Even though lifelong pair bonds are fairly rare in the animal kingdom, there are a few animals that can keep it together. 

Gibbons

Gibbons will form an extremely strong bond with their mate and spend time grooming each other and hanging out together

Swans

Swans can form strong pair bonds that can last for many years or even for life. Swans have become a symbol of love because of their loyalty and while swimming together their necks form a heart. 

French Angelfish

French Angelfish are rarely alone, they form monogamous bonds that often last a lifetime. They will live, travel and hunt in pairs.

Turtle Doves

It's no wonder that Turtle Doves come in pairs in the classic "The Twelve Days of Christmas".

Source: Mother Nature Network 

Kansas City Animal Shelters

According to the ASPCA (the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), there are about 13.600 community animal shelters all over the United States. Since June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month I want to share a few statistics about animal shelters and highlight some Kansas City area shelters.

• Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats
• Each year, approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized (1.2 million dogs and 1.4 million cats)
• Of the dogs entering shelters, approximately 35% are adopted, 31% are euthanized and 26% of dogs who came in as strays are returned to their owner
• Of the cats entering shelters, approximately 37% are adopted, 41% are euthanized and less than 5% of cats who came in as strays are returned to their owner

With 37-47% of all households in the United States owning a dog, and 30-37% owning a cat there is no reason why we cannot rescue some of these animals! As a proud parent of a shelter dog I strongly believe that shelter animals deserve to get adopted just as much as an animal from a pet store. 

A few local Kansas City Animal Shelters include:

Wayside Waifs - Kansas City's largest no-kill animal shelter established in 1944

The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City - Kansas City's oldest humane society and has been a no-kill shelter since 1994

KC Pet Project - Has 3 different locations around the Kansas City area, creating a no-kill community in Kansas City

Unleashed Pet Rescue -  Works to pull animals from high kill shelters and rescue "unwanted" pets.