Latest Animal and Pet News - Laurie Kay Olson

I write on the latest animal news and most interesting animal stories. I come to PetsLady with a background in print journalism for the Colorado Daily newspaper. Some of my favorite assignments there included theraputic horseback riding and Canine Companions for Independence, so this is a natural fit. Living in Boulder, Colorado, where wildlife abounds, I am frequently dealing with deer, fox, skunks, squirrels, rabbits, snakes, birds, and mice. My cat, Naomi, helps round out the menagerie around me.

Waltzing Matilda: The Famous Algonquin Cat

by Laurie Kay Olson

The historic Algonquin Hotel in Manhattan is best known for the Algonquin Round Table -- a daily gathering of journalists, actors, authors, and publicists beginning in 1919. For ten years the "Vicious Circle" met to exchange ideas and barbs. A few years later a battered stray cat waltzed through the front door to establish himself as the resident cat. The hotel has had a cat in residence ever since.

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Not A Stephen King Novel: Cimetière Des Chiens Et Autres Animaux Domestiques

A Live Cat Lounging In Cimetière des Chiens et Autres Animaux Domestiques

by Laurie Kay Olson

A cemetery may not seem like the greatest tourist attraction to some people, but the Cimetière des Chiens et Autres Animaux Domestiques in Paris is the largest pet cemetery in the world. It is not something out of a Stephen King novel either, but a charming combination of natural beauty and monuments honoring the dearly departed. It is a place where history resides, as well as a number of live cats.

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Being In The Doghouse Can Be A Good Thing

The Dog Bark Park Bed And Breakfast In Cottonwood, Idaho

by Laurie Kay Olson

If you ever find yourself in a place called Cottonwood, Idaho, you have to check out this place -- the Dog Bark Park Inn. If you are a dog fanatic you may want to make the journey just to stay in this fabulously fun bed and breakfast built in the shape of a giant beagle. Oh, and about that fire hydrant nearby -- it's an outhouse. A touch of irony to go with the fun.

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The Cat Man And His Flying Cats

Dominique LeFort, The Catman And One Of His Flying House Cats

by Laurie Kay Olson

If you find yourself heading down to Key West on vacation there is something you have just got to see -- The Catman and his Flying House Cats. They perform for the crowds each night at sunset. Contrary to what just about everyone will tell you about cats, they CAN be trained to do all sorts of things. For Dominique LeFort they will literally jump through hoops -- even if the hoops are on fire.

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The Giraffes Have Manners At Giraffe Manor

Giraffes Checking Out The Dining Room At Giraffe Manor

by Laurie Kay Olson

For many international travelers one of the most popular destinations in Africa to check out is Nairobi, Kenya. For a really great place to stay you may want to check out Giraffe Manor. The manor is an elegant hotel with decor that hearkens back to the 1930s. It is a place of grace and charm and . . . well . . . giraffes. The hotel boasts its own herd of endangered Rothschild giraffes.

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"Sea Monster" Video Created World-Wide Media Frenzy

"Sea Monster" Carcass On A New Zealand Beach

by Laurie Kay Olson

Recently a video of a "sea monster" was uploaded to YouTube caused a sensation around the world. It was footage of a 30-foot long decaying carcass found along Pukehina Beach on the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand in late April. "Experts" who viewed the video claimed that the creature was everything from a saltwater crocodile to a dinosaur.

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Glen Highland Farm: A Vacation Getaway For Your And Your Dog

by Laurie Kay Olson

Vacation time is just around the corner and that means you need to get away from stress of the day job and all the responsibilities at home -- but not necessarily your dog. Where can you go where you and your pooch can go to relax with activities for you to share? How about the Glen Highland Farm and their Canine Country Getaway in Upstate New York

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Kattenstoet: The Festival Of Cats In Belgium

Kattenstoet (Festival of the Cats in Belgium)

by Laurie Kay Olson

Kattenstoet is a Festival of Cats that takes place every three years on the second Sunday in May in Ypres, Belgium. The history of the festival dates back into the Middle Ages and the horror of cat torture and killing of the time. Back in those days many cultures believed cats to be in league with witches and the devil. The festival has grown to be a grand celebration of cats.

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Manta Rays Endangered By Gill Plate Demand

by Laurie Kay Olson

Manta rays and their lesser-known cousins, mobula rays, were once fished only by subsistence fishermen because the meat is cheap and they tend to damage fishing nets. All that has changed since the market for their gill plates has skyrocketed as Chinese medicine has touted them as a method for removing toxins from human blood.

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Only In Japan? Cats For Rent

by Laurie Kay Olson

Cats for rent -- is this a new idea whose time has come or some crazy notion by crazy people? Well, it's neither. What it IS is a movie that was released in Japan last year. The same country that brought the world the iconic Godzilla and large number of other movie monsters has gone the funny, charming, and heart-warming route with "Rent-a-Cat."

Latest Animal and Pet News - Laurie Kay Olson

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