Tom Harvy, the holder of the Kansas Zoo, stated that Isabella managed to perform all her maternal duties: she did not notice the difference between species, feeding, cleaning and licking the cubs permanently. It turns out that people are not the only ones, who can adopt children – animals are good at this as well. Especially it is associated with dogs, which may raise kids of other species and even of scary and dangerous representatives of wildlife! MORE

It's a two-week old kitten from Kansas. I am no fan of breeders, I'll admit it. I think there are many disreputable breeders, I think they are increasing a bloated supply of pets, and I think there are many purebreds already available from shelters. Are there good breeders out there that care for their animals and run their business out of pure love of their work and the animals? Sure, but I just don't think it helps the problem of pet overpopulation. MORE

Nationally, California ranks behind Texas, Kansas and Nebraska in total cattle numbers. Potentially bad news for California Agriculture. Read the full story here at the LA Times. The reemergence of mad cow disease, discovered in a California dairy cow, could have major implications for the state’s meat industry, even though officials have said that the human food supply is unaffected. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy hasn’t been found in U.S. MORE

An animal rights activist has offered $30,000 to anyone who facilitates the freeing of primates, or the end of vivisection, at the University of Kansas, a place cited for numerous animal welfare violations. Tags: University of Kansas animal research vivisection primates He does not condone violent or illegal acts. Good luck. MORE

Gulf Coast over Georgetown and LaSalle over Kansas St, proving that mayhem is everywhere making it difficult for even the most knowledgeable basketball analysts to predict what will happen. Seems that some dolphins are getting in on the March Madness! College basketball legend Dick Vitale has been going head-to-head in a bracket pick ‘em contest against the sports-predicting dolphins of Atlanta’s Georgia Aquarium as part of the Allstate March Mayhem Challenge. MORE

This week's stories: PETA demands that the National Institutes of Health take back grant money awarded to the University of Kansas; The Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums prepares to investigate the Calgary Zoo next year; Convicted dog fighter Michael Vick receives an award in courage from the Philadelphia Eagles; Canada tries to find a public relations firm to counter anti-seal coverage; and a Washington State man is convicted of selling bear gall bladders. MORE

We recently posted about the University of Kansas which, in response to USDA-cited lab violations, is spending about $1 million on lab renovations (although now I'm hearing it's more like $700,000.) Tags: animal research Kansas PETA Now PETA is saying that the NIH (National Institutes of Health) should take back the grant money it gave the university. Sorry for the cynicism, but.HAH! Good luck with that argument! The NIH doesn't take back grant money. MORE

Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, David Berkowtiz (“The Son of Sam”), Albert DeSalvo (“The Boston Strangler”) and Dennis Rader (Kansas’ “BTK killer”) all abused animals before their other crimes, as did many of the teenagers who went on shooting rampages at their high schools: Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris (Columbine, CO), Luke Woodham (Pearl, MS) and Kip Kinkel (Springfield, OR). I recently got an email from the Animal Legal Defense Fund. MORE

Kansas University Medical Center was nailed by USDA inspectors for violations including improper treatment for sick animals, aging facilities and failing to provide appropriate enrichment opportunities for animals who appear to be under psychological stress. MORE