animals

Colorado’s November ballot will have seven citizen initiatives, from abortion rights to ranked-choice voting

Published

2 weeks ago

September 3, 2024

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Colorado voters are set to weigh in on ballot questions related to abortion rights, veterinary services, mountain lion trophy hunting and an overhaul of the state’s election system in November.

The deadline to finalize the state’s ballot is coming Friday, but all of the citizen initiatives — meaning ballot questions pursued by members of the public, rather than the legislature — were finalized late last week. State election officials certified that the final ones had received enough petition signatures after clearing earlier regulatory hurdles.

Nine ballot measures from the public have been approved. But two of those — the property tax-related initiatives 50 and 108 — are both set to be withdrawn by sponsors as part of negotiations with the governor’s office and the state legislature, which on Thursday passed another property tax relief bill at the end of a special session.

Read the rest of this story on TheKnow.DenverPost.com.

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animals

The Reason Dogs Have Puppy Dog Eyes

Published

6 days ago

September 10, 2024

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No matter what they do – all is forgiven when they show the puppy dog eyes…how did they learn the trick?

They are known as man’s best friend and have been around 30-40,000 years. Dogs became domesticated to help humans during the hunter/gatherer phase of development. And the bond has stuck ever since. Europe, Canada and the US are the most bonded to their dogs. “Puppy dog eyes” started around 1910 in popular journalism and has stuck. It is a reference to the sweet, adoring way dog can look at you…especially if they have done something wrong or in need. And it seems, the reason dogs have puppy dog eyes is do to man. This seemingly simple movement of eyebrows is proof of canine evolution and is due to their constant companionship with their pet parents.

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A study published in the Journal of the National Academy of Sciences explains dogs’ faces are capable of complex expressions thanks to a pair of muscles located near their eyes. By pulling their inner eyebrows dogs are able to give us the famous and adorable stare, facilitating human care and improving their communication skills.

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The study, conducted by the University of Portsmouth, was interested in how dogs controlled their brows and how this movement was used as a tool for communication. Researchers gathered some dogs and studied these two muscles, finding that they work in tandem to widen and open dog’s eyes. Results showed dogs move their eyebrows more often when humans paid attention to them and less often when they were ignored or given food. These findings suggest that the eyebrow movement is voluntary, and that dogs use it to express their needs.

Other results show that humans tend to respond positively to these arching eyebrows and that people and dogs receive a dose of oxytocin when engaging in eye-to-eye contact.

In order to learn if this trait was due to human influence, researchers gathered some data on wolves. These animals were unable to replicate eyebrow movements, proving that our decades of adopting dogs as pets have changed some of their behavior.

Dogs may not be able to hunt as ably as they used to, but they can try their hardest to mirror our facial expressions. When it comes to living with humans, cuteness is what matters most.

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animals

These Front Range animal shelters changed my family’s life, twice

Published

2 weeks ago

September 3, 2024

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Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems).

Fourteen years after adopting my dog from Denver Dumb Friends League, I returned there with her body.

Daisy was skinny and fearful when she was adopted from Denver’s Dumb Friends League at 2 years old, but quickly became a beloved family member and lived to age 16. (John Wenzel, The Denver Post)

Read the rest of this story on TheKnow.DenverPost.com.

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Advice

Ways To Prepare Your Pet For A Flight

Published

1 year ago

August 31, 2023

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Flying with a pet is not only stressful and possibly dangerous for them, it’s also an exhausting endeavor for you and your travel companions. No matter how relaxed and easy-going your pet is, they’ll always feel some stress over the prospect of remaining inside their travel bag for a couple of hours, or the even more grueling scenario of having to spend the trip along with the luggage. Here are some ways to prepare your pet for a flight.

Learn your airline’s animal policy

Before you purchase your ticket, make sure to do the necessary research and learn about the different animal policies from each airline. While some only allow for small cats and dogs, others make room for birds, rabbits and other domesticated animals. You can check out this guide which has some in depth information about different airlines and their animal policies.

Make sure everything is okay with your pet

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A few days ahead of your trip, make sure to visit the vet and check on your pet, ensuring that their vitals are fine, they’re up to date with their vaccinations, and that they’re fit for travel. Check with your airline about health certificates since some of them require ones that are time sensitive.

Purchase a comfortable pet carrier

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A good and comfortable pet carrier can make or break your trip, facilitating the whole transportation process and keeping your pet as comfortable as possible. These carriers should have appropriate ventilation, be easy to transport and they should also be roomy enough for your pet to move around comfortably. Another thing you should account for is the fact that each airline has their own pet carrier standards, making a complicated process even more troublesome.

Make sure they’re fed and hydrated

Have a talk with your vet about the appropriate feeding and drinking window for your pet. You don’t want them to be dehydrated and starving for the duration of the flight, but you also don’t want them to make a mess of themselves through the trip. Most vets advise that pets should have a relatively empty stomach before flights, that they’re moderately hydrated and that they’ve had enough exercise so they can sleep or relax through the duration of the trip.

Think twice before sedating them

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While many believe that sedation makes the whole flight process easier, the AMVA says that pets shouldn’t be sedated since this creates some problems in different areas. Pets who are sedated may not be able to brace themselves properly if there’s turbulence and might also have more trouble breathing. Speak with your vet and try to find the best solution for your pet.

Hopefully these ways to prepare your pet for a flight is helpful.

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