#Garibaldi ROUS

[hippopotatomus]

Why Do Capybaras Need to Take Vitamins?

Capybaras need Vitamin C. Small capybaras might not just be young, and they may have scurvy.

After the sudden, unexplained death of her first pet capybara, Caplin ROUS, Melanie Typaldos founded the ROUS Foundation for Capybara Veterinary Medicine. Ever since 2011, she has received random calls about capybara care. She installed me as Vice President a while back and now we both get phone calls, day and night. Our most recent emergency involved a capybara in an ICU, receiving glucose. Its…

[ezatluba]

These Cuddly Lapdogs Were Once Used as Stealth Weapons

For Year of the Dog, we look into the origins of East Asian dog breeds—including the surprisingly ferocious Pekingese.

A Pekingese named Malachy poses after winning Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on February 14, 2012.

Liz Langley

FEBRUARY 24, 2018

This is the Year of the Dog, according to the Chinese Zodiac, and in the holiday spirit we decided to sniff out the facts on some canine breeds native to China.

Here are a few "pekes" into some special breeds that originated in East Asia.

LION DOGS

Some well-known East Asian breeds include the chow chow, the Chinese shar-pei, and the Tibetan mastiff.

These breeds likely had a common East Asian ancestor about 20,000 years ago, John Bradshaw, animal behaviorist at the U.K.'s University of Bristol, says via email. (Read why dogs are so friendly.)

Dog faces don't just make for great internet videos—they can also teach us about how dogs evolved.

The chow chow and the shar-pei belong to the spitz group. Spitzes, heavy-coated dogs with tails that flop over their backs, are the only dogs in the world with blue-black tongues.

Both chows and shar-peis are popular pets worldwide—the former for their leonine appearance, the latter for their charismatic wrinkles. Shar-pei literally means "sand skin," a reference to the dogs' short, rough coats. (Related: "Why Are Elephants and Other Animals So Wrinkly?")

Chows were historically used as hunting dogs, while shar-peis were all-around workers that hunted, herded, and guarded their homes. Both breeds were depicted in ancient artwork—chows appear in a sculpture dating to the Han Dynasty, circa 150 B.C.

Tibetan mastiffs are closely related to the Labrador retriever, a North American breed.

Tibetan mastiffs are heftier than shar-peis and chows, with males weighing up to 160 pounds. Researchers in China recently revealed these double-coated canines to be closely related to the Labrador retriever, a North American breed.

FIT FOR KINGS

The royally adorable pug was an imperial favorite as far back as the first century B.C.

"The theory is that the pug was one of the earliest Asian breeds to be exported from China" to Europe, says James Serpell, professor of animal ethics and welfare at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

The royally adorable pug was an imperial Chinese favorite as far back as the first century B.C.

"There are quite early paintings of pugs from 17th- and 18th-century Dutch masters, suggesting the Dutch brought these little dogs from Asia and then crossed them with local breeds," Serpell says.

Dog breeds have long been hybridized—think Labradoodle—and in the 19th century, "dog breeding became a fashionable middle-class hobby" in Europe, he says.

As a result, many Asian and European toy dogs share pug genes—Brussels griffons, for example, resemble pugs with facial hair.

FURBABIES

Other small East Asian breeds like the Lhasa apso, Shih tzu, and Pekingese "are derived from small, flat-faced dogs that were bred as companions in China some 5,000 years ago," Bradshaw says.

Pekingese were bred as "an ornamental accessory for emperors and courtiers in the Forbidden City of imperial China," according to the Pekingese Club of America.

After her first capybara died of liver failure, Melanie Typaldos bought Garibaldi Rous. The Texan was attracted to the giant rodents, which tend to die in captivity, after seeing wild ones in Venezuela.

Florida animal trainer Pamela Rosaire Zoppe bought Chance from pet owners who could no longer keep him. He now appears in Hollywood films. “Chimps are so intelligent that they get bored,” she says.

Sasha, a cougar, is “the love of my life,” says Mario Infanti, who underwent more than a thousand hours of training before he acquired his first wild cats. The Florida musician had Sasha declawed when she was a month old, but “she can still bite.”

A Burmese python entwines Albert Killian in the Florida home he shares with 60 snakes. Tags noting the proper antivenom—and the nearest hospital that carries it—are posted next to venomous pets.

John Matus bought Boo Boo impulsively as a cub. Last summer the Ohio man gave her to a wildlife sanctuary. “She needs to be with her own kind,” he says. “It’s a lonely life.”

Shawn Geary and Allo. Shawn is an IT professional. His grandmother had skunks that he played with as a child. His wife Carole always wanted one.

Bobbi Phelan bought a patas monkey in part because they tend to avoid conflict. Even so, Eujo once got loose and scratched Phelan’s son and bit her dog. Eujo’s cage is attached to the living room of Phelan’s Indiana home, with a pet door leading outside to a larger enclosure.

Ohio veterinarian Melanie Butera took in Dillie after the blind farm deer’s mother rejected her. Dillie used to sleep with Butera but now has her own room. “She’s treated like a princess,” says Butera.

Alison Pascoe Friedman, a zoologist, acquired Amelia in 1980 as a rescue and trained her for a behavioral research project. When the project ended, she brought the capuchin monkey to her home in New York. Amelia, 45, died in her sleep after this photo was taken. “My life is completely about the animals,” says Leslie-Ann Rush, a Florida horse trainer. “I rarely leave them overnight or take a vacation.” She raised her kangaroos and lemurs from infancy.

The smallest and most ferocious dogs were called "sleeves" because royalty would tote the canines in their garments' roomy sleeves. Serving as an "ancient Chinese version of mace," the dogs would scare off anyone threatening the courtiers, according to the club.

In modern-day, Pekingese and shih tzus tend to be very dependent on their owners, likely triggering our nurturing instincts, Serpell says. That's why these breeds so often function as substitutes or replacements for children. (Read why dogs are even more like us than we thought.)

I can vouch for this: As an empty nester, my mom got an adorable, ever-present Pekingese which she often hand-fed.

[cuteandrun]

Melanie Typaldos - Garibaldi and Flopsy

The pic is somewhere on her Capybara Madness site, but I can’t find it again. There’s a story about this capybara and his friendships here - catster.com

[rousphotos]

Capybara’s get along with most other animals. Here is Garibaldi Rous with Fresno the rat.

[moonreachingout]

I'm going to draw Garibaldi Rous

[pinkpoodlewoof]

Garibaldi Rous is awesome.

[hippopotatomus]

Capybara Rescue - Garibaldi ROUS

Capybara Rescue - Garibaldi ROUS

[hippopotatomus]

Prince Dobalob Builds a Zeppelin (Part Forty)

Prince Dobalob Builds a Zeppelin (Part Forty)

This is the end of the road. I hope you have enjoyed the journey! (more…)

[hippopotatomus]

Prince Dobalob Builds a Zeppelin (Part Thirty-Nine)

Prince Dobalob Builds a Zeppelin (Part Thirty-Nine)

Captain Caplin escapes the makeshift hammock hanging off the side of the zeppelin only to discover a flock herd bunch of alligators snapping at his heels. Bond flies onto Caplin’s hat as he enters the Schist Castle and reports back to Moneypenny at the end of the party. (more…)

[hippopotatomus]

Prince Dobalob Builds a Zeppelin (Part Thirty-Eight)

We're closing in on the end of the story, now! Only two chapters after this one. It's not too late to start reading from the beginning, so don't cheat!

[hippopotatomus]

Prince Dobalob Builds a Zeppelin (Part Thirty-Seven)

The zeppelin loses altitude over a moat filled with alligators.

Unable to walk across the bridge to the zeppelin, Caplin remains tied up in cargo nets. As he breaks loose from the dungeon window, Sylvia hangs on and they dangle underneath the zeppelin. The extra weight causes the zeppelin to drop slowly toward the moat. (more…)

[hippopotatomus]

Prince Dobalob Builds a Zeppelin (Part Thirty-Six)

Don't look down!

Prince Dobalob’s power crown fails him and Rodney fine tunes the winch setup. Sylvia is stuck inside the dungeon, blocked by Caplin’s great girth. Cu chews the window frame but Caplin doesn’t budge. Nobody looks down. Continue reading

[hippopotatomus]

Prince Dobalob Builds a Zeppelin (Part Thirty-Five)

Prince Dobalob to the rescue!

Prince Dobalob cleverly plans a rescue, using materials on board the zeppelin. As they begin to implement the plan, Gari notices a slight complication gathering in the castle moat directly beneath them. Continue reading

[hippopotatomus]

Prince Dobalob Builds a Zeppelin (Part Thirty-Four)

My apologies for the hiatus, but we will move quickly now as we meander toward the conclusion of our adventure.

The day of the birthday party arrived. The flight of the zeppelin has gained a purpose beyond simple party transportation. The passengers investigate the mysterious trousers flapping outside a small window high up on the Schist Castle wall. Continue reading

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Prince Dobalob Builds a Zeppelin (Part Thirty-Three)

What is that sound?

The test flight is cut short and they return to the workshop. The zeppelin’s noisy descent is a bit raunchy, and Sylvia is not amused. She offends her friends by accusing the neighbors of wicked acts. (more…)

[hippopotatomus]

Prince Dobalob Builds a Zeppelin (Part Thirty-Two)

Alligators? Are you kidding me?

Garibaldi, Sylvia and her squirrels arrive for another weekend at The Principality. The test flight proves the zeppelin to be seaworthy, or maybe airtight, or whatever, because they are up there, checking out the scenery. Wait, what’s that? (more…)