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Los Angeles Of The Late 1930’S Is Brilliantly Chronicled In Showtime’s Ten Episode Series “Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels” see page 11.
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July 8, 2020 Vol. 16 No. 52
‘Monday Minute’
By Desert Star Staff This Monday, we’ve got a question for you—have you noticed that quarantine has affected some people more than others? Some don’t seem to mind the alone time, while others struggle with it? In a similar way, several of our species here at the Zoo are more comfortable in groups, while others need plenty of space apart.
There are many reasons for this, mainly relating to evolution and natural behaviors. Species in the wild compete for resources such as food, water, and shelter and therefore needed to evolve in ways that gained them access to those resources. Sometimes hunting in packs lent the advantage, as is the case with African wild dogs; or, for an animal
like the jaguar, it is more beneficial not to compete with other predators, and so it evolved as a solo species. Here at The Living Desert, we have both group and solo animals and accommodate them all! Some things our staff hear all the time are comments regarding our solo animals. “They must be lonely” or “Are they sad
by themselves?” We are so glad that people care for the animals’ wellbeing as much as we do, but rest assured— these animals aren’t lonely at all! In the wild, solo animals (such as the jaguar, leopard, or mountain lion) come together only for breeding. Keep in mind that here at The Living Desert, each animal receives the same individual amount of care and attention,
whether they are alone or in a group. In some respects managing a group is actually more complicated because all resources need to be carefully and evenly distributed. For this reason, the station training that our animal care keepers perform is vital: this training ensures the animals willingly move to specific locations to receive food, medicine, and other reinforcements.
Pandemic Renews Concerns About Pet Population
By Desert Star Staff JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Animal welfare groups say the pandemic is exacerbating the overpopulation crisis for cats and dogs. According to Lisa Lange, senior vice president of communications with “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,” more than six million cats and dogs enter shelters in the U.S. each year. And with COVID-19 safety protocols in place, she explains shelters are unable to let people come in for pet adoptions, or host off-site adoption events. “And yet there’s still a flow of animals coming in, made worse by people being
out of a job,” says Lange. “So, we’re getting reports from around the country that people are giving up their animals because they can’t afford to keep them anymore.” A survey conducted before the pandemic estimated that 44% of Missouri pet owners struggle to afford their pets. Lange says prevention is the best solution, and her group encourages spaying and neutering for cats and dogs. According to PETA, one female dog and her puppies can result in the births of 67,000 dogs in just six years.
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It’s estimated that one female dog and her puppies can result in the births of 67,000 dogs in just six years. (Adobe Stock)