Things to Do Pet Events 12 Great Reasons to Adopt a Shelter Pet

Low-cost pet vaccinations, given by licensed veterinarians. No appointments are necessary.

June 3, 17, July 1, 15, 8am to 9am

– Ace Hardware

June 4, 18, July 2, 16, 12noon to 1pm

– Bruster’s Ice Cream

June 3, 17, July 1, 15, 10am to 11am

– Tires Plus

June 4, 18, July 2, 16, 2pm to 3pm

– Starbucks

June 4, 18, July 2, 16, 4pm to 5pm

– PDQ Restaurant

June 4, 18, July 2, 16, 10am to 11am

– Cure Pharmacy at Publix

June 3, 17, July 1, 15, 12noon to 1pm

– Lowe’s

June 11, 25, July 9, 3:30pm to 4:30pm

– Chili's

June 11, 25, July 9, 12:30pm to 1:30pm

– Dunkin’ Donuts

June 3, 17, July 15, 8am to 9am

– Holiday Inn

ShotVet Pet Clinics / 407-792-0384 / www. shotvet.com

Ace Hardware / 2771 Monument Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32225

Bruster's Ice Cream / 12224 Atlantic Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32225

Tires Plus / 13162 Atlantic Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32225

Starbucks / 13315 Atlantic Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32225

PDQ Restaurant / 3260 Hodges Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32224

Cure Pharmacy at Publix / 7001 Merrill Rd #13, Jacksonville, FL 32277

Lowe's / 8080 Philips Hwy, Jacksonville, FL 32256

Chili's / 13891 Old St Augustine Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32258

Holiday Inn / 11262 Old St Augustine Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32257

School’s Out Adoption Event

June 3-11

All adoptions at Jacksonville Humane Society are $20 Saturday, June 3 through Sunday, June 11 to celebrate summer vacation. JHS is open 12pm – 7pm on weekdays and 10am – 5pm on weekends. Additional fees may apply.

Jacksonville Humane Society / 904-725-8766 / 8464 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32216 / jaxhumane.org

Back to the 80's Pawty

June 4, 5pm to 7:30pm

Bring your big hair, your tight-rolled jeans, neon colors, and jelly bracelets to Skate Station in Orange Park for a Back to the

80's Pawty. For those who don't want to skate, there will be plenty of other activities including photo opportunities, a dance-off, and a costume contest. The event will help Safe Animal Shelter, a no-kill shelter, in Clay County, Florida, raise money to continue serving the animals and people in our community. Tickets are $20 each.

Skate Station Funworks Of Orange Park / 904-272-5600 / 230 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL 32073 / funworks.com

Purrfect Library Cat Cafe

June 21, 10am

Nassau County Public Library and Nassau County Animal Services team up once again to present The Purrfect Library Cat Café at the Hilliard Public Library. Visit with the cats and browse information on pet care. Staff will be looking for loving homes for these cats, but adoption is not necessary to visit. All funds raised support both the Nassau County Public Library and Nassau County Animal Services.

Nassau County Public Library, Hilliard Branch / 904-530-6500 / 15821 Co Rd 108, Hilliard, FL 32046 / nassaureads.com

St. Augustine Exotic Bird Expo

June 25, 9am to 4pm

The St. Augustine Exotic Bird Expo is an exotic bird event bringing a unique variety of vendors and bird breeders together. This is a great place to get a new feathered friend, cages, toys, supplies, and food all in one place. Admission is $5, and children under 10 are free. Free parking. Open to the public. Renaissance WGV / 904-819-9506 / 500 S Legacy Trail, St. Augustine, FL 32092 / www.staugustineexoticbirdfair.com

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Canines & Crustaceans Dog Day

June 28, 7:05pm vs. the Durham Bulls

July 26, 7:05pm vs. the Gwinnett Stripers

Single game tickets start at $7, with multigame and group packages available. Section 108 F-Q is a designated Family Section, with no alcohol allowed. Canines and Crustaceans (Dog Day) – The Jumbo Shrimp and Forever Vets Animal Hospital welcome you and your canine companion to 121 Financial Ballpark. Canines get in free as long as their human companion buys a ticket. Dog-free seating is located in section 119 and the Wheelhouse Lounge and the Haskell Suite Level. Be sure to bring a water bowl for your four-legged friend.

121 Financial Ballpark / 904-358-2846 / 301 A. Philip Randolph Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32202 / jaxshrimp.com

Like Jax4Pets.com’s Facebook page at facebook.com/jax4pets to find out about other events for pets.

Are Birds More Intelligent Than We Thought?

Many birds are incredibly intelligent, with an ability to recognize individual faces, plan for the future, and even hold grudges when they’ve been wronged in the past. Their exceptional cognitive abilities are similar to those found in some mammals, a puzzle that has riddled scientists for years because birds lack a cerebral cortex — the area of the brain in mammals that’s often assumed to be responsible for advanced cognitive skills.

Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum in Germany have now uncovered, however, that a previously undetected brain structure in birds may act similarly to the cerebral cortex, explaining the longstanding mystery of how birds achieve such incredible cognitive feats.

Pallium in Birds’ Forebrain Contain High Cognitive Abilities

When researchers used 3D polarized light imaging to analyze the brains of three homing pigeons, they found a region in the forebrain called the pallium, which has fibers organized similarly to those in mammals’ cortexes.

“This research confirms the old adage that looks can be deceiving,” John Marzluff, a crow specialist at the University of Washington, Seattle, who was not involved in the study, told Science magazine. He noted that although the brains “look very different, this study shows us they are actually wired in very complementary ways.”

Specifically, the cerebral cortex in mammals has a distinctive layered architecture, which is similar to that found in the bird pallium. “Despite the nuclear organization of the bird pallium, it has a cyto-architectonic organization that is reminiscent of the mammalian cortex,” the researchers wrote in Science.

Crows Are Likely Self-Aware

A second study adds to the exciting findings that humans have likely been incorrectly dismissing birds’ potential for intelligence and self-awareness for decades. In a second study published in Science, researchers from the University of Tübingen used a test that signals signs of consciousness in primates, namely looking for a sudden activation of neurons in response to certain cues.

As occurs in primates, when carrion crows responded to a cue they’d been trained to react to by either moving or staying still, specific neurons reacted, suggesting they had consciously reacted to the cue. The neurons

Things to Do Nature Events

IllumiNights Summer Spectacle

Thru August 11, 6pm to 10pm that reacted were located in the pallium, and the researchers suggested that “Such activity might be a broad marker for consciousness.”

In an analysis of the two studies, Suzana Herculano-Houzel of the Vanderbilt Brain Institute at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee noted the studies show birds do have a brain “cortex” and “think.”

While some researchers remain reluctant to admit that species other than humans could have consciousness, the research reveals that the crows in the study were aware of the cues they were shown and “know what they know.” Study author Andreas Nieder told Stat News:

“I think it demonstrates convincingly that crows and probably other advanced birds have sensory awareness, in the sense that they have specific subjective experiences that they can communicate. Besides crows, this kind of neurobiological evidence for sensory consciousness only exists in humans and macaque monkeys.”

Birds as Pets Need Mental Stimulation

Crows belong to the corvid family along with ravens, magpies, jackdaws, and jays. These birds are known for their uncanny intelligence that’s far above that of most other birds and even many mammals. But other birds, such as African grey parrots and blue-headed macaws, are also known for their high intelligence.

Parrots, for instance, demonstrate acts of altruism, voluntarily helping each other to obtain food rewards even if there’s no incentive in it for themselves. The emerging research on birds’ significant cognitive abilities not only serves as a reminder to respect other creatures on Earth, even if they appear different from us, but also to give them proper care if you end up as their guardian.

If you are interested in sharing your home with one of these fascinating creatures, be aware that they’re high-maintenance pets that require a great deal of specialized care, including social interaction and mental stimulation on par with what you would give to at least a preschooler to avoid developing behavioral problems. j barkandwhiskers.com

At IllumiNights Summer Spectacle, on Friday nights you can adventure through the park before the sun sets to enjoy the Zoo after hours and see animals out until sunset. Once it’s dark, stroll through a fantasy landscape of nature featuring rich lighting. There will be live music and dancing in Range of the Jaguar and by Trout River Grill, Splash Ground, and unlimited Wildlife Carousel rides for younger guests. Dinosauria is included for all to adventure through; Nature Agents scavenger hunt is included, while supplies last, most animal exhibits open until 8pm, whimsical animal stilt-walkers, plus light and fire spinners. A world of bubbles will be in Play Park, including the mysterious “fobbles,” illuminated scenes like a neon garden and a starry night. Food will be available for purchase. Prices range from $20 to $30. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens / 904-7574463 / 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218 / www.jacksonvillezoo.org

Dinosauria at the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens

Thru August 13

Travel back millions of years to experience the thrill of the prehistoric age of dinosaurs. Journey along paths with full-scale, scientifically accurate animatronic dinosaurs with realistic movements and roaring sounds, including 18 of the most fascinating dinosaurs like the Triceratops and the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex. Along the way, join forces with the team of educational scientists to unravel how dinos evolved over time, where they lived, how they behaved, and the plants they consumed – and how plants from prehistoric ages are ancestor species to those found in Florida. Admission to Dinosauria is included with Total Experience tickets. Members may purchase single Dinosauria tickets for $3, only available on-site. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens / 904757-4463 / 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218 / www.jacksonvillezoo.org

The Jacksonville Orchid Society Re-Potting Clinic • June 3, July 1, August 5, 10am to 1pm Beginners and new members are invited for a re-potting clinic. Learn by doing in a clinic intended to teach members and the public how to re-pot their own orchids. Challenge members of the Jacksonville Orchid Society with your tough orchids and questions. Please bring no more than five orchids per individual. After the clinic, join JOS members for lunch at the local Sonny’s BBQ.

Hagan Ace Hardware / 12501 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32223 / jaxorchidsociety.org

License Free Fishing Days

June 3-4 and June 10-11

Free fishing days provide an excellent opportunity for parents who don't yet have licenses to take youth fishing or avid anglers to introduce a friend to fishing without having to purchase a license. On these days, the fishing license requirement is waived for all recreational anglers (residents and non-residents). All other rules (e.g., seasons, bag, and size limits) apply. The saltwater waiver applies to any recreational harvest requiring a saltwater fishing license (e.g., crabbing, lobstering, scalloping, etc.) as well as fishing from shore or a boat. A snook or spiny lobster permit is not required on these days.

License-Free Saltwater Days – June 3-4

License-Free Freshwater Days – June 10-11 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission / myfwc.com

Wild Wonders at Dutton Island

June 10, 24, 11am

Bring your kids to a hands-on nature program at Dutton Island Preserve. Local educator Mike Rossi will bring a variety of small creatures for his presentation, “Scaly Sensations,” an informative and interactive live show that displays local and exotic reptiles. Children and adults are encouraged to participate in the program by holding select animals and performing small roles. Together participants will explore the interesting and colorful facts of the Reptile world. Dutton Island Preserve / 904-247-5828 / 1600 Dutton Island Road, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 / www.coab.us

Nature Detectives: Bees

June 17, 1pm and 2:30pm

The Garden Club of St. Augustine is proud to introduce Marta Magellan, author of “Bee Catastrophe.” She will share her book as attendees learn about the importance of bees. They are pollinators and are a vital part of the ecosystem. Local beekeepers will bring a live, secure hive for you to see and study. The second workshop is a repeat of the first. St. Johns County Public Library, Ponte Vedra Beach Branch / 904-827-6950 / 101 Library Blvd, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 / www.sjcpls.org

Growing Food, Growing Community

June 17, 2pm to 3:30pm

No place to grow a traditional garden? Come join SJCPLS and horticulturist Lana Mack and learn to grow vegetables in small spaces. Learn how to utilize raised bed carts, grow lights, and grow bags. Take home some vegetable seeds you plant in peat pots. Program made possible from a NEFLIN Innovation Project Grant. Free.

St. Johns County Public Library, Southeast Branch / 904-827-6900 / 6670 US 1 South Street, St. Augustine, FL 2086 / sjcpls.org

Container Bog Garden • July 22, 6pm to 8pm

Lush Leaves hosts a Container Bog Garden workshop. Select from multiple types of carnivorous plants, make your own planting mix, and create your garden. The focus will be on Pitcher plant varieties and Sundew. All instructions and information will be provided to help you be a successful plant parent. Learn something new and take home something uniquely yours. Tickets are $50 and include all supplies and refreshments.

Lush Leaves / 904-315-7721 / 1566 Hendricks Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32207 / lush-leaves.com

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