10 Facts about Dogs

1. It is estimated 1 million U.S. dogs are named as the primary beneficiaries in their owner's will.
2. All dogs across all breeds are descendants of wolves; dogs and wolves are technically the same species.
3. Many canine foot disorders are the result of untrimmed nails.
4. Dogs can find the source of a noise in 6/100ths of a second. They use the swiveling motion of their ears like radar dishes.
5. Dogs have three eyelids – the upper lid, the lower lid, and a third lid called a nictitating membrane (also known as a 'haw') that helps keep the eye moist and provides protection.
6. The oldest dog on record was an Australian cattle dog, Bluey. Bluey lived over 29 years.
7. The grief suffered when a pet dog dies is often the same intensity of grief felt when a human friend or family member dies.
8. There are over 700 types of purebred dogs.
9. Dogs do not have an appendix.
10. Dogs keen sense of smell allows them to locate dead bodies under water, termites, natural gas buried deep in the earth and even human cancers.

(Source:  Karen Becker, DVM)

Catching 'rays, © Susan Calvert, all rights reserved

The above image, Catching 'rays, is available for sale on my website as an original painting, print and magnet.

Here is the original painting in a gallery setting:

(left - right) Flea Bag, Catching 'rays, Reigning Cats and Dogs, © Susan Calvert, all rights reserved
(White streaks in the picture are reflections from fluorescent lights.)

10 Facts about Cats

1. Most behaviors of pet cats have a parallel in the wild.
2. Cats lose almost as much bodily fluid in the saliva they deposit while grooming as they do through urination.
3. Only mother cats can safely pick up kittens by the scruff of the neck; humans shouldn't attempt this with either kittens or cats.
4. Domestic cats, regardless of breed, all belong to a single species: Felis catus.
5. Pure white cats with blue eyes are often deaf.
6. Cats spend about 30 percent of the hours they are awake in grooming activities.
7. There are about 100 different breeds of the domestic cat.
8. Cats walk on their toes, and when they walk or run they move both left legs, then both right legs.
9. Kitties don't taste sweet flavors.
10. The more often a kitty is spoken to, the more she'll speak to her owner.

(Source: Karen Becker, DVM)

Pillow Talk,  © Susan Calvert, all rights reserved

(The above image, Pillow Talk, is available for sale on my website as an original painting, print, bookmark, magnet and note card.)

Rub My Belly (Buttons)

Lucy loves belly rubs.  It's the funniest thing.  She'll be looking at you.  Then instantly she is laying down and lifting her rear leg to have her belly rubbed. My husband, Steve, often asks why she does this. My reply is that she can and it feels good.

Lucy's classic leg lift

The other day, I watched the show "Wildlife Nannies" for the first time. Baby monkeys, who lost their mothers, were being taken care of by humans 'til they were grown enough to live on their own.  Upon feeding the monkeys, their belly's would be rubbed to promote digestion like their mothers did in the wild.  I wondered if this was the answer to Steve's question about Lucy's rubs.

Below are belly buttons of sorts for you to rub over with your mouse and click on to join my social media sites.  Hope you enjoy them as much as Lucy.