Animals and Pets

India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests has declared dolphins non-human persons. Dolphins demonstrate high intelligence, culture, even communication with each other using individual names. They are not to be used for entertainment of humans, killed or otherwise treated as anything other than intelligent non-human equals. Great news!

With more than 160 million pets in American households, and possibly upwards of 800 million worldwide, our favorite companions have quickly become an unsustainable force to be reckoned with. Even so, there are plenty of ways to extend your eco-friendly lifestyle to your pets – you just have to know where to start.

In this award-winning short film, visual artist, Ben Moon documented the life of dog companion, Denali, in an incredibly beautiful and heartbreaking way. When Denali passed away at the age of 14, Moon used videos and photographs to create a truly touching memorial to his friend. This film is a reminder to us all of the true importance of friendship.

If you’re a parent, the idea of adding the care and feeding of an animal to your responsibilities might feel like too much work. But having a dog, cat, bunny, hamster or other animal as a part of the family benefits kids in real ways. Studies have shown that kids who have pets do better — especially in the area of Emotional Intelligence (EQ), which has been linked to early academic success, even more so than the traditional measure of intelligence, IQ.