Blame It On the Dog

People sleep with their pets all the time, but they have not become sick from doing so...or at least they did not know it was because of the dog. But recent studies in California found that Todo might be a cause for catching infections. Dogs and cats carry fleas, if not properly treated for, kisses, licks, and sleeping with your pet may cause you to have a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia or catch the Bubonic plague. In 2008, there was an outbreak of the Bubonic Plague (The Black Plague) and most people who had it, slept with their pets. The researches do suggest not sleeping with you pet on a regular basis. If you pets lick you, or you kiss your pet, make sure to watch you hands, or wherever they licked you. Also, make sure that you check with the vet to make sure that your pet does not have fleas.

In my opinion: Most people who have pets, do sleep with them. People have been kissing their pets for years, and there has not been a dilemma about this either. There has not been a major issue on this subject yet, but if a problem comes around, then maybe people should start listening to the researchers. For now, people should be safe. As long as the owners take care of their pets and give them the proper care they need and deserve, there should not be an issue with catching illnesses through pets.

You can read more about this topic at:

http://www.livescience.com/health/pets-can-make-you-sick-110121.html

You can find the picture at:

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/83169604/Photodisc

Penguins New Fashion Statement: Bad for Their Health?

A ten year research project on penguins has shown that the metal bands the scientists use to identify the penguins are harmful to the bird. The stainless steal band is placed on the top part of the flipper with an identification number on it. These bands are supposed to be helpful, but they are interfering with the penguin's health and with research. Scientists have found that the king penguins in Antarctica are producing less chicks than before they started wearing the bands. Also, the birds who have the bands are taking longer to reach their chicks with food from the ocean that they have collected, which can reduce the survival of the chick. Some penguins have a electronic chip in them, like the ones the veterinary uses to track people's cats and dogs in case they run away, but the chips do not always work. The chips do not send out a signal, but they give back a signal when a transmitter senses a chip is near.This can cause issues when scientists need to identify the penguins when they are free. If the scientists can keep the penguins in a contained environment with transmitters are laid out in different places, then the chips will be just fine in the penguins, but when the penguins are free, the chips do not work as well. But the penguins with the chips have been doing just fine and have been carrying on like nothing ever was inserted onto them.

My opinion on this subject: take the bands off. It is effecting the research and the monitoring of the penguins and to me, it is just not right. The penguins deserve as long a life as they can live and is they are living a shorter life with this band. Also, have other scientists and technologists look into improving the electronic chips. Have the chips send out a signal, so then ever penguin can just have a chip that will send out its own signal and then scientists will not have to use the bands anymore. For the sake of the penguins and the sake of the research, stop using the bands.

You can learn more about this subject at: http://sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/68666/description/Marking_penguins_for_study_may_do_harm

You can find the picture of the king penguins with the metal band at: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/download/id/68668/name/WHERES_WALDO

You can find the picture of the metal band at:
www.penguinscience.com/education/Did_You_Know_Banding.php