Ace of Spades Pet Thread, September 13

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Good afternoon and welcome to the almost world famous Ace of Spades Pet Thread. Thanks for stopping by. Kick back and enjoy the world of animals.

Would you like a treat?

Let's relax a little with the animals and leave the world of politics and current events outside today.

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Courtesy TRex, who could have used this content in an ONT:

A TED Talk: What happens when your dog uses the internet?

Should your dog be able to make more choices concerning his or her social life?

Would you like your dog to be able to call you while you are out shopping or at work?

Related:

How scientists are building an 'animal internet' with phones for dogs and touchscreens for parrots

New experiments suggest technology could allow pets and zoo animals to choose their own social interactions and even make friends worldwide.
Researchers at Glasgow University are experimenting with digital tools to help animals communicate more directly with both humans and other species. From video calls for dogs to interactive touchscreens for parrots, the work is laying the foundations of what scientists describe as an "animal internet." The project goes beyond enrichment activities, aiming to give animals more autonomy in shaping their own environment, the Financial Times reported.

The Financial Times piece includes details from studies on dog and parrot internet arrangements. Some studies were conducted here in the USA.

Would you like to communicate with an animal via internet?

The dear, Dog and the Parrot are Friends pic.twitter.com/FUGdu8Bfx5
— aww (@omgaww) April 23, 2023

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Mandi Clark:

This incredible shot was captured by Shasta Schlitt (Everything Back Yard Chicken). Her rooster, Jay, jumped in to defend one of his hens from a hawk. The hawk didn’t survive the encounter, but Jay—though left with a few puncture wounds—pulled through and is doing well. What a brave protector!

Life can be rough for some of our pets.

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Meet The PetMorons

We are waiting for PetMoron news. It seems that most of them are photo-shy this week, or perhaps they are occupied on the internet.

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PetMoron Adjacent Animals
Encountered by Members of The Horde

Thanks again, KT, here are some more turtles. I meant to send this in last week but time escaped. These are fairly recent from earlier in July. Whenever you see them in the water, and they know you can't easily get to them, they will still keep a baleful eye on you while you're there--as you can see from the one on the thin branch. It's hard to see on the other one, as his head is positioned oddly (it's lower left in the picture), but I believe he's doing the same.
Thanks for the weekend threads!
BeckoningChasm, East Tennessee

They are fun!

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&&&

From jsg:

This is Charlie. Charlie hangs out on the back garage light at least 3-4 times a week.
We like Charlie. He's very low maintenance.

Charlie is great!

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Thank you for sharing your pet and animal photos and stories with us today.

If you would like to send pet and/or animal stories, links, etc. for the Ace of Spades Pet Thread, the address is:

petmorons at protonmail dot com
Remember to include the nic or name by which you wish to be known when you comment at AoSHQ, or let us know if you want to remain a lurker.

Until next Saturday, have a great week!

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If you start feeling nostalgic, here a link to last week's Pet Thread, the Ace of Spades Pet Thread, September 6

I closed the comments on this post so you wouldn't get banned for commenting on a week-old post, but don't try it anyway.

Posted by: K.T. at 03:37 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Arf!

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at September 13, 2025 03:41 PM (oJpPh)

2 Was getting worried
Happy Caturday everyone

I miss my cats

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 03:43 PM (+qU29)

3 Meow...

Posted by: Puddleglum, drive by meow at September 13, 2025 03:45 PM (sAmhv)

4 I couldn't get Charlie to load on the computer for a while. "Animal Internet". Heh.

Posted by: KT at September 13, 2025 03:46 PM (7vIsy)

5 Animals are delicious.

Posted by: Boss Moss at September 13, 2025 03:46 PM (Z5vAv)

6 doggerel /dô′gər-əl, dŏg′ər-/
noun
Crudely or irregularly fashioned verse, often of a humorous or burlesque nature. A sort of loose or irregular verse; mean or undignified poetry. A doggerel poem or verse.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at September 13, 2025 03:47 PM (oJpPh)

7 Charlie knows the best spot for juicy bugs.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2025 03:48 PM (vFG9F)

8 "From video calls for dogs to interactive touchscreens for parrots, the work is laying the foundations of what scientists describe as an "animal internet."

What could go wrong?

Posted by: Penguin Facts at September 13, 2025 03:48 PM (vFG9F)

9 Hey guys,

New update { #331 ) to our cat blog

https://tinyurl.com/4k65zjkx

Posted by: Joyenz at September 13, 2025 03:53 PM (2F0/Y)

10 Charlie looks like he is trying to wake up and having a hard time doing it.

Posted by: JTB at September 13, 2025 03:53 PM (yTvNw)

11 That photo of rooster vs hawk is amazing

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at September 13, 2025 03:57 PM (6U1c2)

12 How are you and your sister doing, Joyenz? Still in my prayers.

Posted by: TecumsehTea at September 13, 2025 03:57 PM (mZ/55)

13 I posted this in ONT the other night and a few of you have seen it. Figured I would post it in the pet thread. We had a groundhog visit last week.

https://youtube.com/shorts/hyVB4LgSFsM

Posted by: Joyenz at September 13, 2025 04:00 PM (2F0/Y)

14 How scientists are building an 'animal internet' with phones for dogs and touchscreens for parrots
_________________________

THIS is NOT a good idea. Dogs already have a problem crossing the street without being distracted. And parrots will fly right into a mirror even though there is "another parrot" flying directly at them coming from the opposite direction. And, that's when they are perfectly attentive.

Posted by: Orson at September 13, 2025 04:00 PM (dIske)

15 Greetings one and all. It's a peaceful day here at the house. Our two guest dogs are napping and patiently waiting for dinner. I believe my dogs are hovering near the kitchen because they heard my wife break out the chopping block.

Posted by: NR Pax at September 13, 2025 04:02 PM (7xrfc)

16 Snowflake, who was an outdoor cat, is back outside and sleeping at her home at my friends' place. She hangs around here a lot and still lets me pick her up and hug and kiss her.

And when I go outside with the dog Ralphy, age 14, Snowflake comes running over to be pet. And she still rubs up against Ralphy. Adorably.

I brought over the cat tree, scratching posts and all the toys to my friends house. The house is so much cleaner. And the house is less chaotic with no middle of the night wake up calls.

Posted by: Posted by: Stateless - VERY GRATEFUL, BLESSED, LOVED AND HAPPY! -- - New Life Creation - 18.1% at September 13, 2025 04:02 PM (jvJvP)

17 How are you and your sister doing, Joyenz? Still in my prayers.
Posted by: TecumsehTea at September 13, 2025 03:57 PM (mZ/55)

We are surviving. Thank you so much for the card. Have been wanting to send a Thank You card back, but finances have been tight.

Posted by: Joyenz at September 13, 2025 04:02 PM (2F0/Y)

18 There's a pond we drive by quite often, there are always branches in the water by the shore. You can tell spring is approaching when you see turtles, which we haven't seen for months, crowding on the branches trying to soak up sunlight and warmth. They are so crowded we've seen a few bumped into the water. Mild amusement for the end of winter.

Posted by: JTB at September 13, 2025 04:04 PM (yTvNw)

19 Thought Dr Irene pepperberg determined Alex the Grey parrot could read a computer screen.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at September 13, 2025 04:04 PM (lFEu+)

20 For Christmas 2023 I did custom calendars featuring our cats and sent them out in lieu of Christmas cards. It was pretty expensive and time intensive so last year just did custom cards, which disappointed our friends and family so it looks like I'll be doing another calendar this year.

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at September 13, 2025 04:06 PM (DxP/N)

21 Paisley seemed to be moving in for a welcome home kiss but she burped instead. Paisley!

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at September 13, 2025 04:07 PM (kTd/k)

22 I like Charlie and the turtles . Thanks.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2025 04:09 PM (lQ+/f)

23 Joyenz, BenHad has my email.

Posted by: TecumsehTea at September 13, 2025 04:09 PM (mZ/55)

24 Pet internet?

Great, cats will be watching cat porn, ordering hard drugs (catnip, silver vine) and some of that cat wine..

Posted by: Joyenz at September 13, 2025 04:10 PM (2F0/Y)

25 And the protective rooster, Jay, is not only brave but a handsome guy!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2025 04:11 PM (lQ+/f)

26 Not a great day at work, so yay!! Pet Thread.

Nice pet-related moment this week: our chiropractor is practicing out of his garage while working out new office arrangements. This gave us an opportunity to visit with his just-past-kittenhood ginger Maine Coon, a stately and handsome fellow; his elderly housemate half Chihuahua/half ?, very chill and pleasant, and the longhaired Chi puppy who is in continuous "Pet me! Love me! Pet me!" mode.

Posted by: barkingmad59, wandering lurkette at September 13, 2025 04:11 PM (R3yzU)

27 Ha ha, Northernlurker! Our dog, Luna, had a series of very helpful physical therapy sessions and she LOVED her therapist. Unfortunately, she would consistently show that love by burping in her therapist's face.

Treat it as a blessing--I guess.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at September 13, 2025 04:13 PM (FEVMW)

28 Thanks for the Pet Thread, KT.

Posted by: olddog in mo at September 13, 2025 04:14 PM (hoCmQ)

29 Joyenz, BenHad has my email.
Posted by: TecumsehTea at September 13, 2025 04:09 PM (mZ/55)

My email is my name here, but lowercase j at charter dot net

(hope it was ok to post this)

Posted by: Joyenz at September 13, 2025 04:16 PM (2F0/Y)

30 I couldn't get Charlie to load on the computer for a while. "Animal Internet". Heh.
Posted by: KT at September 13, 2025 03:46 PM (7vIsy)

So the frog was being jumpy?

Thanks for a great, yet short pet thread.

Posted by: Joyenz at September 13, 2025 04:24 PM (2F0/Y)

31 Hard to type. Big black cat on lap. Send lawyers, guns, and money.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2025 04:28 PM (omVj0)

32 I have been meaning to send in photos of our two kitties -- have lots of photos to choose from. I am not techy, so MrTea has to do the sending.
Love the Horde Adjacent pets photos.

Posted by: TecumsehTea at September 13, 2025 04:29 PM (mZ/55)

33 Hard to type. Big black cat on lap. Send lawyers, guns, and money.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2025 04:28 PM (omVj0)

Haha!I have two cats on my lap. Good thing I use the on-screen keyboard.

Posted by: Joyenz at September 13, 2025 04:29 PM (2F0/Y)

34 Hey Wolfus, hoping you have a fun and successful (however you define success) trip to our fair state of IN.
I saw the post earlier about the pipe shop in Pierceton -- yes, a bit further north than you are going, this time. Not terribly far from us.

Posted by: TecumsehTea at September 13, 2025 04:31 PM (mZ/55)

35 We have turtles cross the road by the lake so I watch out for them. If there's a chance they could get hit, I push them along with the shilallegh. The last one though was not amused. He was fast and kept coming after me! I got him closer to the edge of the road and decided it was good enough.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at September 13, 2025 04:34 PM (kUxzU)

36 * Stirling has vaulted away to do Stirling things *

Afternoon, Pet Folken. Big black Stirling hasn't climbed onto my lap for a while, and I hated to disturb him. Good to see you all here, including Joyenz.

We have the occasional frog here in the DA Complex, mostly heard at night and not seen, and lots of garden lizards. (If one of them streaks into my place, the cats will make short work of him, so I try to shoo them away.) No turtles. Though we did have an invasion of -- what are those middle-sized white wading birds with the long, thin legs and long, thin, down-curving beaks? They would stalk around among the cars and across the postage-stamp lawns. No idea how they got here; there is no park with a lagoon close by.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2025 04:37 PM (omVj0)

37 I once stopped and carried a medium- sized snapper across the road so he wouldn't get run over. He did not seem to appreciate it. Thankfully it wasn't too far.

Posted by: TecumsehTea at September 13, 2025 04:38 PM (mZ/55)

38 I meant to write "Da Complex," not "the DA Complex" (which suggests that either district attorneys live here, or people who like double-action revolvers. On second thought, the latter is horrifyingly possible).

It took me a moment to get the Picard/Riker meme pun. For some reason I kept trying to puzzle out something involving the "void" part. Occasionally, as the turtle told the rabbit, I'm slow.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2025 04:40 PM (omVj0)

39 We are in Florida now and our dogs made thw trip calm and collected. We had tried medication for the weimaraner and M&Ms would have been more effective. We tried some holistic chews with natural products and by golly, it worked. He was calm and didn't whine or try to pace around. We don't have to worry about the beagle because he just sleeps or looks out of the window. I hope this will make traveling more pleasant for him.

Posted by: Megthered at September 13, 2025 04:42 PM (kueL3)

40 Last week I picked up some new friends for my lonely bachelor turkey. They're not yet old enough to tell if they are toms or hens; trying to decide if I should send pics to the Pet Thread or the Food Thread.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at September 13, 2025 04:50 PM (ULPxl)

41 We tried some holistic chews with natural products and by golly, it worked. He was calm and didn't whine or try to pace around. We don't have to worry about the beagle because he just sleeps or looks out of the window. I hope this will make traveling more pleasant for him.
Posted by: Megthered at September 13, 2025

***
I have some "calming" chew treats for the cats, mostly melatonin I think. I give them to Stirling when I know there will be disturbing noises outside -- he hates and fears fireworks and hides under the bed. Not sure if the chews do anything for him, though.

In contrast, little Dagny takes even the operation of the vacuum cleaner in her stride.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2025 04:55 PM (omVj0)

42 Helena Handbasket at September 13, 2025 04:50 PM

These are hard decisions.

Posted by: KT at September 13, 2025 04:57 PM (7vIsy)

43 There is a rabbit living in the yard, shame it runs away when it spots us. I have a live and let live policy so wouldn't hurt it.

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 05:18 PM (+qU29)

44 These chews have hemp seed and hemp oil and chamomile, lemon balm and only 0.1 melatonin. We have given him 5 mg melatonin at July 4 fireworks but it didn't help at all. I don't know what hemp does to animals or people but it works on a hard headed weim.

Posted by: Megthered at September 13, 2025 05:18 PM (kueL3)

45 K. T., many thanks for the pet thread!
It is such a nice diversion. Is much appreciated.

Turtle and frog are fun, I enjoyed the deer, dog and parrot, as well.

Posted by: Appycay at September 13, 2025 05:20 PM (EdYR/)

46 Colostrum is used in many calming products. It's good stuff for them.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at September 13, 2025 05:31 PM (kUxzU)

47 HOBBY NOOD

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 05:31 PM (+qU29)

48 "Last week I picked up some new friends for my lonely bachelor turkey. They're not yet old enough to tell if they are toms or hens; trying to decide if I should send pics to the Pet Thread or the Food Thread.
Posted by: Helena Handbasket"

Lonesome Electric Turkey:

youtu.be/MmdnTSbRrHs

Posted by: Guy who relates everything to a Zappa song at September 13, 2025 05:32 PM (vFG9F)

49 We are so close to restocking our cats. We lost the last pair a few years ago and have been waiting for the right time after the big move. They lived 14-15 years. Mokie and Piewacket.

I'm a dog person, never had much use for cats. But sorry Wolfpack, she turned me. She tried SO hard to do dog stuff to keep me happy - actually fetched a ball 6 times in a row, as if to say "see? I can do this I just think its silly, make up your mind". I dont know how I can ever be so lucky again, but I'm looking forward to having those soothing purr motors back in our lives. We certainly need it.

Posted by: Fenrisulven at September 13, 2025 05:51 PM (ciYHQ)

50 So Publius is charming a stray he's named Sammy. Sammy has decided that our place is an OK place to hang out sometimes. No further bites - we're more careful, and don't mistake his overtures as entirely safe yet. But he's definitely interested in going inside the house. No, too soon. But he's welcome to lounge on the patio furniture and shelter from rain if he so desires.

Purry gives him baleful looks, as Publius feeds him and pets Sammy. Della stares through the sliding glass door, lusting after the lavishly-filled cat bowl.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at September 13, 2025 06:00 PM (w6EFb)

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