Have a very safe, happy independence day! Don’t forget to protect your animals from the heat and bring them inside if they are fearful of loud noises!

Photo from Martha Stewart 2011 Easter Pets contest.

Photo by dog.happy.art.

While this list is in no way all-inclusive, here are some of my favorite animal stories of 2011 brought to you by Animal Shak.

Greyhound Drama – So who do you believe? I don’t have the answer because there are two or twenty sides to every story.  What we do know is that there really are a LOT of greyhound available for adoptions and they are gentle, sweet dogs.  Definitely a family friendly dog that would make a home a happy place.

Hey Squawk Meet Peep – My best onomatopoeia for birds naming their chicks bird sounds are – apparently – squawk and peep!  Those names are better than some names I’ve heard for regular humans, but hey… who am I to judge what people name their babies?

When Monkeys Roam Free – One bad monkey escaped and attacked a neighbor. He was put down and because the other primates were in poor condition, they were removed from the home. Be careful of wild animals.  Always be careful.

OCD Cats – My own tries to run into the bathroom every single time I have to go.  She weaves all around my legs – the figure eight move – and will “try” to stand on her back legs with her front paws on my knees.  I shoo her away.  Closing the door could be a better option when using the restroom.

Bite Me Once, Shame on You – If a dog is growling and baring its teeth, that’s a pretty big signal for me to stay away. If a dog is barking, same thing. If a dog is trying to stare me down, I turn the other way.

That’s it for 2011. We welcome 2012 with catcalls and barks!

Photo by Aussie Gal.

Photo by apium.

Because this is a national holiday for many people in the U.S., I thought we’d go to Argentina for our animal photo today.  Every time I see lizards of any type, I think of the Komodo Dragon’s bite whose bite eventually poisons their meal.  Ew.

This lizard photo by Nicolas Mamberti.

This will be added to my bucket list … a visit to Giraffe Manor in Nairobi!  From Design You Trust,

Giraffe Manor offers you an unpar­al­leled expe­ri­ence of the giraffes, with them vying for your atten­tion at the break­fast table, the front door and even your bed­room window.

If you click through you’ll see a giraffe eating right from a girl’s mouth.  That part is a little gross! Ha!

H/T Brittney G.

Photo by Tiffa Day via flickr creative commons.