A dog has successfully bred with a fox to create a rare hybrid
A dog has successfully bred with a fox to create a hybrid animal in a rare scientific discovery from Brazil.In 2021, an animal was brought to the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul veterinary hospital after it was struck by a car.The breed of the female was unable to be identified by staff, as she appeared to have the physical characteristics of both a dog and a fox.Their confusion led to the arrival of scientists from surrounding universities who analysed the genetics of the animal in order to determine what she was.Sadly, she died in early last year of...
Fresh warning issued over hairless ‘bullycats’ amid rising trend on social media
Cat owners have been urged to avoid the newly emerging “bullycats,” a hybrid breed that resembles the controversial XL bully dogs. Breeders in the US have created the new cat breed by mixing the hairless gene from Sphynx cats with the short-legged gene from Munchkin cats. However, animal welfare experts have raised concerns over the potential health issues the felines may face, predicting they could live an average of six years - which is less than typical cats.Dr Grace Carroll, an animal behavior specialist at Queen’s University Belfast, warned pet owners to carefully consider the implications of buying such...
‘Frankenchickens’ are like 28-stone three-year-olds, Court of Appeal hears
Fast-growing chickens which reach their slaughter weight quicker than other types are the equivalent of a 28-stone (177.7kg) three-year-old, the Court of Appeal has heard.Animal welfare charity, The Humane League UK, previously brought legal action against then Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Therese Coffey, arguing she had misinterpreted a key section of animal welfare law concerning so-called “Frankenchickens”.These are chickens which can reach a slaughter weight of more than 2.0kg in five-six weeks as a result of genetic selection when reared in an indoor commercial environment.Last year, the High Court was told that the fast-growing...
What are XL bully cats? New warning issued over controversial hybrid breed
Pet owners have been urged to avoid the hybrid breed of cat that resembles XL bully dogs, after it grew in popularity on social media.Ownership of XL bully dogs has proven a controversial topic over recent times. A ban on the dog breed, which has been involved in a series of highly-publicised attacks on people, came into effect on 31 December. The ban makes it illegal to breed, sell, advertise, rehome, abandon or allow an XL Bully dog to stray in England and Wales. Thousands of owners successfully applied for an exemption that requires XL Bullies to be muzzled, among...