I Moo: Herefordshire Farmer Couple Marry in Cow-Themed Wedding

November 25, 2011

Lovestruck farmers Michael Hanson and Hayley Morgan said 'I moo' during a cow-themed wedding.

After meeting at a young farmers’ event, the couple wanted to tie the knot in a way that celebrated their country lives – and, after two-and-a-half years together, they certainly did it in style.

Dressed in a pair of white wellies, the bride arrived at the church, in her home town of Llandefalle, Powys, aboard a 2.8-tonne tractor. After the service, it transported the happy couple to a  muddy field at Hayley’s parents’ farm where they had a wedding portrait taken with a herd of cattle.

The pair, from Eardisland, Herefordshire, had a British Blue-themed wedding cake on their big day in August.

And at the reception, guests, who were directed to tables named after  different cows, enjoyed a four-course dinner of, you guessed it, roast beef.

The couple honeymooned in the US state of Texas – the beef farming capital of the world – and spent three weeks touring farming enterprises.

Hayley, 31, said: ‘We didn’t want to be all prim and proper – we just wanted to be us and what we do every day.

‘I’ve never been to a wedding like ours but everyone said how great it was. We are really glad we did it the way we wanted to.’

Michael, 26, and Hayley – who also runs a part-time business selling rugs and accessories made from British hide – plan to spend their wedding money on a new herd of British Blue cattle.

Hayley added: ‘I always wanted to run a cattle-related business. This is my passion.’

For the original article, go here.

British Man Drags Piano to Top of Mountain to Serenade Blind Elephants

November 25, 2011

Elephants never forget, according to the saying – and these ones will always remember when Briton Paul Barton serenaded them with Beethoven.

Mr Barton, 50, dragged his piano up a mountain in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, to help raise money for blind elephants.

He said: 'It was a 50th birthday present to myself. My wife and I have been working with blind elephants for many years, and I thought it might be something they would enjoy to listen to.

'I sat down and thought, what do you play to an elephant?

'You only get a short time, so I started trawling through my books and then Slow Movement 2 from Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata just stuck.

'I had to drag the piano up a mountain - I have a really bad back, but I wanted to make the effort so I could feel like I had undergone a personal challenge.'

Yorkshire-born Paul now hopes to put on a concert with the elephants to raise funds for an electric fence for the sanctuary where they live.

For the original article, go here.

Your Donkey on the Beat, signing off until next week!

Wishbone Ash - Throw Down the Sword

Mystery Gerbil Ballerina Dances His Way Into Nation's Hearts

November 17, 2011

Gerbils who like Mozart are rare - gerbils who wear tutus and plié in time to the Austrian composer's music are virtually unknown. Therefore, we present the world's first gerbil ballerina.

This furry critter loves nothing more than being 'en pointe' - especially when he gets rewarded with a spot of grub for his troubles.

Twirling away to Mozart's Violin Concerto No.3 in G Major, Gary (this is probably not his name, by the way) shows excellent style and posture to earn the plaudits of his owners, and his thousands of YouTube fans.

'He looks like he's enjoying himself,' one observer commented upon seeing the 30-second clip.

One of the main stylistic features of contemporary ballet is the outward rotation of the thighs from the hip - a technique demonstrated with enviable poise by Gary.

Most ballet dancers would probably balk at the idea of being rewarded with a snack for every complete rotation, especially as having complete control of your bodyweight is a major component of modern dance.

But not this one. Gary retains his love of grub while also showing his talent on the stage. The Bolshoi awaits.

For the original article, go here.

Surfing Goat Rides The Waves On Owner's Board

November 13, 2011

Surfing is a very popular past-time in the sunny state of California - so much so that it appears even a local goat has a penchant for riding the waves.

The animal was seen balancing on a surfboard as it caught a wave to the beach earlier this week.

The pet, named Goatee, took to the water with its owner Dayna McGregor, who was celebrating his birthday on Grover Beach.

Dayna said: 'She did pretty well, she got up on a couple of waves. I say got up - we put her on a couple of waves.

'She was pretty successful.'

He originally bought the female goat to eat the weeds in his garden but soon took her in as a pet.
 
Goatee is by no means the only animal in the Golden State who enjoys getting on a surfboard.

California's Huntingdon Beach is home to an annual surfing contest for dogs.

This year's event, called Surf City, Surf Dog, saw 40 canines compete in the two-day competition

For the original article, go here.

Your Donkey on the Beat, signing off until next week!

Wishbone Ash Valediction

Canadian Man Keeps Massive Buffalo As Pet And Takes Him To Local Bars

November 9, 2011

As pets go you won't find one much bigger than Jim Sautner's buffalo Bailey Junior who receives five-star treatment at their Canadian home.

Standing at just under 6ft and stretching 8ft long, Bailey Junior is a local celebrity around Spruce Grove town in Alberta, Canada. Weighing in at 1,820 pounds this buffalo is also potentially the largest house pet in the world.

Jim and Linda Sautner looked after Bailey when he was an orphaned calf, bottle-feeding him and keeping him safe both outdoors and indoors. Now the three-year-old beast trails around the town meeting locals and reportedly going into bars with Jim to drink beer.

To really get a sense of how much Jim Sautner, dubbed the 'buffalo whisperer', cares for Bailey check out our picture of his modified Sedan convertible with the giant buffalo in the back.

Sautner made changes to his convertible ride to allow enough space for the car to accommodate Bailey and take his weight.

Another unusually tame beast, crocodile Pocho passed away recently leaving his trainer Gilberto Shedden and the Costa Rican town of Siquirres in mourning.

Pocho often performed tricks for tourists and locals.

For the original article, go here.

Sidecar Harley Is The Top Dog In Peterborough

November 3, 2011

When motorcycling lover Alan Valkeith went out on the road, there was one – big and furry – thing that he really missed.

And so rather than leave his pet dog at home, the 62-year-old found the perfect solution for the St Bernard – a sidecar.

Not only that but the appropriately named Harley also has Doggles and a specially-made crash helmet.

‘As soon as I make a move to go in the garage, he’s there, wanting to get in the bike,’ Mr Valkeith said.

‘I don’t like leaving a dog on its own at home, especially with a St Bernard. They have to be with someone or another animal, otherwise they fret.’

Harley was given Doggles to protect him from the sun while on the Honda Gold Wing 1200.

Mr Valkeith also bought a helmet and remoulded the polystyrene inside to make it fit his 17-month-old pet’s head.

Harley was then introduced gradually to the open road, taking small journeys at first.

‘I was surprised how well Harley took to the helmet. Whether he realised we were wearing crash helmets, I don’t know. I’m not sure how dogs’ minds work,’ added Mr Valkeith, who lives in Peterborough.

‘He’s always getting his photograph taken. People who see him can’t believe it.’

For the original article, go here.

Your Donkey on the Beat, signing off until next week!

Wishbone Ash - Lullaby

Eskimo words for snow:

Spinach contains loads of iron:

If a frog is placed in boiling water, it will jump out, but if it is placed in cold water that is slowly heated, it will not perceive the danger and will be cooked to death:

More people are killed annually by donkeys than are die in commercial airline crashes:

• The Weekend Australian maintained that "flying is safer than any other form of transport except escalators" (and presumably including donkeys).

• The Hartford Courant's Jim Shea quipped that the higher number of donkey deaths was understandable because "the faster mode of transportation always poses the higher risk."
• In the Wellington Evening Post, Phil Pennington offered: "Ever wondered whether it's the airlines themselves, knowing the value of a reassuring urban myth, who pass these sorts of comparisons around?"

Dead Turkey Joke of the Day A man left his cat with his brother while he went on vacation for a week. When he came back, the man called his brother to see when he could pick the cat up. The brother hesitated, then said, ''I'm so sorry, but while you were away, the cat died." The man was very upset and yelled, ''You know, you could have broken the news to me better than that. When I called today, you could have said he was on the roof and wouldn't come down. Then when I called the next day, you could have said that he had fallen off and the vet was working on patching him up. Then when I called the third day, you could have said he had passed away.'' The brother thought about it and apologized. "So how's Mom?" asked the man. "She's on the roof and won't come down."

Today's YouTube Tune The Beatles - I'm Happy Just To Dance With You

Nutty Squirrel Plays Piano and Enjoys Game of Pool in Spare Time

November 1, 2011

Anyone who's seen Farthing Wood or read a Beatrix Potter story will know animals have secret lives - but never before have the out-of-hours antics of a squirrel, who enjoys the piano and pool, been captured in such detail as this.

This otherwise unremarkable garden critter loves nothing more than a relaxing tinkle on the ivories when he's not foraging for food.

That, or shooting some pool on his own custom-made table while chilling out with a beer (or is it cola? Most squirrels are teetotal, apparently).

Ok, you guessed it - this nutty squirrel isn't all he's cracked up to be (geddit? oh, come on...).

His human-esque poses are the brainchild of photographer Kathy Pruyn, a grandmother from Tampa in Florida, who tempts her furry friend into various positions using nutty treats

By strategically placing peanuts and dollops of peanut butter around various toys and props, she encourages the squirrel - a regular visitor to her back garden - to pose for some pretty comical shots.

As well as our two favourites here, the squirrel has also been papped pushing a wheelchair, singing into a microphone (complete with cuddly toy audience, no less), and donning a Groucho Marx mask.

What a nutcase.

For the original article, go here.

Tree Goats of Morocco are Unbleatable Climbers

November 2, 2011

You've goat to be joking - meet the nine tree goats of Morocco, who like nothing more than climbing branches in search of tasty fruit.

This Moroccan Argan tree visibly strains under the weight of the agile goats who clamber up in search of its olive-like fruit.

One even makes it to the top branch - some 17ft from the ground below.

Photographer Gavin Oliver took the snap after spotting the amazing scene near the Todra Gorge, Morocco.

The 38-year-old Australian told The Sun: 'There were about 30 goats, with the ones in the tree already in place when we were driving past.

'The tree branches were bobbing up and down under the weight of the goats every time they moved.

'The herd of goats were being looked after by a young teenage shepherd, who you can just make out behind the tree.'

For the original article, go here.

Your Donkey on the Beat, signing off until next week!

The Beatles - "Any Time At All"

Stag Tries to Impress the Ladies with Grass Wig

October 26, 2011

Stags often go to great lengths to attract a female - but it moss have been love for one male who slipped on a grass wig to impress potential mates.

The stag was seem wandering alone for days in Richmond Park before it dived into a lake and came out with a grassy mop resting between its antlers.

After letting out a mating call he emerged from the water to find two females waiting for him.

Unfortunately, he also attracted the attention of another stag, who he had to fight off before strolling away with the two females in tow.

The incident was witnessed by keen photographer Robert Piper, 55, who couldn't believe his eyes as the extraordinary events unfolded.

He told the Daily Mail: 'Sometimes the stags adorn themselves with bracken to impress the females - and it must somehow strike a chord.

'But the head gear can also attract other stags and on occasions will end up with a fight exactly like what happened here.

'This stag did find a female but keeping her was another matter because other stags became jealous and tried to fight him.

'But he fought them off and eventually had two deer following him around.'

For the original article, go here.

Scaredy Cat Tiger Frightened by a Floating Leaf

October 24, 2011

They are meant to be one of the most fearsome animals on the planet, but this tiger couldn't even hold its nerve after being frightened by nothing more than a floating dead leaf.

The 22-month-old Bengal tigress got the shock of her life while taking a dip in a pool in the Bandhavgarh National Park in central India.

She had been enjoying a leisurely swim but the fierce feline lost her composure as a dead leaf was seen floating towards her.

The big cat was very unsure of the object quickly approaching her in the muddy water.

Her tail shot straight out of the water and into the air as she flashed her teeth while letting out a ferocious roar.

Predictably the leaf failed to react to the juvenile tiger and her bid to scare it away.

Bandhavgarh National Park is home to one of the biggest concentration of wild tigers in the world, the cats are known for their solitary and territorial behaviour.

For the original article, go here.

Your Donkey on the Beat, signing off until next week!

Linus and Lucy