#diplomatic-pets

#diplomatic-pets

"It wasn't in the cards for me to have human children, so [my dogs] are my whole world, and everything that I do in my life really revolves around them."

Risks of outbreaks with pandemic potential rise with increasing land-use change, biodiversity loss and climate change. The Pandemic Agreement adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2025 marks a historic shift that establishes the One Health approach as a legally binding obligation for pandemic prevention.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's German shepherd, Major, allegedly bit the United Kingdom's prime minister and tore his pants. (Major Roosevelt was sent away from the White House grounds shortly thereafter.) Theodore Roosevelt's bull terrier, Pete, chased a French ambassador up a tree. (Pete was also removed from the White House.) And Calvin Coolidge's fox terrier, Peter Pan, ripped the skirt off of a woman, and was eventually given away to Coolidge's secretary.

The Competition and Markets Authority found that consumers have overpaid roughly £1 billion in veterinary fees over five years, highlighting a significant issue in the market.

Some [pets] were microchipped and clearly once loved, but their families had gone. It's heartbreaking for rescuers and frightening for the animals. Animals shouldn't become the forgotten victims when people leave a country in a crisis. Pets rely entirely on their owners. They can't understand why their family has suddenly disappeared so we urge those facing uncertainty to remember their animals and get a proper plan in place.

BEIRUT There are several things that make the American University of Beirut unique. Among them are its 160-year-old liberal arts education in the center of the Middle East. There is its seaside location in a cosmopolitan capital. But hands down, the college's most unusual feature is its campus cats as many as 1,600 of them. The cat rescue started during the Lebanese civil war in the 1980s when animals sought shelter from street fighting in the 1980s on its campus in the downtown Hamra area.

Our workshop has encountered all kinds of issues with vehicles over the years, but a set of fox cubs is a brand new one for us. At first, our technician thought they might be rats because the cubs are grey, rather than the typical red you would expect of a fox they gave him quite a fright.

Ever wondered what your Instagram feed says about your inner animal? Or why you scroll through TikTok like a cautious deer while your friend posts boldly like a roaring lion? The way we use social media mirrors the same personality traits scientists have found in animals for decades. Just as personality traits like neuroticism, agreeableness and extraversion have been studied in animals, these same traits shape how we present ourselves online.

For many in these animal-friendly open doors, the inclusion of a creature or two is indicative of the overall attitude of their home: They live in family spaces that are ready to absorb whatever damage kids or animals might throw at it. For others, animals might be confined to a certain space, allowing investment furniture pieces to escape unscathed from any unwanted scratch marks or stains.

In late 2025, Interpol coordinated a global operation across 134 nations, seizing roughly 30,000 live animals, confiscating illegal plant and timber products, and identifying about 1,100 suspected wildlife traffickers for national police to investigate. Wildlife trafficking is one of the most lucrative illicit industries worldwide. It nets between US$7 billion and $23 billion per year, according to the Global Environment Facility, a group of nearly 200 nations as well as businesses and nonprofits that fund environmental improvement and protection projects.

Sharing a bed with your pup can strengthen your bond, and for many people, waking up next to a happy dog is one of the best parts of the arrangement. But, according to Pet MD, there are practical factors to weigh before deciding. Dogs often stay alert even while resting, which means they may wake easily and disturb your sleep when reacting to small noises or shifting around during the night.

Dog ownership has increased dramatically in many western countries. For example, in the UK there has been an increase from around 8.3 million in 2011 to 13.5 million in 2025. That means that approximately 29% of UK adults own a dog! At least partially this increasing trend of owning a dog is linked to millennials being more likely to have children later in life.

Picture this: your friend's golden retriever rolls over during a backyard barbecue, exposing that soft, pink belly. Everyone reaches down to give those irresistible tummy rubs. The dog's tail wags, everyone laughs, and it becomes the highlight of the afternoon. We've all been there, right? That exposed belly seems like the universal dog invitation for affection. But what if I told you that sometimes, that belly display means the exact opposite of what we think?