Interesting and Bizarre Predatory Animal Defenses

Evolution in the animal kingdom has caused species to partake in an armed race, which ultimately causes their adaptive traits to change over time within their gene pool. This trait may have been caused as a side affect of another adaptive mechanism or the dominate trait took over the adapted to protect the animal.
In many cases, a new defense can hinder an animals behavior or a relationship between a predator and it’s prey can change which then presents another problem for the weaker of the animals.If the species cannot adapt to the environment with their new trait, they will go extinct, therefore allowing the species with that new trait that are adaptable to inhabit the pool.

This idea of Natural selection is one of the cornerstones of modern biology and was introduced by Charles Darwin in his 1859 groundbreaking book “Origin of the Species”. This book explained the process by which the desirable traits of animals and plants are favored by the environment.

Peppered Moth

The peppered moth comes in two forms, both white and molted. Before the industrial Revolution, they were commonly found with just a white coloration, however due to the pollution in the factories the molted coloration became for common. In all actuality, the molted trait allowed this species to blend with the environment, therefore this camouflage became the dominant trade.

Hammerhead Shark

Hammerhead sharks, amongst many other species of shark, are darker colored on their dorsal side and lighter on their ventral. This coloration allows them to blend with the colors of the sea, as well as warding off predators from below. Also, the head is mostly used to make swift turns while looking for food, therefore the movements and placements of the eyesockets are not a predatory defense. However, there are electroreceptory sensory pores called ampullae embedded throughout the body which allows them to detect prey by a type of sonar.

Rock Ptarmigan

The ptarmigan lives in a snow covered environment for most of the year, so white plumage on their ventral side allows them to blend. However, when the snow melts their dorsal feathers change colors to a light brown. What’s fascinating about these creatures is that they act very much like assassins, covering themselves up with dirt and mud, with only an eyeball showing.

Variegated Urchins

The variegated urchin tends to pick up debris such as sand and shells and holds them over their body like an umbrella to avoid detection. They also use this defense to protect themselves against sharks and other predators.

Hagfish

Hagfish are the slimiest fish in the ocean, which of course is a very bizarre and useful defense. When they are overly stressed or being attacked, they will produce an enormous amount of mucous and the predator can not get a hold of them and may suffocate. Hagfish will also tie themselves in an overhand knot so when the predator tries to take hold, the slime makes it easier to get free.

Bluelashed Butterflyfish

The butterflyfish has dark, rounded spots on it’s caudal side, which fools the predator into thinking it’s biting the head, instead of the tail. If the fish does get bitten it will still be able to swim away injured.

Monarch Butterfly

The Monarch is not typically toxic, although the plants that it consumes are. The butterfly will store the toxins in their tissues, therefore when a bird or or another predator tries to eat it they will fall ill. Although the bright coloration of the butterfly is an attraction for predators, the fowl taste usually allows for the Monarch to remain unharmed.

Tephritid Fly

Jumping Spider

The tephritid fly resembles the jumping spider in that it waves it’s antennae to warn other flys that a predator is near. If the fly encounters a spider and mimics the same behavior, it avoids being attacked and even eaten.

Adelie Penguins

When Adelie penguins leave their breeding grounds to feed, they form small groups and jump into the water together. Doing this allows the penguins to escape a seal attack considering it’s more difficult for the seal to capture a group, rather than one individual penguin. While swimming in the groups, the penguins are able to reach their feeding ground.

Hognose Snake

The Hognose snake will flip on it’s back and roll up if being attacked. It will release an odor resembling a dead animal, therefore it wards away predators and no one likes the taste of spoiled meat.

Amazing Exotics: Evolutionary, Strange, and Bizarre Species of The World

A vital part of the preservation process is to leave living space for life. Of course, as priorities change and humans continue to destroy what’s left of nature, little will be left over to sustain these evolutionary species.

Billions of years ago, our earliest ancestors established themselves on planet earth. The earth that we see today is filled with fossilized organisms that prove, without a doubt, that life has continued to evolve and change with each planetary formation.

Now, imagine an animal that lives in freezing waters or at pressures that would crush a human being in an instant. These are the animals that fascinate us the most. Although the appearance of exotic birds and the smooth stride of the panther is to be admired, the creatures that have remained among us through destruction of our planet day after day are the ones that are the most intriguing.

Himalayan Monal

The Himalyan Monal nests close to 4 kilometer’s above the sea level where thye form deep holes that capture insects. Like the peacock, the male is the most colorful during the months of April and May. This is the time their iridescent plumage is viewed in all it’s glory. They are natives of Nepal, as well as the state bird of Uttarakhand.
They can be found in Afghanistan through the Himalayas including Kashmir region of Northern Pakistan, India (states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh), Nepal, southern Tibet and Bhutan

Marvellous Spatuletail

Typically Spatuletail are found in the forests of Peru where nectar is plentiful. They are named for their iridescent feathers and classified as the only bird in the world with 4 tail feathers. The males have a set of discs that seem to overlap and measure close to 3 times the length of their body. Their display feathers are shed at the end of the breeding season, however this process is long and grueling for the males that have to lug them around until that time.

Blue Bird of Paradise

The Blue Bird of Paradise is said to be the most beautiful bird in the world. The male will hang upside down from the branches in a colorful display for the females. His chest has a large red oval that expands and retracts in a hypnotic fashion and when they close their eyes, their eyelids create an unearthly appearance. The male uses a type of buzzing to make his body dance, therefore the female gets excited and allows copulation.

Namdapha Flying Squirrel

In 1981, the discovery of a plush red creature was located near Namdapha in a forest in the Tirap district of the Indias Arunchal Pradesh state. Only one was ever captured, however it is said that only a few still survive in the habitat with the increased deforestation in India. It’s amazing they lasted this long. Millions of years of evolution down the drain with every tree we destroy.

Starry Batfish

In 1902, a specimen was found 400 meters near the Hawaiian Islands. The fish was able to walk along the ocean floor using it’s fins for feet. They are able to propel themselves with their side gills and the protective armor that consists of interlocking bone plates is used for protection. The Batfish is usually found in the Pacific and Indian oceans at depths of 300 meters where they prefer to walk instead of swim.

Mysore Slender Loris

In southern India, this lemur like primate moves along the branches in a deliberate and graceful manner. They always walk on the tops of the branches, never hanging from below, possibly in an attempt to remain in control of their hunt. Similar to most fruit loving primates, these creatures still enjoy a swift and lightning fast attack on a lizard or insect. As you can see from the video, their quite the little charmers.

Black Spotted Cuscus

The spotted Cuscus is one of the most colorful marsupials with the males having a black or brown pattern on their backs and the female with a solid black saddle. These creatures can be seen in the high forest trees of New Guinea and are similar in size to the koala. They are usually seen during the day rummaging through the forest for fruits and leaves. Unfortunately, their beautiful fur is in high demand for clothing and hats, so suffice it to say the population is dwindling and will soon be non existent.

Gulpers

Gulpers are almost completely all mouth which allows them to swallow their prey whole. On many occasions, their victims are as large they are. Their eyes are very weak so it’s possible that a change in water pressure, along with their hairlike filaments, allows these creatures to detect prey.

After the Gulpers mate, they ingest their teeth and jaws for calcium, thus becoming a sack of jelly. They can be found close to 10,000 feet in the aphotic zone.

Satyr Tragopan

The Tragopan is native to central China and sets up its dwelling in the mountains of the Himalayas. Their erectile organs, including the lappet and horns, are in full display when the bird is excited. Above all, theTragopan is a ladies man as far as the females are concerned.

White Uakari

The White Uakari is possibly one of the most fasciating of creatures with its bright red face and long white fur that acts as a garment. The Uakari is the only short tailed monkey found in South America, found in northern Brazil. It doesn’t leap branch to branch looking for food, possibly because it fears falling into the water, which they are not fond of in the least.

They love fruits and insects, but they adore Brazil nuts which they can open easily with their powerful jaws and teeth.

Long Tailed Tree Pongolian

The Pongolin looks very similar to an anteater, but they have similar behaviors of a domesticated dog or cat. They don’t have sharp teeth so they tend to pick up small pebbles with their sticky tongue when they are consuming insects so they can grind up their food before swallowing.

When in danger, they roll up in a tight ball. Of course, their outer scales are razor sharp so most predators are unsuccessful in their hunt.

Tomato Frog

The Tomato frog is typically found in Madagascar, one of the strangest islands on earth. They are large and plump like a tomato, hence the name. They are only seen at night during the rainy season and in ditches in Maroansetra.

Crested Rat

The Crested Ratis found in North America and is closely related to the black rat. They have a white strip down their backs along with a bushy mane, making them look more like a skunk than a rat. Their defense against predators is a mal odor excreted from glands that tastes and smells horrendous.

Olm

An eminent cave dweller, the Olm has survived for over 130 million years. The first specimen ever found was in 1744 in a cavern in Slovenia by Baron Valvasor who thought he had found a dragon. It was later said that this creature was kept in a jar for 12 years in the refrigerator at 6 degrees celcius. When it was removed, its digestive system had disappeared, yet it still remained alive.

Their lifespan is over 100 years and it’s possible that they have escaped extinction by becoming part of a life that’s neither day or night.

Stoplight Loosejaw

As bizarre as these creatures are, they are quite common and found in oceans all around the world. They are ferocious hunters, using a rapid grab with their jaws that are made out of skin, tendon, and bones. This allows them to latch onto their prey strongly before the final kill. When they have captured their prey, it remains outside their body before being consumed with the help of a pair of teeth in its throat.

The Loosejaw is one of the only snipers in the water, using an organ located under their eyes as a scope for catching shrimp that usually swim in the darkness.

Species Extinction: DDT is Not The Only Culprit

The banning of a dangerous pesticide came in time but man would not allow a little bird to survive.

Pictured above is a marshy wetland area near Merritt Island created by the St. John’s River which meanders slowly from south to north through the state of Florida. It was the former home of the Dusky Seaside Sparrow, a non-migratory songbird that was found ony in this part of the country and a part of it now is a National Wildlife Reserve.


It was back before World War II when the pesticide popularly known as DDT was introduced to control the mosquito population around the area that is now the site of the Kennedy Space Center. That chemical entered the food chain and reduced the population of the sparrows by 70 percent. However, that still left 600 breeding pairs–sufficient for the species to rebound over time but man was notfinished with his never ending battle against the pesky mosquito.

Merritt Island was flooded in an attempt to destroy the insects’ breeding areas. The effect was to devastate the sparrows’ nesting grounds and their numbers severly declined. To make matters worse marshes around the river were drained in order to accommodate construction of I-95 and by 1979 only six of the dusky seaside sparrows remained on earth–all males.

Sadly, the last remaining bird of the species died in 1987 and the dusky seaside sparrow was officially declared to be extinct in 1990. Mosquitos continue to thrive in the area around the Kennedy Space Center.

When Nature Attacks: The Five Ugliest Animals Ever

Echidna

In Greek mythology it’s a “she viper” who mothered every single horrible monster in Greek myths. And looking at this horrid creature, it’s no surprise why this animal got this name. It is a mammal that lays eggs, eats ants, and is covered with spines (and you thought the platypus was weird). They have snouts that function as both the nose and the mouth. The male echidna has a penis with 4 heads, although 2 never fully mature. It’s basically what would happen if an anteater and a hedgehog mated… only uglier.

Almiqui

The almiqui is a mammal that looks like a rat with a long, naked, scaly tail. It is apparently aware of its extreme ugliness and went into hiding long ago. A hundred years ago some thought the almiqui had become extinct, but back in 2003 it was discovered the almiqui still lived. As if its looks weren’t enough to keep you away, its saliva is venomous. Fortunately, it’s believed they only live in Cuba.

Tarsier

Usually when people or animals have large eyes, it makes them appear extra cute. Well, here’s the exception to that rule. ThisSoutheast Asian primate has eyes so big, just one eye ball is the same size as their brain. They have elongated fingers, with their middle finger being as long as theirarms. Not only are these guys ugly, they are apparently too stupid to evolve. Fossil records of tarsiers go back 45 million years… and according to scientists, theypretty much looked the same back then (I guess their key to species survival was to be so ugly, they made dinosaurs lose their appetites). I’m wondering if the tarsier was the inspiration behind Gollum in Lord of the Rings…or maybe Yoda.

Opossum

These buggers are so ugly, its first letter left in protest. The letter “O” refuses to be associated with this animal and that is the real reason why we pronounce them “possum”. Opossum have more teeth than any other land mammal and are almost completely immune to the venom of several deadly snakes. They cannot possibly be of terrestrial origin. I suspect aliens… or maybe alien spies?

Keep Rabbits as Pets and Take Care of Them

It’s nearing Easter and I figured, why not write about cute and cuddly rabbits for a change. These meek little critters are great pets. With an average lifespan of around 12 years, they can sure keep you company for a long time.

Housing

Unlike what you see in Bugs Bunny cartoons, you need not dig a hole in the ground. You can actually keep them either indoors or outdoors. If you plan to place them outside, just be sure to provide shelter that can protect them from weather, direct sunlight and winds.

It’s best to line the flooring with straw (wood shavings like cedar can cause them health problems). If you happen to live near the woods, better make sure that their enclosure’s well protected from other wild animals. You don’t want them to be wolf food.

Food

Rabbits are quite sensitive to food. And don’t think that all they eat are carrots all day. Like us, they need a balanced diet too. They do chew on straw and hay but they also need some more nutrition apart from fiber. Pet stores usually have pellets and rabbit food mixes that are basically mixes of dried veggies and cereals. Though fresh carrots and lettuce once in a while. They do need lots of water too. Be sure to use a feeding bottle.

Petting and Handling

Rabbits can be lifted up from the loose skin they have on their back. To carry it around, it’s best to support is lower body with your forearm and hold it near your chest. You hand should be supporting its upper body. If you’re a regular Elmyra Duff, don’t you even dare own a pet.

Rabbits could use some activity too. Let them out of their enclosure once in a while so they can hop and play. Lack of activity may cause them to have weakened muscles and be overweight.

Grooming and Cleaning

Rabbits are neat animals. But they can sure benefit from grooming. Grooming mittens can be bought from your pet stores. Just stroke the pet’s fur towards its natural direction. Make sure you groom every area, even the underside. Their nails can also use some trimming once in a while. And be sure to keep their ears and teeth clean.

Like cats, rabbits can be taught to use litterboxes. Better start when they’re still small.

Clean their enclosure everyday if possible. Change the straw bedding and make sure you get out all the droppings.

Take Care with Immediate Cow Marketing

English dairy and beef herds should take particular care with the renewed food chain marketing of animals born after July 1996 in the immediate aftermath of the OTM rule change, advises the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX). Only by doing so will they avoid a number of potential pitfalls as well as maintaining all-important beef market stability.The shortage of manufacturing beef continuing across Europe means commercial cull cow values in most countries are markedly higher than current OTMS compensation rates. However, UK producers will only be able to take full advantage of this favourable opportunity once the bone-in beef export ban is lifted – hopefully as early as the coming February – and processors re-establish their European trade – which will take a little longer.

Without export opportunities, the immediate prospects for commercial cull cow values depend on a number of other time-related factors. These include the number and location of abattoirs approved to process Over 30 Month cattle for the food chain; differences between commercial dressing specifications and OTMS practice; the extra costs incurred by abattoirs in the segregation of carcases and by-products pending BSE test results; and the successful establishment of the new market with its associated supply chain adjustments.

The marketability of cull cows will also be influenced by their farm assurance status and, in the case of dairy culls in particular, the fact that many animals are of a very different size and conformation to those last marketed commercially nearly 10 years ago.

Against this background, for the immediate future, EBLEX advises cull cow producers to:

• Ensure they have the required beef assurance certification;
• Identify and investigate your local cull auction or convenient abattoir outlets for cull cows and establish their requirements, dressing specifications and pricing schedules;
• Continue selling ill, poorly-conformed or very lightweight stock born after July 1996 into the OTM scheme for as long as the option remains available;
• Consider finishing animals only if the price differentials between poor and good culls make putting on extra weight and condition worthwhile;
• Plan culling and any cull finishing to avoid traditional peaks of sales;
• Establish a simple evaluation system to assess all culls for their suitability for finishing;
• Examine the availability of surplus or cheaply-acquired feeds and facilities for on-farm
  finishing that do not interfere with the primary milk-producing enterprise; and,
• Evaluate the prospects for home finishing against the opportunities for selling cull cows for finishing elsewhere.

How To Care for a Sick Bird at Home

Caring for a sick or injured bird at home is extremely stressful and frightening. You should immediately contact your avian veterinarian if your bird has been injured or appears sick. Your vet will give you instructions on how to provide supportive care at home, but here are a few guidelines.

Here's How:

1. If the sick or injured bird is housed with other birds, or if his cage is fairly large, you should remove him from the cage and place him into a carrier or hospital cage. A hospital cage can be made from a smaller cage or a small glass fish tank. If he's going to stay in his cage, remove the perches and pad the bottom with a towel.

2. You need to provide heat. Heating lamps, heating pads, or hot water bottles do the job well. Set up the hospital cage so that the bird can get away from the heat source if he needs to. The temperature should be around 80-90 degrees.

3. Provide fluids. Birds who are not eating or drinking need fluids immediately! You may have to use a small syringe to get your bird to drink. Use something like Pedialyte or 100% fruit juice. Be gentle if you have to force-feed your bird the fluids. Gently wrap her in a towel and use a syringe to put a few drops of fluid into her mouth at a time.

4. Offer your bird's favorite foods to entice him to eat. This might be seed or millet, just make sure it's high-quality and fresh.

5. Check with your vet to see if you should also be adding extra supplements to your bird's food or fluid source.

6. Your vet may give you medicine to administer to your bird. You will most likely need to give medicine by syringe. It's a good idea to always keep birds used to syringes by offering them favorite treats like warmed baby food by syringe on a regular basis. Remember to keep all medications refrigerated and stored properly and to always use clean syringes.

7. You may need to hand-feed your bird if he's not eating. You can buy commercial parrot hand-feeding formula in powder form that you mix with warm water and is fed by syringe. You can store unopened hand-feeding formula in the freezer.

8. Keep other pets and people away from your bird. His environment should be kept quiet. Don't take him out to play, just let him rest.

9. Keep in contact with your vet. He or she should provide you with a number to call after hours if you notice additional signs of illness or if your bird begins to decline.

10. Don't blame yourself! Birds are masters at hiding signs of illness, and sometimes it's nearly impossible to tell when they aren't feeling well until they're really sick. Do the best you can and always work with your vet.

Tips

1. Don't panic. Call your vet when you notice that something is wrong with your bird.

2. Keep your bird warm. Heat is essential! If your bird has to use his energy to keep his body warm, he won't have enough energy to get his body well again.

3. Store extra bottles of Pedialyte, unopened, in your pantry for emergencies. Store hand-feeding formula in the freezer.

4. Keep your vet's number and the address of the clinic handy at all times. When you're panicking, it could be difficult to find the number.

5. Keep an avian first aid kit on hand at all times.

What You Need:

•A competent avian vet

•A heating source

•Fluids such as Pedialyte

•Hand-feeding formula if your bird is not eating

•Syringes that are the right size for your bird

Caring for birds

Birds are amazing little buddies. Contrary to the expression, "birdbrain," birds are surprisingly smart, especially those of the parrot family. They can learn tricks, learn to imitate speech, and they develop attachments to their owners just as other domestic animals such as dogs or cats.

Caring for birds, however, can be a trickier business than these larger, domestic pets. Birds have delicate and fragile bodies, especially their cartilage and their lungs. When picking a room to place your new pet bird in, make sure you consider the following:

1. Is the room connected to the kitchen? This could be the #1 fatalistic mistake new bird owners make. A small amount of smoke or the vapors from TEFLON cookware could kill a bird in instants.

2. Is the cage close to a window? Drafts from cold weather or an open window could lead to sickness or escape. Birds may also fly into glass, not being able to see that it is there.

3. When letting the bird out of the cage, is the ceiling fan running? This could lead to serious injury or death. Other objects that the bird could potentially crash into, including candle flames should be noted.

Other things to consider that are very important to the health and well-being of your bird:

4. Make sure you get instructions from the breeder or your vet on how to clip wings. If done correctly, this will be painless and will keep your bird safe from indoor flying injuries.

5. Make sure you know the proper diet for your bird. Birds can die from eating certain foods that contain chocolate or caffeine. Check with your vet for other specific foods to avoid. A good diet includes a wide variety of grains, seeds, fruits, and green vegetables as well as adequate hydration.

6. Placement of the cage at a height that is higher than the humans standing in a room will cause your bird to think it owns you and it will get cocky and elusive. In order to bond well with your bird, place him at eye-level or lower.

7. If your bird has a partner, it is less likely to bond with you. If it is alone, however, you will have to invest time to prevent loneliness and depression. If you leave for extended periods of time each day, it is best to leave music or the television on softly in the background for the bird to feel as though there were company.

8. Making sure your bird's environment is safe and clean is very important. Make sure his cage is beg enough for him to spread his wings twice as long if he needed to, and that there is enough room to hop around and play with his toys. Keep the cage clean and give him a variety of toys. Keeping a millet for birds to snack on also keeps them happy!

Recognizing signs of a healthy or sick bird means you could get to the vet in time to save his life or know that you are on a good track to keeping your bird healthy.

SIGNS OF A HEALTHY BIRD:

- good appetite

-sings often

-active

stands on one leg to sleep

-sleeps with head turned 180 degrees

SIGNS OF A SICK BIRD

-loss of appetite

-inactivity

-does not sing often

-sneezing, wheezing

- standing on two, widespread legs to sleep

-falling off perch

Taking care of birds can be a delicate business, but but it can be very rewarding. A happy and healthy bird can make an adorable little animal friend!

A Friendly Parisian Birdie

10 Common But Terrible Reasons to Relinquish a Pet 71

Ask any domestic animal rescuer in the world. For far too many people, it seems, a pet is just a disposable object, deserving only as much love as we have the attention span to give.

Every day, I see advertisements for people "rehoming" their pets with various excuses. There's always an excuse, but it never seems to be a good one. Here's the top ten that I hear, in no particular order.

The Big Ten

1. I'm moving. Unless you are moving to the Sun, chances are your pets would rather go with you than be shuffled from home to home. There is pet-friendly housing everywhere, and what with the marvel of modern technology and all, it's possible to transport your pet everywhere. Even if a building says "no dogs" in its policy, it's possible they'd be willing to bend the rules if you pay a pet deposit or if the owners met your dog. There is almost always a way.

2. The landlord said no pets. Then why did you get one? Before adopting a pet, you need to always ensure that it is within your rental agreement (if you don't own). You should have never given this animal the hope that it would be loved forever if you knew that you couldn't keep it.

3. The animal doesn't get along with my other pets or my kids. Did you properly introduce them? Teach your children proper behavior around their new family member? Is there a safe escape spot for each pet in the household? Did you work with a trainer or behaviorist to iron out behavioral issues? If you did all of these things, your animals and kids would all get along fine. Millions of other families are doing it; why can't you work it out?

4. She's peeing all over the house and chewed the furniture. My husband says she's got to go! Did you even try to housebreak this animal? Or did you expect her to come into your home knowing exactly how you would like her to behave? Animals do not inherently understand human standards; they have to be taught. Almost no pet cannot be housetrained in one way or another. Become an educated pet owner before surrendering your pet for a silly reason!

5. We just don't have the time to love him as much as he deserves. Does he deserve to be euthanized in a shelter after no one has adopted him in 7 to 30 days (if not less)? Even if you get home late a few nights a week, your pet wants to be with you not to adjust to an entirely different household, and that's the best case scenario! There is always a way to get in a relief visit (neighborhood kids would drop in to give your dog or cat some loving for $5 a day, I bet) or two in during the long days when you can't get home.

6. I just had a baby. The cat and the kid together are too much work! A baby alone is "too much work," but that doesn't mean you give up! And if you have had this animal for years, how much of a nuisance is it to you now, really? Is it worth bearing the emotional trauma of giving up your dog when you can just "weather the storm" for a few months and come out of it a happy family? Toddlers and dogs can be pricelessly cute.

7. I'm getting divorced (or just broke up with my live-in significant other), and neither of us can take care of her anymore. How terrible that we allow human disputes to ruin the lives of our animals. There has got to be a way to keep the animal in this case, even if it means asking a family member to "foster" her for a few months until you get your life settled.

8. I got him to be a guard dog, and now he doesn't bark! First of all... what?! Second of all, did you even teach your dog that you want him to bark at strangers? Or just expect that he would? Some breeds of dog don't tend to bark a lot, and some bark like maniacs. Did you do research to figure out which breed would be best for your situation? And because your dog is not filling its role of "house alarm" you want to give it away?

9. We gave her to our kids as a present, and now they don't take care of him like they promised. Adopting a pet with the expectation that your only kids will take care of him is absurd. Do your kids make their bed every day? Offer to do the dishes? Clean the toilets and pack lunch for themselves in the morning? If you want to adopt a pet for the family, that's fine, but expect to do all the work yourself and leave the loving to your kids.

10. I have become allergic. Four words for you: Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique.