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♥ Everything you ever wanted to know about sloths

8 Peculiar Facts About Sloths You May Not Know Of

Sloths are medium-sized mammals of the animal group Pilosa, which is related to anteaters and armadillos. They like eating tendons, leaves, and buds. All sloths have three toes, but the two-toed sloths only have two fingers. They are also tree-dwelling animals and mostly found in Central and South America. 

Apparently, sloths are slightly different from other mammals due to the variations of their cervical vertebrae. The two-toed sloths only have six cervical vertebrae, while the three-toed sloths have nine cervical vertebrae. Despite how they look, some people would love to make sloths as pets. They would spend around $700, as provided by Cost Mentor. 

But more than their physical attributes, sloths have other interesting characteristics that may surprise you. As such, here are 8 peculiar facts about these tree-hugging animals you may not be aware of.

Sloths only urinate and defecate once a week

Sloths eat a lot of food regardless of their small stomach. This is to supplement their bodies with enough nutrients. Besides that, they have a deficient metabolism, which is the reason behind their large food intakes.

They have strong claws

These arboreal mammals have long and robust nails that help them survive in the jungle. They use their claws as a defense against their predators. They swipe their claws on the ground to ward off their enemies. They barely fall victims of an attack due to their slow movement, which does not attract attention. They also blend with the trees, making it difficult for the predators to notice them.

They have less muscle mass

Because their muscle mass ranges from 25 to 30 percent of their total body weight, sloths tend to move slower than other animals. In fact, they are popularly known as the slowest animal in the world. Although their sluggish pace makes them less vulnerable up on the trees, it becomes their weakest point when they’re on the ground. Their slow movements, at times, expose them to their predators.

In addition to those facts, sloths have the ability to reduce and handle their slow metabolism. They can also control their heart rate and make it slow by holding their breaths for over 40 minutes.

Their unhygienic nature creates an ecosystem for other animals

Apparently, sloths don’t consider a regular shower a priority in their lives, so you can just imagine how filthy they can become. Their fluffy fur also highly contributes to their dirtiness, which creates a symbiotic relationship with green algae and even molds.

And did you know that sloths host moths that feed on the algae present on its skin? Even if they are dirty, they can create a sustainable environment for other living species. Additionally, the algae on the sloth’s skin also make it look green, especially during the rainy periods. Its camouflage characteristic is another defense mechanism against its predators.

Sloths can retain their grip even after death

Yes, that’s true. Sloths have powerful claws that enable them to hold themselves on trees, hence gain a powerful support. As a result, they hardly fall from where they hang on to. They can even sleep comfortably while gripping on the trees. When the sloths die, they rarely fall off from the trees and still remain clinging for quite a while.

They only come together during their mating season

Sloths live and survive on their own and barely stay together as a group. But when it’s to for them to reproduce, they meet and mate, usually late of summer and/or early fall. The male sloth may leave poo in a female's tree or on their tree as a way of telling the latter that they’re ready to mate. On the other hand, female sloths are known to scream when they want or are ready to mate.

After the mating period, the females give birth to their young ones after ten months. It is, however, difficult for female sloths to conceive if they cling to their trees and fail to find the males.

Sloths are excellent swimmers

It seems unlikely, but they can swim much faster than the way they walk. Their muscles highly contribute to their swimming abilities and make them flexible on water.

They can turn their heads up to a large angle

Due to their cervical vertebrae, sloths are capable of turning their heads through a large angle up to 270 degrees without breaking or injuring their necks.

♥ Kate Upton and Justin Verlander spend the day finding homes for dogs

Detroit Tigers pitcher, Justin Verlander and his fiancé, supermodel and actress, Kate Upton, spent the day with some very special friends. The friendly, adoptable shelter dogs, all from the SPCA Florida, are looking for their forever homes and families.

The Wins for Warriors Foundation, which was founded by Justin Verlander, teamed up with the Detroit Tigers to host the Grand Slam Adoption Event in Lakeland, Florida on Saturday, March 18, 2017.

Kate & Justin hosted the event which will benefit the SPCA Florida and K9s for Warriors.

This is the third annual Grand Slam Adoption Event in Lakeland and it continues to help boost adoption in the area. It's great to see celebrities like Justin and Kate care enough to spend their time helping these special animals and organizations.

To find out more about or donate to this annual event, please visit their website at grandslamadoption.com.

Have a Happy & Safe St. Patrick's Day!

In Honor of the 21 Pit Bulls

♥ Adopt your own little Purrito...available at any local shelter

Updated List of Revolting Fur-Wearing Celebrities

Indeed...

Spotlight on Bob Barker

Bob Barker, born in 1923, is known by most as the amiable host of television game shows such as The Price is Right, Truth or Consequences and others.  But, more importantly, he's known to many as a man with a heart of gold and a seemingly tireless dedication to animal rights.

He has always been an animal lover and became an activist in 1979 after becoming a vegetarian and, subsequently, becoming more aware of just how appallingly animals were being treated. Since that time, he has generously given his time and money to help animals in every circumstance including shelters, circuses and the fur industry. 

Barker does not wear leather and has been an outspoken opponent of the use of fur on his shows. In 1987, he urged the producers of the Miss Universe Pageant to discontinue having the contestants wear fur. At first, they agreed and when they reneged on their promise, Barker resigned as host.  He was also instrumental in changing some of the prizes awarded on The Price is Right.  They stopped giving away fur coats, anything made of leather, hunting safaris and don't include bullfights with a trip to Spain. 

Regarding "Fur Free Friday" (the day after Thanksgiving), Barker says,  "I urge anyone who has the opportunity to speak out against fur to make their contempt for fur known at every opportunity, and to point out that fur is no longer chic… that it is a thing of the past. Most of the young people are not wearing fur. It’s the older people who wear it. When this generation is no more, hopefully fur will be no more."

In 1994, he founded the DJ&T Foundation, named for his beloved, late wife, Dorothy Jo and his mother, Tilly, both of whom were animal lovers. It was created to fund animal rescue facilities and neutering programs all over the United States supporting low cost Spay/Neuter Clinics and Voucher Programs. Barker has endowed the foundation so it may continue funding projects indefinitely.

For many years, Barker ended episodes of the Price is right with the phrase, "Help control the pet population, have your pets spayed or neutered". Following in his footsteps, Drew Carey continued this tradition after succeeding him as host of the game show.

A man who puts his money where his mouth is, Bob Barker made two staggering donations in 2010:

1. In March, he donated $2.5 millions dollars to PETA to build a new facility in Los Angeles.

2. In January, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society received a $5,000,000 donation to purchase and outfit a ship to help prevent illegal whaling. The ship was named for Barker.

Pet Food Guides - Consumer Affairs

Finding the best food for your pets can prove to be difficult. With all the commercial ads saying their products are  best... how do you know which one is the right for your pet? You can read the labels but unless you know what to look for, it can be confusing. The folks at Consumer Affairs have created a pet food guide with all the necessary information to make the right choice for your pet's needs. Here are a few of the topics you'll find in the guides:

• Best-Rated Dog and Cat Foods

• Understanding Nutritional Content

• Compare Reviews

• The Different types of foods

• Expert Opinions

• Understanding food labels

♥ Hug an animal today....Happy Valentine's Day!

♥ Waka Flocka & Daphna

Ringling Bros Circus to Close Permanently

Remembering our Animal Champions

Unfortunately, we've lost so many dedicated animal advocates and they are simply irreplaceable. But their legacies live on in all the human and animal lives they've touched through their kindness and generosity. They were selfless, compassionate individuals who loved and cared enough to help those who cannot help themselves. Thank you, we will never forget...