The Ark In Space

Cats In Sinks

Monday, 22 August 2022

The old proverb is true. In a cat's eye, everything belongs to cats. That includes, well, everything - including your sink. What has a certain use for us may be interpreted as useful in an altogether different way by our feline friends. So it is with that useful household item, the sink. Cats love them - but for very different reasons to us. Prepared to be bemused and amused at the same time. The words are related - we need no better excuse. So, because they can so can we - welcome to the world of cats in sinks.

Image Credit Flickr User ikarl67

They may always be quite certain what they are doing there themselves, as Phoebe the gorgeous Persian here seems to be indicating with that rather sullen but perplexed look on her face. Perhaps that old Moroccan saying is true, after all - you cannot teach an old cat to dance.

Doggles – Dogs in Sunglasses

Saturday, 12 March 2022

Image Credit Flickr User vyxle

How do I look in these? That age old question about sunglasses is now not only restricted to our own species. Now the dogs are getting in on the act too. A surprise hit, it has been described as one of those money making ideas that should never have worked but in fact makes millions.

Image Credit Flickr User Lakewentworth

Unexpectedly Funny Things to do with Hamsters When You're Bored

Thursday, 28 October 2021

Hamsters – they’re adorable and surprisingly good company too. Here we take a look at some unexpectedly funny things you can do with hamsters when you’re bored – and throw in some cool facts about hamsters at the same time!

1. Amuse Him With Your Office Anecdotes

Hamsters love to hear what went on at the office. In fact they like nothing better than a long and intense monologue. Start with the time you got to work and give him a blow by blow account of the day’s activities. You can even tell him those secrets that you can’t tell anyone else, like who is having an affair with the boss. Hamsters love gossip!

Why Does a Dog Lick Its Nose?

Saturday, 12 June 2021

When dogs are in their training stage a question that comes up a great deal is why do dogs lick their noses? While it is tempting to simply go with the old chestnut of an answer – because they can – there are a number of reasons why a dog might lick its own nose. Are they thinking about speedy paper reviews? One thing is for certain sure, however: while they are doing it they often bring a smile to the faces of their human companions. As you can see from this spread of pictures, it is sometimes difficult to resist this particular canine photo opportunity.

Image Credit Flickr User Evansville

Cat on the Menu

Sunday, 31 January 2021

Image Credit Flickr User Laszlo Photo

Sometimes you should take things a little more literally! This charming picture was taken outside of the Dolphin Restaurant in Sultanahmet, Istanbul. We would not dream of giving places which would serve up cat for lunch or dinner a molecule of the oxygen of publicity! Yet, for at least one day there really was cat on the menu at the Dolphin Restaurant!

You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore

Saturday, 28 April 2018

This alligator in Florida was captured on camera by Flickr user Marc Barrison. While we should really - at all costs - avoid anthropomorphism, when you see a picture of an alligator with flowers on its head its is really hard to resist the temptation. It might be hard to take an apex predator seriously with such a pretty bonnet but I would imagine that if it chose to lunge - flowers or no - we might not be the ones having the last laugh!

Happy Baby Pygmy Goats

Friday, 4 August 2017

There is nothing better than having a good feed when you are hungry - and when you are a baby pygmy goat you tend to be hungry most of the time! These six little goats not so gruff indicate their pleasure with a furious wagging of their tales.

What is more the pygmy goat is a friendly little beast even when it is not being fed - and a whole heap of fun in to the bargain. Although they may not immediately spring to mind as the perfect suburban pet as long as you have a mid-sized garden at the back of your house they can make engaging pets.

Unlike their cousin the standard goat, pygmies are kept simply for the fun of having them around and of course, the goat gets to have a lot of fun at the same time. They are not what is known as a utility animal in as much as they are never kept for their milk. Really, how much milk are you going to get out of one of these mini goats anyway? As for their meat – no way! This is the goat that is kept purely as a pet.

Gibbon Versus Dog

Wednesday, 10 August 2016

This is a video of my B Leon’s dog Dam, fighting with the neighborhood Gibbon in Thailand near the Mayanmar (Burma) border.

The gibbons's name is Chani (gibbon, Thai), and the dogs name is Dam (black, Thai). Mr Leon did not name the dog, but it is a traditional Thai name for a black dog or cat. He found the majority of pets names in Thailand corresponded to their colors. He did name the gibbon though.

Chani was extremely friendly to B Leon during his stay in Thailand; she would sit on his shoulder and groom his hair, and loved to be swung by her arms or legs. Her strength is phenomenal; yet don't be fooled by how gentle and playful she is with Dam. She was seen to grab birds on the fly with lightening fast reflexes and snap their necks all in a split second. Chani has always been gentle kind and playful and motherly around pets, friends and children. Feeding animals especially monkeys in Thailand is believed to bring a blessing in Thai Buddhism.

Potty Training at the Sloth Orphanage

Thursday, 4 August 2016

That must be one of the weirdest post titles ever but it does exactly what it says on the bottle as it were. This is part of a documentary being made by Lucy Cooke about a sloth sanctuary and orphanage in Aviarios del Caribe in Costa Rica. It does extremely important and serious work but there are lighthearted moments to be had. One of them is ensuring that baby sloths learn how to poo (as the lady puts it in the film!) properly.

One of the funniest things I have heard for a long time is the sound of the baby sloth crying on this video - even tho that does sound a little cruel of me. The main subject of the clip brings a smile to the face as the whole process of sloth bowel evacuation is one that seems to end in something close to orgasm for the animal - the blissful look on their faces make them look like teenage stoners after the munchies have been satisfied.

Absolutely Cuckoo Cats

One cat can be a handful, but three altogether?

Here are Lelo, Nega, Cinzy who are just about to show the world exactly how cuckoo cats can actually be.

With a more than appropriate soundtrack to go with it, if you are a cat lover you will love this two minute look in to the lives of three head shaking mischief makers!

It is great to see a bunch of cats just getting on with being cats!

Hey! A Dog isn't just for Christmas - it's for Halloween Too!

Saturday, 31 October 2015

Image Credit Mccun 1994

Every year on October 31 the ghouls and ghosts rise - and people make fools of themselves all over the world by wearing ridiculous outfits. Well, Halloween isn't just for humans, you know! Here we bring together some wonderful shots of pets of all sizes (OK, dogs - they are the only ones who seem to be able to put up with it!) in their Halloween outfits. Enjoy this great set of pictures of the dogs of the world dressing up in their Halloween costumes.

Image Credit Flickr User istolethetv

Baby Elephant’s Bathtub is a Tight Squeeze

Thursday, 9 April 2015

Kids are kids, whatever the species. So when this baby elephant at the Elephantstay sanctuary in Thailand saw his bath being filled his first reaction is, like any sensible child, to make a run up to it and dive in head first.

Unfortunately there comes a time when one outgrows the paddling pool and this pampered pachyderm hardly fits!
I never knew that elephants were capable of such contortions (but the older one in the background is doing its best been there done that air of nonchalence.

Laundry Basket Cat

Sunday, 11 January 2015

If you never quite seem to get your aim right when throwing things in to your laundry basket then this might be the solution. Get yourself a cat like this one. Simply place cat in laundry basket and then begin to throw your clothes.

Laundry Basket Cat will ensure their safe arrival at their final pre-wash destination by leaping out and retrieving your errant (and flying) socks, shirts and sundries. Cat-tastic!

Dogs on Ice

Saturday, 6 December 2014

Dogs like nothing better than when something a little out of the ordinary happens. So, when the world has turned white one morning and the water has gone hard and slippery, you can’t blame a dog for getting a little excited, can you?

Image Credit

Image Credit Anna632

At first you might be a little unsteady on your paws but when there is a new and interesting experience to be had then a few slips and slides hardly matter.

What One Dog Gets up to When Home Alone

Sunday, 12 January 2014

Dogs like food – that’s a well-established fact. Some, however, are willing to go to great lengths to get to their between meal snack. Take Lucy for example. Her human, Rodd Scheinerman had caught her with her head in his oven on a previous occasion and decided to catch her red handed if she tried to do it again.

He put some chicken nuggets in the oven and left the house. His cam secured in the kitchen area, this very funny piece of film was waiting for him on his return. Lucy had heard the oven alarm indicating that the chicken nuggets were ready. What she does next is ingenious, funny, charming and just a little bit naughty all at the same time!

If you are a dog lover I am sure you will enjoy this home movie which no doubt will (like Lucy) be treasured for many years to come by Mr Scheinerman and his family.

Shake

Monday, 21 October 2013

If this doesn’t make your day then I am not sure what will… Take a number of dogs, film them shaking off water and then slow the film down… right down until every twist and turn, each slobber and swerve is captured. It is quite amazing how something so everyday becomes so entrancing!

The inspiration for this short piece came when the team from Variable, a production company & creative collective based in New York City saw the still photography of Carli Davidson which went viral last year. They contacted her to see if she would be interested in taking her project a step further and capturing the dogs with the moving image. As you can see, Variable got a big yes from Carli and they have now unleashed this fantastic video on to the internet.

If you love this as much as we did here at Ark in Space then you may like to know that Shake The Book is now available too, featuring many of Carli Davidson’s wonderful portraits of dogs captured in time while doing the shake…

Sam the Dog Enjoys a Day at the Beach

Sunday, 22 September 2013

Some dogs don’t like water but that’s OK. The ones that do make up for it in the joyous way that they will leap in to water wherever it is. Whether it’s a lake, a river or an ocean there is always going to be a dog more than happy to participate.

That’s the case with Sam (who is a chocolate Labrador by the looks) who took his human Andres Santos for a great day at the beach recently. Andres caught it all in wonderful slow motion for us to enjoy, so, enjoy!

Stop the Dog (Starring Harvey Waggington)

Friday, 5 July 2013

Watch this right to the end: you will (I hope) laugh! This short film, a little over two minutes long, follows the adventures of a lovable Labrador. The dog is played by Harvey Waggington, who we suspect might be playing himself. Or it could be method acting: who can say?

However, that aside, this dog may be intent on being the canine equivalent of an altruist but he is somewhat let down by his natural clumsiness…

Stop the Dog was created by takeitoutsidefilms for the 2013 Virgin Media Shorts competition. You can vote for it in the competition by clicking here.

The short was produced and directed by Alec Birkbeck with music written by Nick Salmon and played by Steel City Sax.

Hey! When is it Time for MY Dinner?

Tuesday, 5 June 2012

You know the old saying, water, water everywhere? That may as well be the case both literally and metaphorically for this monkey at Omaha zoo. While the carp – which I must say look very well fed – get to enjoy their dinner, this poor little guy has to do without. Of course he will get his own later but there is just a look of resignation on his face that I had to share with you! It just speaks volumes.

Both Images Courtesy of Flickr User Templarion

A Boy and his Sheep

Wednesday, 8 February 2012

Whoever said a boy’s best friend was his dog may have gotten it wrong! In this case it might just be a sheep. However, we suspect that this young Afghan boy might have a barbecue on his mind rather than a lifelong friendship, which might explain the rather resigned look on the sheep’s face!

Image Credit Flickr User peretzp

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