Helping Community Paws and Claws Inc.

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

Some animals carry their babies for nearly two years. That's nature's astonishing time clock at work.

Consider the Virginia opossum, whose gestation lasts just 13 days. This tiny marvel moves through life's earliest stages at a breakneck pace, a stark contrast to larger animals that take far longer.

The domestic rabbit marks a turning point at 31 days, but the red kangaroo offers an interesting twist at 33 days—one of the shortest among marsupials. In comparison, our beloved dogs and cats both require 2.1 months to bring their young into the world, sharing a surprising synchronicity in their gestation periods.

Pigs and sheep extend this timeline further, nurturing new life for 3.8 and 4.9 months, respectively. These durations hint at the complexity and care invested in their development.

Then comes the human experience. At 9.3 months, human mothers share the stage with cows, who are pregnant for just a tad longer at 9.4 months. These periods speak to the profound intricacies of our own development.

Horses take gestation to new heights—11.3 months in preparation, leading to the towering elegance of the tallest mammals.

For giraffes and s***m whales, time slows down even more. A giraffe carries its young for 1.25 years, while the majestic s***m whale pushes this to 1.32 years, reflecting the complex and fascinating demands of life in diverse ecosystems.

Finally, the African elephant holds the record at a staggering 1.8 years. Each day of this extended gestation is a testament to nature's design for strength and survival.

The diversity in these timelines is as captivating as it is meaningful—a reminder of life's intricate orchestration across species.

06/02/2026

Last night while feeding cats, I spotted this sweet older girl running loose in the Arby's, Sonic, and Braum's area of Guthrie. She was extremely hot, scared, and running through traffic.

A homeless gentleman was trying to give her some water, but she was too frightened to come to him. I stopped, sat down on the ground, and called to her. Thankfully, she came right to me. It was obvious she needed help and safety.

Because I have absolutely no room at my place, the Guthrie Animal Shelter graciously allowed me to bring her in so she would be safe. She appears to be an older Belgian Malinois mix and is a very sweet girl.

I would really love to see her get out of the shelter as quickly as possible. As many of you know, Guthrie currently has no Animal Control Officer, and volunteers, and police officers are doing their best to care for the animals at the shelter. Right now there are around 30 dogs there, and it is truly heartbreaking.

I'm going to try to get out there and take some photos so I can help network the dogs and find them homes, but this girl is my immediate concern.

If this is your dog, or if you can foster, rescue, adopt, or help in any way, please reach out. Let's work together to give her a safe and happy future.
Vet work would be covered by HCPC
Please share.
Lisa
Hcpc

06/01/2026

Before you reach for anything, look at what you're actually looking at. Seven of the most common caterpillars in American gardens and yards — and the butterfly or moth each one becomes. 🌿

Seven transformations to recognize:

Black Swallowtail — the green caterpillar with bold black bands and yellow-orange spots on your dill, parsley, or fennel. Leave it. The adult is one of the most striking butterflies in the country.

Mourning Cloak — black with red spots and branched spines, often found on willow, elm, and cottonwood. One of the longest-lived butterflies in North America — adults overwinter and emerge in late winter.

Red Admiral — spiny dark caterpillar on stinging nettles or false nettle. The adult's orange-red wing bands are unmistakable.

American Lady — bristly dark caterpillar often found on pearly everlasting and pussytoes. The adult has distinctive eyespots on the hindwing underside.

Milbert's Tortoiseshell — black and spiny with yellow side spots, found on stinging nettles. Northern species, vivid orange and dark wings.

Cloudless Sulphur — smooth bright green, nearly invisible on its host. Becomes one of the most vivid large yellow butterflies in the US — common from the Great Plains to the Atlantic coast.

Tomato hornworm — the large green caterpillar with diagonal white stripes and a curved rear horn. It becomes the Five-spotted Hawkmoth — a substantial moth with pink and grey patterning and a wingspan approaching five inches. 🌱

Every caterpillar is a future pollinator. Observe before you react.

06/01/2026