Michael Jackson's Pets

Today I will be blogging about the late Michael Jackson and the lovely pets he had owned and loved.

Did you know that one of his hit songs, 'Ben', was written for his pet rat?



Rats were just one of the many animals the King of Pop kept. Others include dogs, frogs, rabbits, ostriches, snakes and llamas. One particularly special pet of his was Bubbles the chimpanzee!

Michael and Bubbles from Toptenz.net

Michael Jackson adopted him at the age of three from a Texas cancer research clinic. Bubbles shared a bedroom with his owner and was in fact the only one who had permission to use Michael's private bathroom.

Bubbles tagged along during Michael's Bad World tour. When they stopped at Japan, the singer took his chimp to tea with the Japanese Mayor, Yasushi Oshima. He attended many award ceremonies with the celebrity and even learned how to moonwalk. Both of them often wore matching outfits.

However, when Michael's first son, Prince Michael II was born, Bubbles became aggressive. He was moved to an animal sanctuary much to the singer's regret, for fear of the safety of his son.

Bubbles from Michaeljacksonmoon.com

Unfortunately, when Michael Jackson passed away from cardiac arrest in 2009, Bubbles was not invited to his funeral and remained in the Center for Great Apes in Florida. You can read the article here: Bubbles was not invited to Michael's Jackson's funeral

I've always looked up to Michael Jackson and his amazing talent as a pop star. Even though it has been 2 years already, I hope Bubbles and all his other pets are coping well with his loss. It was heartwarming to discover Michael's love for animals. May he rest in peace and may all his beloved animals grow to a ripe, old age.


References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson_and_Bubbles
http://www.kidzworld.com/article/18750-michael-jacksons-pets
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5718281/Bubbles-the-Chimp-not-invited-to-Michael-Jacksons-funeral.html

The Skunk

Skunk from Animal Discovery

Yes, you heard right. Skunks!

If you are in the United States you can get a skunk from animal shelters or from breeders with permits. These skunks are a definite no-no here in Singapore though!

Now, these little mammals are well-known for their stench but if a skunk is going to be kept as a pet, the glands which spray the awful liquid will be removed when it is a few weeks old.

Skunks are more like cats than dogs in the make-up of their bodies. They are intelligent, curious animals that will get into everything. They can be stubborn but also friendly and loving.

A skunk and it's owner from News Journal Online

Skunks are playful animals so be sure to train them to understand that you are the leader.

You should never hit your pet skunk when you discipline it because it will become revengeful and might lose it's trust in you.

Playing rough with a skunk when its still young might encourage it to be aggressive when it is older.

On the other hand, baby skunks can grow to become loving pets if you cuddle with it as much as possible when you first bring them home. They will become shy around humans if they are ignored as babies.

Baby skunk from All the creatures

It is important to skunk-proof the entire house as they may escape. They can damage almost anything too - furniture, wood-trim, doors, etc. They are quite high-maintenance so many people do not keep them as pets.

Skunks can be fussy eaters so they need a variety of food, especially vegetables. I always had this impression that they like to eat out of the trash can but I guess it's not recommended at home!

One important thing to note is that if someone gets bitten by your skunk, you should deny this to the doctors because your skunk will be taken away and killed to be tested for rabies. Thus it is better not to let any strangers touch your pet.

I never imagined skunks could be kept as pets but after reading up about them, I became attracted by these small mammals as demanding as they can be!

They seem like lovely, adorable pets and maybe someday the AVA can allow these animals here in Singapore. What do you think?

Skunk owners from Daytona Beach in America say that they are wonderful to keep at home. Click here to read more: Owners say skunks make decent pets


References:
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/skunks/a/skunksaspets.htm
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pet-skunks.html
http://www.skunkhaven.net/PetSkunks.htm

The Axolotl

Baby Axolotl from Gledwoods deutscher Blog

How many of you have seen this animal before?

I believe some of us may have seen a similar one, as a Pokemon! Do you remember 'Wooper'?

The Axolotl is a type of salamander found in Lake Xochimilco in Mexico. They can breed while they're in the larvae stage hence they are "neotenic".

Another interesting thing to note about these amphibians is that they can regenerate injured or even lost body parts quickly!

Axolotls can live up to 10-15 years, just like an average dog or cat. They have three pairs of gills that are soft and sensitive to touch. They usually grow larger than most salamanders.

These grotesque creatures are carnivores and generally swallow their food whole. They feed on fish pellets, earthworms, bloodworms and black worms.

Young axolotls should be kept in separate aquariums as they tend to be cannibalistic.

I call them grotesque because initially, I thought they were pretty cute. Then I looked for more pictures of them and realized how creepy they look in certain angles.

Axolotl photo from ItsNature

It's so much bigger than I thought it was! I was a bit uneasy. 

Black Axolotl from Perpustakaan's blog

Axolotls are popular lab animals because of their regenerative abilities. However, these amphibians are becoming endangered because of a shrinking habitat, pollution and introduction of non-native fish that attack them.

Just for your information, axolotls are banned here in Singapore. 

Would you ever consider keeping one as a pet though, or maybe some other sort of amphibian? Share your thoughts with me and comment below!



References:
http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/petsaxolo.htm
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/amphibians/a/axolotls.htm
http://www.axolotl.org

The Pot Bellied Pig

 Pot Bellied Pig from Allposters

How many of you think that pigs are just filthy animals that only eat and sleep all day long? Well, you're going to be pleasantly surprised by this one, the pot belled pig.

If you don't already know, these pigs are very intelligent. They are as trainable as dogs, making it easy to leash-train and house-train them. (Imagine walking a pet pig around your block!) They may become destructive though, a disadvantage because of their intellect. Don't keep a pig if you're not sure of how to keep it entertained, if you ask me!

A year old pot bellied pig ready for adoption from Jasmineblog

For your information, pigs are ranked the fifth smartest animal. Hence it is important you make sure your pig knows who's boss, as they can easily step over your head. They can also become spoiled. Despite all this, a rewarding relationship with your pot-belled pig is very possible and many people do love having them as pets. Some owners even let them share the same bed as these porkers are actually affectionate animals.

So just how big are these fellas? They usually weigh 60 to 175 pounds (27kg to 79kg) and measure 13 to 26 inches in height (33cm to 66cm). The pot bellied pig has excellent hearing ability but poor vision. These pigs have a keen sense of smell and are demanding when it comes to food. Don't let her 'pig out' on food when it's not feeding time!

It's feeding time!
Photo from Mostlysunny @ Flickr

Also, the pot bellied pig is actually clean and odor-free. Personally I always stereotyped pigs to be smelly animals and I bet many of you did too. Not anymore, I guess! I might consider having one as a pet when I'm older but Singapore probably doesn't allow it. On second thought, maybe such a heavy companion isn't for me. I wouldn't have the strength to handle a pig and it's stout but strong legs, so I guess I'll stick to dogs and cats.  

Would you keep a pot bellied pig as a pet?

This man did. Read his story about his pig here: A Pot Belly Pig True Story


References:
http://www.brighthub.com/pets/exotic-pets/articles/77330.aspx
http://www.potbellypigs.com/right_pet_for_you.htm
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/potbelliedpigs/a/pbpexpect.htm

The Puli

Puli Puppy from Cute puppies for sale

The Puli (poo-lee) is a medium-sized dog with a corded coat. Yes, you read correctly. The animal above is a dog!

As you can see, it's hair is very distinctive and can grow long enough to touch the ground. This dog is muscular, flexible and agile. Grooming can be difficult, as we can imagine. The coat takes two days to dry naturally hence a dryer should be the used. The cords should be separated by hand to keep the Puli's coat free from dirt. This breed does not shed.

The Puli was a herding dog used by the Hungarians. The black ones were easily spotted by the shepherd, helping him to differentiate the dogs from the sheep. The second world war nearly brought the Pulik (plural for Puli) to extinction, leaving only 100 of them remaining. Today, this breed enjoys the modesty of being a pet dog or show dog.

Photo from Flickr

The dog is energetic and requires daily exercise. He is protective towards his family. Although he may bark a lot, the Puli is intelligent and tough. He is mild-tempered but alert when he meets suspicious strangers. Homes with small children should probably not keep a Puli.

Personally I was amused when I came across this weird-looking dog while browsing through Google. They look like a ball of black fur, or a mop, don't you think? It is nice to know that the Puli is a pleasant dog despite it's strange appearance and grooming needs. I doubt we can find this breed in Singapore, though. The Puli is pretty cute if you think about it!

Puli puppy from Puli Puppies Blog

Visit this website to view more photos of the Puli: Puli Stock Photos


References:
http://pets.webarticles.co.za/puli-dog.html
http://www.petfinder.com/dog-breeds/Puli
http://www.dogguide.net/blog/2008/02/10-of-the-strangest-looking-dogs/

The Piranha

 Red Bellied Piranha © Joshua Lang

Yes, people in the world actually keep these world-class predators as pets!

As vicious as everyone thinks they are, you'd be surprised to know that they are pretty popular pets. Keeping a piranha is not allowed in regions around the world though, as it requires a lot of responsibility and knowledge to own such a fish.

The red bellied piranha seen above is the most common piranha of choice to keep in aquariums, even though they are the most infamous, posing danger to us humans.

Credit: Swimming with piranhas

 
These fishes can reach a size of at least 8-10 inches. However the largest species can grow up to 2 feet! This is why piranhas have to be kept in large tanks. Their colours vary from silvery orange undersides to almost all black.

It is interesting to note that most species of piranhas are herbivorous. They do not only feed on meat and eat just about anything. Examples of food that they enjoy are beef, chicken, crayfish, earthworms and small insects.

Contrary to popular belief, piranhas are actually very shy fishes that panic easily, hence it is recommended that you keep them only for scientific purposes and not for watching how they tear up the flesh of live animals. Keeping a piranha is definitely not for beginners!

Credit: Swimming with piranhas

Personally I wouldn't have the courage to have one as a pet. You can't hold and play with a piranha like you do with dogs or cats. These predators are much too frightening, just look at those teeth. Even a pet shop owner got bitten by one! You can read about it here: Pet owner's narrow escape

References:

http://www.piranha-info.com/default.php?lang=en&id=page_2

http://www.pet-yard.com/piranha-fish.php

http://hubpages.com/hub/So-You-Want-to-Keep-a-Pet-Piranha