Dogs Can Fly!

Did you know that rescue dogs in the UK were trained to fly a real airplane?

In 2016 Sky 1 aired a TV series called Dogs Might Fly. Twelve dogs underwent acting challenges, made music videos, and even acted in a live play.

Three of the dogs made it to flight school. With special equipment and training, the dogs learned to steer the plane, keep it level, and follow simple flying instructions. Two dogs were able to fly a Cessna 172 in a figure 8.

Good dogs!

The dogs didn’t handle takeoff or landing, but they did control the plane in the air. I think they earned their wings!

TJ and Bart Music column

Hello, Anipal Times! We are TJ and Bart, ready for our second column.

Dis is Bart!

Dis is TJ! Let’s do Dis!

Bart: Today, we are going to talk about music. Our daddy is a DJ and likes to play music on da social media.

TJ: Well, he likes to play da old music. SOOOOOOOOO old.

Bart: It is embarrassing. Daddy only likes to play songs dat are fifty years old.

TJ: I mean, Daddy is playing people like Elton John, a group called America, play Dat Funky Music White Boy, what is dis, Daddy?

Bart: Dis music is stwange. Some of da songs are about people dying in the middle of the songs. Why are people singing about dis?

TJ: And why is Daddy playing dis music? Dat’s what we’re concerned with. Dey were wearing dese ugly bell-bottom pants in da 70s. Why do you want to remember dis?

Bart: Dey even have a song called da Berta Butt Boogie. Ise serious, TJ!

TJ: Humans are weird. I think we need to take a nap to think about dis, Bart.

Bart: Good idea, TJ! See you next time, Anipal Times readers~

Introduction to TJ and Bart!

Bart: Hello! We had to introduce ourselves to Anipal Times readers! My name is Bart!

TJ: And my name is TJ! Hewwo!

Bart: A wittle about ourselves. First, me. Because I am more important.

TJ: What?????

Bart: Never mind! I came to Daddy’s home thwee years ago. It was a vewwy happy day!

TJ: Bart likes to eat more than any doggo I know! He even tries to eat my food!

Bart: You snooze, you whoose, TJ!

TJ: I’m the one who does the work here. I have been here eleven yeaws! I bwavely guard the house all of the time!

Bart: TJ is scared of the dark and thunder.

TJ: Hush! At least I’m not smaller than the fwogs around the house like you are, Bart!

Bart: Whatever! We just got together to share our thoughts on serious issues for doggos.

TJ: We will tackle the controversial issues like, um, tail sniffing and stuff like dat!

Bart: What does controversial mean?

TJ: As you can tell, I am the smart one.

Bart: Whatever! Well, dat’s who we are, Anipal Times readers! Good to meet you!

TJ: Dat wight! Now it’s time for doggo naps! See you soon!

Quote: Bob Mortimer on Cats

The Jersey Devil

The Jersey Devil
Mrs. Leeds’ 13th Child

Imagine if you will…

You are camping with your friends in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. It’s an early fall evening. There’s a chill in the air and the moon is full.

As you sit around the campfire telling ghost stories, there is a sudden thrashing in the blueberry bushes. Something moves quickly toward your campsite. Wait, were those antlers? Is it a deer this late at night?

No, it is not a deer. It is South Jersey’s oldest cryptid, the Jersey Devil himself!


In 1735, decades before the Revolutionary War, Mrs. Leeds had her 13th child. As the boy was born, Mrs. Leeds cursed him. For a time, he seemed like a normal baby. Then one evening Mrs. Leeds entered the nursery to find her baby had grown hooves, wings, and vicious fangs. With a blood-curdling shriek he flew up the chimney and disappeared into the night!

The Jersey Devil has been sighted many times over the centuries, and he is responsible for many strange goings-on. Campers see glowing eyes in the brush. Children go missing, livestock is killed, and banshee-like wails are heard through the pines. He has even been seen on Long Beach Island cavorting with mermaids.

Today there is a little tavern on Leeds Point. The lights of Atlantic City are visible across the bay. And on stormy nights you may hear the Jersey Devil clip-clopping across the tavern roof.

Quote: Oleg Gazenko On Laika

Bob’s Your Agony Uncle

Hello everyone, and let me introduce myself.

My name is Bob and I am going to be your resident Agony Uncle on Anipal Times from December.

Please come along and support this wonderful publication, the Anipal Times, with lots of fab features, articles, puzzles, and musings.

Hope to be able to help you all soon with things like my human is trying to trick me by breaking my treat in half, or my human made me have a bath after I had just gotten my Au’D’Fox just perfect. You name it, and will can solve these dilemmas together.

Until then

Bob 😊

Lola’s Story

Thursday, the 2nd, started out like any other day since I had moved in with Hoosis after Hoomum became ill.

My breakfast followed my usual walk before I settled into the day. Then something different happened. I noticed that all my possessions were being boxed up. I previously witnessed this during my travels from Hoomum’s to this location.

Could this mean that Mum was better, and I was returning home to her? I certainly hope so. My 11th birthday was 2 days earlier; what a present this would have been.

Nothing happened. Absolutely nothing. The day continued as normal, and my possessions just sat there. 

A doorbell broke the silence, and to everyone’s surprise, I didn’t bark. I stood and watched as 2 strangers entered. Did they come to bring me home?

Once more, I didn’t bark at the man, which surprised everyone. Instead, I walked over to him and stood beside him, waiting for some fuss.

I always barked at anyone who appeared near the entrance, and then again when the individual proved male. Once they moved into the lounge, I again surprised them by continuing to stay beside him.

After a brief chat, I was again walking. It did not fit into my routine. This escorting individual was odd.

What was going on? 

The walk ended unexpectedly with me beside a vehicle near home. The individual remained with me while others entered the building, afterward exiting with everything I owned.

Surely this means that I am going home.

Those I met here appeared, spoke to me, and showered me with attention. I noticed Hoosis had tears in her eyes as she talked and fussed over me. They exchanged my collar for a harness, and I boarded the vehicle’s compartment while they loaded baggage.

 As we drove away, I looked out all the windows to keep Hoosis in sight until she disappeared from my sight. I then continued to examine various windows, noting location, until the route straightened, later settling once the view lost interest.

My subconscious stirred me from slumber upon detecting a shift in pace or course, prompting me to sit up, observe, before returning to slumber as the journey’s routine resumed.

Finally, we re-entered developed sectors; it proved crucial to pay attention.

It did not appear familiar; thus, I was not returning home to Mum.

 I confirmed my suspicions when we finally stopped on the driveway of a house that wasn’t Mum’s house.

I hopped out of the car, and more strangers greeted me, but it didn’t last long because I climbed back into the car and into the driver’s seat. Someone ushered me into the back seat, and we were underway once again.

 A short car ride ensued, and in next to no time we pulled onto another driveway. I didn’t recognise this place either.

I swiftly exited the car and had a good sniff around the plants in the front garden, checking the surroundings, before being led indoors.

My possessions followed, and I realized this was my new life, with my new family in my new home.

Hopefully, this time it will be forever. We shall see.