Category: Columnists

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Weather Article 1

Weather article 1 Picture1
~ McPusspusses ~ Leave a comment

#Weathercat:

My mummy and I both love the weather. She maintained a weather diary using paper for many years during her youth; now, our garden features a weather station we’ve had for quite some time. She finds it so interesting, exciting, and scary.

The UK’s weather feels the impact of its island status plus its geographical position. We are Atlantic driven but depending on the weather pattern setup and position of the jet stream, we can bring in weather from other directions.

Jet steam:

The jet stream is a high-altitude river of wind (5-7 miles up) that steers UK weather, blowing west-to-east, with its position dictating whether the UK gets mild, wet Atlantic weather (when it’s south of the UK) or colder, drier spells (when it’s further north). A fast, straight jet stream brings unsettled, stormy conditions by pulling low-pressure systems towards the UK, while a weaker, buckled jet stream can lead to blocked high-pressure systems, causing longer periods of stable, dry, or even cold weather, depending on the air masses involved. 

When we have a southerly wind in the summer, we have experienced dust storms up from the Sahara. A few years ago, when working in London, the entire city seemed to turn red and there was dust everywhere—it was quite an experience that Mummy loved.

If the winter weather pattern has high pressure blocking, we can then get the Beast from the East, which brings freezing temperatures and snow in from the East.

The cold spell we experienced over Christmas and the start of the year 2026 was driven from the North because of the position of the Scandinavian blocking high pressure. This cold spell has been across Europe, and Lapland has experienced record low temperatures of -42.8c.  Mummy has visited Lapland several times, and the lowest she has experienced is -30c and that was VERY cold.

Do you have a favourite weather? Our mummy’s is snow, she just loves it and finds falling snow and the sparkle and crunch of laying so super special. 

We will delve into some more weather facts and types of weather in future articles. 

Goldie

~ nancygr2012 ~ Leave a comment

Goldie, a Golden Retriever, was having a regular visit at the vet. The checkup was mostly fine, but when Dr. Sarah looked at her clipboard, she sighed.

“She’s getting a little heavy,” she said to Goldie’s owner. “No more table scraps, perhaps reduce the… what do you call them? The drive-thru pup cups?”

Goldie gasped. She sat up, her ears alert. Wait. She placed a heavy paw on Dr. Sarah’s knee, looked at her, and barked, “Why?“

Dr. Sarah explained, “Pup cups, while delicious, are just high-fat whipped cream. Think of them as a very rare treat, not a daily requirement.”

She patted her head. Goldie looked at her owner, her expression full of disappointment.

Dr. Sarah explained, “If you consume it with restraint, it’s fine. Perhaps, as a treat, once every few weeks. It shouldn’t become a habit with every coffee shop visit.”

Goldie let out a long sigh, dropping her chin onto her paws.

On the way home, her owner drove past the local café. The barista extended a small pup cup from the car window upon its halt. Goldie felt shocked. She glanced toward her owner, then towards the barista.

She quickly devoured the treat in three seconds, whipped cream covering her nose. It was worth the, well, moderation.

She sat wagging her tail, already planning her next, very “moderate” visit to the vet. 

Walking in the Cold

~ TJ and Bart ~ Leave a comment

Hello! Dis is Bart! We are TJ and Bart, and we are ready with a new article for the Anipal Times!

Dis is TJ! We take our duties as writers seriously. And we have a vewy important topic today. Walking in da cold.

Bart: Dat’s wight, TJ. Now we live in Florida, so it does not get too cold here too often. But sometimes it does.

TJ: Dis also for our pals who really have to go through da cold so much during the winter. Dey have real winters. Dis is an important topic!

Bart: Dis is also weally for our humans. Because dey walk us, after all.

TJ: And they don’t walk us any differently than! Man, it is cold outside! Why do they go so slowly?

Bart: Dis is so twue! You know we are low to the gwound! Our pwivate parts are touching the gwass!

TJ: Sowwy if that is too stwong for da readers out there, but dis is an important issue for us doggos! Humans, get da lead out!

Bart: You don’t want to be out dere, wight? Well, we don’t want to be out dere either!

TJ: And yoooose humans are supposed to be da smart ones. If we go inside, then we will all get warm! What is so hard about dat?

Bart: But we also have to have patience with our humans.

TJ: It’s difficult sometimes, though, Bart. Cats have it so good! They can go in da stinky box inside!

Bart: And then da humans clean it. Cats are lucky!

TJ: In da meantime, humans, understand! Faster walks, and less time outside when it is cold!

Bart: Dat’s wight!

TJ: Dis concludes our article. We hope dis helps!

Barnaby the Beagle

~ nancygr2012 ~ 1 Comment

Barnaby the beagle wasn’t a fan of freezing weather. The world outside the kitchen window had traded its cheerful autumn colors for white and grey. He was a hound of the field, chasing scents across sunny meadows, not shivering his paws off in the icy air.

This morning, the frosty glass looked cold. Barnaby sighed, a huff that ruffled the fleece throw he was lying on. Barnaby needed to go outside and was gently but firmly guided into his little blue coat with a hood he hated. His human pulled on his leash for him to come along. This morning, the frosty glass looked cold.

Outside, the snow was deeper than his legs were long. He plunged his nose into it, expecting the familiar scent of rabbits. It smelled only of clean, sharp ice.

Then, an unfamiliar scent drifted on the wind. Faint but distinct. It cut through the cold with a warm, sugary hint of something delicious. Barnaby’s ears perked up with the usual droop replaced with focused attention. He followed the trail, his little legs working hard, nose to the ground.

He led his human on a winding path to the edge of the local park, right up to a snow-covered picnic table. There, half-buried in the snow, was a bright red mitten. Tucked inside the mitten was a small, foil-wrapped chocolate bar, likely forgotten by a visitor.

Barnaby nudged the find with his nose, let out a satisfied “A-roo,” then looked up at his human with shining eyes. Freezing weather, he decided, might have its charms after all. Especially if it involved hidden treasure.