Cats earth

This World Kindness Day on 13 November, animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS is calling on South Africans to extend their compassion beyond human relationships to include all animals, from our beloved pets, to wildlife and farm animals. As a nation rich in biodiversity yet facing significant animal welfare challenges, South Africa has a unique opportunity to turn kindness into meaningful action through everyday choices. Simple Ways to Make a Difference Support Your Local Animal Shelters Making a difference doesn’t require grand gestures. Donating blankets, food, or volunteering a few hours at your local animal shelter can have an enormous impact on the lives of animals in need. Rethink Your Braai Consider trying a meat-free braai this weekend. South Africa offers plenty of delicious plant-based options, and traditional favourites like baked potatoes, grilled mielies, chakalaka and veggie sosaties are both nutritious and cruelty-free. With the growing availability of meat alterna...

Your dog’s wet nose isn’t just adorable, it’s a biological marvel that puts our human senses to shame. While we rely heavily on sight and sound, dogs experience the world primarily through scent. Understanding your dog’s incredible olfactory abilities can deepen your appreciation for your furry friend and help you better care for one of their most important organs. The Power of the Canine Nose Dogs possess up to 300 million scent receptors in their noses, compared to our measly 6 million. To put this in perspective, if humans could see as well as dogs can smell, we’d be able to see clearly for miles in complete darkness. But the numbers only tell part of the story. How a Dog’s Nose Actually Works Dual Functionality – unlike humans, who use the same airways for breathing and smelling, dogs can separate these functions. When a dog sniffs, air goes into separate chambers – one for breathing and one dedicated entirely to analysing scents. This means they can smell continuously without...