I cant remember when I crossed over the line between seeing my pets as animals and seeing my pets as people.

Perhaps it was at my nine-year-old birthday party, when the first guest on my list was Perky, my green and yellow parakeet bestie.

Or maybe it was when, around age 12, my folks convinced me it would be best for our growing collection of water turtles to release them to a local animal sanctuary so they could live a wild life. But then Red, the eldest of the bunch, turned around and tried to follow us back to the car.

I still cry thinking about it.

(tissue break.)

But I suspect it was an older me who first actively, consciously, stepped across that line and didnt look back. Until now.

This is relevant because I grew up feeling very afraid of dogs. Size didnt matter. What mattered was that they all had teeth. And each and every one of them could chomp down on my wrist just like the very first dog I tried to pat at the innocent age of two.

So around the age of 30, worn out after a much more serious bite incident that sent me to urgent care, I started reading about dogs. I wanted to know what everyone else thought was so great about them. I needed to understand, since all I saw was a bunch of drooling, slavering, stark raving lunatics, barking, barking, barking at all hours of the day and night, pooping and peeing absolutely everywhere and basically making my whole life feel like I was always just one bite away from my next bite.

What DID all these people including my own parents see in dogs that compelled nearly every single solitary homo sapiens except myself to own one?

I had to know.

So I started to read. I read about dog behavior. I read about dog psychology. I read about dog health. I read about dog training and dog breeds and dog history. Eventually, thanks in large part to all that reading, I even got a job as a dog blogger.

Slowly but surely, I started to see the wonder and magic in Canis lupus familiaris. I knew the tide had turned when I found myself cuddling a tiny dachshund puppy who is now three years old and lives with my folks. His name is Flash Gordon and I think he loves me most of all.

Flash wants to go where we go and be where we are and eat what we eat and do what we do. When he gets really tired or bored or hungry, he will bark and bark and bark until someone notices and does something about it. He hates being alone and he likes to have both of my parents within eyesight at all time (one parent really isnt good enough).

He acts a lot I mean a LOT like my first nephew did when he was about three years old.

Then the other day I was reading a post from one of my favorite Instagrammers and she made such a good point. She was talking about this exact topic how much animals can seem like little people with fur or feathers or a shell or scales.

They really can except that they arent. They are animals.

It is easier to see this when the animal is truly wild. Take wild cockatiels, for example. I might see a cockatiel in the wild (bucket. list.) and walk right up and stick out my hand assuming the little cutie will readily hop up onto my hand for a neck pat.

Hah.

Id be lucky to even get close enough to see that the bird was a cockatiel before the entire flock was hightailing it up, up and away from the terrifying large featherless two-legged predator.

And this is as it should be.

Now compare that wild cockatiels behavior with the behavior of my 21-year-old, hand-raised, hand-tame pet cockatiel, Pearl.

In Pearls world, everything is his, including me. I am his flock, his mama, his mate, his whole world. If he was a human child a psychologist might say he is insecurely attached to me. He loves my parents so much, but even when we are visiting them and he is safely perched on or near one of them, if I try to leave the room he will scream until I come back.

And here is where it starts to make such sense that animals are people and yet they arent.

The screaming behavior Pearl exhibits might well be abnormal behavior for a healthy young human child. But it is entirely normal for a cockatiel of any age, since cockatiels are a flocking species for whom being alone is basically equal to being lunch.

This is why I dont get frustrated with Pearl when he screams if I break line-of-sight. Instead, I come right back. Or I take him with me in the first place. I cant explain to Pearl that mommy will be right back. He will never understand and this is a protective function in his DNA that I cant and dont want to undo.

And I think this might be what the Instagrammer I mentioned earlier meant by remembering that pets are little people and yet they are not.

Another great example is the case of wild dogs or wolves versus companion canines.

Thanks to science, we dog lovers now know that dogs have literally evolved in such a way as to foster further closeness with people. Dogs facial expressions, maturity rates, social behaviors, dietary needs and certainly their appearance all of it reflects adaptations away from their wild Canis lupus wolf ancestors and towards becoming a species that is ideally equipped to live side-by-side with humans.

Yet our companion canines still have instincts, urges, behaviors and preferences that only make sense when we remind ourselves that they are dogs, not people.

Birds do too.

So do cats.

Horses, goats, chickens and other livestock do as well.

All animals that have lived alongside homo sapiens through the ages have deliberately evolved in ways that support the animal-human connection it is survival of the fittest at its finest.

And actually, this is basically the first period in the evolution of our species that we have lived lives that are so separate and apart from animals! Perhaps this is at the root of the rise of the pet, an animal that has no work in life aside from keeping their person company.

These are the animals that are most commonly mistaken for little people. I do it every day. I even wrote a whole blog post about it.

When I chose to share my life with Pearl nearly 21 years ago, I chose to put his needs on a level with my own. As Anatole France so famously said, You are forever responsible for that which you have tamed.

And I do feel forever responsible. It is a joyful responsibility, yes, but a responsibility nevertheless.

A huge part of that responsibility, to me at least, is to remember that my animals and all animals are not truly little people. They are little (or not so little) animals. They have people-like qualities, which are especially easy to see in the animals that have evolved side by side with my own species for mutual gain.

But they also have animal-like qualities that I will never understand or be able to relate to (if you have ever caught yourself wondering why your dog/cat/bird/turtle seems to relish in eating other animals waste, you already get my point precisely).

There are reasons for these very un-human-like qualities that speak to the survival needs of a species that is not my own. I dont have to allow my animals to eat poop if I can catch them in the act and stop them, that is but I do need to ask myself what may be missing in their diet that could only be met by eating waste if they were in a wild setting.

Then I need to talk to our veterinarian or do some reading or both and remedy the situation as best I can.

It is an ever-finer line, for sure, the one that separates homo sapiens from all the rest. The more we learn, the more we realize how very similar we are, right down to our DNA. And yet we are different, too.

The more I remind myself that my trio, Pearl, Malti and Bruce, are little animals who are part of my interspecies family, the better able I will be to meet their needs in full so we can continue to share our lives together.

With great respect and love,

Shannon

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Pets Are People.And Yet They Aren't - PsychCentral.com

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by Sponsored | November 12, 2019

This article was written by, and released in partnership with, 26-year-old Lithuanian world traveler and blogger Aistis. Better known as ASTraveler, Aistis of writes on the topics of travel, plant-based living, and wellness. You can find his travel blog here.

Headed on a luxury trip to Europe? Gone backpacking? No matter the cost or glam factor of your trip, you may find yourself wondering if you can stay vegan abroad.

Worry not. While there are some countries where it might be a challenge, vegans in Europe can absolutely get their plant-based needs met so long as they plan ahead and, in certain areas of the continent, you may even find yourself spoiled for choice.

What follows are the tips youll need to come prepared and travel Europe in style.

Before you even set out, be sure to do your homework with the help of apps like HappyCow and the Yelp Mobile App.

The HappyCow app will help you to find vegan-friendly restaurants near your accommodation. If you are not staying in a remote part of Europe, you should find a few good options nearby and the reviews shared on the app can help with decision making.

While in some countries, like Monaco for example, youll be met with restaurants boasting seasonal ravioli, pastas, burgers, smoothies, and more. In others, however, you may find options to be more few and far between either way, HappyCow can help you find them.

If you are staying in a secluded part of Europe, you may be able to use Yelp to identify nearby restaurants that are vegan-friendly. From there, you can check out menus online and try to sort out which spots suit your taste. Making a list for each city youll visit is not a bad idea, either. Dont want to end up hangry abroad.

All of that said, for those visiting a super small town or village in some remote part of Europe, it may not be possible to find options in advance. In such situations, its better to visit the restaurant and check what is available so maybe do this before you get hungry.

In some cases, you may be surprised to find some perfectly suitable options, even if they are just fries and salad. However, you can also ask to speak with a chef or staff member and ask if they can make alterations to any of their dishes.

For instance; you may politely ask them to make pizza or pasta without cheese. Youll find many are happy to oblige. You may even suggest that the chef cook a plant-based dish of their choice for you. Doing this in advance can help save you from a drawn out dinner table conversation with or without nonvegan companions.

Most countries in Europe have at least one item theyre known for which can be made vegan. If you are planning for a trip to Switzerland, for example, you can take advantage of some excellent dark chocolate. Also, Brezelkonig is a well-known Swiss chain where you can buy all vegan brezels. You may want to pack some of both for your journey to your next destination.

In Greece, on the other hand, youll find a wide array of vegan options like grilled mushrooms, fried zucchini, and eggplant appear often in the cuisine.

By sorting out the vegan specialties of each country ahead of time, you can help to ensure you have a wonderful trip abroad.

There may also be times when you arent be able to get healthy, nutritious vegan meals during your trip French fries, anyone?

Consider carrying some healthy snacks with you so that you have something to munch on until you find a good vegan restaurant, or in case you dont! I also recommend that you carry an excellent vegan multivitamin alongside your healthy, easy-to-transport snacks. Dried fruits, healthy vegan snack bars, and nuts all make great options.

If you have already booked a hotel or hostel, get in touch with customer care to find out whether its vegan friendly and theres a kitchen on site. This will help you to prepare well in advance and pack appropriately. You may want to bring some ingredients along.

Airbnb, VRBO, and most hostel booking sites have filters that allow you to find accommodation with kitchens, no matter where you go. Couchsurfing can be another great way to find vegan-friendly accommodation as the website includes a filter for vegan hosts. Many are travellers themselves and would be more than happy for you to whip up some vegan options while staying in their home and, if youre really lucky, they may just make something for you! Either way, staying with like-minded people will certainly make your holiday a memorable one but do take precautions to travel safely.

Those looking for super smooth sailing may want to simply plan an itinerary around their diet.

Some of Europes most vegan-friendly cities include Barcelona, Lisbon, London, and Berlin. If you dont want to bend over backward, and want to keep things as simple as possible, these are excellent options but there are many more! Happy Cow can help you sort out which cities make staying vegan abroad a walk in the park.

You can also rest assured knowing the European Union ensures that the food allergens are clearly indicated on all packaged products, a great tool which can help vegans pick suitable snacks! You may even find some restaurants that mention allergens like eggs, fish and dairy on the menu.

While all of these tips can help to ensure you have some of the best vegan meals of your life while exploring Europe, it never hurts to brush up on a few phrases in the local language of countries you visit so dont forget to embrace, enjoy, and have a wonderful time!

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Travelling Europe As A Vegan: Everything You Need To Know - Raise Vegan

Research conducted as part of Science Week, which runs from 10-17 November

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Read More: climate change research Science Foundation Ireland Science Week sustainability

Research from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) found that 49% of Irish people find information on climate action confusing and unclear.

As part of the currently ongoing Science Week 2019, SFI commissioned iReach Insights to investigate the Irish publics understanding and awareness of climate change. It identified what the public are willing to do to make a positive climate impact and what they understand to be the biggest changes they can make as individuals. This research aligns with the central theme of this years Science Week: climate action.

The vast majority (86%) of participants studied agreed that climate change is mostly due to human activity. This belief is most common among younger participants, in fact 91% of 18-34-year-olds agreed with the statement. Plus, 88% agreed that the earth is getting warmer as a result of climate change.

In terms of making a personal impact, 74% of respondents said they would be willing to use reusable drinking bottles, coffee cups or shopping bags, while 73% could commit to reducing their food waste. While 36% would reduce their meat consumption, 10% would eat a plant-based diet to make a positive environmental contribution.

Respondents believe they can make the biggest personal impact by using energy efficient products in their home (55%); using reusable drink containers or shopping bags (49%); and by cycling, walking or using public transport more (49%).

Science Week 2019 is already in full bloom, having kicked off on 10 November. Hundreds of events will take place over the course of the week to bring science and climate action to the fore of the Irish publics minds.

Climate change is the biggest crisis facing humanity today. Climate disruption is already having diverse and wide-ranging impacts on Irelands environment, society, economic and natural resources. It is changing where people, plants and animals can safely live, and the recent media and policy focus on climate emergency and action is to be welcomed, said Prof Mark Ferguson, director general, SFI and chief scientific adviser to the government of Ireland.

As part of Science Week 2019, we are seeking to help people understand climate change, how science and technology can help us create a positive climate future and the impact we as individuals can have on climate change. Given that a significant majority of our research respondents stated that they find information on climate action confusing, we hope to provide research-based information and solutions as part of Science Week 2019.

Reducing plastics is only one of a multitude of actions required, we need to widen the engagement with the public in relation to solutions to greenhouse emission and climate action.

For more information about Science Week visit: http://www.scienceweek.ie

TechCentral Reporters

Read More: climate change research Science Foundation Ireland Science Week sustainability

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Half of Irish people find information on climate action confusing - SFI - TechCentral.ie

Using mice, scientists have revealed for the first time how stress hormones control fat and sugar levels over a 24-hour cycle. In addition, they have shown that a high calorie diet can alter the time-sensitivity of metabolic cycles.

The new study, led by researchers from Helmholtz Zentrum Mnchen and the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), also in Munich, Germany, helps to explain the rhythmic nature of stress hormones, whose levels surge before waking and feeding and ebb during sleep and fasting.

The findings also clarify how this hormonal cycle links to the daily routine that the liver follows in storing and releasing sugar and fat.

A recent Molecular Cell paper describes how the researchers made these discoveries by investigating glucocorticoid activity in the livers of mice.

Because the glucocorticoid receptor is also the target of anti-inflammatory synthetic steroids, the results suggest that glucocorticoid drugs could have different effects on people with and without obesity.

The adrenal glands release glucocorticoid hormones in the morning under the control of clock-related signals from the brain.

The biological clock that resides in every cell of the body helps to regulate the daily timing of hormone release. Sunlight and lifestyle factors help keep the biological clock in sync.

The glands also release the hormones in response to stress, which is why they are also called stress hormones.

The stress hormones reach their peak before waking, helping the body to prepare for the day's activities by getting energy from raised levels of fats and sugar.

However, disruption to biological clocks such as from working shifts or through jetlag can greatly upset metabolism and contribute to related disorders, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and fatty liver.

Glucocorticoid drugs and a condition called Cushing syndrome, both of which raise glucocorticoid levels, can have the same effect.

The new study aimed to understand the connection between the daily stress hormone surges, the biological clock, and metabolic cycles by focusing on glucocorticoid receptors.

Glucocorticoids regulate numerous molecular processes in functions ranging from metabolism and immunity to bone growth and cognition.

Nearly every cell of the body has receptors for these hormones. Without the matching receptor, the hormone cannot enter the cell and influence it.

For the new study, the team investigated the metabolic activity of glucocorticoids in the livers of mice by assessing the properties of their matching receptor.

They used a range of advanced techniques to map what happened to glucocorticoid receptors in mouse livers every 4 hours over a 24-hour cycle. They used two groups of mice: one group was on a normal diet, and the other group was fed a high fat diet.

The team also examined in detail what happened to the mice's 24-hour liver metabolism as a result of daily surges in glucocorticoid secretion.

The methods that they used allowed them to show that the effects of glucocorticoids were different when the animals fasted during sleep, and while they fed when they were awake and active.

The researchers found that the glucocorticoid receptor exerted these effects through time-sensitive binding with the genomes of the liver cells.

In addition, it appears that the receptor, and therefore the associated stress hormones, help regulate nearly all circadian genes.

"Highlighting the dominant role [the glucocorticoid receptor] plays in synchronizing circadian amplitudes," write the authors, "we find that the majority of oscillating genes are bound by and depend on [the glucocorticoid receptor]."

The researchers showed that the livers of mice that lacked the receptor did not control fat and sugar levels according to day and night.

The team suggests that the findings reveal how the liver controls levels of sugar and fat in the blood differently during the day compared with nighttime.

A further set of experiments also revealed that normal weight and obese mice responded differently to a glucocorticoid drug.

The team believes that the study is the first to show that diet can alter the effect of hormones and drugs on metabolic tissues.

The researchers suggest that their findings will help inform the emerging field of chronomedicine, which emphasizes the role of the biological clock in health and disease.

"We could describe a new link between lifestyle, hormones, and physiology at the molecular level, suggesting that obese people may respond differently to daily hormone secretion or to glucocorticoid drugs," says senior study author Nina Henriette Uhlenhaut, a professor at Helmholtz Zentrum Mnchen.

"Understanding how glucocorticoids control 24-hour cycles of gene activity in the liver and consequently blood levels of sugar and fat provides new insights into chronomedicine and the development of metabolic disease."

Prof. Nina Henriette Uhlenhaut

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Diet, body clock, hormones, and metabolism: What's the link? - Medical News Today