Every Creature Club

Behind every photo of Punch with his stuffed toy, someone is quietly watching over him. His name is Kosuke Shikano, one of his main caregivers.

Abandoned by his mother the day after he was born, Punch was hand-raised by Shikano and the zoo team. Knowing that young primates need something to cling to, he chose a long-fur IKEA plush toy that would be easy for him to grasp.

Raising a baby monkey goes far beyond feeding him. Shikano prepares his meals, monitors his growth, and gradually helps him learn how to socialize. Every gesture is done with care so that he can develop without losing his confidence.

Millions admire his photos, but behind each one, Shikano is there every single day, making sure he is never alone.

I went to the shelter almost five years ago and asked which dog had been there the longest, and wasn’t likely to be adopted. They directed me toward Captain, a nine year old Bassett who had lost his owner unexpectedly. He was slow moving, and I didn’t know how much life to expect from him. But a few weeks after taking him home, he completely changed. As it turns out, he was simply depressed from being in the shelter for almost a year after losing his person.
Last night he experienced a medical emergency, and while I selfishly wanted so badly to fight and do what we could… I knew he deserved a more selfless choice. So, I chose to release him from his suffering and let him be free of his pain.
We just celebrated his 14th birthday last month, and I had hoped for more time. But I’m thankful his last hours were spent with me, and that I could do right by him as he was the most loyal being I’ve ever had the opportunity to love.
January 26, 2009 - February 14, 2023

Author Unknown (DM)

They grow up so fast 🥹

I went to a shelter to get a dog and I saw this brindle laying on the hard ground. I made eye contact with him and he got up and he brought a tennis ball over. I asked to see him and I was told he was returned two times because he was too wild and cried all the time. When he was brought back to his cage he cried. It broke my heart. I told the man I wanted him. He told me I'd be sorry. When we got home I worked with him and changed things so he'd be comfortable. He has bad separation anxiety. Everything worked out. He's my pal. We play catch with tennis balls daily. His name is Popeye.

Credit: Animal Discovery