*New* Isn't this baby hedgehog adorable? This precious little tot is part of a new addition to Sanctuary-a collection of photos of baby animals and cute animals. Another amazing little infant is a monkey who is not even two inches high, holding onto to somebody's thumb. He's like a tiny little lizard! In some part of the world, can't remember where, a group of chameleons (the color changing lizards) have been bred to be tiny...and they are! They are even smaller than the little monkey you'll see. Click here for Cute Animals.

I can't stand it when people don't give animals credit for being as intelligent and thinking as they are. I don't know what's up with some people but, in my opinion, there is something very cold and very wrong with people who have no feeling for animals. They don't have to be furred or feathered to be highly intelligent, either, as you'll see below.

In early 2002, a New Caledonia Crow named "Betty" rocked the science community by her intelligence. She learned on her own to craft a tool that would allow her to reach into crevices and get food. Time after time, she was given a straight piece of wire. Imediately, she turned the wire into a sophisticated "fork." Her mate, who either didn't want to craft his own or didn't know how, stole Betty's tool and she had to make more. Click here for an article with a video clip of the amazing Betty crafting her tool!

April 2003 on the news, a story about "Freida," the five year old Octopus at a marine park. Since infancy, Frieda has lived in captivity where her meals are brought to her, and she receives treats on a regular basis. By watching her caretakers open the jars filled with treats, Freida learned to open the jars herself. She unscrews them, takes off the lid and gets her dinner. She also knows when the jar is empty. She won't open it.

Do you have pets? Are they the center of your universe? They have such endearing ways as they train and control us. To me, it's like the weight and power of our love for them is equal to the strength of the power they have over us. And that's okay. Because if you think like that, you love and spoil them. You and I know what they're doing...we just don't know how they do it! One of our cats, Rio, goes crazy over (ripe and sweet) cantaloupe in much the same way and fervor he "solicits" for tuna. Sometimes his tuna solicitation dance is so irresistible that we have no option but to open a can of our best and reward him for being adorable. Rose petals are a big one, too. Then there's Izzy, our shy, fussy cat who rarely eats "outside the Whiskas can." He will eat chicken ONLY if baked with fresh rosemary, or that is spicy. I just found out that he loves Chinese fried rice covered with Sichuan (hot) sauce. I couldn't believe it! Abby, our dog, is a master of manipulation and should have been an actor.

The Animal Gallery is the place for animals and their stories. All animals and pets are honored here at the Gallery, some in memorial, but all have their stories. Click here to go to the Animal Gallery and meet some special friends. Also, please feel free to send me photos and stories of your best friends, and I will post them in the Gallery. They will be among other wonderful cats, dogs, birds, parrots, fish...I would really to have an Iguana up here, somebody's treasured lizard. I love lizards. I had a great horned pet when I was a kid. "Spikey" lived for over five years. He had a good life and lots of attention. He used to go in the car on vacation with us, and we took turns holding him in our hands in front of the window, so he could look out at the passing scenery as we traveled. All of our pets were spoiled. Even the lizards! Please read "How Could You?" Beautiful and touching, written through the eyes and heart of our beloved dogs and cats.

Animals are sacred spirits of the universe, the purest of souls. There is an ancient mysticism about them that can be sensed more than seen. Although if you're really in tune with them you can see down deep in their eyes, past the reflection of yourself in their pupils. This is the journey that leads to knowledge intertwined with mysticism. It's like looking into their souls, connecting with them. I'm very lucky in the sense that I have a natural bond with animals and an enormous love for them. I've had connections with them that have been so amazing that to say communication with animals is impossible is ridiculous. One time in particular happened at friends' house. They had an adorable grey and white "teddy bear" cat. Her name was "Mouse." She was sitting in the corner of the kitchen when I went to get some water. I looked at her and asked, "what's the matter, Mouse?" Her eyes locked with mine. It seemed like forever, but it was probably only a few minutes. It's not like I heard anything, but more that I got a scene playing in my head of a very unhappy cat, one who had not been fed, or one who had not been given a routine treat. Either way, she was not happy and she was hungry. I turned around, went back into the living room where my friends were kicked back on the couch, stood in front of them with my hands on my hips and said, "Mouse is hungry! She never got her dinner or her treat. She's in the kitchen. One of you has to go now." They looked at each other. She said "I thought you fed Mouse." He said, "You said you were going to give her a treat." Then they felt bad and guilty, and looked at each other in silence, then looked back at me like "...what the hell just happened here?" He went to the kitchen to feed Mouse, and sure enough, she wolved down her dinner and took the treat that was offered to her. I don't know if he noticed it or not, but I could swear that Mouse shot him a look of distain. She looked at me with a soft look. I like to think of it as a "thank you" look.