Are crows into Grand Theft Auto? These brainy birds steal windshield wiper blades for reasons known only to themselves, although having fun with them might be the answer.

Ravens seem more interested in studying sign language. Like primates and humans, the birds use gestures to communicate—in this case, pointing with their beaks.

SteveD | cc by 2.0

Octopuses have bird brains (read "big brains") too. Some octopuses in captivity make toys and games out of items in their tanks. Some let the people they like stroke their heads, while a person on an octopus's bad side may get squirted.

Fish enjoy the calming effects of touch, too, but not from people. They will allow small fish who work as full-time cleaners to nibble at their scales even when they don't have parasites because they like the gentle massage.

Dogs, of course, love affection from people, and their devotion to their guardians doesn't usually fade when that guardian passes away. A faithful dog in China refuses to leave his guardian's grave, and the townspeople plan to build a doghouse there for the grieving canine.

After being stolen from his home, held for five years, and then apparently dumped after he developed a medical problem, a precocious pup who loves to travel hopped on a bus. When he was spotted by the driver and taken to a vet, his microchip guaranteed that the next trip he took was back home to his family.

Another clever canine is a hero after she grabbed a bag of kittens someone had tossed onto the highway, pulled it off the road, dragged it home, and cried until her guardian opened it.

Resourceful deer, raccoons, blue herons, and other animals have figured out how to safely cross the road (without instructions from chickens).

As anyone who has ever forgotten to spell out "w-a-l-k" can attest, dogs can understand our language. One recent study showed that dogs can learn up to 165 words and gestures and that they can count. And dogs aren't the only animals you can depend on in an emergency either—a rabbit recently saved her human family from a house fire.

malfet_ | cc by 2.0

Could birds call each other "humanbrain" as an insult? Like humans, crows and ravens are very social and have large brains for their body size. They also rival humans and monkeys in their ability to delay self-gratification for a greater reward. They are articulate, too, as evidenced by escaped former companion birds who are now teaching their flocks to understand English. If a family planning to welcome a new baby is having trouble picking a name, perhaps they should consult with parrots, who name their offspring.

Dolphins talk to each other in a way similar to humans, too, by adjusting their muscular tension and air flow. Words likely not in their vocabulary? "Imprison," "abuse," and "exploit" …. But if they are familiar with those terms, it could explain why scientists in Australia are just now discovering a new species of dolphin—maybe they were hiding!

Written by Michelle Sherrow

These animals must have listened to Robert F. Kennedy―they didn’t get mad, they got even.

stevedepolo | cc by 2.0

• Maybe Angry Birds was inspired by crows, who remember the faces of people who were mean to them for years―and even get other crows to help retaliate. 
• A cattle rancher was once named "Livestockman of the Year," but after fattening thousands of animals for slaughter, he got a less-than-positive review from one of the animals in his "care."  
• A man caught with massive amounts of lethal puffer fish poison won't be seeing the ocean―or much of anything else―for a very long time.
• At two separate events in which people antagonize and harass bulls for fun, the instigators learned the painful way that when you mess with a bull, you really do get the horns.
• It was eight seconds to gory when a horse tired of being used in the rodeo bluntly told his rider to take a seat in the stands.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

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For your Friday enjoyment, here are some of the sweetest and most gosh-darn amazing animals we could find.  

• These brainy crows owe their intelligence to a legacy of nurturing parenting. Are crow nannies in our future, perhaps? 
• Like humans, chimpanzees and penguins grieve the loss of a child or family member. 
• Prairie dogs have a language so advanced that they can describe humans down to the colors of their clothes. What Not to Wear: Prairie Dog Edition. 
• This cat prefers strawberries to mice. Has she been reading PETA's website?

Written by Michelle Sherrow