Here's an animal fact that is not at all surprising if you've ever seen a hawk soar through the sky or a flock of pigeons settling in to roost together for the night: Caged birds suffer from a severe form of post-traumatic stress disorder and exhibit symptoms identical to those of prisoners of war and concentration camp survivors, including self-mutilation and persistent sadness. Even when they are rescued and taken to reputable sanctuaries, parrots, cockatoos, and macaws—who in the wild are extremely social—sometimes are never able to adjust to socializing with other birds and opt to remain alone, staring into space. So please don't patronize pet stores that sell birds into a prison sentence from which they may never recover, even if they are lucky enough to be "paroled."

 
Eliya | cc by 2.0

Perhaps it was crickets who inspired Miguel de Cervantes' famously chivalrous, albeit inept, character Don Quixote. Researchers have found that male crickets graciously allow their mates to enter the burrow first—although this leaves the well-intentioned males more vulnerable to predation, sometimes with tragic results. (Another interesting note from the study is that observing animals in their natural environment, rather than studying them in labs, provides more accurate information.)

I'll admit … while writing this, I had to look up what an anvil is, but a type of wrasse known as the orange dotted tusk fish knows precisely how an anvil works. An evolutionary biologist at the Great Barrier Reef filmed a wrasse who carried a clam some distance, then repeatedly threw the clam at a rock to break open the shell. The scientist points out that this behavior shows that fish are capable of thinking ahead and reasoning. (All the more reason not to eat them.)

Written by Heather Faraid Drennan

shadowscope / CC

Residents of Salem, Oregon, were stunned to find out that their neighbor, 41-year-old Todd Marcum, was using a shock collar to torment his four children—who range from age 3 to age 9. At a trial this week, Marcum pleaded guilty to four counts of criminal mistreatment and was sentenced to three years of probation.

The lieutenant who worked on the case said that Marcum "got great entertainment from chasing his younger child around the house with a dog collar to the point the child was crying and afraid the shock was going to come."

Shock collars hurt, and they shouldn't be used on anyone for any reason. That's exactly why PETA is calling on the mayor of Salem to ban shock collars in the city completely. No human or animal should live in fear of being shocked. In addition to causing animals physical pain and potential injury, shock collars can terrify and lead to psychological problems, including severe anxiety and displaced aggression. The anxiety and confusion caused by repeated shocks can lead to changes in heart or respiration rate as well as gastrointestinal disorders.

I think that most parents are smart enough to know not to shock their kids—but many people get fooled by dominance trainers into thinking that shock collars are the only way to discipline their dog. Please always remember that there are more effective, humane ways to train your dog.

Written by Liz Graffeo