Only a loving owner can truly understand what a treasure he sheltered by letting a dog into his house.

How dogs have affected the lives of Reddit users

Twenty stories from Reddit users whose interaction with dogs was for them, if not a turning point, certainly influenced their lives from the best side.

Take care of your pets because they are not more defenseless and devoted in the world!

1. Tell me, is this not fate?

Recently, a wonderful girl, a shepherd dog named Gerda, began to live in our house. The baby is only a year old, and her owners have already abandoned her. They quickly left the city, collected all the valuables, and left the biggest treasure in the apartment without water and food.

The poor man was saved by volunteers who help such animals abandoned by their owners leave the country or another city.

My husband and I did not think for a long time; we immediately said we would take it ourselves. The dog is incredibly quick-witted, intelligent, affectionate, and kind, and how it guards the apartment! She serves us and tries to thank us for giving her shelter. Sometimes, animals seem to have much purer souls than humans. Yes, and love in them a hundred times more. — #Beastfast@pn6

2. Meeting the one that changed my life

They wanted to get a dog with a girl, rummaged through the sites of animal shelters, and thought through all the details (the first dog). On the same day, a friend asked me to help after work (to remove construction debris from the floor).

In the evening, as usual, I stood at the bus stop with a plan to call in to help and ignored how I got into the 101st bus (21 was needed). At that moment, I thought it was not scary since the bus would pass nearby, but I would have to walk a little to his house due to inattention. The bus was almost empty, and I sat in the back without any problems and turned on the music in my headphones.

When I had about 10 minutes left to go, some grandfather with a dog in his arms sat down next to me. I did not immediately pay attention to him, but we instantly liked each other when I noticed the dog. The man saw this, and we started talking; he said he had found a puppy abandoned somewhere near the clinic, hungry and frightened.

He said he was taking him home, but after a couple of days, he was leaving, did not know where to attach him, and offered to take him to me. At first, I refused and even told myself in my head that this was a bad idea and an impulsive act, that I had to go on business, and in general, I had never had a dog. Still, when the bus almost arrived at my stop, and the doors were already open, I agreed, and grandfather gave me this little puppy.

We have been together for almost three years, and during all this time, I have never regretted my decision on the bus. — Pikabu

3. "I didn't know I could love someone as much as my dog."

“I just happened to save a dog during COVID quarantine. And just at that time, she had just broken off from a long and abusive relationship and lived alone. In the end, saving my dog ​​saved me. She was my roommate and my best friend. Her selfless love for me showed that I deserve happiness. And it was she who eventually brought me to my fiance ...

Now they are my joy and my light, and my world is a much better place because of them.” — ramire37

4. Hunting dogs are the best excuse for adventurous owners

Although I am not a hunter, I love hunting dog breeds. They are so funny! Constantly looking for adventure. And when you go for a walk with them, you become involved in these searches and wait for new finds with anticipation. I have a dachshund. And this walking sausage never ceases to amaze me. What we didn’t find with him: lost toys, bags forgotten by neighbors, and even a duck) It was both funny and strange: where does a live duck come from in our yard ?! She settled in our yard for a few days and became a local landmark) But she disappeared as suddenly as she appeared. Hope you're okay, duck! — #Beastfast@pn6

5. Dog - as a reason to become more disciplined

As a child, she was a terrible bitch. She could dress or undress for hours, being distracted by everything that could be distracted. When I turned 12, my parents gave me a dog, happiness knew no bounds, but I also had to take care of it. The dog is small; from the diaper, you need to retrain to the street. As a result, I learned to dress in 3 minutes a month. A couple of years passed, and I began to like the boy; I didn’t go outside without makeup. Another week - and I apply daytime light makeup in 2 minutes. It's been seven years. The dog is no longer alive, and I still dress and paint in 5 minutes. And just dreaming about a dog… — #Zveropost@pn6

6. “We got a puppy after we found out we were having fertility issues.”

“It was a bold decision, but I am very grateful to him. He is the best thing I have ever bought in my life. He brings us both so much joy and love. We both adore him, and he has changed our life and waistline for the better…” — lauraw4671f5ac2

7. The moment when a dog can marry people

I was afraid of dogs. I was bitten as a child, and the scar on my leg is still visible. One summer evening, my girlfriend and I were walking in the park. I hear someone shouting from behind: “Stop, Devil!” I turn and see a vast Golden Retriever dog running towards me. All life flashed before my eyes. The dog knocks me to the ground with its front paws and looks at me; I look at it; I don’t know what to do. Fortunately, the owner ran up and took her away. I have never experienced such fear in my life. When I came to my senses, the dog's owner apologized for a long time, and the dog himself looked modestly at me. We exchanged numbers and talked for a long time; it turned out that we have a lot in common; I'm getting married in a month. And the Golden Retriever turned out to be the cutest and kindest creature, only her nickname is frightening)) — #Zveropost@pn6

8. Friends can be supported, including dogs.

For three years, I have been living with two beautiful dogs: Joe, the little Spitz, and Jim, the German Shepherd. They are great friends; they started sleeping on the same pillow as puppies, got along well, and never quarreled. Joe and Jim love to play catch-up all over the house, but the Spitz's paws are too short of catching up with a shepherd dog quickly; because of this, he can get upset and sadly go to another room. But Jim's act shocked me - he began to succumb to it! The dog realized that the other dog was sad, so he began to run more slowly! I'm in complete shock at how they feel about each other! Yes, not every person can read emotions and moods so well! — #Beastfast@pn6

9. Fate as it is!

I work in a nursery. A family came to us with a 7-year-old girl. We walked for a long time, chose among small dogs, and then moved to the next building to look at the big puppies. And there was a husky. I think everyone knows how beautiful they are, especially their eyes. Suddenly, the girl squeaked and began to poke her finger into one of the enclosures, and she was jumping up and down with impatience! It turned out that this puppy had heterochromia (different colored eyes), just like the girl! This is how it happened by chance! They immediately decided that this puppy was waiting for them, and they had no right not to take it away. And, having quickly issued everything, they left, happy, home. This is why I love my job! — #Beastfast@pn6

10. "My boy saved me from myself."

“I was on the verge of a major breakdown, but one day he came to my house and taught me how to be myself again.” — goniamiksch

11. You're too close⁠⁠

We got our dog by accident. We didn't plan. We didn’t even think this would be a good test for stress resistance and endurance. Walk three times a day in any weather, and treat a runny nose, allergies, and indigestion.

We are now ready for kids! — Natashiashi/Pikabu.

12. “Having a dog changed my life. I'm fighting depression and can't live without my dog ​​and best friends."

“We do everything together. We went to the indoor dog park the other day, and I needed to go to the bathroom. She was waiting for me by the fence until I got back. If that's not love and devotion, then I don't know what love and devotion is." — katelinaverkamp

13. Don't be mean to your pets or people; they trust you unconditionally!

He picked up a dog right in the middle of the field a year ago. He was collared, well-groomed, and plump like that, they searched for his owners for a long time, but no one responded. It was noticeable that the poor fellow was thrown out - he was very bored, and for the first week, he refused food and only drank water. We left him at home; the dog quickly adapted and realized that we are a new family, but here's something he has retired from his "past life." He is afraid of driving a car; when we need to take him to the vet or go to nature to relax, the dog shrinks into the seat and is afraid to get out of the car. Poor guy probably thinks we'll take him out and leave him, just like the previous owners... — #Beastpost@pn6.

14. Buns and dogs⁠⁠

When I was in the 6th grade, life was especially hard for our country. I remember school lunches getting scarcer.

And the thing was that the road home lay through the entire private sector of my village. Then many kept dogs for protection, which happened to run without a leash. To appease such a crazy dog, I just needed a school bun. I broke off a small piece and treated all the animals I met.

Over time, dogs from all over the area became my best friends. I knew everyone by name, and even the most formidable representatives happily waved their tails when they saw me:

And only one dog did not succumb to either my charm or treats. It was a little black curly Lota of our neighbors‍🦺. She didn't bark; she had a thin, shrill voice, incredibly loud. Any person passing by was always qualitatively barked at by her. I remember, and in my ears, there is a screech of this dog devoted only to its owners. — Natalymarketolog/Pikabu

15. Lessons from dogs can be cruel but effective!

As a child, I was bitten by a dog. This vinegar was left on my body as a reminder not to approach an animal when it is eating. I learned this lesson long ago, but I could not think it could catch up with me in the future. Once, walking on the street, I noticed a lonely booth in the middle of the park, and next to it was a playground. Near the booth sat a small dog that sweetly ate a giant bone. From afar, the baby picked up speed on his tiny legs. At some point, I realized that now there would be fierce trash if I didn’t make it on time. At breakneck speed, I block the already-ready-to-bite small dog from the child instead of a small dog biting me. That day I received 40 injections in my stomach. But the child remained intact. My parents invited me to dinner, and the dog was taken to a shelter. I hope the dog will find his family well, and the parents will not be too lazy in the future and take care of their child's safety. — #Beastfast@pn6.

16. Not only can people raise pets, but also people's dogs

I love my dog, but I never thought she could be so bright. We have been with her for more than a month, so she knows the correct commands and always listens to me, but sometimes there are exceptions. Probably, my pet, in such cases, believes that I am wrong and thus insists on his own. Otherwise, I cannot explain this. For example, the other day, when hyperactivity woke up a dog, I forbade chasing it around the apartment and went to my room because my head hurt terribly. After a couple of seconds, a dog approached me with my sneakers in his mouth. And no, it was not an offer to go out and take a walk; it was, as always, a warning that now she would do things to them because I forbade something stupid. I didn’t understand this hint of her right away; only after about five washing of shoes I realized that the dog was well-mannered, but that’s too cunning). — #Beastfast@pn6.

17. When a dog leaves memories for a lifetime

Our family had a dog Nyusha. She recently died. But she left behind a good memory and a bunch of funny stories. One day we went camping for a few days. Nyusha, of course, is with us. We began to set up camp for the night, so Nyusha would not get under her feet; her father tied her leash to a tree. Everyone was busy with things. Nyusha was nearby, running, and playing.

The following day we had to move on. We began to gather. Look, there is no dog leash. They began to find out who untied her yesterday. It turned out - no one. Where's the leash? All rummaged - no.

The father comes up to Nyusha and says: “Nyusha, did you take the leash? Bring it if you do!" She ran into the bushes, and he followed her. The dog began to dig. The father saw that the leash was on the ground. Such was the girl - you can’t tie her without her consent))) — #Zveropost@pn6

18. “My dog ​​teaches me to keep things in perspective and focus on what I can or cannot control.”

“She helps me feel grateful for the little things! When life seems incomprehensible and people turn away from each other, I sometimes feel powerless. However, I know it's not so bad when my dog ​​brings me another stick and spins around in the autumn foliage! — hannahbennett3

19. "It's okay to fool around and play with your dog sometimes like you're a kid again."

"Even if you look a little silly, just stop and enjoy life with your four-legged friend." —amandal493b7ea41

20. We hope this event will be a lesson for this man. But we're now to look for this dog and money?!

After going to the store, the man decided to put his purchases in the trunk and put a purse with money in the car. Naturally, he forgets about her and leaves the parking lot. Literally, in a couple of minutes, the realization comes that there is no purse, and there are documents and 250K. By car, not in the parking lot either. Calls the police (shops do not show cameras to the townsfolk). Operas come to the guards:

- Where is the purse?

The guards neigh

- The dog took it.

They show a video where the car moves off, the purse falls, and a healthy dog ​​grabs it almost on the fly and runs away as fast as possible.

Now the dog has rights, a car, and good cash. — Kayt. ya/Pikabu

Can your beloved cat or dog give you coronavirus?

Experts agree, almost definitely not.

Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said that samples from the dog's nasal and oral cavities had tested "weak positive" for novel coronavirus. It was believed to be the first time that a dog anywhere in the world tested positive for the virus.

The dog - which had no symptoms - was put into quarantine and will be repeatedly tested until the result comes back negative, according to the statement. The department "strongly advises" that pets of people infected with coronavirus are quarantined for 14 days.

Despite this, the AFCD and the World Health Organization both agree there is no evidence that pets such as cats or dogs can be infected with coronavirus.

That's because while dogs can test positive for the virus, it doesn't necessarily mean they have been infected.

Is it worth quarantining pets?

According to Gray, who was working in Hong Kong during SARS, there is still value in quarantining pets from a scientific perspective, because it allows scientists to observe how an animal relates to a disease we still know relatively little about.

"Whilst it seems a bit scary, it's purely a precautionary measure, and it's certainly nothing for pet owners in general to be concerned about," said Gray.

Some pet owners in mainland China have been fitting their dogs with tiny face masks, but Gray said there is no benefit to that -- in fact, it's probably fairly distressing for the pet and could cause them to panic.

Instead, pet owners should stick to the basics: good hygiene.

Both WHO and Gray said owners should wash their hands with soap and water after touching pets.

"I am certainly not in any concern of my dog or cats, I'm far more concerned about myself catching it from a human being that has the disease," said Gray, who is a pet owner herself.

People sparsely populate the high mountains. The cultivation of the land is difficult here, and it can only be used in summer as a pasture for domestic animals. In the last century, the mountains have become a popular place of entertainment - at first, they were chosen by climbers, later by skiers. The laying of ski tracks, the construction of lifting devices, hotels, and recreation centers sometimes cause adverse changes in the natural environment.

Mountain animals

High in the mountains, even on the rocks, flowers of extraordinary beauty grow, such as aquilegia. The highest city in the world is Lhasa (China), located in Tibet at an altitude of 3,630 meters.

1. Living conditions in the mountains are very different from the plains.

As you climb the mountains, the climate changes rapidly: the temperature drops, the amount of precipitation increases, the air becomes more rarefied—changes from the foot of the mountains to the peaks and the nature of the vegetation. Therefore, mountain habitats vary greatly from the base to the mountain peaks.

2. The variety of living conditions contributes to the fact that the mountains are inhabited by many species of animals. On the mountains, each vertical zone has its own fauna, to some extent similar to the fauna of the corresponding latitudinal zones of the Earth.

3. By the number of species of mountain animals, the forest zone is the richest. Highlands are much poorer than them. The higher up the mountains, the fewer species of animals - this is typical for most mountainous countries. On the mountain peaks, the ambient temperature is low, the atmosphere is rarefied, and the level of ultraviolet radiation is high. The most elevated parts of the high mountains are covered with eternal snow and are almost completely devoid of life.

4. Most animal species live at lower altitudes, only in a few or even in one zone of mountains. And only the most enduring representatives of the fauna have adapted to the difficult conditions of life on the tops of the world.

MOUNTAIN GOATS

5. Mountain goats and sheep can enter very high mountains - up to almost 6000 meters. Of the vertebrates, only vultures and eagles penetrate above them, and occasionally other smaller birds fly in.

6. The wild yak is a large wild animal native to the Himalayas in Central Asia. It is the ancestor of the domesticated yak. Yaks are common in treeless areas, at an altitude of 3000 to 6100 meters. They are most often found in alpine tundras with relatively high amounts of grasses and sedges.

WILD YAK

7. This animal is characterized by a massive body, with strong legs and rounded hooves. The fur is extremely dense, long, hanging below the belly, and perfectly protects from the cold. The color of the coat, as a rule, varies from light brown to black.

8. The fauna of the alpine zone is most peculiar, where many animals are found that are unknown on the plains: various types of mountain goats (in Western Europe - stone ibex, in the Caucasus - tour, in the mountains of Asia - Siberian ibex), chamois, Asian red wolf, some rodents , vulture, mountain turkey, or snowcock, alpine jackdaw and others.

9. It is interesting that the fauna of the Alpine zone in Europe, Asia, North America and northern Africa is generally homogeneous. This is due to the fact that in the highlands of different parts of the world, living conditions are very similar.

ORONGO

10. Orongo is a medium-sized artiodactyl mammal native to the Tibetan Plateau. Males have long, curved horns, while females lack them. The color of the back is reddish-brown, and the lower part of the body is light.

11. On the Tibetan plateau, orongos live in open alpine and cold steppe regions, at an altitude of 3250 to 5500 meters. These animals are found almost entirely in China, where they are found in Tibet, the provinces of Xinjiang and Qinghai; some populations are also found in Ladakh, India.

TIBETAN FOX

12. The Tibetan fox is a species from the canine family. These foxes are found in the Tibetan plateau, in India, China, the Sutlej valley in northwestern India and parts of Nepal, in particular in the Mustang region. Tibetan foxes are known to prefer barren slopes and streams.

13. The maximum height at which these mammals were seen was 5300 meters. Among all types of foxes, the Tibetan has the most elongated muzzle. Its coat color on the back, legs and head is reddish, and on the sides it is gray.

14. Hares are found in almost all areas of the mountains.

15. In many mountains, screes are formed; the life of interesting animals is connected with them - snow voles and mountain pikas (otherwise it is called hay rate).

BROWN BEAR

16. Brown bears have the widest range, and are found in the northern part of Eurasia and North America. The animals do not appear to have specific altitude restrictions and are found from sea level up to 5,000 meters (in the Himalayas).

17. Brown bears are the largest land predators, after polar bears, and can weigh up to 750 kilograms. Brown bears are adapted to high altitude conditions due to their thick fur and ability to climb mountains.

18. Many mountain animals live only where there are rocks.

SNOW LEOPARD

19. Musk deer, mountain goats and goral antelope are saved in the rocks from predators.

20. Now on many mountains one can meet argali and other wild sheep in the rocks. This is apparently due to the long pursuit of them by hunters.

21. Where wild sheep are little disturbed, they prefer to live on relatively gentle slopes, and only the bighorn sheep, or chubuk, living in the mountains of Northeast Asia, lives very similar to mountain goats.

22. Viviparous species of reptiles penetrate the mountains above others: some lizards, vipers, in northern Africa - chameleons.

LIZARD

23. In Tibet, at an altitude of more than 5000 meters, there is a viviparous round-headed lizard. Roundheads, living on the plains, where the climate is warmer, lay eggs.

24. When a lot of snow falls in the mountains, it is very difficult for ungulates: it prevents them not only from moving around, but also from getting food.

25. In the mountains of the Western Caucasus in 1931-1932 there was a very snowy winter. The layer of snow in some places exceeded 6 meters. Many deer, roe deer and other animals migrated to the lower parts of the mountains, where the snow cover was less. In this winter, roe deer ran into the villages and were easily given into hands. They were caught and kept in barns along with cattle until the snow melted in the mountains.

HIMALAYAN MARMOT

26. The Himalayan marmot is distributed throughout the Himalayas and on the Tibetan plateau at an altitude of 3500 to 5200 meters. These animals live in groups and dig deep burrows in which they sleep. The body size of the Himalayan marmot is comparable to that of a domestic cat. It has a dark chocolate brown coat with contrasting yellow spots on its head and chest.

27. The peculiar conditions of life in the mountains affected the external appearance of animals, the forms of their bodies, their way of life and habits.

28. Many generations of these animals lived in the mountains, and therefore they developed characteristic adaptations that help in the struggle for existence.

MOUNTAIN SHAM

29. Mountain goats, chamois, American bighorn goats, bighorn sheep have large, mobile hooves that can move widely apart. Along the edges of the hooves - from the sides and in front - a protrusion (welt) is well defined, the pads of the fingers are relatively soft.

30. All this allows animals to cling to barely noticeable bumps when moving on rocks and steep slopes, and not to slip when running on icy snow.

31. The horny substance of their hooves grows very strong and quickly, so the hooves never “wear out” from abrasion on sharp stones. The legs of mountain ungulates allow them to make strong jumps on steep slopes and quickly reach rocks where they can hide from persecution.

KIANG

32. Kiang is a large mammal from the horse family, which has a size at the withers of up to 142 centimeters, a body length of up to 214 centimeters, and a weight of up to 400 kilograms. Kiangs are common on the Tibetan Plateau, between the Himalayas in the south and the Kunlun Mountains in the north. Their range is almost entirely limited to China, but small populations are found in the Ladakh and Sikkim regions of India, and along the northern border of Nepal.

33. Kiangs live in alpine meadows and steppes, at an altitude of 2700 to 5400 meters above sea level. They prefer relatively flat plateaus, wide valleys, and low hills dominated by grasses, sedges, and a small amount of other low vegetation. This open area, in addition to a good prey base, helps them spot and hide from predators. Their only real natural enemy other than humans is the wolf.

SNOW GOAT

34. In the spring, as the snow melts, the animals that descend down migrate to the upper zones of the mountains. Among wild ungulates, adult males are the first to rise, later - females with recently born, not yet strong enough babies.

35. Chamois, mountain goats, wild sheep and other ungulates living in the mountains often die in winter and early spring during snowfalls. In the Alps in the winter of 1905-1906, one of the snow avalanches buried a herd of chamois - about 70 heads.

TIBETAN DZEREN

36. Tibetan gazelle is a relatively small antelope, with a slender and graceful body. Males have long, tapering, ribbed horns, up to 32 centimeters long. Most of the body is grayish brown. Their fur has no undercoat, and consists only of long protective hairs, which thicken considerably in winter.

37. The Tibetan gazelle is native to the Tibetan plateau and is widely distributed throughout the region, at altitudes between 3,000 and 5,750 meters. They are limited to the Chinese provinces of Gansu, Xinjiang, Tibet, Qinghai and Sichuan, and small populations are found in the Ladakh and Sikkim regions of India.

38. Alpine meadows and steppes are the main habitats of these animals. Unlike some other ungulates, Tibetan gazelles do not form large herds and are usually found in small family groups. These artiodactyls feed on local vegetation, including forbs. Their main predator is the wolf.

MOUNTAIN LION - PUMA

39. In the Caucasian Reserve, it was possible to observe goat-turs during a heavy snowfall. Snow avalanches fell from the opposite slope of the gorge. But the tours, usually very cautious, did not pay attention to this. Apparently, they are accustomed to the menacing sounds of a snow avalanche.

40. At the end of December 1936, snowfall continued for four days in the Caucasian Reserve. At the upper border of the forest, a layer of new loose snow reached a meter. The scientists of the reserve went out to explore the state of the snow and noticed a fresh deep path that went down the slope. They skied down this trail and soon overtook a large tur. Only a head with horns was visible from the snow.

41. The tour was so helpless that one of the employees could even afford liberties in handling him - he sat on a wild tour on horseback! Another employee photographed the scene. Tur was helped out of the snow and left. The next day, his tracks were found much lower - in the forest on a steep slope, where the aurochs could feed on lichens hanging from fir branches.

IRBIS

42. The snow leopard living in the high mountains of Asia has unusually long and lush fur, while its tropical relative, the leopard, has short and rarer fur.

43. Animals living in the mountains molt in the spring much later than the animals of the plains, and in the fall their hair begins to grow back earlier.

44. One of the remarkable adaptations caused by living conditions in the mountains is vertical migrations, or migrations.

45. In autumn, when it becomes cold high in the mountains, snowfalls begin and, most importantly, food is difficult to obtain, many animals migrate down the slopes of the mountains.

46. ​​Deer, roe deer and wild boars are found in the mountains up to alpine meadows; in autumn they descend into the forest. Most of the chamois go here for the winter.

47. Mountain goats migrate to the forest part of the mountains and settle here on steep rocky slopes. Sometimes they move to the southern slopes, where snow melts in alpine meadows in the very first hours or days after a snowfall, or to steeper windward slopes, where the snow is simply blown away by the winds.

48. Following wild ungulates, predators hunting them migrate - wolves, lynxes, snow leopards.

49. The variety of natural conditions in the mountains allows animals to find places for wintering near the areas where they live in summer. Therefore, the seasonal migrations of animals in the mountains are, as a rule, much shorter than the migrations of animals and birds on the plains.

50. In the mountains of Altai, Sayan and North-Eastern Siberia, wild reindeer make seasonal migrations of only a few tens of kilometers, and deer living in the far north sometimes travel a thousand kilometers to reach their wintering grounds.

Rabbits are not only fluffy animals that are massively bred in many countries. They are also surprisingly tenacious creatures that have successfully survived in the wild for many thousands of years of evolution, despite the fact that they are willingly fed by all predators that surpass them in size. By the way, contrary to the common stereotype, rabbits and hares are by no means the same thing. There are enough differences between them.

Facts about rabbits

1. Rabbits are not rodents, they belong to the hare family

They are not included in the group of rodent mammals because they have an extra pair of incisors and other skeletal features.

2. Rabbits and rodents like hamsters and rats have a common ancestor that lived many millions of years ago. However, rabbits still do not belong to rodents.

3. Rabbits are often confused with hares. But there are many differences between these animals, despite the fact that they are relatives in a biological sense.

4. Rabbits in general are not very intelligent, but nature has perfectly adapted them to survive.

5. Rabbits have been successfully surviving in the wild for many thousands of years of evolution, despite the fact that they are willingly fed by all predators that surpass them in size.

6. More than 50% of all rabbits in the world live in North America.

7. Rabbits reproduce so quickly that they successfully capture vast habitats, and many people also keep them as pets. And it's not just about farmers - some breeds of rabbits are popular as pets.

SILVER RABBIT

8. Despite the existence of more than 150 rabbit colors, they have only five different eye colors: brown, blue-gray, blue, pink and marble.

9. Rabbits actually have a lot more teeth than it seems at first glance - as many as 28.

10. There are about 17 thousand taste buds on the rabbit tongue.

11. They chew very quickly. When a rabbit feeds, its jaw makes an average of two chewing movements per second, and it can chew for a very long time without getting tired.

12. Nature has adapted rabbit eyes to a magnificent view so that they can always see a creeping predator. So, rabbits can even see what is happening behind them without turning their heads.

13. A hare can reach a running speed of 72 km/h, while a rabbit can only reach 56 km/h.

14. All 16 species of American rabbits live in forests and swamps and do not dig holes for themselves. In addition, they are great at climbing trees.

15. And outside of North America, all rabbits live exclusively in burrows, and they don’t know how to climb trees.

16. Wild European rabbits dig deep and branched burrows, which sometimes combine into entire underground cities.

17. Rabbits are social animals, that is, in the wild they live in groups. This distinguishes them from hares, which exist more alone.

18. Only American rabbits can live alone, and all other species usually exist in groups.

19. All kinds of rabbits, except for one, live in underground burrows. This distinguishes them from hares that build nests on the surface.

20. Previously, rabbits were specially released on deserted islands so that the shipwrecked would have a source of food before they were rescued.

RABBIT - PYGMY

21. The smallest breed of rabbits is called Little Idaho or pygmy rabbit. The weight of an adult individual reaches a maximum of only 450 grams, and the length is from 22 to 35 centimeters.

22. A rabbit has 18 claws: 4 on the hind legs and 5 on the front.

23. A female rabbit usually feeds her cubs for about 5 minutes a day.

24. Rabbits can snore. Not all rabbits snore, but some do so with great pleasure.

25. Rabbits are very quiet animals, but they are not dumb. They mutter, hiss, squeak, and the male makes a short but rather loud sound immediately after the act of mating.

26. A two-kilogram rabbit can drink as much water as a ten-kilogram dog.

27. In summer, male rabbits can become sterile, reproductive function is restored with the onset of cool weather.

28. Introduced to Australia, rabbits have bred so much on the territory of this mainland that they have become a threat to the entire Australian ecosystem. To contain their spread, the government of this country even had to erect a special fence around places abounding with rabbits.

29. In the Australian state of Queensland, it is illegal to keep rabbits, even decorative breeds. Violators face a fine of 30 thousand Australian dollars.

30. Rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk of the day.

31. Rabbits are known to be good jumpers. Rabbits easily jump to a height of a meter and a half.

32. And the longest officially registered jump of a rabbit in length is three meters.

33. On average, rabbit ears are 8-12 centimeters long, but a domestic rabbit entered the book of records, whose ears reached a length of 80 centimeters.

34. Rabbits have tiny teeth behind their front incisors.

35. A cornered rabbit resorts to its last weapon - a blow with its hind legs. With a blow of powerful hind legs armed with sharp claws, a harmless rabbit may well kill or seriously injure a predator.

36. When a danger is detected, for example, a predator, rabbits warn their relatives by drumming with their front paws on the ground or on a tree.

37. A predator can literally scare a rabbit to death.

38. In nature, rabbits live an average of about a year, and in captivity - ten times longer. This is due to the fact that almost all rabbits sooner or later become someone's prey.

39. The record for longevity belongs to the Floppy rabbit, who was born in 1964 on the island of Tasmania and died in 1983 at the age of 18 years 10 months. However, this record is already being broken by another rabbit from Nova Scotia, who recently turned 24 years old.

40. Rabbits are massively bred in many countries.

BREEDING OF RABBITS

41. The history of rabbit breeding began about 4000 years ago. The remains of the first rabbit farms of this age have been found during archaeological excavations in Spain and Portugal.

42. President Lincoln allowed his son to keep many pets in the White House, including rabbits.

43. The Prussian king Frederick kept a whole colony of rabbits on a small island in the river near Berlin.

44. Napoleon 3, nephew of Napoleon 1, was one of the most famous rabbit breeders.

45. In one of the myths of the North American Indians, the rabbit, like Prometheus, stole the fire from the "fiery people" and gave it to people.

46. ​​Rabbits bring many offspring at one time, but the female herself usually cannot take out all the newborn rabbits. If you help her, they can all survive. The official litter record is 24 rabbits at a time. Such a record was recorded only twice - in 1978 and 1999.

47. A rabbit can bear two offspring at the same time, conceived at different times and from two different males, since she has a bifurcated uterus. This partly explains the fertility of these animals.

48. Some of their breeds become sexually mature as early as 3 months of age.

49. By law in the United States, rabbits under 8 weeks old are not allowed to be sold because until then they cannot be weaned from their mother. And in order to buy a rabbit there, you need to be at least 18 years old, and in some states they even require a certificate from the police stating that the potential buyer was not convicted of animal husbandry.

50. If rabbits were given the opportunity to breed as freely as possible, then after 90 years the number of rabbits would become equal to the number of square meters on our planet.