Putin behaved like an SS Nazi when he deported 20,000 Ukrainian kids to Russia for indoctrination

Putin lies so much (like Trump!) that he can call 'black' white and believe it. And he has a habit of describing Ukrainians who want to be part of Europe 'Nazis' when he has behaved just like the SS Nazis who 'stole' and deported tens of thousands of Polish children from Poland to Germany in 1940 and selected the blond-haired, blue-eyed ones to turn them into Germans through extensive indoctrination.

Putin learned to commit this huge crime from Hitler for which he has been charged by the International Criminal Court for this mass, war crime. In March 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for both Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's Commissioner for Children's Rights. These charges are based on substantial evidence that Russian authorities orchestrated the deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied areas to Russia, where many have reportedly been placed in Russian families, given Russian citizenship, and subjected to forced assimilation into Russian culture​.

The ICC’s charges are rooted in the Rome Statute, which defines the forcible transfer of children from one national group to another as a war crime and, in certain cases, as an act of genocide. By focusing on these forced transfers, the ICC underscores the severity of the situation and the long-term harm such policies inflict on the children, their families, and Ukraine as a whole. This marked the first time the ICC has issued a warrant for a sitting leader of a major world power, highlighting the international community’s condemnation of these actions as serious violations of human rights and international law​.

However, as Russia is not a party to the ICC, enforcing the warrant is challenging. Although the ICC does not have direct jurisdiction in Russia, any travel by Putin to countries that recognize the ICC could potentially lead to his arrest. This unprecedented move has intensified global discussions on accountability for war crimes and the protection of children in conflict zones.

Question: In 1940 after Germany invaded Poland, they deported 20,000 Polish children and selected the blond-haired, blue-eyed ones to turn them into Germans. Correct?

Answer from AI: Yes, that’s largely correct. After Germany invaded Poland in 1939, the Nazis implemented a policy known as Lebensborn, which aimed to "Germanize" children deemed to have "Aryan" features—primarily blond hair and blue eyes. This initiative was part of a broader racial policy to create what the Nazis saw as a "pure" Germanic race. Children who met these physical criteria were often forcibly taken from their families and sent to Germany to be raised as Germans, with their Polish identities erased.

As part of the Lebensraum (living space) policy, which sought to expand German territory, the Nazis displaced hundreds of thousands of Polish civilians, often separating families. While exact numbers vary, it is estimated that up to 200,000 Polish children were taken during the occupation, and many were never reunited with their biological families after the war. Those who didn't meet the physical criteria, or who resisted, often faced harsh treatment, including internment in concentration camps.

This abduction and forced Germanization of Polish children remains one of the tragic examples of Nazi racial ideology in action.

How many Ukrainian children has Putin taken from Ukraine in the current war after Russia's invasion, and forced them to live in Russia to become Russians through indoctrination?

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainian officials estimate that approximately 20,000 to 27,000 children have been taken from Ukraine into Russia or Russian-occupied areas. Many of these children were reportedly subjected to Russian "filtration" processes, which involved screening them and often placing them in Russian-controlled territories or with Russian adoptive families, sometimes under false claims that they were orphans. For example, in occupied areas like Mariupol and Kherson, Russian authorities searched orphanages, removed children, and relocated them to regions within Russia​.

The forced transfers have been widely condemned, and Russia’s policies regarding Ukrainian children appear to include issuing Russian citizenship to these children and enrolling them in schools or foster care within Russia. Many reports indicate that they are pressured to adopt Russian culture and language, effectively erasing their Ukrainian identities through systematic indoctrination, similar to the Nazi Lebensborn program. Russian authorities have defended the relocations as "evacuations" or “humanitarian measures,” but international bodies, including the UN, view them as human rights violations and potential war crimes due to the forced assimilation and denial of the children's Ukrainian heritage.

Efforts to return these children are underway, with Ukrainian organizations, international coalitions, and human rights advocates calling for their safe return and for accountability for those involved in their forced displacement.

Do you see the very close similarities between these two crimes?

Yes, the parallels between Nazi Germany’s abduction of Polish children and Russia’s forced transfer of Ukrainian children are striking. Both cases involve the large-scale removal of children from their families and their forced assimilation into the occupying power's culture, with the intent of erasing their original identities and replacing them with those of the dominant ideology.

Key Similarities

1. Ideological Justification and Forced Assimilation: Both Nazi Germany and Russia justified these removals under the guise of "saving" or "helping" children from areas of conflict. Nazi policy targeted Polish children with “Aryan” features for assimilation into German society, viewing them as racially valuable. Similarly, Russia claims it is evacuating Ukrainian children for their safety, but it systematically places them with Russian families, grants them Russian citizenship, and instills Russian culture, language, and identity—often explicitly prohibiting Ukrainian heritage​.

2. Legal and Bureaucratic Systems for Identity Erasure: Both regimes developed legal frameworks to alter the children’s identities. Under the Nazis, children’s names were changed, and they were often unaware of their true origins. In Russia, streamlined adoption and citizenship processes allow Russian families to change the names, birth dates, and even places of origin of Ukrainian children, who are then raised to view themselves as Russian​.

3. Objective of Cultural and National Erasure: In both scenarios, the intent appears to be not just the physical displacement of children but a strategic attempt to dilute or erase the cultural identity of the children’s nation. For Nazi Germany, this was part of a broader goal to create a racially "pure" Germanic Europe. In Russia’s case, the absorption of Ukrainian children serves to weaken Ukrainian cultural continuity and legitimize Russia's occupation by "Russifying" future generations​.

4. Violation of International Law: Both policies are in violation of international laws designed to protect children, particularly during conflicts. The UN and human rights organizations have condemned both actions as forms of genocide. Under international law, the forced transfer of children with the intent to assimilate them into another national group is recognized as a war crime and an act of genocide​.

These similarities underscore a disturbing pattern: the use of children as instruments in a broader strategy of occupation and cultural erasure. Both Nazi Germany and modern Russia used this tactic to destabilize and absorb territories by attempting to eliminate the cultural foundations of their occupied populations. The long-term psychological and cultural impacts on the children and their communities are profound, leading to deep-seated trauma and loss of cultural identity that lasts well beyond the conflict itself.

And it is interesting that Putin calls Ukrainians 'Nazis' when he is behaving like an SS Nazi in deporting the Ukrainian children.

Yes, it’s deeply ironic and contradictory that President Putin justifies his invasion of Ukraine by branding Ukrainians as “Nazis,” while some of his policies resemble Nazi-era strategies, particularly in the forced deportation and "re-education" of Ukrainian children. His accusations tap into powerful historical narratives, but the documented actions involving Ukrainian children reflect tactics historically associated with Nazi occupation policies.

Propaganda and the “De-Nazification” Claim

Putin has frequently framed his invasion as a “de-Nazification” mission, a claim that many historians and international experts view as baseless. While there are far-right elements in many countries, including Ukraine, this framing ignores the fact that Ukraine is a democratic nation with a Jewish president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose family suffered during the Holocaust. Putin’s rhetoric has been widely criticized as propaganda intended to galvanize Russian public support by invoking memories of World War II and framing Russia as a liberator once again​.

Deportation and Forced Assimilation: An Echo of Nazi Tactics

Putin's government has implemented policies strikingly similar to the Nazi SS’s forced assimilation of Polish children. By deporting Ukrainian children and placing them in Russian families, where they are subjected to forced cultural assimilation, Russia's actions align closely with Nazi Germany’s efforts to “Germanize” select groups of Polish and Eastern European children. Both instances involve altering children's identities and erasing their connections to their heritage. International organizations, including the United Nations, have condemned this forced displacement as a possible war crime or even genocide, based on the intent to destroy a part of a national group by erasing its future generation's identity​.

International Response and Historical Accountability

The deportations of Ukrainian children have garnered significant international backlash. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has even issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, charging them with war crimes related to these forced deportations. Such legal actions highlight the global community’s recognition that these practices are part of a disturbing strategy with historic precedents, particularly those that evoke the Nazi SS’s approach to occupied territories​.

In essence, Putin's portrayal of Ukrainians as "Nazis" is not only misleading but also hypocritical, given that some of his policies mirror the very atrocities he claims to oppose. This has sparked widespread condemnation, especially from those familiar with World War II history, as Russia's policies seem to revive the oppressive tactics it once vowed to prevent.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Girl loved the family dog who killed her. Lessons to be learned.

This as you might guess is an entirely fictional depiction of a child in a loving relationship with the family dog.

The newspapers today say that a 10 year old girl had a "close, loving relationship" with her family's dog before it killed her. That's according to the police report and it is in some ways shocking to read that because in millions of homes across the UK and other countries there are loved family dogs in good relationships with children who, it seems to me, can unknowingly present a hidden and potentially fatal danger to the family.

Update: From the BBC: "A pet dog which fatally injured a 10-year-old girl was an XL bully, police have confirmed. North Yorkshire Police said the animal had been euthanised after it killed Savannah Bentham at her family home near Malton in North Yorkshire on Friday."

We don't know the exact reasons why this particular dog killed this girl but below I have addressed some possibilities and also addressed the obvious conclusion which is that families need to be educated about dog behaviour to a high standard to minimise the possibility of this kind of tragedy happening.

And these tragedies do happen all too often. My research indicates that in 2023, fatal dog attacks in the UK reached an unusually high level, with a total of 10 fatalities reported across England and Wales. This was a sharp increase from previous years during which dog attacks averaged around three annually. The rise has been put down to an increase in the dog population and behavioural issues linked to insufficient training or socialisation of the dogs.

There is a point there. The dog to be a family dog must be fully and completely socialised i.e. domesticated. The same applies to cats of course. Dogs are predators. They have to totally accept the humans they live with and the humans, I believe, need to be adequate leaders i.e. alpha dogs in the eyes of the family dog.

It seems also to me that sometimes children are not properly educated about dog behaviour and how to handle dogs. They can inadvertently stimulate instinctive, defensive behaviour in dogs. The child can be transformed in the eyes of the dog from a friendly pack member to a hostile intruder and be attacked by the dog as a defensive measure.

In this instance, the girl was bitten at home and died at the scene, North Yorkshire police said. The police were called to Malton by ambulance crews at 4:15 PM on Friday last. The dog will be destroyed after it was seized.

They said: "Officers are conducting detailed enquiries covering all aspects of the incident. One of the lines of the enquiry relates to the behaviour of the dog to help explain, as far as possible, why it attacked the girl. All indications so far suggest it was out of character, with the girl and dog having a close, loving relationship."

After the attack a relative of the girl shut the dog inside a car before the emergency services arrived. The girl is not been identified publicly and a post-mortem examination was due to take place yesterday.

There is a lesson to be learned here. I hope it is learned. Young children particularly in family homes with dogs need to be protected and the parents need to take a very hard look at what they are doing to ensure that their protection is in place.

The tragic and confusing case of a beloved pet dog harming its owner, especially a child who loved it, often results from a complex mix of factors rather than the dog being inherently "bad." Here are a few possible explanations:

1. Unintentional Provocation or Startling

• Startling During Sleep or Rest: Dogs, especially older ones or those with vision or hearing impairments, can be startled more easily. If a child accidentally startled the dog by suddenly hugging, touching, or grabbing it while it was resting, the dog might have reacted instinctively in a way that it normally wouldn't when fully aware.
• Unintentional Rough Handling: Young children often don’t realize their own strength or may not recognize when a dog is uncomfortable. Grabbing fur, pulling on tails, or climbing on the dog—even with love—can be painful or overwhelming, triggering a defensive reaction.

2. Medical Issues or Pain

• Hidden Pain or Illness: Dogs in pain, even if mild, are more likely to react aggressively, especially if the pain is aggravated. Issues like arthritis, dental problems, or internal pain may not be obvious to owners. If a child inadvertently touched a sore area, the dog might have reacted with a "warning bite" that escalated.
• Neurological Conditions: Certain health issues, like brain tumors or neurological disorders, can impact a dog's behavior. These conditions can make the dog more irritable, unpredictable, or even aggressive, sometimes without any clear external provocation.

3. Protective or Territorial Instincts

• Guarding Behavior: Some dogs have a strong guarding instinct and might react aggressively if they feel their space, food, or toys are threatened. This is particularly common if the dog wasn’t well-socialized or trained to handle different situations. Even a loving dog might become defensive over its food or sleeping area.
• Redirected Aggression: Sometimes, if a dog is feeling agitated or frustrated, that energy can be "redirected" at whoever is nearby. For instance, if a dog saw something outside (like another animal) and became aroused or frustrated but couldn’t reach it, it might redirect that frustration onto the nearest person.

4. Resource Guarding

• Dogs may guard food, toys, or other resources instinctively, even from those they love. A child might not recognize signs of resource guarding (growling, stiffening, or lip curling), which could escalate if the dog felt the child was infringing on its possessions.

5. High-Prey Drive or Play Escalation

• Some dogs, especially certain breeds, have high-prey drives, where fast or jerky movements can trigger a chasing or biting response. This doesn’t mean they intend harm, but if play becomes too rough, the dog might unintentionally injure the child.
• Overstimulation: In a playful state, dogs can get overstimulated and bite harder than intended, especially if they haven’t been trained to control their bite force or if they are young and energetic.

6. Stress and Anxiety

• Environmental Stress: Dogs are sensitive to their environment. Loud noises, disruptions in routine, or even underlying tension in the home can increase stress. A dog under stress may react more aggressively than usual.
• Lack of Socialization: Dogs that weren’t well-socialized as puppies may struggle to feel comfortable or safe in situations involving close human interaction. Even a dog that seems friendly most of the time may not have been exposed to enough situations that involve children’s unpredictability.

7. Misinterpreted Signals and Boundaries

• Dogs have subtle ways of communicating discomfort, like turning their heads away, licking their lips, or yawning. These signals are often missed by children, who might not understand that the dog is stressed. If the dog feels it has no escape, it might escalate to biting to enforce its boundaries.

While incidents like this are heartbreaking, understanding the reasons behind such behavior can shed light on how to prevent similar tragedies. Training dogs, teaching children respectful pet interactions, and monitoring pet health closely can help reduce the likelihood of such situations.

Tragic incidents like these serve as powerful reminders of the importance of understanding dog behavior, particularly when children are involved. Many people assume that a dog’s loving nature guarantees it will always be safe around children, but the reality is that dogs are still animals with instincts and boundaries that can be misunderstood or inadvertently crossed. Here are some proactive steps that all dog owners with children should consider:

1. Education on Canine Body Language

• Recognize Subtle Warnings: Many dogs display warning signs like yawning, lip licking, looking away, or tensing up when they’re uncomfortable. Teaching children to recognize these signals can prevent a dog from feeling the need to escalate to a bite.
• Teach “No-Go Zones”: It’s helpful for children to know when and where it’s not safe to interact with a dog—such as when the dog is eating, sleeping, or in its bed or crate.

2. Training for the Dog

• Basic Obedience and Bite Inhibition: Training dogs in basic commands and bite inhibition from a young age is essential. Obedience commands like “leave it” or “stay” can help manage unexpected situations, and bite inhibition training teaches dogs to control their mouth pressure.
• Socialization: Socializing dogs from a young age to various environments, people (including children), and situations helps reduce anxiety and reactivity, making them more tolerant of different behaviors.

3. Supervised Interactions

• Direct Supervision: Interactions between dogs and young children should always be closely supervised. Children may unintentionally hurt or provoke a dog, and even the most tolerant dogs can react if they feel overwhelmed.
• Limit Rough Play: Games like tug-of-war or chase can overstimulate some dogs, especially high-energy breeds, leading to accidental bites. Encouraging calm interactions like petting or fetch can help avoid rough play that might escalate.

4. Teach Children Respectful Behavior

• Boundaries and Respect: Children should be taught to respect a dog’s space and boundaries. They need to understand that dogs, like people, sometimes need alone time and may not want to be hugged or crowded.
• Gentle Touch and Approach: Teaching kids how to pet and approach a dog calmly and gently can help prevent accidental discomfort for the dog. No grabbing, pulling, or startling.

5. Routine Veterinary Care

• Regular Check-Ups: Since dogs in pain are more likely to react defensively, routine veterinary check-ups can help catch health issues before they lead to discomfort or aggression.
• Address Behavioral Changes: If a dog’s behavior changes, especially if it becomes more irritable or withdrawn, this can be a sign of underlying health issues. Consulting a vet or behaviorist can help address the root cause before it escalates.

6. Understanding Individual Dog Temperaments

• Every Dog is Different: Some dogs are naturally more tolerant, while others have lower thresholds for certain behaviors. Understanding the unique personality and tolerances of your pet can guide you in managing interactions and setting appropriate boundaries.

7. Enlisting Professional Help When Needed

• Behaviorists and Trainers: If a dog has a history of resource guarding, reactivity, or anxiety, working with a professional trainer or behaviorist can make a significant difference. These professionals can teach specialized techniques to manage and reduce potential triggers.

8. Empowering Kids with “Safe” Behaviors Around Dogs

• Teach children to “be a tree” if a dog is too excited or seems uncomfortable. Standing still, looking away, and keeping their arms close can help prevent escalation.
• Empower kids to alert an adult if a dog displays concerning behavior or if they’re unsure about how to approach it.

While heart-breaking, cases like this do raise awareness and reinforce the need for educating both children and adults on safe, respectful dog interactions. It’s about respecting the needs and boundaries of both the dog and the child to create a safe, loving environment for everyone involved.

P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Infographic on the benefits to very ill kids of 'virtual' animal-assisted pen pal intervention

The infographic says it! This is a cross-post to spread the word a little wider. 💖You can read more on this by clicking on this link:  Seriously ill children benefit from having a cat or dog ‘pen pal’. Infographic. Any study which assists very sick children to get better and feel better gets my backing. All healthy and relatively wealthy people have a duty to assist those less fortunate. It is the way to improve a world that desperately needs improving.

“There is something just so unconditional about the love of an animal and the listening that an animal can provide. They don’t argue, they don’t question; they just listen and validate.” - Anne Ingalls Gillespie at the University of Colorado, a former paediatric nurse.

Children with serious illness may benefit from having a cat or dog 'pen pal'. Infographic. by Michael Broad

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Study citation: Gillespie AI, Jones J, Johnson-Koenke R, Gilmer MJ, Neu M. Influences of Animal-Assisted Intervention With Canine and Feline Pen Pals on Experiences of Living With Cancer and Blood Disorders in Children and Adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing. 2024;41(4):252-264. doi:10.1177/27527530241246249

Seriously ill children benefit from having a cat or dog 'pen pal'. Infographic. Featured image. by Michael Broad

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. Also, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable.

Tech gurus should be prioritising the development of AI to reliably detect child abuse images and block them

Huw Edwards' recent arrest for possessing child abuse image, several of which were category A, the worst kind that were sent to him on an app on his phone brings to mind the question as to whether AI can detect these images and prevent them being transmitted over the internet in one form or another. 

AI should be able to detect these images and block them thereby curb the activities of these paedophiles. AI should also be able to provide evidence on the people transmitting these images and creating them. 

One commenter on the BBC said that AI could stop these images. But my research came up with a different answer.

My research using AI came up with the following:

Absolutely, tech gurus should prioritize the development of AI to reliably detect child abuse images.

Given the rapid evolution of technology and its misuse for nefarious purposes, AI presents a crucial tool in combating this horrific crime. Here's why:

• Scale and Speed: AI can process vast amounts of data at unprecedented speeds, enabling the detection of harmful content before it's widely disseminated.
• Accuracy Improvement: Continued development can significantly enhance AI's ability to differentiate between innocent and harmful images, reducing false positives and negatives.
• Proactive Approach: By staying ahead of the curve, AI can help prevent the creation and distribution of such materials.
• Supporting Law Enforcement: Advanced AI can provide invaluable support to law enforcement agencies in investigations and prosecutions.

However, it's essential to approach this challenge holistically. While AI is a powerful tool, it's not a silver bullet. A multi-faceted approach involving:  

• Stronger laws and regulations
• Increased public awareness
• Collaboration between tech companies, law enforcement, and child protection organizations

Is equally crucial for effectively addressing this issue.

Challenges and Techniques in AI Detection of Child Abuse Images

Challenges

Developing AI capable of reliably detecting child abuse images is a formidable task due to several factors:

• Image Manipulation: Sophisticated techniques like deepfakes and image editing make it increasingly difficult to identify authentic and manipulated content.
• Data Scarcity: A limited amount of publicly available labeled data for training AI models is a significant hurdle.
• Ethical Considerations: Accessing and processing sensitive images raises ethical concerns about privacy and potential harm to victims.
• Real-time Detection: The need for rapid identification of new and evolving threats requires AI systems capable of real-time analysis.

Potential Techniques

Despite these challenges, significant progress has been made in developing AI solutions. Some key techniques include:

• Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs): These are particularly effective in image recognition tasks, capable of identifying patterns and features indicative of child abuse.
• Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs): GANs can be used to generate synthetic images for training and testing AI models, addressing the data scarcity issue.
• Hashing Algorithms: These can be used to create unique identifiers for images, allowing for rapid comparison and detection of known abusive content.
• Federated Learning: This approach allows multiple organizations to collaborate on AI model development without sharing sensitive data, addressing privacy concerns.

Additional Considerations

• Human-in-the-Loop: Integrating human experts into the AI decision-making process can improve accuracy and reduce false positives/negatives.
• Continuous Learning: AI models should be continually updated with new data to adapt to evolving threats.
• Transparency and Accountability: Clear guidelines and regulations are essential to ensure responsible AI development and usage.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Domestic cats benefit children's development. Here's how.

The words are not mine but those of a AI computer which has searched the internet and come up with some reasons why domestic cats benefit children's development. I am happy to use AI as the bot searches the internet more thoroughly than me. It is a very politically correct text. I'd be more down to earth and less polite but perhaps readers like super-polite, politically correct articles.

This excellent picture was also created by AI. Superb isn't it?!

Cats can have a remarkable impact on children’s development. Let’s explore some of the ways in which our feline friends contribute to young minds:

1. Promoting Responsibility: Convincing a cat to participate in human schemes, like wearing a hat, involves negotiation skills not even diplomats possess. Children learn responsibility by caring for their feline companions, feeding them, and ensuring they receive playtime and exercise.

2. Emotional Intelligence: Cats don’t hide their feelings, especially when displeased. Observing their moods and understanding their cues helps children develop emotional intelligence. The soothing purrs and calming presence of a cat can also alleviate stress and anxiety.

3. Stress Reduction: Ever tried to stay stressed while a cat purrs on your lap? It’s nearly impossible! The gentle vibrations of a cat’s purr can be incredibly soothing and comforting for children, reducing stress levels.

4. Empathy and Social Skills: Caring for a pet teaches children empathy and compassion. They learn to recognize and respond to their feline companions’ needs, fostering emotional bonds and understanding that someone else’s perspective might be different from their own.

5. Physical Health: Growing up with pets may help build a child’s immune system. Studies suggest that kids who share their lives with animals are less likely to develop allergies or asthma as they grow older.

So, whether it’s cuddling with a purring cat or learning to scoop out the litter box, these experiences shape children’s development in meaningful ways. Cats provide companionship, emotional support, and valuable life lessons for kids of all ages. 🐾🌟

What about dogs? Do they have similar benefits?

Certainly! Dogs also offer a wealth of benefits for children’s development. Let’s explore how our canine companions positively impact young minds:

1. Companionship and Unconditional Love: Dogs are loyal friends who provide unwavering companionship. Their unconditional love and acceptance can boost a child’s self-esteem and emotional well-being.

2. Physical Activity: Dogs encourage physical activity. Whether it’s playing fetch, going for walks, or simply running around the yard, kids stay active and healthy while bonding with their furry pals.

3. Responsibility and Routine: Caring for a dog involves feeding, grooming, and regular exercise. Children learn responsibility, time management, and the importance of consistency.

4. Social Skills: Walking a dog often leads to interactions with other dog owners and neighbors. Kids learn social skills, empathy, and how to communicate effectively.

5. Reducing Stress and Anxiety: Petting a dog can lower stress hormones and elevate mood. The rhythmic motion of stroking a dog’s fur has a calming effect.

6. Learning Empathy: Understanding a dog’s needs and emotions fosters empathy. Children learn to recognize non-verbal cues and respond appropriately.

7. Safety and Security: Dogs provide a sense of security. Their protective instincts can make children feel safer at home.

In summary, both cats and dogs contribute significantly to a child’s development. Whether it’s a playful kitten or a loyal dog, these furry companions enrich kids’ lives in countless ways. 🐾❤️

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Obvious. Kids' health benefits from green spaces.

NEWS AND OPINION: Kids benefit from nature. They benefit from being in green spaces, by connecting with nature. This is a vitally important statement. It is known to me and many others. A study recently confirmed that green spaces may help small children avoid black moods i.e. depression ultimately.

Young child enjoys woodland. Image: MikeB (Canva).

The lead author of the study, in America, is Nissa Towe-Goodman. She is a researcher from the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University Of North Carolina. The finding is that children between the ages of 2-5 were less likely according to the study to show signs of loneliness, low mood and anxiety if they lived within 0.75 of a mile of somewhere with plenty of vegetation. A reference to woodland or parkland. And they found that children who were able to connect with nature like this were less likely to be withdrawn in social situations.

Green spaces are linked to mental well-being in humans.

Nissa said: "Our research suggests that the early childhood years are a crucial time for exposure to green spaces."

She added that, "In the future researchers could look into what kinds of  experiences in nature are connected to kids' early mental health. Also we should study how creating or preserving natural areas around homes and schools might make a difference in a child's mental health."

I'm surprised that it appears to be revealed as some sort of revelation and new knowledge. It isn't. Every day I go into a park to connect with nature because I know it is good for my personal well-being particularly my mental health. To deny children the opportunity to connect with nature in this way is really denying them something very fundamental in my view.

The research is very important because we read so much today about children having suicidal thoughts or self harming. I'm referring mainly to schoolchildren but the problem probably goes back to toddlers. They must be taken away from their phones and living a life internally which is what social media can achieve, to living life externally, going into nature, going into beautiful spaces where there are trees and where wildlife thrives. This is a connection with nature.

The study found that high levels of green spaces within about 20 minute walk of a child's home were linked with low anxiety and depression.

What's this got to do with cats? The same can apply to cats in my view. Humans are human-animals. We need to connect with our roots which is connecting with nature. Cats need to be able to express their natural desires which means being allowed outside to prey on animals. To hunt. That goes against the current trend of keeping cats indoors. It will upset some people but ultimately the domestic cat is a top predator and it needs the opportunity to exercise that fundamental skill and innate desire.

Keeping cats indoors full-time is laudable and it protects wildlife but almost no cat caregivers ensure that the inside of of their home is enriched in terms of a feline environment. A failure in this indoor-cat MO.

In the meantime, mothers and dads should ensure that their child takes a moment out every day, perhaps an hour, to walk in woodland. Enjoy nature. That may be difficult to achieve for many people but I feel that it is very important.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Dogs and toddlers understand humans pointing to objects but apes don't

The video tells you all about the intelligence of dogs. This video is long but I have started it when the expert demonstrates how dogs are able to understand what to do when a human points at an object. Toddlers also understand this. Dogs are like toddlers in this aspect of instinctive intelligence but apes fail the test.

Dogs understand the meaning of pointing unlike apes and cats but like 2-year-old toddlers.

The video starts with a section about the most intelligent dog in the world (believed) as he can memorise and understand over 1000 words describing different objects that he'll fetch on command.

It is an interesting section too. More interesting to me though is the general assessment that dogs understand pointing which is an ability only fairly recently observed. 

"When his father points [the toddler] makes an inference. When kids his age start understanding pointing it is right when the foundations of what leads to language and culture start to develop."

The dog successful completes the same test. 

"That's really hard for a lot of animals. That's what really special about dogs. They are similar to human toddlers."

It seems that the cat cannot pass this test. In general the consensus of experts is that dogs are more intelligent that cats but the comparison might be unfair.

This is because dogs are more domesticated than cats. They have lived side by side with humans for perhaps up to 30,000 years. For cats it is 10,000 years. 

Perhaps dogs understand humans better than cats and therefore understand the meaning of pointing to an object from which they can make an inference that there is some significance to the action of pointing such as there is something underneath a cup.

It is very tricky to compare cat and dog intelligence for other reason. They have evolved to be good at different things. Dogs are pack animals and are attuned to group living. Cats are essentially solitary and have evolved to live a life alone and survive alone. They are great survivors hence their nine lives badge.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Is cat litter hazardous to toddlers?

Some people ask whether it is safe to put a cat litter tray in a child's bedroom? Other people might ask whether it is safe for a child to play around with cat litter. They might do that if they are curious. And sometimes toddlers might put cat litter in their mouth. Would that harm the child?

Image: MikeB

Chemically-speaking, cat litter is pretty inert and therefore I think you will find the general consensus is that cat litter is not toxic for children in general terms.

Tidy Cats

But there may well be problems. Although litter is not poisonous as such, some litter such as Tidy Cats Lightweight is extremely dusty. I have written about it and it is a popular page because a lot of people report catastrophic cat health problems after using this litter.

As it is so dusty it could harm a child if they are rummaging around in it, kicking up the dust. The dust particles would get in the eyes, mouth and ears. My advice then is to keep children away from this particular brand of litter.

All clumping litter is dusty to a certain extent which should be noted. It is big weakness in the efficacy and safety of this product.

Absorbent

And clumping cat litter may be dangerous for a child because it is highly absorbent. That is the reason why the material has been selected to be cat litter. It is sodium bentonite. It is mined from clay mines.

Is bentonite cat litter safe?

If a child wanted to eat a bit of cat litter it might do some damage because it would potentially expand in the throat or stomach having absorbed the liquid in those areas of the child's anatomy, possibly causing a blockage.

Toxoplasmosis

We can't ignore the fact that there is likely to be domestic cat faeces and urine in a cat litter tray. It would be highly unwise for a child to dive into a recently used cat litter tray. Although faeces per se are not particularly toxic, if the domestic cat concerned carried Toxoplasma gondii oocysts they may be in their faeces. If they were ingested by a child, he or she would contract toxoplasmosis.

A lot of people in many parts of the world have contracted toxoplasmosis and it is usually asymptomatic. But the domestic cat is often vilified for being the primary vector of this normally benign disease which can rarely be quite serious and cause blindness.

The important thing to note by the way about toxoplasmosis and its transmission from cats with an active toxoplasmosis infection is that they are only capable of passing it on for 7 to 10 days of their entire life when they are suffering from an acute infection. So please don't become overly nervous about it.

There's lots of talk about pregnant mothers getting rid of the domestic cat for this reason. My advice is don't get rid of the cat but take sensible precautions such as using gloves when cleaning the litter or ask somebody else to do it for you.

Cat owners can help themselves with respect to this disease by keeping their cat from roaming and hunting. That's because they get the disease from the prey animals that they kill. Faeces from the litter box should be disposed of carefully to avoid other people coming into contact with it. Litter boxes should be cleaned and disinfected often using boiling water and diluted bleach solution. 

Although it is unwise to overdo this because the litter box then loses its natural feline fragrance which is an attractant to a domestic cat. It makes them want to use that litter box again and again.

Please note that the biggest risk by a wide margin for contracting toxoplasmosis is not domestic cat faeces but eating raw and/or undercooked meat particularly lamb or pork.

Conclusion

The bottom line about kids being around cat litter trays is that it is unwise not because cat litter is chemically toxic because there may be some physical negative consequences as described and a single disease, toxoplasmosis, which is well-discussed on the internet.

This 11-year girl's letter about wildlife is an inspiration

Her letter says it all. This 11-year girl, Rose, is the opposite to those indoctrinated teenage sport hunters we see on social media in front of the animal they shot with their dad who taught them how to be cruel to animals. She loves wildlife. She wrote to the organisers of the British TV program called Springwatch.

This 11-year girl's letter about wildlife is an inspiration. Image: Twitter.

Is there much worse than teaching kids to torment baby animals? Goat tying is cruel.

I am referring to that human entertainment - at the expense of animal welfare - called 'goat tying'. It is an acceptable form of animal abuse and has become normal. This is bad.

The tweet:

Is there much worse than teaching kids to torment baby animals? The goats used in #GoatTying are less than a year old & less than 60 pounds & can be tormented by up to 5 contestants in a row until they are switched out for another victim: https://bit.ly/43ftoXl

The accompanying picture disturbs

So, what is "goat tying"? Right away, to me, it sounds unpleasant at least. Let's remind ourselves that this is a form of human entertainment at the expense of goat welfare. Does that sound right to you?

Goat tying is a rodeo event. It's a sort of competition. The competitor rides to a tethered goat, dismounts, catches, throws and ties any three of its legs together. The goat stays tied for six seconds after the contestant has backed away. No score is awarded if the goat becomes untied before the six seconds has elapsed.

Goat tying is cruel. Image: MikeB

The competitor may be disqualified if they are too rough on the goat (so they are too rough on goats sometimes!). Goat tying is typically done by girls in high school and at college rodeos. And by both girls and boys a junior and youth rodeos.

My conclusion is that this human pastime teaches children animal cruelty. And if it doesn't teach them animal cruelty it teaches them that animals can be used and abused for their entertainment.

This is exactly the kind of thing that PETA detests. And it is the kind of thing that I detest as well. Our children are the future of animal welfare. We need to teach them the highest standards of animal welfare in order to make advancements in animal welfare across the world.

How are we going to achieve this if we teach kids the wrong things? Look at the picture. Does that goat look happy and contented? Or does he or she look abused, confused and anxious?

Goats are sentient creatures. They form relationships with people and other animals. They are sweet animals. They can become pets and often do. Goat tying is essentially cruel and abusive. It must stop.

14-year-old cat head butts 1.5-year-old child

This charming photograph is on the quora.com website on a page which discusses the photo-editing of pictures of cats. And the person who started off the discussion said that pictures of cats should never be photoshopped because cats are charming enough as it is, and they don't need to be photo edited. 

And you should never add human teeth to cats which, incidentally, is something we see a lot of on the Internet.

Anyway, one person who joined the conversation added a screenshot of a photograph of a 14-year-old cat head-butting an 18-month-old child and that is the photograph that you see on this page.

It is charming and it is to be expected to be honest. The ginger tabby obviously has a nice connection with this child. And he is doing what he would do with an adult person which is to scent exchange. That means he deposits his scent from the glands around his head onto the child and in doing that he receives the child's scent onto his head.

There is a metaphorical merging of minds and beings which is reassuring for him. It's a bit like saying that the child is part of his family. And as the child now smells more like him, he is part of the family.

If you click on this link blow you can read more about scent exchange.

Based on what I have read and seen on the Internet, domestic cats are curious about babies, and they often form good relationships with babies. I don't see any real danger to babies from domestic cats. There is a fear probably by some mothers that a baby might be harmed but it doesn't happen.

And there's quite a lot of work on whether a baby benefits from being in a home with a cat and indeed being close to a cat such as when sleeping with a cat on their bed at night. This is still work in progress but my reading of the science on this is that it can strengthen a child's defences against allergens. 

In effect, when a baby is in a relationship with a domestic cat it desensitises them to allergens in the air for the rest of their life. But, as mentioned, the science is not entirely conclusive on this.

The feline allergen, Fel D1, is carried around the entirety of the home on cat dander, which is a kind of dandruff, but it is in fact small skin particles and bits of hair on which is dried saliva and the dried oils of sebaceous glands in the skin both of which deposit the feline allergen onto these tiny particles which are 5 µm across.

Is cat dander bad for babies?

They are so small that they can float in the air very easily and they land on bits of furniture and so on which is why a person who is allergic to cats can feel the effects of the allergy even when they are a good distance from the cat in a home where a cat resides.

How to introduce your cat to a new baby

Bringing your new baby into the home is a wonderful, thrilling time, but it’s also a time that can cause some stress with your pet children. Preparing both yourselves and your cat for the changes that are to come as you bring a new baby into the house is going to be essential.

Photo by Manja Vitolic on Unsplash

Before The Baby Comes Home

If possible, the best thing that you can do for your cat and your baby is to start the adjustment process long before there is a baby in the house. Cats and humans will often develop codependency, and this can lead to some stress whenever the routine changes at home. By doing certain things early on, you can ease this process.

Proper Handling

One of the most important things to do before you raise a child alongside a cat is to make sure you understand what type of handling your pet is comfortable with. As much as possible, teach your cat that you will be gentle with them, and they can learn to be gentle as well. This will be

key as you bring a baby home. Additionally, before you bring your new baby home to meet your cat, make sure you visit your vet to check your cat is dewormed, healthy and fully vaccinated, as well as up-to-date on their flea and tick medication.

Baby Sounds, Smells, and Toys

Start introducing the sounds, smells, and items that are going to become part of everyday life with your baby to your cat early on. By playing sounds that babies make, bringing in items that you will use on your baby like lotion, and other things, your cat will get an understanding that these sounds and smells are part of the home.

Set Up Quiet Places

Help your cat find parts of the house where they are going to be safe and still involved. Finding ways to make sure that your cat is still integrated into the family while having their own safe spaces and somewhere to hide and watch like a cat cave is a great way to ease the process. You’ll be getting more visitors once your baby arrives, and this can cause cats without safe spaces to act out.

After The Baby Comes Home

Once your baby is ready to come home and join your family, you’ll want to make sure that you go through the proper steps to introduce your cat and baby to one another.

A Quiet Introduction

Set up for the introduction in a room where your cat doesn’t eat or sleep so it is more neutral territory. Hold your baby, and give your cat a chance to sniff. As they calmly react, make sure to reward your cat as you usually do for good behavior.

Don’t force your cat to interact with your baby if they run away; just move on with your day. Provide more chances for a quiet introduction as they come up, and your cat will begin to accept the new arrival. 

Supervise The Pair

Even if your cat responds well to the baby right away, it’s important to supervise your baby and cat whenever your baby is playing on the floor. For example, you don’t want your baby to be disturbed by an investigative cat while they’re sleeping.

Clean Up

Just as it is important to make sure that you clean up after your cat properly so that hygiene is a priority, you also want to be sure that you don’t leave dirty nappies or other things around the home. These can lead to hygiene issues. Always use soap after cleaning up messes.

P.S. This is a guest post.

Minnesota man allegedly blamed the family cat for severely injuring the baby that he killed

NEWS AND COMMENT: A Minnesota man, Kristopher Henderson, has been charged with murdering his baby child of 2-months-of-age. However, he allegedly blamed the family cat for leaving his child with severe injuries including broken legs and ribs. He was trying to pass off the killing on his cat.

A Minnesota man, Kristopher Henderson, has been charged with murdering his baby child of 2-months-of-age but he initially blamed the family cat. Image: Blue Earth County Jail.

His baby died in hospital after he allegedly inflicted severe injuries. After initially blaming the cat for injuries that no domestic cat could cause, he admitted to hitting his child forcefully to try and quieten her. '

Henderson was initially charged with first-degree assault which was upgraded to 2nd-degree murder with intent. He appears to have also been charged with first-degree manslaughter while committing malicious punishment to a child. It looks as though there are two alternative charges because one might be more applicable than the other once the court case starts. He is on bail at US$1 million.

This is absolutely mind-blowingly tragic but from my perspective it is also bizarre in that, allegedly, Henderson felt that he could get away with the ridiculous excuse that his domestic cat caused these horrific injuries. 

As he has admitted hitting his child forecefully he is going to be convicted in my opinion. I'm an outsider to this but although it looks very much like murder it is probably manslaughter as he probably did not intend to kill the infant (lack of mens rea - intent). It appears that the red mist descended and he lost all sense of reason and self-control.

Source: New York Times.

Beautiful baby loves a cuddle from an equally beautiful Ragdoll kitten

Beautiful baby loves a cuddle from a beautiful Ragdoll kitten

Beauty is all around in this TikTok video. The baby's mother likes her Ragdolls to be close to her baby and they are great together. They make a charming video and the baby loves the cat next to her. The experts say that it is good for a baby to be in close contact with a cat. It helps to moderate the child's reaction to allergens and makes them more tolerant of allergens in the future. There is also the theory that humans lead lives that are too clean. It can lead to children losing their natural robustness. I love the smile on this happy child's face as the cat brushes against her cheek. She loves the feel of the cat's luxurious fur against her face. I think the child's name is Blossom.

@pearlsragdolls

I'm starting to think all the new kittens like Blossom more than me

♬ original sound - Pearl’s Ragdolls

Note: This is a video from another website. Sometimes they are deleted at source which stops them working on this site. If that has happened, I apologise but I have no control over it.

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America's children fatter than ever. No chance of cats slimming down then?

We been told over and over again that America's domestic cats are overweight. There is a pet obesity epidemic we are told by the country's veterinarians. One reason, perhaps the overriding reason, is that people are losing their perception of what is a normal weight. If people think fat is normal then their pets will be fat. And today, The Times, tells us that America's children are fatter than ever. I take from that sad information that there is little chance that domestic cats will be slimming down in the future because America's next generation are going to be fatter than the previous.

Obese and diabetic tabby cat. Photo: Pixabay.

It isn't just America, although it's the worst, which is suffering from an obesity epidemic. The report says that American children eat more junk food, are fatter and suffer more from diabetes than they did 20 years ago. The prevalence of type II diabetes in the age range 10-19 rose by 95% between 2001-2017. Cases of type I diabetes increased by 45%.

The study was funded by the CDC and the National Institutes of Health. In a second study it's been found that 33% of paediatric patients are above the expected weight for a child of their age.

At present, 10% of Americans, which is 34 million people, have a confirmed diagnosis of diabetes. Diabetes is a serious illness but unfortunately a lot of people believe that they can manage it so well that it is hardly any illness at all. However, if left untreated it causes heart, liver and kidney disease, and damage to nerves and blood vessels which can result in blindness and limb amputations.

Diabetes is preventable by losing weight and adopting a healthy diet. It is believed that the situation in America is so critical that an expert panel has advised that anyone older than 25 years of age who is overweight should be screened for type II diabetes.

There is an epidemic of diabetes and pre-diabetes by obesity in America and the same applies to their companion cats which is distressing for both creatures but, for me, particularly the cats because they are the innocent victims of wayward human behaviour.

Autistic children bond better with cats because cats don't stare

I don't have access to the full study so I can only make a quick note on this. I'm told that autistic children tend to avoid eye contact. They don't do this on purpose but they miss the significance of it in a social context.

Kitten Stare. Super Cute. Photo Belal Khan on Flickr. Some cats do stare!

A recent study decided that the gaze of domestic cats is less intrusive than that of dogs (and humans?). This may be a reason why some autistic children develop stronger relationships with domestic cat companions compared to dogs. Dogs tend to hold long gazes whereas cats don't like to stare because it indicates a threat.

This may make autistic children more comfortable in their presence. The thought comes from Marine Grandgeorge at the University of Rennes in France.

This is hot off this press so to speak and other websites will publish this information in the future at which point I will be able to add to the article with some more details.

Comment: I'm not sure of the significance of the idea. Perhaps it helps to understand the reasons behind the inability or lack of desire of autistic children to hold eye contact.

Don't stare at your cat! True or False?

Cats steal the baby's breath

The idea that cats steal the baby's breath originates in a play of 1609 written by Benjamin Jonson. That is my theory. No one has made that claim before (14th Nov. 2011). In fact, it was not a play in the strict sense but a "masque", which was a form of entertainment at the "court" (extended family gathering) of a monarch.

Witch's familiar -  image in public domain

Ben Johnson was a playwright during the time of Shakespeare. He wrote a number of masques, one of which was The Masque of Queens. In this masque there is a poem called The Witches' Song.

At paragraph 5 it says the following:



The letter "s" was written as "f" in those days and people believed in witches. Witches were associated with witches' familiars. The black cat was the classic witch's familiar.

Witches may take on the form their familiar. The words are:

Under a cradle I did creepe
By day, and, when the childe was a-sleepe
At night, I suck'd the breath; and rose,
And pluck'd the nodding nurse by the nose.

So the witch crept under the child's cot during the day as a cat and came out at night to suck the breath of the child.

In modern times, this has been taken up as a warning against letting cats sleep with children. I am sure some people still believe that cats steal a child's breath in some supernatural way.  In practice, and putting aside the supernatural, the danger to infants must be slight but common sense dictates that a cat might sleep on a child that is on his or back fast asleep. This might present a danger to the child.