Middle Island, a small, rocky island off the shore of south-western Victoria, Australia, is home to the world’s smallest species of penguins called little, or fairy, penguins.

When foxes started to take over the island and hunt the miniature creatures, the natural population of about 20,000 little penguins dwindled to a staggering 27 chicks. Thanks to the quick and inventive thinking of a local farmer named Swampy Marsh, the defenseless penguins now had a protector.

Marsh suggested sending his Maremma Guardian dog named Oddball over to the island to protect the penguins since they’re bred to protect chicken, sheep, and goats.

When Oddball was sent to the island in 2006, the fox’s patterns instantly changed. “Putting a dog on the island changed the hierarchy. The foxes can hear the dogs barking, they can smell them so they go somewhere else,” said Peter Abbott from the Penguin Preservation Project.

Since Oddball and her fluffy successors were sent to guard Middle Island 10 years ago, not a single penguin has been killed by a fox.

Today, two Maremma Guardian dogs named Eudy and Tula spend five days each week on the island during the breeding season, which lasts from October through March, to ensure the fairy penguin population continues to grow.

Watch the video below to hear more about how Oddball single-handedly saved the fairy penguins of Middle Island.

The Middle Island Maremma Project has won numerous conservation awards, and has even garnered so much media attention that the unbelievable story is being made into a movie, which is set to be released this year. Take a look at the adorable movie trailer for Oddball here.

Are you amazed that these dogs were able to save a quickly deteriorating population of tiny penguins? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and please SHARE this amazing story on Facebook.

[Featured image credit:Global Screen]

Shetland ponies are one of the cutest miniature animals out there, with their bushy manes and pint-sized stature. But Daffy the Shetland mini pony might just be the cutest of them all with his brand new custom holiday pajamas.

In order to help fend off the cold this winter, Ascot Racecourse decided to make Daffy hand-made pajamas, which is making all the other ponies at the stable jealous.

Daffy’s owner, Jackie Rowberry, explained how worried she is when Daffy is outside during the chilly winter months. “In winter, I always worry about Daffy getting chilly as he likes to spend so much time out of his stable,” Jackie said.

Ascot Racecourse stepped in to make sure Daffy had the appropriate winter gear to stay warm, and measured the mini horse to make him a custom, Christmas themed ‘foursie’.

“I love the fact that Ascot has created a special foursie for Daffy so that he can get into the Christmas spirit,” Jackie said. “He’s loved all the attention and is quite the envy among his stable buddies!”

Watch the entire video below to see Daffy getting fitted for his onesie.

Can you believe how adorable Daffy looks in his warm outfit? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and please SHARE this on Facebook.

[Featured image credit: AscotRacecourse]

When the Oregon Zoo planned to open a new habitat, they enlisted the help of Lilly, the 3-year-old Asian elephant, to test out the new 160,000 gallon elephant pool.

Today, the Oregon Zoo opens their brand new elephant habitat called Elephant Lands to the public, but before the grand opening, zookeepers wanted to be sure their elephants liked the new space, which features an 80-foot wide and 12-foot deep pool. During all the excitement, however, Lilly seems to forget that she’s not an agile fish, but actually a large elephant.

The older elephants skillfully waded into the water, and kept their trunks in the air as they went for a refreshing dip.

Lilly, on the other hand, got so excited with her new pool that she practically thought she was a fish while thrashing around and fully dunking her head under the water.

Watch the entire video below to see the hysterical moment Lilly tests out her new swimming pool.

Can you believe how much Lilly loves to swim? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and please SHARE this on Facebook.

[Featured image credit: Oregon Zoo]

Caitlyn, a Staffie-mix, made national news when she was found with her snout taped shut with thick black electrical tape. After being saved by the Charleston Animal Society, the helpless dog started her long journey to recovery.

Caitlyn has come a long way since she was saved from her abuser, and in honor of her incredible resilience and transformation, Bark Post decided to shower her with fun-filled gifts and surprises.

Caitlyn received the bone to the city from Mayor, a huge box full of tennis balls for the best game of fetch, got to spend the day as the honorary firehouse dog, a yummy Starbucks treat, and finally a new toy party with her shelter pals.

By the end of the day, Caitlyn was smiling from ear to ear. “To see her playing and benefiting the shelter animals, and benefiting the world the way she is is pretty awesome,” said Kay Hyman from the Charleston Animal Society.

Watch the inspiring video below to see this deserving dog get pampered.

Were you touched by how much work these people did to give Caitlyn an incredible day? Let us know in the comments below, and please Share this dog’s amazing journey on Facebook.

[Featured image credit: Bark Post]

Cats might not be the most affectionate animals, but this determined Kangaroo has a hysterical plan for making his new feline playmate love him.

In the video, a playful kangaroo named Hop sneaks up on his buddy who’s enjoying a nice cat nap on the ground. However, once Hop starts tickling the cat’s head and ears, the ticklish cat runs away.

When Hop saw his friend lying peacefully on the ground, he couldn’t resist the opportunity to start a tickle fight.

Hop was just trying to have a little fun with his playmate, and he can’t seem to figure out what he could have done to annoy the cat so much.

Watch the entire video below to see the hysterical moment Hop tickles his feline best friend.

Can you believe this odd duo? Let us know your thought in the comments below, and please SHARE on Facebook.

[Featured image credit: Youtube/P Ces]

Having a newborn is incredible, but any parent knows that one of the worst parts of being a new parent is the endless crying. Luckily for this new mom, however, her lucky black cat is a baby whisperer.

In the video, the endless cries from the newest addition to the family irritated this cat so much that he decided to take matters into his own paws. Amazingly, once the cat stepped in, the baby stopped crying almost instantly.

Nothing was soothing this upset baby, so this curious cat came over to investigate what was making the tiny human cry.

After taking a moment to cautiously observe the situation, the cat gently bopped the infant on his head and left its paw on his forehead. The baby instantly relaxed, and quickly drifted off to sleep.

Watch the entire video below to see the astonishing way this cat calms a crying baby.

Can you believe this cat was able to calm down the crying baby? Let us know in the comments below, and please SHARE this with friends on Facebook.

[Featured image credit: IPersonInfo]

Puppies, babies, and kittens are all incredibly cute, but they have something else in common- their uncanny ability to destroy almost anything. Despite their miniature stature, this adorable motley crew had no trouble demolishing a gingerbread village.

In order to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, DR3, a Danish national television channel, decided to put a bunch of babies, puppies, and kittens in a gingerbread winter wonderland to let them do what they do best: destroy it.

Before letting the rowdy bunch in, the gingerbread village looked like it jumped out of a page from a fairytale, but it wouldn’t last long.

At first, the babies got to know each other, but then quickly got to business.

Even the kitten joined in and started pawing over the meticulously decorated Christmas trees.

The work got so tiring, however, that a few of the babies started snacking on the debris.

By the end of the demolition, only a few lucky gingerbread homes were still standing, while the rest were flattened to the ground.

Can you believe how adorable this gingerbread village demolition was? Let us know in the comments below, and please SHARE with friends on Facebook.

[Featured image credit: DR3]

They say cats have nine lives, and after this death-defying accident, it’s safe to say this kitten has used her fair share of luck.

Tony Miranda, a Cal-Waste Loader Operator, was sorting the recycling as he normally did for his job at the Galt recycling facility when he noticed something unusual traveling towards him on the conveyor belt. As it got closer, Miranda could see the object wasn’t trash, but really a newborn kitten who’d managed to survive the ride in a garbage truck.

“We put so much material in here and we run so much stuff through it,” Miranda said. “It’s just amazing to see a little kitty survive through all this. It made my day today, definitely made my day.”

After being saved from the conveyor belt moving quickly towards the trash compressor, Shift Lead Heather Garcia went to find out what exactly happened. Garcia instantly fell in love with the helpless kitten, and decided to adopt her and name her Murphy.

Watch the entire video below to see how this lucky kitten was rescued at the last moment.

Cops often refer to themselves as babysitters, but this time, it’s actually true.

When Sgt. Philip Bass was working the night shift, he responded to an unrelated shoplifting call at a Kroger grocery store. When he got there, however, he found out a woman had locked herself and a small baby inside the bathroom. Once he got in, he was able to rescue the 14-month-old baby girl from the woman who was found surrounded with drugs.

“The lady let us in the bathroom and then we saw her, and this little baby, she was sitting in a buggy with a baby bottle of Dr. Pepper,” Bass said. “And she said, ‘Well, I didn’t have anything else to give her!’ And I said, ‘Well, you’re in Kroger!'”

Sgt. Bass, who is a father of four, and other police officers looked after the innocent baby for over four hours before Child Protective Services arrived, and even bought her real baby food, toys, and fresh diapers.

“Sometimes we’re a warrior, sometimes we’re a guardian, sometimes we’re a babysitter!” Cpt. James Agee explained.

Watch the entire video below to see this cop’s moving reaction to finding a baby in a grocery store bathroom.

Were you moved by this police department’s nurturing side? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and please SHARE this on Facebook.

[Featured image credit: saintalbanspolice.com]

The holiday season can be tough for just about anyone with a bushy white beard, since almost every child under the age of five will think they’ve found Santa.

In the video below, a tiny girl is helping mom with grocery shopping when she notices a Father Christmas lookalike wandering down an aisle of the supermarket. Thankfully the kind man plays along, and lets the little girl walk away thinking she’d just met the holiday idol.

At first, the small girl timidly approaches ‘Santa’ but once she’s sure he’s the real deal, she excitedly tells him she’ll be leaving cookies for him and his reindeer.

This man must get mistaken for Santa pretty often, as he was fully prepared to get in character in his red sweater.

Watch the entire video below to see what happens when this little girl thinks a stranger is Santa.

Were you impressed by the way this man handled the situation? Let us know in the comments below, and please SHARE this on Facebook.

[Featured Image: ABC99 News]

Every year, millions of children in need go without presents on December 25th, but one little girl is doing everything in her power to make sure they get their fair share of Christmas cheer.

10-year-old Faith Russell has been working tirelessly with Operation Christmas Child so needy children around the world have something to open on Christmas, morning despite her own struggles.

When Faith was a baby, her doctors told her parents she’d never walk because she was born with spina bifida, a birth defect where the spinal cord does not develop properly. Yet this little miracle defied the odds, and is using her gift to raise supplies for her shoebox gifts.

Despite being told she’d never walk, Faith has completed 22 races over the past two years in order to raise money and gifts for her project.

So far this Christmas season, Faith has sent 503 shoeboxes full of toys to kids around the world who could use some holiday cheer.

Watch the entire video below to see the inspiring way this girl is spreading Christmas cheer.

Can you believe how dedicated this little girl is? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and please SHARE this amazing story on Facebook.

[Featured Image: NBC News]

When Alissa Sizemore was hit by a delivery truck while playing outside, doctors did everything they could to save her leg. Ultimately, their efforts failed, and her right leg had to be amputated below the knee. But for Alissa, this was only a temporary setback.

“I just didn’t want to give up,” Alissa told People. “Dancing has been my favorite thing since I was 4. I don’t have part of my leg, but I can’t let that stop me. I still want to dance.”

Alissa started off her performance with her prosthetic leg, and wasn’t afraid to show it off as she skillfully danced to Colbie Caillat’s Try.

About half-way through the performance, however, Alissa decided to remove the prosthetic and gracefully finished her dance without it.

Watch the entire video below to see this Alissa’s inspiring performance.

Were you inspired by this moving performance? Let us know in the comments below, and please SHARE this on Facebook.

[Featured Image: Heather Sizemore]

They say it’s better to workout in a group, and this mom and her adorable workout partners will show you why…

It can be hard to stay motivated to work out when you dread every minute of rigorous physical activity. So when this mom was trying to get in shape, her adorable son and loyal dog stepped in to provide some much-needed motivation.

While Mom was getting into her workout, her son and dog came by to see what she was doing.

The adorable ‘trainers’ copied Mom’s every move and made pushups feel more like playtime than exercise time.

Watch the entire video below to see the moment this mom got some motivation from her adorable workout partners.

Would you work out more if you had cuties like these two helping out? Let us know in the comments below, and please SHARE this on Facebook.

[Featured Image: Imgur/jinky74]

Pudgy pets are undoubtedly adorable, but that extra weight can be really dangerous for their health, and drastically shorten their lives.

For the past 10 years, the Pet Fit Club in the U.K. has been helping overweight pets get healthy again, which for many, has given them back their lives. Over the years, the club has worked with 95 obese pets, and helped them lose a collective 840 pounds.

Take a look at some of the most impressive (and most adorable) transformations below.

This obese Rottweiler named Hooch weighed 50 lbs more than a healthy Rottweiler should weigh. Through the program, he lost about 15.2% of his bodyweight, and now weighs 153 lbs.

Fudge will eat practically anything, and over the years, it started to show. The Labrador mix has lost about 22 lbs, and now weighs a healthier 107 lbs.

Duke the yellow Labrador was twice his recommended weight before getting help from the Pet Fit Club, and has since lost 8.3% of his bodyweight.

The Pet Fit Club isn’t just for hungry pups, they even help cats lose weight too! “The PDSA vets and nurses were great,” said Penny Faulkner, Amber’s owner. “I saw a real difference in Amber’s shape – she no longer waddled when she walked, she slept less and became more interested in playing.”

Bobby had a nasty habit of raiding his neighbors’ food cabinets in search of some extra treats, which caused him to gain so much weight that he was twice his recommended weight. With hard work, he managed to lose over 23 pounds.

Do you know a pet who could use some help like this? Watch the entire video below to see more of these amazing transformations!

Can you believe how much healthier these animals have become? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and please SHARE this on Facebook.

[Featured image credit: Pet Fit Club]

While many things are out of our control, we are all responsible for the kinds of people we surround ourselves with, and the activities we partake in.

Since life is complicated enough, there’s no need to add to those complications, and make your life more stressful than need be.

Take a look at these 5 ridiculously easy ways to quickly simplify your life.

5. Make a decision.

Almost everyone is guilty of overanalyzing each possibility or choice at one point or another, but really all you end up doing is giving yourself more to stress and worry about, and eating up your precious time.

For major decisions, not every choice can be as simple as picking out of a hat, but when it comes to the small stuff like where you’ll go out for dinner, just make a decision, commit to it, and move on. You’ll be surprised at how freeing it feels to finally be decisive.

4. Stop multitasking.

If you want to waste your time and do lots of things poorly, then multitasking is great. If not, it’s time to drop the inefficient work method. Not only does multitasking not work, research has also shown that it increases stress, and lowers overall productivity.

Instead, try focusing on one task at a time, and be fully engaged in your actions.

3. Learn how to say no.

It can be tempting to say ‘yes’ to everyone in an attempt to please them, but being a people pleaser is a quick way to complicate your own life, and have you running  around doing things you don’t want to do for other people.

Instead of thinking that saying ‘no’ is rude, remind yourself that you can politely decline a request or invitation that doesn’t improve, add to, or fulfill your life in some way. You’ll be amazed at how liberating it feels to say no to something, and how quickly your time will open up to what’s important to you.

2. Disconnect entirely for one hour a day.

Technology is supposed to simplify your life, however, it often ends up complicating it. Instead of letting it take over your life, try taking an hour each day to digitally detox by shutting off phones, tablets, and computers.

It will feel shocking at first, but that hour will force you to pay attention to yourself and everyone else around you.

1. Stop worrying about people who don’t worry about you.

Relationships with friends, and loved ones should be invigorating and inspiring, not stressful or draining. Take a few minutes to evaluate your most important relationships and ask yourself if those people would worry about you like you do about them.

If the answer to that questions is no for anyone in your life, consider letting go of that relationship a bit to open up your life for more fulfilling relationships. You don’t have to cut them out of your life completely, but you have to recognize that you shouldn’t complicate your own life for someone who doesn’t value you as much as they should.

Will you make an effort to simplify your life? Let us know in the comments below, and please SHARE on Facebook.

[Featured image credit: www.daliulian.net]

There may have been a few mix-ups during Sunday night’s Miss Universe 2015 beauty pageant, but there’s no question that Miss Slovenia stole the show.

Miss Slovenia’s Ana Halozan had been preparing for her moment on stage for months, but all that hard work disappeared in seconds when she suffered from an unexpected seizure, which left the right side of her face completely paralyzed.

When she woke up in the hospital, doctors told her she wouldn’t be able to attend the pageant. Despite not being allowed to compete in this year’s show, Ana still managed to have her moment.

“Ana has always had big dreams,” Ana’s mom Mojca Marovt said. “When she gets some idea in her head, nothing will stop her.”

“She thought she had lost her chance, but she didn’t,” Steve said as he welcomed Ana to the stage. “Let’s give her that moment for fulfilling her dream of walking on the Miss Universe stage with her friends. Please welcome Miss Universe Slovenia.”

“When they say to me in hospital that I can’t go to the pageant, I was, like, are you joking with me? I will go,” Ana said.

Watch the entire video below to see Miss Slovenia’s inspiring appearance.

Are you impressed by her incredible positivity and strength? Let us know in the comments below, and please SHARE this on Facebook.

[Featured image credit: Eonline.com]

Many innocent animals raised in abusive environments never know what it’s like to be loved unconditionally or belong to a family. The lucky ones who do get rescued, however, can become some of the most gentle and loving animals despite their rocky start.

When Pickles, a now 3-month-old Pit Bull puppy, was found abandoned on the side of the road, it was clear he had been abused and desperately needed help. Nicki Johnson has fostered dozens of dogs over the years, and when she heard about Pickles, she knew she had to step in.

As a baby, Pickles’ abusers cut off his ears, and then left him on the side of the road. As if he didn’t have it hard enough, doctors discovered he had stage 5 pulmonic stenosis, a potentially deadly heart condition, when Nicki brought him into the vet. With the financial support from strangers’ donations, Nicki was able to schedule a surgery to fix the condition.

After Pickles finally gets the chance to heal, Nicki plans to train him as a therapy dog for sick kids. “This dog has the potential to really help a lot of other people and a lot of other kids, and I’d like to do anything I can to make that happen.”

Despite his traumatic start, Nikki says the three-month-old has the perfect temperament to be a therapy dog. “I think anybody would be terrified of people if you were held down as a child and your ears cut off. But he loves everybody.”

Watch the entire video below to see Pickle’s incredible journey.
es has come? Let us know in the comments below, and please SHARE his emotional story on Facebook.

[Featured image credit: Facebook/Pickles Logan’s Broken Heart]

You can surround your dog with as many cute plush toys and tasty bones as you can buy, but for dogs, the best toys are always free.

This 10-week-old puppy named Heidi is surrounded by chew toys, bones, and even soft stuffed animals, but nothing can keep her entertained quite like a slippery piece of ice. As much as she pounces and bites the piece of ice, Heidi can’t seem to keep up with the slippery toy and it drives her crazy.

Watch the entire video below to see Heidi lose it over a slippery piece of ice.

Can you believe how mesmerized she was by the ice? Let us know in the comments below, and please SHARE this on Facebook.

[Featured image credit: Rumble/  Lincolncomet]

Millions of Americans travel during the holiday season, as they make their way home for the holidays. However, before you can blissfully lounge in pyjamas all day eating every last gingerbread man, you’ve got to make it through the nightmare of endless lines, missed connecting flights, layovers, and cancellations.

But United Airlines thought of the perfect way to ease the tension, and make you enjoy your 10-hour delay. As part of their ‘United Paws’ program, the airline company is bringing professionally trained comfort dogs to airports in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, and Washington/Dulle from Dec. 21 through Dec. 23. The four-legged angels will be greeting customers in order to spread smiles and lessen stress levels.

The United Paws program was a huge success after it was originally introduced last year, so the airline decided to bring these furry pup back to even more airports this holiday season.

“United Paws is a wonderful program that comes at just the right time for some holiday travelers who may be experiencing a bit of anxiety or stress,” Veterinary Consultant Dr. Walter Woolf said. “Research shows that just petting a dog releases oxytocin, the hormone associated with bonding and affection, and also decreases levels of stress, helps us breathe easier and lowers our blood pressure. I’ve experienced this recently and think this is a wonderful idea for holiday travelers.”

Watch the entire video below to see how these adorable pups are changing people’s attitudes about traveling.

Would you like to play with some dogs while stuck at the airport? Let us know in the comments below, and please SHARE with us in the comments below.

[Featured image credit: CNN]

When this older veteran landed in the hospital after having a heart attack, the First State Animal Center and SPCA in Camden, Delaware stepped in to care for his two dogs as he focused on getting better.

The situation was only supposed to be temporary, but after weeks without hearing from the old man, the shelter put the dogs up for adoption. Surprisingly, no one had adopted the two adorable dogs named Bailey and Blaze, and when the man finally got out of the hospital, he went straight to find his dogs.

In order to get Bailey and Blaze back, the veteran had to come up with $250 dollars to re-adopt his dogs, but when he went to find them, he was told the money had been taken care of. Volunteers and staff members of the shelter pooled their money to cover the cost of the adoption so that the dogs could be reunited with their rightful owner.

According to Lindsey Carrothers, an adoption counselor, the reunion was incredibly emotional. “You could just feel the love those dogs had for him. And there shouldn’t have been anything, especially money, that should’ve stood in his way to getting his family back,” she said.

Watch the entire video below to see the heartwarming moment this veteran hears that he gets to keep his dogs.

Can you believe how stunned he was to hear that he could have his dogs back? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and please SHARE this amazing story on Facebook.

[Featured image credit: Facebook/Lindsay Marie]