ANIMALS

Rescue Cat Always Stays by Toddler Friend’s Side Throughout His Cancer Treatment

Upon learning that 14-month-old Axel had been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of leukemia, his parents decided to adopt a rescue kitten named Bingo. Their purpose was to provide comfort and companionship to the young feline enthusiast throughout his treatment.

Image source: Haley Walsh Martin

Since their first meet, Axel and Bingo have been inseparable, fulfilling the exact wish of Axel’s mother, Haley Walsh Martin.

Shortly after bringing their son Axel home from the hospital, Haley and her husband, Chad, observed his profound affinity for cats when he formed a close bond with their typically irritable feline companion.

“He just loved Axel since we brought him home, and Axel loved him,” Haley tells PEOPLE.

Therefore, upon Axel’s diagnosis of a rare and aggressive form of leukemia at the age of 14 months, his parents made the decision to provide him with a dedicated feline companion to offer solace and support throughout his treatment.

The Martin family paid a visit to Whiskers of Warren County in Iowa, where they chose a kitten that had been discovered wandering on its own.

“We named her Bingo because Axel loves the kid’s show Bluey, and Bingo is Bluey’s sister on the show,” Haley explains.

Image source: Haley Walsh Martin

Axel and Bingo formed an instant bond within minutes of meeting each other.

“They’ve been besties since the day we got her,” Axel’s mom says. “I just can’t believe that this cat has such a bond with my son. It’s wild!”

Bingo is an incredibly patient pet who fully accepts a toddler’s limited understanding of boundaries and has an uncanny ability to sense when Axel is in need of comforting cuddles.

Throughout his cancer treatment, Axel has experienced some extremely challenging days.

Image source: Haley Walsh Martin

“I definitely think she understood that feeling and to be gentle and calm because she would lay with him on the couch for 12 hours,” Haley says of Bingo’s reaction to Axel’s rough days.

“She did not leave his side; she just stayed wherever he positioned himself around her,” she adds.

Axel and Bingo have a bright future ahead of them. Now 2 years old, Axel is free from cancer and has entered the maintenance phase of his chemotherapy plan, which his mother, Haley, describes as “less strenuous and aggressive,”

Nowadays, Axel and Bingo devote most of their time to playing with toys, creating mischief, and enjoying each other’s company.

Image source: Haley Walsh Martin

“It’s been really special to watch. They have quite a strong connection,” Haley says of the “perfect pair.”

Witnessing the positive influence Bingo had on Axel, Haley became motivated to support Whiskers of Warren County. When the rescue approached her to share Axel and Bingo’s story for the Petco Love Stories campaign, Haley readily agreed, stating, “of course.”

Celebrating its milestone tenth year, the campaign gathers remarkable tales of rescue animals shared by dedicated adopters who aim to uplift their community shelters. Among the numerous submissions received this year, eighteen exceptional stories were selected as winners, entitling them to receive grants from Petco Love.

Image source: Haley Walsh Martin

Carol’s heartwarming adoption story earned Animal Humane New Mexico the prestigious Love Stories grant award of $100,000 from BOBS from Skechers and Petco Love. Following the loss of her husband of 54 years, Carol sought solace and companionship by adopting a cat. Choosing to provide a loving home to an adult female cat, she named her “Treetop” as a tribute to her late husband’s military login, finding comfort and strength in their newfound bond.

For more info: visit the project’s website.

Source: People

ANIMALS

Amazing Video of Unseen Ocean Creatures in the Ningaloo Canyons

The Schmidt Ocean Institute recently explored the Ningaloo Canyons on the western coast of Australia using a robotic underwater vehicle called the ROV Sebastian. Check out the amazing video of what they discovered in the deep parts of the Indian Ocean.

More info: Youtube

ANIMALS

These Pics Are Art and the Artists Are Insects

Flying insects move so quickly that they are hard to follow, but new technology and some smart ideas have helped Spanish photographer Xavi Bou do just that. After spending 10 years focusing on birds in flight for his Ornithographies project, he turned his attention to insects.

For Entomographies, he uses high-speed video footage taken by Adrian Smith, an insect expert at North Carolina State University, to study and record how insects move. Bou then picks multiple frames and combines them into single images that show the fast movements of one or more insects through space and time.

With Smith’s help, Bou has captured the aerial tricks of wasps, the jumps of leafhoppers, and the fluttering of butterflies in amazing detail. He hopes that by doing this, he can make people more aware of the decline in important insect populations around the world.

1. Zebra longwing

This butterfly, which is common in many areas of the Americas, really fits its name. It can fly very high with just a few flaps of its large wings.