Strangers often asked about Archie “what is he?” certain my handsome mutt was some rare breed. I once answered, completely straight-faced, “Lithuanian Water Collie” which earned the following response: “Oh! I read about them online!” But how reliable is the internet’s animal info?
According to the always accurate Internet: “Israeli scientists are examining what appears to be a trans-species between a Labrador retriever and human. While genetically considered impossible, human workers found remains of an earlier trans-species, believed to be the parent of the animal buried in the owner’s property. DNA studies are in process.” So while it must be true because, remember, it’s from the internet, it’s not.
According to the completely factual internet: “An 85-year-old woman in Waco, Texas, has been arrested on suspicion of making fur coats from local cats that she had kidnapped.” Horrific, less far far-fetched, but also not true. It’s as untrue as the internet cat stories about Snowball the 87-pound cat from Chalk River, Canada (But there are photos, lots of them? How can it be fake? Ever see Jurassic Park?).
According to the internet, which always gets it right, one can cure cat allergies by drinking cat urine (start with small amounts and build up over time), packs of wild dogs have been roaming through a quite a few inner cities eviscerating small children and Elvis is not only still alive but breeding parakeets in a shed outside Las Vegas (Can you pick which of these really did show up on the ‘net? You might be surprised!).
Bottom line: The internet serves many positive purposes but there are many things it is not. It is not an always reliable source of information about animals. It is not an always useful place for evaluating animal-related charities. And it is not a great place to find your next animal. For some things, even in today’s world, old school is still the best approach.
Ken White is the president of the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA
Read more from Ken White in the San Mateo Daily Journal.