It turns out that graffiti artists from all over the world seem to have a soft spot for animals … and cats in specific.

Here are Heather driftwood horses:

And some other animals

K9 dog Rambo sits in the middle of 150 pounds of high-grade marijuana that he detected in vehicle.

Five Virginia Department of Corrections officers have been charged with animal cruelty involving the fondling of a K-9 dog and videotaping the two incidents.

All five officers were training at the Academy for Staff Development in Goochland County to become K-9 handlers. They were charged across the James River in Powhatan County where the kennel is located, at the Powhatan Correctional Center.

Facing misdemeanor animal-cruelty charges are Kelvin Thompson, 25, who works at Green Rock Correctional Center in Chatham; Melvin Boone, 40, who worked at the state prison in Sussex County; Adam R. Webb, 27, and Cheri Campbell, 35, who work at Nottoway Correctional Center; and Anthony Eldridge, 33, a sergeant who worked at Nottoway.

Powhatan Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert B. Beasley Jr. said Thompson “allegedly had some sexual contact with the animal.” The male dog, a German shepherd or shepherd mix, was not harmed, he said.

“Essentially, he was touching the dog’s penis with his hand,” Beasley said. “The others were there filming it. That’s actually how we learned of it — there’s a video.”

A corrections employee saw the video and reported it to a superior, Beasley said.

The events occurred between June 16 and Aug. 1, according to arrest warrants. All five officers were charged Oct. 2 by summons.

Terry N. Grimes, a Roanoke attorney representing Thompson, said his client planned to plead not guilty but admitted to fondling the animal.

“I would characterize it as hazing,” he said, claiming that Thompson was told by the others, “If you masturbate your K-9 unit, you’ll have greater control over it.”

The Department of Corrections confirmed that Eldridge and Boone no longer are employed by the state, but Thompson, Webb and Campbell are.

The Department of Corrections acknowledged that the matter had been investigated internally but declined to say whether Eldridge and Boone were terminated or left voluntarily. The department also would not say whether the others were on leave.

Grimes suggested Beasley would have a difficult time proving animal cruelty.

“The statute is not set up to deal with this type of thing. I don’t think the legislature quite had this in mind,” he said.

Beasley said the misdemeanor charge for each defendant was the same, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

“They were all kind of there assisting in one way or the other,” he said.

In Virginia, bestiality is covered by crimes against nature, which could have resulted in a felony charge, according to state statutes. But a felony charge requires “carnal knowledge” of a “brute beast,” implying intercourse, said Beasley, who added that he consulted with the state veterinarian’s office before filing the charges.

Trial is set for Nov. 20 for all except Webb, who will be tried Dec. 11.

Asked if he knew why the officers videotaped the incidents, Beasley replied: “I don’t have the slightest idea – I really don’t.”

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Full story at [ DailyMail ]

Acoustic Kitty was a CIA project launched by the Directorate of Science & Technology in the 1960s attempting to use cats in spy missions. A battery and a microphone were implanted into a cat and an antenna into its tail. Due to problems with distraction, the cat’s sense of hunger had to be addressed in another operation. Surgical and training expenses are thought to have amounted to over $20 million.

The first cat mission was eavesdropping on two men in a park outside the Soviet compound on Wisconsin Avenue in Washington, D.C.. The cat was released nearby, but was hit and killed by a taxi almost immediately. Shortly thereafter the project was considered a failure and declared to be a total loss.

Recipe

When your kitty brings you fresh “kill” (her favorite plastic mouse or jingle ball), it’s nice to reward such adventurous and strenuous activity with Mouse Burgers, a special treat for your favorite feline.

Do not feed it to cats currently on a prescription or restricted diet.

Ingredients:

• 3 oz. Lean beef or chicken, finely ground
• 2 T Dry oatmeal
• 1 Egg, beaten with a fork
• 1/2 tsp. Fresh catnip, finely chopped OR 1/4 tsp. dried catnip finely chopped. Use only one version of catnip. Do not use both.

Directions

1. Knead the ingredients together very thoroughly for approximately one minute.
2. Form the dough into one flat oval.
3. Broil the dough for 5 to7 minutes, turning frequently until it is cooked completely and the outside is crisp.
4. Cool for approximately half an hour.
5. Slice into bite-sized chunks and feed a few pieces at a time to your cat as a treat.
6. Refrigerate the unused portion; use within three days of cooking.

Banfield veterinarians recommend that this treat only be fed to cats:

• In small amounts, occasionally.
• Not as a substitute for an appropriate diet.

And, as always, consult with your veterinarian before making changes to your pet’s diet.