Peacocks as support animals?

Students at Cornell University came up with an innovative solution to a common pet owner problem commonly known as dingleberries, you know, those small clumps of feces that hang onto fur after a pet poops. Hygena­Pet, a spray made with beeswax and carnauba wax, causes poop to slide off the fur instead of sticking. The product, priced at $10 by team members, took top prize at the 2018 Cornell Animal Health Hackathon, beating out 23 other teams with its low-tech but eminently useful product. "We're avoiding the spread of germs that can be embedded in the fur, and owners can reclaim their clean homes," says team member Adam Itzkowitz, an engineering major.

Robodog Diesel is training Marines how to care for working dogs wounded in the line of duty. The canine simulator can mimic such injuries as broken bones, bleeding and burns, as well as changes in vital signs, reports the Stars and Stripes. The realistic canine model even barks and whimpers. The Marine Corps hopes to have the robotic dog more widely available in the spring.

After an incident in which a person tried to bring a peacock on board, United Airlines followed Delta in tightening requirements for emotional support animals on flights. Beginning March 1, customers traveling with emotional support animals must notify the airline 48 hours in advance of the animal's presence, provide a letter from a licensed medical or mental health professional stating the animal's necessity and fill out a veterinary health form documenting the animal's health, vaccination record and behavior training. Animals must stay in the floor space below the owner's seat, must behave politely and must respond to direction from the owner.

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