Have you ever imagined what cows would look like if they were shampooed and blowdried? Me neither. But now that I've seen it, I don't think I'll ever forget it. They're unexpectedly fluffy and adorable. Glowed up cattle is the content we never knew we needed. And we're happy to have found it on an Instagram page called Delightful Animals. The account has more than 80,000 followers and it's easy to see why...
From wholesome and uplifting animal stories, to cute photos and funny tweets, the wall is a wonderful gallery of all God's creatures great and small. There's a tale about a stray dog who met her match, and found a forever home after randomly joining a desert marathon. There's a photo of a bunch of guide dogs, sitting quietly on seats, watching ballet together at the theater.
But we won't give away too much just yet. Bored Panda has put together the best posts from the page for you to scroll through at your leisure. And some might just be the best content you'll see on the internet today.
Have you ever wondered why many of us find baby animals so cute? Apparently, there's a scientific reason. It's not "just because."
According to Britannica, cuteness serves a purpose when it comes to survival, particularly in species whose young cannot live on their own right away. "People are drawn to babies, and it’s their body proportions (large head, large eyes, and small mouth, compared with the rest of the body) that may be an evolutionary trigger or a reminder that nurturing our young is an important adaptation for our long-term survival as a species," reads the site.
Humans subconsciously know that babies are helpless. And affection and our instinct to protect them kicks in - whether or not they're related to us. Or have two legs or four.
There's a whole science to cuteness. And people like Marc Bornstein from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Oxford's Morten L. Kringelbach and Catherine Alexander were curious enough to study it.
The researchers say cuteness works by involving all the senses and strongly attracting our attention by sparking rapid brain activity. In fact, cuteness may be one of the strongest forces that shape our behaviour – potentially making us more compassionate.
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Dion Leonard, a seasoned ultramarathon runner from Scotland, was participating in the 155-mile Gobi Desert Run in China when he noticed a small stray dog join him.
The dog, who Dion later named Gobi, ran alongside him for a remarkable 77 miles. “On Day 2, I was at the start line for the race stage and she was standing next to me looking up at me,” Leonard told The Dodo.
“I thought to myself this little dog isn’t going to last very long at my side as we raced off, but she ended up running the whole day and 23 miles distance.”
After crossing the finishing line and settling in at camp, the dog still refused to leave Leonard’s side.
From then on, they were inseparable, and Leonard decided to name his new companion Gobi.
Day 3 was no different. Again, with Leonard by her side, the formerly unloved dog ran along for that 26-mile stretch.
Gobi had to sit out for Day 4 and 5 because the weather was deemed too extreme to let her participate. Instead, she was given a lift to the ending point by race organizers so that she’d be there to greet Leonard as he came in.
On the sixth and final day, however, she was back in the race - running along with Leonard until they crossed the finish line as a team.
He successfully brought Gobi home to Edinburgh after a 4 month period of medical clearance and quarantine in China, they were finally able to reunite and stay together.
Schoep the German Sheperd mix lived for another year after this photo was taken and was 20 years and one month old when he passed. ❤️ Schoep’s owner, John Unger, was battling depression when he found Schoep in a shelter 20 years earlier. "He saved me that night and I could only do my very best for him after that," he said. RIP Schoep
The experts say that cuteness can help to facilitate well-being and complex social relationships. This is because it activates brain networks associated with emotion and pleasure, and triggers empathy and compassion.
"When we encounter something cute, it ignites fast brain activity in regions such as the orbitofrontal cortex, which are linked to emotion and pleasure," writes Kringelbach. "It also attracts our attention in a biased way: babies have privileged access to entering conscious awareness in our brains."
If you think you feel happier after scrolling through this list, it's not only in your imagination.
"Studies have shown that the simple act of looking at cute animals can stimulate oxytocin release, leading to feelings of warmth, gentleness, and a general sense of well-being," reports Mirage News. "This biochemical response strengthens our emotional bond with these creatures, further enhancing their perceived cuteness."
When eight-year-old Bryson Kliemann’s puppy, Bruce, was diagnosed with parvovirus, he set up a stand to sell his cherished Pokemon cards, hoping to cover the costly vet bills. His mother shared the story online, and it quickly spread, sparking community and online support. Through donations and a GoFundMe page, Bryson raised more than $19,500—well above the initial goal. Pokémon even sent him a package of collectible cards to thank him for his generosity. With the funds, Bruce received life-saving treatment, and Bryson’s family plans to donate the surplus to help other pet owners with veterinary costs, allowing Bryson’s kindness to benefit even more pets.
Stubby was a stray who wandered onto the training grounds of the 102nd Infantry Regiment at Yale University in 1917. He was adopted by Private J. Robert Conroy, who later smuggled him aboard a troop ship bound for France.
During his 18 months of service, Stubby participated in 17 battles on the Western Front. He was known for his keen senses, which enabled him to detect incoming artillery shells and mustard gas attacks-often alerting soldiers in time to take cover. He also had a talent for locating wounded soldiers in no man’s land, barking to alert medics to their location.
One of Stubby’s most remarkable feats was the capture of a spy. While the spy was mapping Allied trenches, Stubby detected him, chased him down, and held onto him until American soldiers arrived.
For this act of bravery, he was promoted to the honorary rank of sergeant, becoming the first dog to receive such a rank in the U.S. Army.
After the war, Stubby became a national hero. He led parades, met three U.S. presidents, and became the mascot for Georgetown University’s football team.
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Just good boys, doing good work 🐶😍
In Italy, an elite squadron of 350 specially-trained canines from the Italian School of Water Rescue Dogs has successfully been patrolling the beaches, working as lifeguards.
Thanks to their willingness to perform, strength, and fearless exploits, including leaping from helicopters into the surf below to rescue at-risk swimmers,an average of 20-30 lives are saved annually by the doggie guards, and that number continues to climb each year.
