Samantha
LightNews LightNews
banner
samanthakm.bsky.social
Samantha
@samanthakm.bsky.social
190 followers 120 following 1.8K posts
New here. She/her. Disabled. Always tired (no really, severe ME/CFS). Animal lover. #Uglydogs
Posts Replies Media Videos
samanthakm.bsky.social
Here's a final bonus photo of a parrot eating a chicken.
A slightly blurry photo of the African Grey parrot in the foreground with his head through the fence of the aviary waiting for head scratches. There is a black chicken in the background in exactly the right position to look like it is being eaten by a giant parrot. Or maybe that it is a tiny chicken.
December 14, 2025 at 9:14 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
A very pretty donkey seconds before she attempted to bite my partner's phone and/or fingers. Probably fingers. A gorgeous horse standing for some gentle nose pets. She came over to see if she could get some from me whilst I was in my chair, but neither of us could reach, so obviously I had to stand up. She is a very pretty light brown/blondish horse with a blonde mane and forelock and a white stripe down her nose. A very pretty peacock in full display mode with all his tail feathers fanned out. A young donkey in midair with her zoomies.
December 14, 2025 at 9:11 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
Here are some more friends.
A woman's hand with blue nail varnish reaches through a green fence and rubs the face of a goat who looks like she might be falling asleep. Yes, we were here for a long time. A hand reaches down and rubs the shell of a large sulcata tortoise who has ventured over for some attention. And food. But there was no food. I was of no use in that regard. A scarlet macaw has come to say hello. He's very happy to see people, but strictly no touching. Me too, buddy, me too. This African Grey parrot, on the other hand, absolutely wanted head scratches (and the sign said this was a genuine request, not a ruse to bite your fingers off. I might have paraphrased). The white face and grey feathers of an African Grey parrot poke through the aviary fence, and he is receiving gentle head scratches from a blue-fingernailed lady.
December 14, 2025 at 9:04 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
Today has been a big rest day so please enjoy these photos of friends I made at the animal rescue/botanic garden yesterday. Most of these were surrendered pets or 'animal attractions' for tourist businesses.
The outstretched hand of a seated woman reaches over a fence and pats an itchy donkey who faces away from the camera. He enjoyed a firm patpatpatpat to help shoo the flies away and to relieve some itches. A goat with horns curling outwards and ears of a similar shape below stares face-on at the camera. His underbite is less noticeable from this angle. The vibrant colours of (at a guess?) a green winged macaw shine brightly in the sunshine. A blue and gold macaw is visible resting on the same perch behind the first parrot. A rescued green vervet monkey stretches her hand through the bars towards the phone taking her photo. She looks off to the left, keeping an eye on who might be coming from that direction. She's a real sweetie, except apparently if she is inclined to throw poo at people. Luckily, I didn't see this.
December 14, 2025 at 8:53 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
December 13, 2025 at 8:15 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
I have this but it's less relaxing, gentle waves lapping and more wind tunnel 😂

It's still very warm though, a sign said it was 26°C at around 5.30pm just after this was taken, so the very blustery wind is really nice when the sand isn't exfoliating the back of your neck down to your vertebrae 😂
December 13, 2025 at 7:41 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
I was in shorts today, but I was here.
Low sunlight reflects on the surface of a bright blue sea, with a wave crashing on the golden sand, and black rocks just visible on the right hand side. Palm trees, flowers and a couple of cactuses are at the front of a photo taken at a botanic garden. An aviary might be just visible peeping through the foliage as the gardens also house a small animal rescue centre.
December 13, 2025 at 7:25 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
We went to Kite Beach today. It was very cool to watch.
Lots of kitesurfers with their brightly coloured kites above a deep blue sea with large waves. One kitesurfer is in mid air. Sand, waves and a sky full of kitesurfing kites in all colours. Four brightly coloured kites in front of a blue grey sky with the sun behind them and the clouds.
December 11, 2025 at 9:03 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
Clara is very clingy because she knows I am about to go away.
Clara (yellow lab mix) lies on a person who is under a duvet. Her ear is slightly squonky and she is sleeping. The ginger back of a small golden retriever is visible on the opposite corner of the bed.
December 8, 2025 at 11:02 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
I would never say that it couldn't be Ralphie in its heart, but it looks like a serval to me.

(Evidence being I have petted servals)
Bonus photo of two tiny serval cubs in a battered cardboard box, hissing at the door to the enclosure being opened, because they are fierce predators, not tiny fuzzy balls of cuteness. Bonus photo of a teeny tiny serval cub eating small pieces of meat from a container, in an enclosure with wood shavings on the floor. It is so fluffy. A serval is face on, walking towards the camera. A woman wearing a blue glove is stroking a serval who faces away from the camera. The servals tail is up as he leans into being petted.
December 7, 2025 at 4:17 AM
samanthakm.bsky.social
For when you return to your phone - I took these last month and meant to send them to you!
Miniature donkey foal who came to say hello. Miniature donkey foal with mum and another donkey in the background.
November 16, 2025 at 8:19 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
After finally getting rid of the cursed party hat and a little bit more playing with new toys, everyone is exhausted and it's birthday nap time.
Dexter lies half on a blanket, half on the carpet, surrounded by his new toys. He is still wearing his happy birthday badge and is all worn out. Clara lies on a red blanket, all legs and ears. The Highland coo and cheese doughnut are next to her. She is cream crackered! Tato finally pulls the sparkly party hat off. His birthday badge is still on his collar, but he's not bothered about that. Clara holds a Christmas pig and looks slightly forlorn.
November 15, 2025 at 9:08 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
After dinner, Dexter got his very own birthday pupcake! (The bottom half was reluctantly shared with Clara).
Dexter eats the top half of the birthday pupcake whilst wearing his party hat. Dexter attempts to eat the entire birthday pupcake whilst wearing his party hat and badge. Dexter pulls the wrapper off the birthday pupcake. Dexter is very smiley whilst wearing his party hat and badge.
November 15, 2025 at 8:59 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
Then we went to the shop and got lots of new toys and treats and attention!
A selection of new toys are laid out on a blanket. There is a cheese flavour doughnut chew, a squeaky Christmas pig, two fluffy balls with eyes, a bottle of Pawsecco, and a Highland coo. Clara is holding the blue googly eyed fluffy ball and is a bit googly eyed herself. Tato is holding the pig between his paws and has the yellow eyed fluffy ball next to him. He looks pretty happy with the arrangement. Dexter is lying down receiving gentle belly rubs, wearing his happy birthday badge on his collar. He is much happier about the badge than the party hat.
November 15, 2025 at 8:52 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
Happy birthday to Dexter! The weather cleared up enough for us to have a brief potato adventure with the party hat.
A muddy golden retriever gives side eye whilst wearing a sparkly gold party hat with a pink pom pom. He is panting from playing and rolling in the mud and his giant tongue is hanging out of his mouth. A blurry, happy golden retriever with a waggy tail is getting attention from a man, whose arms and legs are visible. The dog is still wearing the sparkly party hat. A clean golden retriever is wearing the party hat and smiling with his tongue out slightly. A slightly blurry photo of the golden retriever is the party hat and a yellow lab mix whilst they are still on their leads and waiting impatiently for fun times.
November 15, 2025 at 8:44 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
Happy birthday WeRateDogs! Tato is 10 today, too!
He says you can have his party hat if you want.
A white faced tiny golden retriever sits in front of a human on some wet grass. His tongue is out and he is wearing a gold glittery party hat with a pale pink pom pom on the top. It is his 10th birthday today.
November 15, 2025 at 6:33 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
Ooh I will have to have a look for dog friendly cakes at the pet shop. To go with the glittery party hat we will make him wear (briefly). We bought it for when Clara turned 10 in Feb and she was so. angry.
Disgruntled yellow lab mix stares with deep disappointment and barely contained rage. Her eyes are wide and her ears are down, with the bottom of a glittery party hat just visible on the top of her head. This was on the 15th Feb. She has not forgotten. She will not forgive. Same yellow lab mix is wearing the cursed glittery party hat in the woods for her birthday outing. Leaf litter is visible around her. One ear is squonk, as is her custom. The hat curses us, not her. She will have her revenge.
November 15, 2025 at 2:28 AM
samanthakm.bsky.social
I'm so sorry lovey, please have a potoroo cuddle puddle from me.
Top down view of 3 potoroos huddling together.
November 12, 2025 at 11:03 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
So they are sometimes called bearcats but aren't related to bears or cats, they're actually viverrids. We don't know what binturong means because the language it's from is extinct.

The popcorn smell is from a chemical in their scent gland/urine, which is the same as popcorn. Boots family in alt.
Binturong face in bright sunshine behind glass. Her ear tufts are pointed down in the same direction as her fur, so are difficult to spot, but her gorgeous brown eyes are illuminated perfectly. This is Coco, Boots grandma. A blurry, zoomed in photo taken from behind the glass, of a teeny tiny brand new binturong baby. This baby is Niffler, who is Boots dad. The baby bintlet is curled up small, but a greyish face and white ear tips are visible. A photo of a man cradling a very large, adult binturong in his arms like a baby, whilst tickling its tummy. The binturong's tail is wrapped around the man's neck and its knife hands are visible. Photo of a woman sitting, open mouthed, as a large adult binturong stands across her shoulders with its tail wrapped around her neck and begins climbing down her towards the small bowl of fruit she holds in her hands.
November 7, 2025 at 9:59 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
Same! Can you spot Potato?

(Clara farted at me for daring to hold a phone in her vicinity).
Clara, a yellow lab mix, is lying on a pale grey duvet with one ear stood up at a jaunty (sleepy) angle. There is a vaguely orangey reddish floof on a green carpet behind the corner of the bed. If you squint it looks like a tiny golden retriever.
November 7, 2025 at 5:21 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
I needed this today and I thought that you might too.

Drusilla's (zoo) isn't on here, and I know that Insta links can be hit or miss for some people, so I have downloaded and uploaded for you all, because everyone deserves a bintlet video.

Mwah 😘

#UglyDogs
November 7, 2025 at 1:37 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
Here's the thing. It's pretty cute. I think the design itself might have been from Pinterest and then added on to and tweaked? I don't know, it's pretty old.

Anyway, you do need a smart dog to take you places. Some dogs are naturally followers, to put it politely.
Wood burned design of a paw print and lots of dog related items saying "any dog can be a guide dog if you don't care where you are going". The design is framed with lots of tiny, simple drawings of different dog breeds.
November 6, 2025 at 7:58 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
I'm so grumpy today. I had to do two things earlier this week and have slept for a couple of days, but have been super grumpy when I'm awake and I don't know why! I'm not even in enough pain to justify why I'm so uncomfortable in my skin.

Here's an iguana who wants to fight my wheelchair.

Mood.
November 6, 2025 at 7:48 PM
samanthakm.bsky.social
I don't have the dogs with me right now for a pet photo, they've gone to bed. What about a world lemur day photo, which is only belated in my country and right on time over there?
Red ruffed lemur sits up leaning against a fence, sunning its dark belly. Its hand is outstretched in the typical lemur 'meditation' position. The other arm is draped casually behind the fence.
November 1, 2025 at 12:14 AM
samanthakm.bsky.social
This was just whilst we were waiting. He's a big boy.
October 30, 2025 at 9:37 PM