Quote of the Day “Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” ​ – OPRAH WINFREY

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The line on a dog’s nose serves a specific purpose. Ever noticed the little vertical groove running down the center of a dog’s nose, connecting the tip of the nose to the upper lip? This narrow groove has a name: It’s known as the philtrum, which is also the word for the vertical groove that stretches from the base of the nose to the upper lip on human faces. Human philtrums develop in the womb as the face forms, but they have no known function. For our furry friends, though, the philtrum serves an important and fascinating biological purpose. Every time a dog licks its lips or nose — which they tend to do quite a lot — a small amount of saliva collects in this narrow channel. Through a process called capillarization or capillary action (the same process that allows water to climb up the roots and stalks of plants), the saliva is gently moved up toward the nose pad, aka the leathery skin at the very tip of a dog’s muzzle. This helps keep a pup’s nose nice and moist — because a wet snout is much better at capturing scent molecules from the air. The moisture helps to trap, dissolve, and hold on to odor particles so a dog’s 300 million or so olfactory receptors can efficiently analyze all the wonderful smells that permeate its environment. So when your very good boy or girl gives you a big kiss and immediately licks their nose, they’re not just being adorable — they’re instinctively topping up the moisture in their philtrum so they can better understand the invisible world of smells around them.

In February, a red fox was rescued after an unusual journey across the pond. Believed to be about 2 years old, the young male was discovered as a stowaway aboard a ship traveling from Southampton, England, to the Port of New York and New Jersey. After being transported to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo, the fox was treated for a potentially fatal parasite — and last Friday, he was declared healthy. ​ Now known as Basil, the fox was initially diagnosed with Angiostrongylus vasorum, or French heartworm: a parasite typically seen in foxes and other wild canids in Europe that can lead to respiratory disease and death if left unmanaged. Thanks to the zoo’s veterinarians, Basil underwent a monthlong treatment plan that cleared the infection and resulted in him gaining weight and developing a fuller coat. ​ He’s also completed quarantine, and while he remains at the zoo for the time being, officials are evaluating options for his long-term placement. Craig Piper, the zoo’s interim director, told The New York Times that Basil is doing well, noting that he’s “very bright” and “curious” — uncommon traits for foxes, which are often aloof. ​ He said in a press release: “Treating wildlife like this requires extensive coordination and expertise from our veterinary and animal care teams. We are very pleased with his recovery and continued progress since his long journey across the Atlantic.”

Quote of the Day “Whatever you do, the only secret is to believe in it and satisfy yourself. Don’t do it for anyone else.”