Are you loving your pet too much?
And other stories from the stranger side of life

Experts have warned that loving your dog too much “could be bad for its health”, said The Telegraph. EthicsFirst, a group of campaigning vets and academics, said that dog jumpers, excessive medical treatment and hugging dogs can cause problems including anxiety, overheating, obesity, malnutrition and joint pain in the animal. Their study found that the “Disneyfication” of pets has led animal lovers to harm cats and dogs by treating them as “small humans”.
Women challenging ‘white van man’ stereotype
The ‘white van man’ label has been challenged by a new study that revealed that 43% of van drivers are female. In a further blow to the stereotype, the study found that 51% of women drivers read a broadsheet over a tabloid, and more than a quarter were vegetarian, vegan or pescatarian. The Mercedes-Benz Vans researchers questioned 500 drivers, according to The Times.
Brazilian beats eyeball-popping record
A man in Brazil has set the world record title for the farthest eyeball pop (male). The extraordinary eyeballs of Tio Chico popped out to a protrusion of 18.2 mm (0.71 in) beyond his sockets. He said he discovered his talent at the age of nine while making silly faces in front of the mirror. “My skill is definitely a gift. It came from my father, my mother and the creator, too,” he told Guinness World Records.
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