Pet Scoop: Puppy Reunited With Hero Firefighters, Ringling Bros. Circus Closing

January 16, 2017 at 08:44PM by
>br> Jan. 16, 2017: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Hex with Firefighters

Crew Saved Pup From Blaze

Back in October, firefighters in Asheville, North Carolina, rushed back inside a burning house after hearing there was still a puppy inside. Hex was unresponsive for the first 20 minutes after they got her out of the house. They gave her oxygen, and she finally came around and gave a little wag of her tail. She was only 2 months old at the time, and suffered severe burns and smoke inhalation. After months of surgery and recovery, the many groups who helped Hex survive celebrated her last week — including the firefighters who saved her. Hex’s family was unable to continue caring for her, but she will be adopted by an employee of the Animal Hospital of North Asheville who has helped care for her for months. — Read it at the Huffington Post

Ringling Bros. Circus to Close After 146 Years

The famed Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus announced on Saturday that after performing for 146 years, it is taking down its tent for good in May. The company said ticket sales had dropped drastically after elephants were phased out of its shows last year in response to heavy criticism from PETA and other activist groups. The elephants were retired to a sanctuary in Florida. The circus has about 30 more shows before it shuts down. — Read it at The New York Times

Queen Elizabeth May Adopt 2 More Dogs

The 90-year-old old monarch has been surrounded by beloved Corgis for 70 years, but she has said that as her current pets pass away, she wouldn’t replace them because of her age and the demands of having puppies. However, there may be a couple of exceptions. Reports say Queen Elizabeth has spent the last two years quietly helping a friend, former royal gamekeeper Bill Fenwick, as a dog walker for his Corgi and Bichon Frise. Fenwick, 95, died last week, and the queen is said to be considering taking the two dogs in if no one else in Fenwick’s family is able to do so. One of the queen’s favorite dogs, Holly, died in October. She currently has one Corgi, Willow, and two Corgi-Dachshund mixes, Vulcan and Candy. — Read it at the U.K.’s Telegraph

Image: Berlin polar bear cub

Berlin Zoo’s Polar Bear Cub Shines

Last week, the animal care team at the Tierpark Zoo in Berlin got its first close up view of a polar bear cub born to mom Tonja on Nov. 3. During the cub’s five-minute exam, veterinarians were able to determine the baby is a boy. “The little one did really well and was very curious,” said zoo director Andreas Knieriem. “Holding such a little polar bear in your arms is always a really special experience.” The cub was 26.5 inches long and weighed just over 10 pounds. Now that they know the cub’s gender, the zoo is working on coming up with a name for him. They’re working with a local radio station and newspaper to collect suggestions before Feb. 1, and a jury will decide the “loveliest and most suitable name” for the cub. — Read it at Reuters

Tiny Chihuahua Gets Adopted

At 1.54 pounds, the puppy who the Wisconsin Humane Society says was its smallest dog ever now has a new home. Thumbelina, a Chihuahua, may be tiny but she has a big personality, said her new owner, Brent Stache. “She's very needy as far as attention and always wants to be petted and loved,” he said. “She gets excited meeting people and is always asking to be picked up and played with.” The shelter says the puppy was only 7 weeks old and less than a pound when she was surrendered just before Thanksgiving. Thumbelina isn’t expected to get bigger than 2 pounds. — Watch it at ABC News



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