Friday, March 31, 2017

Vote for Your Favorite 2017 American Hero Dog Awards Nominees

March 31, 2017 at 10:03PM by
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Image: Hooch American Hero Dog 2016

Nearly 200 dogs have been nominated for the 2017 American Hero Dog Awards, and the first round of voting for finalists in seven categories opened this week. You can vote once per day for your favorite nominee. The seven categories include law enforcement/arson dogs, military dogs, therapy dogs, service dogs, emerging hero dogs, search and rescue dogs and guide/hearing dogs. The winning dog in each category will be flown to Los Angeles for a star-studded gala in September, and this year’s American Hero Dog will be revealed. The 2016 American Hero Dog winner was Hooch, a 3-year-old Mastiff who was rescued from terrible abuse and went on to work with abused and special needs children. — Cast your vote at American Humane

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Pet Scoop: Kitten Saved From Mississippi River, Golden Retriever Rescued From Backyard Pond

March 31, 2017 at 07:12PM by
>br> March 31, 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: Kitten saved from Mississippi River

Buoy the Kitten Survives in River

More than a month after she was rescued, barely breathing, from the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Buoy the miracle kitten is ready for a new home. The 3-month-old kitten was found floating in the river by a construction worker who rushed her to the Louisiana SPCA. “If her rescuer hadn’t spotted her, the poor kitten would never have survived,” said the shelter’s CEO, Ana Zorilla. “We didn’t think she would make it through the night but she surprised us all.” Buoy bounced back after being treated for hypothermia and having surgery to amputate her tail and one hind leg. After spending time recovering in a foster home, she’s up for adoption at the shelter. — Read it at New Orleans’ WWLTV

Study: Birds Who Crash Into Cars Tend to Have Smaller Brains

New research shows that birds who get killed by cars tend to have smaller brains relative to their body size than those who avoid getting hit. For example, crows have big brains relative to their size and have shown the ability to navigate safely through traffic. “I don't know if we can say they are 'smarter,' but they do exhibit cognitive behaviour that makes them likely to survive,” said lead author Anders Pape Moller, an evolutionary biologist at the French National Center for Scientific Research. Pigeons, however, who have much smaller brains, seem less adept at avoiding collisions with cars. The study was published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. — Read it at Seeker

Rehabilitated Zebra Baby Adopted in the Wild

A fluffy zebra foal who escaped an attack by local dogs in a Kenyan village managed to run toward ranch workers, who called the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for help. A vet gently cleaned up the 2-week-old zebra, sprayed his wounds with an antibiotic and gave him anti-inflammatory medication, but decided he was well enough to be released to a nearby group of zebras. Luckily, he was quickly adopted by a lactating female, said the Trust in a Facebook post this week. — See photos from The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Facebook

Image: Golden Retriever Emmett

Dog Rescued From Backyard Pond

Firefighters from North Hampton Fire and Rescue in New Hampshire pulled a 3-year-old Golden Retriever from a frozen pond in his backyard on Wednesday morning. Emmett was running in his yard when he fell through the ice, and his owner called 911 after a family member attempted to go into the pond to rescue the dog. A firefighter wearing a water rescue suit picked Emmett up out of the water and the two were pulled back to shore on a tethered rope. “The dog could definitely tell we were there to help,” said Deputy Fire Chief Jason Lajoie. “He was very friendly and you could tell he was very thankful.” Emmett was treated for mild hypothermia at an animal hospital and released to his family a few hours later. — Read it at GMA via Yahoo

Hero Dog Award Voting Opens

Nearly 200 dogs have been nominated for the 2017 American Hero Dog Awards, and the first round of voting for finalists in seven categories opened this week. You can vote once per day for your favorite nominee. The seven categories include law enforcement/arson dogs, military dogs, therapy dogs, service dogs, emerging hero dogs, search and rescue dogs and guide/hearing dogs. The winning dog in each category will be flown to Los Angeles for a star-studded gala in September, and this year’s American Hero Dog will be revealed. The 2016 American Hero Dog winner was Hooch, a 3-year-old Mastiff who was rescued from terrible abuse and went on to work with abused and special needs children. — Cast your vote at American Humane

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Thursday, March 30, 2017

"Wonder Dog" Saves Owner Who Fell Down Cliff

March 30, 2017 at 09:36PM by
>br> A woman who fell down a cliff in South Australia has her dog to thank for going to get her help. Sue Pethnick, 55, was walking with her Red Heeler, Abby, at a beach camping area on Monday afternoon when she tumbled down a sandy embankment and broke her leg. Abby knew what to do, and returned to the campsite to get the woman’s husband, Michael. “Abby the wonder dog, then led the man back to the cliff face several hundred meters away,” South Australia Police said. Rescue crews arrived to help and Sue was flown by helicopter to a local hospital, where she’s now in stable condition. “She's certainly a little hero now,” Michael said of Abby. He planned to reward his dog with a big bone back at home. — Read it at the U.K.’s BBC News



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Pet Scoop: Rare Baby Sifaka Makes Public Debut, Dog Fetches Help for Injured Owner

March 30, 2017 at 07:30PM by
>br> March 30, 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: Sifaka baby Cotswold Wildlife Park

Mom Keeps Watchful Eye on Lemur


Yousstwo, a Crowned Sifaka, was born in December at the U.K.’s Cotswold Wildlife Park to mom Tahina and dad Bafana. This rare breed of lemur is native to Madagascar. Yousstwo's parents are the only breeding pair of Sifakas in the UK, and his mom is the first hand-reared Sifaka in history to parent-rear her own offspring. Only seven zoos around the world have this rare species. Yousstwo has been in a heated enclosure under his mom’s watchful eye since he was born, but he has now ventured outside and made his public debut. — Get updates from the Cotswold Wildlife Park’s Facebook

Bald Eagle Hatches in D.C.


A pair of bald eagle parents, Mr. President and The First Lady, made headlines earlier this month as they huddled over their nest at Washington’s National Arboretum during a late winter snowstorm. Well, their hard work and protection has paid off. The first of their eggs hatched on Wednesday morning, and is being referred to as DC4. The pair’s second egg has not hatched yet. Another patriotic pair of D.C. eagles, Justice and Liberty, had an eaglet of their own on March 15. — Read it at Washington’s WTOP

“Wonder Dog” Saves Her Owner


A woman who fell down a cliff in South Australia has her dog to thank for going to get her help. Sue Pethnick, 55, was walking with her Red Heeler, Abby, at a beach camping area on Monday afternoon when she tumbled down a sandy embankment and broke her leg. Abby knew what to do, and returned to the campsite to get the woman’s husband, Michael. “Abby the wonder dog, then led the man back to the cliff face several hundred meters away,” South Australia Police said. Rescue crews arrived to help and Sue was flown by helicopter to a local hospital, where she’s now in stable condition. “She's certainly a little hero now,” Michael said of Abby. He planned to reward his dog with a big bone back at home. — Read it at the U.K.’s BBC News

Image: Farley hospital dog

Comfort Dog Named for Teen Patient


A dog-loving 16-year-old cancer patient is being remembered at the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital with the arrival of a full-time facility puppy. Kristyn Farley, who passed away last year, used to love visits from volunteer therapy dogs at the hospital, even on her worst days. Now, thanks to help from a grant from PetSmart Charities, the hospital is training a 5-month-old Golden Retriever named in her honor — Farley. She goes to the hospital daily with Sue Wilburn, vice president of human resources, although she won’t be visiting patients until she’s been fully trained, when she’s about a year old. — Watch it at Tennessee’s WBIR

Newborn Puppy Gets Adorable Photo Shoot


Photographer Lyndsey Wright shot some treasured photos of her friend Leah’s beloved dog Tiger and her family not long before Tiger passed away. A few weeks later, the family added a new member: an English Bulldog named Lolo. Wright, who often photographs newborn babies, told her friend to come right to her studio with her precious puppy. Wright proceeded to photograph the pup just like she does with human infants, cuddled up in soft colors. “It was cracking me up because I found myself soothing her just like a human baby, rocking her, patting her gently, ‘shushing’ her quietly when she wiggled,” Wright said. Lolo had no problem cooperating, peacefully sleeping through some of the session, and resulting in some super-sweet photos. — See photos at People Pets

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Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Carrie Fisher’s Dog Gary Gets a New Home

March 29, 2017 at 09:27PM by
>br> When legendary “Star Wars” actress Carrie Fisher died in December, one of the immediate questions was where her constant companion, a French Bulldog named Gary, was going to live. It was reported at the time that Gary was going to be taken in by Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd, because he loved her Bulldog, Tina. But it turns out that he instead went to live with Fisher’s assistant, Corby McCoin, who Gary knew well because she was another constant figure in his late owner’s day-to-day life. Fisher, 60, and her mother, the actress Debbie Reynolds who died of a stroke the day after Fisher’s death, were celebrated at a public memorial service on Saturday. — Read it at Page Six


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Pet Scoop: Great Dane Rescued From Freezing River, Carrie Fisher’s Dog Gets a New Home

March 29, 2017 at 07:33PM by
>br> March 29, 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: Great Dane rescue Mike

Dog Plunges Into Frigid River


Earlier this month during a snowy walk near the Willimantic River in Connecticut, a 140-pound Great Dane named Mike got a little too close to the edge, and tumbled 16 feet down an embankment and into the ice-cold water. “I was frantic the strong river current would carry him away,” said his owner, Patricia Halloran. Mike managed to stand in chest-deep water on a ledge of tree roots while Halloran called 911. Two firefighters donned cold weather gear and rappelled into the water to reach the 11-year-old dog — who was quite happy to see them. Once they guided him to the bank, Mike was able to walk up the hill on his own. The firefighters wrapped the shaking dog in a thick blanket and police drove him to the veterinarian, where he was treated for mild hypothermia. “I am so thankful that Mike was OK,” said Halloran, who made him chicken soup and gave him TLC once he was back home. “He’s a tough old boy.” The rescue happened on March 10, but the video was recently shared on Facebook by a local meteorologist. — Watch it at Today

Rare Florida Panther Kittens Spotted in New Area


In a “major milestone on the road to recovery” for the endangered Florida panther, a trail cam recorded a nursing mom followed by two female kittens earlier this month. It’s evidence that panthers are expanding their breeding territory across the Caloosahatchee River naturally, establishing a second, distinct population. This is the first wild female who’s been seen north of the river since 1973, when they were added to the endangered species list. A recovery plan for the species calls for three distinct populations to protect the cats from disease. — See photos at the Miami Herald

Footage of Wild Tiger Cub Sparks Hope


Around the world in Thailand, there’s exciting news for another rare cat. The discovery of a new breeding population of tigers in Thailand has been considered “miraculous” for a sub-species almost wiped out by poaching. Six cubs, as well as their moms, were seen on footage from camera traps in an eastern Thai jungle in 2016. It’s the second known breeding population of the endangered Indochinese tiger. “The extraordinary rebound of eastern Thailand's tigers is nothing short of miraculous,” said John Goodrich, the tiger program director at Panthera, a wild cat preservation group. Experts warned that the breeding populations remain vulnerable. — Read from AFP via Yahoo

Image: Gary Fisher new home

Fisher’s Assistant Gets Her Dog


When legendary “Star Wars” actress Carrie Fisher died in December, one of the immediate questions was where her constant companion, a French Bulldog named Gary, was going to live. It was reported at the time that Gary was going to be taken in by Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd, because he loved her Bulldog, Tina. But it turns out that he instead went to live with Fisher’s assistant, Corby McCoin, who Gary knew well because she was another constant figure in his late owner’s day-to-day life. Fisher, 60, and her mother, the actress Debbie Reynolds who died of a stroke the day after Fisher’s death, were celebrated at a public memorial service on Saturday. — Read it at Page Six

Kitten Who Nursed Vet Patients Gets Forever Home


Ron, the last from a litter of feral kittens named for Harry Potter characters, had some hearts to heal before he went off to his own forever home. When the kitten was brought to the Northfield Veterinary Hospital in Colorado, he showed special interest in getting to know the other pets who came into the practice. Soon, the kindhearted kitten was offering comfort to fellow patients, curling up to them and even grooming them as they came out of anesthesia from dental work (not from sterile procedures). Jen Weston, the practice’s manager and co-owner, shared photos of Ron’s sweet interactions with other animals on her Facebook page. Finally, though, Ron was adopted at 8 months old, and is relaxing himself in his forever home. — See photos at People Pets

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Tuesday, March 28, 2017

"Vampire Diaries" Actress Pays Emotional Tribute to 18-Year-Old Cat

March 28, 2017 at 09:24PM by
>br> “Vampire Diaries” actress Nina Dobrev, 28, revealed to her fans Monday that she was heartbroken over the death of her beloved 18-year-old cat, Lynx. She wrote a heartfelt tribute to her “best friend,” who’d been a part of her life since she was only 10 years old herself, on Instagram. “To my sweet, sweet angel, As I look back on the last 18 years together, I smile through my tears. You brought me so much joy, love, unlimited cuddles and so many sandpaper kisses,” wrote the Bulgarian-born actress. “My heart hurts, I miss you more than words can explain but I can still feel your presence, energy and light. I know you're still with me and will always be a part of me, no matter where I go … My longest relationship, my rock, my best friend.” — Read it at E! Online


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Pet Scoop: Kitten Stuck Inside Wall, Actress Pays Emotional Tribute to 18-Year-Old Cat

March 28, 2017 at 07:44PM by
>br> March 28, 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: Wallee the kitten

Firefighters Free Kitten From Wall

Using a thermal imaging camera, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, firefighters managed to find the location of a tiny kitten who was stuck inside the wall of a resident’s home. Firefighters said the kitten was a stray whose mom may have given birth in the homeowner’s attic, or brought her little ones there looking for a safe place to stay. Either way, this kitten apparently wandered away and fell into the wall space. “The owner was more than happy to let us cut a hole in the wall. They found the little guy in there,” said deputy fire chief Timothy Heiser. “They didn’t know how long he was in there for. They washed him off and brought some food for him back to the station.” The kitten has been named Wall-ee, and will be up for adoption at Broward County Animal Care. — Read it at ABC News

Study: Cats Like You Better Than Food

Cats often get a reputation as being rather aloof. But a new study finds that felines favor human interaction over toys, smells and even food. The researchers tested 50 cats from private homes and an animal shelter and took away their access to those four types of stimuli. Then, they reintroduced the stimuli to figure out which of them the cats liked best. Half of the cats most favored human interaction over anything else, although 37 percent went for the food. The study was published in the journal Behavioural Processes. — Read it at SF Gate

Panda Cub Twins Play Outside for First Time

Now nearly 7 months old, Zoo Atlanta’s twin panda cubs reached an adorable milestone on Monday when they had their first outdoor playdate. Their personalities were on full display as Ya Lun the adventurer quickly started to explore her new space while her more reserved sister, Xi Lun, was a little more cautious. Now that spring has arrived, the sisters will continue to explore their outdoor space at limited times during the day. — Read it from Zoo Atlanta

Image: Nina Dobrev cat

Nina Dobrev Mourns Her Cat

“Vampire Diaries” actress Nina Dobrev, 28, revealed to her fans Monday that she was heartbroken over the death of her beloved 18-year-old cat, Lynx. She wrote a heartfelt tribute to her “best friend,” who’d been a part of her life since she was only 10 years old herself, on Instagram. “To my sweet, sweet angel, As I look back on the last 18 years together, I smile through my tears. You brought me so much joy, love, unlimited cuddles and so many sandpaper kisses,” wrote the Bulgarian-born actress. “My heart hurts, I miss you more than words can explain but I can still feel your presence, energy and light. I know you're still with me and will always be a part of me, no matter where I go … My longest relationship, my rock, my best friend.” — Read it at E! Online

Work-From-Home Dad Gives Dog Employee Awards

Working out of your home can be a bit isolating, unless you have a dog to keep you company. That’s what Accuride International Inc. employee Michael Reeg discovered when he started working out of his home office. Reeg has two dogs, but only one of them, Meeka, has been working hard to keep her owner company. Last summer, Reeg decided to recognize Meeka’s loyalty by naming her “Employee of the Quarter,” complete with a plaque on his office wall. And she’s been consistent, winning the award for four straight quarters now. “There are times that I’ll even talk to her as I work through a problem or map out a customer solution. I try out my sales pitches and presentations on her. She’s not easily impressed or swayed. All she hears is ‘blah, blah, blah, Meeka’ — but she likes to hear my voice and I love that she pays attention,” Reeg said. Good dog, Meeka! — See photos at People Pets

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Monday, March 27, 2017

Pet Scoop: Missing Husky Found After 7 Years, U.S.-Born Panda Bao Bao Makes China Debut

March 27, 2017 at 07:26PM by
>br> March 27, 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: Husky Koda

Dog Found 400 Miles From Home


Koda, a Siberian Husky, was still a puppy when he disappeared from his Mississippi home in 2010. Seven years later, he’s back where he belongs. The now 9-year-old dog was found wandering around Knoxville, Tennessee, as a stray and brought to the Young-Williams Animal Center. The shelter found Koda’s microchip and tracked down his original owners, Jeremy and Laura Huff. They made the 400-mile drive to Knoxville on Friday night, and were reunited with Koda on Saturday morning. The Huffs weren’t sure Koda would remember them, but he didn’t hesitate to run over to them with his tail wagging. “Seven years is a long time, but here we are. We're getting him back,” said Jeremy Huff. — Watch it at Tennessee’s WBIR

Two Dogs Sniff Out Breast Cancer From Bandage


In an unusual but promising diagnostic trial, two German Shepherds were able to identify cancer from a piece of cloth that had touched the breast of a woman with a tumor, researchers said. After just 6 months of training, Thor and Nykios were 100 percent accurate in their role in spotting breast cancer. The researchers behind the trials are hoping this technique can revolutionize cancer detection in countries were there’s limited access to diagnostics like mammograms. The next step is another clinical trial with more patients and two more newly trained dogs. — Read it at Seeker

Bao Bao Makes Debut in China


After spending 30 days in quarantine, Bao Bao, the 3-year-old panda from the National Zoo in Washington, made her first public appearance at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan Province on Friday. The panda has been settling in to her new home, learning Mandarin and snacking on wowotou, or steamed cornbread buns, in place of the biscuits she got in the U.S. The crowd gathered for a ceremony on Friday was excited to see Bao Bao, but she wasn’t impressed as she sat on her playground eating bamboo. — Read it at The New York Times

Image: Golden Retriever capitals game

Dog Plays Fetch With Hockey Puck


An adorable Golden Retriever showed some impressive skills on the ice at a Washington Capitals game on Saturday. The excited dog and his handler, a D.C. police officer, played a delightful game of fetch before the start of the game at the Verizon Center. He must have been good luck for the home team, who beat the Phoenix Coyotes 4-1. — Watch it at SB Nation

Federal Agency to Start Doggy Days


Animal-loving Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told his staff last week that the federal agency was starting “Doggy Days at Interior” to help boost morale and lower stress. The department is the first to adopt a dog-friendly policy. “Today is National Puppy Day, and I don’t know about you, but it makes me think of how much my family dog, Ragnar, makes my day better,” Zinke, who rode to his first day on the job on a horse, wrote to the department’s 70,000 employees in an email announcement on Thursday. “Opening the door each evening and seeing him running at me is one of the highlights of my day.” The pilot program starts with test days in May and September at the department’s Washington-based headquarters. — Read it at the Huffington Post

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Formerly Abused Beagle Joins U.S. Customs

March 25, 2017 at 12:25AM by
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Image: Murray border protection dog

Rescue Dog Joins “Beagle Brigade”


At 3 years old, Murray has been through a lot. After an Atlanta area shelter saved him from abuse and neglect, he was adopted by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and trained to join their Beagle Brigade. Officer Murray started his new job with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection team at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday. He uses his expert nose to sniff baggage for invasive pests and diseases. “Murray will get a treat after, and that is what he lives for,” said Abbey Powell, whose group trained him. “The dogs see it as fun. They don’t see it as work. It’s a blast for them.” — Read it from Inside Edition via Yahoo

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Pet Scoop: Dog Saved From Burning Apartment, Abused Beagle Joins U.S. Customs

March 24, 2017 at 07:47PM by
>br> March 24, 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: Nalu rescued by firefighters

Firefighters Revive Dog With CPR


Crystal Lamirande came home to find her apartment on fire Tuesday afternoon but couldn’t get through the thick smoke to find her 10-year-old dog. Nalu was found unconscious and rescued by Santa Monica, California, firefighters, who then performed CPR on the dog for 20 minutes and saved his life. The grateful and emotional owner and her Bichon Frise mix visited the station Thursday to thank the crew. “That was just a great morale booster for all of the guys here in our department,” said firefighter Andrew Klein. — Watch it at Los Angeles’ ABC 7

First U.S. Bumble Bee Listed as Endangered


The rusted patch bumble bee was added to the government’s list of endangered species on Tuesday, making it the first wild bee in the continental U.S. to get federal protection. The addition came after President Trump’s administration lifted a hold it had placed on federal protections proposed by the Obama administration last fall. The population and range of the bee, once widely found in the Northeast and upper Midwest, has declined more than 90 percent since the 1990s due to disease, pesticides, climate change and loss of habitat, wildlife officials said. — Read it at Reuters

Study: Sea Otters Used Tools Before Dolphins


Scientists say sea otters have been using stone tools for thousands or even millions of years. Tool use seems to be innate in sea otters, unlike in dolphins, researchers said. A genetic study of wild sea otters living off the California coast suggests their ancestors living millions of years ago also showed this behavior. “Orphaned otter pups raised in captivity exhibit rudimentary pounding behaviour without training or previous experience, and wild pups develop tool-use behaviour before weaning regardless of their mother's diet type,” the researchers wrote. The study was published in the journal Biology Letters. — Read it at BBC News

Image: Murray border protection dog

Rescue Dog Joins “Beagle Brigade”


At 3 years old, Murray has been through a lot. After an Atlanta area shelter saved him from abuse and neglect, he was adopted by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and trained to join their Beagle Brigade. Officer Murray started his new job with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection team at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday. He uses his expert nose to sniff baggage for invasive pests and diseases. “Murray will get a treat after, and that is what he lives for,” said Abbey Powell, whose group trained him. “The dogs see it as fun. They don’t see it as work. It’s a blast for them.” — Read it from Inside Edition via Yahoo

Guide Dog Puppies to Be Named for Marathon Winners


Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a New York-based non-profit, is planning an adorable honor for the first male and female to cross the finish line in the Boston Marathon on April 17. A litter is expected to arrive on Marathon Monday or the day after. The organization’s CEO, Thomas Panek, who is visually impaired, is training to complete his fourth Boston Marathon. Guiding Eyes is the first organization to train guide dogs to become running partners for their handlers. — Read it at Runner’s World

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18-Year-Old Dog Gets Happy New Home

March 24, 2017 at 12:11AM by
>br>

Image: Julep and new owner

18-Year-Old Dog Gets New Home


Julep has lived a long and happy life. But when her owner died and the family couldn’t take her in, the 18-year-old dog wound up at the Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, D.C. — becoming one of the oldest residents the shelter has ever had. They put the word out on Facebook, and Wayne Lerch, whose 11-year-old dog had passed away in December, was at the shelter waiting to adopt Julep before it even opened on Tuesday. “I couldn't let her spend one more night in the shelter,” Lerch said. “We see a lot of happy endings and try not to get too emotional,” said shelter spokesperson Alix John Tolley. “But the combination of her age and Wayne’s obvious adoration for his new 'old lady' left us in tears.” Julep has been renamed Tootie after Lerch’s grandmother and she’s “happy as a pig in slop,” her new owner said. — Read it at Today
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Pet Scoop: Biden the Puppy Meets Former V.P., 18-Year-Old Dog Gets Happy New Home

March 23, 2017 at 07:27PM by
>br> March 23, 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: Biden the Golden

Joe Biden Meets Puppy Namesake


Former Vice President Joe Biden returned to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to celebrate the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, and met his most adorable fan: a 4-month-old Golden Retriever named Biden. “I named the dog Biden just because he is probably my favorite politician and favorite elected official,” said Sydney, Biden’s owner. She declined to give her last name but has been reported to be a Republican staffer. The human Biden spotted the puppy outside the Capitol and signaled for Sydney to come over when he was done. She said the former vice president’s “face lit up” when she told him the pup was named for him. “As soon as I told him his name was Biden, he started kissing the dog, which is like exactly what I expected Biden would do,” Sydney said. She shared photos of herself and the two Bidens on Instagram. — Read it at Buzzfeed

Researchers Thrilled at Rare Frog Discovery


Ecologists were ecstatic to find nine egg masses from the California red-legged frog in a creek in the Santa Monica Mountains earlier this month. The National Park Service has been working to rebuild the population there by transplanting eggs from a nearby population in Simi Valley. The discovery marks the first signs that the population is sustaining itself without human help. “I was literally crying when the stream team showed me the photos of egg masses,” said Katy Delaney, a National Park Service ecologist with Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. “The years of work we've put in is showing amazing progress. There's still plenty of work to be done, but this is a major moment for the project.” — Read it from the AP via Yahoo

Thai Sea Turtle Dies After Surgery to Remove Coins


Sadly, Bank, the sea turtle who had surgery two weeks ago to remove 915 coins from her stomach, has passed away due to complications. The turtle had swallowed the loose change that had been thrown into her enclosure. Tourists in Thailand throw coins at turtles because of a superstition that it brings good fortune. Bank had been recovering well and was due to be released into a pond this week, but she developed an intestinal infection and veterinarians were unable to save her with an emergency surgery on Monday. She died on Tuesday morning. — Read it at Live Science

Image: Julep and new owner

18-Year-Old Dog Gets New Home


Julep has lived a long and happy life. But when her owner died and the family couldn’t take her in, the 18-year-old dog wound up at the Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, D.C. — becoming one of the oldest residents the shelter has ever had. They put the word out on Facebook, and Wayne Lerch, whose 11-year-old dog had passed away in December, was at the shelter waiting to adopt Julep before it even opened on Tuesday. “I couldn't let her spend one more night in the shelter,” Lerch said. “We see a lot of happy endings and try not to get too emotional,” said shelter spokesperson Alix John Tolley. “But the combination of her age and Wayne’s obvious adoration for his new 'old lady' left us in tears.” Julep has been renamed Tootie after Lerch’s grandmother and she’s “happy as a pig in slop,” her new owner said. — Read it at Today

“Harry Potter” Actor Has Emotional Reunion With Dog


Two weeks ago, British actor Jim Tavaré was involved in a head-on collision that left him with a broken neck and several other broken bones. This week, the 53-year-old who’s known for his role as Tom in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, was able to get outside for the first time in a wheelchair — and finally be reunited with his dog, who was with him at the time of the near-fatal accident. Cameras were rolling as an excited Mr. Kippy hopped into his owner’s lap and offered kisses and hugs to his healing owner. — Watch it at People Pets

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AKC Names the Top 10 Dog Breeds in America

March 22, 2017 at 08:56PM by
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Image: Labrador Retriever -AP-ENXZFO-335

The American Kennel Club announced its list of the most popular dog breeds in the U.S. on Tuesday — and the family friendly Labrador Retriever has retained its number 1 spot for the 26th consecutive year. “The Labrador Retriever has a strong hold on the top spot, and doesn’t show signs of giving it up anytime soon,” said AKC Vice President Gina DiNardo. “The Lab is such a versatile dog that it’s no wonder it makes a great companion for a variety of lifestyles. Keep your eye on the Rottweiler, though. It’s been quietly winning hearts over the past decade.” The Rottie moved into the 8th spot on the top 10 list for 2016. The list also includes the German Shepherd Dog, Golden Retriever, Bulldog, Beagle, French Bulldog, Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier and Boxer. — Read it from the AKC
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Pet Scoop: Service Pup Named for WWII Vet, AKC Names America’s Top Dog Breeds

March 22, 2017 at 07:31PM by
>br> March 22, 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: WWII vet with namesake pup vertical

Veteran Meets Namesake Puppy

Before a celebration for his 100th birthday, World War II veteran Norval Nichols asked that in lieu of gifts, his friends and family should donate to Patriot PAWS, a Texas-based non-profit that trains service dogs for veterans. Nichols, who goes by Sgt. Nick, is partially blind. Although he doesn’t have a service dog himself, he wanted to give another veteran the opportunity to have one. At his celebration, Patriot PAWS had a sweet surprise for the caring vet. He met the adorable yellow Labrador Retriever puppy who’s benefiting from his generosity, and who has a special name: Sgt. Nick. So far, the veteran has raised $5,835 toward his $34,000 goal through a GoFundMe page. — Read it at NBC Dallas-Fort Worth

Shelter Dog Saves 3-Year-Old Girl

Peanut, a recently adopted shelter dog, is being hailed as a hero for finding a 3-year-old girl shivering near a cold river in Michigan last week. Peanut’s owners couldn’t figure out why the dog “started going crazy at our house. She was running up and down the stairs, barking and yelping," the unidentified woman who’s Peanut’s new owner said. Her husband let the dog outside, and she “went barreling into the field behind our house at full speed,” the owner said. Her husband followed Peanut, and was shocked to find a little girl “barely hanging on for her life.” The man wrapped her in a sweatshirt, brought her inside and called 911. Sheriff’s deputies found the girl’s home, and she’s now in the custody of Child Protective Services due to the conditions they discovered. “This formerly abused dog has now saved the life of a little girl,” the shelter wrote on Facebook. — Read it at MLive.com

Baby Hippo Fiona Hit Big Milestone

Fiona, a hippo born six weeks early at the Cincinnati Zoo, tipped the scales at 101 pounds on Tuesday. “This significant milestone puts her closer to becoming a real hippo! She has a great appetite and is now consuming hay and grain in addition to formula,” the zoo wrote in a Facebook post. The preemie hippo has gotten critical care and 24/7 attention since she was born in January, and she’s come a long way. She’s now enjoying play time in the pool, loves playing with the hose and has even been sleeping underwater, a unique ability of hippos. — Get Fiona updates from the Cincinnati Zoo’s Facebook

Image: AKC top breed Lab 2016

Lab Wins Top Breed for 26th Year

The American Kennel Club announced its list of the most popular dog breeds in the U.S. on Tuesday — and the family friendly Labrador Retriever has retained its number 1 spot for the 26th consecutive year. “The Labrador Retriever has a strong hold on the top spot, and doesn’t show signs of giving it up anytime soon,” said AKC Vice President Gina DiNardo. “The Lab is such a versatile dog that it’s no wonder it makes a great companion for a variety of lifestyles. Keep your eye on the Rottweiler, though. It’s been quietly winning hearts over the past decade.” The Rottie moved into the 8th spot on the top 10 list for 2016. The list also includes the German Shepherd Dog, Golden Retriever, Bulldog, Beagle, French Bulldog, Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier and Boxer. — Read it from the AKC

17-Year-Old Blind Cat Reunited With Owner

Three and a half years after Larry disappeared from his Washington State home, the blind 17-year-old tabby cat has been returned to his loving owner. A Good Samaritan who found the cat wandering around his apartment complex in Oregon brought him to Multnomah County Animal Services, and a microchip helped them find his owner, Nancy. “Without a microchip, this now-blind senior cat living across state lines would never find his way back into his owner’s arms,” said the shelter in a story on its web site last week. “As it turns out for Larry, he will be able to spend his remaining years with the home he knew most of his life.” — Read it at People Pets

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Bo and Sunny Obama Get Moving for Spring

March 21, 2017 at 09:19PM by
>br> Former First Lady Michelle Obama tweeted a photo of Bo and Sunny as they headed out of a walk with their mom on Monday night — and it’s one of the first glimpses we’ve had of the doggie duo since they moved out of the White House two months ago. “Look who has a spring in their step! Celebrate the #FirstDayofSpring by grabbing a friend, heading outside, and getting moving,” Obama captioned the photo of the two Portuguese Water Dogs. The dogs went for a stroll in their new neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Bo, 8, and Sunny, 4, are settling into their rented home in the Kalorama neighborhood of D.C. after growing up at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. — Read it at People Pets

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Pet Scoop: Dog Joins in Cross-Country Ski Race, Obama Dogs Take a Spring Walk

March 21, 2017 at 07:38PM by
>br> March 21, 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: Dog joins in ski race

Dog Challenges Skiers in Race

The leaders in the World Cup cross-country skiing race in Quebec City briefly had an added competitor when a dog raced alongside them over the weekend. In a video of the race, an excited announcer yells, “They’re being chased by a dog out there!” The dog ran out in front of the racers and looked like he wanted to play — but luckily he quickly got out of the way and didn’t cause anyone to lose their place. That made him just a delightful addition to the competition. “Good boy, good boy!” the announcer praised him. — Watch it at SB Nation

Study: Parrot Has a Contagious Laugh

New research shows the kea parrot in New Zealand lets out a laugh-like call when having a good time, and it’s “emotionally contagious,” putting kea parrots who hear it in a playful mood. This makes the clever bird the first non-mammal found to have emotionally contagious playful vocalizations. Researchers said the behavior is most similar to that of children who giggle while they play. The findings were published in the journal Current Biology. — Read it at Seeker

Blue Buffalo Recalls Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Company is recalling some of its BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Wet Food for Adult Dogs, saying it could have elevated levels of beef thyroid hormones. The Food and Drug Administration says it has had one report of a dog showing symptoms from the hormones but the dog has now made a full recovery. Ingesting high levels of beef thyroid hormones could cause weight loss, increased heart rate, restlessness and increased thirst and urination in dogs. Long-term effects include vomiting, diarrhea and rapid or difficult breathing. If you have the product with the UPC code 840243101153 and a best by date of June 7, 2019, stop feeding it to your pet and contact your veterinarian. — Read it at Florida’s WFLA

Image: Obama dogs spring walk

Bo and Sunny Get Moving for Spring

Former First Lady Michelle Obama Tweeted a photo of Bo and Sunny as they headed out of a walk with their mom on Monday night — and it’s one of the first glimpses we’ve had of the doggie duo since they moved out of the White House two months ago. “Look who has a spring in their step! Celebrate the #FirstDayofSpring by grabbing a friend, heading outside, and getting moving,” Obama captioned the photo of the two Portuguese Water Dogs. The dogs went for a stroll in their new neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Bo, 8, and Sunny, 4, are settling into their rented home in the Kalorama neighborhood of D.C. after growing up at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. — Read it at People Pets

Cute Kitten Wiggles Ears While Drinking Bottle

Bobby Bat Ears, a foster kitten in Australia, is winning hearts around the globe with a viral video of his adorable quirk: he wiggles his ears while drinking from a bottle. The little black and white kitten was found underneath a lemon tree in Melbourne last month. The video was posted to the 2nd Chance Cat Rescue’s Facebook page, where it’s been viewed nearly 4 million times. “We thought he was hilarious. He’s done that since we first got him. I didn’t think to film it until a week later,” said his foster mom, Annemarie Veneros. Bobby is hoping all the attention will help him find a forever home when he goes up for adoption in about a month. — Watch it at the U.K.’s Daily Mail

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Girl Fighting Cancer Gets Visit From Canine Star of “A Dog’s Purpose”

March 20, 2017 at 09:19PM by
>br> Brooke Mulford, 12, has been battling cancer for eight years, and has been confined to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia since January. Recently, though, she had a distraction from the pain she suffers after her mom shared on Facebook that Brooke wanted to see the movie “A Dog’s Purpose.” She got that, and more. Brooke and her family got the chance to view the movie in the hospital, and they got special visits from the film’s screenwriter and Trip, the Golden Retriever who starred in the film. “It was the best day we’ve had in so long,” said Brooke’s mom, Amy. “It’s what my heart needed.” — Read it from GMA via Yahoo

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Pet Scoop: Cat Saves Couple From Carbon Monoxide, Star Dog Visits Ill Girl in Hospital

March 20, 2017 at 07:07PM by
>br> March 20, 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: Gracie hero cat

Cat Pounds Door to Wake Owners

A Wisconsin couple is crediting their cat with saving their lives when the carbon monoxide level in their home reached lethal levels last month. Annette Shanahan woke up in so much distress that she thought she was “having a heart attack,” but then fell asleep again in a chair — until her Maine Coon cat, Gracie, started persistently rattling her bedroom door. “Gracie started pounding at the door. Pounding loud. She was really pounding,” she said. Annette and her husband woke up and barely managed to call 911 and their son. The Shanahans are extremely grateful to Gracie for waking them up. “We usually sleep with our door closed and right before we went to sleep she was outside our door meowing which is very unusual,” said Annette. “So I thought, ‘Oh I’ll just let her in. She wasn’t feeling well. She sensed something was wrong before that I guess … We were definitely saved by Grace. Saved by Gracie.” — Read it at ABC News

Prairie Dogs Vaccinated to Save Endangered Ferrets

Biologists are increasingly optimistic that feeding a vaccine against the plague to prairie dogs could improve the success rate of endangered black-footed ferrets who are bred in captivity and reintroduced to the wild. The predators feed almost exclusively on prairie dogs, who live in big colonies that are regularly decimated by plague outbreaks. Starting in the fall, biologists plan to treat 40 square miles of prairie dog colonies in several Western states with peanut butter flavored vaccine pellets that they’ll fling from all-terrain vehicles for the rodents to find. — Read it at Phys.org

Deer — And Emergency Crew — Rescued From Pond

As a deer struggled to get off of an icy New Jersey pond for 24 hours over the weekend, wildlife officials decided it would be best to leave the deer alone. But when residents of a nearby condo complex said they’d take matters into their own hands to save the animal, authorities quickly brought in an amphibious vehicle and five crew members to take on the task. While they were working on the rescue, the boat started to take on water. The crew was saved by the Roxbury Fire Department and the deer was rescued by another man. In the end, everyone including the deer was OK. — Read it at USA Today

Image: Oreo nursing home cat

Stray Cat Gets Job at Nursing Home

Oreo wandered into a Cleveland, Ohio, nursing home about five years ago, but she just gained fame this month after Cleveland.com produced a video about her work looking out for the residents and staff there. The black and white cat lives on the main floor of the St. Augustine Health Ministries but doesn’t go upstairs to the residences. “She loves to have her head scratched,” said the facility’s director of advancement, Dana Carns. “Residents, staff and the children from our early learning center, look for Oreo. She is most often the greeter.” The cat delights the facility’s 200 residents. “I’m not sure if Oreo was in need of us, or we were in need of Oreo,” Carns said. — Read it at the Huffington Post

Girl Fighting Cancer Gets Visit From “Dog’s Purpose” Pup

Brooke Mulford, 12, has been battling cancer for eight years, and has been confined to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia since January. Recently, though, she had a distraction from the pain she suffers after her mom shared on Facebook that Brooke wanted to see the movie “A Dog’s Purpose.” She got that, and more. Brooke and her family got the chance to view the movie in the hospital, and they got special visits from the film’s screenwriter and Trip, the Golden Retriever who starred in the film. “It was the best day we’ve had in so long,” said Brooke’s mom, Amy. “It’s what my heart needed.” — Read it from GMA via Yahoo

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Friday, March 17, 2017

Batman the Escape Cat Reunited With Owner After Disappearing at Airport

March 17, 2017 at 09:38PM by
>br> A female calico cat has been delivered to her owner in Washington, D.C., two weeks after she disappeared into the ceiling at Sea-Tac Airport in Washington State. Jessica Brown was moving from Seattle to D.C. when she arrived at the airport in Seattle with her two cats, who were zipped into their carriers, on March 2. She was worried that Batman might take off when the TSA asked her to remove the cat from her carrier, and sure enough, Batman bolted up a temporary wall and into the ceiling in an area where tiles had been removed for construction. Brown missed her flight to D.C. while officials searched for Batman, and eventually had to leave without her pet. Luckily, with the help of a voice recording from Brown calling Batman, wildlife biologists caught her cat in a trap in the ceiling five days later. Batman stayed with Brown’s friend until Thursday, when she flew to D.C. with a Port of Seattle employee who was headed out on a previously scheduled business trip. Batman wasn’t quite as happy as a reunited dog. “She was very angry,” Brown said. And she’s still exploring the new house, hissing, spitting at her sister Lily, and generally asking, ‘What just happened?’” — Read it at Washington’s News Tribune


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Pet Scoop: “Lucky” 12-Year-Old Beagle Adopted, Firefighters Save Dog From Fire

March 17, 2017 at 07:19PM by
>br> March 17, 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: Lucky Beagle

Lucky Dog Lives Up to His Name

Maybe Lucky has the luck of the Irish. The 12-year-old Beagle is spending St. Patrick’s Day in his new home, where he’s made best friends with the family’s senior Pug. His family spotted him on Sacramento SPCA’s web site, fell in love and went to bring him home. “I don't know how much time he has spent in houses because he was scared of many things in the house,” his new owner said in an update the shelter shared on Facebook Thursday. “After only 4 days Lucky has warmed up to the idea of being an inside house dog. He's learning to snuggle in the bed with his new doggy brother and his new parents.” They realized Lucky is deaf, but they’re teaching him sign language and he’s responding well to it. “We couldn't be any happier with our 12 year old, toothless, deaf Lucky who has found his ‘fur-ever’ home to live out the remainder of his years!" they said. — Read it at the Sacramento SPCA’s Facebook

Woman Reunited With Pup Missing 6 Months

Tanya Flowers’ Maltese puppy was just 6 months old when she somehow escaped from her Jersey City, New Jersey, apartment in September. Flowers handed out hundreds of fliers and contacted local shelters with no luck. But last month, she got a call from a shelter in Staten Island, New York, that they’d found the dog. Paris was apparently found walking in the streets in New Jersey four months ago and a man took her in. When he decided he could no longer care for her, he gave her to his mother. His mother brought her to the vet for grooming, and it was discovered that she had a microchip that traced her back to Flowers. Flowers said she’s happy “her baby” is back home with her, and now the 1-year-old dog is happy, too. She excitedly barked and licked Flowers when they were reunited. — Read it at NJ.com

Batman the Escape Cat Reunited With Owner

A female calico cat has been delivered to her owner in Washington, D.C., two weeks after she disappeared into the ceiling at Sea-Tac Airport in Washington State. Jessica Brown was moving from Seattle to D.C. when she arrived at the airport in Seattle with her two cats, who were zipped into their carriers, on March 2. She was worried that Batman might take off when the TSA asked her to remove the cat from her carrier, and sure enough, Batman bolted up a temporary wall and into the ceiling in an area where tiles had been removed for construction. Brown missed her flight to D.C. while officials searched for Batman, and eventually had to leave without her pet. Luckily, with the help of a voice recording from Brown calling Batman, wildlife biologists caught her cat in a trap in the ceiling five days later. Batman stayed with Brown’s friend until Thursday, when she flew to D.C. with a Port of Seattle employee who was headed out on a previously scheduled business trip. Batman wasn’t quite as happy as a reunited dog. “She was very angry,” Brown said. And she’s still exploring the new house, hissing, spitting at her sister Lily, and generally asking, ‘What just happened?’” — Read it at Washington’s News Tribune

Image: Michigan firefighters revive dog

Crews Revive Dog Found in Blaze

Fire crews saved the life of a large dog who they found nearly unconscious in his Michigan home on Thursday morning. No one was home when the fire broke out, and a passerby called South Haven Area Emergency Services when they saw the flames. Sadly, the family’s two cats died in the fire, but firefighters were able to revive their dog. He was given oxygen at the scene and taken to a local veterinarian for treatment and observation. He was expected to recover and be released to his family at the end of the day. — Read it at Michigan’s WZZM 13

Ralph Macchio Adopts Yorkie

The Karate Kid, who’s now 55, said he wasn’t interested in getting another dog after the death of his family’s 14-year-old Shih Tzu, Ginger. But then, his wife spotted a neglected 4-year-old Yorkshire Terrier who was at the Kent Shelter in Long Island, New York. “She brought me back there, and when he came out he started licking me and was looking right into my eyes,” actor Ralph Macchio said of meeting Oliver. “There was a connection immediately.” The two are now inseparable. “It feels good to give this guy a happy home,” he said. — See photo at People Pets

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Thursday, March 16, 2017

Pet Scoop: Escaped Shelter Dog Found by Lincoln Tunnel, Zoo Raises Orphaned Wallaroo

March 16, 2017 at 07:27PM by
>br> March 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: Pandy Animal Haven

Shelter Pup Rescued in N.Y. Storm


Pandy was rescued for the second time on Tuesday afternoon. The 5-year-old Terrier has been staying at New York’s Animal Haven shelter after she was saved from the dog meat trade in Thailand. But the pooch got spooked during a walk with a volunteer on the streets of Manhattan in blizzard conditions on Tuesday, and ran 40 blocks across town. About an hour later, she was spotted by police officers near the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel, which leads to New Jersey. They scooped up the exhausted and freezing pup and brought her to the ASCPA, where her microchip helped identify her. Pandy is now safe, warm and loved back at Animal Haven, where she’s waiting to find her forever family. “She’s tired but she’s the sweet girl she always is,” said the shelter’s executive director, Tiffany Lacey. “She’s shy and needs a patient, loving adopter.” — Read it at the New York Post

Study: Antarctic Penguin Numbers Double Previous Estimates

New research using aerial and ground surveys, tagging and camera images over several breeding seasons finds that the number of Adelie penguins in East Antarctica is 5.9 million — not 3.6 million, as previously thought. Previous population estimates only took breeding pairs into account. “Non-breeding birds are harder to count because they are out foraging at sea, rather than nesting in colonies on land,” said Australian Antarctic Division seabird ecologist Louise Emmerson. “However, our study in East Antarctica has shown that non-breeding Adelie penguins may be as, or more, abundant than the breeders.” On the basis of this number, the scientists estimate the global Adelie penguin population to be 14 to 16 million. — Read it at Yahoo

Thirsty Koalas Seek Out New Water Sources

Koalas usually rely on eucalyptus leaves for nourishment and moisture, but scientists say climate change is forcing the parched marsupials to leave their trees to get water at drinking stations. When the desperate animals scramble down from their trees and stand at the water stations, they run the risk of an attack from predators. Camera footage showed the koalas drinking water for more than 10 minutes even during the winter months last year. They expect that they drank more during the summer season, which runs from December to February, when the country’s east coast had a record-hot summer. — Read it at Reuters

Image: Oakland Zoo wallaroo

Zoo Bottle Feeds Orphaned Joey

Keepers at the Oakland Zoo are caring for a 5-month-old wallaroo around the clock after his 3-year-old mom died of an infection earlier this month. The joey, who hasn’t yet been named, is bottle fed seven times a day with a special formula made in Australia called wombaroo. The baby is being kept in a makeshift pouch and he gets daily physical exams. They hope to have him leave his artificial pouch and join the rest of the zoo’s wallaroos in about three months, when he’ll be at the age that wallroos typically leave their mom’s pouch. — Read it at California’s Mercury News

20-Year-Old Surrendered Cat Quickly Adopted

Buttons, a 20-year-old black and white cat suffering from tapeworms, was taken in by the Saving Sage Animal Rescue Foundation in Florida after they heard about his plight. The rescue was outraged that Buttons was surrendered in his old age, and so were their Facebook followers. Immediately after they shared his story on social media, a woman named Jennifer applied to adopt him. Buttons is now getting IV fluids in an animal hospital, and he’ll go home with Jennifer on Monday. “I am hoping this senior lives out his life getting the love and attention he so much deserves and hasn’t gotten up until this point,” says the rescue group’s vice president, Kathy Bieniek. — Read it at People Pets

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Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Avalanche Rescue Dog Slides Down Snowy Mountain for Fun

March 15, 2017 at 09:18PM by
>br> Truckee, a 6-year-old black Labrador Retriever, works hard as the senior dog for the Avalanche Rescue Dog Program at Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly Mountain. But, he plays hard, too. A new viral video shows Truckee doing one of his favorite things: sliding down the mountain on his belly. His trainers say Truckee slides around like this a lot, but this leisurely run might have been his longest yet. — Read it at Los Angeles’ ABC 7


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Pet Scoop: Police Rescue Frozen Kitten From Highway, Bald Eagles Shelter Eggs From Storm

March 15, 2017 at 07:35PM by
>br> March 15, 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: RCMP kitten

Rescued Kitten Steals Hearts

A pair of Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers were driving on a Saskatchewan highway last week when they swerved to avoid something in the middle of the road. They thought it was a chunk of ice — until they saw it move. They stopped their car once they realized it was an animal, and got out to investigate. The partially frozen and very vocal kitten knew help had arrived, and started moving toward the officers, who scooped him up and got him to a veterinary clinic. There, he was warmed up, fed and treated for frostbite. One of the kitten’s heroes, Cpr. Sean Chiddenton, was surprised to find a happy and active kitten when he returned later that day to check on him. “He has stolen all our hearts!” the Prairie Animal Health Centre wrote in a Facebook post. The fluffy kitten has been named Ambrose, and is now being spoiled by the family who adopted him. — Read it at the Huffington Post

Great White Shark Numbers Growing Off Cape Cod

Surveys taken between June and October 2016 identified 147 great white sharks off the coast of Cape Cod, including 89 new sharks that researchers hadn’t seen in previous years. When the survey project began in 2014, only 68 sharks were spotted during the same time period. Still, the jump in the numbers may not mean that the population is growing, warns study leader Gregory Skomal. While there are “positive signs that conservation is working,” it’s possible some of the new sharks may have been missed by previous surveys, he said. — Read it at Live Science

Bald Eagle Parents Shelter Eggs From Storm

As a late-winter storm brought snow, sleet and wind to Washington, D.C., a pair of nesting bald eagles at the National Arboretum huddled together atop their fragile eggs on Tuesday. The park’s eagle cam captured the duo, named Mr. President and First Lady, sitting on the eggs in their snowy nest together for hours on Tuesday. The First Lady had protected her eggs on Monday night and Tuesday morning before her mate arrived to help her. The eggs are expected to hatch in the last week of March. — Read it from Washington’s WTOP

Image: Truckee rescue dog

Rescue Dog Hits the Slopes

Truckee, a 6-year-old black Labrador Retriever, works hard as the senior dog for the Avalanche Rescue Dog Program at Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly Mountain. But, he plays hard, too. A new viral video shows Truckee doing one of his favorite things: sliding down the mountain on his belly. His trainers say Truckee slides around like this a lot, but this leisurely run might have been his longest yet. — Watch it at Los Angeles’ ABC 7

Rescued Sea Otter Gets New Home

An 18-month-old sea otter who was just one day old when she was found abandoned on a beach packed her favorite red ball for a move from the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California to the Audubon Aquarium in Louisiana. She’s settling in quite well after a 21-hour journey to her new home. Now, the aquarium is asking the public to weigh in on their new resident’s name. The choices include Ruby, Pearl or Charley. Cast your vote, and the results will be revealed Thursday on the Audubon’s Facebook page. — Read it at People Pets

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Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Dog Wins Hearts After Face Planting During Crufts Agility Run

March 14, 2017 at 09:27PM by
>br> The biggest moment to come out of the U.K.’s Crufts dog show may have been a video of the hilarious agility run by a rescued Jack Russell Terrier named Olly. The little dog’s excitement and energy were contagious as he raced around the course at full speed — often in the wrong direction. And he didn’t quite make it over one of the obstacles, resulting in a face plant that clearly didn’t bother him at all. The announcer delighted in watching him, saying, “Olly is totally crazy, as you can see. He's having a ball.” — Read it at Today

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Pet Scoop: Nursery Dog Cuddles With Tiger Cubs, Dog Face-Plants in Crufts Agility Run

March 14, 2017 at 07:52PM by
>br> March 14, 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: Blakely the dog with tiger cubs

Dog Nanny Helps Rare Baby Tigers

The Cincinnati Zoo has called in its “6-year-old super-dog,” Blakely the Australian Shepherd, to help take care of its 5-week-old Malayan tiger cubs. The cubs, named Chira (because she was treated by a chiropractor), Batari (which means goddess) and Izzy (which means promised by God), are being hand-reared after they were ignored by their mom. The cubs love to climb on and cuddle with Blakely, but he has a more important role, too. “He’s more than just a large, warm pillow for the cubs. Blakely is the adult in the room. He teaches them proper tiger etiquette by checking them when they’re getting too rough or aggressive,” said Dawn Strasser, head of the zoo’s nursery staff. “This is something that their human surrogates can’t do.” The canine nanny has worked with lots of babies at the zoo, including cheetahs, ocelots and wallabies. They’ll spend the next few weeks together — until the tigers outgrow Blakely. — Read it and watch it from the Cincinnati Zoo

Loyal Dog Helps Lead Rescuers to Missing Owner

Rescuers found a 56-year-old woman and her Australian Shepherd, Camaro, nearly two days after they set off on a hike in San Mateo County, California. Bethnee Haury, who has diabetes and early-onset dementia, was vacationing with Haury’s husband and son when she and her dog left for a hike on Friday afternoon. Her concerned husband called the sheriff’s office at about 7:30 Friday night when she hadn’t returned. More than 70 searchers scoured the area that night, and started again on Saturday morning. “When we called out for her, we heard her yell back and then a couple seconds later, we heard the dog bark very clearly so Camaro did his job,” volunteer searcher Mike McKimmie said. “He's a big hero,” Bethnee’s husband, Ed, said. “He stayed with her the whole time. She had him on the leash. He's just very loyal. He senses trouble and stuff like that, so that was good.” Bethnee was airlifted to a hospital for treatment and is expected to be OK. — Read it at NBC Bay Area

2 New “Clown” Frog Species Found

Scientist have discovered two new brightly patterned clown tree frog species in the Amazon. The clown frog group was thought to contain only two species, but in a new genetic analysis, the scientists identified two new species — and said there could be as many as nine distinct species of Amazonian clown frog species. “Our new study shows once again that we are not even close to knowing the actual species diversity of South American frogs and that even supposedly widespread species may be endangered,” said lead author Marcel Caminer of the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. The findings were published in the journal PLOS ONE. — Read it at Live Science

Image: Crufts agility Jack Russell Olly

Terrier Wins Hearts With Face Plant

The biggest moment to come out of the U.K.’s Crufts dog show may have been a video of the hilarious agility run by a rescued Jack Russell Terrier named Olly. The little dog’s excitement and energy were contagious as he raced around the course at full speed — often in the wrong direction. And he didn’t quite make it over one of the obstacles, resulting in a face plant that clearly didn’t bother him at all. The announcer delighted in watching him, saying, “Olly is totally crazy, as you can see. He's having a ball.” — Watch it at Today

Patrick Stewart Fosters Rescue Pit Pull

Legendary Star Trek actor Sir Patrick Stewart has a new role: “foster father” to Ginger, a sweet Pit Bull who was rescued from breeding for a dog-fighting ring. For now, she’s moved to life in the lap of luxury in the British actor’s Hollywood home. Stewart, 76, Tweeted footage of the “beautiful, playful, handsome and happy dog” snoring while she napped on his chest. He says he’s acting as the “middle man” to help Ginger find a forever home, although he seems quite smitten with her himself, doting on her and attempting to give her swimming lessons in his pool. — Read it at the U.K.’s Express
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Friday, March 10, 2017

22-Year-Old Cat With Bucket List Dies

March 10, 2017 at 10:37PM by
>br> Tigger, a 22-year-old cat who was adopted by a former Baltimore Ravens cheerleader when he was abandoned at age 20, died last Friday night. Not long after Adriene Buisch and her boyfriend adopted Tigger two years ago, they discovered he had a large tumor and that his kidneys were failing. They began taking him on bucket list-style adventures, including trips to the beach and to Florida, and his story went viral. "I hope his journey helps cat and pet lovers know how wonderful it is to not only adopt but to adopt older pets," Buisch said in a Facebook post. "Witnessing the love and happiness of Tigger changed our lives." — Read it at The Baltimore Sun


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Pet Scoop: Dog Survives Heroin Overdose, 21 Tiny Turtles Hatch at Australian Zoo

March 10, 2017 at 08:59PM by
>br> March 10, 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: Puppy survives drug overdose

Lucky Texas Pup Adopted

In February, Lucky the puppy almost died after finding and eating his then-owner’s heroin and overdosing. Police found him inside a truck in a Home Depot parking lot and rescued him, and the North Texas Emergency Pet Clinic saved his life. Now, Lucky has a little more to celebrate — he was adopted Wednesday morning by a little girl who calls him her “dream puppy.” — Read it at People Pets

Baltimore’s Bucket List Cat Dies

Tigger, a 22-year-old cat who was adopted by a former Baltimore Ravens cheerleader when he was abandoned at age 20, died last Friday night. Not long after Adriene Buisch and her boyfriend adopted Tigger two years ago, they discovered he had a large tumor and that his kidneys were failing. They began taking him on bucket list-style adventures, including trips to the beach and to Florida, and his story went viral. "I hope his journey helps cat and pet lovers know how wonderful it is to not only adopt but to adopt older pets," Buisch said in a Facebook post. "Witnessing the love and happiness of Tigger changed our lives." — Read it at The Baltimore Sun

3 New Spider Species Discovered

In what may be an arachnophobic’s worst nightmare, scientists have discovered three new large bird-eating spiders — and have reorganized the genus Avicularia, which covers hairy tarantula spiders, striking dozens more from the grouping. It was a “huge mess,” according to lead study author Caroline Sayuri Fukushima. The researchers sorted out the genus, which was first described in 1818, and named the three new species of spiders. The study is published in ZooKeys. — Read it at Live Science

Image: Bellinger River Turtle hatchlings

In Rescue Effort, Zoo Breeds Turtles

Twenty-one tiny turtles recently hatched at the Taronga Zoo in New South Wales as part of a first-ever breeding program to save the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle from extinction. “There could be as few as 200 Bellinger River Snapping Turtles remaining in the wild, so these hatchlings have a vital role to play in rebuilding this population,” Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton said. The long-term aim of the breeding program is to raise and release hatchlings back into Bellinger River. — Read it at Zooborns

Woman Pampers Pet Gator for Good Cause

Like many people, Pennsylvania-based photographer Angela Lance’s Instagram is filled with posts of her beloved pet. But there's a twist: Lance’s pet is an alligator named Lilly. “I would have to say she is pretty close to being the most pampered gator in the world,” says Lance, who gives Lilly manicures and dresses her in stylish outfits. Lilly’s pampering is for a good cause though: Lance's photographs appear on postcards and merchandise, and the money raised goes to various alligator rescue facilities. And despite the outfits, Lance wants others to understand the seriousness of owning an alligator. “I am definitely very passionate about the fact that people shouldn’t buy them without the understanding and realization of the amount of work and money and time they take. It shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s a serious investment.” — Read it at People Pets

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Thursday, March 9, 2017

Police Department Hires Comfort Puppy

March 09, 2017 at 11:02PM by
>br> The Sterling, Illinois, police department has one cute new recruit: Brinkley, a 2-month-old puppy who will serve the community as a comfort dog. The pup will help to calm crime victims, visit schools and be a goodwill ambassador for the department. Brinkley will also help combat stress and burnout among the officers on the force. “There's a lot of stress in our job,” said Officer Niki Diehl. "She'll be, you know, good for morale for us." — See photos at People Pets



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Pet Scoop: Friar Dog at Monastery Gets His Own Robe, Thrilled Dog Reunited With Airman

March 09, 2017 at 08:16PM by
>br> March 9, 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: Friar dog

Schnauzer Fits Right in With Monks

Carmelo, whose official name is Friar Bigoton (Friar Moustache), is an adorable Schnauzer who lives at a Roman Catholic monastery in Bolivia. The little guy has quickly gained fame this week, as photos of him dressed in the traditional brown robes like the monks he lives with have gone viral. Several news stories have reported Carmelo was adopted as a stray and wears the robes regularly, but the monk who shared his cute photos clarified the pup’s story this morning. In a new Facebook post, Kasper Mariusz Kapron Ofm (Order of Friars Minor) wrote that the dog wasn’t actually a stray and doesn’t always wear his robes. Instead, he was given to the monks as a Christmas gift when he was a puppy — and he sported his custom robe as a “prank” on their seminarians for Carnival this year. Still, it’s clear that the little guy is loved and adorable. — Read it from Kasper Mariusz Kapron Ofm via Facebook

Rare Whale Caught on Video for First Time

Two True’s beaked whales were caught on camera by students during an expedition in Portugal's Azores Islands. Live sightings of the elusive whale species is extremely rare, and the video is the first recording of them in the wild. A study published Tuesday in the journal PeerJ includes the video, rare photos of a whale calf and further data collected from strandings and sightings of the True’s beaked whales. — Read it at Yahoo

Study: Warming Climate Creates Risks for Songbirds

A new report finds that rising temperatures and heat waves with a greater duration and intensity are posing a grave danger to songbirds in the Southwest. Songbirds that are common in the region, including the lesser goldfinch, house finch, cactus wren, Abert's towhee and the curve-billed thrasher, are facing a greater risk for death by dehydration and mass die-offs under projected conditions where temperatures increase by 7 degrees Fahrenheit during summer by the end of the century. “When it's really hot, they simply can't evaporate enough water to stay cool, so they overheat and die of heat stroke,” said co-author Blair Wolf of the University of New Mexico. “In other cases, the high rates of evaporative water loss needed to stay cool deplete their body water pools to lethal levels.” The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. — Read it at Science Daily

Image: Military reunion airman

Excited Dog Greets Air Force Dad

A sweet new video captures the moment an airman with the U.S. Air Force was reunited with his ecstatic dog after a 6-month deployment. The pup doesn’t seem to know what to do first when his owner walks through the front door, racing around, whining and then jumping into his arms. She seems to only get more excited as the reality of her loved one’s return sinks in. With her tail wagging wildly, the airman picks the dog up and gets smothered in kisses. — Watch it at USA Today

Police Force Hires Comfort Pup

The Sterling, Illinois, police department has one cute new recruit: Brinkley, a 2-month-old puppy who will serve the community as a comfort dog. The pup will help to calm crime victims, visit schools and be a goodwill ambassador for the department. Brinkley will also help combat stress and burnout among the officers on the force. “There's a lot of stress in our job,” said Officer Niki Diehl. "She'll be, you know, good for morale for us." — See photos at People Pets



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