Shuler's retirement is bad news for Blue Dogs

Congressman Heath Shuler speaks at an electric charging station in Asheville in December. He will not seek re-election in November. / Bill Sanders/wsanders@ citizen-times.com

China's pet stores struggle to cope with dogs abandoned after holidays

More than a dozen dogs have been deserted in the shop since it was established four years ago. -China Daily/ANN

Hampton woman saves infected Isle of Wight cats

Isle of Wight Animal Shelter closed to cats for a 45-day building sterilization ISLE OF WIGHT – Lori Johnson saved seven lives Sunday.

Firefighters rescue cats from house fire in Derry Township

Four Persian cats were pulled from a house fire on Derry Township, and three of them were revived with pet oxygen masks donated to the department in July.

Grant for Unwanted Cats to Help Community

Wichita Falls has hundreds of unwanted cats that are fending for themselves and officials with P.E.T.S. Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic say those cats can cause serious problems if they live in your community. While a grant for feral and free-roaming cats is helping them address the issues, P.E.T.S. officials say they need your help to make their plan a success.

Pets

The following animals have been brought to the Helping Hands Humane Society, 2625 N.W. Rochester Road. The telephone number is 233-7325. Cats Sex and age unknown, black and tan tiger, found in the 800 block of S.W. Grand Court.

Cats exorcise demons

John Shurna scored 24 points to lead NU to a 74-70 win at Illinois, the Cats first since 1999.

Hundreds of dogs compete for top honours

WOODSTOCK - From tiny terriers to big boxers, dogs of all shapes and sizes were entered in the annual Wildwood Kennel Club All-Breed Dog Show at Oxford Auditorium over the weekend.[...]

Stray dogs prompt calls to City Hall in Houston

HOUSTON - Dogs running loose in Houston and causing damage to property and other animals have prompted complaints to City Hall in Houston. Charlene Clark said her cat was killed by stray dogs running loose on Jan. 23.

Dogs' return produces joy, heartbreak

There was no way this story would have a happy ending for all involved, doggone it. Not that Lee Eggerichs is unhappy.

Pets of the Week: Feb. 5, 2012

Pets are available at the St. Johns County Pet Center, 130 N. Stratton Road. Call 209-6190. Adoptions are $60, which includes neutering/spaying, rabies vaccinations and shots. Izzy is a two-year-old spayed female tabby cat.

At least 15 dogs die in house fire outside Benton City (w/ gallery)

An estimated 16 small dogs appear to have perished in a house fire Saturday afternoon about six mile

Pets need some prep for new babies

LOS ANGELES -- Parents have months to get ready for a baby. Experts say the countdown should include prep time for pets too. A baby changes everything for a pet -- from how its home looks, smells and sounds to what the rules are. Low energy, frie ...

Nearly Two Dozen Feral Cats Mysteriously Disappear From Trinity Park

How nearly two-dozen feral cats disappeared from Trinity Park without a trace remains a mystery, and the volunteers who fed them daily hope to hire a pet detective to figure it out.

Dogs Edge Cataractes in Thriller

SHAWINIGAN - The Saint John Sea Dogs won a matchup of the two top teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, as Jonathan Huberdeau's late goal sealed a 2-1 win over the Shawinigan Cataractes.

UPDATE: Dogs killed in Benton City house fire

About 16 dogs perished in a fire that gutted a Benton City home this afternoon.

Cats Bridge "Infection Gap" Between People and Wildlife

Domestic Cats, and Wild Bobcats and Pumas, Living in Same Area Have Same Diseases

Big cats in Stroud is better than nothing | Jenny Diski

The hype over suspected big cats at Woodchester Park reveals how we all need some wilderness in our tidy, civilised lives Last month, samples were taken from a dead deer at Woodchester Park near Stroud, in the hope that the DNA would prove to be evidence of a big cat. The media got busy. The "Beast of Stroud," said the Mirror , while the Sun announced "Big cat has eaten three wallabies" a few ...

Fukushima Pets are in Danger Because of Freezing Weather Conditions in Fukushima City

Fukushima pets abandoned by their owners during the nuclear incident that followed the tsunami tragedy in the Japanese city last year are in danger of hypothermia due to the freezing winter condition, according to reports by international news websites on Friday. Fukushima pets, most of them dogs and cats, that were abandoned in the Fukushima [...]

A sanctuary for 'fraidy cats

Last month, a Smokerise man was found dead of natural causes in his home. His five cats were so accustomed to the elderly man that they were scared of anyone else who entered the home.

Fukushima Pets Struggle On Freezing Weather

Fukushima Pets Being Rescued Image Credit: REUTERS/Issei Kato Fukushima pets being abandoned after last year’s nuclear crisis are facing a cold winter condition leaving them helpless unless they are rescued off to a shelter, international news reported on Friday, February 3, 2012. Reports said that the dogs and cats that were abandoned in the Fukushima [...]

Fukushima Pets Saved from Freezing Winter Weather

Fukushima pets abandoned by their owners after the nuclear accident that followed the tsunami in the Japanese city last year are in danger of freezing in the cold winter condition, WESH.com reported on Friday. The pets, mostly dogs and cats, that were abandoned in the Fukushima nuclear accident exclusion zone are now struggling with the [...]

Stay calm around off-leash dogs

Talking Dogs: A pet-behavior expert offers safety tips on what to do when you are surprised by the presence of an unfamiliar and unrestrained dog.

Pets of the Week

For information about this week's pets, call 533-7387 (LEE-PETS) or log on to Animal Services' website at www.LeeLostPets.com . When calling, please refer to the animal's ID number. The website updates every hour so you will be able to see if these or any other pets are still available.

Fukushima pets abandoned after nuclear crisis rescued

Fukushima pets rescued | Photo: Issei Kato/ Reuters Fukushima pets abandoned by their owners after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011 have been rescued. The government allowed animal welfare groups to temporarily enter the exclusion zone in December to rescue the Fukushima pets who have had to survive high radiation, severe lack of food and now the region's harsh winter weather. "If ...

Ohio bill would ban new ownership of exotic pets

Proposed legislation in Ohio would ban the purchase of lions, bears and other exotic animals, but current owners of the dangerous wildlife would be allowed to keep them as pets if they meet strict new requirements.

Nature's Surprise: 365 New Species Spotted in Peru (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - Hundreds of species never before seen in a Peruvian national park have been found during an inventory of the Amazonian forests there, according to a conservation group.

Cats 'poisoned' in Lisburn

Two cats which were found dead in Lisburn at the weekend are believed to have been poisoned.

Small turtles inappropriate pets for kids

ATLANTA, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Turtles are not appropriate pets in households with young children or other high risk individuals, U.S. health officials said Thursday.

Hormel ending tight confinement for pregnant pigs (AP)

AP - Hormel Foods Corp.'s company-owned farms are phasing out the use of small metal crates for confining pregnant hogs by the end of 2017 — a move welcomed Thursday by the Humane Society of the United States, which had pushed for the change.

Group opposes plan to make "Toto" breed Kansas state (Reuters)

Reuters - An animal rights group is objecting to proposed Kansas legislation that would make the Cairn terrier the state dog in honor of Toto, Dorothy's loyal pooch in the movie classic "The Wizard of Oz."

County to release trapped cats slated to die, but lawsuit stands

Two cats scheduled to be euthanized by Wake County Animal Services were granted a pardon on Thursday when the county settled part of a complaint filed against them by the non-profit group Operation Catnip.

Lions apparently not enough to keep intruders out (AP)

AP - With 120 lions, tigers and other big cats on the grounds, the owner of a Colorado refuge didn't think he needed a security system.

Feds declare Atlantic sturgeon endangered species (AP)

AP - The Atlantic sturgeon, a prehistoric fish whose once bountiful populations were depleted by anglers seeking its coveted caviar, has been declared an endangered species by federal officials, a decision that could lead to moves to protect its habitats along the East Coast.

Fewer zoos may have elephants under new standard (Reuters)

Reuters - Fewer zoos of the future may have elephants but those that do would have happier animals under a new policy requiring American zoos with two elephants to add space for a third in case one dies.

China streams live panda video to foster conservation (Reuters)

Reuters - China began Wednesday streaming live video footage of its pandas around the world via webcam in an attempt to boost awareness of conservation efforts for its beloved but endangered animal ambassadors.

Ranger uses stun gun on man walking dogs off-leash

A man walking his dogs in a federal park was hit with a stun gun and arrested by a park ranger who accused him of not putting a leash on the animals and giving a false name, astonishing passers-by who say the reaction was excessive.

Two pig farms in Oklahoma accused of abuse (Reuters)

Reuters - The Humane Society on Tuesday accused two pig-breeding facilities, one of which supplies retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc, of mistreating the animals by confining sows in cages during pregnancy.

Edinburgh Zoo pandas back on display after illness (AP)

AP - Two giant pandas on loan to a Scottish zoo are back on public display after they were removed to be treated for colic.

AP Enterprise: Monkey owners flee La. crackdown (AP)

AP - Even in their Texas hideout, Jim and Donita Clark are terrified that wildlife agents from their home state of Louisiana will descend on their motorhome and seize the four Capuchin monkeys they've reared for 10 years.

Michigan Gray Wolves Off Endangered Species List (ContributorNetwork)

ContributorNetwork - Gray wolves in Michigan have taken off the federal endangered species list and may now be shot if they pose a threat to local wildlife. Last December, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) placed management of wolves into the hands of local DNR officials in Michigan. The Wolf Management Plan went into effect Friday, says Click on Detroit. Here are details about Michigan's wolf population and the new guidelines surrounding them.

Bats occupy Israeli army ghost bunkers (Reuters)

Reuters - Abandoned Israeli army bunkers along the Jordan River are providing a lifeline for bats on the endangered species list, researchers say.

Minnesota laying groundwork for gray wolf hunt (Reuters)

Reuters - Minnesota officials on Thursday outlined plans to permit a hunting season for the gray wolf this year following its removal from federal endangered species protections, prompting opponents of the plan to consider a court challenge.

Jumping Spiders' Unique Vision Revealed (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - Jumping spiders, which hunt by pouncing on their prey, gauge distances to their unsuspecting meals in a way that appears to be unique in the animal kingdom, a new study finds.

Six new breeds to debut at Westminster Dog Show (Reuters)

Reuters - Six new breeds of dogs, including Mexico's hairless Xoloitzcuintli, the Finnish Lapphund and the Norwegian Lundehund, will be competing in the 2012 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show next month.

Sumatran elephants driven closer to extinction: WWF (Reuters)

Reuters - The Sumatran elephant could be extinct in the wild in under 30 years unless immediate steps are taken to protect its rapidly diminishing habitat, environmental group WWF said on Tuesday.

Sweetness in Seattle: Zoo Animals Have a Snow Day (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com - Last week, life in much of Seattle came to a standstill.

Habitat for Endangered Leatherback Turtles Designated (ContributorNetwork)

ContributorNetwork - According to the Associated Press, more than 41,000 square miles off the West Coast have been designated by the National Marine Fisheries as a habitat for endangered leatherback sea turtles. The designation will go into full effect Feb. 25 and will help protect the area, which is used by the migrating turtles for feeding on jellyfish after traveling thousands of miles across the ocean from its original nesting grounds.

3 shark attacks in Australia in less than 3 weeks (AP)

AP - A snorkeling guide was attacked by a 10-foot (3-meter) tiger shark off a remote beach in Australia's third attack this month. That's as many attacks as the country generally sees in an entire year.

Ohio man who released exotic animals had "plan": report (Reuters)

Reuters - The man who set off a panic in Ohio last October by releasing dozens of dangerous wild animals including lions and tigers, had told an employee before the incident that he suspected his wife of cheating and that he "had a plan."