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two-year-old Gabrielle Looney was bitten on the face by her mother’s boyfriend’s pit bull. The couple took the injured little girl to the hospital, where her mother did the unthinkable. She lied to doctors and police about what happened to protect the dog. “She tried to say that this injury to her child occurred from a stray,” Des Moines Police Sergeant Jim Butler to WHO-TV. “And that’s not something that sits too well for me. First and foremost we all love our pets but we have to take care of our children first before the family pet.” The dog, a...

The appeals court in New York state said caged chimpanzee Tommy could not be recognised as a "legal person" as it "cannot bear any legal duties". The Nonhuman Rights Project had argued that chimps who had such similar characteristics to the humans deserved basic rights, including freedom.

the crocodile attacked van der Sandt while he was standing at waist height in the water and reaching below the surface to feel for golf balls on the bottom of the dam at about 10 p.m.. ... About 280 people have been attacked worldwide by crocodiles this year

Service dogs are trained to do specific tasks. They help vets do things that they cannot due to a disability. They can be trained to help someone who has seizures by moving things out of the way or barking to warn their handler of an oncoming seizure. It is interesting to note that providing emotional support, protecting a handler, or being a companion does not qualify a dog to be a service animal. To qualify, they have to do things that are different from natural dog behavior.

OS ANGELES (AP) — Some silken-haired beauties are eager sidekicks to motorcycle riders, wind whipping their thick locks as passers-by watch the wild ride with envy. That is until the slobber starts. These passengers are pooches — mastiffs, Labradors and Chihuahuas often clad in goggles and tiny leather jackets that fly along in blimp-shaped buckets attached to the side of motorcycles. They are set apart from other pets by speed instead of breed.

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) — A viral video shot outside a San Francisco restaurant may have people thinking twice about eating out. The video shot outside Lucky River, a Chinese restaurant in the city’s Sunnyside neighborhood appears to show a worker slamming slabs of frozen meat on the sidewalk. KPIX showed the video to residents near the restaurant. “That’s horrible,” said Steve Vender. “The sidewalks have never been cleaned,” said London Lacey. As to why anyone would be pounding the sidewalk with frozen slabs of meat, an inspector from the San Francisco Health Department paid a visit to Lucky River...

My wife and I have had Goldens Retreivers for the last 20 years. We are in our late 70's and recently had to euthanize our 11yo Lady Golden. We still have a 12 yo male Golden and two adopted older cats. All of our pets are rescued or adopted. We live in Indiana and RV travel about 4 months of the year. We are looking to downsize our Pet Family in physical size not quantity. What can our FReeper Friends suggest for our next small sized Dog (10 lbs or so).

In his nearly 10 years studying anacondas in the Amazon, researcher and conservationist Paul Rosolie, 27, has faced his share of danger. The giant reptile is known to grow to up to 30 feet in length — and strikes its prey using its teeth and powerful jaws before crushing it with its massive body. Rosolie has been bitten by one of the snakes and seized by one in a chokehold — suffering a broken rib and a nearly popped collarbone before five people were able to pry it off him. But none of that compares to what he endured in...

5yr old lets pet cow on house..without mom knowing

(CNN) -- Witnesses are crediting a family's German shepherd with shielding its owners from gunfire in an Atlanta road-rage incident (video also)

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn., - A woman and her pot-bellied pig were booted off a Washington, D.C.-bound plane after passengers complained the pig was disruptive and stinky. The pig, thought to be about 70 pounds, had been brought aboard the US Airways plane at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut as an emotional-support animal. Crew members determined the animal was too disruptive and asked the woman to leave with the pig before the flight departed. Some people aboard the plane thought the woman was carrying a large duffle bag over her shoulder. "But it turns out it wasn't a duffel bag. We...

Taking a break from soliciting support for the Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation, "Koko" the poodle pauses for a cigarette.

Oregon police dog ‘Cash’ fired for poor performance A Belgian Malinois trained to be the ninth member of a Cannon Beach, Oregon, police force has been given the boot, evidently unfit for the field of law enforcement. Two-year-old “Cash” was dismissed before he even got to see action, The Associated Press reported. Among his many faults: He was afraid of heights. He had barking difficulties. And he startled at the slightest of noises, AP reported. On top of that, he couldn’t perform one of his key roles — jumping into high spots, like counters, to sniff out drugs. Instead, he’d...

Meet Adam, the Dog Who Is Allergic to Humans • The adorable black Labrador confounded Lucky Dog Retreat Rescue in Indianapolis when he showed up with a mysterious inflammatory skin condition When Adam, a frail black Labrador, first arrived at Lucky Dog Retreat Rescue in Indianapolis, he was a mess. His fur was coming out in clumps, revealing dry, cracked skin underneath, and the dog’s pained gnawing only exacerbated his condition. Robin Herman and the staff at the center tried their best to ease his mystery inflammatory disease by starting a regimen of steroids, medical baths and premium food. And...

There’s concern this morning that a pregnant American corn snake is on the loose in Queensland, Australia, and a search is being mounted to find it before she gives birth. Sunshine Coast snake catcher Ritchie Gilbert told Business Insider he was sent a number of photos from a local vet to help identify the snake on Wednesday ... He said while the snake isn’t venomous it does need to be located. Like rabbits or cane toads, introduced species can throw the natural environment off balance, causing problems for native wildlife and agriculture ...

With the holidays approaching, your dog or cat will inevitably be begging to partake in the big turkey dinner. When polled, 56 percent of petMD readers admitted to sharing Thanksgiving table scraps with their pets. While this can be a wonderful way to add lean protein and fresh veggies to your pet’s diet, there are also hidden dangers in holiday fare. This year, before preparing a heaping plateful for your pet, consult a vet and consider these 10 tips to keep Thanksgiving a safe, healthful holiday for your dog or cat... More at: Top Ten Tips for Feeding Pets Thanksgiving...

HOUSTON,- A Houston-area family rescued a 5-month-old puppy last week, after it spent two months running around the neighborhood with a plastic jug on his head. "Every night I went to bed thinking about that dog and I really felt bad for him having that on his head," Audra Bohannon, of Northwest Harris County, Texas, told KPRC on Monday. Bohannon said the stray, thought to be a German Shepard mix, probably stuck his head into a plastic pet feeder in her barn. She and her family spent weeks trying to catch him. When they finally did, Bohannon and her family...

Police in West Milford have released five photos taken by 22-year-old Darsh Patel before he was killed by the 300-pound black bear while hiking with four friends in the Apshawa Preserve. The photos show the bear behind a fallen tree in the woods. Investigators say the phone was found with puncture marks from the bear. ... West Milford police and the state Environmental Protection Department said last month that the bear did not seem interested in food and exhibited “stalking type behavior.”

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. -- Authorities say about 150 fighting roosters have been euthanized after being discovered at a home in Southern California. The Desert Sun reports that police found the birds Tuesday while investigating reports of gunshots in an area near Desert Hot Springs, north of Palm Springs. The roosters were humanely put down by Riverside County Animal Services. The agency says it doesn't offer roosters for adoption because they're worth hundreds of dollars and would likely be sold for illegal fights. Officials say the owner of the birds was detained and turned over to U.S. Border Patrol for...

Inspired by Pharrell William's International "Happy" Hit! Lot's of dogs playing at the beach. Special appearance from "DIDGA" aka 'Worlds BEST Skateboarding Cat'.