I know animal shelters are overflowing right now, so just a big old Santa Ynez Valley thanks to all you fine folks dumping your beloved pets out my way lately.

Three cats are mutilated and killed in Seabrook, including one that was cut in half, police say.

Remembering our pets [Highlands]

Be they dogs, cats, snakes, birds or turtles, our pets bring out the best in us—and when they’re gone, their unconditional love is never forgotten. With this in mind, the International Association of Pet Cemeteries (IAPC) has designated the second Sunday in September as National Pet Memorial Day, and many pet cemeteries observe this day with special ceremonies. read more

Cats must decide on J-Pod

James Podsiadly will make his return from suspension for the Cats in tomorrow night's must-win AFL final.

Boulder dogs coming to Colorado Springs

The Boulder County Humane Society is taking-in dogs that have been displaced by the Fourmile Canyon Fire. To make room for the displaced dogs, 20 dogs available for adoption are being sent to the Pikes Peak Humane Society. The local humane society already had 60 dogs available for adoption--that's a whole lotta hounds! Jan McHugh-Smith, humane society President & CEO said, "We are asking El Paso ...

Study: Three out of four cats will wear a collar, making it worth a try

Almost three out of four cats in a new study wore collars consistently during a six-month study, suggesting that most cats will tolerate a collar even if their owners are skeptical about its success. In fact, in almost 60 percent of cases, the animals' tolerance of collars exceeded owners' expectations that their cat would keep the collar on without much trouble.

Dogs get two-day swim at Hunters Ridge Pool

The Hunters Ridge Pool will open to Gahanna dogs over the weekend before it closes for the season at 341 Harrow Blvd.

Dogs to get their day at Big Splash

Grove City's Big Splash will go to the dogs this weekend for the third annual Soggy Dog Swim.

Keep your pets' teeth clean

PETS at Home in Yeovil is holding a free in-store event this week to raise awareness on keeping your pet’s teeth clean and healthy.

PETA says video shows cat, dog abuse at NC lab (AP)

AP - An animal-welfare group believes workers at a North Carolina research lab abused dogs, cats and rabbits, and the activists released what they said was undercover video of caretakers handling the animals violently.

Phoenix family, pets saved after alert neighbor reports fire

PHOENIX -- An alert neighbor is being credited with saving the lives of a family and their pets. Just before 3 a.m. Wednesday, Phoenix firefighters were called out to a house fire near 24th Avenue and Carefree Highway. The fire may have started inside a car in the driveway and then spread to the home. A neighbor called 911 right away and also woke the family up before firefighters arrived. A ...

Tiger-Cats Sign WR Willie Thornton

Hamilton, Ontario - The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that import wide receiver Willie Thornton has been added to the team's practice roster.

3 Out of 4 Cats Will Wear A Collar, Making it Worth A Try

Almost three out of four cats in a new study wore collars consistently during a six-month study, suggesting that most cats will tolerate a collar even if their owners are skeptical about its success.

Lady Cats get by Novinger

The Bevier Lady Cats defeated the Novinger Wildcats Friday.

Dogs definitely welcome at Chadds Ford Days

The annual Chadds Ford Days celebration has gone to the dogs – literally.

2 panda cubs born in Spanish zoo (AP)

AP - Two newborn pandas are the latest additions to the Madrid Zoo.

Dogs unleash their competitive side

Thanks to Rummy’s Beach Club, dogs and their owners are diving into a new activity together.

Dogs take a cool dip

Dog Swim gives dogs and their owners a chance to hit the pool the day before it is drained, department special events administrator Ann-Mary McGrath said.

Cats: Coming Soon

The stage is set and the stray cats will soon be strutting onstage at the Wichita Theatre.

Dogs For Autism Group Needs Your Votes

Dogs For Autism need your vote to win a $50,000 grant from Pepsi. The money would help train and place two service dogs with Autistic children.

Cats fans bare claws for Freo faithful

A brave Fremantle Dockers' family living in the Geelong Cats' heartland are flying the purple flag for Friday night's game and wishing for a win.

Pets may be required to have registration and microchip

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Tuesday the city council rules committee met on a proposed new pet ordinance that would require a registration and microchip for all Jacksonville pets.

Firefighters Rescue Family's Pets

Four pets that were inside a burning house last Friday on Brierwood Street were rescued by firefighters who had responded to the call.

Pets of the week: Sept. 7-13

The Michigan Humane Society, Michigan Animal Rescue League, Home Fur-Eve, Greyheart Greyhound Rescue and Adoption and Making Miracles Animal Rescue have many animals ready and waiting for a new home. Check out the photos of pets waiting to be adopted.

Cats desperate for redemption: Ablett

Geelong star Gary Ablett says the Cats know what went wrong against St Kilda last Friday night and are desperate to redeem themselves.

Cats desperate for redemption

GEELONG star Gary Ablett says the Cats know what went wrong against St Kilda last Friday night and are desperate to redeem themselves.

Greenpeace urges Japan to probe whaling graft (AFP)

AFP - Greenpeace urged Japan on Tuesday to probe graft claims in its state-funded whaling programme, a day after two of its activists received suspended jail terms for committing theft during an investigation.

Celebrity pets A-list guests at hotel

THE pets of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Jennifer Aniston and Nicole Richie have been invited to the opening of a new luxury hotel in Los Angeles.

Dogs Bite 3 People During Neighbor Dispute

Deputies said two dogs running loose in a Clark County neighborhood are now caged up, after biting three people. However, authorities believe the dogs were protecting their owner.

NGOs call for Romanian minister to be sacked for GM links (AFP)

AFP - Over 70 environmental NGOs including the WWF called Monday for the sacking of Romania's new agriculture minister for his links to the genetically modified crop industry.

Dogs Hoarded In Montana Brought To Colorado

Nearly three dozen dogs will be up for adoption in Colorado soon after being removed from an unsafe home in Montana. It's the second case of hoarded animals being brought to Colorado in a week.

Japan convicts Greenpeace's 'Tokyo Two' for whaling investigation (The Christian Science Monitor)

The Christian Science Monitor - A Greenpeace effort to expose what it sees as widespread corruption in Japan's government-subsidized whaling industry ended on Monday with two of its activists convicted of theft and trespassing.

Greek wildlife groups condemn mass mink release (AFP)

AFP - Four Greek wildlife groups on Monday criticised as "misguided" the mass release of thousands of mink into the wild from fur farms in northwestern Greece by an animal rights protest group.

Dogs rescued from Matteson garage fire

Three dogs were taken from a home Sunday afternoon while firefighters from Matteson, Frankfort, Richton Park, Flossmoor, Oak Forest and Park Forest battled a garage fire in the 21300 block of Kildare Avenue in Matteson, authorities said. "There was a lot of smoke," Matteson Fire Department Shift Cmdr. Jay Coburn said. The dogs' conditions were not immediately known. Coburn said the family took ...

Pets’ mirth is Pets Passion’s fervent

KUCHING: Placing four key aphorisms as its main focus – passion, service, quality and convenience – Pets Passion Sdn Bhd (Pets Passion) director Winnie Kueh was inspired to run her own pet store with high passion and diligence.

After 20 years of protection, owl declining but forests remain (McClatchy Newspapers)

McClatchy Newspapers - WASHINGTON — Twenty years after northern spotted owls were protected under the Endangered Species Act, their numbers continue to decline, and scientists aren't certain whether the birds will survive even though logging was banned on much of the old-growth forest in the Pacific Northwest where they live in order to save them.

Pets of the Week

KVUE's Pets of the Week from the Humane Society of Williamson County are Cheesy and Cilia.

Sacramento eatery takes 'dancing shrimp' off menu (AP)

AP - A Sacramento restaurant agreed to stop serving live shrimp after an animal-rights group said the practice was cruel to the shellfish.

African livelihoods at risk as species threatened: IUCN (AFP)

AFP - Millions of Africans may lose a key source of livelihoods as a fifth of freshwater African species are threatened with extinction, the updated Red List of endangered species showed Thursday.

Federal judge orders revised spotted owl plan (AP)

AP - A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has ruled the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must revise a Bush administration recovery plan for the northern spotted owl.

Animal rights group claims mass Greek mink release (AP)

AP - An international animal rights activist group has claimed responsibility for releasing more than 50,000 minks from two fur farms in northern Greece.

WWF calls for 'roar of support' for wild tigers (AFP)

AFP - The conservation group WWF on Thursday urged people to send in a recorded "roar of support" for wild tigers, whose numbers have plunged over the past century from 100,000 to fewer than 3,200.

Obama urged to help end Japan's dolphin hunt (AFP)

AFP - Animal rights activists protested against Japan's dolphin hunts in a rally outside the US embassy in Tokyo Thursday, calling on President Barack Obama to pressure the country over the issue.

Busted pot growers mistake wardens for suppliers (AP)

AP - California wildlife officials say two men are in custody after a group of marijuana growers started to toss bags full of pot into a pickup truck belonging to game wardens they mistook for their suppliers. State Department of Fish and Game spokesman Pat Foy says two wardens in Tehama County were looking for deer poachers Monday night in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest when they heard footsteps behind them.

Bosnian group urges probe of puppy killing video (AP)

AP - An animal rights group in Bosnia called on authorities Wednesday to investigate a claim that a disturbing video of a young woman throwing six newborn puppies into a river was filmed in the Balkan country.

RSPCA says 'bring back UK dog licence' (AFP)

AFP - Animal welfare group the RSPCA has called for dog licences to be reintroduced, saying an annual licence fee of as little as Â£21.50 could help reduce the number of strays and help tackle irresponsible dog breeding.

3 killed when copter crashes in Idaho downtown (AP)

AP - A helicopter chartered by a state wildlife agency plunged into a travel trailer and crashed Tuesday on a downtown street in the small town of Kamiah, killing two biologists and the pilot, authorities said.

Atlanta zoo to be inspected after snake escape (AP)

AP - Georgia wildlife officials will inspect an Atlanta zoo after a venomous rattlesnake was able to escape and slither around a city neighborhood.

China, Russia boost efforts to save tigers (AFP)

AFP - China and Russia have agreed to set up the first cross-border protection zone for Siberian tigers, as they try to boost efforts to save the endangered species, state media reported Monday.

Los Angeles Zoo is home to 22 baby Komodo dragons (AP)

AP - Twenty-two Komodo dragons have hatched at the Los Angeles Zoo this month, giving a modest boost to the world's endangered population.