A Texas jury has sentenced a former Roman Catholic priest to 60 years in prison for plotting the death of a man who accused him of sexual abuse.

Prosecutors had asked jurors Friday for a life sentence for 53-year-old John M. Fiala. His defense attorney argued that anything more than 15 years would be a "travesty."

CHANDLER, AZ - It's no secret, women often get paid less than men for the same job. Plus, women pay more than men for things like dry cleaning, body wash, razors and deodorant.

And now there's new evidence women are paying a lot more than men for health care.

By:  Susan Casper

(NewsCore) - A ground squirrel trapped at a popular campground in southern California has tested positive for plague.

According to health officials, the rodent was tested during routine monitoring at the Cedar Grove Campground on Palomar Mountain, 75 miles (120km) northeast of San Diego.

Ten great stories from the Iditarod. The Last Great Race on Earth.

Flying squirrels, women mushers, compassion, and guts make up these great stories.

(Text link to video)

Ardem at Blue Arkansas reports a horrifying case (with graphic pictures of the cat, may not be safe for children):

Scary..

November is National Adopt a Senior Pet Month, a time of the year devoted to raising awareness of the benefits and joys of adopting an older pet. It's also a month during which many animal shelters offer significantly reduced rates for people interested in adopting an older animal. Some even waive the adoption fee for senior adoptions during the month.

So, what exactly is a "senior" pet, and why would you want to adopt one, especially when there are so many younger animals available? After all, doesn't everyone prefer a puppy or kitten to an older pet? In answer to the first question, many organizations consider pets, particularly dogs and cats, 8 years and older as "senior."  However, some organizations go as low as 2 years.

As to the "why" of adopting the older pet, there are many advantages. As anyone who's spent time around pets knows, older animals are usually quieter, calmer, more settled, housebroken or litter trained, and, thus, easier to handle than their younger counterparts. Fewer chewed shoes or gnawed table legs. Fewer climbed curtains and clawed sofas. Fewer times being dragged down the street by an 80 pound puppy who hasn't quite mastered the finer points of leash walking. Fewer "surprises" on the living room rug.

Of course, in addition to unwanted "presents," there are going to be fewer surprises all around with an older pet. The animal is already at its full size, has its personality - quirks and all - fully developed, and, if it has any bad habits or behaviors, they've probably already shown up. The same can be said for health problems, at least those of the congenital kind. 

In addition, older pets come with greater life experiences and the learning and poise that life experience frequently bring, often making them easier to deal with in new situations. Some older pets even seem to fit the description of an "old soul," only in animal form instead of human.

But don't think that these older, calmer pets are less fun to live with than younger pets. Senior pets, while often quieter and easier to handle than a younger pet, still love to learn new things and have new adventures. While the senior dog isn't likely to drag you around the neighborhood, he's probably more than eager walk by your side as the two of you explore the neighborhood, meet the neighbors, or venture out on a hike. And while the older cat may be less inclined to destroy your house, he'll probably offer you hours of entertainment as he plays with a new cat nip mouse or paper bag.

Finally, as anyone who's adopted an older pet can tell you, these older animals seem to be especially grateful for their new homes and families, as though they possess an uncanny ability to know that you've saved their life. I've heard this over and over again from people who've adopted older pets, and I've seen it myself first hand with my own furry adoptees. They know the score, and they know what you've done for them. And, from the what-goes-around-comes-around department, people who rescue the older pet often report an added sense of satisfaction in knowing that they've provided a loving home for an animal who might not have gotten a second chance.

At our house, we've adopted two senior dogs. We've also adopted one non-senior adult dog and one similar cat. Alex was our first senior adoption. A Samoyed found wandering in the boon docks as an emaciated stray, he was about 8-years-old when we adopted him from our local Samoyed rescue group (Minuteman Samoyed Rescue.) Despite arriving with a history of obvious neglect and abuse and a host of health problems, he was a great dog who adjusted quickly to our family and went on to be a loyal, loving, and extremely protective companion . He also recovered his health with a little TLC and good vet care and lived a long and healthy life. Ultimately, he gave us 7 1/2 wonderful years before leaving us as a very old man.

In his later years, Alex developed the canine equivalent of Alzheimers. So, to help him with his cognitive probems and the resultant anxiety, we adopted a second senior dog to keep him company. Becky - aka, Becky Beagle, Girl Psychologist - was a 9-10 year old Beagle who came to our local shelter as a stray. When I met her, she was sick with an active case of Lyme Disease, had a serious, congenital heart condition, and very few prospects. I knew immediately that she was the dog I wanted to take home. As it turned out, adopting her was one of the smartest things we ever did. Like Alex, she adjusted quickly and fit right into our family.  She also regained her health quickly and thrived. And she paid us back a thousand fold. She was that rare "angel" of a pet who never misbehaved. She also seemed like a wise, old soul. Sometimes when I felt stressed, I'd just sit next to her, put my hand on her, close my eyes, and feel awash in calm and peacefulness. When she wasn't soothing one of us, she was making us laugh with her goofy sense of humor. She was also the perfect companion for Alex. They were best friends from the moment they met, and exactly what Alex needed to keep him company in his declining years. From the instant they met, Alex's anxiety seemed to melt away. Becky's presence in our home made Alex's last 2 years immensely better than they might have been. And, like Alex, she brought us tremendous joy.

More recently, we've adopted Simon. When we got him, he was a 3-year-old shelter cat who'd been rescued as a neighborhood stray from the mean streets of a neighboring city. Simon's a great cat with a charming personality and one of the few cats I've ever had who is never, ever destructive. In addition, he's a fantastic mouser and also one heck of a "batter," having saved us all from a bat that flew into the house while we were sleeping.

Morgan is our most recent adoption. A Beagle from a shelter in NYS' Adirondack area, this beautiful, little girl had initially been purchased for breeding purposes. At age 3 years. she found herself in need of a home when she got out and got pregnant by the neighbor's Cocker Spaniel. Her first owners' loss was clearly our gain. We couldn't ask for a better dog. She's sweet, funny, well behaved, and also quite the hostess whenever we have guests. Her puppy-having days behind her, she loves her new life as a canine house princess, and we love her.

So, let me suggest that if you find yourself thinking of adding a pet to your family, think about a senior pet. Or at least one past the puppy/kitten stage. You might be happy that you did.

And if you've adopted an older pet, or even a not so older pet, please feel free to tell us about your experience.

PHOENIX (AP) - An antivenom recently approved for treating severe reactions to scorpion stings comes with a high price tag.

The Arizona Republic reports that hospitals in metro Phoenix hospitals are billing as much as $12,467 per vial of the antivenom

Even furry felines have to get political in these tough times. Fat cats–now much leaner because of their owners’ financial difficulties–have had to switch from tuna to salmon. They are the 99 Purrcent.

Sheriff's deputies shot nearly 50 wild animals - including 18 rare Bengal tigers and 17 lions - in a big-game hunt across the Ohio countryside Wednesday after the owner of an exotic-animal park threw their cages open and committed suicide in what appeared to be one last act of spite against his neighbors and police.

County legislators in Albany County, NY have passed a law establishing the nation's second animal abuse registry. The law will require anyone in the county convicted of animal abuse to register on a list, which will include their name, address, and photo.

Suffolk County, also in NYS, was the first county in the U.S. to establish such a registry. Albany's law imposes a 10 year registration, as opposed to Suffolk's 5 years, and imposes a life-time registration for second offenders.

Video included.

Since arriving in Montana, Alfie has done amazing things, many of them most likely firsts for him. His trip here went great, and he is now very excited when it is time to “go”! Alfie gets a lot of exercise every day with two regular play sessions with Arnold. They each have their own ball to fetch, and they love to wrestle. Arnold is very gentle with Alfie and seems to know how to play hard like two big dogs would without ever hurting Alfie. I love Arnold even more than I did before after watching how he treats Alfie. The only negative feeling I think Alfie ever experiences is frustration at not being able to chase and keep up with Arnold when he runs.

In the panic, confusion, and disarray of catastrophic flooding, accidents will happen.  But one tragic story has highlighted extreme levels of malfeasance on the part of a large corporate pet store, PETCO, which allowed an estimated 100 animals to die as the Twin Tiers experienced record flooding due to Tropical Storm Lee.  The corporate pet store chain claims they did no wrong, but countless scores of area residents beg to differ.

Flood warnings came early Wednesday, with the Declaration of a State of Emergency being signed by Broome County Executive Patrick J. Brennan at 1300 hours (1:00 pm) that afternoon.  Some area schools, such as Ann G. McGuinness in Union, were dismissed at 12:45 pm due to the risk of flooding.  Metro areas throughout the southern tier were being evacuated by the early evening, with those evacuations intensifying all throughout the evening. "NY ALERT," an automated messaging service that calls New York State residents to warn of severe weather advisories and other emergency news, had contacted my home at 8:21 pm, and several more times throughout that evening, informing us of the State of Emergency and that flooding may be as severe, or even more severe, than the flooding our area suffered in 2006.

By 9:00 pm on Wednesday, the State of Emergency and the evacuations were common knowledge to area residents, as was evidenced by the massive surge of related comments and status updates pouring into social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter.  That, coupled with the numerous calls placed to area residents by the NY ALERT system, and breaking local and national news headlines, makes it rather impossible for area businesses to claim they weren't aware of imminent flood risks.  PETCO, however, is making claims to the contrary.

PETCO claims an associate was sent to the store at 11:45 pm (their standard business hours having ended at 9:00 pm) on Wednesday evening to check on things, and had reported that there was no flooding in the area.  They also claim that no one at their store was aware of flood warnings in the area.  They claim that the flooding that affected their store was not from the Susquehanna river, but was rather caused by clogging in the sewage/ drainage system in Johnson City.

However, the State of Emergency had been in place for several hours by the time they closed that evening, and evacuation orders had been given in several metro areas as well, some locations having been evacuated before 9:00 pm, and many, many others having been evacuated before 11:45 pm.  City officials and experts across the board state that while the clogging did contribute to the flooding, the river itself did a vast majority of the damage.

PETCO has entered a state of damage control at this point, attempting to deflect any culpability for the deaths of the 100 animals that perished in the floods.  However, the store's management and employees did, as an absolute matter of fact, have several hours to relocate animals from their store and prevent those losses of life.  The warnings were blatant, obvious, and area residents considered them to be common knowledge.

The associates, the management, and the corporate staff should all be tried on 100 counts of animal cruelty... one for each of the animals killed by their reckless endangerment and total malfeasance in the face of an obvious, imminent disaster.  They had more than enough time to act during this crisis and save those animals.  They made the conscious decision to not rescue those animals or take adequate precautions that may have prevented loss of life.  If these were human beings locked in caged and forced to drown by laziness and ignorance, those PETCO employees would go to prison, and many of them would never again see the light of day.

When this story started to break yesterday, Facebook erupted in a massive burst of comments regarding PETCO and their cruelty toward animals.  Links to local news stories spread like wildfire, and before the evening was through, Southern Tier residents had made their views resoundingly clear:  PETCO is to blame for those deaths, and the obvious state of the impending disaster makes it obvious and inarguable that PETCO was fully warned of the coming flood, and did not act on those clear and present warnings.  Countless scores of area residents have vowed to boycott the store.  Many are talking about organizing protests as the flood waters continue to recede.  It has become obvious that PETCO will have a very difficult time operating in this area in the future, and if it were up to a public vote, they would be banished from the Southern Tier altogether.

I'm not one to usually leave articles on a sour note, so here is the silver lining.  In a related story, the owners of another local pet store, Pet Depot at the Town Square Mall, acted heroically to save the animals trapped in their store.  Borrowing kayaks, they valiantly put themselves in harm's way to literally row into their store and rescue as many animals as they could before the flooding became too severe to do more.  While it remains unknown if any animals lost their lives at the Pet Depot store, one fact stands in defiance of contradiction:  The owner of Pet Depot is a hero, and the story of their bravery in the midst of a major disaster stands as one of the most inspiring stories of heroism that has surfaced in the wake of this historic flooding.  Unfortunately for PETCO, however, it also illustrates just how vile their in-actions were during this disaster.  Still, this Newsvine columnist hopes that after the dusts have settled and the city has regained its composure, the owners of Pet Depot will be given the heroic recognition they truly deserve.

Late last week, Brooke Hogan made headlines by posing nude for a photo exhibit to benefit PETA.

There's just one problem. Not all of the images that websites claimed to be Hogan were actually of her.

You can scroll down to see the photos for yourself (WARNING: THE IMAGES IN THE SLIDESHOW CONTAIN EXPLICIT CONTENT AND MAY NOT BE DEEMED SUITABLE FOR ALL AUDIENCES)*

Dog theft has increased substantially this year, according to the American Kennel Club.

The rate of dog theft is up 32% from last year, with 224 dogs having been stolen so far in 2011, compared to 150 in 2010. They've been taken from their own homes, from parked cars, and from pet stores.

This incredible video creates a catchy tune out of auto-tuned cats' meows and other antics.

Rosie, the first judicially approved courtroom dog in New York, was in the witness box here nuzzling a 15-year-old girl who was testifying that her father had raped and impregnated her. Rosie sat by the teenager’s feet. At particularly bad moments, she leaned in.

Our canine companions have always enjoyed their time in the spotlight. From Lassie to Toto to Rin Tin Tin, dogs have a worldwide reputation for hilarity, heroism, and the ability to do some pretty awesome tricks: Who could forget about Tyson, the famous skateboarding bulldog?

It's great news about a Miniature Schnauzer who was taken in a recent burglary in Schenectady, NY. Just days after being taken from her home in the breakin, Molli has been returned to her owner.

The circumstances of her return remain a mystery, as does the identity of the woman who returned her, but her owner doesn't care. She's just happy to have her dog back.

In Congress there is a debate going on about whether dogs or scanning devices are better for bomb detection in airports. The scanning devices are expensive, and intrusive to travelers. One estimate says each scanner costs $150,000. Dogs are said by some to be able to detect explosives better than scanners, and cost about $8,500.  In the Iraq War dogs were being used to detect explosive devices laid by insurgents to kill coalition forces. NPR reported about their successful use last year, “Sniffer dogs are universally recognized as the most effective means of detecting explosives.” (Source: NPR)

 

 

A central Ohio animal shelter with an abundance of chubby cats is having a sale on its fattest felines, hoping a discount entices potential owners to take one home.

The Capital Area Humane Society says the fat cats are on sale this summer for $15 each or two for $20, instead of the usual $70 adoption price.

Development manager Mary Hiser says the cats packed on the pounds before arriving at the shelter, and the extra weight can cause them health problems.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that nine of the shelter's 55 cats are overweight. Volunteers keep them in an area that offers extra room to run and burn off calories.

The largest cat is a 6-year-old black-and brown shorthair named Zebe, who weighs 23 pounds.

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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com

If anyone can...please adopt. If not, please support the shelter.

Please watch the video

Life after the military is looking brighter than ever for America's four-legged veterans since one of their own helped in the mission to kill Osama bin Laden.

War dog organizations say the number of people asking about adopting retired military canines has risen dramatically since the mission involving Cairo, the Navy SEALs dog tasked with tracking anyone who tried to escape from bin Laden's compound and alerting the special operations forces to anyone approaching.

While about 300 retired U.S. military dogs are put up for adoption each year, military officials say they've received more than 400 adoption applications in the three weeks since the May 2 raid. In past generations, most military dogs were euthanized once their tours of duty were done.

"They made a really big deal about Cairo being a super dog but all dogs in the military are super dogs," said Ron Aiello, president of the U.S. War Dogs Association. "These dogs are fully trained, are worth probably $40,000 to $50,000 each at least, and it's a dog that has been saving American lives. It's kind of a hero in a way."

Aiello, a dog handler for the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, started his organization with other former dog handlers to teach Americans about the long and often sad history of the dogs that have been deployed with troops.

The attack on Pearl Harbor sparked the U.S. military's interest in war dogs, which Germany and France used in World War I. Prior to the Vietnam War, the canines were trained to be fierce attack dogs that greatly distrusted humans. But the military soon found that limited them too much and started training German shepherds and other breeds to be patrol dogs.

Today, military dogs are used to find explosives, insurgents and drugs, and to help search for missing people. Some are so highly trained they can work off leash and follow commands whispered by their handlers through a specialized communication system attached to the dog.

The dogs are credited with saving thousands of lives. Last year, Aiello said, a dog on patrol in Iraq detected a fertilizer bomb on the other side of the door in a building. The dog sat down and alerted U.S. troops, who spotted the explosive by looking under the door.

If the dog had not sat down, troops would have opened the door and the building might have blown up, killing all inside.

Other times, the dogs can only do so much. When a sniper's bullet struck Pfc. Colton Rusk in Afghanistan, the first to reach his body was his best friend Eli — a bomb-sniffing, black Labrador so loyal he snapped at other Marines who rushed to his fallen handler. Rusk died Dec. 6. His parents have since adopted his dog.

After the Vietnam War, only 204 of an estimated 4,900 war dogs returned to the United States, according to military dog organizations. The others were euthanized, given to the South Vietnamese army or abandoned by soldiers trying to save the dogs.

That changed in 2000 when President Bill Clinton signed a law allowing the dogs to be adopted. Dog lovers say the military has made dramatic strides since then. Last year, 338 dogs were adopted, including 34 that were given to police departments or other government agencies.

None are euthanized now, said Gerry Proctor, a spokesman for Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, where the military's dog adoption program is based.

"All the animals find a home," he said. "There's a six-month waiting list right now for people wanting to adopt. And (the applications) have gone up substantially since the raid."

The nonprofit Military Working Dog Adoptions has received over 300 inquiries in the past two weeks, said Debbie Kandoll of Las Cruces, N.M., who founded the organization after getting her first war dog in January 2008. Her group and Aiello's help raise awareness about the retired dogs, make sure they are treated well and help people through the process of adopting the animals.

Aiello said the most common breeds for military canines are Belgian Malinois, Dutch shepherd, German shepherd and Labrador retriever. They are generally older than 10 when they retire, and some have a litany of medical problems.

"They only have a couple of years left, so why not have them spend it with a loving family where they're not going to hear gunfire go off, explosives go off," Aiello said.

Not all the dogs could do well in a home with, say, children or other pets, but some are remarkably docile after spending years on the battlefield.

A dog named Chyba was deployed to Iraq before Madeleine Pickens, wife of billionaire T. Boone Pickens, adopted her last year. Pickens said Chyba is a sweet, relaxed dog who is happiest stretched out in the shade of a tree.

It's not cheap to adopt a military dog, in large part because adoptive owners often have to pay $1,000 to $2,000 to bring them back to the U.S. on commercial flights. Putting a retired dog in a crate on a military cargo flight is against the rules.

When dogs are adopted, they no longer belong to the military, "so it would be fraud, waste and abuse for the DOD to transport that pet," Maj. Gen. Mary Kay Hertog told the Air Force News Service in 2009.

Officially, military dogs are considered equipment, and retired dogs are excess or surplus equipment. Kandoll wants the military to reclassify the dogs as canine veterans. That would take an act of Congress, but it could also ensure that all dogs shipped out of the United States are brought back.

"Uncle Sam gave the dogs a ride over. He should give them a ride back," Kandoll said.

"To me, it's like leaving a soldier behind," said Pickens, who spoke in Encinitas last month at the dedication of a monument to military working dogs.

It's unlikely that Cairo will have any trouble getting adopted, but military officials aren't saying how far the dog is from retirement. They aren't releasing his age or any other details about the special operations canine because his work is classified.

___

Sue Manning reported from Los Angeles.

___

Online:

http://www.militaryworkingdogadoptions.com

http://www.lackland.af.mil/units/341stmwd/index.asp.

http://www.uswardogs.org

http://www.madeleinepickens.com

Jhumpa Jones and Hector the Inspector are enjoying the good life these days, visiting school children, a local college, and generally making friends. But it wasn't always this way for these two former Vick pitbulls.

The two are among the dogs seized from Vick's property after his 2007 arrest for his involvement in dog fighting.

Check out the video to see how they're spending their days now.  

Eighty-one dogs who survived the recent tornados in the South, only to find themselves in danger of euthanasia in local "high kill"shelters, have arrived in shelters in the Northeast. It's expected that the dogs will be adopted.

Thirty arrived Monday in NY's Capital Region at the Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society, where they were warmly welcomed. 

When the O'Rourke family of Tucson found a couple of Easter-time bunnies in their back yard, they knew right away that something wasn't quite right. There was a reason the mother rabbit abandoned them. Paul O'Rourke realized one bunny they named Joe had no use of his hind legs. Paul and his family helped nurse the bunnies back to health, but then they went one step further to help the paraplegic bunny.

Aww. Heartwarming story of the day.

Police have arrested an Ohio man for allegedly barking at a police dog. The dog was alone in the police cruiser at the time the alleged harassment occured.

When asked for an explanation, the man reportedly stated that "(t)he dog started it."

Despite the country's lean economic times, Americans are spending more on their pets than ever before, a recent poll reveals. Some Americans are even willing to forego their own medical treatment to get treatment for an ailing pet.

Pet owners cite love, companionship, stress relief, exercise, and fun as benefits of pet ownership.

COH, people. Save the why I hate animals and/or pet owners comments for another article. Thanks!

There will be 5 audtions nationwide. If your purr-fect feline is tired of that old catrnip, and would like to earn $50K travelling for a year; then Purina would like to see your cat at one of the auditions...

_________________________
Eric Zotcavage, Content Creator, KPHO

He may have started life as one of Michael Vick's dogs, but things have improved greatly for Handsome Dan since being rescued and sent to live at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. The once shy Dan has come out of his shell and into his own. Dan has been adopted and is now dog nanny to his family's baby girl.

The article also includes a video (bottom of the page) updating us on what's happened to other Vicktory dogs rescued by Best Friends.

A DC-10 is set to arrive at Denver International Airport on Wednesday from Bolivia with 25 lions rescued from small traveling circuses across the South American country.

Five months after the Deepwater Horizon explosion unleashed a torrent of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, a male dolphin washed up on Louisiana's Gulf Coast just barely alive.

"Other dead ones [dolphins] had exterior oiling on them," recalls Michele Kelley of the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans. "He was the first live oiled marine mammal."

These people should be treated the same way that they treated these animals, without any mercy...............

It was a happy ending for 14 horses and their owner when a CT barn housing the horses collapsed in Wednesday's snow storm under the weight of snow on the roof.

The drug smugglers use these horses packed with hundreds of pounds of their drugs to cross the Mexican border into Arizona. These horses afterwards are abandoned and left to die in the desert.

The 100 dogs were shot dead over two days after an expected post-Olympics boon in dogsledding business at an adventure company didn't pan out. Most died instantly, but others suffered — like the one that ran away with its "face blown off and an eye hanging out."

I am not an animal rights activist by any stretch of the imagination. I wear leather and eat meat. But there is something very, very wrong with a new law being proposed by a republican legislator in Utah. He is sponsoring a bill that would legalize the shooting of all feral animals, on sight.

V.P.I. Pet Insurance has announced their picks for the wackiest pet names of 2010. The list includes names for dogs and cats.

Poor little Ripley had several challenges before finding her forever home. She's blind, has hydrocephalus, and was in a shelter, on their euthanasia list. But that didn't stop that special someone for appreciating Ripley's unique beauty and great personality.

The Massachusettes man accused of killling two llamas with a bow and arrow last November has received two years probation and must pay $2,000 in restitution.

A kitten disposed of in the trash in a sealed cardboard box has been rescued, thanks to the quick actions of an alert dog walker and her dog.

The kitten was taken to a local veterinary hospital, where it's recovering. Local police are investigating.

Sixteen tail-wagging Beagles, released from a recently-closed NC research lab, are enjoying this holiday season in loving homes, thanks to the timely efforts of a rescue flight organization based in PA.

The volunteers at Cloud Nine Rescue Flights posponed a regularly scheduled flight from NC to NY's Hudson Valley when they got the call to take the Beagles from NC to West Palm Beach, FL. As soon as the dogs were delivered, they turned around and soon made their regularly scheduled flight, transporting homeless dogs from NC to NY.

In all, 250 Beagles and 50 cats were freed from the lab and released to reputable shelters and rescue organizations.

Convicted dogfighting-ring operator Michael Vick hopes to own a dog again someday.

The Eagles quarterback told TheGrio.com in a video interview posted this week that he genuinely cares for animals and one day hopes to have a dog as a household pet, saying it would be just another "big step" in his rehabilitation process.

"I would love to get another dog in the future," Vick told TheGrio, a website that's affiliated with NBC and focuses on African-American issues. "I think it would be a big step for me in the rehabilitation process. I think just to have a pet in my household and to show people that I genuinely care, and my love, and my passion for animals."

Vick served 18 months in prison after being convicted in 2007 in the Virginia-based ring. The federal judge overseeing the case also prohibited him from ever owning another dog.

"Vick should be banned from owning dogs for life," Jane Dollinger, spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said in a news release this week. "Just as convicted pedophiles aren't allowed free access to children, anyone who is responsible for hanging, electrocuting, or shooting dogs and who causes them to suffer in other unimaginable ways should never again be allowed access to dogs."

Since his release from prison, Vick has become an advocate for the Humane Society of the United States and makes school appearances to talk to students about his past. Vick said he's doing that work because he wants to.

"Well first off, the court doesn't make it an obligation for me to go out and speak," Vick said. "It doesn't make it an obligation for me to work with the Humane Society. I'm putting in the hard work to do it so it's not for any personal benefit, it's to help others."

Vick's on-the-field success this season has made his story more compelling — from star quarterback to reviled dogfighter to comeback kid. And now he's adding mentor to his resume.

"I think if I can help five or six kids daily, then I'm playing my position as a positive role model in our society," Vick told TheGrio. "I tell a lot of people that it's easy to do the wrong thing. It's hard to do the right thing."

Vick said he allowed outside influences to affect his behavior, but said prison helped him see the changes he needed to make.

"I hate to use our culture as an excuse, but it is what it is and that's what happened and that's the way I thought about it growing up," Vick told TheGrio about dogfighting. "This is just the way we were brought up."

The quarterback said he hopes his success with the Eagles will continue breaking the stereotype that black athletes can't or shouldn't play the position.

"I think if you're good and good enough to play the position, I think you'll get the opportunity," he said.

Name: Carl
Age: Four years old
Gender: Male
Kind: American short hair
Home: Grand Blanc, Michigan, USA

Name: Fuji
Age: Two years old
Gender: Male Breed: Pomeranian
Home: Ft. Myers, Florida, USA

After getting off the phone with workers at the Coffee Road Animal Hospital in Bakersfield California, my wife asked me to write an article for a little dog named Lacey.....

Lacey is a 6 and a half pound mixed breed dog describes as, "A very good dog," by neighbors. Lacey was tethered on a short leash to a tree, stuck in the mouth with a golf club, had bleach sprayed in her eyes and was left there untreated for 4 days. She was taken to the Coffee Road Animal Hospital for surgery on her left eye which had ruptured and her right ear which was badly burned (they were able to save it). Her surgeries went well and she is currently recovering in the care of a foster family. Money for her care was donated by the community, "Overwhelmed with donations," wokers said. All she needs now is justice,

The police discovered Lacey tied to the tree while arresting Robert Gonzalez, 43 on December 4th after recieving a report of animal cruelty. He was booked on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a prohibited weapon and charges of animal cruelty according to Bakersfield police. Prosecutors have since filed felony animal cruelty charges. Gonzalez denies those and a host of other charges against him that show an alleged history of violence. A report from his children's mother that he showed the injured dog to his 12 year old son and said he caused the dog's bleach injuries is some of the supporting evidence for the charges. He is currently out on bail.

This quote from Bakersfield.com describes efforts to petition for justice...

The injuries to the nearly 7-pound dog named Lacey were so disturbing to people that an online petition was started Monday by animal welfare advocates who want "rigorous prosecution" of Gonzales for felony animal abuse.

The link -- http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Convict-Laceys-Abuser/ -- was set up by Karen Marousek of Justice4Paws, a group that got thousands of signatures in case earlier this year when a man was charged with tying and leaving a pitbull to die in a Lamont field. The suspect in that case pled no contest to a felony animal abuse charge for a 120-day jail term, though he was allowed to apply for work release.

Prosecutors and judges in these matters need to know that they have public support to punish criminal animal abusers please sign the petition and help put animal abusers behind bars. If people know that they face serious charges in matters like this they will be less likely to consider torturing a defenseless pet.

Links to supporting articles:

Burned Dog (*Warning Graphic Images*)

Doctors Treat Dog Allegedly Burned By Owner

Accused Animal Abuser Charged With A Felony

Outrage, sympathy pours out for tortured dog

Here is the petition site:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Convict-Laceys-Abuser/

Twenty rescued pugs arrived to a warm welcome and free baths and grooming in a pit stop in Albany, NY. The dogs arrived in NY on their way to foster homes, from which they will be adopted.

The pugs were rescued from a Missouri puppy mill which is getting rid of its dogs as the result of recent humane legislation in the state which places more stringent regulations on its operations.

Veterinarians are warning pet owners of the dangers of allowing their pets to partake in holiday meals. While it is tempting to indulge our furry companions with rich foods from the table, vets say the consequences can be deadly.

"As food pantries increase their distribution of turkeys and other holiday fixings, a Camarillo animal shelter is handing out bags of kibble for dogs and cats, an equally needy but often overlooked demographic."

"On Sundays, Pet Pantry rolls up its doors and distributes free bulk servings of dry food to recipients who can no longer afford to feed their animals. They are older people on fixed incomes, families who are down on their luck and those who have lost jobs."

Lions and tigers and pumpkins? Oh, my! More than 20 species took part in the annual Squishing of the Squash, part of the Rosemond Gifford Zoo's enrichment program.

Some amazing video of a cat taking on two alligators has gone viral on the Internet.

The video, found on YouTube, appears to be shot at an alligator farm, possibly in Louisiana. People are standing around, watching and videotaping the cat as it fights off one gator... then a minute later it slaps a second gator that decided to take a closer look.

To save Lizbeth the dog from the jaws of an alligator Thursday morning, Tom Martino pulled out his gun and fired around the thrashing in the Hillsborough River.

When the Jack Russell terrier got free from the gator's grip, Martino fished Lizbeth from the water and gave her mouth-to-snout resuscitation.

The 15-pound, black-and-white dog is being treated at a veterinarian's office for puncture wounds and lung complications from almost drowning.

"I just pulled my gun out and started blasting," Martino said. "I didn't really want to hit the alligator, but I wanted to scare the damn thing to let her go.

"About 130 dogs Monday splashed and slip-slid their way through a watery audition for surfing and diving roles on a pet food company's float in the upcoming Rose Parade."

"Onlookers and judges got drenched by Labradors leaping into a 4-foot-deep water tank in Pacoima. Then their owners were showered when the animals climbed out of the water and wildly shook off."

An angler with four feet shows his skills. Migrating salmon are being pushed out of the river by floodwaters in Washington state. Reporters saw a few struggling to get back into the main channel. So did this dog named, "Honey" who turns out to be an expert fisherman.

At one point, Tigger -- the star of the show -- can be seen arching his back and staring down the coyote face-to-face.

The coyote, apparently not hungry or just not in the mood, walks away and wanders around the yard for a bit. Tigger watches the coyote's every move.

The fearless cat eventually steps out into the yard and startles the coyote, which was circling a shed.

It was touch and go for residents and firefighters alike as a stubborn 3-story fire ripped through a brownstone with ties to the Underground Railroad in an historic section of Troy, NY in the Upper Hudson Valley.

However, just as the residents were lamenting the loss of their home, possessions, and pets, a reason to smile emerged from the devastation, collecting pats on his big canine head.

Great dog.

Eli the chihuahua and his owner Karen Biehl impersonate Cleopatra as they participate in the Tompkins Square Park 20th Annual Halloween Dog Parade

Legislators in Suffolk County, NY, on Long Island, voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve a bill that will create the nation's first public registry of convicted animal abusers.

The registry will be similar to sex offender registries and will be funded totally by the animal abusers themselves.

"Albany, N.Y.--A local dog is reunited with its owners, after it was first lost and then claimed by strangers, in an alleged attempt to make money."

"(T)he dog was placed on Craigslist and e-Bay classified, and re-sold to a woman....for $400."

"Police say the entire case is currently under investigation."

An elderly Hydro man landed in jail after springing his prized pooch from the town kennel. Instead of paying a $100 fine for not having his poodle on a leash, 73-year-old Edwin Fry decided to bust Buddy Tough out, driving his lawnmower to the city pound Oct. 13 and breaking into the cage with bolt cutters.

As the pair escaped, police officer Chris Chancellor intercepted them.

Chancellor told The Oklahoman officers had received numerous complaints about Buddy Tough, who had been in the pound before. He said Fry had been told he could retrieve the dog and sort out the fine in court.

"I've been in law enforcement 20 years, and this is the first time I've known of anyone that has busted a dog out of jail," Chancellor told The Oklahoman.

Fry spent several days in jail, and faces a municipal charge of allowing an animal to run at-large.

Fry didn't deny the charges. He told The Oklahoman that he warned police to stay away from his dog unless they wanted to face his shotgun.

As for Buddy Tough, he was euthanized while Fry was in jail.

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Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com

One more confirmation to the horror many of us have suspected for years; an EPA document clearly states Rendering Facilities "obtain animal by-product materials" from "animal shelters." Along with another EPA report, the evidence is mounting; current pet food regulations must be changed.

" ...there arose a situation around the time she had her kittens that Emmy has stepped up to the plate and helped solve. Well, she's taken in a baby squirrel and is providing a plate for the little squirrel at her table along with the rest of the kittens.

"She's very protective of it. If it starts to move and she don't like where its going she'll reach up and pull it back and start licking it and taking care of it like she would one of her kittens," said Jim Watkins.

Jim Watkins and his wife Karen of Carthage have helped organize Central Mississippi T.A.I.L.S.

"It stands for taking animals into loving shelters," said Jim Watkins.

Lion "attack"? I don't think I would call this an "attack". Maybe the lions shouldn't be in a Las Vegas hotel casino, though? Hmm...

The 97-year-old Harrison, Michigan resident was working in her garden recently when her neighbors four pit bulls surrounded her. Sophie says the dogs circled her, growling, before one lunged forward and bit her on the arm. She screamed and struck back, and as she did her cat Tiger jumped into the fray.

A Manatee County pug is getting a second chance at life thanks to his groomer.

Recently, Lola Foy took her two-year-old pug, Mafia, to get groomed and his nails cut at Sandy Paws in Bradenton.

PORTLAND, Maine --
The Portland Fire Department is launching a fundraising effort to equip its stations with pet oxygen masks.

Police said a traffic stop led to animal cruelty charges after they found a live cat "marinating" in oil and peppers in the trunk of a car. Buffalo police say officers heard the cat meowing when they stopped 51-year-old Gary Korkuc of Cheektowaga to ticket him for running a stop sign Sunday night.

They said they checked the trunk and found 4-year-old Navarro in a cage, his fur covered with oil, crushed red peppers and chili peppers.

Police said Korkuc told them he did it because Navarro was ill-tempered. Korkuc was charged with cruelty and released; his phone number isn't listed.

Police said he told them he was going to cook Navarro. But they say Korkuc also complained that the neutered male cat got pregnant after he was spayed.

Animal advocates have cleaned Navarro and put him up for adoption.

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Information from: The Buffalo News, http://www.buffalonews.com

Gina was a playful 2-year-old German shepherd when she went to Iraq as a highly trained bomb-sniffing dog with the military, conducting door-to-door searches and witnessing all sorts of noisy explosions.

She returned home to Colorado cowering and fearful. When her handlers tried to take her into a building, she would stiffen her legs and resist. Once inside, she would tuck her tail beneath her body and slink along the floor. She would hide under furniture or in a corner to avoid people.

A military veterinarian diagnosed her with post-traumatic stress disorder — a condition that some experts say can afflict dogs just like it does humans.

"She showed all the symptoms and she had all the signs," said Master Sgt. Eric Haynes, the kennel master at Peterson Air Force Base. "She was terrified of everybody and it was obviously a condition that led her down that road."

A year later, Gina is on the mend. Frequent walks among friendly people and a gradual reintroduction to the noises of military life have begun to overcome her fears, Haynes said.

Haynes describes her progress as "outstanding."

"Pretty fabulous, actually," added Staff Sgt. Melinda Miller, who's been Gina's handler since May. "She makes me look pretty good."

PTSD is well-documented among American servicemen and women returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but its existence in animals is less clear-cut. Some veterinarians say animals do experience it, or a version of it.

"There is a condition in dogs which is almost precisely the same, if not precisely the same, as PTSD in humans," said Nicholas Dodman, head of the animal behavior program at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.

But some veterinarians dislike applying the diagnosis to animals, thinking it demeans servicemen and women, Dodman said. He added that he means no offense to military personnel when he uses the term.

Jack Saul, a psychologist on the faculty at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, said PTSD is a diagnosis developed for humans, not dogs.

"That's not to say that animals can't be traumatized. It sounds like this dog was traumatized from the experience of extreme stress and fear," Saul said. "That causes an alteration in the animal's nervous system similar to an alteration of the nervous system in humans."

The military defines PTSD as a condition that develops after a life-threatening trauma. Victims suffer three types of experiences long afterward, even in a safe environment. They repeatedly re-experience the trauma in nightmares or vivid memories. They avoid situations or feelings that remind them of the event, and they feel keyed up all the time.

When Gina returned to Peterson last year after her six-month deployment in Iraq, she was no longer the "great little pup" Haynes remembered.

She had been assigned to an Army unit, and her job was to search for explosives after soldiers entered a house. The troops sometimes used noisy, blinding "flash-bang" grenades and kicked down doors, Haynes said, and Gina was once in a convoy when another vehicle was hit by an improvised bomb.

Back home at Peterson, Gina wanted nothing to do with people.

"She'd withdrawn from society as a whole," Haynes said.

Haynes, who has worked with more than 100 dogs in 12 years as a handler and kennel master, said he has seen other dogs rattled by trauma, but none as badly as Gina.

Haynes and other handlers coaxed Gina on walks, sending someone ahead to pass out treats for bystanders to give her. They got her over her fear of walking through doors by stationing someone she knew on the other side to reward her with pats and play. They eased her farther into buildings with the same technique.

"She started learning that everyone wasn't trying to get her," Haynes said. "She began acting more social again."

On a sunny afternoon last week, Gina dashed across her training yard, jumping over obstacles on command and deftly pushing a ball with her forelegs and chest. On a visit to a store on base, she trotted calmly down the aisles and sat quietly when a woman bent to pet her.

"She's such a lovable dog," Miller said, describing how the 61-pound Gina will lie in her lap. "I could literally hold this dog like a baby."

But Haynes said they're careful not to let their affection interfere with good training. Treating Gina like a human — for example, comforting her when she's frightened — can leave her thinking that her handler is pleased when she's afraid.

"She's just gorgeous and I love her, but you also have to balance it with — you have to do what's right," he said.

Gina has resumed some of her duties, searching cars for explosives at Peterson or other nearby military facilities. Eventually, she may be able to return to the kind of hazardous duty she did in Iraq, but that's at least a year away, Haynes said.

"We're not planning on doing it anytime in the near future because obviously, we don't want to mess up everything we've already fixed," he said.

Dodman said he doubts Gina can recover completely.

"It's a fact that fears once learned are never unlearned," Dodman said. "The best thing you can do is apply new learning, which is what (Gina's handlers are) doing," he said.

Haynes acknowledged that's a concern, and although he hopes Gina recovers 100 percent he doesn't know if she will.

"Anytime someone has that much fear about anything, then obviously it will be hard just to get it fixed," he said.

"But, I mean, we don't really have many other options," Haynes said. "You can't really give up on them. They're your partner."

You may have heard about the 118 beagles recently rescued from a laboratory in New Jersey. These dogs were bred for one purpose—to be used in chemical testing. They had spent their entire lives in small cages in sterile rooms, but now they are being adopted, getting accustomed to leashes, and even playing with toys.

"Here in the land of animal companions and their faithful guardians — do not call them pets and owners — a battle is raging over just what it means to be creature-friendly.

In true San Francisco fashion, city officials are considering a ban on sales of almost all pets. If the prohibition passes, it would mean no cats for sale here, no dogs, no hamsters, no rats, no guinea pigs, no macaws, no parakeets, no cockatiels, no finches."

A New York couple whose dog died has reportedly filed a $1 million lawsuit against a Queens-based pet sitting agency, Doggie Love, after the couple returned home to find their dog unresponsive on their apartment floor.

Animal lovers in New York's Hudson Valley had 120 extra reasons to celebrate this Fourth of July weekend as beagles rescued from a bankrupt research facility in New Jersey began to arrive at a local animal shelter.

The dogs, all between 2 and 5 years of age, have spent their entire lives living in wire cages as lab animals. The new arrivals, the first of 90 due at Pets Alive in Middletown, NY, will be available for adoption soon. The remaining animals are going to other humane facilities.

This year's International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos (IDAEZ) was a mammoth success, featuring events in more than 30 cities in 7 countries and our first-ever virtual protest that used social networking technology to circulate nearly 10,000 messages about the suffering and premature deaths of elephants in zoos.

A man was reportedly run over by his own truck after his dog put it into gear. The sheriff's office reported that 43-year-old Christopher Bishop was checking under his Ford F-150 for oil leaks Sunday evening. He had put the running truck into neutral and left the driver's door open. While he was under the truck, Bishop's bulldog, Tassey, jumped into the truck and knocked the vehicle into gear. The truck rolled over the left side of Bishop's body.

Bishop managed to get up, stop the vehicle and go into his house. After several hours of pain, Bishop finally called for help.

He was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

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Information from: St. Petersburg Times, http://tampabay.com

The kitten born with two faces in Charleston was given a 50 percent chance of survival by an area veterinarian. The kitten known as Two Face brought the animal to the vet shortly after it was born on Wednesday because its mother refused to nurse the kitten. Dr. Erica Drake said the kitten was born with a rare condition called diprosopus, which means the kitten literally has two faces. Two Face has four eyes, two noses and two mouths.

Drake said the kitten's two mouths act independently and she believes each mouth has a separate esophagus leading to one stomach. It'll take a closer look at the kitten's internal anatomy before known about how the kitten will be able to function.

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Information from: The Charleston Gazette, http://www.wvgazette.com

A teenage girl is apparently in fair condition Thursday afternoon after being struck by lightning while horseback riding at a Goshen farm.

The girl was riding a horse at Pie Hill Farm when she was struck during a thunderstorm that swept the region, and is reportedly "okay," said Marcy Grambo, owner of the 28-acre horseback riding and boarding facility.

Williston, VT - Capuchin monkeys only weigh a few pounds, but they are still.......

A Hawthorne man who allegedly kicked, beat and hanged his whimpering dog from a chain was taken to jail when neighbors heard the animal yelping for help, police said Tuesday.

A state appeals court panel ruled today that Los Angeles police had grounds to enter a Marina del Rey condominium unit, where officers found a dead dog in a freezer and an injured dog that had to be euthanized.

The three-justice panel from the 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected Keith Chung's claim that police lacked "exigent circumstances" to justify their entry without a warrant to his condominium unit in the early morning hours on July 13, 2007.

The appellate court panel noted that a neighbor of Chung's had called 911 and told police she believed an animal was being tortured.

Downtown Los Angeles is celebrating another coming-of-age residential milestone as work begins on a new dog park located in the Arts District.

The dog park, located at 1004 E. 4th St., will cover a 6,000 square foot triangular lot.

Miss Ellie, a small, bug-eyed Chinese Crested Hairless dog whose pimples and lolling tongue helped her win Animal Planet's "World's Ugliest Dog" contest in 2009, has died at age 17 after a career in resort show business in the Smoky Mountains.

The Mountain Press reported Thursday that Ellie starred in shows at the Comedy Barn in Pigeon Forge.

She also appeared on The Animal Planet cable show "Dogs 101" and was on billboards and in a commercial.

Pigeon Forge Mayor Keith Whaley proclaimed Nov. 12 as "Miss Ellie Day" for her owner's efforts to raise money for the local humane society. Over the years, Ellie helped raise more than $100,000 for the Sevier County Humane Society.

She will be cremated.

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Information from: The Mountain Press, http://www.themountainpress.com

Tens of thousand of stray dogs live on the streets of Mumbai, India. Their lives are at risk everyday from starvation, disease and abuse and now they must deal with another danger - contaminated water.

Two people are under arrest, accused of stealing a chihuahua from its owner and holding the dog for $500 ransom.

Investigators say a dog named "Baby" was taken from a woman in the 800 block of Larrabee in West Hollywood about 6:45 p.m. on May 2nd. The next morning, one of the suspects returned and demanded $500 for the dog.

Name:Molly
Age:Eight weeks old
Gender:Female
Kind:Mouse
Home:Escondido, California, USA

Name:Molly
Age:Four years old
Gender:FemaleBreed:German Shepherd
Home:New Hampshire, USA

Name:Molly
Age:One and a half years old
Gender:Female
Kind:Orange Kitty
Home:Michigan, USA

Bobbi stepped out of the carrier and looked around. Then a soft cry came from the kittens. Her motherly instincts kicked in and, within minutes, she was nursing them.

It was an emotional moment, Chaboudy said, describing the scene on Wednesday.

Big Cat Rescue plans to release the bobcat kittens into the wild in a year, after they learn how to hunt.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A bill aimed at regulating puppy mills is on its way to Gov. Brad Henry's desk.

The measure passed the Senate earlier this week, but Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, held it on a motion to reconsider that vote.

A diminutive horse born in New Hampshire could lay claim to the world record for lightweight foal. The pinto stallion named Einstein weighed just 6 pounds and measured 14 inches tall when he was born Friday in Barnstead, N.H. Those proportions fit a human baby just about right but are downright tiny for horse, even a miniature breed like Einstein.

Dr. Rachel Wagner, Einstein's co-owner, says the Guinness Book of Records lists the smallest newborn horse as weighing in at 9 pounds.

Breeders say that unlike the current record holder, Thumbelina, Einstein shows no signs of dwarfism. He's just a tiny horse.

Name:Keiki
Age:Fourteen weeks old
Gender:Male
Kind:Sealpoint Siamese
Home:Boston, Massachusetts, USA

State troopers follow German Shepherd to blazing fire at owner's property.

A dozen dogs were rescued from a burning home Tuesday. All survived thanks to quick action by EMS and firefighters. A neighbor saw smoke and called 911 about 9:30 in the morning. When firefighters arrived at the small westside home they found a big surprise.

Name:Dolce Mia
Age:Six years old
Gender:FemaleBreed:Yorkshire Terrier
Home:Laguna Niguel, California, USA