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The Veterinarian's Oath includes a commitment to the protection of animal health and welfare as well as the prevention and relief of animal suffering.  Animals deserve humane treatment during every stage of their lives – including during the induction of … read more >

Animal advocate and actress Denise Richards shared a sweet farewell to her beloved Boston Terrier Nana on Instagram Tuesday. “Our beloved Nana passed away over the weekend. Thank u @bostonbuddies for bringing this beautiful girl into our life. We love her so much & miss her terribly. #NanaBanana #sherescuedus,” she wrote with a black and white photo of herself cuddling with Nana. Richards has joked she has “too many dogs to count.” Recently, she shared a photo of her garage, which she and her father had transformed a few years ago into a beautiful space for her fosters and rescues. Condolences for her loss poured in from the actress's fans. - Read it at Us Weekly

A Japanese spa is offering a relaxation add-on for cat lovers - back massages by a furry feline. Cats are on staff and can take over during massages at the customer's request. While you can't control the pressure of the “making biscuits” kneading motion cats are known for, if you're a cat owner, you already know it feels pretty good. - Read it at People Pets

You wouldn't think a surveillance video showing a 9-year-old boy sneaking into his neighbor's garage would end up in a sweet story, but this one did. When Louisiana homeowner Hollie Mallet scrolled through her footage, she spotted an adorable scene showing the boy riding his bike into her driveway, hopping off and running into her garage - to hug her black Labrador Retriever. She posted the video on Facebook in hopes of identifying her dog's new friend. It wasn't long before the video reached the boy's mom, Ginger Breaux. It turns out that the family's dog passed away last year, and Josh misses having a pup to love. “Josh talks about your dog all the time!” Breaux wrote to Mallet on Facebook. “Every time we pass he looks to see if she was sitting where he could see her... Last night when I first saw [the video], I was torn as a momma being happy and upset because he knows he shouldn't be on someone's property, but I wake up this morning more happy that he just absolutely adores dogs so much.” Luckily, Mallet said Josh is welcome to come play with Dutchess any time, and he's taken her up on her offer. - Read it at ABC News

 

A bronze sculpture representing the 100-year history of the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps was unveiled last week at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. The life-size monument has four scenes, including a World War I Veterinary Corps officer with a horse; a Vietnam era officer with a microscope to signify the corps' contributions to medical research; a Cold War era officer inspecting rations; and a modern era veterinary officer treating a military working dog. “I put all of my heart and all of my soul into every one of my commissions. And this one has it all, plus a little bit more," said Donna Dobberfuhl, the San Antonio artist commissioned to create the monument. - Read it from the Army

June 10, 2016: 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 the London Tube cat

Cat Survives in Tube Tunnels

Lucy Duff was afraid she'd never see her cat again after the feline escaped from her carrier at a London Tube station on Sunday night. The TfL, which maintains the subway system, agreed to send out a late-night search team and brought Duff along as the cat would recognize her voice. They had no luck, but they didn't give up. “We're pleased to report that Lucky that cat was found safe and well in the early hours of Thursday morning by one of our track patrolmen,” a spokesman told the U.K.'s Evening Standard. “Lucky appears to be 'feline' fine.” The cat, who lived up to her name, was found chasing a mouse in the tunnels. She was weak, dehydrated and dirty but otherwise fine, and was taken to the RSPCA before she was reunited with her owner. “Exhausted but home. Miracles really do happen,” Duff posted on Facebook Thursday. - Read it at the U.K.'s Telegraph

Study: Caribbean Sperm Whales Have Distinct Culture

Researchers have found that sperm whale social groups in the Caribbean each have their own dialect, or clicking pattern, and that the whales socialize exclusively with other sperm whales with the same accent. “They feed, they care for their families, they make really, really deep dives. But the way that they do all these things is different based on their culture,” said Shane Gero of the Dominica Sperm Whale Project. “The main way we identify these different cultures is their dialects.” The study was published in the journal Royal Society Open Science. - Read it at National Geographic

Seagull Falls Into Curry Vat and Turns Orange

A seagull was scavenging for food scraps at a food factory in the U.K. when he fell into a waste container full of chicken tikka masala this week - and turned a brilliant, greasy orange. Workers at the factory rescued the bird and took him to Vale Wildlife Hospital, where his feathers were cleaned with dish soap. He returned to his white and gray colors - but a veterinary nurse at the hospital said he still smelled like takeout. “We've cleaned him up and he is doing well, with no upset tummy! Hopefully he'll stick to a much more bland diet in the future!!” said Lucy Kells. The seagull was nicknamed Gullfrazie, and he's believed to be about 2 years old. He'll be rehabilitated before he's returned to the wild. - See photos at Yahoo News

Image: Lowes Canada service dog

Lowe's Hires Man and Service Dog

Owen Lima cried tears of joy when a Lowe's store manager in Canada told him he was hiring him - with his service dog. “It's so hard to find a job where people can accept me for the way I am and the fact that I have a service dog with me,” Lima recalled telling the manager. Lima suffers from a brain injury that can make it hard for him to understand what someone is saying. His service dog, Blue, helps Lima stay calm and avoid anxiety attacks when he gets frustrated. The manager, Paul Gallo, thought the pair would be perfect as customer service associates, who greet customers and manage shopping carts. They'll each sport a red Lowe's vest while on the job. News of the new hires shared on Facebook quickly went viral. "[Blue] being in the store has made my job easier to do," Lima said of his 10-year-old dog. - Read it at CBS News

Skinny Vinnie Gets a Forever Home

We have happy news about Skinny Vinnie, the formerly obese Dachshund who's dropped more than half his weight in less than a year. The foster who's helped him through his weight loss every step of the way has decided to adopt him! Melissa Anderson has been by Vinnie's side while he stuck to a healthier diet, went swimming several times a week and walked for about an hour a day. She believes the dog, who was 38 pounds at his heaviest, gained his excess weight from eating table food with his previous owners. He's now down to a healthy 15 pounds. “I can't imagine letting him go. He's always looking to see where I am and when I leave and come home, he's the happiest dog in the house that I'm home,” Anderson says. Vinnie joins three other Dachshunds in the Anderson family. - Read it at People Pets

June 9, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Koala joey Louise

Tiny Koala Found Abandoned

The morning after a severe coastal storm in New South Wales, Australia, resident Louise Haynes was headed to work Monday when she heard a commotion under her eucalyptus tree. As she got closer, she realized it was a tiny, critically endangered Hawks Nest koala joey that had apparently fallen from the tree in the storm. She called the Hunter Koala Preservation Society Care and Rescue, and Ian Morphett arrived to help. They spotted Princess, a tagged koala, in the tree and believed she was the baby's mother. They placed the squawking baby at the base of the tree in the hopes that Princess would come for her but she didn't show interest. Concerned for the joey's safety, Morphett brought the baby - named Louise for her rescuer - to an expert caretaker. She's being kept warm and bottle-fed, and a photo of her snuggling with a teddy bear has gone viral. “She will be hand raised and assisted to develop into an independent koala, just as mum would, before being released,” HKPS said in a Facebook comment. “Her carer is very dedicated with a great deal of experience and will do her best to get Louise home to the wild again.” - Read it at Australia's ABC Online

Officer Rescues Kitten From Bridge

A scared little kitten now has a safe place in a new home after bring rescued from the Causeway Bridge in Louisiana. Causeway Police Officer Shenan Jones was relieved that the kitten was still there when he responded to calls that it was on the bridge Tuesday afternoon. “It was kind of pressing itself up against the rail as far as it could, crouched down as much as it could. You could tell it was terrified,” said Jones. “So I just got down on its level, snuck up to it, grabbed it and then it latched on to me and didn't want to let go.” The police believe the kitten either walked onto the bridge or fell from a hiding place under a car. Now the kitten, named Miracle, has been adopted by a neighbor of one of the Causeway's dispatchers. - Read it at Louisiana's WWLTV

Manatee Snacks on Grass in Flooded Backyard

Tropical Storm Colin dropped so much rain in Florida backyards that at least a couple of manatees have moved right in. St. Petersburg resident Nancy Smith captured video of one of the sea cows munching on grass in the flooded area. The heavy rains caused the tide to rise above a seawall, which led to the manatees swimming inland. “Everyone loves manatees,” Smith said. “They are my gentle giants.” - Watch it at Tampa's Fox 13

Image: Chiquito reunited with family

Police Find Dog Missing 4 Years

When two concerned citizens spotted a small stray dog wandering on the South Side of Chicago on Tuesday night, they stopped two police officers on patrol to get the pooch help. They brought the little Chihuahua to a local shelter, where they discovered he did have a microchip - and they were soon able to track down Chiquito's owners. He was reunited with his grateful family, who said he'd been missing for four years. - Read it at the Chicago Tribune

Boy Sneaks Into Neighbor's Garage to Hug Dog

You wouldn't think a surveillance video showing a 9-year-old boy sneaking into his neighbor's garage would end up in a sweet story, but this one did. When Louisiana homeowner Hollie Mallet scrolled through her footage, she spotted an adorable scene showing the boy riding his bike into her driveway, hopping off and running into her garage - to hug her black Labrador Retriever. She posted the video on Facebook in hopes of identifying her dog's new friend. It wasn't long before the video reached the boy's mom, Ginger Breaux. It turns out that the family's dog passed away last year, and Josh misses having a pup to love. “Josh talks about your dog all the time!” Breaux wrote to Mallet on Facebook. “Every time we pass he looks to see if she was sitting where he could see her... Last night when I first saw [the video], I was torn as a momma being happy and upset because he knows he shouldn't be on someone's property, but I wake up this morning more happy that he just absolutely adores dogs so much.” Luckily, Mallet said Josh is welcome to come play with Dutchess any time, and he's taken her up on her offer. - Watch it at ABC News

 

Owen Lima cried tears of joy when a Lowe's store manager in Canada told him he was hiring him - with his service dog. “It's so hard to find a job where people can accept me for the way I am and the fact that I have a service dog with me,” Lima recalled telling the manager. Lima suffers from a brain injury that can make it hard for him to understand what someone is saying. His service dog, Blue, helps Lima stay calm and avoid anxiety attacks when he gets frustrated. The manager, Paul Gallo, thought the pair would be perfect as customer service associates, who greet customers and manage shopping carts. They'll each sport a red Lowe's vest while on the job. News of the new hires shared on Facebook quickly went viral. "[Blue] being in the store has made my job easier to do," Lima said of his 10-year-old dog. - Read it at CBS News

June 8, 2016: 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 saved from septic drain

Deputy Adopts Puppy He Saved

A puppy in St. Lucie County, Florida, is now happily curled up on a soft, dry bed after being rescued from a stinky - and scary - situation. Two sheriff's deputies were serving legal papers recently when they heard whimpering sounds. When they searched the vacant lot next door, they found a puppy who'd fallen into a collapsed septic drain. The dog was “scared and exhausted” from struggling to get out, according to a Facebook post shared Tuesday by the sheriff's office. “They pulled him out, gave him several baths and attempted to locate an owner in the neighborhood,” the post said. “Not finding anyone, the pooped pooch was adopted by the deputy that rescued him and is now enjoying a life in the lap of luxury.” The post included several photos of the pup, including a couple of him looking quite content in his new home. - Read it at California's ABC 7 News

Study: Fish Can Recognize Human Faces

Scientists at Oxford University have discovered that the archerfish has the ability to tell one human face apart from another. The tropical species is best known for spitting jets of water to shoot prey out of the air. The fish usually take aim at bugs, but they were taught to spit at pictures of human faces displayed on a computer monitor outside of their aquarium. They were shown two faces and taught to spit at one of them in exchange for food. The researchers then tested whether the fish would recognize the face that they'd learned among 44 others - and they got it right 80 percent of the time. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports. - Read it from AFP via Seeker

Military Veterinarians Honored With Monument

A bronze sculpture representing the 100-year history of the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps was unveiled last week at Fort Sam Houston in Texas. The life-size monument has four scenes, including a World War I Veterinary Corps officer with a horse; a Vietnam era officer with a microscope to signify the corps' contributions to medical research; a Cold War era officer inspecting rations; and a modern era veterinary officer treating a military working dog. “I put all of my heart and all of my soul into every one of my commissions. And this one has it all, plus a little bit more," said Donna Dobberfuhl, the San Antonio artist commissioned to create the monument. - Read it from the Army

Image: Bailey huge litter

Alabama Dog Has Huge Litter

A 4-year-old African Boerboel named Bailey gave birth to 19 puppies on April 28 at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in Alabama. Her veterinarian decided to do a C-section to deliver the puppies after a radiograph showed the mom was carrying at least 14 puppies. Sadly, one of the pups didn't survive, but the 18 others are now back at home, happy and healthy. Bailey's owners, Jerry and Angie Turner, and a nanny helped the new mom through the first few days, helping to keep the pups on a schedule of feedings every four hours. But Bailey quickly got a handle on things, and is now able to care for the litter on her own. - Read it at People Pets

Blind Dachshund and Guide Pup Get New Home

A pair of bonded Dachshunds is starting a new life with a Washington state couple who adopted them from a rescue group. The dogs were abandoned in Oregon and brought to a shelter, which called Salem Dogs. Veterinarians who work with the group noticed that Herbie had problems with his eyesight and could likely see only shadows - but Hilda showed how she'd shepherd him around and protect him. “We knew immediately they needed to be adopted as a pair," said Salem Dogs' Diane Young. John and Dorothy Sinnar, who recently lost their 16-year-old Doxie to old age, spotted an online listing for the pair and knew they had to meet them. They drove five hours south and adopted Hilda and Herbie last week. - See photos at the New York Daily News

Image: Cincinnati Zoo gorilla world barrier

With a taller barrier around the gorilla enclosure, the Cincinnati Zoo's gorilla exhibit is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, more than a week after a 4-year-old boy climbed over the barrier, leading to the death of the endangered gorilla inside.

The new barrier is 42 inches high with solid wood beams at the top and bottom. The previous barrier, however, did meet safety guidelines and passed multiple inspections.

Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Police Department has concluded its investigation of the incident but hasn't yet released the results. - Read it at ABC News


 

StopLyme is a new public awareness campaign joining veterinarians and pediatricians to stop a common enemy: Lyme disease. While this tick-borne disease can't be spread directly between dogs and people, if your dog has been exposed to ticks that spread … read more >

Preventive care is a cornerstone of your patients' health, and can save your clients a lot of money in the long run. How can you focus your efforts to deliver the best preventive care possible and really educate clients about … read more >

May 27, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Capone the black Lab

Lost Lab Gets Help at ER

Somehow, a lost black Labrador Retriever knew exactly where to go when he injured his leg - and the staff at Indiana's Community Hospital Anderson quickly stepped up to help him. “He literally walked straight up like he knew he was coming to the right place,” said Dr. Thomas Short. The emergency room doctors checked him out and made him comfortable. Once their shift ended, they took him to an emergency vet, who thought he'd been hit by a car but would recover. In the meantime, the hospital shared a photo of him on Facebook, in the hopes of finding his owner - and it worked. Capone's owner, Nick Karagianis, said the 1-year-old dog got away when he took him for a walk after he got home from work at about 2 a.m. Thursday. When he resumed his search in the morning, he talked to a passerby who said she'd seen a dog meeting Capone's description on Facebook. They were reunited later that day. “Thank you sooooo much to the community hospital team for taking care of my baby boy!!!” Karagianis commented on Facebook. The kind hospital staff even paid Capone's vet bill, on the condition that his owner get him neutered and microchipped. - Read it at Indianapolis' Fox 59

Secret Tasmanian Devil Colony Could Help Species

Scientists who found a hidden colony of Tasmanian devils in a remote area say the animals could help save their species by adding diversity to their gene pool. The marsupials have been devastated by the contagious and deadly facial tumor disease. “For us this is massive,” said University of Sydney geneticist Kathy Belov. “For years we have been calling devils clones because there's so little diversity and now we find that there is diversity out there, it's just in remote areas.” The genetic diversity could prove to be a key component to the species' survival. - Read it at the Huffington Post

Study: Harbour Porpoises Eat Constantly

Using tiny computers attached to harbour porpoises by suction cups, researchers in Europe have found the small cetaceans hunt and eat almost constantly because they require a lot of energy to survive. "Our results show that porpoises hunt small fish, typically less than five centimeters, nearly continuously day and night at ultra-high rates, attempting to capture up to 550 fish per hour, and frequently more than ten per minute with a remarkable success rate of more than 90 percent," said Danuta Wisniewska of Aarhus University in Denmark. They also said that anything that might limit the porpoises' ability to feed could put them in serious jeopardy. The study was published in the journal Current Biology. - Read it at Phys.org

Image: Goslings on Interstate

Police Escort Goslings Off Freeway

A flock of baby geese got a special escort as they made their way down California's Interstate 80 on Sunday morning. The California Highway Patrol in Oakland got a call about some goslings who were wandering along the busy roadway. “We ran a traffic break and we stopped the freeway so we can get them corralled to the right hand shoulder - and that's where the world's slowest pursuit took place,” said Officer Sean Wilkenfeld. At least three CHPs vehicles gathered the “felonious fowl,” as Wilkenfeld called them, and guided them toward an exit to get them to the water. CHPs Oakland shared a video of the “nail-biting pursuit” on Facebook. - Watch it at SF Gate

Student Surprised to See His Service Dog in Yearbook

When North Guilford High School, North Carolina, student Harry Hulse had his photo taken for the yearbook, the photographer also got a quick portrait of Taffy, his diabetes alert dog. Taffy is always by Harry's side, pawing at him whenever his blood sugar needs an adjustment. Taffy is “basically one of the kids,” said the school's yearbook editor, Stephanie Hicks. So, when she heard his photo had been taken, she thought Taffy “obviously has to be next to Harry in the yearbook, he always is.” The yearbook staff kept the plan a secret so Taffy's placement would be fun a surprise when it was published. Harry was surprised, and touched, by the gesture for his “best friend.” The news comes on the heels of the story of another service dog who appeared in a Louisiana middle school yearbook this year. - See photo at CNN

The AVMA sincerely apologizes for any misunderstandings regarding the gender wage gap resulting from the recent online release of its New Graduate Starting Salary Calculator. Although this calculator was debuted during the March 2016 Student AVMA Symposium to rave reviews, … read more >

Yesterday afternoon, AVMA staff had a very cordial conversation with Petco leadership regarding Petco's new advertising campaign for their grooming services. Petco staff was very understanding and supportive of veterinarians' concerns that anything out of the ordinary discovered during a … read more >

Labor Department offers webinars to explain new rules A new rule finalized last week by the U.S. Department of Labor requires time-and-a-half overtime pay for far more salaried workers than previously have been covered. This rule applies to employees in … read more >

May 20, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Cody Michael and Bauer

Man and Dog Rescued by Helicopter

On Monday morning, Cody Michael texted his parents a photo of himself and his German Shepherd, Bauer, hiking in the Sierra Nevada wilderness. He said he planned to do some fishing and leave by noon, but when they hadn't heard from them by that night, they got worried. The Placer County, California, Sheriff's Office began a search for Michael, 23, and Bauer that lasted three days. Finally, on Thursday morning, members of the National Guard flying overhead in helicopters spotted Michael's campsite and a makeshift sign he'd made from duct tape reading “HELP.” The recent college graduate and his dog were lifted into the Blackhawk helicopter and brought to a command post, where the two were reunited with their family. Michael had made a wrong turn and walked several miles in the wrong direction, then became disoriented. “It's nothing short of a miracle,” said Dena Erwin, a spokeswoman for the Placer County Sheriff's Office. “To see him reunited with his family, they were so delighted.” - Read it at the Sacramento Bee

Endangered Florida Sparrow Chicks Hatch

There are only 150 Florida grasshopper sparrows left in the wild, making it one of North America's most endangered birds. On May 9, the first four captive-bred chicks hatched at the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation in Loxahatchee, Fla. So far, their mom seems to be taking good care of her nestlings. “This breakthrough is great news because the Florida grasshopper sparrow couldn't be more vulnerable,” said Sandra Sneckenberger, one of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's lead biologists on the bird's recovery effort. Storms in Florida have flooded the wild birds' first nest attempts, raising concerns about the 2016 population count. - Read it at Discovery News

Study Aims to Help Extend Dogs' Lifespans

Researchers conducting an ongoing dog study at the University of Washington are hoping to understand how and why signs of aging happen - and possibly to help slow them down. In the study's first phase, researcher Matt Kaeberlein has been conducting a clinic trial of the drug rapamycin, which significantly extended the lives of mice. A 10-week trial of it in large-breed, middle-aged pet dogs showed it improved heart function. The next step for the Dog Aging Project will involve studying 10,000 companion dogs to create a public database that could be used by veterinarians and researchers to better understand canine aging. They're hoping what they learn will also help shed light on aging in humans. "Improving our understanding of aging enables us to improve so many other dimension of health care for everyone," said Kate Creevy, of Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine. - Read it at CBS News

Image: Alabama sheriff's deputy with kitten

Kitten Found During Tire Change

While helping a driver stranded on Interstate 20 near Leeds, Alabama, Wednesday night, Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy Sanford wound up rescuing a kitten. “As he worked the jack near the front tire [Sanford] heard a faint cry from the engine compartment of the car. He had the driver open the hood and discovered a small gray and white kitten inside," the sheriff's office said in a press release. The kitten had apparently snuck under the hood before the family left Atlanta - which is about 130 miles from Leeds. Sanford named the stowaway Atlanta and got her food and water before bringing her to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. She had a few burns but is already healing, the shelter said in a Facebook post on Thursday. - Read it at Alabama's ABC 33/40

Haus the Hero Dog Goes Home

There's happy news for Haus, the German Shepherd who protected his family's 7-year-old girl from a rattlesnake in their backyard on May 11. He's finally back home after being treated for a week at Blue Pearl Emergency Veterinary Clinic in Tampa. The 2-year-old dog was bitten three times by the snake and needed a steady drip of antivenin instead of one or two doses, which is the typical amount. Veterinarians also had to treat him for muscle damage in his legs for the severe bites. A crowd of supporters cheered as Haus left the animal hospital Thursday. Today, he'll receive the “Heroic Dog Award” from PETA. - Read it at Tampa's Fox 13

If you're interested in the economic future of the veterinary profession-and in gathering information and tools to help you operate your business more successfully-set aside the dates October 24-25 to attend this year's AVMA Economic Summit. Our economics team convenes … read more >

May 13, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Savannah Bananas puppy

Puppy Found in Stadium Parking Lot

At 7 weeks old, a sweet puppy was found crying in a parking lot at Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Georgia, this week. She was rescued by a staff member of the Savannah Bananas, a collegiate-league baseball team that plays at the park - and she quickly became part of the team. Daisy was adopted by the Bananas' president, Jared Orton, and his wife, and she now goes to work for the team each day. Daisy didn't have any identification, and a veterinary exam found that she was healthy - just hungry and dehydrated. “It was just meant to be that we'd have a team dog as part of our staff,” Orton said. “We aren't sure how big she'll get, so it's hard to say if she'll be able to pick up a bat or just coach first base but as she grows, she'll be a fixture at the ballpark.” - Read it at the Washington Post

Rare Sumatran Rhino Born

A critically endangered Sumatran rhino gave birth to a female calf at an Indonesian sanctuary early Thursday. It's the second baby for Ratu, whose name means Queen, and the new baby was up walking around and nursing within a few hours. There are only an estimated 100 Sumatran rhinos left in the world, so the birth is considered a major step forward. This is only the fifth time a Sumatran rhino has been born in a breeding facility. The animals have been hunted by poachers for their horns. - Read it from AFP via Yahoo News

Study: Climate Change Is Shrinking Shorebird

A new study finds that the red knot shorebird, which is about the size of a robin, is getting even smaller because of arctic warming - and that's making it harder for them to survive. “It's even worse than we thought,” said Michael Reed of Tufts University. “This is going to increase their extinction risk, and the red knots are already in the highest risk category.” They found that warming is contributing to the malnutrition of red knot chicks in the Arctic, which leads to shorter bills and smaller body sizes. Those changes are reducing their survival rates. The study was published in the journal Science. - Read it at National Geographic 

Image: Brownie and his owner

Lost Lab Reunited With Owner

When he heard his missing Labrador Retriever was found 720 miles away, three years after he was lost, Ricardo Dominguez drove non-stop through the night to be reunited with his pal. Brownie disappeared from Dominguez's New Mexico horse ranch and was found wandering the streets in San Diego last week. When Dominguez got the news that he'd been found, he was working at a job site in El Paso, Texas. Now 7 years old, Brownie clearly remembered his owner when he arrived to pick up him from San Diego County Animal Services. “He looks up through the door at me in my cowboy hat, and his eyes were, wow is that you?” said Dominguez. “His eyes went wide, and he went wild, started dragging the person on the leash, and he came and jumped on me and went crazy!” It's unclear how Brownie wound up in San Diego, but Dominguez is happy to have him back home. - Watch it at NBC San Diego

Mother Goose Gets Police Help for Baby

Somehow, when one of her goslings became tangled in the string from a Mother's Day balloon, a mother goose knew how to get her baby help. Cincinnati Police Sgt. James Givens said he was parked in his cruiser on Monday when he heard pecking at the door. “It kept pecking and pecking and normally they don't come near us. And then it walked away, and then it stopped and looked back, so I followed it and it led me right over to the baby that was tangled up in all that string," he said. The SPCA couldn't get there fast enough, so Spc. Cecilia Charron came to the rescue. “It was like they communicated. The mother goose didn't bother her. So ... Charron came and untangled it. It took her awhile because it was all wrapped up." Once the gosling was free, the relieved mother and her baby headed for the nearby creek. - Watch it at Philadelphia's 6 ABC

Would you like the chance to see the most innovative products and services available for patient care, demonstrated in a live clinic setting in the same way that you might use them in your own veterinary clinic? For the first … read more >

Image: Working Dog Center - dog on ladder

They climb ladders, run through tunnels and play hide-and-seek in the snow. They also go for a dip in the pool and get a pilates workout.

Puppies learning to become search and rescue dogs will someday have very serious jobs. But when it comes to their training at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center (WDC) in Philadelphia, it's (almost) all fun and games.

Image: Penn Vet WDC three dogs on ladders

The dogs at the WDC are training to do a wide variety of detection jobs. Some will work in law enforcement, sniffing out explosives, fire accelerants and drugs; while others will participate in disaster recovery or have a medical focus, like detecting ovarian cancer or working as diabetic alert dogs. They learn through positive reinforcement and play - and fitness and obedience are keys to their success, too, says Dr. Cynthia Otto, a veterinarian who started the WDC and is the lead investigator in a long-term study on the health and behavior of detection dogs.

Dr. Otto was inspired to start the center after taking care of the dogs who searched for survivors and later for remains at Ground Zero after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. As a tribute, the puppies are named for these canine heroes, as well as human rescuers and victims of 9/11.

Vetstreet talked with Dr. Otto to find out about the amazing ways the center trains puppies to do this vital search and rescue work.

Little Noses

Many of the dogs who've been trained at the WDC since it opened in 2012 were donated by breeders, and start classes when the puppies turn 8 weeks old - much earlier than most other working dog programs, which start at about a year old, Dr. Otto says. Recently, the center started breeding puppies, too.

By raising its own litters, the researchers there are able to study the impact of the dogs' genetics - and follow their progress more closely from the outset.

When the puppies in its own litter were only three weeks old, the WDC team started introducing them to distinct scents in jars, including narcotics, arson and pepper. The researchers recorded the pups' reactions to the smells. Dr. Otto said the idea of introducing the puppies to the scents wasn't to figure out what they were interested in, but rather to stimulate the little guys' neural pathways.

“The ones that we have that are our own litters, we do all sorts of environmental work with them from day one, basically, and we encourage the breeders to do the same sorts of things,” Dr. Otto says.

Getting the Basics

When the WDC trainees first start classes at 8 weeks old, they're working on getting their “liberal arts degree,” explains Dr. Otto. “They get all of the foundational stuff for whatever it is that they might then show the most aptitude for. All of the dogs learn the basics of search, they all learn fitness, they all learn obedience, they all get exposed to different environmental stimuli. They all get the sort of basic curriculum.”

The adorable students live with volunteer foster families who drop them off for class each day at 9 a.m. and pick them up at 5 p.m.

As they grow up, they begin to show their trainers their natural strengths and abilities. Their curriculum is then tailored to fit that interest, Dr. Otto says. The puppies who go on to get their “master's degree” in search and rescue often stand out in the crowd.


“Our search and rescue dogs are usually the ones who are a little bit more independent, they tend to be very confident - willing to just go anywhere, climb on anything, not have to constantly be looking back at the handler,” Dr. Otto said. They'll need that attitude on the job.
“We tend to let the dogs tell us where they're going to be most successful,” she said. “Some of them tell us when they're 8 or 10 weeks old - we're like 'whoa, this one is so clearly going in that direction.' And then, some change career paths, they change majors,” she says with a laugh.

Dog in a Box

Image: Working Dog Center - Dog in a Box

The dogs' training works in a progression, building upon what they've learned. The trainers keep it fun for the puppies. Some of the concepts they need to learn aren't things you've likely given a lot of thought to - and neither has the dog. Case in point: how to maneuver their back ends.

“Dogs in general have really lousy backend awareness, so we have to build the concept that they have back feet and that they know what to do with their back feet and that they can control their back feet,” Dr. Otto says. “Most dogs have no clue. They just kind of ram forward and everything before them is in the world and everything behind them is just tagging along.”

One key to teaching the dogs how to control their individual legs is a game called “dog in a box.” The dogs are encouraged to explore a cardboard box, and to try climbing into it.

“A lot of dogs will climb in it with their front feet and then they get stuck. So it's a matter of learning that they actually can pick up their back feet, one at a time and put them in the box. When they're in the box it's like, 'let's party!' We have good fun with that,” Dr. Otto says.

Eventually they'll work on obstacle courses and even learn to climb ladders. “When they're walking on a ladder they have to step one foot then the other, then one foot then the other,” so knowing how to manipulate each individual foot is key.

The dogs also have to be nimble to work their way through wreckage at a disaster scene, so they're introduced to many types of surfaces to walk on. “Our puppies will have puppy agility, which means that we put all kinds of silly things on the floor - maybe metal grates, we have a kids' plastic slide, we have some wobbly things that they step on, and we just have them walk around on that and that's just building confidence,” Dr. Otto says. 

Hide and Seek

Naturally, the ultimate game for a search and rescue dog in training is hide-and-seek, or “puppy runaways.”

“You have a puppy and you have a toy that they think is really exciting, and one person is holding the puppy and another person has the toy,” Dr. Otto explains. “They show the puppy the toy and they get the dog excited like, 'Oh my gosh, that's my toy!' They run and they sort of duck behind something super easy -like maybe a barrier of some sort or a desk - and the puppy gets to watch where the person went, so they run and chase the toy and try and find where they went, and when they do, woo hoo! It's a big party and we play.”

Gradually this game gets harder for the pup. The person will hide in a place that's not as obvious. “They start to learn that they have to use their nose, and they start to smell because they can't see where the person went, and so that keeps building up and the environment gets more challenging,” Dr. Otto says.
There are usually several people watching, so the dogs quickly learn that they have to find the specific person who's the source of the reward - not just any person who's hidden.

“We really don't understand exactly how the dog figures all this out, but they do. It's really cool,” Dr. Otto says. “It's really important that they don't know who is hidden because in a disaster situation, we don't know who's missing.”

Exercise and Obedience

Image: WDC dog on tires

As you might imagine, all of this work means search and rescue dogs need to be in tip-top physical shape, too - and they require the obedience to work offleash in difficult locations.

The WDC prepares them for physical challenges and works to prevent injuries by helping them develop core strength like a gymnast.

“We do a lot of puppy pilates, core strength building exercises, flexibility, balance - we have a whole fitness program we call Fit to Work that we teach them, and all of our dogs have regular fitness sessions,” Dr. Otto says.

One of the fun parts for the dogs is swimming, which is another way for them to build their core strength. When they get a bit older, they work on stamina and endurance.

Obedience training is another important piece of the puzzle in the puppies' liberal arts and masters degrees. The dogs need to be able to follow instructions and stop or turn on a dime for their safety.

Once they are 18 months old, they're eligible to get their national certification.

Training Never Ends

So far, eight search and rescue dogs have graduated from the WDC, including some who are trained to find human remains.

A few of the dogs serve on multiple disaster response teams, at the national and local levels. One of the graduates worked at the scene of the May 2015 Amtrak crash in Philadelphia that killed eight people and injured hundreds. But the others - luckily, Dr. Otto points out - haven't yet had the opportunity to be deployed to a major disaster.

While some dogs graduate from the WDC and start daily jobs working for the TSA or doing police work, for search and rescue dogs, their job is to continue to train - just in case.

“They train, and they train and they train and they train - they train 20 hours a week, every other weekend sometimes,” says Dr. Otto. “It's really an intense commitment by these handlers, and a lot of these handlers, this is their volunteer time - they don't get paid unless it's a deployment. These are really dedicated and committed folks."

But as long as the training remains a big game, these dogs will continue to love every minute of it.

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You know the value that preventive care brings to your patients, but perhaps you're not certain how you can focus your efforts to deliver the best preventive care possible. The AVMA and the American Animal Hospital Association collaborated to develop … read more >

Remember what it felt like when you were looking for your first job and had no idea what kind of salary was reasonable to expect? The AVMA has released a new tool to help veterinary students and new graduates develop … read more >

Life on a farm has changed over the last several decades. When I was young farm life created a community where every member had a role and every member was cared for throughout their normal life. But as time progressed … read more >

Dr. John de Jong, chair of the AVMA Board of Directors, addressed members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee Friday during a hearing about the pet medication industry. The hearing was live-streamed, and a recorded … read more >

Why is the AVMA advocating for this? The AVMA with guidance by its Aquatic Veterinary Medicine Committee wants to bridge a critical gap in the regulations and better protect, promote, and advance health and welfare of the farmed aquatic animals … read more >

April 29, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Lions airlifted to South Africa

South American Lions Begin Journey

Thirty-three circus lions from Peru and Colombia boarded a flight to freedom today. After negotiating their release, the animal rights group Animal Defenders International is moving them to Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in Limpopo, South Africa, in the largest lion airlift ever. The lions were gently coaxed into their custom travel crate before the flight. The seating chart was carefully arranged so the lions face others in their family groups during the 14 to 15 hour flight, which includes one refueling stop in Brazil. The lions can't be released into the wild because they've suffered injuries that would prevent them from hunting, ADI said. - Read it from The New York Times

Plus: In other circus animal news, the Ringling Bros. elephants will give their last circus performance on Sunday in Providence, Rhode Island. The animals are headed for retirement at the Center of Elephant Conservation in Florida. Animal rights groups had fought for years for their retirement. The “Greatest Show on Earth” will continue to feature lions and tigers. - Read it at Providence's WJAR

Baby Boom for Rare Flightless Bird

The critically endangered kakapo, a flightless parrot species, has had a much-needed boost in its population. With only 123 adult kakapo remaining, there are now 37 new chicks. The New Zealand birds have had a hard time defending themselves from threats without being able to fly. They are the only flightless parrot and, at 8 to 9 pounds each, they're the heaviest one in the world. Wildlife officials say better technology has allowed them to keep watch over the birds in a non-invasive way. - Read it at Discovery News

Image: K9 Riggs

K9 Comes to Elderly Man's Rescue

When an elderly man went missing from an assisted living facility in Massachusetts on Wednesday night, state police dog Riggs was called in to help. After smelling something that belonged to the man, Riggs started tracking along a path into the nearby woods. He and his human partner, Trooper Sean Kenney, walked for about a mile into the forest before Kenney heard a “faint cry for help.” Just before midnight, they found the man lying on the ground, covered in cuts and bruises and shivering from the cold. The man had been missing for about five hours. The team kept him warm while Fire and Rescue responded to the scene to transport him to the hospital. “Without Riggs locating the man, the outcome could have been very different. Nice work!” the Massachusetts State Police posted on Facebook. - Read it at Masslive

Happy Lab Races Onto Soccer Pitch

An unexpected player jumped into the match between professional soccer teams Deportivo Táchira F.C. of Venezuela and Pumas UNAM from Mexico - and he brought his A game. The delighted yellow Labrador Retriever darted around the field, playfully jumping around and playing keep-away from the players who tried to catch him. But his burst of fun was short-lived. One player caught him and picked him up to carry him off the field - while getting lots of kisses from the friendly dog. - Watch it at People Pets

 

Student debt is an increasingly critical issue for the entire veterinary profession, and how to reduce that debt and improve the overall economic picture for young veterinarians was the focus of a summit held at Michigan State University last week. … read more >

The Senate Appropriations Committee on April 14 passed by a 29-1 roll call vote the fiscal 2017 allocations for its 12 individual subcommittees. The only senator to vote against the allocations was Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who sees … read more >

The House Appropriations Committee passed by voice vote its fiscal 2017 Agriculture Appropriations bill on April 19. The legislation funds important agricultural and food programs and services, including programs for animal health and welfare, food safety and rural development programs. … read more >

Important tax legislation was recently passed by Congress and signed by President Obama to help small business owners, including those who own veterinary practices. “Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015″ (PATH Act, P.L. 114-113) became law on Dec. … read more >

Finding viable solutions to financial issues related to student debt and the cost of veterinary medical education is among the highest priorities for our profession. That's why we're excited to be co-sponsoring the Fix the Debt Summit, which opens Wednesday … read more >

April 14, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Rodney the guinea pig

Guinea Pig Rescued From Fire

We've often covered stories of firefighters saving cats and dogs from burning homes - but a guinea pig is a little less common. Polk County, Florida, firefighter John William was doing a sweep of a home after extinguishing the flames from a grease fire in the kitchen on Friday when he spotted Rodney the guinea pig in his cage. "He did not hesitate. He grabbed the cage and took it outside into the fresh air, where rescue workers assessed that Rodney had inhaled a lot of smoke and gave him oxygen and water,” Kevin Watler, a representative from Polk County Fire Rescue told Today. Resident Kristi Waller was at a doctor's appointment with one of her daughters when the fire broke out. It started when her boyfriend was at home cooking French fries. When Waller arrived at home, she saw the firefighters with Rodney and rushed to hold him while they gave him oxygen. "I want to, personally, thank you for saving my Rodney (the guinea pig) and what you could of my house,” she said in a comment to Polk County Fire Rescue on Facebook. “He is the coolest little guinea pig I have ever met,” she told Today. - Read it at Today

Inky the Octopus Makes Daring Escape

An octopus in New Zealand has proved just how clever the species can be. Inky, who's about the size of a soccer ball, apparently broke out through a small gap at the top of his tank at the National Aquarium of New Zealand, made it eight feet across the floor and slid down a 164-foot drainpipe to freedom in the North Island's Hawke's Bay. He executed his plan overnight, when no staff members were around to see him. Although it happened several months ago, the story has only recently been shared, and Inky's tale has made headlines around the world. “He managed to make his way to one of the drain holes that go back to the ocean, and off he went,” said Rob Yarrall, the aquarium's manager. “Didn't even leave us a message.” - Read it at The New York Times

Prince William and Kate Feed Baby Rhinos

In one of the latest stops on their royal tour of India, Prince William and Kate looked like they were delighted to get the chance to bottle feed and visit with baby elephants and rhinos at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation in Kaziranga national park. “They were absolutely thrilled and loved being with the animals. The duke said if he could he would have spent the whole day there,” said Vivek Menon, chief executive office of the Wildlife Trust of India, who joined them on their tour. Prince William has been active in the fight against ivory poaching, which has decimated populations of rhinos and elephants. - See photos at the U.K.'s Guardian

Image: Ann Rodgers Arizona

Woman and Dog Survive 9 Days Lost in Wilderness

Ann Rodgers, 72, and her 2-year-old rescue dog managed to survive for nine long days lost in an Arizona desert after she took a wrong turn and ran out of gas on the way to visit her daughter in Phoenix. Rodgers and Queenie eventually abandoned their car to go in search of water, bringing with them a red satchel filled with supplies to make campfires. “Queenie became my pathfinder,” Rodgers said. “She was the one who would range ahead of me to find the game trail, or cowpath or place to cross a river safely.” Rodgers knew how to survive in the wild and formed a large sign that read “HELP” using the bones she'd found from an elk. Rescuers eventually spotted it, and narrowed down their search area. They found Queenie first, and 15 minutes later, they found Rodgers. She was airlifted out for medical attention. The tough senior citizen was found to be dehydrated and suffering from exposure but amazingly, she was otherwise OK. - Read it at the Washington Post

Tiger Is Not Happy to Be Disturbed

This tiger is all of us when we're rudely interrupted during a good nap. The reaction is just a little scarier. Footage of one tiger at the Dublin Zoo in Ireland disturbing its lounging friend was caught on video by a mom named Linzi, who was visiting the Dublin Zoo with her husband, Ger, and their 2-year-old daughter. She can be heard telling her terrified toddler that it was OK after the sleeping tiger lashed out at its friend. The friend didn't seem to care, and helped itself to some water while the rudely awakened tiger glared at it. We've all been there, tiger. - Watch it at Time

When Wes McGuirk returned to his Nebraska home after going out to dinner on Saturday night, he couldn't find his Great Dane. Using a flashlight, he searched the backyard and thought he heard something. “I heard the whimper again, and it was above me,” he said. There was Kora, his 120-pound pooch, standing on a tree branch 20 feet up. “I was like, 'How on earth did you get up there?'” he said. After trying unsuccessfully to get her down, McGuirk called for help. Local firefighters and police responded and were able to lower her from the tree to a tarp that they positioned under her. Kora wasn't injured in the incident, and was happy to be back on the ground. “This is one of those calls that had a great outcome and will not soon be forgotten,” the Plattsmouth Volunteer Fire Department posted on Facebook. - Read it at Ohio's Fox 8

April 15, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Orangutan mom Jahe and baby

Mom and Baby Are Inseparable

Reunited and it feels so good. A 1-month-old critically endangered Sumatran orangutan is doing well with his mom at the Memphis Zoo after being born in a rare C-section performed by a human obstetrician. The baby boy was hand-reared by zoo staff members while his 18-year-old mom, Jahe, recovered from her surgery. She was able to visit with him while she recovered and they were reintroduced 12 days later. The first-time mom scooped him right up and held him close, and they've been inseparable ever since, the zoo said. The pair is now resting behind the scenes, and the zoo is asking the public for help with naming Jahe's little boy. You can vote this week on five choices, including Jasper, Kalbu, Rowan, Bijack or Flynn, and the winning name will be announced on April 22. - Read it at the Memphis Zoo

Coast Guard Flies Rehabilitated Monk Seals Home

Seven endangered Hawaiian monk seals who've been nursed back to health since late last year are beginning their journey back to their remote island homes. The seal pups, who are all females, were found by NOAA either abandoned or malnourished on the northernmost Hawaiian Islands, and they were treated at the Marine Mammal Center's monk seal hospital on the Big Island. On Thursday, they were flown by the Coast Guard to Honolulu, and they'll stay in a NOAA facility until Sunday. From there, they'll be transported by boats to the islands where they were each found, in voyages that could take up to a week. "At the Coast Guard, we pride ourselves on being lifesavers, and this is a unique opportunity where we can actually contribute to saving a species," said Eric Roberts, a marine mammal response coordinator with the Coast Guard. There are only about 1,200 monk seals left in the world. - See photos from AP via Yahoo

Stuck Cat Freed From Chimney

A couple in England was reunited with their missing cat, Snitch, after firefighters freed her from their chimney on Monday. Snitch had been missing for three days when Roger and Susan Gardner noticed meows coming from the chimney and called for help. "We bored a hole into the actual chimney, and the cat's paw shot out from the hole as if to say, 'I'm here!'” said Chris Jelfs of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service. They were able to pull the cat out through the hole. “We are delighted, it was brilliant watching them save our Snitch,” said Roger Gardner. - See photos from the U.K.'s Daily Mail

Image: Racine County K9 Nox

Police Dog Races to Partner's Aid

Nox, a Racine County, Wisconsin police dog, is being commended after coming to the aid of his partner during an attack on Saturday. While Deputy Clemens was monitoring traffic from inside his squad car, Nox started barking. Clemens “turned and saw a white male walking at an extremely fast pace going around the passenger side and front of the squad,” the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post on Sunday. “Before he could open his door the subject was within inches of the driver's side door. The subject's lips were separated and he was baring and clinching his teeth.” Clemens got out and escorted the subject to the front of the car, where he was about to pat him down for weapons. But the subject pushed him, and Clemens slipped on the ice. Nox jumped into action, leaping the open driver's side door and biting the subject on the left wrist. “Awesome job, Nox!” read the post. The subject was taken into custody and charged with battery to an officer.” - Read it at People Pets

Anderson Cooper Introduces New Puppy

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper has a new love in his life. Seven months after the death of his cherished Welsh Springer Spaniel Molly, he shared an Instagram photo of his new pup of the same breed, Lilly. “My dog Molly passed away a few months ago. This weekend Lilly showed up! She's a Welsh Springer Spaniel. #TheRainbowComesAndGoes” he wrote. The Rainbow Comes and Goes is the name of the new best selling book he wrote with his mother, 92-year-old heiress Gloria Vanderbilt. Cooper is a well-known dog lover. In January, he made headlines when he donated enough money to cover the costs of ballistic vests for every police K9 in Norfolk County, Virginia, after a police dog died in a shootout there while helping to respond to a domestic violence call. - See photos at Today

April 13, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Fergie rescued from South Florida waters

Dog Rescued Off South Florida

A senior black Labrador Retriever mix was pulled out of the waters off Biscayne Bay in South Florida by a Miami Fire Rescue boat after swimming approximately 9 miles from her home in Coral Gables. A local resident spotted 14-year-old Fergie in the middle of the bay and called 911, and help was dispatched immediately. She swam directly at the rescue boat when she spotted it, and was warmed up once she was on board. Apparently while Fergie's owners were out, she jumped into the water in search of them. They didn't realize she could get out of the house. Wagging her tail ecstatically, Fergie was reunited with her family once she was safely back on shore. - Read it at People Pets

Britain's Foreign Office Hires Shelter Cat

A 2-year-old cat who was found wandering the streets of London now has a new job at an exclusive address in the city. Britain's Foreign Office worked with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to fill the position of Chief Mouser at their King Charles Street building with its most qualified feline. “He's a very confident cat, loves being with people, and enjoys a good chin rub,” said Battersea's Lindsey Quinlan. “If his behavior at Battersea is anything to go by, we predict Palmerston will be a formidable feline, very deserving of his new name.” The cat was named after a former prime minister. He joins the government's other famed mousers, including Larry, who lives at Prime Minister David Cameron's home at 10 Downing Street, and Freya, who lives next door with the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne's family. - Read it at the U.K.'s BBC News

Wolf and Lynx Meet in the Wild

Endangered wildlife in Europe is on the rebound, and a remote camera captured rare footage of a wolf and a lynx family having an unusual encounter. The animals didn't seem to know what to make of each other, and would challenge each other as they got closer. Eventually, the lynx appears to chase the wolf off into the snowy landscape. - Watch it at Live Science

Image: Great Dane stuck in tree

Great Dane Stuck in Tree

When Wes McGuirk returned to his Nebraska home after going out to dinner on Saturday night, he couldn't find his Great Dane. Using a flashlight, he searched the backyard and thought he heard something. “I heard the whimper again, and it was above me,” he said. There was Kora, his 120-pound pooch, standing on a tree branch 20 feet up. “I was like, 'How on earth did you get up there?'” he said. After trying unsuccessfully to get her down, McGuirk called for help. Local firefighters and police responded and were able to lower her from the tree to a tarp that they positioned under her. Kora wasn't injured in the incident, and was happy to be back on the ground. “This is one of those calls that had a great outcome and will not soon be forgotten,” the Plattsmouth Volunteer Fire Department posted on Facebook. - Read it at Ohio's Fox 8

Dog and Cat BFFs Adopted Together

Days after a sweet video showed their touching reunion at the Helen Woodward Animal Center in California, a dog-and-cat duo was adopted together. Ami, an 18-month-old Shepherd, smothered her companion, a 9-month-old cat named Mikaela, with kisses when they were able to visit with each other at the shelter. They were being kept in separate kennels because of their size difference. Their former family, who surrendered them because they had to move out of the country, said the pair connected from the moment they brought the kitten home. The shelter said on Monday that the besties had been adopted together, and shared a photo of them with their new family on Facebook. - Read it at NBC Los Angeles