Meet the Woman Who Reads to Shelter Dogs

After losing her beloved dog to pneumonia last year, Sandy Barbabella decided to help dogs at her local animal shelter armed only with her soothing voice and a stack of children's books.  "I go to the Humane Society to read to the dogs and pet them and talk to them,'' Barbabella told TODAY.com. "They do more for me than I do for them. So many of them are so scared and afraid that just the voice relaxes them. A lot of them lay against the door of the cage, and they sleep against the cage."

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Stray Kitten Lands Role on Broadway

A stray kitten named Alfonso won a cat casting call on Monday, pouncing on a role in the upcoming Broadway revival of “You Can’t Take it With You.”  Director Scott Ellis picked Alfonso out of 14 auditioning kittens, all rescues provided by the Humane Society.  Alfonso’s role calls for him to sit on a desk and eat as actress Kristine Nielsen pounds away on a typewriter.  During the auditions at the New 42nd Street Studios — which were also attended by co-star Rose Byrne — the kitties were placed, one by one, on top of the stage desk.

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Dogs Rescued from Hurricane Isaac

The ASPCA and other rescue groups have been working hard this week to save dogs, cats and other animals in the path of Hurricane Isaac. A particularly dramatic rescue took place at the Humane Society of South Mississippi, where 27 homeless dogs, such as Ace, were transported from Gulfport, Miss., to the Humane Society of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

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Hurricane Irene Pet Emergency Plan

As Hurricane Irene approaches the East Coast, it's critical not to forget the livelihood of your pets in making preparation plans for the storm. Some 600,000 pets were killed or left homeless from Hurricane Katrina six years ago, reports HurricaneKatrinaRelief.com. Below are some top pet preparation tips to ensure their safety.

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