Dad Surprises Family Dog With Amazing Act Of Kindness

Meet Igor — a goofy, adorable, pampered bulldog. When it came time for Igor’s dad to start planning the family holiday, he was saddened to realize Igor couldn’t come along, too. After all, Igor had never spent a night away from the family.  Igor’s dad couldn’t stand the thought of leaving his best friend behind, especially without a familiar place to stay. A boring cage wasn’t good enough for the bulldog’s first kennel visit. So, Dad decided to do something incredible, and his family had no idea.

http://tinyurl.com/pf6n3qv

Texas Bans Gas Chambers for Animals

Thanks to you and animal lovers all over the country, gas chambers are now banned in the great state of Texas!

http://tinyurl.com/azbtsn8

Video: Can Music Heal Your Pet?

Music has charms to soothe the savage beast. But how about for pets? Veterinarians are using music to help soothe sick patients.

http://tinyurl.com/b8r7lky

Celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week

It's National Pet Week and Be Kind to Animals Week -- yes, our fuzzy overlords are so powerful, they now get simultaneous celebratory weeks.

http://tinyurl.com/d2xhsob

New Device Can Track Lost Pets By Phone

Panic is probably the only way to describe it when you realize your dog or cat is missing.  People used to have put up posters, hoping someone would find their furry friend.

http://tinyurl.com/c8jqwyt

For Pets' Quality of Life, Some States Better Than Others

Some dogs sleep outside and guard the house. Others have wardrobes and spend their day in a purse.  A new study shows that dogs and cats have a better chance at a long, healthy life in some states than in others. Louisiana and Mississippi offer the shortest average life span for dogs and cats, while pets in Colorado and Montana live longer, according to the 2012 State of Pet Health Report released by Banfield Pet Hospital, the world's largest veterinary practice.

http://tinyurl.com/ct3qdue

NYC Mayoral Hopefuls Express Support for Animal Rights

Bill de Blasio bragged that his two children were vegetarians.  William C. Thompson Jr. noted that he had a rescued cat.  Sal F. Albanese said his mother-in-law’s life was lengthened by the companionship of a Chihuahua named Joey.

http://tinyurl.com/d7satzm

Hong Kong Risks Losing Its Pink Dolphins

Conservationists warned Monday that Hong Kong may lose its rare Chinese white dolphins, also known as pink dolphins for their unique color, unless it takes urgent action against pollution and other threats.

http://tinyurl.com/cg2mdcz

Adopt A Pet In New York City

Every week The Huffington Post New York features city animals up for adoption, in partnership with Animal Care & Control of New York City.  A nonprofit organization, AC&C gives shelter to more than 30,000 dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals each year.  Interested in a new pet? AC&C has adoption centers in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island, all open daily from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

http://tinyurl.com/d6q82og

Frazzled by Finals? De-Stress with Fido

There’s just something about dogs that makes you feel good.  This week and next week, calming canines are helping relax Montana State University students who are preparing for final exams.“Paws to de-Stress” brings dogs from Intermountain Therapy Animals to Renne Library on campus.

http://tinyurl.com/capzeo8

How Animals Mourn

For two years, Barbara J. King, a professor of anthropology at the College of William and Mary, has studied how animals react to death. In her new book, “How Animals Grieve” (University of Chicago Press), she argues that a wide variety of creatures including dogs and cats feel the pain of losing a loved one. Here, she explains why grief may be an emotion many animals share.

http://tinyurl.com/cv9zar4

Whales 'Pass on Hunting Techniques'

Humpback whales can pass a good idea on to each other in much the same way as humans, scientists have learned.  A new hunting technique invented after the whales were hit by a food crisis has spread to 40% of the humpback population off New England, US.

http://tinyurl.com/d8ngpk6

Today is Animal Advocacy Day

Animal advocates joining forces on Tuesday, April 30 to celebrate National Animal Advocacy Day—and the public is invited!  Advocates across the nation are going to spend the day on the phone, calling members of Congress and urging them to ban horse slaughter once and for all.

http://tinyurl.com/brc756r

When Best Friends Can Visit

A year and a half ago, Ruth London lay in intensive care in a hospital in Boca Raton, Fla., with severe pneumonia, delirious and hallucinating that she was in jail.

http://tinyurl.com/bdv9f8o

Lil Bub Hits the Tribeca Film Festival

If you are the type of person who is inclined to watch YouTube videos of cute animals doing even cuter things, you’ve probably encountered Lil Bub: the adorable, wall-eyed kitten with a perpetually protruding strawberry pink tongue.

http://tinyurl.com/bynyzn2

Subway Dogs

Stray dogs are commuting to and from a city center on underground trains in search of food scraps.  The clever canines board the Tube each morning.  After a hard day scavenging and begging on the streets, they hop back on the train and return to the suburbs where they spend the night.

http://tinyurl.com/qp63mq

Dogs Provide Comfort to the Suffering in Boston

Lutheran Church Charities' K-9 Comfort Dogs traveled to Boston following the marathon bombings to help residents and victims cope.

http://tinyurl.com/cvopbmz

Britain Bans Wild Animals from Traveling Circuses

Traveling circus shows in Britain have gone to the dogs — literally. A new law banning wild animals from traveling with the circus around the country takes effect in 2015, and then only dogs, cats and rabbits will be allowed on board.

http://tinyurl.com/co35x9q

National Pet ID Week

It’s National Pet Identification Week. Do you know where your pet's tags are?

http://tinyurl.com/d234zof

Cat Lived Off McDonald's for a Year

A cat addicted to fast food has been rescued by the SPCA and put on a health plan to help him kick his McDonald's addiction, according to New Zealand news website Stuff.co.nz.

http://tinyurl.com/bpmwbax