Pets
Search for missing pup in Yellowstone is under pressure as winter nears
A small dog that’s been on the loose in Yellowstone National Park for a month has been spotted crossing intersections, strolling through employee housing and entering lodges through automatic doors. Yet Luna, a Jack Russell terrier from California, has eluded capture. And with winter closing in, volunteers in the search for the dog say its […]
Wagging tails fill a Philippine church where priests bless pets for St. Francis feast
MANILA, Philippines | It’s a day for wagging tails, happy faces and a special annual blessing at a church in the Philippine capital. Every Oct. 4, Catholics mark the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology, remembered for his humility, compassion and deep love for all living things. […]
Girl Scouts’ first cookies for dogs will go on sale in January
Man’s best friend is getting some love from the Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts of the USA said Tuesday its first cookies for dogs will go on sale in January. The blueberry muffin-flavored cookies were developed with Bark, a New York-based seller of dog treats and toys. The cookies, dubbed Patch Pals, will only be sold […]
Ukraine’s president coos over a puppy, starting a new volley in his war of visuals against Russia
KYIV, Ukraine | Wait. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s war chief, holding a puppy? Yes, and it’s no accident. In a collision of dog lovers, sports and ongoing war with Russia, the Ukrainian president was seen on video Tuesday as never before — cuddling and cooing over a floppy, 3-month-old American pit bull terrier, handed to […]
Concerns about the New World screwworm have put Texas pet adoptions on hold
Adoptions are on hold for thousands of dogs and cats in Texas, potentially putting the animals at risk of being euthanized, because of efforts to stop the spread of the New World screwworm, an insect that has crossed the border from Mexico into the United States for the first time in 60 years. The flesh-eating […]
Hundreds of guinea pigs fill Massachusetts sanctuary with squeals, purrs and lots of love
SALISBURY, Mass. | Kimie Smothermon begins each day greeted by the squeals, chirps and purrs of nearly 400 guinea pigs. Depending on who you ask, tending to the daily barrage of guinea pig needs can be either a fairy tale or a horror show. For Smothermon, it’s often a mix of both. “If I could […]
Corgis run, bark and sniff their way to glory at a growing international race
VILNIUS, Lithuania | It’s not all about short-legged speed when 150 corgis gather for an international race celebrating the little dogs. There’s a costume parade, the “smartest nose,” and — of course — the loudest bark. The fifth Corgi Race Vilnius drew dogs and their owners to the Lithuanian capital’s Vingis park on Saturday for […]
Photos show the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest in California
SANTA ROSA, Calif. | The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Friday. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. Read more Hayden Panettiere, who starred in ‘Heroes’ and ‘Nashville,’ dies at 36
Gene-edited beagles may offer a future option for people with dog allergies
NEW YORK | Matt Walker couldn’t pet a dog without sneezing — until he and other scientists used a gene editing technique to produce a hypoallergenic beagle named Bailey. Now, he can feed Bailey spoons of peanut butter while she lies on his lap and play fetch with her in Central Park. His allergies didn’t […]
Leave it: Dog trainers help pets avoid venomous snakes
TUCSON, Ariz. | Ripley, a medium-sized dog with a strong prey drive, curiously approached Brian, a large western diamondback rattlesnake, until she got a quick zap on the neck meant to simulate a venomous viper’s bite. Suddenly, the 2-year-old blue heeler mix wanted nothing to do with Brian’s textured brown skin or furiously rattling tail. […]