THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HELENA, Mont. — Two young goats wandered onto the thin ledge of a railroad bridge and spent nearly two days high above the ground until rescuers in a towering cherry picker plucked them from their perch, hungry but safe. The video is available at KRTV’s website.

The rescue occurred Wednesday 60 feet above a little-trafficked rural roadway in southern Montana between Billings and Roundup, after a caller told the Rimrock Humane Society the goats were stranded on the 6-inch ledge.

The young female animals weighing 25 and 35 pounds mostly stayed on the angled ledge, even though there was a wider surface area on a pillar just a few feet away. Read the rest of this entry →

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Several states including Arkansas are considering constitutional protections for hunting in a preemptive move to thwart efforts of advocacy groups to make shooting animals illegal.

Arkansas, Arizona, South Carolina and Tennessee have referendums for constitutional amendments on the ballot this year. Kentucky is poised to follow in 2012.

If successful, they would join 10 other states that already have constitutional protections to ensure that hunting could never be outlawed without a statewide vote of the people. Read the rest of this entry →

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Washington County sheriff’s deputies say they’ve captured a snake that might have endangered small children or pets.

A telephone call from a resident near Farmington reported a large snake on the front porch of the caller’s home.

But the snake was not a rattlesnake, water moccasin or copperhead, all native to Arkansas. It was a 9.5-foot Burmese python, a constrictor that disables its prey by coiling around them and squeezing. Read the rest of this entry →

THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Who needs Capistrano when we have Lake Ouachita?

If you were planning a pilgrimage to California to see the swallows return to Capistrano, forget it. The swallows did not return this year.

The birds flew past the historic mission of San Juan Capistrano, 16 lanes of traffic and smog-filled horizons of Los Angeles to build homes on the eaves of a golf course clubhouse. There, greens keepers busy themselves by destroying the swallows’ nests. Read the rest of this entry →

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A boxer witnesses said was thrown out of a car onto a five-lane highway in Greenbrier on Saturday and struck by two cars is now able to walk, veterinarian Melissa Lombardi said.

Faulkner County deputies arrested Doyle Scroggin 5 miles south in Conway after receiving a 911 call from witnesses who said Scroggin dumped the dog, now named Peyton, on U.S. 65.

He faces charges of felony cruelty to animals, driving while intoxicated and littering. Read the rest of this entry →

THE LOG CABIN DEMOCRAT

A Little Rock man was arrested by Conway police Friday after he allegedly threw a dog into traffic on Highway 65.

Doyle Scroggin, 37, was arrested for felony animal cruelty and suspicion of DUI after witnesses say he threw the animal onto the highway.

According to Major Andy Shock with the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office, citizens alerted officers after Scroggin allegedly stopped his vehicle in the middle lane of Highway 65 just north of the Greenbrier Animal Clinic. Witnesses said he got out of his car and removed the dog from the back seat. According to statements, he then threw the dog into the highway and kicked it before driving away. Read the rest of this entry →

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

Faulkner County will hold its Pet Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Faulkner County Courthouse in Conway.

Any rescue organization or Faulkner County club wishing to participate will receive free booth space at 801 Locust St.

Food and merchandise vendors may buy a 10×10 space for $25. Paypal is accepted. Read the rest of this entry →

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

A group of volunteers were scheduled to be at the Little Rock Animal Village as early as 5 a.m. today to get 12 dogs onto the PetSmart Rescue Waggin’, bound for Northern states where there are more homes available to pets in need.

The Rescue Waggin transports adoptable dogs and puppies from overrun shelters to shelters where they are in demand, the city of Little Rock said in a news release Monday.

The Rescue Waggin Program has helped more than 37,000 dogs find new homes since it began operations in 2004, the release said.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis City Council committee is recommending mandatory spaying and neutering of dogs and cats.

The Commercial Appeal reported the proposal by Councilman Shea Flynn comes after dogs running loose attacked 71-year-old William Parker on July 20. Parker had a heart attack during the incident and died. A woman who let the dogs out of an apartment has been charged with negligent homicide.

Flynn’s proposal could require all cats over six months and any dogs over 30 pounds be spayed or neutered. There are exceptions for service animals and police dogs. Read the rest of this entry →

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MANILA, Ark. — The massive oil leak off Louisiana’s Gulf Coast has resulted in lower water levels at Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas, hundreds of miles to the north.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials who run the 11,000-acre refuge between Blytheville and Paragould in northeast Arkansas have drawn down the water to offer migratory birds an enticing habitat that the officials hope will encourage the birds to stay longer.

A longer stay at Big Lake, wildlife officials say, could keep the birds from flying further south to the Gulf Coast, where they might be harmed by the oil contamination. Read the rest of this entry →

Photo courtesy of Little Rock Animal Village

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

Turbo, a gray-and-white great dane, often complains about wanting outside to find his new family, staff at Little Rock Animal Village say. After months of recovery from starvation and abuse, Turbo won’t have to wait much longer.

The shelter is sponsoring an essay contest to choose the perfect home for the dog whose owner was the first person in Pulaski County to be charged with felony animal abuse, says Tracy Roark, manager of Little Rock Animal Services.

“This is an amazing dog,” Roark says. “It is what animal welfare is all about, a dog that has had a bad bad life now with a chance to live out the rest of his life in a loving home. Makes me proud of what we can do.” Read the rest of this entry →

Courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arkansas Field Office

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

The American Burying Beetle was the muse for Kristen Parker’s work of art, which beat more than 1,600 other entrants for the grand prize in the Arkansas Endangered Species Day Art Contest.

The Little Rock Christian Academy student put the endangered beetle atop a gauzy background of green and fall-colored leaves to win her category, Grades 10-12, and the overall contest entered by students from 76 traditional schools and 11 home schools around the state.

Parker won a $100 Visa card for placing first in her category and a $500 card for capturing the grand prize. Read the rest of this entry →

An Arkansas Democrat-Gazette file photo

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

Feline Rescue and Rehome of Little Rock received a $600 grant last week from Petfinder.com Foundation to vaccinate cats in its care for a year.

“This grant will make a huge difference toward ensuring the cats seen in our clinics will receive their vaccinations when owners cannot afford them and ease the burden for so many abandoned and homeless cats coming through our program,” said FURR President Lynn McAllester.

The money will buy feline viral rhinotracheitis vaccine, which protects cats from three contagious diseases: rhinotracheitis, calcivirus, and panleukopenia. Read the rest of this entry →

An Arkansas Democrat-Gazette file photo

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

Light rain Friday brought much needed relief to the northern and central parts of the state after this week’s heat wave put so much stress on livestock that some north Arkansas fire departments volunteered to hose down cattle.

Ranchers have seen some animals die, though rain Friday pushed temperatures down to the low 80s in Little Rock and Mountain Home, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures topped 100 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday in Mountain Home and reached 106 degrees in Little Rock. Read the rest of this entry →

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

A Mountain Home woman faces 23 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty after 14 starving dogs were seized from her property, said Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery.

Jeannie Marie Matticks, 47, was released from custody after posting $4,500 bail and will appear in Baxter County District Court on Aug. 19.

The dogs are receiving veterinary care at Baxter County Animal Control.

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

RESCUE IN THE ROCK

The national spotlight has again found Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog with an article in this month’s issue of Parents Magazine.

The magazine, with a circulation of more than 2 million, features the story of then 5-year-old Angelica Riggins, who was able to save herself and her dad, Kenneth, from their burning home.

The Tulsa elementary school student learned how to survive the fire and save her dad after watching a presentation by Sparkles and her owner, firefighter Dayna Hilton. Read the rest of this entry →

THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

At first glance, Lucky Chance has the demeanor of a carefree horse – happiest when he’s munching on hay, carrots and his favorites, horse cookies. The large scars on his body, however, paint a much darker picture.

After undergoing major surgeries from a September 2009 accident, the light brown-and-white horse was shown to public for the first time Sunday as the Humane Society of Pulaski County celebrated 10 years in its Colonel Glenn Road facility.

Humane Society Director Kay Simpson said Lucky Chance fell out of a horse trailer as it was being pulled by the horse’s previous owner, Danny Ferguson, 49, of Batesville. Read the rest of this entry →

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

The Humane Society of Pulaski County celebrated 10 years at its building at 14600 Colonel Glenn Road on Sunday.

Cake and free portraits with a pet adopted from the shelter were offered at the celebration.

The humane society needs foster homes for recently rescued pets. Read the rest of this entry →

THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

A Pulaski County woman was arrested Friday morning after sheriff’s deputies found at least 30 malnourished animals at her home, including horses, dogs and cats, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies arrested Shelia Ford, 43, on four felony counts and 30 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty after deputies found two of her horses loose and “in poor physical condition,” sheriff’s office spokesman Lt. Carl Minden said in a news release.

Ford was being held Friday evening at the Pulaski County jail in lieu of $20,676.58 bond, jail records show. Read the rest of this entry →

Photo courtesy of Out of the Woods Rescue — River and his new owner play.

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

RESCUE IN THE ROCK

No party is planned for the third anniversary of Out of the Woods Animal Rescue of Arkansas.

“We have too much to do!” said president Kathy Woods, who founded the nonprofit in 2007 to help animals other shelters in the area could not.

“We don’t turn people down. That’s what sets us apart,” Woods said. “We’ll help anybody who’s willing to take on the responsibility for the animals they’ve taken in.” Read the rest of this entry →

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

A cluster of thunderstorms flooded the Saline County Humane Society on Monday afternoon.

Several inches of water stood in part of the driveway and land between buildings, said Humane Society President Anne Sanders.

“It’s kind of deep down there,” Sanders said. “We have to wade through water to feed the animals.” Read the rest of this entry →

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CINCINNATI — Consumer products giant Procter & Gamble Co. said Sunday it is voluntarily recalling two lots of Iams brand prescription renal dry cat food because it could be contaminated with salmonella.

The products are available by prescription through veterinary clinics.

No illnesses have been reported, but an FDA analysis identified positive results on two lots of Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal 5.5 lbs: numbers 01384174B4 0 19014 21405 1 and 01384174B2 0 19014 21405 1. Read the rest of this entry →