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. (more…)

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.” (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CROSBY, Texas — A tip led animal rescue personnel to about 1,000 dogs, rabbits, hamsters and birds in dirty, cramped conditions in northeast Harris County.

Meera Nandlal, with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the home in the Crosby area was raided Thursday night.

Nandlal says the animals, allegedly for sale to pet stores, were found in cages and left in storage sheds. She says many did not have adequate food and water. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FENNER, N.Y. — About 50 to 60 cattle were trapped inside a dairy barn in the upstate New York town of Fenner after the structure’s roof partially collapsed under the weight of heavy snow.

Volunteer firefighters and neighbors worked to shovel the snow off the collapsed part of the barn to free the animals on Saturday and to assess the damage.

Smithfield Fire Chief Mark Bradbury said some cattle died in the 4:45 p.m. collapse at the Stone Brothers Farm and Greenhouse. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — Maria Medina was brokenhearted when her dogs disappeared, so she sent her grandchildren door-to-door in the Maywood neighborhood where she and her husband have lived for 20 years trying to find them.

The 70-year-old mother of nine, who has about 45 grandchildren, had no idea it was her German shepherd named Spikey who was hoisted by helicopter from the swollen Los Angeles River on Jan. 22 — a rescue televised on national television.

The firefighter who saved the dog fractured his thumb and lost a nail in his struggle to save the dog. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — Saving a German shepherd stuck in the rising Los Angeles River was the right thing to do, the risks were slight, rescue crews were on standby, extra taxpayer money wasn’t used and the alternatives were unacceptable, authorities said Monday.

The helicopter and swift water rescue crew members that saved the dog on Friday have been hailed as heroes, feted on television and radio and congratulated on the Web and in print. But they have also been vilified by a few in blogs, on social networks and story comment sections.

“You’re not going to please everybody. There’s always 10 percent, they either don’t like animals or think we are wasting taxpayer money,” Capt. Steve Ruda said. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — A dog rescued from a rain-swollen river by a Los Angeles firefighter dangling from a helicopter is doing fine and waiting for his owner to come claim him.

Diana Guzman of the Southeast Area Animal Control Authority says the three-year-old male German shepherd mix is healthy and relaxing Saturday, one day after the dramatic rescue caught by television cameras.

Guzman says the male dog, nicknamed Vernon after the town where he was found, will be held for five days, after which he will be put up for adoption. The dog did not have a name tag or identifying computer chip. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — A firefighter splashed into a rain-swollen river Friday to rescue a German shepherd and managed to hang on safely, even after the dog furiously bit his arm and hand.

Joe St. Georges, a 25-year Los Angeles Fire Department veteran, said he received a “real bite in the thumb” but was otherwise feeling fine.

He said he had no hard feelings toward the dog. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Nine sea turtles rescued from the cold along the Gulf of Mexico have died as dozens of others are cared for at the Texas State Aquarium and a rehab site.

Experts say blankets and warm-water baths are being used to nurse about 40 sea turtles back to health after last week’s cold snap. (more…)