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. (more…)

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. (more…)

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. (more…)

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.

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. (more…)

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. (more…)

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. (more…)

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.” (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…)

PHOTOS BY SUSAN LOESCH

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

RESCUE IN THE ROCK

What began with a phone call to Animal Planet ended in the rescue of 25 dogs, a raccoon, four cats and a horse when four central Arkansas rescue groups helped an overwhelmed El Paso woman.

Animal Planet Executive Producer Dan Jackson said the footage would premiere sometime in July on a new, as yet unnamed show.

“It will be about helping people who have too many animals,” Jackson said. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CAHOKIA, Ill. — Mr. Muggles strolled through St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia recently as if he had been flying all his life. But it was his first flight and one that helped save the dog’s life.

Mr. Muggles is a puggle, a cross between a pug and a beagle, and was flown into the Metro East from Arkansas, where he was on death row at an animal shelter.

Melanie O’Brien, of IlMo Pug Rescue, arranged for the dog to be flown in, and she will have him listed for adoption in a few days, she said. (more…)

ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Two Johnson County women charged with felony animal cruelty for running a mass dog breeding operation were sentenced to probation and given fines after they pleaded no contest to all eight counts against them.

Deputy prosecutor Bruce Wilson said Christine Yarrington, 60, and Lynn Burkett, 51, were sentenced Wednesday in Johnson County Circuit Court to five years’ probation and were fined $1,500 each, plus court costs.

They also were prohibited from having any animals in their possession and were ordered to undergo counseling on proper ownership and treatment of animals, Wilson said. (more…)

BRENDA LOOPER

501PETS

Saturday may have started out as a damp and dreary day, but that didn’t stop participants at the 11th annual Paws on the Pavement from having a good time.

As runners and walkers lined up with their pooches at Murray Park in Little Rock for the start of the 1K Fun Run/Walk, the atmosphere was jovial, with dogs sniffing their neighbors while their owners chatted with old and new friends.

By that time, several of the participants had already run the 5K earlier in the morning, and were ready for a little cool-down with their best friends on four legs. (more…)

THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

A Pulaski County Quorum Court committee wants Public Works Director Sherman Smith to study implementing a pet-licensing program to encourage people to spay and neuter animals in an effort to reduce strays in unincorporated areas and those being euthanized by North Little Rock.

Steve Goss, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said he added the issue to the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting after a good friend who volunteers at the North Little Rock animal shelter at Burns Park lamented over how many animals were being euthanized there.

In 2009, North Little Rock’s animal shelter in Burns Park took in 1,863 dogs and 1,148 cats from North Little Rock, said Billy Grace, North Little Rock’s animal control director. Another 656 dogs and 116 cats were brought in from the county, for a total of 3,783 animals. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BECKLEY, W.Va. — Her first name was borrowed, appropriately as time would tell, from Summer Bartholomew, the 1975 winner of the Miss USA Pageant.

Her last name is Wyatt.

“Just like Earp,” she smiled, explaining the spelling that mirrors that of the legendary lawman who joined his brothers and Doc Holliday in the famed Gunfight at the OK Corral. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TULSA, Okla. — Officials with animal shelters and rescue groups in Oklahoma say the economic downturn has reduced donations and led to the abandonment of more animals.

Jamie Suarez, president and founder of Tulsa-based Oklahoma Alliance for Animals, said many shelters and animal rescue groups are being inundated with animals.

She said she also knows of instances in which people have left behind pets in foreclosed-upon homes because they’re afraid to take them to a shelter. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATLANTA — The number of cats and dogs put down at metro Atlanta animal shelters is rising amid sharp budget cuts.

The number of cats and dogs destroyed at animal shelters in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties has jumped 24 percent in the last two years. Those five core metro Atlanta counties killed almost 30,000 cats during that time.

Gwinnett County led the metro area with 7,588 dogs and cats put down in 2009. County officials say almost half of the animals were destroyed because the shelter could not house them. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OVERLAND, Mo. — Bob and Tammy Young of Overland started a high-tech search when their sheltie Sophie ran away in December, but an old-fashioned dog tag is what reunited them nearly three months later.

The 2-year-old dog darted out the front door in December when the Youngs and other family members were decorating for Christmas. The timid dog apparently didn’t like all the commotion, and she ran outside when the Youngs’ adult son was leaving. After he chased Sophie for four blocks, she was out of sight.

Bob Young, 48, said he was beside himself. (more…)

THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

The national Tour For Life, an animal-adoption campaign that encourages giving stray dogs and cats a home, will stop in North Little Rock on April 20 at Lakewood Village.

The event will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lakewood Village, 2851 Lakewood Village Drive, in North Little Rock. The tour stop in North Little Rock is in partnership with the North Little Rock Animal Shelter.

The tour, sponsored by the North Shore Animal League and in its ninth year, annually travels to about 20 cities nationwide to help bring attention to finding homes for dogs and cats. (more…)

DEWITT ERA-ENTERPRISE

DeWitt PRIDE is working on its line-up of events and programs to bring more people onto Court Square and a lot of their plans include dogs.

A few dog-related events to raise funds for the new Caring 4 Canines program have turned into a full-day festival, with a dog clinic, dog washes, a dog parade, pictures with your pets and a pet show scheduled for May 1.

Add to that a swap meet, a “March of the Monarchs” butterfly program, face painting and a street dance with live music, and you have what organizers are hoping will be a big day on the Square. DeWitt PRIDE members firmed up many of the details Monday at their regular meeting in City Hall. (more…)

THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ralph Houser, a Pittsboro veterinarian, sees his work teaching euthanasia classes to shelter workers as a public service.

But on Facebook, some animal rights activists have their own descriptions: “Dr. Death,” ”Hitler incarnate,” author of “the final solution” for shelter pets in North Carolina.

“EUTHANIZE Dr. Houser,” one wrote. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN FRANCISCO — Animal shelters must keep stray animals for four weekdays before putting them to death.

A state appeals court has ruled that shelters can no longer count Saturday as a business day when determining how long to keep an animal. The ruling affects state laws that set different holding times for dogs, cats and other animals.

The ruling was in response to the 2006 case of a Berkeley woman whose dog was impounded in Pinole on a Thursday and relinquished to another person on a Wednesday. The shelter argued that it had held the dog for four business days as required by law–Friday, Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday. (more…)