THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTA — A Grayson woman has been charged with arson and cruelty to animals after she allegedly set fire to a home she was renting and her two cats were killed.
The fire occurred at 27-year-old Sarah Sheridan’s Snellville home on Oct. 6. Gwinnett County Fire spokesman Tommy Rutledge said investigators found an accelerant inside the home where Sheridan was living alone. (more…)
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ROANOKE, Va. — Workers at a Roanoke pet store joined firefighters in safely evacuating puppies, cats and other pets after a back room fire filled the store with dense smoke.
Workers told The Roanoke Times they didn’t think twice about rescuing the animals when smoke began filling a PetSmart store Saturday afternoon. Roanoke fire spokeswoman Tiffany Bradbury says no injuries were reported as some 80 puppies, cats, gerbils and other animals were safely plucked from the Valley View Mall. (more…)
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SALEM, Ore. — Tammy Thompson lives in a tarp-covered tent on Salem’s fringe, sharing her “little spot in the woods” with three much-loved dogs.
“They’re my children. They’re everything to me,” said Thompson, 44.
That’s why she was grateful for a local program that provides free exams, vaccinations and medications for the pets of homeless people. The aim is to improve public safety and show compassion for homeless people. (more…)
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JOHNSON CITY, Texas — When an elderly Johnson City woman known as the “cat lady” died, leaving behind more than 100 felines, the question arose about what would happen to her precious pets.
Blanco County has no animal control agency or animal shelter, so the 72-year-old woman’s neighbors knew they had to step in and help. (more…)
THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Little Rock animal control officers came across some familiar pygmy goats this week that weren’t supposed to be living in the South End neighborhood anymore after their owner lost a court case regarding them last year.
Lisa TwoRivers appeared in Pulaski County Circuit Court in February 2008 and was fined $1 for violating a city ordinance that prohibits keeping any goats within 300 feet of other residences. (more…)
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BALTIMORE — Socks, the White House cat during the Clinton administration who waged war on Buddy the pup, has died. He was about 18.
Socks had lived with Bill Clinton’s secretary, Betty Currie, in Hollywood, Md., since the Clintons left the White House in early 2001. (more…)
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A new fee for pet owners would help pay for building and operating animal shelters throughout the state, under a bill filed Monday.
The measure by Rep. Clark Hall, D-Marvell, would impose a $3 fee for veterinarian visits for cats and dogs. That money would be placed in a trust fund, under the Arkansas Department of Health, and doled out to cities and counties for their animal shelters. (more…)
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A dog has died after being drenched with toxic household cleaners by a burglar in Michigan.
Nancy Sheppard was at work Tuesday when someone entered her home in Kalamazoo and poured the liquids over her dachshund mix Lucky. A neighbor noticed Sheppard’s front door open and called the police. (more…)
THE DETROIT FREE PRESS
DETROIT — Maybe this award will put some bark back in Chrysler’s sales: Dogcars.com has released its selections for top dog-friendly vehicles, and the Dodge Caravan won the Best In Show Award. (more…)
AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB
Premiering at number one in its opening weekend, Marley & Me is sure to be a hit, but the American Kennel Club would like to remind moviegoers about the importance of making careful, educated decisions when considering adding a dog to their family.
Distributed by Twentieth Century Fox, Marley & Me is the big-screen adaptation of the best-selling book by John Grogan. (more…)
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
For the kittens dashing and tumbling around the room, the Washington Humane Society’s first Kittengarten class is all about the playtime.
But for the humans and the shelter there’s a bigger goal: making sure that cats are healthy and happy in their adoptive homes — and that they stay there. (more…)
THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB
Tis’ the season to deck the halls and trim the tree, but the American Kennel Club warns pet owners of the dangers that lurk among many of the season’s shiny ornaments and festive decorations. To keep your holidays free from emergency visits to the vet, the AKC offers the following tips to dog-proof your home from potential hazards. (more…)
McCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
BOISE, Idaho — “Oh, isn’t he cute? My little smootchie-wootchy!” Some women talk baby-talk to their boyfriend or husband.
Some folks talk baby-talk to, well, babies.
And some of us talk baby-talk — to our animals. (more…)
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ROSEMONT, Ill. — Until last week, I thought I was the owner of one pampered pooch.
After all, Macy Mae and I celebrated our first year together — a day henceforth celebrated in late June as Adoption Day — with a bone-shaped carob cake, a cadre of canine pals and a bright yellow kiddie pool perfect for wading. (more…)
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BAGHDAD — Ratchet the Iraqi puppy finally had his day.
An animal rescue group flew into Baghdad on Sunday and picked up the dog, which was adopted by Army Spc. Gwen Beberg, 28, of Minneapolis in a case that highlighted military rules barring troops from caring for pets while in Iraq. (more…)
David Mare displays a Turkish Angora at the Sixth Annual Iams Cat Championship on Saturday in New York. (AP Photo)
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Barack Obama and John McCain will attend a New York cat show this weekend — Obama the Bombay cat and McCain the American Shorthair, that is.
The two felines are vying for the title of “Purr-fect President” at the Cat Fanciers’ Association-IAMS 2008 championship that opens Saturday at Madison Square Garden. (more…)
A dog and his owner enjoy the festivities at the Humane Society’s Howl-O-Ween Festival on Saturday at the Clinton Library. Click here to view our gallery of this event. (Photo by Focus/BRYAN THORNHILL)
The Clinton Library was overrun with about 75 dogs of all shapes and sizes Saturday as animal lovers brought out their pets for the Humane Society Walk for the Animals at the Howl-O-Ween Festival. (more…)
These dogs are dressed to the nines as they parade down the runway at the second annual Paws on the Runway at the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock. (Photo by Focus/BRYAN THORNHILL)
For more photos of these high-fashion canines visit focus.arkansasonline.com.
The event was sponsored by CARE for Animals of Little Rock.
PHIL KLOER
COX NEWS SERVICE
ATLANTA — Could you get more ways to hook readers with a title than the new book Ghost Cats of the South?
Randy Russell, a North Carolina folklore scholar who collects ghost stories, has written 22 tales of undead kitties, based on local legends, including a piano-playing ghost cat in Atlanta. It’s a sequel to his book, Ghost Dogs. (more…)
In this photo provided by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Army Sgt. Gwen Beberg of Minneapolis cuddles Ratchet, a puppy she and another soldier rescued from a burning trash pile in Iraq.
MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE
Army Sgt. Gwen Beberg isn’t having an easy year in Iraq. When the Spring Lake Park, Minn., native bonded with an abandoned puppy found whimpering in a burning trash heap in Baghdad, she wanted to make sure the black-and-white mutt named Ratchet made it home with her.
On Oct. 1, Beberg placed 6-month-old Ratchet on an Army convoy to the Baghdad airport, where he was to be flown to her parents’ home in Minnesota by a rescue group called Operation Baghdad Pups. (more…)
LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Of you didn’t know any better, you’d think Sammi was just a typical dog.
But watch him as he trots his way into California Animal Rehabilitation in Santa Monica and you may think differently. The lobby just erupts.
“Sammi!” squeals a receptionist. “Everyone, look! It’s Sammi!” (more…)
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Sammy, a Shetland sheepdog, wouldn’t touch his food, retreating to a corner of the yard and devouring mouthfuls of dirt — behavioral oddities his owner later learned came from a lifetime of abuse as a “stud” in a large puppy mill.
The 10 years of caged confinement Sammy endured would have been illegal under a bill signed late Thursday by Gov. Ed Rendell. The governor, who owns two rescued golden retrievers, and other dog advocates hope the new law will help Pennsylvania shed its reputation as the puppy mill capital of the East. (more…)
Rescue in the Rock focuses on pets and champions animal rescue in central Arkansas. It's also a resource for owners and rescuers, linking organizations around the state and country. Please feel free to email me
suggestions or news tips. Krisha Williams Turbeville is news editor for ArkansasOnline.
KRISHA WILLIAMS-TURBEVILLE
Central Arkansas Rescue Effort for Animals has teamed with Cafe Press to offer products sporting the CARE logo, with proceeds going to the rescue organization.
This 100% cotton shirt is available in five sizes. There is black trim on the sleeves and collar.
The doggy shirt is $18.99 before shipping and can be purchased from Cafe Press here.
KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE
Coffee connosieurs who want to help homeless pets, fear no more!
The Animal Rescue Site has for sale a French coffee press edged in a steel design featuring the site's signature paw prints.
A French press is ideal for getting just the right brew and freshness.
The Paw Print Coffee Press, made of glass and steel, holds 350ml and measures 8 in. by 4 in. in diameter.
Buying the Paw Print press, which is on sale from $16.95 to $12, will pay for 14 bowls of food for pets in need.
For more information or to buy, please visit The Animal Rescue Site's store here.
