The Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi) is a native freshwater turtle found in the Rio Grande drainage, including southeastern New Mexico, where biologists are studying its status and habitat needs. Photo Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service This summer, biologists will return to the Black River in Eddy County to study one of New Mexico’s lesser-known native turtles. The Rio Grande cooter, one of New Mexico’s 10 native turtle species, is listed

On March 27, Sgt. Claude Smith and Officer Ethan Martin of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission rescued a bald eagle entangled in fishing line near the Haw River by the B. Everett Jordan Dam in Chatham County, North Carolina. NC Wildlife officers rescue a bald eagle entangled in fishing line on the Haw River, March 27. Photo credit: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission via Facebook A bald eagle struggles in the Haw River after be

National Hug Your Dog Day is a joyful way to celebrate the unconditional love dogs bring into our lives. Today offers an opportunity to appreciate our beloved companions who stay by our side through everything, bringing comfort, happiness, and constant affection. Looking for ways to celebrate your furry friend? Here are a few ideas: Hug Your Pup, Or Maybe Don’t The day is meant to celebrate affection, but a hug may not feel like affection to a dog. When a person wraps their a

April 8 is National Dog Fighting Awareness Day, established by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 2014 as part of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. Dogfighting is a felony offense in all 50 states and a federal crime under the Animal Welfare Act , which has prohibited animal fighting ventures since 1976. Federal convictions may bring about penalties of up to 5 years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine per count . Attending a dogfight or brin

With their round faces and gentle, lumbering movements, giant pandas have a natural charm that is difficult to resist. With only around 1,900 giant pandas remaining in the wild, human affection for these animals has never mattered more.

Waiting until 6 months to spay or neuter a cat may be too late. Feline Fix by Five, a national campaign observed each February during National Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, urges cat owners to sterilize pets by five months of age, and veterinary research supports early spay and neuter.

Week after week, potential adopters scroll past the rescue brown and black dogs posted online. At the shelter, visitors walk past kennels with no kennel cards displaying engaging photos that would make them stop and take a second look.

Australian Shepherds did not originate in Australia. The breed was shaped in the American West by ranchers who needed dogs that could handle long days, rough terrain, and large flocks. In the nineteenth century, ranchers imported sheep from Australia, and the dogs that came with those flocks may have influenced the name. The herding dogs bred on American soil proved themselves in the field and gradually became known as Australian Shepherds. These dogs wake up ready for action

Birdwatching in winter connects people of all ages to nature, supports mental health, and helps protect birds through simple actions that anyone can take at home.

In a proactive move, Madison, Wisconsin, has enacted a ban prohibiting the sale of cats and dogs in all retail pet stores. The ordinance bars pet stores from selling, offering for sale, or delivering dogs or cats within city limits. Civil penalties apply for violations. Motivated by concerns about shelter overpopulation and the welfare of animals from commercial breeders or puppy mills, city leaders acted before any stores began sales.

The CDC’s shutdown of its macaque research program has put nearly 200 primates in limbo, raising new questions about federal oversight and long-term animal welfare. As the agency winds down decades of infectious-disease studies, advocates and sanctuaries are watching closely to see where the macaques will go next.

The door clicks shut, and the sound tightens every muscle in the room. Fear arrives before the veterinarian. The air hums with the scent of disinfectant and tension. Fear crouches in carriers, slides under tables, and trembles on cold steel. A happy dog leaning into its vet captures what fear-free care looks like when pets feel safe. Image: Shutterstock In a 2019 study of over 26,000 dogs , more than half exhibited fear during veterinary visits. One in seven shook in terror.

When the ASPCA pulled several dogs from an apartment in New York City, Tiki was among them. Tiki was believed to be around five years old and arrived deeply fearful. He would lay in his crate without moving, avoided eye contact, and sometimes soiled himself out of fear.

Happy National Pet Obesity Awareness Day! Keeping furry best friends happy and healthy is a lifelong responsibility. The right balance of nutrition, exercise, and love helps them live longer and more comfortably.

A 17-year-old Shih Tzu mix named Meatball, who is both blind and deaf, was rescued after being trapped for nearly 30 hours in a storm drain in St. Tammany Parish. Because of Meatball's advanced age and physical limitations, there were, of course, very real fears about his ability to make his way back home.

A federal judge has vacated a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision denying Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the West, ruling the agency failed to use the best available science.

A female bottlenose dolphin stranded in a shallow lagoon in Bluffton, South Carolina has been safely rescued and returned to her natural habitat, thanks to a coordinated effort involving marine biologists, local firefighters, and a few helpful neighbors.

On the evening of June 17, 2025, in Bladen County, North Carolina, a curious dog named Koopa got his head stuck in a tire, prompting a coordinated rescue involving local firefighters, EMS personnel, and veterinary staff.

A happy dog enjoys the safety Washington State's new animal cruelty law is meant to protect. Photo by Justin Veenema on Unsplash...

On the morning of May 9, 2025 Pennsylvania State Senator Frank Farry was driving to the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association convention in Bethlehem when a strange noise coming from under the hood of his SUV made him pull over in Middletown Township.