ANIMALS

Pet website, Rover, has announced their list of top pet names, and it’s no surprise the “The Child” that captured the hearts of many was honored on this list.

Angels of Assisi's newest patient, Luna. a sweet four-legged mix abandoned at a park in Roanoke, and now in serious condition.

Inflation may be hitting home for the holidays, but pet owners aren’t letting that stop them from spoiling their furry friends.

A Roanoke animal shelter is dealing with one of its worst cases of animal cruelty in a long time.

If you can’t donate food, monetary donations will be doubled through Dec. 31 as part of a $75,000 matching gift program. We’re told some of that money will help with the food drive.

A prosthetic-tailed dolphin named Winter that starred in the “Dolphin Tale” movies has died at a Florida aquarium despite life-saving efforts by animal care experts.

You can roam with your favorite prehistoric animals this weekend with Jurassic Quest. Bridget shows us a sneak peek of what you can expect at the event.

World Wide Fund for Nature and the British Antarctic Survey hope half a million people globally can help sift through thousands of images.

This cute kitty gets to see another day thanks to one Virginia Tech Police Officer!

The United States Department of Agriculture is on a mission to prevent rabies from spreading in Southwest Virginia.

A massive alligator in South Carolina is going viral this week for his snack choice: a smaller, 6-foot alligator.

A bear attack along the Blue Ridge Parkway has prompted officials to close trails in the area and ban outdoor food.

Around 150 animals were evacuated to the UK, along with Paul "Pen" Farthing and animal shelter staff.

Our month-long initiative to get as many local pets adopted as possible has officially wrapped up!

Experts say vaccinating animals helps prevent COVID from spreading to humans.

Officials on Tuesday said at least 18 of the 20 gorillas at Atlanta’s zoo have now tested positive for COVID-19.

Mister Goodies is offering a free ice cream cone to anyone who donates a stuffed animal to the Teddy Bear Brigade that evening from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.

We have something you otter see!

Maryland prosecutors have charged a northern Virginia man with animal cruelty after the discovery of a suspected dogfighting arena earlier this year.

Because Animals believes the $90 billion pet food industry will embrace "clean meat," made from cultured cells in a lab not from livestock.

Meet Larry, the 4-year-old golden retriever that lives up to his breed name — in quite a colorful way.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture tested wild deer from January to March of this year and found 40% of the tested deer had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Angels of Assisi is hosting an emergency parvovirus vaccine clinic in response to an uptick in cases in the Roanoke Valley.

A love story as told by geese.

The Virginia Zoo is welcoming its first baby Southern white rhinoceros.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot of things going forward, one of which is the way pet owners and veterinarians interact during visits.

A life fulfilled for this “puppy with a purpose.”

The days after the Fourth of July are typically busy for animal shelters since many animals run away because they’re scared of the fireworks, but one Roanoke animal shelter didn’t see as many this year.

A four-legged friend will welcome Bluefield College students when they return to campus this fall.

It’s so hot out, even wildlife are trying to cool down.

A Roanoke animal shelter helped save more than 50 pets from a bad living situation in rural Tennesse on Friday.

An international group of scientists has called on Norway to halt plans for acoustic experiments on minke whales.

Animal spaceflights paved the way for the first human astronauts, and today, creatures big and small continue to space travel, advancing our knowledge of how the zero-gravity environment impacts all beings and aiding research down on Earth.

Over the weekend, a Texas woman hopped into a spider monkey enclosure at the El Paso Zoo to feed anmials Hot Cheetos, according to multiple reports.

An Alaska man survived 10 seconds of terror after a chance meeting with a large brown bear in a remote part of Alaska.

A married couple has pleaded guilty to using doughnuts and pastries to lure black bears in rural Florida, allowing packs of dogs to attack them and then posting the gruesome videos on social media.

The North Carolina Zoo has announced the birth of three litters of American red wolves, which are critically endangered and number less than two dozen in the wild.

Being hungry isn’t fun, but being hangry? Well, that’s ten times worse — especially when you’re an alligator.

Truth and reconciliation is painful. But to those who reject the idea of engaging across differences, I earnestly ask, what’s your endgame?

One of Netflix’s notorious “Tiger King” stars is continuing her quest to save all the cool cats and kittens in the world.

A dog named Luke is fighting for his life after he was shot three times.

One adorable pup gets to see another day thanks to two <a href="https://aep.com/news/stories/read/6088/Line-Mechanics-Rescue-Neighbors-Pup" target=_blank>Appalachian Power line mechanics</a>.

The Southwest Virginia Wildlist Center of Roanoke took a quack at saving one adorable baby mallard’s life.

Losing an animal can be heartbreaking and can bring on a lot of anxiety, but unfortunately, it’s something many people have experienced.

Black bear season is officially underway.

A Sunday afternoon fishing trip led to a record-breaking catch from one Rockbridge man.

Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke is helping rescue a cute baby black bear.

One cute four-legged thief has stolen thousands of hearts across the internet. The Duplin County Animal Services in North Carolina said the dog repeatedly broke into Dollar General to take a purple plush unicorn on March 21. When animal control was called, they decided to buy it for one-year-old Sisu. This is what happens when you break into the dollar general consistently to steal the purple unicorn that you layed... Posted by Duplin County Animal Services on Monday, March 22, 2021Since then, both the stuffed animal and Sisu will have a place they can call home. Mary Shannon Johnstone adopted and rescued Sisu on Thursday.

ROCKY MOUNT, Va. – The Franklin County Humane Society is able to give some kittening a little every together, love and “kare!”Purina donated 294 cases of canned food to the shelter Wednesday. Many thanks to Purina for their donation of 294 cases of canned pate food! https://www.facebook.com/purina/ Posted by Franklin County Humane Society Planned Pethood & Adoption Center on Wednesday, March 24, 2021Fundraisers and donations help keep them afloat. That’s easier to get than our Amazon wish list where there were a lot of things that were unavailable,” said Veterinary Technician for the Franklin County Humane Society Stephanie Arrington. Arrington encourages everyone to get their cat and local community cats that they see to get spay and neutered.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – A 9-year-old Minnesota boy was bitten by a shark as he body surfed in Miami Beach over the weekend, his parents said. Kristine Weiskopf told WPLG she and her son Jay were in the water for only a few minutes when the shark bit the boy. A Miami Beach Fire Rescue crew took the child to the hospital where surgeons closed the large wound, his mother said. That he’s gonna be OK,” the child’s father, Ren Weiskopf told the TV station. I don’t know if it’s just because of spring break of whatever, but the beach should be closed,” Ren said.

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, Va. – A pet German Shepherd was found dead inside a crate and dumped on the side of Raphine Road in the Gibbs Run area of Rockbridge County. “You’d think someone would try to hide what they’ve done, especially something this heinous and something they knew was wrong and illegal,” said Chief Deputy Tony McFaddin with the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office. “We don’t know why someone would do this.”Investigators found the dog back on Jan. 27 near the Augusta County line. The dog had four white paws and a blanket found inside the crate has a unique pattern. ”Somebody on either side of the county line knows who owns this dog,” said McFaddin.

Photo of the crate the German Shepherd was found in on the side of Raphine RoadROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, Va. – The Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a dog who was left on the side of the road back in January. The Sheriff’s Office said a call regarding a dead dog on the side of Raphine Road in the Gibbs Run area was reported on Jan. 27. When authorities arrived on the scene, they found a dog crate containing a dead German Shepherd with a blanket. Anyone with information is asked to call Deputy Capps at 540-463-7328. Authorities said a reward is being offered to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the dog’s death.

FORT MYERS, Fla. – A Florida woman says she had the shock of her life when she opened her garage door and came face-to-face with a 7-foot alligator. Torrie Heathcoat found the gator in the garage of her Fort Myers home Sunday night. “It was huge! His head was huge, his head was gigantic!” she says. Heathcoat said she had seen a gator swimming in a lake near their home earlier in the evening, and that her garage door was only open for a total of ten minutes before the gator was found hissing inside.

DANVILLE, Va. – A water rescue executed by the Danville Fire Department saved a dog that was trapped in a river. Crews responded to 229 Northside Drive for a report of a dog trapped near a log in the river. When crews arrived, they found the dog near a log that was entangled in some debris in the river. The rescue team was able to remove the dog from the debris and the dog swam back to the shoreline to his owner. The dog was uninjured and didn’t need further assistance from crews.

This image released by Amazon Studios shows Maria Bakalova, left, and Sacha Baron Cohen in a scene from "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm." The project was so secret, Bakalova has said she actually worried she was being recruited for human trafficking. But soon she was in London auditioning for Sacha Baron Cohen to star in his “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” as his yet-unknown 15-year-old daughter, Tutar. I mean, I think I’m a little bit awkward and weird as a person and the way that I’m behaving, with all of these gestures. And he’s probably the person to whom I’m going to be forever grateful.

The Los Angeles man adopted her as a 2-month-old kitten in 2005. (Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control via AP)LOS ANGELES – A cat that went astray about 15 years ago has been reunited, older and maybe wiser, with its owner. Brandy, a brown tabby, was reunited Monday afternoon with Charles, who adopted her as a 2-month-old kitten in 2005. Charles went on with his life. “She basically weighed as much as when she was a kitten," Charles said.

ROANOKE, Va. – The Roanoke Valley SPCA needs ‘unicorn’ fosters to help shelter animals put their best paw forward. A “unicorn” foster is an individual or family without small kids or other pets. That’s typically the best environment for shy animals, ones with behavioral issues or really large animals who might knock small children over accidentally. Shelter employees said those fosters really make a huge difference for the animals. If you’re interested in becoming a foster, just contact the Roanoke Valley SPCA.