Val Cole, Special to the Vancouver Sun | http://www.canada.com
Published: Monday, September 08, 2008

You've probably heard the saying, "If your dog is overweight, so are you." Well, it turns out, it's true.

The latest numbers from Statistics Canada show that 36 per cent of Canadians meet the criteria for obesity and, according to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, 35 per cent of Canadian pets do, too.

Just as with humans, obesity in pets can lead to heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis and other health complications.

By Mike Clary | South Florida Sun-Sentinel | http://www.sun-sentinel.com
4:03 PM EDT, September 7, 2008

For the first time in the history of pre-hurricane evacuations of the Florida Keys, Monroe County residents will be able to take their pets - even snakes and spiders - as long as they are properly caged.

Monroe County Emergency Management Officials announced Sunday afternoon the results of an agreement with Miami-Dade County Emergency Management and Florida International University, according to EOC spokeswoman Sharon Harrold.

NEENAH — Pet owners can continue to bring leashed cats and dogs onto public property in the downtown district during special events like the Neenah StreetBall Challenge.

The Common Council on Wednesday rejected an ordinance that would have banned all animals from any downtown event that closes a street to traffic. The vote was 6-2.

"I just don't see a reason to try to regulate pets downtown," Ald. James Hemes said. "We haven't had a problem."

By Tony Fuller, KTVZ.COM | http://www.ktvz.com | Posted: Aug 7, 2008 05:51 PM

Bend Police Officer Crea Lancaster says on a normal day, about 40 percent of their cases involve animal control cases. But Thursday was anything but normal.

It was an early start to a crazy day for Lancaster. When the thunder rolls, Lancaster is on the streets, looking for runaway pets.

"We do a lot of things - primarily about 60 percent of what we deal with is criminal related and 40 percent animal related," he said.

By Lee Lutz | August 06, 2008 | 04:57 PM | http://www.threevillages.com/

The Stony Brook home of Save-A-Pet founder Dori Scofield and her husband Gary was destroyed by fire Tuesday night. Eleven pets, seven dogs and four cats, were inside the house, but the Scofields themselves were not at home at the time of the fire. Included among the 11 animals killed were a litter of kittens that Scofield had been bottle-feeding, according to a statement issued by Save-A-Pet Animal Rescue late Wednesday. All 11 pets were previously rescued by the nonprofit organization.

Posted: Aug 7, 2008 09:01 AM | By Scott Kilbury | http://www.kold.com

There are times you really need to go with your gut and a hiker in the Los Angeles area is probably realizing that after being attacked by a mountain lion.

Wednesday morning, the hiker was walking the Portola Hills area when he says he spotted three mountain lion cubs. The hiker told police he also saw the mother mountain lion. But that apparently didn't stop him from petting the babies.

Well, protective mothers do what mothers do. The mountain lion mother attacked and now that hiker is having his wounds treated.

Danielle Crowe | 30Jul08 | http://www.manninghamleader.com.au/

PETS are paying the price for the rising cost of living with struggling owners surrendering their cats and dogs in droves.

Wonga Park's Blue Cross Animal Shelter has a waiting list of more than 60 people each month who want to give their pets up for adoption.

And already this year 81 more pets have been dumped than at the same time last year. Animal welfare groups put the rising number of surrendered pets down to growing financial pressures coupled with the rental shortage.

Wednesday July 30,2008 | By Jo Willey | http://www.express.co.uk/

BRITAIN’S reputation as a nation of animal lovers took a battering yesterday after figures revealed a huge increase in people mistreating their pets.

The number of people convicted of cruelty to animals soared by almost a quarter last year, said the RSPCA.

This follows the introduction of the Animal Welfare Act which took effect last April and gives inspectors greater powers.

http://www.wrex.com/ | July 28, 2008 09:04 PM |By Inggrid Yonata

ROCKFORD - Families aren't the only ones who suffer from the tough economy. Pets suffer too due to families who can't afford to keep them anymore. As a result the Winnebago County Animal Services needed to expand its facilities and staff in the future.

7/27 1:48 pm | http://www.kypost.com/
A local real estate agency is reminding Tri-State residents that pets are often included as victims of our nation's current housing crisis.

Comey & Shepherd's Aaron Weiner is heading efforts to find home for pets abandoned as a result of the economy.

Weiner says he was shocked by the increasing number of abandoned animals being housed at the SPCA in Northside.

Due to a rising number of local families not being able to afford care for an animal, many pets are being displaced and causing severe overcrowding at shelters.