Latest from Pets & Animals

Dog on death row - bill worries owner
A Cobden woman whose dog bit a tradesman is concerned she will have to pay $1560 for its incarceration -- a bill that is growing by the day.

Rants & Raves: Irresponsible dog owners everywhere
There are irresponsible dog owners in every suburb. Including those at the beachfront house in Omaha.

Zoo kills healthy zebra, feeds it to tigers
A Norwegian zoo has provoked parents' fury after feeding a whole dead zebra to its tigers in full view of visitors.

Reward offered to help find dog shooter
The SPCA have offered a $1000 reward to anyone who can help identify a person responsible for shooting a dog multiple times.

Monty's epic 240km journey home
Monty is a bit of a tub, but that didn't get in the way of his unaided journey from Greymouth to his old house in Christchurch.

Cuddling puppies in paradise
If you've ever missed your dog while on holiday, this Caribbean island could be the perfect destination for you.

Animal charity takes aim at TripAdvisor
Top travel website TripAdvisor has been accused of "profiting from the world's cruelest animal attractions" by an international animal welfare charity.

Why hugging your dog makes it sad
They're man's best friend - and rather cuddly and comforting too. But researchers say you shouldn't hug your dog because it makes them sad.

Released: 'Menacing dog' guidelines
A guideline on how to identify signs of a "menacing dog" have been released by Auckland Council, following an amnesty for dog owners with unregistered pooches.

'I think I can, I think I can'
Watch: A fuzzy old cat's indecision over how to best make the leap into its owner's linen cupboard has brought smiles to Aucklanders.

Why owning a dog is good for your health
Being a dog owner could save your life, or significantly lengthen it.

Call for care of quirky seabirds
Efforts must be ramped up to save populations of a quirky native seabird species clinging to survival on Auckland coastlines, a leading ecologist says.

Watch: Blessy the chicken survives being hit by car
Mark Kreling talks about hitting a chicken with his car, the chicken surviving and taking refuge behind the grill of his car. The chicken now lives with Mark and a little over a month later after the crash, Blessy the chicken has laid an egg.

The key to a longer life? Walk the dog
Researchers have found that adults of 60 years or more who form strong bonds with their dogs tend to exercise more often and for longer.

Amnesty 'vilifies good dog owners'
Auckland Council's amnesty for dog owners who don't properly care for their animals vilifies owners who love their pets, the NZ Kennel Club says.

Watch: Snake found in toilet of family home - on second floor
Source: Channel 7/Manly Daily A Sydney mother was surprised to find a snake had slithered it's way up the piping to the second floor toilet of her home.

Is this enough to combat dog attacks?
In a bid to deal with dangerous dogs, Auckland Council is offering an amnesty to dog owners to get them registered, microchipped and de-sexed.

Kiwi's incredible underwater images
Images of Great Whites have been used for years to instill fear but one Kiwi guy is hoping to turn that on its head with his incredible underwater photos.

Nine foods that could kill your dog
Some seemingly harmless foods can be toxic to our four-legged friends.

Watch: Is this kokako drunk or playful?
A video capturing a North Island kokako's colourful antics has been attracting thousands of views on YouTube.

Watch: Is this kokako drunk?
Is this kokako drunk or just playful? A video capturing a North Island kokako's colourful antics has been attracting thousands of views on YouTube.

Watch: Padme home after 16 months
A Tauranga family has been reunited with their beloved cat 16 months after it went missing.

Error scuttles SPCA's charge
A farmhand did not face animal cruelty charges because a council wrongly said drowning possums was a humane way to kill them.

Padme home after 16 months
A Tauranga family has been reunited with their beloved cat 16 months after it went missing.

Weird stowaways that made it into NZ
A surprise snake slithered out of a vehicle a Auckland car yard, but it wasn't the first serpent this year to make its way past NZ borders.

Catriona MacLennan: Goats are not captive lawnmowers
COMMENT: Catriona MacLennan asks, why does NZ not ban tethering? An outright ban would send a clear message about how goat welfare can best be protected.

'I just saw it coming at me'
As 92-year-old Jim Morgan lay on the ground trying to fight off the stray dog attacking him, all he could think of was protecting his best mate, Sandy.

DNA test key to tracking treasured pooch
A family whose beloved purebred dog was stolen turned into super sleuths to track her down, using DNA from one of her puppies.