Animal News and Stories - PetsLady.com

As the Israeli-Gaza conflicts escalates, it's extracted a grave human toll. However, you won't see much reporting about the affects of collateral damage. Yes, in addition to the innocent lives of women and children taken - there's very little news surfacing about how animals in the region are being affected.

Pit bulls have gotten a really bad reputation over the past couple of decades and it has led to numerous communities banning the breed. While some of the dogs have shown aggressive and even violent tendencies, they can also have a sweet, caring side that gets far less press. This has led to many debates over whether it is really the dogs or the owners that are at fault. Earlier this month a pit bull named Ace saved his family's deaf son before the house burned down.

It's a darn good dog's life for canines who are members of families purchasing housing from Standard Pacific Homes. This construction firm is believed to be the first to build and sell houses with 'pets suites' as an option, giving a whole new meaning to the term, "doghouse."

Who would rent a chicken? Apparently quite a number of people. It is having chickens without the commitment. For Jann Symons and her husband Jim Perry it started out as a just an ad on Craig's List that made them chuckle. Then the more they thought about it, the more it made sense as a great business opportunity. They took a chance and now their in-box is full and the phone is ringing off the hook.

Lilica was abandoned at a junk yard in San Carlos, Brazil when she was unceremoniously dumped out of a truck when she was just a puppy. Neile Vania Antonio, the junk yard caretaker, befriended the young dog and took care of her. As Lilica grew she befriended the other animal denizens of the junk yard -- a dog, a cat, several chickens, and a mule. They became her "family."

Yes, there really is a bird under all of that even though he looks more like an exotic desert. His name is Whipper and he is just a parakeet. Well, a very famous mutant parakeet that lives in New Zealand and overcame tremendous odds to survive. This little budgie has become known around the world for his totally wild do.

Japan is a nation that has had more than its share of monsters -- well, in the movies anyway. When people started calling the police in Kyoto reporting that they had seen a "monster" near the Kamogawa River it raised more than a few eyebrows. However, the "monster" turned out to be a Japanese Giant Salamander.

There doesn't seem to be any end to the "Planet of the Apes," film franchise. Not only has there been five flicks (including one remake) and two TV series -- this week, yet another movie opens to break box-office records. However, if we were  ever able to believe the premise behind those stories could come close to being possible some day, we'd also have to believe that apes would eventually be able to talk. But . . .

A pet matchmaking service set up by a Chinese college student is so confident in their romantic remediation, they also offer to arrange wedding packages so lovestruck dogs & cats can put a ring on it.