The show marks its 20th anniversary at 6 p.m. Sunday on ABC. (Read more about TV on the NewsOK Television Blog!)

And in honor of their anniversary, show officials calculated all the animal winners during the past 20 years. Dogs finished first with cats close behind. But there are all kinds of other animals that have won. (Who knew whales could be funny? And who knew that a praying mantis would win not once but twice?)

• 1 ANT
• 3 BEARS
• 22 BIRDS
• 1 BULL
• 1 CAMEL
• 34 CATS
• 1 CHIMP
• 1 DEER
• 136 DOGS
• 1 ELK
• 1 FERRET
• 1 FISH
• 1 FLY
• 1 FROG
• 4 GIRAFFES
• 4 GOATS
• 1 GORILLA
• 1 GUINEA PIG
• 3 HAMSTERS
• 4 HORSES
• 1 KANGAROO
• 1 LIZARD
• 2 LLAMAS
• 5 MONKEYS
• 2 MICE
• 1 ORANGUTAN
• 1 OSTRICH
• 2 PRAYING MANTIS
• 5 RACOONS
• 1 RAM
• 1 RAT
• 1 RHINO
• 1 SEA LION
• 1 SPIDER
• 1 SNAKES
• 9 SQUIRRELS
• 1 TARANTULA
• 1 TOAD
• 2 WHALES

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

• Norman zoo examines safety after boy’s attack. (Norman)
• A butterfly haven: Monarchs winging to Mexico may appear for area event. (Cole)
• Whale death investigated. (Virginia)
• Crash leads to bee stings. (Turkey)

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

• Cruelty charges filed. (Stillwater)
• Teens find plenty to enjoy at the fair. (Oklahoma City)
• Club plans fishing derby. (Oklahoma City)
• Ugly bugs come out of their rug. (Edmond)
• Halloween can be a treat for dogs, too. (Norman)
• Pet Tales: Rescued dog finds family home. (Midwest City)
• Blog: More from the state wildlife director. (statewide)
• Cesar Millan dog-based empire adds slick magazine. (California)

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

• Horses’ health deemed poor. (Pauls Valley)
• Court denies fishing rights. (Ohio)
• 29 species may need federal protection. (nationwide)

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

• Growing alpaca population spurs more training at OSU. (Stillwater, video below)
• Smelly penguins, research await OSU team in Antarctica. (Stillwater)
• Facial surgeris let dog flourish. (Tulsa)
• Watching Wildlife in the Wichitas. (Lawton, blog)
• As the wild boar population increases, the chase to bag them is getting more popular. (statewide)
• Horse show gallops to close. (Oklahoma City, page 17a, Sunday)
• Exterminator warns fo bee-killing ants. (Texas)
• At least 27 reported ill in ground beef recall. (California)
• Trotting on the “old Hollywood trail.” (California)
• Rescuers unable to save whales. (Florida, page 4d, Tuesday)
• Are you a bird watcher? (nationwide, page 1d, Sunday)

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

• Youths take the reins at Quarter Horse event. (Oklahoma City)
• Catching hope: Burned children get a chance at fun at firefighters’ camp. (Pryor)
• Tips offered to avoid insect stings. (nationwide, page 2c, Monday)
• Lost dog found after nine years. (Australia, page 13a, Sunday)

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

Our guest today was Heather McDaniel, founder of Must Loves Dogs Rescue, which is out in Harrah. The rescue was lost a year ago when McDaniel’s home burned to the ground. Since then, she and her teen volunteers have rebuilt and managed to find homes for more than 100 dogs.

We also talked about these fun pet news stories:

• Cats: Not as clever as we think?
• Same-sex penguin couple split. (Check out the video below.)
• Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

• Zoo draws 12,000 with free admission. (Oklahoma City)
• Victim’s family seeks justice. (Shawnee, video below)
• Aquarium raises funds for turtle exhibit. (Tulsa, story on the right side of the page)
• Wild horse bill faces uncertainty in Senate. (Washington, D.C.)
• Red bugs could be in your next bite. (nationwide)
• Swine flu ills in pigs are feared. (Argentina)

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

• Bugs cause mighty problem on road. (Enid)
• Historic role awaits cattle group’s leader. (Waurika)
• Turtle Obama heads to sea. (Florida)
• Gorilla’s back pain is a medical mystery. (Oklahoma City)
• Zoos plan to reunite two sea lion brothers. (Tulsa, Oklahoma City)

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

Takuma Kobayashi looks on as his beetle "King Kabuto" makes a break for freedom during the National Rhinoceros Beetle Sumo Championship on Sunday, June 28, 2009. (Mainichi)

In the United States, our kids race their turtles. In Japan, the kids hold sumo competitions between their rhinocerous beetles.

This report from Japan’s recntly-held National Rhinoceros Beetle Sumo Championship chronicles the stunning conclusion to the final, when one of the wrestlers flew out of the arena and the room, prompting an automatic disqualification.

I’m not sure whether the disqualified finalist truly feared his opponent or if maybe it was just nerves. Whatever the reason, King Kabuto’s disqualification left King Joe as the last rhinocerous beetle standing.

I suppose that this means King Joe has earned the sumo title of Yokozuna, reserved for the true champions.

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean