Check out this fun event coming up Dec. 3!

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

• Sketching on the wild side. (Norman)
• Drugs found inside birds. (Peru)

So that didn’t take long to read, did it?

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

• Make your pet a video star in NewsOK.com contest.
• Bug Fest has creepy-crawlie stars. (Norman)
• Mailed jailed in doe shooting. (Vermont)
• Equine dentist law has teeth. (statewide)
• State park just made horse sense. (Wagoner)
• Zoo welcomes baby elephant. (California)
• Condor suffers from gunshot. (California)
• Oil soaks pelican, Australian beach. (Saturday, page 7a)
• Don’t make impulse bunny buy. (statewide)
• Oklahoma City Zoo exhibit revives dinosaurs.

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

A new iPhone application called ShiveringKittens is raising money for the ASPCA. The application developer, GiantCrayon Games, is partnering with the animal advocacy group in March and April for the first ever iPhone fundraising campaign.

The application costs $2.99 to download, and GiantCrayon will donate $1 of each download to the ASPCA.

A statement from ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres: “The ASPCA is thrilled to work with GiantCrayon to raise funds through this new technology. The object of the ShiveringKittens game is to rescue as many kittens as you can – and even though this is just for fun, in reality the ASPCA works tirelessly each day to save the lives of countless animals. Now, just by playing this virtual game, animal lovers everywhere can help the ASPCA continue that work.”

 A statement from Tim Goggin, vice president of GiantCrayon Games: “I’m so excited to be working with the ASPCA. We’re really keen to pioneer such a different way of fundraising. And most importantly, I value the wonderful work the ASPCA does rescuing animals, so I’m really thrilled to find a way to help such a great organization.”

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

I can’t even get my two dogs to sit. He trained 22 dogs to take on the role of Marley in the movie “Marley & Me.” Of the pack, 14 are puppies and eight are adult dogs.

The trainer has handled all kinds of animals – from birds to bugs, cats to chickens. For “Marley & Me,” Madrid needed nearly two dozen dogs to perform tricks, be still and show off their personalities. The main star, Jonah, is a rescue dog. He’s the calmest, so he was used for most of the serious sceens.

I guess if the movie were about a misbehaving black lab, my dog Skye would have had a shot at stardom. She could have played that part to a T without 21 others.

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernol

At right, you will notice a poodle groomed to look like Leonardo from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I am surprised this dog is willing to wear a bandana across its eyes, and I can’t imagine it is comfortable.

Below, you will find video of some guy tattooing pigs. Why?

It should be said that this kind of thing is illegal in Oklahoma City. As I discovered a couple of years ago during a fish tattooing controversy, artificially coloring your dog’s fur is against the law. This was primarily because of the practice of dyeing rabbits around Easter, but applies to dogs as well. Tattooing fish or pigs or any other pet is also illegal. Is there anything wrong with a poodle looking like a poodle? Does a pig really need a tat to look interesting?

I think not.

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean

Apparently owners of an art gallery in Shanghai agree in spirit with the Oklahoma City Council, as they have banned designer tattooed pigs from an art show.

A Belgian artist tattooed the pigs as part of an art exhibition, but gallery owners found it in poor taste. I have nothing against tattoos, but I doubt if a pig would freely choose to be tatted with the Louis Vutton logo. Maybe if he let the get inked with a lovely slop design…

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean