In domestic or wild animals…this could happen. It’s a day to day, ongoing process to maximize our chances for success in any social situation. In any accredited zoo, we are concerned about the physical and social well-being of all of the animals in our care. Interpreting their behaviors and looking for any indications of a behavioral issue is a constant. Any species in a social situation presents this challenge. This is on a case by case basis according to the species as well as the individual animals. Individual and species specific behaviors must be taken into consideration. There is a level of unpredictability in anything we do and we try to minimize that.

• 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

1. Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla., has four pet-friendly dorm “clusters” that allow cats and dogs that weigh less than 40 pounds. Snakes and fish are welcome, too.

2. Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., has a “pet dorm” where dogs, cats, hamsters and guinea pigs are allowed.

3. Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Penn., has a “Pet House” dorm, which allows cats, dogs, small birds, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, turtles and fish. Have something more exotic? The college evaluates them on individually.

4. Principa College in Elsah, Ill., has seven dorms and university apartments that allow pets. Students may bring dogs, cats, rabbits, caged animals and aquatic life.

5. California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., lets students have cats in all dorms. Small cage animals and aquatic life can come to school, too.

6. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign allows students in the Ashton Woods housing to keep dogs, cats, fish and rabbits.

7. The University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, makes room for cats and birds in the school’s apartment-style housing buildings. Fish are allowed in all dorms.

8. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., requires written consent from roommates before a cat is introduced. And the dorms even have a “Pet Chairman.”

9. The State University of New York at Canton is known for Mohawk Hall, which accomodates up to 48 pets. Those animals are allowed to wander freely if their owner is around. Sadly, dogs and snakes aren’t allowed.

10. Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Penn., allows one dog or cat in each fraternity and sorority house on campus.

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

• Baby zebra shows of his stripes. (Oklahoma City)
• Pretty boy strikes glamour pose. (Edmond)
• Horse rescue must find new home. (Ada, video below)
• Officials hit roadblock in poultry suit. (Tulsa)
• Airline just for pets takes flight. (New York)
• Chihuahua of ads for Taco Bell dies. (California, read our tribute blog here)
• Eclipse ushers in rare birth. (China, page 7a)

Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

But that’s exactly what happened in Riverside County, Calif., when Ana Lee Spray’s three pups cornered a cougar in the garage. Spray awoke to the barking of her three dogs, which each weigh about three pounds. When she looked out a window into the garage to see what the dogs were barking at, she saw the mountain lion, which was hissing at her. She called 911 and took some video of the cat.

The three dogs had the cat cornered and refused to back down, barking for 45 minutes until sheriff’s deputies arrived. Unfortunately, the mountain lion was euthanized after wildlife officials failed in their attempts to tranquilize it and return it to the wild.

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean

Here’s a picure of a couple contestants and their owners. (I’m not sure why that man is pretended to eat his dog. Yikes.)

Check out this slideshow by ABC News.

 - Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll

Imagine a world where you never had to lose your pet. Or at least, not for good. BioArts International, a California biotech company is planning an online auction to clone five dogs. The auction is cleverly titled “Best Friends Again.” The dogs will be the first canines to be cloned for commercial sale.

Depending on your feelings about the ethics of cloning, this may or may not sound like a perfect solution if you are one of many pet lovers. However, this dream come true is not cheap. Bidding for the auction will start at $100.000. The regulations even require proof of $250,000 in cash or assets before bidders are allowed to enter.

Scientists can create clones from dogs that are alive or dead, provided that tissue samples were taken before the pet died or within the first five days after its death and frozen in liquid nitrogen. One drawback to pet owners will be that although dogs are guaranteed to look exactly the same, they are not guaranteed to behave the same. Nevertheless, BioArts hopes to target pet owners who will see cloning as the next best thing.

-Staff Writer Monica Albert