Willy’s rescuers believe his mother brought food to him while he was stuck in the trap because he showed no signs of being starved when he was finally discovered. Neighbors called animal welfare after they heard the cub screaming in agony. The wire snare cut through his torso all the way to the bone. Experts believe he spent at least two weeks in the trap because his wounds had started to heal around the wire snare.

Farmers often use snare traps to catch predators like foxes that might kill chickens or other livestock. The practice is generally accepted if the animals are humanely destroyed, but authorities said they will investigate and seek animal cruelty prosecution if they discover who set the trap and left the cub there to suffer.

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean

Willy the fox cub

The breed is Britan’s rarest, and is increasingly disappearing as other breeds which grow and sell faster take over the market.

The breed is said to have more succulent meat because of its laid back nature, although my only thought when I look at the pictures of these guys is just how cute they are. Those floppy ears are also a trademark of the breed.

Only about 2,000 of the breed are born each year, and numbers are dwindling. Pure bred Lops, like these, are even more rare. Only 54 bulls and 267 sows are registered with the British Lop Society.

Breeder Maggie Todd said at least a couple of the piglets will be kept for breeding or showing. The rest will end up as sweet, juicy bacon.

As much as I love bacon, I’d be in favor of keeping all of these guys alive. I just can’t get over how cute their ears are.

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean

A cute little English chimpanzee who was abandoned by his mom got his own seat and maybe the cutest passport ever for a flight to his new home.

Bili, the 3-month-old Bonobo chimp, had to be hand-reared after his mom abandoned him. He was taken recently by his new keepers to the Frankfurt Zoo in Germany to live with a mother chimp who has been trained to foster abandoned babies.

Bonobo chimps are endangered. They are found only in the Congo, and less than 10,000 are believed to survive in the wild.

No report what other passengers thought of the chimp on the plane, but I’m guessing he was less annoying than your average screaming child. Not to mention cuter.

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean

The lamb, affectionately known as Jack Frost was one of two born to its mother in England Jan. 1, which is out of season.

The farm’s manager isn’t sure whether Jack’s mom just couldn’t handle to babies in the off-season or if she didn’t have the proper maternal instinct. Whatever it was, it was left to farm workers to adopt the lamb and keep it warm in the sub-zero temperatures.

Some extra hay bales and a heat lamp helped, but one volunteer had the bright idea of buying a knitted wool sweater meant for a baby. It fits Jack perfectly.

The sweater has made Jack a favorite on the farm, and visitors have shown up looking for the little lamb wearing a wool sweater.

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean

Apparently six cats were found unconscious in a home during a house fire in England. Police used oxygen masks sized to fit babies to help revive the kitties. A seventh cat died in the fire.

When fire crews were told the cats were in the house, they fought their way in to the smoke-filled room to recover them.

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean

Actually, it’s not like everyone else. The English farming couple has grown so attached to their Christmas turkey that they decided to set him a place at the table rather than on the table. Terance the turkey separated himself from the rest of the birds at the Barron’s turkey farm by being fearless and becoming the alpha turkey of the group.

The act endeared Terence to the family, so he got a reprieve this year. While the Baron’s eat one of his mates, Terance will sit at the table and eat grain.

Merry Christmas, pet lovers!

- Staff Writer Bryan Dean