Brenda Pierro of Winthrop Harbor used a bubble machine. Beth Richmond of Wauconda used gourmet cat food, catnip, and various dangling toys. Using these tools, both women enticed their pet cats to paint exquisite works of art for Spay and Stay's PiCATsso Art Exhibit.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R) (ASPCA(R)) is issuing a call for nominations for its annual Humane Awards. The ASPCA is asking the public to help identify extraordinary animals as well as people who have furthered animal welfare in the United States over the past year. Winners will be chosen by a committee selected by the ASPCA, and will be invited to attend the Humane Awards Luncheon in New York City on Tuesday, October 25th at the historic Rainbow Room, where they will be presented the award

Lovers of the nation's 65 million dogs now have a new, convenient and safe option to vaccinate their canine companions less frequently and protect them longer against three of the most common and deadly canine diseases: distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus. Intervet Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of animal health vaccines, announced today the availability of Continuum(TM) DAP, the first and only U.S. government-approved vaccine that can be safely given to dogs once every three years instead of annually to protect against these three prevalent diseases. Until now, there have been no vaccines available in the United States (except rabies) approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for use at three-year intervals. Other available vaccines that protect against these viruses are only approved for yearly administration.

SPANA (Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad), works in Sudan with its partners, Kids4Kids and the Intermediate Technology Development Group. Today SPANA revealed details of the huge numbers of working animals that have already died in the camps because of a lack of resources available to the United Nation's Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO). They also gave details of the steps they have taken to prevent further deaths.

Dog owners across the Tampa Bay region are taking advantage of Canine Campers, a free community service courtesy of local certified dog trainer Helene Scott, founder of the Florida Dog Training School of Tampa.

PETA fired off a letter to Parks of the Outer Banks Group Superintendent Philip Francis, demanding that traps used to capture and kill animals at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) be banned. PETA learned of the trapping after the Outer Banks SPCA and Dare County Animal Control took in a dog—Aphis—who had suffered severe puncture wounds to his paw and other injuries after apparently being captured in a steel-jaw trap at Cape Point earlier this spring.

InfiCorp Holdings, Inc. and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) announced today the launch of the PETA credit card program, designed for members and supporters of PETA, the world's largest animal rights organization. InfiCorp will issue and administer the PETA card through its InfiBank, N.A., affiliate. Brookwood Capital, a leading credit card brokerage and consulting group, facilitated the partnership.

Firefighter Marc Valentine and his dog, Val, both are in service to Montebello Fire Department have been activated and are currently searching the incident site in Orange County community of Laguna, about 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles

Thanks to a partnership between the PETCO Foundation, The Humane Society of the United States, and the Humane Society of Broward County, South Floridians seeking safe shelter in the path of a hurricane will now have somewhere to take their pets as well.

Come celebrate World Ocean Day on Wednesday, June 8 at the Detroit Zoo. This internationally significant day will host a variety of activities to promote ocean education and awareness. The lively celebration will take place from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at various locations around the Zoo. The National Amphibian Conservation Center Theatre will feature an ocean scavenger hunt, fish face painting and temporary tattoos. Dive into the excitement of the Wild Adventure Simulator at the Ford Education Center with a virtual deep-sea expedition or swim with the dolphins for $4 per person. Guests can view a variety of exotic marine life in our 2,000-gallon aquarium at the Wildlife Interpretive Gallery where volunteers will be available to answer questions.

Veterinary services in Iraq have been severely damaged after years of neglect and post conflict upheavals, FAO said today. The UN agency is currently working to restore urgently needed veterinary services in the country to protect farm animals and humans from epidemic diseases. Iraq has a herd of approximately 2.5 million cattle and 17 million sheep and goats. Livestock production is extensive and herds migrate throughout Iraq and neighboring countries. Meat, milk and eggs are the most important source of protein for the population. Any increase in livestock diseases would have a negative effect on the supply of protein-rich food such as milk, cheese, yogurt, meat and eggs and would have a severe impact on food security.

Warm weather weekends at the beach, lake or pool make as big a splash with Pets as with the rest of the family. But before diving, Banfield, The Pet Hospital offers a few poolside precautions to help every doggie paddler in the family get a head start on swimming season.

Thirty-three hundred letter carriers were bitten by dogs last year, yet that pales in comparison to the other 4.7 million Americans who were needlessly victimized by dog attacks -- nearly half of whom were children. To raise awareness that dog bites are a nationwide issue rather than a postal problem, the Postal Service kicks off National Dog Bite Prevention Week on Sunday, May 15, in the letter carrier dog bite "capital" of the nation -- the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Jaguar North America and San Jose British Motors will celebrate the coming out of Happy Hollow Park & Zoo's newest feline -- their 17-month old jaguar cat, Sophia. Jaguar North America will donate $7,000 to support the cost of exhibit maintenance for the jaguar for one year, as well as donate an additional $50 for every Jaguar car that is purchased from San Jose British Motors during the month of June 2005. San Jose British Motors also supports as an official sponsor of the celebration.