'Tis the season for Republicans to crap on America's favorite Obama—yes, we're talking about Bo Obama, the First Dog. Yes, half-term Governor Sarah Palin thought it was "odd" that the Obamas' family holiday card featured the adorable pup (and his "signature") and Senator John McCain said Obama should be leading, not taking Bo shopping (video) for Christmas presents. But liberal MSNBC host Ed Schultz took aim at the criticisms by pointing out some classic GOP hypocrisy. more ›

Cycling advocates and animal lovers formed a likely alliance yesterday at the 4th annual Time's Up! Doggie Pedal Parade in the West Village. The group ride was intended to show off bicycles adapted to transport pets, as well as raise awareness about the benefits of adopting homeless animals. But we think the real goal here was to raise awareness of CUUUUTE! more ›

About 50 dogs rescued from puppy mills in Utah and overcrowded shelters in Missouri arrived in Long Island on Friday, where they will be put up for adoption before the holidays. The pooches, which were saved from filth, abuse, and the risk of euthanasia in September, enjoyed a special Thanksgiving meal of "canned turkey with potatoes and carrots; duck and sweet potato dinners, and bagged pheasant" at their layover in Chicago before flying to New York. more ›

Yesterday, Animal Care and Control and emergency service workers opened up a sewer in East New York, Brooklyn to free a cat. NY1 reports (which has video) that a nearby store owner "heard the calico making noises" and contacted ACC. He saw the five or six month old cat liberated, "The cat was a mess. It was scared, it was thin. It looked like it hadn't eaten for half a day, a day. It was very scared, dirty. The cat was going crazy. It was just happy to be out, I guess." It's unclear how long the cat was trapped there, but she seems okay, besides being weak from her hunger. ACC workers named her Cheese and "say she will be up for adoption in three days. For more information, call 1-212-788-4000." more ›

As a bit of an antidote to the upsetting animal cruelty news, we recommend you read this NY Times real estate section story about the Upper West Side apartment of cat rescuer Tammy Cross. Cross works with Kitten Little Rescue—maybe you've seen their set-up of cats available for adoption and fostering on the corner of West 72nd and Columbus Avenue—and in her one-bedroom rent-stabilized apartment, "some 6 to 18 baby kittens — and once as many as 22 — are bottle fed and nursed back to health." Awwww. more ›

One Queens couple was busted by the ASPCA yesterday when it was discovered they were housing 33 poodles. The NY Post reports on the world's cutest infestation (with a photo gallery!), saying animal rescuers were called to the elderly owner's home and noted that the dog's conditions were "deteriorating quickly." One rescuer told the paper: "I can't even describe what it was like in there. This was 33 dogs in one home, they weren't going outside and they weren't being walked." The couple isn't facing criminal charges, and one poodle going back to the owners as a pet. The rest of the dogs are now "being groomed and given care at the center before being put up for adoption." more ›

The raccoon seen in a tree at East 88th Street and 1st Avenue ultimately died after the police tried to capture it. The Post reports the cops "bungled" the raccoon rescue operation, firing tranquilizer darts "deep in its body." more ›

What could make these people stop and take photos at First Avenue and 88th Street today? more ›

On a recent trip to Prospect Park, The City Birder saw more than just nesting birds. While walking home on Park Drive near the Meadowport Arch, he noticed a young squirrel walking directly into 3rd Street. more ›