GIG HARBOR, Washington: A dog groomer has allegedly tried to weasel her way out of a sticky situation - cutting off a dog's ear - by using a common household remedy - superglue.

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia: A law limiting the number of pets a household can own, as well as forcing mandatory feline registration, has created a catfight within the council trying to introduce it.

MELBOURNE, Australia: The evidence doesn't lie. A local council in the state of Victoria will use DNA testing in a world-first trial to help bring canine offenders to heel in cases of animal attacks, according to newspaper The Australian.

APACHE JUNCTION, Arizona: A dog stolen from an 80-year-old woman was found by police two months later more than 2000 miles from its owner's home.

VICTORIA, British Columbia: Have traditional canine breeding techniques gone to the dogs?

A naturally-occurring mutant gene creating 'musclebound freak' bully whippets in certain strains of racing whippet has highlighted the conflict of interest between traditional dog breeders, owners who race their dogs and biotech companies who tweak the canine genetic code purely for reasons of profit.

TULALIP, Washington: For ten years, Dr. Vel Moore has run a horse rescue and retirement service. Now her not-for-profit operation is reportedly facing eviction.

Dr. Moore's Equine Rescue Association (ERA), based in Snohomish County, Washington, is dedicated to caring for aging horses which have nowhere else to go.

SACRAMENTO, California: A law forcing pet owners to de-sex their mixed-breed dogs and cats, described by critics as animal "genocide", is a step closer to reality.

KUALA LUMPAR, Malaysia: A gang of DVD pirates became so scared of a pair of sniffer dogs that they hired bounty hunters to try and assassinate the canine law-enforcers.

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: Ever wanted a crocodile? Or a hippopotamus? Or a wolverine? What about an elephant? Well, if you live in Indiana, it looks like you might be too late.

ROCKVILLE, Maryland: Pet owners are living in fear after a third ingredient used to make domestic animal food was found to be contaminated with an industrial chemical.

It is now more than a month since a wave of domestic animal deaths forced the recall of more than 100 brands of dog and cat food containing contaminated wheat gluten.