In a heartwarming moment, Vanilla the chimpanzee finally had the opportunity to witness the sky for the very first time after spending 28 years in captivity.The emotional encounter happened at a sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida, where Vanilla now enjoys a life filled with freedom and companionship.Vanilla's caregivers shared that she spent most of her life confined in small cages at a research laboratory in New York, which has since been closed down. It was her first time being outdoors with more than 10 feet of fence around her on all sides, according to the rescue organization Save The Chimps.Video below: See more images of Vanilla and hear from the CEO of the organization that rescued her As Vanilla stepped outside her enclosure, she received a heartwarming hug from her chimp buddy, Dwight. Vanilla seems to get along well with all 18 chimps on the sanctuary's island, especially Dwight. The two chimps share a playful relationship, and Vanilla has been known to playfully steal food from her friends.

As hundreds of people are being rescued across Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, pets are not being forgotten.

The U.S. Coast Guard documented a rescue of two people and three cats. They were stranded around Sanibel, Florida, on Thursday.

Sanibel is one of the hardest-hit areas. It's connected to the mainland by a causeway, which was destroyed.

Pets are among the top priority in other parts of the state. In Orange County, officials guided people and their pets through floodwaters.

Prior to the storm, Florida Urgent Rescue said it evacuated 49 cats and dogs from rural Florida shelters. The goal was to make room for stray animals as a result of the storm.

DENVER, Colo. — It really is amazing how much you can learn when a beehive is right in front of you. That's especially true when you have the help of someone like Mike Rosol. He's not just any beekeeper; he's attending to bees who live on the properties of major companies like Gates Corporation.

Gates Corporation is a leading manufacturer of application-specific fluid power and power transmission solutions. Head of sustainability, Christopher Thomas, says it is prime to their mission for employees to be a part of direct impact within the community.

"We have a global footprint, offices, manufacturing, distribution, all around the world but have maintained our presence here in Denver, Colorado since our beginnings over 100 years ago," said Thomas. "We encourage people to find those causes, those missions, that make sense both to them but also what's our impact, what's the greater impact that we can create."

For Gates, the partnership with a company like Free Range Beehives was a no-brainer. Companies like IBM and Google have followed suit, dedicating budget lines to saving the bees. Co-founder and VP of operations at Free Range Beehives, John Rosol, explains there is no time to waste when educating people on the declining bee population.

"So, our goal at Free Range Beehives, and what we hope the goal of similar beekeepers and the corporations we work with, is to establish these populations that are good for the environment and the bees," Rosol said. "The situation is quite severe, unfortunately. The bees are facing threats from a number of sources that are primarily human-caused. A world without bees doesn't have humans in it. They are critical pollinators both for agriculture and for the natural world."

There are a few reasons this effort is so different than simply having a hive in your backyard. Expert beekeepers are on site taking care of the hives, companies have more funds to invest, and thousands of employees are impacted by the education they provide.

"Bees are incredibly interconnected with humans and they pollinate 1 out of 3 three bites of food we eat, so over 30% of our crops come from bees, and those are things like avocados, onions, and coffee, which I know I couldn't' live without," Rosol explained.

They found a void to fill, all while connecting these companies to the communities they are a part of.

"There's lots of people here and generally if the leadership cares about these kinds of initiatives, it trickles down," Rosol said.

Another co-founder of Free Range Beehives, Dave Mathias, says by having these partnerships the bees have a better chance of rebounding.

"The impact as it relates to educating employees and the community can be very fruitful. We do a lot of engagement with employees where we take them into the hives," Mathias said. "Any company can write a check to an organization and we just appreciate and I know our clients and partners appreciate that it's something that they are doing that has direct and measurable impact within the community."

They say it's a win-win situation. It's an effort to save the declining bee population and an opportunity to make great impressions and investments within communities.

If you would like to learn more about Free Range Beehives and the work they do, click here.

Humans aren’t the only ones struggling with the impact of this season’s weather storms.

Over 200 animals, mostly stray dogs or dogs lost during the storms, were brought to the Stanislaus Animal Services Agency in California this week and need homes.

“A lot of them are scared,” said SASA executive director Vaughn Maurice. “You can hear them crying and barking in the background. It really is a very sad situation.”

Staff are over capacity and working hard to reconnect the animals with their rightful owners. But with overcrowding and slowed adoptions due to the weather, dozens are being sent to shelters as far as states away.

One such partner shelter is in Idaho, where dozens of dogs were already sent to await new owners.

The problem with this transition is the agency does not have enough crates to transfer the animals safely and comfortably. They are currently asking the public for donations of any new or used crates, particularly for larger dogs. More than 70% of the agency’s dogs weigh over 50 pounds.

SASA is also seeking temporary foster parents to help with the influx of stray dogs.

Staff say adoptions have slowed down because of the weather and the impact it’s had on residents. The challenge is finding locals to take them in.

“I think right now there’s other communities that aren’t as inundated with stray dogs as what we’re seeing in Stanislaus County,” said rescue coordinator Chandra Looney.

With more rainfall coming this week, SASA staff expect plenty more animals will come into their care.

“Many of the dogs don’t appreciate being out in the rain,” Looney said. “Thunder and lightning can be scary to a dog.”

Maurice is also hoping people will volunteer with tasks as simple as coming and spending time with the animals.

“They’re beautiful animals,” Maurice said. “We love each and every one of them and we want to make sure they have the right outcome and find a good home as quickly as possible.”

Watch the video above for the full story.

PORTLAND, Tenn. (WTVF) — A little girl’s kind gesture is inspiring dozens of people to give back to an animal rescue in Portland, Tennessee, called A Place to Bark.

The 21-year-old nonprofit is a no-kill foster and adoption rescue dedicated to the welfare of dogs.

"I take them in; I get them well. I work with any behavioral issues, and we get them ready for adoption," said A Place to Bark founder Bernie Berlin.

Berlin said in recent years, volunteers haven’t been showing up to help; it’s been difficult hiring new employees, and donations have gone down.

Berlin started the new year off a little sad until 7-year-old Lila Stephens decided to take all the money in her piggy bank and donate it: a total of $27.25.

The two met for the first time in Franklin, Tennessee, for a pet adoption event. Her mom, Samantha Stephens, posted her daughter’s kind gesture to social media, and now other people are matching Lila’s donation to give to the rescue.

“We had a family friend who lives in Texas just messaged me and said, 'I would really like to match that because that’s so sweet she’s doing that.' We didn’t know Bernie’s need. We didn’t know she was going to get the donations. Everything came together at a time that made a big difference for Bernie," Stephens said.

Berlin said Lila is such a big inspiration.

"Like, right now, I have a bill over $1,000, and we spend $5,000 to $7,000 a month to spay and neuter. This month, we had over a thousand, and Lila’s little gift turned into a big gift that pays that bill off," Berlin said.

Donations for A Place to Bark are still coming in.

If you would like to match Lila’s $27.25 and give to A Place to Bark, here are some ways to do so: PayPal, Venmo (@aplacetobark), or mail: A Place To Bark PO Box 649 Portland, TN 37148.

This article was written by Aaron Cantrell for WTVF.

A polar bear killed a woman and child in Alaska, authorities said.

Alaska State Troopers said they were alerted to a polar bear attack at around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Initial reports indicate the polar bear entered a community in Wales and chased multiple residents, according to Alaska State Troopers.

A resident reportedly shot and killed the bear as it attacked the pair.

The names of the victims have not been released. Authorities said next of kin notifications are still in progress.

Wales is located at the tip of Western Alaska. Officials with the state's Department of Fish and Game are planning to travel to the remote area as weather conditions allow to investigate the incident.

Polar bear killings in the U.S. are rare. According to a study published by The Wildlife Society, there were only six polar bear attacks in the U.S. between 1870-2014.

A boy died and his mother was seriously injured in a dog attack in Idaho, authorities said.

According to The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, two rottweilers and two mixed-breed dogs attacked the pair at a residence in Fort Hall on Saturday.

The victims were taken to the hospital where the boy was pronounced dead.

A GoFundMe page for the family says the mother is being treated in the intensive care unit after sustaining nerve damage and a ruptured artery in her right arm.

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes said the dogs were euthanized. The owners were also cited for 15 violations.

An investigation is ongoing, authorities said. The case will be submitted to the U.S. Attorney for potential federal charges.

Fatal dog attacks in the U.S. are relatively rare. According to dogsbite.org, an organization that tracks attacks, 521 people were killed in incidents involving dogs between 2005 and 2019.

ARVADA, Colo. — To keep a barn running, there are of course the chores, and the mud, but when you get down to it, it takes more than that.

"A lot of heart work," said Margaret Blaha, the director of operations at the Horse Protection League.

There’s no shortage of heart here at HPL, a rescue that takes in neglected, abused, and surrendered horses in Colorado with no place left to go. Unfortunately, passion is not enough to keep the barn doors open.

"We've seen a number of increases in both the costs of everything and also animals that are coming into the rescue. We've also—the more alarming thing on my end—is that we've seen a reduction in adoption," said Blaha.

While the 32 horses in their care remain blissfully unaware, Blaha sees the impact of inflation on the work they do every day.

"In 2021, we were able to successfully adopt 21 horses, which was amazing, and then last year in 2022, we were only able to adopt three," she said.

The pandemic brought with it a nationwide adoption boom. Current inflation, however, has pet owners across the country second guessing their ability to keep their animals.

A recent study by Forbes says 63% of pet owners said inflation has made it more difficult to pay a surprise vet bill. Vet bills of $1,000 and under would cause 42% of pet owners to go into debt. At rescues like the Horse Protection League, where they spend thousands of dollars per horse per year, the lack of adoptions and the increase in surrendered animals coming in has created anxieties about how long they can keep going.

"We hope to see some changes probably within the next four months, three to four months, for us to feel a little bit more comfortable with the upcoming year," Blaha said.

Animal rescues need help from the public right now and Blaha says there are more ways to do that than adopting an animal or giving a big sum of money since times are tough for everyone. There are more creative ways like business sponsorships or donating equipment, and people can also look into membership options for rescues near them.

Although this rescue is struggling, they have a strong team of volunteers determined to carry on their mission. It’s the heart work that’s giving Blaha hope they can survive these turbulent economic times because when it comes to the animals in need they serve, they have no other choice but to keep going for them.

"With gratitude, we have volunteers of all different walks of life that have something in common when it comes to loving animals and wanting to provide the best that they possibly can," Blaha said.

A 24-year-old man was arrested in connection to the thefts of two emperor tamarin monkeys from the Dallas Zoo, authorities said Friday.

According to the Dallas Police Department, Davion Irvin was arrested on Thursday after being spotted near the animal exhibits at The Dallas World Aquarium.

Earlier this week, police released a picture of a man they were seeking to speak with regarding the monkey thefts. The man was seen in a blue hoodie, eating Doritos. Police confirmed the man in the picture is Irvin.

He was booked into the Dallas County jail and has been charged with six counts of animal cruelty.

The monkeys were reported missing on Monday morning. Authorities said their enclosure was cut, allowing someone to gain access to the animals. They were found a day later at an abandoned home near the zoo, police said.

The missing monkeys were the latest in a string of odd events at the zoo. The zoo reports that other enclosures have been cut recently.

A leopard escaped from its cage in January. It was found hours later on zoo grounds.

The zoo is also investigating the death of an endangered vulture. Officials called the death suspicious.

Irvin has only been charged in connection to the case of the missing monkeys. However, the Dallas Police Department said he could face more charges in the future if investigations determine he had a role in the other incidents.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A helicopter with a shooter will fly over a portion of the vast Gila Wilderness in southwestern New Mexico next week, searching for feral cows to kill.

U.S. Forest Service managers approved the plan Thursday to protect sensitive spots in the nation's first designated wilderness area. The move sets the stage for legal challenges over how to handle unbranded livestock and other stray cows as drought deepens in the West.

The Gila National Forest issued the decision amid pressure from environmental groups who raised concerns about nearly 150 cattle whose hooves and mouths are damaging streams and rivers. Ranchers, meanwhile, have criticized the plan to shoot cows from a helicopter as animal cruelty. They said the action violates federal regulations and will be problematic when carcasses are left to rot.

A section of the Gila Wilderness will be closed to the public starting Monday. A helicopter will launch Thursday, with shooters spending four days looking for feral cattle in rugged areas that include the Gila River.

Forest Supervisor Camille Howes said the decision was difficult but necessary.

“The feral cattle in the Gila Wilderness have been aggressive towards wilderness visitors, graze year-round, and trample stream banks and springs, causing erosion and sedimentation," she said in a statement.

Ranching industry groups and other rural advocates are concerned that the action taken in New Mexico could set a precedent as more grazing parcels become vacant across the West.

Ranchers say fewer people are maintaining fences and gone are the rural neighbors who used to help corral wayward cows. Some have left the business because of worsening drought, making water scarce for cattle, and skyrocketing costs for feed and other supplies.

The New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association estimates roughly 90 grazing parcels are vacant in New Mexico and Arizona. Increased use of public lands — including hunting and hiking — also has resulted in knocked-down fences, the association said. Elk, too, are to blame for damaging fences meant to keep cows in check.

Tom Paterson, chair of the association's wildlife committee, said the group has tried to find a solution that wouldn't involve shooting feral cattle. He pointed to a recent directive issued by the New Mexico Livestock Board that allows neighboring permittees to gather and herd the cattle out.

With snow on the ground, access is limited. Paterson said federal official are not giving enough time to see if the directive will work. His organization also has accused the U.S. Forest Service of skirting its own regulations that call for a roundup first, and shooting as the last resort.

“Easy is not an exception to their own rules. Frustration is not an exception to the rules,” he said. “Our society should be better than this. We can be more creative and do it a better way where you’re not wasting an economic resource.”

Environmentalists in dozens of lawsuits filed in courts around the West over the years have argued that cattle ruin the land and water by trampling stream banks. They applauded the Forest Service's decision.

“We can expect immediate results — clean water, a healthy river and restored wildlife habitat," said Todd Schulke, co-founder of the Center for Biological Diversity.

The position marks a shift from the environmental community's stance on shooting other wildlife — from a fight over protecting bison at the Grand Canyon to annual complaints about the actions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services, an agency often vilified for killing birds, coyotes, wolves, mountain lions and other animals.

Just last month, environmentalists sued in Montana over a program aimed at managing grizzly bears. In 2021, conservation groups settled another lawsuit over Wildlife Services' practices in Idaho. Environmental groups there and elsewhere have long claimed that the agency's predator-control activities violate environmental laws.

But in New Mexico, the Center for Biological Diversity contends that water quality issues will only worsen if feral cattle aren't removed. The group estimates that 50 to 150 cows graze, unauthorized, in the Gila Wilderness, a remote stretch that spans more than 870 square miles (2,253 square kilometers) and is home to endangered Mexican gray wolves, elk, deer and other wildlife.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association had asked the Forest Service to hold off on lethal action for a year after the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association had reached an agreement with federal officials following last year's operation. The New Mexico group is expected to challenge the latest decision.

According to the Forest Service, the feral cattle problem dates back a half-century, when a cattle operation went out of business and subsequent grazing permits were suspended. Hundreds of unauthorized cattle have been removed over the years.

In 2022, a Forest Service contractor killed 65 cows in an aerial gunning operation similar to the one planned for next week.

Photos shared by ranchers of the 2022 operation showed dead cattle upside down in the Gila River. Federal officials said those carcasses were pulled out of the water. A survey done 90 days later found that no carcasses remained. Scavenging birds and other animals consumed them, officials said.

The upcoming operation will cover about 160 square miles (414 square kilometers).

No carcasses are to be left in or adjacent to waterways or springs — or near designated hiking trails or known, culturally sensitive areas.

The work, namely noise from the helicopter, also can't interrupt the breeding season for the Mexican spotted owl, the southwestern willow flycatcher and other endangered species. The aerial gunning operation is expected to be complete before April, when the season begins for Mexican gray wolves to have pups.

Environmentalists used to point to the removal of livestock carcasses as a preventative measure to limit conflict between wolves and ranchers. However, federal officials stated in documents that were released this week that there's no scientific research or observational data to suggest that once wolves scavenge on a livestock carcass, they become habituated to cattle.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

Most animal shelters admit it's easier to get dogs adopted than cats.

Wayside Waifs in Kansas City did something this week that not only got international attention but also found several felines a forever home.

Sometimes you really have to think outside of the box to get animals adopted or, in this case, take to social media.

Wayside Waifs posted a lighthearted video on TikTok with the simple intention of showing off some of their cats up for adoption.

The simple video got more than one million views. Thanks to that video, all but two of the cats were adopted.

"It was actually something that one of our feline care technicians thought of. What kind of animal likes people? What kind of animal would wanna snuggle with the other kittens?” Casey Waugh with Wayside Waifs said.

The goal was to get these shelter cats some attention. They had no idea just how much response they’d get.

"The dogs are sometimes easier, you know, to make TikToks about things like that, but we’ve got lots of different personalities,” Humane Educator Amy Putman said.

Those personalities are now a worldwide hit.

"We have comments from Brazil and the Philippines and the UK, all these amazing places," Waugh said.

Wayside Waifs said they still have plenty of animals to adopt. They’ll be looking to come up with more fun ways to get that done in their next video.

GOLDEN VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) — An Arizona man was arrested after authorities say 183 dead animals were found in a freezer.

The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office says deputies and animal control officers found the animals in a garage freezer on April 3 after a woman reported that 43-year-old Michael Patrick Turland hadn’t returned the snakes she’d lent him for breeding.

Authorities say the frozen animals included dogs, turtles, lizards, birds, snakes, mice, rats, and rabbits.

The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office says Turland admitted to freezing to placing some of the animals in the freezer when they were still alive.

It's unclear why he was freezing the animals.

Turland faces animal cruelty charges.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — “There’s something about it. It’s in my heart, and I can't... I just can’t stand to see them not have a place to be.”

Cathy Graeve’s life’s purpose is bringing care and comfort to dogs who need it most.

“I love all dogs, but old dogs, they just get me. Even when they’re peeing on the floor, it’s just like, what do you do?” Graeve laughed.

Her passion was sparked about 15 years ago as a member of a dog walking group at the Council Bluffs shelter.

“We started noticing the senior dogs were the ones that were really getting left behind. There just weren’t a lot of people in our area that were adopting the seniors,” said Graeve.

The group eventually opened Promise 4 Paws Senior Dog Sanctuary, a nonprofit where dogs live out their final years in a home-like environment.

About thirty dogs live at the sanctuary, staffed 24 hours a day.

“We have a few dogs now that are hospice dogs. We bring in some dogs that just, you know, they just come here, and we know their time is really limited, but we give them all the care that they need, and we make sure that they’re comfortable," said Graeve.

Graeve makes sure none of them pass away alone.

“We just keep them until it gets close, and then we make that decision and take them, and they always cross the rainbow bridge with me,” said Graeve.

With help from volunteers and the community, Promise 4 Paws has cared for hundreds of dogs in the last few years.

“I feel very fulfilled taking care of these dogs, and I do feel like if I ever have to stop and I get too old to do this, I’ll feel like I’ve done something to make a difference," said Graeve.

From food to medical costs, caring for each dog adds up fast. Visit their website to learn more about donations.

Danielle Meadows at KMTV first reported this story.

It’s not easy watching loved ones get old.

“We don’t know if she’ll be here another day, another year,” said Mary Beth Thompson.

Thompson's 12-year-old dog Wren is in her final days.

“Very sweet, and she’s funny, the way she used to chase me,” said Thompson.

Wren is a cancer survivor and she’s losing some mobility in her hind legs.

“I just feel like, oh, when did she get old? We'll love her until she doesn’t want to be here anymore,” said Thompson.

The family invited Lauren Smith Kennedy to help them create a special memory of Wren.

“End-of-life pet photography is just what it sounds like. So it’s either photographing senior animals that are at the end stages of their lives or companion animals that have a terminal illness,” said Kennedy.

Earlier in 2021, Lauren offered to take some end-of-life photos of an acquaintance's pet and posted the finished product online.

“I put it out there on my social media, on my personal pages and it just blew up and I found out that there was such a high demand for it,” said Kennedy.

Kennedy says people were offering to fly her all over the country for these sessions with their pets. She simply could not keep up. So she created something new.

“How can I just make a resource for pet owners, so it’s one central list where they can just go and look. So that’s when the Tilly project started, it’s an organization dedicated to being a network not only for end-of-life photographers but clients seeking those services to get together and find each other,”

Kennedy says the website currently has over 500 photographers across the country. She named the project after one of her cats that passed away.

“I am still on a journey with my own grief and the loss that I had and I think that this allows me to honor these connections and friendships and love. It’s definitely why I named it the Tilly project, it feels like it’s a great way of honoring her,” she said.

Michelle Crossley, who works for the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement, an advocacy and resource group for those dealing with the loss of a pet, says people need to grieve properly.

“One of the biggest things is for individuals to be able to talk about it, that’s a healing property,” said Crossley. “Participating in chat rooms, paying some sort of tribute to their companion animal that they’ve lost, but starting from the get-go just being able to talk about it.”

It won’t be easy for the Thompsons to say goodbye to Wren. But when the time comes, Thompson will know.

“We had a talk and I looked her right in the eyes and I said you tell me when it’s time,” said Thompson.

Kennedy hopes that she and other photographers can be there before it’s time, to capture the love between pet and person.

OKLAHOMA CITY —

With rifle deer season just around the corner, wildlife experts want hunters to be aware that animals can carry COVID-19.

But there are ways hunters can protect themselves in the midst of the pandemic while in the great outdoors.

“It’s turning out that a lot of wildlife and domestic animals are able to be a carrier for COVID-19,” said Dwayne Elmore, a wildlife extension specialist with Oklahoma State University.

>>Related: OKC Zoo administers animal-approved COVID-19 vaccine to select species

Elmore said recent research suggests deer can carry COVID-19 and transmit it to humans.

“That is not really that surprising because other coronaviruses have worked that way in the past,” he said. “People don’t need to be really, overly alarmed about this because we’ve already known that it’s in dogs and cats and ferrets, primates and a lot of other animals. This is just one more that we’ve added to the list.”

Elmore said people shouldn’t be concerned in the short term. But, he said, “It’s going to be even less likely that we’re ever able to be rid of this disease because it’s going to be harbored in so many other animals.”

So if you’re deer hunting this season, be mindful of where you’re handling the animal.

“The likely way you're going to come in contact is if an animal or human is respiring in your presence. So an animal that's been harvested, you know, that's not happening. Obviously, there's still a potential that you could come in contact with the virus, like on your hands, if you put your hand around the mouth of the deer and then you touched your face. So that's an easy one to avoid. Just wear gloves when you're handling wild game. We should do that anyway,” he said.

“The risk to a hunter or someone from harvesting an animal is extremely low. And when you cook the meat, most of the viruses are in the respiratory tract,” but cooking the animal kills the virus.

Bottom line: “If people are worried about it, get vaccinated,” he said.

Diane Foxen is a NICU nurse in Silicon Valley, and lately, she has been feeling the added stress of taking care of premature and sick babies during COVID-19 challenges.

When Foxen gets home, it’s more of the same. She’s a foster mom for the Humane Society Silicon Valley. When the pandemic hit, the humane society thought for sure she wouldn’t have time to foster.

“I didn’t have any at the time, and I was like, ‘Where are my kittens? I need kittens. It’s kitten season. I need something to destress,” Foxen said.

Foxen ended up taking on five kittens. She says caring for the sick kittens helps her destress.

Mutual Rescue, a nonprofit that supports animal rescue groups and shelters across the country, is looking for more stories like Foxen’s.

The rescue group has been telling short stories of how shelter animals have helped people facing obesity, suicide, addiction and PTSD.

“In 2010, my doctor told me to buy a funeral plot because I would need one in the next five years, but I’m still here, because a shelter dog saved my life,” said Carol Novello, the group’s founder.

Now, Novello wants to share stories of how rescue animals have been helping people during the pandemic.

“As the folks that are on the true front lines taking care of patients watching them die, coding them, they're going to need someone or something to talk to when they're finished,” Foxen said.

Mutual Rescue wants people to submit short videos of how their pets have helped them during the coronavirus pandemic. You can email them to

hello@mutualrescue.org

.

Submitters could be contacted about being part of a new docuseries the group is working on. The nonprofit is accepting videos until Monday.

Mochi "Mo" Rickert, holder of the record for the longest tongue on a living dog, has died, according to Guinness World Records.The female Saint Bernard's tongue measured 7.3 in, Guinness says. Mochi held the record for five years.Mochi was a rescue dog in Colorado. She made more than a hundred appearances at schools, nursing homes, events for animal rescues and TV. Mochi was featured on the cover of "Amazing Animals," a Guinness World Records book published in 2017.Owner Carla Ernst said in a 2017 video by Guinness that she used Mochi's favorite snack, peanut butter, to show people how far the pooch's tongue could reach.When Mochi was confirmed a record holder, Ernst said, it made "all the water and slobber we've cleaned up over the last six-and-a-half years well worth it."Guinness announced Mochi's death Oct. 20."Mochi had an impact on nearly everyone she met. She rescued so many hearts in her life... what a joy this journey has been," Ernst told Guinness. "She was the most amazing animal ever. We miss our precious furry child!"

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

The Kansas City Zoo announced via press release that one of their western lowland gorillas recently had the delta variant of COVID-19.

The other five gorillas that make up the zoo’s troop, are presumed to also be positive. The zoo has yet to receive official test results.

While all the gorillas have shown symptoms of the virus, some have already returned to normal. The zoo says the rest of the troop continue to respond to treatment and are improving.

The gorillas’ care specialists first noticed that Charlie the gorilla did not appear to be feeling well on Sept. 22 and then began coughing on Sept. 25.

The zoo says the veterinary health team immediately began treatment but within the next several days other gorillas began showing symptoms. Coughing and a lack of appetite are among many outward symptoms the animals began displaying.

Related video: COVID-19 spreads through gorillas at zoo in Atlanta

All of the gorillas are scheduled for the Zoetis vaccine, which was specifically developed for use with animals. The zoo says research has shown the vaccine to be safe.

"As always, the top priority of the Kansas City Zoo is the health and safety of our animals, guests, and staff. As the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, the zoo implemented protocols to keep susceptible animals and their caregivers safe," The KC Zoo said in their press release.

The zoo doesn't know how the gorillas came down with virus. They also say that visitors to the KC Zoo are not at risk of contracting COVID-19, due to the viewing distance and design of their gorilla habitat.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve in Portsmouth, Virginia, has decided to try “goatscaping.”

Staff at the preserve has hired a landscape company called RVA Goats, which is based in Richmond. A team of about 80 goats and sheep are helping to control the invasive wisteria that has taken over a couple of acres of the property.

“So, the English ivy on the ground, the sheep are very effective at getting that, and then the goats are good at climbing and getting at some of these vines,” explained Kristi Orcutt, owner of RVA Goats.

Executive Director of Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve Ashley Morgan says this is the first time they’ve done this.

“About a year ago, we discovered that the vines in this area had really invaded the forest and taken down the canopy,” said Morgan.

She said they invited experts from the state forestry department and also city landscapers to look at the problem.

“Doing nothing is not an option because the invasive wisteria will continue to spread and continue to take down the native trees,” Morgan added.

Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve was established in 1997 and is a 142-acre urban wildlife preserve.

The owner of RVA Goats says her company is keeping busy, often hired by homeowners and business owners.

“We also get hired by cemeteries, especially African American cemeteries that are historically under-funded and under-managed,” described Orcutt. “I’ll send the goats in and within a week, I’m seeing these beautiful works of art, these stone markers.”

The University of Richmond is one of their next jobs, stated Orcutt. She added that the goats and sheep are used to clear streambeds and also to model and demonstrate sustainability for their ecology students.

Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve plans to use the goats and sheep through the end of the week. Morgan said the cost was covered by a grant through the Rotary Club of Portsmouth and the Southeast Virginia Community Foundation.

They hope to gain more human volunteers to help until they can rent out the goats again in spring.

This story was originally published by Angela Bohon at WTKR.

BROOKFIELD, IL — The reported infection of animals with COVID-19 has been documented around the world. Most have been infected after contact with their human owners or caretakers.

Veterinarians say part of the fight against the coronavirus includes vaccinating zoo animals to prevent what’s known as spillover infections.

Scientists say most emerging infectious diseases originate in animals.

In fact, the zoonotic origin of the 2003 SARS outbreak in Asia was traced back to cave-dwelling horseshoe bats in China. It eventually reached animals in live markets where it spilled over into humans.

“There's a huge interconnectedness between animals and people when it comes to a different number of different viruses and other illnesses,” said Dr. Mike Adkesson, vice president of clinical medicine at the Chicago Zoological Society

Still, the source of SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 is still an official mystery.

An unclassified report from the office of the Director of National Intelligence last month was only confident that it was “not developed as a biological weapon.”

What we do know is that the novel coronavirus is not a human-only infection.

“We have seen cases of COVID-19 occur in a number of different species around the country in different zoos, primarily primates, large cats such as tigers, lions, leopards, as well as a number of smaller carnivores like otters and mink,” said Adkesson.

Late last week, more than a dozen western lowland gorillas reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 at Zoo Atlanta. Their care team noticed changes in appetitive and respiratory issues.

“Coughing, sneezing, lethargy, the animals just clearly feel a little bit under the weather, the same way that we see those same signs and symptoms in people,” said Adkesson.

While animals are not playing a major part in the transmission of the virus, they are clearly susceptible.

“Part of the concern is that those animals are able to spread it to other animals and potentially able to spread it back to people,” said Adkesson.

The CDC says there have been isolated cases of domestic dogs and cats that have become infected and have been able to transmit COVID-19 back to people.

Zoos across the country are now vaccinating their animals beginning with carnivores, primates, and big cats. The emergency use authorization of the vaccine Zoetis requires two doses three weeks apart.

“We're still pretty early on in this process, but we know that the vaccine is safe from the trials that Zoetis has done with it,” said Adkesson. “So, it's really just a question of how efficacious it's going to be in the long run for our animals.”

Caretakers at the Brookfield Zoo outside Chicago have been required to mask and maintain social distancing as much as possible from the animals.

“There have been cases that have emerged in other zoos, though, even with those guidelines in place. So, we know that the virus is able to infect many of these animals the same way it's able to infect people,” said Adkesson.

It’s another reminder that the health of humans, animals, and the environment is intertwined.

Initial tests show that lowland gorillas at Zoo Atlanta have the COVID-19 virus, the zoo said in a media update on its website.

Officials said Friday they are waiting to confirm the diagnosis after sending test samples to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.

The animals were tested after employees saw some of them coughing, having nasal discharge, and showing changes in appetite. Analyses by the Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Georgia resulted in presumptively positive results for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.

Video above: Zoos seeking COVID-19 vaccinations for animals

The affected gorillas are being treated with monoclonal antibodies and samples from the zoo's entire gorilla population have been taken for testing, said the release. The zoo plans to continue to test the animals regularly.

"The teams are very closely monitoring the affected gorillas and are hopeful they will make a complete recovery," said Sam Rivera, the Senior Director of Animal Health. "They are receiving the best possible care, and we are prepared to provide additional supportive care should it become necessary."

Zoo officials said they do not know exactly how the gorillas became infected. They said the virus might have been passed to the animals by a fully vaccinated, asymptomatic, COVID-positive employee who was wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is standard practice when working with great apes, said the release.

"While humans are known to be able to transmit the virus to animals such as gorillas, and these cases have occurred at other zoos, there is currently no data to suggest that zoo animals can transmit the virus to humans," according to the release. "Regardless, Zoo Atlanta visitors do not pose a transmission threat to the gorillas or vice versa given the distance between the areas used by guests and the animals' habitats."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Georgia's State Veterinarian have approved Zoo Atlanta to use a vaccine developed specifically for animals, and the gorillas will receive the vaccine once they recover. For now, the zoo plans to vaccinate its "Bornean and Sumatran orangutans, Sumatran tigers, African lions, and clouded leopard" populations, the release said.

Scientists are still piecing together how the coronavirus spread from animals to humans.

So far, we know the virus likely originated from a bat and somehow jumped to a pangolin before it made its way to humans.

Now, researchers at Ohio State University are taking a closer look at coronavirus transmission, and how it's possible for the virus to jump from humans back to animals.

“So, we're looking in environments like wastewater and storm water. We're also looking at animals around Ohio, from domestic animals to wildlife,” said Dr. Vanessa Hale at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

We've already seen it happen. Mink in Denmark got infected with coronavirus after coming into contact with humans.

The mink got very sick and developed variations that can jump back to humans.

The virus does not need to jump to another species to evolve, but it is more likely to happen.

“The evolutionary pressures may be different in different hosts, so if you have a different body temperature, a different physiology, there may be various pressures that cause various types of mutations in the virus,” said Hale.

Researchers at Ohio State are trying to get ahead and find out more about these types of mutations.

It can help them understand whether a mutation is more infectious, whether there could be future infections, and whether the existing vaccines can fight against them.

Researchers say right now, only mink are playing a significant role in human infection.

It is possible for regular household pets to infect humans and vice versa, but so far, we've seen very low rates of that happening.

It looks like the Louisville Metro Animal Services' "Empty the Shelter" event was a big success.

According to LMAS officials, all 100 pets in last weekend's event were adopted.

Of the pets, 59 were cats and 41 were dogs.

The very last pet to get adopted was a good boy named Gorilla Glue. He technically got adopted first thing Monday morning, just after the event, but he was the only one left, so his fee was still waived.

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That dog spent 70 days in the shelter before finding his forever family.

The "Empty the Shelter" event was one of nearly 200 that happened around the country in partnership with BISSELL allowing for free adoptions.

While the event is over, here's a reminder that it’s always free for approved adopters to adopt adult dogs 40lbs. and up, and cats 6 months or older. Spay/neuter, microchip and vaccinations are included.

LMAS also offers free barn cat adoptions to approved adopters. For more info about LMAS adoptions visit https://louisvilleky.gov/animal-services.

Fireworks explode like magnified gunfire in the exquisitely sensitive ears of many of our pets.

Measuring between 150 and 175 decibels, fireworks are louder than gunfire (140 decibels) and even many planes at takeoff (120 decibels). Decibels measure the loudness of a sound while hertz measures the frequency of a sound.

Human ears are damaged at a mere 85 decibels. Yet we can hear to only about 20,000 hertz, while dogs can hear between 45,000 and 65,000 hertz. Just think of the physical and emotional damage that might occur to a dog left outside to face the noise.

Animal advocates say the pandemic has made it extremely bad for pets with noise phobias. Last year, instead of people going to central locations to watch a huge display, they bought fireworks in record numbers, setting them off in the streets next to homes for weeks.

This year, although orchestrated displays are back, there will likely be people use their fireworks stash to celebrate the Fourth of July. When frightened, dogs bolt and owners may lose their best friends in the night.

"Dogs have been known to dig under or jump over fences, break tethers or even shatter windows in response to their fireworks fears," said Temma Martin, the public relations manager for the Best Friends Animal Society, one of the nation's oldest no-kill agencies.

Prevention is key

Statistics show at least 40% of dogs have noise phobias, which can include fear of thunderstorms, leaf blowers, power drills, even hair dryers. But those noises are relatively constant, experts say, while fireworks are frighteningly sporadic and therefore unexpected.

"It's hard not to feel helpless when you see them shaking and panting and so obviously distressed," said Dr. John Howe, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, in a statement.

And it's not just dogs. Cats and many other domestic (and wild) animals have sensitive hearing, provided by nature to find and hunt prey.

Prepare your pet before dark

The key to helping your pet survive this onslaught, experts say, is being prepared.

"With a little advance planning and preparation you can ease your pets' anxiety and help get them through this time," Howe said.

Tags and microchips. Be sure your pet has a well-fitting collar with current identification tags. If your pet has a microchip, make sure your correct contact info is recorded with the vet clinic or shelter that implanted the chip.

That way, if your pet does escape into the night, you will be able to immediately call and alert the vet or shelter about their absence.

Exercise before dark. A tired dog is a calmer dog. A happy cat is a more relaxed cat. Fit in some extra playtime for your cats, and take dogs out for play and exercise earlier in the day. Such activities burn off extra energy, thus limiting anxiety later when it's time to sleep.

Bring all pets indoors. Don't leave your pet outside to suffer alone. Put a dog's crate or bed in the quietest, most enclosed room possible, and see if they like being covered with a blanket.

Cats like to go high to feel secure, so give them a covered cozy cave that is elevated off the ground, like a hut on an indoor cat tree or in a closet.

Distract your pet. Provide lots of new toys and long-lasting chews and treats. Food puzzles may also keep them distracted from the unnerving noises.

Use calming aids. Many pets respond to "thunder" shirts or blankets that wrap them in a heavy, calming cocoon. Cats and dogs often enjoy smelling species-specific pheromones. Cats can wear collars with scents that mimic the pheromone mother cats produce to calm their kittens. Dogs respond to the scent of lactating female dogs, called appropriately "dog appeasing pheromone," or DAP.

Use calming sounds. First, muffle sounds by closing curtains and doors near your pet. Calming music, white noise or television can be used to provide comfortable, familiar sounds.

"Some experts even suggest playing a war movie to blend the sound from the TV with the sounds from outside," Martin said.

Use medication as a last resort. While there's nothing wrong with turning to your vet for calming medications, experts worry that pet owners might rely on that first, without doing the behavior modification tips above. But if you've tried all these ideas and your furry friend is still in a panic, reach out to your vet for advice.