Latest fromPets & Animals

Nine cows killed by lightning in Waikato
A Waikato farmer has been left counting the cost of Saturday night's wild electrical storm after finding nine cows killed by lightning.

Rihanna's Instagram leads to arrests
Pop star Rihanna spent a weekend at the beach in Thailand, leaving behind a trail of racy tweets and an incriminating Instagram photograph.

Cat sent for neutering accidentally put down
A healthy family pet has been accidentally put down after going to the SPCA for desexing.

Life in isolation for killer elephant
A killer elephant remains alone at a closed zoo where the owners are refusing offers of help.

Whale of an achievement
Persistent prompting by an Auckland scientist has persuaded the shipping industry to rearrange its schedules, for a whale.

Shipping companies slow down for whales
Shipping companies have agreed to slow down and alter course in the Hauraki Gulf in an effort to save an endangered resident whale.

Wildlife heroes honoured
In an emotion-charged ceremony, Rochelle Constantine was one of three inaugural recipients of the Holdaway Awards at the Hauraki Gulf Forum's annual seminar this month.

Meet the new (Dean) Barker
He's carrying the hopes of a nation, and now Dean Barker has another claim to fame - lending his name to a rare kiwi chick.

Investigation into rottweiler attack concludes
The owners of two rottweilers that mauled an 8-year-old Christchurch boy last month will find out next week if they will be charged.

A fly has 'Matrix'-like moves
Trying to swat a fly is like trying to shoot Keanu Reeves in The Matrix because time appears to move more slowly in the minds of smaller animals.

Cat abducted, shaved, branded with swastika
The search is on for the people who shaved a family cat in Christchurch and marked a swastika on its back.

Pass the soap
Chickens are increasingly common in suburban gardens but many owners are unaware of the potential dangers of their pets.

Kiwis taken to vet with sore bums
Fourteen rare Okarito rowi kiwi have been taken to vets in the North Island with sore bottoms.

Shark fins float in Wellington
One hundred grey shark fins, and one orange fin, are floating in Wellington harbour today to mark the final day of shark awareness week.

Is there an ape for that? Orangutans plan trips
It's the ape equivalent of Google Maps and Facebook. The night before a big trip, Arno the orangutan plots his journey and lets others know where he is going with a long, whooping call.

Man killed by runaway elephant in France
An 84-year-old man has been killed near Paris after an elephant belonging to a local circus escaped from its pen and hit him with its trunk.

Ask Phoebe: Talk to neighbours first about their noisy dogs
Our neighbours have two large dogs on their well-fenced urban property. We have two problems with them.

Dolphin proposal 'inadequate'
Conservation groups say a new government proposal to help the world's rarest marine dolphin, Maui's dolphin, is inadequate and will not save the species from extinction.

A lab experiment, but spot the difference
Black labrador puppy Amani will have a tough job keeping up with his foster brothers - cheetah cubs Winspear and Kamau.

Conservation Week launches today
Conservation Week has launched today with a proposal for a new conservation park on Great Barrier Island and a pest eradication programme on Rakitu Island in the Hauraki Gulf.