About a month ago, a tiny mixed-breed puppy wandered onto Sgt. Lucas May’s camp in Afghanistan.  With the help of his wife in Kansas they hope to rescue the dog and have her be a permanent member of their family.  May obtained permission from his commanders to rescue the pup, but it isn’t cheap.  They estimate it will cost about $2,500 to fly the puppy, Bella, from Afghanistan to Wichita.  So far they have raised $500. For complete story click HERE.

Depressed and vomiting dogs, a dirty operating room and expired medications were among 20 violations found at UW-Madison by federal animal welfare inspectors during a surprise visit last month. UW-Madison must fix the problems noted in the report, which was released this week, or risk losing some $200 to $300 million in annual animal research funding.  University officials are working to fix the violations and prevent new ones.  For complete story click HERE.

A Facebook page called “Demand Justice for Buddy” was designed specifically for the German shepherd mix that had been dragged to death in Colorado last week. Authorities said the dog was forced to run 3 miles up steep hills before it was dragged when it couldn’t keep up. The dog was found with a rope tied around its neck on a snowy road by a park employee.  Steven Romero was arrested for this crime on Thursday.  Animal lovers who have signed the petition on Facebook hope their efforts will convince a Colorado court to charge Romero with a maximum penalty of three years in a federal prison, a $100,000 fine and one-year of probation. For complete story click HERE.

11-year-old Austin Forman was retrieving firewood in his backyard on Saturday evening when Angel, his golden retriever, started acting funny.  Before he knew it a cougar was lunging right for him.  Angel leapt in front of the cougar preventing the attack on Austin.  There was a terrible fight between the two animals, which came to an end when Constable Chad Gravelle shot the cougar.  Everyone thought Angel was dead but then she popped up and ran to Austin.  She suffered several wounds but is expected to recover.  For complete story click HERE.

Ellen DeGeneres and Tim Gunn have been named Woman and Man of the Year by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals for their friendly ways toward animals. For complete story click HERE.

Hector is one of Michael Vick’s former fighting dogs who now has a fantastic forever home with Clara and Andrew Yori.  They quickly learned that Henry isn’t any good as an athlete, like his Frisbee-champ brother Wallace. But his calm, sweet personality was well-suited for work as a licensed therapy dog. His new life contrasts starkly with his past: Hector spends his days visiting nursing homes, hospitals and schools with Clara! For complete story click HERE.

Izzy, a female Great Dane, was rescued from a garage where her owners left her to starve to death. A tip from a concerned citizen prompted an investigation by the local Humane Society.  The animal control officers were not prepared for what they found: Izzy was barricaded in a filthy garage with no windows or ventilation, left there to die, skin and bones covered in fleas and ants.  While Izzy miraculously survived and is now in a loving home and weighs about 100 pounds, her former owner was convicted of animal cruelty, sentenced to time in jail and prohibited from owning animals in the future. For complete story click HERE.

PETA’s “Worst-Dressed” Celebrities of 2009 have been selected, and this year’s biggest fur offender—by a mile—is … Madonna! PETA hopes their “Worst-Dressed” awards will shed light on the truth about fur and prompt celebrities and fans alike to change their ways! For complete story click HERE.

Paula Bockman-Chato had first believed that the constant sniffing and nuzzling under her arm by her beloved saluki Kaspar was just the dog being affectionate but that was until a medical check revealed early signs of lymph node cancer in the very spot that had attracted Kaspar’s attention.  Mrs. Bockman-Chato said she would not have been aware of the disease if it wasn’t for Kaspar.  While this story is remarkable, it is not uncommon. Scientific research has now confirmed what was long anecdotally believed – dogs are highly successful in sniffing out cancer in humans thanks to their incredible sense of smell. For complete story click HERE.

Children and celebrities, including Twilight’s Kellan Lutz and One Tree Hill’s Sophia Bush, are helping get the word out about homeless/abandoned animals in the new special Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: Kids to the Rescue! Helping Homeless Animals, airing Dec. 27 at 8 p.m. ET on Nickelodeon. For complete story click HERE.