A cat caused a stir after being stuck in a central Auckland building shaft for four days.

It was a routine flea treatment, his family thought. But it was nearly a case of kitty-cide for Dexter who had a bad reaction to the product - which was for dogs.

Many dog owners have found themselves unable to resist treating a pet that makes "puppy dog eyes" and now scientists have discovered the cute expression taps into our subconscious.

Melissa and Charlie come as a pair, having lived together with a previous owner, and would like to be adopted.

An Auckland man and his friends thought they had spotted a whale when they glimpsed what turned out to be a giant manta ray.

Twenty-seven pilot whales beached at the top of the South Island overnight have been euthanised.

The ability to make friends with those who have similar personality traits dates back to when chimps and humans were on similar evolutionary paths, scientists say.

The SPCA was given 14 pigeons in September after their previous owner became dismayed at the rate they were breeding.

A twig snaps, a crow calls, but nothing moves in the dense pine forests of Spain's Guadarrama mountains.

Indy was given to the SPCA after her previous owners moved from a country property to a small central home where there was not enough room for her to play.

A man filming his diving expedition in Northland caught more than crayfish when he came face to face with a pod of orcas.

Do badly behaved dogs start out that way or are they are helped along by their owners? Animal behaviour expert Sally Hibbard tackles the question.

If there was ever a reason not to be nosey, then this video is it. And if you happen to be an arachnophobe, the scenes here are the stuff of your darkest nightmares.

A horse spooked by New Year's Eve fireworks in the Bay of Islands has died from a horrific leg injury.

Bessie is a 9-month-old whippet who was rescued after being thrown from a car.

Australia is following a scheme introduced in NZ to decide which wildlife should be allowed to die off

Nina is a 1-year-old cat that prefers living in a quiet atmosphere as she becomes overwhelmed by loud noises.

Lying flat on the dirt in a Namibian desert, Stephen Belcher was just 30m away from a hunting leopard.

Cado is a playful puppy, full of life and energy and always smiling. He came to the SPCA in mid-2013 and is hoping to have an owner by the time 2014 rolls in.

Wanted: heavy earth-moving equipment to help rescue Princess Jury's "baby" from the mud.

Lying on the floor of a research boat off the coast of South Africa in treacherous waters, NZ photographer Chris McLennan knew he had to stay focused.

A firefighter turned "dog whisperer", the mystery of the South Island black panther and wild otters in Southland all made headlines this year.

Researchers have found the earliest case of cat domestication, along with the first direct evidence of how it may have happened.

These domestic shorthair tabby kittens are playful and loveable. They get along well so would love to be adopted together.