A pitbull dog dumped on the side of a country road with a litter of seven newborn puppies was suffering and critically ill from having an unborn puppy still inside her.

It's interesting how a food scare on the other side of the world can create ripples right around the globe, writes Sue Kedgley.

A deer farm worker who was dismissed after more than 20 animals died from disease has been awarded more than $12,000.

More than 2,700 dogs of 187 breed and varieties have been on display at 137th the annual canine competition. Two new breeds, the Russell terrier and the Treeing Walker coonhound, will be introduced in the contest. It has been the biggest entry in 15 years and the award pets' owners are waiting for is The Best in Show, which will be announced later today.

Looking after the chicks orphaned by the mysterious deaths of adult yellow-eyed penguins on Otago Peninsula has become a fulltime job.

Tesco has revealed that some of its frozen Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognese contains more than 60 per cent horsemeat.

The International Rodeo could be barred from returning to Forsyth Barr Stadium if the Dunedin City Council agrees to a plea from animal rights group Safe.

Bodies of more than 40 endangered yellow-eyed penguins have been found on Otago Peninsula, raising concerns of a repeat "mass mortality" event in 1990.

Three weeks ago a 15-metre sperm whale corpse washed up on Paraparaumu beach, a coastal district about 40 minutes' drive north of Wellington.

A potential cat fight has quietened down in Paihia after a conservation group accused the SPCA of supporting a cat colony in the Village Green.

Two dogs attacked two children, a teenager, an elderly tourist and a dog control officer in Methven after escaping from their yard.

The SPCA'S famous driving dogs could star in their own television show.

A mare and her foal have been poisoned with a cocktail of prescription and over-the-counter drugs by a group of schoolboys.

Shelley Bridgeman isn't fond of cats. She's even gone as far as using cat repellent to keep the neighbourhood cats away.

German wasps stung a Tauranga man so badly he was sick for three days and the skin peeled from his hand.

An albatross has died as heat stress and fly strike hit the protected population of northern royal albatross at Taiaroa Head on Otago Peninsula.

In Australia, companion animal controls are much stronger than ours, writes Brian Rudman. It seems a good first step in dissuading cat - and dog - ownership.

Dr Morgan has his facts right, and his modest proposals are in line with international trends and New Zealand law, writes Charles Daugherty.

The SPCA has rejected claims it releases cats into the wild after Gareth Morgan offered $5 for every unwanted cat it euthanised.

The BBC car show Top Gear is coming to New Zealand to film our world-famous driving dogs.

Environmentalist Gareth Morgan has offered to donate $5 to the SPCA for every homeless cat they put down.