Prepare to CRY: Tornado Victim Reunited with Pet During Interview

 

We are all deeply saddened here at Animal Planet HQ over the devastation in the Oklahoma City area.  Our hearts go out to all the victims -- including family, friends and pets.

Watch this touching video where survivor Barbara Garcia is reunited with her dog. They took shelter together in the bathroom of her home when the monstrous twister hit.  Ms. Garcia never lost consciousness but she was separated from her precious companion in the aftermath and rubble.  Watch the reunion: 

 

Our friends at the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States have provided us with top pet preparation tips to ensure pet safety in disaster situations.  Get more tips on pet emergency preparedness from our Daily Treat blog >>

 

For more information on how you can help, visit:

Central Oklahoma City Humane Society - find our how to help displaced or injured pets.

Red Cross of Oklahoma City - You can donate online directly to help Oklahoma City. Or, find information on locating loved ones, finding hot meals, shelters and more.

The Salvation Army is providing food and emotional support to survivors. You can donate directly to their efforts here.

 

 

 

WATCH: We Really, Truly Hope This Deer is OK

 

A Pennsylvania bus driver got the surprise of his life after a deer crossed the street in front of him then crashed through the windshield - and lived.

The poor, stunned creature seemed to be OK as it jumped around looking for a way to get out while a lone passenger sat in the back. Eventually the deer was able to escape through the open front door, hopefully going on to live a long life - with a story to tell his friends.

See another deer who survived another perilous situation:

Cute Dog Break: We Love Boston Terriers!

 

Credit: Keith Barraclough

There's something about the Boston Terrier that makes us smile. Those big, lovable eyes; its distinctive black and white markings; and its dapper style. Our Dog Breed Selector describes this pup perfectly: "It should convey the impression of determination, strength, sturdiness, liveliness, and style, with a graceful carriage." Pretty fitting for a dog that carries a city namesake like Boston, right?

This Friday, we're celebrating the Boston Terrier. Check out our playlist, and learn all about the breed in our Dog Breed Selector.

WATCH: Animal Planet L!VE Brings You Unfiltered Live Viewing Access

 

A few months ago we brought you the live kitten cam. And you guys went wild.

Then we introduced the live puppy cam. And the puppies pawed their way into your hearts.

Well, prepare yourselves for the latest in Animal Planet live cameras as we introduce to you a 24/7 digital experience that will bring you unfiltered, round-the-clock access to the compelling worlds of the beautiful, cute and misunderstood.

Available today at APL.TV and on Samsung Smart TVs tomorrow, Animal Planet L!VE launches in partnership with Audubon Nature Institute, explore.org, National Aquarium, South Mountain Creamery and the Washington Animal Rescue League – with more cameras planned in the coming months. Starting today visitors can immerse themselves through 11, live HD cameras – powered by USTREAM.

Here are a few of the options you'll find:

Live video by Animal Planet L!ve

Live video by Animal Planet L!ve

Additionally, you can explore the worlds of ants, beluga whales, calves, kittens, fish of the Pacific Reef, penguins, puppies, sea nettles and wild birds!

For now, you can enjoy these live camera experiences across desktop and mobile platforms at APL.TV (we know what we're going to be doing the rest of the day...). But starting Thursday, you can watch the live HD cameras from the comfort of your couch on your Samsung Smart TV. And in case that wasn't awesome enough, get ready to add Animal Planet L!VE to your Roku and Xbox LIVE in the coming months!

So, go ahead and make your day more exciting by watching all of our live cameras. Then come back and let us know which ones are your favorites and what else you might like to see.

Happy viewing!

Affenpinscher Banana Joe Wins Best in Show!

 

Banana Joe, an Affenpinscher, won Best of Show during the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show February 12, 2013 at Madison Square Garden in New York. (STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

And we have a winner! Meet Banana Joe, an Affenpinscher who took home Westminster Kennel Club's Best in Show title last night.

Michael Dougherty, the judge who chose Banana Joe as the winner told the New York Times, "This little fella seemed to want it a touch more. He's a fantastic affenpinscher, with a fantastic face, a great body. I've never had my hands on a better affenpinscher. Ever. He has the muscle tone of a big dog."

Puppy Bowl Takes Over NASDAQ

With Puppy Bowl IX right around the corner, lucky members of the Animal Planet team started their Thursday by ringing the NASDAQ Stock Market Opening Bell along with some very special canine guests. Five very snuggly puppies joined Animal Planet representatives at the podium to promote the most important puppy sporting event of the year. Animal Planet staff donned their sharpest business attire and largest foam paws to commemorate the occasion. 

The adoptable puppies journeyed from the Pennsylvania SPCA headquarters in Philadelphia to spread the word about this Sunday’s premiere of Puppy Bowl IX through barks, licks, and kisses. All the members of NASDAQ’s production staff enjoyed the change of pace and the influx of furry critters on set. 

Executive Producer Melinda Toporoff started the broadcast after being introduced by VP of NASDAQ OMX David Wicks (pictured above getting licked). Melinda discussed the exciting new features in this year’s Puppy Bowl including hedgehog cheerleaders, a puppy hot tub, and new PuppyCam technology that allows the viewer to be even closer to the action. 

Call the Gator Boys: 15,000 Crocodiles Escape South African Farm

 

Ulrich Mueller/Getty Images

In news that could only have come from my nightmares, The Atlantic Newswire is reporting that 15,000 crocodiles escaped from a farm in South Africa. While many have been captured, a reported 7,500 are still missing. Seventy. Five. Hundred. Let that sink in for a minute.

Apparently the crocodiles belong to the Rakwena Crocodile Farm in the northern part of the country, where the owners were forced to open gates to prevent a storm surge following heavy rains over the past week. This allowed the daring crocs to escape. According to the AFP, "One turned up on a school rugby pitch 75 miles away."

Sounds like they could use a little help from the Gator Boys, huh?

Check out these Gator Boys and crocodile video below!

Hurricane Relief: Jersey Shore Photos Help Animals in Need

 

Hurricane Sandy slammed the East Coast over three weeks ago yet there are still so many in dire need of help. The power's STILL out in many neighborhoods and families - pets included! - are hunkering down in the dark and cold.  Our sweet animal friends have been displaced and are still being found and in best case scenarios, reunited with their families. You can Like this Facebook page to get updates on Lost & Found pets. 

In New York, coastal areas are still cleaning up while the Jersey Shore was entirely flattened.  Hearts broke across the country as we all witnessed the devastation along the Atlantic coastline.  It's a place of fond childhood memories for millions, including Christine Zona, photographer and a New Jersey native.

Christine has launched a campaign to raise money to help all of those people who lost their homes or their pets.  At ZonaFoto, you can buy prints of her Jersey Shore photo series and proceeds go to the charities, Waves for Water and the ASPCA-NJ.  Get Christine’s story and see some of her photos below:

“I grew up in New Jersey. Most of my family and friends still live there and have been affected by Sandy.  I have so many summer memories spent on the Jersey Shore.  It is part of who I am.  Fishing and crabbing off my Grandparent's dock.  Riding my bike to the beach with my brother and cousins.  Pleading with my parents to go on just one more ride.  Playing arcade and boardwalk games all day.  Ice-cream, candy apples, zeppolis! Any time a friend would come visit me, the first place I would take them was the shore. It's an icon of New Jersey.  … I hope this series brings a few smiles to some faces who are suffering and most importantly raises some money to help them through this.” 

OMG! Elephant Speaks Korean Words Using His Trunk

 

A young male elephant named Koshik at the Everland Zoo in South Korea has learned how to SPEAK with his trainers!

... OK, well, he's learned how to say about five words by putting his trunk in his mouth to vocalize sounds. STILL! Amazing! Watch him say the Korean word "cho-ah" (or, "good") here. As a Korean-speaker, trust me - his pronunciation is really good! Cho-ah!

Listen to him say "annyong" ("hello") here.

The five words he has mastered are "annyong" ("hello"), "anja" ("sit down"), "aniya" ("no"), "nuo" ("lie down"), and "choah" ("good"), according to researchers in Current Biology.

Helping Lost and Found Pets After Hurricane Sandy

 

"We have 3 dogs so it's an inconvenience but not a disaster," said Lower East Side resident Shawn Ryan. Much of lower Manhattan is without power due to Hurricane Sandy. (Photo by Angelo Merendino/Corbis)

The East Coast is slowly but surely recovering from the effects of Hurricane Sandy this week. But as we wait for power to come back, water to recede and communities to rebuild, we also have to wonder about the well-being of pets after a major storm like this. 

[Watch: Top 10 Amazing Animal Cops Rescues]

We reported on The Daily Treat that a Facebook group has been created to help reunite lost pets with their owners. "Hurricane Sandy Lost and Found Pets" has gained over 12,000 supporters since launching earlier this week. Users are encouraged to submit and share photos and information of missing pets or pets they have found and taken in for shelter. In addition to Facebook, many are turning to popular classifieds site Craigslist to share information about lost and found pets. A quick perusal of the #SandyPets hashtag on Twitter shows information for shelters housing pets and other hurricane-related pet inquiries.