Oct. 24, 2014: We’ve scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it’s all right here.

Secret Service K9s Hurricane, left, and Jordan are credited with stopping a White House fence jumper.

Dogs Stop White House Intruder

After facing harsh criticism when a man jumped the White House fence last month, the U.S. Secret Service took to Twitter Thursday to highlight its hero K9s, who stopped a man who jumped the fence Wednesday night. The Secret Service Tweeted photos of the two Belgian Malinois dogs who were released to stop Dominic Adesanya, 23. Adesanya kicked and punched the K9 officers, which is a federal offense. He was charged with "unlawfully entering the restricted grounds of the White House" as well as "harming animals used on law enforcement.” After Adesanya was taken into custody, the dogs were taken to a veterinarian. They had minor bruising but were declared “ready to work.” Jordan, the black and tan dog, is 5 years old and “enjoys walks around the White House,” the Secret Service Tweeted. Hurricane, the black dog, age 6, “enjoys playing with his Kong toy.” — Read it at NPR

Lizards’ Stickier Feet Evolved in Just 15 Years

Researchers have found that green anoles living on Florida islands have adapted to dealing with invasive brown anoles in a remarkably short time — 15 years and 20 generations. After initial contact with the brown lizards, the green lizards would perch higher in trees. As the generations passed, they grew bigger toe pads and stickier scales so they could grip the smoother branches found higher in the trees. "We did predict that we’d see a change, but the degree and quickness with which they evolved was surprising," said the study’s lead author, Yoel Stuart of the University of Texas at Austin. "If human height were evolving as fast as these lizards’ toes, the height of an average American man would increase from about 5 foot 9 inches today to about 6 foot 4 inches within 20 generations — an increase that would make the average U.S. male the height of an NBA shooting guard." The study was published in the journal Science. — Read it at Discovery News

Sleeping Lions Photo Wins Wildlife Photography Contest

A striking black-and-white picture of five lionesses and their cubs in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park won the top prize at London’s 50th Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition this week. American photographer Michael Nichols captured the pride lounging on a rock formation after the females fought off a male in the group. Nichols, who followed the pride for six months to gain their trust before snapping this picture, won out over 42,000 photos submitted by photographers from 96 countries. This image and others that won awards in the contest will be on display at the Natural History Museum in London from today through Aug. 30, 2015. — See it at Live Science

A dog belonging to Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who was killed by a gunman in Canada, lays by a memorial outside the fence at his home.

Dogs Mourn Canadian Soldier

Two dogs belonging to the soldier who was fatally shot Wednesday while guarding the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Canada, were photographed Thursday peeking out from under a fence gate at his family’s Ontario home. Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, 24, was known as a dog lover. With a heartbreaking look in their eyes, his dogs crept closer and closer to the flowers and flags that mourners had left outside the fence at the Army reservist’s home, until one rested its head right by the memorial. After shooting Cirillo, the gunman, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, stormed into Canada’s parliament, where he was shot and killed by Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers. — See more photos at ABC News

Video of Kids’ Tearful Reunion With Cat Goes Viral

Mom Sheryl had the best surprise of all for her children: their 13-year-old cat, who’d gone missing two months earlier. She found the family’s lost cat at a nearby gas station and asked the kids to close their eyes when she brought their pet into the living room. The young boys run up and nuzzle the cat, with tears streaming down their relieved faces. You’ll definitely need some tissues for this one! — Watch it at Today