Pet Scoop: Boxer and Chihuahua Pals Adopted Together, Koala Visits First Class on Flight
Published on April 14, 2015
April 14, 2015: We’ve scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it’s all right here.

Unlikely Pair Heads to New Home
Little Miss, a Chihuahua, and Buster, a Boxer, were found together in Phoenix and brought to the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, where they were inseparable. The shelter staff isn’t sure whether the two were raised together or paired up when they were living on the street. "Little Miss and Buster are obviously bonded. We think it would be heartbreaking to separate the two and we’ve made it clear to potential adopters that they MUST stay together," said shelter spokeswoman Melissa Gable. Little Miss naps on Buster’s back and whines if her friend isn’t around. Buster is described as being very patient with her. The shelter shared a picture of the duo on Facebook that quickly went viral, and there was so much interest in adopting them that they held a lottery. Their new family will arrive in Phoenix today to bring them home to a new life in California. — Read it at Arizona Central
Canine Flu Outbreak Blamed on Strain New to U.S.
Scientists from Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin say the strain of flu that’s caused an epidemic in dogs in Chicago hasn’t been seen in the U.S. before. The outbreak that’s sickened more than 1,000 dogs had been attributed to the H3N8 strain of the virus, but additional tests show it’s actually caused by the H3N2 virus, which has widely circulated among dogs in southern China and South Korea. The H3N2 has more severe flu symptoms. It’s unclear whether the current canine flu vaccine protects from H3N2 but pet owners are encouraged to vaccinate their dogs anyway. “It does impart enough of an immunity that it may protect the animal’s life,” said Donna Alexander of the Cook County Department of Animal and Rabies Control. “It may make the difference between it being a fatality and a severe hacking cough that the animal can withstand.” — Read it at the Chicago Sun-Times
Famed Mountain Lion Found Under House
A mountain lion known as P-22 has become a cult figure in Los Angeles since being found in Griffith Park more than three years ago and fitted with a GPS collar. When he was last seen, officials were concerned that he looked sickly. Monday, a worker who went into a crawlspace under a Los Felix, California, home to install a security system was shocked when he came face to face with the wild animal — and quickly fled. The homeowners alerted authorities, who arrived on the scene and were ecstatic that P-22 appeared to be healthy. Officials tried to coax the lion out and back into the park, but with the home surrounded by news crews and wildlife officials, P-22 declined to leave and remained under the home Monday night. — Read it at the Los Angeles Times

Dog in Cruelty Case Gets Happy Life
In September, Charlotte, a 4-month-old Maltese and Shih Tzu mix, was found in a trash bag near train tracks in the Staten Island, New York. According to court documents, her previous owner said she couldn’t afford to care for Charlotte and threw her from a car window. The pup was severely injured and was in critical condition when she was found. After six weeks at the ASPCA Animal Hospital, she was ready to start a new life with lots of TLC from her adopter, Dava. Dava renamed the puppy Pip. She says Pip is “quite happy” despite dealing with some lingering issues from her brain injury. “She has gotten a lot bigger and is full of energy and personality,” Dava says. The case against Pip’s alleged abuser — who has pleaded not guilty to felony and misdemeanor cruelty charges — is still pending. — Read it from the ASPCA
Koala Visits First Class Cabin
One of four koalas heading from Australia to Singapore Monday got a sweet taste of first class before a Qantas Airlines flight departed. Chan, Idalia, Paddle and Pellita were flown from Brisbane to Singapore to spend 6 months at the Singapore Zoo. But before they made the journey in their custom-built containers in the plane’s cargo hold, one of them managed to snag a photo shoot in a first class seat, where it was treated to eucalyptus and hot towels. Australia gave the marsupials to Singapore in a diplomatic move on the 50th anniversary of the nation’s independence. — See photos at Today