Pet Scoop: Minnesota Town Elects Dog as Mayor, Coast Guard Saves Giant Turtle
Published on August 14, 2014
August 14, 2014: We’ve scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it’s all right here.

Duke the Dog Wins in a Landslide
The town of Cormorant in northern Minnesota elected a 7-year-old to be mayor this week — a 7-year-old dog, that is. Duke the dog will be officially sworn in at a ceremony Saturday. That’s when he’ll be eligible to receive his annual salary — a year’s supply of dog food donated by a local pet store. — Read it at CBS Minnesota
Study: Whales and Dolphins Squeal with Happiness
A new study from the National Marine Mammal Foundation has confirmed what many marine experts have noticed for years: Dolphins and beluga whales squeal to express delight. “I had one of my dolphins during my dissertation emit a little squeak each time he pressed a paddle, even though he only received food on the average of once per minute,” said Paul Nachtigall, director of the marine mammal program at the University of Hawaii in Kane’ohe Bay. “I always thought it was inadvertently trained,” Nachtigall recalled. “This [new study] could be an alternative explanation.” — Read it at National Geographic
800 Pound Turtle Tangled in Fishing Net
When fishermen spotted a huge leatherback turtle caught in a fishing net off the coast of New Jersey, they alerted the Coast Guard, who dispatched a team to help untangle the 800 pound animal. "It was one of my better experiences being in the Coast Guard, just seeing the animal so close and helping marine life," Petty Officer Second Class Nick Giannaris said. "Everyone was pretty energized about the whole experience." Leatherback sea turtles are the largest species of living turtle and can grow up to 2,000 pounds. — Watch it at Huffington Post

U.K. Zoo Welcomes Baby Tapir
Chester Zoo recently announced the birth of a Brazilian tapir named Zathras, who has the honor of being the first male tapir born at the zoo in eight years. “[He] was up and about really quickly and he and mum are doing fine. Jenny is an experienced mum and she’s doing a top job,” Curator of Mammals Tim Rowlands said. Wild Brazilian tapirs are native to South America, where they are considered a threatened species due to habitat destruction and hunting. — Read it at Zooborns
Video of Dog “Saving” Fish Goes Viral
A video of a dog splashing water on dying and stranded fish in Thailand has been making the rounds on the Internet, as many people believe he’s trying to save the helpless animals. Skeptics think he may actually be trying to “bury” them to save for later, as dogs sometimes do with bones or toys. But if you choose to believe he’s trying to rescue them, the video is pretty heartwarming to see. — Read it and watch the video at The Huffington Post