Pet Scoop: Westminster Winner Hickory Has Puppies, Military Dogs Show Signs of Stress

December 2, 2011: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Best in Show Winner Debuts Puppies

Hickory, who became the first Scottish Deerhound to take the top honors at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show this year, has a new title: mom. A series of photos shows the 7-week-old pups romping around on the Virginia farm where they live with their mom. — See the photos at the Daily Mail and MSNBC

Animals as Earthquake Detectors?

We’ve seen evidence from countless disasters that animals seem to know before people when an earthquake is about to happen. But how do they do it? New research shows that animals may sense chemical changes in groundwater that occurs before an earthquake hits. — Read it at the BBC News

Turtledove Numbers Dwindle

According to a U.K. report, the population of turtledoves, one of the gifts in the 12 Days of Christmas, has dropped by more than half in the last five years. — Read it at the Huffington Post

Dogs on the Front Lines Can Suffer From Mental Stress

Canines used in military combat experience mental strains almost as much as human soldiers, reports The New York Times. Some estimates say that 5 percent of the 650 American service dogs currently deployed are developing canine post-traumatic stress disorder, a new concept that's a subject of debate. — Read it at The New York Times

Wide-Eyed Slow Loris is Rescued in China

The creature, part of a species under first class national protection in China, was found clinging to a stairway railing on the fifth floor of an apartment building. Officials believe that the loris came down from the mountains in search of food. Wildlife officials plan to observe the loris for a few days before deciding whether the animal is healthy enough to release. — Watch it at Today