Oh what a night

We always celebrate the bond with animals on our show, and we talk a lot about the many joys of sharing life with animals. But I had to laugh at myself the other night when I got a major dose of the other side of the equation.
Everyone with a dog has had the experience of coming home and immediately having that unmistakable odor of “accident” hitting you as you walk in the front door. Believe me, when an Irish wolfhound like Sage goes to the bathroom in the house, it’s a BIG accident.
So instead of cooking supper, I opened the windows, got out the buckets, and mopped. And mopped.
Then I fed the dogs their evening meal, and took them out for their regular romp. Somewhere in the open field, Tally rolled in what we believe was coyote urine. We smelled her approaching before we saw her. Wow. No wonder gardening shops sell the stuff in bottles to keep animals out of your flowers and vegetables. Very intense. (Gag.)
So we went home and I gave her a bath by moonlight in the front yard.
It’s all part of the deal, isn’t it? And nothing that a little soap and water (and patience) can’t take care of. Besides, you get to brag about it to your fellow dog lovers the next day. Right?

Kittens found covered in oil, grease

Two kittens covered in oil and grease, currently being cared for by the MSPCA-Boston, may be the latest victims in an animal cruelty trend. Grease and Monkey arrived at the MSPCA from Mattapan just days before the summertime period when MSPCA officials are predicting a rise in allegations of animal cruelty.

In the case of Grease and Monkey, the MSPCA’s Law Enforcement department is requesting that any witnesses come forward to help determine if their injuries were intentionally caused or may have been an accident. The kittens are currently receiving daily baths to slowly remove the possibly toxic material as they shed patches of fur.

Seals now call Boston Harbor home

Some new residents are making themselves at home in Boston Harbor. Cordova, Ursula and J.D. are female Northern fur seals.

The three seals are part of the “New Balance Marine Mammal Center” that opens tomorrow at the New England Aquarium.

Trainers at the aquarium gave NECN a sneak preview this morning.

The three females were moved to Boston from an aquarium in New York.

Two large male seals will eventually join them.

Moving elephants in Malawi

Call it reality tv - out of southern Africa. Check out this incredible video shot in Malawi earlier this month, focusing on IFAW’s efforts to move nearly 60 elephants to a protected game reserve.

Learn more about how you can help IFAW’s elephant programs around the globe by logging on to www.ifaw.org.

Saving New England’s sea turtles

Ask a New Englander to name some local sea creatures and we’re sure whales and lobsters will make the list.

But did you know the region’s waters are also home to a number of sea turtles? Learn more about how to spot them and protect them - from the experts at the New England Aquarium.

Did you know?

The chemicals you use on your lawn can actually make it all the way to the ocean.

Products for the curious cat

Curious about products for a curious cat? Look no further than this week’s “Pet Gear.”

An animal behaviorist from the MSPCA shows us some of the best toys for keeping a Tabby or Tortoiseshell active and stimulated.

Looking for more information?

Check out these products at Especially for Pets stores:

Oh, Behave: Answers to your questions

We’ve been getting a lot of feedback from those of you at home lately - so keep it coming!

In this week’s “Oh, Behave” segment, Scott Dunmore offers some important tips to a viewer with a sometimes-skittish golden retriever.

Fur seals arrive at New England Aquarium

The New England Aquarium has some new furry friends tonight. Several fur seals will be part of the aquarium’s new “Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center”.

The first three residents have arrived: JD, Cordova and Ursula.

A fur seal’s greatest asset is in fact its fur. It is where it gets its name, and it is the second thickest on the planet second only to a sea otter. It is great for keeping them cold in icy waters but it was also terrible because it caused them to be hunted to near extinction in the 1800s and in fact around 1890 scientists thought there were extinct.

Bald eagle makes comeback in Vermont

Bird watchers visiting Vermont have been deprived for years. The bald eagle, which was once on the brink of extinction, has re-established a population in most states, but Vermont has been an exception. Now some signs of progress.

NECN reporter Anya Huneke has the story.

‘Postina’ finds loving home with NECN employee

‘Postina,’ the kitten who was abandoned in a Boston mail box, has a new home.
Her new mother, a freelancer at a local New England television station, directed the segment in which ‘Postina’ appeared and her new father, a US Postal Service employee in New Hampshire, had been searching to adopt a feline after his previous cat had passed away about a year ago. The couple immediately contacted the MSPCA and expressed interest in adopting ‘Postina,’ having adopted a dog from the animal welfare organization 11 years ago.

The MSPCA-Boston will hold a Kitten Adopt-A-Thon on Saturday, June 27 from noon-4:00p.m. Dozens of kittens and adult cats will be available for adoption as the MSPCA continues to raise public awareness about the importance of spaying or neutering cats to help end pet overpopulation.