From The Week:

During a Colombian championship soccer match last weekend, Panamanian player Luís Moreno outraged fans and players alike when he brutally kicked the opposing team's mascot, an owl, that had mistakenly flown onto the field. Players immediately confronted Moreno, and fans soon began chanting "murderer!" The owl was taken to a veterinary clinic, and on Tuesday morning, it was reported to have died of a respiratory arrest. Colombian authorities were already planning to press charges against Moreno; according to a local radio station, he could face jail time.

The reaction: "I apologize to the fans, it wasn't my intention," said Moreno after the game, as quoted by Colombia Reports. "I did it to see if the owl could fly."

Oh, Maru. That box is just too much for you.

[Daily What]

As far as I know, the Reid Park Zoo doesn't practice animal escapes using people in adorable costumes, but they should.

From Pink Tentacle:

Yesterday's dramatic simulation involved a Siberian tiger that escaped its pen following an earthquake. The mock animal wandered freely through the park, attacking zoo workers and visitors before it was surrounded with nets, shot with a tranquilizer dart, and transported back to its cage.

Theatrical exercises involving people in animal costumes are conducted each year in Tokyo at either Tama Zoo or Ueno Zoo. In addition to providing hands-on experience with capturing escaped animals, the drills force zookeepers to administer first aid, usher visitors to safety, and coordinate with local emergency services.

Also, people do not seem prepared for the two guys in the rhino suit:

Cynder is a 5-year-old Chow mix currently recovering from surgery ... and a broken heart.

Easy going and so appreciative, Cynder is a dog you’re bound to fall in love with. House-trained, affectionate, and bursting with best friend potential, Cynder is destined for great things. Sadly Cynder’s lucky streak was cut short when her beloved owner passed away. When she returned to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, her former shelter buddies recognized her immediately from years prior. A favorite among staff and volunteers, Cynder gets plenty of belly rubs and hugs but remains in poor spirits knowing that she is once again homeless. Won’t you give this poor pup down on her luck a third chance for happiness? It would mean the world to Cynder to have the love and dignity of a home in her Golden Years.

And if that didn't win you over, watch Cynder being adorable in her very own YouTube video!

Come meet the Cynder! She's currently living at the Humane Society of Southern AZ, 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd. The Humane Society is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Their phone number is 327-6088.

• Nintz
• Winner, winner, chicken dinner: Railbirds watch as the horses thunder down the stretch

It's the last day of the racing season out at Rillito Park. Go box a trifecta. Details here.

Meet Molly, a marvelous senior Shepherd ready to fill your home with love and cheer. Brought to the Humane Society after her beloved owner passed away, Molly is now hoping to find a supportive and understanding best friend. Molly adores people of all ages, including children, and also delights in going for car rides, playing with toys, and making her people feel like rock stars. If you could give this wonderful lady the home she needs to feel complete again, please get to know Molly today. You’ll be glad you did!

Come meet Molly! She's currently living at the Humane Society of Southern AZ, 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd. The Humane Society is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Their phone number is 327-6088.

Won't someone let these red pandas in the house? Seriously.

Sassy is a ten-year-old domestic medium-hair kitty. She's also a certified cutie.

Sassy doesn’t act her age. By the way this rambunctious girl plays you wouldn’t believe she’s a day over one. Curious, cordial and brimming with love, Sassy will follow you around all day and let out content grunts whenever you scratch her chin. Brought to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona when her family of 10 years could no longer afford to care for her, Sassy is now looking for a stable home where she can celebrate her Golden Years surrounded by friendly, familiar faces and welcoming, warm laps. Great with other cats and gentle children and fully litter box trained, Sassy would make an excellent addition to just about any home!

Come meet Sassy! She's currently living at the Humane Society of Southern AZ, 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd. The Humane Society is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Their phone number is 327-6088.

Only half joking, I'm a little afraid to post this, because I think the Arizona Legislature will move to try to pick up the leftover puppy mill business Missouri is leaving behind. The Week Magazine has an interesting round-up the balance between responsible dog breeders and those less concerned with animal welfare:

An estimated 30 percent of all puppies sold in America come from Missouri — a whopping 750,000 dogs each year — earning the Show Me State a new unwanted, unofficial title: The "Puppy Mill State." In November, Missouri voters narrowly passed the "Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act," heralded as a "huge paw print forward." This move to improve both the state's reputation and the "deplorable" conditions of some of its breeding facilities would bar breeders from housing more than 50 dogs and require that those animals receive sufficient food, water, space, vet care, and time off between breeding cycles. But now some state lawmakers want to overturn the new law, saying it would restrict a growth industry and do more harm than good.

[The Week]

Cockfighting is about as deplorable as acts between man and animals get, so there's seemingly some karmic retribution going on here:

A man attending an illegal cockfight died after being stabbed by a rooster.

The incident occurred during a cockfight in which birds are strapped with razor-like knives to fight each other, often times to their death.

The Kern County coroner says 35-year-old Jose Luis Ochoa was declared dead at a hospital about two hours after he suffered the injury.

An autopsy concluded Ochoa died of an accidental "sharp force injury" to his right calf.

[...]

According to the Bakersfield Californian, this was not the victim's first cockfight.

Last year, Ochoa paid $370 in fines after pleading no contest to one count of owning or training an animal for fighting, according to Kern County Superior Court records.

[KTLA]