THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The College of William and Mary says the discovery of two 200-year-old dog graves on its campus is a scholarly mystery.

Archaeologists with the Williamsburg college’s Center for Archaeological Research found the unmarked graves in July while monitoring a construction project.

Center director Joe Jones said Friday that researchers initially thought the remains were human. The rectangular graves were aligned east and west, consistent with Christian burial practice of the Colonial period. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TEXARKANA, Ark. — Tina Brewer says her Great Dane wasn’t just woofin’ when he set up a racket in the front yard of her home.

Brewer said she went out to the front yard about 3 a.m. Tuesday when the dog, named Sir Harley Rhodes, began barking furiously. Brewer said she didn’t see anything amiss until she noticed a dark object moving in her driveway.

She said the object turned out to be a six-foot alligator. (more…)

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

Aros, a 9-year-old police dog, died Aug. 14 of cancer, the Springdale Police Department said in a news release.

Trained by Sgt. Robert Sanchez and assigned to Officer Gene Johnson, Aros was one of the department’s most valuable assets, the release said.

Aros participated in numerous drug and cash seizures. The largest included: 4 pounds of meth, 84 pounds of marijuana and $60,000 in cash. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CIVITAVECCHIA, Italy — They leap from helicopters or speeding boats, bringing aid to swimmers who get into trouble off Italy’s popular beaches.

For these canine lifeguards, the doggie paddle does just fine.

Hundreds of specially trained dogs from Italy’s corps of canine lifeguards are deployed each summer to help swimmers in need of rescue. (more…)

THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

More than 4,700 cats and dogs were euthanized last year in Benton and Washington counties. That’s way too many, say those trying to curb the population of unwanted pets.

Veterinarians offer spay and neuter procedures, but a lot of pet owners can’t afford the rates, so they don’t get their pets fixed. The resulting litters mean a flood of strays, many of which end up being euthanized and incinerated at the local shelters.

A scattered effort to spay and neuter the pets of low-income owners exists, but the region doesn’t have a central clinic for affordable procedures. For now, the spay-neuter effort is a hodgepodge of voucher programs, shelter regulations and a monthly clinic. (more…)