THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

SPRINGDALE, Ark. — All Washington County fire trucks are now equipped with oxygen masks specifically designed for dogs and cats.

Springdale and Fayetteville received theirs in May, and the Humane Society of the Ozarks completed the donation by recently handing them out to the county’s 19 volunteer fire departments.

Each kit contains three masks, one for cats, and medium and large sizes for dogs. In the past, firefighters used masks designed for humans. Results were mixed, said Springdale Fire Chief Duane Atha. (more…)

Photo courtesy of Out of the Woods Rescue — River and his new owner play.

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE

RESCUE IN THE ROCK

No party is planned for the third anniversary of Out of the Woods Animal Rescue of Arkansas.

“We have too much to do!” said president Kathy Woods, who founded the nonprofit in 2007 to help animals other shelters in the area could not.

“We don’t turn people down. That’s what sets us apart,” Woods said. “We’ll help anybody who’s willing to take on the responsibility for the animals they’ve taken in.” (more…)

THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Two Arkansans hold hummingbirds in their hands nearly every day.

If you ask them nicely, they will let you watch.

Don McSwain and Tana Beasley, aka “Team Bandit,” catch and release many angry little birds as part of their daily work for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NAPLES, Fla. — The volunteers at Shy Wolf Sanctuary spend a lot of time these days planning. Planning and hoping that the community which has long supported them will continue to come to the aid of nearly 60 animals in their care.

Plans are underway to relocate most of the sanctuary from its current, cramped 21/2-acre quarters to a new 20-acre property the sanctuary was recently able to obtain. Susan Cabot Rather bequeathed the funds for the Sanctuary to purchase the new land, which will be named in memory of her. The full name will be the Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education and Experience Center in Memory of Susan Cabot Rather.

But first, the board of directors must obtain the funding required to make the move. (more…)

SYNC

LITTLE ROCK — It’s always been hip for young professionals in Arkansas to flock to New York City. If you can make it there, and all that. The financial, media, arts and cultural center that is New York has long been something of a dream destination, especially for young people from the South. But now it’s even hip for Arkansas dogs.

Pups at high-kill shelters or abandoned dogs on the streets of Little Rock and in more rural areas are finding posh new homes in Manhattan thanks to Gina Hartsell and her rescue organization, All About Labs.

The organization began in 2005 when Hartsell became dissatisfied with other rescues and shelters. (more…)