Good Animal News

Celebrating positive news about animals making a difference for people — and people making a difference for animals

Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus) photographed in a zoo

For the first time in 185 years, the world's smallest otter appears in Nepal

Scientists have for the first time in 185 years confirmed the presence of the Asian small-clawed otter in Nepal, thrilling conservationists and researchers looking for clues to its existence here.

On the left, a brown horse with a white spot on its nose. In the middle, a tan horse with an injured left ear stands in a pasture. On the right, a white horse looks forward.

Since 2017, the Humane Society has saved the lives of over 100 homeless Mardi Gras parade horses

Glitter-coated parade horses were once sent to slaughter after Mardi Gras. Now the homeless horses are getting a second chance thanks to the Humane Society.

A blond woman in a pink cardigan sits outside next to a tan pitbull wearing a red bandana that reads "adopt me." The woman is holding dog toys that are in the shape of roses.

Shelters across the country plan Valentine's Day 'dog dates' to pair adoptable pups with their perfect match

The initiative will be hosted at nearly 50 shelters across 27 states.

A puppy sits in a Lyft vehicle, looking out a window

To encourage pet adoptions, Lyft offers discounted 'pet rides' ahead of annual Puppy Bowl

Here's the discount code you'll need to ride with your furry friend.

A chocolate lab lays atop a bed covered in rose petals and candles

At animal shelters in these cities, you can have a 'Valentine's sleepover' with an adoptable dog or cat — and even take them home with you

Best Friends Animal Society shelters in select cities will coordinate snuggly slumber parties for potential foster parents and adopters.

An elephant happily smiles as it lifts its trunk under a spray of water

This state finally banned circus performances for elephants, tigers, giraffes, primates

Although Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey have already phased out elephants, bears, lions, and tigers, regional circuses have only recently fallen under scrutiny.

On the left, polka dotted window film on a large glass window. On the right, a small brown and black songbird sits on a building ledge.

1 billion birds die every year from window collisions. Polka dot glass is changing that

In October 2023, a thousand birds died in a single day after colliding with a Chicago convention center. Thanks to new bird-friendly glass, that number has shrunk dramatically.

An elderly dog sits in a field of colorful flowers. She is a tan cattle dog with a graying face and pointy ears.

Matilda Day: Austin, Texas creates citywide holiday and fundraiser for beloved senior rescue dog

Matilda’s story has helped raise over $40,000 for Austin Pets Alive! since 2023.

A horse rears up on its back legs in a freezing pond while three men dressed in ice suits hold tight to a rope around its neck.

After a horse fell into an icy pond, local firefighters sprang to its rescue

In early January, firefighters leapt into action to save the life of a horse that had broken through fencing and fallen into a frozen pond.

A photo collage of a gas pump inside a car's gas tank, a young Indonesian student eating her meal, a distressed woman standing outside while wearing a face mask, an offshore oil rig, and a woman with her hands in her face while seated at a table with receipts

Good News This Week: January 11, 2025 - Pets, Meals, & Medical Debts

Your weekly roundup of the best good news worth celebrating...

A baby pangolin, covered head to toe with scales, hugs onto the curled up ball of a larger pangolin in a grassy setting.

Researchers identify new species of pangolin, underscoring conservation efforts

Biologists discovered the new type of pangolin after they confiscated a shipment of trafficked animals.

Jake Harvath, a man in his twenties with long brown hair and a long beard, sits atop a mustang. Behind him is another wild horse, trotting through the desert.

Man returns from world's longest horseback ride across US, raises awareness for wild mustang crisis

Jake Harvath documented his whirlwind journey on social media, in hopes of encouraging people to adopt wild horses.