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Subscribe to RSSSome were touching, some aww-inducing, and some just plain hilarious. But what ties TODAY.com's top animal stories of the year together is that they touched your hearts in a big, furry, slobbery way. Check out 11 of the compelling creature comforts that got you clicking.
Lisa Pembleton / Getty Images
1. Black Lab Hawkeye, who lay down and mourned at the casket of his owner, fallen Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson. Sometimes it's hard to express pure emotion in words. That's why we have photos like this, taken during Tumilson's funeral service in Rockford, Iowa. We reported it Aug. 25.
TODAY
2. The ssssearch for the missing Bronx Zoo cobra. She has a name now, Mia (as in missing in action), and when she was found, having slithered her way into a hiding spot in her home, everyone breathed a sssssigh of relief. We had fun following her on Twitter, though, and when a peacock went missing from the same zoo, we all thought, maybe they're headed for an ark?
Action Press / Zuma Press
3. In April, we learned of the sad passing of Knut the polar bear, who drowned in his enclosure (even Knut friend Newt expressed his condolences). The icon for the green movement wasn't the only four-legged celeb we lost: Pete the pardoned moose from Vermont met his end in October.
TODAY
4. Every year, the world's ugliest dog is chosen and this year, holy hairball, that's an ugly dog! We're sure Yoda, um, has a great personality.
Mauricio Handler/ Handlerphoto.com
5. This story, Diver is almost swallowed by whale shark, is a pretty good reason not to go in the water. The incident, captured on camera, happened in Mexico in July.
TODAY
6. Oh sure, everyone thought. Like it's really possible that husky on the Internet is actually talking. And then Mishka the talking husky came on TODAY, and she told Ann Curry "I love you," and just admit it: You were impressed, too.
Bebeto Matthews / AP
7. Willow the cat, missing 5 years from Colorado, turns up in New York City. September provided this strange tale: Just how did this plucky calico kitty travel more than 1,600 miles to the mean streets of NYC? There were lots of theories, but in the end, all that mattered was that Willow was reunited with her family.
News Ltd / AP file
8. What's better than penguins? Penguins in sweaters! These birds got covered in hand-knitted jumpers in October after an oil spill left them covered in a slick; the clothing kept them from preening their contaminated feathers.
www.FlyinFurPetPhotography.com
9. Harper the beloved handicapped puppy. Few stories have touched the hearts of animal lovers quite like the tale of Harper, the puppy born deformed and rescued after being found discarded in a garbage bag. Water therapy, massage, and a lot of love helped heal the energetic pup, whom we discovered in September; today, Harper can walk and run.
Jonathan D. Woods/msnbc.com
10. Hotel lobby cat loses free reign. Oh, the indignity! For nearly 80 years, a free-roaming feline has walked the halls of New York City's famed Algonquin hotel. But Matilda III has had to be tethered to her post, as city guidelines prevent an animal from walking around where food is served.
Mark Blinch / Reuters
11. Zoo split up same-sex penguin pair. It's a typical boy-meets-boy-penguin story: Pedro and Buddy, enclosure-mates at the Toronto zoo, had exhibited what keepers there called homosexual behavior. But despite their affection for each other, the boys had to be separated so that the endangered birds could mate with girl partners. Over 34,000 of you weighed in on the penguins' plight. But fear not; this love story has a happy ending: Pedro and Buddy will be reunited in spring 2012.
Is your favorite TODAY animal story of 2011 on this list? Are you pining for the rock-pooping pug, Yvonne the runaway German cow or Oskar the blind kitten? Check out more pet stories here and in our Animal Tracks blog and tell us in the comments which tales won a place on your list – and in your heart.
Amy DiLuna, TODAY.com senior editor, is a real sap: She was hoping Yvonne the cow would evade capture and tears up every time she re-reads the story of the dog who got mouth-to-snout resuscitation.
Leave a Comment:
How could the rock-pooping pug not make the list? 100!
I know it wasn't a happy story, but what about Jack, the cat who was lost in the airport? and that idiot who had the private zoo and decided to free all his animals?
Neither one is cute. Jack the Cat was sad. The private zoo owner who freed all his animals before an herroing himself was sad also.
No matter how often I see that first photo of Hawkeye at his person's funeral, it still hits me like a ton of bricks. A powerful photo of the product of war.
And more happier times, my favorite photo is of swimmer puppy Harper. Yay, Harper!
I know what you mean. It's kind of like a modern day version of Grayfrier's Bobby. Anyone who thinks that animals don't feel things like sadness or loss has only to look at Hawkeye to know differently. And I think the man who was going to throw Harper away in a trash bag should be thrown out with the trash! It's what comes of people thinking they can make big bucks off breeding animals when they have no heart for it and no clue what they're doing.
breeders are just making money like any other industry. If one "product" is spoiled, it gets tossed out. Does anyone shed a tear for all the other animals butchered for your dining table?
JSchaefer: Really?? You want to go there?? ohh Plz... Blessed is the vegetarian!!!
and that is why i don't eat meat anymore...i don't feel like a hypocrite now when i say "I love animals"...
I love animals, all animals and I sure do not feel like a hypocrite when I sit down to eat a burger or any other meat product. Animals were put here for consumption, either by humans or other animals. We are all part of the food chain, in one way or another. to deny that is to be a hypocrite. Now if you want to be a vegetarian because it is a food lifestyle you prefer then so be it. I will not complain when you have a salad for dinner and I would hope that you wouldn't complain when I have a rib eye with my salad for dinner. :)
I have that picture on my desk. Cry every time I look at it.
Tanya Perry: Heheh well said, agreed!!
What a year 2011 was! Happy 2012 ahead to all creatures great and small! - Sir William the Cat from the new cat book "In Defense of Cats!"
Super incredible stories, one & all. My fav is Willow the cat. She looks SO much like a kitkat who owned me years ago... 'Twas amazing to follow this story, see pix of her, AND get wrapped up in that happy ending. <3
personally i like all stories, but the one that was a real tear jerker the one where the dog lay by the casket of his handler and good buddy.
when i was in the service in VIETNAM our unite (13) men had a tracking dog/guard dog was shot and killed, we all cried like babies and again at his "funeral"....we gave him a going away due a hero. we put him in for the congesinal medal of honor but he was awarded the silver star for his actions....MAY HARRY REST IN PEACE
It is to the everlasting credit of msnbc and Today that these humanity-elevating stories are presented to enrich our lives. We can only hope that these stories get as much exposure as is possible to children as their lessons in humane education and in particular, the concept that we share the world with other living beings, are worth their weight in diamonds.
Can't decide between Hawkeye and Harper. Hawkeye's photo is iconic. Harper is so cute and vibrant. You'll never see a cat match Hawkeye in the loyalty, dedication, and character departments.
I agree with you about Hawkeye and Harper. However I totally disagree with your comment about cats and loyalty! I love dogs and cats the same and have had many of each throughout my life, and I know that when you show cats the love, care, and attention they deserve, cats are every bit as loyal, loving and filled with character as dogs are.
You never met my Himalayan I had from 7 weeks to 17 years old, so I have to agree with JoLynn. He was every bit as loyal, loving and filled with character as my beloved dogs. Probably more loyal. I'd share the story of his passing, but even after all these years, it's still hard to talk about it w/o ending up a blubbering mess because I miss him so. Several vets witnessed our amazing bond, not just my end of it, but his as well and commented on it, call it just that, "amazing".
My vote is for Hawkeye. But my 2nd choice wasn't covered. It is a story about a puppy that was born crippled. Her name is Cranberry and she is being cared for by the Chicago English Bulldog Rescue. She melts my heart. She is so determined to be a normal happy little bulldog. She doesn't let anything hold her back.
Harper is cool.....
Looks like Matilda III, the hotel cat, has a tendency to cause the "blue screen of death" to that hotel's computer.
Wrong kind of BSoD. Looks like a hotel guest DB to me.
My vote is also for Hawkeye and I just sob everytime I see that photo. But I also think that Patrick the pit bull from Newark, NJ who was thrown in the garbage bin and left to die and his miraculous recovery should have been included. His is truly a heart tugging story.
I fell in love with Hawkeye and Harper. We are big time dog people, and enjoy all of those amazing stories. (Not that there is anything wrong with cats. We just don't prefer them.)
We had to put down our 16-yr old pitbull this summer. She was blind, and had bronchitis, plus she had growths in her mouth that we had to keep removing. Every time they grew back bigger and more painful, and she could hardly eat anything. My fiance had owned her since he was ten, and he was 26 when we put her down. Sad day for all of us. Our other pit, Spike, misses her tons and hasn't been the same since. So needless to say, the story of Hawkeye really got me going.
Harper's story was upseting, but it had a happy ending. He is the most adorable puppy I've seen in ages! I love that he is doing well and that he is being loved and taken care of.
I also think the picture of the guy almost getting swallowed by the whale shark is hilarious! I'm betting he was crapping his pants, but I laughed my head off :D
My vote is torn between Hawkeye and Harper. OMG, EVERY time I see that phote of Hawkeye I hope my afterlife is filled with endless days of love from dogs. I can't explain how my heart feels, so proud and yet so helpless. Thank you photographer for the share!! AND that little Harper is just too precious and beautiful. I wish I could have adopted her. I bet you anything to this day if she ran into that piece of trash person who dumped her she would show IT nothing but love. And to those out there that do that to puppies or ANY animal I hope you burn in hell.
"To those out there that do that to puppies or ANY animal I hope you burn in hell".
I second that.. 100% .
I am in total agreement with you!
I agree. Let's ALL support our law makers that want to make animal abuse and neglect a FELONY.
Amen!
Hawkeye, paws down, is my favorite. There's precious little on earth to compare with the loyalty shown by a dog for his master.
In the end, regardless of the story, this article just goes to show how much animals, primarily pets, affect our life's. People who have a pet live longer, visit doctors less, have less problems with depression, and just have more fulfilling life's. Just looking at these pictures brings a little joy into my day. Love all the stories, but one of my favorites was not included. It was the therapy dogs used with returning vets from Iraq / Afganistan, whose lifes were literally transformedjust because of their involvement with dogs.
I have seen stories on the Therapy Dogs working with Vets. it's amazing the changes these dogs have made in the lives of the Vets... Helping them with their symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, etc. Some of these Vets said they were on the brink if suicide prior to getting the dogs. This is truly amazing!
i love that little baby harper, i would adopt her if she were in san diego
and the one about the whale, that picture is crazy i couldnt imagine being in that divers position
The picture of Knut the bear on his birthday is actually a brown bear, not a polar bear.
I cant find anything to back that statement up. Can you provide something?
I'm not from Alaska, but that looks like a polar bear to me!
Kay, I agree. I even googled white brown bears and it looks nothing like Knut. I thought maybe the comment might have been a joke, but its really not that funny??
I really love the one about Hawkeye. It's amazing how animals instinctivly know how to appropiately mourn their masters. It's so beautiful how the loyalty of this animal for one that died as a veteren n our military. All the stories are beautiful. Just have to comment on the penguin story: It's a known fact that the Fathers of baby penguins care for the young. " Not just for the male, but for male and female both." Wondering how much money pass the hands to report that the penguins were engaging in "homosexual interaction". In the latter portion of the report, they were removed for mating. Nature in the animal kingdom doesn't work like that. Pretty sure it wasn't depicting that "Alternative lifestyle."
I have always had dawgs growing up, and now I have two English Mastiffs 170lbs and 140lbs.If I didnt have Joker I know my life would be worse for it. Rose the little one (yeah little) is about as loving as anyone I know. They both make life so much better. Hawkeye reminds you that no matter what they chew-up or how many times you been woken up by 310 extra pounds in bed between the wife and I. That the loyality and friendship they give is all they want to give, and get back, that and 8 cups of food each day.
tie for number one hawkeye and harper !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All Pics are great, but let's face it; "Dogs Rule". I was a diver, and I cannot begin to imagine what went through that diver's mind when he saw the whale shark...other than "OH, Sh** !!"
The iconic photo of Hawkeye laying at the casket of his (and our) SEAL hero conjures up many thoughts and feelings. Sorrow, gratitude, sympathy and condolences for the family, etc
Not sure about the cats who has supposedly ambled around the hotel for 80 years....
Harper is fantastic. Kudos to the people who took the time to help this puppy survive.
Going with the dog folks on this one. Its hard to find a puppy that isn't cute, but pit bull puppies always tug at my heartstrings a little. I dont know if its there big ol' heads or their loose skin, but I just love pit bull puppies. Seriously... just go ahead and look at Harpers picture again. Hes Smiling! Tell me you don't want to cuddle up with that dog?
And of course, can't go without mentioning Hawkeye. What a dog. And yeah, that picture gets me every time. Powerful.
she is smiling
OMG i love PitBull puppies.
I love all animals, but I love the story of Harper and how he was helped and you can see the love for life in his sweet face. I also feel such pain and sadness for Hawkeye. Dogs love unconditionally and only want to please their human. I feel the loss Hawkeye feels because of the picture that is shared with the world, and because of having a husband and son in the military that have both deployed I pray that the family of this young soldier has peace and that they take good care of Hawkeye.