Photo gallery: Animal shots of the week
As a heat wave grips the country see how bears, birds, dogs, rhinos and horses are keeping cool.
Poland Zoo Snow Leopards
Two baby snow leopards Eter and Fala make their debut at the zoo in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, July 18, 2011. The cats were rejected by their mother after they were born in May and are being fed and otherwise cared for by zoo employees. On Monday they took their first walk outdoors. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Midwest Heat
A Grizzly Bear at Henry Vilas Zoo drying off after taking a dip in the water. Warm and humid weather with temperatures in the 90's continued in the Madison area Tuesday July 19, 2011 with hotter temperatures expected on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, Steve Apps)
Baby Giraffe
In a July 19, 2011 photo, Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo's giraffe "Patches" leads her newborn calf around the park grounds, after a Monday afternoon delivery. The park has not named the newborn yet as they have not had a chance to determine its sex.(AP Photo/Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Thomas Wells)
Cool Cut
Charlie, a hairy mix between an Old English Sheepdog and a standard poodle, looks like he is smiling as Lori Oberndorfer, a groomer at Bowser's Bath House, in Sedalia, Mo., shears the sheepadoodle's soft curly black coat as outside temperatures climb into the high 90s on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. The haircut will bring some relief to Charlie, a farm dog, as temperatures are forecast to stay in the high 90s the rest of the week. (AP Photo/The Sedalia Democrat, Sydney Brink)
Todd Becker
Todd Becker of Jacksonville, Ill., sprays down a Hampshire pig belonging to his daughter, Anne, as it tastes the hose before swine judging at the Macoupin County Fair in Carlinville, Ill. Wednesday July 20, 2011. The fair continues through Saturday, July 23. (AP Photo/The Telegraph, Jim Bowling) BELLEVILLE NEWS-DEMOCRAT OUT; ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH OUT
Omaha Alligator
This photo provided by the Nebraska Humane Society shows a small alligator that was found roaming through a backyard in southeast Omaha, Neb. Tuesday, July 19, 2011. In a news release, the society says the alligator was found Tuesday morning and has been taken to the society for safekeeping. (AP Photo/Nebraska Humane Society)
Keeping Watch
Two goats perch on cable spools while others seek shade at a small farm in North Ridgeville, Ohio Monday, July 18, 2011. Shade will be at a premium the remainder of the week as a heat wave promises daily highs in the 90s. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
Midwest Heat
Malee, a three-month old Asian elephant, plays with her ball after cooling off in her wading pool at the Oklahoma City Zoo in Oklahoma City, Monday, July 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Heat Wave
As temperatures hit triple digits, a zoo keeper at Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb., cools off a Double Yellow Headed Amazon parrot with water spray, Wednesday, July 20, 2011. For millions of people suffering through the breathtaking heat and humidity gripping the nation�s midsection, it may feel like they�re living in a pressure cooker. And in a sense, they are. The heat "dome" sitting over much of the U.S. is caused by a huge area of high pressure that's trapping and compressing hot, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico beneath it and pushing the jetstream _ and thus cooler, drier air _ far northward into Canada. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Heat Wave
In this photo taken July 18, 2011, Madison, a black lab mix, leaps back into the pool during "Pool Time" with Luke Terrell at The Dog House, cage-free boarding and doggy daycare, in Bloomington, Ind. The large pool is a great way to cool off in the extreme heat. (AP Photo/The Herald-Times, Chris Howell)
Heat Wave
Pamela Ballard, of Des Moines, Iowa, sprays water on her horse Maggie to cool it off while preparing for the Polk County fair, Wednesday, July 20, 2011, at the state fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. Much of the United States is trapped under a heat "dome" caused by a huge area of high pressure that's compressing hot, moist air beneath it, leading to miserable temperatures. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Heat Wave The Dome
A dog takes an early morning dip on the shore of Lake Michigan Wednesday, July 20, 2011 in Chicago, as Navy Pier is shown in the background. Much of the United States is trapped under a heat "dome" caused by a huge area of high pressure that's compressing hot, moist air beneath it, leading to miserable temperatures in the mid-90s to low 100s and heat-index levels well above 100 degrees. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Mississippi River Flooding Osprey Release
In this July 19, 2011 photo, wildlife rehabilitator Donna Gee, hands one of three osprey that were rescued as chicks from the recent rising floodwaters of the Atafalaya and Mississippi Rivers, to rehabilitator Cindy Ransonet, left, as they are released back into their home environment in Cow Island Lake, La. Two months after they were plucked from nests to protect them from rising floodwaters and alligators, two young osprey are back where they hatched. Released atop a floating duck blind in Cow Island Lake, they flew strongly in opposite directions, but with very different results. The first landed safely and was joined by an adult. The other flew out of sight but wound up in the water. Rehabilitators think it may have had trouble landing. It was left at a nearby camp, with fresh fish to eat and plans to check on it later. A third osprey�s wing feathers were damaged , possibly during the cross-state trip from a rehabilitator in Lake Charles, where six younger birds also are awaiting release. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Heat Wave
Fitz and Jontu, two Indian rhinos at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb., cool off in a mud pit, Wednesday, July 20, 2011. The heat "dome" sitting over much of the U.S. is caused by a huge area of high pressure that's trapping and compressing hot, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico beneath it and pushing the jetstream, and thus cooler, drier air, far northward into Canada. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Alligator in Pool
Hillsborough County Alligator trapper John Wilson pulls a 4'3" alligator from the bottom of a pool in Tampa, Fla. on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. (AP Photo/The Tampa Tribune, Paul Lamison)
Mississippi River Flooding Osprey Release
In this July 19, 2011 photo, an alligator, a natural predator of birds like osprey, lurks near the edge of Cow Island Lake, as three osprey that were rescued as chicks from the recent rising floodwaters of the Atafalaya and Mississippi Rivers, are released back into their home environment in Cow Island Lake, La. Two months after they were plucked from nests to protect them from rising floodwaters and alligators, two young osprey are back where they hatched. Released atop a floating duck blind in Cow Island Lake, they flew strongly in opposite directions, but with very different results. The first landed safely and was joined by an adult. The other flew out of sight but wound up in the water. Rehabilitators think it may have had trouble landing. It was left at a nearby camp, with fresh fish to eat and plans to check on it later. A third osprey�s wing feathers were damaged , possibly during the cross-state trip from a rehabilitator in Lake Charles, where six younger birds also are awaiting release. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Heat wave
Andrew Sears' dogs Pixie, a cocker spaniel/bichon frise mix, left, and Gus, a Siberian husky, play in the water at Montrose Dog Beach in Chicago, Ill., on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune/MCT)
Goats Weed Control
One of about 600 goats grazes in a fenced area above Collister Road in Boise, Idaho Wednesday, July 20, 2011. The Boise Parks and Recreation Department is dispatching a herd of goats to feast upon rush skeletonweed in the 680-acre Polecat Gulch Reserve. (AP Photo/The Idaho Statesman, Darin Oswald)
Heat Wave
A Siberian tiger rests in a pool of water at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Thursday, July 21, 2011, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Heat Wave
Detroit Zoo visitors watch a Polar Bear play with a frozen treat in the cool environment of the underwater Arctic Ring of Life exhibit in Royal Oak, Mich., on Wednesday July 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Detroit Free Press, Eric Seals)
Slurpy
In this July 21, 2011 photo, as temperatures reached 102 degrees in Defiance, Ohio, Tim Silva's dog Max was quick to slurp up a handful of water Silva sprayed from a garden hose. (AP Photo/Crescent-News, Tom Schafer)
Matt Gineo
In this photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, Matt Gineo eyes a resident cat as he poses at the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum Sunday, July 24, 2011, in Key West, Fla. Gineo won the "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike contest late Saturday, July 23, at Sloppy Joe's Bar. It was the twelfth try for Gineo, a 64-year-old Jensen Beach, Fla., biomedical engineer who bested 120 other entrants. The contest was a highlight event of the annual Hemingway Days festival that ends Sunday. (AP Photo/Florida Keys News Bureau, Andy Newman)
Houston Zoo Weather
In this photo provided by TXU Energy, a chimpanzee checks out a snowman at the Houston Zoo, Saturday, July 23, 2011, in Houston. TXU Energy provided over eight tons of snow to build the snowmen and an ice field for the animals and visitors to beat the summer heat. (AP Photo/TXU Energy, Dave Einsel)
Flamingo
A Caribbean Flamingo�chick is cared for by one of its parents on a nest mound at Zoo Miami, Friday July 22, 2011 in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Metro All Zones
Casey takes a drink from a water spout in the Natives of Africa and Asia exhibit after his breakfast at the Fort Worth Zoo on Thursday, July 21, 2011. Hot weather that has plagued the Plains for days spread eastward Thursday, blanketing several more states under a sizzling sun and excessive heat warnings that made people sick, shut down summer schools and spurred cities to offer cooling centers and free swimming. (AP Photo/The Dallas Morning News, Nathan Hunsinger)
Polar bear
A polar bear enjoys a frozen treat including fruit, nuts and fish at Toronto Zoo on Thursday, July 21, 2011. Toronto was forecast to hit near-record temperatures in the midst of a summer heat wave. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Patrick Dell)
Heat Wave
A polar bear blows bubbles at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Thursday, July 21, 2011, in Cleveland. Temperature at the zoo reached 98 degrees Thursday as a heat wave continues. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Russell Midori, Brian Palmer, Archibald Hummer
Cpl. Russell Midori, right, fights back a smile as Col. Brian Palmer, left, swears in a canine as Sgt. Archibald Hummer at the Parris Island Public Affairs Office, Friday, July 22, 2011, in Parris Island, S.C. Hummer was promoted to sergeant during the ceremony after many years of loyal service to the Marine Corps. (AP Photo/The Beaufort Gazette, Jonathan Dyer)
Heat Wave
A grizzly bear cub stands in a pool to cool off at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Thursday, July 21, 2011, in Cleveland. Temperature at the zoo reached 98 degrees. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)