Animal shots of the week
Dachshunds, leopard and tiger cubs, a hungry crocodile, a fluffed out poodle, a well groomed schnauzer, a grandma gorilla and an ostrich taking a shower - all in this week's animal gallery.
Animal shots of the week
"Charlie" pulls away from the competition as she sprints to her owner at the finish line during the annual Wiener Dog Races Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Savannah, Ga. More than 100 Dachshunds competed in 15 heats during the annual Octoberfest event. (AP Photo/The Morning News, Richard Burkhart)
Animal shots of the week
A member from BETA, Beirut for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, holds her dog during a march against harming animals, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Animal shots of the week
Krisztina Poschenrieder-Molnar of Germany combs the hair of her setter dog during the dog-salon competition at the international dog grooming championship in Stadtroda, central Germany, on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Animal shots of the week
This undated image provided by the Helen Woodward Animal Center shows a burned and bandaged "Phoenix" at the center in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. The kitten was brought to the center suffering from chemical burns. The 3-month-old tabby has bandages on his swollen, cracked and bleeding front feet. His tail was amputated and his nose and ears are singed but he always purrs and nuzzles when held by workers at the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe. (AP Photo/Helen Woodward Animal Center)
Animal shots of the week
A woman holds her dog during a Mass marking the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi at a namesake church, in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012. In keeping with tradition, Franciscan churches hold a special ceremony known as the Blessing of the Animals every Oct. 4th. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Animal shots of the week
Rev. Richard Wrede of the Christ Church blesses animals, in commemoration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, in front of the church in Riverton, N.J., on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. Jeffrey Bischoff, left, holds Tobi the cat. Next to him from left to right are: Susan Stevens with dog Oscar; Wrede's daughter Katie Wrede with dog Samson; and Wrede. (AP Photo/Philadelphia Inquirer, April Saul)
Animal shots of the week
A tiger cub from the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo makes an appearance before Auburn's college football game against Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012 in Auburn, Ala.(AP Photo/Todd J. Van Emst)
Animal shots of the week
A 1,500 pound crocodile called Rex calmly waits just beneath the water for a feed after coming out of a three-month hibernation at the WILD LIFE Sydney zoo in Sydney, Australia Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Animal shots of the week
Megan Hamilton points "Anastasia" in the right direction and gives some parting words of encouragement before her heat in the annual Wiener Dog Races Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Savannah, Ga. More than 100 Dachshunds competed in 15 heats during the annual Octoberfest event. (AP Photo/The Morning News, Richard Burkhart)
Animal shots of the week
"Charlie" pulls away from the competition as she sprints to her owner at the finish line during the annual Wiener Dog Races Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Savannah, Ga. More than 100 Dachshunds competed in 15 heats during the annual Octoberfest event. (AP Photo/The Morning News, Richard Burkhart)
Animal shots of the week
Dachshunds sprint to the finish during the annual Wiener Dog Races Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Savannah, Ga. More than 100 Dachshunds competed in 15 heats during the annual Octoberfest event. (AP Photo/The Morning News, Richard Burkhart)
Animal shots of the week
A soldier removes a dog from a polling station as people wait to vote in the presidential election in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. President Hugo Chavez is running against opposition candidate Henrique Capriles. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Animal shots of the week
Rev. Robert Nagy blesses Judy Love's dog named Louie during the sixth annual Blessing of the Animals at St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church on Saturday. Held in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, all animals, including horses and other large animals, were welcome to attend along with their owners. DON BOOMER | dboomer@californian.com
Animal shots of the week
Sam Hanson-Fleming of Portland was reunited with his lost dog, Chase, Thursday Oct. 4, 2012 at the Oregon Humane Society. Friend Tommi Hampton, left, and Sam's son, Talon Mitchell-Fleming, 7, joined the reunion. The dog was the subject of a custody battle with a woman who found the husky mix but wouldn't give him up. (AP Photo/Michael Lloyd, The Oregonian)
Animal shots of the week
After his last "search" training exercise Friday, Sept. 21, 2012, Franklyn gets a special cake made from dog food. The cake is in honor of the bloodhound’s retirement from search and rescue work for the Coos County Sheriff's Office. (AP Photo/The World, Lou Sennick)
Animal shots of the week
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR PURINA - Vhoebe of San Diego, Calif. competes in the Diving Dog competition of the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge National Finals at the Purina Farms in Gray Summit, Mo. on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012. Vhoebe set a world record of 32 feet 3 inches and took first place. 2012 marks the 15th anniversary of the competition. (Dilip Vishwanat /AP Images for Purina)
Animal shots of the week
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR PURINA - Solar competes in the Freestyle Flying Disc competition of the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge National Finals at the Purina Farms in Gray Summit, Mo. on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012. Solar took third place. 2012 marks the 15th anniversary of the competition. (Dilip Vishwanat /AP Images for Purina)
Animal shots of the week
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR PURINA - Jake of Gumma, Japan competes in the Freestyle Flying Disc competition of the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge National Finals at the Purina Farms in Gray Summit, Mo. on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012. Jake took second place. 2012 marks the 15th anniversary of the competition. (Dilip Vishwanat /AP Images for Purina)
Animal shots of the week
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR PURINA - Major of Durango, Colo. competes in the 30--Weave-Pole Race of the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge National Finals at the Purina Farms in Gray Summit, Mo. on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012. Major took third place. 2012 marks the 15th anniversary of the competition. (Dilip Vishwanat /AP Images for Purina)
Animal shots of the week
A pet owner, left, watches volunteer veterinarians from the U.K.-based Animal Kingdom Foundation perform spaying operation on her dog during free veterinary services conducted in celebration of World Animal Day, Saturday Oct. 6, 2012 in Manila, Philippines. The foundation regularly conducts free spaying and neutering services to stray cats and dogs in cities around the country. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Animal shots of the week
A volunteer veterinarian from U.K.-based Animal Kingdom Foundation prepares for spaying a former stray cat and now domesticated named "Venus" during free veterinary services conducted in celebration of World Animal Day, Saturday Oct. 6, 2012 in Manila, Philippines. The foundation regularly conducts free spaying and neutering services to stray cats and dogs in cities around the country. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Animal shots of the week
This image provided by the San Diego Zoo shows a cub panda during a routine medical exam Thursday Oct. 4, 2012 at the zoo in San Diego. The 9-week-old panda cub at the San Diego Zoo was more alert during his exam this week. The cub's eyes are completely open now and his sight continues to improve, allowing him to be more aware of his surroundings. His growth is on track with other giant pandas born at the San Diego Zoo. (AP Photo/San Diego Zoo, Ken Bohn)
Animal shots of the week
American flamingos at the Oklahoma City Zoo in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Animal shots of the week
Host Kristin Chenoweth poses with "Smiley The Dog" at the Hero Dog Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Beverly Hills, Calif. The event honored America's most courageous canines. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Animal shots of the week
Host Kristin Chenoweth poses with her dog "Maddie" at the Hero Dog Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Beverly Hills, Calif. The event honored America's most courageous canines. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Animal shots of the week
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR MERRICK PET CARE - Dogs stage "Doggupy" protest, demanding better food for the 99 percent. Dogs of all sizes, shapes, ages and breeds united to "Doggupy" New York City ’n Union Square Park, turning out for a demonstration to demand nutritious, real, whole food. Camped out in an army of pup tents, they woof-woofed as one, urging canines across America to join the Merrick Pet Care real food revolution - a commitment to only manufacture food that’s locally sourced, high in protein and made in the USA. In support of the Doggupy movement, Merrick is donating 250,000 bowls of high-quality Merrick dog food, a retail value of $100,000, to animal rescue groups and shelters. (Merrick Pet Care via AP Images)
Animal shots of the week
Hayden Lehi,1, gets a mouthful from Holiday, a boarder collie, in Tucson, Arizona. Arizona Daily Star photo.
Animal shots of the week
Kenleigh Johnson, 1, and her brother, Colter, 3, pet Carousel, a Boston Terrier and border collie mix in Tucson Arizona. Arizona Daily Star photo.
Animal shots of the week
In this Sept. 23, 2012 photo provided by Utah's Hogle Zoo, mother giraffe Kipenzi stands behind her baby girl shortly after birth. The new baby giraffe and her mother went on display at Utah's Hogle Zoo for the first time on Oct. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Utah's Hogle Zoo)
Animal shots of the week
Zoo keeper Mandy Zachgo cools off Marzipan, a female ostrich with a hose shower, a daily ritual on hot days at the zoom in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012. Animals at the Sacramento Zoo dealt with the record-breaking valley heat. (AP Photo/The Sacramento Bee, Randy Pench)
Animal shots of the week
A lemur peers from its cage at Belgrade Zoo, Serbia, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Animal shots of the week
A specialist search dog rides on a boat on the River Dyfi as the hunt for missing 5-year old April Jones continues around Machynlleth, mid Wales, Saturday Oct. 6, 2012. The search for April Jones resumed Saturday after bad weather forced searchers to be stood down overnight. The five-year-old girl went missing from near her home in Machynlleth, mid Wales, on Monday evening. (AP Photo / Peter Byrne, PA)
Animal shots of the week
Sandy Goodson watches as her dog Lil Texas reaches for a toy during practice for the Outdoor Big Air discipline at the DockDogs national competition Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Houston. The event featured Outdoor Big Air, which measured how far the dog can jump, Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieve. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Cody Duty)
Animal shots of the week
A woman walks her dog under spectacular fall colors on Morson and Peale Streets in Saginaw, Mich. on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/The Saginaw News, Jeff Schrier)
Animal shots of the week
Julia Hyppenen of Finland presents her Schnauzer dog to the jury, at the international dog grooming championship in Stadtroda, central Germany, on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Animal shots of the week
Natascha Kolbe of Germany checks the look of a large poodle during the dog-salon competition at the international dog grooming championship in Stadtroda, central Germany, on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Animal shots of the week
Nicole Baltes of Germany, right, works on her dog during the international dog grooming championship in Stadtroda, central Germany, on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. For the first time, the German Association of groomer carries out an international groomer-championship under European Grooming Association rules. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Animal shots of the week
Two North Chinese Leopard cubs (Panthera pardus japonensis) sit on a tree as they are presented for first time to the public at the Tierpark Zoo in Berlin, Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. The North Chinese Leopard twins were born on Aug. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Animal shots of the week
Bambio, a 9 year-old female gorilla, glances back at curious children on a school trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb., Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Animal shots of the week
Rosie the gorilla carries her grandson Hadari on her back at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb., Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Animal shots of the week
Lisa Vanderpump of the reality show "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" poses with her dog Giggy at the Hero Dog Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Beverly Hills, Calif. The event honored America's most courageous canines. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Animal shots of the week
A tiger cub rests at a nursery room at the Shanghai Zoo in Shanghai, China, Thursday Oct. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Animal shots of the week
Host Kristin Chenoweth lifts up her dog "Maddie" for a kiss at the Hero Dog Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Beverly Hills, Calif. The event honored America's most courageous canines. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Animal shots of the week
Actress Bailee Madison poses with "Chef," who served five years as a Patrol/Explosives Detection K9 in the U.S. Navy, at the Hero Dog Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Beverly Hills, Calif. The event honored America's most courageous canines. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)