A close-up snap of a blue shark has been posted online after its apparent capture in the Bay of Plenty.

River could not contain her excitement when her new owner's mother arrived at Tauranga SPCA to collect the 3-month-old adopted pup.

Everyone knows they're out there, but how well do you know your sharks? Niwa looks at four of the most common sharks you're likely to spot this summer.

In the years since the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011, Alaa Aljaleel has become his hometown's unofficial feline caretaker.

A dog sparked a fight between two women on a beach which led to the alleged attacker facing criminal charges.

A woman has been prosecuted after a dog she was supposed to look after suffered "pain and distress" for 10 weeks, the SPCA said today.

Pandas don't want no scrubs. They have a higher success rate of having cubs if they are coupled with a bear they love.

It's a bad time of year to be a turkey. But one bird was determined not to be a Christmas dinner and escaped from his farm three times in a week.

AMAZING PHOTO: Whatever you do, don't open that door!

A curious cat has taken centre stage in a family photo.

Woman mauled by three Irish wolfhounds on the terrifying moment she thought she was going to die.

Auckland is on the brink of "explosion" in red-eared slider turtles. A pest regarded as one of the world's 100 most-invasive species.

Auckland Airport is giving away $120,000 to Kiwi charities as part of its 12 Days of Christmas initiative.

Across New Zealand, pets can get swimming certificates, advent calendars, and even be dyed to match bridesmaids' dresses.

A women was driving her car when she heard a meowing. When she opened the bonnet she saw a trapped kitten

Despite appearing in countless wildlife documentaries about the continent, it appears the cheetah is not really African at all.

Eight lions from a pride that featured in the BBC TV series Big Cat Diary have been poisoned in the Maasai Mara in Kenya.

The final moments of a much loved police horse comforted by an officer were captured in this photo.

Polo match in Buenos Aires. Video by Michael Craig

A study reveals improved sleep for those who share their bed with their pet.

Four dogs are still waiting for homes after being with Auckland's SPCA for more than six months - equating to a seven-year sentence for humans.

A graphic advertisement aimed at shaming New Zealand's dairy industry for its treatment of calves has been put in a leading British newspaper.

With their flamboyant dress, and fabulous song and dance routines, tiny peacock spiders have captivated the hearts of the internet.

Cool and aloof, the cat will never be known as man's best friend. But its solitary nature may be the key to its long life, say scientists.

Matthew Inman of The Oatmeal has come up with a very cute way to protect cats by dressing them as convicts.

A seal has made itself at home outside the Westfield Centre in Henderson

A kiwi destroying a robin nest and causing the death of the chicks in it has been caught on camera by a Victoria University of Wellington researcher. The footage, taken at Zealandia over two consecutive nights, shows a little spotted kiwi pushing the robin nest down a slope, pecking the chicks, and returning the next night to tear the nest apart. Supplied/Victoria University

Ministry for Primary Industries compliance director Dean Baigent said the new animal welfare rules would now prevent farmers from keeping pregnant sows in stalls.