There was no shortage of animal stories making news this past year, though sadly most have not been especially positive.

With a relentless look of malevolence Grumpy Cat is not exactly cute. But her owner believes she's "unstoppable".

It is the sound synonymous with the start of a new day.

Bridget Foxx-Parr discovers that giving an unwanted cat a second chance has unforeseen benefits.

Owning a pet is a two-way relationship. They give people pleasure during the good times, but you have to take care of them when they fall ill.

They say Christmas is all about the children, however if it happens that your 'children' are of the furry variety that's no reason to leave them off Santa's list.

A pair of nesting rare birds has forced an Auckland museum to move a live action event in order to protect the endangered chicks.

Justin Bieber is reported to have "abandoned" his third pet, an adorable puppy called Karma.

A loyal dog has shown up every day for two years at a Siberian hospital where her master passed away.

A giant ancient penguin far taller than any species alive today has been described for the first time after its fossil remains sat for decades inside an Auckland storage shed.

At 33 years old, Charlie the Bornean orangutan is getting a little long in the tooth and it's starting to show.

Officer struck four-year-old bull mastiff in the chest, causing serious injury, after it wandered onto his property. (Warning: article contains disturbing image.)

A farmer subjected to a "fast and furious" attack by a belligerent bovine says he was lucky to escape serious injury.

Auckland Zoo is well known for it's efforts in the preservation of the Sumatran wildlife. Palm oil plantations are the main cause for the destruction of the rainforests which are home to the orangutan and many other species. With only an estimated 5,000 left in the world experts expect that the species could become extinct within the next 15 years.

A mouse's bid to stowaway in a hollowed-out baguette from the Cook Islands to New Zealand has failed after biosecurity officials stopped it at the border.

A man was taken to hospital with serious injuries after he was attacked by a rhino at Whipsnade Zoo in Britain.

A sheep on an escape bid had a lucky break after it took a wrong turn and headed into the sea at Makorori.

Auckland Museum is disappointing some of its younger patrons by "retiring" its menagerie of live creatures - partly because of welfare concerns.

A police officer rescued a storm-drenched baby morepork from the side of the road before making a bed for it at the Hamilton police station.

A police officer rescued a storm-drenched baby morepork from the side of the road before making a bed for it at the Hamilton Police Station.

With Christmas upon us there will undoubtedly be some animals thrust into the noise and excitement of the day, writes Sally Hibbard.

A symposium being held today at Massey University will discuss the potential "de-extinction" of NZ birds, with the huia sitting at the top of the list.

Dressed as chickens and posing in giant cages, more than 20 protestors gathered outside the resource consent hearing of a proposed caged chicken farm in South Auckland this morning.

It’s pitch black and Kina Scollay is in a cage at the bottom of the ocean as huge shapes emerge from the darkness.

An SPCA boss disgusted by how many dogs are starving in her patch will tomorrow begin a three-day hunger strike.