They're man's best friend - and rather cuddly and comforting too. But researchers say you shouldn't hug your dog because it makes them sad.

Central District Police are eagerly awaiting a new recruit - the niece or nephew of slain police dog Gazza.

Activists are calling for an end to elephant rides after an elderly female named Sambo collapsed after carrying tourists around a historic site.

A spike in dumped pets is causing concern in Whangarei.

A guideline on how to identify signs of a "menacing dog" have been released by Auckland Council, following an amnesty for dog owners with unregistered pooches.

Watch: A fuzzy old cat's indecision over how to best make the leap into its owner's linen cupboard has brought smiles to Aucklanders.

Being a dog owner could save your life, or significantly lengthen it.

Efforts must be ramped up to save populations of a quirky native seabird species clinging to survival on Auckland coastlines, a leading ecologist says.

Mark Kreling talks about hitting a chicken with his car, the chicken surviving and taking refuge behind the grill of his car. The chicken now lives with Mark and a little over a month later after the crash, Blessy the chicken has laid an egg.

Source: Channel 7/Manly Daily A Sydney mother was surprised to find a snake had slithered it's way up the piping to the second floor toilet of her home.

This annual firefighters calendar has added another irresistible dimension.

A popular food blogger went to Hong Kong in search of a giant catfish, what he got was the worst meal of his life.

In a bid to deal with dangerous dogs, Auckland Council is offering an amnesty to dog owners to get them registered, microchipped and de-sexed.

Images of Great Whites have been used for years to instill fear but one Kiwi guy is hoping to turn that on its head with his incredible underwater photos.

Some seemingly harmless foods can be toxic to our four-legged friends.

A video capturing a North Island kokako's colourful antics has been attracting thousands of views on YouTube.

Is this kokako drunk or just playful? A video capturing a North Island kokako's colourful antics has been attracting thousands of views on YouTube.

A Tauranga family has been reunited with their beloved cat 16 months after it went missing.

A surprise snake slithered out of a vehicle a Auckland car yard, but it wasn't the first serpent this year to make its way past NZ borders.

COMMENT: Catriona MacLennan asks, why does NZ not ban tethering? An outright ban would send a clear message about how goat welfare can best be protected.

As 92-year-old Jim Morgan lay on the ground trying to fight off the stray dog attacking him, all he could think of was protecting his best mate, Sandy.

A family whose beloved purebred dog was stolen turned into super sleuths to track her down, using DNA from one of her puppies.

Three kiwi chicks have arrived at their new home as part of an effort to save a rare species of our national bird.

Joss Stone has cancelled her Caribbean tour dates to be with her poorly dog.

The epic voyage of discovery looks at the social and natural history of our shores, and showcases Aoteaora from the air.

Big things are set to roar in to the spotlight on stage at the Bruce Mason Centre, writes Dionne Christian.

Watch: A group of fishermen in the US were forced to share their catch after a massive shark leapt out of the water for a bite of the fish they had hooked.

Sassy the miniature horse brings Northlanders happiness where ever she trots.