The good, the bad and the ugly animals stories of 2014

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Few things concern readers like the plight of an animal or the outrage over animal cruelty. Animals made news across the region this year for a variety of reasons, not all of them warm and fuzzy.

We've got adventurous cats, strange encounters with cougars, some surprising information about dogs and the people who love them and some of the most unspeakable abuses you've ever heard of. We saved the ugly for last in case you don't want to go there.

THE GOOD

— If you've ever owned a cat, you know they are likely capable of more than you think. First we have Clancy who got lost up north while travelling with its owner. Months later, he miraculously survived his own before reuiniting with guardians in Penticton.

— Honourable Lord Pumpernickel found himself on the top of a hydro police in Kamloops for almost three days in extreme heat of summer. His owners were frantic and found a way through friends to get a Hydro crew to rescue the cat – all in plain view of everyone.

— This year we were curious about Kamloops dog owners and figured the city's dog licences could help us. Reporter Jennifer Stahn compiled the information to reveal the most popular dog name and the most popular breed.

— Perhaps no one was more surprised than Kelowna dog owners to learn their city was named most pet-friendly city in Canada.

— A Penticton family refused to give up on a tiny puppy nicknamed L.C. born with a cleft-palate. They helped him with nursing, which is difficult and raised him to be strong enough to be adopted. And they found the perfect home. 

— Thank goodness for neighbours. When a West Kelowna home went up in flames this summer, little could be done. But a few strangers combined to rescue the family dog and cat.

THE BAD

— Wildlife encounters are nothing extraordinary in the B.C. interior, but reporter Charlotte Helston gave us two amazing stories about cougar encounters this year. First, a North Okanagan woman came home from a walk and found a sight so unusual, police thought she might be hallucinating. Then another Vernon woman describes a scene out of Stephen King novel when she, too, surprised a cougar. 

— In a bizarre circumstances in Kelowna, a cat named Annie that called the Buckerfields store home was stolen from the parking lot. It sent many concerned friends on the hunt until he was found in Ashcroft before returning to a party.

THE UGLY

— The B.C.SPCA does a great job intervening when animals are being neglected and abused. Here is an example of one they got and another we hope they find. First is the case of Oreo, a Kamloops cat. Its owner was tried in provincial court this year for strangling it to death out of frustration, impairment by alcohol and—we'll say it—stupidity. But our last story defies explanation. Still no one has been arrested but police are looking for a man who took a large, sharp weapon—perhaps an axe or a machete to three rottweilers in Kelowna. Two of the dogs were saved by a 'hero' veterinarian and the donations of concerned citizens.