Why You Shouldn’t Purchase Puppies From Pet Stores This Holiday Season & Other Animal News

Chronic Wasting Disease Identified in British Columbia Deer Carcasses

Four deer carcasses with chronic wasting disease (CWD), also known as zombie deer disease, have been identified in British Columbia this year. This may indicate a spread of the fatal illness, which affects members of the deer family. Although CWD cannot spread to humans, it remains a significant threat to deer, elk, moose, and caribou.

To combat the spread of CWD, some government agencies and corporations have requested that hunters donate deer heads for research after harvesting. Many people have responded, with more than 3,000 samples tested in Kootenay in southeastern British Columbia. While cases of CWD are rare, it’s crucial to get ahead of the disease before it spreads. Find testing locations here.

Endangered Species Returns to Saudi Arabia After More Than a Century

The Persian onager, which is listed as critically endangered, has returned to Saudi Arabia after more than 100 years. Also known as the Persian zebra or Persian ass due to its horse- and donkey-like features, the critically endangered status reflects the Persian onagers’ low population numbers, with fewer than 600 individuals worldwide.

The animal had completely disappeared from the wild landscape of Saudi Arabia until this year. In April 2024, the Shaumari Wildlife Reserve in Jordan sent seven Persian onagers to Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve. The first Persian onager foal was born in the Royal Reserve recently, marking a critical milestone in Saudi Arabia’s mission to improve animal welfare and support conservation.

The Humane Society of the U.S. Asks Shoppers to Stop Purchasing Pets from Puppy Mills

Pet purchases and adoptions typically increase around the holidays, with thoughts of adorable puppies or kittens delighting loved ones on Christmas morning. Because of this, though, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is warning shoppers not to purchase puppies from pet stores after three pet stores in New Jersey were linked to puppy mills in the Midwest. Puppy mills are breeding operations that often house animals in squalid conditions, surrounded in filth and refused veterinary care.

Shoppers may unknowingly support a puppy mill operation by purchasing from pet stores like Puppy Palace or Furrylicious, two New Jersey retailers known to buy from puppy mills. Additionally, many breeding operations refuse rabies vaccination and other medical care to puppies, which could harm or burden the owner. Find out more about puppy mills and how to avoid supporting them here.