http://www.toledoblade.com The Latest News from Toledoblade.com (v5) Thu, 30 Jul 2026 08:23:07 GMT en-us hourly 1 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/07/29/local-animal-shelters-deal-with-influx-drop-offs-surrender-requests/stories/20260723082 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/07/29/local-animal-shelters-deal-with-influx-drop-offs-surrender-requests/stories/20260723082#comments Wed, 29 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/07/29/local-animal-shelters-deal-with-influx-drop-offs-surrender-requests/stories/20260723082 Summer is a busy time of year for local animal shelters, sometimes for the wrong reasons. Marceline walks around the kennel area at Toledo Animal Rescue in Toledo on July 27. Kittens lie together at Toledo Animal Rescue in Toledo on July 27. Steve Kiessling holds Chips at Toledo Animal Rescue in Toledo on July 27. A cat sits in her kennel at Toledo Animal Rescue in Toledo on July 27. Kittens lie together at Toledo Animal Rescue in Toledo on July 27. Kittens lie together at Toledo Animal Rescue in Toledo on July 27. Steve Kiessling pets one cat as Gator reaches for him from his kennel at Toledo Animal Rescue in Toledo on July 27. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/07/12/bark-brunch-provides-environment-dogs-potential-adopters/stories/20260712108 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/07/12/bark-brunch-provides-environment-dogs-potential-adopters/stories/20260712108#comments Sun, 12 Jul 2026 19:50:23 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/07/12/bark-brunch-provides-environment-dogs-potential-adopters/stories/20260712108 Kathy Urbaytis went to the Village Inn with one thing in mind. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/07/10/lucas-county-canine-care-control-to-host-meeting-in-search-of-potential-partners/stories/20260708085 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/07/10/lucas-county-canine-care-control-to-host-meeting-in-search-of-potential-partners/stories/20260708085#comments Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:01:24 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/07/10/lucas-county-canine-care-control-to-host-meeting-in-search-of-potential-partners/stories/20260708085 Lucas County Canine Care & Control will host an informational meeting in search of new rescue partners on July 14. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/07/07/ohio-looks-address-growing-shortage-veterinarians/stories/20260706073 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/07/07/ohio-looks-address-growing-shortage-veterinarians/stories/20260706073#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/07/07/ohio-looks-address-growing-shortage-veterinarians/stories/20260706073 For veterinarians like Dr. Roland Thaler, the work means answering calls wherever they are needed. However, fewer are choosing that path, creating challenges for Ohio’s agricultural industry. Dr. Roland Thaler, right, examines a horse's leg with his wife, Bonnie Thaler. Dr. Roland Thaler, owner of Metamora Equine PC, examining a horse. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/06/30/chicken-murder-tatum-park-shakes-urban-farms-sense-safety/stories/20260629016 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/06/30/chicken-murder-tatum-park-shakes-urban-farms-sense-safety/stories/20260629016#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/06/30/chicken-murder-tatum-park-shakes-urban-farms-sense-safety/stories/20260629016 Tatum Park’s urban farm is meant to be a refuge from violence and a source of life‑giving food and education. Rosa Cardena, a volunteer at SONIA Organics Farm, stands next to the chicken coop that she initially discovered the dead chickens at Tatum Park by SONIA Organics. Rosa Cardena, a volunteer at SONIA Organics Farm, displays a photo she took of the chicken coop after arriving at the farm and discovering the dead chickens. Sonia Flunder-McNair, CEO and founder of SONIA Organics Farm, recalls the event in which two of her chickens were killed. One of the two surviving hens tends to chicks hatched by the hens that were killed inside a chicken coop that had been broken into. Two chickens lie buried. One of the two surviving hens sticks its head out from inside the top level of the chicken coop that had been broken into. A hen peek its head out from under a chicken coop at Tatum Park by SONIA Organics in Toledo, Monday, June 29, 2026. Tatum Park by SONIA Organics. Two surviving hens sit inside of the top level of the chicken coop that had been broken into. Bird feathers lie on the ground near the part of the fencing that had appeared to be smashed down. Volunteers tend to the farm a hens roam around Tatum Park. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/21/toledo-zoo-unveils-revamped-reptile-house-after-15-million-project/stories/20260521101 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/21/toledo-zoo-unveils-revamped-reptile-house-after-15-million-project/stories/20260521101#comments Thu, 21 May 2026 16:06:20 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/21/toledo-zoo-unveils-revamped-reptile-house-after-15-million-project/stories/20260521101 After a year and a half of work, the Toledo Zoo is ready to reopen its Reptile House. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/13/seniors-stingray-project-becomes-family-effort-siblings-prepare-continue/stories/20260511091 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/13/seniors-stingray-project-becomes-family-effort-siblings-prepare-continue/stories/20260511091#comments Wed, 13 May 2026 11:30:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/13/seniors-stingray-project-becomes-family-effort-siblings-prepare-continue/stories/20260511091 For months, Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo senior McKenzy Lounsbury has been preparing for an unusual new classmate: a juvenile stingray named Genevieve. McKenzy Lounsbury, center, shows her work of the entire school year to build and stabilize the habitat for Genevieve, a stingray, at the Frank Dick Natural Science and Technology Center on May 11 in Toledo. Genevieve the stingray swims in her habitat pool built and stabilized by McKenzy Lounsbury during the entire school year at the Frank Dick Natural Science and Technology Center on May 11. McKenzy Lounsbury, reflected in center, shows her work of the entire school year to build and stabilize the habitat for Genevieve, a stingray, at the Frank Dick Natural Science and Technology Center on May 11. McKenzy Lounsbury, center, shows her work of the entire school year to build and stabilize the habitat for Genevieve, a stingray, at the Frank Dick Natural Science and Technology Center on May 11. Kurt Wicklund, senior director of the Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo, discussed how McKenzy Lounsbury, center, worked the entire school year to build and stabilize the habitat for Genevieve, a stingray, at the Frank Dick Natural Science and Technology Center on May 11. Siblings London Redder and McKenzy and Madison Lounsbury admire Genevieve the stingray's habitat at the Frank Dick Natural Science and Technology Center on May 11. Siblings London Redder and McKenzy and Madison Lounsbury admire Genevieve the stingray's habitat at the Frank Dick Natural Science and Technology Center on May 11. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/12/annual-falconry-demonstration-lands-again-natures-nursery/stories/20260512087 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/12/annual-falconry-demonstration-lands-again-natures-nursery/stories/20260512087#comments Tue, 12 May 2026 20:43:15 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/12/annual-falconry-demonstration-lands-again-natures-nursery/stories/20260512087 More than a dozen bird enthusiasts were able to take pictures and videos of different birds of prey that soared through the sky at Nature’s Nursery in Waterville on Tuesday. Beth Sutton of Monclova smiles as a Harris’s Hawk lands on her hand. Beth Simpkins of Toledo smiles as a Harris’s Hawk lands on her hand. Sean O’Hara of the Ohio School of Falconry handles an African Auger Buzzard. Tom Schank of Oak Harbor participates in an Introduction to Falconry class with a Harris’s Hawk. A barn owl sits on Sean O’Hara’s hand. From left, Linda Faber and Sean O’Hara handle an Eurasian Eagle Owl. Sean O’Hara of the Ohio School of Falconry handles a Gyrfalcon. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/12/we-are-closed-caninballz-dog-water-park-permanently-shuts-down/stories/20260512097 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/12/we-are-closed-caninballz-dog-water-park-permanently-shuts-down/stories/20260512097#comments Tue, 12 May 2026 20:26:25 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/12/we-are-closed-caninballz-dog-water-park-permanently-shuts-down/stories/20260512097 Caninballz Indoor Dog Waterpark in West Toledo has permanently closed its doors after less than a year in business, the business announced on its website. Caninballz Indoor Dog Waterpark on Secor Road in West Toledo. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/07/gorilla-at-toledo-zoo-dies-following-illness/stories/20260507097 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/07/gorilla-at-toledo-zoo-dies-following-illness/stories/20260507097#comments Thu, 07 May 2026 18:12:45 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/07/gorilla-at-toledo-zoo-dies-following-illness/stories/20260507097 A 38-year-old gorilla at the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium has died, the zoo announced Thursday. The entrance at the Toledo Zoo. https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/07/organization-offering-free-dog-training-vaccinations/stories/20260504080 https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/07/organization-offering-free-dog-training-vaccinations/stories/20260504080#comments Thu, 07 May 2026 13:00:57 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/local/animals/2026/05/07/organization-offering-free-dog-training-vaccinations/stories/20260504080 Toledo’s PET Bull Project will hold its first free dog training and vaccine clinic of 2026 on Saturday.