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Family reunited with missing iguana

Submitted by Bob Brenzing, Web Producer
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012, 6:31am

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) -- Izzy, the pet iguana that escaped and put a northeast Grand Rapids neighborhood on alert, is now safely back in his terrarium.

Owner Mike Melcher found his lost reptile Tuesday afternoon hiding in bushes outside his house in the 500 block of Carrier St. NE.

The pet iguana escaped Monday when a friend of the Melcher family accidentally let him outside.

The owner and the neighbors searched and searched with no success. They were feeling discouraged until Izzy was finally found in the bushes.

"Izzy was missing for a night and a day," said Melcher after recovering his iguana. "He's ready to come home."

Because the reptile is fast, has sharp teeth and a whip-like tail, Kent County Animal Control sent out an alert warning people to leave it alone.

But Izzy is a legal pet, one of several exotic animals Melcher has in his home -- including a tarantula.

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K-9 Caberet benefitting the Humane Society of West Michigan

Submitted by Anonymous on Monday, May 14th, 3:20 pm
K-9 Caberet benefitting the Humane Society of West Michigan

News Release:

Thursday May 17 is the K-9 Cabaret!!

This brand-new event for Humane Society of West Michigan is designed to bring our community together to have fun and support the animals of West Michigan!

This year's event will honor the Grand Rapids Police Department's K-9 Unit. One of the K-9 dogs (and their handler) will be present at the event to accept the award signifying their work in the community!

We invite everyone to this event to bid on terrific auction items, enjoy fabulous food and learn how important animals are to our community! Auction items include autographed sports memorabilia, a Coach purse, a Brinkman 4-burner grill, U of M football tickets and more!!!

Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the door.

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Animal shelter competing for online votes

Submitted by Bob Brenzing, Web Producer
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012, 12:56pm

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) - The Kent County Animal Shelter is competing in a nation-wide online contest and needs local support to win funding for their animals.

The KCAS submitted an application and was accepted to the ASPCA/Rachel Ray $100K Challenge.

More than 100 shelters applied, the 50 with the most online votes move on to the next competition.

Voting runs from April 5- April 16th. Votes can be submitted at www.votetosavelives.org .

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Woman accused of killing kittens

Submitted by WZZM13, News Staff
Tuesday, March 13th, 2012, 3:10pm

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- A Grand Rapids woman is facing charges for killing three kittens that were just a few weeks old.

Melanie Jasina, 55, is accused of killing the three kittens during an argument at a home on the city's Northeast side.

On March 2nd, an argument broke out at a home on Center Avenue. A woman who lives there didn't want to be identified, but says her mother-in-law, Melanie Jasina, killed three of the kittens. "I don't know, to do something like that, I couldn't even tell you why."

Grand Rapids Police were called to the home for a domestic dispute. The three kittens were found dead on the front porch. They belonged to the 16-year old girl who lived there. The woman says, "She was right there. We found them outside. She was right there with me. And started crying. All I could do was hug her."

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Bow-Wows and Brews Benefit

Submitted by Janet Mason, WZZM 13
Thursday, February 9th, 2012, 6:55am
Bow-Wows and Brews Benefit

For Immediate Release

What:  3rd Annual Bow-Wows & Brews to benefit C-SNIP

When:  Feb 10 2012 

              6:30-10:00pm

Where:  The Delta Plex          

               $35.00 in advance / $45.00 at the door                                               

Join C-SNIP February 10, 2012 at the Delta Plex for our 3rd  Annual Bow-Wows & Brews Event!   Bring your best friend(s) and enjoy craft beer tasting, live music, heavy hors d-oeuvres, raffles and auctions.&nb

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Announcing SnipCat 49503!

Submitted by Anonymous on Monday, January 9th, 3:17 pm
Announcing SnipCat 49503!

From: http://www.csnip.org/

This special program is offering $5.00 spay surgery for female cats living in the 49503 zip code area.

Thanks to a grant from PetSmart Charities®. Residents living in 49503 can call 616-455-8220 ext.101, to make an appointment for one of these $5 spay surgeries. Owners must mention the Snipcat 49503 program to receive the special pricing.

"This is a really good offer and one that will end when the grant monies run out," says Pat Schoen, Executive Director of C-SNIP."We really want to see pet owners in 49503 take advantage of this special offer to help reduce cat overpopulation in Grand Rapids.

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A closer look at cougars

Submitted by Sarah Barwacz, Reporter-Multi Media Journalist
Thursday, December 29th, 2011, 5:53pm

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WZZM) -- Last night we told you about Connie Venroy a woman who claims she saw a cougar in her back yard.

A cougar is the fourth largest cat in the feline family. It is between 24 and 35 inches tall at the shoulder, and a little less than eight feet long. A male cougar can weigh up to 220-pounds.

Your average house cat is about nine to ten-inches high, eighteen-inches in length, and averages about 11-pounds.

Cougars sightings are on the rise in Michigan.

Dan Malone, Animal Manager at John Ball Zoo says, "There's been more sightings of cougars-- reputable sightings in Michigan."

But Malone says don't be too worried-- "Cougar attacks on people are very rare. In last 100 years there have been 100 attacks of people and that's in North America. Most are in California or Canada. I'm not aware of any in Michigan in the last 100 years."

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