Pets

As Hurricane Irma pounds the Caribbean and people flee or take cover, there are hundreds of animals that are less protected ... but the good news is that many know how to fend for themselves.

Sir Richard Branson's Necker Island is home to a variety of exotic animals, including more than 80 lemurs, hundreds of flamingos -- including a blind one, Miss Lucky -- red foot tortoises, exotic birds and almost extinct Anegada iguanas.

The animals are well cared for by Branson's staff, but there's only so much that can be done. Branson and his staff have remained on Necker to weather Irma, but many of the animals simply do the best they can to find shelter. An official for Necker tells TMZ, "The animals are safe," but she would not elaborate.

Several 4-legged victims of Hurricane Harvey are now safe and sound -- and we got this video of rescuers scooping up stranded pups and one lost armadillo.

The 'dillo in this clip was stuck on a small patch of land in a flooded Houston neighborhood Thursday ... when he was captured by PETA's crew and returned to safety.

We're told the team arrived Tuesday night, and has been working 'round the clock to find pets that were most likely left behind when families had to flee for their lives.

So far PETA's seen dogs in flooded yards, and some left crated inside homes. The Humane Society of the United States also has its people patrolling, and found several cats inside homes.

Lisa Rogers is living in a leaky trailer on top of a hill so she can give comfort to one of her beloved rescue horses.

Lisa runs Amazing Grace Acres Equine Rescue & Rehab. Among her brood ... 12 horses, 2 donkeys, 1 mule, 1 pony, 1 potbellied pig, 22 cats and 3 dogs. All of the animals are with her as she tries to figure out her next move.

A significant portion of the rescue effort is now being devoted to saving and caring for displaced animals.

The photo below is Billy Hutson from Austin who came to Houston to help rescue animals.

Rescue efforts in Houston are in full swing ... and, no, people aren't forgetting the 4-legged victims.

This tortoise was rescued Wednesday on a tugboat by Aaron Jayjack during historic flooding in the city. He looks a bit discombobulated ... albeit safely aboard and secure.

As we reported ... Harvey will have an enormous impact on pets as they become displaced and separated from their homes and owners.

This big guy might be a shell of his former self after the storm ... but at least he isn't turnt up in the water.

As much as people are suffering in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, pets are going through it just as bad ... according to one expert.

Professional pet sitter and veterinary nurse Diana Carreon says animals process displacement and trauma the same as humans. She explains how the emotional impact of Harvey can impact pets ... from withdrawal to aggressiveness.

Diana also says animals can suffer PTSD in ways similar to humans, and their recovery process varies wildly. She also says the only cure for certain, significant trauma may be meds.

Cleveland Cavs star Derrick Rose just got a brand new family member -- he's adorable, he's furry and he ain't cheap!

TMZ Sports has learned Derrick and GF, Alaina Anderson, brought home a 10-week-old Chocolate Goldendoodle puppy this week from Murphy's Doodles, a high-end breeder in Florida.

We're told ... the couple dropped $4,600 for the pooch -- which they immediately brought out to their home in Beverly Hills.

So far, we're told the dog doesn't have a name -- but they're workin' on it!

Congrats!

One of the guys behind 'The Purge' movies had to purge his dog walker because she allegedly threatened to kill his pup ... all over a creepy obsession with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

Brad Fuller -- who also produced "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" -- says this horror story started in May when the dog walker accosted his wife, demanding to meet Matt and/or Ben. According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, she said "many lives would be lost" unless she got the intro.

Brad fired her and changed his locks, but says the woman started texting his wife 150 times a day ... and threatened to poison their dog. He says they reported her to LAPD, but after a detective went to her home ... she texted his wife, "I will make sure you never walk again."

Brad says the woman was put on an involuntary 72-hour hold at UCLA Medical following the incident. The court granted him a restraining order, which also protects his wife and their Rottweiler, Duke.

Ray J and Princess Love's dog almost died after being left in a closet for days without food or water ... and they think the pooch was accidentally left there by a construction worker.

Sources close to the couple tell us ... Ray and PL took a trip recently to celebrate their anniversary/her bday -- when they returned ... they found one of their Maltese dogs unconscious in the closet.

We're told Ray J and Princess are renovating their home, and construction crews were there when they were away. They say one of the workers told them they put Coco in the closet while they were doing work in the room, and just forgot to let her out.

RJ and PL say when they found Coco she was having seizures. They rushed her to the vet, where she was treated for 4 days. They shelled out more than $5k in vet bills.

We're told Coco suffered permanent organ damage and has to undergo kidney treatment for the rest of her life. Ray and Princess are considering their next move.

RJ and PL have sent the construction company the bill, but they say that's only part of what they're out.

It'll make you cry but it's also loving and sweet ... a dog with terminal cancer gets what most canines and humans say is one of life's great pleasures -- an In-N-Out burger.

Maddie the lab is 13-and-a-half and was just diagnosed with a rare form of incurable spleen cancer. The dog isn't suffering yet, so her owner presented the pooch with the famous burger, sans cheese and condiments.

Maddie lunged for the patty and life, at least for now, is good.

Kim Zolciak's adamant her son's not terrified of dogs 3 months after he was attacked by one ... and that's why she got him one for his birthday.

Sources close to the 'RHOA' star tell TMZ ... Kim and the family recently fostered 3 puppies from a pitt lab mix litter of 9 while they searched for their forever homes. The fam kept one puppy, Sage, but as Kash's 5th birthday approached, Kim surprised him with Sage's puppy bro, Sailor.

Kim insists Kash is not scared of dogs and he has no recurring issues following May's attack. As we reported ... a dog bit Kash in the face which required surgery. Kim said Kash healed up fine and has perfect vision in his left eye ... even after getting stitches on his water line.

And despite all that ... we're told Kash remains an animal lover.

Chelsea Handler bid farewell to her rescue dog, Tammy, which she affectionately called Bear, on Friday and her send-off was a total tearjerker.

Handler posted a picture of the fluffy mutt on Instagram saying she was forced to put her down because she had been struggling and Handler couldn't bear to watch the dog fight anymore.

Chelsea only had Tammy for 2 years, and recently posted a picture of her recuperating from kidney failure. Chandler wrote of Tammy ... " she made sure I never went to bed once without hearing her little paws mount my stairwell 2 paws at a time. If my door was closed, she slept outside my room like a security guard."

Handler, who also has another pooch named Chunk, says she plans on giving another dog a home soon, but will be reminded of Tammy every time she looks at her new pet.

She also wrote, "Anyone who doesn't believe a dog changes your life has never rescued one."

Lisa Vanderpump's husband assaulted a dog rescue's executive for not playing ball -- so claims the rescue operation in a new lawsuit, but Lisa says the allegation's all bark ... no bite.

Spot Rescue is suing Ken Todd, Lisa and the Vanderpump Dog Foundation claiming Ken got pissed when Spot's executive director refused to provide pooches for a fundraiser gala Vanderpump sponsored.

According to docs, Spot's executive refused because it's against company policy -- but Ken got pissed. He allegedly threw her against a wall and yelled, "Do you know who I am? I will ruin your life!"

The director relented and sent dogs to the event, but when it came time to split the $64,000 raised, Ken shorted the operation ... according to Spot Rescue. In the suit, the org says Ken offered partial payment, but only if the exec released him from liability for the assault.

The farm that inspired E.B. White's classic children's novel, "Charlotte's Web," has hit the market, and looks to be a great deal.

The 44-acre saltwater farm in Brooklin, Maine -- where White lived when he wrote 'Charlotte' -- has been listed at $3.7 million. Not bad for all that land.

The property includes a farmhouse, a guest house and a barn -- the inspiration for Wilbur and Charlotte's hangout. White bought the estate in 1933, and lived there until he died in 1985.

The listing agent, Martha Dischinger of Down East Properties, tells us the current owners are only selling because they're in their 80s. FYI ... we're told there's no livestock on the grounds.

So, no Wilbur Juniors, but we're betting Charlotte's still got some fam there.

Playboy playmate Kennedy Summers sure knows how to set tongues wagging.

Summers, who was Playmate of the Year in 2014, took in every bit of her last name this week in Malibu, looking as hot as the sun beating down on her. She's a damn fine multitasker too!

Seriously, why not walk your dog while rocking a bikini and catching some Vitamin D on the beach?

ScHoolboy Q is down a dog, because United Airlines placed his new pooch on the wrong flight ... TMZ has learned.

The rapper tells us ... he bought a French Bulldog puppy that was supposed to be shipped to him from Denver Friday, but when it arrived -- it was the wrong dog. He says he was pissed and contacted United about their mistake.

The rapper also tweeted at United Friday afternoon, saying ... "You guys r idiots ... HOW U PUT MY DOG ON THE WRONG FLIGHT???? I need answers."

ScHoolboy tells us it's all straightened out now, though ... hopefully. United is supposed to deliver the Frenchie to his place in LA by midnight. He's still pissed, though ... and says he's going to sue.

ScHoolboy's got 2 other pooches at home, so the Bulldog -- who he's naming Yeerndamean -- will be the third amigo.

Lena Dunham made a difficult and painful, but ultimately correct choice to relocate the terrier mix she'd rescued ... at least according to the people who tried to treat the dog's aggressive behavior.

Lena's been catching heat from BARC, the Brooklyn animal shelter where she adopted Lamby. BARC was pissed to find out she no longer has the pooch ... which she says she had to give away due to behavioral issues. The shelter denies he was aggressive, calling him as "mild-mannered and very well behaved."

To be clear ... Lena didn't abandon Lamby altogether. Instead, she sent him to THE ZEN DOG in L.A., which specializes in working with dogs with behavior issues. The facility's owner, Matt Beisner, says Lamby would get scared and then aggressive every time someone tried touching his neck or head. He says they treated him for more than year, and during that time he bit 3 staff members ... drawing blood each time.

Beisner says he doesn't think BARC saw Lamby's true colors. He says it's common for dogs to act differently inside shelters, and stands by Lena's decision. He adds ... one of his former staffers ended up adopting Lamby, and the dog is doing much better now.

It's clear, Lena was very torn about relocating her dog. She set the record straight after BARC and animal rights groups lashed out and accused her of animal cruelty.