Pets

A lucky pooch and its owner escaped near disaster thanks to a quick-thinking civilian and an LAX bike cop, who saved the dog after it'd been pulled into an escalator.

A woman and her dog were headed up the airport escalator last week when the dog -- dressed in a tracksuit -- got it's paw caught in the landing grate.

Lucky for the woman, a man standing nearby acted quickly to hit the emergency shut off ... and moments later LAX cops were on the scene to unscrew the grate's teeth and free the pup -- with all 4 paws still in tact!

Logan Paul is teaching millions of his young followers to be cruel to animals with his dead rat taser video -- this according to PETA, which now wants the clip yanked.

Lisa Lange -- PETA's Senior Vice President -- tells TMZ that the video posted this week showing Logan repeatedly firing a taser at a dead rat is repulsive, adding that it's clear he hasn't learned his lesson from the suicide forest debacle.

Lange says PETA is also calling on YouTube to take Logan's clip down entirely, explaining ... "This sort of content has no place on YouTube or anywhere else, as it could desensitize young people to cruelty to animals." She adds ... "PETA is calling on the platform to remove it."

As you'll recall ... Logan's catching a new wave of backlash for his latest stunt. He tases the dead rat, lifts it from the string, and tases it again once it's in the trash. Safe to say, people are pissed.

Sarah Silverman rolled her eyes at PETA for pissing on the puppy gag at the Grammys.

We got the funny lady Tuesday at LAX and asked about PETA bitching that James Corden handed out pups as a consolation prize. PETA thinks it was wrong to put the dogs under bright lights and it sent a bad message that dogs are prizes rather than family members.

She was a long shot to make it this far, but Fiona the hippo turned 1 year old Wednesday ... and the Cincinnati Zoo is having a phat fat celebration!

You'll recall, Fiona was born 6 weeks premature and weighed a mere 29 pounds -- a record for any hippo born in captivity. The good news is she's a very healthy 600 pounds one year later.

Naturally, Fi got a cake for her bday. No ice cream cake though ... strictly fruits and veggies, but she's a herbivore so it's cool. She's so damn cute, we'd almost forget the whole thing about hippos being seriously deadly animals. Almost.

Chelsea Handler's dog, Chunk -- who became famous on her show -- has died.

Handler made the announcement Thursday, saying, "I’m crying because of how much I loved him. My chunky monkey. I love you, baby. Softest doggy in the world."

The talk show host also lost her dog, Tammy, in August after suffering kidney failure.

Chunk was a staple on "Chelsea" and made regular appearances on her various social media platforms.

It's unclear how Chunk died, but he was recently battling health issues of his own.

RIP.

Paul Teutul Sr. wants to ride off into the sunset with more land and more animals, but he's gotta unload his old ranch first, so he slashed the price ... TMZ has learned.

The "American Chopper" star recently dropped asking price from $2.9 million to $2.5 mil for his 38-plus-acre upstate New York spread. We're told he's on the hunt for a place with more land for his rescue animals. Fun fact about Paul ... he's VP of the Hudson Valley SPCA.

Paul originally put the Montgomery, NY home on the market in Oct. It's got 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, attached pool house and, of course, the pool ... complete with slide and waterfall! His listing agent is Seta Tunell with Ellis Sotheby's International Realty.

The home was frequently featured on 'Chopper' ... which, btw, is coming back to TV this February after a 5-year hiatus. We're told Paul's animal rescue operation -- with mini-horses, donkeys and alpacas -- will be prominently featured.

The drunk Philadelphia Eagles fan who allegedly attacked a police officer AND his horse should be BANNED from owning pets AND attending Eagles games ever again ... this according to a huge animal rights org.

Cops reported the fan, Taylor Hendricks, repeatedly attacked an officer and his horse as he was being escorted out of Saturday's game against the Falcons. Hendricks was arrested for aggravated assault, illegally taunting a police horse, simple assault and defiant trespass.

But Stephanie Bell, senior director for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, tells TMZ Sports Hendricks should get more than that.

"PETA is asking the prosecutor to charge the suspect with cruelty to animals, and if he's convicted, we hope sentencing will include a psychiatric evaluation and a ban on owning or harboring any animals, from horses to dogs and cats."

"Anyone who would violently attack an animal likely has rage issues and could be a danger to the community at large."

Zooey Deschanel says she's way too busy making TV shows to do something as frivolous as showing up for a court date.

Zooey was sued over a horse. The equine owner claims Zooey leased the animal from her back in 2013 and overworked it, causing it to become lame. The owner wants vet bills and other damages.

The case has lingered in the court system for a while, but now it's time for a mandatory settlement conference ... which means the judge is trying to get both sides to reach an agreement to avoid trial.

Zooey just filed legal docs saying she just can't fit the appearance into her schedule, her lawyer saying, "Ms. Deschanel is a well-known actress with an extremely extensive and complicated work schedule."

As they say ... tell it to the judge. She did, and the judge said Zooey has to appear ... or else.

Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin are going public -- the new couple strolled on the beach over the weekend, packed on some PDA and, for good measure ... hung out with Kenny G.

Chris and Dakota have been dating for a few months, but previously took great measures to keep it private. That all changed Sunday in Malibu ... where the "Fifty Shades of Grey" star and Chris looked inseparable.

They had some unexpected company on the beach when Kenny G popped up, sadly without his saxophone. So, no Coldplay-Kenny G collab.

That Dakota's a lucky woman.

Oprah met with some of the heroes going out and searching for the missing in her community after devastating mudslides this week ... including a few 4-legged ones.

O posted a vid talking to search and rescue workers in Montecito Saturday, which included some awesome dogs ... especially her new pal, Mondo.

She wrote, "People not the only heroes in our little community. Met some 4 legged ones too. Searches continuing today."

The rescue worker also gives Oprah a lesson in how the canines operate and how they differ.

As we reported ... Oprah's community's been ravaged by the mudslides -- including the home of her neighbor, Jeff Bridges.

At least 18 people have died and 6 are still missing.

Chris Brown got himself a pet monkey -- but never got a permit to keep her -- so now he's sans monkey and could face criminal charges ... TMZ has learned.

As we reported ... CB took heat last month after posting a pic of his 3-year-old daughter Royalty holding the baby capuchin monkey named Fiji, because people thought it was a danger to her and belongs in the wild. Chris told everyone to chill.

According to law enforcement ... several folks notified the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, who opened an investigation.

Turns out Chris never got a permit for the exotic pet, so authorities got a search warrant but before Chris' house got raided, he voluntarily agreed to surrender the animal.

According to our sources ... CB could be charged with having a restricted species without a permit, a misdemeanor, that carries a maximum of 6 months in jail. The case has been turned over to the L.A. City Attorney.

Chris' lawyer, Mark Geragos, tells TMZ, "As I leave my office in Downtown L.A. and walk past people sleeping on the street on my way to defend people charged by the City Attorney with selling medical marijuana ... now spending taxpayer money on investigating monkey business, this completes the circle on his absurdity."

As for Fiji ... she's fine.

What did one horse quickly say to the other while trotting out into some snow? ... RETREAT!!!!

That's must've been what these two steeds were thinking when they were released from their stalls in Howell, Michigan -- covered in horsey coats, no less -- into some deep snow.

They didn't make it more than 20 feet before realizing how cold it was ... and then bolting back inside.

We're guessing these sturdy stallions come from Mister Ed or BoJack Horseman's family tree ... as opposed to Trigger or Little Blackie's lineage.

Kyle Richards is sending a message to any other burglars thinking of trying to break into her home again -- letting 'em know she has 3 large dogs ready and willing ... to lick their faces off.

Kyle posed with her pooches, which she says just got back from dog training. However, based on those adorable faces ... we're guessing it's more obedience than attack dog school. Ok, maybe the German Shepherd would mess you up ... but the other two? C'mon, look at those mugs.

As we reported, Kyle and Mauricio Umansky's new Encino home was broken into last week while they were on vacation in Aspen. The burglars made off with about $1 million in jewelry and handbags. The dogs were not at the home either.

We'll say this ... they probably bark really loud. That helps.

Johnny Manziel's fiancee, Bre Tiesi, almost had one of her lips torn off by a dog ... but it looks like she's gonna be OK after one of the Kardashians' plastic surgeons worked his magic.

Bre detailed the scary incident on social media -- saying her lip was "legit hanging off" after she tried to break up a canine throwdown involving her two pups.

But the IG model wasn't about to let a random ER doc mess with her kisser ... so she hit up Garth Fisher -- a Beverly Hills surgeon who's worked on Kris Jenner -- and he stitched her up, good as new.

Well, not exactly ... but Bre says she should be scar-free in just a few weeks!

Not like she wouldn't be smokin' hot either way.

Bow wow wow yippee yo yippie yay -- LaVar Ball got his soon-to-be Lithuania bound sons some new playmates ... 3 Rottweiller puppies.

TMZ Sports got video of Lavar, LiAngelo, LaMelo and leaving Petco in Chino Hills, CA as they toted out the puppies. They didn't get the puppies in the store, but they were stocking up like crazy for 'em.

We're told they got bedding, treats, food and toys -- all puppy essentials. LaVar told people in the store he'd just gotten the Rotties because he has a big backyard that needs patrolling ... plus, his kids wanted 'em. Santa Ball delivers!

The big question is if they'll be headed to Lithuania with LiAngelo and LaMelo. No word on that or names for the dogs.

"Shahs of Sunset" star Golnesa 'GG' Gharachedaghi believes her estranged husband is out to get her -- literally and figuratively -- and is asking a judge to keep him away ... from her cats too.

GG filed docs alleging Shalom Yeroushalmi has been harassing her and her family for months with calls, emails and texts ... and has repeatedly gone to the press trying to sell stories about her. GG claims as recently as this month, Shalom contacted TMZ and E! News in an attempt to defame her.

According to the docs ... GG has also caught her ex lurking around her house about 5 times, including back in February when he prevented a food delivery guy from delivering her order by posing as security.

GG's asking for an order to keep Shalom 50 yards away from her, Romeo and Malaika (her 2 cats). She also wants Shalom prohibited from contacting press or any social media outlets to offer info on her or her family. A judge denied the request, but set a hearing for her to bring evidence showing a restraining order is necessary.

As we reported ... GG filed for divorce from Shalom after just 2 months of marriage, but he's putting up a legal fight over it.