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(ANIMAL RESCUE) As the Woolsey Fire raged throughout Southern California on Friday, concern grew over the welfare of the menagerie of animals at Malibu Wines, a popular vineyard in the fire's path. As information began to emerge regarding the animals left on the winery's ground--including horses, pigs, cows, zebras, camels, alpacas, and most famously, Stanley the Giraffe, which all serve as attractions along the winery's Safari Tour--it was unclear if and how the animals were being kept safe. Activists were quick to condemn the winery, claiming the animals shouldn't have been left behind, while experts say evacuating poses extreme risk to some of the exotic animals. Thankfully all but two animals--a llama with foot pad issues and a horse with wounds from a wire fence--were completely unharmed. But some say the dire situation still begs the question: should a winery be caring for exotic animals? Read on to learn more about the saga of Stanley and share your thoughts in the comments below. -- Global Animal

(DISASTER RELIEF/ANIMAL RESCUE) Hurricane Harvey caused devastation for countless people and their pets throughout Texas and Louisiana. Luckily, over 300 shelters and animal rescues all over the the country have stepped in to help. Those affected those affected face an uphill battle to rebuild their lives, but volunteers continue to work day by day, trying to find forever homes, pet by pet. -- Global Animal

(DOGS/DOG FIGHTING) Dog fighting is a terrible crime where heartless individuals will typically breed and raise dogs for the specific purpose of fighting other dogs. It is a brutal blood sport that occurs across the globe in all types of communities, facilitating abuse and violence solely for the sake of spectators' entertainment and gambling. Today, on April 8, it's time to take a stand against the horrors of dog fighting by joining the ASPCA in support of National Dog Fighting Awareness Day. The ASPCA is encouraging animal lovers to #GetTough on this barbaric practice. By following the steps below, you can make a difference and help put an end to dog fighting once and for all. -- Global Animal

(TIGERS/WILDLIFE CONSERVATION) Today, July 29 marks International Tiger Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness for tiger conservation. However, considering the world has lost approximately 97 percent of all wild tigers in just over 100 years, every day should be Tiger Day! -- Global Animal

(CATS/ANIMAL ACTIVISM) Great Meadow Correctional Facility in New York is one of the many institutions now taking part in a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program for feral cats living on its grounds. With TNR programs, cats are humanely trapped, spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and then eartipped to help keep unsocialized feral cats out of shelters. More than 430 districts nationwide embrace TNR programs, and several prisons are introducing TNR programs to help control feral cat populations while offering valuable enrichment to inmates and staff members. Read on to learn more about how TNR programs and correctional institutions are keeping cats off death row. — Global Animal

(DOGS/PET CARE) Did you know that a car parked in the sun with all windows closed can reach up to 116 degrees in just minutes? With Memorial Day and hot summer weather just around the corner, it's important to be aware of the risk of pets dying in hot cars, as well as the legal actions one can take if they see a dog trapped in a hot car. If you must leave your dog in the car, we suggest parking the car in the shade, having all windows tinted (including clear tint for the windshield), keeping the windows open, and parking the rear of the car so it faces the sun. But the most important preventative measure is not parking the car in the sun, period. Regardless, if it comes down to watching a dog die in a hot car or breaking the window to save it, we would always break the window. The dog's guardian will most likely be grateful rather than mad or litigious. Even if you have to replace the window yourself, it will be worth it to save the animal. Just in time for Heat Awareness Day, read below for tips on what you can do if you see an animal in distress in a locked car. -- Global Animal

(ANIMAL RESCUE/DOGS) While Olympic snowboarder Maddie Mastro rescued a dog named Jadu from a South Korean butcher's block, Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy also made a significant impact for animals in South Korea. After rescuing street dogs during the Sochi Games in Russia and returning home with them in 2014, the freestyle skier repeated a similar mercy mission during last month's PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Once again with the help of Humane Society International (HSI), Kenworthy and his boyfriend, actor Matthew Wilkas, rescued 90 dogs from a South Korean dog meat farm, which has since been shut down. Most of the dogs are being flown to Canada where they'll eventually be available for adoption, but one of the dogs (affectionately named Beemo) is going home to the U.S. to live with the Olympian himself. Read below to learn more about Kenworthy's "heart-wrenching" trip to one of South Korea’s 17,000 dog meat farms. -- Global Animal

(ANIMAL RESCUE) Those who miraculously survived the devastating wildfires throughout Northern and Southern California now face the equally difficult task of reuniting with their loved ones--including their beloved pets. First responders across the state have rescued thousands of injured and displaced animals--many found burned and dazed, sitting in the ashes of their former homes. A number of animals are still recovering from injuries including smoke inhalation, dehydration, and severe burns, while veterinarians, rescue groups, and volunteers are working tirelessly to reunite healthy pets with their humans. Read on for more on the Camp Fire rescue efforts and see how you can help below. -- Global Animal

(HURRICANE HARVEY/ANIMAL RESCUE) Being the most powerful storm to hit the mainland in over a decade, Hurricane Harvey has completely wreaked havoc throughout Texas and Louisiana. To put things in perspective, an estimated 20 trillion gallons dumped on the 2.3 million-person city of Houston since Harvey came ashore. Some parts of Texas received as much as 50 inches of rain, causing extensive property damage that could reach $190 billion. The torrential rain, devastating winds, and widespread flooding has resulted in 39 human casualties and driven over one million people and their pets out of their flooded homes. Fortunately, an extensive network of animal rescue groups from all over the U.S. are rushing to provide aid as first responders are working round-the-clock to save stranded pets. In Houston alone, there likely are thousands upon thousands of displaced pets in need. These animals desperately need our help. Please consider making a donation, no matter how small, to make this life-saving work possible. -- Global Animal

(ACTIVISM/CELEBRITIES) What could be a bigger challenge than taking on Bruce Lee? Try taking on traditional Chinese medicine. Jackie Chan has made a name for himself as a Hollywood action hero, but he has also gained a reputation as an animal hero. The movie star is fighting to save endangered animals by imploring his fans to stop buying ivory, rhino horn, and other products used for traditional Chinese medicine. See the video clip below and continue reading to learn more about Chan's efforts to help save wildlife. — Global Animal

(ANIMAL ACTIVISM/TAKE ACTION) Happy Holidays! 'Tis the season of giving, and the Global Animal Foundation is celebrating by giving back to animals in need. As you may know, Global Animal Foundation is a non-profit 501(3)C charity that functions like a Green Cross for animals. It’s a responsive umbrella organization that distributes donations to vetted animal rescues worldwide that aid animals in crisis. Our mission is to swiftly get resources on the ground during natural disasters and other emergencies that put animals, from pets to wildlife, in critical peril. Thanks to donations from animal-lovers across the globe, our campaigns have granted thousands toward assisting animal rescues with funding for medical expenses, providing food and housing for rescued animals, and helping shelters reunite lost pets with their families in the wake of natural and manmade disasters. -- Global Animal

(ANIMAL LAWS/WILDLIFE) The Bobcat Protection Act of 2013 is currently on its way to Governor Jerry Brown for review after passing the Senate and clearing the Assembly last week. Since U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials reported that 1,500 bobcats were trapped along the border of Joshua Tree National Park last year alone—more than twice the number of trappings in 2009, a group of Southland activists have been working to condemn the trapping with state Assembly Bill 1213. Authored by Assemblyman Richard Bloom of Santa Monica, the bill would not only make it illegal to trap, sell, or export bobcats or bobcat parts taken from the area, but the legislation would also create a buffer zone around the national park and prohibit wire cage traps on private land without the owner’s written permission. Read on to learn more about Assembly Bill 1213 and contact Governor Jerry Brown to let him know that you support the bill and expect him to support it, too! — Global Animal

(ANIMAL NEWS/ANIMAL TESTING) California is one step closer to becoming the first U.S. state to ban the sale of cosmetics and other beauty products tested on animals. California senators recently voted 21 to 9 in favor of the California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act (SB1249), which would make it illegal for cosmetics manufacturers to sell any cosmetic or personal-hygiene product that so much as contains a component that was tested on animals, beginning January 1, 2020. The legislation is now heading for a vote in the Assembly, and if it becomes law, California would join the European Union, Israel, South Korea, Brazil, India, New Zealand, and other progressive countries that have enacted similar bans protecting animals from exploitation and brutality. Read on to learn more about the legislation and if you’d like to see SB 1249 become a law in California, please sign this petition on Care2. -- Global Animal

(FUR TRADE/ANIMAL NEWS) In a unanimous vote, San Francisco has officially become the largest city in the U.S. to ban fur sales! With fur sales in San Francisco ranging from $11 million to a whopping $40 million, the ban is expected to most significantly impact an estimated 30 retailers in the Union Square area. While the new legislation does not apply to other animal products like leather, lambskin, or wool, retailers with fur in their existing inventory will no longer be able to sell fur products starting January 2020. San Francisco joins two other California cities, West Hollywood and Berkeley, in saying no to fur. In recent months, an increasing number of influential top fashion designers are also choosing to go fur-free. An estimated 50 million animals all over the world are slaughtered for their fur, with 85 percent of pelts coming from fur farms. We hope that San Francisco's historic ban will encourage legislators globally to consider similar bans. Read on to learn more about the unanimous vote and see how you can take action against the fur trade below. -- Global Animal