If you are looking for cutting edge studies on animal research and practice management, you need look no further than this years Ig Nobel Prize winners.

The red piddle pad was rolled out in full force Saturday at the first annual DogTime Pet Blog Awards (aka “the Petties”) for best animal-related blogs.

Two enterprising companion animals thwarted disaster today when the pair appeared to take over and repair a broken-down vehicle. The furry duo – cat Fluffy and dog Fido – were spotted in a snow-covered field with a large red sled or snowmobile that had seemingly ceased to function.

Look out Usain Bolt, here comes SeSe, the red-eared slider. OK, it’s not a fair comparison. Bolt is a Jamaican sprinter, and SeSe is a Chinese turtle. But both are Olympians and both won gold medals in their respective events. While Bolt was breaking records in Beijing, SeSe, owned by Kitty Wong, took gold in the turtle crawl at the first-ever Pet Olympics, held in Hong Kong over the last 10 weekends. The Olympets, as it is called, was sponsored by PetMAX, a 50,000-square-foot pet-oriented supermall located in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong. Opened in 2007, PetMAX is the first Hong Kong mall in which pets are allowed. It is home to nine pet specialty stores including spas, training and grooming services, and even an American dog-treat bakery. PetMAX owner Howard Cheung said the goal of the competition was to complement the Beijing Olympics and promote proper care of companion animals. Money from the event was also donated to charity.

Volunteer Veterinarians Endure Freezing Temperatures During “Last Great Race” in Alaska