2012 Impressive Animals Of The Year

 

 Boo, the so-called cutest dog in the world, is a fuzzy Internet sensation. With more than 5 million Facebook fans and several books, the Pomeranian pooch is a certified superstar with a hefty wardrobe budget. By mid-August, however, there were reports that Boo's owner actually works for Facebook. But with a line of stuffed animals on the way, Boo is too busy to worry about any suspicious rumors (they are probably just jealous). (Photo courtesy Gretchen LeMaistre/Chronicle Books)

Is this the world's smallest dog? A dachshund mix named Beyonce could fit into a spoon when she was born in March. But she faces some competition. Meysi, a terrier pup from Poland, was so small when she was born that her owner had to feed the pooch with a syringe for six weeks. The tiny canines could be in line to dethrone Boo Boo, a female Chihuahua owned by Lana Elswick of Raceland, Ky. Boo Boo is currently recognized by Guinness World Records as the smallest living dog.

A purple squirrel was found in a Pennsylvania backyard, and folks were flummoxed as to how it got its unusual coloring. One theory: It fell into a portable toilet. The couple who caught the squirrel took a photograph that stirred much debate, and then released the squirrel back into the wild. Its whereabouts are unknown, and the local game commission refuses to launch a hunt for it.

Another animal that had people buzzing was a 40-pound cat named (what else?) Garfield. Unlike the reasons behind the purple squirrel of Pennsylvania, the clues to Garfield's size are pretty obvious. The supersize tabby was taken in by the North Shore Animal League of America on Long Island after his owner passed away. Staff at the no-kill shelter hope Garfield can lose two pounds a month, thanks to a strict diet. "He needs to lose at least 20 pounds," shelter spokeswoman Devera Lynn told the New York Daily News. "He's so big, he's like a dog. He actually has his own room."

 

The dogs of 2012 were well-represented for good deeds. Kabang, a dog from the Philippines, proved particularly heroic after stepping in front of a speeding motorcycle and saving the lives of two children. Kabang lost her snout in the process. A veterinary clinic from the University of California, Davis has pledged to surgically replace the dog's missing snout. Kabang’s recovery, including treatment for an aggressive tumor, will likely cost more than $10,000.