Scorpion In Pants, PETA Vs. UGA, Bear Video: Top Animal News 2019

GEORGIA — We love animal stories at Patch as much as you do. This year saw some incredible stories from Georgia, including multiple bear encounters, pets saved and possibly the largest gator caught. But with the good comes the bad, including pets rescued from hoarding situations and a dog that died while at doggy day care. We rounded up the top animal stories from Georgia Patches in 2019.

Good News:

• Atlanta Loves This Dog Breed The Most: The top dog in Atlanta is different from the nation's favorite, a new ranking shows.
• Suspicious 911 Call Helps Save Kitten By Police: A suspicious call about a ladder sticking out of a manhole, turned into a kitten rescue and adoption story.
• Kitten Rescued After Hitching Ride From Woodstock To Alpharetta: Alpharetta Fire Department Engine 81 helped rescue a kitten, dubbed "Lucky," that got stuck inside a car chassis in Woodstock.
• Nearly 500 Cats, Dogs, Guinea Pigs Found New Atlanta Homes: Nearly 500 animals were adopted over Black Friday Adoption weekend through the LifeLine Animal Project in time for the holidays.
• Alpharetta Cat Wins Nationwide's 2019 Hambone Award: Minnow returned home from a 21-day journey emaciated and with a broken rib. She just won $10,000 for the vet who saved her.

Weird News:

• PETA: UGA Mascot Uga 'Looks Miserable,' Should Be Retired: PETA tweeted a video of the University of Georgia's mascot, Uga, saying the bulldog "looks miserable" and calling for his retirement.
• GA Man Likely Breaks Record For Largest Gator Captured In State: A man from south Georgia has likely broken the state record for the largest gator ever captured when he caught one larger than 14 feet.
• Dead Elephant Photos Draw Criticism For GA Businessman: An Alpharetta business owner and hunter was condemned on social media for killing two elephants, claiming self-defense.
• 9 Rattlesnakes Discovered Living In Canton Home: Police: During a welfare check on March 16, Cherokee Sheriff's deputies found nine living rattlesnakes and marijuana inside a Canton home.
• Sheriff: Blue-Green Algae Not Cause Of K9's Death: Gus, an 8-year-old Hall County Sheriff's Office bloodhound, died Aug. 13 after he cooled off in a tainted pond after tracking a suspect.
• Scorpion Bites Woman On Flight To Atlanta: United: The woman noticed a stinging sensation and, as it got worse, she went to the bathroom. That's what a scorpion fell out of her pant leg.

Sad News:

• Family Mourns Dog's Death At Buckhead Doggy Daycare: A woman brought her dog, Lexi, into The Pet Set Buckhead for a trial visit and temperament test, only to learn hours later that the dog had been killed.
• 165 German Shepherds Rescued, Property Owner Faces Charges: The Atlanta Humane Society responded to a neglect case involving about 165 German shepherds on a property in rural Georgia.
• Two Dogs Die From 'Strep Zoo' At Metro Animal Shelter: The shelter has been closed. The Atlanta Humane Society has donated 80 crates to help care for the animals.

Bears Take Over Suburbs

• Bear Seen Swimming In Lake Windward, Alpharetta Cautions Public
• Bears Take A Stroll Through Prestigious ATL Golf Club
• Bear Spotted In Milton Near Cherokee, Forsyth County Lines
• Video: Bears Seen Strolling Through Alpharetta Yards, Back Porch
• Bear, Cub Spotted At Atlanta Athletic Club In Johns Creek