A Florida man came home to a shocking discovery. The bank had foreclosed on his home, taken possession of it, and left his cat, Milo, trapped inside. The man called his lender repeatedly, asking to be let inside the house to retrieve Milo, but the bank refused. The cat had some food and water, but it wouldn't be enough to sustain him for long. Fearing for the cat's life, the man's mother called PETA for help.

What’s wrong with this picture? This kitty isn’t wearing her must-have accessory—an ID tag.

When we called the bank, the president was still averse to letting the former homeowner into the house, so we convinced the president to go over himself and put out food and water for the cat. Then, when Milo's guardian made yet another trip to the house to check on the cat, he spotted Milo—outside. The cat had likely seen an opportunity to escape during the bank president's visit, but Milo was frightened and wouldn't go to his guardian.

PETA walked the man through how to set up a trap using strong-smelling bait, and it didn't take long to catch the hungry cat. Milo was finally reunited with his relieved guardian.

Despite our best efforts, cats can become lost. PETA offers tips for guardians on how to get lost cats safely back home:

• Set out traps containing strong-smelling bait, such as mackerel, and check the traps frequently.
• Check in sewers, under bushes, under cars, in trees, under porches, and in every place that you think a cat could hide. Call his or her name loudly while you search.
• Speak to the neighbors, mail carriers, trash collectors, neighborhood children, and anyone else who might have seen your cat.
• Put a "lost" ad in all local publications and offer a reward.
• Put up "missing" posters on plywood at intersections and post fliers everywhere else—including at grocery stores, gas stations, and community centers and on utility poles.
• File a missing-animal report with all the local humane societies, rescues, and animal control agencies, and check their facilities every couple of days.
• Make sure your cat is always wearing tags with current information and is microchipped.

Our animal companions give us all the time, attention, and affection that we want, and in return, they deserve the best care that we can provide. Here are the top six ways to return the favor:

  1.      Suppertime

Just like people, animals need high-quality, nutritious food, which is the basis for good health. They also benefit from having moist food, which is more palatable and helps prevent urinary tract infections. If you are concerned about supporting factory farms when you buy pet food, check out PETA's factsheet on feeding dogs and cats vegetarian or vegan food. And, of course, we wouldn't want to drink out of a dirty glass, and our animals don't want to drink out of a dirty bowl, either. So give them fresh water daily in a clean container.

  2.      It's Potty Time

Have you ever walked into a public restroom stall only to turn around and walk right back out? Cats prefer a clean bathroom, too, so scoop at least twice a day. Similarly, a backyard filled with "land mines" is no fun for people or dogs, so be sure to scoop regularly. And dogs shouldn't be expected to "hold it" all day (not only is this painful, it's also harmful to their kidneys), so if someone can't go home at lunchtime to let the dog out, hire a dog walker or, if you have a yard with a secure privacy fence, install a doggie door.

  3.      Don't Keep the Doctor Away

An annual veterinary visit for a check-up is a must, but if your animal shows any signs of not feeling well, be sure to schedule an appointment right away. Fleas and ticks torment dogs and cats, so they must be controlled (try using natural, nontoxic products), and heartworms and intestinal worms can be easily prevented with once-monthly medications. Additionally, spaying and neutering not only eliminates the risk of reproductive organ cancer but also prevents females from suffering through heat cycles and reduces the risk that animals of both sexes will contract contagious diseases. And why not take an animal CPR class to make sure that you'll be ready in case of an animal health emergency?

  4.      Looking Good

Dogs need regular brushing to keep their coats clean and to prevent matting. Avoid giving them too many baths, though. Dogs need to retain the oil in their coat to keep it healthy, and if your dog has a chronic "doggie odor," that usually means that a change in diet is called for.

  5.      Tiny Chip = Safe Animal

Tags are a great way to I.D. your dog or cat, but they can fall off or be removed. However, a microchip is permanent, as evidenced by the recent story of a woman who was reunited—thanks to a microchip—with the dog who had been stolen from her seven years earlier. 

Hannah and I have found our favorite activity: enjoying the sun and surf at the beach.

  6.      Play Ball!

While health care is important, what our animals appreciate most is quality time—playing fetch, taking a walk, chasing a piece of string, or having a cuddle session. You and your dog could even enroll in a fun, rewards-based agility class. Our animals depend on us for their exercise and enrichment. By trying out various activities and toys, even simple items like balled-up paper or an empty paper towel roll, we can discover what our animal companions really enjoy and have a lot of fun in the process.

Greg Cook and his dog, Coco, became Internet sensations when the pictures of their emotional reunion following this month's Category 5 tornado spread like wildfire across Facebook and Twitter. Greg wasn't home when the twister hit in Limestone County, Alabama, and as he made his way through his neighborhood, which the storm had destroyed, he feared he would never see Coco again. When Greg spotted his leveled home among the wreckage, the chances that Coco had survived looked even bleaker.

A Miracle

Greg crawled through a window of what used to be his home and was wading through the piles of debris when he spotted Coco—soaking wet, shaking, and terrified but alive. Greg's emotion at that moment is evident as he tells his story in a video that he shot for PETA to urge guardians to make sure that their animals will be protected in case of a disaster.

Don't Leave It to Chance

Greg and Coco were fortunate—but many other animals and their guardians have not escaped disasters unscathed. Greg encourages all animal guardians to prepare for natural disasters in advance. Here are some top tips:

• Make sure that animals are wearing a collar or harness with current ID tags.
• Get animals microchipped and keep your information current with the microchip company.
• Keep current photos of animals in your wallet or purse to help rescue teams identify them.
• Keep current medical records—along with phone numbers for the animals' veterinarian and local boarding facilities—in an easily accessible place.
• Make an emergency evacuation kit that contains leashes, medicine, water, food, litter, and phone numbers of hotels that welcome animals.

It sounds like the plot of a Disney movie, but this video of a pig and dog who are best buds would warm even Walt's cryogenically frozen heart.

"Don't mind me." After committing the most adorable case of breaking and entering ever, a baby seal curled up on a New Zealand woman's couch for a nap.

Can you do a good "fish face"? These people are spot-on. … Or are the fish doing a spot-on "human face"?

Would you like an awkward conversation about the facts of life with that? A 7-year-old girl and her mother allegedly discovered a condom in the child's McDonald's Happy Meal. 

Talk about a return on your investment: Eight years after she went missing, a dog is going home to her family, thanks to a tiny, inexpensive microchip.

And a chicken named Liberty, dubbed Britain's "last battery hen" is headed home too. She will enjoy retirement on a farm with other hens who were formerly confined to battery cages as the U.K.'s ban on the cruel confinement system goes into effect for the new year.

A great adoption idea, great whites, and a really great kid—they're all in your piping-hot Monday edition of Internet Soup.
 

• A family of geese gets an official police escort. No fowl play was suspected.
• As Buster found out from his incredible journey, you can go home again—as long as you're microchipped.
• They say people and their dogs grow to look alike, but what if they start off that way? The new Doggelganger software helps people find their canine soul mates.
• Do great whites prefer Great White?
• Lady looks like a dude when fish are the victims of pollution from factory-farm runoff.
• Looks can be deceiving—consider this delicious vegan cupcake disguised as a burger.
• An armed, kitten-abusing bully is no match for a brave little boy. 
   

Written by Michelle Sherrow