IJR News

Churches Plan Animal Blessings for St. Francis Feast — 3dChurches are holding Blessing of the Animals services around the Feast of St. Francis, inviting pets and, in some cases, photos or stuffed animals to receive a blessing. The services celebrate the bond between people and animals; at one Portland event, a husky joined the priest’s singing and delighted the crowd.

UC Davis Study Finds Three-Minute Equine Interactions Ease Teen Distress — Sep 15, 2026A UC Davis study finds that spending just three minutes with miniature horses and donkeys can quickly improve teens’ mood, reducing loneliness, sadness, and anxiety, with stronger effects when teens notice the animals’ body-language cues and even when the animals walk away. The research emphasizes a two-way interaction, arguing that animals’ active participation helps shape the human benefits and should guide the design of animal-assisted interventions.

Blizzard Announces Animated Diablo Netflix Series, Teases More — Sep 12, 2026Blizzard announced at BlizzCon 2026 that an animated Diablo series is in development for Netflix, with hints that Overwatch and Warcraft adaptations may follow. President Johanna Faries says this is just the beginning and that more projects are being discussed, though no release dates have been disclosed yet.

Sam Okafor Blizzard's recent games have been mixed so I'm not holding my breath for these adaptations yet.

Deer Entanglements Prompt Ohio Rescue, New Jersey AppealEnvironment — Sep 20, 2026Communities in New Jersey and Ohio are dealing with deer tangled in debris and hammocks, prompting calls to wildlife professionals and swift rescues by authorities. A first‑of‑its‑kind hammock rescue in North Canton highlights how responders are sawing or cutting away entanglements to release the animals safely.

She Threw Her Cat a Quinceañera, and It Saved an Animal ShelterGood News — Sep 8, 2026

Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Mint Unveils 2027 Working Dog Coin Designs — 6dThe U.S. Mint unveiled the 2027 Working Dogs Commemorative Coin designs in a White House ceremony, featuring three coins that honor therapy dogs, guide/service dogs, and military/police K-9s, with proceeds supporting America’s VetDogs. Authorized by the Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act of 2024, the program is slated to go on sale in 2027 at distinct prices for each denomination, celebrated by VetDogs and the Guide Dog Foundation for its support of service animals and their handlers.

Aging chimps once used in vaccine research now get full health checkups in Liberia — Sep 5, 2026A group of chimpanzees once used in hepatitis B vaccine experiments in Liberia are undergoing comprehensive health checks at the Humane World for Animals’ Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge, as part of long-term care to ensure their wellbeing in old age. The more than 400 animals, now aged about 30 to 35, were part of research from the 1970s to the early 2000s, and the sanctuary has assumed permanent responsibility since 2015 to monitor their health and safety while they live on mangrove islands.

Elena Vasquez These animals gave a lot to science whether they consented or not. Least we can do is make sure they're comfortable now.

Cape Town Plans Permanent Confinement for 60 Baboons — Sep 17, 2026Cape Town officials propose relocating about 60 chacma baboons to an Urban Wildlife Centre as an alternative to culling, arguing that urban encroachment has worsened human-wildlife conflicts and welfare concerns; the plan has triggered fierce protests from conservationists and residents who say wild baboons should roam free. Debates over how to manage baboons—relocation, culling, or coexistence—center on how to balance public safety, animal welfare, and the pressures of urban expansion, with calls to secure properties and reduce attractants as part of coexistence strategies.

Memphis groomer charged after four dogs die; 36 seized from Florida man — Sep 9, 2026Two separate animal-cruelty cases emerged: in Memphis, groomer Keaton Stuckey is charged with four counts of aggravated cruelty after four dogs died from heat stroke while in his care, with necropsies confirming heat exhaustion and no veterinary care provided; in Melrose, 67-year-old Mark Plosila had 36 husky-mixed dogs seized after months of neighbor complaints, resulting in the euthanization of 15 dogs and criminal charges alongside a civil order that previously restricted the number of dogs he could possess. The cases highlight ongoing enforcement actions against suspected animal neglect and the complexities of civil and criminal proceedings in multi-dog welfare disputes.

Rachel Meyers Neighbors warned for months about the overcrowding but nothing changed until 15 dogs had to be euthanized.

Pluto TV Expands Anime Lineup With Two ChannelsEntertainment — Sep 3, 2026Pluto TV is expanding its free FAST service with two new anime-focused channels, English-dub premieres like One-Punch Man and Kenichi, and a broader catalog of films and series, plus live events and 250-plus new titles to boost appeal to younger viewers. The platform is also launching a Narcos 24/7 channel to present all seasons in a continuous stream, reinforcing its strategy of theme-based channels to attract niche audiences.

Boa Constrictor Wins Met Opera Snake Auditions — Sep 5, 2026Snakes auditioned at the Metropolitan Opera for Così fan tutte; a boa constrictor named Princess won the role with understudy Nala, chosen by performer Zoe Ziegfeld who handles the snake on stage. The production is staged as a 1950s Coney Island carnival with animal talent expert Nancy Novograd supplying the snakes for the auditions.

Rachel Meyers Zoe Ziegfeld has got one of the more unusual job descriptions on Broadway, handling a boa constrictor for a Coney Island carnival scene.

Jim Carrey vs Adam SandlerYourlist — VS BattleRubber-faced mania versus deadpan slob comedy — two 90s comedy titans, two entirely different engines.

Texas Deputy Startled as 'Dead' Deer Bolts — Sep 3, 2026A Trinity County, Texas deputy mistook a motionless deer for dead, only for the animal to spring upright and dash into the woods, prompting a loud, viral scream and laughter from the deputy and colleagues. Wildlife experts note this can happen due to tonic immobility, a freeze response that makes injured or stunned deer appear dead before reviving.

Sam Okafor Tonic immobility is real, saw it happen with a rabbit once, scared the daylights out of me too.

Rock History Highlights Dylan, Yes, Fleetwood Mac — Sep 9, 2026The Animals’ House of the Rising Sun became a landmark hit with a male perspective and enduring influence, while Collider’s list spotlights Yes’s near-19-minute Close to the Edge as a benchmark for rock epics, alongside other extended classics. Bob Dylan’s Love and Theft received top critical praise after its 2001 release, Lindsey Buckingham’s Tusk is highlighted as a Fleetwood Mac milestone, and a 2025 piece notes artists who covered Dylan and their deaths, underscoring Dylan’s lasting footprint across generations.

First U.S. Horse Screwworm Case Confirmed in Texas — Sep 9, 2026The United States has confirmed its first equine case of New World screwworm in Presidio County, Texas near the Mexican border, triggering movement restrictions for warm-blooded animals and rapid containment measures including sterile fly release to curb a 2026 outbreak that has also affected cattle and dogs. Officials emphasize vigilant wound care and biosecurity for horse and dog owners and call for prompt veterinary reporting to prevent spread and potential economic damage to Texas agriculture and wildlife.

Lake Tahoe otter attack leaves swimmer with dozens of stitches, animal still at large — Aug 31, 2026A Reno swim instructor, Lynnette Bellin, was attacked by a river otter during a Lake Tahoe open-water swim near Hidden Beach and the East Shore, suffering 38 stitches and requiring rabies treatment. Officials noted a growing otter population in the region and urged beachgoers to exercise caution as authorities continued to respond to the incident.

Nicole Hardy Rabies treatment on top of the stitches, poor woman. Otters can be aggressive when territorial, people forget that.

Can you read data — or just vibes?Quizie — QuizFifteen questions on charts, stats, and the tricks numbers play. The rank tells everyone whether to trust your slides.

Russia and North Korea open first road bridge over Tumen River — Sep 7, 2026Russia and North Korea opened the first border bridge while Moscow ordered the closure of the German consulate and cultural centers, and Tanzania announced the death of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s husband. Meanwhile, a Australian study finds teens are consuming less news, Gloria Steinem's death prompts mixed reactions, Buddy Holly’s legacy is highlighted on his birth anniversary, and in Georgia authorities pursue pre-trial detention of an animal rights defender amid security services’ actions against others.

Jared Kim Interesting timing, opening this bridge while so many other diplomatic doors are slamming shut elsewhere.

Pokémon unveils first new film in seven years, plus Disney+ deal — Aug 31, 2026The Pokémon Company announced Pokemon: Wild Card, a full-length animated feature based on the Trading Card Game, starring a TCG player and Mimikyu, with a worldwide release slated for 2027—the franchise’s first new film in seven years. The reveal came at the 2026 World Championships closing ceremony, accompanied by a teaser trailer and emphasis on the competitive TCG narrative, as celebrations marked the 30th anniversary.

EU suspends Brazilian meat imports pending animal-health audit results — Aug 31, 2026The EU has suspended imports of Brazilian meat and related products for failing to prove compliance with its antibiotic and safety standards, with audits underway to determine whether the ban will be extended or lifted. The move, part of pressure on Brazil under the EU-Mercosur framework, comes as the country remains a major supplier and amid parallel safety concerns referenced in the UK and US contexts, including a Trump tariff waiver that opens U.S. beef markets and renewed calls for a UK-wide ban.

Dana Whitfield Funny how the US waives tariffs for Brazilian beef while the EU pumps the brakes over antibiotics. Whose standards are we trusting here?

Four classic rock albums and songs mark chart-topping anniversaries — Sep 4, 2026The pieces collectively highlight pivotal moments in rock history: the Allman Brothers Band’s Brothers and Sisters topped the charts in 1973 after traumatic losses reshaped their sound, while Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Cosmo’s Factory dominated in 1970 with a diverse, hit-filled run. The commemorations also touch on Freddie Mercury’s birthday, Aerosmith’s only Hot 100 No. 1 with I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing, The Animals’ rising hit The House of the Rising Sun in 1964, Stevie Nicks’ solo Bella Donna era, and a notable 25-years-ago heavy-metal album release.