Good Animal News

Celebrating positive news about animals making a difference for people — and people making a difference for animals

From left to right: a poison dart frog, a pika, a dumbo flapjack octopus

Scientists discovered thousands of new species in 2025. See 9 that wowed them, from the 'curiously isolated' butterfly to the screaming pika

From a butterfly shaped by 40,000 years of isolation to creatures 1,400 feet below the sea, scientists uncovered thousands of new species in 2025 — and these nine discoveries stood out amongst the rest.

A lake covered by snowy mountains and trees

Researchers find and map 'climate change safe havens' that are more resilient to warming: 'We can buy crucial decades'

The study of climate change refugia — places that are buffered from the worst effects of global warming — has grown rapidly in recent years.

Two photos side by side. On the left, a tan dog plays tug with a plush toy outdoors. On the right, a screenshot of a "Chewy Claus" letter

Donate a pound of food to shelter animals just by writing a letter to Chewy Claus (aka the Santa for pets)

You only have until Christmas Eve to get your letters sent to Chewy Claus!

A dog's paw is held at the vet as a person with gloves checks their vitals.

Only 200 people in the US are certified as a 'veterinary social worker.' Here's why their work's essential

As pet loss takes a serious emotional toll on millions of Americans, a growing field of veterinary social workers is emerging.

Scientists are building a 'Noah's ark' of animal cells on the moon

Smithsonian scientists are working on a lunar vault that will cryopreserve animal cells from Earth’s most endangered species.

An African elephant pours dirt over its head

Elephants are saving African forests — by trampling through them

Although the behavior may appear destructive, it is anything but.

A photo collage of 2 bikers biking on a bicycle lane, a statue of Barbara Rose Johns holding up a book, hero Ahmed el Ahmed in his hospital bed, an aerial view of apartment buildings, and a line of solar panels

Good News This Week: December 20, 2025 - Puppets, Raccoons, & Grandmas

Your weekly roundup of the best good news worth celebrating...

An Australian cave with sunlight leaking in

Scientists discover 'ghost' marsupial species in Australia. It's related to the kangaroo

An exciting fossil discovery unearthed a new species of kangaroo relative in an Australian cave system.

A group of 19 Buddhist monks in orange robes walk barefoot along a road in the United States, a dog at their side

Buddhist monks (and their rescue dog) meet with Americans on 2,300-mile trek across the country

The Peace Walk began in Fort Worth, Texas, and will end in Washington, D.C. Along the way, the monks are meeting with and being cared for by local communities.

Two raccoons approach the camera in a closeup, with the one of the left sticking its tongue out

USDA airdrops vaccine treats to wild raccoons in annual effort to prevent rabies

In August, the USDA continued its yearly duty: giving hungry raccoons vaccines in the form of tasty treats.

An Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin swims in a close-up photo

South Korea seeks to protect threatened pod of dolphins by giving them the same legal rights as humans

For a pod of 120 dolphins off the coast of Jeju Island, the measure could be lifesaving.

Two photos side-by-side. On the left is an elderly woman snuggling a small, elderly dog. On the right are two senior dogs sitting in a bed together

At this 'cuddle club,' senior dogs and senior citizens find companionship in each other

San Francisco’s Muttville Senior Dog Rescue hosts monthly meetups for elderly community members — both human and canine.