ANIMALS

The Eastern States Exposition purchased two prize-winning steers at the 4-H Beef Auction at the Big E this past September.

The bills are seeking to ban the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in Massachusetts pet shops. The proposals went before a legislative panel on Beacon Hill Wednesday.

We head over to Dakin Humane Society's Animal Shelter in Springfield to PET ALL THE THINGS...ahem... Find out about their new director and expanded offerings, and Mr. Universe, Hampshire College professor Salman Hameed, extols the virtues of the new Scorsese movie and tells how the discovery of ronin planets could mean much more in our search for new heavenly bodies.

Jerry Marchand of Westhampton, Massachusetts, set a record at the Dakin Humane Society.

The law, which is scheduled to take effect Thursday, requires pigs on farms be provided enough room to turn around and lie down.

After the board of an animal shelter in Pittsfield announced it was closing because of insufficient funding, the manager raised more then $37K on a GoFundMe to save it. The board said it will still close the shelter, but the manager, with the board's blessing, plans to open a new shelter.

Animal rights activists are urging state Attorney General Andrea Campbell to put the law into effect now.

Looking to better understand one of the most feared marine animals, The Shark Trust designated July 14 as Shark Awareness Day. It's also the day a UMass Amherst biologist released to the public several interactive 3D models of shark species.

The Center for New Americans brings recent immigrants to the stage at The Shea Theater, CISA connects us with Hilltown Mobile Market organizer Hunt Chase, and we watch the skies with local ornithologist David Sibley, and Candice Bradbury, the librarian bringing him to Treehouse Brewing for a fundraiser.

The court let stand a California law, which says that pork sold in the state must come from pigs with a certain amount of living space. A similar law in Massachusetts has been on hold pending the Supreme Court's decision.