Sonia Zjawinski

How much is that puppy in the window? It's not for sale.

Those worried about the number of designer dogs ending up at California shelters will be heartened by the news that the West Hollywood City Council is moving closer to approving a ban on certain kinds of pet sales. According to DVM Newsmagazine, the city council members approved upon "first reading" an ordinance proposed by council member Jeffrey Prang that prohibits the sale of dogs and cats within pet stores. The ordinance must undergo a second reading next week and, if approved, will take effect in March.

The discussion was ignited after an investigation of a West Hollywood pet store, Elite Animals, uncovered evidence that the owner was not only allegedly selling puppy mill dogs, but also illegally importing animals for resale.

The ordinance, which can be downloaded from the West Hollywood City Council agenda is full of troubling facts and statistics related to the sales of dogs and cats. One startling detail: "A review of state and USDA inspection reports from more than 100 breeders who sold animals to the nation's largest retail pet store chain revealed that more than 60 percent of the inspections found serious violations of basic animal care standards, including sick or dead animals in their cages, lack of proper veterinary care, inadequate shelter from weather conditions, and dirty, unkempt cages that were too small."

Carole Davis of the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) told WeHo News that the "Companion Animal Protection Society assisted the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the City of West Hollywood in drafting the ordinance, as well as providing evidence." The ordinance rules that pet stores who currently sell cats and dogs have until Sep. 17, 2010 to "sell, offer for adoption, barter, auction, giveaway or otherwise transfer cats and dogs". The ordinance doesn't affect shelters or rescue organizations that often ask for an adoption fee when finding homes for their animals. It also doesn't affect actual breeders who sell or adopt out their litters on their own.

If there's one thing that can sour a vacation, it's thinking about your furry friend caged up in boarding while you're laid out on the beach. In the past, it was hard to find a pet-friendly hotel, but these days it's hard not to find accommodations that welcome pets. According to an American Hotel & Lodging Association survey of 8,000 hotels in the U.S., 60 percent welcome pets. Here's a roundup of ten of the most easily found pet-friendly hotels in America.

Best Western: With more than 1,000 hotels nationwide that accept pets as overnight guests, you'll have no problem housing Fido at your next destination. Each has its own pet fee, ranging anywhere from free to $50 a night. Check with individual locations to find out what their fee is and if they have any size restrictions.

Choice Hotels: 2,500 accommodations within the Choice family, which includes Comfort Inn and EconoLodge, allow pets in their rooms. Since each hotel is individually owned, make sure to visit Choice's website for pet-friendly franchises.

Kimpton Hotels: For those with large dogs, this series of boutique hotels in 16 U.S. cities has no size or weight limits, plus there aren't any extra fees for bringing your pet with you. Some Kimpton properties host special events like pet costume parties and meet-and-greet cocktail hours. All hotels offer dog walking services and chew toys, and if you don't have a pet, they'll loan you a goldfish for your stay (housekeeping makes sure your new friend is well fed).

Hilton: Felines and canines are welcome at most Hilton Hotels & Resorts throughout the U.S. and Canada for a flat fee of $75. Only one pet is allowed per room and it must be under 75 lbs. At check-in, your four-legged friend will receive a Creature Comfort welcome package that includes organic treats and bio-degradable poop bags, and once in your room, your pet can cat nap on a Crypton Clean Pet Pillow designed by William Wegman. Concierge desks have lists of local pet-friendly activities including walking trails.

Bodega owners and barn hands have known for years that, even in this day and age, the best way to get rid of mice isn't with a trap or poison, but with a cat. This month, Cat Fancy celebrates its 45th year by rounding up 45 of the most trusted rodent hunters within the states' libraries.

Nope, Dewey isn't the only library cat out there. Turns out tons of public collections are guarded by dedicated felines. Mice tend to love gnawing on priceless collections, so librarians have turned to novelists' best friend to rid them of the problem. It only makes sense that a space that holds the collections of cat lovers like T.S. Elliot and Ernest Hemingway would have a feline security guard. You can check out the full list of cats in this month's Cat Fancy. Is there one in a library or book store near you? Go for a visit and tell us about it!

Dog is man's and boy's best friend.

CBC News reports that on Saturday night, 11-year-old Austin Forman was gathering firewood in his Boston Bar, B.C. backyard when his 18-month-old golden retriever ran towards him, jumping over a lawn mower and right into the path of a charging cougar.

"I knew at that moment that I would have to go get help, otherwise [Angel] wouldn't have any hope," Austin told CBC News.

Austin ran into the house, where he and his mother called 911. When Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrived at the scene, they found Angel under the back porch with the cougar's jaws gripped around her neck. Constable Chad Gravelle shot two rounds into the cougar's rear end, but it continued to attack Angel. Gravelle then got closer to the cougar and shot again, instantly killing the cougar, who still had Angel's face clenched within its jaws, CTV.ca reports.

"I feel very, very lucky. If it wasn't for my dog, I don't think I would be here," Austin told CBC News.

The dog came out of the ordeal with some extensive injuries, including a fractured skull, according to NBC's "Today." She has undergone surgery to repair the damage, and her vets hope for a full recovery.

"She was my best friend, but now she's more than a best friend," Austin told CBC News. "She's like my guardian now."

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We all know about Faith, the two-legged dog who walks on her hind legs, but did you know there's a cat that also likes to play bipedal? Beibei, a kitty living in Singapore, has a tendency to check out his surroundings as meerkats do. Jimmy Leo, the 4-year-old feline's owner, first noticed his cat's tendency to stand on its hindquarters when it was a kitten. "He does it with consummate ease," he tells Paw Nation.

"I initially brushed it off but when he stood longer for some time, especially when eying lizards on the ceiling or high wall, I started to laugh and wonder," Leo continues.

Beibei is a Munchkin breed, a relatively new type of cat. These kitties have regular bodies, but abnormally short legs due to a genetic mutation that causes hypochondroplasia. Munchkin cats tend to stand on their hind legs, though it's not clear why. Possibly to get a better vantage point since they are so low to the ground? "I'm not sure if Beibei is breaking records amongst other Munchkins," Leo tells Paw Nation. "I have friends all over the world telling me theirs do not stand up as frequently or with such unimaginable durations."