A chihuahua yapped incessantly in a nearby cage while the black pot-bellied pig looked on. He seemed to sigh at the drama and flopped over on his side, snorting softly under his breath. But the pig­—who has been calling the Cobb County animal shelter home since Sunday—need not snub his snout at others. Last week the wayward pig was at the center of an unsuccessful four-day swine hunt. The pig, named Ken by animal control staff (Barbie was another pig at the shelter recently) was first spotted during rush hour Jan. 27 along I-75 near Chastain Road. Animal control officers went in search of Ken…

Some dogs have all the luck. Although we can’t prove it, we think that may have been what crossed the mind of Brutus as he sat in cage 853 watching another dog walk out the door of the Cobb County Animal Control shelter on the way to a new home this afternoon. Brutus has been in the shelter since he was found as a stray during the first week of November. Despite his formidable name, he has a sweet disposition and warms up to people right away, showing off a big smile when anyone walks up to his cage. Unlike many of the other dogs, Brutus doesn’t bark to get attention. He simply wags his tail …

If the old saying is true that one human year equals seven dog years, then Banjo is well into his golden years. The 9-year-old Labrador Retriever mix was dropped off by his lifetime owner at the Cobb County Animal Control shelter on Jan. 5. Although many who come into the shelter go straight for the puppies, operations manager Tom Flynn says dogs like Banjo are ideal additions to a new home. “You already know what the dog will be like, and what you are getting,” he explains. In the case of Banjo, you are getting a sweet pooch, who despite a graying face, still has plenty of energy. He dances …

In the last few days, the “snowpocalypse” has brought a number of changes to Cobb County. But, at least one thing reminds the same: there are still dozens of animals waiting for a warm home at the Cobb County Animal Control shelter. We met two of the lovable pets during a recent visit. Dog of the Week UPDATE: This dog has been adopted! The Chihuahua in cage 309 has probably seen her fair number of storms in the past six years. The most recent: she was picked up as a stray on Dec 12 and has spent the last month in the shelter. She has a short tri-color coat and weighs about 16 pounds. She is …

At the Cobb County Animal Control shelter, few of the pets have names. The big white cat in cage 650 is no exception, but there is something that makes him distinct. A post-it note on his cage says, "Please put lock back on at night. Cat escapes." Although he had a habit of escaping his cage, he hasn't been able to escape the shelter. He was brought in the week before Christmas. Besides being clever with a lock, he is a calm kitty with bright eyes and a loud purr. He would be happy in a home where he can take naps often and receive frequent chin rubs.  The next room over, a 5-month-old Basset…

Dog of the Week Trooper is a handsome 2-year-old Welsh Corgi Shar-Pei mix who has been waiting for a new home at the Cobb County Animal Control shelter since Oct. 13. While he isn't always fond of other dogs, he is sweet and loving towards people. One of Trooper's most charming qualities is that he adapts to the mood of people quickly. One moment he can be ready for a rough-and-tumble game of tug of war, and the next, he will sit quietly and lick your hand or rest his paws on your leg and reach up to give a gentle kiss. Despite his sweet disposition, Trooper is strong for his size and would …