As football fans get ready for Sunday’s ginormous meeting between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, many millions of TV viewers will be watching Animal Planet for one of the cutest counter-programming moves in television history – Puppy Bowl XIII.

BANGOR - Taking a proactive approach to the greater Bangor area’s animal overpopulation problem and finding new ways to connect homeless animals with caring adopters are just two ways that the Bangor Humane Society continues to fulfill their mission, according to Stacey Coventry, Director of Development and Public Relations.

BANGOR - I met my match eight years ago and it's all because of the Bangor Humane Society.

Fido and Spot may not have to cower under the bed this summer when fireworks and thunderstorms hit, thanks to the first prescription veterinary medicine for treating anxiety over loud noises a widespread problem that causes property destruction, terrified dogs running away and even life-threatening injuries or euthanasia for some.

NEW YORK Little Simba couldn't wait to check it out.

Dogs are social animals and actively seek out our companionship. They can quickly become accustomed to being part of a group 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whenever a new dog is brought into a home, especially a young, playful puppy, people have a tendency to interact with them constantly. While this interaction is a very important part of socialization and bonding, you need to make sure that you are not setting your puppy up for a big disappointment when you must leave him at home alone. Including some 'alone training' right from the beginning will be beneficial to both your puppy and you.

Animals get second chance thanks to Bangor Humane Society's foster homes

BANGOR - There are more foster homes in the state of Maine than you think. That's because when many people imagine foster parenting, they immediately think of caring for a child, minor or ward of the state. But there is actually a large group of people out there that are foster parents to another group of children in need - fur babies. The Bangor Humane Society relies on these foster "pet" parents to care for the cats and dogs that come through its doors that aren't quite ready to be placed in forever homes.

HERMON - More and more family portraits these days are including the family pet, and no one knows that better than Debra Bell of Bell Imaging & Design in Hermon. She's been capturing the loving relationship between parents, their children and their fur babies for years. So much so, in fact, she's created a separate division of Bell Imaging and Design solely dedicated to pet portraits called Bell's Furry Friends Photography.

"Sixty percent of my business over the last year has been animal related, and some of that I think is due to the fact that I have such a passion for what I do," said Bell. 

Why is it trouble always seems to find us in threes? Is there some universal law of the cosmos that dictates tragedy should strike in triplicate? I'm quite certain Mother Earth has a good chuckle at our expense every now and again. Why am I so certain? Defense Exhibit A: last night. 

Now before you think some terrible fate has befallen me, the tale I have to tell is no worse than a sick kid, a cat's butt and a dog's ear. Hard to believe these three things have anything in common, but Fortune is a fickle-hearted fool, isn't she?

MAINE - The Humane Society of the United States urges pet owners to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of their companion animals during the winter storm forecast throughout Maine this week.

"Animals rely solely on their human caregivers for safety and comfort especially during the winter months," said KC Theisen, director of pet care issues for The HSUS. "Our pets are particularly vulnerable during this frigid season, and with just a few extra precautions you can help make sure that they stay safe and healthy."