Posted Feb 3rd 2010 12:20AM by TMZ Staff
Something was rotten in the state of Arizona ... and it was the carcasses of two dead giraffes previously owned by Michael Jackson.
TMZ has learned the bodies of Rambo and JJ were at the center of a raging conflict in Page, Arizona because locals complained that the bodies stunk up the town.
As we previously reported, the animals died last November and last month respectively and were buried on the Banjoko Wildlife Preserve where they had lived since 2006.
But after several complaints were lodged with the City of Page, the preserve's founder Freddie Hancock was ordered to dig up the carcasses from their burial plots and relocate them somewhere else.
In addition to moving the dead giraffes, the city also ordered Hancock to move MJ's two other live giraffes -- Princess and Annie Sue -- off the property for good.
Hancock tells TMZ the dead giraffes were reburied in a private, undisclosed location outside of the preserve last Thursday. As for the two living giraffes, Hancock won't tell us where they moved them -- but she did say they're no longer in Arizona.
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Critters, Exclusives
Tags: arizona, banjoko wildlife preserve, BanjokoWildlifePreserve, giraffes, michael jackson, MichaelJackson
Posted Feb 1st 2010 6:54AM by TMZ Staff
If you like watching famous people eat it -- then you'll get a kick out of Prince Harry taking a nasty fall during a polo match this weekend.
The event was for charity, so don't enjoy it too much.
Filed under: Paparazzi Photo, Critters, Nurse!
Tags: fall, horse, polo, prince harry, PrinceHarry
Posted Jan 31st 2010 7:40PM by TMZ Staff
Jesse James really, really, really, really, really wants to find his missing dog -- and he's willing to dig deep in his pockets to do so.
James just tweeted that he's upping the reward for Cinnabun to an even $5,000.
The dog went missing last Monday in Long Beach.
Filed under: Critters
Tags: 000, 5, cinnabun, jesse james, JesseJames, missing dog, MissingDog, twitter
Posted Jan 28th 2010 4:24PM by TMZ Staff
Jesse James has unleashed the professionals for an assist in the search for his missing dog Cinnabun.
We're told Jesse has hooked up with the same dog search service that tried in vain to find Jessica Simpson's pooch after it was snatched up by a coyote last year -- FindToto.com.
The company will power dial everyone around the West Coast Choppers compound in Long Beach, CA -- where Cinnabun went missing Monday.
According to the automated message, 9-month-old Cinnabun was spotted yesterday roaming around the K-9 Corner dog park in Long Beach ... but she's still on the loose.
Jesse is also offering a $2,000 reward for Cinnabun's safe return.
UPDATE: Cinnabun was spotted nearly two hours ago "near the 405 fwy and Seal Beach Blvd," this according to FindToto! Getting closer!
UPDATE #2: More motivation to find the dog -- one of Jesse's friends, a model for West Coast Choppers named Kimmie Caracoles, is promising to go out on a date with anyone who finds Cinnabun ... adding, "I'll probably let you touch my boob."
Here is a photo of Kimmie so you know what's on the table.
Get out there and find that dog!!!!!
Filed under: Critters, Exclusives
Tags: cinnabun, jesse james, JesseJames, missing pets, MissingPets, pit bull, PitBull
Posted Jan 27th 2010 5:13AM by TMZ Staff
Christina Milian's 81-year-old neighbor claims he was mauled by one of her dogs back in 2008 -- and now the man wants Christina to pay for the canine's alleged brutality.
Leo Skolion filed a lawsuit against Christina and family earlier this month in L.A. County Superior Court, claiming the family's negligence lead to the attack that left him with "severe personal injuries."
Leo tells TMZ it all started in October of '08, when Christina's home had "flooding problems" which caused a gate between their properties to become damaged.
Leo says he went over to speak to the family about repairing the gate when one of their dogs escaped ... then attacked him from behind and bit "a huge chunk" out of the back of his arm.
The 81-year-old claims it took 19 stitches and 9 months of rehabilitation to get back to normal -- and that he still has to receive psychiatric help for fear and depression.
Leo is suing Christina -- real name Christine Flores -- her mother Carmen and her sister Danielle for an undetermined amount.
Calls to Christina's camp have not been returned.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Critters, Exclusives
Tags: attack, christina milian, ChristinaMilian, dog, lawsuit, sued
Posted Jan 26th 2010 12:40PM by TMZ Staff
Jesse James is in the middle of an all out doghunt in Long Beach, California right now -- after his adorable four-legged friend Cinnabun suddenly went missing.
James -- who's married to Sandra Bullock -- posted an alert on his Twitter page, begging anyone who may come across the "Fawn Pit Bull" to return her to Jesse's West Coast Choppers bike shop.
We're told the dog was last seen wearing a pink collar ... so keep your eyes peeled Long Beach!
Filed under: Critters, Exclusives
Tags: cinnabun, jesse james, JesseJames, missing dog, MissingDog, pit bull, PitBull, sandra bullock, SandraBullock
Posted Jan 22nd 2010 2:40PM by TMZ Staff
Conan O'Brien is a total fraud -- and so is the horse he rode in on.
On last night's show, Conan claimed he blew $4.8 million dollars on a gag in which he trotted out Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird -- problem is, Conan's horse wasn't the REAL Derby winning horse ... of course, of course.
TMZ spoke with Mine That Bird's trainer, Chip Woolley, who told us, "That was not the real Mine that Bird last night, it was an imposter."
Woolley added, "The real Mine That Bird is up at the ranch in New Mexico resting up before he gets back to racing in the summer."
One thing is definitely real -- NBC really will seriously have to pay up after Conan played a long clip of a Rolling Stones song in a similar attempt to blow NBC's budget.
Filed under: TV, Critters, Exclusives, Conan O'Brien
Tags: conan obrien, ConanObrien, horse, mine that bird, MineThatBird, nbc
Posted Jan 22nd 2010 3:03AM by TMZ Staff
Linda Blair's kennel is under criminal investigation after one of her dogs escaped this weekend and attacked a pig ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.
We're told L.A County Animal Care and Control launched the investigation after the dog escaped, went to a nearby ranch and attacked Gerty the pet pig. The pig suffered minor injuries ... the rancher shot the dog dead.
As for what kind of dog -- it depends who you ask. Linda says it was a lab/hound mix. The rancher says it was a pit bull.
Linda offered to pay the rancher for the pig's medical bills -- and said the dog's death is "devastating."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Critters, Exclusives
Tags: dog, l.a. county animal care and control, L.a.CountyAnimalCareAndControl, linda blair, LindaBlair, pig
Posted Jan 21st 2010 3:00AM by TMZ Staff
Because there just aren't enough reasons to hate Michael Lohan already, here's one more for you: See that adorable puppy below? LiLo's dad completely abandoned it.
The Last Chance Animal Rescue Fund tells TMZ Michael (right) adopted a dog named Abbey (left) around Christmas for GF Kate Major -- but after the cute, cuddly critter tore up their place, they called in to complain.
We're told Michael eventually dropped the dog off at the vet for heart worm treatment ... and never came back.
The pup was eventually given the "Abandoned" stamp after 10 days at the vet and was returned to LCARF, where it was adopted by another family.
When you think about it ... that dog really dodged a bullet.
UPDATE: Kate Major tells TMZ, "We rescued the dog and the dog had a lot more problems and they did not make us aware of the issues. The dog destroyed the house ... the shelter told us they had someone else to adopt. It's pathetic that someone needs to use press to get their rescue shelter in the news."
Filed under: Lindsay Lohan, Critters, Exclusives
Tags: abandoned, abbey, dog, kate major, KateMajor, last chance animal rescue fund, LastChanceAnimalRescueFund, lcarf, michael lohan, MichaelLohan
Posted Jan 20th 2010 2:11AM by TMZ Staff
"Exorcist" star Linda Blair is smack in the middle of a deadly situation -- after a neighbor gunned down a dog that escaped from Linda's animal shelter and attacked the neighbor's pet pig.
The drama unfolded Sunday afternoon. Cops confirm the dog -- which Linda described as a lab/hound mix -- escaped from her WorldHeart Foundation in Los Angeles and ran over to a nearby ranch.
The ranch owners claim they saw the dog put a "death grip" on their miniature potbellied pig named Gerty.
The ranch owners claim they grabbed a gun and fired some warning shots in an attempt to scare the dog -- but the dog didn't loosen its grip. That's when they decided they had to shoot the dog.
According to the ranch owners, they fired off 5 shots before the dog released the pig from its jaws. The dog ultimately died as a result. Gerty the pig suffered puncture wounds -- but is expected to make a full recovery.
Police investigated the situation -- and decided criminal charges will not be filed against the pig's protectors in connection with the shooting.
UPDATE: Linda released a statement about the incident ... click through to read it.
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: Critters, Exclusives
Tags: exorcist, linda blair, LindaBlair, pig, pit bull, PitBull, shotgun
Posted Jan 13th 2010 7:30AM by TMZ Staff
The owners of two celebrity giraffes -- which once belonged to Michael Jackson and roamed freely in Neverland -- are crying "foul play" after the animals mysteriously died.
PETA sounded alarms this morning when news broke of the giraffes deaths, pointing fingers at the Banjoko Wildlife Preserve in Page, Arizona -- where the giraffes had been living since 2006 -- claiming the preserve was responsible for the deaths due to "improper feeding and/or exposure to cold temperatures."
TMZ spoke with the Banjoko Preserve founder, Freddie Hancock, and she tells us -- "We suspect foul play with the giraffes. There is no other explanation for their deaths. There is currently a police investigation going on. Someone has hurt these giraffes, they were healthy."
A necropsy is currently underway to establish an official cause of death -- but Hancock insists the animals were well taken care of: "There is no sign of infection, abuse, or neglect."
The giraffes -- named JJ and Rambo -- had been at the center of a vicious legal battle between Banjoko and the local city council over a $100,000 bond to cover the animals in case of emergency.
Filed under: Michael Jackson, Critters, Photo Galleries
Tags: banjoko wildlife preserve, BanjokoWildlifePreserve, freddie hancock, FreddieHancock, giraffe, giraffes, jj, michael jackson, MichaelJackson, peta, rambo
Posted Jan 8th 2010 2:39PM by TMZ Staff
Casey Johnson's dogs are not only alive and well -- they've been medically cleared to enjoy life with their brand new, super-rich family.
Sources close to the Johnson family tell TMZ that after Nicky Hilton and Bijou Philips took little Elvis (left) and Zoe (right) back from Tila Tequila, the doggies were "taken to a veterinarian in Los Angeles for full checkups and were then released to the [Johnson] family."
Despite accusations from Tila that the dogs are going to be put down, we're told they are both "safe and sound" -- and the family is grateful to Nicky and Bijou for their help.
Filed under: Critters, Exclusives, Tila Tequila, Casey Johnson
Tags: bijou philips, BijouPhilips, casey johnson, CaseyJohnson, dogs, elvis, nicky hilton, NickyHilton, tila tequila, TilaTequila, zoe
Posted Jan 6th 2010 6:30PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned Casey Johnson's dogs are now in the firm grasp of Bijou Phillips and Nicky Hilton.
We're told Phillips and Hilton just left Tila Tequila's house with two dogs.
A source close to the Johnson family tells TMZ one of the dogs -- Zoe, who is very old -- will be taken to a vet in L.A. and then flown to New York to be cared for by the family.
Story developing...
Filed under: Critters, Exclusives, Casey Johnson
Tags: bijou phillips, BijouPhillips, casey johnson, CaseyJohnson, dogs, lapd, nicky hilton, NickyHilton, tila tequila, TilaTequila
