Animals

Okay, folks, let's get down to business ... some serious -- and literal -- monkey business!

You might've heard about a bunch of primates getting loose after a truck accident on a highway in the South ... and you might've even learned about some serious diseases they were reportedly carrying ... because we had the scoop on it all!

Here's an overview of how the situation got so hairy ... and what to do if you come face-to-face with one of the escaped monkeys.

The mystery behind why five monkeys were killed by police after a truck carrying the primates overturned in Mississippi has been solved -- and TMZ has the full scoop!

Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson tells us ... he contacted one of his deputies who responded to Tuesday's truck accident along a highway in rural Heidelberg, and he asked the deputy what kind of threat the monkeys pose to the public.

Johnson said the deputy had the 2 truck occupants contact their supervisor -- who warned the cargo contained 21 test monkeys infected with COVID, herpes, and hepatitis C -- and, as a result, they needed to be handled with protective gear.

Mississippi’s got one wild situation -- a hostile STD-carrying monkey busted loose from a large trailer truck hauling primates after the semi flipped over on a highway, according to police.

The wreck went down Tuesday in Heidelberg, where the truck, containing several monkeys infected with hepatitis C, herpes, and COVID, crashed en route from Tulane University to a Florida testing lab.

Witnesses shot camera footage that captured the monkey climbing out of the trailer and wandering around in a rural area. Cops say six monkeys made a break for it -- but five have been destroyed, and one’s still on the loose.

A Saudi Airlines jet was turned into a bloody mess after it was hit with a massive bird strike ... which damaged the nose of the aircraft.

According to the Aviation Safety Network, Saudi Airlines flight SV340 hit a flock of birds shortly after takeoff from Houari Boumediene Airport in Algiers Saturday.

While the strike damaged the nose cone of the Boeing 777-300, the plane continued to its destination and landed safely at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

1 PM PT -- The former professional dog-sitter who lost her job at Rover.com has now been kicked off her jiu-jitsu club.

Miami's Fight Sports Club tells TMZ they just learned of the incident, and said both the pet-sitter and her boyfriend have been banned from the team.

The academy said ... "We are very sad and deeply sorry for this situation. ... We want to make it clear that we have no involvement or responsibility for anyone’s personal life or business outside the academy. Fight Sports stands for truth, values, and integrity, and we will always take action when something goes against those principles."

The HGTV couple who say their dog was killed while supposedly in the care of a professional pet-sitter is demanding accountability ... and, they're thinking about ways they can redefine the legal status of dogs in Florida.

We spoke with Eilyn and Ray Jimenez -- best known for starring in the hit reality show "Divided by Design" -- on "TMZ Live" Friday ... and, they ran through the events surrounding their dog's death, which they previously laid out on social media.

ICYMI ... Eilyn and Ray were told their dog Aria -- a 12-year-old Shih Tzu -- died of a heart attack while in the care of a pet-sitter while they were out of town for 2 days. However, they said they learned from the cremation center where their dog was taken before they got home that their pup was actually killed by another dog.

Katherine Schwarzenegger is heartbroken over the loss of her beloved horse, Cinco ... sharing a flood of pics on IG, honoring their 20+ years together.

In her Tuesday post, Katherine wrote a heartfelt caption ... saying goodbye to a pet is never easy, especially one who’d been part of every chapter of her life -- even sizing up Chris Pratt on the now-married couple's very first date.

Katherine shared Cinco had been with her since she was 11 ... she’d do homework in the stalls -- her safe haven -- and lean on him through heartbreaks, first loves, worries, and every major life moment in between.

A Texas man is accusing a Customs and Border Protection agent of fatally shooting his pet dog during a sweep for undocumented migrants at his home -- but the feds say the pooch was at fault because it was too hostile.

Although the shooting went down in early September ... the story of what happened stayed under the radar until this past weekend and TMZ just got an update from the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CBP.

A spokesperson for DHS tells us ... CBP agents entered the El Paso residence with consent from the homeowner. While they were inside, the owner's dog, named Chop, "aggressively charged [at] the agent" and "fearing for his safety, the officer discharged their firearm." DHS says its is currently reviewing the matter.

Jimmy Fallon is heartbroken ... revealing his beloved family dog has passed away.

On IG Monday, the talk show host posted sweet snaps of their pup Gary -- writing a heartfelt tribute about how the silence at home feels deafening without her ... but that it’s slowly being filled with stories, laughter, and a few sniffles.

Jimmy even shared a few of those memories -- calling the unforgettable pup their "first baby, a therapist, a pillow, a big sister, a schoolmarm, a comedian, a party girl and a rebel" all rolled into one.

Jimmy first introduced Gary to his IG followers way back in 2012 -- so it’s clear she’s been a huge part of the family’s life for over a decade.

Sharon Osbourne is saying goodbye to one of her most loyal companions ... her beloved dog Elvis has died.

The TV host shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram Sunday, writing ... "I can't believe I am posting this but my darling Elvis passed away this week. He gave me 14 precious years. He was by my side until the end. Rest in peace my darling boy!"

Elvis, a Siberian Husky that Sharon adopted, became a fixture in the Osbourne household alongside Sharon and Ozzy's pack of pets.

Musician and comedian Robby Roadsteamer was arrested outside an ICE facility during a protest in Portland, Oregon -- while dressed as a giraffe -- and the feds are explaining what led up to the bust.

Video of Robby's Wednesday arrest went viral ... it shows him singing outside a federal building in the city, alongside a bunch of protesters ... when federal agents come out and grab him and take him inside.

Honchos at the Department of Homeland Security tell TMZ ... "This deceptively clipped video features this attention-starved influencer who flew all the way from Massachusetts to trespass on federal property."

Hasan Piker's dog Kaya yelping on a livestream has led to death threats for the political streamer over rumors he makes her wear a shock collar ... but he says it's all a big misunderstanding.

In the October 7 clip of his daily live stream, Hasan scolds his dog and seems to be reaching for something right at the moment she yelps ... leading scores of viewers and commenters to accuse him shocking her as punishment.

We caught up with the prolific daily streamer Wednesday ... and he admits "the clip itself looks terrible," but insists on the day in question she was just wearing her regular collar. He says Kaya yips and yelps often, like when she's playing with other dogs ... and when she's snagged her dew claws before around the house.

Robert Irwin's emotional dance on "Dancing with the Stars" left no dry eyes in the ballroom ... as he paid homage to his mother.

The 21-year-old and his partner took the floor to Phil Collins' "You'll Be in My Heart" ... all part of the show's "Dedication Night," when celebs pay tribute to someone special.

In his confessional, Robert explained how his mom, Terri, "always made sure my dad was present in our lives" ... opening up about how he struggled after losing his late father, Steve Irwin. With that, he wanted to show his mother the gratitude he feels for her.

Fat chance anything was taking this Labrador down in China ... the pup's fat rolls literally saved his life when a car ran him over!

Dog lovers, beware! We got the wild vid -- 140-lb pup Yuanyuan was chillin’ in the middle of a Hangzhou, China road last week ... when a car drove right over him, flipping the dog from belly to chest and leaving him pinned under the tire.

Surveillance cam footage shows the poor pooch yelping in pain as neighbors sprinted over, lifted the car, and yanked Yuanyuan out ... eventually freeing the chunky survivor.

Need a palate cleanser? Here ya go -- a four-legged legend with a wagging tail who went full hero mode to save his injured grandma!

Body cam footage from an Okaloosa County, Florida deputy tells the whole story ... it kicks off at a frantic husband’s home worried sick about his missing wife and dog ... and soon enough, the search leads the deputy right to the pup on the road.

When the pooch trotted off, the deputy quickly realized man’s best friend was on a mission -- leading her straight to the 86-year-old grandma, who’d was hurt after taking a nasty fall.

Tyrese Gibson's grandmother was detained and his house searched when cops executed a search warrant in connection to his Cane Corsos' killer behavior ... and, we now have body cam breaking down the incident.

The search went down September 22 ... and, the clip shows officers barging into Gibson's house -- marching past a big Transformers statue in the mansion's foyer.

Fulton County Police and Animal Services look around the property, taking photos as they go ... before the clip cuts to the front of the property -- where Tyrese's grandmother has been sat in the back of a police car.

We all know the weekend's a great time to get wild ... although this weekend's gonna be even wilder than most, because Saturday's World Animal Day!

And we're gonna let you in on a little secret -- celebs like Katy Perry, Logan Paul, and Latto love taking photos with animals!

It's always great when you find a four-legged friend that's just as expressive as you are ... and it looks like Brenda Song ran across a zebra who was just as excited as she was!