Pets

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.

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...

Nicky Hilton and Bijou Phillips are currently at Tila Tequila's house, where the dogs have been living for the past week. Hilton and Phillips say they are there to retrieve the dogs for Casey's family.

Tila refuses to give the dogs up and has called the cops, claiming Hilton and Phillips are trying to break in.

We're told Hilton and Phillips also want to collect Casey's other belongings.

The LAPD is currently on the scene.

UPDATE: 3:17 PM PT We've learned the LAPD is still at Tequila's house and is on the phone with Johnson's family in New York.

Story developing ...

Biologists in Indonesia have discovered an octopus that uses coconuts for cover -- and travels the ocean floor using the shell for shelter!

What a stunner.

The Russian Ice Circus has gone against the laws of nature and put skates on a bear and trained him to play hockey.

There's gonna be a face-off ... and it ain't gonna involve a puck.

He almost made it too -- dude was arrested on Wednesday right before he boarded his flight back to Europe at Rio de Janeiro's international airport ... when an x-ray of his suitcases revealed he was traveling with an army of illegal 8-legged cargo ... including tarantulas.

While filming a TV project in September, paddleboarding champ Jamie Mitchell got up close and very personal with a humpback whale off the coast of Australia -- and the footage is pretty incredible.

At one point, the giant mammal was literally inches from

-- who never loses his footing.

As TMZ previously reported, Lava and son Rumpus were featured in Gaga's videos for "Paparazzi," "Love Game" and "Poker Face," but Rumpus died unexpectedly in October after a hike in Los Angeles.

Like a true professional, Lava carried on without her pup ... and managed to pull it together for the 8 second appearance above.

As we told you last month, Prince and Paris Jackson saw Scooby on the news and decided to help out. Well it worked -- Scooby was outfitted with a custom cart this weekend.

Fuzzy Rescue, the organization that rescued Scooby, tells us it will take about 1-2 weeks for him to get used to the car -- and he'll be running around in no time.

Rumpus, who was featured in the videos for Poker Face, Love Game and Paparazzi, was found dead earlier this month after a hike in Los Angeles. But Rumpus' owner, Suzzane Kelleher-Duckett, tells TMZ the champion show dog had no signs of injury and appeared to be in perfect health.

An autopsy was performed a few days ago -- results are expected soon.

Rumpus was supposed to appear in Gaga's upcoming video for "Bad Romance" -- but we're told only Rumpus' mother Lava (pictured left) will now do the gig.

R.I.P. Rumpus.
2004-2009

Freddie Hancock of the Banjoko Wildlife Preserve in Page, Arizona, tells TMZ she acquired giraffes Rambo, Jabbar Jr. (JJ), Princess, and Annie Sue from Neverland in 2006 and has been caring for them since -- but now the Page city council is demanding the preserve hand over a $100,000 bond to cover the giraffes in case of emergency ... or else they're out.

But here's the problem: in order to get a $100,000 bond from an insurance company, the keeper claims she needs a special form issued by the city itself ... which Freddie says the city refuses to hand over -- leaving Freddie's hands tied and the giraffes' futures up in the air.

Freddie claims the city wants the bond ASAP -- calls to Page City Hall weren't returned.

The A-list pup got the Hollywood royal treatment at the groomers in France on Monday.

When was the last time you brought Fido in for a little mani/pedi/botox?!

PETA says of Paris: "The Chihuahuas, ferrets, and kinkajous she's paraded through her home in the past were not accessories, and pot-bellied pigs aren't either."

The good news: Paris told us she doesn't think she'll get swine flu because she doesn't eat pork.