Pets

Los Angeles City Fire Officials confirm that a unit was dispatched to the residence to handle the snake situation ... but when they arrived, the snake was nowhere to be found.

According to Zsa Zsa's husband -- Prince Von A-Hole -- the snake slithered its way into the bushes ... and the firefighters told him that Animal Control would be better equipped to handle the situation.

After a massive ground search on the property -- the snake was nowhere to be found and Prince is scared out of his mind ... telling us, "I cannot sleep tonight if this beast is around!"

Sources close to the actor tell TMZ, Leo picked up the 10-year-old Sulcata tortoise at the North American Reptile Breeders Conference and Trade Show in Anaheim, CA over the weekend -- which he attended with fellow "Inception" star Lukas Haas -- and get this ... the animal can live to be 80 years old!

According to sources, Leo called a California pet store that specializes in rare reptiles and requested the tortoise one day before he picked it up. We're told the tortoise ran Leo a cool $400.

We're told Leo asked for the biggest tortoise they had -- a 38-pounder -- but according to experts, Sulcatas can grow to weigh 200 pounds.

Farnouche Kamran wrote a letter to the Mayor of West Hollywood, John Duran, where she requests an appointment to tell him "my story, my tragedy, so it does not happen to anyone else."

In the letter, obtained by TMZ, Kamran briefly explains how Sam's dog has a history of violence and "was to be muzzled at all times" -- but was still "let out alone, without a leash, and without supervision."

According to the letter, Kamran's ultimate goal is to discuss "responsible dog ownership" and to make owners more accountable for the actions of their pets.

There's a report circulating that Minka had an epic meltdown on a flight from NY to LAX earlier today when she wasn't allowed to put her dog on her seat during takeoff.

According to the report, it took all seven flight attendants, a personal plea from the pilot ... and a phone call to boyfriend Derek Jeter to calm her down.

But Kelly's lawyer, Marty Singer, tells TMZ ... Minka paid extra to bring her dog on board the flight. There was never an issue on the L.A./New York trip. But Singer says on the return trip, the flight attendant would not let Minka's dog in the first class cabin during takeoff and landing because of space issues. Singer says Minka took her dog back to coach for takeoff and landing and spent the rest of the time with her pooch in first class.

The Barkley (get it?) is getting ready to open its doors in Westlake VIllage on October 25 and they are planning a giant grand opening with an A-list celebrity pet guest list. They are planning on doing their own version of Grauman's Chinese Theater and having famous pets put their paw prints in the cement outside the hotel.

We're told so far invitations have been extended to the pets of celebs like: Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Jennifer Aniston, Rihanna, Nicole Richie and more.

TMZ has learned ... somebody is actually trying to sell Robosaurus -- and Friday afternoon, the guys from the show "Pawn Stars" had an up close and personal meeting with the havoc-wreaker to check out the goods.

But don't get too excited -- Corey "Big Hoss" Harrison tells us the "Pawn" crew couldn't get close to the $5 million asking price ... and didn't make an offer because they didn't want the owner "to be offended."

According to Tiger's owners, they had the Maltese's adorable paw prints cast in bronze before she was cremated ... and had "4/19/2008 - 8/30/2010" engraved next to them.

As for where Tiger's ashes will end up ... the family says they'll probably place the urn on the shrine they erected in her honor at their apartment.

This shrine has been set up in the owner's apartment -- in the same West Hollywood building where Tiger got into that fateful confrontation with Cadillac early Monday morning.

The unidentified caller also claims the attack happened "in the hallway" of Sam's West Hollywood apartment early Monday morning.

At one point, the operator asks the caller, "Is the owner of the dog a male or a female?"
The caller replies, "I believe a male."

As we previously reported, Sam is now the focus of a criminal investigation surrounding the death of Tiger -- a 3-pound Maltese that was roaming the hallway without a leash.

Officials from the County Department of Animal Care & Control tell TMZ there is a criminal investigation underway to determine cause of death for Tiger, the 3-pound Maltese that was killed after Sam's bulldog, Cadillac, got out of her apartment unit yesterday.

We're told Ronson -- who was sleeping at the time of the attack -- is the subject of the criminal investigation.

An Animal Control official tells us they will be looking at the circumstances of the attack and Cadillac's propensity for violence. As we first reported, Cadillac had attacked another dog a while back and had actually just come home from a 3-week socialization program.

Just last month, Tiger -- 14-years old in dog years -- hit the runway for the "Pattern for Paws" charity dog fashion show in West Hollywood ... but it also appears she hit the bottle.

Tiger, seen above next to a glass of chardonnay sauvignon blanc, had her vices like any up and coming model ... but she also had spirit ... a spirit that was silenced far too soon due to unnecessary dog-on-dog violence.

We've learned Sam sent her beloved bulldog packing for the East Coast to live with family ... after the dog killed a 3-pound Maltese that was roaming the hallway without a leash Monday in Samantha's West Hollywood apartment building.

Sam -- who had worked the night before -- was at home sleeping when the attack occurred. Some of her friends were in her unit. We've learned the friends told Animal Control they heard a human scream and then opened the door and found Cadillac in the hallway alone -- there was no blood on the floor or on the bulldog. None of Sam's friends are copping to allowing Cadillac to get out of the unit.

We've learned Cadillac previously bit another dog in the building and Sam agreed to send the pooch to a 3-week doggie boot camp for socialization. Cadillac returned home just 5 days ago.

Neighbors tell TMZ Cadillac had also bitten a person in the building but we could not confirm it.

As we first reported, authorities received a 911 call from a person who claims Tiger and Tiger's owner were attacked by another dog near Sam's L.A. apartment.

Tiger later died as a result of his injuries.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ someone called 911 around 11:10 AM ... claiming a "pit bull" attacked a smaller dog ... and then attacked the smaller dog's female owner.

We're told when officials arrived at the scene, the smaller dog was dead ... but its owner suffered only minor injuries.

We're told law enforcement has reason to believe the aggressive dog belongs to Sam Ronson ... because the dog's home address corresponds to Sam's apartment.

UPDATE 1:30 PM PT: Sources at the scene tell us the attack dog was not a pit bull, it was a bulldog. Sam Ronson is known to own a bulldog named Cadillac.

We're also told the dog that was killed is a "very small Maltese" ... that looked to weigh roughly three to five pounds. Animal Control has just arrived on scene.