Pets

TMZ has just obtained the 911 call that was placed by a breathless man who repeatedly pleaded for help after Ashley Greene's apartment exploded in flames, screaming, "The building's on fire."

As we first reported, Ashley and two men were sleeping in her rental unit when the fire broke out. Officials now say the cause of the fire was an unattended candle that torched the couch and subsequently the entire place.

73-year-old "Babe" star James Cromwell got off easy after his disorderly conduct arrest last month ... when he burst into a UW-Madison board meeting, protesting cat torture at the university.

Cromwell's case was called today in Wisconsin where he pled no contest to a low level charge of disorderly conduct. His punishment is a measly $100 fine, which he paid on the spot.

As we reported, Cromwell was busted along with a PETA spokesperson after they barged into the board meeting, claiming the school's labs tortured cats in the name of science. Cromwell waved a sign with a photo of an abused cat, and shouted, "This is not science! This is cruel!"

A rep for the D.A. tells us, prosecutors went easy because the duration of yelling wasn’t particularly long, he cooperated with law enforcement, no one in the room was really disturbed by the protest, and he had no criminal history.

And it WAS kinda funny.

It's case closed for the Ashley Greene condo fire ... TMZ has learned, the devastating flames that ripped through the actress' L.A. apartment Friday have officially been ruled an accident.

Law enforcement sources tell us, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, the L.A. Fire Department and the insurance company -- all of which opened an arson investigation -- are in lockstep ... the fire occurred as the result of carelessness.

TMZ broke the story ... the fire started when an unattended candle accidentally lit Ashley's living room couch ablaze.

Building sources tell us, at least four neighboring units were significantly damaged from the blaze. Insurance agents are expected to stop by today to start the claims process.

Ashley Greene's condo will have to be completely gutted, sources tell TMZ, and four other units in her building will need work done following yesterday's tragic fire.

As TMZ first reported, an unattended candle in the living room of Greene's West Hollywood condo started a horrific blaze that resulted in the death of one of Greene's dogs.

According to our sources, the damages to Greene's unit is so bad, the place will have to be completely gutted -- walls torn down, floor removed, etc.

We're told moisture damage from the blaze will require four other units in the building to be worked on. Our sources say the unit directly above Greene's was the only other unit that needed to be evacuated.

The only thing that stinks more than horse dung is Miley Cyrus' stance against horse-drawn carriages ... that's according to the carriage owners who are pissed the pop star is trying to shut down their biz.

Miley tweeted her support earlier this week for a petition that supports the ban of horse-drawn carriages in New York City ... which didn't go over too well with the folks at Carriage Operators of North America.

Tommy Doyle, a member of the Board of Directors for CONA, tells TMZ there is no horse abuse in the industry and that the animals are "properly tended to" and "very well taken care of."

Doyle says, "How many times has Miley spent with working horses? Does she even know what a healthy horse looks like? Has she been in the barn to see these animals?"

Doyle tells us Miley has an open invitation to come see the horse carriage business up close.

We now know what caused the fire at Ashley Greene's condo that killed her beloved dog -- an unattended candle ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... they have already done a preliminary investigation and determined the candle lit the living room couch on fire -- a fire which spread throughout the unit.

As we previously reported, Greene, her boyfriend and brother were all sleeping in the condo when the blaze erupted.

Cradling her dog's dead body, "Twilight" star Ashley Greene was utterly heartbroken at her West Hollywood condo this afternoon ... after the whole place went up in flames.

TMZ broke the story ... the fire pretty much destroyed the condo and one of the actress' two dogs perished in the blaze. Ashley can be seen holding the dog's body in the video, wrapped in a sheet.

As we reported, Ashley was home at the time with her boyfriend and brother when the fire broke out on the living room sofa. They were sleeping at the time, and quickly evacuated before anyone was hurt.

Once they realized Ashley's dogs were still inside, the two boys rushed back to save them ... but couldn't. One dog died, the other is expected to be taken to Animal Control to be checked out.

3:30 PM PT -- TMZ has learned, a candle was responsible for starting the fire.

12:16 PM PT -- A firefighter tells us ... Ashley, her boyfriend and her brother were out late last night and were sleeping when the fire broke out on the living room sofa. They ran out of the apartment, and then realized the dogs were still there. The 2 men tried to get back in to rescue them but couldn't. We're told Ashley wanted to keep the dog that died, so firefighters wrapped it in a sheet and gave it either to Ashley or one of the 2 guys.

11:50 AM PT -- A firefighter and a neighbor on scene just told TMZ ... one of the dogs died at the scene ... under the bed. We have been told a second dog is expected to be taken to Animal Control ... to be checked out. And, we're told several other residents tried to fight the blaze with fire extinguishers. They were covered in soot.

11:15 AM PT -- Residents in the building who live near Ashley tell TMZ ... Ashley's brother and assistant had been going in and out of the condo all morning. One resident says she heard glass exploding in Ashley's condo. The woman says Ashley's toy fox terriers were inside the unit. As we reported, one dog was definitely saved.

"Twilight" star Ashley Greene's home has been burnt to a crisp ... after a fire ripped through her West Hollywood condo, TMZ has learned ... but luckily, one of her dogs was saved. We know Ashley has 2 dogs, and we don't know the status of the second.

Marlo is a girl and Theo is a boy ... we're not sure which died.

At least 10 fire trucks swarmed to the 7-story building moments ago to extinguish the blaze. The full extent of the damage is unclear ... but a photo agency has released shots of the aftermath inside the apartment.

We don't know if Ashley was home at the time. One fireman told TMZ ... the fire started on a sofa.

Three people were treated for minor injuries.

The tribe has spoken -- and the adorable Party Pooch was the blarney best in our annual St. Paddy's Photo Contest -- scoring the $250 pot-o-gold and some great gifts from TMZ!

There could be a canine calamity tonight on "Dancing with the Stars" ... because we've learned Lisa Vanderpump's pooch Giggy will dance his paws off.

Giggy -- a permanent fixture on "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" with more than 65,000 Twitter followers -- has been added to Lisa's inaugural dance number ... and if all goes according to plan (i.e. no poo mishaps) the pooch will hit the floor LIVE.

In fact, we're told Giggy -- who's slated to make his entrance at the end of the routine -- has been rehearsing non-stop with Lisa and her pro-partner Gleb Savchenko.

Gleb might make the Pomeranian a permanent fixture ... it all depends on his performance ... and how well he wears sequins.

Pressure's on.

TMZ has learned ... Vick -- who cancelled his book tour after "credible threats" were called in to several Barnes & Noble stores across the country -- says he refuses to let his haters control his life.

Vick's rep tells us ... "Regardless of the past threats, he has millions of fans around the world and has been receiving countless messages of support. He will continue to keep an active schedule working with charities."

Mike will continue to work with the Team Freedom Outreach (recreation and visitation programs for youth detention centers) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization. We're told Mike has security measures in place in case more threats are made and plans on giving cops a heads up before he visits the centers.

"Mike is committed to helping make his community a better place," Vick's rep says ... adding, "[he] is determined to continue his work with charity and helping others."

Samuel L. Jackson has a twin -- if the definition of "twin" is a black dog wearing the same hat and glasses as SLJ. Yep, that -- and some lip-syncing -- is all it takes.

Justin Bieber's hamster PAC -- the one he gave away to a random screaming fan less than three months ago -- is now spinning in that great hamster wheel in the sky ... in other words, he's dead.

TMZ broke the story ... Bieber unloaded the pet on an unsuspecting teenage girl in Atlanta last December ... cage and everything ... following his Jingle Ball concert. He told her, "That's all you ... you gotta take care of PAC."

The girl -- 18-year-old Tori McClure -- promised to take good care of the rodent ... and she actually did ... until the poor bastard kicked the bucket this week.

Tori tells TMZ, the hamster started to lose its hair two weeks ago so she took it to the vet over the weekend, but it was too little, too late.

We did some rodent research ... hamster hair loss can be caused by a variety of ailments, including chronic renal failure or a low protein diet ... it's unclear exactly what was eating PAC.

Tori says she buried PAC by a tree in her backyard, telling TMZ, "It's very peaceful there."

Unlike a Bieber concert.

Internet sensation Grumpy Cat got swarmed at the South by Southwest festival, and to prove just how big a star she's become -- she peed all over a certain human celeb we all know!

In case you doubted how pampered Grumpy Cat really was this week in Texas ... TMZ has obtained photographic evidence of her lavish lifestyle ... replete with limo rides and king-sized beds.

The limo pic might be the best -- but you gotta see GC curled up on her very own king-sized bed ... it's ridiculous.

TMZ broke the story ... Grumps has been living the life in Austin this week where she's been shooting Friskies commercials -- endless steak dinners, bottled water, constant fluffing ... and raking in a 5-figure paycheck for all her hard work.

1st class plane tickets ... endless filet mignon ... her own king-sized bed ... 5-figure paychecks ... and that's just a tiny glimpse into the ridiculous life of the Internet sensation known as Grumpy Cat.

The cat's manager -- yes, she has one -- tells TMZ, the famous feline is in Austin, TX this week to shoot commercials for Friskies (the cat's sponsor) and to appear at the SXSW Interactive festival.

Grumpy flew first class ... and she's been living it up ... with her own, full-time assistant to brush her, an endless supply of Friskies as well as other treats, bottled water and her very own room at a four-diamond hotel ... king-sized bed included.

And to get around Austin ... Grumpy has her own chauffeur.

Gives a whole new meaning to Aristocats.