Pets

"Flashdance" star Jennifer Beals is taking heat for leaving her German Shepherd in a hot car, and the excuse is puzzling.

Beals was in the Dunbar neighborhood of Vancouver Wednesday when she left her pooch in her SUV with the window open only a crack.

A guy happened to notice just as Beals was returning to her car, and he confronted her, saying it was dangerous to leave the dog in the car with the temp at 77 degrees.

Jennifer's response ... "In Dunbar, it's ok."

The incident was reported to the SPCA and their Chief Prevention Officer's response was even more curious: "The sun shines in Dunbar just as much as it shines everywhere else."

Meredith Vieira's heart breaks for Cecil the Lion, but she believes the bloodlust for his killer has gone too far.

Vieira was leaving Craig's Wednesday night when she told our photog she feels if Dr. Walter Palmer acted legally (as he claims) then he deserves to be left alone.

Dr. Walter Palmer has been the target of so many threats since news broke that he killed Cecil ... he needs police protection.

Law enforcement in Eden Prairie, MN tell us ... even though Dr. Palmer hasn't requested it, they will be doing regular checks on his home and neighborhood. The alert level is high enough that police supervisors will be involved in the drive-bys.

It's reached a fever pitch, with PETA calling for a hanging.

Demi Lovato's dog Buddy was ripped apart by a coyote ... and she's the one who made the gruesome discovery.

TMZ has learned Demi's dog was torn to shreds Sunday ... after a coyote wandered onto the backyard of her LA home.

Demi was devastated saying, "We are absolutely heartbroken to be writing this but Wilmer and I are devastated to inform you that we lost our little angel Buddy last Sunday. He was taken from us way too soon in a tragic accident."

The pop singer was so stricken with grief she cancelled her "Good Morning America" appearance scheduled for Thursday.

RIP Buddy.

NBA legend/vegan crusader John Salley is joining the chorus of celebs who are incredulous over the death of Cecil the lion ... but he raises an issue we haven't heard up to now ... how did a dentist blow $55k to pay hunters to kill the lion?

Salley went on TMZ Live to describe his outrage ...then wondered aloud how much this dentist charges for novocaine.

Cecil the Lion did not die in vain ... his remains will be used for an anti-poaching memorial in Zimbabwe ... TMZ has learned.

Johnny Rodrigues from the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force tells us the headless corpse of Cecil is still out in the sun ... so vultures and other carnivores can eat the flesh in circle of life fashion.

We're told after the meat is gone ... Cecil's bones will be used to create an anti-poaching memorial in the Hwange National Park, to educate people on the beauty of the beast and the harm that comes from killing them.

Johnny says the plan is for Cecil's head and skin ... which have been confiscated for the criminal investigation ... to become part of the memorial.

Lisa Vanderpump just built a fabulous new home where her miniature horses can roam in the middle of Beverly Hills. Sorry, deer and antelope ... you're on your own.

LV's pal Mohamed Hadid designed, built and painted a mini barn for the mini horses Lisa just bought for hubby Ken's birthday. We're told Mohamed hammered out the project over 2 weeks ... so the lil' Vanderponies could ball out in true Bev Hills fashion.

He painted it pink because it's Lisa's favorite color -- which is weird, since the horses are Ken's gifts ... but whatever.

Never look a gift horse house in the mouth.

Lisa Vanderpump just bought the farm ... or a good chunk of one, anyway -- she's added 2 miniature horses to her backyard petting zoo, and they arrived by private jet ... naturally.

The mini livestock flew in Monday on a customized plane -- 2 seats had to be removed to make it more of a flying barn ... unlimited hay included.

The ponies normally cost $3,500 a pop, but NEIGH -- we're told Lisa got a 2-for-1 deal!

We're told the ponies -- birthday gifts for Ken -- will live in Lisa's yard (new cast members alert!) and share the land with her 2 swans and multiple dogs.

Unlike most Bev Hills brats, LV wants to put these girls to work as therapy ponies at hospitals. They're still nameless for now, but we're told Lisa's friends will get a say.

Brandi is a nice name, no?

Steven Tyler crashed a couple’s wedding after the newlyweds found his lost Maltese going down in an elevator of their hotel.

Ken Morrison and his wife had just finished taking photos at the Fairmont in Edmonton, Canada when they got in an elevator and spotted Steven's collarless pooch riding solo.

The couple decided to take the dog to the front desk, and when the elevator doors opened -- lo and behold ... there was the Aerosmith frontman holding his other dog ... a Yorkie.

Morrison says Tyler yelled, "OMG. You found my dog!" -- and the groom replied, “OMG! You’re Steven Tyler!" Their reward? A 15 minute chat with the legendary rocker, and photos with him.

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet emotion.

Ben Affleck - 1
Everyone else - 0

Nothing wins more than a Golden Retriever puppy, and Ben knows it ... which is why he landed in Atlanta on Monday with an armful of fur.

We're guessing it's for his kids, or maybe just a great photo op. Either way -- smart move.

Somewhere Jennifer Garner's looking for a baby seal.

"Gypsy Sisters" star Mellie Stanley got into an argument with her husband that got so out of control ... he allegedly killed her dog.

Cops went to their home to check out reports of a fight on July 10 between Stanley and Randall Scott Vuncannon -- and according to docs, they found her "beat up in the street." She told officers they'd been arguing over the rent when he "went crazy, picked up the dog and slung her across the kitchen as hard as he could."

They went inside and found the small white dog dead in the living room. Vuncannon was arrested and charged with felony animal cruelty.

Sources close to production tell TMZ the show was not shooting when this went down. We're told Vuncannon is not under contract with TLC ... but there are no plans to feature him in the future.

Charlotte Ross claims her ex-boyfriend was so abusive he once threatened to drown her dog.

Ross claims in a new restraining order, obtained by TMZ, she confronted then-boyfriend Patrick Eugene Aurignae over his alleged infidelity. The "NYPD Blue" star says when she grabbed his phone to read his emails, he threatened to drown one of her dogs. He also broke 3 of her nails.

Ross claims several weeks later while vacationing in Maui he also assaulted her in front of a restaurant full of people on July 4, putting her in a headlock and choking her after yet another cheating confrontation.

YouTube sensation Chuck Testa knows the perfect gift to give at a party … the head of a dead animal.

Chuck came bearing a very familiar gift when he showed up at the studio opening for the guys who produced his now famous taxidermy commercial for Ojai Valley Taxidermy.

The viral vid producers, Rhett and Link, tell TMZ that a stone-faced Chuck handed over an $800 stuffed antelope -- which you should recognize as the "antelope driving a car" in the spot. We're told Antie was the life of the party and will be going up on a wall in their new studio.

Death inspires.

Can anyone bring a dead animal to a party? NOPE … just Chuck Testa.

So, was this a bigger thrill for the movie star ... or the horse?

Two of the world's most beloved beings came face to long face in Santa Anita on Thursday when Julia Roberts greeted Triple Crown winner American Pharoah as he returned to his barn.

AP touched down in California after a flight from Kentucky ... and reportedly got a 6-unit police escort from the airport to Santa Anita ... where he was greeted by Roberts and her son.

FYI -- Julia was 33-years-old when she won her biggest prize in her field. Pharoah was 3.

Point, horse.

Too bad you're not one of Britney Spears' dogs, because if you were, she would treat you like a king ... dropping tens of thousands of bucks on your every need.

TMZ just obtained records of Britney's finances, filed in her conservatorship case, and the headline is all about the pooches. Brit dropped $24,720 in 2014 on pet care. And get a load of the breakdown -- $14,720 on pet sitting, $300 a pop for the groomer, 12 visits to the animal hospital totaling more than $4k.

She can certainly afford it. According to the docs, the conservatorship raked in $14 million in gross profits in 2014 ... and that's only a portion of Britney's fortune. A lot of her income is made outside the conservatorship.

But it's expensive to be Britney. The $14 million was significantly whittled down, because she spent $5.7 million on stuff, that included $15,270 on meals and entertainment and $71,629 on grooming and wardrobe.

And this will make you feel poor. She spent $4k on Halloween decorations and another $6k on various holiday decorations.

BTW ... she spent only $6k -- on human gifts.

Ray J made one hell of an entrance to his $30k dog party -- just as he pulled up, his friend's beautiful Corvette Stingray got smashed by an SUV ... and the video is hysterical and painful at the same time.

Check it out ... Ray J arrived in his Ferrari and his homie pulled up behind him in the 'Vette, and then came the big BANG -- the driver's door ... of the $80,000 machine ... was almost torn off by the passing SUV!

Warning: If you love sports cars, this might make you cry. On the other hand ... Ray J mugging with the tow truck driver as he removes the Corvette will make you laugh.

All this before Boogotti or one of his pals could even crap on the red carpet.