Tragic news from Atlanta Braves star Freddie Freeman's family ... their beloved pet cat, Benji, was killed in a hit-and-run Monday night.
"He was struck by a car who didn’t even stop to check on him ... we found him too late. Our hearts are broken," Freddie's wife, Chelsea, said in an emotional post on Instagram.
"He was the best cat you could ever ask for, he was more like a dog or even a person," Chelsea said ... adding Benji was very close with their 3-year-old son, Charlie.
"He would run and greet us at the front door, chase baseballs and jump on the trampoline with Charlie... he and Charlie were best friends and he was a cherished child to us for the last 6 years."
The Atlanta Braves shared their condolences in the comments section, saying "We love you, Freeman family ❤️ Benji was the best!"
Chelsea ended the sad post with a heartbreaking line -- "I know Freddie’s mom and Grandma are loving on him in heaven but God does this hurt💔 We love you so much Benji💔"
Dogs have proven, once again, to be man’s best friend ... because a bunch of celebs have turned to adopting and fostering canines during the crisis to find a new form of friendship, and help out the animal shelters in the process.
Lots of stars have opened up their homes (and hearts) to bring in a furry friend in need -- but let's be serious ... one look at these adorable doggies and we know who the real winners are.
Check out which Hollywood helpers have taken on the ruff job of keeping a new dog safe during such trying times.
The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic runs far and wide, and one woman is beside herself with anger and frustration because she's at risk for coming down with rabies and can't get help.
Check out this video ... she says a cat scratched her and she's trying to get a tetanus shot ... typically to prevent rabies.
She says she went to UCLA and they told her to go to a nearby Urgent Care, which they said was open. She followed instructions, but when she arrived at Urgent Care at 4:30 PM Saturday no one was in sight, despite a sign saying they were open until 6.
We don't know if she eventually got help, but her frustrations are getting more and more common, and people who need basic help just can't get it.
Before Joe Exotic was known to the world as the Tiger King, he desperately tried his hand at being a "Wolf King" ... but he got dethroned after a very short reign.
TMZ's learned Joe Exotic got his hands on 28 gray wolves back in early 2018 after a so-called "petting zoo" in Minneapolis was forced to give up the animals following an unfavorable ruling at trial over a lawsuit alleging it violated the federal Endangered Species Act.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund was behind that lawsuit ... and it didn't take long before the ALDF had Joe in its crosshairs. Christopher Berry, the ALDF attorney behind the lawsuit, tells TMZ ... he fired off a legal letter to Joe accusing him of also violating that law.
The letter accuses Joe of transporting the wolves from Minnesota to Oklahoma, which is one of the ESA violations because it's against federal law to transport protected animals across state lines without a permit.
The lawyer also accused Joe of trying to sell protected animals ... Berry pointed out the commercial sale of a protected animal violates federal law. Berry also alleged Joe tried to sell at least 4 wolf pups on social media.
And, get this ... Berry offered to resolve the issue amicably, but Joe wasn't having it. Berry tells us a few days after Joe received the letter, Joe was pissed off to the point he called Berry and chewed him out in a profanity-laced rant ... denying he broke any laws.
We're told, Joe ultimately admitted trying to get a handle on wolves proved way more challenging than he anticipated. One example ... the wolves often clawed out of their enclosures and ran amok at Joe's G.W. Exotic Animal Park.
Berry says Joe ultimately turned the wolves over to Lockwood Animal Rescue Center ... an animal protection org. in Ventura, CA. After complying with Berry's letter, we're told the ALDF took no further legal action against Joe.
As for how Joe's facility got selected to receive the wolves ... we're told the Minnesota petting zoo was desperate to find the wolves new homes, but irresponsibly sent 28 of the as many as 60 wolves to Joe, who clearly was not equipped to care for them.
But, just when ya think there's a happy ending ... think again. Berry says only 25 of the 28 wolves at Joe's facility were transferred to Lockwood. He says one of the wolves died from an infection at Joe's park. As for the two remaining wolves ... they went MIA and no one ever figured out what happened to them.
Then again, Joe Exotic's been accused of heinous acts against animals.
Katy Perry's beloved street cat, who became a mascot for the singer and her legion of fans, has passed on.
Kitty Purry made an inauspicious entry into Katy's life -- through her then-boyfriend's window. Fast-forward to Katy the singing icon ... the darn cat became so popular it even appeared in Katy's music video for "I Kissed a Girl."
Fans would swarm Katy and Kitty after her concerts ... begging for a selfie. Short story ... next to Grumpy Cat, Kitty Purry was top of the kitty litter.
Katy posted an homage to her beloved pet ... "Kitty Purry crawled through my then-boyfriend’s window 15 years ago, fully pregnant and seeking shelter. Two litters and many moons later, this street cat became a lovable mascot to many. Sadly, Kitty completed her 9th life last night. I hope she rests in salmon fillets and tuna tartare way up in catnip heaven. Kitty, thanks for the cuddles and companionship along the way. Big thanks to my brother David and @garethwalters for being great co-parents 💔 #kittypurryforever"
Katy's had a rollercoaster 2020 ... she's expecting her first child with Orlando Bloom, so she's clearly stoked about that, but she lost her grandma last month so she's also dealing with that hardship.
The coronavirus has caused untold misery among millions of Americans, but for some dogs and cats in desperate circumstances ... it's given them a life-saving reprieve.
Check out the video ... the Palm Beach County Animal Shelter is completely empty ... not a dog, not a cat in sight. Hooray!!!
The good folks who work at the shelter could not contain their glee ... after all, saving animals is their thing, so it was cause for celebration.
Lots of people are adopting or fostering animals while they shelter at home. It's a great thing, with a caveat. Remember, cute puppies grow up to be adult dogs, and when you adopt you have to make the commitment for the long run.
You may not believe this, but it's true. Rescued dogs, especially, don't forget what you did to save them.
Willamina is a squirrel with kick-ass timing -- she's now living in the lap of luxury, because she showed up in a Louisiana woman's home just as quarantine began.
So, here's the story ... just as Louisiana went on a statewide lockdown, Emily Istre was asked to foster a baby squirrel. Emily's mom had found it injured in her yard. Willamina had a badly infected eye and was dangerously malnourished, but over the last 4 weeks ... that's all turned around.
Yeah, it's a feel-good story, but it also makes for some pretty strange video. Emily told us Willamina is now looking at her as the mama squirrel she never knew -- and also as a tree.
Willamina's eye has healed, but the infection left her blind, and she's clearly making herself right at home ... running up and down her adoptive mother no matter what's happing in the house.
We know what you're thinking, and the squirrel's been tested. No rabies, but she does have her own IG page now. Naturally.
Emily's rehabbed sick animals before -- usually birds -- but always released them to the wild. Watch the video ... she explains why Willamina's a different story.
Quarantine has definitely changed this household, permanently.
Steve Cash -- known to his millions of fans as the guy behind the "Talking Kitty Cat" videos on YouTube -- is dead by suicide ... TMZ has learned.
The social media star died Thursday morning from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Steve's wife, Celia DeCosta Cash, wrote on Facebook, "I just lost my best friend, my sidekick, my lover, my mentor, my absolute everything. It hurts me to share this. Please understand, give the family time to grieve, but know that Steve is no longer in pain."
Steve was open with his fans about his mental health battles. Back in September, someone replied to one of his posts saying, "You've been so active on social media lately that at first I thought you were hacked."
Steve replied, "Nah, just bipolar. I'm on a manic up right now. When I go back into depression I'll vacate everything."
He started his sketch comedy series (think "Garfield") on YouTube in November 2007. He voiced every episode in which he talks to his cats as if they were humans. The short but popular videos drew tons of fans ... with 2.43 million subscribers.
In nearly two decades, Steve racked up more than 770 MILLION views and counting. His most popular video is the "Bad! Bad! Bad!" episode from 4 years ago ... with 17 million views. His last video was posted on December 30.
Dogs sporting medical-grade snout masks would have turned heads 2 months ago -- now it's becoming a common sight amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
These shots aren't just from pet-crazed USA ... the gallery shows dog owners all around the world -- countries in Asia, South and North America -- want to make sure their pets do NOT have a nose for COVID-19.
There is reason for some concern. As we reported, researchers at the National Institutes of Health have seen evidence of humans transmitting the virus to their pets -- cats and dogs.
So far, there have been 2 known cases of dogs testing positive ... both in Hong Kong. The masks on dogs couldn't hurt ... plus, most of 'em look kinda cute. Think Doggie Howser, M.D.
There's no evidence pets can transmit it back to humans, but scientists say the best advice is to stay away from your pet if you're experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
Leonardo DiCaprio's got everything a man could need in quarantine ... a smoking hot girlfriend and an adorable little puppy!!!
The "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" star and his GF, model/actress Camila Morrone, made a rare outing Wednesday, taking their fostered Siberian Husky for a stroll down world-famous Sunset Blvd.
Leo kept a pretty low profile behind some shades, a hat and a surgical mask, and they both looked casual in sweats. Hey, we're all staying comfortable in quarantine.
The streets of Los Angeles are pretty barren these days, with folks being ordered to stay-at-home to slow the spread of COVID-19 ... but you can still head outside for some exercise, and Leo and Camila are taking full advantage with their pup.
Camila, who's been with Leo for over 2 years now, fostered the pooch at the start of quarantine and the pup's growing up to be just as handsome as Leo.
Banksy's not letting coronavirus stifle his creative flow -- his out-of-this-world artwork is going strong in his own home ... but like he says, the missus probably ain't pleased.
The mysterious street artist -- who puts up WILD, often-times live, phantom art exhibits all over the world -- gave his followers a sneak-peek into his crib Wednesday with a little quarantine update ... clearly showing the master craftsman's been hard at work in the bathroom.
Check it out ... at first glance, you think you're looking at a bunch of animated rats making a vivid mess out of the John -- toilet paper unfurled, toothpaste splattered on the wall, brown gunk smeared across the toilet -- but it's just his latest homemade creation.
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He even got some close-up shots so folks could soak in the detail he put into this. Per usual, it's incredibly intricate and looks like a scene out of a graphic novel or comic.
Banksy captioned it, "My wife hates it when I work from home." Can't blame her -- the place looks like a sty ... granted, it's mostly an optical illusion. Probably easy enough to clean up.
Looks like everyone's hunkered down these days -- even this guy.
Joe Exotic was a master magician with a huge bag of tricks, according to his old magic promos -- but of course, he still couldn't make Carole Baskin disappear.
TMZ's obtained some never-before-seen footage of Joe's old magic show ... from a 6-minute highlight reel. The promo was never intended for the public, but for the venues where Joe booked his high-paying gigs.
As you know, the 'Tiger King' star had a traveling tiger and magic show in addition to his zoo, and he made tons of stops at malls, shopping centers and theaters across the country ... before Carole got involved.
Joe's promo is everything you would expect from the entertainment genius ... it's called, "Mystical of The Endangered," and it shows Joe performing magic with tons of exotic beasts.
There's sword tricks, pyrotechnics, a mime, vanishing, illusions and lots and lots of animals ... tigers, snakes and parrots, oh my!
JP Wilson, the magician from 'Tiger King,' tells TMZ ... he met Joe back in 2004 during a magic show in Norman, OK where Joe supplied him with a tiger. JP says Joe was so impressed with his magic, Exotic brought him on tour.
Eventually, Joe wanted to be the magician and JP says he taught him some tricks. Joe and JP worked together for years, until Carole and the animal rights folks shut down Joe's traveling performances.
JP says he remained close with Joe and would visit the zoo a couple times a year, even sponsoring a tiger at one point.
The wildest part ... JP firmly believes if Carole and the animal rights people didn't get Joe's traveling show shut down, and cut off his main source of income, Joe wouldn't have been forced into breeding tigers.
The biggest mystery in Netflix's 'Tiger King' is whether Don Lewis was murdered and, if so, who did him in.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister tells TMZ, he's convinced one person could NOT have committed the 1997 murder ... he says someone must have helped and someone got paid.
Although Hillsborough says Don's wife, Carole Baskin, is NOT a suspect or person of interest, he tells us he's suspicious of her and he's also suspicious of others. Watch FOX Monday night at 9 PM for our special, "TMZ Investigates, Tiger King: What Really Went Down?" He explains exactly why he's suspicious.
The Sheriff's looking for someone to come forward -- maybe someone who helped who wants to clear his or her conscience -- and spill the beans.
Sheriff Chronister also makes it clear ... he's willing to deal with anyone who has info, and immunity is on the table.
Carole has strongly maintained she had nothing to do with Don's disappearance.
Every major sport in America has been shut down -- except one -- horse racing, which is alive and thriving in multiple states across the country, TMZ Sports has learned.
We've confirmed tracks are operating in Florida, California, Arkansas and Oklahoma -- though we're told ALL of the tracks are not allowing fans to enter the facilities.
The reason? Gamblers.
In short, the races are still being streamed online and through various broadcast partners, so people stuck at home can still bet on the ponies!
In Florida, both the Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park have a "no spectator" policy -- and have ordered all staffers to wear masks and gloves while practicing social distancing.
A rep for Gulfstream tells us, medical personnel are screening jockeys on the way into the track, taking temperatures and looking for COVID-19 symptoms.
Plus, we're told any jockey or horse that comes to race from another state must complete a 14-day quarantine before they are allowed to compete.
In California, the Los Alamitos track is closed to the public -- but racing on Friday through Sunday with only "essential staff permitted inside the facility."
Shocking considering California has essentially locked down the state for all, but essential businesses. Still, the horses run.
In Arkansas ... the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort shut down their casino but has allowed the track to continue to function. Again, no spectators.
In fact, the $200,000 Oaklawn Stakes is still scheduled to take place on Saturday.
In Oklahoma ... Remington Park is running too, but they note they're "closed to the public."
We spoke with a rep for the Jockey's Guild who tell us they support the tracks staying open -- explaining, "Its important horses get training and exercise."
"It's very important. Protocols are in place. It's best for the horses and the industry to keep going."
Of course, the most famous races in the country - the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont -- have been postponed until the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
Joe Exotic's former campaign manager wants to do forJoe Bidenwhat he did for the 'Tiger King' star -- raise tons of cash with some wild fundraising parties.
Joshua Dial, who ran Joe's failed campaign for governor of Oklahoma, and was heavily featured in the Netflix docuseries, tells TMZ ... Joe's campaign would regularly rake in $5,000 to $10,000 for tiger parties catering to rich folks.
Joshua says they would load a baby tiger into a cage in the back of a van and haul it off to private parties for rich donors ... who gladly paid top dollar to party the night away and play with the tiger cub.
The tiger fundraiser parties were a huge hit, and Joshua says they organized several of them during Joe's 2018 campaign.
While Joe ran as a Libertarian, Joshua says the party has a lot in common with the Democrats ... and he wants a chance to work his magic for Biden!!!
Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas are still getting out for fresh air during the pandemic, but they're making sure to follow proper face covering guidelines while their pups get some exercise.
Ben and his new Hollywood girlfriend were spotted out for a stroll in L.A. again this week -- in between rain showers -- but this time they were wearing masks to protect themselves and others from potential coronavirus exposure.
As we reported ... they were also seen on a romantic walk a couple weeks ago, but a lot's changed since then. For starters, the importance of face coverings is now being stressed by the CDC to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Secondly, it seems the couple has added another dog to their quarantine outings. They're still packing on the PDA, though ... so stay-at-home life together must be going pretty well.
Ben and Ana met on the set of the film "Deep Water" and have been getting very close lately, beginning when they were first spotted hanging out in Ana's native country of Cuba.
Then, when Ben was seen playing the perfect Instagram boyfriend a little while later ... ya knew things were getting real.
