Noah, the eaglet born in captivity to Carolina Raptor Center resident raptors Derek and Savannah, has been perched high atop a hacking tower for several weeks getting ready to live in the wild. On Friday, May 9, Noah took flight for the first time. For more information and a quick video of the moment she took flight (they’ve determined Noah is actually female), please visit the http://www.wcnc.com/video/featured-videos/Eagle-Cam–Noah-takes-flight-93123849.html.

Noah has been fitted with a transmitter and raptor center has said there will be updates on her whereabouts later this week.

Business leaders, gardeners, anglers and nature-lovers from eight communities surrounding Lake Norman are being invited to join a committee that will work to have the lake designated as a Certified Wildlife Habitat under National Wildlife Federation guidelines.
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SOURCE: Home Farewell press release

Dr. Julie Reck

CHARLOTTE – As more people begin to regard their pets as family members, the decision to “put them to sleep” at the end of their lives, or because of incurable illness, becomes increasingly difficult.

Now a Charlotte veterinarian, Dr. Julie Reck, has launched a new in-home pet euthanasia service called Home Farewell (www.homefarewell.com)  to help people make the difficult decision to end their pets’ lives. She also has published a new book, “Facing Farewell – How and When to Decide Euthanasia for Your Pet” (www.facingfarewell.com).

She’ll be signing copies of her book and answering questions at the Pet Expo at Cabarrus Arena in Concord on May 8. Read the full story

The Lake Norman Table Tennis Association will host  a Tournament Block Party on Saturday, May 8, to benefit the Cornelius Animal Shelter. Tables will be set up on Skysail Court, in the Harborside Community, off West Catawba Avenue in Cornelius.

Games begin at 2 p.m. Come to watch, drink, eat and have a good time. A $5 donation per person will be collected to benefit the Cornelius Animal Shelter. Details: www.corneliusanimalshelter.com/.

If it rains, the tournament will be rescheduled to May 22.

The 2010 Bark in the Park Dog Festival is scheduled Saturday, April 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Metrolina Expo, 7100 Statesville Road, Charlotte. It’s the sixth year for Bark in the Park, which is organized in part by Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department. Admission and parking are free. Read the full story

The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned a 1999 federal law that banned the sale of videos that depict scenes of animal cruelty, such as dog fighting. The court decided 8-1 that the law was an infringement on First Amendment rights of free speech, though analysts suggested there may be room for Congress to enact a more narrowly-restrictive law. Here’s a video report from PBS’s “News Hour.” See also other links to news reports below. Read the full story