PEOPLE Pets | Sit. Stay. Play!

She may be the only Goblin who brings people together instead of scaring them away. This little mix-breed dog rescued from the streets of Puerto Rico isn't just another set of ears for Ray Dobson of Orleans, Mass.: The animal is helping him regain social interactions in the wake of his hearing loss. "My wife saw me kind of dropping out," Dobson tells the AP. "As people get deafer they get more anti-social." Now, "he's back in the mainstream," says his wife Joanne.

Goblin jumps on Dobson to let him know others are calling his name and alerts him when the phone rings, alarms go off, visitors knock or other noises surface. Her mere presence as Dobson's hearing dog helps observers better understand his situation and take more time to communicate with him. She also leads Dobson to the source of sounds. "What the dog does for me is hear what I can't hear," he says.

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It was a night where even the pets got to dress up: On the green carpet of artificial grass at the North Shore Animal League's 4th Annual DogCatemy Celebrity Gala, Martha Stewart's French bulldogs Francesca and Sharkey arrived decked out in black and white striped T-shirts alongside Mom.

"We love attending events like this to raise money for a good cause," Stewart told guests at the New York City fund-raiser and pet awards show, modeled after Hollywood's glitzy Academy Awards and held in the airy dining room at Cipriani, a chic Italian restaurant on Wall Street.

"It's a lot of fun," radio personality Howard Stern told PEOPLEPets.com. "It's a great event." Stern escorted his wife, Beth Ostrosky Stern, a longtime animal lover and spokesperson for the North Shore Animal League (NSAL), the largest no-kill animal shelter in the world. But where was Bianca, their 8-year-old bulldog? "She's at home, and her full name is Bianca Romijn Stamos O'Connell," Stern joked.

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These stories are worth a click:

The animal trainer who worked on George Clooney's The Men Who Stare at Goats says fainting goats are popular with breeders in the same way that "bulldogs who can’t breathe" are. —Wall Street Journal

The family of the Connecticut woman who was mauled by her neighbor's chimpanzee is planning to sue for $150 million. —Hartford Courant (via Gothamist.com)

Are we nearing the end of Cute Overload? Are you done with kittehs and peppehs? (We say never!) —Vanity Fair

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You can't say we didn't warn you: The two most adorable pups in the world are featured in this video Mario Lopez shot exclusively for PEOPLEPets.com! The 9-week-old siblings are just some of the adoptable dogs the Extra host has met on his quest to find a pooch to call his own. As any pet-owner will tell you, selecting a pet is one of the biggest decisions you can make, and he needs your advice -- what kind of pooch should he adopt? Should he take one of these cuties home? Watch this video and leave your thoughts in our comments!

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These stories are worth a click:

A New Mexico rancher found a cow that had lost two hooves to frostbite and helped it walk again with a pair of prosthetic legs. --AP via wtop.com

A household cat in Iowa has tested positive for swine flu, the first case of H1N1 in a feline. --AFP via Google

Awesome photos: A giant Shoebill whose path was blocked by a little duck picked it up with its bill and moved him out of the way. --dailymail.co.uk

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These stories are worth a click:

A Los Angeles church has started the Canines at Covenant service, a 30-minute service with special doggy prayers and treats! --AP via Google

Owners of more than three cats in Dudley, Mass., are now required to get a residential kennel license. The town passed the law after dealing with a neighborhood feud over a woman and her 15 cats. --Todayshow.com

A Pittsburgh shelter dog is nursing nine African painted dogs at the local zoo after the litter's mother died of a ruptured uterus. --AP via philly.com

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Expert Charlotte Reed, the author of The Miss Fido Manners Complete Book of Dog Etiquette, takes on a dilemma that you may face around this time of year: How do you ask a friend or family member if you can bring your pet along to holiday celebrations? Do you have a dilemma that you'd like her to tackle? Drop us an email at tips@peoplepets.com!

Dear Miss Fido Manners:

I want to bring my new Miniature Pinscher puppy to the holiday celebrations that are taking place at my aunt's this year. My mother insisted that I call my aunt and request permission. What should I do? What should I say?

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