Faced with Ashton Kutcher the deer and Ashton Kutcher the Coast Guard hero, more people went with the animal when it came to picking a movie this weekend. "Open Season" opened at #1, while "The Guardian" took #2 and "Jackass" slipped to #3.

CHRISTMANS has come early for more than a dozen death-row dogs. Generous Herald Sun readers swamped animal shelters yesterday, offering homes to all but three of 17 dogs due to be put down.

NEW YORK -- A man who beat two of his dachshunds to death and buried one in a yard was indicted Wednesday on cruelty charges, animal protection authorities said.