Photos: Memorable animal stories of 2014

Santa Ana Police Department Animal Services officials recovered dead and alive snakes from a home in January. After discovering about 400 snakes in the residence, Santa Ana police arrested 53-year-old William Fredrick Buchman on animal cruelty charges.  (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

The Los Angeles Zoo held a media debut for their newest star, a 50-pound hippopotamus born at the zoo in November. The newborn was a “happy surprise,” especially since mother Mara was on birth control, officials said.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Businessman Carlos Wong is shown with staff members and Simone the cat during the Kickstarter opening of the Catfe (Cat Cafe) in Chinatown on Oct. 2. It was a four-day pop-up shop, where feline fanatics could sit in a room full of cats, sip coffee and eat snacks.  (Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)

Frida, a Chihuahua mix, became San Francisco’s dog mayor for a day, after her owner’s bid for the honor at an anniversary gala for the city’s Department of Animal Care and Control. Frida is popular on social media and a regular participant at the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.  (Josh Norem / The Furrtographer)