FPPA's annual tradition rolls on with iguanas, coyotes and even a humpback whale cracking the top 10

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What’s the best part of the holiday season? Some would probably say the family get togethers, presents, or the new year, new me optimism. And while we agree that those are great, we’d humbly submit one annual tradition that often gets overlooked: the end-of-year lists.

You see, year-end lists are great because they’re like a real-time time capsule. Like you, we’re all super busy, all the time. So it’s helpful once a year to see what albums, movies, TV shows or video games we might have missed along the way. Plus, without Google’s Year In Search, how else would we know that people Googled meme stocks, y2k(?) and how to pronounce Michael Jackson more than ever before in 2021?

And just like those memes that might have passed under your radar, so too could have our favorite list, the year’s greatest animal rescues.

As we do each year, we spent 2021 highlighting over 100 unusual, funny and downright impressive animal rescues by first responders on our Facebook page. Then, after an exhaustive review process, we determined that those listed below are truly the year’s best. Enjoy!

The 10 Best Animal Rescues of 2021 (In No Particular Order)

When Hampton the Pig Got a Little Help Living His Best Life

When Wile E. Coyote Got *So* Close

When Police Had a Whale of a Time Completing This Rescue

When We Learned About a Porcupine’s Favorite Hobbies

When a k9 Stepped up To Help a Very Good Civilian Doggo

When an Iguana Modeled for One of Our Favorite Photos of the Year

When a Turtle Rescue Turned Into Quite the Reason to Shell-ebrate

When We Learned That Sewer Grates Aren’t Always So, Err… Great

When This Hawkward Rescue Took Place

And Finally, When This Helpful Homeowner Had Just the Right Tool for the Job

Want more animal rescues? Check out our lists from 2020, 2019 and 2018.