Lee Bowman

Toby had issues. The 4-year-old chow's owners had dispatched him to the municipal shelter in Virginia's King George County for being aggressive with their children. He had skin allergies and wouldn't let anyone near him. Prospects for adoption seemed grim.

But after a few weeks, Toby made friends -- first with one attendant, then with the rest of the shelter staff and King George Animal Rescue League volunteers.

Who knew movie night could offer so many health benefits?

Whether you buy a ticket or rent to watch on the couch, just make sure the screen fare is of the three-hankie genre and that the snack fare includes popcorn and chocolate.

That very combo, according to a trio of new scientific reports, should enhance emotional wellbeing, boost anti-oxidant levels, and help reduce weight.

SOLANA BEACH, Calif. -- Tommy Mallon brought a crowd with him on his most recent trip back to his alma mater, Santa Fe Christian High School here.

Besides his mom and some instructors, the entourage included several dozen dummies, the kind used to practice cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

For many surviving families and friends of suicide victims, the grief of loss is accompanied by shock and guilt.

Babies are dying in places where they should never be laid down to sleep, despite the presence of cribs in their homes, new research presented at a gathering of the nation's pediatricians shows.

WASHINGTON -- With at least 170 million doses of flu vaccine headed to clinics and pharmacies, including two options for the squeamish and a new super shot for the elderly, public health officials are hoping they'll be able to immunize more than half of all Americans this season.

It's the season of hard knocks and hard-nosed tackling, stingers and dingers.

Except this fall, more than ever, the term "dinger" or "bell-ringer" is more likely to be called what it really is: a brain injury.

The thinking on brain trauma clearly is changing, not only in football but all youth sports.