Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Retirement party held for cat who spent 17 years as ship's self-appointed rodent control officer
Ever since he was rescued off the streets in 1998, Erik the Red has been patrolling the harbour in Halifax, Canada, and making as many friends as possible. He quickly assumed the position of rodent control officer aboard CSS Acadia, a former surveying vessel at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.
But after a long career, Erik’s days on the docks have finally come to an end. On Sunday, museum staff and members of the public said farewell to their feline friend with a retirement party.
“We are celebrating the retirement of a crew member and co-worker,” said Stephen Read, CSS Acadia’s ship keeper. “His name is Erik the Red, and he is a cat.”
Erik had the job every cat dreams of - hunting down and destroy as many mice as possible. The rodents running wild aboard the Acadia were never safe when Erik was on the scene. “No pest-control company could ever do the kind of job Erik does,” Read said. “There are too many nooks and crannies on this ship. He would eat them (the mice) most of the time. Sometimes a small bit might be missed, and, much like his predecessor, he would occasionally leave some of the choicest bits in the bottom of a shoe, just to say thanks.” Unfortunately, Erik’s health and old age forced him into retirement. He recently had his left eye removed after being diagnosed with melanoma last spring. “Erik has just gotten a little bit too old to be comfortable on board in the winter,” said Read.
“There’s no amount of heat you can pump through the radiators and no amount of sweaters you can put on to really ease the cold and dampness below deck in the wintertime.” Read said Erik is moving to a friend’s house in north-end Halifax and that everyone aboard the Acadia will miss him dearly. “It won’t be the same down here on the waterfront,” he said. “Erik developed the tradition of leaving the ship in the morning to catch the first wave of commuters off the ferry, and no matter what, he would greet those same people on the way back, constantly looking for a treat. He may find the odd field mouse up in the north end, but he won’t have the same company.” Sunday’s celebration made Erik’s final day on the docks a memorable one, and dozens of people showed up to say goodbye. There was cake, sidewalk art, a book reading and even a hotline so people could call in and tell their favourite stories about Erik.
“This was not just to acknowledge his service, or we would have just had a staff party, ” said Read. “It was to acknowledge the fact that he is so popular and has such a tremendous following.” Renate Wegner, one of Erik’s biggest fans, was on board the Acadia to scratch his ears for the last time on Sunday. Wegner and her husband live in New York but spend their summers in Halifax. “We come to the wharf every day, and we met Erik a few years ago,” she said. “He recognised us after a while. We would call him and he would always come. Then we’d sit on a bench, he’d rub around a little bit, we’d talk and I’d give him a couple treats.” Wegner said spending time with Erik always made her days in Halifax enjoyable. “The fact he would remember us year-to-year and always come say hello was really special. There are a lot of people around here that have the same relationship with Erik as we do. We’ll miss him.”
Erik had the job every cat dreams of - hunting down and destroy as many mice as possible. The rodents running wild aboard the Acadia were never safe when Erik was on the scene. “No pest-control company could ever do the kind of job Erik does,” Read said. “There are too many nooks and crannies on this ship. He would eat them (the mice) most of the time. Sometimes a small bit might be missed, and, much like his predecessor, he would occasionally leave some of the choicest bits in the bottom of a shoe, just to say thanks.” Unfortunately, Erik’s health and old age forced him into retirement. He recently had his left eye removed after being diagnosed with melanoma last spring. “Erik has just gotten a little bit too old to be comfortable on board in the winter,” said Read.
“There’s no amount of heat you can pump through the radiators and no amount of sweaters you can put on to really ease the cold and dampness below deck in the wintertime.” Read said Erik is moving to a friend’s house in north-end Halifax and that everyone aboard the Acadia will miss him dearly. “It won’t be the same down here on the waterfront,” he said. “Erik developed the tradition of leaving the ship in the morning to catch the first wave of commuters off the ferry, and no matter what, he would greet those same people on the way back, constantly looking for a treat. He may find the odd field mouse up in the north end, but he won’t have the same company.” Sunday’s celebration made Erik’s final day on the docks a memorable one, and dozens of people showed up to say goodbye. There was cake, sidewalk art, a book reading and even a hotline so people could call in and tell their favourite stories about Erik.
“This was not just to acknowledge his service, or we would have just had a staff party, ” said Read. “It was to acknowledge the fact that he is so popular and has such a tremendous following.” Renate Wegner, one of Erik’s biggest fans, was on board the Acadia to scratch his ears for the last time on Sunday. Wegner and her husband live in New York but spend their summers in Halifax. “We come to the wharf every day, and we met Erik a few years ago,” she said. “He recognised us after a while. We would call him and he would always come. Then we’d sit on a bench, he’d rub around a little bit, we’d talk and I’d give him a couple treats.” Wegner said spending time with Erik always made her days in Halifax enjoyable. “The fact he would remember us year-to-year and always come say hello was really special. There are a lot of people around here that have the same relationship with Erik as we do. We’ll miss him.”
School uniform and unfinished homework left at scene of break-in
A student from Rosebery Middle School in Australia's Northern Territory left behind their uniform and homework after breaking into a house.
A local landlord suspects a group of students from the school are responsible for breaking into his untenanted house.
They broke into the empty house near the school on Friday night, with one student leaving behind a school uniform and several pages of unfinished homework.
“They cut through the fence, then used a rock from the garden to smash through the window,” said the landlord, who asked not to be named. “I think it’s just a case of kids being kids,” he said. “I just think the parents should be aware that if their kid is missing a T-shirt or some homework, they might want to have a chat.” One of the pieces of homework asks students to describe different kinds of social problems, including “global issues”, “political issues” and “social issues”.
“An example of a social issue might be how to reduce violence on our streets,” the assignment says. The landlord said he had not reported the break-in to police. “There’s really nothing (police) can do,” he said. “But the more that people know about it, the more these little kids will need to think twice about what they get up to after school.’ The landlord said the school uniform was XL-sized. “There can’t be too many kids wearing that big a uniform,” he said.
The landlord said he planned to drop the homework assignment off at Rosebery Middle School this week. “It can’t be too hard for the school to narrow down which kid it belongs to,” he said. A Northern Territory police spokesman said all crime should be reported to police, irrespective of how small the incident was. “All crime should be reported, it might be a small part of a bigger picture, it’s important for police to know every piece of the puzzle when it comes to crime in the community,” he said.
“They cut through the fence, then used a rock from the garden to smash through the window,” said the landlord, who asked not to be named. “I think it’s just a case of kids being kids,” he said. “I just think the parents should be aware that if their kid is missing a T-shirt or some homework, they might want to have a chat.” One of the pieces of homework asks students to describe different kinds of social problems, including “global issues”, “political issues” and “social issues”.
“An example of a social issue might be how to reduce violence on our streets,” the assignment says. The landlord said he had not reported the break-in to police. “There’s really nothing (police) can do,” he said. “But the more that people know about it, the more these little kids will need to think twice about what they get up to after school.’ The landlord said the school uniform was XL-sized. “There can’t be too many kids wearing that big a uniform,” he said.
The landlord said he planned to drop the homework assignment off at Rosebery Middle School this week. “It can’t be too hard for the school to narrow down which kid it belongs to,” he said. A Northern Territory police spokesman said all crime should be reported to police, irrespective of how small the incident was. “All crime should be reported, it might be a small part of a bigger picture, it’s important for police to know every piece of the puzzle when it comes to crime in the community,” he said.
Man buried alive when road constructed over him after he accidentally slipped into pothole
A man who slipped and fell into a pothole on his way home was buried alive on Friday as a road was constructed over him in Katni in Madhya Pradesh, India.
The body of 45-year-old Latori Lal was found when villagers spotted his shirt sticking out of a freshly laid patch of road. It appeared that Latori was drunk when he fell into the pit. Road workers filled the crater with tar and it was levelled with a roller without anyone noticing.
Angry villagers targeted the road workers and blocked traffic with protests as the crushed body was taken out. The police say Latori Lal and his wife had gone out and after a fight, he came back alone at around 8pm. When his wife returned an hour later, she found the house locked and no sign of Latori.
YouTube link. YouTube news video in English.
Neighbours and other villagers took torches and joined her in searching for him. When Latori Lal's shirt was spotted, and people realised he had been crushed by a road roller, they rushed to the police station demanding action against the workers. The police and the administration assured that Latori's family would be compensated. A driver and a road worker have been arrested.
The body of 45-year-old Latori Lal was found when villagers spotted his shirt sticking out of a freshly laid patch of road. It appeared that Latori was drunk when he fell into the pit. Road workers filled the crater with tar and it was levelled with a roller without anyone noticing.
Angry villagers targeted the road workers and blocked traffic with protests as the crushed body was taken out. The police say Latori Lal and his wife had gone out and after a fight, he came back alone at around 8pm. When his wife returned an hour later, she found the house locked and no sign of Latori.
YouTube link. YouTube news video in English.
Neighbours and other villagers took torches and joined her in searching for him. When Latori Lal's shirt was spotted, and people realised he had been crushed by a road roller, they rushed to the police station demanding action against the workers. The police and the administration assured that Latori's family would be compensated. A driver and a road worker have been arrested.
Lucky pedestrian narrowly avoided falling sheet of glass
A Saudi man somehow walked away unscathed after a huge sheet of glass grazed his head before exploding on the ground beside him.
CCTV of the incident shows the man stepping out of the building in High Street in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh on August 18.
As the man slowly passes an outside dining area he can be seen looking over his shoulder seconds before the glass pane comes crashing down.
YouTube link. LiveLeak link.
The impact knocked the man down but he quickly stood up, felt his head and put his Ghutra back on his head before walking away as nothing has happened. Two workers then emerged from the building and called him back for a medical checkup.
CCTV of the incident shows the man stepping out of the building in High Street in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh on August 18.
As the man slowly passes an outside dining area he can be seen looking over his shoulder seconds before the glass pane comes crashing down.
YouTube link. LiveLeak link.
The impact knocked the man down but he quickly stood up, felt his head and put his Ghutra back on his head before walking away as nothing has happened. Two workers then emerged from the building and called him back for a medical checkup.
Teenage refugee carried his puppy hundreds of miles
A Syrian refugee who refused to leave his pet puppy behind in the war-torn country has carried the dog more than 300 miles (500 kms) to safety in Greece.
17-year-old Aslan, told the UNHCR he left Damascus with his small Husky, Rose, virtually his only possession.
The teenager made his way to the Greek island of Lesbos, after first reaching Turkey.
YouTube link.
He was told to leave the dog behind, but rather than abandon him, Aslan made him a passport and put him in a carry case. "I love this dog, I need him," he said.
Watch the original UNHCR Facebook video here.
17-year-old Aslan, told the UNHCR he left Damascus with his small Husky, Rose, virtually his only possession.
The teenager made his way to the Greek island of Lesbos, after first reaching Turkey.
YouTube link.
He was told to leave the dog behind, but rather than abandon him, Aslan made him a passport and put him in a carry case. "I love this dog, I need him," he said.
Watch the original UNHCR Facebook video here.
Cat fitted with heart pacemaker at same time as his owner was warned he may need one too
Snooks the cat has been fitted with a tiny heart pacemaker in a unique operation.
Family pet Snooks would collapse eight times a day as his heart stopped beating.
Now, however, he has one of his nine lives back after a team at the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine fitted him with a £3,000 pacemaker. It is the first such device implanted into a cat at the school, said heart specialist Valentina Palermo.
She said: “He had a history of heart blockages over three weeks and collapsed multiple times each day. Giving him a pacemaker was his only chance. We have placed pacemakers many times in dogs but Snooks was the first cat to have a pacemaker at our hospital.”
By coincidence Snooks’ owner, Ian Anderson, 70, from Kilwinning, Ayrshire, underwent treatment at the same time as Snooks. “My heart went into overdrive and Snooks’ heart slowed to a stop,” said Ian. “Snooks got a pacemaker and I was treated with drugs at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock. Doctors warned me I may have to get a pacemaker, too. Neither of us is getting any younger but thankfully there’s treatment for Snooks and me.”
Now, however, he has one of his nine lives back after a team at the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine fitted him with a £3,000 pacemaker. It is the first such device implanted into a cat at the school, said heart specialist Valentina Palermo.
She said: “He had a history of heart blockages over three weeks and collapsed multiple times each day. Giving him a pacemaker was his only chance. We have placed pacemakers many times in dogs but Snooks was the first cat to have a pacemaker at our hospital.”
By coincidence Snooks’ owner, Ian Anderson, 70, from Kilwinning, Ayrshire, underwent treatment at the same time as Snooks. “My heart went into overdrive and Snooks’ heart slowed to a stop,” said Ian. “Snooks got a pacemaker and I was treated with drugs at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock. Doctors warned me I may have to get a pacemaker, too. Neither of us is getting any younger but thankfully there’s treatment for Snooks and me.”
Cocker Spaniel learnt basic Gaelic in 3 weeks
A clever Cocker Spaniel has stunned members of a conversational Gaelic speaking class by mastering the necessary basics, for a dog, of the notoriously difficult-to-learn language in three weeks.
Four-year-old Ginger responds to “suidh” (sit) “fuirich” (stay) and “trobhad” (come here) and understands when his owner, retired Neil Smith, praises him with “cu math” - good boy.
Mr Smith, 67, who is profoundly deaf, said he was amazed by how quickly Ginger, a hearing dog, learned to understand the native tongue of Mr Smith’s great-grandmother. It can take months or even years for people to grasp the tongue.
He credits Ginger, who is an English Cocker Spaniel (working breed), with encouraging him to continue going to weekly Gaelic speaking class classes at Strone Church of Scotland near Dunoon in Argyll. Mr Smith, who lives in Strone, attends the group every Friday along with 23 other people. He said: “”Ginger learned Gaelic because he has been coming with me to the drop-in centre and I thought it would be good fun. He has picked it up really quickly - it only took him about three weeks. It is great because I can show off that he is a bi-lingual dog - people think it is amazing that he can do that and it is a wee bit of added interest to the class.”
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Right Rev Dr Angus Morrison, who has officially announced that the group had changed its name from Strone Gaelic drop-in centre to Ionad na Ceilidhe - the meeting place to talk - said he was “very impressed” by Ginger’s grasp of the language that he also speaks. Dr Morrison said: “It is great to see an older person enjoying such a good relationship with his dog where Gaelic is the medium of communication.” Elma McArthur, who grew up in Tiree in the Inner Hebrides but now lives in Dunoon and leads the conversation class, said she, also, was impressed by the speed Ginger had picked up the complex language.
YouTube link.
She said: “He is a very, sharp clever dog. I have never heard of a dog learning it as a second language before.” Mr Smith said Ginger’s “unique” ability had encouraged him to continue his studies. He said: “He has given me a lot of confidence because I used to be a very shy person and often felt quite isolated in company, even with family and friends.” Mr Smith said his deafness meant he tended to shy away from conversations but Ginger had “broken down barriers” for him. He said: “Going to the Gaelic class gets me out and about to meet people and I have always wanted to learn the language because my great-grandmother spoke it but it was not passed down through the family. Ginger is helping to lead a family revival.”
He credits Ginger, who is an English Cocker Spaniel (working breed), with encouraging him to continue going to weekly Gaelic speaking class classes at Strone Church of Scotland near Dunoon in Argyll. Mr Smith, who lives in Strone, attends the group every Friday along with 23 other people. He said: “”Ginger learned Gaelic because he has been coming with me to the drop-in centre and I thought it would be good fun. He has picked it up really quickly - it only took him about three weeks. It is great because I can show off that he is a bi-lingual dog - people think it is amazing that he can do that and it is a wee bit of added interest to the class.”
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Right Rev Dr Angus Morrison, who has officially announced that the group had changed its name from Strone Gaelic drop-in centre to Ionad na Ceilidhe - the meeting place to talk - said he was “very impressed” by Ginger’s grasp of the language that he also speaks. Dr Morrison said: “It is great to see an older person enjoying such a good relationship with his dog where Gaelic is the medium of communication.” Elma McArthur, who grew up in Tiree in the Inner Hebrides but now lives in Dunoon and leads the conversation class, said she, also, was impressed by the speed Ginger had picked up the complex language.
YouTube link.
She said: “He is a very, sharp clever dog. I have never heard of a dog learning it as a second language before.” Mr Smith said Ginger’s “unique” ability had encouraged him to continue his studies. He said: “He has given me a lot of confidence because I used to be a very shy person and often felt quite isolated in company, even with family and friends.” Mr Smith said his deafness meant he tended to shy away from conversations but Ginger had “broken down barriers” for him. He said: “Going to the Gaelic class gets me out and about to meet people and I have always wanted to learn the language because my great-grandmother spoke it but it was not passed down through the family. Ginger is helping to lead a family revival.”
Children’s playground equipment fetish man banned from visiting anywhere that has a slide
A man with a fetish for children’s playground equipment has been banned from going anywhere that has a slide. Coventry
Christopher Johnson, aged 46, of Stoke in Coventry, was arrested after simulating a sexual act with a slide at Stoke Green Park.
He pleaded guilty at Coventry Magistrates Court to outraging public decency by behaving in an indecent manner and received a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order. The order bans him from attending any location, including parks, leisure centres, swimming baths, lidos or recreation grounds were there is a slide.
Johnson also received a three-year community order, which includes having sex offender treatment for 18 months, and a rehabilitation activity requirement. He was fined £55 and had to pay a £60 victim surcharge, £85 costs and a £180 criminal courts charge.
Police were called to Stoke Green Park at 10.45pm on Wednesday, August 18, after four people spotted what he was doing. The court heard Johnson had a previous conviction for a similar offence. On July 1 last year, Johnson outraged public decency by undressing and performing a sexual act on the top of a slide at Coundon Hall Park in Waste Lane, Keresley.
He pleaded guilty at Coventry Magistrates Court to outraging public decency by behaving in an indecent manner and received a three-year Criminal Behaviour Order. The order bans him from attending any location, including parks, leisure centres, swimming baths, lidos or recreation grounds were there is a slide.
Johnson also received a three-year community order, which includes having sex offender treatment for 18 months, and a rehabilitation activity requirement. He was fined £55 and had to pay a £60 victim surcharge, £85 costs and a £180 criminal courts charge.
Police were called to Stoke Green Park at 10.45pm on Wednesday, August 18, after four people spotted what he was doing. The court heard Johnson had a previous conviction for a similar offence. On July 1 last year, Johnson outraged public decency by undressing and performing a sexual act on the top of a slide at Coundon Hall Park in Waste Lane, Keresley.
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