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Fire at Los Angeles strip mall kills 17 cats at pet hotel
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Publishing date:Sep 17, 2022 • 16 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
LOS ANGELES — Seventeen cats were killed at a Los Angeles pet hotel and a firefighter was injured early Saturday when a blaze ripped through a strip mall where the facility is located, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
More than 120 firefighters were dispatched to the blaze in the Palms neighborhood of Los Angeles after a passerby reported the fire around 5:45 a.m., said Brian Humphrey, a fire department spokesperson.
The fire was confined to a few structures but heavy smoke poured through adjacent businesses including the pet hotel called Cat Place LA, Humphrey said.
“Sadly 17 cats perished at the scene. Two were rescued and saved,” said Humphrey, who said firefighters tried but to revive the stricken cats but were ultimately unsuccessful.
The two cats that survived were given to the facility’s owner and put in veterinary care. Their condition was not known, he said. A message left with the pet hotel was not immediately returned.
There were no civilian injuries and the cause of the blaze was not known. The injured firefighter was taken to a nearby hospital and was expected to survive, Humphrey said.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Publishing date:Sep 17, 2022 • 16 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
LOS ANGELES — Seventeen cats were killed at a Los Angeles pet hotel and a firefighter was injured early Saturday when a blaze ripped through a strip mall where the facility is located, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
More than 120 firefighters were dispatched to the blaze in the Palms neighborhood of Los Angeles after a passerby reported the fire around 5:45 a.m., said Brian Humphrey, a fire department spokesperson.
The fire was confined to a few structures but heavy smoke poured through adjacent businesses including the pet hotel called Cat Place LA, Humphrey said.
“Sadly 17 cats perished at the scene. Two were rescued and saved,” said Humphrey, who said firefighters tried but to revive the stricken cats but were ultimately unsuccessful.
The two cats that survived were given to the facility’s owner and put in veterinary care. Their condition was not known, he said. A message left with the pet hotel was not immediately returned.
There were no civilian injuries and the cause of the blaze was not known. The injured firefighter was taken to a nearby hospital and was expected to survive, Humphrey said.
Fire at Los Angeles strip mall kills 17 cats at pet hotel
Seventeen cats were killed at a Los Angeles pet hotel and a firefighter was injured early Saturday when a blaze ripped through a strip mall.
Bill Blaikie, who served as NDP MP for nearly 30 years, dies
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Publishing date:Sep 24, 2022 • 15 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation
WINNIPEG — Manitoba politician Bill Blaikie, who spent nearly 30 years as a member of Parliament with the federal New Democrats, has died.
His son, NDP Finance Critic Daniel Blaikie, posted a family statement on social media saying his father died Saturday at home in the presence of his wife, Brenda.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, in a condolence message to Blaikie’s family, called the former MP a “giant” in the party.
“His unwavering commitment to social and economic justice, his legendary knowledge of Parliament, and his sense of humour will be missed by all,” Singh posted to social media.
“Rest in power Bill.”
Blaikie, an ordained United Church minister, also held a position as an adjunct professor in theology at the University of Winnipeg.
He was voted Parliamentarian of the Year by his fellow MPs, due largely to his reputation as a hard worker who avoided partisan cheap shots in debates.
In 2003, he lost his bid for leadership of the federal party to Jack Layton in a contest that pitted Layton and the trendy new left against Blaikie and the traditional, Prairie populist wing.
Blaikie finished his parliamentary career as deputy Speaker of the Commons, explaining he retired from federal politics because he did not want to continue commuting between Winnipeg and Ottawa.
His switch to provincial politics caught many off guard, some party insiders remarked at the time. He said he sought the nomination after former Manitoba NDP premier Gary Doer asked him to consider it when a member of Doer’s caucus quit to run for Blaikie’s vacated federal seat.
Former NDP MP Pat Martin lauded Blaikie as the first to raise the issue of climate change in the House of Commons back in 1983.
Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew called Blaikie a “lion” of the party.
“He fought with passion, intelligence and faith for working people in Transcona and across the country,” Kinew posted on Twitter.
“The Blaikie family has been so good to us, on behalf of our movement we send you our deepest condolences.”
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Publishing date:Sep 24, 2022 • 15 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation
WINNIPEG — Manitoba politician Bill Blaikie, who spent nearly 30 years as a member of Parliament with the federal New Democrats, has died.
His son, NDP Finance Critic Daniel Blaikie, posted a family statement on social media saying his father died Saturday at home in the presence of his wife, Brenda.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, in a condolence message to Blaikie’s family, called the former MP a “giant” in the party.
“His unwavering commitment to social and economic justice, his legendary knowledge of Parliament, and his sense of humour will be missed by all,” Singh posted to social media.
“Rest in power Bill.”
Blaikie, an ordained United Church minister, also held a position as an adjunct professor in theology at the University of Winnipeg.
He was voted Parliamentarian of the Year by his fellow MPs, due largely to his reputation as a hard worker who avoided partisan cheap shots in debates.
In 2003, he lost his bid for leadership of the federal party to Jack Layton in a contest that pitted Layton and the trendy new left against Blaikie and the traditional, Prairie populist wing.
Blaikie finished his parliamentary career as deputy Speaker of the Commons, explaining he retired from federal politics because he did not want to continue commuting between Winnipeg and Ottawa.
His switch to provincial politics caught many off guard, some party insiders remarked at the time. He said he sought the nomination after former Manitoba NDP premier Gary Doer asked him to consider it when a member of Doer’s caucus quit to run for Blaikie’s vacated federal seat.
Former NDP MP Pat Martin lauded Blaikie as the first to raise the issue of climate change in the House of Commons back in 1983.
Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew called Blaikie a “lion” of the party.
“He fought with passion, intelligence and faith for working people in Transcona and across the country,” Kinew posted on Twitter.
“The Blaikie family has been so good to us, on behalf of our movement we send you our deepest condolences.”
Bill Blaikie, who served as NDP MP for nearly 30 years, dies
Manitoba politician Bill Blaikie, who spent nearly 30 years as a Member of Parliament with the federal New Democrats, has died.
California tree trimmer killed after falling into wood chipper
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Publishing date:Oct 12, 2022 • 1 day ago • < 1 minute read • Join the conversation
MENLO PARK, Calif. — A tree trimmer was killed Tuesday in the San Francisco Bay Area after he fell into a wood chipper, authorities said.
The man, whose name has not been released, was working in the city of Menlo Park shortly before 1 p.m. when he fell, police said.
Officers arrived to find the man dead from injuries sustained after his fall. The state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating the man’s death.
Menlo Park is about 25 miles (40.23 kilometres) south of San Francisco.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Publishing date:Oct 12, 2022 • 1 day ago • < 1 minute read • Join the conversation
MENLO PARK, Calif. — A tree trimmer was killed Tuesday in the San Francisco Bay Area after he fell into a wood chipper, authorities said.
The man, whose name has not been released, was working in the city of Menlo Park shortly before 1 p.m. when he fell, police said.
Officers arrived to find the man dead from injuries sustained after his fall. The state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating the man’s death.
Menlo Park is about 25 miles (40.23 kilometres) south of San Francisco.
California tree trimmer killed after falling into wood chipper
A tree trimmer was killed Tuesday in the San Francisco Bay Area after he fell into a wood chipper, authorities said.
477 whales die in 'heartbreaking' New Zealand strandings
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Nick Perry
Publishing date:Oct 12, 2022 • 23 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation
This handout photograph taken on October 8, 2022 shows the carcasses of stranded pilot whales, some of hundreds that were found beached, on the west coast of New Zealand's remote Chatham Islands.
This handout photograph taken on October 8, 2022 shows the carcasses of stranded pilot whales, some of hundreds that were found beached, on the west coast of New Zealand's remote Chatham Islands. PHOTO BY TAMZIN HENDERSON /AFP via Getty Images
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Some 477 pilot whales have died after stranding themselves on two remote New Zealand beaches over recent days, officials say.
None of the stranded whales could be refloated and all either died naturally or were euthanized in a “heartbreaking” loss, said Daren Grover, the general manager of Project Jonah, a nonprofit group which helps rescue whales.
The whales beached themselves on the Chatham Islands, which are home to about 600 people and located about 800 kilometres (500 miles) east of New Zealand’s main islands.
The Department of Conservation said 232 whales stranded themselves Friday at Tupuangi Beach and another 245 at Waihere Bay on Monday.
The deaths come two weeks after about 200 pilot whales died in Australia after stranding themselves on a remote Tasmanian beach.
“These events are tough, challenging situations,” the Department of Conservation wrote in a Facebook post. “Although they are natural occurrences, they are still sad and difficult for those helping.”
Grover said the remote location and presence of sharks in the surrounding waters meant they couldn’t mobilize volunteers to try to refloat the whales as they have in past stranding events.
“We do not actively refloat whales on the Chatham Islands due to the risk of shark attack to humans and the whales themselves, so euthanasia was the kindest option,” said Dave Lundquist, a technical marine advisor for the conservation department.
Mass strandings of pilot whales are reasonably common in New Zealand, especially during the summer months. Scientists don’t know exactly what causes the whales to strand, although it appears their location systems can get confused by gently sloping sandy beaches.
Grover said there is a lot of food for the whales around the Chatham Islands, and as they swim closer to land, they would quickly find themselves going from very deep to shallow water.
“They rely on their echolocation and yet it doesn’t tell them that they are running out of water,” Grover said. “They come closer and closer to shore and become disoriented. The tide can then drop from below them and before they know it, they’re stranded on the beach.”
Because of the remote location of the beaches, the whale carcasses won’t be buried or towed out to sea, as is often the case, but instead will be left to decompose, Grover said.
“Nature is a great recycler and all the energy stored within the bodies of all the whales will be returned to nature quite quickly,” he said.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Nick Perry
Publishing date:Oct 12, 2022 • 23 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation
This handout photograph taken on October 8, 2022 shows the carcasses of stranded pilot whales, some of hundreds that were found beached, on the west coast of New Zealand's remote Chatham Islands.
This handout photograph taken on October 8, 2022 shows the carcasses of stranded pilot whales, some of hundreds that were found beached, on the west coast of New Zealand's remote Chatham Islands. PHOTO BY TAMZIN HENDERSON /AFP via Getty Images
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Some 477 pilot whales have died after stranding themselves on two remote New Zealand beaches over recent days, officials say.
None of the stranded whales could be refloated and all either died naturally or were euthanized in a “heartbreaking” loss, said Daren Grover, the general manager of Project Jonah, a nonprofit group which helps rescue whales.
The whales beached themselves on the Chatham Islands, which are home to about 600 people and located about 800 kilometres (500 miles) east of New Zealand’s main islands.
The Department of Conservation said 232 whales stranded themselves Friday at Tupuangi Beach and another 245 at Waihere Bay on Monday.
The deaths come two weeks after about 200 pilot whales died in Australia after stranding themselves on a remote Tasmanian beach.
“These events are tough, challenging situations,” the Department of Conservation wrote in a Facebook post. “Although they are natural occurrences, they are still sad and difficult for those helping.”
Grover said the remote location and presence of sharks in the surrounding waters meant they couldn’t mobilize volunteers to try to refloat the whales as they have in past stranding events.
“We do not actively refloat whales on the Chatham Islands due to the risk of shark attack to humans and the whales themselves, so euthanasia was the kindest option,” said Dave Lundquist, a technical marine advisor for the conservation department.
Mass strandings of pilot whales are reasonably common in New Zealand, especially during the summer months. Scientists don’t know exactly what causes the whales to strand, although it appears their location systems can get confused by gently sloping sandy beaches.
Grover said there is a lot of food for the whales around the Chatham Islands, and as they swim closer to land, they would quickly find themselves going from very deep to shallow water.
“They rely on their echolocation and yet it doesn’t tell them that they are running out of water,” Grover said. “They come closer and closer to shore and become disoriented. The tide can then drop from below them and before they know it, they’re stranded on the beach.”
Because of the remote location of the beaches, the whale carcasses won’t be buried or towed out to sea, as is often the case, but instead will be left to decompose, Grover said.
“Nature is a great recycler and all the energy stored within the bodies of all the whales will be returned to nature quite quickly,” he said.
477 whales die in 'heartbreaking' New Zealand strandings
Some 477 pilot whales have died after stranding themselves on two remote New Zealand beaches over recent days, officials say.
California tree trimmer killed after falling into wood chipper
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Publishing date:Oct 12, 2022 • 1 day ago • < 1 minute read • Join the conversation
MENLO PARK, Calif. — A tree trimmer was killed Tuesday in the San Francisco Bay Area after he fell into a wood chipper, authorities said.
The man, whose name has not been released, was working in the city of Menlo Park shortly before 1 p.m. when he fell, police said.
Officers arrived to find the man dead from injuries sustained after his fall. The state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating the man’s death.
Menlo Park is about 25 miles (40.23 kilometres) south of San Francisco.
California tree trimmer killed after falling into wood chipper
A tree trimmer was killed Tuesday in the San Francisco Bay Area after he fell into a wood chipper, authorities said.
Southwestern Ontario mayoral candidate dies
Donald E. Tedford’s name remains on the voting ballot as they cannot be revised
Author of the article:Rob Gowan • The Sun Times
Publishing date:Oct 17, 2022 • 17 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation
A candidate running for mayor in a municipality near Kincardine has died.
“It is with sadness that we learn that Donald E. Tedford, a candidate for the position of mayor, has passed away,” the Town of South Bruce Peninsula posted on its website on Monday. “We send our condolences to Mr. Tedford’s family.”
In the notice, the town said Tedford’s name remains on the voting ballot, as the ballots were already set and cannot be revised “at this late stage in the election process.”
Online and telephone voting for the municipal and school board election began on Monday in South Bruce Peninsula. Voting closes at 8 p.m. on Oct. 24.
“As Mr. Tedford’s passing does not create an acclamation for mayor, the election will continue with the remaining two candidates,” the notice read.
The municipality has a population of nearly 6,000 and is southeast of Kincardine in Bruce County,
Incumbent Mayor Janice Jackson is running again for the position, and is being challenged by Garry Michi.
Both Jackson and Michi posted statements to social media following Tedford’s death.
Jackson posted to social media that Tedford “was a great guy, an incredibly nice man and I’m stunned this has happened.”
“He and Deputy Mayor Kirkland were good friends and I know Jay is winded by this news,” Jackson wrote. “On behalf of my council and our staff, I want to send our deepest condolences to Donna and the family. We are all mourning your loss. I’m so deeply sorry.”
Michi also posted to social media that he was “deeply saddened” to hear of Tedford’s passing.
“Although I did not know him well, we shared many of the same ideas for this community, and I have a lot of respect for how he conducted himself always with dignity and class. My sincerest condolences to Donna and the rest of the Tedford family in this time.”
Tedford was the director of development and the chief building official with the town of Hanover, a position he has held since 1995, according to his campaign website. He was awarded the lifetime achievement award by the Ontario Building Officials Association in 2007.
He also operated Donald E. Tedford and Associates since 1990, providing building code and zoning services and consulting to municipalities, residents and businesses in the construction industry, the website said
He had previously been employed as CBO with the Township of Amabel and served as a trustee on the Bruce County school board from 1985 to 1997.
In a news release issued by South Bruce Peninsula, it said Mr. Tedford recently worked for the town on a part-time basis in the capacity of CBO.
“Don’s knowledge and kind spirit will be missed by many,” the release said.
torontosun.com
Donald E. Tedford’s name remains on the voting ballot as they cannot be revised
Author of the article:Rob Gowan • The Sun Times
Publishing date:Oct 17, 2022 • 17 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation
A candidate running for mayor in a municipality near Kincardine has died.
“It is with sadness that we learn that Donald E. Tedford, a candidate for the position of mayor, has passed away,” the Town of South Bruce Peninsula posted on its website on Monday. “We send our condolences to Mr. Tedford’s family.”
In the notice, the town said Tedford’s name remains on the voting ballot, as the ballots were already set and cannot be revised “at this late stage in the election process.”
Online and telephone voting for the municipal and school board election began on Monday in South Bruce Peninsula. Voting closes at 8 p.m. on Oct. 24.
“As Mr. Tedford’s passing does not create an acclamation for mayor, the election will continue with the remaining two candidates,” the notice read.
The municipality has a population of nearly 6,000 and is southeast of Kincardine in Bruce County,
Incumbent Mayor Janice Jackson is running again for the position, and is being challenged by Garry Michi.
Both Jackson and Michi posted statements to social media following Tedford’s death.
Jackson posted to social media that Tedford “was a great guy, an incredibly nice man and I’m stunned this has happened.”
“He and Deputy Mayor Kirkland were good friends and I know Jay is winded by this news,” Jackson wrote. “On behalf of my council and our staff, I want to send our deepest condolences to Donna and the family. We are all mourning your loss. I’m so deeply sorry.”
Michi also posted to social media that he was “deeply saddened” to hear of Tedford’s passing.
“Although I did not know him well, we shared many of the same ideas for this community, and I have a lot of respect for how he conducted himself always with dignity and class. My sincerest condolences to Donna and the rest of the Tedford family in this time.”
Tedford was the director of development and the chief building official with the town of Hanover, a position he has held since 1995, according to his campaign website. He was awarded the lifetime achievement award by the Ontario Building Officials Association in 2007.
He also operated Donald E. Tedford and Associates since 1990, providing building code and zoning services and consulting to municipalities, residents and businesses in the construction industry, the website said
He had previously been employed as CBO with the Township of Amabel and served as a trustee on the Bruce County school board from 1985 to 1997.
In a news release issued by South Bruce Peninsula, it said Mr. Tedford recently worked for the town on a part-time basis in the capacity of CBO.
“Don’s knowledge and kind spirit will be missed by many,” the release said.
Southwestern Ontario mayoral candidate dies
A candidate running for mayor in a municipality near Kincardine has died.
its unfortunate that votes will be wasted.Southwestern Ontario mayoral candidate dies
Donald E. Tedford’s name remains on the voting ballot as they cannot be revised
Author of the article:Rob Gowan • The Sun Times
Publishing date:Oct 17, 2022 • 17 hours ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation
A candidate running for mayor in a municipality near Kincardine has died.
“It is with sadness that we learn that Donald E. Tedford, a candidate for the position of mayor, has passed away,” the Town of South Bruce Peninsula posted on its website on Monday. “We send our condolences to Mr. Tedford’s family.”
In the notice, the town said Tedford’s name remains on the voting ballot, as the ballots were already set and cannot be revised “at this late stage in the election process.”
Online and telephone voting for the municipal and school board election began on Monday in South Bruce Peninsula. Voting closes at 8 p.m. on Oct. 24.
“As Mr. Tedford’s passing does not create an acclamation for mayor, the election will continue with the remaining two candidates,” the notice read.
The municipality has a population of nearly 6,000 and is southeast of Kincardine in Bruce County,
Incumbent Mayor Janice Jackson is running again for the position, and is being challenged by Garry Michi.
Both Jackson and Michi posted statements to social media following Tedford’s death.
Jackson posted to social media that Tedford “was a great guy, an incredibly nice man and I’m stunned this has happened.”
“He and Deputy Mayor Kirkland were good friends and I know Jay is winded by this news,” Jackson wrote. “On behalf of my council and our staff, I want to send our deepest condolences to Donna and the family. We are all mourning your loss. I’m so deeply sorry.”
Michi also posted to social media that he was “deeply saddened” to hear of Tedford’s passing.
“Although I did not know him well, we shared many of the same ideas for this community, and I have a lot of respect for how he conducted himself always with dignity and class. My sincerest condolences to Donna and the rest of the Tedford family in this time.”
Tedford was the director of development and the chief building official with the town of Hanover, a position he has held since 1995, according to his campaign website. He was awarded the lifetime achievement award by the Ontario Building Officials Association in 2007.
He also operated Donald E. Tedford and Associates since 1990, providing building code and zoning services and consulting to municipalities, residents and businesses in the construction industry, the website said
He had previously been employed as CBO with the Township of Amabel and served as a trustee on the Bruce County school board from 1985 to 1997.
In a news release issued by South Bruce Peninsula, it said Mr. Tedford recently worked for the town on a part-time basis in the capacity of CBO.
“Don’s knowledge and kind spirit will be missed by many,” the release said.
Southwestern Ontario mayoral candidate dies
A candidate running for mayor in a municipality near Kincardine has died.
Bus-riding dog who took herself to park mourned
Seattle's public transportation system celebrated its famous pawed passenger with a music video for the song "Bus Doggy Dog."
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Jonathan Edwards
Publishing date:Oct 18, 2022 • 19 hours ago • 2 minute read • 7 Comments
Eclipse gets some pets from fellow bus riders. (Courtesy Jeff Young/Washington Post)
Eclipse gets some pets from fellow bus riders. (Courtesy Jeff Young/Washington Post)
The most unusual passenger on Seattle public transit never rode the bus for long, just a few stops. She sometimes dozed during her short journeys, drooping her head onto the laps of strangers who never seemed to mind. Approaching her stop, she banged on the door in anticipation.
And other riders loved her for it.
But Seattle’s buses will no longer carry perhaps their most famous passenger. Eclipse, the black Lab-bullmastiff mix who achieved fame by riding to the park alone, died Friday. She was 10.
Eclipse started getting attention in early 2015 when she slipped aboard her usual bus while her owner, Jeff Young, was finishing a cigarette, unaware she had proceeded without him, he said. Guided only by habit, she exited at the correct stop and was very much enjoying herself at the dog park when Young, relieved from his panic, found her.
After that, Eclipse became a regular commuter, taking two to three solo trips to the dog park each week, looking out the window to make sure she didn’t miss her stop.
Stardom soon followed. A local radio host noticed her get off the bus without an owner, which led to an on-air segment which, in turn, piqued the interest of Seattle TV station KOMO. National media coverage followed, and the internet did the rest.
Seattle’s public transportation system, King County Metro, quickly celebrated its newly famous pawed passenger, making a highly produced music video for the song “Bus Doggy Dog.” It closed with a tagline: “Get around like Eclipse. Plan your next trip.”
Young also leaned into his pet’s newfound fame, creating a public-figure Facebook page for “Eclipse Seattle’s Bus Riding Dog” where he shared Eclipse updates with her followers, which on Monday numbered 122,000. In 2016, Young co-wrote a children’s book titled “Dog on Board: The True Story of Eclipse, the Bus-Riding Dog.” And over the years, he and Eclipse acquired loads of swag – leashes, treats, harnesses.
“It just goes on and on and on,” Young said.
But stripped of the hoopla, their relationship at its core was that of a human and his dog – best friends, he said. Young got Eclipse when she was a 10-week-old puppy. He said they have spent all but three nights together in the nearly 11 years since.
Then on Wednesday, Young announced on Eclipse’s Facebook page that the vet had found cancerous tumours. He implored her fans to send “spare vibes” their way.
Two days later, he had bad news: Eclipse had died overnight in her sleep.
“She’s gone, and I miss her, and it really sucks,” he told The Washington Post.
King County Metro replied to Young’s announcement, offering condolences.
“Eclipse was a super sweet, world-famous, bus riding dog and true Seattle icon,” the agency wrote on Twitter. “You brought joy and happiness to everyone and showed us all that good dogs belong on the bus.”
facebook.com
torontosun.com
Seattle's public transportation system celebrated its famous pawed passenger with a music video for the song "Bus Doggy Dog."
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Jonathan Edwards
Publishing date:Oct 18, 2022 • 19 hours ago • 2 minute read • 7 Comments
Eclipse gets some pets from fellow bus riders. (Courtesy Jeff Young/Washington Post)
Eclipse gets some pets from fellow bus riders. (Courtesy Jeff Young/Washington Post)
The most unusual passenger on Seattle public transit never rode the bus for long, just a few stops. She sometimes dozed during her short journeys, drooping her head onto the laps of strangers who never seemed to mind. Approaching her stop, she banged on the door in anticipation.
And other riders loved her for it.
But Seattle’s buses will no longer carry perhaps their most famous passenger. Eclipse, the black Lab-bullmastiff mix who achieved fame by riding to the park alone, died Friday. She was 10.
Eclipse started getting attention in early 2015 when she slipped aboard her usual bus while her owner, Jeff Young, was finishing a cigarette, unaware she had proceeded without him, he said. Guided only by habit, she exited at the correct stop and was very much enjoying herself at the dog park when Young, relieved from his panic, found her.
After that, Eclipse became a regular commuter, taking two to three solo trips to the dog park each week, looking out the window to make sure she didn’t miss her stop.
Stardom soon followed. A local radio host noticed her get off the bus without an owner, which led to an on-air segment which, in turn, piqued the interest of Seattle TV station KOMO. National media coverage followed, and the internet did the rest.
Seattle’s public transportation system, King County Metro, quickly celebrated its newly famous pawed passenger, making a highly produced music video for the song “Bus Doggy Dog.” It closed with a tagline: “Get around like Eclipse. Plan your next trip.”
Young also leaned into his pet’s newfound fame, creating a public-figure Facebook page for “Eclipse Seattle’s Bus Riding Dog” where he shared Eclipse updates with her followers, which on Monday numbered 122,000. In 2016, Young co-wrote a children’s book titled “Dog on Board: The True Story of Eclipse, the Bus-Riding Dog.” And over the years, he and Eclipse acquired loads of swag – leashes, treats, harnesses.
“It just goes on and on and on,” Young said.
But stripped of the hoopla, their relationship at its core was that of a human and his dog – best friends, he said. Young got Eclipse when she was a 10-week-old puppy. He said they have spent all but three nights together in the nearly 11 years since.
Then on Wednesday, Young announced on Eclipse’s Facebook page that the vet had found cancerous tumours. He implored her fans to send “spare vibes” their way.
Two days later, he had bad news: Eclipse had died overnight in her sleep.
“She’s gone, and I miss her, and it really sucks,” he told The Washington Post.
King County Metro replied to Young’s announcement, offering condolences.
“Eclipse was a super sweet, world-famous, bus riding dog and true Seattle icon,” the agency wrote on Twitter. “You brought joy and happiness to everyone and showed us all that good dogs belong on the bus.”
Eclipse Seattle's Bus Riding Dog
Eclipse Seattle's Bus Riding Dog, Seattle, Washington. 107,305 likes · 129 talking about this. I'm Eclipse, 1/2 Mastiff 1/2 Black lab and totally Urbanized🐾💥🏭 I'm 10 years old . Sleeping*
facebook.com
'SEATTLE ICON': Bus-riding dog who took herself to park mourned
Seattle's public transportation system celebrated its famous pawed passenger with a music video for the song "Bus Doggy Dog."
11 more crash deaths in U.S. linked to automated-tech vehicles
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Tom Krisher
Publishing date:Oct 18, 2022 • 9 hours ago • 4 minute read • Join the conversation
DETROIT — Eleven people were killed in U.S. crashes involving vehicles that were using automated driving systems during a four-month period earlier this year, according to newly released government data, part of an alarming pattern of incidents linked to the technology.
Ten of the deaths involved vehicles made by Tesla, though it is unclear from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s data whether the technology itself was at fault or whether driver error might have been responsible.
The 11th death involved a Ford pickup. The automaker said it has to report fatal crashes to the government quickly, but it later determined that the truck was not equipped with its partially automated driving system.
The deaths included four crashes involving motorcycles that occurred during the spring and summer: two in Florida and one each in California and Utah. Safety advocates note that the deaths of motorcyclists in crashes involving Tesla vehicles using automated driver-assist systems such as Autopilot have been increasing.
The new fatal crashes are documented in a database that NHTSA is building in an effort to broadly assess the safety of automated driving systems, which, led by Tesla, have been growing in use. Tesla alone has more than 830,000 vehicles on U.S. roads with the systems. The agency is requiring auto and tech companies to report all crashes involving self-driving vehicles as well as autos with driver assist systems that can take over some driving tasks from people.
The 11 new fatal crashes, reported from mid-May through September, were included in statistics that the agency released Monday. In June, the agency released data it had collected from July of last year through May 15.
The figures that were released in June showed that six people died in crashes involving the automated systems, and five were seriously hurt. Of the deaths, five occurred in Teslas and one a Ford. In each case, the database says that advanced driver assist systems were in use at the time of the crash.
Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, said he is baffled by NHTSA’s continued investigations and by what he called a general lack of action since problems with Autopilot began surfacing back in 2016.
“I think there’s a pretty clear pattern of bad behavior on the part of Tesla when it comes to obeying the edicts of the (federal) safety act, and NHTSA is just sitting there,” he said. “How many more deaths do we need to see of motorcyclists?”
Brooks noted that the Tesla crashes are victimizing more people who are not in the Tesla vehicles.
“You’re seeing innocent people who had no choice in the matter being killed or injured,” he said.
A message was left Tuesday seeking a response from NHTSA.
Tesla’s crash number may appear elevated because it uses telematics to monitor its vehicles and obtain real-time crash reports. Other automakers lack such capability, so their crash reports may emerge more slowly or may not be reported at all, NHTSA has said.
NHTSA has been investigating Autopilot since August of last year after a string of crashes since 2018 in which Teslas collided with emergency vehicles parked along roadways with flashing lights on. That investigation moved a step closer to a recall in June, when it was upgraded to what is called an engineering analysis.
In documents, the agency raised questions about the system, finding that the technology was being used in areas where its capabilities are limited and that many drivers weren’t taking steps to avoid crashes despite warnings from the vehicle.
NHTSA also reported that it has documented 16 crashes in which vehicles with automated systems in use hit emergency vehicles and trucks that were displaying warning signs, causing 15 injuries and one death.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which also has investigated some of the Tesla crashes dating to 2016, has recommended that NHTSA and Tesla limit Autopilot’s use to areas where it can safely operate. The NTSB also recommended that NHTSA require Tesla to improve its systems to ensure that drivers are paying attention. NHTSA has yet to act on the recommendations. (The NTSB can make only recommendations to other federal agencies.)
Messages were left Tuesday seeking comment from Tesla. At the company’s artificial intelligence day in September, CEO Elon Musk asserted that, based on the rate of crashes and total miles driven, Tesla’s automated systems were safer than human drivers — a notion that some safety experts dispute.
“At the point of which you believe that adding autonomy reduces injury and death, I think you have a moral obligation to deploy it,” Musk said. “Even though you’re going to get sued and blamed by a lot of people. Because the people whose lives you saved don’t know that their lives were saved. And the people who do occasionally die or get injured, they definitely know, or their state does, that it was, whatever, there was a problem with Autopilot.”
Teslas with automated systems have driven more than 3 million vehicles on the road, Musk said.
“That’s a lot of miles driven every day. And it’s not going to be perfect. But what matters is that it is very clearly safer than not deploying it.”
In addition to Autopilot, Tesla sells “Full Self-Driving” systems, though it says the vehicles cannot drive themselves and that motorists must be ready to intervene at all times.
The number of deaths involving automated vehicles is small compared with the overall number of traffic deaths in the U.S. Nearly 43,000 people were killed on U.S. roads last year, the highest number in 16 years, after Americans returned to the roads as the pandemic eased. Authorities blamed reckless behavior such as speeding and driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol for much of the increase.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Tom Krisher
Publishing date:Oct 18, 2022 • 9 hours ago • 4 minute read • Join the conversation
DETROIT — Eleven people were killed in U.S. crashes involving vehicles that were using automated driving systems during a four-month period earlier this year, according to newly released government data, part of an alarming pattern of incidents linked to the technology.
Ten of the deaths involved vehicles made by Tesla, though it is unclear from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s data whether the technology itself was at fault or whether driver error might have been responsible.
The 11th death involved a Ford pickup. The automaker said it has to report fatal crashes to the government quickly, but it later determined that the truck was not equipped with its partially automated driving system.
The deaths included four crashes involving motorcycles that occurred during the spring and summer: two in Florida and one each in California and Utah. Safety advocates note that the deaths of motorcyclists in crashes involving Tesla vehicles using automated driver-assist systems such as Autopilot have been increasing.
The new fatal crashes are documented in a database that NHTSA is building in an effort to broadly assess the safety of automated driving systems, which, led by Tesla, have been growing in use. Tesla alone has more than 830,000 vehicles on U.S. roads with the systems. The agency is requiring auto and tech companies to report all crashes involving self-driving vehicles as well as autos with driver assist systems that can take over some driving tasks from people.
The 11 new fatal crashes, reported from mid-May through September, were included in statistics that the agency released Monday. In June, the agency released data it had collected from July of last year through May 15.
The figures that were released in June showed that six people died in crashes involving the automated systems, and five were seriously hurt. Of the deaths, five occurred in Teslas and one a Ford. In each case, the database says that advanced driver assist systems were in use at the time of the crash.
Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, said he is baffled by NHTSA’s continued investigations and by what he called a general lack of action since problems with Autopilot began surfacing back in 2016.
“I think there’s a pretty clear pattern of bad behavior on the part of Tesla when it comes to obeying the edicts of the (federal) safety act, and NHTSA is just sitting there,” he said. “How many more deaths do we need to see of motorcyclists?”
Brooks noted that the Tesla crashes are victimizing more people who are not in the Tesla vehicles.
“You’re seeing innocent people who had no choice in the matter being killed or injured,” he said.
A message was left Tuesday seeking a response from NHTSA.
Tesla’s crash number may appear elevated because it uses telematics to monitor its vehicles and obtain real-time crash reports. Other automakers lack such capability, so their crash reports may emerge more slowly or may not be reported at all, NHTSA has said.
NHTSA has been investigating Autopilot since August of last year after a string of crashes since 2018 in which Teslas collided with emergency vehicles parked along roadways with flashing lights on. That investigation moved a step closer to a recall in June, when it was upgraded to what is called an engineering analysis.
In documents, the agency raised questions about the system, finding that the technology was being used in areas where its capabilities are limited and that many drivers weren’t taking steps to avoid crashes despite warnings from the vehicle.
NHTSA also reported that it has documented 16 crashes in which vehicles with automated systems in use hit emergency vehicles and trucks that were displaying warning signs, causing 15 injuries and one death.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which also has investigated some of the Tesla crashes dating to 2016, has recommended that NHTSA and Tesla limit Autopilot’s use to areas where it can safely operate. The NTSB also recommended that NHTSA require Tesla to improve its systems to ensure that drivers are paying attention. NHTSA has yet to act on the recommendations. (The NTSB can make only recommendations to other federal agencies.)
Messages were left Tuesday seeking comment from Tesla. At the company’s artificial intelligence day in September, CEO Elon Musk asserted that, based on the rate of crashes and total miles driven, Tesla’s automated systems were safer than human drivers — a notion that some safety experts dispute.
“At the point of which you believe that adding autonomy reduces injury and death, I think you have a moral obligation to deploy it,” Musk said. “Even though you’re going to get sued and blamed by a lot of people. Because the people whose lives you saved don’t know that their lives were saved. And the people who do occasionally die or get injured, they definitely know, or their state does, that it was, whatever, there was a problem with Autopilot.”
Teslas with automated systems have driven more than 3 million vehicles on the road, Musk said.
“That’s a lot of miles driven every day. And it’s not going to be perfect. But what matters is that it is very clearly safer than not deploying it.”
In addition to Autopilot, Tesla sells “Full Self-Driving” systems, though it says the vehicles cannot drive themselves and that motorists must be ready to intervene at all times.
The number of deaths involving automated vehicles is small compared with the overall number of traffic deaths in the U.S. Nearly 43,000 people were killed on U.S. roads last year, the highest number in 16 years, after Americans returned to the roads as the pandemic eased. Authorities blamed reckless behavior such as speeding and driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol for much of the increase.
11 more crash deaths in U.S. linked to automated-tech vehicles
Eleven people were killed in U.S. crashes involving vehicles that were using automated systems during a four-month period earlier this year.
Public highways are not a tech proving ground.11 more crash deaths in U.S. linked to automated-tech vehicles
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Tom Krisher
Publishing date:Oct 18, 2022 • 9 hours ago • 4 minute read • Join the conversation
DETROIT — Eleven people were killed in U.S. crashes involving vehicles that were using automated driving systems during a four-month period earlier this year, according to newly released government data, part of an alarming pattern of incidents linked to the technology.
Ten of the deaths involved vehicles made by Tesla, though it is unclear from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s data whether the technology itself was at fault or whether driver error might have been responsible.
The 11th death involved a Ford pickup. The automaker said it has to report fatal crashes to the government quickly, but it later determined that the truck was not equipped with its partially automated driving system.
The deaths included four crashes involving motorcycles that occurred during the spring and summer: two in Florida and one each in California and Utah. Safety advocates note that the deaths of motorcyclists in crashes involving Tesla vehicles using automated driver-assist systems such as Autopilot have been increasing.
The new fatal crashes are documented in a database that NHTSA is building in an effort to broadly assess the safety of automated driving systems, which, led by Tesla, have been growing in use. Tesla alone has more than 830,000 vehicles on U.S. roads with the systems. The agency is requiring auto and tech companies to report all crashes involving self-driving vehicles as well as autos with driver assist systems that can take over some driving tasks from people.
The 11 new fatal crashes, reported from mid-May through September, were included in statistics that the agency released Monday. In June, the agency released data it had collected from July of last year through May 15.
The figures that were released in June showed that six people died in crashes involving the automated systems, and five were seriously hurt. Of the deaths, five occurred in Teslas and one a Ford. In each case, the database says that advanced driver assist systems were in use at the time of the crash.
Michael Brooks, executive director of the nonprofit Center for Auto Safety, said he is baffled by NHTSA’s continued investigations and by what he called a general lack of action since problems with Autopilot began surfacing back in 2016.
“I think there’s a pretty clear pattern of bad behavior on the part of Tesla when it comes to obeying the edicts of the (federal) safety act, and NHTSA is just sitting there,” he said. “How many more deaths do we need to see of motorcyclists?”
Brooks noted that the Tesla crashes are victimizing more people who are not in the Tesla vehicles.
“You’re seeing innocent people who had no choice in the matter being killed or injured,” he said.
A message was left Tuesday seeking a response from NHTSA.
Tesla’s crash number may appear elevated because it uses telematics to monitor its vehicles and obtain real-time crash reports. Other automakers lack such capability, so their crash reports may emerge more slowly or may not be reported at all, NHTSA has said.
NHTSA has been investigating Autopilot since August of last year after a string of crashes since 2018 in which Teslas collided with emergency vehicles parked along roadways with flashing lights on. That investigation moved a step closer to a recall in June, when it was upgraded to what is called an engineering analysis.
In documents, the agency raised questions about the system, finding that the technology was being used in areas where its capabilities are limited and that many drivers weren’t taking steps to avoid crashes despite warnings from the vehicle.
NHTSA also reported that it has documented 16 crashes in which vehicles with automated systems in use hit emergency vehicles and trucks that were displaying warning signs, causing 15 injuries and one death.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which also has investigated some of the Tesla crashes dating to 2016, has recommended that NHTSA and Tesla limit Autopilot’s use to areas where it can safely operate. The NTSB also recommended that NHTSA require Tesla to improve its systems to ensure that drivers are paying attention. NHTSA has yet to act on the recommendations. (The NTSB can make only recommendations to other federal agencies.)
Messages were left Tuesday seeking comment from Tesla. At the company’s artificial intelligence day in September, CEO Elon Musk asserted that, based on the rate of crashes and total miles driven, Tesla’s automated systems were safer than human drivers — a notion that some safety experts dispute.
“At the point of which you believe that adding autonomy reduces injury and death, I think you have a moral obligation to deploy it,” Musk said. “Even though you’re going to get sued and blamed by a lot of people. Because the people whose lives you saved don’t know that their lives were saved. And the people who do occasionally die or get injured, they definitely know, or their state does, that it was, whatever, there was a problem with Autopilot.”
Teslas with automated systems have driven more than 3 million vehicles on the road, Musk said.
“That’s a lot of miles driven every day. And it’s not going to be perfect. But what matters is that it is very clearly safer than not deploying it.”
In addition to Autopilot, Tesla sells “Full Self-Driving” systems, though it says the vehicles cannot drive themselves and that motorists must be ready to intervene at all times.
The number of deaths involving automated vehicles is small compared with the overall number of traffic deaths in the U.S. Nearly 43,000 people were killed on U.S. roads last year, the highest number in 16 years, after Americans returned to the roads as the pandemic eased. Authorities blamed reckless behavior such as speeding and driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol for much of the increase.
11 more crash deaths in U.S. linked to automated-tech vehicles
Eleven people were killed in U.S. crashes involving vehicles that were using automated systems during a four-month period earlier this year.
it would have been nice to be able to pet a dog during long commutes. poor doggy.Bus-riding dog who took herself to park mourned
Seattle's public transportation system celebrated its famous pawed passenger with a music video for the song "Bus Doggy Dog."
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Jonathan Edwards
Publishing date:Oct 18, 2022 • 19 hours ago • 2 minute read • 7 Comments
Eclipse gets some pets from fellow bus riders. (Courtesy Jeff Young/Washington Post)
Eclipse gets some pets from fellow bus riders. (Courtesy Jeff Young/Washington Post)
The most unusual passenger on Seattle public transit never rode the bus for long, just a few stops. She sometimes dozed during her short journeys, drooping her head onto the laps of strangers who never seemed to mind. Approaching her stop, she banged on the door in anticipation.
And other riders loved her for it.
But Seattle’s buses will no longer carry perhaps their most famous passenger. Eclipse, the black Lab-bullmastiff mix who achieved fame by riding to the park alone, died Friday. She was 10.
Eclipse started getting attention in early 2015 when she slipped aboard her usual bus while her owner, Jeff Young, was finishing a cigarette, unaware she had proceeded without him, he said. Guided only by habit, she exited at the correct stop and was very much enjoying herself at the dog park when Young, relieved from his panic, found her.
After that, Eclipse became a regular commuter, taking two to three solo trips to the dog park each week, looking out the window to make sure she didn’t miss her stop.
Stardom soon followed. A local radio host noticed her get off the bus without an owner, which led to an on-air segment which, in turn, piqued the interest of Seattle TV station KOMO. National media coverage followed, and the internet did the rest.
Seattle’s public transportation system, King County Metro, quickly celebrated its newly famous pawed passenger, making a highly produced music video for the song “Bus Doggy Dog.” It closed with a tagline: “Get around like Eclipse. Plan your next trip.”
Young also leaned into his pet’s newfound fame, creating a public-figure Facebook page for “Eclipse Seattle’s Bus Riding Dog” where he shared Eclipse updates with her followers, which on Monday numbered 122,000. In 2016, Young co-wrote a children’s book titled “Dog on Board: The True Story of Eclipse, the Bus-Riding Dog.” And over the years, he and Eclipse acquired loads of swag – leashes, treats, harnesses.
“It just goes on and on and on,” Young said.
But stripped of the hoopla, their relationship at its core was that of a human and his dog – best friends, he said. Young got Eclipse when she was a 10-week-old puppy. He said they have spent all but three nights together in the nearly 11 years since.
Then on Wednesday, Young announced on Eclipse’s Facebook page that the vet had found cancerous tumours. He implored her fans to send “spare vibes” their way.
Two days later, he had bad news: Eclipse had died overnight in her sleep.
“She’s gone, and I miss her, and it really sucks,” he told The Washington Post.
King County Metro replied to Young’s announcement, offering condolences.
“Eclipse was a super sweet, world-famous, bus riding dog and true Seattle icon,” the agency wrote on Twitter. “You brought joy and happiness to everyone and showed us all that good dogs belong on the bus.”
View attachment 16085
Eclipse Seattle's Bus Riding Dog
Eclipse Seattle's Bus Riding Dog, Seattle, Washington. 107,305 likes · 129 talking about this. I'm Eclipse, 1/2 Mastiff 1/2 Black lab and totally Urbanized🐾💥🏭 I'm 10 years old . Sleeping*'SEATTLE ICON': Bus-riding dog who took herself to park mourned
Seattle's public transportation system celebrated its famous pawed passenger with a music video for the song "Bus Doggy Dog."
Incumbent Toronto councillor, seeking re-election, dies days before vote
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Publishing date:Oct 21, 2022 • 12 hours ago • 1 minute read • 10 Comments
A Toronto city councillor who was seeking re-election in Monday’s municipal election has died.
Mayor John Tory said he was “saddened” to learn of Cynthia Lai’s death on Friday afternoon, and offered condolences to her husband and sons.
“They will be joined in mourning by many friends and by the many people she served so well over the years,” Tory said in a written statement.
Tory said he had knew Lai for more than 20 years, and was impressed by her professionalism in her various roles as a politician and a past president of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a job in which Tory said Lai was the first Chinese-Canadian woman elected.
The east Toronto councillor, first elected in 2018, was a “cheerful optimist,” Tory said, who was a warm presence at city hall and served her constituents with “elegance and distinction.”
“I speak for her City Council colleagues when I say she will be deeply missed,” he said.
“I know she was always so proud of her heritage, of her family, her achievements in business and her tremendous work for the community as a volunteer for many charitable causes and in politics.”
The mayor said he had asked for flags at city buildings to be lowered to half-mast in Lai’s honour.
Lai’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Publishing date:Oct 21, 2022 • 12 hours ago • 1 minute read • 10 Comments
A Toronto city councillor who was seeking re-election in Monday’s municipal election has died.
Mayor John Tory said he was “saddened” to learn of Cynthia Lai’s death on Friday afternoon, and offered condolences to her husband and sons.
“They will be joined in mourning by many friends and by the many people she served so well over the years,” Tory said in a written statement.
Tory said he had knew Lai for more than 20 years, and was impressed by her professionalism in her various roles as a politician and a past president of the Toronto Real Estate Board, a job in which Tory said Lai was the first Chinese-Canadian woman elected.
The east Toronto councillor, first elected in 2018, was a “cheerful optimist,” Tory said, who was a warm presence at city hall and served her constituents with “elegance and distinction.”
“I speak for her City Council colleagues when I say she will be deeply missed,” he said.
“I know she was always so proud of her heritage, of her family, her achievements in business and her tremendous work for the community as a volunteer for many charitable causes and in politics.”
The mayor said he had asked for flags at city buildings to be lowered to half-mast in Lai’s honour.
Lai’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Incumbent Toronto councillor, seeking re-election, dies days before vote
A Toronto city councillor who was seeking re-election in Monday's municipal election has died.
Red panda cub at Toronto Zoo dies
Author of the article:Kevin Connor
Publishing date:Oct 24, 2022 • 16 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
A red panda cub has died, according to the Toronto Zoo.
A red panda cub has died, according to the Toronto Zoo. PHOTO BY @THETORONTOZOO/INSTAGRAM /TORONTO SUN
The Toronto Zoo has announced the death of a red panda cub.
According to zoo officials, as recently as Saturday, the cub showed no signs of being ill.
On Sunday morning, Wildlife Care staff heard the cub crying and then found him weak and lying on his side.
The panda, known as ‘Baby Spice,’ was taken to the Wildlife Health Centre for treatment where he was put on oxygen, administered fluids, given antibiotics and warmed up as his temperature was low.
He was stable for a short period of time but then took a turn for the worse, at which point he stopped breathing.
The zoo recently had a naming contest for this red panda cub, who was then called Dash.
“Dash brought us keepers so much joy. It was wonderful to see his mom, Paprika, become such an amazing mother and to see the bond develop between her and Dash. We enjoyed watching him grow and meet every milestone with gusto,” the zoo said.
“Every daily weigh-in was the highlight of our day and we loved seeing his little “Yoda” face every time we opened the nestbox. To watch as he grew from a hesitant cub to a brave little boy will be one of our fondest memories. We are sad that our time with him was so short but we will cherish every moment we shared with him.”
Wildlife Care staff are monitoring Paprika and so far she is doing well and adjusting to not having Dash.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Kevin Connor
Publishing date:Oct 24, 2022 • 16 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
A red panda cub has died, according to the Toronto Zoo.
A red panda cub has died, according to the Toronto Zoo. PHOTO BY @THETORONTOZOO/INSTAGRAM /TORONTO SUN
The Toronto Zoo has announced the death of a red panda cub.
According to zoo officials, as recently as Saturday, the cub showed no signs of being ill.
On Sunday morning, Wildlife Care staff heard the cub crying and then found him weak and lying on his side.
The panda, known as ‘Baby Spice,’ was taken to the Wildlife Health Centre for treatment where he was put on oxygen, administered fluids, given antibiotics and warmed up as his temperature was low.
He was stable for a short period of time but then took a turn for the worse, at which point he stopped breathing.
The zoo recently had a naming contest for this red panda cub, who was then called Dash.
“Dash brought us keepers so much joy. It was wonderful to see his mom, Paprika, become such an amazing mother and to see the bond develop between her and Dash. We enjoyed watching him grow and meet every milestone with gusto,” the zoo said.
“Every daily weigh-in was the highlight of our day and we loved seeing his little “Yoda” face every time we opened the nestbox. To watch as he grew from a hesitant cub to a brave little boy will be one of our fondest memories. We are sad that our time with him was so short but we will cherish every moment we shared with him.”
Wildlife Care staff are monitoring Paprika and so far she is doing well and adjusting to not having Dash.
Red panda cub at Toronto Zoo dies
The Toronto Zoo has announced the death of a red panda cub.
Indonesian grandmother dies when python swallows her whole
Author of the article:Jane Stevenson
Publishing date:Oct 26, 2022 • 1 day ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
A missing 54-year-old grandmother was swallowed whole by a 6.7-metre-long python in Indonesia, according to the New York Post.
A missing 54-year-old grandmother was swallowed whole by a 6.7-metre-long python in Indonesia, according to the New York Post.
Police told CNN Indonesia a search was launched when the woman, identified only as Jahrah, 54, failed to return from a trip to collect plantation rubber in Jambi province on Sunday.
Betara Jambi Police Chief AKP Herafa told the news outlet that the victim’s husband only found his wife’s sandals, jacket, headscarf and knife in the area. When he returned the next day, he came across the python with a swollen mid-section.
A video by ViralPress shows one volunteer using a branch to pin the python’s head down, while others bashed the snake bove the swollen area. They sliced it open to reveal what officials say was the body of the missing grandma.
“Everyone was astonished,” Anto, the head of the local Terjun Gajah village, told ViralPress. “It turned out that the woman we were looking for was in the snake’s stomach.”
Anto said Jahrah’s death would have been horrific with the snake likely biting and then suffocating the woman by wrapping itself around her. The snake then swallowed her whole, ending the two-hour process.
Even worse, he said the python isn’t even the biggest one seen by villagers, adding locals are “worried that bigger snakes are still in the forest.”
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Jane Stevenson
Publishing date:Oct 26, 2022 • 1 day ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
A missing 54-year-old grandmother was swallowed whole by a 6.7-metre-long python in Indonesia, according to the New York Post.
A missing 54-year-old grandmother was swallowed whole by a 6.7-metre-long python in Indonesia, according to the New York Post.
Police told CNN Indonesia a search was launched when the woman, identified only as Jahrah, 54, failed to return from a trip to collect plantation rubber in Jambi province on Sunday.
Betara Jambi Police Chief AKP Herafa told the news outlet that the victim’s husband only found his wife’s sandals, jacket, headscarf and knife in the area. When he returned the next day, he came across the python with a swollen mid-section.
A video by ViralPress shows one volunteer using a branch to pin the python’s head down, while others bashed the snake bove the swollen area. They sliced it open to reveal what officials say was the body of the missing grandma.
“Everyone was astonished,” Anto, the head of the local Terjun Gajah village, told ViralPress. “It turned out that the woman we were looking for was in the snake’s stomach.”
Anto said Jahrah’s death would have been horrific with the snake likely biting and then suffocating the woman by wrapping itself around her. The snake then swallowed her whole, ending the two-hour process.
Even worse, he said the python isn’t even the biggest one seen by villagers, adding locals are “worried that bigger snakes are still in the forest.”
Indonesian grandmother dies when python swallows her whole
A missing 54-year-old grandmother was swallowed whole by a 6.7-metre-long python in Indonesia, according to the New York Post.
Deaths of two great whites off Maritimes within weeks 'highly unusual'
The great white shark is endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Hina Alam
Publishing date:Oct 28, 2022 • 1 day ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation
FREDERICTON — The discovery of two dead great white sharks washed ashore in Atlantic Canada in less than two weeks is a mystery to researchers.
Fred Whoriskey, executive director of the Ocean Tracking Network at Dalhousie University, called the beaching of two of the ocean’s apex predators abnormal.
“In the course of my lifetime — and that’s a lot of years — there have been fewer than five white sharks that I have heard of beaching anywhere in the North American area,” he said in an interview. “So, this is a highly unusual event.”
The Marine Animal Response Society said in an Oct. 21 social media post that a great white shark had been found dead in Kouchibouguac National Park in New Brunswick the previous weekend. The organization studies marine animals and helps with rescues and investigations.
The 3.4-metre mature male was found on the beach and samples were collected to help in the study of the species.
Whoriskey, who is not involved in the necropsy of the animals, said a second great white found dead Wednesday in North Sydney, N.S., was a juvenile.
The great white shark is endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act. There are no estimates of the size of the population in Atlantic waters, according to the federal Environment Department’s website. There are around 100 records of white sharks being spotted off the Atlantic coast since 1874, although sightings are increasing, with more than 40 since 2009, the website added.
The deaths of two sharks within such a short span could be a sign that the number of these animals is increasing, Whoriskey said. Most of the sharks seen in Canadian waters tend to be juveniles, which is one of the indicators of a growing population.
“It might very well be that we would expect to see more frequently things like natural mortalities, because, like it or not, things go wrong in biology.”
Whoriskey said white sharks do not have any predators in Atlantic Canadian waters. “So, we’re probably looking at natural causes for both of these animals. Which is kind of an interesting phenomenon.”
Pictures of the sharks, he said, don’t suggest that they were killed by a ship strike or rope entanglement. The animals could have died from a virus or bacteria, which could be investigated in the necropsy process, he said. But that isn’t straightforward because scientists don’t have a good idea of the types of diseases white sharks get.
“If we don’t know what we’re looking for, we don’t have a probe to pick it up yet. It may be a disease organism that hasn’t been identified yet by science. So that could be kind of intriguing,” Whoriskey said.
Boris Worm, a professor in marine conservation biology at Dalhousie University, said great whites are found all the way up to Newfoundland. They are usually in Canadian waters in late summer and fall, he said, “probably chasing some prey species into our region, like mackerel.”
The greatest risk to the species, Worm said, is humans.
With fishing trawlers, a shark on a hunt might not notice the trawl net and get caught, which could lead to its death, he said.
And longline fisheries put out baited lines with hundreds of hooks. Sharks with their remarkable olfactory senses can smell this from a distance and are attracted to it, he said.
“These fisheries typically have a large bycatch of sharks,” he said. “They would not often bring aboard white sharks because the white sharks would bite through the line if they get caught and escape. But they have occasionally been reported in longline fisheries.”
torontosun.com
The great white shark is endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Hina Alam
Publishing date:Oct 28, 2022 • 1 day ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation
FREDERICTON — The discovery of two dead great white sharks washed ashore in Atlantic Canada in less than two weeks is a mystery to researchers.
Fred Whoriskey, executive director of the Ocean Tracking Network at Dalhousie University, called the beaching of two of the ocean’s apex predators abnormal.
“In the course of my lifetime — and that’s a lot of years — there have been fewer than five white sharks that I have heard of beaching anywhere in the North American area,” he said in an interview. “So, this is a highly unusual event.”
The Marine Animal Response Society said in an Oct. 21 social media post that a great white shark had been found dead in Kouchibouguac National Park in New Brunswick the previous weekend. The organization studies marine animals and helps with rescues and investigations.
The 3.4-metre mature male was found on the beach and samples were collected to help in the study of the species.
Whoriskey, who is not involved in the necropsy of the animals, said a second great white found dead Wednesday in North Sydney, N.S., was a juvenile.
The great white shark is endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act. There are no estimates of the size of the population in Atlantic waters, according to the federal Environment Department’s website. There are around 100 records of white sharks being spotted off the Atlantic coast since 1874, although sightings are increasing, with more than 40 since 2009, the website added.
The deaths of two sharks within such a short span could be a sign that the number of these animals is increasing, Whoriskey said. Most of the sharks seen in Canadian waters tend to be juveniles, which is one of the indicators of a growing population.
“It might very well be that we would expect to see more frequently things like natural mortalities, because, like it or not, things go wrong in biology.”
Whoriskey said white sharks do not have any predators in Atlantic Canadian waters. “So, we’re probably looking at natural causes for both of these animals. Which is kind of an interesting phenomenon.”
Pictures of the sharks, he said, don’t suggest that they were killed by a ship strike or rope entanglement. The animals could have died from a virus or bacteria, which could be investigated in the necropsy process, he said. But that isn’t straightforward because scientists don’t have a good idea of the types of diseases white sharks get.
“If we don’t know what we’re looking for, we don’t have a probe to pick it up yet. It may be a disease organism that hasn’t been identified yet by science. So that could be kind of intriguing,” Whoriskey said.
Boris Worm, a professor in marine conservation biology at Dalhousie University, said great whites are found all the way up to Newfoundland. They are usually in Canadian waters in late summer and fall, he said, “probably chasing some prey species into our region, like mackerel.”
The greatest risk to the species, Worm said, is humans.
With fishing trawlers, a shark on a hunt might not notice the trawl net and get caught, which could lead to its death, he said.
And longline fisheries put out baited lines with hundreds of hooks. Sharks with their remarkable olfactory senses can smell this from a distance and are attracted to it, he said.
“These fisheries typically have a large bycatch of sharks,” he said. “They would not often bring aboard white sharks because the white sharks would bite through the line if they get caught and escape. But they have occasionally been reported in longline fisheries.”
Deaths of two great whites off Maritimes within weeks 'highly unusual'
The discovery of two dead great white sharks washed ashore in Atlantic Canada in less than two weeks is a mystery to researchers.
Australian family turns dead dog into rug
Author of the articleostmedia News
Publishing date:Nov 01, 2022 • 21 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
An Australian family wanted to remember their beloved golden retriever, so they turned it into a rug.
An Australian family wanted to remember their beloved golden retriever, so they turned it into a rug. PHOTO BY ISTOCK /GETTY IMAGES
Most pet owners really love their pets, but an Australian family might have gone next level.
An Australian family wanted to remember their beloved golden retriever, so they turned it into a rug.
Yes, you read that right.
Pet taxidermy is becoming popular, according to Yahoo! News Australia.
“Pet taxidermy has only really become more popular in the last five years or so, so it’s a very new thing to see for most people,” Maddy, the owner of Melbourne-based company Chimera Taxidermy said in the report.
“Some are more of a sentimental keepsake, others are on display resting in their beds or however their owners wanted them preserved,” she said.
WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGE
An Australian family turned their dead pet into a rug.
An Australian family turned their dead pet into a rug. PHOTO BY SCREENGRAB /@chimerataxidermy/Instagram
She did say it isn’t for everybody.
Maddy said on Instagram “Beautiful old golden retriever preserved as a pelt for his family. Finally ready to head home.”
The reel has received almost 5,000 views and has been shared 106 times as of Tuesday morning.
Maddy said in the comments that “the pelt has been tanned and turned to leather so the fur won’t fall out,” which she said will keep the rug in good condition for many years.
She also shared that preserving pets as pelts is “not as common as people wanting full taxidermy mounts” and most of the pets she taxidermies are sleeping, but she also can do the rugs without the pets’ heads.
Some responses were positive, but the majority weren’t with some saying the process was “creepy.”
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au.news.yahoo.com
torontosun.com
Author of the article
ostmedia NewsPublishing date:Nov 01, 2022 • 21 hours ago • 1 minute read • Join the conversation
An Australian family wanted to remember their beloved golden retriever, so they turned it into a rug.
An Australian family wanted to remember their beloved golden retriever, so they turned it into a rug. PHOTO BY ISTOCK /GETTY IMAGES
Most pet owners really love their pets, but an Australian family might have gone next level.
An Australian family wanted to remember their beloved golden retriever, so they turned it into a rug.
Yes, you read that right.
Pet taxidermy is becoming popular, according to Yahoo! News Australia.
“Pet taxidermy has only really become more popular in the last five years or so, so it’s a very new thing to see for most people,” Maddy, the owner of Melbourne-based company Chimera Taxidermy said in the report.
“Some are more of a sentimental keepsake, others are on display resting in their beds or however their owners wanted them preserved,” she said.
WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGE
An Australian family turned their dead pet into a rug.
An Australian family turned their dead pet into a rug. PHOTO BY SCREENGRAB /@chimerataxidermy/Instagram
She did say it isn’t for everybody.
Maddy said on Instagram “Beautiful old golden retriever preserved as a pelt for his family. Finally ready to head home.”
The reel has received almost 5,000 views and has been shared 106 times as of Tuesday morning.
Maddy said in the comments that “the pelt has been tanned and turned to leather so the fur won’t fall out,” which she said will keep the rug in good condition for many years.
She also shared that preserving pets as pelts is “not as common as people wanting full taxidermy mounts” and most of the pets she taxidermies are sleeping, but she also can do the rugs without the pets’ heads.
Some responses were positive, but the majority weren’t with some saying the process was “creepy.”
@chimerataxidermy on Instagram: "Beautiful old golden retriever preserved as a pelt for his family. Finally ready to head home ❤️🌹 . . #taxidermy #petpreservation #pelt #pettaxidermy #chimerataxidermy #melbourneartist #dogtaxidermy #petmemorial"
1,503 likes, 158 comments - chimerataxidermy on October 24, 2022: "Beautiful old golden retriever preserved as a pelt for his family. Finally ready to head home ❤..."
www.instagram.com
Aussie family turns pet dog into ornamental rug: 'Not for me'
The method of preservation has been growing in popularity, but not everyone is sold on the idea. Read more about it.
Australian family turns dead dog into rug
Most pet owners really love their pets, but an Australian family might have gone next level.