Special Bonds Between Cats and Marine Soldiers
Firefighters Save 30 cats and Dogs From Burning Pet Shop
Firefighters stormed into a burning Queens pet shop on Monday in time to rescue 30 cats and dogs, officials said.
U.S. Pet Discounts on Steinway St. in Astoria was closed for Memorial Day, which presented responding units with an obstacle - the store's metal "rolldown" doors were closed.
"We had to cut the gates, cut the locks and force our way in," said Lt. Jerome Farrell of Ladder 116.
Once inside, Ladder 116 firefighters were hit with heavy smoke, but they quickly found the source of the blaze, in the back of the store, Farrell said.
Members of Engine 262 fought the flames, while other firefighters, including those from the newly arrived Engine 263, grabbed animal cages and rushed the frightened animals out into the fresh air.
"The guys did a fantastic job of gaining access quickly," Farrell said. "If not for that, many more of the animals would have perished."
Farrell said that many of the store's birds could not be saved because birds are very susceptible to smoke inhalation.
U.S. Pet Discounts on Steinway St. in Astoria was closed for Memorial Day, which presented responding units with an obstacle - the store's metal "rolldown" doors were closed.
"We had to cut the gates, cut the locks and force our way in," said Lt. Jerome Farrell of Ladder 116.
Once inside, Ladder 116 firefighters were hit with heavy smoke, but they quickly found the source of the blaze, in the back of the store, Farrell said.
Members of Engine 262 fought the flames, while other firefighters, including those from the newly arrived Engine 263, grabbed animal cages and rushed the frightened animals out into the fresh air.
"The guys did a fantastic job of gaining access quickly," Farrell said. "If not for that, many more of the animals would have perished."
Farrell said that many of the store's birds could not be saved because birds are very susceptible to smoke inhalation.
Kuno was Saved From Near Death. See His Great Transformtion
The video will tell you everything you need to know about this dog, but really fast...
Kuno was seized from his owners, weighing only 49 pounds, and today is a beautiful healthy dog. Now Kuno needs a new loving home!
Kuno was seized from his owners, weighing only 49 pounds, and today is a beautiful healthy dog. Now Kuno needs a new loving home!
Kissimmee firefighters save dogs from blaze
Last week it was firefighters in Orange county who came to the rescue of a kitten stuck in the engine of a car. Today, Kissimmee firefighters rescued two small dogs from a blazing structure. Engineer Gary LaTour is shown reviving one of the animals with mouth to mouth resuscitation (left). The firefighters, all animal lovers, then took the dogs to an area animal hopsital for observation. We of the animal world salute you.
Firefighters in Roanoke Save Cat From Fire
Firefighters rescued an Angel from the flames and smoke that chased her up to the second floor.
Angel, a 2-year-old chocolate cat with a white face, ran to the top floor of the frame house on Eighth Street Southeast when the fire started in the kitchen a few minutes before 6 p.m today, said Roanoke Fire-EMS Battalion Chief Melvin Sanders.
A 24-year-old woman and her 11-year-old sister were in the house when the fire started and were not hurt. An electrical short apparently started the fire in the stove , Sanders said. The fire marshal was investigating.
The owner of the house, Renee Fry , had adopted Angel after she meowed one day on a neighbor’s porch. When a firefighter found Angel in the second floor, he brought her out, laid her on the ground and covered her face with an oxygen mask.
After Angel started coughing and moving, a neighbor took her to a veterinary clinic, where she was in good condition, Fry said.
“I’m just glad my kids are safe and the cat’s safe,” said Fry, who works at a local jewelry wholesale factory. “You can fix your house, but you can’t replace your family.”
Sanders estimated the damage at $25,000.
Angel, a 2-year-old chocolate cat with a white face, ran to the top floor of the frame house on Eighth Street Southeast when the fire started in the kitchen a few minutes before 6 p.m today, said Roanoke Fire-EMS Battalion Chief Melvin Sanders.
A 24-year-old woman and her 11-year-old sister were in the house when the fire started and were not hurt. An electrical short apparently started the fire in the stove , Sanders said. The fire marshal was investigating.
The owner of the house, Renee Fry , had adopted Angel after she meowed one day on a neighbor’s porch. When a firefighter found Angel in the second floor, he brought her out, laid her on the ground and covered her face with an oxygen mask.
After Angel started coughing and moving, a neighbor took her to a veterinary clinic, where she was in good condition, Fry said.
“I’m just glad my kids are safe and the cat’s safe,” said Fry, who works at a local jewelry wholesale factory. “You can fix your house, but you can’t replace your family.”
Sanders estimated the damage at $25,000.
Fifty Soldiers Saved by Stray Dogs
It was the middle of the night in Afghanistan and while 50 soldiers were sleeping, a suicide bomber prepared to attack the military base. As the bomber quietly crept on to the base, three stray dogs quickly alerted the soldiers to the bombers presence.
Rufus, Target and Sasha, which were named by the soldiers, alerted the sleeping soldiers to the attack, and left the bomber no choice but to detonate the bomb before reaching his destination closer to the sleeping soldiers.
The terrorist himself was killed, however only a handful of the soldiers were injured along with Rufus and Target. Unfortunately, Sasha was also killed in the blast.
Sgt Chris Duke was one of the soldiers injured by some shrapnel in the blast, however, he attributes the barking of the dogs for saving all the soldiers and now he is adopting Rufus. The Phoenix army medic that who in turn saved Targets life after the blast, will be adopting Target.
Two non profit organizations, Roberts Cause, and the Puppy Rescue Mission helped to make the reunion possible between the dogs and their new thankful owners. Both dogs are currently in Georgia reunited with Sgt Duke and his other three dogs until Target heads out to Arizona to be with his new owner.
Rufus, Target and Sasha, which were named by the soldiers, alerted the sleeping soldiers to the attack, and left the bomber no choice but to detonate the bomb before reaching his destination closer to the sleeping soldiers.
The terrorist himself was killed, however only a handful of the soldiers were injured along with Rufus and Target. Unfortunately, Sasha was also killed in the blast.
Sgt Chris Duke was one of the soldiers injured by some shrapnel in the blast, however, he attributes the barking of the dogs for saving all the soldiers and now he is adopting Rufus. The Phoenix army medic that who in turn saved Targets life after the blast, will be adopting Target.
Two non profit organizations, Roberts Cause, and the Puppy Rescue Mission helped to make the reunion possible between the dogs and their new thankful owners. Both dogs are currently in Georgia reunited with Sgt Duke and his other three dogs until Target heads out to Arizona to be with his new owner.
July 28th 2010 -- Catalonia Bans Bullfighting!!
Catalonia has made history today: the Catalonian Parliament has voted to approve the amendment of the current animal protection legislation and therefore ban bullfighting within the region. The ban will go into effect on January 1, 2012 and from that day bulls will no longer suffer a slow, painful and terrifying death in Catalonia’s bullrings.
Today’s vote is the culmination of years of hard work and campaigning by animal welfare groups all over the world. Prou has campaigned tirelessly for months to end the cruelty suffered by thousands of bulls in bullrings each year. Prou initiated the campaign with a popular legislative initiative that set the process in motion. It was brought before Catalonia's Parliament in December 2009 after more than 180,000 Catalonian citizens signed a petition demanding an end to bullfighting.
Today, 68 Catalonian MPs - the majority - voted in favor of the ban, agreeing with their citizens that this ‘traditional’ practice is ready to be consigned to history books.
At a press conference following the results of the debate and the vote in the Parliament, spokespeople from Prou stated that, “Today has been the day we were hoping for: the suffering of animals in the Catalonian bullrings has been abolished once and for all and by an absolute majority.”
“Catalonia is leading the way for bullfighting countries around the world to embrace a modern culture without cruelty,” said Dirk Jan Verdonk, Programs Manager at WSPA. “The vote today is a political acknowledgement that the people of Catalonia are ready for change and by voting as they did, Catalonia’s politicians have demonstrated their respect for the people’s desire to see bullfighting laid to rest.”
A bullfighting ban in Catalonia is part of an emerging trend, as local authorities from around the world are outlawing this practice. Within Spain, the Canary Islands have already banned bullfighting, as have cities in Ecuador, Venezuela, France, Portugal and Colombia. The ban in Catalonia will set an example in Spain for other regions to follow and make the cruelty of bullfighting history.
Today’s vote is the culmination of years of hard work and campaigning by animal welfare groups all over the world. Prou has campaigned tirelessly for months to end the cruelty suffered by thousands of bulls in bullrings each year. Prou initiated the campaign with a popular legislative initiative that set the process in motion. It was brought before Catalonia's Parliament in December 2009 after more than 180,000 Catalonian citizens signed a petition demanding an end to bullfighting.
Today, 68 Catalonian MPs - the majority - voted in favor of the ban, agreeing with their citizens that this ‘traditional’ practice is ready to be consigned to history books.
At a press conference following the results of the debate and the vote in the Parliament, spokespeople from Prou stated that, “Today has been the day we were hoping for: the suffering of animals in the Catalonian bullrings has been abolished once and for all and by an absolute majority.”
“Catalonia is leading the way for bullfighting countries around the world to embrace a modern culture without cruelty,” said Dirk Jan Verdonk, Programs Manager at WSPA. “The vote today is a political acknowledgement that the people of Catalonia are ready for change and by voting as they did, Catalonia’s politicians have demonstrated their respect for the people’s desire to see bullfighting laid to rest.”
A bullfighting ban in Catalonia is part of an emerging trend, as local authorities from around the world are outlawing this practice. Within Spain, the Canary Islands have already banned bullfighting, as have cities in Ecuador, Venezuela, France, Portugal and Colombia. The ban in Catalonia will set an example in Spain for other regions to follow and make the cruelty of bullfighting history.
Bolivia Bans ALL Circus Animals -- August 3rd 2009
La Paz (AP) -- Bolivia has enacted what animal rights activists are calling the world's first ban on all animals in circuses.
A handful of other countries have banned the use of wild animals in circuses, but the Bolivian ban includes domestic animals as well.
The law, which states that the use of animals in circuses "constitutes an act of cruelty", took effect on 1 July with operators given a year to comply, according to the bill's sponsor, Ximena Flores.
The law was proposed after an undercover investigation by the nonprofit-making London-based group Animal Defenders International (ADI) found widespread abuse in circuses operating in Bolivia.
Flores said authorities aim to stop circus operators from killing animals they can no longer use.
"About 50 animals are circulating in national and international circuses at the moment [in Bolivia] and we want to negotiate to make sure that the animals aren't eliminated," she said.
The ADI chief executive, Jan Creamer, called the law "groundbreaking".
The group's investigators in Bolivia worked side-by-side with circus workers and filmed disturbing mistreatment, she said, adding that poorly paid and badly trained workers routinely abused animals. "If they wanted an animal to move, their immediate reaction was a kick or a punch or a shove," she said.
She said circus animals suffer everywhere - including in developed countries - from living in tight quarters and being constantly transported.
"It's rather as if you and I were asked to spend the rest of our lives living in our bathroom," said Creamer. "In Bolivia there were three brown bears being kept in tiny compartments just 2 by 3 metres."
The law sets fines for infractions and allows for animals to be confiscated by authorities, added Flores.
A handful of other countries have banned the use of wild animals in circuses, but the Bolivian ban includes domestic animals as well.
The law, which states that the use of animals in circuses "constitutes an act of cruelty", took effect on 1 July with operators given a year to comply, according to the bill's sponsor, Ximena Flores.
The law was proposed after an undercover investigation by the nonprofit-making London-based group Animal Defenders International (ADI) found widespread abuse in circuses operating in Bolivia.
Flores said authorities aim to stop circus operators from killing animals they can no longer use.
"About 50 animals are circulating in national and international circuses at the moment [in Bolivia] and we want to negotiate to make sure that the animals aren't eliminated," she said.
The ADI chief executive, Jan Creamer, called the law "groundbreaking".
The group's investigators in Bolivia worked side-by-side with circus workers and filmed disturbing mistreatment, she said, adding that poorly paid and badly trained workers routinely abused animals. "If they wanted an animal to move, their immediate reaction was a kick or a punch or a shove," she said.
She said circus animals suffer everywhere - including in developed countries - from living in tight quarters and being constantly transported.
"It's rather as if you and I were asked to spend the rest of our lives living in our bathroom," said Creamer. "In Bolivia there were three brown bears being kept in tiny compartments just 2 by 3 metres."
The law sets fines for infractions and allows for animals to be confiscated by authorities, added Flores.
Dog Risks Life To Save 4 Kittens
Fire fighters fought a house fire in Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday, only to uncover a pet dog risking his life to protect four kittens trapped in the blaze. (October 2008)
Firefighters Save Cat from Burning Building
Syracuse, NY -- Firefighters pulled two house cats from a smoky fire in a two-family residence on Syracuse’s South Side this afternoon. They could only save one, however. Firefighters were called just before 2 p.m. to 1124-26 Cannon St., where they found a two-story building that was filled with smoke and had some flames showing, Syracuse Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Cavuto said. No one was home except the pets, he said.
“They forced their way in, quickly located the fire and kept it from spreading,” Cavuto said.
The residents lost a lot of belongings to heat and smoke damage, he said.
Shortly after the fire was out, two firefighters carried out two unconscious cats. One firefighter gently laid down a black cat and tried to rouse it, but got no response from the animal. That cat died, Cavuto said.
The second cat was luckier. A resident, who did not want to give his name, said the cat’s name is Tigger.
Firefighters placed an oxygen mask on Tigger’s face and knelt around the animal. With the oxygen, encouragement and some caresses, Tigger came around and allowed a fire lieutenant to give it a quick, reassuring cuddle.
“They forced their way in, quickly located the fire and kept it from spreading,” Cavuto said.
The residents lost a lot of belongings to heat and smoke damage, he said.
Shortly after the fire was out, two firefighters carried out two unconscious cats. One firefighter gently laid down a black cat and tried to rouse it, but got no response from the animal. That cat died, Cavuto said.
The second cat was luckier. A resident, who did not want to give his name, said the cat’s name is Tigger.
Firefighters placed an oxygen mask on Tigger’s face and knelt around the animal. With the oxygen, encouragement and some caresses, Tigger came around and allowed a fire lieutenant to give it a quick, reassuring cuddle.
