How two bald eagles appeared after crash landing. Photo courtesy of Randy Hanzal, Minnesota conservation officer
There was a crash landing Sunday at the Duluth International Airport, but it didn’t involve airplanes. Rather, it was two bald eagles, which were fighting in midair when they locked talons. In a rare spectacle of nature, they were unable to disengage in time before crashing to the runway.
“Apparently, mature eagles will sometimes fight over territories,” Randy Hanzal, a Minnesota conservation officer, told GrindTV in an email. “They will do battle in the air, crashing into each other and grabbing an intruding eagle with their talons.
Photo shows talons intertwined. Photo courtesy of Randy Hanzal, Minnesota conservation officer
“Usually, they will let go of each other before hitting the ground, but in this case, they had the talons so deeply imbedded in each other they may have been unable to let go.”
Hanzal was the one who was called in to collect the birds and deliver them to Wildwoods, a wildlife rehabilitation center in Duluth.
“Surprisingly, the two eagles were remarkably calm as I grabbed them both and loaded them into the back of my truck,” Hanzal said. “I think they were still more intent on winning the battle than any concern for me.”
Hanzal didn’t have a container big enough for the eagles, so he put them in the bed of his truck, covered them with blankets and jackets, and strapped them down with webbing, according to a report in the Duluth News Tribune.
“Halfway to the rehabber, there was a ruckus in the back of the truck,” Hanzal told the News Tribune. “I looked around and saw feathers flying up. One of the eagles jumped out the back, onto my tailgate.”
That eagle flew away, apparently no worse for wear. The other eagle smartly hung around to get treated with antibiotics, fluids, and pain medication. The eagles were both expected to recover.
Another wildlife expert told the News Tribune that it is “pretty rare” for fighting eagles to hit the ground like this.
“I have never seen this before,” Hanzal told Grind.
The injured eagle is expected to recover. Photo courtesy of Randy Hanzal, Minnesota conservation officer
People do not look away! Training collars, spiked collars, tele tac … current collars are banned, but many people use such means! Let nothing convince you of no dog trainer, dog NOT need that !
PUPPY USED AS BAIT DOG VISITS STUDENTS WHO HELPED SAVE HER - “A dog that was rescued after being dumped on a Brooklyn street and left to die is recovering thanks in part to students from an Upper West Side school that helped raise money to pay for her medical bills.”
A Pit Bull puppy named Misty was discovered on a New York street, abandoned and with serious injuries. It appears that she was used as a bait dog in a dog fighting ring and was thrown away. Students at the Stephen Gaynor School were inspired by Misty’s story and raised approximately $800 for her medical bills. Fortunately Misty is recovering and is being cared for by a rescue organization called Second Chance Rescue NYC. She recently visited the school to meet her supporters. Here’s more from CBS News:
The young pit bull puppy named Misty was found with serious injuries and bite wounds all over her face and body. She is believed to have been used as a bait dog for dog fighting.
When Second Chance Rescue took Misty from a city shelter to treat her wounds, students at the Stephen Gaynor School began following the pup’s progress on the “Misty’s Journey” Facebook pageand decided to help.
They set up bake sales and raised more than $800 to help pay for Misty’s care.
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On Thursday, Misty visited the school so students could meet her in person.
Spanjol said she hopes the students’ work will help raise awareness about dog fighting.
“There aren’t any bad dogs, there are bad owners,” Spanjol said.
Misty has inspired many people, and now she has a second chance at life thanks to the students and others who helped her. Click here for the full story and here to learn more about Second Chance rescue. (Photos from Gaynor School and Misty’s Journey Facebook pages)
- Vegan Starter Guide by Friends of Animals
- Respecting Animals Means Going Vegan by BVA
- I Can’t Believe It’s Vegan! (Shopping/Cooking) by Animal Aid
- Guide to Cruelty-Free Eating by Vegan Outreach
Enjoy! Why not go vegan, or help someone go vegan today?
The ‘warrior puppy’ given a new life after it was found starved near to death… and went on to change the life of the autistic boy who’s now its best friend
- 8-year-old autistic boy who barely spoke transformed into lively chatterbox when met companion Xena
- Jonny Hickey spent his time playing marbles in silence now he sings while playing with beloved dog
- Rescue puppy scarred and starved through abuse nicknamed Xena, warrior puppy after making miraculous recovery
- Family from Georgia found dog on Facebook group, which now has 19,000 fans
- Research proves companion animals have ‘calming presence’ on autistic children
An eight-year-old who suffers from autism, has transformed from a ‘painfully awkward, isolated’ boy into an outgoing chatterbox, thanks to his beloved rescue dog.
In just two months, the Staffordshire terrier mix has made Jonny Hickey ‘the happiest child that I’ve ever seen him be,’ according to his mother Linda.
Jonny, from John’s creek, Georgia, barely spoke before meeting Xena. He spent hours playing marbles on his own and was terrified of new experiences.
The pair have developed a special relationship since they met two months ago when the family adopted the puppy.
Since then, Jonny has transformed into an affectionate, happy boy who considers Xena his best friend.
Video footage of the pair shows Jonny singing You’ve Got a Friend In Me with Xena on his lap.
In another clip, he said that he and Xena make a ‘pretty perfect team’ and kisses the rescue puppy on the top of his head.
Mother-of-two Linda Hickey, 44, said in an interview with Today.com: ‘These two were destined to be together, to save each other at a level that humans just can’t understand.’
‘From the very first day, that dog was sitting in his lap in the car seat, giving him all these kisses. And that’s where she’s been ever since,’ she said.
The part-time preschool teacher said her son now chatters non-stop, telling her about his day at school.
Xena was brought to an animal shelter in Georgia at the end of last year after she collapsed in someone’s yard.
The four-month-old was scarred and emaciated after being dumped in a cage.
Staff at the DeKalb County Animal Services’ shelter in Georgia said Xena weighed four pounds and was close to death, according to Today.com.
Chrissy Kaczynski, from Animal Services said in 12 years of working with rescue dogs, Xena was one of the worst cases she had come across.
The puppy’s rapid recovery led to her nickname Xena the Warrior.
Mrs Hickey found the dog on her Facebook page and met her at a fundraising event last November.
She described the connection between Xena and her son as instantaneous.
‘We were literally there for four minutes and Xena ran right up to Jonny and my husband. I already loved this dog, and after I met her, I really loved this dog.’
Research on the effects of companion animals on children with autism spectrum disorder, shows they are more likely to talk and laugh in the presence of guinea pigs than in the presence of toys.
Autism Service Dogs of America pairs children with specially trained dogs that have a calming effect.
Mrs Hickey posts regular updates to Xena’s Facebook group and has made a series of videos to support Autism Awareness Month and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month.
‘My name is Jonny and this is my puppy, Xena,’ he says in the video, as his pup rests near him with a supportive paw on his lap.‘Well, my Xena was hurt really bad by some not-so-nice people. And I have autism. So I think we make a pretty perfect team to spread the words to be nice to animals, and nice to kids like me.’
adoptpets: I’ve seen a lot of animal cruelty cases where dogs are starved, but this is by far the worst I have ever seen. In the first picture, the dog looks like a rotting corpse. And now look at her, so full life and helping this little boy come out of his shell. What a transformation for both of them. For Youtube video of Jonny & Xena click here
OWNER REUNITED WITH SICK DOG FOR THE LAST TIME - “Cancer-stricken and dying, a dog named Kermie lived long enough to greet her beloved master — a Colorado sailor stationed overseas — for one last reunion.”
A Chow-Labrador-Beagle mix in Colorado named Kermie was diagnosed with oral cancer and was close to the end of her days. Her owner, Navy Corpsman Eric Ralston, was stationed overseas in Guam and the family feared he would never see Kermie again. Fortunately, he was able to come home on leave for Christmas in 2012 and the two were reunited again. Kermie passed away in February 2013. Here’s more from the New York Daily News:
In March 2012, Navy Hospital Corpsman Eric Ralston was deployed to Guam for eight months aboard the USS Frank Cable. A month later, his wife, Jennifer, received crushing news: Kermie was diagnosed with oral cancer; doctors gave her two to three months to live…
But Kermie — an 11-year-old beagle/lab/chow mix — was a fighter, and as the date of Eric Ralston’s return grew closer, his wife imagined that a reunion was still possible.
Then, another setback: His deployment was extended indefinitely.
“I just KNEW Kermie would not make it until Christmas,” Jennifer Ralston wrote.
But, in another unexpected twist, Eric Ralston was allowed to come home to suburban Denver for the holidays.
Jennifer Ralston made sure to film the moment of his return.
So glad to learn that Kermie was able to say goodbye to her beloved owner before she passed on. Click here for the full story.
