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Fran Drescher calls for an end to “bull***t” vaccine mandates

<p dir="ltr">Fran Drescher has divided audiences after using her platform to go on a tirade about bringing an end to “bull***t” vaccine mandates. </p> <p dir="ltr">The former star of <em>The Nanny</em> took to the stage at the 2023 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards on Sunday, and used the opportunity to voice her controversial opinions about Covid-19 restrictions. </p> <p dir="ltr">“As the nation declares an end to the Covid emergency this May, I hope we will see everyone return to work in equal opportunity,” Drescher, 65, said in her speech during the telecast,<em> <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/02/27/fran-drescher-calls-for-end-to-vaccine-mandate-in-sag-speech/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_medium=SocialFlow&amp;utm_source=NYPTwitter">Page Six</a></em> reports. </p> <p dir="ltr">The entertainment industry’s pandemic protocols were originally set to end on January 31st, but have been extended until April 1st. </p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, more than 20 US states still enforce vaccine mandates to varying degrees.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our industry brings billions of production dollars to states across the nation, but if they want our business, let’s wield our financial influence to make governors act in the best interest of freedom, diversity, inclusion and democracy,” Drescher said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As my character Bobbi Flekman said in <em>This Is Spinal Tap</em> – money talks and bulls**t walks!”</p> <p dir="ltr">Her divisive comments were met with a mixed reaction online, with many viewers claiming it was “irresponsible” for Drescher to use her platform in such a way.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Fran Drescher’s comments on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CovidVaccine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CovidVaccine</a> were irresponsible. Using her logic, people wouldn’t be universally vaccinated against diseases like measles and tetanus. Public health is PUBLIC because it takes collective work.</p> <p>— 🇺🇦мег 🇺🇦 (@sassybibrarian) <a href="https://twitter.com/sassybibrarian/status/1630038810095648768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">God I love Fran Drescher, but her speech at the SAG awards could have been an email.</p> <p>— Francis (@Fusterduster) <a href="https://twitter.com/Fusterduster/status/1630022506668249088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Woody Harrelson and now Fran Drescher. Big weekend for anti-vaxxers.</p> <p>— 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 ⁽ʷʰᵒ ⁱˢ ᵍᵃʸ⁾ (@cinema_gay) <a href="https://twitter.com/cinema_gay/status/1630021950293655554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Elsewhere in her speech, Drescher also discussed her efforts to help make Hollywood more environmentally friendly by joining with Green Council with a goal to eliminate single-use plastic both on camera and behind the scenes.</p> <p dir="ltr">She also applauded IMDb for “taking a stand against ageism, stereotyping and gender rigidity by allowing our members to define themselves their way on their profile page – for free.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em><span id="docs-internal-guid-1cf5b55a-7fff-4610-144c-c7e3ae12e9d4"></span></p>

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Prince Charles, Duran Duran and a giant bull: All the highlights of the Comm Games Opening Ceremony

<p>The 2022 Commonwealth Games are officially underway, after the impressive opening ceremony kicked off on Thursday evening. </p> <p>The extravagant ceremony captivated the attention of local and international fans, with TV viewers around the word tuning in to the Birmingham event. </p> <p>Prince Charles arrived at the Alexander Stadium in style, driving the same Aston Martin the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge famously left Buckingham Palace in on their wedding day.</p> <p>The Prince of Wales drove his luxury, vintage car out onto the arena before a display where several motor vehicles combined to form a perfect Union Jack on the arena surface.</p> <p>The ceremony celebrated aspects of the rich history and culture of Birmingham, with a 10 metre tall mechanical "Raging Bull" being waltzed into the stadium. </p> <p>The Bull Ring is a major shopping district in the city, which also features a sculpture of a bull, while the mascot for these Commonwealth Games is Perry the Bull.</p> <p>Female chain makers dragged the bull into the stadium, representing the chains used during the slave trade.</p> <p>The bull then broke free of those chains — symbolising the abolition of the slave trade and the 1910 wage strike that paved the way for women to break free from poverty.</p> <p>Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai addressed the audience early in the ceremony, sharing a heartfelt message about how Birmingham became her home and welcomed her family.</p> <p>Musical act Duran Duran, who began their career in Birmingham, closed the ceremony as they belted out fan favourite tracks such as <em>Save A Prayer</em>, <em>Planet Earth</em> and <em>Ordinary World</em>.</p> <p>The Commonwealth Games will run until August 8th, with 72 countries competing in 19 sports over the 11-day event. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

International Travel

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“This is bulls***”: Kyle hits out on censoring of Pauline Hanson

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s has sparked more controversy, after she was censored for attempting to undermine Australia’s vaccine rollout on one of Sydney’s biggest radio shows.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Hanson was sharing her anti-vaccination views on KIIS 106.5’s </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kyle and Jackie O Show</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, when producers intervened and began censoring the audio mentioning vaccinating.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While Ms Hanson was describing why she was choosing not to be vaccinated against COVID-19, all the audience could hear was a drawn-out “bleep”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The show is on a 30-second delay and has a censor to block any comments that can’t be verified live or that could cause trouble for the network.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When callers alerted him to the censoring, host Kyle Sandilands had a strong reaction when he found out the reason behind it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Can somebody tell me what’s being beeped out and why it’s being beeped out?”, Sandilands asked producers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Our censor is saying some of what Pauline is saying is not government approved,” one producer replied.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We’re not a government show,” he said. “This is not the ABC.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The same producer told Sandilands the show has to “be mindful of what we’re telling listeners”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Based on what?”, Sandilands queried.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“[Based on] the public health system and what they’re telling us,” they replied.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sandilands then apologised to Ms Hanson, who said it wasn’t the first time she had been censored for her views on vaccinations.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’ve been censored also by Channel Nine and 2GB because they won’t have me on because of what I say,” Hanson explained.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You can’t have a difference of opinion in this country anymore because they shut you down. So therefore you’re letting the authorities control what you say and think.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I’m a member of parliament, surely I have a right to actually express my opinion.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A spokeswoman for ARN, which represents the popular radio show, said the live to air censor “monitors all content and makes a decision on what is appropriate to be broadcast on air and be published in accordance with the station’s regulatory obligations”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Kyle and Jackie O don’t shy away from talking about the hot topics that matter to their audience,” the spokeswoman told </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">news.com.au</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“KIIS1065 makes every effort to fairly represent the views of its guests but has an obligation to balance freedom of expression against expression of views that may be out of step with government health advice.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We take our responsibilities very seriously, and appreciate that some views expressed by guests on the station may not always be shared by the wider community.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ARN said the governing body for broadcast media, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, has a “focus on protecting the Australian public from misinformation about COVID-19 and information that is out of step with government advice.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pauline Hanson’s claim on the show that COVID-19 vaccines haven’t been tried and tested like those for diseases such as measles and mumps is unfounded.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance’s (NCIRS) </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.ausvaxsafety.org.au/safety-data/covid-19-vaccines" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">AusVaxSafety</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> surveillance initiative, 53.9 percent of Australians who have been vaccinated reported no adverse event, while 46.1 percent reported adverse side effects including fatigue, headaches, injection site pain, and muscle aches.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Instagram</span></em></p>

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Infection camp: Red Bull advisor suggest F1 drivers be deliberately dosed with coronavirus

<p>Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has considered deliberately infecting his Formula One drivers with the new coronavirus in a camp so that they would be protected from the sickness once racing is resumed.</p> <p>As F1’s season has been indefinitely suspended by the pandemic, Marko said the company’s drivers should use this inactive period to contract the virus to ensure they would not fall ill later in the year.</p> <p>“We have four Formula One drivers and eight or 10 juniors,” the 76-year-old told Austrian TV station ORF.</p> <p>“The idea was that we would organise a camp to mentally and physically bridge the dead time and that would be the ideal time for the infection to come.</p> <p>“They are all strong young men in good health. That way they would be prepared whenever the action starts.”</p> <p>The former grand prix racer said his idea had “not been well received” by Red Bull management.</p> <p>Marko’s comments came following his earlier suggestion that driver Max Verstappen should catch the coronavirus so that he would later be able to “<a href="https://au.sports.yahoo.com/coronavirus-red-bull-boss-slammed-verstappen-joke-003502230.html">hunt down the world title completely immune</a>”.</p> <p>On March 13, the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne was <a href="https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.formula-1-fia-and-agpc-announce-cancellation-of-the-2020-australian-grand.KKpXZDcd77WbO6T0MGoO7.html">cancelled</a> after one of the McLaren Racing Team members tested positive for COVID-19.</p> <p>Seven of the first eight F1 races this year have been postponed, while the Monaco Grand Prix scheduled for May 24 was cancelled.</p> <p>F1 CEO Chase Carey said he expected the season to resume “at some point this summer”.</p> <p>“It is not possible to provide a more specific calendar now due to the fluidity of the current situation but we expect to gain clearer insights to the situation in each of our host countries, as well as the issues related to travel to these countries, in the coming month,” he said.</p> <p>“We will continue to take advice from health officials and experts, as our first priority continues to be the safety and health of our fans, the communities we visit and those within the Formula 1 family.”</p>

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“It’s bulls***”: Kevin Rudd leaves The Project viewers in hysterics as he mocks Donald Trump

<p>Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has mocked US president Donald Trump during his appearance on<span> </span><em>The Project</em>.</p> <p>The segment, which discussed the political discourse between China and America, brought up the topic of Trump, as Rudd was asked for his opinion on the leader of the free world.</p> <p>Guest host Magda Szubanski asked Rudd if the recent tweets made by Trump regarding China would have any impact on Australia.</p> <p>“There’s a real danger we become roadkill or collateral damage in this,” said Rudd.</p> <p>“It’s not just the trade war which is impacting badly on the global economy.”</p> <p>Rudd then went on to discuss the President’s personal impact on the international tensions.</p> <p>“Trump has a number of highly legitimate complaints against Chinese trade practices but I question his ability to seal the deal, to close the deal,” he said through a smile.</p> <p>Which is when host Waleed Aly decided to offer a sarcastic quip of his own.</p> <p>“But he wrote a book on<span> </span><em>The Art Of The Deal</em><span> </span>– how can you doubt him?”</p> <p>“And it’s bulls***,” responded Rudd.</p> <p>The comment left panel and audience members in stitches, making the former Prime Minister quickly realise his mistake.</p> <p>Covering his mouth, Rudd said: “Sorry, it’s not … some other (word).”</p> <p>“It’s okay we know you swear,” said Carrie Bickmore, with Peter Helliar adding “we’ve seen all the tapes.”</p> <p>The comment was made in reference to a leaked video in 2012 showing Rudd becoming frustrated while attempting to record a message in Chinese.</p>

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Kochie’s stunning admission: “My job is bulls**t”

<p>For the past 12 years, <span>Sunrise</span> host David “Kochie” Koch has spent every Good Friday raising money for sick kids as part of the annual Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday telethon in Melbourne.</p> <p>And the surprising reason why he’s so dedicated to the cause is because his job is “bullsh**t”.</p> <p>The veteran journalist made the stunning admission as he spoke of the importance of the telethon, explaining the work done by medical professionals at the Royal Children’s Hospital is far more important than what he does every day.</p> <p>“We’re not saving lives,” he told <a href="http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/morning-shows/i-have-a-bullst-job-why-kochie-supports-the-good-friday-appeal/news-story/25fb6fd3f9caf4b558670e1da550df0e" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">news.com.au</span></strong></a>. “We’re not working in operating theatres and emergency rooms and stuff like that.”</p> <p>So, since he can’t offer any hands-on help, Kochie does the next best thing, throwing his support behind the telethon.</p> <p>“If we can use our position to encourage people or to put a focus on a great cause, then that’s what we should be doing. I’m not being corny here; it’s one of my values. I truly believe you’re on this Earth to try to improve it.”</p> <p>This year, as he prepares for his 13th Good Friday Appeal, Kochie will have a very cute helper by his side – his 10-year-old “assistant”, granddaughter Matilda.</p> <p>“Her parents and I think she’s old enough to also be shown how important it is to give back to the community.”</p> <p>Kochie describes the appeal, which has raised over $327 million in its 87-year history, as “life-changing”.</p> <p>“I feel very privileged to be part of it.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Channel 7.</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Running of the Bulls: Spain’s most iconic (and controversial) festival

<p>This ancient festival is one of Spain’s most iconic – and controversial.</p> <p><strong>What is it?</strong></p> <p>Dating back to at least the 13th century, the Fiesta de San Fermin (or, in English, the Running of the Bulls) began as a way to move bulls through the city of Pamplona from the corral to the bullfighting ring. People began to join in around the 1800s and now run through the streets just in front of the herd. Ernest Hemingway made the festival famous in his 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises, which was the first time most people outside of Spain became aware of it. It is now one of the biggest and most famous festivals in the world, a week-long party that transforms the city.</p> <p><strong>Where is it?</strong></p> <p>The city of Pamplona is the capital of the Navarre province in northern Spain. It is part of the fiercely independent Basque region and is dotted with fortifications, castles and cathedrals dating back to the 16th century.</p> <p><strong>What should I expect?</strong></p> <p>The opening ceremony is held on July 6 and the main square of Pamplona overflows with people dressed in white with red scarves, drinking lots of sangria and waiting for the mayor to set off the rockets that signal the start of the festival. It’s madness – a huge crush of people, screaming and chanting, and things can get a little out of control.</p> <p>The festival itself runs for a week, from July 7 to 14, with a run every day at 8am. The course is around 850 metres long, with six fighting bulls and six tame oxen wearing bells winding through the narrow streets of the old city. Thousands of participants from around the world join in and many thousands more watch from the sidelines or balconies above the chaos. It only takes a few minutes and the runners (and bulls) will burst into the bullring and out of harms way.</p> <p>Traditional bullfights are held each evening in the Plaza del Toros, though these are fights to the death and may not be for everyone.</p> <p><strong>Why is it controversial?</strong></p> <p>This is the tricky part. The festival has drawn criticism for a number of reasons. Firstly, many animal rights groups claim that it is cruel to the bulls, especially the bullfighting. The Spanish maintain that it is an integral part of their culture, so you’ll have to decide for yourself. Each year, many participants are injured during the run and some even die. Matadors have also been badly gored and killed in the bullring. Then there’s the drinking – people come from around the world to party at San Fermin and it can become overwhelming. Huge crowds of drunk, generally young, people will fill the streets and it often descends into chaos. Having said all that, it is a truly incredible experience for any traveller. Just be prepared.</p> <p>Have you ever been to the Running of the Bulls? Share your opinion in the comments below.</p>

International Travel

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Pit bull can’t stop smiling after being rescued

<p>The American pit bull has long been one of the most misunderstood breeds of dog after gaining a reputation as aggressive and dangerous – but public opinion is beginning to change, with hundreds of beautiful dogs being rehabilitated, rehomed and given a second chance at life.</p> <p>“Meatball” (or “Meaty” as he’s known by his family) is just one of those lucky dogs, and thanks to his gorgeous personality, he’s won tens of thousands of fans online. Meaty has one particular quirk that seems to be melting hearts around the world – since his rescue, he simply can’t stop smiling.</p> <p>Lisa Reilly adopted the cute 30kg canine two years ago from Fresno Bully Rescue in the US after spotting him at the shelter and getting a feeling that he was “the one”.</p> <p>However, their first day together didn’t exactly go to plan. “I woke up to a sea of chewed shoes,” Reilly wrote in a <a href="https://community.petco.com/t5/Blog/Adoption-Stories-Fat-Little-Brown-Dog/ba-p/67095?cm_mmc=facebook-_-blog-_-holiday-wishes-fat-little-brown-dog-_-20160210#prclt-vqKNH1PX" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">blog post</span></strong></a>. “He barked and yodelled at me when he wasn't fed on time; he chased our little dogs; and he would just lay down on walks, refusing to budge any further. I won't even mention his snoring or excessive gas. Such a gem, he was.</p> <p>“Luckily for him, I had gone on my first date with a great guy just two days before picking Meaty up from Fresno Bully Rescue, who became responsible for carrying 65-pound Meaty home from his protestations on those first few walks. We quickly got him into training with a recommendation from our neighbouring Petco. That fat little brown dog turned out to be quite the smarty pants and an agility star in a jelly roll body!”</p> <p>Meaty has since become an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/loveabulllisa/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Instagram</span></strong></a> star, with his gorgeous smile earning him more than 60,000 followers and encouraging countless others to learn more about this lovely but sadly misunderstood breed. “I think his huge cheeky grin resonates with what a lot of people say about this breed without having to say anything at all,” Reilly told <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/meatball-pit-bull_us_57cf3f1ae4b0a48094a6714c" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Huffington Post</span></strong></a>. “He’s just pure joy.”</p> <p>Take a look at Meaty’s infectious smile in the gallery above – you might even see the special part he played in his owner’s proposal! Have you ever adopted a pet from a shelter? Share your experience with us in the comments below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/09/the-scientific-reason-dogs-make-us-happier/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The scientific reason dogs make us happier</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/09/dog-trapped-in-barn-for-six-years-finally-gets-a-haircut/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Dog trapped in barn for six years finally gets a haircut</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/09/chihuahua-saves-elderly-owner/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Heroic Chihuahua saves 92-year-old owner</strong></em></span></a></p>

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15 bull sharks spotted in popular Australian swimming spot

<p>Swimmers have been warned to think twice about jumping into southeast Queensland’s North Pine River after 15 bull sharks were spotted lurking in the waters.</p> <p>As you can see from the video above, there’s good reason for doing so.</p> <p>The video, uploaded to Facebook earlier this month by Stephen Jolly, clearly shows the one-metre bull sharks swimming around the popular sport.  </p> <p>Jolly told the <a href="http://www.couriermail.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Courier Mail</strong></span></a>, “I’ve always seen them swimming around by themselves or in pairs, but 15 in one spot was nothing I’d seen before. This isn’t unusual though, there are bull sharks in the North Pine River all the time.”</p> <p>Freshwater habitats are a common nursery for sharks, which can reportedly live in areas for up to 12 months before eventually returning back to sea.</p> <p>Have you ever seen sharks in the wildlife? What do you think you would’ve done if you spotted them when about to go for a dip?</p> <p>Let us know in the comments.</p> <p><em>Video credit: Facebook / Moreton Bay And Surrounds Sportfishing</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/03/top-10-favourite-cat-sleeping-positions/"><em>Top 10 favourite cat sleeping positions</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/03/cutest-pet-criminal-duos/"><em>10 of the cutest pet criminal duos</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/05/gallery-of-very-important-cat-jobs/"><em>12 very important cat jobs</em></a></strong></span></p>

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15 bull sharks spotted in popular Queensland swimming spot

<p>Swimmers have been warned to think twice about jumping into southeast Queensland’s North Pine River after 15 bull sharks were spotted lurking in the waters.</p> <p>As you can see from the video above, there’s good reason for doing so.</p> <p>The video, uploaded to Facebook earlier this month by Stephen Jolly, clearly shows the one-metre bull sharks swimming around the popular sport.  </p> <p>Jolly told the <a href="http://www.couriermail.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Courier Mail</strong></span></a>, “I’ve always seen them swimming around by themselves or in pairs, but 15 in one spot was nothing I’d seen before. This isn’t unusual though, there are bull sharks in the North Pine River all the time.”</p> <p>Freshwater habitats are a common nursery for sharks, which can reportedly live in areas for up to 12 months before eventually returning back to sea.</p> <p>Have you ever seen sharks in the wildlife? What do you think you would’ve done if you spotted them when about to go for a dip?</p> <p>Let us know in the comments.</p> <p><em>Video credit: Facebook / Moreton Bay And Surrounds Sportfishing</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/03/polar-bear-saves-her-cub-from-drowning/"><strong>Polar bear saves her cub from drowning</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/05/yeti-abominable-snowman-video-spain/"><strong>Is this creature in the snow a Yeti?</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/04/this-baby-wombat-needs-a-professional-cuddler/"><strong>This baby wombat needs a professional cuddler</strong></a></em></span></p>

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Vet technician comforts rescue pit bull after surgery

<p>Sometimes animals can be just like humans. This video, shared on the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter's Facebook page last week, shows surgical assistant Dennis Modes lovingly cradling a pit bull after she was de sexed.</p> <p>The post says that Maddie the rescue dog was feeling disoriented as the anaesthesia wore off, so the kind veterinarian took it upon himself to comfort her. Bailey Deacon, BARCS director of communications, assured The Huffington Post that Maddie would not have been in pain.</p> <p>Watch as the caring technician rocks a sleepy Maddie back and forth while kissing her. Just incredible!</p> <p>Maddie is now safe and happy in her forever home with her new family (see image below).</p> <p><img width="500" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/16334/pit-bull-pic_500x500.jpg" alt="Pit Bull Pic"/> </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/02/shelter-dog-joyful-reaction-to-being-adopted/">Shy shelter dog’s joyful reaction to being adopted</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/dogs-with-no-concept-of-personal-space/">These dogs have no concept of personal space</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/12/dont-feed-pets-table-scraps/">Why you shouldn’t feed your pet table scraps</a></strong></span></em></p> <p> </p>

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Pit bulls acts as surrogate mum to blind cats

<p>Not all stories about pit bulls are good ones, but these rescue dogs act as surrogate mothers to three blind cats.</p> <p>Three cats with severe eye problems had their eyes removed in a bid to give them the best chance at living normal and pain-free lives. However, after the operation the cats were having difficulty adjusting to the darker side of life.</p> <p>Sherry Stewart, a volunteer at Faithful Friends who has fostered over 80 animals, decided to nurture the cats at her home where her two rescued pit bulls resided, constantly giving the family special attention and extra doggy love.</p> <p>It was the combination of both pit bulls’ nurturing personalities that helped heal and foster the cats.</p> <p>Stewart says “They kind of act like surrogate moms…they seemed to have sensed they (cats) need little extra TLC.”</p> <p>Ever since the three cats have arrived in Stewarts home, the trio is really thriving, thanks to her pups’ affection which is evident in an adorable picture of the cat having a nap on the dogs back. The cats have shown an immense improvement, one who was shy and reserved has now come out of his shell and doesn’t have trouble finding things or getting around the house and overall Stuart says the animals have all really formed a very special relationship.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/01/clever-dog-performs-a-handstand/">Watch gorgeous toy poodle perform a perfect handstand</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/01/alarm-clock-rug/">You won’t believe this new rug that’s an alarm clock</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/01/make-your-smartphone-battery-last-longer/">How to make your smartphone battery last longer</a></strong></em></span></p> <div> <div class="advert"> <div id="adspot-300x250-pos3" class="ad"> <div> <div> <div class="advert"> <div id="adspot-300x250-pos3" class="ad"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

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Pit bull puppy’s security blanket is a metal bucket

<p>After a rough past an abandoned pit bull puppy is looking for a new home.</p><p>Slim the rescue dog is currently residing at Recue Me Ohio, a dog shelter in Ashland Country, and while he’s making great strides to recovery he refuses to be separated from his metal bowl.</p><p>Slim was found emaciated and scared last December and was taken in by staff at the dog shelter, who have done a good job in nursing him back to full health. Slim reportedly loves to play but has destroyed a lot of toys in his youthful exuberance – except for his favourite that is.</p><p><img width="480" height="640" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/10374/slim-pitbull-metal-bowl-two.jpg" alt="Slim Pitbull Metal Bowl Two" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></p><p><em>Image credit: Facebook / Rescue Me Ohio&nbsp;</em></p><p>Slim and the metal bowl are inseparable and his carries his favourite toy around wherever he goes.</p><p>Rescue Me Ohio wrote on Facebook, “He loves attention and loves to play. He is anxious in the shelter and has destroyed most of the toys he's been given. But his favourite toy is his Bucket! He has a lot of energy and charm. He had some food guarding issues that the shelter staff and volunteers have worked with and he has come a long way.”</p><p><strong>Related links:</strong></p><p><a href="/news/news/2015/10/monkey-cuddles-dachshund-puppy/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Monkey cuddles dachshund puppy</strong></em></span></a></p><p><a href="/news/news/2015/10/cute-baby-meets-pug-puppies/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Baby hysterical when he meets pugs for first time</strong></em></span></a></p><p><a href="/news/news/2015/10/puppy-is-stunned-by-rain/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Puppy encounters rain for first time and is terribly confused</strong></em></span></a></p>

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Stray pit bull adopts orphaned kitten

<p>In a remarkable story of survival despite the steepest of odds, a stray pit bull has been found nursing a helpless orphaned kitten. &nbsp;</p><p>Discovered on a roadside by an animal rescue group in Texas, at first rescuers thought the pit bull was nursing a puppy but on closer inspection were astounded to discover a tiny kitten, no more than a few days old, suckling on her nipple.</p><p>Both were rushed to the vet and were luckily found to be in reasonably good health.</p><p>“Over my 28-year career, I've never seen anything like this,” said veterinarian Dr. Rick Hamlin. “My gosh, to find this in the wild, that a pit bull and kitten found each other on their own and they connected like they did, it's really something.”</p><p><img src="https://scontent-sin.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11051979_462016767283819_7890371352763382258_n.jpg?oh=b724be3b1ed6f5c9c8d843fc079f71d3&amp;oe=55AC3101" class="spotlight" style="width: 467px; height: 622px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></p><p>It is still unclear how the pit bull and kitten found one another.</p><p>“In this particular area, there's a lot of strays, so my best guess is that the mother pit bull had a litter of pups and they died or weened and she still had milk. And the kitten's mother, who just had her — well, something must have happened to her, and this kitten was left behind. The pit bull probably found her and took it as her own,” says Hamlin.</p><p>“They found each other at the perfect time.”</p><p>Both in the care of the vet, the pit bull is still as doting as ever. Staff have decided to keep them both in the same kennel, as the surrogate mum howls whenever they are parted.</p><p>“The bond between this pit bull and the kitten is just amazing. She cleans it, she licks it, and they snuggle up,” says Hamlin. “They're doing absolutely well. It's great that we're able to give the kitten the nutrition it needs, and to keep them both together.”</p><p>Once the kitten is strong enough, the clinic hopes to find the two their forever home but with one stipulation: you have to adopt the pair.&nbsp;</p><p><em>Image credits: Mercy Animal Clinic Facebook&nbsp;</em></p><p><strong>Related links:&nbsp;</strong></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2015/03/man-returns-to-fukushima-to-feed-animals/" target="_blank"><strong>Meet the “radioactive” man who returned to Fukushima to feed the animals that were left behind</strong></a></em></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2015/03/kevin-the-cat/" target="_blank"><strong>After missing for 2 years, cat turns up 3,000km away</strong></a></em></span></p><p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="/news/news/2015/03/obese-dachshund-loses-weight/" target="_blank">Obese dachshund loses 20 kilos after cutting out pizza and burgers</a></strong></em></span></p>

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Ill-treated pit bull finds new home and new adorable outfits to protect damaged skin

<p>Diamond the pit bull looks fabulous in her stylish outfits but it’s not a matter of fashion that her new mother, Melinda McGuire, dresses her up.</p><p>The eight year old dog came to Atlanta’s Fulton Country Animal Services last summer badly abused. Her skin was permanently wrecked and ears cropped.</p><p>“When I saw Diamond, I was immediately brought to tears,” says Neely Conway, a volunteer at the shelter. “When I took her outside I couldn't stop crying. This sweet animal had suffered so much, but was approaching dogs and humans with such a loving and gentle demeanour. I knew she needed to be saved.”</p><p><img width="500" height="329" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/3653/m-diamond-the-pit-bull-980x645_500x329.jpg" alt="M -DIAMOND-THE-PIT-BULL-980x 645" style="float: left;"></p><p>Conway began reaching out to find prospective foster or adoptive homes but the situation looked dire.</p><p>“But we were having trouble,” says Conway. "And understandably ... This was an 8-year-old abused pit bull who looked very scary.”</p><p>But when Conway wrote a blog post on social media site Reddit, thanks to the powers of the internet someone answered her call.</p><p>Melinda McGuire was not looking for a dog and like many, had initially been afraid of pit bulls. But that all changed when she met Diamond, the sweetest dog she had ever met. Never having met Melinda before, Diamond just walked over and laid her shoulder on Melinda’s shoulder. She finalised the adoption then and there.</p><p><img width="403" height="403" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/3654/r-dog-403xfb.jpg" alt="R -DOG-403x FB" style="float: left;"></p><p>“I guess when I saw the plea for someone to save Diamond's life I just knew that I wanted to help this animal. This was something that fate had in mind for her that I could change." McGuire says. "All I can say was something grabbed my heart when I saw Diamond's picture, and even sitting here now looking over at her I still feel it.”</p><p>But when Melinda took Diamond home, she knew there was quite a lot of recovery to do. Her ears and lungs were infected and after some time in the yard, her permanently exposed skin would be “beet red and blazing hot.” McGuire believes Diamond’s fur was ruined by acid but has found a creative solution to cover it up.</p><p>“I actually had some fabric that I had planned on making a princess costume with for my grand-baby. It was quite over the top. But I cut out a cape and head scarf, and Diamond the Diva was born,” says McGuire. "If she had not enjoyed wearing her outfits so much than I think it may have ended that day. But I threw in a pair of the little kid's sunglasses, and Diamond loved every minute of it.”</p><p><img width="500" height="329" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/3655/m-diamond-the-pit-bull-980x645-1-_500x329.jpg" alt="M -DIAMOND-THE-PIT-BULL-980x 645 (1)" style="float: left;"></p><p>Nowadays, Diamond has not only gotten healthier but her wardrobe has grown. Given clothes are a necessity to cover up Diamond’s patchy fur, Melinda has gone all out to make sure Diamond has plenty of options to choose from. It also has the great effect of changing public perceptions of pit bulls.</p><p>“I had been so worried about people's perception of her, and I guess of me as well,” says McGuire. “Instead people kept coming up to us to ask if they could pat her, or if their children could.”</p><p><em>Image credits: Melinda McGuire and Neely Conway's personal collection&nbsp;</em></p><p><strong>Related links:&nbsp;</strong></p><p><a href="http://oversixty.com.au/news/news/2015/02/pictures-of-gorilla/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Amazing pictures of the moment gorilla feeds her newborn daughter</strong></em></span></a></p><p><a href="http://oversixty.com.au/news/news/2015/02/abandoned-dog-finds-home/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Dog abandoned at train station finds new home after pet lovers from around the world offered to take him</strong></em></span></a></p><p><a href="http://oversixty.com.au/news/news/2015/02/dogs-can-read-you/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Dogs can tell how you’re feeling, according to new study</strong></em></span></a></p>

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