Sadie & Sydney

Hemingway Home Argues With USDA Over Cats

The caretakers of Ernest Hemingway's Key West home want a federal judge to intervene in their dispute with the U.S. Department of Agriculture over the six-toed cats that roam the property.

More than 50 descendants of a multi-toed cat the novelist received as a gift in 1935 wander the grounds of the home, where Hemingway lived for more than 10 years and wrote "A Farewell to Arms" and "To Have and Have Not."

The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum disputes the USDA's claim that it is an "exhibitor" of cats and needs to have a USDA Animal Welfare License, according to a complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Miami.

Posted by Tammy at 02:18 AM | Permalink

Willy with his booty

Feline Stealing Gardening Gloves of Pelham

A pink and white gardening glove was missing from Jeannine Goche's front porch. But there was absolutely no mystery about who had taken it.

Willy, the cat who loves gloves, had struck again.

"It has to be him," Goche said. "I've heard about him."

As if the gardeners of Pelham don't have enough to worry about, with the rocky soil and the slugs and the big trees that cast too much shade, a feline felon has been sneaking into their backyards and carrying off at least two dozen gardening gloves.

Posted by Tammy at 09:05 AM | Permalink

Sierra Swimmers On Alert After Otter Attacks

"In two days' time, two people were attacked by river otters," said Marilyn LeDoux.

Both victims were bit and scratched at a popular campground. While it's unusual for these cute critters to go on the attack, fish and game wardens say it's not unheard of.

The LeDouxs thought twice before letting their grand kids take a dip today, but decided to go ahead. "We're keeping a real close eye being able to see them," said Marilyn. Rumors now swirl the campground that the victims may have tried to touch the otter -- a big mistake.

"It didn't surprise me, a mom defending her cubs," said Marilyn

Posted by Tammy at 11:05 AM | Permalink

Barbaro

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. Jul 14, 2006 (AP)— Barbaro was doing "much better" Friday morning, a day after his veterinarian said the Kentucky Derby winner was a "long shot" to survive a potentially fatal hoof disease.

"Barbaro was out of his sling for more than 12 hours yesterday, and he had a calm, restful night, sleeping on his side for more than four hours," Dr. Dean Richardson said in a statement issued Friday by the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center. "While his condition is stable, it remains extremely serious."

Posted by Tammy at 12:23 PM | Permalink

Not Joe, but he probably looks like this wallaroo

BISMARCK, N.D. - Law enforcement authorities on the lookout for criminals also are keeping an eye out for a missing kangaroo. Corey Botner, who lives southwest of Bismarck, said he was feeding his pet wallaroo, a member of the kangaroo family, when it got away Tuesday night.

Botner said the wallaroo, named Joe, was frightened by his new St. Bernard puppy. Joe is about a year old, around 4 feet tall with brown and black hair.

Posted by Tammy at 02:57 PM | Permalink

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - An escapee who had spent almost a month on the run, eating the finest food and frolicking in clear public sight on the beach of one of New Zealand's swankiest suburbs has been recaptured by desperate authorities.

Jin, a short-clawed Asiatic otter which escaped from Auckland Zoo on June 13, was found in a trap on an island in the Hauraki Gulf -- part of the harbor that forms the eastern sea entrance to New Zealand's largest city.

Posted by Tammy at 12:00 PM | Permalink

What beautiful eyes you have...

"In this photograph provided by the Smithsonian Institution, National Zoo Veterinarian Carlos Sanchez, right, uses an eye scope to examine a Sumatran tiger cub held by Animal Keeper Jeanne Minor Thursday, July 6, 2006 in Washington. Three tiger cubs one male and two females were born at the National Zoo May 24, 2006. The 6-week-old cubs received their first round of vaccinations during Thursdays medical exam. (AP Photo, National Zoo, Jessie Cohne)"

Posted by Tammy at 10:48 PM | Permalink

A man in South Carolina jumped on the back of a 10-foot alligator to save his girlfriend's pet dog as it was being dragged into a lake, according to a Local 6 News report.

Brent Carey said he was at a park in Charleston with his girlfriend and her dog, Chance, when an alligator jumped out of the water and started to drag Chance into the lake.

Carey jumped on the alligator, grabbed it near the back legs and began to fight to free the dog...

Posted by Tammy at 11:00 PM | Permalink