Sunday, July 22, 2012

Coyote pups spotted in Weston MA backyard

Coyote Pups 7/20/2012


WESTON, Mass. -- A Weston family got a big surprise in their backyard when they looked outside and found a wandering pack of coyote pups.
Mom Jill Lenhardt couldn't believe it.
“When I first came home, they were here before I came home and Lisa, our babysitter, sent me a couple pictures over texts and I was like, ‘Stay inside!’” said Lenhardt.
One was even bold enough to venture up onto their deck.
“The far corner of the deck right outside. These guys saw them, the coyote, right there. Just right outside the family room just standing there and sitting around scratching himself,” Lenhardt said.
The kids were excited, snapping away some up close and personal pictures of the baby coyotes.
And even though they look cute and cuddly, there is still the element of danger.
“So then when I got home, I was looking at them I just thought they were really cute. Because they really are cute but we also have had a lot of conversations with the boys about safety,” Lenhardt said


Source: http://ow.ly/cpLOg

Maine lobstermen finding more odd colors in the catch

PORTLAND, Maine -- Reports of blue, orange, yellow and other odd-colored lobsters used to be a rarity.

But these days, it's common to hear several stories a month about a lobsterman bringing one of the quirky crustaceans to shore.

Scientists, lobstermen and dealers say more bizarrely hued lobsters are being caught.

One explanation for the rise is that the overall lobster harvest has soared in recent years, to more than 100 million pounds in Maine last year, making it likely that more unusual lobsters are being caught.

The popularity of cellphone cameras and social media has also made it easier to spread the word -- and photos -- about strange lobsters.

Normal lobsters are a mottled greenish-brown, but some come in a variety of colors because of genetic variations.


Disabled Vet Says UNITED Employees Kicked His Service Dog, Asked Him If He Was Retarded

Flying the UN-Freindly Skies!

The founder of a group that places service dogs with disabled vets says he went through a 48-hour ordeal at Dulles airport outside Washington, D.C., this week and that not only did United Airlines employees kick his service dog twice, but one staffer actually insulted him in public.

In a detailed YouTube video posted earlier today, Paws and Stripes' Jim Staneck claims that the first kick happened while he was in line at the ticket counter. An employee walked by and was startled by Jim's service dog, which allegedly led to a light kick to the dog's ribcage.



Rather than cause a scene, Jim said he let the incident go.

His flight was then delayed and ultimately cancelled because of mechanical delays, meaning a second day at the airport, where he had originally only intended to spend a short time making his connecting flight.

While riding a shuttle during his second say of fun at Dulles, Jim says that a second, startled United staffer kicked his service dog, this time with some substantial force.

"[He] kicked her so hard on the rib cage, that she flew into my lap… He said he was afraid of dogs," Jim tells KOAT-TV.

Things only got worse when Jim, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and has a traumatic brain injury, had difficulty reading a confirmation e-mail on his phone and asked a United representative to assist him.

"He said, 'Just read it' and I said, 'Sir I can't read it,' and he said, 'What are you retarded?'" recalls Jim. "Prior to this I told him I have a brain injury and PTSD, I'm a disabled vet, this is my second night here; I need help."

Jim says he would like to talk to the CEO of United just to discuss the proper way to handle both disabled customers and their service animals.