thesun--2019-01-11--Cat owners are harnessing their pets for a daily stroll and giving surprised passers-by paws for tho

Cat owners are harnessing their pets for a daily stroll and giving surprised passers-by paws for thought

IT is the hot new catwalk fashion – walking actual cats.  More and more owners are harnessing their pets for a  daily stroll and giving surprised passers-by paws for thought.  The move is inspired by  flat-dwellers wanting their indoor cats to enjoy time outdoors, and by cat owners who want to exercise their animals without letting them run riot attacking  wildlife.  Cat walkies have also been championed by US writer David Grimm, who has declared: “Today’s indoor cat is a tiger robbed of his dominion – a Lamborghini left idling in the garage.”  Here,  Amy Jones meets five devoted owners who explain why they’ve chosen to take the lead . . .  SARAH DUFFY, 39, from South West London, reckons 20-month-old Ragdoll cat Pippin is more like a puppy. Media worker Sarah says:  “I TAKE him everywhere with me on the lead – even to Kent when I’m visiting my boyfriend.  People sometimes stop to pet him and then gasp when they realise he’s a cat not a dog.  I think they find it amusing but I don’t mind. Pippin just loves the attention.  Getting him was the best thing I’ve ever done.  I had actually wanted to get a dog initially but realised it wasn’t practical because I live in a first-floor flat and was working long hours at the time.  Cats are stereotyped as being cold sometimes but Pippin is nothing like that.  He follows me everywhere and loves to play.  We even play fetch whenever I take him out to the park and he loves it. I’ll throw a ball and he’ll run and get it and bring it back to me, just as a dog would.”    AMY McLEAN, 26, lives in Hampstead, North London, with four-year-old cat Lady Medora Byron. Writer Amy says:  "I USED to walk Medora as a kitten but only now and again – then when she was nine months old she went missing for three days.  When she finally returned home I decided it would be better for her to go out for her walks on a lead.  They’re definitely the favourite part of her day. Whenever I get her harness out she meows with excitement.  She loves all the different sights and smells. She even likes dogs. She’ll try and follow them around which they usually aren’t too keen on.  I’d had lots of people come up to me and say they wish their cats would walk on a lead. It’s definitely a conversation starter.  If anyone is thinking about walking their cat, I’d say to start them young so they can get used to the harness. And understand that the cat walks you!"    MAT OMBLER walks his one-eyed rescue cat Kenny, two, around the block every day. Media professional Mat, 26, from Hull, says:  "WHEN I first got Kenny, I let him out in the garden and he was soon disappearing.  That’s fine for a normal cat but I wasn’t happy with him roaming on his own because of his impaired vision. So I decided to try walking him on the lead – and he loved it.  I’ve been very affectionate with him since he was a kitten, so he tends to follow me on the lead very obediently. He follows me around when I’m home, so that works quite well with walking him outside.  We do get strange looks, which I understand given that I’ve got a one-eyed cat on a lead.  Whenever I see a dog, I pick Kenny up. But because of his poor vision he doesn’t often notice them, so he stays relatively calm."    JOSIE PARISH, 27, of Bristol, has two Maine Coon cats, Audrey Lily, one, and King Louie, nine months. Police dispatcher Josie says:  "I SADLY lost a few cats while growing up due to them being run over, so I wanted to protect these two.  This means keeping them as indoor cats – but of course it’s in their nature to go outside so we started walking them on a harness as a compromise.  My partner James and I take them into the woods, and they love sniffing around and splashing in the stream.  We get a few odd looks and comments, but overall people tend to think it’s cute or funny.  We keep them on a short lead so I can grab them easily if there are any dogs around.  Maine Coons are big, strong cats, so it’s sort of like having dogs anyway. They’re too big for a cat carrier, so if we need to take them along to anywhere we walk them or put them in a backpack."  NICK HARDING, 49, lives in Ashtead, Surrey, with wife Stephanie, 39, and their  two-year-old cat Barry. Author Nick says:  "IF you told me ten years ago that one day I would walk a cat on a lead in a park, I’d have laughed in your face. I hated cats.  But then I met my wife and she made us buy one.  Barry is a two-year-old pedigree Bengal and is free to wander outside, but he still likes getting his cat harness on and going for a stroll.  Because he’s not that smart, he doesn’t walk to heel and tends to dart off after birds – particularly pigeons which he hates. For this reason I use a retractable lead.  The kids down the park with their status dogs snigger at us. But they’re just jealous.  As cats are so choosy about where they do their business, I walk him knowing I won’t have to trudge  after him with pockets  full of warm filled plastic bags.  "


thesun--2019-01-15--Brace yourself and your pets for the big freeze with cosy but not costly outfits plus bargain 95

Brace yourself and your pets for the big freeze with cosy but not costly outfits — plus bargain £9.50 breaks with The Sun

THE big Brrr-itish freeze expected today is bad news for humans and canines alike – but keeping cosy does not have to be costly.  We asked our Sun Savers to share their top tips on staying toasty . . .  Sumaira B Rashid, from Hounslow, West London, says: “I raided the January sales for bargains that will work now and next winter. New Look have got a great sale. My daughter’s coat was just £9, down from £35.”  My tip: Don’t forget to check the supermarkets, too. Get a burgundy hooded padded coat for £12, down from £25. That’s a £13 saving.  Samara Twigger, from Clevedon, Somerset, says: “Charity Shops are great for bargain winter gear. I’ve even found ones that sell jumpers for a pound, along with scarves as well.”  My tip: I’m obsessed with Oxfam online where you can pick up pre-loved cashmere jumpers from top stores such as John Lewis for around £16.  Pascal Middlemiss, from Wisbech, Cambs, says: “Rather than forking out on a heavier coat, try wearing two extra layers under a jacket.”  My tip: Layering up is a great idea but don’t forget your pets. Canada Pooch does cosy coats for dogs for £30 but I’ve found a much cheaper version at B&M, where they’re just £5.99.  Maxine Kirk, from Pocklington, East Yorks, says: “Definitely try browsing Facebook groups or eBay for bargains. Buying new coats is expensive, especially for kids.  “People buy them and hardly wear them and then sell them. I have bought all-weather coats for my kids and then sold them for only a few quid or given them away to family or friends in need — people are usually happy to do so with essentials such as coats.”  My tip: Facebook market-place is a great place to shop but I find bargains by searching “bundle” on eBay. I found three coats for girls aged three to four starting at £1.50.  TREAT yourself to a takeaway with TopCashback offering new customers £15 cashback at Pizza Hut.  POT your plants in this Gold Tone Planter from studio.co.uk, instead of this Spun Metal Standing Planter from westelm.co.uk.  GO healthy with Weight Watchers ready meals on offer in Asda. Was £2.50, now £2.  TUCK into a Balti Chicken Naanster on offer in Sainsbury’s. Was £2, now £1.50.  Join thousands of readers taking part in the new Sun Savers Raffle.  Every Sun Savers code you enter will earn you a ticket for our £15k monthly Raffle. And for every ten tickets you collect in a calendar month, you get a GOLDEN TICKET for our £80k Raffle, which takes place every three months.  There is no limit to how many tickets you can collect. So the more you enter, the better your chances.  To take part go to sunsavers.co.uk or open the Sun Savers app. Then opt in to each month’s Raffle by clicking “Yes!” when prompted and start collecting the Sun Savers codes printed daily in the paper.  Every time you scan or enter a code into Sun Savers, you get a Raffle ticket in the £15k Raffle.  Not yet a Sun Savers member? Just go to sunsavers.co.uk or find “Sun Savers” in the app store to get started.  YOU can get FREE cash with super Sun Savers just for buying your favourite paper.  Our brilliant new rewards club will pay back our most loyal readers.  Just pick up the paper each day to collect your Sun Savers codes and we will GIVE YOU £5 when you have collected 28.  This isn’t a one-off and there is no limit to how much cash you can save.  For every 28 codes you enter, we will give you a fiver. So over the course of a year, that could add up to £65.  We are keeping it super-simple. You don’t have to enter codes from consecutive days, so don’t worry if you forget a day or two.  Download our easy Sun Savers app and quickly scan your code using your smartphone. Or go online and enter your code at sunsavers.co.uk.  To get you on your way, join today and we will put a bonus £1 in your Sun Savers wallet tomorrow. And the good news doesn’t stop with free cash.  With Sun Savers, we give you the best hacks, deals and tips to save money every single day.  TO JOIN: Don’t worry, folks — joining takes just 30 seconds, in three steps.


thesun--2019-03-19--Take care of your pets for less by following our five cash-saving tips plus win a FREE 10 Just Ea

Take care of your pets for less by following our five cash-saving tips — plus win a FREE £10 Just Eat voucher

DOG owners fork out on average £240 a month on their furry friends – but often pay over the odds.  There are canny canine economies to be made, though. Here are just some . . .  PUT a ring on it with a personalised sterling silver engraved message band from wowcher.co.uk for only £16, instead of £42.01  BE a dab hand with a Real Techniques powder brush from Boots - far cheaper than Cult Beauty’s Hourglass one.  JULIE HORTON, from Manchester, says: “If you run out of shoe polish, use Vaseline – it gives a lovely shine.”  SPICE up lunchtime with Indian on-the-go snack Jake & Nayns’ Naanster from Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Spar and Londis for £1.50. RRP £2.  LOOKING for a special gift to celebrate an occasion? Grab a bottle of Tesco’s award-winning Finest Premier Cru Champagne for £17, was £20.  MEGAN O’DOWD, from Leeds, says: “I use my Savers fivers towards paying to get my hair done every eight weeks.”  TREAT yourself to a takeaway – by winning one of 5,000 Just Eat vouchers worth £10 each.   Just Eat connects you with loads of top takeaways near you.  Available by app and online, find everything from pizza and chips to famous brands like KFC, Burger King, Subway and Domino’s.  And here’s your chance to get £10 off your next delivery. To enter, download the Sun Savers app or sign up at sunsavers.co.uk. Collect FIVE Sun Savers codes from those printed daily in the paper until Sunday, March 24. You can find today’s code on Page 20.  Once you have entered your five codes on the Sun Savers app or website, you will be prompted to enter the competition.  Or head to the Just Eat page in the “Offers” section and click “Enter”. Make sure you enter before midnight on Sunday, March 24, when the competition closes.  Our Sun Savers rewards club lets readers take advantage of FREE cash, treats and prizes.  That’s right – you can get FREE cash just for picking up the paper.  For every 28 Sun Savers codes you collect, we will give you a fiver to spend however you like.  Codes are printed in the paper every day.  Find your code then enter it on Sun Savers. Enter 28 codes and we will stick £5 in your Sun Savers wallet.  Join Sun Savers today and start pocketing from your paper.  JOIN thousands of readers taking part in the new Sun Savers Raffle.  Every Sun Savers code you enter will earn you a ticket for our £15k monthly Raffle. And for every ten tickets you collect in a calendar month, you get a GOLDEN TICKET for our £80k Raffle, which takes place every three months, with the first one at the end of June.  There is no limit to how many tickets you can collect. So the more you enter, the better your chances.  To take part go to sunsavers.co.uk or open the Sun Savers app. Then opt in to each month’s Raffle by clicking “Yes!” when prompted and start collecting the Sun Savers codes printed daily in the paper.  Every time you scan or enter a code into Sun Savers, you get a Raffle ticket in the £15k Raffle.  Not yet a Sun Savers member? Just go to sunsavers.co.uk or find “Sun Savers” in the app store to get started.  YOU can get FREE cash with super Sun Savers just for buying your favourite paper.  Our brilliant new rewards club will pay back our most loyal readers.  Just pick up the paper each day to collect your Sun Savers codes and we will GIVE YOU £5 when you have collected 28.  This isn’t a one-off and there is no limit to how much cash you can save.  For every 28 codes you enter, we will give you a fiver. So over the course of a year, that could add up to £65.  We are keeping it super-simple. You don’t have to enter codes from consecutive days, so don’t worry if you forget a day or two.  Download our easy Sun Savers app and quickly scan your code using your smartphone. Or go online and enter your code at sunsavers.co.uk.  To get you on your way, join today and we will put a bonus £1 in your Sun Savers wallet tomorrow. And the good news doesn’t stop with free cash.  With Sun Savers, we give you the best hacks, deals and tips to save money every single day.  TO JOIN: Don’t worry, folks — joining takes just 30 seconds, in three steps.


thesun--2019-04-06--Treat your pets this Easter but make sure you know how to do so safely

Treat your pets this Easter… but make sure you know how to do so safely

EASTER is a wonderful time of year and the break gives us a chance to spend quality time with our pets.  We all love to celebrate with a chocolate egg and you can include your cat or dog in the fun by getting them sweets they can safely enjoy.  Easter treats for humans can be dangerous for pets as they contain ingredients that can be poisonous.  But, to kick off our new Paws & Claws column, we’re giving you a chance to win animal-friendly treats in our competition, below left.  If you are looking to buy, there are tasty and safe options. Forthglade.com has some that contain carob — a dog-friendly alternative to chocolate.  Grain-free mini handbaked love treats with carob and strawberry cost £2.99 for a 150g pouch.  And for a more savoury Easter treat, tails.com has launched lamb biscuits. These are are hand-baked with peas and mint and cost £2.60 per 100g pack.  It is important to be aware of the potential dangers to pets from the sweets and plants we enjoy.  The Veterinary Poisons Information Service dealt with 12,000 calls last year from worried owners and nearly ten per cent were linked to Easter treats.  Chocolate, sweets, plant bulbs and flowers can all cause harm and last year 48 dogs and 32 cats died after ingesting something dangerous.  Of the calls from dog owners, six per cent were about chocolate, three per cent about sweets with the sweetener xylitol, which can be deadly to dogs, and 2.9 per cent about dried fruit in hot cross buns.  For cats, lilies were hazardous with 4.1 per cent of callers concerned about the flower.  If owners are worried their animal has eaten something dangerous they should visit a vet or call the 24-hour Animal PoisonLine on 01202 50 9000.  Vet Korina Stephens from Nutravet, which manufactures health products for pets, said: “Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine that pets can’t cope with, so even the smallest amount is not recommend  “Hot cross buns contain raisins, or sultanas that are toxic to cats and dogs. Flowers may look innocent but can be toxic. If lilies are ingested they can even cause kidney failure.”  Nicola Bates, lead researcher from The Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS), said: “We know the risks of chocolate but owners should be mindful of things in the garden or on walks, that are dangerous.”  VET Sean McCormack is on a mission to improve the health of the nation’s pets and has tips to help your animal become fighting fit again.  He is head vet at tails.com which provides tailor-made nutritional food for pets.  This week, he helps fitness manager Martin Trickett, 30, whose American Akita, Kaida, six, gets ear infections and itchy rashes on its stomach and legs.  Martin, from Burnley, Lancs, has been treating Kaida with antibiotics and steroid creams for four years.  Sean says: “This sounds like a reaction to inhaled allergens. It’s the equivalent to hay fever in humans – except dogs don’t usually sneeze, or get a runny nose.  "Instead they get itchy skin, ears and paws, that become more inflamed or infected when they scratch or chew them.  “Dietary supplements like essential fatty acids can help maintain the natural skin barrier. A balanced diet tailored with ingredients to support skin conditions is preferable to adding oils directly into your dog’s diet.  "They’re highly calorific and can also upset your dog’s digestion. Steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs fight the itch and antibiotics treat infections. But neither addresses the cause.  "I’d recommend a blood test to identify exactly what your dog is allergic to. Depending on the results, your vet may encourage you to consider immunotherapy, which can teach a dog’s immune system to stop overreacting.”


thesun--2019-05-01--Callous poachers are killing orangutan mothers so they can sell their babies as 17000 caged pets f

Callous poachers are killing orangutan mothers so they can sell their babies as £17,000 caged pets for the rich

ORANGUTANS are being slaughtered in the wild just so their babies can be sold off as pets to the rich on the black market.  The jungle animals - often just a few months old - are then kept in cages as sick "status symbols" in their homeland of Indonesia.  And despite the fact it is illegal to keep an orangutan as a pet in the country no-one has ever been prosecuted as campaigners say most keepers are "people of power."  Footage has now emerged of one ape called Bom Bom who was being kept in a cramped cage by the wife of an Indonesian police officer.  The woman is seen breaking down in tears as her "baby" is taken away by wildlife officers to start a new life in its natural habitat.  Dr Ian Singleton, of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme, works at a rehabilitation centre for animals which have been freed from captivity.  He told the BBC: "A mother orangutan will carry an infant around for almost 24 hours a day for several years so there's no way she is going to voluntarily hand over that infant or allow any one to take it unless she's killed.  "She's always going to defend that infant with her life and unfortunately that's what usually happens.  "All the orangutans that are here...their mothers (were) almost certainly killed."  The orangutan is still the most traded primate in the world with an estimated 4,000 trapped and sold off every year - fetching up to £17,000 each.  The UN now estimates 6,000 great apes  - including gorillas and chimps - are captured annually for the pet market. Up to 7o per cent are orangutans.  However, the number of killed orangutans during their capture is higher as orangutans are protected only by their mothers, while other infant primates are protected by entire groups.  Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan have been identified as the main hubs for the import of orangutans, but Europe and Middle East are also big markets.  In March, we reported how a Russian tourist was caught trying to smuggle an orangutan out of Bali - hidden in his luggage.  He was arrested at an airport after quarantine officers found the two-year-old male ape sleeping in a rattan basket inside his suitcase.  Behind the dreadful statistics are several tragic stories, reveals Save the Orangutan.  It states: "Illegal wildlife trade often results in pet orangutans living under unnatural and extreme conditions.  "Some orangutans are sold to breeding centres in Egypt and Thailand, and others are sold to private and public zoos for entertaining exhibitions for tourists.  "The vast majority of traded orangutans fall victim to cruelty and abuse, as their owners try to make them perform before crowds or behave like a pet."


thesun--2019-05-28--Secret Life of Pets 2 Hilarious pics show your pets REAL secret lives as long-awaited kids film

Secret Life of Pets 2 – Hilarious pics show your pets’ REAL secret lives as long-awaited kids’ film is released

AS many humans get set for the release of The Secret Life of Pets 2 it would seem our furry friends are now ready to reveal what they actually get up to.  Well, as long as you can believe these hilarious photos which reveal what our four-legged best companions get up to when we’re not around.  We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.


thesun--2019-06-01--Hilarious snaps show mischievous pets caught in the act and some have been VERY naughty indeed

Hilarious snaps show mischievous pets caught in the act – and some have been VERY naughty indeed

THESE hilarious pet snaps show mischievous pets caught in the act - and they’ll definitely have you feline good.  Cats are renowned for getting themselves into tight situations but they always manage to style it out purrfectly.  Unlike dogs, our moggie mates are most definitely not man’s best friend, preferring to go out alone, which often leads to them ending up in situations where we can only ask if they’re kitten us?  But dogs are often given the woof end of the stick and blamed for things not necessarily their fault.  We’ve compiled a list of our favourite snaps which you’ll need to see right meow.


thesun--2019-06-02--Put sun cream on your cats vets urge amid fears 27C heatwave will leave pets badly burned

Put sun cream on your cats, vets urge amid fears 27C heatwave will leave pets badly burned

VETS have issued an urgent warning to British pet owners on the hottest day of the year so far: put suncream on your cats.  The bizarre advice comes as temperatures topped 27C in some places, causing animal experts to advise slathering factor 30 on pets' ears.  As the nation basked in the heatwave, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) said light-coloured pets and those with fine fur were at the highest risk of being burned.  The highest temperature, 27.6C, was clocked in Heathrow in west London.  But the Met Office says it could get even hotter with the potential for thunder in some areas.  Which, when temperatures are so hot, is why the BVA said dog owners needed to be wary.  Breeds with flat faces including pugs and bulldogs are especially prone to breathing difficulties and heatstroke in the searing heat.  One survey said nearly two-thirds of vets reported having to treat animals for heat-related problems last summer.  Daniella Dos Santos, junior vice-president of the BVA, told The Times: "Even the start and end of a summer day can prove uncomfortable for pets if they are kept in direct  sunlight."  The hottest recorded June temperature ever clocked in the UK was 35.6C in 1957 and again in 1976.  But the average temperature this month is expected to be between 16C and 20C.  We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.


thesun--2019-06-29--Lonely people are turning to pets for friendship and unconditional love study reveals

Lonely people are turning to pets for friendship and unconditional love, study reveals

LONELY people are turning to pets for friendship and unconditional love.  A survey carried out for us reveals that 88 per cent of owners admitted they bought a four-legged friend because they were lonely – with three quarters saying affection from their pet made them their perfect pal.  One in ten said they classed their pet as a substitute baby. Having a dog, cat or other animal as part of the family also increased the level of happiness within the household.  Owning a pet has health benefits too, with medical evidence suggesting that animals reduce stress and blood pressure and lower cholesterol.  Other reasons for owning a pet include partners wanting an animal, to keep fit and exercise more, and to teach children about responsibility.  Our poll, by insurance firm The Pet Health Club, also revealed owners spend around seven and a half hours a day with their furry friends.  During this time, eight per cent of owners share their worries with their animals, with five per cent depending on their animal for support.  And 78 per cent of owners said they would rather splash out on treats for their pet than for themselves.  Pet Vet Sean McCormack says: “It’s no surprise how much love we get from pets, or that this drives us to get a pet in the first place.  "In an age when people are spending more time online rather than out meeting people, we’re getting more isolated in our daily lives. And pets are filling the gap.  “While having a dog or cat isn’t the same as a loving human relationship, they are brilliant for our mental health and emotional well being.  “I’ll admit I’ve often confided in my dogs in the past, sharing a worry or two, and it helped me feel better.  "There are countless studies proving that a four-legged friend can help with health problems ranging from depression to cardiac disease.  “Our relationships with our pets are truly remarkable, and they make such a difference to our lives.  MEET Ziggy the French bulldog who celebrated her first birthday on Bring Your Dog To Work Day last Friday.  Owner Rachel Picton brought her in to Sheila Bird interior design firm in Manchester.  Studio manager Rachel, 27, said: “Ziggy brings a bit more fun into our working day and she loves spending time with everybody.  “She’s like our office guard dog – barking at the doorbell and then giving welcome kisses to visitors.  “As we’re a design company with lots of drawings around, Ziggy loves to shred them – so we have to keep a close eye on her!”    SEAN McCORMACK is on a mission to help the nation’s pets, he is head vet at tails.com which provides tailor-made nutritional food for pets  Jo Rose, from Sutton Coldfield, West Mids, has an eight-month-old chihuahua called Luna who gets plenty of exercise but every time she is left alone rips the wallpaper and chews the walls. Jo says: “How can I stop her? I don’t want to use a crate.”  Sean says: "This can be one of the most frustrating parts of puppy ownership. Luna is just exploring the world by chewing, as puppies do. You can manage this by redirecting her behaviour into a sort you can tolerate.  "The best way is to use “occupier” toys that she finds more appealing than the wallpaper or walls. Kong dog toys filled with soft treats or some of her dry food frozen inside may refocus her chewing behaviour.  "Rotate them to keep their novelty value. It might be worth cordoning off an area with a playpen initially if you don’t want to crate-train her.  "Sometimes dogs chew on walls or doors if they’re developing separation anxiety. If so, you’ll need to build up her independence from you so she is more content when left alone. "  Leo Ridley, 32, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, has a Staffie called Maggie who barely drinks but when she does, she gulps it down and is then often sick afterwards.  Sean says: "Maggie may just be overloading her stomach due to thirst after exercising and throwing the water back up as she has drunk too much.  "It might be a good idea to let her stomach settle following exercise. Then give her a large bowl of water or offer her a little at a time, spaced apart every ten to 20 minutes.  "Worms can also cause a sensitive stomach, making Maggie more prone to vomiting, so get her wormed regularly.  "Other causes could be a problem with her oesophagus that carries food and water to her stomach, or her stomach itself, or she may have swallowed an object. Get a vet to examine her to ensure everything is ok."


thesun--2019-08-10--Watching TV is the real secret life your pets lead while youre at work

Watching TV is the real secret life your pets lead while you’re at work

OUR dogs live the life of Riley – spoilt rotten with access to heating, radio and telly while their owners are out of the house.  Paws & Claws asked 1,000 British and Irish dog owners what they do with their pets during the day when they are out at work.  We discovered that although the average dog is left home alone for six hours a day, owners treat them to little luxuries to make up for it.  More than two-thirds of dog owners (69 per cent) feel guilty about leaving their pet “home alone” for more than five hours at a time.  One in ten feel guilty leaving their dog at home on its own for just an hour at a time.  Our survey found that 65 per cent of owners leave the heating on to make sure their dog is comfortable in the house.  And 53 per cent say they leave a light on for their pets while they are out of the house at night.  Forty-eight per cent leave the radio on to give their pooch some company while a dedicated one in four (25 per cent) leave the television on so their pampered pup has some stimulating entertainment.  Bizarrely, 15 per cent of owners also believe their dog has a favourite telly show.    Mark Hackett of supersaveroil.com, which conducted the survey on our behalf, said: “It’s lovely to see how much people care about their animals.  “I expect there are some cases where the animals are actually receiving more luxuries than the owners themselves — especially when it comes to the heating, as this is something people can be notoriously stingy about.  “I love the notion that dogs might have favourite TV shows.  “Some of these pets are absolutely living their best lives.”  Dennis Allison is 78 years old and lives in Redcar, North Yorks.  After his border collie sadly died, Dennis writes: “I’m not as active as I once was, so I don’t think another collie is a good idea. But I do want a pet. I’m thinking of a cat.”  Sean says: “Sorry to hear you’ve lost your lovely dog. Collies are fantastic and intelligent but sometimes hard work to keep occupied, especially when they are young.  “A good rehoming centre might be able to match you with a lovely older dog with more suitable energy levels than a puppy.  “Older cats are also a good choice, as they often find it hard to get homes once they end up in shelters or rescue centres through no fault of their own.”  Sophie Thatcher, who is six and from Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, adores her gerbil Gerry.  She says: “Gerry is a little piglet that chews through everything. I give him lots of snacks and seeds but whenever he’s out of his cage, he chews the sofa and the carpet. I got him at Christmas and he’s always chewed. Mum wants to get rid of him.”  Sean says: “Here’s the bad news: Rodents chew and gerbils are no exception. It’s part of their natural behaviour.  “They’re also highly social animals, so keeping one on its own isn’t great and may lead to frustration, which might mean Gerry chews more than normal.  “The best way to keep gerbils is in single-sex pairs, in a glass tank that has as large a space as possible, with lots of deep bedding and tunnels to burrow through. For some great ideas, look up ‘gerbilariums’ online.  “If you do let Gerry out, ‘free-range’ isn’t the safest option for him or for your furniture. So maybe think about a safe penned-off area with solid sides and plenty of toys and tunnels for him to explore.”


thesun--2019-09-05--Hilarious pics show pets looking exactly like their owners

THESE hilarious pictures show pets next to their owners and the resemblance is uncanny.  From uncontrollable frizzy hair to the same shades of hair colour, we reveal the funniest pet doppelgangers in this selection of amusing pictures.


thesun--2019-10-13--Pets at Home is selling stockings, mince pies and Xmas dinner for your pets this Christmas

PETS at Home has a new selection of Christmas toys and food for pets so your furry friend doesn’t miss out on the festive fun.  The pet store chain is selling raw hide Christmas dinners for dogs as well as sprouts toys for cats.  There are also adorable Christmas tarts for your canine and "pawsecco" (which doesn't contain alcohol) to treat the feline in your life.  The Pets at Home range is available in stores now and you can also order products online – just keep in mind delivery costs of £2.95 for orders under £39 - it's free for orders above this.  Alternatively, you can click and collect for free to your nearest store.  If you’d rather shop in person, there’s around 370 Pets at Homes in the UK and you can find your closest one by on its website.  We’ve rounded up our favourite festive finds so you know what to expect when you're getting your pet ready for the big day.  It’s still worth shopping around to find the best deal in case you can find the same item, or similar, cheaper elsewhere.  What more could your good boy or girl want this Christmas than their very own stocking?  Each one comes with seven presents including “chocolate” drops, biscuit treats, rawhide chews and biscuit bones.  The cheapest stocking we found elsewhere is being sold on the Yorkshire Trading Co. for £2.99.  Your dog can feast on its own Christmas dinner with this rawhide chew set.  The rawhide is made to look just like a turkey roast, complete with fake potatoes and veg.  Pets at Home says the rawhide helps control plaque and tartar build up as well as giving your dog hours of chew time.  We could only find another dog Christmas dinner similar to this being sold brand new on eBay for £8.74, of course you will have to pay postage and packing which varies by seller.  Now your dog can enjoy mince pies too with these pet-friendly Christmas tarts.  They come in a pack of two, which means each one costs just £1.50.  Completely edible, the tarts are decorated with a cute holly on top to get your pet in the festive spirit.  Sainsbury's will be selling mince pies for dogs for £2.50 but we don't know when these will be in stores just yet.    Have you ever seen a cuter brussels sprout?  This costume is machine washable so there's no need to worry about a mucky pup getting it dirty.  The £10 price tag is for small dogs and the costume comes in four sizes, with anything bigger costing £12.  We couldn't find another dog brussels sprout costume being sold by UK retailers.    Let's not forget about the cats - they also get their own stocking this Christmas.  Their version comes with four different treats and toys.  This includes vanilla flavour drops, catnip flavoured drops, a Santa wand toy and a pack of three balls.  If you want a stocking with just treats, Dreamies sell a cat stocking for just £3 - but you won't get the toys you do in the Pets at Home version.  Sprouts aren't just for eating and now you can buy your moggy their own Brussels ball set.  It comes with two married sprouts, affectionately known as Mr and Mrs Sprout, that have been infused with catnip.  Then there's also a green jingly ball and a ball of twine to keep your cat amused.  We couldn't find cat sprout toys being sold elsewhere in UK shops.    There's no reason your cat can't raise a glass with you with this bottle of "Pawsecco".  It's made to imitate rose wine and contains a blend of elderflower, nettle, ginseng, lime flower and carrot.  Pets at Home says it's non-alcoholic, non-carbonated and grape-free.  We did find a cheaper Pawsecco being sold on Fetch though for £2.69 but there is a £2.99 delivery fee on orders under £29 - it's free above this.  If your cat loves a good scratch, then they'll love this reindeer scratch board.  At the very least, it'll keep their little claws away from the sofa this Christmas.  The board measures 7.5cm by 20cm by 54cm.  We couldn't find another scratch board with a reindeer theme being sold in the UK.  Looking for ways to keep your dog warm? B&M is selling thermal dog blankets, crate mats and beds to combat the cold temperature.  If you can't quite face Christmas just yet, Pets at Home is doing a range of Halloween costumes for dogs with prices starting from £2.  Pets at Home is also selling a thundervest to help dogs calm during thunderstorms.  We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Money team? Email us at money@the-sun.co.uk


thesun--2019-12-29--The RSPCA is calling on Sun Readers to offer homes to 10,000 desperate pets in need

THE RSPCA has urged Sun on Sunday readers this New Year to give abandoned pets loving homes.  Last December the animal charity fielded more than 61,000 calls to its cruelty helplines — up 5,000 on the previous year.  It expects December 2019 to be even busier and this winter it aims to home 10,000 pets.  By adopting a homeless pet, you will not only save an animal’s life, you will help put out of business the cruel illegal breeders supplying pedigree cats and dogs for sale.  In addition, many of those who adopt find it one of the most rewarding things they ever do, because of the joy their pet brings.  This month has been one of the busiest ever for the RSPCA — rescuing animals in need including a terrified German Shepherd cross found in a locked empty stable in Warwickshire.    Its howls were heard by dog walkers who alerted RSPCA inspectors.  They used boltcutters to open a padlock and rescue the dog.  The charity was also called to a hospital in Luton after someone saw a cardboard box with a note reading: “Need a home. Merry Xmas. Please help.” In the box were two shivering adult female cats and three ten-week-old kittens — all of which the RSPCA is now looking to rehome.  Dermot Murphy, Chief Inspectorate Officer at the RSPCA, said: “We urge anyone considering getting a pet to think carefully whether they have the time, care, patience and resources to care for that animal for life — and if you feel you do, please consider giving a rescue pet a second chance.”  Although circumstances change, so owners cannot cope with pets, the RSPCA says there is no excuse for abandoning an animal.  Dermot said: “There are other options. Dumping a pet is a cruel act which leaves it vulnerable and scared. Pets can be collected, or dropped off, so they are at least safe.”  Big-hearted Carol Stonley and husband Andrew, both 55, from Derbyshire, have just celebrated Christmas with rescue dog Judy, a Lakeland terrier. They took on the eight-year-old last Christmas from the RSPCA’s Abbey Street Animal Rehoming Centre in Derby, after their first rescue dog passed away.  They fell for Judy despite the fact she has lost her sight and is advancing in years.  Carol said: “We wanted to give another unwanted dog a forever home and Judy has been such a joy to us.  “The RSPCA staff helped us find a dog that suited our lifestyle and it’s a good feeling to support this charity. I’d recommend anyone who has time for a cat or dog to also adopt. It is so rewarding.”  But many RSPCA animals are still looking for homes — and that’s where YOU can help.  Ben, a five-year-old lurcher dog arrived at the charity’s Cornwall kennels 629 days ago. A spokesman said: “He would make a lovely companion for someone.”  Even if you cannot adopt a pet, there are other ways you can help. The RSPCA’s cash appeal Stock The Sleigh, helps the animals the charity takes in over the festive season and every penny makes a difference.  Dermot said: “Just £25 could help us keep answering the phone calls every day of the year as well as providing safe beds and food for animals in need.”  To read about the RSPCA and how you can help, see rspca.org.uk/giftofkindness  JOSH LEE, 26, from Brighton, doesn’t get on with his grandmother’s year-old ragdoll cat Bella. Vet Sean McCormack is here to help:  Q: WHEN I try to play with Bella she scratches me. Is there anything I can do to break the ice?  A: She may have been taught to play with humans in the wrong way. It is a common mistake to encourage kittens to “hunt” our fingers. That is fine and amusing when they are tiny but makes them more likely to scratch and bite later when they are in play mode.  You say it happens when you try to play with her, which makes me think it is misdirected play rather than fear-based aggression. Try fishing-rod toys and lures on strings rather than your hands. And make sure everyone else in the family does the same.  When she is super-excited, perhaps let her burn off that energy chasing a laser pointer. When she is calm and content, use gentle stroking and talking to build up a new association of what is appropriate human contact. Over time, hopefully she will learn that humans are for gentle interaction.  JANE CLARKE, 31, from Nottingham, has a three-year-old rescue dog called Beth who hates going to the vet. Sean's response:  Q: MY German Shepherd cross gets herself into a terrible state going to the vet and has to be sedated or given a general anaesthetic. What can I do?  A: Ask your vet if you can bring her in, on occasion, for some pleasant visits – being weighed, getting treats and attention from the reception and nurse team.  In this way, gradually build up to being examined by the vet – all at her own pace, using plenty of reward-based training.   Most practices are more than happy to help with this approach, as they don’t want any pets to be stressed by a visit. By building her experience of the clinic as a place where she isn’t always restrained or has unpleasant things happen, she may learn to be a bit more relaxed there. • Do you need the Pet Vet’s help? Email sundayfeatures@the-sun.co.uk and you and your pet could feature in The Sun on Sunday. • GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk


thetelegraph--2019-06-02--Asian social media craze fuels cruel trade in otters for pets and cafes

A social media craze in Japan and Indonesia that promotes keeping otters in cafes or as exotic domestic pets has created a cruel trafficking trade, driving the semi-aquatic creatures to the brink of extinction, say animal rights activists.  A new undercover investigation by World Animal Protection has revealed that baby wild otters are being illegally poached from their natural habitat, confined in terrible conditions and irresponsibly bred across Japan, Thailand and Indonesia to meet a growing public demand.  The desire to domesticate otters, which normally live in large family groups in waterways, has been fuelled by social media influencers who post funny videos and pictures of the cute, gregarious creatures to Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.  Takechiyo, one of Instagram’s most famous otters, has nearly 300,000 followers entertained by its antics with a Japanese family who live in an apartment block in the Minato district of Tokyo.  The species’ popularity has created a surge of otter cafes in Japan, where people can come to stroke and play with them. In Indonesia, otter communities have sprung up where owners go on excursions together with their pets.


trueactivist--2019-03-12--Highschool Track Team Has Awesome Idea Of Running With Homeless Dogs And Both Humans and Pets Had An

Highschool Track Team Has Awesome Idea Of Running With Homeless Dogs And Both Humans and Pets Had An Awesome Time

Going for a jog with your dog takes training and exercising to a whole new level, while make you forget the aches and pains your body might be feeling after a couple of miles along the way. It makes the jog way more fun and entertaining seeing their antics and excitement exploring every new street with the new sights and sounds they’re experiencing for the very first time.  The cross-country team of St. Joseph High School, along with the Santa Barbara County Animal Shelter teamed up and gave these adoptable dogs a wonderful day of fun and excitement.  This team of runners had an awesome idea of inviting these pups during their morning exercise routine. Not only was it fun for the students, but the dogs seemed to have an awesome time too!  Before they started their morning miles-long run, each runner was paired with a dog from the shelter to accompany them. Seeing a big group of students all running alongside these adorable dogs also warmed the hearts of all the people that came across them that morning.  “I am not sure who was more excited and having the most fun, the dogs or the kids,” team coach Luis Escobar wrote on his Facebook, “Either way, it was a great time and I am sure we will do it again sometime soon.”  What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this good news!


newyorkpost--2019-07-06--Queens police officers rescue kitten from car grill

Queens cops really got up in this cat’s “grill.”  Officers from Far Rockaway’s 101st Precinct had their hands full early Saturday with a particularly feisty fella who squirmed his way into a place he didn’t belong.  “Sector Adam to the rescue when a kitten got stuck in the grill of a car. Purr-fect ending to an adverse situation!” The NYPD’s 101st precinct tweeted Saturday.  The adorable orangy tabby showed its spirit when it appeared to claw at a cop who helped save it from the vehicle.  Despite it’s cat-itude, the pint-sized passenger was let go.


newyorkpost--2019-07-07--Train operator rescues kitten that fell on subway tracks in Manhattan

A train operator rescued a kitten that tumbled onto the subway tracks in Manhattan on Sunday, cops said.  The yellow kitten slipped away from its owner, a 14-year-old boy, on the platform of the Canal Street station at about 5:30 p.m. and fell on the tracks for the uptown R train, authorities told the Post.  “We went down there and a boy’s cat was on the track,” an officer said at the scene.  “A worker rescued the cat and the boy was reunited with it — he was happy.”  For a short time, northbound R trains ran on the express line until the feline was safely recovered.  The 14-year-old boy was not identified on Sunday.


sputnik--2019-02-22--Clever Kitten Lends a Paw After Owner Gets Locked Out

Accidentally locked out of the house by her sister, Twitter user Gabby Tropea thought all hopes of getting inside were lost — that is, until she saw her kitten Boko at the back door.  After convincing the cat to come over to the window, Tropea is seen tapping on the window to get Boko to begin playing with the pole blocking the sliding door. Seconds later, the crafty kitten knocks the pole out of the way and gives the helpless human an opportunity to get inside.


sputnik--2019-02-26--Meer-cat Munchkin Kitten Demonstrates Peculiar Posture

Meer-cat? Munchkin Kitten Demonstrates Peculiar Posture

Oscar, a munchkin-Persian mix, is causing netizens to reexamine how they view cats, thanks to a recent video from Viral Paws.  One half of the popular Instagram @thetwolittlemunchkins, Oscar is seen within the clip raising back on his hind legs to get a better view of whatever piques his interest.  While it's not unusual for a feline to rest solely on its hind legs for a couple seconds, this munchkin kitten appears to be going for gold in holding the pose!


sputnik--2019-06-27--Catdog Cool Kitten Loves Feeling The Wind in Her Fur

Catdog? Cool Kitten Loves Feeling The Wind in Her Fur

Socks, the black and white cat seen in the video, enjoys sticking her head out of the window during car rides and even lets out a few brief meows as the breeze rushes through her fur, Socks’ owner tells Viral Hog.  Definitely makes those veterinarian visits a little easier!


sputnik--2019-11-22--The Best Toy: Kitten Likes to Play With Dog's Tail

This little kitten apparently enjoys playing with its new toy – and it just happens to be a dog's tail. The funny video shows the kitty repeatedly attack the dog's wagging tail, with the tiny baby cat both riding and biting it.


sputnik--2019-12-08--Big vs Smol: Huge Golden Retriever and Tiny Kitten Are Best Buddies

Just look at this golden retriever, it’s so happy to see its little pal! The red-furred kitten looks so small and defenceless, but the big doggo is there to protect the kid. Now the cat can explore this big scary and world without any fear.


sputnik--2019-12-16--Adorable Persian Kitten Purring as It Enjoys Head Scratches

The purring kitten from the video is quite literally following its human and asking for more portions of head-scratching and love. We can see the baby Persian closing his eyes while falling on the human's hand again and again. In addition, the sweet kitten makes cute noises, meowing and yawning.


sputnik--2019-12-23--Dream a Little Dream of Me: Sneaky Kitten Finds Warm Place to Sleep

A little kitten has been captured on video while sneaking around looking for a warm, comfortable place to sleep – on a dog. The rather large (compared to a tiny kitten) white dog has shown amazing patience, as it just continued to nap, not even noticing the feline. The adorable duo has become very popular on Instagram, showing "friendship goals".


abcnews--2019-11-13--Spotlight on Texas' '10-day rule' in life support cases

A Texas law that gives families 10 days to find a new hospital if they disagree with doctors who decide to take a patient off life support is once again under the spotlight after a judge halted a Fort Worth hospital's plan to remove a 9-month-old girl from a ventilator against her family's wishes.  Doctors at Cook Children's Medical Center planned to stop treatment Sunday for Tinslee Lewis after invoking the state's "10-day rule."  The hospital said Tinslee was born prematurely with a rare heart defect and suffers from chronic lung disease and severe chronic high blood pressure. She has been hospitalized since birth and has been on a ventilator since July. Not only is her condition fatal, the hospital said, but doctors believe she's suffering.  But on Sunday, a judge granted Tinslee's family a temporary restraining order that gives them until Nov. 22 to find a facility that will take her, said Kimberlyn Schwartz, a spokeswoman for anti-abortion group Texas Right to Life, which began helping the family over the weekend.  Cook Children's says it has reached out to nearly 20 facilities around the country and none felt the hospital's assessment was incorrect.  Tinslee's mother, Trinity Lewis, said her daughter likes to cuddle and is "a fighter."  Here's a look at Texas law in such cases:  WHAT THE LAW SAYS IN TEXAS:  Texas law stipulates if doctors believe life-sustaining treatment should be stopped but the family does not, the disagreement can be taken to the hospital's ethics committee. If the committee agrees with the doctor, the "10-day rule" can be employed. If the hospital or family can't find a willing provider in that time, and unless a court grants an extension, treatment can be withdrawn.  Typically, the family would first talk to experts including a palliative care specialist and an ethics consultant, according to Dr. Robert L. Fine, clinical director of the Office of Clinical Ethics and Palliative Care at Baylor Scott & White Health in Texas.  Trevor Bibler, a professor at the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, said "usually these types of impasses are able to be broken" through time and mediation.  The 1999 Texas law shields doctors who follow the procedure from lawsuits.  WHAT THE LAW SAYS IN OTHER STATES  Texas is one of only a handful of states with such a law. Virginia and California have similar ones.  In most states, the law is not as detailed on the matter, said Thaddeus Mason Pope, a professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. "The Texas law is very, very clear: You are absolutely allowed to do this," he said.  He said the same process basically occurs in other states that don't have specific legislation and that hospital staff would just assess the legal risk of getting sued before proceeding.  HOW TEXAS' LAW CAME ABOUT  The goal of the law was to give families and doctors a say but keep the debates out of the courtroom.  "I think it's important for families to know that they're being heard and to be given an opportunity to understand where the doctors and the hospital are coming from as well," said Tom Mayo, a law professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.  Lawmakers, attorneys, doctors and anti-abortion groups were among those participating in a task force that helped craft the law. Among those was Texas Alliance for Life, a group that opposes abortion except to save the mother's life and also opposes euthanasia.  Joe Pojman, the group's executive director, says they "strongly support" the law's dispute resolution process. He says the law balances the family's autonomy with doctors' rights not to give interventions that cause harm or suffering.  The law doesn't stipulate who should be on a hospital's ethics committee, but at a large hospital it would likely include dozens of people from different backgrounds including doctors, nurses, lawyers and chaplains.  "We operate by consensus and we talk it out," Fine said.  WHAT THE GROUPS REPRESENTING THE FAMILY SAYS  Schwartz says her group believes "there shouldn't be a countdown placed on patients' lives."  In the 20 years that the law's been on the books, her group has helped more than 400 families, she said. It often takes "way longer" than 10 days to find a facility that will accept a patient, she said.  "Don't give the family just 10 days to navigate that complicated process. That's almost impossible for an average family to do," Schwartz said.  "Morally, these decisions should be left with patients and families," she said, adding that quality of life shouldn't be the only consideration.  OTHER CASES THAT HAVE GAINED ATTENTION:  Last year, a 9-year-old girl in Texas at the center of a three-week court battle with Cook Children's Medical Center to keep her on life support died after an appeals court allowed her parents more time to find a facility to maintain her life support.  Doctors had declared Payton Summons brain-dead and beyond hope of recovery after her heart went into cardiac arrest.


abcnews--2019-11-13--The Latest: Georgia executes man for ‘94 store clerk killing

The Latest on a Georgia death penalty case (all times local):  Georgia has executed a man convicted of the 1994 killing of a convenience store clerk.  Officials say 52-year-old Ray Jefferson Cromartie was pronounced dead at 10:59 p.m. Wednesday after an injection of pentobarbital at the state prison in Jackson.  Cromartie, when asked if he had any last words, declined to make a statement. Then, when asked if he wanted a prayer said on his behalf, Cromartie said ‘yes’ and a chaplain said one for him. Once the drugs began flowing, the inmate took some deep breaths, exhaling deeply before he went still.  Cromartie had been convicted and sentenced to die for the April 1994 slaying of Richard Slysz at a convenience store in Thomasville, near the Georgia-Florida line. A Georgia Supreme Court summary of the case says Cromartie and another man went into a convenience store on April 10, 1994, and Cromartie fatally shot Slysz and then grabbed two cases of beer before leaving the store.  The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a request to stop the planned execution of a Georgia inmate convicted of killing a convenience store clerk 25 years ago.  The nation’s high court, without explanation Wednesday night, denied the request for a stay of execution put forward by lawyers for inmate Ray Jefferson Cromartie.  Cromartie was convicted of malice murder and sentenced to death for the April 1994 slaying of Thomasville convenience store clerk Richard Slysz.  Cromartie was initially scheduled to receive a lethal injection starting after 7 p.m. at a state prison in Jackson. The nation’s high court issued its decision hours after that time had passed. Earlier Wednesday, a federal appeals court also had refused to intervene.  A Georgia inmate set to be executed for a killing 25 years ago has an 11th-hour appeal pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.  The nation’s high court had no immediate response to the request for a stay of the scheduled Wednesday night execution of inmate Ray Jefferson Cromartie.  Cromartie was convicted of malice murder and sentenced to death for the April 1994 slaying of Thomasville convenience store clerk Richard Slysz.  Barring court intervention, Cromartie was scheduled to receive a lethal injection after 7 p.m. at a state prison in Jackson. That hour passed with no immediate Supreme Court response to his appeal.  A federal appeals court is denying an effort to block a Georgia execution.  The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday rejected the move to block the planned execution of Ray Jefferson Cromartie, a lethal injection set for after 7 p.m. The three-judge panel says a lower court judge did not err in rejecting defense lawyers’ efforts to seek DNA testing.  Cromartie was convicted of malice murder and sentenced to death for April 1994’s slaying of Thomasville convenience store clerk Richard Slysz.  Cromartie’s half-brother this week claimed he overhead co-defendant Corey Clark say that Clark, not Cromartie, shot the clerk.  The lower court judge had ruled previously that that statement didn’t provide “new reliable evidence” of Cromartie’s innocence.  Lawyers for Cromartie are still asking the U.S. Supreme Court to step in and stop the planned execution.  A federal judge is denying the most recent appeal of a Georgia man scheduled to be executed Wednesday evening at the state prison in Jackson.  U.S. District Judge Mark Treadwell, in an order late Tuesday, rejected new claims of innocence from Ray Jefferson Cromartie.  Cromartie was convicted of malice murder and sentenced to death for April 1994’s slaying of Thomasville convenience store clerk Richard Slysz.  Treadwell says a new claim from Cromartie’s half-brother claiming he overhead co-defendant Corey Clark say that Clark, not Cromartie, shot the clerk doesn’t provide “new reliable evidence” of Cromartie’s innocence.  The judge also says Cromartie’s lawyers should have offered the evidence before now.  Lawyers for Cromartie are moving to ask the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the judge’s ruling.  Georgia prison officials are preparing to execute a man convicted in the killing of a convenience store clerk.  Ray Jefferson Cromartie is scheduled to die Wednesday evening at the state prison in Jackson. He was convicted of malice murder and sentenced to death for April 1994's slaying of Richard Slysz at a Thomasville convenience store.  The state says Cromartie, accompanied by another man, shot Slysz. Authorities say Cromartie also shot and gravely injured another clerk days earlier.  Cromartie says he didn't shoot either clerk. His lawyers still seek DNA testing on evidence from the shootings, but courts have so far rejected them.  The execution was delayed last month after a trial court judge was found to have filed an execution order while Cromartie had a Supreme Court appeal pending.


abcnews--2019-11-18--Lawsuits by Michael Jackson accusers likely to be restored

A California appeals court appeared strongly inclined Monday to give new life to lawsuits filed by two men who accuse Michael Jackson of repeatedly molesting them when they were boys.  Three judges from the 2nd District Court of Appeal said in a tentative ruling that lawsuits from James Safechuck and Wade Robson against two corporate entities that Jackson owned should be reconsidered by the trial court that dismissed them in 2017.  Robson, 37, and Safechuck, 41, who became known to a broad audience when they aired their accusations earlier this year in the Emmy-winning HBO documentary "Leaving Neverland," sat together in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom during Monday’s brief hearing.  Outside, their attorney Vince Finaldi said the decision was the right one, and they are pleased.  “All they’ve ever wanted is their day in court,” Finaldi said.  The suits filed in 2013 that were dismissed because statutes of limitations had expired can be revived because of new state law signed last month by Gov. Gavin Newsom that gives those who say they were sexually abused until age 40, up from age 26, to file lawsuits. It also gives victims of all ages a three-year window to sue, starting Jan. 1.  The Associated Press does not typically name victims of sexual abuse, but Robson and Safechuck have repeatedly come forward and approved of the use of their names and faces.  The tentative decision does not revive the actual Jackson estate as a defendant. A 2015 decision throwing out that part of the lawsuit will stand. The remaining defendants are the two corporate entities, MJJ Productions, Inc., and MJJ Ventures, Inc.  Attorneys for Jackson’s estate accepted that the cases must be returned to the trial court under the new legislation, but emphasized that the ruling is unrelated to the allegations they have long denounced as demonstrably false.  “This new law extends the time for genuine victims of abuse to file legal claims,” Jackson estate attorney Howard L. Weitzman said in a statement. “The appellate court’s tentative ruling is not on the merits of Robson and Safechuck’s allegations and the court in no way said that these cases will go to trial. Neither does it reverse the 2015 rulings dismissing Robson and Safechuck’s claims against the estate, which are final and no longer subject to any appeals. We are confident that the claims against Michael Jackson’s corporate entities will, once again, be dismissed as has happened before.”  Robson testified in Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial, in which the singer was acquitted, that Jackson had never molested or mistreated him, and Safechuck once said the same to authorities investigation Jackson, who died in 2009.  The men and their attorneys have said that stress and trauma that persisted into adulthood finally led them to accept that they had been sexually abused and go public.  Jackson’s estate is suing HBO over “Leaving Neverland,” in which Robson and Safechuck gave director Dan Reed graphic accounts of what they said were hundreds of instances of sexual abuse by Jackson over several years. A federal judge has ruled that case should be handled in private arbitration.


Correction: Marijuana-Michigan-Illinois story

In a story Nov. 28 about Michigan and Illinois beginning legal marijuana sales, The Associated Press reported erroneously the name of an Illinois company licensed to grow marijuana. It is Revolution Global, not Revolution Enterprises.  A corrected version of the story is below:  With Michigan and Illinois officially joining states that broadly allow marijuana sales, companies rush to renovate, expand and hire  ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — James Daly is eager to make marijuana history on Sunday, when he plans to open the doors to Arbors Wellness, beckon the lengthy line outside and legally start selling recreational pot for the first time in the Midwest.  “We’ve worked very hard to be prepared,” said Daly, who owns the medical dispensary that, for now, is among just six shops in Michigan — mostly in Ann Arbor — also approved to start selling for adult use in December. The business is doubling staff and has fielded calls from potential customers across the state along with neighboring Ohio and Indiana.  “The end of prohibition is historic,” he said. “We wanted to rip the Band-Aid off.”  Both Michigan and Illinois, which allows sales starting on Jan. 1, are officially joining nine other states that broadly allow marijuana sales. Companies are rushing to complete renovations at dispensaries, expand their growing facilities, and get staff hired and trained.  The Midwestern states’ launch into the potentially lucrative recreational market comes at a turbulent time for the industry, which has been rocked by layoffs, the vaping health scare and investor disappointment with Canada’s marijuana program.  In both states, a limited number of businesses have received state licenses letting them sell recreational products initially. But those same retailers must keep enough product on hand to supply people certified as patients under medical marijuana laws.  The conditions are “almost a guarantee” that Illinois and Michigan customers will experience long lines, product shortages and potentially high prices in the early stages, said Adam Orens, co-founder of the Marijuana Policy Group.  “They’ve got to get through the growing pains to get a system implemented,” he said.  Taking marijuana from a small cutting to dried flower ready to be sold or transformed into edible gummies or oils takes months.  In Michigan, where voters legalized recreational pot just over a year ago, regulators who began accepting license applications Nov. 1 are aiding the transition by letting medical growers, processors and dispensaries transfer up to half their products to the recreational side under certain conditions.  But marijuana is unlikely to be more broadly available until more businesses become licensed and additional communities authorize sales.  More than 1,400 of Michigan’s nearly 1,800 cities, townships and villages are not allowing recreational businesses. Even Detroit, home to the most medical dispensaries in the state, has delayed recreational sales until at least Jan. 31.  “This is brand new for a lot of municipalities. I think it’s important that they are doing their due diligence and taking an approach that honors the will of their people,” said Andrew Brisbo, executive director of the Marijuana Regulatory Agency, which has awarded 18 licenses and approved 78 pre-qualification applications.  He said he expects adult sales to occur in “some consistent form” at a greater number of Michigan locations by the end of March.  In Illinois, seven months will have separated Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signing of legislation permitting people 21 and older to buy and possess marijuana and the start of sales in January.  The first round of applications is limited to existing medical marijuana retailers, and about 30 are newly licensed to sell recreational products. More could be approved before January.  Most of the state’s licensed cultivation companies are expanding their space to meet higher demand for marijuana products. But that work takes time, too.  Mark de Souza, CEO of the state’s largest marijuana producer Revolution Global, said he has heard from dispensary operators “panicked” that they could have empty shelves within months of adult sales beginning.  But he believes the overall structure Illinois’ law created will become the industry’s “gold standard.”  “You’re going to ensure everything from compliance to truth in labeling to taxes to consumer safety,” he said. “We don’t think any short-term supply issues are going to be harmful.”  Still, retailers are considering appointment-based systems rather than lining up customers in winter weather. Others have retrofitted their dispensaries to let medical patients in one door and recreational customers in another, hoping to limit confusion if their product supplies run low.  Amy Manganelli, chief operating officer at Mapleglen Care Center in the western Illinois city of Rockford, said she is anticipating long lines and taking steps to prepare employees.  “We can’t open January 1 and have somebody futzing with the scanner,” she said. “That won’t make the people in line, standing outside in winter, very happy.”  State law lets local governments bar recreational dispensaries, and at least two of Illinois’ existing medical dispensaries are in communities that decided to prevent expanded sales. Chicago set up seven districts with a limited number of dispensaries allowed in each, and business owners only learned at a lottery event in mid-November where they could operate within the city.  Illinois lawmakers said they expected a slow start. Their long-term goals, though, hinge on parts of the law intended to ensure people of color can open and work for marijuana businesses despite historic inequities in enforcement of state and federal drug laws.  The law includes a scoring bonus during the license-award process for social equity applicants — people living in communities most affected by enforcement of marijuana laws, or individuals arrested for or convicted of marijuana offenses that would be legal under the new law. A low-interest loan program for these applicants also was created as part of the law.  Michigan has cut marijuana licensing fees for prospective business owners living in 41 cities whose residents were disproportionately impacted by drug enforcement.  Toi Hutchinson, a former Illinois state senator who oversees the work of all seven state agencies that interact with cannabis businesses, said she is confident that regulators are hitting their deadlines. And she said they will be prepared for other significant milestones in 2020, including the first round of applicants seeking 75 additional licenses to sell recreational products.  January will bring “hiccups,” Hutchison acknowledged. But she said Illinois must stay focused on broader goals including making sure people of color get opportunities in the marijuana industry.  “If we’re really serious about equity, this is a long game,” said Hutchinson, who co-sponsored the marijuana legalization proposal. “This isn’t just about January 1.”


abcnews--2019-11-30--Lawsuit wave expected as New Jersey eases sex abuse limits

The loosening of limits on sexual abuse claims in New Jersey is expected to create a tectonic shift in the way those lawsuits are brought, giving hope to victims who have long suffered in silence and exposing a broader spectrum of institutions to potential liability.  A law passed last spring goes into effect Sunday and allows child victims to sue until they turn 55, or within seven years of their first realization that the abuse caused them harm. The limit was two years before the new law. Adult victims also have seven years from the discovery of the abuse, and victims who were previously barred by the statute of limitations have a two-year window to file claims.  That’s welcome news for people like Dennis Bachman, a 40-year-old construction worker from Westville, in southern New Jersey, who plans to file a lawsuit alleging a female counselor sexually abused him at a home for juveniles in Salem County. He said last week it took him a long time to recognize he had been abused, in part because of a misguided societal view that says damage done to boys abused by women "isn't the same" as other kinds of abuse.  "Maybe (it'll) give me a chance to make things right," Bachman said. "I caused so much damage in my life in so many different ways. I figured maybe this would give me a chance to settle some things.”  New Jersey’s push for expanding the statute of limitations gained momentum from last year’s release of a grand jury report in Pennsylvania that catalogued the experiences of thousands of victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and the church’s cover-up of the scandal.  Many states have overhauled their criminal and civil statutes of limitations in the last 10 or 15 years, but just a handful including California, Delaware, Hawaii and Minnesota have created so-called lookback windows for lawsuits. New York enacted a bill earlier this year that creates a window similar to the one in New Jersey.  The Roman Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts have both already been inundated with sexual abuse lawsuits that were filed when similar laws were passed in other states. The church opposed the law change in New Jersey, saying it wanted to push back the date it became effective. But those two organizations are far from the only defendants.  Attorneys Jay Mascolo and Jason Amala represent about 40 defendants who are set to file lawsuits in New Jersey. They said their clients mostly allege abuse at the hands of people associated with the Catholic church and the Boy Scouts, but that about a quarter of the suits involve other institutions.  Attorney Robert Fuggi said a key component of the law is that it removes an earlier provision that held a person acting in loco parentis, or “in place of a parent,” could only be liable if the abuse occurred “within the household.”  That will make it easier to take legal action against public schools, Fuggi said. It could help revive a suit brought by one of his clients who claimed her high school’s assistant band director repeatedly sexually assaulted her in 2004. A state appeals court dismissed that case, ruling the “household” provision didn’t apply to public schools.  “I think you’re going to see substantially more claims against public schools than ever before,” said Fuggi, who said he has prepared several lawsuits alleging sexual abuse at a restaurant, casino, church, high school and hospital.  The new law has prompted some criticism that the two-year window exposes institutions to retroactive claims that could sink organizations whose current employees are not implicated and whose work could be upended by hefty damages.  Alida Kass, the president and chief counsel of the New Jersey Civil Justice Institute, which advocates against lawsuit abuse, opposed the legislation because it lacked amendments to target only predators and institutions that were complicit in the alleged crimes.  "There is at least a measure of justice in holding an organization to account, even years later, for their willful misdeeds," she said. “(But) we are not talking about charities that didn’t to do background checks when no one was doing background checks, or that failed to have as-yet unheard of protocols, or missed the warning signs that we now take for granted."


abcnews--2019-11-30--Michigan, Illinois set to usher in recreational pot sales

James Daly is eager to make marijuana history on Sunday, when he plans to open the doors to Arbors Wellness, beckon the lengthy line outside and legally start selling recreational pot for the first time in the Midwest.  “We’ve worked very hard to be prepared,” said Daly, who owns the medical dispensary that, for now, is among just six shops in Michigan — mostly in Ann Arbor — also approved to start selling for adult use in December. The business is doubling staff and has fielded calls from potential customers across the state along with neighboring Ohio and Indiana.  “The end of prohibition is historic,” he said. “We wanted to rip the Band-Aid off.”  Both Michigan and Illinois, which allows sales starting on Jan. 1, are officially joining nine other states that broadly allow marijuana sales. Companies are rushing to complete renovations at dispensaries, expand their growing facilities, and get staff hired and trained.  The Midwestern states’ launch into the potentially lucrative recreational market comes at a turbulent time for the industry, which has been rocked by layoffs, the vaping health scare and investor disappointment with Canada’s marijuana program.  In both states, a limited number of businesses have received state licenses letting them sell recreational products initially. But those same retailers must keep enough product on hand to supply people certified as patients under medical marijuana laws.  The conditions are “almost a guarantee” that Illinois and Michigan customers will experience long lines, product shortages and potentially high prices in the early stages, said Adam Orens, co-founder of the Marijuana Policy Group.  “They’ve got to get through the growing pains to get a system implemented,” he said.  Taking marijuana from a small cutting to dried flower ready to be sold or transformed into edible gummies or oils takes months.  In Michigan, where voters legalized recreational pot just over a year ago, regulators who began accepting license applications Nov. 1 are aiding the transition by letting medical growers, processors and dispensaries transfer up to half their products to the recreational side under certain conditions.  But marijuana is unlikely to be more broadly available until more businesses become licensed and additional communities authorize sales.  More than 1,400 of Michigan’s nearly 1,800 cities, townships and villages are not allowing recreational businesses. Even Detroit, home to the most medical dispensaries in the state, has delayed recreational sales until at least Jan. 31.  “This is brand new for a lot of municipalities. I think it’s important that they are doing their due diligence and taking an approach that honors the will of their people,” said Andrew Brisbo, executive director of the Marijuana Regulatory Agency, which has awarded 18 licenses and approved 78 pre-qualification applications.  He said he expects adult sales to occur in “some consistent form” at a greater number of Michigan locations by the end of March.  In Illinois, seven months will have separated Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signing of legislation permitting people 21 and older to buy and possess marijuana and the start of sales in January.  The first round of applications is limited to existing medical marijuana retailers, and about 30 are newly licensed to sell recreational products. More could be approved before January.  Most of the state’s licensed cultivation companies are expanding their space to meet higher demand for marijuana products. But that work takes time, too.  Mark de Souza, CEO of the state’s largest marijuana producer Revolution Enterprises, said he has heard from dispensary operators “panicked” that they could have empty shelves within months of adult sales beginning.  But he believes the overall structure Illinois’ law created will become the industry’s “gold standard.”  “You’re going to ensure everything from compliance to truth in labeling to taxes to consumer safety,” he said. “We don’t think any short-term supply issues are going to be harmful.”  Still, retailers are considering appointment-based systems rather than lining up customers in winter weather. Others have retrofitted their dispensaries to let medical patients in one door and recreational customers in another, hoping to limit confusion if their product supplies run low.  Amy Manganelli, chief operating officer at Mapleglen Care Center in the western Illinois city of Rockford, said she is anticipating long lines and taking steps to prepare employees.  “We can’t open January 1 and have somebody futzing with the scanner,” she said. “That won’t make the people in line, standing outside in winter, very happy.”  State law lets local governments bar recreational dispensaries, and at least two of Illinois’ existing medical dispensaries are in communities that decided to prevent expanded sales. Chicago set up seven districts with a limited number of dispensaries allowed in each, and business owners only learned at a lottery event in mid-November where they could operate within the city.  Illinois lawmakers said they expected a slow start. Their long-term goals, though, hinge on parts of the law intended to ensure people of color can open and work for marijuana businesses despite historic inequities in enforcement of state and federal drug laws.  The law includes a scoring bonus during the license-award process for social equity applicants — people living in communities most affected by enforcement of marijuana laws, or individuals arrested for or convicted of marijuana offenses that would be legal under the new law. A low-interest loan program for these applicants also was created as part of the law.  Michigan has cut marijuana licensing fees for prospective business owners living in 41 cities whose residents were disproportionately impacted by drug enforcement.  Toi Hutchinson, a former Illinois state senator who oversees the work of all seven state agencies that interact with cannabis businesses, said she is confident that regulators are hitting their deadlines. And she said they will be prepared for other significant milestones in 2020, including the first round of applicants seeking 75 additional licenses to sell recreational products.  January will bring “hiccups,” Hutchison acknowledged. But she said Illinois must stay focused on broader goals including making sure people of color get opportunities in the marijuana industry.  “If we’re really serious about equity, this is a long game,” said Hutchinson, who co-sponsored the marijuana legalization proposal. “This isn’t just about January 1.”


abcnews--2019-12-02--Clergy sex abuse lawsuits take advantage of new NJ law

Lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy are taking center stage in New Jersey as the state’s relaxation of statute of limitations rules takes effect.  A new law allows child victims to sue until they turn 55, or within seven years of their first realization the abuse caused them harm. The previous limit was two years.  Victims previously barred by the statute of limitations have a two-year window to file claims.  Two sisters from Pennsylvania are suing the Archdiocese of Newark and the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. They allege clergy in Newark knew a priest had sexually abused children before he moved to Harrisburg and abused them and their sisters for years.  A separate lawsuit accuses defrocked former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the former Archbishop of the Newark diocese.


abcnews--2019-12-02--Key points from new wave of Catholic abuse lawsuits

Key takeaways from Associated Press reporting showing that new laws in 15 states could clear the way for a deluge of lawsuits against the Roman Catholic Church:  — Many of the dozen-plus lawyers and clergy abuse watchdog groups interviewed by the AP expect at least 5,000 new cases, resulting in potential payouts that could surpass the $4 billion paid out since the clergy sex abuse first came to light in the 1980s.  — The legal onslaught will play out in some of the nation’s most populous Catholic strongholds. This summer, New York state opened its one-year window allowing sex abuse claims no matter how old, and already hundreds of lawsuits have been filed. A two-year window in New Jersey opens this week, then a three-year window in California opens in the new year that allows triple damages if the church tried to cover up the abuse.  — Some lawyers believe payouts by juries will be bigger than ever because of a recent national reawakening over sex abuse, fueled by the #MeToo movement, the public shaming of accused celebrities and last year’s Pennsylvania grand jury report that found 300 priests abused more than 1,000 children in that state. Since then, attorneys general in nearly 20 states have launched investigations of their own.  — The church is hoping victims turn to compensation funds set up by dioceses offering faster, but typically much lower payments than if they took their claims to court. To soften the financial hit, more dioceses are likely to file for bankruptcy, too. Less than a month after New York’s window took effect, the upstate Diocese of Rochester filed for bankruptcy, the 20th U.S. diocese or religious order to do so.


abcnews--2019-12-07--Florida man faces prison for defying 'red flag' gun law

A Florida man faces up to five years in prison for refusing to surrender his weapons to authorities under the state's “red flag" law.  It took a Broward County jury less than an hour to find 33-year-old Jerron Smith guilty last week, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported on Friday.  Smith was the first in Florida to be charged with defying the law, which went into effect following last year's Parkland high school shooting.  Smith refused to surrender his weapons to law enforcement officials in March 2018 following an incident in which Smith was accused of shooting at a car during an argument, authorities said. He is awaiting trial on an attempted murder charge in connection with that incident.  Under the state's "red flag" law, authorities with backing from a judge can seek to remove weapons from people who pose a danger to themselves and others. Florida is one of 15 states with such laws.  Smith's attorney unsuccessfully argued that he did not fully understand the new law.  A sentencing date has not been set.


abcnews--2019-12-19--Ex-model sues Weinstein, renewing allegations of abuse at 16

NEW YORK -- A former model who accused Harvey Weinstein last year of sexually abusing her when she was 16 years old filed a new lawsuit against him Thursday, saying she didn't want to be included in a proposed global settlement that would split $25 million among various accusers.  Kaja Sokola, who previously made the allegations in an class-action lawsuit that identified her as Jane Doe, said the proposed settlement was not “fair or just." She said it lacked accountability for Weinstein and his alleged enablers and provided insufficient compensation for his accusers.  Sokola is suing Weinstein under New York's Child Victims Act, which gives people a one-year window to sue over sexually abuse they say they endured as children, sometimes decades ago. Her lawyers say it is the first lawsuit filed against Weinstein under the law.  Sokola alleges Weinstein assaulted her at his Manhattan apartment in 2002, just days after they’d met at an event involving her modeling agency. She says Weinstein promised to take her to lunch to discuss her career, but instead took her to his empty SoHo apartment and “aggressively and threateningly” demanded sex.  In the lawsuit, Sokola alleges that Weinstein instructed her to take off her clothes, boasted about having “made” the careers of a pair of Oscar-winning actresses, and intimated she’d never work as an actress unless she gave in to his demands.  “Terrified and struggling to hold back tears, Sokola said she did not want to do anything further and resisted his demands," the lawsuit states. “Sokola had no intention or understanding when she agreed to a business lunch that she would be put in this position."  Sokola says Weinstein's demeanor “became intense, as if he was hunting prey,” and that he made her touch his penis while he touched her genitals and grabbed at her breasts.  The lawsuit also alleges Weinstein's brother and various movie studio executives were aware of his behavior and failed to stop him.  Messages seeking comment were left with lawyers for Robert Weinstein and a representative for Disney, which bought their Miramax film studio in 1993.  The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Sokola has done.  Dozens of women have accused Harvey Weinstein of wrongdoing.  He is scheduled to stand trial Jan. 6 on charges he raped a woman in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and performed a forcible sex act on a different woman in 2006.  He has pleaded not guilty and maintains that any sexual activity was consensual.  Sokola's lawsuit includes only part of the allegations she detailed as Jane Doe in October 2018.  In that court filing, she also accused Weinstein of subjecting her to years of harassment and emotional abuse and said he blocked her from a successful acting career as payback for refusing his advances.  Sokola, now a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist in her native Poland, says in the lawsuit filed Thursday that she felt angry at Weinstein during the encounter and ashamed that he was causing her to unwillingly engage in sex acts.  “Weinstein made clear that refusing his sexual demands would mean giving up the opportunity to make it in Hollywood," the lawsuit says. “As Harvey Weinstein finally let Sokola leave, he told her that she needed to work on her stubbornness."


abcnews--2019-12-20--Nurses defend Ohio doctor charged in deaths at hospital

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ten former colleagues of an Ohio hospital doctor who pleaded not guilty to murder in 25 patients' deaths are coming to his defense in a new lawsuit.  The action was brought Thursday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court by nine nurses and a pharmacist once employed by Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, NBC News reported. In it, the former employees argue that the hospital wrongfully terminated and defamed Dr. William Husel.  Mount Carmel fired Husel a year ago after it found he ordered potentially fatal doses of pain medication for dozens of patients. The lawsuit says hospital executives were ignorant about the appropriate standards of care and that the pain medicine was needed to help patients in intensive care in their last minutes of life.  "This preposterous (but headline-grabbing) false narrative of an evil rogue doctor and his complicit staff ultimately destroyed the lives and livelihoods of dozens of dedicated nurses and pharmacists, and convinced the public, the Franklin County prosecutor, and the State Attorney General that something terrible had been going on," the lawsuit said. “But nothing could be further from the truth.”  His current lawyers shy away from publicly discussing Husel's motivations, but his previous attorney in the criminal case said the doctor was providing comfort care to dying patients, not trying to kill them.  Mount Carmel Health System said in a statement that the "claim has no merit" and that it “thoroughly investigated these events and stand by our decisions.”  The suit comes as 25 Mount Carmel nurses and three pharmacists are facing discipline for their roles in administering the medication. Hearings begin in February before the Ohio Board of Nursing and in April before the Ohio Board of Pharmacy.  The 10 former employees say they were not betrayed or coerced by Husel, but that hospital executives "panicked" over how the public and government regulators might react to the level of medication he ordered.  The group contends the dosages were “high but appropriate,” as allowed by the hospital's “flexible and discretion-permitting policies.”


abcnews--2019-12-30--Uber, Postmates sue to challenge California's new labor law

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Ride-share company Uber and on-demand meal delivery service Postmates sued Monday to block a broad new California law aimed at giving wage and benefit protections to people who work as independent contractors.  The lawsuit filed in U.S. court in Los Angeles argues that the law set to take effect Wednesday violates federal and state constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process.  Uber said it will try to link the lawsuit to another legal challenge filed in mid-December by associations representing freelance writers and photographers.  The California Trucking Association filed the first challenge to the law in November on behalf of independent truckers.  The law creates the nation's strictest test by which workers must be considered employees and it could set a precedent for other states.  The latest challenge includes two independent workers who wrote about their concerns with the new law.  “This has thrown my life and the lives of more than a hundred=thousand drivers into uncertainty,” ride-share driver Lydia Olson's wrote in a Facebook post cited by Uber.  Postmates driver Miguel Perez called on-demand work “a blessing” in a letter distributed by Uber. He said he used to drive a truck for 14 hours at a time, often overnight.  “Sometimes, when I was behind the wheel, with an endless shift stretching out ahead of me like the open road, I daydreamed about a different kind of job -- a job where I could choose when, where and how much I worked and still make enough money to feed my family," he wrote.  The lawsuit contends that the law exempts some industries but includes ride-share and delivery companies without a rational basis for distinguishing between them. It alleges that the law also infringes on workers' rights to choose how they make a living and could void their existing contracts.  Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego countered that she wrote the law to extend employee rights to more than a million California workers who lack benefits, including a minimum wage, mileage reimbursements, paid sick leave, medical coverage and disability pay for on-the-job injuries.  She noted that Uber had previously sought an exemption when lawmakers were crafting the law, then said it would defend its existing labor model from legal challenges. It joined Lyft and DoorDash in a vow to each spend $30 million to overturn the law at the ballot box in 2020 if they don’t win concessions from lawmakers next year.  “The one clear thing we know about Uber is they will do anything to try to exempt themselves from state regulations that make us all safer and their driver employees self-sufficient,” Gonzalez said in a statement. "In the meantime, Uber chief executives will continue to become billionaires while too many of their drivers are forced to sleep in their cars.”  The new law was a response to a legal ruling last year by the California Supreme Court regarding workers at the delivery company Dynamex.


activistpost--2019-01-04--After Years Of Refusal Utah Will Now Implement The REAL ID Act

After Years Of Refusal, Utah Will Now Implement The REAL ID Act

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Jan. 3, 2018) – After nearly eight years of refusing to implement the REAL ID Act of 2005, Utah has flip-flopped and will now participate in the unconstitutional national ID program.  In 2010, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed a bill into law prohibiting the state from implementing or participating in the Real ID Act. At the time, the legislature found that the enactment of the Real ID Act:  By signing the bill into law, Herbert approved these findings. But judging by his recent actions and those by other elected officials in Utah, something must have changed over the last eight years. What was unconstitutional and unacceptable suddenly became A-OK!  On Dec. 6, Herbert tossed aside his promise to preserve and protect the Constitution and signed a bill (SB3002) repealing the 2010 ban on implementing Real ID. The new law also sets up a process to make the state’s driver’s licenses federally compliant.  Sen. Wayne Harper (R-Taylorsville) and Rep. Eric Hutchings (R-Kearnes) also ignored their oaths of office and sponsored the legislation. The Senate passed SB3002 by a 25-0 vote. The House approved the bill 47-23.  Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 and Pres. G.W. Bush signed it into law. The act essentially mandates a national ID system that states must implement.  Constitutionally, the federal government lacks any authority to create a national ID. But the feds won’t let something like constitutional limitations stop them from doing what they want. Congress simply ignored its delegated powers and implemented national ID standards anyway.  But things didn’t go smoothly after the passage of REAL ID. States rebelled for several reasons, including privacy concerns and the fact that Congress didn’t provide any funding for the mandates it expects states to implement. Many states simply chose not to act. Several others, such as Utah, passed laws expressly prohibiting compliance with the national ID standards.  Under the law, all states were supposed to be in compliance by 2009. But the federal government found coercing unwilling states wasn’t as easy as anticipated. Instead of forcing the issue, the feds issued waiver after waiver.


activistpost--2019-01-09--French Government Moves to Impose a Police State in Response to Gilets Jaunes

Marking up the Arc de Triomphe, smashing the face of the Marianne statue, a symbol of the French state, and trashing private property along the Champs-Elysees will be considered minor incidents if the Yellow Vests pull off their next move—an organized run on the banks.  According to activist Tahz San, the aim of the latest protest is to “scare this (French) state completely legally and without any violence, yet more effectively than ever expected.”  The Associated Press reports Gilets Jaunes activists “hope the move will force the government to listen to their demands, notably their call for more direct democracy through the implementation of popular votes that allow citizens to propose new laws.”  Instead of listening to the demands of a majority of the French people—polls show around 80% support for the movement—the state will roll out the military and pass a draconian law criminalizing organized protest.  Moreover, the French state will ban activists—described as “known troublemakers”—from participating in demonstrations. In order to make identifying and singling out these activists more easy, the government will also outlaw face masks.  The protesters will face tougher penalties for taking part in undeclared demonstrations, covering their faces, and would be required to pay for the damage they cause, Philippe said on France’s TF1 television. More than 80,000 police officers will be mobilized nationwide for an expected fresh round of protests next Saturday, he said.  Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin urged the state to exercise “ultra-severity” against French citizens opposed to being fleeced and ignored.  For a former French minister, the only appropriate response by the state is murder. Luc Ferry has called for police to shoot and kill protesters attacking police.  Violence and murder are a reflexive response by the state when its authority is challenged and other tactics—for instance, demonizing protesters as either right or left extremists—fail to put an end to protests. Nothing short of a police state will work to discourage further protests. The French government has plenty of experience along these lines, having declared a state of emergency on numerous occasions, most recently in 2015 after a series of terrorist attacks in Paris. France first implemented an état d’urgence in 1955 during the Algerian war. The law resulted in house arrests, censorship, searches, curfew, restrictions on public gatherings, and forbidding people from entering a defined area. Shutting down protests, arresting activists, and even murdering them will not put an end to the Gilets Jaunes movement. The French elite apparently suffer from amnesia. In the 1700s, the average French citizen spent half his or her wages on bread, thus leading to deadly bread riots and eventually the fall of the Bastille. The French ruling class, the monarchy, faced the guillotine in response to its neglect and parasitical behavior. Kurt Nimmo is the editor of Another Day in the Empire, where this article first appeared. He is the former lead editor and writer of Infowars.com. Donate to ADE Here.