►WHIRLED GNUS◄: May 25, 2011

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Dog honored for helping save owner's life

Dog honored for helping save owner's lifeLassie has nothing on Yogi, a golden retriever credited with saving his owner's life after a serious cycling accident near Lake Travis, Texas. On Tuesday, the Humane Society of the United States recognized Yogi as the 2011 Valor Dog of the Year for leading neighbors to where Paul Horton lay paralyzed after flipping off his mountain bike. 58-year-old Horton had taken Yogi along last October as he rode trails near his home on a hill not far from Windy Point. As Horton jumped a kerb on his bike, disaster struck. "I'm sure I've done it 100 times, but this time my front wheel stopped, and I went over the handlebars and landed on my head," Horton said. He wasn't wearing a helmet, but doctors told him that probably wouldn't have prevented his spinal injuries. Horton was knocked unconscious. When he woke up, he couldn't move and was bleeding from the nose and mouth. Yogi was at his side. For the next 45 minutes, Horton pleaded with the 85-pound dog to go home and get help. Yogi didn't want to leave. Horton couldn't yell, and he was out of sight of passers-by, about 100 feet from a dead-end street. Finally, Yogi headed back to the main road, where Horton's neighbors Bruce and Maggie Tate were walking. The normally mellow dog barked frantically. The Tates knew something was wrong and followed Yogi to Horton. There, Yogi stood protectively by his friend. "It's pretty amazing that Yogi first stayed with Paul when he needed to, then recognized us and came to get us," Bruce Tate said. "Paul was in desperate shape. He wasn't in a place where there's a lot of traffic." Horton was transported to St. David's Round Rock Medical Center, where doctors determined that his vertebrae had shifted, pinching his spinal cord and paralyzing him from the chest down. They operated to relieve pressure and stabilize his spine. Horton spent four nights there, then moved to St. David's Rehabilitation Hospital, where he stayed for two months. His wife, Shearon, brought Yogi to visit several times. "The dog alerting his neighbor was instrumental in getting him to a hospital and preventing his choking to death or going into shock," said Dr. Juan LaTorre. "He might not have survived if he hadn't been found until the next day." "It takes a very unique and special dog to do what Yogi did," said Nicole Paquette, Texas senior state director of the Humane Society. "He obviously has a true bond with Paul, and it just demonstrates how close we are to our companion animals and how much we need them." Yogi, Horton said, acts differently since the accident. "He stays within sight of me in the house. If I change rooms, he changes rooms. If I move over five feet, he moves over five feet," he said. Horton remains paralyzed but has regained some sensation in his abdomen, legs and back. He has limited use of his arms and hands. He's also learned that he has arthritis and leukemia.
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JOKE: Tiger Woods drove his new Cadillac Escalade into an Irish gas station

"Taking a wee break from the golf circuit, Tiger Woods drove his new Cadillac Escalade into an Irish gas station. An attendant greeted him in typical Irish manner, unaware who the golf pro was.

"Top of the mornin' to ya!" the Irishman smiled, doffing his cap.

As Tiger got out of the mammoth vehicle, two tees fell out of his pocket.

"Say, what are those, lad," asked the attendant?

"They're called tees," replied Tiger.

"And what would ya be usin' 'em for, now," inquired the Irishman?

"Well, they're for resting my balls on when I drive," said Tiger.

"AW! Jaysus, Mary an' Joseph," exclaimed the Irish attendant. "Those fellas at Cadillac think of everything!"

GOT CAPTION? 5/26

VIDEO: Classic Prank

Casino Has Flea Problem..Refuses to Shut Down to Fumigate

New Zealand casino staff forced to wear flea collars

Workers at the SkyCity casino in Auckland are having to spray themselves with insect repellent and wear flea collars to keep from being bitten on the job. Employees have complained about infestations on the casino floor for years and, despite the carpet and areas around gaming machines being cleaned regularly, the problem has persisted.

Unite Union national director Mike Treen said workers had been complaining to SkyCity management, as well as the union, for years. He knew of a number of workers who attached flea collars to their ankles to stop being bitten.

"Some of them have them on to try and prevent being bitten. Some people react quite badly - [they] get really bad spots and it can affect their health and then result in time off. It's definitely a health and safety issue." Mr Treen said workers were also provided with cans of flea repellent - if they wanted them - so they could spray themselves before starting work.

The union said part of the ongoing problem was that casino management were unwilling to shut the floor down for a day because they would lose too much money. "It's just about 24-hour, seven-day business," Mr Treen said. SkyCity said that the casino floors were cleaned every day.