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Rare Gray Owl Spotted in Utah for First Time in 30 Years

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McKinley Corbley
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Gray Owl-Vimeo

The Great Gray Owl is the biggest owl in the world – and it hasn’t been seen in Utah for 30 years.

Utah resident Amber Watkins-Olpin was driving through Mountain Green last week on her way to work when she saw a huddle of residents gathered on the side of the road. Curious as to what the commotion was about, she pulled over to find that the crowd was standing in awe of the enormous bird, who was perched calmly and unflinchingly on the ground.

A few hours laters on her way back from work, Amber saw that the owl was still there, only now perched in a tree.

RELATED: Bison Return to National Park For First Time in a Century

Amber went home, gathered her family, and returned to the owl’s spot. Her husband, Chris Olpin of Dreamcastar Productions, brought his camera along with him too.

“I was lucky enough to capture this majestic great grey owl today,” says Chris. “Owls are very symbolic to me. The last time this type of owl has been sighted in Utah was over 25 years ago.”

And the Great Gray Owl is majestic indeed. Females and males typically range a little over two feet in length with a wingspan of up to five feet. Though they typically don’t reside in Utah, harsh winter seasons can push them farther south during migration.

The footage that Chris captured was verified by Utah Division of Wildlife Resources biologist, Russell Norvell, program coordinator of the Avian Conservation, according to KSL.

(WATCH the video below)

 

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Shirt Containing $8,000 Returned to Woman Who Accidentally Gave it Away

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McKinley Corbley
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Hoffman and Goodwill Worker-Youtube

Linda Hoffman was simply trying to clean out her and her husband’s closets of old clothes – she had no idea that she was giving away a small fortunate in the process.

Her husband, Bob Hoffman, had been using one of his old shirts to hide his savings. Over the course of six years, he had squirreled away over $8,000 in the hopes of one day surprising Linda with a vacation to Italy.

MORE: Single Mom Parlays Small Lottery Win into Fund For Homeless Man In the Cold

When the couple realized that Linda had accidentally donated the shirt to Goodwill two days later, they rushed to the nearest store in Placentia, California.

Employees spent all day looking for the lost shirt with no luck. The next day, however, Caitlin Mulvihill finally dug it out of one of the bins.

The Hoffman’s relief and gratitude for finding the lost shirt was unparalleled.

(WATCH the video below)

 

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Gene Therapy Could Save Thousands of Dogs from Muscle-wasting Disease

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Gene Therapy Dogs-Martin Childer Lab

Work on gene therapy is showing significant progress for restoring muscle strength and prolonging lives in dogs with a previously incurable, inherited neuromuscular disease.

The disease arises from a mutation in genes that normally make a protein, called myotubularin, essential for proper muscle function. Puppies with this naturally occurring mutation exhibit several features of babies with the same defective gene. The rare disorder, called myotubular myopathy, or MTM, affects only males. It causes fatal muscle wasting. Both dogs and boys with the disease typically succumb in early life due to breathing difficulties.

For decades, researchers have struggled to find suitable treatments for genetic muscle diseases like this one. Four collaborating research groups in the United States and France found a way to safely replace the disease-causing MTM gene with a healthy gene throughout the entire musculature of affected dogs.

RELATED: Dogs Dream About How Much They Love Their Humans, Says Harvard Psychologist

Their paper reports that diseased dogs treated with a single infusion of the corrective therapy were indistinguishable from normal animals one year later.

“This regenerative technology allowed dogs that otherwise would have perished to complete restoration of normal health,” said Dr. Martin K. “Casey” Childers, UW Medicine researcher and physician.

Gene therapy holds the promise to treat many inherited diseases. To date, this approach has not been widely translated into treatment of skeletal muscle disorders.

MORE: Dogs Can Actually Understand What Humans Are Saying, Study Says

“We report here a gene therapy dose-finding study in a large animal model of a severe muscle disease where a single treatment resulted in dramatic rescue,” said Childers. The findings demonstrate potential application across a wide range of diseases and broadly translate to human studies. The data supports the development of gene therapy clinical trials for myotubular myopathy, the researchers concluded.

(Source: University of Washington Health Sciences)

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Heartfelt Memories May Be More Effective Than Shaming to Help Smokers Quit

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Cigarette Smoking-Public Domain

Rather than inciting fear, this new study says that anti-smoking campaigns should tap into smokers’ memories and tug at their heartstrings instead of using scare tactics.

Researchers from Michigan State University say that advertisers often use nostalgia-evoking messages to promote consumer products, and that tactic could be just as effective in encouraging healthy behaviors, argue Ali Hussain, a doctoral candidate in the School of Journalism, and Maria Lapinski, professor in the Department of Communication.

“A lot of no-smoking messages are centered around fear, disgust and guilt,” Hussain said. “But smokers often don’t buy the messages and instead feel badly about themselves and the person who is trying to scare them.”

RELATED: Simple Checklist Leads to 82% Drop in Mental Health Patient Suicides

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease in the United States, accounting for one of every five deaths. Smoking rates have declined, but in 2015, 15 of every 100 adults were active smokers.

Despite the health risks, a key hurdle for health communicators is rejection and avoidance of messages, Lapinski said.

Hoping to find a solution, researchers conducted a study of smokers, ages 18 to 39, exposing some to a nostalgic public service announcement Hussain created and some to a control message.

MORE: 100-Year-olds Say a Positive Attitude is the Secret to Longevity

Those who viewed the PSA reported greater nostalgic emotions and displayed stronger negative attitudes toward smoking, especially women.

Starting with images of childhood memories, the PSA script includes phrases such as, “I remember when I was a boy” and “I miss the simplicity of life, being outside on a warm summer night,” making references to familiar smells and tastes from bygone days. It ends with the narrator remembering when someone introduced him to cigarettes and a call to action.

Nostalgia-themed PSAs play off consumers’ most cherished and personal memories, so they feel more engaged, the researchers said. And that nostalgic thinking influences attitudes and behaviors.

“Our study, which to our knowledge is first of its kind, shows promise for using nostalgic messages to promote pro-social behaviors,” Lapinski said. “We know that policy and environmental changes have an influence on smoking and this study indicates persuasive messages can influence smoking attitudes.”

(Source: Michigan State University)

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Puppy Rescued From Well After 11 Days is Adopted by Firefighters Who Saved It (WATCH)

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McKinley Corbley
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Firefighters and Puppy-Istanbul Fire Department

This sweet puppy who enraptured the nation may not have made it out of this gaping well if it weren’t for an entire community making sure that it survived.

Residents of Beykoz, Turkey heard whimpering coming from a nearby well that plunged 200 feet into the earth. After confirming that there was a small dog trapped at the bottom, firefighters, rescue crews, and animal rescue teams flooded the area to assess the situation.

A camera that was lowered into the hole showed that the canine looked frightened, but was alive and relatively unharmed.

RELATED VIDEO: Dog Wearing Life Jacket is Found Adrift in Vast Gulf of Mexico

Then the crews established a tent surrounding the hole to make sure that no rain or water would flood the well.

Puppy Trapped in Well-Barış Şengün

Over the course of the following 11 days, the teams lowered dog food into the hole to make sure it didn’t starve. They could not, however, figure out how to get the puppy out of the well.

The crew attempted using everything from rope and pulleys, to a robotic arm constructed by local high school students – but nothing worked.

WATCH: Hummingbird Refuses to Leave the Dog Who Saved Her Life

As the story gained more and more national attention, it finally caught the eye of Energy Minister Berat Albayrak who offered the services of the Turkish Hard Coal Enterprises.

Rescuing Dog From Well-Istanbul Fire Department

The team was finally able to mechanically lasso the 3-month-old pup and haul it to safety amidst cheers from everyone present for the suspenseful rescue.

The dog was taken to the veterinarian where he was deemed healthy and unharmed by the ordeal. Local firefighters announced that they would be adopting the pup who has since been dubbed “Kuyu” – which is Turkish for “well”.

(WATCH the video below)

 

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Guy Sacrifices Tesla to Save Unconscious Driver, Elon Musk Offers to Repair It

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McKinley Corbley
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Tesla Car Incident-Feuerwehr München

Even though a Tesla Model S is worth thousands of dollars, this guy didn’t hesitate to sacrifice it in order to do the right thing and save a man’s life.

41-year-old Manfred Kick was driving down the Autobahn – a federally controlled highway with no mandated speed limit – when he saw a Volkswagen swerving dangerously across the road. Curious, Manfred peered into the car’s windows only to find that the driver had fallen unconscious against the steering wheel.

Manfred pulled his Model S in front of the Volkswagen and braked until both of the cars came to a halt.

RELATED: Teen Volunteer Wins $70,000 SUV in Charity Raffle, Then Stuns Crowd

He then ran to the man’s side and performed first aid until emergency medical technicians arrived and took the unconscious driver to a hospital in Munich, Germany.

Officials said that though the man had reportedly suffered a stroke of some kind, he is currently in stable condition.

Manfred, who was then stuck with over $10,000 in repair costs, was in turn rescued by none other than the Tesla company CEO Elon Musk.

“Congrats to the Tesla owner who sacrificed damage to his own car to bring a car with an unconscious driver safely to a stop!” Musk wrote on Twitter. “In appreciation, Tesla is providing all repair costs free of charge and expedited.”

Drive This Story Over To Your Friends: Click To Share (Photo by Feuerwehr München)

Man Toils to Deliver Sketches to Families of Soldiers His Father Served With in WWII

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McKinley Corbley
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WWII Soldier Sketches-Ira Dube

Do you recognize any of the American heroes in this video? Because Ira Dube is on a mission to return the drawings to their rightful inherited owners.

Ira’s father Stan Dube created breathtaking portraits of all of his comrades in arms that were serving with him in the U.S. Army 27th Infantry Division during World War II.

Ira had no idea that the precious portfolio existed until he found them gathering dust in his sister’s attic.

WATCH: WWII Refugees Write Comforting Letters To Syrian Refugee Youth

Stan and his fellow soldiers had fought in the Battle of Saipan in the Mariana Islands in 1944. Though it was a bloody battle that claimed thousands of Japanese and American lives, it hasreportedly been called one of the turning points of the war.

Ira believes that even though many of the men in his father’s sketches probably did not survive that battle, he can still honor their memories by delivering the drawings to their families.

MORE: Late Daughter Unknowingly Left Priceless Gift for Grieving Mom

Thus far, Ira has successfully delivered one of the sketches to the family of Joseph Joner Kratky from Franklin, New York, but there are still 15 more drawings left.

“[These men] need to be remembered and honored and I just want to find them a home,” Ira tearfully told FOX21.

Ira believes that the men would be from the New York or New Jersey area. If you have any information on the identities of the 15 men, you can email Ira at [email protected].

(WATCH the video below)

 

Click To Share The Inspiring News With Your Friends (Photos by Ira Dube)

This Rescue Goat is in Love With the UPS Driver

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Good News Network
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Pearl the Goat-Facebook

This relationship may not be very conventional, but it’s filled with affection.

Pearl the goat is a resident of the Gentle Barn in Knoxville, Tennessee, a rescue sanctuary that rehabilitates abused animals.

Pearl, who fell in love with the farm’s UPS man, runs to the end of the yard every time she hears the sound of the approaching truck.

WATCH: Hummingbird Refuses to Leave the Dog Who Saved Her Life

Though she apparently tries to wait for him to exit the vehicle so she can say hi, she sometimes grows impatient and climbs in with him.

The driver has grown so fond of his goat friend that he now comes prepared with peanut butter treats.

“The UPS man loves Pearl too, and has told us that no matter what kind of day he is having, when he sees Pearl run to greet him everything is better,” says the sanctuary’s Facebook page. “Sometimes we find love in the most unexpected places!”

If This Story Really Gets Your Goat, Click To Share It With Your Friends (Photo by the Gentle Barn)

Outdoor Adventure Program Provides Promise for Treating Children With Autism

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Kids Obstacle Course-CC Nelo Hotsuma

This exciting new study finds that outdoor challenge-based interventions may be effective in reducing the overall severity of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) symptoms.

The research found significant improvements in the social cognition, social motivation, and autistic mannerisms of the young subjects after outdoor adventure activities and describes a new path for enhancing the social and communication skills of children with ASD.

One in 68 children in the US is diagnosed each year with ASD, a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by socio-communicative impairments and restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests. The developmental disorder takes a deep social, emotional and economic toll on the child and his/her family. But research has also shown that the early diagnosis and early treatment of ASD can lead to vast improvements in the cognitive functioning and socio-communicative skills of children on the spectrum.

RELATED: Autism-Friendly Clothing Dumps Zips, Buttons and Tags, Offers GPS

51 children from seven special-education kindergartens in Tel Aviv participated in the study, which was conducted in collaboration with ALUT, the National Israeli Association for Children with Autism, and ETGARIM, a nonprofit that sponsors outdoor activities for disabled people. The children, aged 3-7, all followed the same educational protocols, but the intervention group, comprising 30 students, also participated in an outdoor adventure program (OAP).

The intervention group underwent 13 weekly sessions of challenge-based activities with instructors. Each 30-minute session took place in urban parks near the participants’ kindergartens and kicked off with a song. Afterward, the children used the outdoor fitness equipment, moving from one to another throughout the session. The activities required the children to communicate with the instructors and with their peers, to ask for assistance or be noticed, for example.

Prior to the adventure program, the children’s cognitive and adaptive skills were assessed by the kindergarten instructors using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), a questionnaire that assesses autism severity in different domains, and the Teachers’ Perceived Future Capabilities questionnaire. The information was obtained prior to and after completing the program.

CHECK OUT: Toys R Us Open Stores For ‘Quiet Hour’ to Accommodate Kids With Autism

“Our study shows that outdoor adventure activities benefit children with autism and improve their social communication skills,” says Professor Ditza Antebi-Zachor. “We suggest including these fun activities in special education kindergartens and in communication classrooms at school in addition to traditional treatments. Parents of children with ASD can also enroll their kids in afterschool activities based on the principles of our research. It will allow the children to have fun during their leisure time while improving their communication skills.”

According to Zachor, future studies should examine the contribution of this type of intervention over longer periods of time and encourage other researchers to explore new treatments that improve social communication skills in an entertaining, engaging way.

(Source: American Friends of Tel Aviv University)

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Firefighter Adopts Baby He Helped Deliver

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McKinley Corbley
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Marc and Gracie Hadden-Youtube

In 2011, firefighter Marc Hadden and his wife Rebecca were the parents of two young boys. Hoping to bring a girl into the family, they were devastated when doctors told them that a third pregnancy would be too much for Rebecca’s body.

As fate would have it, a baby girl was literally delivered into Marc’s arms not long after.

Marc and his partner were deployed on an emergency call to a woman’s house in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The woman, who was going into labor, had only just been carried into the ambulance when she said she was ready to deliver the child right then and there.

RELATED: Mom Adopts Hospice Babies No One Else Wants

Though Marc had been a firefighter for 20 years, it was his first time ever taking charge over a delivery.

After he helped deliver the infant, he took the baby girl and her mother to the hospital. Marc was filling out paperwork when he overheard some nurses saying that the mother had requested the baby be put up for adoption immediately.

MORE: Flight Attendant Adopts Stray Dog That Always Awaited Her Return From Countries Abroad

When Marc mentioned that he and his wife had been looking into adoption, the nurses encouraged him to talk to the mother. Marc explained to the recovering woman that since he was a firefighter and his wife was a school teacher, they didn’t have the money to adopt, but they had always wanted a daughter.

After Marc and his wife talked things over with the mother, they were ready to go. 48 hours later, Marc was the proud adopted father of blonde-haired, blue-eyed Gracie Hadden.

“It was meant to be,” Hadden told CBS. “Everything that happened that day changed: my station, assignment, the location. So many things happened that made us 100 percent sure.”

(WATCH the video below)

 

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Restaurant Owner Gives Discounts to Families With Well-behaved Kids

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McKinley Corbley
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Italian Child Discount Receipt-Facebook

This Italian restaurant is saying “grazie” to good parents by giving them discounts on their final bills for their well-behaved children.

Antonio Ferrari, who is the owner of a wine bar in Padua, is offering a 5% price cut to any diner who can reign in their rowdy children.

On Sundays, the bar opens for family dining, which too often results in restless kids running around the restaurant and causing a hazard for his waiters.

RELATED: Muslim-Owned Restaurant Offers Free Christmas Meal For Homeless and Elderly

Ferrari reportedly first got the idea for the discount when he was serving a party of 11, five of which were children “sitting with great composure.”

He has since awarded the price cut to several other families with similarly behaving offspring. Ferrari says it is not his intention to judge couples for their parenting – however, he says he does feel responsible for keeping up the atmosphere of the restaurant for his other patrons, according to the Guardian.

Click To Share The Sweet News With Your Friends (Photo by Antonio Ferrari)

Substitute Bus Driver Takes Day to Build Ramp For Disabled Girl He Didn’t Know

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McKinley Corbley
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Lydia on Ramp-Youtube

Thomas Mitchell couldn’t stand to see Lydia struggle with her aluminum ramp every morning – so he built her a new one instead.

Tom is a mechanic working in Clarksville, Tennessee who is sometimes employed to be a substitute driver on the school buses he fixes.

One of the children who he picks up on is route is a young girl in a wheelchair named Lydia Despain. Lydia’s mother Verna says that because her daughter suffers from a seizure disorder, she has developed differently than other children.

RELATED: Mailman Builds Ramp for Elderly Dog Struggling With Stairs

Because of her wheelchair, Lydia struggles with the stone steps in front of her house every morning. Though she has a ramp, it isn’t long enough to reach the top step.

So Tom called Verna and offered to build a new ramp for their house on Sunday. She joyously accepted.

True to his word, Tom and some of his friends used lumber donated by the hardwood store to build a brand new wooden ramp on the side of the Despain’s house.

“It’s those little things that people take for granted,” Verna told FOX5. “And maybe I didn’t even realize my predicament, because I’m so used to doing it solo.”

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Women Who Served in Vietnam are Happier and Healthier Than Average American Female

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Happy Military Women-CC Israel Defense Forces

Though it may seem counterintuitive, new research shows that American women who were shipped overseas to Vietnam are currently more happy than the average woman.

A study just released by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health reports on the health of American women who were deployed to Vietnam for either military or civilian service. The results show that 48% of career military women were very happy compared to 38% of women in the general population, and of better than average physical and mental health. The study is the first study to describe the experiences of civilian women deployed to a warzone; compare them to those of military women; and match the patterns of general health and happiness for women deployed to Vietnam with a representative sample of their peers.

RELATED: Afghan Girls, Not Allowed On Bikes, Shred On Skateboards Instead

About 265,000 women served in the U.S. military during the Vietnam Era, with as many as 11,000 deployed to Vietnam but not formally assigned combat roles. Nonetheless, they were deployed to combat zones where they experienced warzone stressors and hostile fire.

“Our results suggest that a military career – which by military rules in force during the Vietnam era, precluded a woman from typical wife and mother roles – afforded women a meaningful experience that continued to positively impact their emotional well-being, even decades after the war,” said the study’s senior author Jeanne Mager Stellman.

Career military women who never had children also reported being happier than the average American woman.

MORE: Poland to Teach Free Nationwide Self-Defense Classes For Women

“Women who volunteered and went to Vietnam in the 1960s may have done so as a way of breaking away from the traditional roles assigned to women in the United States during that time, and they seem to have continued on a different trajectory in post-war years,” said Dr. Stellman.

Deployment to Vietnam for both military and civilian women had other positive aspects. Many women reported satisfaction from their work with the wounded troops and civilians in Vietnam. Those who served as nurses, in particular, commented that they were given much more responsibility in their positions while in Vietnam than they would have had in a similar civilian job in the U. S.

An earlier paper by Dr. Stellman and the Boston-VA based group evaluated the psychological well-being of approximately 1,300 female military personnel, Red Cross workers, and others deployed to Vietnam.

“Our new study underscores the benefits of a military career for those women who chose it,” noted Dr. Stellman. “Entering military service or volunteering for civilian activities in a warzone offered an opportunity for talented women to establish careers, and rise to high ranks and achieve positions that would be impossible in the civilian world. In addition, career military women in general, lived in a supportive community that was knowledgeable and sympathetic to their work. What we learned from this study can help to improve the experiences and well-being of current and future generations of female military personnel.”

(Source: Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health)

Click To Share The Inspiring News With Your Friends – Photo by Israel Defense Forces, CC

Guard Squirrel Pet Goes Nuts on Burglar

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McKinley Corbley
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Joey the Squirrel-Youtube

Joey the squirrel may not be as big as a guard dog, but he’s definitely just as protectively vicious.

Adam Pearl never suspected that his pet rodent would be much of a threat until someone robbed his house in Meridian, Idaho on Tuesday night.

After coming home to find doors opened and scratch marks around the safe lock where he kept his guns, Adam called the police.

WATCH: Hummingbird Refuses to Leave the Dog Who Saved Her Life

When officer Ashley Turner arrived on the scene, however, she was surprised to see Joey scurrying around the house. She asked if he tended to bite people.

“I said, well, he usually doesn’t bite but you never know cause he is a squirrel,” Pearl told KIVI.

The officer found the culprit and returned a few hours later with his stolen belongings.

RELATED VIDEO: Owl Flies Right Into Moving Car Window, Breaks Both Wings But Caring People Save it

“She said while she was questioning the individual he had scratches on his hands so she asked him ‘did you get that from the squirrel’ and he says yeah, damn thing kept attacking me and wouldn’t stop until I left,” said Pearl.

In honor of Joey’s efficient guard work, he was rewarded with some special treats and national praise for his good deed.

(WATCH the video below)

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Youth Basketball Team Forfeits Season Instead of Excluding Girls

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McKinley Corbley
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School Basketball Team-WABC

This New Jersey children’s basketball team said that they would rather forfeit the rest of their season rather than play any games without their two female teammates.

The St. John the Apostle’s fifth grade Catholic Youth Organization basketball team were told two weeks ago that if they wanted to finish their season, they wouldn’t be allowed to play with a co-ed team – despite the fact that they had already been playing with female teammates for the last four years.

RELATED: Teen Volunteer Wins $70,000 SUV in Charity Raffle, Then Stuns Crowd

“One parent told me it’s my decision [whether the girls play], but I said, ‘No way. I’m not making this decision for eleven 10-year-olds,’” St. John’s coach Rob Martel told ESPN.

When presented with the options, the children reportedly started chanting “Unity” as a means of reenforcing their decision.

(WATCH the video below)

 

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Video Shows People Need to Learn to Love Themselves Like They Love Everyone Else

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McKinley Corbley
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Happy Couple-Vimeo

When asked what it is they love about themselves, these men, women, and children were surprised to find that they couldn’t find an answer. But when they were asked to say what they loved about their friend, family member, or significant other, they couldn’t stop gushing.

That’s why international wellness company Lycored created this special Valentine’s Day video to encourage viewers to start loving themselves the way they love everyone else.

RELATED: 70 Teens Bring Valentines to Old Lady Who Always Waves to Their Bus

“Most of us are celebrating Valentine’s Day by showing the people in our lives just how much we care,” says the film’s creators. “It’s a wonderful impulse; however, we should do the same for ourselves from time to time. In fact, why not start today?”

So what is it you love about yourself? When you come up with an answer, write it down in a digital love letter. The letter will then be sent to you at a random time in the future as a reminder that it’s always a good day to love yourself.

(WATCH the video below)

Loving ourselves the way we love others is beautiful. from Lycored on Vimeo.

 

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Teacher Creates Chairs From Tennis Balls to Soothe Autistic Students

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McKinley Corbley
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Tennis Ball Chairs-Raymond Ellis Elementary School

This elementary school teacher went above and beyond for her students with sensory issues just by using paint, a hot glue gun, and a few tennis balls.

Amy Maplethorpe, a first grade speech-language pathologist at Raymond Ellis Elementary School in Round Lake, Illinois created special textured chairs for her students with Down syndrome, autism, or sensory processing disorder. She reportedly got the idea when she came across a similar project on Pinterest.

“Sensory seating is used for students who may have difficulty processing information from their senses and from the world around them,” wrote the school on Facebook. “Tennis balls on the seat and backrest provide an alternative texture to improve sensory regulation.”

CHECK OUT: Autism-Friendly Clothing Dumps Zips, Buttons and Tags, Offers GPS

Maplethorpe says that the chairs will assist 15 to 20 students in the school. Children have reportedly already shown improvement since they started using the special seats during class.

If you’d like to make to make your own tennis ball chair, there are instructions written out in a Facebook post located here.

Soothe Your Friends: Click To Share The Good News (Photo by Raymond Ellis Elementary School)

DNA Test Saves Service Dog From the Death Penalty

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McKinley Corbley
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Jeb the Dog-Facebook

Jeb has been the devoted service dog of 79-year-old Kenneth Job since he was rescued from a shed in Detroit one year ago.

Kenneth suffers from a rare neurodegenerative disorder known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. The disease creates loss of muscle tissues in the body, leading Kenneth to have trouble standing and walking.

That’s why the family was devastated when Jeb was put on desolation row for allegedly killing their neighbor’s Pomeranian named Vlad.

WATCH: Dog Wearing Life Jacket is Found Adrift in Vast Gulf of Mexico

Though the Job family insisted that Jeb wouldn’t hurt a fly, Christopher Sawa said that he looked out his window in August and saw Jeb standing over the body of his little dog.

Jeb was seized by animal control and the Job family took the Sawas to court over the accusations. After weeks of deliberation and court proceedings, Judge Michael Hulewicz sentenced the canine to death, ruling that he was a “dangerous animal” despite Jeb’s attorney arguing that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to convict him.

In a last attempt to save their beloved hound, the Job family requested a DNA test be made. For $416, a sample was taken from Jeb’s mouth as well as the bite marks on Vlad’s body. As fate would have it, the DNA was not a match and Jeb was set free.

(WATCH the video below)

 

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Hundreds of Stranded New Zealand Whales Swim Free

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Pilot Whales-Youtube

In one of New Zealand’s largest mass whale beachings, over 240 pilot whales were saved by the coming tide.

Since Thursday night, hundreds of the oceanic mammals were washing up at Golden Bay near the northwest tip of the South Island.

While many were lost despite dozens of volunteers offering assistance, conservationists are relieved that the most recent beached pod were able to free themselves.

CHECK OUT: Manatee Population Has Rebounded 500 Percent, No Longer Endangered

The shallow muddy waters of the bay are notorious for confusing whales’ sonar, trapping them on the shores when the tide recedes.

“This is the third worst stranding that we’ve recorded in our history so it’s a very large one. Logistically, it’s a massive undertaking,” said Auckland University marine biologist Rochelle Constantine.

According to Reuters, pilot whales are not listed as an endangered species, but little is known about their actual population numbers.

(WATCH the video below)

 

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Muslim Teen Assists Police in Arrest of Man Who Assaulted Jewish Woman

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McKinley Corbley
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Ahmed Khalifa-Youtube

This 17-year-old Muslim teen didn’t have to put himself at risk when chasing down an older attacker, but he didn’t care – all he wanted to do was seek justice for the woman who was assaulted.

Ahmed Khalifa was on the southbound Q-train in Brooklyn when he saw 31-year-old Rayvon Jones slap a 56-year-old Jewish Orthodox woman across the face.

The attack seemed unprovoked since the woman had simply been reading a book. But the slap was so strong, it broke the woman’s glasses and drew blood from the side of her face. When she fell unconscious, Rayvon took off at the next subway stop.

RELATED: Teen’s Simple Question Saves a Man’s Life, Baby Is Named After Him

“It was a very hard slap, I almost could feel the slap,” Khalifa told the Daily News. “He was 6-foot-6, and a very big, big guy.”

While fellow passengers on the train assisted the fallen woman, Ahmed instructed the conductor to call for help and gave chase to the assailant. The teen lost sight of Rayvon and unsuccessfully tried to flag down a police cruiser. He did, however, catch the attention of an Orthodox passerby in his car who offered his assistance.

They finally found Rayvon waiting at a bus stop and called the police with his location. When Rayvon boarded the bus, officers descended on the vehicle. Though he was yelling violent threats and kicking the doors of the bus, he was eventually arrested.

WATCH: Inmates Break Out Of Jail To Save Life Of Officer Guarding Them

Assemblyman Dov Hikind honored the high school student with a legislative citation and a laptop during the week following the incident.

“Some people are like ‘she’s Jewish, why did you help her,’ ” said Ahmed. “I’m like everyone is equal. I treat everyone the same way.”

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