Jockstrip: The world as we know it.

Buddy the surfer dog wins 5th title

DEL MAR, Calif., Sept. 26 (UPI) -- A Jack Russell terrier named Buddy won his fifth surfing championship and became the first inductee into the Surf Dog Hall of Fame Sunday in California.

With Buddy once again the top surfing dog, owner/trainer Bruce Hooker of Ventura says it may be time for the 14-year-old terrier to retire.

"That last heat was probably the best of Buddy's life," Hooker said.

More than 4,000 people watched 80 dogs compete in the sixth-annual event, which was organized by the pet-food company Eukanuba and raised more than $100,000 for the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, the center said in a release.

For his board work, Buddy got a year's worth of dog food.

Thousands run in undies in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Thousands of runners may have broken a Guinness World Record for most people running in their underwear in Utah.

About 3,000 people showed up Saturday night to run from the Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City -- some for fun, others to try to send a message, KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, reported.

"This is all about peace, love and supporting equal rights for LDS [Mormons], non-LDS, gay, straight, doesn't matter," runner Lisa Jackman said.

Some say the message may have been lost in the sea of panties and boxers.

"I see a lot of political messages maybe, but honestly I'm just here to have a lot of fun," runner Kevin Norton said. "I don't look at this stuff, I don't pay attention to it."

Skunks moved into Fla. couple's home

PALM BAY, Fla., Sept. 25 (UPI) -- A Florida couple returned after a month-long visit with their children to find 10 skunks had invaded their home through a window left cracked open.

"I was sitting having coffee, and I saw five of them walking around my kitchen," said Stephanie Palieri. "I wanted to sit on the dining room table. I was scared. I wanted to be someplace high."

Retired and living on a fixed income, Palieri, 77, and husband Bill had no money to pay a trapper to rid their Palm Bay home of the smelly pests. Moved by their story, James Dean, who owns AAA Wildlife Removal, stepped in to help free of charge, Florida Today reported Sunday.

Local business owners also volunteered to help the Palieris when they learned the couple had been living without air conditioning for two years because they couldn't afford repair costs.

"It just kind of tugged at our heartstrings," said Kim Kaleta, whose husband owns Prem-Aire Cooling and Heating. "If one person or one company did one nice thing like this once a year, this community would come together and be a great place."

Squawks lead police to stolen birds

CLEARWATER, Fla., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Police in Clearwater, Fla., said they got some help in solving the case of 29 stolen birds from the noisy objects of the theft.

Officers were back in the neighborhood Thursday where the theft had taken place, The St. Petersburg Times reported. When they heard the squawking of cockatiels and cooing of doves coming from a house they decided to take a closer look.

The missing aviary, five cockatiels, five doves, six lovebirds and 13 mini chickens, was inside, police said. Ovidio Perdomo, who lives 2 blocks away, had reported the birds vanished from his fenced yard late on Sept. 15 or early Sept. 16.

A woman and man, Fannie May Bierer, 39, and Marteze Deon Dorsey, 21, have been charged with stealing the birds, a large cage and lawn tools, court records said. Bail was set at $2,000 for Bierer, and $12,000 for Dorsey, who is also charged with burglary.