UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

Cat saves couple from gas leak

JOHNSVILLE, Ohio, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- An Ohio couple credited their cat, Tiger, with saving their lives when their furnace leaked toxic carbon monoxide into their home.

Rod and Michelle Ramsey of Johnsville said they both had headaches one day last week and tried to get some sleep but Tiger refused to allow it, the Mansfield (Ohio) News Journal reported Tuesday.

"He was in the house," Michelle said. "He's a very vocal cat and started going crazy. He was begging me to let him outside."

Michelle said while she was up she called the veterinarian about another cat, Babes, and the veterinary assistant became concerned when she mentioned the symptoms she and her husband were experiencing.

"She asked if we had turned on our furnace. It all clicked for her," Michelle said. "She said we had a gas leak. She demanded we get out of the house."

The couple called the Johnsville Fire Department and responders confirmed there was a carbon monoxide leak in the home.

"We actually thought we had food poisoning," Rod said. "We had some spaghetti that was about a week and a half old.

"The paramedics said they didn't know how we were alive, let alone stayed awake," he said.

The Ramseys were airlifted to The Ohio State University Medical Center for treatment.

Tiger has earned a place of honor on their couch.

"All the cats get plenty of attention, but he's been getting a little more," Rod said.

Dog nurses abandoned kitten

JORDAN, Minn., Sept. 25 (UPI) -- A Minnesota woman said her 4-year-old Pekingese adopted a newborn kitten found by her grandson and began producing milk for the tiny feline.

Pat Weber of Jordan said her teenage grandson found the days-old kitten, which had yet to open its eyes, on the floor of their pole barn, where it had apparently been abandoned by its mother, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Tuesday.

"He brought her into the house and said 'I think she's dead,' " Weber said. "But I held her in the palm of my hand, and I could tell she was moving."

Weber said she set the "little ball of fur" on the carpet so she could call a veterinarian, and Mittens, her 4-year-old dog, then approached the kitten and allowed it to suckle.

"She decided that little kitten needed a mother," Weber said.

"I couldn't believe it at first," Weber said. "Later I took some pictures and took them to church and told people I had a miracle to share. The miracle was that after three days my dog had milk to feed the kitten with, and I didn't have to get up every two hours to feed her formula out of bottle."

Weber said Mittens gave birth to a litter of puppies about two years ago, and she had long since stopped nursing.

Weber said the kitten, which she named Bootsie, is now a healthy member of the family.

John King, a Le Sueur veterinarian and executive director of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, said it is not unheard of for a dog to adopt a kitten.

"There's a strong maternal instinct in many animals, and they will foster other species. It depends on the temperament of the individual animals, both the baby and particularly the mother," he said.

'Cute' gator concerns Ga. neighbors

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga., Sept. 25 (UPI) -- People in a Georgia neighborhood said a "cute" 3-foot-long alligator has been living in a lake for about two years, but they're concerned it might grow too big.

Muhammed Kabir of Lawrenceville said the gator has been seen swimming and stalking prey in Dunlin Lake for two years and authorities said the animal may have been a pet abandoned in the lake, WSB-TV, Atlanta, reported Tuesday.

Kabir said the reptile has become like a pet to the neighborhood.

"It grew a little bit, it's still small, it's very cute too," he said.

However, Kabir and his neighbors said they are concerned about what will happen when the alligator gets larger.

"He's going to grow up and eventually can cause trouble," Kabir said.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources said the gator is not believed to pose a threat to neighbors or their pets, but the homeowner's association could hire a private trapper to take care of the alligator if it comes to that.

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Deputies: Suspect had squirrel in shirt

FLEMING ISLAND, Fla., Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said a drunken driving suspect told deputies he was being eaten by the squirrel inside his shirt.

Clay County sheriff's deputies said Warren Michael III, 23, was pulled over Saturday night on Fleming Island after driving off the road, nearly hitting a parked vehicle and veering over the center line, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, Fla., reported Tuesday.

Deputies said Michael's eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his speech was slurred and he had the strong odor of alcohol on his breath. The report said Michael told a deputy the squirrel inside his shirt was "eating" him.

The report said Michael was unable to find his license and registration.

I had the defendant secure the squirrel and then exit the vehicle," the deputy wrote.

Deputies said Michael had a difficult time maintaining his balance during a field sobriety test.

He was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and driving without a seat belt and was also given a warning for driving a vehicle in an unsafe condition.

Police said the vehicle and the squirrel were turned over to Michael's girlfriend.