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"That was a scared kitty": Brave Hurricane Ian rescue warms hearts

<p dir="ltr">Hurricane Ian has wreaked havoc in Florida as it made its way through the densely populated city. </p> <p dir="ltr">The category 4 hurricane hit Cayo Costa, just north of the city of Fort Myers, on Wednesday with shocking five metre high waves and winds of around 250 km/h.</p> <p dir="ltr">Videos showing the flow on effects of the powerful hurricane have been shared widely on social media, with one showing a man rescuing a cat warming people’s hearts. </p> <p dir="ltr">“My boyfriend saving a cat from flood waters near Bonita Beach,” Megan Cruz Scavo wrote on Twitter.</p> <p dir="ltr">The man could be seen making his way through knee-high water toward the cat before grabbing it and making his way back to safety. </p> <p dir="ltr">The video soon made the rounds with many congratulating the man for his efforts in saving the poor animal. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">My boyfriend saving a cat from flood waters near Bonita Beach. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaneIan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HurricaneIan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Naples?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Naples</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bonita?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bonita</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FortMyers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FortMyers</a> <a href="https://t.co/BlBC9P1rdy">pic.twitter.com/BlBC9P1rdy</a></p> <p>— Megan Cruz Scavo (@MeganScavo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeganScavo/status/1575156353865510912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“That sweet cat was so scared!  Your boyfriend rescuing that little feline darling was a beautiful thing. Karma saw it, and will remember you all,” someone wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So good about being slow and calm!  That was a scared kitty too,” another commented. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Watching him approach the cat with respect was beautiful! That poor sweetie was clearly afraid, and trusted him to care for it,” another wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">The storm, which hit Cuba first unfortunately took two victims, before another 23 migrants were reported missing when the boat they were sailing in sank off the Florida Keys. </p> <p dir="ltr">Deanne Criswell from the Federal Emergency Management Agency said there will be “catastrophic impacts” from the hurricane for a while. </p> <p dir="ltr">“There is going to be catastrophic impacts, and not just where we’re going to see the storm make landfall, but we’re also really concerned about all of the inland flooding because it’s bringing with it a lot of rain and it’s going to move slowly,” she told CNN.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Woman accused of killing pro cyclist captured in Costa Rica

<p>The woman accused of <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/pro-cyclist-shot-dead-at-25-suspect-at-large" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fatally shooting</a> pro cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson, 25, has been caught by police in Costa Rica after 43 days on the run. </p> <p>Kaitlin Marie Armstrong, 34, was found at a hostel on Santa Teresa Beach in Provincia de Puntarenas on Wednesday, the Marshals Office said in a news release, as they confirmed she will be deported and returned to the US.</p> <p>Armstrong was wanted for the shooting of Wilson, who had previously dated Armstrong's boyfriend — 35-year-old professional cyclist Colin Strickland — in what investigators believe may have been a violent act of romantic jealousy.</p> <p>The shooting took place outside a friend's home in Austin, Texas, on May 11th. </p> <p>After a week in hiding, Armstrong used a fraudulent passport to fly from New Jersey to Costa Rica, according to the US Marshals Office. </p> <p>Wilson’s family is still mourning the loss of their “beautiful daughter and sister,” who excelled as a biker and skier.</p> <p>“Moriah was a talented, kind, and caring young woman. Her life was taken from her before she had the opportunity to achieve everything she dreamed of,” the family said.</p> <p>Moriah was at the top of her game in the relatively new sport of gravel racing, and was just days from participating in the Gravel Locos bike race at the time of her death. </p> <p>The day after the race, an event organiser remembered her on Facebook as a “role model, a shy compassionate person, a spirited tactical racer and a competitor that genuinely cared about those competing against you.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram / US Marshals Office</em></p>

Legal

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The Land of the Strays where 900 dogs roam free

<p>There’s nothing quite as heartbreaking as a walk through an animal shelter, past abandoned, sometimes frightened dogs with the appearance of prisoners in cells. </p> <p>But as you see in the gallery above, not all strays are consigned to this fate.</p> <p>Home to over 900 rescued pooches, Territorio de Zaguates (Land of the Strays) is a volunteer-run animal shelter located in the rolling hills of Cosa Rica.</p> <p>The Land of the Strays lets neutered canines roam free around the spectacular property and play with visitors, heading back home to comfortable beds at bedtime.</p> <p>Each dog is given a name and unique breed, with no preference given regarding mixes and purebreds. If you’re looking to adopt you can schedule a walking hike on the property and even any of the dogs take a shining to you you’re welcome to adopt them.</p> <p>Doesn’t it look like an incredible place for dogs (and dog lovers)!</p> <p>For more information you can check out their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Territorio-de-Zaguates-Oficial-1459982774272974/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Facebook page here</span></strong></a>.</p> <p>Have you ever taken in a rescue dog? What’s your favourite breed of dog, and why? Please share your story in the comments section.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Facebook / Territorio de Zaguates Oficial</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/06/puppy-born-without-back-paws-gets-second-chance-at-life/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Puppy born without back paws gets second chance at life</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/06/how-to-cope-with-a-jealous-pet-when-grandkids-come-along/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em>How to cope with a jealous pet when grandkids come along</em></strong></span></a></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/06/queen-elizabeth-and-her-corgis-help-ptsd-sufferer/"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Queen Elizabeth and her corgis help PTSD sufferer</strong></span></em></a></p>

International Travel

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Costa Cruises appoints robot staff

<p>It might seem like the plot of a science fiction film, but it seems as though Costa Cruises and AIDA Cruises are embracing the latest cyborg technology to help passengers.</p> <p>From Spring 2016, Costa and AIDA will employ humanoid robots on-board their ships. </p> <p>Costa has an exclusive agreement (said to be worth over a million Euros) to use Pepper, the world’s first robot that has been designed to read and interpret human options.</p> <p>Pepper is fitted with four mics, two HD cameras, 3D sensors, touch sensors in the head and hands and can interpret human emotions by analysing variations in expressions and voice tones.</p> <p>The first batch of robots will be introduce on the AIDAprima and Costa Diadema in Spring, with the rest of the robots to be rolled out across the fleet by the rest of summer.</p> <p>Technophobes needn’t fear the possibility of a robot uprising however.</p> <p>Instead of steering or doing anything that you’d want a human to be doing, Pepper is on hand to provide tips on restaurants, events and excursions and can communicate in multiple languages.</p> <p>Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Group said: "With an emotional robot on board our cruise ships we are once again continuing our tradition of innovation. For us, this is an important step towards a digital future for our brands. I am confident that our guests will love Pepper".</p> <p>This isn’t the first time we’ve seen robots on the high seas however.</p> <p>Royal Caribbean’s Quantum class of ships already feature robot bartenders and the line introduced robot dance shows at Cafe 270 on both Anthem and Quantum of the Seas.</p> <p>And while a robot greeting staff might not be everybody’s cup of tea, you have to agree that it’s a nice little novelty to add to Costa Cruises offering. And on the plus side you don’t have to worry about the robot greeters taking all the prawns away at the ship’s buffet at dinner.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/travel/cruising/2015/12/po-newly-redesigned-cruise-ships/">Inside P&amp;O’s newly-redesigned cruise ships</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/travel/cruising/2015/11/cruising-to-venice/">Does cruising to Venice have a future?</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/travel/cruising/2015/11/picturesque-ports-to-visit/">8 picturesque ports to visit</a></em></strong></span></p>

Cruising