Whose dog is this well-behaved? A pup named Oakley in Aurora, Illinois, was recently rescued from a house fire, but wouldn’t leave his residence until he was safely attached to his leash. In a now-viral video, the American Staffordshire terrier leads an officer to his leash before being taken outside. Thankfully, no one else was inside and the home remains habitable after the blaze, but this story still serves as a good reminder to brush up on pet fire safety tips.
Must Reads
Cardiovascular health looks different at 35 than it does at 65 — here’s how to take care of your heart in every decade
If you’ve had enough of disappointing terminal facilities and dismal food court options, a new report from J.D. Power is here to direct you toward a better airport experience. The consumer insights company recently released its annual rankings of the best airports in North America, and the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport claimed the top spot for overall customer satisfaction among mega airports. The survey, which polled over 30,000 residents from the U.S. and Canada, consisted of three categories: mega airports, hosting at least 33 million passengers each year; large airports, with 10 million to 32.9 million; and medium, with 4.5 million to 9.9 million. Following the Twin Cities hub, the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport nabbed second place in the mega category, and the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport took third. The study considered seven key factors to generate the scores, including ease of travel through the airport, trust level, staff, and food, beverage, and retail. It also revealed that adding local food and beverage establishmentsin terminals and creating “a genuine sense of location” were big contributors to increases in overall satisfaction scores. “While the annual growth rate in passenger volume seems to be leveling off, we’re still seeing record numbers of travelers pass through the nation’s airports, and, for the most part, they are enjoying the experience,” Michael Taylor, J.D. Power’s managing director of travel, hospitality, and retail, said in a release. See the full rankings.
Together With FinanceBuzz
A Rare Unlimited Cash Back Match Credit Card
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Cheese, Please: Every Fall, Swiss Villagers Celebrate Their Cows’ Homecoming by Eating Raclette
STEFAN WERMUTH/AFP via Getty Images
For many in the U.S., September is the month of apple picking and new school years, but if you live in the villages of Valais, Switzerland, it’s when you cheer for cows and feast on raclette. Marking the end of summer, dairy farmers in the canton participate in an annual tradition called désalpe, in which they bring their cattle from alpine pastures back to the villages for winter. To honor the occasion, they adorn the cows with floral headdresses and large bells that peal as the animals parade through village squares (while white goats sometimes lead the processions). Onlookers yodel their approval, listen to traditional music, and enjoy local food — particularly cheese. Their fromage of choice tends to be raclette du valais, a Protected Designation of Origin variety made from raw, full-fat cow’s milk either rubbed with salt or soaked in a salt bath for 24 hours, then matured for at least three months. “It melts perfectly into a smooth, creamy layer without becoming greasy, and it has a rich and aromatic taste that reflects the herbs and flowers our cows eat in the high pastures,” Emilie Mariéthoz, a mountain guide from Valais, told Smithsonian Magazine. “You can really taste the mountains in it; it’s a flavor you can’t fake.” In the spirit of désalpe, learn a Swiss family’s favorite raclette accoutrements, and get a German food blogger’s (literally) melt-in-your-mouth raclette recipes.
Humanity
“Their Love Is the Same”: Children’s Book Spotlights the Beauty of Adopting Disabled Animals
Ryan Spencer
When Lisa Chong saw a dog with a broken back and wounded feet dragging herself through traffic in Thailand, the OB-GYN felt “an instinctual pull” to rescue her, she told Nice News via email. Initially, Chong believed that the pup, whom she named Frida, would need her legs amputated. But don’t worry, this story has a happy ending in more ways than one. Chong helped Frida heal and brought her to an animal prosthetist in the U.S., who fitted her with braces for her back legs that allow her to move more safely and comfortably. And the dog’s story inspired a recent children’s book spreading awareness about adopting disabled animals. In Frida’s Wish for Wings, Chong demonstrates the importance of celebrating others’ differences. “I knew her potential,” the author said. “I saw her moving the upper parts of her legs as she ran in her dreams while she slept and I always believed she would walk again.” Chong also highlights the joys of adopting an animal with special needs: “They may look different but their love is the same. In fact, they teach us so much about life’s lessons and what is truly important. They will teach you more about yourself than you ever thought possible.” To buy her book and learn more about her mission, head to The Frida Project website.
In Other News
Saturn will shine extra bright in tonight’s sky as it flies close to our orbit — here’s how to spot it (read more)
For the first time, the entire U.S. Constitution is on display, including its rarely shown “fifth page” (read more)
Free tuition is in the works for in-state Ohio State students whose families make under $100,000 a year (read more)
Chimps gone wild: Astudy found that some of the animals down two cocktails worth of booze via fruit each day (read more)
Central Perk, the Friends-inspired NYC pop-up coffee shop, is getting a permanent Times Square location (read more)
Inspiring Story
A whaley important rescue
After a humpback whale was reported to be in a “compromised state” off Australia’s South Golden Beach on Sept. 11, Sea World Foundation rescuers rushed to help remove a large rope that was wrapped around its tail. Along with Marine Rescue Brunswick Heads volunteers, the rescuers used a buoy to get closer to the whale — and after working for an hour amid 45 mph winds and rough seas, they eventually set the marine mammal free. “That final cut, all the gear comes off, it’s always a great feeling, even more so today,” Foundation skipper Andy Mulville told 9 News.
Photo of the Day
Felipe Esteban Toledo Alarcon/Audubon Photography Awards
This year, the Audubon Photography Awards added a second competition to showcase the vast avian biodiversity in Chile and Colombia — and the grand prize went to this shot from photographer Felipe Esteban Toledo Alarcón. Initially looking to capture frog mating rituals at a lagoon in Los Ríos, Chile, Alarcón spotted a male ringed kingfisher continuously diving into the water to hunt for fish. After the sixth dive, “I got the image that I’d been chasing: a kingfisher explosively rising out of the water, displaying its beauty, elegance, and power,” he said. Take a look at the rest of the winners.
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