Random Cute Animal Pics...

Feel good story:

Firefighters rescue 6 dogs from burning home and revive one

Firefighters rescued six dogs from a burning home in Washington, D.C. Tuesday, authorities told CBS News. Thanks to their efforts, all the dogs survived.

The DC Fire and EMS was called to the blaze around noon, Vito Maggiolo, a public information officer with the department, told CBS News. It was in the basement of a two-story row house.

Four residents had already evacuated by the time first responders arrived and weren't injured but the dogs were still inside, Maggiolo said.

"When we search a building we look for people who are trapped and we also look for animals that are trapped," Maggiolo noted. "Animals are part of people's families. They're often very precious to them."

After saving five dogs, a firefighter discovered a sixth, lying unconscious in the basement beneath a table, Maggiolo said. A member of the department's rescue squad carried the dog out and worked with other firefighters to revive it.

Their efforts were captured on video and posted by the department on Twitter. In the footage, the first responders are seen attempting to give the dog oxygen and water to help cool it down.

The department tweeted early Tuesday afternoon that it was able to get the fire under control "despite intense heat of the day & clutter conditions inside." No firefighters were injured, Maggiolo said.

"When we search for victims in a fire, obviously our first priority is human life, but we will do whatever we can to get those animals to safety," Maggiolo said. "We're prepared for these kinds of events."

He said his understanding was that some of the dogs remained with their owners, but others were taken to a nearby animal rescue organization to be further evaluated by a veterinarian.

The department tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that investigators were at the scene of the fire to determine what caused it. It weeted that smoke alarms were "present but inoperable" in the house.

"If this blaze took place at night, the results could have been tragic," the department warned. "Fire burns fast, and WORKING smoke alarms give you those precious seconds to safely escape a burning home."

This is for you Kzach:

Tiny owl rescued from New York Rockefeller Center Christmas tree

Wed, November 18, 2020, 6:57 PM CST

It's been a big few days for a tiny bird.

A saw-whet owl is recovering at a wildlife refuge in New York state after it was discovered clinging to the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

The bird was found by workers helping to transport the spruce 170 miles from Oneonta, New York, to New York City.

"It's just a story out of a movie," said Ravensbeard Wildlife Center director Ellen Kalish, who is caring for the owl.

After the feathered stowaway - now named Rockefeller - was dropped off with Ms Kalish and taken to the wildlife centre, her team began giving him fluids and "all the mice he will eat". Rockefeller had not had anything to eat or drink during his three-day road trip. "It's amazing he didn't get crushed," Ms Kalish said.

Rockefeller was taken to the vet on Wednesday night for a check-up and some X-rays, but Ms Kalish said he appears to be in great condition considering his adventurous week.

"So far, he's pensive and cautious. Very alert, bright-eyed," she said. "And the cuteness factor is just off the charts."

Despite Rockefeller's diminutive size, he is a full-grown adult. Saw-whet owls are the smallest owls in the US north-east, Ms Kalish said, typically growing to no more than 8.3in (17-21cm) tall.

"They're a very interesting species," Ms Kalish said. They are "very" nocturnal, meaning they're typically not seen unless someone is looking for them. Some migrate south for the winter, and some don't migrate at all.

Once Rockefeller has a clean bill of health, Ms Kalish and the Ravensbeard team will release him back into the wild. "Our goal is to release any bird that can be released," she said.

There are about two million saw-whet owls across the US, she said, so Rockefeller will be OK if he doesn't make it all the way back to Oneonta. "They find a new mate each year and go on with their lives," she said.

With all the bad news of 2020, this tiny owl's rescue "was a story that needed to be shared", Ms Kalish said.

And plucky little Rockefeller the owl has lit up this year's Christmas tree with some positive publicity.