Odd News
Why French bulldog thefts are on the rise across the US
The two thieves who brutally robbed 27-year-old Marieke Bayens at gunpoint on a California street were not after her purse. They wanted her little dog: Merlyn, a French bulldog.
From New York to Los Angeles, and from Miami to Chicago, thefts of the prized breed have been on the rise.
Small and friendly — and thus easy to grab — French bulldogs are hugely popular, selling at thousands of dollars on the black market.
The most famous victim so far has been Lady Gaga. Armed men last year stole her pet bulldogs Koji and Gustav, even opening fire on an employee who was walking them.
The superstar singer offered a $500,000 reward for their return and eventually got the dogs back. Police made five arrests in the case.
Bayens survived a similar traumatic attack in November while walking Merlyn, a friend’s dog, in the California city of Oakland. The brazen attack occurred in broad daylight.
Bulldog thefts elsewhere in the country have been carried out with similar cold-blooded tactics.
So why are French bulldogs quite such a tempting target for thieves? Two key reasons: their high resale value — $3,500 to $5,000 or more — and their relative rarity, Brandi Hunter Munden, vice president of the American Kennel Club, told AFP.
“Their rise in popularity has led to an increase in thefts. The use of violence, however, is new and alarming,” she said.
Why French bulldog thefts are on the rise across the US
The two thieves who brutally robbed 27-year-old Marieke Bayens at gunpoint on a California street were not after her purse. They wanted her little dog: Merlyn, a French bulldog.
From New York to Los Angeles, and from Miami to Chicago, thefts of the prized breed have been on the rise.
Small and friendly — and thus easy to grab — French bulldogs are hugely popular, selling at thousands of dollars on the black market.
The most famous victim so far has been Lady Gaga. Armed men last year stole her pet bulldogs Koji and Gustav, even opening fire on an employee who was walking them.
The superstar singer offered a $500,000 reward for their return and eventually got the dogs back. Police made five arrests in the case.
Bayens survived a similar traumatic attack in November while walking Merlyn, a friend’s dog, in the California city of Oakland. The brazen attack occurred in broad daylight.
Bulldog thefts elsewhere in the country have been carried out with similar cold-blooded tactics.
So why are French bulldogs quite such a tempting target for thieves? Two key reasons: their high resale value — $3,500 to $5,000 or more — and their relative rarity, Brandi Hunter Munden, vice president of the American Kennel Club, told AFP.
“Their rise in popularity has led to an increase in thefts. The use of violence, however, is new and alarming,” she said.
Experts recommend owners have a computer chip implanted in the pet to allow tracing, and strongly advise against the temptation of posting cute photos or videos of their pets on social media, which may allow thieves to locate them. –ndtv.com
A 98-year-old British World War II veteran, Harry Heasman officially became the world’s oldest wing walker when he stood atop a flying plane in England.
He spent more than 9 minutes atop the plane at a height of over 1,000 feet on Saturday at Duxford Airfield in Cambridge.
A Guinness World Records adjudicator was on hand to officially certify Heasman as the world’s oldest wing walker.
“I have dreamed of doing this since I was a young child and to finally live that dream at 98 years old and to be a Guinness World Records title holder is beyond anything I could have ever imagined,” Heasman told Guinness World Records.
The nonagenarian said he spent 11 months working with a physical trainer to get his body and mind ready for the attempt.
His record attempt raised money for the Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund and served as a tribute to his wife and son, who both died after battles with cancer.
“Harry is proof that it is never too late to chase a dream. At 98 years old, what he has achieved is nothing short of extraordinary. Over the last few months, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know him and seeing the determination behind this challenge,” said Lindsey Bidwell, a representative from the Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund. Upi.com
Two old men are sitting on a bench. A truck passes on the road. It is pulling a trailer loaded with turf. One of the men says, “See, that’s what I will do when I win the lottery.””What?” asks the other one confused.”I will send my grass away for cutting!”
