ODDLY ENOUGH

ODDLY ENOUGH

Wildlife officials in Arizona seize 2 tigers from backyards

PHOENIX

Arizona wildlife officials have seized two tigers that were being kept in backyards in the Phoenix area.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department received reports Dec. 27 about a man posting pictures of himself with his two pet tigers online. Game and Fish biologist Randy Babb says the first tiger was found rope-tied in a Phoenix backyard on New Year’s Eve. The second tiger was located three days later in suburban Gilbert and was being kept in a large dog kennel.

Both tigers are about 8 months old, 200 pounds and appear to be in good health. Babb says they’ll be taken to live at a wildlife preserve in Prescott.

Officials say the animals’ owner will be cited because Arizona prohibits the possession of all wild carnivores.

Naked Aussie freed from washing machine with olive oil

SYDNEY

A naked Australian man who became stuck in a washing machine as part of an ill-planned practical joke was freed from the appliance with the help of an unusual rescue device: olive oil.

The 20-year-old man, identified only as “Laurence,” told Australia’s Fairfax Radio that he was on his way to take a shower Jan. 4 when he decided to climb into the top-loader to have a bit of fun. The fun quickly evaporated, however, when he realized he couldn’t budge.

He called out to his friend for help, who rang the police. They responded to the scene, along with firefighters, paramedics and a search and rescue squad.

“He was very well wedged in there, and we were concerned for his health and well-being,” Shepparton police Sgt. Michelle De Araugo told the Shepparton News. “It was just a game gone wrong. It would be fair to say the gentleman was very embarrassed.”

Rescuers tried in vain to pull Laurence from the machine. But when it became clear he was seriously stuck, they grabbed a bottle of his favorite olive oil to help lubricate his escape. The oil worked, and he popped out.

Cat rescued from drainpipe

FINDLAY, Ohio

A cat that spent at least three winter days in a northwest Ohio drainpipe has been rescued after initially refusing attempts to lure it out with tuna, the classic call of “here, kitty, kitty” and a cellphone app that meowed.

The Courier newspaper reported that a resident in Findlay heard the cat’s cries Wednesday. Groundskeepers at a school cut through the pipe Friday to free the cat, which was muddy, emaciated and hypothermic.

The male cat has been named Piper. It has a broken leg and other injuries signaling it’s had a rough time lately. But things are looking up, with a number of people volunteering to adopt if it goes unclaimed.

Associated Press