Oddly enough

Oddly enough

Dog catchers in Mich. turn to a net launcher

CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich.

Look out, Shaggy. Here they come.

Animal control officers in the Grand Rapids area are spending $1,500 in donations to get a device that shoots a net over wandering dogs. The Grand Rapids Press says Kent County will use the net gun to catch a Newfoundland who’s been nicknamed Shaggy for his shaggy appearance.

The dog has been wandering Cascade Township neighborhoods for months. County spokeswoman Lisa LaPlante says Shaggy recognizes animal-control vans and certain clothes and always slips away. She says it’s been a “huge effort.”

Christina Sanchez has stepped forward to claim ownership of the dog. She says his name is Jacob, and he won’t hurt anybody. Sanchez says the dog escaped from a trainer.

Romania summons diplomat over notes

BUCHAREST, Romania

The Romanian foreign ministry has summoned a diplomat to Bucharest after its embassy in Paris sent out invitations to a reception containing rude remarks about the guests.

The embassy had emailed invitations to a reception to mark a visit by President Klaus Iohannis, but inadvertently attached a spreadsheet that described some of the guests as “undesirable” and another as “ghastly.”

Last week the ministry said the embassy had apologized, saying the annotations were personal remarks, but the furor did not go away.

In a second statement Monday, the ministry said one diplomat had been summoned to Bucharest and another had been given a warning.

Ambassador to France Bogdan Mazuru wrote a letter of apology to the Romanian writer who exposed the gaffe but did not personally have a rude description.

2 sleeping in trash bin emptied into truck

TAMPA, Fla.

Authorities in Florida say a man and woman who were intoxicated had to be rescued after falling asleep in a dumpster that later was emptied into a garbage truck.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s officials say the couple had been sleeping in a dumpster outside a convenience store near Tampa last week. When the dumpster was emptied into the back of the garbage truck, they started screaming and banging on the sides of the truck.

Rescue crews were called just after 5 a.m. They removed 37-year-old Donald L. Jordan and 49-year-old Lisa Sirbella from the truck. They were taken to Tampa General Hospital after complaining of back pain.

Deputies originally believed they were homeless, but learned they were highly intoxicated after hanging out at a nearby casino.

Associated Press