A golden retriever born with deformed legs has new lease of life after getting custom-built wheelchair
Image by: Chad DuBose
A golden retriever born with deformed front legs has a new lease of life - thanks to a specially-designed wheelchair.
Pigpen the pup needed both legs amputated at eight months-old and could only move by pushing his body along the ground - earning him the nickname 'Street Sweeper'.
But now the 14-month-old has a custom-made set of wheels to replace his front legs - allowing him to scoot around and play with other dogs.
Owner Chad DuBose, 34, reckons that Pigpen's treatment has $20,000 so far.
He said: “It was worth it though - he’s so happy. If I could bottle that kind of happiness and sell it then I’d be a billionaire.”
Pigpen was one of 11 puppies born in Savannah, Georgia, USA, on November 14, 2018.
Four days later Chad, a charter captain, noticed something was wrong.
"We initially thought he was just going to be the runt of the litter, but as he continued to grow there was a noticeable developmental difference between him and his siblings," he said.
“He couldn’t use his front legs, he just used to slide along the ground like a street sweeper.
“He’d get super dirty all the time but he didn’t care, he was having a great time.
“My fiancée named him Pigpen after the keyboardist from the Grateful Dead [American rock band].
"But the name gathered new meaning, because he was so dirty all the time.
"He's a very messy eater too."
Chad consulted with a veterinarian who advised that both of Pigpen’s front legs needed to be amputated, in two separate operations.
“A lot of thoughts crossed my mind,” recalled Chad, who lives with Pigpen and his fiancée Gloria Mulvaney, a 34-year-old nurse and their two other dogs.
“We were worried about what his quality of life would be like after the amputations.
“But after talking to the vet, we decided that if Pigpen could fight the fight then we could too.
"As long as he is comfortable and not in pain we said we would do everything we can to keep him alive.”
Image by: Chad DuBose
Image by: Chad DuBose
Image by: Chad DuBose
Image by: Chad DuBose
In July 2019 Pigpen had both his front legs removed and by December 2019 he was having physical therapy at the Fetch Canine Rehab facility in Savannah.
“He recovered more quickly than anyone expected him to,” said Chad.
“He seemed a lot happier. His front legs were weighing him down and becoming very deformed.”
Pigpen has also received his first professionally-made wheelchair, to give him independence and mobility.
“We experimented with several prototypes while he was a puppy but we had to wait until he was fully developed to get the final model,” said Chad.
Pigpen can now play freely with his friend, a white golden retriever named Hank, who lives in the neighborhood.
"They have a great time rolling around together," said Chad
Chad estimates that the total cost of Pigpen’s treatments has amounted to over $20,000.
“We held a fundraiser and the vet was so kind, he gave us the operations for half price,” he said.
“But we’ve paid about $10,000 out of our own pocket, so you’re looking at a $10,000 dog right there.
“It was worth it though, he’s so happy. If I could bottle that kind of happiness and sell it then I’d be a billionaire.”
A public fundraiser on GoFundMe.com has been set up to help fund Pigpen's ongoing medical care:
https://uk.gofundme.com/f/learning-to-walkthe-adventures-of-pigpen
Video by: Chad DuBose
A brother and sister have become the first mixed sibling duo to row across any ocean - covering more than 3,000 miles in an incredible 43 days
Image by: Jon Mills
A brother and sister have become the first mixed sibling duo to row across any ocean - covering more than 3,000 miles in an incredible 43 days.
Anna and Cameron McLean battled isolation, technical difficulties and were even tailed by a shark during their grueling journey across the perilous Atlantic Ocean.
The team - dubbed 'The Seablings' - set off from the island of La Gomera, Canary Islands, before Christmas in their 24ft boat.
They reached Antigua on Saturday (Jan 25) after exactly 43 days, 15 hours and 22 minutes at sea - beating the previous record for a mixed pair by ten days.
The brutal expedition saw them experience extreme dehydration, fatigue and seasickness - which became so bad it was described as "totally incapacitating".
The pair, from Icomb, Glos., are hoping to enjoy some relaxing Caribbean hospitality for a week before they fly to the UK and their normal jobs.
Anna, 25, said: "Absolutely nothing can prepare you for the extremity of the Atlantic Ocean and just what it can bring. It is completely unpredictable.
"Our goal initially was to simply survive on our 24ft rowing boat.
"But as soon as the waves grew larger so did our confidence to overcome them and before we knew it our competitiveness to start racing.
"For me the toughest part was battling seasickness. It was totally incapacitating, as soon as I stopped rowing I was being sick.
"This meant I had to sleep on deck through the freezing nights as [being] in the claustrophobic cabin sloshing around in the waves made the sickness even worse.
"I couldn’t have asked for a better crew mate, best friend, and brother.
"Some of the highlights of the trip were when we were rowing together, laughing, singing at the top of our lungs and embracing being at one with nature.
"Now, safe in the arms of friends and family, a few hot showers and fresh meals later I look back on what this great voyage has taught me."
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Jon Mills
The pair completed the impressive challenge unsupported, eating from a bag and having foods like peanut butter for breakfast.
Dangers included other, larger vessels and the ever-present threat of capsizing due to the weather.
Their watermaker - which turns saltwater into drinkable freshwater - also broke at one point, which posed its own problem.
But they also got to see some incredible sights, including beautiful sunsets and pods of dolphins swimming alongside their boat.
Apart from each other, their only human interaction was with the captains of passing ships - and on social media.
Cameron, known as Cam, 32, said: "This epic challenge has changed me in so many positive ways.
"One being [that] I now have a much greater appreciation for our forefathers and grandparents who during the war had to ration everything they had.
"Realising our society today is way too disposable I will now make every effort back on land to reduce waste and to live a resourceful life style."
Their efforts in the Talisker Whisky Challenge 2019 have so far raised more than £25,000 for charity - and counting.
They are collecting money for UN Women UK, which supports projects around the world which empowers women.
Anna works as a consultant for AlfaPeople, a partner of Microsoft. She previously rowed at a collegiate level, at university in Clemson, South Carolina, USA.
Cam began rowing at school in Cheltenham, Glos., at the aged of 13. He is now training to be a commercial pilot.
Video by: Ellis Wylam
This is the hilarious video of a woman who refused to be defeated by windblown gates - as she battled to keep them closed
Image by: Pam Parker
This is the hilarious video of a woman who refused to be defeated by windblown gates - as she battled to keep them closed.
Pam Parker, 38, was trying to close the gates at Auld Mills Farm, Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway but strong winds brought by Storm Brendan kept blowing them back open.
CCTV footage caught Pam as she struggled with these uncooperative gates, closing one side only for the other side to fly open.
But determined Pam refused to give up, battling the wind for nearly two minutes before getting them to shut on January 11.
The owner of the farm Tommy Lockhart, who shared the footage, can be heard saying: “What a legend” when Pam eventually managed to close the gates.
Pam and husband Andrew, 40, are both horse racing photographers but rent land at the farm for some of their 100 head pedigree Dutch Spotted sheep flock.
Image by: Pam Parker
Image by: Pam Parker
Pam, who lives near Dumfries, said: “The video was taken during Storm Brendan two weeks ago.
“We rent some land on the farm where we keep our sheep.
“I was there visiting the sheep. When I arrived I opened the gates and pinned them back but when I tried to shut them the wind just kept blowing them.
“I faffed around for a couple of minutes and then I realised the camera was pointing right at me.
“I was thinking this is ridiculous, I tried a few times to get them shut but once I had closed one side I wasn’t fast enough closing the other side.
“When my husband put the video on Facebook he thought I would kill him, but I saw the funny side, it is hilarious.
“I thought I might as well laugh at myself.”
Video by: Pam Parker
This is the moment a turf war between Cornish pasty and burger vans turned violent - with one trying to run over his rival
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
This is the moment a turf war between Cornish pasty and burger vans turned violent - with one trying to run over his rival.
Benjamin Harbour, 38, is filmed deliberately driving his car into Scot Weller (corr) on an industrial estate after the pair began to argue over territory.
Scot had run his business, Over the Top Cornish Pasties, peacefully for years until the arrival of the Scran Van, a company run by Harbour that sells burgers and jacket spuds.
After several incidents where Scot and his staff were threatened to stay away from the site in Launceston, Cornwall, he was advised by police to record any interactions.
And the dispute took a violent twist when on one occasion, while Scot was filming the argument, Harbour got into his car and drove straight into him.
The thug told his victim: 'you didn't like that, did you'.
Harbour, from Tavistock, Devon, was sentenced at Bodmin Magistrates’ Court last week after previously admitting driving without due care and attention and common assault.
Speaking after the case, Scot said: “I run Over the Top Cornish Pasties in Callington. We’re a small family business and looked to expand by delivering to homes and businesses.
“He also had a food van and would drive into the industrial estate, sound his horn and people would come out.
“He sold completely different types of food to us so we never considered ourselves rivals but then me and my staff started receiving messages saying we should leave Launceston.
“We didn’t think much of it but the messages kept coming and there was also negative feedback left online. I just carried on as I didn’t want to be intimidated.”
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Scot continued visiting the site but kept his phone handy to record any altercations so the footage could be used as evidence.
Then, in June last year, Scot saw Harbour pull into a car park in Launceston behind him so quickly pulled out his phone.
Scot said: “I was delivering to a garage and saw him pull up behind me.
"Police had told me to film anything that happened and when he saw the camera he became aggressive.
“He got into his van and drove at me. Luckily I only scraped my elbow and knee but it could have been a lot worse.”
Scot said that after the incident he and his colleagues stopped delivering to Launceston as they didn’t believe it was safe to do so.
He said: “He’s a bully and I want people to know to keep away. We stopped delivering to Launceston but I wasn’t going to stop the court case.
“In the end he pleaded guilty and luckily our business is doing well. It’s crazy with non-stop orders and we can’t keep up.
"We’ve got nine members of staff in our third year and we might start delivering to Launceston again now if the demand is there.”
As punishment Harbour, who operated under the name The Scran Van, was made subject of a community order consisting of a four-month 5pm to 7am curfew.
He was also told by magistrates to pay costs and a victim surcharge.
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Scot said that the incident which landed Harbour in court came after an eight month campaign of abuse which included threats of arson and violence.
He added: "It went on for six to eight months. He would ring about five times a day giving us abuse. He would say that he would get gypsies to burn down our van.
"When he would see us driving he would swerve his vehicle at us. He had about 26 Facebook profiles and he would message us abuse from all of them.
"He was constantly giving us abuse, but we didn't want to give in to a bully, we just ignored him.
"We called the police and they said to record everything, and it got to that day in the video.
"I was on my last delivery and he pulled into the car park behind me. He opened the back door of my van so I confronted him and that's when all this happened.
"It seems like he wants Launceston all to himself, we've never had any trouble from anyone else there.
"He came up to the van and shouted through the window, but he's not really a scary guy.
"At the time it was a bit shocking, when he hit me with the car. I just grabbed hold of the bonnet. He was only doing about 5mph but you don't expect someone to actually ram you with their car.
"My hands were a bit shaky afterwards, I think it was all the adrenaline.
"He now runs a vehicle recovery business, but he is just a nuisance.
"He got a heavy sentence for what he did to me but I don't think it has really taught him much."
Video by: Ashley Moran
Amazing photos show extreme close-up pictures of the insides of precious gem stones - with colourful patterns that look like tropical seas or photos from space
Image by: Alberto Ghizzi Panizza
These stunning close-up photographs show the colourful patterns found inside precious gemstones - which look like tropical seas or photos taken from space.
The amazing, swirly patterns, in shades of yellow, orange, red, purple and blue, were found on the polished insides of a series of colourful rocks.
One photo, in different shades of purple, shows the jagged edges of an amethyst stone.
And another, in dappled hues of blue and white, resembles ocean waves breaking.
Image by: Alberto Ghizzi Panizza
Image by: Alberto Ghizzi Panizza
Image by: Alberto Ghizzi Panizza
Image by: Alberto Ghizzi Panizza
Image by: Alberto Ghizzi Panizza
Image by: Alberto Ghizzi Panizza
Image by: Alberto Ghizzi Panizza
Image by: Alberto Ghizzi Panizza
Image by: Alberto Ghizzi Panizza
Image by: Alberto Ghizzi Panizza
Image by: Alberto Ghizzi Panizza
Image by: Alberto Ghizzi Panizza
The microscopic photographs were captured by photographer Alberto Ghizzi Panizza, 44, who specialises in macro photography.
The technique allows a photographer to take extremely close-up photographs of their subjects.
His latest photos show the insides of agate rocks which have formed over millions of years due to the cooling of lava covering them.
Alberto said: "Nature always surprises with its wonder. It seems that tropical seas, remote islands and universes can be found set inside these stones."
A pair of kind-hearted councillors are spending their free time trying to combat loneliness by setting up a 'chat bench' where strangers can pop by for a natter
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
A pair of kind-hearted councillors are spending their free time trying to combat loneliness by setting up a 'chat bench' where strangers can pop by for a natter.
Lib Dem councillors Martin McCabe and Bob Smytherman are trying to start encouraging strangers to speak to each other to combat isolation.
They have set up their first 'Happy to Chat' bench in their home of Worthing, West Sussex, after copying the scheme that has seen them pop up all over the world, including Canada, the United States, Australia and Switzerland.
Martin said: "The chat benches has been popping up all around England and Wales.
"In Worthing we have a diverse population but we have a large ageing sector. Quite a lot of elderly people are isolated and it's an issue.
"We've spoken to someone who does events at Age UK. She said some of their members go a whole month without speaking to someone. The only chance they have is when they come to these events.
"There is a very real need for these chat benches. And the cost is tiny."
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
Martin added: “Chat Benches are a simple idea that can encourage us to break down barriers and say hello. Loneliness is one of the biggest problems we have in society.“
"There are people out there who feel invisible. And our British reserve can sometimes get in the way. I think this is a nice way of letting people know you’re open to a chat."
With a whiteboard and pen, the two men have started going around the seaside town to turn ordinary benches into places of conversation.
The two councillors hope for the executive bench to make a decision on more permanent chat benches in early March.
He added: “We’ve been setting up our makeshift Chat Bench around Worthing and the response has been great. People love the idea and taken to it like a duck to water.
“We hope all councillors support us and that Chat Benches come to Worthing.”
In the UK, more than a million older people say they always or often feel lonely, according to Age UK.
A review found 17 per cent of older people talk to family, friends or neighbours less than once a week.
Loneliness is also a greater health threat than obesity, according to a major study released in 2017.
Watch shocking moment car mounts the curb and mows down a man trying to run away sending him flying through the air
Image by: Video Contributor 45
This is the shocking moment a car mounted the curb and mowed down a man trying to run away - sending him flying through the air.
The worrying dash cam video footage shows two young men running down a pavement - closely tailed by a white car which appears to mount the kerb.
The car strikes the man - flipping him up in the air - before he skids along the road while the vehicle speeds off.
Miraculously, the stuck man scrambles to his feet, pulls up his tracksuit bottoms, and runs off out of shot, apparently uninjured.
Eye-witness Richard Smith captured the “shocking” moment on a dash cam while driving along Swanswell Street, in Coventry, at around 1.45pm on Tuesday (28).
The 46-year-old said the car involved vanished into the distance and the man who was hit ran into a nearby building.
He said: “He seemed like he was running away from the car.
“It looked like the car was chasing after him down the street.
“The car went onto the pavement and hit him. He went flying into the air.
“We were shocked - very shocked.
“I have never seen anything like it in my life.
“We heard the bang from inside my car. I thought he would be seriously hurt and it wasn’t nice to see.
“I have no idea how he managed to get back up and carry on running.”
Richard captured the dash cam footage after picking up his niece from college.
West Midlands Police has been contacted for comment.
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Adorable five-year-old girl with cerebral palsy beamed from ear to ear after making her first independent journey to the car - thanks to her own little staircase
Image by: Leila Jackson
An adorable five-year-old girl with cerebral palsy beamed from ear to ear after she climbed into the car unaided for the first time - thanks to her own little set of steps.
Little Lilac Jackson has spastic diplegia cerebral palsy and used to rely on walking aids to move about and had to be carried into her car seat by her mum Leila.
But Lilac amazed her family and friends when she walked into class on her first day at primary school without any help following a major operation last year.
She has now mastered another 'first' when she hoisted herself into her car seat all by herself, after her mum bought her a tiny set of stairs.
Mum-of-three Leila, 37, was "heartbroken" when Lilac actually apologised when her mum hurt her back lifted her into the car seat during the school run last week.
But they were both all smiles as Lilac left the house in Cheltenham, Glos., walked down the pavement and clambered into the car.
Leila, who also has daughter Lulu, 13, and three-year-old Leo, said: "Last week my back decided it couldn’t take much more of the constant lifting Lilac in and out of the car.
"She is a tall five-year-old and getting heavier and heavier. She actually turned to me last week and said 'I'm sorry mummy' which just broke my heart.
"So for the sake of her dignity we had to come up with a solution. I asked other parents who have disabled children and they came up with ingenious ways to make life that little bit easier.
"That's where the idea of caravan steps came into play. Any parent of a special needs kid will agree when I say all the equipment cost the earth.
"So to have a little staircase which cost £19.99 has been an absolute game changer.
"When she sits down in her seat the smile on her face says it all. She's just absolutely delighted. She went into school and was telling the teacher and members of staff of her voyage.
Image by: Leila Jackson
Image by: Leila Jackson
Image by: Leila Jackson
Image by: Leila Jackson
"It gave her such a boost she even turned the classroom door handle by herself.
"I know it's something that anyone else wouldn't think twice about but to her it takes so much strength and it's such a mark of independence.
"It was just an absolute joy to see it happen."
The heartwarming video was shot on Monday (27).
Lilac was born in Princess Royal Hospital in Bromley, south east London, in October 2014.
Leila's waters had broken at 29 weeks, but it was not until the 34th week she was induced.
Within 24 hours of her birth, Lilac was blue-lighted across the city to King's College Hospital, where she was kept on life support for five days.
Her parents raised more than £100,000 to fund an operation to help her walk, and she was filmed last year walking into school unaided on her first day of reception in September.
Leila said: "I think the next goal will be for her to get up from the floor by herself. It takes a lot of strength for her to do that.
"If she keeps progressing in the way that she is, we're hoping that there'll be no need for sticks, and they can sit in the garage and gather dust."
Video by: Leila Jackson
A fitness fanatic who nearly died in a horror car crash has found love with the woman he was meant to go on a date with on the day he lost his limbs
Image by: Craig Towler
A fitness fanatic who nearly died in a horror car crash has found love with the woman he was meant to go on a date with - on the day he lost his limbs.
Craig Towler, 32, of Boulder, Colorado, was grabbing a cooler out of his trunk on the Fourth of July in 2016.
A car veered into a parked car, trapping him between the two vehicles and crushing both of his legs irreparably.
In the hospital, while doctors discussed his double amputations, Craig asked a friend to let his new love interest Amanda, 30, know that he wouldn’t be able to make the date they had planned for that evening.
The pair had only been seeing each other for three weeks, but Amanda rushed to Craig’s bedside and, three-and-a-half-years later they are still together.
He said: ''I looked down and I saw both my legs were disconnected,” he said. ''They were pretty much broken off with just skin holding the ligaments together.”
Craig, an events coordinator, added: “I honestly didn’t know what to expect but she was there immediately, no questions asked and I knew she would be the one for me.”
In the following months he endured nine surgeries and intensive physical therapy.
“Amanda was with me more days than not,” he said.
Eight months after his release from the hospital the couple moved in together.
Craig said: “Amanda was a big part of everything. We are extremely happy.”
As devastating as Craig’s incident was, he believes it brought him closer to Amanda.
He said: “It 100 percent helped to have a partner there in such a hard time…with so many emotions going on.
“It shows a lot about that person, to be so comforting for someone who is in that much distress.
“In that short period of time I quickly learned how selfless and kind she is, especially considering the shape I was in.”
Remembering the day of the accident is still traumatic for Craig.
He said: ”I was bleeding out so badly from the impact of the car bumper The impact was extremely concentrated on my legs.
"They were crushed and they were hanging there, but not fully gone.
"I didn't realize at the time what had happened, but I knew something had happened that was major.
"Some people came by and helped lay me flat on the ground."
Image by: Craig Towler
Image by: Craig Towler
Image by: Craig Towler
Image by: Craig Towler
Shockingly, Craig was still conscious and was able to speak.
"I instructed them how to tie tourniquets around my legs with belts or whatever they had to stop the bleeding,” he said.
Craig’s injuries were so severe that he had to be airlifted in a helicopter to the trauma center at Denver Health Medical Center.
"I was conscious the entire time and I remember everything until being sedated for the surgeries,” he said.
"I still have those memories and sometimes things trigger them.
Doctors told Craig that if they did not amputate his legs from the knee down, he would bleed to death.
“It was either life or limb,” Craig said.
“I was bleeding out so badly that I could have died.
"I remember telling the doctor: ‘You know what, just do what you have to do.’"
His right leg was amputated at the knee and his left leg was amputated below the knee.
But Craig was determined that he would not let the tragic accident dominate his life.
"When I was in ICU I made a very conscious decision,” he said.
"I was talking to my mom and I said I need to accept what had happened and that it was real.
“Only once I had that acceptance could I move forward.
"Though my path was a different one and a lot more challenging, I was still alive, and I decided to live."
Craig spent his 29th birthday, on July 20 2016, getting 87 staples removed from his legs.
In September 2016, just a little over a month after being released from the hospital, he went back to work.
Before he lost his legs, Craig was a sports enthusiast and regularly took part in 10k runs.
He and Amanda first met at their local gym, where she worked as a fitness trainer.
“It took a while for me to get the guts to talk to her. I actually would schedule my workouts around the time when she was working,” he admitted.
“I would say ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ and finally I walked up to her. It was a slow process for me.
“I’m really happy that I finally did it.”
Before his horrific injuries Craig aimed to participate in BOLDERBoulder, a popular race that takes place every Memorial Day in Colorado.
Just ten months after his amputation, he completed the race in his wheelchair.
He has now participated in the race three times. He also kayaks, skis, hand-cycles and rope climbs, as well as working-out regularly in the gym.
He said: ”What has happened is now part of me, but I don't lose sight of what I was before and I've found a happy balance.”
Craig has since founded Amputee Concierge, a program offering people who have lost limbs advice, support and information on life as amputees. More information can be found at www.amputeeconcierge.org.
As for his relationship with Amanda, Craig said: “I definitely see a future. As with everything else, we take things day by day.”
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Man in inflatable Zorb ball struggles to get to his feet for ten minutes after knockdown
Image by: Video Contributor
This is the hilarious moment a man was knocked to the floor and left unable to get up after he got trapped inside his inflatable zorb.
Onlookers captured the moment the man - said to be in his 20s - got stuck inside the blow-up ball, with his arms squished above his head.
He was barged to the floor and left unable to get up after he struggled to get to his feet, at Heatherton World of Activities, Pembrokeshire, in Wales.
Later the man can be seen re-positioning his legs in a bid to hoist himself back up.
A member of staff attempts to help the man by pulling up the Zorbing ball - but again fails miserably.
Moments later a member of the public races in to help tug on the inflatable ball and help the man up.
But as soon as he is helped back on his feet by the two men, he is barged into again and finds himself back on the floor.
An eyewitness said: "We were just in the queue and saw this guy who kept falling over.
"Because of his size he was unable to get his leg in the position to get himself back up.
"This happened for a good ten minutes.
"When he has his arms in the air he looked like a giraffe.
"It was just really funny."
Video by: Video Contributor 3982
