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An Alligator Comfort Pet…Wait Wait What?

Joie Henney is the first to admit he has issues. Suffering from repeated deep depression, he has regularly had to seek out help to get out of deep funks that could become seriously negative. However, while many folks use counseling, pharmaceuticals or support groups, Henney has an odd comfort pet for emotional support. He has an alligator.

Personal pets are well-known for their mental health benefits, especially for people who otherwise suffer significantly from loneliness and isolation. And that emotional bond is not restricted to ordinary pets like dogs or cats. Many farm animals have been known to provide emotional support as well, like horses, ducks and even pigs. Some even had fictional made about the same. However, no one until Henney has specifically identified an alligator as a comfort pet.

Alligators are normally treated and placed in the category of dangerous predators. They are typically cold-blooded, no pun intended, killers that will snap at anything they consider food, including people. As it turns out though, Henney is also an alligator expert. So he knows a bit more about big lizards than the average person.

Dubbed, “Wally,” Henney’s comfort pet is a wayward fellow who first crossed paths with Henney when Wally mistakenly parked himself in a pond at the local Florida Disney World. Obviously, Wally and Disney visitors were not a good mix, so Henney was brought in to remove the confused alligator. Under state law, relocated alligators can’t just be dumped in the wild again once they’ve been exposed to developed human areas, so Henney adopted the fellow instead. Wally can’t complain much; he gets a steady diet of raw chicken legs and Cheetos at Henney’s home in Pennsylvania.

Henney isn’t an idiot about alligators either. From his own training and experience, Henney knows alligators will snap at anything near their face or head. Wally, for some reason, was not a snapper. In fact, Wally doesn’t like to close his mouth. The odd behavior might explain why the alligator ended up at Disney World, unable to function normally in the wild. So, Henney figured out that Wally was very different and treated him accordingly. In his own words, Henney would describe their friendship and bond as very unique and special.

Um…what?

Henney himself has been through a lot. Having lost a number of close friends and relatives, he’s been through the ringer with depression and many times would feel very down day to day. For some reason, Wally picked up on this and clearly made it evident he was there to help and comfort Henney. How was that signaled? Well, Henney would be sleeping on the couch and, since Wally was never kept in a cage, the alligator would find a way to get up on the couch and park himself on Henney. At least he didn’t bite.

Some could argue the alligator just wanted to warm up on Henney since cold-blooded animals can’t regulate their body heat well, but Henney has decided it’s something more. These days, Henney brings Wally with him wherever he goes, whether it’s on a walk or a visit to the doctor. Of course, they do have to keep their distance from folks, and the duo use the drive-through option a lot. Henney did get married as well, and Wally was the ringbearer. That said, no one was quick to grab the ring from the big lizard.

And for Henney, Wally has been a lifesaver, keeping the alligator expert out of depression and looking forward to tomorrow.

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Lion At Zoo Boise Finally Getting A Friend

Renee Yates

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The Boise Zoo in Idaho is about to get a new addition to their animal family. A two-year-old lioness will be arriving from the Santa Barbara Zoo to join the male lion, Revan. The female African lion has not yet been named, but she was born in 2020 to parents Felicia and Ralph.

The decision to pair the two lions together was made with the intention of providing companionship for Revan, who has been living solo for the past year. While the two lions will not be bred, they will have the opportunity to socialize and form a bond with each other.

African lions are the only cats that live in groups called prides. These social structures consist of a few males, a dozen or so females, and their young. Lions are apex predators and are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They are known for their distinctive manes, with males sporting large, thick manes around their necks.

The Boise Zoo is located in Julia Davis Park and covers 11 acres of land. It is home to over 200 animals from around the world. In addition to lions, the zoo also houses primates, birds, reptiles, and many other animals. The zoo’s mission is to provide a high-quality environment for its animals while also educating visitors about conservation and animal welfare.

Revan, the male lion, has been at the Boise Zoo since 2018. He was born in captivity at the Oakland Zoo in California and arrived in Boise at the age of 5. He is currently 10 years old and weighs over 400 pounds. He is known for his playful personality and enjoys interacting with his zookeepers.

The arrival of the new lioness is a significant event for the zoo, as it provides an opportunity for the animals to form a bond and engage in natural behaviors. Visitors to the zoo will also have the opportunity to see the two lions together and learn more about these magnificent animals.

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Crane Rarely Leaves Man’s Side After Being Nursed Back To Health

Kevin Wells

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In a heartwarming tale of companionship, a Sarus crane has chosen to stay with the man who nursed it back to health. Mohammad Arif, a resident of India’s Uttar Pradesh state, found the injured bird in his field about a year ago. Despite the odds being against it, Mohammad took the crane under his wing and helped nurse it back to health.

The crane, which was found with a broken leg and was bleeding heavily, was treated with home remedies by Mohammad and his family. After six weeks of care, the crane was back on its feet and ready to be released back into the wild. However, instead of heading back to its natural habitat, the crane chose to stay with Mohammad and his family.

The Sarus crane, which is the world’s tallest flying bird and is considered a symbol of marital devotion in India, has become an integral part of Mohammad’s family. The bird rarely leaves his side and some days it will even fly away, but it always returns by sunset.

The crane has formed an unbreakable bond with Mohammad, and the two share a unique and heartwarming relationship. The bird will eat from the same plate as Mohammad and even flies alongside him when he rides on his motorcycle.

Mohammad is thrilled to have the crane as part of his family, and he feels incredibly lucky to have formed such a close bond with the bird. The Sarus crane and Mohammad’s relationship is a beautiful example of the deep connections that can form between humans and animals. It’s a reminder that with a little kindness and compassion, we can help make a positive difference in the world and create meaningful relationships that last a lifetime.

As the Sarus crane continues to stay by Mohammad’s side, it serves as a reminder that love and companionship can come from the most unexpected places, and that sometimes the greatest friendships can form between the unlikeliest of pairs.

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Rescue Dog Walks 10 miles Back to Former Shelter and Rings Doorbell

Shannon Jackson

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A lost dog named Bailey from El Paso, Texas recently made a miraculous return to her rescue after being missing. She was recently adopted into her forever home, 10 miles from the shelter when she escaped.

Her new owners searched the neighborhood and posted on social media. There were a few sightings of Bailey, but no one was able to catch her.
Miraculously, Bailey made it back to the rescue and rang the doorbell to alert them of her presence. The owners were shocked and overjoyed to see their pet and quickly took her inside to provide her with food and water. The rescue said:
“Bailey is now safe. To all those who searched, spotted, called, hoped – we thank you. As we know, dogs are incredible. Bailey made her own way back to ARL and rang our ring doorbell at 1:15 am, saying she wanted in. Staff rushed to the shelter and put Bailey in her run,” the rescue posted with a photo of Bailey taken by the facility’s doorbell camera.

Bailey’s return was a mystery to her owners and the local community. How she found her way back to her home from several miles away remains unknown. Some experts believe that dogs have a remarkable sense of smell and can use it to navigate their way back to familiar places.
Bailey’s story has spread quickly and has inspired many people. It is a testament to the remarkable resilience and intelligence of dogs and the strong bond they can form with their caretakers.

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Buzz Aldrin Finally Marries Long-Term Love

Kevin Wells

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Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, recently married his longtime love, Lois Driggs Cannon. The couple, who have been together for more than a decade, married in a private ceremony in Los Angeles, California.


Aldrin, who is now 93 years old, first met Cannon at a gala event in Los Angeles in the late 1990s. They quickly became friends and began dating. They’ve been together ever since, and their love has only grown stronger over time.


Aldrin is best known for his involvement in the Apollo 11 mission, which saw him and astronaut Neil Armstrong become the first humans to walk on the moon in 1969. Since then, he has devoted his life to promoting space exploration and education. He is also a published author, having written several books about his astronaut experiences, including “Return to Earth” and “Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon.”

Cannon, a retired businesswoman, has been an unwavering supporter of Aldrin throughout his career. She has accompanied him on many of his public appearances and speaking engagements. She has also been a strong supporter of space exploration and education, and the two have frequently collaborated to advance these causes.


The couple’s wedding was a small and intimate affair attended by only close family and friends. The wedding took place at a private residence in Los Angeles, and the couple exchanged vows in a stunning outdoor setting. The ceremony was followed by a reception with food, drinks, and music for the guests.


The wedding of Aldrin and Cannon is a testament to the power of love and the value of companionship in life. Despite the difficulties and challenges they have faced, their love for one another has remained strong. The couple’s marriage serves as an example to others and a reminder that love knows no age limit.

Aldrin is an American hero not only for his role in the Apollo 11 mission but also for his adventurous spirit and unyielding passion for space exploration. The news of his marriage serves as a reminder that love and companionship are important aspects of human life, even after achieving great heights and facing challenges. Marriage is a celebration of love, commitment, and a lifetime of shared adventures and experiences for the couple.

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A Nun, a Monk, and a Simple Meal

Kelly Taylor

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Nuns, priests and monks generally have one thing in common; they tend to take vows of chastity to focus their entire attention on their religious dedication. Many describe it as being “married” to God and the Church versus being married to another person. However, for one nun and monk who connected in Lancashire, the two decided to break the traditional rules for something better.

Sister Mary Elizabeth was a dedicated nun at the time she met friar Robert. The context was simply being charitable; her prioress wanted to make sure the friar, visiting from Oxford, had enough to eat and be comfortable on his visit to the area. Normally, the young nun would have been paired with her older superior at all times. However, her prioress had to deal with a phone call, and that left Sister Mary alone with friar Robert. That’s how sparks happen.

The incident was simple enough. Sister Mary kept friar Robert company as he ate. Her supervising nun didn’t come back right away, so Sister Mary ended up walking Robert out as the friar exited after the meal. During that brief moment of closer contact, as Sister Mary remembers, there was an electric charge. The two had a moment of chemistry heightened by their choice of life and its austerity; Sister Mary let friar Robert out but the whole time afterwards she wondered if the friar had reacted to that moment the way she apparently was going through. Her suspicions were confirmed a week later when Sister Mary received a note. It was friar Robert and he had written the most peculiar question: would she leave her convent to marry him?

Sister Mary Elizabeth wasn’t just a recent convert to the church. She was a nun in the Carmelite Roman Catholic order, which was very strict and hardly an exposing way of life. In fact, the nuns typically wear veils in addition to their very obscuring habits and cloaks. It would be practically impossible to see a nun’s hair, much less what much of her face looks like unless directly facing the person. Yet beyond all that, Sister Mary was perplexed; friar Robert didn’t know a darn thing about her.

Sister Mary was always religious, going back to her early years after an experience with an aunt and a pilgrimage. As she grew older and then became a young teenager, she was convinced service in the church was her vocation, and a weekend at a monastery was the final push.

Robert was also a Carmelite monk, originally from Poland and then based in Oxford. When he met Sister Mary, his world changed. He felt compelled to reach out to the nun. However, she didn’t respond immediately. That said, she started paying attention to the friar’s sermons on visits to Oxford, and her interest in Robert grew.

Fast forward years later, Sister Mary is now Lisa again, her previous name before the convent, and Robert is no longer a friar either. However, in practice, they live like they are still in a monastery, with prayer study and solitude. And it works. The former nun and monk are true to each other in marriage, but they have found a balance that still keeps them close to their faith. It broke all the rules, but the jump into the unknown also brought Lisa and Robert together. Maybe that was God’s will all along.

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