Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who served multiple terms as House majority leader, suffered a “mild” stroke over the weekend and intends to get back to work after receiving treatment, according to his office. Margaret Mulkerrin, Hoyer’s deputy chief of staff and spokesperson, released a statement about the health scare on Tuesday. “On Sunday night, August 11, Rep. Steny Hoyer experienced a mild ischemic stroke and sought medical treatment,” Mulkerrin said. “Mr. Hoyer has responded well to treatment and has no lingering symptoms.” The congressman, who is 85 years old and seeking re-election, “expects to resume his normal schedule next week,” Mulkerrin added. “Mr. Hoyer’s wife and family extend their deepest thanks to his medical team.” Some follow House members, including Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Ritchie Torres (D-NY), wished Hoyer a quick recovery. Leading candidates in Maryland’s U.S. Senate race, Democrat Angela Alsobrooks and Republican Larry Hogan, did the same. WATCH THE TRAILER FOR ‘AM I RACIST?’ — A MATT WALSH COMEDY ON DEI The mild stroke happened as the age and health of longtime politicians have taken a spotlight in the 2024 election. President Joe Biden, who is 81, dropped out of the White House contest last month after a fumbling debate performance spurred Democrats to call on him to step aside over concerns about his mental acuity and electability. Vice President Kamala Harris has since clinched the nomination for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, setting up a general election clash against former President Donald Trump. The 2024 election could drastically shake up the power dynamic in Washington, D.C. Currently, the Democrats control the White House and Senate while the Republicans lead the House. Earlier on Tuesday, the office of Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) revealed the congressman had been hospitalized a second time within the past month after reportedly being released to a rehabilitation center just days ago. RELATED: New Jersey House Democrat Donald Payne Jr. Dies At 65 “He is now stable. We will provide updates whenever possible and remain hopeful he will be able to resume his rehabilitation soon,” Pascrell’s chief of staff Ben Rich said in a statement. The New Jersey Globe noted that Pascrell, who is 87, is running for a 15th term in Congress and would become the oldest member of the House if he defeats Republican challenger Billy Prempeh.

As summer comes to a close, everyone is preparing for the first day of school, including the wildlife. As this teacher was preparing her room for the new school year, an unexpected visitor stopped by to visit her. A bear decided to give this teacher quite the scare as it entered her classroom while she was setting up. A Unexpected Visitor In The Classroom View this post on Instagram A post shared by ABC News (@abcnews) Ms. Salmon is a teacher at Peak to Peak Mountain Charter School. She was back at school setting up her classroom for the upcoming school year when she left to make some copies. While she was down the hall, the four-legged visitor snuck into her classroom. Elaine Salmon told 23 ABC News, “When I came back, I opened my classroom door, and there was this bear charging towards the door.” Elaine thought quickly and closed the door, locking the bear inside. However, her cell phone was also inside the classroom. With quick thinking, Ms. Salmon made her way down to the office. There, she used that phone to call her husband for reinforcement. When he arrived, he knocked on the window to get the bear’s attention away from the door. Bears Like Ms. Salmon Once the bear was distracted, Ms. Salmon opened the door and let him out. “The thing is, sadly, you have to hold the door open for it to stay open,” she continued. This means these brave individuals had to hold the door open as the bear passed through it. Although the bear got much closer than Ms. Salmon or her husband would have liked, he passed through the door without incident. He then made his way back into the woods. Luckily, there was no damage to the classroom. The only thing he got into was one of the classroom’s earthquake kits. Students typically have snacks in the kits in case of an emergency, and the bear helped himself to those during his school visit. While the school has never had a bear enter the building, they have drills to prepare for encounters with local wildlife. We don’t know what prompted the bear to enter the classroom, although the irony of the bear visiting a teacher called Ms. Salmon cannot be lost. Since this encounter, the school has taken additional measures to ensure all its students are safe. The source of the featured image can be found here. The post A Bear Visits Classroom Of School Teacher Ironically Named Ms. Salmon appeared first on InspireMore.

There’s nothing better than when you hear your favorite singer’s voice. There is something about that familiar sound that brings comfort and joy. Sometimes, you can’t resist and will sing along like you are just part of the band. We’ve all had private concerts in the shower, car, and kitchen- no judgment here. It’s not just humans who appreciate the arts. Some of our four-legged friends like to get in on the action, too. One of our faves is a golden retriever named Hugo, whose howl is pretty darn impressive. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hugo Fox (@bestdogslifeuk) In a video shared on Hugo’s Instagram Page, the dog is looking out the window, minding its own business, when he hears his favorite singer’s voice. Luciano Pavarotti is suddenly belting a sound, and the dog takes off, running toward the TV. But he doesn’t want just to see the singer perform; he wants to get in on the action. This Golden Retriever Sounds Amazing Hugo stares up at Luciano and begins to sing along with him. He clearly appreciates the tenor’s angelic music and wants to be part of the show. As the song ends, the dog moves closer to the TV as if to give his curtain call. It is impressive and moving all at once. Of course, fans of the singer and the dog couldn’t get enough. One person wrote, “That head tilt when Pavarotti hit the high note was the cutest thing ever.” Another noticed the dog’s trepidation mid-song, “He stops, ‘I can’t hit THAT high note,’ then continues when it comes down a notch. Love it.” Luciano Pavarotti is more than just a singer, he made magic. “Pavarotti’s voice causes an impact even on animals. He is not a singer. He is something else.”  You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Golden Retriever Sings Pitch-Perfect Pavarotti Duet And We Can’t Stop Laughing appeared first on InspireMore.

'Do not come'

Stories like this are exactly why I became a Braves fan

'We need him to win,' Haley told the Fox News host

The post How Much Hissing Is Normal When Introducing Cats? What to Tolerate & Guide (Vet-Reviewed) by Chantelle Fowler appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Click to Skip Ahead How Much Hissing Should Be Expected When Introducing Cats Possible Reasons for Hissing How to Respond to This Behavior Welcoming a new kitty to the family is exciting for the humans in the household. The other resident cats? Maybe not so much. While some cats get along instantly, others need some time to warm up to one another. It’s entirely normal for your cats to hiss when they first meet and even for days following. While most people consider hissing to be a sign of aggression, it’s actually just another form of communication your cats have with one another (and with their humans). While hissing is pretty standard for cats when exposed to something (or someone) new, you’re probably wondering how much you should tolerate. Read on to learn more about why cats hiss in the first place and what you can do to help your pets become comfortable with each other. How Much Hissing Should Be Expected When Introducing Cats? As mentioned in our introduction, hissing is entirely normal behavior to notice in both your new kitty and the resident cats in your home. Your cats may hiss or even swat at each other for several weeks until they’ve had the time to really get to know one another. Hissing on its own isn’t aggressive, but it can be your pet’s way of laying the ground rules for  this new animal taking up their space. Think of hisses as a defensive gesture, as cats feeling threatened in some way are more likely to hiss. It’s your cat’s way of expressing discomfort, fear, or stress. Hissing on its own isn’t usually cause for action, but if aggressive behaviors or postures accompany your cat’s hisses, you’ll need to carefully intervene. Growling, hair standing on end, tense muscles, and pinned ears may all indicate aggressive behavior. Image Credit: Ilyas Kalimullin, Shutterstock Why Do New Cats Hiss at Each Other? 1. Their Routine Is Disrupted Whether you realize it or not, your resident cats are absolutely creatures of habit. They don’t typically like change and can feel very anxious, stressed out, and confused when new additions are brought into the home. Your resident cats may need a little more attention than usual when you get a new pet. 2. They Feel Trapped If you’re rushing to introduce your resident cats to your new fur baby, you may inadvertently be making both parties feel trapped. Your resident cats need time to get used to the idea of sharing their space with another being, while your new kitty is likely already feeling stressed from being placed in a new home. If you’re forcing your pets to meet when stress is already high, it can make your pets more prone to hissing and even aggressive behaviors. When introducing your pets, be sure never to block the exit so they know they can leave and go to their safe space without intrusion. Also, give them time to come to each other rather than you pushing them together. Allowing them to interact on their own time may help smooth the process. Image Credit: Anna Kraynova, Shutterstock 3. They Feel Their Space Is Being Encroached Upon Another potential reason your resident cat is hissing is that they feel their space is being encroached upon. They have, after all, had your home to themselves for their entire life, so it makes sense why they’d be reluctant to share their things with your new pet. Hissing can be an effective way to establish or reinforce the social hierarchy among the cats in your home. Dominant cats will sometimes hiss to assert their position over others. Other territorial behaviors dominant cats engage in include hoarding toys, scratching objects to mark their territory, urine spraying, growling, and instigating fights. 4. They’re Setting Boundaries Cats are notoriously territorial and will sometimes hiss at one another as a way to establish boundaries and to establish their authority. A hiss is a fast and effective tool your resident cat can use to tell the newcomer to stop trespassing. Image Credit: Anna Krivitskaya, Shutterstock What Should I Do if My Cats Are Hissing at Each Other? There are some other things you can do if the hissing isn’t dissipating as quickly as you’d like it to. Sit It Out Since hissing on its own is just a form of communication, you don’t need to do anything—at least not right away. If the hissing is constant and doesn’t die down after a few minutes, separate the cats and give them time to calm down. Of course, if aggressive behaviors or postures accompany the hisses, you’ll need to intervene as soon as possible to prevent a fight. Image Credit: Fang_Y_M , Pixabay Introduce Them Slowly Introductions need to be done very slowly and deliberately. There is a process for introducing cats to one another, and if you rush it, you’re potentially putting your pets at risk as they may be more likely to be aggressive with one another. The cat showing the most fear and mistrust should set the pace for the introduction. Remember that the process can be long, depending on your pet’s personality. It can take several days, weeks, or even months for your cats to learn to live harmoniously alongside one another. Don’t Be Afraid to Do Reintroductions If you’ve rushed the introductory period and now your cats are hissing at each other all day long or even fighting, it’s okay to separate them and begin the whole process all over again. Image Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock Provide Enough Resources Aggression and hissing can sometimes be the result of your cat’s feeling they have to share their resources. For this reason, you must ensure each of your pets has access to their own things. Each should have their own litter box, plus one. So, if you have three cats, you’ll need four litter boxes. They should also each have their own food bowl. Make sure you have enough toys, scratching posts, and sleeping spots to go around, too. Final Thoughts If you’re in the midst of the introductory process, pulling out your hair, and wondering, how long can the hissing actually last, know this is likely to be just a short blip in the lives of your kitties. Hissing is an entirely normal response in cats, especially when they’re put into a new or stressful situation. When you’re bringing a new cat into your home, you’re inevitably placing stress on both your new pet and the resident cats, so some degree of hissing should be expected until they get to know one another. Your cats need time to become accustomed to these living conditions. This is why it’s so important to introduce a new cat very slowly and deliberately. Let your kitties set the pace for the introductions, and never rush the process. Sources https://www.merckvetmanual.com/cat-owners/behavior-of-cats/diagnosing-behavior-problems-in-cats https://www.petmd.com/cat/behavior/cat-hissing-what-you-need-know Featured Image Credit: Gurkan Ergun, Shutterstock The post How Much Hissing Is Normal When Introducing Cats? What to Tolerate & Guide (Vet-Reviewed) by Chantelle Fowler appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The post How Can I Contact a Vet If I Am in the Middle of Nowhere? 5 Ideas to Help by Ashley Bates appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. It’s every pet parent’s worst nightmare: being stuck somewhere and not being able to access a vet if your pet is hurt or sick. If you have found yourself in one of these situations or you are heading somewhere with limited access to vets, you might be trying to cover your bases. This article aims to help every pet parent access resources even in the bleakest times. So if you are currently or could be stuck somewhere where you can’t access vet care, hopefully, one of these ideas can help you get your pet the care they need even in the absence of nearby veterinarians. The 5 Ideas On How To Contact a Vet In the Middle of Nowhere 1. Check for the Closest Vets Even if there are no standard vet offices nearby, there might be access to emergency vets. Some clinics also offer call outs or afterhours services. While this might vary from state to state and area to area, it’s always best to contact services near you to see what kind of care you can get for your pets. Keep in mind that emergency vets are much more expensive than standard veterinarians. So, while you might pay more out of pocket, it’s certainly worth it if your pet’s life is at stake. 2. Chat to a Vet Online Thanks to technology, we have more options now than ever to contact professionals. If you have access to the Internet or cell phone service, you can always chat with a live veterinarian through vet telehealth services like PangoVet. You may be able to do a video conference or use a chat feature to explain what’s going on with your pet. While they often can’t provide a diagnosis or prescriptions, they can let you know how to manage your pet yourself or if they need to be seen somewhere in person as soon as possible. If you have pet insurance, this often comes as a feature to the plan you have. You can contact the professionals that the insurance company has on standby so they can guide you on appropriate care at home and how and when to make the trip to see a professional. Speak To a Vet Online From the Comfort of Your Couch! If you need to speak with a vet but can’t get to one, head over to PangoVet. It’s an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price! Click to Speak With a Vet 3. Call a Vet Whether it’s your vet’s office or a closer veterinarian, you can always reach out via phone. Even if you can’t access treatment, a vet might be able give some general advice over the phone. This might include treatments like proper hydration, wound dressing, and other at-home solutions. The ultimate care will depend on the issue and guidance of the professional you’re speaking with. If you are far away from your personal vet, you can still call the office for contact. They can advise you, especially since they are familiar with your pet and their current health. 4. Call a Hotline There are hotlines you can call to help you with your pets. Whether it is Pet Poison Helpline, ACK Vetline, the Animal Humane Society’s Pet Helpline  hotlines are designed to help in situations of dire need. You can provide the professional with as many details as you possibly can. They might advise you on how to take care of your pet at home, but they might also have other resources available. For example, there might be a veterinarian nearby who is  available for a house call. They can also advise you on other means of care, so don’t hesitate to use this resource. Image Credit: fizkes, Shutterstock 5. Contact a Rural or Traveling Vet If you are in a rural area that doesn’t have direct access to vet care, you are likely not the only one. In areas like this, there are often traveling veterinarians who can make house calls. You can ask the locals how they receive vet care, they may be able to point you in the right direction. While this is generally done for farm animals, it can also help with domestic pets like cats and dogs. Keep in mind that you might have to pay a little extra for a house call, but in some situations, it can be the very difference between a life and death and a scenario. Keep in mind that the availability for a traveling veterinarian will be different depending on where you are. How to Help Your Pet at Home Unless the situation is obvious, you should never try to treat your pet at home. However, you may do so under the guidance of a veterinarian. If you made a call and they explained to you how to treat your pet, you can follow their instruction. However, if your pet is severely unwell and suffering, you should make the journey to an in-person vet, regardless of how far this might be. Image Credit: Diego Cervo, Shutterstock Conclusion Finding access to vet care can be very difficult sometimes. Whether you live in a rural area, you’re on a vacation in the wilderness, or traveling to an area where you don’t have a lot of resources, accidents can still happen. Not only is it good to be prepared before the accident occurs, but it’s also good to know all of your options when you face a dilemma to ensure your pet’s care. Illness, disease, and injury can happen at any time. The only thing you can do is access the resources given to you and follow the instructions you receive. Sources https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/who-do-you-call-if-you-have-pet-emergency Featured Image Credit: SvetikovaV, Shutterstock The post How Can I Contact a Vet If I Am in the Middle of Nowhere? 5 Ideas to Help by Ashley Bates appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.