Never Doubt a Canine’s Senses
MISSION IM-PAW-SIBLE Florida Cat’s Epic Getaway From the Vet
No one likes going to the doctor, but for one Florida feline, a routine visit to the vet turned into a daring escape. Just after being neutered at SPCA Florida, George the cat put his kitty GPS to the test when he broke out of his cage, trying to make his way home. As if his daring getaway wasn’t impressive enough, the tabby scampered across 3 miles full of obstacles to return to his owners’ doorstep. On the day of the incident, George managed to pop his cage open and scurry out in a matter of seconds. Still loopy from anesthesia, the housecat evaded clinic staff, scaling up fencing before disappearing. Employees did everything they could to stop the escape artist, lifting each other over fences, but George was too quick and determined to catch.
Owner Bob Beasock was heartbroken by the news and searched for his little buddy alongside clinic staff for nearly a week. Just when it looked like they might never find his furry companion, Bob found him at home, curled up in his favorite armchair in the carport. “There was George, stretched out in his chair in our carport, looking like he had just returned from a grand adventure,” Bob told reporters. “He was a bit thinner, clearly hungry, but otherwise no worse for the wear.” Though George was unscathed, his journey home was no walk in the park. He had to trek through multiple subdivisions, maneuver around a couple of lakes, and cross five or six roads to reach his destination.
Cats are skilled navigators who use a combination of scent, visual markers, and even geomagnetism to find their way around. But George’s journey wasn’t all prompted by a deep instinct or fear of the vet; he just wanted to get back to his owner. Though they express it more subtly than dogs, research has found that cats love their humans and form a deep attachment with their owners. Bob was relieved to find George safe and sound, but said he would have done it just a little differently if he ever found himself fleeing his doctor’s appointment.
“If I had been stuck there, I would’ve called an Uber. But George didn’t have that option.”
How Truck Drivers Stay Fit in the Cab Big Rigs, Big Reps
Truck drivers often suffer physical strain during long days behind the wheel, maxing out on stress with few chances to exercise. While a walk outdoors can be therapeutic, drivers say adverse weather and, in some areas, the threat of crime, put that option out of reach. A growing number of drivers are finding creative ways to build short workouts of 5–10 minutes into their workday. While waiting to load or unload, on midday breaks, waking up in the morning, or taking breaks before bed, these fitness fans use a variety of equipment and even outfit their cabs with treadmills and mini- gyms to keep their bodies moving. Some drivers install small treadmills between the driver and passenger seats in their cabs to get some steps in while waiting to load or unload. One trucker removed his passenger seat and installed an exercise bicycle. Weight training is a frequent topic on the r/Truckers subreddit. Some drivers carry kettlebells to lift on breaks. In a video on Wolf Spirit Fitness’s YouTube channel, a truck driver demonstrates an in-cab workout using a strategically placed two-by-four for pullups
and making creative use of free weights and a pneumatic jack. His five-minute workout routine is posted under “Training in the Cascadia trucking fitness.” Strong Driver sells a system of fitness bands, designed by a trucker. The sturdy exercise bands work well for doing bicep curls, a sitting version of crunches, and chest presses on the road. The bands are tethered to the driver’s seat by rings attached to an anchor strap. The Gulf Shores, Alabama, company sells the system for $89 online. Other drivers rely on isometrics, holding ab crunches for a long period or doing shoulder lifts at stoplights. Some trucking companies are jumping on the trend. Prime Inc. in Springfield, Missouri, has produced several videos of trainers demonstrating exercise routines. In one called “Fitness in a Freightliner,” a trainer shows how to use a bed platform and the aisle between the seats to do push-ups, squats, and lunges. With a little creativity and a healthy dose of determination, fitness trainers say, any trucker can improve their overall fitness by investing just 15 minutes a day.
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