USA TODAY 05 Lost dog group rescues senior dog in rural town, discovers she went missing 7 years ago

 A rescue organization in the United Kingdom got a huge surprise when they were called to help a senior stray dog that was found roaming around an English village: They discovered the pup had been missing from its owners for nearly seven years.

In a Dec. 11 post on their Facebook page, volunteer non-profit Lost Dog Recovery UK South said they received a message about a little black dog that was running in a road near Crawley Down, a village in West Sussex.

The caller "stopped the traffic, let the dog disappear into the woodland and knew not to follow, and just returned ASAP to leave food," the post read.

They then asked people in the nearby rural area about the dog and learned that the dog had been spotted in the area and the locals would feed her. They were still concerned, so they called for help.

The recovery group then set up a camera and left food food out so they could watch and gather more information about the dog. By the third night, the little dog was caught “waiting” for dinnertime and watching volunteers walk up to where the camera was placed.

Volunteers lure dog with warm roast chicken feast

Volunteers began to ask around and learned from some residents that the dog might be a stray that had been wondering the area for over a decade and was not in need of any care. Others told them that the stray could be in need of care.

The rescue group then spent a week establishing a routine feeding schedule and close-ups of the dogs confirmed that she was in fact a senior.

Finally, they set up a trap.

"We knew our little stray was picky and we had worked out what she liked, so a huge warm roast chicken feast with a JR Pate topper was laid out, and the waiting began," the post read.

Lost Dog Recovery UK South Volunteers captured Rose, a Patterdale Terrier on December 11. At first, she was thought to be a stray but they later learned she'd gone missing nearly seven years ago.

After a few visits, she finally stepped into the trap and triggered the door to close.

"Understandably she was shocked and scared but very gentle, and was taken immediately to the warmth and safety of kennels," the post said.

Reunited:Missing dog rescued by hikers in Colorado mountains reunited with owner after 2 months

A microchip reveals huge surprise

But volunteers were in for a shock. Based on what neighbors have said, they did not expect to find a microchip on the dog, but they did.

The group learned that the Patterdale Terrier, now 12 years old, was named Rose and had gone missing just 6 miles away from Ashurst Wood within 24 hours of being adopted back in March of 2017, the post said.

While it would have been a wonderful holiday reunion, a lot had changed for Rose's previous owners. In the past seven years, they've moved and are not in a position to take her in now.

Lost Dog Recovery UK South Volunteers captured Rose, a Patterdale Terrier on December 11. At first, she was thought to be a stray but they later learned she'd gone missing nearly seven years ago.

"They are thrilled she is safe and unhurt and, of course, sad they aren’t able to take her back. She will be going to a rescue who can give her what she needs and care for her in her old age," the group wrote.

Rescue seeks forever home for Rose

Rose is now being taken care of by Last Chance Animal Rescue, Edenbridge and will hopefully be finding a forever home soon.

In a Dec. 18 update, the group said it had been inundated with enquiries about the dog and they were working through requests to find her a "safe, warm and loving home."

"If you aren’t successful in your application for Rose PLEASE do consider fostering for your local rescue," the post added.

USA TODAY 04 Enough with the 'love locks': Grand Canyon warns lovers against leaving those at the park

 Enough with the 'love locks': Grand Canyon warns lovers against leaving those at the park

Jose R. Gonzalez

Arizona Republic

Grand Canyon National Park is urging visitors to stop using the landmark to partake in a trend where lovers at a viewpoint leave behind a padlock to represent their relationship.

Padlocks left at fencings are known as "love locks," but the practice of throwing the key away at the Grand Canyon poses a threat to the rare and endangered condor, the park warned on its Facebook page. "Love is strong, but it is not as strong as our bolt cutters," reads the post. "People think putting a lock on fencing at viewpoints is a great way to show love for another person. It's not. Leaving padlocks like this is littering and a form of graffiti."

The keys left behind are being consumed by curious condors who, the post states, "love shiny things." These scavenger birds, the post continues, will eat coins, wrappers or shiny metallic pieces that cannot be digested or that they will not be able to pass.

An X-ray of a condor with coins lodged in its digestive tract. On Oct. 10, 2023, this photo was one of three posted to the Grand Canyon National Park's Facebook page warning people not to attach padlocks to fencing, referred to as "love locks." The park's post explained the practice is considered littering and a form of graffiti and condors could be harmed if they swallow shiny objects like a key from a padlock, coin or shiny piece of metal.

The post included a photo of an X-ray of a condor with coins lodged in its digestive tract. An operation on the fowl cleared the obstruction, the post explained.

"If a condor ingests too many objects like this, it could die," the post warned, adding, "Objects are thrown from the rim every day. Padlocks and trash are not anomalies limited to Grand Canyon. Do your part to not contribute to these bad habits and inform others of what can happen to the wildlife if these behaviors continue."

In October 2022, the park served three federal violation notices to a woman on suspicion of littering and creating hazardous conditions with disorderly conduct after she posted video of herself hitting a golf ball and losing most of her golf club at the Grand Canyon. The fine for disorderly conduct and tossing or throwing items into the canyon carried a maximum fine of $5,000 and six months in prison, The Arizona Republic learned.

A lock is shown attached to fencing at Grand Canyon National Park. On Oct. 10, 2023, this photo was one of three posted to the Grand Canyon National Park's Facebook page warning people not to attach padlocks to fencing, referred to as "love locks." The practice is considered littering and a form of graffiti and condors could be harmed if they swallow shiny objects like a key from a padlock, coin or shiny piece of metal.

USA TODAY 03 Chef Michael Chiarello's fatal allergic reaction reveals allergies’ hidden dangers

Chef Michael Chiarello's fatal allergic reaction reveals allergies’ hidden dangers

Katie Camero

USA TODAY

After a week-long hospital stay, 61-year-old Chef Michael Chiarello died last week of a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Neither his doctors nor his family know what caused the fatal reaction, according to a representative for Chiarello’s company Gruppo Chiarello. Even so, his death sheds light on how serious and unpredictable allergies of all kinds can be. 

People can be allergic to nearly anything, including pollen, dust, food, insect stings, animal dander, latex, mold and medications. For many, all it takes is a tiny crumb or speck of an allergen to spark a reaction that can quickly become life-threatening if not treated properly or efficiently. 

Anaphylactic reactions most commonly occur to foods, insect stings, medications and latex, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. 

Chiarello’s family was not aware of any allergies he might have had, the Gruppo Chiarello representative told USA TODAY, but he was home when the reaction occurred. It’s still unknown what he was doing at the time of his reaction. 

Allergy experts say that Chiarello’s death serves as a critical reminder that even mild reactions can turn fatal, food labels are awfully confusing and adults can develop new allergies.

Yes, you can develop allergies in adulthood

Although most allergies arise in childhood, millions of adults go on to develop one or multiple allergies, even to foods or substances that they have safely been exposed to hundreds of times before, said Dr. Rita Kachru, an allergist with UCLA Health in Santa Monica, California. 

At least 15% of people with food allergies are first diagnosed in adulthood, according to FARE — a phenomenon that some researchers deem “an important emerging health problem.” 

Allergies sometimes emerge in adulthood because it takes time for your immune system to develop antibodies called immunoglobulin E against a certain food or substance that it mistakenly labels as dangerous, Kachru said. These antibodies “fight” the food by releasing histamine and other chemicals that trigger allergic reaction symptoms such as an itchy throat, difficulty breathing or vomiting. 

More often, adults may experience a reaction to an allergen they outgrew during childhood but for various reasons, such as changes in their immune system or environment, the allergy comes back, Kachru said. 

The surprise factor for many adult-onset allergies increases risks for anaphylaxis because people may not have an EpiPen (an auto-injector that releases epinephrine into the body to reduce inflammation) on hand. 

When allergies turn fatal 

Even mild allergies can lead to anaphylaxis, which is impossible to predict, Kachru said, because a reaction is dependent on exposure dose, the state of your immune system and prior history of allergic reactions. 

“If all it took was one cashew to trigger an allergic reaction the first time, the next time it may only take half a cashew to mount a response, which could be more severe,” Kachru said, “because you have primed your immune system by exposing yourself to it more.”

Treatment with an EpiPen is crucial in these scenarios, Kachru said, which should begin within seconds of the start of a reaction: “Inflammation is like a snowball — once it starts, it’s really hard to control.”

If an allergic reaction symptom worsens over time, if you develop two or more mild symptoms or if you have one severe symptom (like your throat closes up), use an EpiPen and then go to the hospital, Kachru said. Anaphylaxis can sometimes recur up to four hours after appropriate treatment in what's called a biphasic reaction.

Otherwise, treat a mild symptom with an antihistamine like Benadryl and stay cool, as heat can trigger a greater histamine response.

Learn about nasal spray epinephrine:FDA passes on first nasal spray alternative to epinephrine autoinjectors

Remember, allergens can be found in unexpected places

Never assume a food or object is free of your allergen, experts say, as it can lurk in the most unexpected places. 

Fish and shellfish, for example, are sometimes dipped in milk to reduce their fishy odor, putting those with dairy allergies at risk. Cross-contact — when an allergen is accidentally transferred from one food to another — can also expose you to an allergen, despite signs indicating a food is safe for you to eat. 

Don't shy away from asking people, whether it's your doctor, restaurant staff, whoever cooked your dinner, for details about how they prepared a meal, if cross-contact may have occurred, or what tools they'll be using on or around you, experts say. Doing so will help protect you from exposure to your allergen.

And double check those food labels

Federal laws require that the nine most common allergens —  milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish and sesame — must be labeled on packaged foods sold in the U.S.

However, nuances in these laws allow certain ingredients outside of these top nine allergens to stay under the radar, according to the nonprofit FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). Some may not be listed on the label, but instead may be covered by vague terms such as “natural flavorings.” Milk, Kachru says, could be listed as casein or lactalbumin, which are the proteins that make up milk. 

There are also no laws requiring manufacturers to say whether a product may have come into contact with a specific allergen. 

This is why you have to read food labels every time you buy a product. When in doubt, call the manufacturer directly to better understand what products contain or may contain.

USA TODAY 02 Iceland will implement visitor tax, prime minister says

Iceland will implement visitor tax, prime minister says

Nathan Diller

USA TODAY

Travelers heading to Iceland may soon pay more for their trip. The Nordic island nation will implement higher taxes for tourists to help protect its environment, Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir said.

The tax will not be high initially, Jakobsdottir said in a recent interview on Bloomberg Television.

“Tourism has really grown exponentially in Iceland in the last decade, and that obviously is not just creating effects on the climate,” she said. “It’s also because most of our guests who are coming to us are visiting the unspoiled nature, and obviously it creates a pressure.”

The tax will be a broader version of a previous accommodation tax the country suspended during the pandemic, according to a spokesperson for Iceland's Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs. "It is intended to expand taxation to cover passengers on cruise ships alongside hotels, recognizing the impact on our seas as well as land," the spokesperson said in an email.

The policy is planned to take effect in 2024, the spokesperson said, and other details including amounts "will be outlined in draft legislation in the coming weeks."

The fee hike comes as the country works to meet its goal to become carbon neutral before 2040. Iceland, with its hot springs and black sand beaches, is hugely popular among travelers, and the country saw more than 1.7 million overnight visitors from outside the country in 2022, according to the Icelandic Tourist Board.

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“A lot of our companies who are working in the tourism sector are finding ways to really turn over to circular economy, turn over to electric cars, et cetera,” Jakobsdottir added. “So, that change is happening, but it is a challenge.”

Iceland is not the only destination to implement such a policy. Venice has plans to implement a fee for day trippers to the Italian city, in an effort to manage large numbers of tourists, and Bali will introduce a tourist tax for foreign visitors next year.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

USA TODAY 01 Hollywood writers' strike to officially end Wednesday as union leadership OKs deal

Hollywood writers' strike to officially end Wednesday as union leadership OKs deal

Bryan Alexander

USA TODAY

The Hollywood screenwriters' strike, one of two strikes that have stalled movie and TV productions for nearly five months, will officially end Wednesday.

The Writers Guild of America board unanimously voted Tuesday to affirm the strike-ending deal, announced Sunday, with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the group that represents studios, streaming services and production companies in negotiations.

"Today, our Negotiating Committee, WGAW Board, and WGAE Council all voted unanimously to recommend the agreement," the Writers Guild West announced on X, formerly Twitter. "The strike ends at 12:01 am."

The agreed-upon three-year contract extension will go to the full WGA membership for a ratification vote. But the leadership board lifted the restraining order to allow writers to work during the ratification process. The members will vote between Oct. 2 and 9.

Late-night talk shows − the first to go dark when writers walked out on May 2 − will be among the first shows to resume. "Real Time" host Bill Maher, who reversed his Sept. 14 decision to bring his HBO show back during the strike, trumpeted the return to work for a Friday night show on his X account.

"My writers and Real Time are back! See you Friday Night!" Maher wrote.

The three-year writers' contract agreement emerged after five marathon days of renewed talks with WGA and AMPTP negotiators, joined by studio executives, that continued throughout the weekend until the breakthrough announcement late Sunday night. Writer picketing immediately halted, but the tentative deal required WGA leadership confirmation to officially end.

According to a WGA statement, writers earned increased pay, health and pension contributions with the contract extension as well as new foreign streaming residuals, and viewership-based streaming bonuses. There are also assurances against AI, a particular point of contention in the negotiations.

More:Striking Hollywood actors vote to authorize new walkout against video game makers

The screenwriters strike is officially over following the Writers Guild of America vote to ratify a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Hollywood actors remain on strike.

The 2008 deal to end the last writers' strike, which began in 2007 and lasted for 100 days, was approved by more than 90% of union members.

Actors remain on strike, but the ratified deal with writers could help the Screen Actors Guild find a resolution with AMPTP. There are no talks currently scheduled between the two sides.

SAG-AFTRA congratulated the WGA negotiators in a statement posted Sunday.

"We look forward to reviewing the terms of the WGA and AMPTP's tentative agreement," the SAG-AFTRA statement read. "And we remain ready to resume our own negotiations with the AMPTP as soon as they are prepared to engage on our proposals in a meaningful way."

But as the Hollywood writers' strike comes to an end, striking actors on Tuesday also voted to expand their walkout to include the lucrative video game market, a step that could put new pressure on Hollywood studios to make a deal with the performers who provide voices and stunts for games.

Why the Hollywood strikes are not over:What happens if SAG-AFTRA reaches an agreement?

* WGAW - Writers Guild of America, West（美國編劇工會西部分會）
* WGAE - Writers Guild of America, East（美國編劇工會東部分會）
* AMPTP - Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers（電影和電視製片公司聯盟）
* SAG-AFTRA - Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists（美國電影演員工會-電視和廣播藝術家聯盟）