Latest news with #Collie
Sunday World
2 hours ago
- Sunday World
Puppy farmer locked up after dogs he was ordered to give up ‘disappeared'
She said the council had not seized the dogs and had no knowledge as to their current whereabouts. A puppy farmer has been jailed for three months after three dogs, a Belgian Malinois, a Collie and a Shih Tzu he was ordered to surrender 'disappeared.' Dog Breeder PJ Rigney appeared before Tullamore District Court on Wednesday a week after he had been remanded in custody by Judge Andrew Cody for failing to surrender the animals. At the sitting, Judge Cody expressed surprise that Rigney, was present in person before the court. The judge asked Rigney's solicitor how his client had managed to secure his freedom. PJ Rigney Rigney's solicitor responded that the High Court granted his release on foot of an application by Barry White SC. Judge Cody responded: 'It is quite unusual that a person would be remanded in custody pending sentence.' Judge Cody next inquired if Rigney had complied with a previous court order which required him to sign over ownership of three dogs that were found at his property to the local authority or a rescue organisation. The solicitor said Rigney had been unable to do so as the three dogs had 'disappeared.' Judge Cody then asked 'where the three dogs had disappeared to' and whether Rigney had filed a complaint with gardai. The solicitor responded that Rigney had not alerted the gardai but had called Offaly County Council in the belief the council had seized the dogs. Solicitor Emily Mahon, acting on behalf of Offaly County Council, confirmed they had received such a call from Rigney but said the council had no knowledge of the matter. She said the council had not seized the dogs and had no knowledge as to their current whereabouts. The solicitor then requested that Mr Rigney be ordered to pay a fine of €3,600 and be disqualified for life from owning dogs. Rigney's solicitor argued that this sentence would be unduly harsh. He further claimed that the three dogs were Mr Rigney's elderly mother's pets and she had been consistently asking 'where her dogs ' were in the wake of their disappearance. Opposing a ban on keeping dogs he said Rigney lived in a rural area and needed dogs for protection and farming. He claimed that Mr Rigney was a 'man of limited means' and as a result any fine would likely 'remain unpaid. Judge Cody responded that Rigney had a 'rental property from which he derived a rental income' so this could be drawn upon to settle any court order fine. This rental was used to pay Rigney's 'significant debts' defence replied. Judge Cody sentenced Mr Rigney to three months in jail, disqualified him from keeping dogs for life and ordered him to pay a fine of €3,600 to Offaly County Council. Rigney lodged an appeal to the sentence. PJ Rigney News in 90 Seconds - June 1st In October of 2021, Rigney was served with a closure notice alleged he had been illegally running a dog-breeding establishment, housing dogs in substandard accommodation, in a yard off Circular Road, in Daingean, Offaly. According to a closure order published by the Council on October 1st that year Mr Rigney was not registered to run such a facility. Outlining the grounds on which he considered Mr Rigney's operation "poses a serious and immediate threat to animal welfare", Offaly County Council Veterinary Inspector Aidan Grant wrote: "The premises in which the dogs are kept and management of same are far below required of a registered dog-breeding establishment.' Mr. Rigney was subsequently convicted and fined in the District Court. He subsequently appealed that order but the order was upheld.
Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Woman Finds Grave in Backyard After Moving In, Then Photos Reveal The Truth
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new homeowner discovered what appeared to be a grave in her new yard and always wondered who it belonged to—then one day she found heartbreaking photographs which revealed all. Krystal Castillo, 33, is from Miami, Florida, and moved into a new house in 2024. Before too long, when exploring her backyard, she found a pet's grave marker, engraved with the name Honey. As she told Newsweek: "I had only seen the [grave] stone, and this gave me a glimpse into what she looked like and how loved she was." Months later, Castillo found photographs hidden in their home, saying: "The photos were found in a closet on a dusty top shelf, where a few miscellaneous items were left behind like screws and old manuals." She shared a video to her TikTok account @elsieandkrystal on March 30, first showing the grave marker alongside the words: "Found this in our backyard when we moved in and wondered what she must have been like and how loved she must have been." The grave marker in Krystal Castillo's yard, featuring the name Honey. The grave marker in Krystal Castillo's yard, featuring the name Honey. TikTok @elsieandkrystal The clip then switched to show the newly-found photographs, all of them showing a Collie relaxing in the home Castillo now lived in. And by the dog's side in every photo was a Beanie Baby of—just like Honey—a Collie dog. Collies, also known as Rough Collies, are best-known as the breed from the iconic 'Lassie' series. They are described as devoted to their families, proud and graceful, and excellent with young children, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). While it's known how old Honey was when she passed, the AKC says the breed has a lifespan of between 12 to 14 years. Castillo told Newsweek: "It broke my heart when I found them, because I always wondered what Honey must have been like." She said it was obvious the dog was a much-loved member of the family, pointing out how the owners had "bought her a Beanie Baby that looked like her." TikTok users were hugely moved by the story, awarding the video more than 100,000 views. Photographs of the Collie, which Castillo found on a top shelf in her new home. Photographs of the Collie, which Castillo found on a top shelf in her new home. TikTok @elsieandkrystal One emotional commenter wrote: "This is why I cremated my soul boy, I couldn't bare leaving him behind if I loved [sic]," as another declared: "RIP to all the pets that had to be left behind when their houses were sold." "That is why I started cremating my babies; I've left a few behind and couldn't do it anymore," another admitted as well, adding: "Thank you for keeping her memory safe." Others shared their own stories, as one commenter wrote: "My farm has a pet cemetery from the previous owners. They lived here 30 years and had a few dogs who now rest here forever. I tend to the cemetery with love and my heart dog now rests beside them." Reacting to the major response to her video, Castillo told Newsweek: "I find it so heartwarming that so many people have found a connection to the video as dog lovers." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
West Australian
3 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Geraldton claims silver for fourth year in a row at 2025 7NEWS Top Tourism Town Awards, pipped by Fremantle
Chasing gold continues to be just out of reach for the City of Greater Geraldton in its hunt for tourism glory — but there is a pretty spectacular silver lining. Geraldton won silver for the fourth straight year at the 2025 7NEWS Top Tourism Town Awards on Wednesday night, pipped at the post by Fremantle, while Collie claimed bronze. Fremantle was the only metropolitan finalist among the three categories. Kalbarri achieved back-to-back gold, taking out the tiny tourism town category for the second year running, beating Pemberton and Denham. Exmouth claimed gold for the fourth consecutive year in the small tourism town category, with Bridgetown and York coming in second and third. City of Greater Geraldton mayor Jerry Clune said: 'We are extremely proud to secure another silver award and appreciate everyone who voted for us as well as all the businesses and individuals who continue to offer a warm welcome and fantastic experience to those who visit our town. 'Geraldton has had a huge 12 months tourism-wise, highlighted by the success of the recent Shore Leave Festival and the future looks bright, with the cruise ships scheduled to start returning next year.' Mr Clune congratulated Fremantle and gave a 'huge shout out to fellow Australia's Coral Coast localities' Kalbarri, Exmouth and Denham for their awards. The winners were announced at the 2025 Perth Airport WA Tourism Conference dinner in Fremantle and will now progress to the national awards being held later this year. More than 8000 people voted in this year's WA awards, which have been running for 36 years. The City of Greater Geraldton recently launched its latest tourism campaign, Stay and Play. 'With it, (we) will continue to promote our slice of seaside paradise to visitors,' Mr Clune said. To enter the Stay and Play photo competition, go to the city's website.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
PM defends North West Shelf gas extension to 2070, as critics warn about net zero commitment
The prime minister has defended a decision to allow Australia's largest gas project to run until 2070 as necessary to ensuring stable power supply with coal plants due to close in a matter of years. Environment Minister Murray Watt gave provisional approval for Woodside's North West Shelf to operate for another 40 years, extending its environmental approval beyond the previous end date of 2030. It has prompted a furious reaction from environmental groups who say it will lead to higher emissions and threaten Australia's climate commitments. Consideration of projects under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act does not allow the minister to consider the climate impacts of a project. Speaking on ABC Brisbane, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on the whole the government was still progressing its aim to cut emissions by 43 per cent by the end of this decade. "When we look at the overall issue, if you take a step back, we are already more than halfway to delivering on our commitment of 82 per cent renewables by 2030, we're up to 46 per cent as we're speaking here now," he said. "In order to get that investment in renewables you do need firming capacity, whether it be batteries, hydro or gas, and that is what will encourage that investment and the transition to occur. In Western Australia they are closing their last coal fired power station at Collie in 2027. They are moving to renewables backed by gas, and that will be a really important part of the transition that will occur." The approval given to Woodside allows it to operate until 2070, but the company could decide to close the plant sooner — and it will remain subject to increasingly stringent requirements to cut emissions over time, or face penalties. However while the approval is not an expansion of the North West Shelf's footprint, it does open the door to future expansion. Celebrating yesterday's approval, Woodside chief executive Meg O'Neill said the company was eyeing a new gas field in the region, Browse, for which a project proposal is already under consideration by the government. "Browse of course is important, particularly in the 2030s and '40s for domestic gas and energy security in Western Australia," she said. "We will continue to work with the state's [Environment Protection Agency ... and Commonwealth environment department on those Browse approvals." Woodside has proposed developing 50 production wells in the Browse basin, which would be connected to the North West Shelf processing plant in Karratha through a 900 kilometre pipeline. Like the NWS proposal given approval yesterday, it has sat under assessment for six years. Greens leader Larissa Waters said the NWS proposal, which was twice-delayed before the election, had been pushed back for political reasons. "This is a dangerous decision. And how cynical that they postpone this decision until after the election, knowing full well that people would be horrified that they have approved fossil fuels out to 2070," Senator Waters said. While the Greens say the new Environment Minister Murray Watt has "failed at the first hurdle" in his first major decision in that portfolio, there remains an optimism that this term of government will see progress on environmental reform, particularly to the ageing EPBC Act. Independent MP Allegra Spender told Sky News the NWS approval proved the laws were not working. "We know that we have to get to net zero by 2050, this is four decades of go-ahead on gas, and there's no accounting for the impact of climate change on the environment when this decision was made," Ms Spender said. "Our environmental laws don't take account of climate change ... it sends very mixed messages to say we're committed to net zero, we're committed to real climate action but let's approve this for the next 40 years, well beyond the timeline of net zero." Meanwhile, the Coalition is reviewing its own commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, a promise it signed up to in late 2021 under former prime minister Scott Morrison. Nationals deputy leader Kevin Hogan said he and his party would approach that review with an open mind. "We haven't had a serious discussion about this for four or five years. We will look at it, we're going to do a study into it, the economic ramifications, new technologies, what we maybe can look at that we haven't looked at as solutions before," Mr Hogan said. A handful of major countries have not adopted net zero emissions targets by 2050 including Iran and Indonesia. China and Russia have committed to net zero emissions by 2060, though a number of others with 2050 targets are not on track to meet them. The only countries that have not ratified the Paris Agreement to keep warming below 2 degrees Celsius are Iran, Libya and Yemen, though United States President Donald Trump has also announced his intention to again withdraw from the agreement.
Style Blueprint
5 days ago
- General
- Style Blueprint
Tealbrook Kennels: A Legacy of Labradors + Love
Share with your friends! Pinterest LinkedIn Email Flipboard Reddit In Monticello, FL, down a quiet road lined with pine trees and pastures, Tealbrook Kennels is the life's work of 86-year-old Barbara Genthner — a devoted breeder, trainer, and Labrador enthusiast. What began decades ago as a modest kennel has become a legacy shaped by thoughtful breeding, expert training, and a deep respect for the bond between dogs and people. Barbara has guided Tealbrook through change and loss, quietly building a national reputation while honoring the memory of her late husband, Paul. Today, families, hunters, and field trial fans look to her for guidance and gorgeous pups. This is the story of Tealbrook Kennels and the remarkable woman who built it … one dog at a time. Pin Growing up on Duval Street behind the Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee, Florida, Barbara's love of animals was practically stitched into her childhood. 'As far back as I can remember, we had dogs and cats,' she recalls. 'The first one I can remember was a Collie.' They also had a Pekingese, and Barbara took it upon herself to teach him tricks. 'That was the earliest I remember having my hand at teaching or training a dog,' she says. That early connection blossomed through high school and into her college years at Florida State University, which had transitioned to co-ed in 1947, not long before she arrived in 1956. After losing her first husband, Barbara returned to her roots with animals. 'My dad got me a German Shepherd … I went to an obedience class, which helped teach me the basics,' she explains. It wasn't long before Gypsy, a black female Labrador, became her prized pupil. 'She didn't like the obedience classes; she liked retrieving,' Barbara chuckles. From those humble beginnings, Robinhood Kennels was born in 1965. 'My neighbor did the boarding stuff and I did the retriever training,' she says. Together, they laid the foundation for what would later evolve into a major success story. Pin Barbara's life shifted again in 1973 at a field trial. 'I was actually competing against Paul,' she remembers, 'who at the time had Cotton and Bandit, who were brothers … I was running Junior against some of his clients' dogs.' There was a mutual respect between the competitors, one that quickly deepened. They married in 1974, and their honeymoon was spent traveling to the National Field Trial championships in St. Louis with a dog named Casey. Pin Paul, a seasoned trainer from Maine, brought with him a legacy of his own — Tealbrook Kennels, established in 1950. 'There was a little pond on his property that had a brook that ran to it. He had Green-winged Teal ducks that would come in, so it became Tealbrook,' shares Barbara. And Barbara's love for Paul, the dogs, and the operation is undeniable. 'I can't express how wonderful it is to look back to when Paul and I had our first litter of puppies together, and revisit all our records of puppies and families that have been with us from 1974 to today,' she says. 'There are people who've seen their children and grandchildren carry on with our Tealbrook dogs.' Pin If Tealbrook had a patron saint, it would be Cotton. 'He was the first yellow (Labrador) out of his breeding,' Barbara says. 'No one running field trials would even look in a yellow Labrador's direction. Paul proved them all wrong.' Cotton defied expectations in a field dominated by black Labradors, becoming an AKC Field Champion, Canadian Field Champion, and Amateur Field Champion. 'Cotton was so sought after and gained so much attention that we sold him to one of Paul's clients,' she explains. 'Because you had to be an amateur for the amateur field title.' And it didn't stop there. Cotton's legacy endured in his son, Cash , who carried the torch for Tealbrook's line. In fact, the current stud at Tealbrook is his great great great grandson! Pin In 1979, the couple moved their operations from Tallahassee to Monticello, FL. 'I wouldn't say it was too hard. But one thing that did wear us out was that the very first thing on the new property was driving 45 minutes each way to build the kennel, and make it ready for the dogs,' Barbara remembers. 'The dogs were our livelihood; the house came last.' They built the lodge in 1985, and as clients stopped sending dogs south for training, Barbara and Paul shifted their focus to training the owners. 'We're so proud to be able to train owners and watch that evolution and true bond,' she says. 'The happiness that radiates from both owner and dog during training or that first retrieve — that makes me smile.' Pin As Barbara reminisces, she highlights some of her favorite belongings. The kitchen table is what she treasures most, and it's so much more than furniture — it's a sacred archive. 'Paul and I would sit at our table, looking out the big window at the deer,' she shares. 'Paul carved decoys; I painted them. We both loved to paint. We loved to talk. Under our kitchen table, there are years of the sweetest little puppy teeth marks.' More than 800 puppies are accounted for across six handwritten books she and Paul logged together at that table. And some of those pups have traveled as far as Alaska, Nova Scotia, and Ecuador. One unforgettable memory? 'One of my owners trained his Labrador Oscar for search and rescue … he aided in the Ground Zero, Twin Tower rescues of 9-11.' Pin But not all of the memories are easy. When Paul passed away, Barbara was uncertain of Tealbrook's future. 'When he died in 2007, I didn't think anyone would come back to me, being a woman,' she admits. 'A lot of clients stayed. A lot of new clients came.' She focused on breeding, though training was harder alone. Despite the sorrow, Barbara found joy knowing she could still bring happiness through her dogs. Pin If you ask Barbara what defines a Tealbrook Labrador, she doesn't hesitate: 'Gentle, loyal, and loving,' she says. Beyond their field abilities or accolades, it's the disposition that matters most. 'They become great family dogs and loving companions,' she offers. Her biggest hope is that the legacy will continue. 'The thing that makes me so sad is the lack of females to carry on the line,' she says. But thanks to clients and friends, she's working on preserving the lineage through selective breeding and even freezing genetics. Pin There's a reverent simplicity in Barbara's words when she sums it all up: 'If I could say one thing to any dog owner, it's that the best thing to do is think like a dog — to understand what they understand or don't. Don't punish them for stuff they haven't been trained for … They aren't people, as much as we want them to be.' And to the families, clients, and friends who've walked this journey with her? 'Thank you for being so loyal to me and loving my dogs like I do,' she says. 'That is the most important thing to me.' Pin ********** Keep up with the best parts of life in the South. Subscribe to StyleBlueprint! About the Author Jenna Bratcher Jenna Bratcher is StyleBlueprint Nashville's Associate Editor and Lead Writer. The East Coast native moved to Nashville 17 years ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.
