Latest news with #RagstoRiches
CTV News
20-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘It was a little scary': Rags to Riches Cat Rescue seeking guidance to bring operations into compliance
The Rags to Riches Cat Rescue is located on a three-acre property along Colonel Talbot Road in Norfolk County, just south of Tillsonburg. It started as a registered charity about two years ago, and last June, shelter founder and CEO Tammy DaPalma, co-opted her husband's garage to house a growing number of cats. 'Cats that we're picking up that have unfortunately had trauma done to them, whether they be shot or claws pulled out or ears cut off, things like that. We're here to make a difference.' DaPalma told CTV News that many of the cats that land at her doorstep have been abandoned on rural roads, often a mom and her litter. DaPalma said cat rescues routinely get slammed in the spring with a higher number of drop-offs, 'We're doing what we can to save the cats out in the countryside.' Rags to Riches Cat Rescue Rags to Riches Cat Rescue on May 20, 2025. (Gerry Dewan/CTV News London) About three weeks ago, responding to a complaint, members of the Provincial Animal Welfare Service (PAWS) arrived at the Rags to Riches property. DaPalma says she wasn't told the nature of the complaint or who filed it but within a week there was a follow-up visit. 'So, we had five provincial vehicles here in the driveway. It was a little scary. There was three vet techs, the veterinarian and the original two officers. They went through and they inspected all of the animals. There were a couple that they wanted quickly rushed to the vet.' DaPalma insists those cats had recently been seen by a veterinarian but complied with the request. The PAWS team then sent follow-up letters with concerns for what they called rampant feline respiratory infections. 'Their main concern being that they are in a 30-by-30 building is that there's no quarantine space. So essentially what we would need is a much larger building to continue doing what we do for our operations. And we would need two separate quarantine spaces,' DaPalma said. Rags to Riches Cat Rescue Rags to Riches Cat Rescue on May 20, 2025. (Gerry Dewan/CTV News London) DaPalma estimates the shelter had about 200 cats and kittens when PAWS inspectors first visited the property, and volunteers have been working to move cats to other rescues and shelters since that time. She said she hasn't been able to get answers regarding what kind of timeline the shelter has to reach compliance, or exactly what that might look like, but has been told the cats may be removed by the province. 'Essentially, when I asked the question, 'What would happen to these cats if you came in and chose whoever you wanted and you couldn't find space for them with other rescues?' And there was dead silence on the other end of the phone,' she said. Asked what her biggest fear was, she replied, 'I could only assume that would mean euthanasia.' The Provincial Animal Welfare Service Act says euthanasia can be ordered if an animal is suffering, if its owner or custodian cannot be found promptly or if the veterinarian believes euthanasia is the most humane course of action. CTV requested comment from PAWS officials but, as of the posting of this article, hadn't received a response. DaPalma says there's been no indication if or when there will be a return visit by PAWS.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Mother of murdered teen reacts to school worker's arrest for tampering with evidence
A woman who works at an Orange County school is behind bars at the Orange County jail, after Osceola deputies say, she tampered with evidence involving the murder of an Osceola teenager. We talked to the teen's mother about the arrest. Monique Meza says, 'It makes me scared for parents. To have someone like that around their children.' Whispering Oak Elementary food service worker Jessica Rivera is walked out in handcuffs. Osceola deputies say, she tampered with evidence relating to the murder of 19-year-old Nekko Herrera. The school district says she was arrested after hours for a situation unrelated to the school. And will not be returning. Monique tells us, 'Every parent's worst nightmare is losing your child.' Investigators say Nekko was shot to death, back in April while riding in a car with friends. 'I'm glad they made some arrests, but it doesn't bring him back.' Deputies arrested Orvill Osorio-Ortiz for murdering the teen. They say Rivera was his girlfriend. They haven't said what evidence she tampered with. We asked how her son knew the couple, 'He didn't, he didn't. he was in the car with four other boys, the driver of the car had a problem with a 17-year-old.' Monique misses her son dearly, 'Nekko was one of the most kind, intelligent and outgoing. He was an entrepreneur at heart. 'She says Nekko was a clothing designer who planned to open a business. And keep his memory alive, the family is launching his website. 'We are launching his website Rags to Riches. He wanted to live, he was excited about his future.' And Monique says deputies told her, that anyone involved in the murder of her son will be held accountable. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
WIRED
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- WIRED
Put Your Back Into It, Matey, on Aviron's Strong Rower
I like Rags to Riches, where you and the other players, who are in big boats, all row to launch cannons at incoming pirate ships, with the goal of protecting your treasure. In this game, you work together with other players, but there are also plenty of head-to-head and group competition games that offer more straightforward racing formats. The variety of games is truly impressive. When I initially heard about the machine, I assumed the only kind of games you could play on a rower would be race-like, but Aviron's programmers have come up with all kinds of interesting options to keep you entertained. You can play games where you row to shoot at bugs or throw snowballs varying distances, or where you have to keep your power within a certain range to hop into different race track lanes to collect points. There are even Pong-like options. The idea here is to allow users to work out without thinking about it and for the programming to have the same addictive quality as actual video games. It does feel like gaming, in the sense that you can invite friends who are Aviron users to play with you, hop into group games that are already taking place when you sign in, and collect coins as you play that you can use to change your avatars or backgrounds or unlock new game packs. New games are always being added to the Aviron interface, too, so it's hard to get bored. Photograph: Kristin Canning There are other cool workout options, too, if gaming isn't your thing. You can stream shows, row in scenic destinations around the world, row against pro athletes, and follow guided, prerecorded workouts and training programs from coaches. There's also the option to do your own workout and track your metrics, like meters rowed, splits, watts, calories, output, strokes, and heart rate (if you're wearing a monitor and have it connected to the machine via Bluetooth). The metric tracking feature is one of few you can utilize if you don't get the Aviron membership.
