Latest news with #RaySmith
Newsweek
20-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Shelter Worker Steps In To Stop Cats Fighting—Ends Up Scratched and Shaken
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 29-year-old shelter volunteer turned to the internet for help when an incident with two cats left her with scratches across her face. Ray Smith helps out in a local Michigan animal shelter where she recently attempted to separate two cats before a fight broke out—a well-intentioned but hasty decision. Despite knowing better, Smith instinctively grabbed the stressed feline, leading to an immediate scratch that left her bleeding and in shock. "I was trying to separate a cat from another kitty before a fight broke out. I know better than to do this, but froze up in the moment and just grabbed her because she reminded me of my senior cat whom I'm very protective of. She got scared and scratched my face. Totally my fault," Smith told Newsweek. Pictures of Smith's face immediately after the cat scratches. Pictures of Smith's face immediately after the cat scratches. Adventurous-Apple659/Reddit "I was crying in the picture because it hurt so bad and was throbbing," Smith said. The severity of the wound sent her straight to the doctor for antibiotics, and, as the pain subsided, she sought additional advice online. When Smith looked at her skin afterward, the scratches left her shocked, and she turned to Reddit's r/30PlusSkinCare subreddit for help. "Will this permanently scar? I'm so distraught. Please be gentle," she said in a post online as u/Adventurous-Apple659. But the skincare community didn't disappoint, providing crucial tips—including keeping the wound covered with Vaseline and avoiding sun exposure—to minimize scarring. "I honestly think this subreddit saved me," Smith said. Cat scratches on humans are common, and most are minor and heal without issue. Despite this, there are safety considerations to keep in mind after being scratched by a feline. Cat scratches can introduce various bacteria into the skin and occasionally cause infections that could develop into complications. It is always a good idea to check an injury with a doctor after a cat scratch, and monitor the wound for any signs of infection including increasing redness, swelling, pain or pus. When it comes to fighting cats, it is important to intervene carefully to prevent injury to both cats and yourself. Experts advise using a loud noise, sudden movement or toy to divert attention and safely interrupt a fight, while placing a solid object such as a piece of cardboard or couch cushion between cats can help separate them safely. Smith's post resonated with many, drawing responses that eased her fears about lasting facial scars and gave her a solid game plan for recovery. The experience also served as a stark reminder: "I learned my lesson to never grab a stressed cat, no matter how protective I may feel," she said. Now healing, Smith remains grateful—both for the online support and the fact that she didn't suffer permanent damage. "I'm so grateful I didn't lose an eye in the encounter," she said, adding that her instincts briefly overrode her better judgment when she separated the cats.
ABC News
12-05-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Country mayors concerned by NRMA report showing $3.4b road funding backlog
Cash-strapped New South Wales councils are facing mind-boggling backlogs as they struggle to keep road networks up to scratch. An NRMA report estimates it would cost $3.4 billion to bring council-owned roads across the state up to standard after "an unprecedented wave of wet weather events over the past three years". Most of the damage has been done in regional areas, including the Clarence Valley, where the repair bill jumped from about $270 million in 2022-23 to more than $390m in 2023-24. Mayor Ray Smith said he was "not particularly surprised" by the findings. "Clarence Valley Council has one of the largest, longest road networks of any council in NSW," he said. "It's about 3,100 kilometres … trying to maintain that is a very, very expensive process. The Clarence Valley is one of seven councils across NSW with an estimated road maintenance backlog exceeding $100 million. NSW road funding backlogs 2023-24 Source: NRMA The backlogs tend to be less costly in metropolitan areas, where road networks generally cover shorter distances. The biggest backlog in the Sydney area is in Blacktown, where the repair cost is estimated at $84 million. NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said statewide the backlog had increased by 20 per cent on the previous year. He said the backlog for the Northern Rivers alone was $594.5 million. "Not surprising considering the amount of rain and damage over the last few years that has been done to those councils and their roads," Mr Khoury said. He said numbers in the Northern Rivers were likely to get "even worse" next year when the effects of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred were factored in. Country Mayors Association of NSW chair Rick Firman said the statistics were "very, very confronting". "It actually just hits you right between the eyes … how dire the situation is," he said. "It cannot continue in the manner that it is. "We need help and we want to partner and assist with our federal and state governments along this journey, but again, the old saying — if you haven't got socks on, you can't pull them up." NSW Roads and Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison said the report was being reviewed but was "generally consistent" with what was already known. "In response to the increasing impact of natural disasters on the road network in our state, the 2024-25 NSW budget delivered $3.3 billion to rebuild road and transport infrastructure damaged by multiple severe weather events, which hit regional NSW the hardest," she said in a statement. NSW was allocated $3 billion in road safety funding over the next 10 years in the 2024-25 federal budget. The Commonwealth will provide about $630 million in road funding grants to NSW councils in 2025-26 under programs including Roads to Recovery and Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure. But Wagga Wagga Mayor Dallas Tout said a longer-term solution was needed. "We'll get different pockets of money, but there's no long-term systemic solution at this stage," he said. "We'll get splashes of cash, but there's not the ongoing funding and that's what needs to happen. "That's what needs to be ongoing into the future — recurrent funding."
