Air Force Academy's Falcon Mascot Hurt In Army Football Prank

Two West Point cadets’ prank on the Air Force Academy’s football team went seriously awry over the weekend, injuring the rival team’s falcon mascot.

The bird was bloodied during a botched kidnapping, but the injuries aren’t life-threatening and she appears to be on the mend, according to the Air Force Academy.

The West Point pranksters snatched two falcons belonging to the Air Force Academy: Aurora, a 22-year-old gyrfalcon that serves as the official mascot, and Oblio, a younger Peregrine falcon. The Air Force Falcons football team was at West Point for Saturday’s game against the Army Black Knights, which Army won. 

The Army cadets reportedly threw sweaters over the birds and locked them in a dog crate. When they returned the birds, Aurora’s wings were bloody, likely from thrashing in the crate.

“I think they had them for a couple hours and then they realized it was a bad mistake,” Sam Dollar, the Air Force Academy’s falconry team adviser, told The New York Times. “When Aurora started thrashing around in the crate, they decided that wasn’t a good thing.”

To read more on this story, click here: Air Force Academy's Falcon Mascot Hurt In Army Football Prank

FOLLOW US!

Tank, a 2-Year-Old Bulldog from Iowa Won Drake University's 36th Annual 'Beautiful Bulldog' Contest Sunday

The dogs came from as far away as New Jersey and Tennessee, in hopes of landing a new nickname: 'Beautiful Bulldog.'

They were all defeated by a native who likes eating snow and watching turtles.

A 2-year-old dog from Des Moines named Tank won the 36th annual Beautiful Bulldog contest Sunday, at Drake University.

Tank received top honors as well as a crown and cape.

He will appear before more than 16,000 fans, or, royal subjects  at the university's Drake Relays to be honored as mascot of the event, which will be held from Thursday through Saturday, according to the contest's website. 

The tongue-in-cheek beauty pageant, which featured 50 dogs, is the kickoff event for the Drake Relays track meet.

"He's funny," said Tank's owner, Duane Smith. "He's a real good one."

Pageant organizers narrowed a pool of more than 100 hopeful pups by a lottery held last month.

Judges weren't looking for beauty though. They wanted to see the slobber, drool and bulging, bloodshot eyes synonymous with English bulldogs.

They got all that and more from Tank, who now willingly shares his house with a Pomeranian and some turtles after Smith found him on Craigslist a year ago. 

Should Tank be unable to fulfill his duties as the Drake Relays mascot, fellow Des Moines dog, Steve will step in.

Steve was second even though he was initially so shy about the makeshift catwalk set up on Drake's basketball court that his owner had to pick him up and plunk him down, much to the delight of the few thousand spectators on hand.

There also was a 'Best Dressed' winner in Linus, the Lovebug, who had to be dragged around in a wagon because of arthritic legs, and the congeniality award went to a dog named, Princess Mabel.

If there was an award for driving the furthest to enter the contest it would have gone to Ronnie Sussman,  and her dog, Bex, who drove 17 hours from Union, New Jersey.

Sussman and Bex will go home empty-handed, but she said the trip was more than worth it.

"This is just like a bucket list item of life for me," said Sussman. 

Winner: Tank, a 2-year-old bulldog from Iowa won Drake University's 36th annual 'Beautiful Bulldog' contest Sunday

A real beauty: Tank, who enjoys eating snow and watching turtles, will now serve as mascot of this year's Drake Relays

Owner: Here, Tank enjoys a rub from his owner, Duane Smith, after winning the 36th annual contest

Pageant: The tongue-in-cheek beauty pageant, which featured 50 dogs, is the kickoff event for the Drake Relays track meet 

Bex in a tutu: Ronnie Sussman, of Union, New Jersey, walks her dog, Bex across the stage during the contest as part of the Drake Relays  FOLLOW US!

Meet Rosie, The Annapolis Coast Guard Station Mascot, Who Gets Her Promotion as First Class Dog in the United States Coast Guard

Annapolis, Maryland - At the Coast Guard Station in Annapolis, there are a few things that are guaranteed to happen every day.

The flag will go up, the commander will brief the troops…and to lighten the mood, Rosie will be there keeping an eye on everyone and everything.

“It’s an old tradition, dogs and cats seem to be the pets of sailors.”

Rosie, a beautiful Labrador Retriever is more than a pet, she’s the station mascot, but now, with 10 years of,” dogged service” she’s earned a promotion. She’s been to more of these promotion ceremonies than she’s able to count, so, she leads everyone to the right room.

“Know yee that reposing special trust and the fidelity and abilities of Rosie, I hereby do appoint her a first class dog in the United States Coast Guard.”

Just what are the traits that will lead to a promotion?

“Good for morale, good for the crew, she’s always here, she never has a bad day, a bad attitude, always happy to see everyone no matter what,” said BL1 Jim Abels.

So, here’s the rub…Rosie, bless her heart, now has some of her human colleagues.
“Ha, yes, yes, she outranks me, I do take orders from the dog,” said Petty Officer Brad Bishop.

So swab the deck and give me more treats, that’s an order.

Comparable to enlisted personnel, mascots can move up in rank upon completion of certain qualifications, such as mastering commands and observing the raising of the American Flag.

If you’d like to meet Rosie, the Annapolis Station will have an open house on May 9th.

FOLLOW US!

New D.C. Apartment Complex to Offer Communal Dog Mascot

Condos and apartments are going up all across the District, and with so many units hitting the market, developers are going to new lengths to attract prospective tenants.

Emmy the Bulldog is among the lures.

"I was sitting at a cafe one day and I just saw a puppy walking by -- it was a bulldog and everyone ran across the street and had to pet this dog," said Holli Beckman, W.C. Smith Vice President of Leasing Operations.

Beckman put her 'Eureka!' moment to work -- and brought in Emmy to help bring in new tenants.

"Like a community mascot, I could get down with that, I think it's a good idea," said prospective tenant Hayley Bangley.

Until her new home, “2 M Street,” is ready (Get it? Emmy?), she will spend her days at the developer’s office, socializing.

Doug Crawford will manage the property, and Emmy will live with him there full time.
"...Extremely positive, it's been a huge success,” Crawford said of prospective tenants’ reactions to the adorable bulldog.

Emmy will be available for play and romps in an interior dog park, but she won’t be allowed to leave the building with any tenant:

"It's not like she can be checked out like a book and taken away and not come back," said Beckman.

Since this building is going to be pet-friendly, another benefit of having Emmy here is is giving people who are considering a pet a chance to try it out see if they like it.

“They'll get an opportunity to interact and play and see if it is something that is a good fit for them,” said Crawford.

FOLLOW US!