CHUBBUCK, Idaho - Skeeter the poodle (pictured above) can do one thing really well: play dead. That's because the 11-pound pooch has narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder that is extremely rare in dogs. "He has no personality right now," his owner, Shari Henderson, said. "It is scary. I don't want him turning into a couch pillow." Henderson took the dog to the veterinarian after Skeeter started falling fast asleep at the oddest times. Skeeter would be doing the things that dogs love, like chasing a squirrel, going for a walk or sniffing a fourlegged friend. All of a sudden, the dog would be out cold. Skeeter's vet, Walter Rowntree of Bannock Animal Medical Center, said there are no statistics available on the prevalence of narcolepsy in dogs because the condition is so rare in canines. Skeeter is being treated with human medicines - Ritalin and an antidepressant - in hopes he'll be barking back to normal.
Associated Press
Fans leave notes on Cards' park
St. Louis Cardinals fans just can't win. First, some bars around Busch Stadium had to serve alternatives to locally brewed Budweiser when distributing drivers went on strike. Then the team failed to advance to the World Series. On top of all that, Busch Stadium will soon be torn down as the Cards move to a new ballpark. Fans have left their marks by signing posts, telling of memories at the park from the past 39 years.
Don't cross her picket fence line
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FRANKFORT, Ind. - A stay-at-home mom is on strike - giving up her daily chores until her family gives her more help around the house. Regina Stevenson, 41, sat on a lawn chair Tuesday on the sidewalk outside her home in Frankfort, 20 miles southeast of Lafayette, with a sign saying "Mom on Strike." Stevenson has four children, ranging in age from 7 to 19. The youngest three live at home with her and her husband, Dennis, along with their daughterin-law and grandson. "I do everything except bring home the paycheck," she said, crediting her husband for that contribution. "(Stay-at-home moms) are not paid with money, and I think that you should show a little courtesy and respect for what we do,'' she said.
Associated Press
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Today's best bet
Brno Chamber Soloists, 7:30 p.m., Memorial Auditorium, Concordia College, Moorhead. Czech Republic musicians make their North American debut. (218) 299-4366
