This Small Town Throws a Spring Party So Big, Locals Say It Feels Like Christmas

Each year in the Cornish town of Helston, England, spring doesn’t just arrive—it explodes into celebration. Known as Flora Day, this 200-year-old tradition transforms the quiet community into a joyful, flower-filled spectacle that draws more than 20,000 visitors annually. Locals describe it as “Christmas and birthdays rolled into one,” and for good reason: it’s a full-day event of music, dancing, and community pride. At sunrise on May 8, brass bands take to the streets and thousands of residents—many dressed in formal wear—dance through homes, shops, and public spaces decorated with vibrant spring flowers. The entire town joins in, young and old alike. Lisa Pascoe, who’s been dancing in the parade since she was six, says the magic of the day never fades. “It’s about friends and family, and being proud to be from Helston,” she says. Her mom adds, “It’s the happiest day of the year.” Other highlights include Hal-an-Tow, a lively outdoor performance that blends folklore, local history, and theater, and an evening dance that closes out the celebration. The event isn’t cheap—it costs about £13,000 (around $16,000 USD) to put on—but it’s entirely funded by local businesses and donations. Organizer Nigel Pascoe says it’s worth every penny: “It’s a beautiful moment when the whole town comes together.” For the people of Helston, Flora Day isn’t just a festival. It’s home, heritage and happiness all rolled into one.

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High School Pitcher Defies Vision Loss; Baseball Field Inspires Alzheimer's Research

With the MLB playoffs in full swing, two powerful stories are reminding fans that baseball’s most meaningful moments don’t always happen under the big-league lights. In Connecticut, a high school softball pitcher is rewriting what’s possible with sheer determination and love for the game. In Arkansas, a grandfather’s backyard field has become a fundraising force for Alzheimer’s research, sparked by personal loss but sustained by community. Pitching through blindness to win a championship Jenica Matos, the 17-year-old ace of the Cheshire High School Rams softball team, isn’t just a talented pitcher—she’s legally blind. “It started when I was about 10 or 11,” Matos said. “I told my parents that while playing softball, the ball kind of looked fuzzy, like it wasn't as clear as it used to be.” She was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a rare genetic condition that erodes central vision over time. Today, Matos can no longer see faces from the dugout and relies heavily on contrast and instinct. Her catcher wears a black mitt and a white chest protector, giving her a visual target. The rest? It’s all muscle memory. “My pitching coach, we work a lot on muscle memory and knowing when I release the ball, where it’s gonna go,” she explained. That focus paid off in the biggest way: Matos was on the mound when her team clinched the Connecticut state championship. A video of the final out still brings her back to that moment. “It’s just like, truly amazing,” she said. Next year, she’ll be attending St. John’s University on a full softball scholarship. Turning grief into purpose—one baseball tournament at a time In Fayetteville, Arkansas, what started as a backyard baseball field for two grandchildren has grown into something much bigger—thanks to one man’s devotion to both the game and his wife. Ten years ago, Sam and Pat Perroni built a regulation Little League baseball field near their home. “If you build it, they will come,” Sam said. And they did. Kids came to play. Families came to watch. It became a local favorite. But behind the growing field of dreams, the Perronis were facing a difficult reality. Pat had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at just 62. As the disease progressed, she eventually required full-time care. Sam, heartbroken, turned his grief into action. He launched the Perroni Field of Dreams Tournament, an annual baseball event run entirely by volunteers. From the concession stand to field maintenance, every dollar raised goes toward Alzheimer’s research. “The very first official tournament, I think we raised $5,000,” Sam said. “And then every year we’ve set a goal higher, and every year we’ve surpassed the goal.” His ultimate goal: $1 million a year for research. In May 2025, Pat passed away, giving the tournament even deeper meaning. Sam, now 77, says families approach him each summer to share their own stories of Alzheimer’s. “It leaves a lasting impression,” he said. “I just really believe that one person can really make a difference.” As fans tune in to the postseason this month, stories like these serve as a reminder: baseball isn’t just a game—it’s a lifeline, a source of strength, and sometimes, a way to heal.

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She Saved a Stranger's Life, and it Was Inspired by Her Grandmother's Cancer Battle

Emily Coiro has made a career out of helping others. But in May 2024, she went one step further—donating her own stem cells to save the life of a stranger. Coiro, 34, is a nurse practitioner who specializes in stem cell transplantation for blood cancer patients. Her connection to this work is personal. When she was just three years old, her grandmother was diagnosed with leukemia. Years later, her grandmother battled lymphoma as well. Though she never required a stem cell transplant, those experiences shaped Coiro’s path. “Blood cancer is special to me, because of her,” Coiro said. “I love my Grammy. She’s always been my biggest supporter—she’s helped me be who I am.” Coiro spent six years as an inpatient nurse at the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. There, she cared for patients preparing to undergo the intense chemotherapy and radiation required before a stem cell transplant. "Sometimes it's the only option for survival," she said. “It's very scary—and I just want to be their greatest support system.” Through a residency program with Hackensack Meridian Health, Coiro learned about the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), formerly known as Be The Match. In late 2019, she and her husband signed up and completed the simple cheek swab to join the registry. “I actually thought my husband, being 100% Italian, would be a great match for everybody in New Jersey,” she joked. “I never thought they’d call me.” But they did. Just three days after graduating from nurse practitioner school in May 2024, Coiro got the call: she was a match for a patient with leukemia. “My jaw just dropped,” she said. “Are you sure it’s really me?” She immediately began the screening process to make sure she qualified. While she wasn’t nervous about the procedure itself—she knew the drill inside and out—she worried something might go wrong. A cold, a minor illness, anything could jeopardize the timing and risk the recipient’s chance. Five days before donation, she began injections to stimulate her bone marrow to release stem cells into her bloodstream. “It feels like the flu,” she explained. “You feel your bones working.” When donation day arrived, it happened to be her grandmother’s birthday. “This is a sign that everything will be okay,” she remembers thinking. The procedure took six hours. Coiro spent the day in a big chair, surrounded by colleagues and friends—many of them nurses she had worked with or would soon join in her new outpatient role. Now, in her current position, Coiro often works with people who are donating their stem cells to strangers—just like she did. That personal experience allows her to connect with donors on a deeper level. She hasn’t met the recipient of her stem cells, but says she thinks about them every day. “This is a life-saving opportunity,” she said. “I just want to do everything I can to help.” Her grandmother is proud beyond words. “She sends me text messages saying, ‘You’re my hero,’” Coiro said. “I think she’s probably still not over it.”

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Scientists Uncover Dandelion Seed Dispersal Secrets, Offering Insights for Agriculture

What started as a simple father-daughter ritual—blowing on dandelions during walks—turned into a full-fledged scientific study about how the humble weed manages to spread its seeds so effectively. Chris Roh, a fluid dynamicist at Cornell University, found himself wondering about the mechanics behind this everyday act. He and a team of researchers have now answered that question in a study published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface. Their findings offer new insight into how dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) manage to cover so much ground—literally. “It sets the trajectory and governs a lot of how far they will go and where they will land,” Roh said in a statement, emphasizing how crucial the moment of seed detachment is in a dandelion’s life. To investigate, the researchers glued force sensors to individual seeds and pulled them away from the seed head in different directions. The results were striking. Pulling downward required nearly five times more force than pulling upward. And when the team tried to pull the seed straight out, it took over 100 times more force than an upward tug. What’s going on here? Looking under a microscope, the researchers discovered that each seed is connected to the plant by a fine tether, reinforced on one side by a horseshoe-shaped support structure. This asymmetry turns out to be key. When wind hits the reinforced side, the seed stays put. But when a gust catches the open side, the seed detaches easily and floats away. This design means dandelions don’t release all their seeds at once. Instead, only the tufts on the wind-facing side take off, increasing the odds that they’ll land farther away—and in more favorable conditions. It’s a tiny but sophisticated system that optimizes survival. The logic is simple: seeds that travel farther have a better chance of avoiding overcrowding, resource competition, and disease. “Seed dispersal over a wide area … offers seedlings the chance to thrive by avoiding being in close proximity to their relatives,” wrote Mary Abraham for Nature News and Views. This ability to disperse efficiently is one reason why dandelions are so widespread. It’s also part of why they’re a persistent headache for anyone trying to maintain a pristine lawn. But for scientists, the dandelion is a success story in adaptation—and potentially a model for future agricultural innovation. Study co-author Sridhar Ravi, an engineer at the University of New South Wales, believes the findings could help improve how crop seeds are distributed. “It could lead to more efficient planting techniques that reduce waste and increase yield,” he said. In the meantime, Roh and his daughter will likely keep blowing on dandelions together—now with the added knowledge that each puff sets off one of nature’s most finely tuned engineering feats.

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Rwanda's Mountain Gorillas are Thriving Thanks To Community-Led Conservation Efforts

The mist-covered slopes of Rwanda’s Virunga Mountains hold more than just ancient volcanoes and lush forests—they shelter over half the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, a species once on the brink of extinction. Now, thanks to a uniquely community-driven approach to conservation, these gorillas are not only surviving, but slowly increasing in number. Only 1,063 mountain gorillas remain on the planet. More than half live in Rwanda, where their protection is more than a scientific mission—it’s a matter of national identity. For many Rwandans, their survival represents resilience, pride, and a future where both people and nature can thrive. The gorillas' primary stronghold is Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda’s northwest. The park is small—just 160 square kilometers—but surrounded by some of the most densely populated rural areas in Africa. Over the past century, agriculture, settlement growth, and resource use have steadily chipped away at the forest. What was once a continuous canopy is now a patchwork of fragile habitat bordered by human activity. In this tight space, conservation efforts depend heavily on human decisions. Rwanda has embraced a model that doesn’t just include communities—it centers them. And that’s changed everything. One of the most powerful symbols of this approach is Kwita Izina, Rwanda’s annual gorilla naming ceremony. Since 2005, more than 438 infant gorillas have been named in a public celebration modeled after traditional Rwandan baby-naming rituals. It’s a cultural event that makes clear: protecting gorillas is part of Rwanda’s national story. Tourism plays a big role, too. Gorilla trekking brings thousands of visitors each year, and the revenue doesn’t just go to the government—it’s shared directly with local communities. Ten percent of tourism income is reinvested in schools, health clinics, clean water, and other essential services. This has created a visible, tangible link between thriving ecosystems and improved livelihoods. Perhaps the clearest sign of impact can be found in the people themselves. Many of the rangers and guides protecting the gorillas today were once poachers. For them, the shift from hunting to conservation was driven not just by new opportunities, but by a growing sense of shared responsibility. When conservation includes people rather than excluding them, transformation is possible. That philosophy shaped one Rwandan conservationist’s journey through a youth externship with the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy. The program provided hands-on experience, connecting academic interests with real-world conservation work. From studying habitat loss to developing a reforestation initiative called “Replanting for the Remaining 1000,” the externship helped link science with community action. One conversation during the program stood out. A former poacher turned park ranger shared how conservation gave his life new direction. That single moment underscored a broader truth: saving the gorillas isn’t just about protecting wildlife. It’s about building systems where people and nature can coexist. Despite all the progress, the challenges are real. The gorillas’ habitat is still limited. Human-wildlife conflict persists. Climate change is altering rainfall patterns, with ripple effects on both forest health and food security. In response, Rwanda has launched one of its most ambitious conservation projects yet—a 37.4 square kilometer expansion of Volcanoes National Park. That’s nearly a 25 percent increase in protected space. But it’s not just about drawing boundaries. The plan includes buffer zones to prevent conflict, land restoration efforts, and new support for families who live nearby. Those affected by the changes are receiving housing and help transitioning into conservation-based livelihoods. It’s a bold step, and a long-term vision. One that sees people not as obstacles to conservation, but as its most powerful force. The mountain gorillas’ story is one of resilience—their own, and that of the people who live beside them. These great apes have survived conflict, poaching, and shrinking forests. That they’re still here—and that their numbers are growing—is a reminder of what’s possible when conservation is driven by community, culture, and commitment. The work isn’t finished. But the progress already made shows what can happen when people choose to protect, not exploit. In the end, humans are the gorillas’ greatest threat—and their greatest hope.

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A New Vaccine is Aiming To Save Young Elephants From a Deadly Virus Worldwide

Chester Zoo in England has long been a pioneer in elephant conservation. Back in 1977, the zoo made headlines as the first in the UK to successfully breed Asian elephants in captivity. Fast forward to today, and their efforts are more pressing than ever. Asian elephant populations have plummeted by at least 50 percent over the past three generations, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature. These elephants face threats from habitat loss, deforestation, and poaching. Adding to these challenges is a deadly disease: Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). This fast-acting virus can cause severe blood loss and often results in death within 24 hours for young elephants under eight years old. The Chester Zoo experienced this tragedy firsthand in 2009 when they lost a calf to EEHV. In response, they launched the "Never Forget Campaign," raising £250,000 to fund research into a potential vaccine. In 2019, Indali Hi-Way, one of their calves, survived EEHV after intensive treatment—a rare success story. By 2021, the zoo began trialing the first doses of an experimental vaccine on its elephants. Now, there’s promising news for elephant conservationists worldwide. The zoo announced that with trial results published by 2025, the vaccine is ready for global distribution. Katie Edwards, lead conservation scientist and study co-author at Chester Zoo, stated that this development is a "watershed moment." She added that it offers significant hope toward ending elephant deaths from EEHV. Falko Steinbach of the University of Surrey highlighted this progress as a "landmark moment." He noted that it's the first time a vaccine has shown it can elicit the necessary immune response in elephants against EEHV. Javier Lopez, Chester Zoo's head of veterinary services, emphasized making the vaccine widely accessible. "As a conservation charity," Lopez said, "our goal is for the vaccine to be open source and freely available to help save as many elephants as possible." He described EEHV as a "silent killer" but expressed optimism that this new tool could turn things around.

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This Community is Rallying to Replace a Young Girl's Stolen Bike with Acts of Kindness

A young girl in Colorado got an unexpected reminder that kindness is alive and well—even in the face of disappointment. After parking her bike outside a PetSmart in Highlands Ranch, a community between Denver and Colorado Springs, the girl returned to find it gone. She had only stepped in briefly to grab some items for her dog. Her bike, one of her most prized possessions, had vanished. Douglas County Sheriff's Office Community Safety Volunteer Stephanie Trotter stepped in to help, asking nearby businesses for any surveillance footage. Brakes Plus manager Kevin O’Sullivan responded right away, requesting video from corporate. But when the footage came back with no leads, O’Sullivan couldn’t shake the feeling that more could be done. “We were bummed, we wanted to do something,” he told Upworthy. That night, after discussing it with his girlfriend Lori, the idea came: what if they bought the girl a new bike? The next day, O’Sullivan shared the plan with his team of technicians and salespeople. Every single one of them was in. They started collecting money on the spot—$20 or more each. Neighboring shops heard about it and chipped in too. Within a week, they had enough not just for a new bike, but for a bike lock as well. O’Sullivan reached out to Ms. Trotter again, asking if she could connect him with the girl’s father. When the time came to present the gift, they handed her a thoughtful card filled with the funds they'd raised. “She looked stunned,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s a good feeling, seeing her smile and light up after hearing how much she missed her bike and loved riding it.” It was a personal moment for O’Sullivan, who remembers losing his own bike as a teenager. “When I was 14, I worked at a supermarket three miles up the road from my home. One night I came out of work and my bike was stolen,” he recalled. “At that age, your bike is your most prized possession.” Others on his team had similar experiences. “We wanted to show her that everybody is not evil,” he said. Bike theft is a persistent issue across Colorado. According to Ray Ecke, president of Right Word Media Inc., the state ranks among the highest in the U.S. for bike theft per capita. “To address this, bike owners in Denver are encouraged to register their bicycles with the Denver Police Department’s 529 Garage program,” Ecke said. But sometimes prevention doesn’t go far enough. That’s when community can step in. For O’Sullivan and his team, the hope is that their gesture sets off a chain reaction. “It was a pay-it-forward kind of thing,” he said. “And maybe at some point in her life, she will remember this and do the same for someone else.”

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Blockbuster Sequels Set To Ignite Box Office Revival This Winter

The box office is gearing up for a blockbuster winter season. After a dynamic summer, the ticket sales momentum seemed to slow in the fall, but things are set to heat up again. Analysts predict that this year's domestic box office haul could surpass $9 billion, potentially marking the highest post-pandemic revenue yet. Paul Dergarabedian from Comscore notes, “The box office year-to-date domestically is running about 4 percent ahead of last year and, if we can expand on that lead, we could be looking at the biggest post-pandemic year for movies.” Currently, domestic ticket sales stand at $6.5 billion for the year, slightly ahead of last year's $6.3 billion at the same time. The record to beat is $9.05 billion from 2023. Excitement builds with Disney's "Tron: Ares" expected to kick off a successful run through the end of the year. Following closely are Universal’s “Wicked: For Good” and Disney’s “Zootopia 2,” both anticipated to bring in over $250 million each in domestic sales. These films will be followed by James Cameron's much-anticipated “Avatar: Fire and Ash." Shawn Robbins from Fandango comments on the significance of these releases: “Fall typically sees its ups and downs, but the trifecta formed by ‘Wicked: For Good,’ ‘Zootopia 2,’ and ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ during the holiday season cannot be overstated in its significance.” Other films contributing to box office numbers include Universal’s “Black Phone 2,” Disney and 20th Studio’s “Predator: Badlands,” Paramount’s “The Running Man," and Universal’s “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.” Eric Handler from Roth Capital Partners expects fourth-quarter earnings to reach $2.5 billion, which would mean a 7 percent increase compared to last year. This would bring full-year revenues close to $9.1 billion—a 5 percent rise from 2024. Macquarie analysts have even higher hopes, projecting a fourth-quarter total of $2.7 billion and an annual figure of approximately $9.2 billion. Looking beyond this year, they see continued growth into 2026 with major releases like "Avatar: Fire and Ash" paving the way along with upcoming blockbusters such as "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," "The Mandalorian and Grogu," "Toy Story 5," "Minions 3," "Moana," "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," "Avengers: Doomsday," and "Dune: Part Three." With these potential hits lined up, it's clear that cinema fans have plenty to look forward to as theaters continue their recovery post-pandemic.

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Vibrant Autumn Colors are Set To Dazzle Across The UK

After a summer of sunshine followed by a wet September, Britain’s gardens and woodlands are gearing up for a spectacular autumn. National Trust gardeners across the UK say this year’s weather has created perfect conditions for vibrant foliage, abundant nuts and berries, and a bumper crop of fungi. The mix of warm days, steady rain, and cooler nights has set the stage for a long, gradual season of fiery reds, golds, and yellows. “Autumn is such a pivotal moment in the calendar,” said John Deakin, head of trees and woodland at the National Trust. “Shorter days combined with normally cooler temperatures and changes to rainfall patterns all contribute to the vivid sylvan scenes of ochres, oranges, red and yellows we associate and love with the season.” He explained that recent years of unpredictable weather have made it difficult to forecast autumn colour. “However, this year with the combination of reasonably widespread rainfall in September and a particularly settled spring, we should hopefully see a prolonged period of trees moving into senescence—the gradual breakdown of chlorophyll in leaves, which reveals the pigments that give leaves their autumn colour—as well as a bounty of nuts and berries.” The early September rain also helped reverse what some gardeners called a “false autumn,” when heat-stressed trees began shedding leaves prematurely. Even Storm Amy, which swept through parts of the UK over the weekend, caused less damage than expected, leaving the nation’s trees intact and ready to shine. At Sheffield Park and Garden in East Sussex—famous for its dramatic autumn displays—head gardener Steve Feazey said the rain arrived just in time. “Our trees have had a good drink and we are now hopeful that our autumn display will be as fiery and spectacular as ever,” he said. “When our bitternut hickory at the entrance turns completely yellow, we’re officially in autumn—I think this will happen this week. Cold nights and potential frosts over the upcoming weeks will then accelerate the autumn colour.” In nearby West Sussex, Petworth House and Park—whose golden landscapes were once painted by J.M.W. Turner—has also begun its transformation. “Some of our veteran trees suffered during the summer drought,” said countryside manager Martyn Burkinshaw. “Some have unfortunately died and others have already dropped their leaves for winter, but our American oaks, scarlet oaks and pin oaks are beginning to turn red.” Further west in Wiltshire, Tim Parker, gardens and countryside manager at Stourhead, expects peak colour in late October or early November. “We’re already seeing early performers like the katsura tree turning buttery yellow and there is some acer colour—and there’s plenty more to come,” he said. In south Wales, Dyffryn Gardens head gardener Chris Flynn said visitors can expect “a rainbow of colour” from the site’s Persian ironwood, which shifts from bright green to purple, orange, and nearly black. The season is also shaping up to be unusually rich in fungi. At Dyrham Park near Bath, meadows are dotted with waxcap mushrooms, while at Dunham Massey near Manchester, head gardener Emily Chandler said this year’s acorn crop is “the largest we have ever seen.” With the promise of crisp air, glowing canopies, and hedgerows heavy with berries, the coming weeks are expected to bring one of the most colourful and bountiful autumns the UK has seen in years—a perfect excuse to pull on a jumper, head outside, and watch the countryside turn to gold.

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Purpose In Life May Reduce Dementia Risk, UC Davis Study Finds

Having a sense of purpose in life might just be your brain's best defense against dementia, according to recent research from the University of California, Davis. This study analyzed data from 13,765 Americans aged 45 and older over a period extending from 2006 to 2020. The researchers found that individuals who reported having a strong sense of purpose were about 28 percent less likely to develop dementia. The study dug into participants' psychological well-being and cognitive health with follow-up surveys conducted up to 15 years later. A fascinating aspect is that even those who had a genetic predisposition for Alzheimer's benefited; they experienced either a delayed onset or reduced likelihood of developing dementia if they had a clear sense of purpose. Psychiatrist Aliza Wingo highlights the brain-boosting benefits: "Our findings show that having a sense of purpose helps the brain stay resilient with age." While medications like lecanemab and donanemab offer some delay in symptoms, public health researcher Nicholas Howard points out that these drugs come with risks and costs. On the other hand, cultivating a purpose is free and accessible. Interestingly, this isn't an entirely new concept. Previous studies have suggested similar links between purpose and lower dementia risk, though they've typically focused on older demographics for shorter durations. What sets this study apart is its broad participant base and extended timeline. The exact reasons why having a life purpose seems to protect against cognitive decline remain unclear. Nonetheless, it adds an intriguing layer to ongoing discussions around Alzheimer's prevention strategies. Cognitive neurologist Thomas Wingo offers an optimistic view: "What's exciting about this study is that people may be able to 'think' themselves into better health." So what gives life meaning? The study didn't ask participants this directly because it's deeply personal and subjective. Purpose can stem from relationships, career goals, faith, or helping others. This extensive research has been published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

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Loyal Dog Leads Deputy To Injured Grandmother After Fall In Florida

A loyal dog in Florida turned rescuer after leading police straight to his owner’s injured mother. Bodycam footage released by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office shows a deputy responding to a worried husband who reported his wife missing after she failed to return from a short walk. “She never takes more than 10 or 15 minutes, and it’s almost an hour now,” the man told the deputy. Moments later, as the deputy began searching the area, a dog named Eeyore appeared. “Show me where your mama is,” the deputy said — and Eeyore immediately took off down the road. Following the determined dog, the deputy soon found the woman lying on the ground after a fall. “The dog brought you?” the woman asked in disbelief. “He wouldn’t leave. He kept coming back to me.” Eeyore’s quick thinking and persistence likely saved precious time in getting help. As the deputy checked on her injuries, the woman praised her furry rescuer. “Oh, Eeyore, you’re a good boy. Grandma loves you,” she said, petting him affectionately. The sheriff’s office shared the footage online, calling Eeyore “a very good boy” — a title few could dispute.

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