Freshly groomed dogs pose in their very own version of the nativity scene

By
Monica Pop
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All the decorations around us, the sparkling Christmas trees, people rushing to buy gifts for their loved ones, and the euphoria felt in every neighborhood announce the arrival of the so much-anticipated holidays.

However, the festivity is not the same without the beautiful nativity scenes that depict the birth of our Savior. They are pretty much everywhere, in every church and every house, but this year, a nativity scene like no other was set at the Wags To Riches, a grooming company in England.

And as you might be guessing, what makes this particular scene so unique is that the main characters are freshly groomed pups. To be honest, we think this is beyond adorable.

And now if you wonder how these lovely doggies managed to stay still during the photoshoot, here’s the answer. “It’s amazing what dogs will do for a biscuit,” the owner of Wags to Riches said. “They were all happy to sit for the photo.”

The dogs are all well-behaved and belong to the shop’s clients, except for the one in the manger, which is a figurine doll.

Once these photos went viral, Wags to Riches decided to do more photoshoots for different occasions, including New Year, Valentine’s, and the Royal Wedding.

Although we love all these photos so very much, we can all agree that none really beats the nativity scene. And yes, the audition for this year’s holidays is ongoing, and it looks just like on the photo below.

Everyone is allowed to enjoy the festivities, including the animals.

Mel Gibson’s son Milo is pursuing a career in the film industry

By
Monica Pop
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Finding yourself in the right place, at the right time is what some believe to be luck, but I call it destiny. When actor Mel Gibson was given the script of Braveheart and was offered the legendary role of rebel William Wallace who fought against King Edward I and his oppression, he could sense that script will change his life forever.

“It is just a funny corner of history that I’d never heard of before. And the script was a very haunting piece of work,” the actor said.

“I put it down and thought, it’s a pretty good script’. And then I couldn’t stop thinking about it, it obviously got inside my head. It was given to me on an acting basis, but I just felt I had to tell this story, I repeated scenes and sequences inside of my head. So that’s a pretty good indication that you probably should direct it.”

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The story behind excelling the Scottish dialect is definitely worth sharing. Well, Gibson learned from the best, the most famous Scotsman, Sir Sean Connery himself. Of course, Gibson’s mother being of Irish origin played its part as well.

“We were at Andy Vajna’s place and he’s Hungarian, so he made Goulash. Now, imagine Sean Connery saying that word,” Gibson said on The Graham Norton Show. “To hear Sean actually utter a word like ‘goulash’ is a lesson in itself. You just pick up the accent from the people you’re talking to and hearing and he helped me perfect my Scottish accent.”

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This role is what cemented his position as a true Hollywood legend, although the rest of the movies he starred in and the roles he played throughout his career were more or less as significant as that of William Wallace.

Gibson has nine children, and one of them, his son Milo Gibson, is pursuing a career in the film industry just like his father. In fact, Milo didn’t really plan on becoming an actor and his dad never pushed him into the business. Speaking of his parents, Milo said how they always believed the kids should be let to choose their own profession.

All of Gibson’s children were provided with the most natural upbringing there is. They were never really part of that Hollywood glam.

“It wasn’t a showbiz childhood,” he says. “Our parents kept us out of that type of world,” Milo Gibson told The Australian. “Because it changes people, I think.”

“We didn’t grow up in the Hollywood lifestyle clique. I basically did everything other than going into the career of acting; I wanted to do more of a blue-collar job that involved real people.”

And so it was. Milo worked as a private massage therapist for a couple of years and became an electrician later on. But, as it turned out, the love for acting was always there, and before long, Milo tried himself in the film.

Youtube/Today

Milo had his first significant role in his dad’s movie, Hacksaw Ridge, in 2016, where he starred alongside Andrew Garfield. Working with his dad was an incredible experience, according to the young actor. “It was nice to see him behind the camera. I learned that you have to be comfortable taking risks and then stick with them; one of the keys in acting is to be vulnerable.”

In 2017, Milo starred in The Tribes of Paolos Verde, and a year later, he was part of All the Devil’s Men and Breaking & Exiting.

Milo is a good looking young man who inherited his dad’s charm and talent, so it’s safe to say that we will be seeing more of him in the years to come. Speaking of the uncanny resemblance with the Mad Max star, Milo told The Australian, “Sometimes people go, ‘Hey, you look like Mel Gibson!’ And I go, ‘F**k, I wish!’”

Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville shows off his incredible weight loss

By
Monica Pop
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Hugh Bonneville, who is probably best known for portraying the role of Lord Grantham Robert Crawley in the British historical drama series Downton Abbey, stunned his fans with his new looks after loosing weight.

Wikipedia Commons / Marie-Lan Nguyen

Well, I guess the actor himself won’t be satisfied reading an introduction like this for himself because he always spoke of his work and his movies before this hit series and says that when fans and media identify him with the role of Robert Crawley it feels to him like he never stared in a movie before he took that role. But he still confesses that it was the series that changed a lot both in his personal and professional life.

”I’ve always tried to say: “Oh it has not, it has not,” but of course it has – totally. I managed to keep working for 25 to 30 years before but in terms of the opportunities that it has afforded all of us, it has been remarkable. And the friends we’ve made around the world have been extraordinary, as well as to know that in every territory that the show has been shown it has been successful and loved,” Hugh told Berkshire Life.

Facebook / Hugh Bonneville

Of course, he was famous in Britain before, but it was after Downton Abbey that he gained a worldwide fame.

Hugh has a degree in theology from Cambridge University but his career took a different path when he realized how much he wanted to be on stage and in front of the camera. Becoming an actor turned to be his calling and he built an impressive career in the film industry over the years.

Speaking of his decision to join the National Youth Theater, Hugh told Buzz Magazine, ”It changed my life. I never thought I was going to be an actor when I was in my teens, but it gave me an opportunity to explore the thing that I loved doing as a hobby, and gradually it became something I wanted to try as a career.”

Hugh Bonneville / Instagram

Back in 1999, he was offered the role of Bernie in Notting Hill and that’s when he stole the hearts of his fellow British people.

Hugh Bonneville / Instagram

What caught the eye of his fans recently is Hugh’s “new” body. He appeared at the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of VJ Day where he read King George VI’s speech in August looking completely different. In fact, he lost a lot of weight thanks to a low carb diet. Hugh spoke openly about his weight and said how he hired a personal trainer who helps him in the process of changing his lifestyle to a healthier one.

Screenshot / BBC

Many people commented how he looks gorgeous and we can’t agree more.

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s dog Lupo has died — rest in peace

By
Monica Pop
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Lupo was a dog who held a special place in the heart of the British Royal family.

This amazing canine became part of Kate Middleton and Prince Williams’ lives before their firstborn child was welcomed into the world.

Sweet Lupo was part of the family for eight years and he was so special that he allegedly helped choosing George’s name when he pawed at the piece of paper with that name written on it, according to the Daily Star.

In fact, Lupo was welcomed in at the time Prince William was deployed with the RAF to the Falklands Islands for six weeks. “It was when they’d just got the spaniel to help her with the time apart,” and unnamed source told Hello Magazine. Lupo was part of the litter of the dog owned by Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took to Instagram to share the devastating news with their followers, writing, “Very sadly last weekend our dear dog, Lupo, passed away. He has been at the heart of our family for the past nine years and we will miss him so much.”

Kate’s brother, James Middleton, also paid tribute to Lupo. “Nothing can ever prepare you for the loss of a dog,” he wrote on Instagram. “For those who have never had a dog, it might be hard to understand the loss. However for those who have loved a dog know the truth: a dog is not just a pet; it is a member of the family, a best friend, a loyal companion, a teacher and a therapist.”

“Rest in peace Lupo. You will always be remembered and your legacy will live on forever.”

Lupo was very much loved and he was part of many of the family’s photos they shared with the public.

Couple feeds 200 people for Thanksgiving using catering deposit from canceled wedding

By
Monica Pop
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This year will probably be remembered as the year that changed the way we live. After the coronavirus pandemic we will hopefully learn not to take the simple things as gathering with our family for Thanksgiving and going out with friends for granted.

Sadly, many young couples who were about to get married in 2020 were left disappointed for not getting their dream wedding, but Emily Bugg and Billy Lewis’ canceled wedding ceremony brought something good for the less fortunate.

As their $5,000 deposit for the food at the reception was nonrefundable, Emily and Billy came up with an awesome idea. They used the deposit to purchase 200 Thanksgiving dinners for the clients of the nonprofit organization Thresholds which provides help for people with mental illnesses and for those who struggle with substances abuse.

Billy, who is an outreach worker at the organization told Good Morning America, “In the grand scheme of things, canceling a big wedding isn’t the worst thing that could happen. We’re happy to be married, and we’re so happy that we could help Thresholds’ clients feel the connection of a Thanksgiving meal as a result of the wedding cancellation.”

The happy couple tied the knot at the City Hall in Chicago on October 1 and said that being married is what matters most, not the lavish ceremony they once dreamed of.

Many people praised them for their kind deed because they showed that even amid the chaos the whole world is currently in, we should never forget to be humans who care for one another.

Rescuers stunned to find 79 slow lorises in boxes

By
Monica Pop
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It’s been said that “love for money is root to all evil” and the sad reality is that people are often ready to cross the line solely for the purpose of becoming reach, even if that means making others miserable. 

The wild animals trafficking is one of those cruel ways of making money. Recently, 79 slow lorises had been found stuffed into tiny crates. The poor animals were left with not enough food or water, starving, scared, and left fighting for their life. 

Slow lorises are one of the most widely illegally traded animals. People love them for their unique looks, but very few are aware that they are on the verge of extinction. 

Hopefully this story will serve as a wake-up call for the animal lovers and activists who would spread the word of the issue even further. 

Source: IAR

The number of slow lorises that are poached from their natural habitat to be illegally sold is very huge. These particular animals that were reported by a neighbor who had noticed how two men were placing them into the boxes were taken from the jungle in West Java, Indonesia. The final destination was supposed to be China, where they would end up as someone’s pets. 

After the authorities were informed about the case, they arrested the traffickers and quickly reached out to the officials of the West Java Regional Office of the Forestry Department (BKSDA) and International Animal Rescue (IAR).

The rescuers arrived in no time, but unfortunately, the animals were in a very horrible condition and it was way too late for some of them. 

According to International Animal Rescue, during the process of transportation, which is done in overcrowded and poorly ventilated containers, 30 to 90 percent of the slow lorises die. 

Source: IAR

“There were two or three in each box,” Lis Key, PR and communications manager for IAR, explained. “Being kept in there for as long as two months must have been frightful for them. For a shy, nocturnal wild animal, confinement in one of those boxes for any length of time must have been traumatizing, let alone being moved around and transported.”

After thorough examination, it was determined that almost all of the animals’ bodies were covered in bruises, wounds, and bite marks. Doctors assumed they were attacking each other in a state of panic and fear, and it is heartbreaking to hear.

Source: IAR

“Captive wild animals often develop stereotypical [abnormal] behaviors to cope with their stress,” Key said. “They are at risk of biting each other [and] carrying out repetitive movements, such as head bobbing or swaying to and fro, crying, failing to eat or drink, trying to hide in a corner of the box.”

One of the slow lorises had a BB gun pallet firmly stuck on his cute little face. 

Source: IAR

“That poor animal must have been in terrible pain until he came into the care of our medical team,” Key said.

The rescuers were more than happy to be able to nurture these overly cute animals back to health, and eventually release them into the wild again. Unfortunately, many have died in the hands of the monsters who made them suffer this way. 

Slow lorises are known for their potentially deadly venomous bite, so in order to make them more pet worthy before they are sent to the buyer all their teeth are extracted with a nail clipper or a wire cutter with no anesthetic. 

Source: IAR

The ones that had been discovered had their teeth, and that was some good news. 

You have probably come across videos online of slow lorises being tickled. This is presented as something cute and something they enjoy, but on the contrary, it is very painful for them and lifting their arms up is a defense mechanism. 

What many people don’t know is that they are nocturnal animals, which means they are active during the night, so being exposed to light while being kept in brightly lit places causes pain and suffering. 

“They are certainly in the best hands now, and our team will give them the best chance of recovering and returning one day to their home in the rainforest,” Key said.

The IAR staff is glad they managed to save most of the slow lorises. 

Source: IAR

“It is extremely encouraging that the Majalengka Police and the Forestry Department have acted so swiftly and decisively in tackling this wildlife crime,” Key said. “And also very heartening that the local community came forward and reported the illegal activity of the two hunters. It really gives us hope to see local people and government bodies acting to protect wildlife species and punish those who exploit them.”

Take a look at the video below and remember that slow lorises should never be kept as pets. 

Parents provide their 6-year-old son with surgery after he falls victim to bullying because of his big ears

By
Monica Pop
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We often tend to portray young kids as innocent, but the truth is that some of them can be mean towards their friends and classmates. Sadly, that leads to bullying, which is an issue many young people face nowadays.

Gage is a six-year-old boy who has experienced bullying by his friends because of his ears. He has been called “Elf Ears” and other names that broke his heart each time.

His parents, Kallie and Tim Berger, couldn’t stand to see their son being sad and feeling different so they made a drastic decision; to give Gage a surgery for his protruding ears.

They believed that it would help to put a stop to the bullying, although they knew children that young shouldn’t have made their son go through such an ordeal because of his looks in the first place. But as it turned out, the teasing could only be stopped if they fixed Gage’s ears. They also knew all those names his friends called him made Gage less and less self-confident with each passing day.

“He just gets really down on himself and he thinks, ‘I’m not good enough,’” Callie told CNN.

“I just don’t want to be made fun of,” Gage said.

But now, thanks to his parents and plastic surgeon Steven Mobley, Gage got his ears pinned back and is finally happy with the way he looks.

“They often get some not-so-nice names stuck to them, like ‘bat ears’ or ‘elf ears,’ and that sticks with them through middle school and high school,” doctor Mobley said.

When sweet Gage looked at himself in the mirror after the surgery, he couldn’t believe his eyes and his initial reaction was, “Oh my Gosh!” It was enough for his parents and his doctor to know that they have done just the right thing.

You can take a look at Gage’s story and his transformation in the video below. He looks awesome, although we believe he was as handsome even before the surgery.

5-year-old boy joins police officer’s table because he believes he feels lonely

By
Monica Pop
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No one can really make your day the way children can with their naive actions and kind deeds. Officer William Klees knows this all too well. His encounter with five-year-old boy named Oliver Navejar warmed the hearts of many who stumbled upon their story.

Namely, Oliver is a very friendly young man who loves spreading kindness and positive vibes wherever he goes. Just before Christmas, he and his mom Danielle went to the mall to run some errands when she needed to use the bathroom and told him to wait for her.

Source: WSAZ News Channel 3

When she got out, she noticed her son was sharing some food with officer Klees. As it turned out, while waiting for his mom, Oliver noticed the policeman having lunch all by himself so he thought he could join him. In fact, Oliver didn’t want the officer to feel lonely during the most wonderful time of the year.

Danielle wasn’t surprised by her son’s action. Oliver knows he is not supposed to talk to strangers, but he was also taught that he should trust the police officers and go to them whenever he feels he’s in trouble.

Source: Danielle Navejar/Facebook

This mother was very proud of her son. She said she always tells her son to be kind to the people he meets, and she was very glad those lessons stack with him.

The encounter between Oliver and Klees made the young boy say how he wants to be a police officer himself when he grows up. Klees was as excited for meeting someone as caring as Oliver and said how the boy made his day.

Source: WSAZ News Channel 3

Oliver on the other hand, couldn’t stop bragging that he made friends with a “real” policeman.

Everyone who has seen the photos of these two agree that it is the small things in life, like Oliver’s kind gesture of making company to someone he believed felt lonely, that matter the most.

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