A stroke of luck: Cat saves a life

WHEN 75-year-old Erna Pratt suffered a stroke in her kitchen, she was unable to move or call for help. Luckily, her 13-year-old cat, Trigger, witnessed Pratt falling. The elderly cat usually spends her time in front of the living room window, lying in a patch of sunlight, but when Pratt was in trouble, she hurried down the hall, meowing loudly enough to wake Pratt's daughter and get her attention. Thanks to Trigger's quick action, Pratt was treated in time and was able to return home after a two-week hospital stay. She credits Trigger with saving her life.

*  A study of how dogs swim discovered that rather than making a trotting motion underwater, their movement is more akin to running, using a complex stroke that is consistent from breed to breed. Researcher Frank Fish, of West Chester University, donned scuba gear to study just how dogs paddle in water. Underwater video showed that dogs extend their legs to propel themselves, sweeping down and back. As the leg comes forward again, dogs tuck it close to the body, reducing drag.