'We want to be very aggressive'

House fires claim over 350,000 pets annually in the United States. Most dog owners never consider how their four-legged family members would react during an emergency evacuation. We at DogingtonPost believe every fire safety dog deserves proper training before disaster strikes. Teaching your pet basic emergency commands and evacuation procedures can save lives when seconds matter most. What Commands Save Dog Lives in Fires According to the National Fire Protection Association, 500,000 pets are affected annually by home fires. Most pet owners focus on teaching sit and stay, but fire safety commands require different training methods that work under extreme stress. Training the Emergency Recall Command Standard come-when-called training fails during fires because dogs often hide from smoke and noise. Start training by using a whistle instead of voice commands. The ASPCA found that dogs respond to whistle signals even when they cannot hear human voices through smoke alarms and chaos. Practice the whistle recall daily. Blow three short bursts, then immediately reward your dog with high-value treats when they reach you. Train this command in different rooms of your house, including areas with loud background noise like near running appliances (washing machines or dishwashers work well for this practice). Dogs need at least 200 repetitions of this command in various environments before they master emergency recall under stress. The repetition builds muscle memory that activates even when your dog feels panicked. Teaching the Exit Command Professional dog trainers recommend teaching a specific exit command that directs dogs toward doorways during emergencies. Choose a simple word like “exit” or “out” and pair it with pointing toward the nearest door. Research shows that the presence of companion animals can substantially reduce evacuation likelihood during emergencies. Start training by standing near your front door. Say “exit” while pointing, then walk through the doorway with your dog following. Gradually increase the distance from the door when you give the command. Practice this command at different exits including back doors and basement exits (most dogs prefer familiar routes, so multiple exit training prevents confusion). Dogs should learn to move toward any exit you indicate, not just their preferred door. This flexibility becomes essential when primary exits become blocked by smoke or flames. Stop and Stay Commands Under Pressure Fire situations create chaos that can cause dogs to bolt in dangerous directions. Train a firm “stop” command that works even when your dog feels terrified. Use a deep, authoritative voice and practice this command during high-energy play sessions when your dog’s adrenaline runs high. The “stay” command prevents dogs from running back into burning buildings to hide in familiar spaces. Practice this command near doorways while creating distractions with loud noises or unfamiliar scents. Your dog must learn to stay put regardless of surrounding chaos. These pressure-tested commands form the foundation for successful fire evacuation plans that protect both you and your pet fire safety. How Do You Build Fire Escape Plans That Work Fire evacuation plans with dogs require you to map every possible exit from your home and practice specific routes until your dog moves automatically. The American Red Cross has responded to thousands of home fires and offers steps to help keep you safe, but most pet owners skip the plan phase entirely. Start by walking through your house and identify at least three different exit routes from each room where your dog spends time. Draw these routes on paper and time how long each path takes under normal conditions. Test Every Exit Route With Your Dog Dogs need hands-on practice with each escape route before emergencies happen. Walk your dog through every planned exit path at least once per week, and use the emergency commands you taught earlier. Practice these drills at different times of day because visibility changes dramatically during nighttime evacuations. The National Fire Protection Association found that home structure fires in 2023 caused 2,890 civilian deaths, so your dog must know these routes by heart. Create artificial obstacles during practice sessions by closing certain doors or blocking hallways to simulate real fire conditions. Pack Emergency Supply Kits That Actually Work Pack a dedicated emergency bag for your dog and keep it near your primary exit door. Include seven days worth of food, medications, vaccination records sealed in waterproof bags, a sturdy leash, waste bags, and a familiar toy to reduce stress. Store bottled water separately because it adds weight that slows down evacuations. Keep a second emergency kit in your car and update both kits every six months when you change smoke detector batteries. The ASPCA recommends that you include recent photos of your dog in case you become separated during evacuation chaos. Practice Night Evacuations Most house fires occur between 11 PM and 7 AM when families sleep (according to NFPA data). Your dog needs practice with dark evacuations because they rely heavily on visual cues during daylight hours. Practice evacuation drills with lights off and use flashlights to guide your dog toward exits. Dogs often freeze or hide in dark conditions, so night practice builds confidence they need during real emergencies. Run these dark drills monthly to maintain your dog’s comfort level with nighttime evacuations. While evacuation plans save lives, prevention stops fires before they start. Dogs accidentally cause nearly 1,000 house fires each year, which makes fire prevention training equally important for pet owners. How Dogs Start House Fires The National Fire Protection Association reports that dogs accidentally start nearly 1,000 house fires each year, with most incidents occurring when owners leave pets unsupervised around heat sources. These fires typically happen within the first two hours after pet owners leave home, which makes prevention strategies essential for dog owners who want to protect their property and neighborhoods. Remove Stove Knobs Before You Leave Home Dogs jump onto kitchen counters and accidentally turn stove burners when they step on or paw at control knobs. Remove all stove knobs each time you leave your house, or install stove knob covers that require adult-strength force to operate. The American Red Cross found that nearly 1,000 home fires each year are accidentally started by pets, with curious dogs and cats responsible for most incidents. Store the removed knobs in a kitchen drawer so you remember to reinstall them when you return home. This simple five-second habit prevents the majority of dog-started kitchen fires. Install Flameless Candles Throughout Your Home Traditional candles create serious fire hazards when dogs knock them over during play or while they explore elevated surfaces. Replace all wax candles with battery-operated LED versions that provide identical ambiance without fire risk. Dogs can knock over flameless candles without damage or fire risk. Keep traditional candles stored in closed cabinets where dogs cannot access them, and never leave lit candles unattended in rooms where your dog spends time. Dog-related incidents can result in significant property damage claims for homeowners. Secure Electrical Cords Away From Curious Mouths Young dogs chew through electrical cords and create sparks that ignite nearby furniture or carpet. Run all electrical cords through protective plastic tubes (available at hardware stores), or tape cords securely against baseboards where dogs cannot reach them. Replace any electrical cord that shows teeth marks immediately because damaged wires create fire risks even after your dog loses interest. Use outlet covers on unused electrical sockets to prevent dogs from contact with electrical connections. Final Thoughts Fire safety training transforms your dog from a potential liability into a prepared family member who responds correctly during emergencies. The 500,000 pets affected by home fires annually prove that preparation matters more than luck when disaster strikes. Your fire safety dog needs consistent practice to maintain these life-saving skills. Weekly drill sessions build the muscle memory your dog needs to follow commands under extreme stress. Dogs require consistent reinforcement to maintain emergency skills, so test recall commands, exit routes, and evacuation procedures regularly. These sessions also strengthen the bond between you and your pet while they create confidence that replaces panic during real emergencies. Prevention strategies protect your entire neighborhood from the nearly 1,000 fires that dogs accidentally start each year (simple habits like removing stove knobs take seconds but prevent devastating property damage). Your dog depends on you to provide the training and preparation that keeps your family safe. We at DogingtonPost provide practical advice that protects both pets and their families through responsible dog ownership resources.

Maine Sen. Candidate Graham Platner Has a Lot of Explaining to Do

Through the years, MRC’s Board of Directors has been a blessing — a guiding constellation of visionaries whose wisdom and commitment have carried us through every challenge. Without the extraordinary men and women who have served on this Board, the MRC would not stand as the steadfast voice for truth it is today. Their counsel has been our compass, steering us toward greater impact and purpose. It is with profound sorrow that we share news of a great loss not only to the MRC but to our nation. On Wednesday, after a courageous and faithful fight against a determined cancer, our esteemed Board member Karen Buchwald Wright passed away at age seventy-one. As my father wrote in a note to the staff: “Her generosity was extraordinary. But the kindness she showed everyone, and the affection she held for everyone in our MRC family — I know: she told me — was boundless. If there were a half-staff day of mourning tradition at the MRC, today would be that day.” Karen was an incredible mother to her sons, Alex, Hunter, Andrew, and Sam, and a loving grandmother to several grandchildren. She is survived by her husband Tom, her mother Maureen, and many friends who cherished her deeply. She was preceded in death in 2021 by her son Hunter, who fought his own brave battle against cancer. Born on the Fourth of July in Mount Vernon, Ohio, the namesake of George Washington’s historic home, it is as if Providence itself marked her for a life of patriotic devotion. Her love for liberty and faith in America’s promise burned bright throughout her seventy-one remarkable years. Her father, Jim Buchwald, founded Ariel Corporation in 1966, designing a revolutionary gas compressor from his basement. In 2001, Karen became President and Chief Executive Officer, transforming that family startup into a global leader in energy technology, a living testament to her ingenuity, discipline, and belief in American exceptionalism. As Chairman and founder of The Ariel Foundation, she poured her generosity into parks, education, the arts, historic preservation, youth programs, and the revitalization of her beloved Mount Vernon. A 2018 recipient of National Review’s William F. Buckley Jr. Prize for Leadership in Supporting Liberty, Karen was celebrated as one of the most consequential conservative philanthropists of our time. Her compassion and civic devotion were praised far and wide, from national organizations to her hometown newspapers, the Mount Vernon News and Knox Pages. Her gifts to education, cancer research, and local preservation projects, including the Karen Buchwald Wright Reading Room at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, will enrich generations to come. For more than twenty years, Karen stood shoulder to shoulder with the MRC, first as a loyal donor, then as a trustee, and since 2020 as a dedicated member of our Board of Directors. She was a joy to work alongside, wise, gracious, and always focused on the mission. Her counsel, insight, and enthusiasm helped strengthen our research, expand our reach, and solidify our standing as America’s premier watchdog of the media. On a personal note, it was Karen who convinced me that I could take up the mantle from my father, just as she had done from hers. She reminded me that leadership is not inherited, it is earned — and that the best way to honor those who came before us is to keep building boldly for the future. That wisdom has stayed with me every day. Every MRC study, exposé, and success story bears her mark. Because of Karen’s leadership and generosity, the impact of your support has grown exponentially, fueling new victories for truth and accountability. Karen will forever be part of the MRC, her legacy woven into everything we do and everything we will accomplish. Our loss is heaven’s gain. May her kind and generous spirit shine eternal. Farewell, Karen. Your legacy lives forever in our hearts.  

The president is still riding on global goodwill for the release of hostages from Hamas. On stage in Egypt, the president of Pakistan praised President Donald Trump for bringing peace to what could have become a nuclear war between Pakistan and India. The Israeli people love him more than they do their own leaders. But here at home, Democrats have kept voting to keep the government shut down. Democrats, however, have been careful with their battle. Trump has moved defense funding around to make sure the military gets paid this week. He will not be able to keep doing it, but for now, our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines will get paid. Democrats are publicly protesting that this is unconstitutional. None of them are, so far, willing to fight the president on it. Democrats are refusing to vote for the same continuing resolution authored by and submitted by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer just last year. The resolution is the same, and Democrats are now killing what they themselves wrote last year. Therein lies the problem for the Democrats. They want credit for fighting Trump and shutting down the government, but they don’t want any blame for shutting down the government. On Wednesday, the 15th day of the government shutdown, neither the New York Times, the Washington Post, nor the Wall Street Journal had a front-page story about the shutdown. If the press could praise the Democrats, they undoubtedly would. But at this point, few Americans are feeling the effects of the shutdown. Social security checks are going out, the military is getting paid, passports are being issued and life goes on. Eventually, Democrats will vote to reopen the government. As the president becomes increasingly empowered to fire federal employees, gut programs that make up core Democratic initiatives, and cancel federal projects in Democratic districts, the pain will keep growing for Democrats. If Republicans give them nothing, we can all wonder what the fight was over when the government goes back to work with Democrat votes. The only thing sure is that the government will reopen. When it does, and Democrats have gotten no up-front concessions (they will get some changes on healthcare), their base will be furious. They were smart not to fight on the issue of military funding and sue to stop payment. But here they must fight. Their base demands it. On Saturday, progressive activists are headed to Washington for a “No Kings” protest funded by leftwing billionaires who have helped move the party further left. Fight they must, but they will cave eventually because, also, they must. Should the Republicans be smart and offer nothing to the Democrats, when the government reopens, the base of the Democratic Party will savage the Democrats. The billionaire progressives, using their clout, will work to push the party further left because, to them, Trump is Hitler. Reopening the government allows Hitler to keep Hitlering. It is more than a bit humorous that the Democrats think the man who just freed Israeli hostages is the second coming of Hitler, but this is where the Democratic Party is. For those on the right who think we should be cautious in provoking a fight within the Democratic Party, they should remember that black and Hispanic voters have moved right as the left has more vocally embraced socialism. Pushing the Democrats further left certainly risks even more violence from the left, but also opens the door to the Republicans for a larger share of the public. The public may not care for Trump, but they positively despise the left and the Democratic Party’s drift to the left. As several internet jokesters pointed out, a year ago, Trump was slinging fries at McDonald’s and driving a garbage truck. This week, he negotiated peace in the Middle East, found a way to pay the military despite a government shutdown, but has yet to convince Chuck Schumer to release the American people as the Democrats’ hostages. By contrast, the Democrats seem small and insignificant and life goes on with President Trump as a singular, dominant force, and Democrats are unsure of which fights to pick.

This latest free speech victory could have huge implications for the future of European Union censorship in France.  Rumble announced its return to France in a Tuesday press release, writing that a French court had ruled that an email from a French cabinet official could not compel a social media platform to censor.   [The story continues on MRCFreeSpeechAmerica.org]

A Florida mother has been hit with more than 40 charges related to "grotesque" child pornography and sexual battery involving her 11-year-old daughter. The mom could face the death penalty if she is convicted of the horrific crimes.On Monday, a 34-year-old woman from St. Petersburg was arrested by detectives and hit with 41 total charges, including 13 counts of transmission of child pornography, 13 counts of sexual performance by a child, four counts of capital sexual battery, four counts of aggravated child abuse, three counts of lewd or lascivious molestation, three counts of sexual activities involving animals, and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device.'This is nuts. I don't know how else to describe it.'The mother could face the death penalty if convicted of capital sexual battery of a person under 12 years of age.The suspect was transported to the Pinellas County Jail and remains in custody without bond.Police urged that the name of the female suspect not be released to protect the child’s identity. A 38-year-old male was also not identified because the investigation is ongoing.Police said the man involved in the child sexual abuse material case is facing several felony charges, including child pornography and traveling to meet a minor to engage in sex.The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said in a statement, "Detectives began their investigation after learning that a 38-year-old male subject was involved in obtaining child pornography and meeting with young children."Police said detectives determined that the male obtained child porn from the female suspect."Detectives learned that the woman had been forcing her 11-year-old daughter to perform sexual acts on the suspect, herself, and the family dog," police stated. "Detectives say that the suspect would record and photograph these incidents, sharing them with a 38-year-old male."Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said during a press conference, "The things that the mother did to the daughter are graphic, and they are grotesque.""During March and April of this year, the mother created at least 14 videos of her 11-year-old daughter posing at the mother’s direction and engaging in various sex acts, including bestiality with the family dog," Gualtieri stated.Gualtieri noted that the mother used sex toys on her daughter."These acts constitute sexual battery or, as commonly referred to as rape, and because of the child’s age, the mother’s crimes are capital offenses punishable by death," Gualtieri said.Sheriff Gualtieri said the mother admitted to forcing her daughter to perform sex acts on video and sending the videos to the man when she was interviewed by detectives.Gualtieri added, "These cases are the worst cases of child abuse, and in this case, it’s not just sexually abusing a child; it’s gross sexual abuse of a young girl by her mother to satisfy an adult with a perverse craving for watching kids engaged in sex acts."Investigators are attempting to determine whether money was exchanged for the illicit videos.Gualtieri said investigators are looking into whether the mother sent explicit videos to others.RELATED: Dad who fostered about 20 children caught with child porn while leaving cruise with pregnant wife, kids: Affidavit The sheriff said the victim's father and a sibling lived in the same home. He added that investigators do not believe the father was involved in the alleged child sex crimes. The victim is being taken care of by the father, but the Department of Children and Families is "very involved" in the case.Gualtieri said there are no indications so far that the sibling was sexually exploited by the mother.The mother made her first court appearance on Tuesday, when a judge ordered the suspect not to have any contact with her daughter.WTVT-TV reported that the father was at the hearing, and he was "visibly upset and appeared to be praying at one point."Gualtieri stressed that there is a significant issue with child pornography crimes.The sheriff noted that 84 different people have been booked into the Pinellas County Jail on child pornography charges since January, resulting in approximately 900 charges of possessing or distributing child pornography."Think about that: That's 900 different videos of kids, mostly in the 5- to 12-year-old range, engaged in perverse sex acts for the pleasure of adults who seek, obtain, and watch these videos," Gualtieri said."This is nuts. I don't know how else to describe it. It's ruining kids' lives," Gualtieri said of the outbreak of child porn crimes.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Department of Homeland Security responded to an apparent threat to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from a group of thugs on social media.The video was posted to Instagram and other platforms and showed a group of young black males with the message, "ICE[,] We're on the way. Word in the streets cartels put a $50K bounty on y'all."'If you threaten or lay hands on our law enforcement officers we will hunt you down and you will find out, really quick.'The account is titled "Floridanamedjit" and belongs to an influencer with 26,000 followers on YouTube and 119,000 on Instagram.The official account for the DHS responded on the X platform in a statement that included the video."FAFO. If you threaten or lay hands on our law enforcement officers we will hunt you down and you will find out, really quick," read the message. "We’ll see you cowards soon." When Blaze News reached out to the influencer for comment, he offered the following response:"This was a skit and a joke ?? why are people taking this to [sic] serious!""It’s literally a skit video. It’s not real! It’s just a caption. It’s nothing to be taken serious about," he added in response to Blaze News' follow-up questions.A previous report from the DHS indicated that criminal cartels had placed bounties on federal agents, including $50,000 for the assassination of high-ranking officials. Kidnapping or non-lethal attacks on agents could allegedly garner between $5,000 and $10,000, while intelligence-gathering on agents could allegedly garner $2,000."These criminal networks are not just resisting the rule of law; they are waging an organized campaign of terror against the brave men and women who protect our borders and communities,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.RELATED: FBI: Anti-ICE messaging on bullets at shooting scene of ICE facility in Dallas President Donald Trump's escalation of border enforcement and mass deportations elicited many protests across the country and some violent attacks.In one particularly heinous attack, an ICE facility in Texas came under gunfire in September, and three detainees were shot, two of whom died. The alleged gunman then committed suicide and was later identified as 36-year-old Bratton Dean Wilkinson.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Disgraced former Republican Rep. George Santos of New York will be a free man, according to President Donald Trump.The president said in a post on social media Friday evening that he had commuted the sentence of Santos, who pleaded guilty to 23 felony counts related to campaign donation fraud. 'I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison. ... Good luck George, have a great life!'"George Santos was somewhat of a 'rogue,' but there are many rogues throughout our Country that aren’t forced to serve seven years in prison," wrote Trump.The president compared the situation to that of Democrat Sen. Dick Blumenthal of Connecticut, who had admitted to lying about his military service in Vietnam."This is far worse than what George Santos did, and at least Santos had the Courage, Conviction, and Intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!" the president continued."George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated," he added. "Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!"RELATED: George Santos pleads guilty to 23 felony charges, faces up to 7 years in prison: 'I'm taking responsibility' Santos surrendered himself in July to begin serving a maximum sentence of 87 months in prison. "Well, darlings… The curtain falls, the spotlight dims, and the rhinestones are packed," Santos wrote in a farewell message. "From the halls of Congress to the chaos of cable news what a ride it’s been!" he added. "Was it messy? Always. Glamorous? Occasionally. Honest? I tried… most days." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

David Guest NumismaticsThe couple ultimately unearthed 70 coins from their backyard, and they’re now expected to sell at auction for $300,000. In 2020, a couple in England was doing yard work when they discovered a number of “strange circular discs” by a fence. After washing the discs off with a hose, they realized that they’d actually found centuries-old gold coins. The coins, which date from the 1420s to the late 1530s, were seemingly buried by someone during the tumultuous reign of King Henry VIII. They’re now set to go to auction, where they’re expected to sell for at least $300,000. The Astonishing Discovery Of 70 Tudor-Era Coins In An English Couple’s Garden The coin hoard, set to be auctioned by David Guest Numismatics in November 2025, was discovered in 2020 by a couple who chooses to remain anonymous while they were working in their garden in the village of Milford on Sea. In an interview with Fox News, Guest explained that the couple was adjusting a fence near some flower beds when something caught their eye. David Guest NumismaticsThe front and back sides of one of the coins that was found by the couple. At first glance, the couple noticed clumps of “clayey soil” covering what appeared to be thin discs. But when their teenage son washed off the discs, they realized that they’d found 69 gold coins and one silver coins, all of them dating back centuries. The coins bear the likeness of four different kings — Henry VI, Edward IV, Henry VII, and Henry VIII — as well as two queens — Katherine of Aragon and Jane Seymour — and one cardinal. They were minted during the Tudor era, between the 1420s and the 1530s. The coins were seemingly buried in the 1530s, at which time they would have been valued at 26 pounds, 5 shillings, and 5-1/2 pence. This would have been a small fortune at the time. As Guest told Fox News, the average property price in rural England during this era was 25 pounds. Trustees of the British MuseumThe coins were worth a small fortune when they were buried in the 16th century. But not only are the coins valuable, they’re also exceeding rare. In his auction listing, Guest explained that they stand as the “only complete and fully documented gold coin hoard from the early Tudor period to come to auction.” They’re expected to sell for $300,000, though Guest believes the final price may be much higher. So why were the the coins buried in the 16th century? Their burial likely had something to do with Henry VIII and the English Reformation. The Tumultuous Period Of English History In Which These Coins Were Minted Though countries across Europe were beginning to question the authority of the Catholic Church as the Middle Ages ended, the English Reformation didn’t start until the reign of King Henry VIII. By the late 1520s, Henry had become increasingly convinced that his wife, Katherine of Aragon, would be unable to bear him a son. Divorce was prohibited in the Catholic Church, so Henry tried to convince the pope to annul his marriage, which he claimed was illegitimate. Public DomainKing Henry VIII, the famous English monarch who reigned when most of the newly-found coins were minted. The pope refused. And so, in 1532, Henry broke with the Catholic Church and helped create the Church of England, of which he became the head. During the English Reformation that followed, Henry and his allies set out to disband the country’s monasteries and to seize the wealth of the Catholic Church. During this tumult, the newly-unearthed hoard of coins was buried in Hampshire. While it’s impossible to know who buried the hoard, their reasons for burying the coins, or why they never retrieved their treasure, Guest suspects that the coins were buried because of the Reformation. Perhaps a monk or priest wanted to protect the wealth of his monastery or church. Whoever buried the coins, they failed to retrieve them. Instead, the treasure laid forgotten in Hampshire as the world moved on — Henry would, infamously, marry five more times — and it would ultimately take centuries for the coins to once again see the light of day. After reading about the Tudor-era coins that were found in a British couple’s backyard, discover the stories of Henry VIII’s children, each of whom played an important role in English history. Then, learn about Mary Boleyn, the sister of Anne Boleyn who was also one of Henry VIII’s mistresses. The post Tudor-Era Coin Hoard Found By British Couple Expected To Sell At Auction For $300,000 appeared first on All That's Interesting.