Latest news with #ShihTzu
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Neighbour 'killed couple on nudist ranch after being humiliated with a hot dog'
A man accused of murdering his neighbours at a nudist resort amid a decade-long feud snapped over a hot dog, a court has heard. Michael Royce Sparks, 62, is said to have bludgeoned Daniel Menard, 79, and his wife Stephanie, 73, at Olive Dell Ranch in Southern California last August. The couple's bodies were found in bags in a concrete bunker underneath Sparks' home five days after they were reported missing by worried friends. Authorities have not revealed a motive in the killings, but a neighbour told local media at the time that Sparks hated the Menards and that they argued over a tree between their properties. During a court hearing this week, a detective testified that Sparks had confessed to the killings to another inmate. Redlands police detective Thomas Williams told the court Sparks said he was driven over the edge after feeling humiliated when Mr Menard gave him a hot dog. 'He said Mr. Sparks felt that the hot dog was a jab at him, making him feel like he was worth only a dollar hot dog, and that's what set him off that day,' Mr Williams said. The court heard he also sent a text message to a friend asking about the search for the Menards after seeing it on the news: 'Chopped up my neighbors. Didn't know I had it in me. SNAPPED.' Mr Williams said the couple were killed with a rake, a hoe and a hammer, adding that their bodies were then taken down into Sparks' concrete bunker. There, he is said to have mutilated Mr Menard's body and dismembered Mrs Menard. The prosecutor said Sparks also admitted drowning the couple's Shih Tzu, Cuddles, in a sink and throwing away her body. The couple and their dog were last seen on August 24 and reported missing to the Redlands Police Department by a worried friend. Five days after they went missing, searchers found their remains. 'Sparks) didn't like the Menards,' neighbour Tammie Wilkerson told KTTV-TV. More Trending 'He said it many times that he hated them, but I never thought he'd do something like this.' The couple's unlocked car was found near their residence in Olive Dell Ranch, and both their phones and Stephanie Menard's purse were still inside their home. Daniel Menard was described as a diabetic with dementia. Olive Dell Ranch is a family, and couples-friendly nudist resort in Colton, California, that is an 'ideal spot to enjoy the nudist/naturist lifestyle whether visiting for the day or an overnight stay,' according to its website. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Sister charged with murdering film director in missing diamond Rolex case MORE: Woman, 44, stabbed to death inside shop on busy main road MORE: 'Gang of girls' attack elderly woman in park leaving her 'bleeding from the head'
Wales Online
2 days ago
- General
- Wales Online
Incredible drone footage shows moment dog is found after vanishing during walk
Incredible drone footage shows moment dog is found after vanishing during walk Roxie ran away when they encountered a couple with two large dogs, and was found by a drone pilot in the early hours of the morning Dramatic Drone Footage Of Lost Dog Scampering Across Dunes As Rescuers Close In A Welsh community was on tenterhooks when a beloved dog went missing on a seaside stroll. Five-year-old Roxie, the Jack Tzu vanished from view amongst dunes and despite hours searching, she remained missing. Owners Liz Richardson and her husband John were joined by local volunteers as the Anglesey online community waited hours for updates. By sheer chance, in the dead of night, Roxie's silhouette was caught on a drone camera equipped with thermal imaging showing her dashing through the Aberffraw's dunes. The nail-biting footage shows rabbits darting while Roxie runs through the dunes, all captured by drone operator Dafydd Edwards from Holyhead. Thanks to the footage she was safely retrieved and an overwhelmed Roxie was finally reunited with Liz. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here Dealing with the pain of losing another dog just two months prior to this incident, Liz expressed her relief saying: "I couldn't bear to lose another. Even when I heard Roxie had been found, I didn't dare believe it until I saw her. Then I couldn't stop hugging everyone, I was so grateful." The ordeal unfolded on Monday afternoon (June 16) as mother-in-law Margaret ventured out with Roxie and Lola, a Shih Tzu, for their routine walk. Setting off from Rhostrehwfa near Llangefni, Margaret opted for the stunning dune scenery of Aberffraw on the west coast of Anglesey, a favourite amongst dog walkers for its vast dunes leading up to the magnificent Traeth Mawr beach, reports North Wales Live. Article continues below However, when Margaret came across a couple with two large and friendly dogs, Roxie became scared. Roxie takes it easy back home in Rhostrehwfa after a hard day chasing rabbits (Image: Liz Richardson ) Liz, 52 said: "In a flash, she was gone. Poor Margaret spent an hour searching for her in a state of panic." Having no other option, Margaret rang home. Liz and John immediately got into their car to make the first of three trips to the dunes. After two hours they returned home to charge their phones so they could post an appeal on Facebook. "It set off a series of events that eventually led to Roxie being found," said Liz. "I still can't believe how many people wanted to help - we live in such a wonderful place here." Following advice from online followers, Liz and John went back to leave food and clothes with familiar scents in the area, hoping Roxie would be lured to safety. One spot was where she was last seen, another was near a cottage following a reported sighting. Joining the search was local man Richard Mulcahey. "He stayed with us the whole day," said Liz. "We didn't get home until 1.30am the next morning. He was incredible – I contacted him afterwards to say he was my hero!". Unbeknownst to Liz and John, discussions were taking place online and one of these led to Dafydd Edwards, a volunteer drone pilot with rescue charity Drone SAR For Lost Dogs (DSFLG) UK. With over 3,500 pilots and 3,000 ground search volunteers, it helps reunite around 750 dogs each year. With daylight dwindling, architectural designer Dafydd took to the skies over Aberffraw with his DJI Mavic 3T drone, equipped with a thermal camera that was picking up numerous heat signatures. He said: "I came across rabbits by the dozen and a darting fox, sending our hearts racing as we hoped we might be closing in on Roxie. "Flying at night with a thermal camera is much easier than searching during the day, when there are lots of people around and it's harder to differentiate objects." After draining two batteries, their initial hope began to wane. The wind had picked up, compelling Dafydd to fly the drone at a mere 10-15 metres. "The drone was on the edge of its capability," he admitted. Then, half an hour after returning to Rhostrehwfa, Liz received an exhilarating call. "Dafydd said he'd spotted her!" she said. "So we bombed out again." From left: Relieved owner Liz Richardson with volunteer searcher Richard Mulcahey and drone pilot Dafydd Edwards (Image: Liz Richardson ) Amidst the plethora of rabbits, locating a diminutive Jack Tzu – a hybrid of Shih Tzu and Jack Russell – was a challenge. Dafydd managed to identify one slightly larger heat signature and upon zooming in, it seemed to be a dog. He said: "It was pure luck. I kept tracking the dog but as soon as Liz and John arrived, the battery ran out again and I needed to make another change. I was worried I'd lost Roxie but luckily she was still in the same spot when the drone went back up." John and Richard were led to Roxie's hiding spot, with some invaluable advice from social media users. "We had a lot of advice from Facebook users, especially Gillian Metcalf," Liz expressed. "We were advised not to all shout Roxie's name in case she took fright. When John was closing in, he was calling out gently for Lola instead - the idea was that Roxie would be curious and feel she was missing out on something. It seemed to work - she was quickly back on a lead." Liz could barely contain her gratitude upon their reunion saying: "I could scarcely believe she was back and unharmed, I couldn't stop thanking everyone. I've been overwhelmed by everyone's kindness. In this day and age, you think there aren't many people willing to help for nothing, but this shows that's not true. I count myself so lucky to live here." Dafydd, frequently called upon to seek out lost pups said: "It's always very rewarding when you make a successful rescue." Article continues below In appreciation, Liz made a gesture of thanks to the Dog Search and Find group, contributing to DSFLG UK and registering herself as a volunteer searcher. As a token of appreciation and practical measure, she's also being gifted a dog tracker to prevent future escapades into rabbit-filled meadows with Roxie.
Wales Online
4 days ago
- General
- Wales Online
Roxie was feared lost by the seaside - until something 'wonderful' happened
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An island of dog lovers held its breath when a treasured pet went missing during a walk. Roxie, a five-year-old Jack Tzu, had scampered out of sight across dunes and hours of searching had drawn a blank. Her frantic owners, Liz Richardson and husband John, were joined by volunteers as Anglesey's social media community anxiously waited for news. In the early hours of the morning Roxie was spotted by 'pure luck' by a drone pilot using a thermal camera. Drone video of the rescue shows rabbits scattering in her wake as she ran across dunes at Aberffraw. Guided by drone pilot Dafydd Edwards from Holyhead, Roxie was picked off the common before being handed to her disbelieving owner. Only two months earlier, she'd put to sleep an older pet dog. 'I couldn't bear to lose another,' she said. 'Even when I heard Roxie had been found, I didn't dare believe it until I saw her. Then I couldn't stop hugging everyone, I was so grateful.' The drama began on Monday lunchtime (June 16) when mum-in-law Margaret took Roxie and Liz's other dog Lola, a Shih Tzu, out for their daily walk. From Rhostrehwfa, near Llangefni, she chose to drive to Aberffraw on Anglesey's west coast: its huge dune complex, leading to the spectacular beach of Traeth Mawr, is a popular spot for dog walking. But when Margaret encountered a couple with two large and affable dogs, Roxie took fright. 'In a flash, she was gone,' said Liz, 52, a nursing assistant at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor. 'Poor Margaret spent an hour looking for her in a state of panic.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Admitting defeat, Margaret call home. Liz and John jumped into their car to make the first of three visits to the dunes. After two hours they returned home to recharge their phones so they could post an appeal on Facebook. 'It set in motion a chain of events that was to eventually lead to Roxie being found,' said Liz. 'I still can't believe how many people wanted to help - we live in such a wonderful place here.' (Image: Liz Richardson) Acting on advice from online followers, Liz and John returned to leave food and familiar-smelling clothes in the area in the hope Roxie would be drawn to safety. One location was where she was last, another was near a cottage following a reported sighting. Joining the search was local man Richard Mulcahey. 'He stayed with us the whole day,' said Liz. 'We didn't get home until 1.30am the next morning. He was incredible – I contacted him afterwards to say he was my hero!' Unknown to Liz and John, conversations were being had online and one of these was to lead to Dafydd Edwards, a volunteer drone pilot with rescue charity Drone SAR For Lost Dogs (DSFLG) UK. With more than 3,500 pilots and 3,000 ground search volunteers, it helps to reunite some 750 dogs each year. (Image: Planes & Drones/@dafyddwedwards) With light fading Dafydd, an architectural designer, headed to Aberffraw. He was flying a DJI Mavic 3T drone. Equipped with a thermal camera, it was throwing up numerous heat signatures. 'I came across rabbits by the dozen and a darting fox, sending our hearts racing as we hoped we might be closing in on Roxie,' he said. 'Flying at night with a thermal camera is much easier than searching during the day, when there are lots of people around and it's harder to differentiate objects.' (Image: Drew Buckley/NRW) After getting through two batteries, initial optimism was fading. By then the wind was blowing hard, forcing Dafydd to fly low at 10-15 metres. 'The drone was on the edge of its capability,' he said. Thirty minutes after arriving back in Rhostrehwfa, Liz got a call. 'Dafydd said he'd spotted her!' she said. 'So we bombed out again.' With so many rabbits around, finding a small dog like a Jack Tzu – a Shih Tzu crossed with a Jack Russell – was never going to be easy. Dafydd said he picked out one heat signature that seemed a little larger and, when he zoomed in, it appeared to be a dog. 'It was pure luck,' he said. 'I kept tracking the dog but as soon as Liz and John arrived, the battery ran out again and I needed to make another change. I was worried I'd lost Roxie but luckily she was still in the same spot when the drone went back up.' Get the best island stories from our Anglesey newsletter - sent every Friday (Image: Liz Richardson) John and Richard were guided to the location. 'We had a lot of advice from Facebook users, especially Gillian Metcalf,' said Liz. 'We were advised not to all shout Roxie's name in case she took fright. 'When John was closing in, he was calling out gently for Lola instead - the idea was that Roxie would be curious and feel she was missing out on something. It seemed to work - she was quickly back on a lead. 'I could scarcely believe she was back and unharmed, I couldn't stop thanking everyone. I've been overwhelmed by everyone's kindness. In this day and age, you think there aren't many people willing to help for nothing, but this shows that's not true. I count myself so lucky to live here.' Dafydd, who's called out once or twice a week to look for lost dogs, said the rescue had been a dramatic mix of 'persistence, adrenaline and pure happiness". 'It's always very rewarding when you make a successful rescue,' he added. Liz has since made a donation to DSFLG UK and has signed up at volunteer searcher. In return, she's being sent a dog tracker - to ensure little Roxie doesn't get up to more mischief in fields of rabbits. Find out what's happening near you
New York Post
4 days ago
- New York Post
Nudist accused of murdering elderly neighbors allegedly said he flipped over a hot dog — which he took as a cruel ‘jab'
The nudist charged with brutally murdering his neighbors at their California resort allegedly told another inmate he did it over a hot dog — which he took as a cruel 'jab' at him. Michael Royce Sparks, 62, is accused of bashing in the heads of Daniel Menard, 79, and wife Stephanie Menard, 73, whose dismembered remains were then found under his home on the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Colton. He allegedly told another inmate that 'the incident started over a hot dog that Daniel Menard had purchased for him,' Detective Thomas Williams told a court hearing Monday, according to the Press Telegram. 'He said Mr. Sparks felt that the hot dog was a jab at him, making him feel like he was worth only a dollar hot dog, and that's what set him off that day,' Williams continued. 4 Daniel Menard and Stephanie Menard's deaths were ruled a homicide after the coroner determined they died from blunt-force trauma to the head. Redlands Police Department 4 Michael Royce Sparks was arrested and charged with the murder of his elderly neighbors. AP Sparks allegedly told the inmate he then 'went outside and struck Mr. Menard in the head until his head caved in.' Menard's horrified wife then 'came out yelling, 'No! No!'' — and Sparks began bashing them both 'with a rake, a hoe and a hammer,' he allegedly told his fellow inmate, according to the detective. Sparks then allegedly detailed how he then brought their bodies into a homemade concrete bunker below his home and chopped up their bodies and stuffed them in plastic bags. The suspected killer also claimed that he drowned the Menards' white Shih Tzu, Cuddles, in a sink before tossing her body in the woods where coyotes would eat her, Williams testified. Superior Court Judge Alexander R. Martinez ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold Sparks for trial on two charges of murder and one count of animal cruelty, according to the Press Telegram. 4 The Menards and their dog, a Shih Tzu named Cuddles, were reported missing by a friend on Aug. 25. Redlands Police Department 4 The investigation discovered an underground bunker in Sparks' home where the couple's remains were found. AP Sparks has pleaded not guilty to all charges. After a four-day search for the missing couple, police engaged in an hours-long standoff with Sparks who had barricaded himself inside the bunker. He tried to kill himself rather than be arrested but his gunshot misfired, cops said. When he eventually surrendered, Williams asked him where the Menards were and if they were in trouble. 'He told me they were underneath the trailer and that they didn't need any help,' Williams told the court. 'He replied back that they were in pieces,' Williams testified.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
'Soul Dog' Refuses To Leave Pregnant Owner's Hospital Bed As She Loses Baby
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A pregnant woman who was admitted into hospital and lost her child at 23 weeks was caught by surprise when her soul dog came to join her—and the pup refused to leave her owner's side. When Arianna, 29, went into early labor at just 23 weeks and two days' gestation, she knew something was terribly wrong with her pregnancy. As she made her way to the hospital, she was overcome with anxiety about what might happen because it was clear that her baby was too early to be delivered safely. Unfortunately, that was the case, and her baby didn't survive. Arianna spent several days recovering in the hospital, but nothing could have prepared her for the grief of losing her daughter. During that time, what Arianna, of Delaware, wanted the most was her Shih Tzu and bichon frisé mix, named Charli Quinn. Arianna told Newsweek that Charli brings her "peace and comfort" during the toughest of challenges, and the owner was in desperate need of her dog's emotional support. From left: Arianna's dog, Charli Quinn, visits her in the hospital as she lays recovering. From left: Arianna's dog, Charli Quinn, visits her in the hospital as she lays recovering. @__ohnanaa / Instagram So, given what she had been through, the hospital allowed Charli to make a special guest appearance on Arianna's third day after being admitted. "Charli can sense when something is wrong; she's very good at doing that," Arianna said. "Even though, on a normal day, she's typically very energetic and hyper, when she knows I'm upset, she'll just come and lay down or sit next to me. She's very good at picking up when the energy is different. "I was very relieved when I saw her. Plus, she was so calm and loving, so it eased my nerves a little, considering the circumstances," she continued. Indeed, Arianna said she wishes she could have been joined by her "soul dog" from the very beginning because she has such a comforting presence. Trained therapy dogs will often visit hospital patients to brighten their day and offer support. But they can also provide numerous physical benefits; the website PetMD suggests that therapy dogs can help lower a patient's blood pressure, reduce their pain, and improve cardiovascular health. Spending time with a therapy dog can also reduce anxiety, loneliness and depression, while increasing the patient's socialization. Arianna shared a video on Instagram (@__ohnanaa) showing the moment Charli came running into her hospital room and leaped onto the bed. After that, the sweet pup didn't leave her side and could be seen cuddling up beside her owner. Alongside the video, the caption explains: "she knew I needed her in those moments. She could feel how scared I was, and afterwards she could feel my grief." The emotional clip has gone viral with over 506,000 views on Instagram at the time of writing. "Losing my daughter is probably the hardest and most traumatic grief that I've ever experienced. It's a daily process, and the grief comes in waves. Thankfully, I have great doctors and a great support system who have made the grief manageable on most days," Arianna said. Since she shared the video of her "best girl" coming to support her in hospital, Arianna has been amazed by the online reaction. Many social-media users shared their support and condolences, while others hailed Charli for knowing exactly what her grieving owner needed. Of course, there were some negative comments from people who didn't agree with a dog being allowed into a hospital. But Arianna said she has "received a lot of love" for the most part. Among the many responses on the video, one Instagram user wrote: "Animals always know." Another person commented: "We really don't deserve dogs …" A third commenter added: "I'm so sorry. You had the right angel by your side." Do you have any adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
