Example Of Animal Food Chain

TAMPA, Fla. - Animal control authorities are not amused by a fast food chain's marketing stunt encouraging customers to dress their cats in a special take out bag.

Tampa-based Checkers Drive-in Restaurants Inc. is distributing "Rapcat" bags designed with cutaway areas for the cat's legs and tail. The cat's head sticks out the opening of the bag, which is designed to look like a basketball jersey and gold chain worn by the hip-hop Rapcat puppet in Checkers commercials.

A Hillsborough County Animal Services news release on Monday said forcing a real, unwilling cat into a "Rapcat" bag could be considered felony animal cruelty. The bag's warning - "not all cats will be down with wearing this bag. Do not harm or endanger any cat" - is not enough, the agency said.

"We have no ill will toward Checkers or Rapcat as a character," said animal services spokeswoman Marti Ryan.

Beats Getting Red Envelopes

Even though Japan has not been on the lunar calendar since the Meiji era, Japanese still participate in traditional celebrations associated with a time when they still lived by the lunar calendar.

The men celebrated by drinking sake and eating the food. While this is outdated in terms of gender roles, my family has always celebrated each New Year in this manner.

GET BUZZED: First lady visits Rachael

Success may be the sweetest revenge, but having the first lady spontaneously appear on your afternoon talk show has to be worth something too.

Talk show host/Food Network cook Rachael Ray has had to contend with plenty of online haters who spend way too much time dishing about the 38-year-old for every move she makes.

So you had to cheer when her self-titled show was renewed through the 2009-2010 season.

And there was a bit of poetic justice when the Oxford American College Dictionary announced it would add the term EVOO one of Rays oft-criticized catchphrases, short for extra virgin olive oil to its 2007 edition.

But the latest sign of the perky TV personalitys success was an unexpected visit by first lady Laura Bush during yesterdays talk show.

Warning issued after coyote attack

The Chautauqua County Health Departments Division of Environmental Health Services is advising the public of safety issues concerning coyotes following a recent attack that killed two domestic dogs.

The incident occurred on the Fred J. Cusimano Westside Overland Trail in the area between Mayville and Sherman, when two labrador retrievers following their owner, who was cross country skiing, were attacked by a pack of five coyotes. Despite the owners efforts to scare the coyotes away, both dogs were killed.

We want to take the opportunity of this unfortunate event to inform the public of the following information and precautions to avoid a negative encounter with a coyote, said Mike Stow of the Environmental Health Services.

Coyotes can be found throughout New York state and have a difficult time finding food during this time of year.

Food File

Perfect Partners: 7-9 p.m. Fri., Vintage Wine Cellars, 3629 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. Try cabernets, chardonnays and more from one wine-growing region "matched" with one from another; $10. Call (813) 879-2931.

Pet Passion: 6-8 p.m. Sat., Sea Breeze Manor Inn Bed & Breakfast, Gulfport. Wine tasting benefits animal rescue and includes locally made wines, food tastes from local restaurants, live entertainment; $15; proceeds benefit local pet rescue groups.