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CLEARWATER, Fla., Oct. 6, 2016 (UPI) ----------   Authorities in a Florida city blocked two lanes of a busy road to protect an injured bald eagle that ended up stranded in traffic.

The Clearwater Police Department said officers and personnel from the Clearwater Fire Department responded Wednesday morning to the middle of a road next to the Westfield Countryside Mall on a report of a bald eagle blocking traffic.

Police said the eagle's right wing appeared to have been injured by a car while it was apparently feeding on a dead animal in the road.

A video posted to Facebook shows responders protecting the bird of prey while it calmly stands in one of the closed lanes of traffic while awaiting a wildlife rescue specialist.

Police said the eagle eventually hobbled out of the roadway and was captured by the specialist.

The bird of prey was taken to the Owl's Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife to receive treatment for its injury.

PERTH, Australia, Sept. 21, 2016 (UPI) -------- The "Hamdog" a combination between a hot dog and a hamburger created by an Australian man will soon come to the United States.

A post on the Hamdog Facebook page announced the food combination would come to South Australia and the U.S. and was seeking retailers in those regions.

"America's a bloody big place, they consume around 50 billion burgers a year," inventor Mark Murray told CNBC. "If we pick up even 1 percent of that market, then that's still around $2.5 billion a year."

Murray said he came up with the idea for the meat-filled combination, which includes a special bun to accommodate both the burger and the hot dog, while incredibly hungry during a trip to the U.S. in 2004.

"I had the idea on holiday when I was leaving a bar in Nashville. I grabbed a burger and a hot dog as I was really hungry," he said. "I was sitting in the car eating them both at the same time and my wife was looking at me like I was an idiot."

He later took the invention to Australia's "Shark Tank" television investment show, where it was rejected by the judges.

It has since been sold at sporting events in Australia for about $6 each.

BONITA SPRINGS , Fla., Sept. 21,2016 (UPI) ------ A Dalmatian puppy that snuck into a Florida fire station and joined the crew was returned to his owners on Tuesday.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue shared video of the Dalmatian puppy after it wandered into the firehouse early Tuesday morning and made itself at home.

"At 2:30am Tuesday morning, a dalmatian mix puppy snuck in and followed the engine into the bay after they had come back from a call," the Facebook post stated. "He eagerly made himself part of the crew. Unfortunately, he can not stay and play. We would like to get him home."

Many commenters commended the clever pup for seeking refuge at the firehouse but its owners contacted the station and reclaimed their pet before the day was through.

"The Dalmatian that walked into Station 5 has been reunited with his owner! His name is Chico and went missing yesterday," the fire rescue crew wrote. "We are all so happy for a happy ending to this story!"

POOLESVILLE, Md., Sept. 14, 2016 (UPI) -- A daring piglet who jumped out of a moving truck in Pennsylvania to save its own life found a new home at a Maryland animal sanctuary.

Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary shared a photo of Charlotte the piglet who was found wounded on the side of a road.

"A very kind family saw her lying motionless between the white line of the road and the gravel shoulder," the sanctuary wrote. "On their way to pick up school supplies, they turned around and came back to try to help, while other cars and trucks just whizzed by."

Charlotte was taken into Adams County SPCA with wounds on her head, legs and chest as well as a temperature of 107.

She initially could not eat or drink on her own, but has recovered as her wounds continue to heal at Poplar Spring.

"She is just starting to run and play," Poplar Spring director Terry Cummings told The Dodo.

Poplar Spring staff expressed excitement about providing a new home for Charlotte and hope she can get along with another new rescue named Oreo or "Reo" for short.

"We hope that soon she and Reo can be playmates, when he is well and home from the hospital," they wrote. "Welcome, Charlotte, you will have a wonderful life here!"