I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.

For me they are the role model for being alive.

~ Gilda Radner

Thursday, April 30, 2009

it's kinda like BIG BROTHER is watching you...

Only it's lil sister... and it never stops...


Her eyes follow my every movement, no matter how small.


You might think she is sleeping....but nope!!!


She is resting...but she is ready!!!


She has nothing better to do, but stare ...


Doesn't matter that for last two years she has spent 1051200 minutes of her life staring...

She is dedicated to this pursuit!!! I have to admit her focus is admirable... if only Ihad that kind of determination... It's like, "if I keep this up she has to move...SHE JUST HAS TO!" And she is right, sooner or later I do move. And Stumpy takes all the credit, no doubt.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Puppets?

Of all the puppets all the puppets I grew up with, there are a few I remember enjoying. There were plenty that I didn’t like at all: Captain Kangaroo’s Mr. Moose, Fran Allison’s Kukla and Ollie,the residents of Mr. Roger’s neighborhood (creepy and ugly to boot), Howdy Doody who lived in Doodyville (how could anyone like someone who lived in Doodyville???) I don’t know if I could call the Banana Splits my least favorite, but they were/are awful.
As a child, puppets frightened me. As an adult, I realize it’s not the puppets that I disliked, it’s the puppet master…those that control the lives of others with no regard for right and wrong, and there’s plenty of that going in our world.

The horrific situation at the Struck Out Ranch brings this post to my blog. Fans of that @#$%^&!!* horse murdering SOB are still singing his praises and crying about his mistreatment. This may seem like no big deal; except they are posting on the internet and talking to reporters, which is then posted on the internet. Nothing travels and grows faster than malarkey on the internet. Someone is going to read the BS, believe it and pass it on.

On top of the mess, I realize that national news did not pick up this story. Twenty one horses in Florida die and it’s on the news everywhere. One hundred plus horse die in a small Midwestern town and it’s hard to find a mention of it anywhere, except locally. Money is definitely a puppet master.
Advertizing is another scary form of puppetry. The corporations tell us, through advertizing we must have this or that; BUY! BUY!! BUY!! And we run right out and get it. It doesn’t matter if we don’t have the cash. We can charge it. Pay later. And boy oh boy do we ever!
But the puppet syndrome doesn’t begin or end there. I have to admit my apathy towards government, particularly federal government, makes me a bit of a puppet. There was a time when I made waves, big waves, on all kinds of fronts. It’s not my apathy, fear or ignorance that keeps me from participating in and actively pursuing change. I’ve come to realize that making changes in what immediately surrounds me is the best I can do right now.

It scares me, though, to see our youth growing up apathetic. It’s really important to be an example to the kids. We must show our children ways to make a difference, in a good way.

I do actually like a few puppets: Topo Gigo,Lambchop. And who could forget Jim Henson’s Muppets or Edgar Bergen's Charlie McCarthy?

I have offered just a few examples of puppet mastery. Look around. Is there a puppet theater in your neighborhood? Someplace you can make a change?

Don’t be like Mr. Stick, doing nothing and hiding in a sea of woodies.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Hazards of flea and tick collars, lawsuit filed

Lawsuit Seeks to Protect Consumers From Toxic Pet Products

New NRDC Analysis Reveals Flea Collars Create Toxic Chemical Residues on Pet Fur That Threaten Human Health


downloadable/printable guides at bottom of post

SAN FRANCISCO - April 23

The Natural Resources Defense Council has filed a lawsuit in California against major pet product retailers and manufacturers for illegally selling pet products containing a known cancer-causing chemical called propoxur without proper warning labels.

In new scientific analysis also released today, NRDC found high levels of propoxur and tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP), another carcinogenic neurotoxin common in household pet products, on pet fur after use of ordinary flea collars. NRDC is also petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), calling for the removal of these chemicals from pet products.

"Just because a product is sold in stores does not mean it is safe," said Dr. Gina Solomon, NRDC senior scientist and physician. "Under California law, consumers have a right to know if a flea control product exposes them to health risks before they buy it."

NRDC filed its lawsuit in California Superior Court in Alameda County against 16 retailers and manufacturers including Petsmart, PetCo, and Petstore.com, for failing to comply with California's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, known as Proposition 65, which prohibits businesses from knowingly exposing consumers without proper warning to any chemical "known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive harm." These companies have failed to caution consumers about exposure to propoxur from the use of their products, which should have been labeled with a warning as of August 11, 2007. Proposition 65 provides for penalties of up to $2,500 for every violation.

NRDC's new report, Poison on Pets II, found flea collars containing TCVP and propoxur pose serious neurological and cancer risks. These chemical-laden flea collars expose humans to highly hazardous chemicals that can damage the brain and nervous system and cause cancer. Children are particularly at risk from these pesticides because their neurological and metabolic systems are still developing. They are also more likely than adults to put their hands in their mouths after petting an animal, leading to the ingestion of hazardous residues.

Poison on Pets II tested the fur of dogs and cats wearing flea collars to measure the invisible pesticide residues left on the pets from these collars. This analysis, which was the first study of propoxur residues on pet's fur, found that propoxur levels are so high in some products that they pose a cancer risk in children that is up to 1,000 times higher than the EPA's acceptable levels, and up to 500 times higher for adults. The study also showed that after three days, 100 percent of the pets wearing collars containing propoxur and 50 percent of the pets wearing collars with TCVP posed a significant neurological risk to toddlers. Testing also revealed that unsafe levels of pesticide residue remain on a dog's or cat's fur two weeks after a collar is put on an animal. Families with multiple pets that wear flea collars have even greater exposure risks.

The EPA has never compiled data on pesticide levels found on a pet's fur after use of flea collars. NRDC's testing and careful calculations reveal that the EPA's decision to leave these products on the market may create a significant health risk to pet owners, most notably young children.

The availability of many effective and safer alternatives for flea and tick control makes the continued use of these pesticides an unnecessary risk. NRDC's groundbreaking 2000 report "Poison on Pets" led to the ban of six other pesticides in pet products, but products containing TCVP and propoxur are still on store shelves.

"The EPA's evaluation of these chemicals was dangerously flawed and underestimates the risks to children," said Miriam Rotkin-Ellman, NRDC scientist. "There is no reason to use carcinogens and neurotoxins to fight fleas and ticks when there are other safer and effective treatments available. The EPA should not allow these toxic chemicals in pet products."

NRDC's recommendations for safe flea and tick control include the frequent use of a flea comb, regular bathing of pets, as well as vacuuming and washing of their bedding regularly. If chemical-based flea control is necessary, the safest options often containing the least toxic chemicals are those dispensed by pill. Visit NRDC's free online flea and tick product guide for pet owners that ranks more than 125 products, categorizing products by the level of their potential health threat, at NRDC's consumer-oriented Green Paws website: www.greenpaws.org.

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.2 million members and online activists, served from offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing.

To help you make safer choices, NRDC checked the listed ingredients of more than a hundred flea and tick products to report which chemicals they contain and the chemicals' toxicity: whether they are linked to cancer, allergies and asthma or are suspected endocrine disruptors. Each product is categorized by its potential risk. Products that don't contain the most harmful chemicals are marked with a yellow paw. Pregnant women and young children are particularly at risk and should try to avoid any products from the red or orange categories.

Please note that while this table attempts to provide a reasonably comprehensive and accurate look at the insecticides most commonly found in pet flea control products, it does not claim to be an exhaustive list of products nor should it be used as such. New products are introduced regularly and many companies make multiple products with different chemicals. Pet owners should take care to examine the active ingredients in all flea control products they buy. Download and print our pocket guide to identify chemical ingredients in flea and tick treatments and take it with you to the store or the vet.

Learn how to protect your pet without hazardous chemicals. When chemical control is necessary, choose a safer treatment and avoid the most toxic chemicals by selecting a product marked with a yellow paw.

Download and print the guide organized by risk.
http://www.greenpaws.org/_docs/GP_productlist.pdf

Brand name products with risk evaluation
http://www.greenpaws.org/products.php

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Wolf hybrids


Why does anyone breed these? I have met some awesome wolf and wolf hybrids, living a good life in private homes...but I have seen way too many euthanized and living in "sanctuaries". Most that arrive at shelters are euthanized immediately. There are several breeders in the area

I live fairly close to Las Vegas and there are several breeders in the area, always posting on craigslist (another pet peeve). Today's post:


YOUNG BI EYED FEMALE SIBERIAN HUSKY HYBRID- BEAUTIFULReply to: mailto:comm-madez-1136098673@craigslist.org?subject=YOUNG%20BI%20EYED%20FEMALE%20SIBERIAN%20HUSKY%20HYBRID-%20BEAUTIFUL [Errors when replying to ads?]Date: 2009-04-23, 6:54AM PDTShe is Young female Hybrid. She was on My website www.wolfhuskypups.com as a puppy last year and Her Owner can no longer keep Her. She originally came from an affiliate breeder of Mine in Wisconsin but right now She is in Southern UT - 2 hours from Las Vegas 4 from Salt Lake City. We are willing to drive Her as far as Mesquite NV TODAY ONLY! Her Owner told Me She was a housedog, great with kids and very smart. Here She definitely wants to be around People and doesn’t do well with female dogs. She does ok with Males. She is intact and might be less aggressive towards other females if She was fixed. She doesn’t like to be in a dog run. She would do best as a family dog, allowed in and out of the house. She loves water and would be a great camping companion. She knows basic commands. Both of Her parents are registered Hybrids. Her adoption fee is $75 Email Me for more info!

ok, so this animal is probably close to a year...and she's a great dog, so why is the owner getting rid of her? My experience says that if someone is re-homing a dog between the ages of 6 months and two years, often times it is because they haven’t lived up to their responsibility of pet ownership, meaning the dog has behavior issues. In this case it could be because the dog is confused about whether she is a dog or a wolf. Either way, the cycle has begun...dog goes home, dog gets rehomed, dog goes home, dog gets rehomed...and it goes on until the dog is abandoned, or brought to a shelter and euthanized.

The world would be a better place if no one, not even respected responsible breeders made any new puppies this year...but wolf hybrids? the world could live without anyone breeding those forever...


I use the term "get rid of" because people seem to feel their animals are disposable.

Wolf hybrid, by the way, is a misnomer, as dogs and wolves belong to the same species.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Scores of Neglected Mustangs Imperiled on Nebraska Ranch

Scores of Neglected Mustangs Imperiled on Nebraska Ranch
Ranch Owner in Jail and Need for Aid is Urgent
CONTACT: Jerry Finch 409-682-6621
19 April 2009

Alliance, Nebraska

At least 60 horses are dead and more than 100 others are seriously emaciated at a mustang facility in Morrill County, Nebraska. Habitat for Horses, an equine rescue organization, received reports last week of problems at the 3-Strikes Ranch. Jerry Finch of the equine rescue organization Habitat for Horses returned from flying over the property early Sunday, and reports that “The situation is even worse than we suspected.” They spotted another 20 animals on the range, several barely able to stand. Another 50-100 emaciated horses are in holding pens with only a small amount of muddy and trampled alfalfa. They are suffering from a variety of ailments including severe worm infestation and terribly neglected hooves. Two young foals, approximately four months old, were found dead. Necropsies have been performed on both; a full report, including toxicology results is due back Friday.

3-Strikes Ranch, according to its web site, is a "Mustang outpost, a Non-Profit habitat to hundreds of mustangs from all over the United States, a natural environment for wild horses to run on the open prairies of the Sand Hills." Mustangs captured by the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that were not adopted after three attempts -- three strikers -- were sent to Jason Meduna at 3-Strikes Ranch. Meduna also accepted horses from people unable to care for their mustangs, and those in need of special training. A number of private owners who had placed horses with Meduna have already retrieved their animals. The BLM was at the facility last week and removed one of the three horses for which they currently hold title. The others were reported to be dead.

Nebraska Mustang Rescue 3-Strikes Ranch Site of Brewing BLM Scandal
60 Horses Dead and 100 More in Peril in Nebraska Mustang Rescue Facility Sanctioned by BLM - Owner Jailed for Animal Cruelty
Website Had Beautiful Photos and Slick Layout
Alliance , Nebraska (HFH) – At least 60 horses are dead and more than 100 others are seriously emaciated at a mustang facility in Morrill County, Nebraska. Habitat for Horses, an equine rescue organization, received reports last week of problems at the 3-Strikes Ranch. Jerry Finch of the equine rescue organization Habitat for Horses returned from flying over the property early Sunday, and reports that “
The situation is even worse than we suspected.” They spotted another 20 animals on the range, several barely able to stand. Another 50-100 emaciated horses are in holding pens with only a small amount of muddy and trampled alfalfa. They are suffering from a variety of ailments including severe worm infestation and terribly neglected hooves. Two young foals, approximately four months old, were found dead. Necropsies have been performed on both; a full report, including toxicology results is due back Friday.
3-Strikes Ranch, according to its web site, is a "Mustang outpost, a Non-Profit habitat to hundreds of mustangs from all over the United States, a natural environment for wild horses to run on the open prairies of the Sand Hills." Mustangs captured by the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that were not adopted after three attempts -- three strikers -- were sent to Jason Meduna at 3-Strikes Ranch. Meduna also accepted horses from people unable to care for their mustangs, and those in need of special training. A number of private owners who had placed horses with Meduna have already retrieved their animals. The BLM was at the facility last week and removed one of the three horses for which they currently hold title. The others were reported to be dead.
According to ranch owner Meduna more than 300 animals were living at the ranch in January. He has attributed the deaths to toxic poisoning, but to date no proof of this has been provided. Meduna is currently in jail on an animal cruelty charge stemming from the horse already removed by the BLM.
Habitat for Horses is assisting local law enforcement, the Bureau of Land Management, and a number of volunteers in caring for these animals.

Hay and feed-based wormer are urgently needed. Local families are urged to contact Finch if they are able to provide tactical support for this operation. Donations for hay are being collected by Front Range Equine Rescue in Colorado. donatebuy@frontrangeequinerescue.org If you do not have access to Paypal you can mail donations to: Front Range Equine Rescue, P.O. Box 307, Larkspur, CO 80118. Please notate on your check and/or Paypal donations that it is for "3-Strikes Mustangs". Any and all help with hay is greatly appreciated.

Habitat for Horses (HfH) is a not-for-profit equine protection agency committed to the prevention, rescue and rehabilitation of neglected, abused and homeless horses. The largest organization of its kind in North America, HfH operates a rehabilitation ranch in Hitchcock, Texas, as well as a growing network of foster homes throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and Louisiana. The organization has taken a leadership role in horse protection issues and has been instrumental in developing and promoting legislation to eliminate the slaughter of American horses. To learn more, visit www.habitatforhorses.org

Hay is needed to keep these horses alive.

donatebuy@frontrangeequinerescue.org is the pay pal address
Please note in the subject it is for 3 Strikes Mustangs
If anyone donates via the American Express feature on the Front Range Equine Rescue site please let us know so Hilary can keep track. The process is a little different through American Express and she is only notified and sent a check once a month.

NEW MAILING ADDRESS - FOR CHECKS:
Front Range Equine Rescue
P.O. Box 307
Larkspur, CO 80118

Saturday, April 18, 2009

I rescue people...


This little dirt town is 40 miles from anything that could be called civilization. It was a really good choice on my part to come here to heal. Nine months later, I realize I felt almost “whole” again and needed something to do; something productive and of a contributory nature. My parents taught us that service to your community is a requirement to a happy life. In my adult life I learned that my community, for the most part, was made up of animals (dogs in particular) and animal people. I got involved in rescue work and for the next 20 plus years, in one way or another, I felt I was giving.

All that changed when I got sick 7 years ago. Now I find myself in Dirtville, and due to a number of factors, I am unable to do what I love. I still have a responsibility to contribute in order to make the world a better place. Now I rescue people.

The line of cars you see in the photo are people lined up to receive commodities. I manage a food bank and emergency food pantry. We also provide financial support to those in need. This assistance can come in many forms, from help with your mortgage and rent, to assistance with medical bills, car repair, or utilities. We have programs to help the elderly and disabled with home repair, maintenance and yard work. The organization maintains a thrift store and although everything in the store is for sale, it is also given freely if a client needs clothes, furniture or house wares.

Besides the food distribution our organization is not subsidized by any government program.

Everyone involved in this particular organization are volunteers, with the exception of people doing community service to avoid fines or jail. There aren’t a lot of us. About 30 people come in twice a month when we distribute food. Most days 4 to 7 people are giving their time to support 4 towns. Of these volunteers there are 2 under the age of 40. I am the only 50 something and everyone else is over 65, the majority over 75, two volunteers are in their 80’s and one is 96!!! Bless you Hazel!!! You are my hero and if I ever grow up I want to be you!!!

Every month, between commodities and emergency food boxes from the pantry, we distribute food to about 400 households. Recently, we see that number increasing by leaps and bounds.

Why do we not have people volunteering? I know it’s the same thing in every organization, club, and group. There is a few people who form the working core, others that show up when called and others that show up for the glory and the party. What I don’t get is if people are laid off and I know at least in this part of the world there is no work to be had, why are they not down here helping? They have time to sit in line for up to 4 hours and wait for the handouts, but no time to help their neighbor.

Yeah, I rescue people (with help) but give me a dog that needs some love and understanding any day…

Sunday, April 12, 2009

I'm not talking about the new First Dog


According to the search link below there are 17 Portuguese water dogs looking for homes, across the United States and listed on Petfinder. Hopefully, I am mistaken, but if history repeats itself, this number is going to grow in leaps and bounds. Because the breed has a number of breed specific issues (with a limited gene pool) and the dogs are high energy dogs, that need a job, they will end up another disposable status symbol for which America goes gaga.

It’s on the breeders’ shoulders to make sure their puppies are going to responsible homes, not backyard breeders and puppy mills. The breeders are also responsible for educating the public. That's only part of the price one should pay for the privledge of breeding.


http://www.petfinder.com/search/search.cgi?pet.Animal=Dog&pet.Breed=portuguese+water+dog&pet.Age=&pet.Size=&pet.Sex=&location=89015

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Those amazing Greyhounds







When I was looking for Stumpy, greyhounds were at the top of my list of possibilities. My sister had adopted several, over the years, and each of hose dogs, although not without issues, were awesome companions. they had a gentleness about them that stuck a chord in me. The dog pictured perhaps epitomizes that spirit.

Meet Jasmine, the rescue dog who has become a surrogate mother for the 50th time
By Daily Mail Reporter
Perfect mum: Jasmine the greyhound with Bramble, the roe deer she is currently caring for
When Jasmine the abandoned greyhound arrived at a wildlife sanctuary shivering and desperate for food, she needed all the love in the world to nurse her back to full health.
Now it appears the kindness and patience shown to her has rubbed off - for the rescue dog has become a surrogate mother for the 50th time.
Seven-year-old Jasmine is currently caring for tiny Bramble, an 11-week-old roe deer fawn found semi-conscious in a nearby field.
She cuddles up to her to keep her warm, showers her with affection and makes sure nothing is matted in her fur. In short, the perfect foster mum.
But then again, she has had plenty of practice, having cared for five fox cubs, four badger cubs, 15 chicks, eight guinea pigs, two stray puppies and even 15 rabbits.
Jasmine was brought to the Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary by the police in 2003, having been found dumped in a garden shed.
She was cold, filthy and malnourished. It took a few weeks for her to fully trust staff at the centre but with tender loving care she was nursed back to full fitness.
Five years on, Jasmine is now the one looking after stray waifs.
Geoff Grewcock, who runs the sanctuary, said: 'She simply dotes on the animals as if they were her on, it's incredible to see.
'She takes all the stress out of them and it helps them to not only feel close to her but to settle into their new surroundings.
'As soon as an animal is brought in, she walks over takes a sniff or two and then licks and cuddles them.
'It is quite amazing, particularly as she is a greyhound breed and they are usually quite aggressive, That is why they are used for racing.
Jasmine with another one of her 'babies'. She has cared for 15 rabbits in total
'Jasmine was abused when she was younger, the police brought her to us after discovering her whimpering in a garden shed.
'She was very nervous around us, she was caked in mud and dust and very thin. It took a while but gradually she got used to us and has been at the centre ever since.
'Having been neglected herself, it's a real surprise to she her show so much warmth and affection to other creatures.
'It's not just animals, she is great which children too, she is such a gentle, big-hearted dog.'
Bramble the fawn arrived at the centre two months ago after a dog walker came across her in a field dazed and confused.
Until she is old enough to be released back into the wild, she will continue to be cared for by Jasmine.
Geoff added: 'They are inseparable at the moment, Bramble walks between her legs and they keep kissing each other.
Happy family: Pictured from left to right are Toby, a stray Lakeland dog; Bramble, an orphaned roe deer; Buster, a stray Jack Russell; a dumped rabbit; Sky, an injured barn owl, and Jasmine
'They walk together round the sanctuary. It's absolutely marvellous. It's a real treat to see them.
'But she is like that with all of our animals, even the rabbits which greyhounds usually chase down the track.
'I remember we had two puppies that had been abandoned by a nearby railway line, one was a Lakeland Terrier cross and another was a Jack Russell Doberman cross.
'They were tiny when they arrived at the centre and Jasmine approached them and grabbed one by the scruff of the neck in her mouth and put him on the settee.
'Then he fetched the other one and sat down with them, cuddling them.
'She has done the same with the fox and badger cubs, she licks the rabbits and guinea pigs and even lets the birds perch on the bridge of her nose.
'It's very touching. Her maternal instincts take over all the time.'


Stumpy was REALLY quiet, too quiet. I could see she was making herself as small as possible; she was trembling, and her eyes were bugging out and she was skinny … poor girl…she was so scared. It was dark when I met the transporter, so it wasn’t until I got home that I began to realize how traumatized this little dog was.

The next morning more issues became obvious. As time went by poor little Stumpy’s story began to unfold. Although I can only speculate about her experiences, I don’t think I am far off on any of them.

Stumpy wasn’t exactly a bag of bones, but she wasn’t a healthy weight, either. She was HUNGRY!!! And she had no muscle tone. Of course, I was vigilant about not letting her over eat, but basically I allowed her to eat small amounts throughout the days that followed.

I learned right away that all noises sent her into hiding. Turning on the television, a door opening or closing, the creak of a chair moving, the rattling of paper and the clatter of dishes being washed; all this and more would send this poor girl into hiding…for hours, under furniture, behind the refrigerator, in a cabinet, and if all else failed in her kennel. My German shepherd was beginning to lose his hearing, when Stumpy came home. When I spoke to him, loud enough for him to hear, it was clear Stumpy thought she was in trouble; deep, pain-inducing trouble.

Stumpy had a love/hate relationship with her kennel. When put in her kennel she protested orally and physically. If she went into her kennel to hide she would make herself as small as possible in the back corner and coaxing her out was a lengthy process with all kinds of rewards being employed. This was the one time food held no attraction for her.

She was scared of everything under her feet, except for carpet and tile. When I saw her walking on grass, dirt, sand and other outdoor element it appeared as if she was tip toeing, and again, she trembled like a leaf. One tiny step at a time, she looked like she was afraid she was going to be swallowed up.

Stumpy doesn’t like to be held or restrained in any way, shape or form. Holding her by her collar sent her into hysterics. An attempt to pick her up would induce a state of panic. A leash would cause a frenzied fight with the leash and whoever was holding the other end.

I think what I found most surprising was that she was deathly afraid of women. That would be me. I know, of course, that there are women who abuse animals, but all my experience had been with dogs that, more likely, had been abused by men. Stumpy fell in love with my son, hard and fast. The difference between Stumpy reacted to men and women were like night and day.

Friday, April 10, 2009




It’s been a little over 2 years since Stumpy became a member of our family. Everyday, there are tons of things for which I should give thanks. My Stumpy-girl is one of them. I had been looking for a dog for quite some time. My search entailed hours of perusing petfinder, craigslist, visiting shelters and researching different breeds. I knew I could not support the needs of the large working dog breeds I preferred.

I found Stumpy on petfinder. The listing described her as a small, quiet, well behaved blue heeler/minpin cross. That should have raised a red flag. Quiet minpin?

I called the rescue and found out at 6 months “Pocahontas” had known 6 homes. At that point, that was all that mattered. No dog deserved that. Clearly, there was a problem and I was not going to allow her to go to another home without some rehab. Maybe she was just what I needed... a new focus, something I was good at, something I could feel I was actually DOING something positive, that served a purpose in the bigger picture.

I drove a couple hundred miles, a couple of days later to meet the transporter and got a little more history. Stumpy had been found with her mother, a minpin, and her 3 siblings (all stumpy-tailed dogs) in a parking lot in Arkansas. The mother and pups were wet, freezing and starved. Stumpy had lived in 4 different states since at that point, the last being Maryland. Seems to me, she had been on her way north, to me, all of her short little life.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Sticks and stones...

Mr. Stick attacked a friend of ours a week or so ago. He escaped while incarcerated and has been on the lam, ever since. He has been sighted on numerous occasions. Local authorities tell us he has been seen in some very weird places, in some exceedingly compromising positions, while involved in extremely suspicious activities with various dubious characters.
Although Mr. Stick may not be armed he is considered dangerous and is extremely devious and quick witted. Note the picture. How many sticks do you know that could convince a cat to carry them across a body of water?

If you see Mr. Stick, please contact the authorities immediately.

Friday, April 3, 2009

for your blogging dog...


and you thought your dog had everything...

Toshiba has introduced the PetBook K9 — the world’s first laptop computer for dogs.

With a “delicious and durable organic rawhide casing,” a 3.3 megapixel doggie cam for inter-canine video conferencing and bark to text software (included), the PetBook is protected against saliva by special SlobberGuard technology.

http://explore.toshiba.com/petbook

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Who knew? Rin Tin Tin's story


Rin Tin Tin was my first hero ... today I found a article regarding his life and a book is being written to tell his story. I'll be watching for that book. Rin tin tin is still my hero :)