It Takes Four Paws

Wings of Love

2012-02-03T14:20:00.000-05:00

I'll reach for your hand in the cold of winter, Ill reach for your hand in the heat of summer; but if my life can't reach the dawn of spring, I promise, in heaven, I'll reach you with my wings.

Remember, Only God loves you more than your dog.

2012-02-02T13:55:00.001-05:00

Today is a throw open the windows, put on your favorite T-shirt and shorts and head outdoors to play with the fur-children. It is so amazing how warm and bright sunshine on my face can make me feel so lively inside. There is a soft breeze blowing across my face and through my hair, almost as if a hand is caressing me.

After about ten minutes the fur-children are all tired out and lay peaceful on the grass as they too feel the caress run over their fur and I really do see them smile.

As they are drinking in the sunshine and taking a break it is now my time to sit in my lounge chair with a cold beverage and do nothing but allow the sunshine to penetrate my heart and bring a smile to my face. Life is not always this simple, but for today it is what God has given to me.

Enjoy every moment God gives you, no matter how small it may seem because everything He gives us is a gift.

Happy Birthday Dad, gone from Earth but never my heart.

Remember, only God loves you more than your dog.

Waiting the Arrival

2012-01-26T16:04:00.002-05:00

Well today the sun was high above and the temperature was in the high 60’s. A great day to begin my Spring cleaning, outside that is. The bird houses all need washing out so they can welcome the new families in and allow them a comfort abode for their offspring.

I have had baby birds, in numerous nests, for the last three years while here at the house. They are so downy and adorable and I just love to watch the mom swoop into the nest to warm her eggs or to feed the impatient babies.

There has only been one causality that I am aware of, and it is still very upsetting for me to remember the incident. I know Marley is very sorry for he did not know what he was doing. All four of my fur-children love to sit at the window and watch with amazement as they fly back and forth from the neighboring trees to the birdhouses and to the feeders. While outside, they run enthusiastically towards the feeding flocks and I laugh as the flock vanishes to the tree limbs prior to their arrival. I suppose the fur-children take after me, or am I imitating them, in my love for the birds and their antics and beauty?

Well, to the back yard I go once again, as I have only a third of the flower beds cleaned of the debris of the last fall of the colored leaves. As I am writing the feed is flying from the feeders as the afternoon snack time has arrived.

Remember, only God loves you more than your Dog.

A Woman's Best Friend

2012-01-25T17:32:00.002-05:00

If you have (had) a dog who has made you laugh, watches you dance out of step and sing out of tune, brightened your life, snuggled with you, never stands you up, watches any movie you put on while placing his head on your knee, silently accepted your tears without judgment and always has a wet nose to Eskimo kiss you to feel better, forgiven your faults, didn't eat your meatball sandwich from the table when you walked away, sees you naked and doesn't comment, always willing to alert you to danger and will do his best to protect you with his own life, and loves(d) you unconditionally, you know for certain you have a very best friend.
Dogs are gifts many don't deserve, but for those that do...treat your fur- child with the love, affection, and give the time he deserves for all he does for you without ever asking for anything in return.

Always remember only God loves you more than your dog.

Four Paw Quotes

2012-01-16T12:40:00.000-05:00

I talk to him when I'm lonesome like; and I'm sure he understands. When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat. For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that. ~W. Dayton Wedgefarth

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. ~Samuel Butler, Notebooks, 1912

They never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in the conversation. ~Jerome K. Jerome

Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made. ~Roger Caras

A cat, after being scolded, goes about its business. A dog slinks off into a corner and pretends to be doing a serious self-reappraisal. ~Robert Brault,

Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear. ~Dave Barry

I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. ~Rita Rudner

The pug is living proof that God has a sense of humor. ~Margo Kaufman

Children are for people who can't have dogs. ~Author Unknown

...and remember, only God loves you more than your dog!

My Dog is Forever

2012-01-04T17:52:00.001-05:00

A really companionable and indispensable dog is an accident of nature. You can't get it by breeding for it, and you can't buy it with money. It just happens along.

Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet.

Always remember, only God loves you more than your dog.

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T11:25:00.000-05:00

Today is New Year’s Eve, the eve of new beginnings and the day we are “supposed” to make our resolutions for the glorious New Year about to unfold. We are supposed to pack away all the ugly and soulless experiences of the past year and make promises to ourselves of greater things to be; a wiped clean slate in which we inaugurate the incoming year with promise and hope.

The gym memberships rise this time of year as does I am sure the sales of natural vitamins. Many are tossing out their bleached white bread and sugar cookies in preparation of stocking their refrigerator and pantry with healthy and organic foods. Detailed lists are being compiled outlining the promises of new and wondrous habits and behavior; quit smoking, lose weight, eat healthy, finish projects already begun months ago or maybe even start a new one. Clean the hall closet or attic, finish a book started months ago, train the dog to do tricks. We all have something on our personal detailed list that is either telling us to stop something bad, or to start something good.

I have not made such a list this year; oh sure I need to lose a few pounds (okay more like a few in the 10 pound range), I should quit smoking (again), and I desperately need to clean my closet, but why do I need to say it has to happen tomorrow morning? Isn’t that just setting myself up for failure? Telling the whole world I have finally, once and for all, made the decision to do what I have been unable to do now for years. As if something magical happens at midnight and just like that my mind is overflowing with only high expectations and goal orientated good, I can tell you right now, it won’t happen.

Oh I know I will eventually clean out the closet, lose a few pounds, and hopefully quit smoking without gaining another twenty pounds, but I will do this on my time, not the world clock and I will not be at the grocery store tomorrow buying all organic foods or watching videos on how to train my four dogs to be better in the new year. To do so would be fooling myself into believing that because the date has changed I have also changed.

I am eternally evolving and unpredictable, we all are to some degree, but for tonight I will share some quiet moments of relaxation, snuggle with my dogs, see the ball drop at midnight, open the front door and invite the new year into my home to bring me peace and happiness. Then I will go to sleep knowing I am a good human with kindness in my heart and hopeful dreams that someday I will ultimately reach all my goals, but not in one day with the world watching.

Happy New Year everyone, and please, go easy on yourselves and be safe

Always remember only God loves you more than your dog.

Can You

2011-12-15T09:42:00.000-05:00

Can you have a conversation without spoken words?
I believe you can.

Can you love without ever touching it?
I believe you can.

Can a broken heart be broken into even smaller pieces?
I believe it can.

If you forgive and forget, will you never think of it?
I don’t believe you can.

If you don’t respect yourself, will you flourish?
I don’t believe you can.

If you have no life within you, can you ever be happy ?
I don’t believe you can.

Dogs are Family Members

2011-12-11T18:01:00.000-05:00

A dog is not a possession, it is a family member.

A dog is not to live outside, who else in your family does?

A dog should be treated with respect and love.

If your idea is to “buy” a dog and chain it outside, then you don’t deserve a dog.

If you do not feel emotions for your dog, you don’t deserve the love of a dog.

If you cannot accept the rules of a caring partnership with your dog, then don’t get a dog.

Always remember, only God loves you more than your dog.

Memories at the Tree

2011-12-01T09:35:00.000-05:00

I am sitting quietly this morning gazing at our beautiful Christmas tree with all the lights twinkling. Last night was set aside for us to adorn the tree with our loving hands hanging irreplaceable and evocative ornaments. The candles were glowing, the aroma of coffee and pine meshed together and filled our nostrils. As I sipped on my warm and frothy Irish coffee, I affectionately watched Ana with awe. She is an incredible blessing sent to me; a child whom I’ve come to love as a daughter. I watched as she carefully selected an ornament and then the perfect location to hang it, all while talking and smiling and enjoying the moment.

I did pause a little as I partook in this “family” night remembering past loved ones whom have gone. One by one they came, they meandered into my thoughts, they gave me a smile, and then they slowly faded away again. I too was smiling as I remembered all the love my heart still feels for them individually as they all have left me with such loving memories and cherished time. I will never stop thinking about the special ones that touched my heart as they “own” that piece within me for all eternity. Beautiful and memorable is how I would describe last night. Warm and cozy in flannel on the outside warm and cozy on the inside by the Irish coffee, memories of all the loved ones in my life, past and present, including the four legged ones.

Always remember that our best friends walk beside us on four legs; that compassion isn’t only for humans; and that the relationship between two souls meant for each other never really comes to an end.

Please hugs your pups because only God loves you more.

Life, Love, and Friendship

2011-11-29T11:28:00.001-05:00

Life, love, and friendship. Three separate facets all very important on their own. When blended they become a harmonious pleasure of delight and contentment. It is almost as if you can hear the harp and the angels in heaven singing a love song just for you. My wish is that everyone reading this today can feel warmth in their heart, the angel's songs, and abundant affection overflowing and reaching the very soul of the one that makes your life brimming with love and friendship.

Remember to always hug your dogs because only God loves you more.

Love of a Woman

2011-11-28T14:41:00.001-05:00

My poor baby Abby suffered an injury and had to have a minor surgery on Monday. She somehow spilt her nail and the quick into two separate halves. The vet had to sedate her, cut the entire nail off up to the highest point and wrapped it and gave her some pain meds and an antibiotic for a week. We go back next Monday to see how it is healing. All I can say is it is a full time job trying to get her to keep the gauze bandage on and now with this rain to keep it dry.

Just when I was feeling some very difficult heartache and pain in my life, this happened, it is as if God had this minor injury happen with Abby to take my mind off myself and my issues and be the loving caregiver I need to be for her. Taking care of her this week will be a full time job, but my dogs are my security blanket and my happiness when I am saddened and blue.

My heart has been bounced around and my head has been spinning to the point I am dizzy and very tired. Love is such a very fragile emotion and when you feel your heart has been ignored you cannot help but feel lost, sad, and empty. Just as bad is when you give your heart and promises to someone and they refuses to see their own errors and turn their hurt/anger onto you. I know now, it is the honesty and the commitment, the true feelings from deep within, the courage to say you are sorry, and the willingness to make things a little better each and everyday that is needed to secure a lasting love relationship. I am not perfect, I too make mistakes but I have no regrets; I just follow my heart to where it has brought me and I know I have to work and do whatever I can as well to make this last forever. I am simple really, I ask only for an I love you every day, a kiss goodbye and a kiss hello, honest thoughts and feelings, a phone call returned, a message sent with only loving words and sealed and signed with a kiss. Woman are not hard to figure out, we just need love, attention, and to never be turned away or ignored when we really need to talk to the one we love. If the man of my heart is not willing to give me a few minutes when I need them the most, then I can promise they won’t last in my heart very long. Love me as I should be loved and cared for, and you will have me and my love forever. There is such a man, and he is the love of my life and keeps showing me he loves me, cares about me, and is willing to be there for me 100%. Love is special and I will always from this point on treat it with the respect and attention it needs.

Don’t forget to hug your pups because only God loves you more.

Perfect Love

2011-11-23T15:47:00.001-05:00

I always thought for sure there was no such thing as a perfect love, but now I think differently. A broken heart from a loved one hurts, it stings, and it burns, but it can be repaired with new promises made and old mistakes cast aside. A new future plan laid out for the continued journey and a promise of the two hearts are 100% in agreement that this love affair is what they need, want, and are willing to work at, a perfect love is possible. Nothing is ever the best it can be the first time around, it takes falling down and asking for forgiveness and giving of yourself to make it move past the hard times and into the new beginning. Love is a very difficult emotion, it can make you feel the most unparalleled best you have ever felt in your life or it can make you crawl into the deepest darkest place in your soul. I find that honesty, communication, trust, a giving heart, and forgiveness, can make a relationship sustain for years, but the look in each others eyes, the closeness of a hug, you know the snuggle factor, a soft kiss, holding of hands, a whisper in the ear saying "I love you", and a beautiful smile also make the love grow stronger. There is no one answer for all, but if you can love with an open honest heart, soften your tone when a loved one is hurting, listen to your loved one, and always end your written sentences to to your love with a sign off of “I love you” even if you are a bit upset at that moment then I think you can be pretty sure your love will last forever. Never give up, and always make your loved one feel as if it is the last day you will be together, because some day, it will be.

Remember hug your pups because only God loves you more than your dogs.

Life and The Journey

2011-11-22T12:21:00.000-05:00

Life is a strange and wonderful experience. I have had a life that some would envy and yet others would trade for the big box on the floor or what‘s behind curtain number one. I won’t bore anyone with the details because they are not the many point here today.

When I was younger, so much younger than today…sorry just had to. So as I was saying, when I was younger, the older generation would tell me that life is what you make it, life is meant to be lived, life is a journey, and so on. Well, now that I am among the, ahem, older generation, I one hundred percent agree with those wise philosophers of my past, so yes Virgina, life really is a journey.

The journey each of us is on is boundless and distinct; even family members do not have the same journey as you do, or I do. A life's journey is as unique as two snowflakes and the one you have is yours and yours alone and even if I don’t buy into that whole, life is what you make it farce, it is something you need to work on each and every day. Just as a champion rose gardener has to cultivate and meticulously be aware of what is in proximity to the roses, what might invade the roses, what the dangers are, and just as important, what the marvelous and mind-blowing essentials are. We must learn to make this same type of dedication with our lives.

I have learned just recently that if you want something very special, ask for it. If you want to be treated special, ask for it. If you need something you are not getting in a relationship, then ask for. Only then, if it cannot be given and you insist you must have it, then your journey must take you in the direction that can provide you with what you desire. Sometimes we humans get so caught up in our everyday tasks in life that we forget to take time for ourselves and our happiness. It shouldn’t be complicated at all, a slow walk holding hands, a dinner for two homemade with love, a wet sloppy dog kiss (no French kissing please), the sun rise, the laugh of a baby, the breath of a puppy, simple pleasures life can give us with little effort and huge rewards.

Don’t take life so seriously, you will get hurt more than if you take a relaxed and comfortable stance as you walk the path on your journey. Your path may have a rainbow’s pot of gold at the end, or maybe just a simple good night kiss from the one you love; either way, I would consider myself blessed.

Don’t forget to hug your pups and remember, only God loves you more than your dog.

Why Does it Hurt So Much?

2011-11-15T16:55:00.002-05:00

I am in daily pain so naturally when I am online I seek blogs and articles on pain; a very sad revelation for me was to realize so many people like me are in pain.

Since I was told of my RA I have asked God and anyone listening, why does it hurt so much? It is not only a physical pain it transfers over into every aspect of my daily life. I have not received an answer to my question on why it hurts so much, and to be honest, I don’t expect one, sad to say I do find comfort from the knowledge that I am not alone in my battle. People grieve over a lost loved one or friend, but people also, like me, grieve over the loss of good heath.

So I, as many others do every day across the world muse, why does life have to hurt so much? Children our the innocence in our lives and their little brains are always asking questions like, where does rain come from, why do dogs bark, how did they build such a tall building, or where do babies come from? The children grow and go to school and are taught the answers to all these questions and given answers to questions they had not even asked yet. But there is one question to which we never get an answer, why does suffering exists?

I have learned from all my reading that we must all find some part of this answer ourselves, from within. As we live our lives we continue to seek the knowledge to advance forward, reach upwards, and never stop looking for an answer…for if we do, our very souls establish we are forever destined to suffer and become locked into a dark dangerous place where there is no light or hope.

In order for me to feel comfort and to find an inner peace to my pain and suffering, I seek out unconditional love for it is the everlasting hope within me that pushes me onward. I find comfort in my family and loved ones, but it doesn’t measure up to the love I receive from my dogs, every day, every hour, every second, they are there for me with wet sloppy kisses and are willing snuggle babies that can outdo a box of tissues any day for tears and fears. They are such simple creatures, and yet they bring this unequaled reassurance and calm to my life.

We all search for answers and clarifications on how to make it through the rest of our lives when we are faced with grim and radical changes in our bodies. It affects not just us but our loved ones as well. It also engulfs with it our finances, our daily activities, our four legged children, and our friends. Our desires and dreams and all the plans laid out for our life into old age and retirement; taken away with the pain that came washing ashore and went out to sea again taking with it our life expectations and so much more.

So I try to accept as many wet kisses as I can get, try to smile though the pain, and laugh at the amount of pills I must swallow each and every day. Life may not be fair, and it may be full of pain, but I am still here, breathing and alive, able to still ask the question, why does life hurt so much?

I consider myself blessed and thank God everyday I am granted a new sunrise and a new wet sloppy kiss.

Passion

2011-11-11T12:51:00.000-05:00

Our finest moments come from our source of passion. Most would describe love and passion in the same definition, but this is not so. Passion lies within all of us. Passion speaks to us with acuity and can reveal itself as a assortment of human emotions as it waits patiently within. Passion is always lurking, guiding, influencing, hibernating. It can be a beast that consumes us in a rage, it can bring us euphoric ecstasy, it steers us on a journey and dominates our very souls. Our grief evolves from the beast of passion and yet so does our love, at times the passion overwhelms us and we hate it but how do we live with out it? True inner peace may come from the extraction of passion from our core, but what would remain if the passion was gone? An emptiness so hollow and dank that we may just consider the fact that we are no more, for passion is what gives us life and without the unwavering passion will unquestionably come a certain death.

My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog thinks I am. Please remember to hug your pups.

Stormy Inside

2011-11-09T13:57:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had a time in your life when things were all going so happily and there was nothing but sunshine beaming down upon your world? That is where I used to be in my head, for a period of time before the storm clouds and grey skies moved in. They seemed to have entered with a swift and dramatically forceful entry, but I know the more realistic version is they were creeping ever closer and I just kept ignoring them. I construe my heart and soul is thrashing about trying to eradicate itself from the rampant turmoil inside of me and be free from the pain and agony. My body incessantly shakes and quivers as it labors to find a tranquility within. I do not know how to break off this crazy merry-go-round it just keeps spinning and spinning and playing over and over this horrific mocking song as it rotates me under the storm clouds.

Always remember to hug the pups, as only God loves you more than they do.

Adopted Saved my Life

2011-10-06T20:42:00.002-04:00

Most of my loyal readers know I currently have four fur-children living with me. They are all rescues from local shelters here in SC except for my oldest beautiful boy Otis. Otis came into my life as I was recuperating from both physical pain and emotional pain. During the course of ten days, my beloved first rescue dog Scooby, whom I adopted a year previous at the age of five, died unexpectedly from something that enlarged his heart and shut down his kidneys in a matter of 24 hours; my best guess is anti-freeze from the neighbors. I held onto Scooby who was lying on the sterile white sheet covering the table at the vet and I gently stroked his face and kept telling him over and over what a good boy he was and how much I loved him. It only took a moment and his tan and white body went limp in my arms, my Scooby was gone. I was still in shock as I exited the vet’s office after paying some dollar amount they needed for the care they had given him and I proceed to a local pub. I laid my head upon the wooden bar top and I cried as if my world had been invaded and they knew what to take to break my heart into a thousand pieces. My Scooby was gone, but I still had something fragile and alive to fight for and hang on to, the beautiful baby that was growing inside me.

Within a week of Scooby’s passing, thinking it had been one of the worst weeks in my life, I was about to be violently awakened from my current sorrow and mourning as this week was not over yet. My husband’s mother passed away from melanoma, we knew it was near, but you can never really be prepared for the actual moment. The tears begin to flow down my cheeks; like a river had overflowed it bank. Resisting was not an option, it would have been a futile attempt at best. My eyes were almost swollen shut and a deep red painted across the whites. I was sitting there in a paper gown sobbing for the loss of my best friend Scooby and my future mother-in-law as the doctor continued with his speech, “I am sorry, the body has a way of terminating a pregnancy when something is wrong.” He was telling me that I was not done with experiencing grief of loved ones this week just yet, he was telling me my precious, tiny, beautiful baby was now an angel in heaven looking down upon me. At this moment I am broken, I slump out of my chair and onto the floor, thinking this is not happening, it is a bad dream and I need to wake up immediately. I don’t wake up because I am in the real and cruel world wide awake, heartbroken, crushed, all thoughts racing together as I try and grasp for air. My lungs are burring begging me to breath, and I did, finally, but why? Did I really need to continue to go on? These three loses in one week took everything I had inside and left me a cold and hollow shell.

I went to the funeral and I went for my surgery to cleanse the womb, and then I went to bed, and I stayed in that bed for almost two weeks. I could not find the strength to get up and go on and smile and be happy. It was too soon, my heart was still in pieces to small to repair just yet, my bedroom presented me the silence that was essential to me. I was vacant inside and I didn’t feel anything, it was almost as if I passed away that same week as well.

On the third week I was getting up and showering and doing all the normal things except work, I had not returned to work yet. I was still in a serious depression so the tasks I preformed were completed without much thought or care. The answer to my sorrow was just moments away. I decided to sit outside in the cool fresh air and maybe read or write. I did neither, I got out front and I watched the neighbor’s dogs run and play and bark and then all at once all four came rushing toward me like a heard of cattle looking for some hugs and a treat. I realized right at that moment surrounded by four very large and slobbering dogs what I must do.

I made some calls and jumped in the car and followed the directions to the narrow dirt road I was to turn onto. I really believe it was my “road to recovery”. Down at the end of the little dirt road stood a small gray building surrounded by trees and outdoor kennels. The noise was music to my ears, the smell was enticing to my nose, and the sight brought my heart alive and my eyes to dry. I brought home Otis on this day of despair, he was not as young as I had wanted, but he was simply adorable and so lovable and huggable, just like a baby. He is still my “favorite child” among our fur-children and I know he was a gift from God to help in my healing. Had it not been for the healing power of this fur-child I can only surmise as to what condition mentally I would have progressed to that week and the couple weeks past.

To me dogs are much better than humans in so many ways I lode count, I know hey love me unconditionally and with out looking for praise upon themselves or anything in return. They love me for me, just plain old ordinary me…what more could a human ask for? Very little can live up to or compare, if you find something does, grab it, because it goes above and beyond the standard human and the feeling you can achieve is super-human in a world full of sub-humans. Hug your pups and keep those tails wagging.

Love and Crossroads

2011-10-02T20:01:00.002-04:00

There are only a few things I can recall with unconditional promise and absolute infatuation. There are ways I was held that made me not want to stop. There was a spark placed in my heart that turned into a powerful fire. We don’t experience many moments in life that can stop your heart and encompass your every thought. These irreplaceable life alternating moments don’t last forever no matter how hard we pray to God in heaven to keep this moment alive.

Special moments fall apart, love dissolves, and the raging fire simmers to embers. What once was is replaced, some little by little, others all at once, leaving your heart and head breathless, grasping to embrace what it is already gone. We all move on when these life altering events in time take place, what other choice do we have? I have never felt as if I was in definitive control of my life and how it develops and scuffles along. The challenges, the losses, the heartaches, the closeness, the triumphs and the anguish all play a leading role in who I am today. As to where I will be tomorrow? It is still a coveted mystery that has yet to unveil itself to even me.

I have progressed in life and I was abandoned as well. I have succeeded in life and have fallen flat on my face. I have given my love and received both love and hated in response. I at times have attempted to be rubber and let the worst of the worst bounce off ,and yet, the scars are definitely attached to my heart where the horrific times penetrated hard. Being a human means you will never not feel, be it the best, or the worst.

I have been at crossroads in the past, for the most part I think I made the correct decision in the direction I choose, but I am now haunted that some of my decisions were made in haste by a very disturbed and in turmoil mind. I did not trust nor follow my heart, disregarding what it was feeling while chasing a carrot that turned out to be a putrid lemon.

I am happy, I am alive, breathing and walking, and sharing life with those that I choose to be with. My fur-children are my security blanket as they have been my entire life. I cannot see the future spread out in front of me and yet I have a wonderful overwhelming feeling it is going to be incredibly special and overflowing with a love as great as a love ever was.

Love, can I Believe?

2011-10-01T20:02:00.000-04:00

Today I sit and question, speculate, how different a person I am from say 20 years ago. It seems as if the time has gone by so very quickly and yet, at times, it just seems to stand still. I have tried to destroy the unpleasant experiences, the naughty times, the remorseful actions, and the damaging people from my past, but I can’t, they will forever be just what they are, my past. My past bears a resemblance to The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. I was anguished when I was young and I had remained that way for many decades and to be honest I still am a bit today. When you are young everyone tells you, “it’s okay, your young move on get past it.” or, “you will laugh about this one day when you are older.” Some things I did, and some things I didn’t, I just couldn’t. I lost a few very precious and loving souls during this time in my life when I was so mixed with emotions from hatred, to love, to who cares. I was so tired of being used and abused that when I had genuine devotion and love screaming in my face and holding on for dear life right beside me I couldn’t-wouldn’t see it. People beat me, raped me, used me, and now, after all that, I was to genuinely believe someone loved me…not possible, it was a lie, my mother told me no one would or could ever love me. I know now I was asphyxiating any spark that had grown and flourished and removed myself as far away as I could right then and there, my heart had been thrown to hell and back and I could not handle one more tear, or crack, or ache. I know now I lost and cast away many precious and wonderful gifts, but I was just not cable of love in my condition back then. Oh I did love and was loved but not in the way it was meant to be, everlasting, encompassing, engulfing oneself in a never look back kind of way. It was more like finding fault, fixating on a bad habit, and then running away and casting the blame elsewhere. When you are as broken and defeated as I was back then, I was destined to destroy any goodness in my life while looking and preparing for the bad and evil every moment of the day. I knew, I knew, I just knew, it had to be around the corner and coming after me with a vengeance, there was no escape from the doom my life was to encounter. I walked away many times from those who honestly loved me, cared about me, wanted me, just for me, and I am truly sorry. I just couldn’t believe I was capable of true happiness and love with the heart very deeply and honestly. Love is something I did not identify with or really deep down ever imagine was possible until much later in my life. The only real love I felt was that from my four-legged furry friends, not humans. Humans could not be trusted and they continued to prove that to me each and every day. They didn’t care about me, have concern for me or my health, they just used me to take what they needed and cast me aside until they needed me again. Humans are capable of inflicting pain, and this they did, so much so it blinded me from seeing what was right there in my arms and begging to stay in my heart. I cannot replace what once was wrong and make it right, time continues to move on and we must learn to forgive ourselves, our mistakes, and judge not our decisions. Life is ever evolving and we learn as we grow, but sometimes, oh yea sometimes, I wish I knew then what I is clearly undeniable now. Hug you beloved pets, they love you more than anyone else ever could, because their love is unconditional.
Happy Tail Wagging and may love find it’s way to your heart each and every day.

Life Lost

2011-09-29T20:25:00.002-04:00

I’ve heard people say that when you have a near death experience it changes the rest of your life forever, but what becomes of your life when you don’t die, but your baby dies many months before you ever get to meet him or her? Your life is never the same again either. I mourn such a tragedy still today, many decades later, and it will continue with me until my dieing day. I felt as if God was punishing me for something I had done in my youth or past, something I could not pray enough to wash away the sin(s) I committed. It is to eternally cling upon my soul and haunt me until my last breath here on earth. I then think about “us” there was an “us” in this scenario, we made this baby as one, and we lost this baby as one. Yes, it was I, the woman who felt this, our tiny unborn baby slip from inside me where I thought it was safe and snug, but all of a sudden a moment came, and there was nothing I could do to put a stop to it and all I felt inside me was a vast emptiness. It happened in a matter of moments or seconds, I cried out and I screamed inside and it was still happening as I lay there trying to gulp for air and somehow tell myself this wasn’t the end of the world, I still had to live on past this unspeakable death knowing my baby was gone forever. Forever. We as humans use this word like an everyday casual word not conscious of what it really means. I will love you forever, I will stay with your forever, I will wear this shirt forever because you touched it, I want this moment to last forever…but then we realize, sometimes much to late, that forever is a really really long time, and time has a way of altering our way of thinking, our way of behaving, and our hearts, forever.

I have written before we cannot go back in time and even if we could would we take that chance of an outcome that would so alter our future and those around us causing appalling and reckless events. I know life moves on, and I cannot change my past choices or events, but they have formed me into who and what I am today.

When I see an older dog, or an adult dog at a shelter, it genuinely tears at my heart. We as Americans do a repulsive job at preventing new litters of puppies from being brought into this world of over population. Many don’t care or even think about it…these are just animals, or possessions, not individual lives. But every single pup born is a new and special life. We are all God’s creatures and all deserve a life of security, food, shelter from the elements, and most importantly love. Since that tragic day so long ago that is perpetually engraved into my memory I have unsuccessfully attempted to see if my body would carry a beautiful baby to term, but it was never meant to be. So, desperate to help babies in any form so that I could make use of my motherly instincts and love, I choose to save as many dogs as I could from their own impending death at the hands of humans. “It Takes Four Paws” is so much deeper and nearer to my heart than any of you could have imagined. I could not save my baby, but I can save and nurture what God has given to me, dogs, lots of dogs. I love them more than some humans and they are deserving of this love for they love me unconditionally and without any reservation. I am their mom, and they my fur-children, today and everyday, even long after they are gone from this earth and waiting for me at Rainbow Bridge. God gives us what we need, not what we want, and we must take what He gives us and nurture and secure it today and always. We cannot change or fix what happened long ago, but we can try to make amends in whatever way we can using our hearts. To the loss of my past, I love you and will never forget you as being a part of me and may you forever know peace and love continues to overfull from my heart to yours. Love is not lost if it is still deep within your heart, it is just tucked safely away.

FairyTale

2011-09-27T10:02:00.000-04:00

Life. I sit and wonder if this is the life I was given, or the life I have chosen, or was it just random acts that brought me to where I am? I am confident, like me, most of you dreamed when you were a young child about what your future would be like. I always prayed first just to make it to adulthood and after that, I lived in a perfect fairytale in my future life. Complete will all the furry animals in the forest that walked and talked and were my very best friends, prince charming would tell me how pretty I was every day, the beautiful dresses and the figure to wear them, the bluebirds singing pleasing music and floating around and around. The sun was always shining and the scenic view was of rolling hills blanketed with sweet dainty flowers. Soft breezes and fluffy clouds up in the blue blue sky.

WAKE UP, and when I did, there were no bluebirds singing in my ear, just loud voices that began to sound like blah blah blah. Early wake ups and hard work, no prince charming to sweep me away and make me the happiest woman in all the land. There was no soft bed which to lay my head upon, in real life it was just an old sleeping bag on the floor. No fancy clothes adorned my not so perfect body shape, and any pretty flowers were covered in brown sloshed snow out my city window. The dreams of childhood began to fade with each passing day, real life was taking over and it was not looking like anyplace I wanted to stay for very long. When reality turns out to be a complete 360 from your dreams you began to doubt that any happiness is in your future and if and when will it ever get there.

When I did find happiness, it faded much to quickly, leaving me to feel alone and isolated, unloved and uncared for, as if I were to just fade away it would be okay, there wasn’t anyone to come look for me. The years go by and the silliness of fairytale made me laugh, for real…hard belly laughs. Not because they are adolescent poppycock filling us with artificial ideas, but because I knew who I was, and where I had come from, and almost daily kicked myself for believing in all that “perfect sunny days, prince charming, bluebird signing” crap. Who believes in that shit anyhow, I did, but like many little girls before me, we wake up and learn the truths. The furry animals in the forest get shot and eaten, prince charming is an unemployed self centered jerk, the sun is covered by pollution, the dresses all alluring and flowing are only worn in the movies, us real ladies wear work uniforms.

So again, I am back where I started, is this the life I was given, the life I have made, or the random acts…I can only tell you for sure, it ain’t no fairytale.

Loneliness

2011-09-26T11:51:00.000-04:00

Now and again we may be surrounded by many people in our daily life, and yet we feel lonely and isolated. I myself feel this way on many days and it is not that I don’t have people in my life that love me, because I do. I have always felt different than most, unique but not special and dare I say out of sync with the majority.

My regular readers and supporters who have gotten to know me from my blog know that I am a survivor of many evils, child abuse, rape, verbal abuse, and continued torment from one family member that will remain a constant in the forefront of my life until they are called to hell. If any of you are saying to the screen, “you need to seek counseling, please don’t waste that comment on me, as I have had years and years of counseling by some of the best in the business. What I feel is in my heart not my head.

Needless to say, I counted on animals more than humans and I feel perfectly rational in stating this. They are the only ones that do not instigate anguish, know about hate, harbor ill feelings, torment and torture, or raise a fist in rage. But most of us know this already, but what many may not know is that each and every one of my fur-children have their own and distinct personality. One maybe feels sad when I leave, one will play alone, one will always lay on my head no matter how large he gets, one may hate to get brushed and the others may love it. They are like us in that no two are alike. And just like I have different relationships with different people based on our personalities and closeness, I have a similar but different relationship with the fur-kids.

As I have stated in the beginning I can and have felt entirely alone in a group of people, be they friends or strangers, but I can honestly say I have never felt alone in the company of a dog. We share basic trust and traits. We don’t need to speak but yet there is a conversation, we don’t need to touch and yet my heart is touched, we don’t have to look into each other’s eyes, but when I do, I see their soul, and it to me it is as pure as the first snow flakes falling from the heavens. Pure, natural, beautiful, simple, and with it, a calm and overwhelming sense of togetherness, loyalty, and love.

I know that people like me are rare, but I don’t mind at all, it just validates that I am very special and that the bonds I can make with God’s creatures is a gift direct from the heaven’s that only was given to a few honored non-perfect humans like me.

Happy tail wagging everyone.

Thunder Brings on the Paw

2011-09-22T20:40:00.000-04:00

I was awoken this morning about 4:30 to a large black and furry paw to the face. As I attempted to clear out the dust from my sleepy brain I could hear the thunder clasps and see the flashes of light dance across the sky. It was Otis attached to the paw telling me he was not about to sit this storm out alone so I’d better get up. Otis has had a fear of storms ever since we moved here to upstate SC where summer storms are known to pop up almost every afternoon. Personally I have a passion for storms that provide a muscular wind that instigates tree branches to twist and turn, a rain that drenches you to the bone as it attacks you and hits you with a slap, a light show that can only be upstaged by Trans Siberian Orchestra. But, with Otis my loyal fur-child around I must awaken from my serene undemanding dream as I am denied any pleasure kindled by this storm of the early morning. As I creep from the bedroom and very softly close the door, I watch with delight as the sky continues to sparkle and the thunder breaks the silence of the sleeping house.

I must care for my Otis: I speak to him in a gentle, soothing, and motherly voice as I hug him firmly. We walk side by side to the kitchen where the promace pills are kept for just such mornings. Once Otis has had his pill, we lay tenderly on the living room floor, his head upon my chest, his breathing slowing to a tranquil state. I watch as his eyelids commence to close even as he struggles the inescapable. As he doses off into sweet dreams, I hear one last thunderbolt clamor through the stillness and witness one last shimmer dash across the horizon as I as drift back into peaceful slumber.

Love

2011-09-22T08:49:00.000-04:00

You have to walk carefully in the beginning of love; the running across fields into your lover's arms can only come later when you're sure they won't laugh if you trip. ~Jonathan Carroll, "Outside the Dog Museum"
http://www.museumofthedog.org/about_us.html

Blessings

2011-09-20T13:30:00.000-04:00

Well today outside is just a cloudy and drizzly day, but inside I am filled with sunshine. I have been reflecting on the many blessings I have had in my life and still have today. Of course it goes without saying the man in my life is someone that loves me for me, and nothing is better than that. I am not a easy woman to be with, I have a very broken past that still haunts me today, but he is still right by my side even when I am checked out in my own little world, or playing with toys at the stores, or dressed up like a runway model on his arm for the evening. He has weaknesses and flaws, but don’t we all? I will never be close to perfect and yet he accepts this in me and loves me in spite of it. He is a true and admirable blessing that I will hold onto for as long as I can.

My recent discovery of my grandson, yes I said grandson, has given me a new purpose in life. He lives so far away, and we have so much catching up to do I could write to him a chapter each day and still be behind on where he is in his life and how I got to this point in mine. Just knowing a little ten year old is thinking of me, wanting to know all about me, and share the rest of his life with me is a blessing that God could not have sent at a better time.

Not last by any means are my pups; Otis, Marley, Brock, and the baby Abby. As a child that was beaten for years my dog was all I had that showed me any love. I would have died to protect her, and she for I. She is at Rainbow bridge waiting for me and someday I will hug her and thank her again for being there to save me when all hope was lost. She was my only blessing for many years, and my current babies have no less love for me than she did, and I for them.

Blessings come in many different and unique ways; a life savior, a clean bill of health, a special someone, or maybe the blessing was just being able to pick myself up and move on. I have had to do this many times and all across this great nation of ours. I have lost touch with the very few friends I had met along my journey, but I still hold dear many memories of times from my past that did make me laugh and smile, gave me hope, showed me that I was worthy of love, and just every now and then, my greatest blessing of all was inner peace.

Stay happy and keep those tails wagging!

Do We Really Want to Change Our Past?

2011-08-29T13:54:00.000-04:00

I am sure most you have been asked at one time or another, what in your past would you change if you could, and would you? I have had some very damaging events back in my youth, some horrific exchanges of hate and power thrust upon me, and a family, well, that really wasn’t a family at all.

But to answer my own question of what would I change and would I, my answer is nothing. Honestly, I would not change anything about my past. I firmly believe that every day, hour, or minute of our lives is a building block onto what our next block will come from. Yes some could argue, “why wouldn’t you change the beatings you got every day, or why wouldn’t you change this or that?” My individual opinion is that if I am happy, right now, at this very moment in time, then I have to accept and keep all the decisions, actions, and life’s moments exactly as they occurred or I would not be in this very place I am right now.

It is these very experiences that have shaped our personalities and who we are. Who we have become and how we approach life is all derived from what we remember about our past. All the wonderful traits of who you are today could possibly be altered by ripples forward if you were change even the tiniest thing from your past.

We are humans, we interact each and everyday with millions of others we don‘t come in immediate contact with, no one lives in an isolation bubble. We all effect other people, with our thoughts, decisions, actions, life events, and so on. So to alter just one thing from the past would additionally modify everyone else’s as well.

Clearly no one can change the past and we must accept and live with our choices and the events from the past that have shaped us and all those around us. We all have a mistake or a pain from our past we would love to abolish. Just the mere thought of having an opportunity where we could throw caution to the wind, reject all risks associated with time travel and the unquestionable ripples, take a deep breath, and jump head first onto those time lines.

Then reality surfaces, and with just a flicker of wishful thinking we know in our heart or hearts that we must all keep moving forward; day by day. To do this we must forgive ourselves of past mistakes or actions, because you can’t go back. Accept the past so you can concentrate on your future, we can control the future. But lest you never forget, everything we do affects someone else is some way, however minor. Also go back and ask yourself again how happy you are in life right now...

We don’t need to press Control/ALT/Delete, more often than not, it is just a simple little fix.

Remembering High School

2011-08-14T09:40:00.000-04:00

I logged on to that site that lets you reunite with your past school mates from high school and saw that I missed my 28th year reunion, wow bummer. No really, because I remember when I was being a bit…how do I say, rebellious in high school and I was called into my counselor’s office for a chat. He sat me down in a chair across from him and he had all these important papers in front of him and then the speech. “I don’t understand why you are failing in Home Economics?” he said, “from what your mother tells me you love to cook?” I just shrugged my shoulders and said, “Well maybe because they don’t let us cook Italian food.” He looked at me funny and said, “they bake in this class, are you saying you don’t like brownies and cookies and such?” I had to stop myself from laughing and simply said I was not into sweets, if I had answered honestly it would have been more like “Well you see, I have two free periods before my Home Economics class and I leave the grounds with my friends and we smoke a bit, and then we pig out big time on Dunkin Donuts and by the time I get to class I am waaaay to tired to even look at a brownie much less try and pour liquid into a tiny measuring cup and cook one. After a few more exchanges he finally said to me, “now young lady, you need to take high school more seriously, these are the best times of your life.” Whoaaaaa, wait a minute, did he just say this was the best time of my life, what the heck? I live with my parents, I can’t legally drink, my face has more craters than the moon because acne is my middle name, I don’t have a car, I have no money and I’ve never had sex!!! So if this was the best….well then heck, just shoot me now because it can only be down hill from here….

Needless to say my life worked out fine, and I have, much later in life, found the best times of my life with my husband who is the love of life, my 4 legged “children“, and my great friends.

Have a good Sunday everyone….

Happy wagging

A New day

2011-05-22T18:08:00.000-04:00

The sun rose today to a glorious spectacle and so did I. You see, we cannot be assured that each day we will awake and be who we are to those that expect us to be, well, who we are to them. Many of my inner circle know that I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis over two years ago. This is not JUST any arthritis as many think when they hear that word. It is forever, The cause of RA is unknown. It is considered an autoimmune disease. The body's immune system normally fights off foreign substances, like viruses. But in an autoimmune disease, the immune system confuses healthy tissue for foreign substances. As a result, the body attacks itself. I have to endure many drugs a day including a chemo drug once a week in a high dose as well as IV once a month called a Biologic drug. These are designed to affect parts of the immune system that play a role in the disease process of rheumatoid arthritis. There is no cure, just medications to help you through the pain, well supposed to help anyhow.

Well, along with this, I seem to have also been losing my memory; is it related, my doctor said it is due to all the medication I am on each day, but my fear is my remembering my grandfather died from Alzheimer’s. So, do I worry about that or the incurable RA…how about neither from this day on. I accidentally took eight Zanax pills Friday night instead of my chemo pills. I knew as soon as I placed them in my mouth as I know the taste of Xanax and the chemo pills have no taste, eight plus my sleeping pill and my muscle relaxer. I told hubby to call poison control and I tired to throw up. My mind was spinning thinking of so many different things all at once.

As it turns out poison control said I would be okay but would sleep a little bit; I slept for 24 hours. But I learned something very important during this “crisis”. I learned that some people I thought I needed in my life I really didn’t. I realized if I had died I had no regrets except for the fact I could not spent more time with my husband who I love more than my own life, I realized I need to concentrate more on some things and less on others. I realized any day can be your last and to not ever take even one day for granted.

I don’t live an exciting life, but I do have a few people that love me and I them. I realized I spend more time with my four dogs than I do my husband, and yet I don’t think I would change a thing right now. God gave me this life almost 47 years ago, and I once (more than once) I asked him to take me home with him as I had had enough, but He didn’t, and I am so glad He kept me here. I may not solve a world crisis, I may create the cure for cancer or even RA, but I did learn Friday night that even if just one person loves you, I mean really loves you, than you are blessed. I have that one person, my husband, and a few more as well so I am very blessed. Never take your life for granted, never take the ones that you love for granted, and always always hug your dogs, they are after all a present from God, and God has blessed with over and over again. Have a great Sunday everyone, and may I soon talk to you again when the sun rises on our newest day. Happy Tail wagging.

Before I Was A Dog Mom

2011-05-07T20:15:00.001-04:00

Before I was a Dog Mom:

I made and ate hot meals unmolested.
I had unstained, unfurred clothes.

I had quiet conversations on the phone,

even if the doorbell rang.

Before I was a Dog Mom:

I slept as late as I wanted

and never worried about how late I got to bed

or if I could get into my bed.

Before I was a Dog Mom:

I cleaned my house every day.

I never tripped over toys, stuffies, chewies

or invited the neighbor's dog over to play.

Before I was a Dog Mom:

I didn't worry if my plants, cleansers,

plastic bags, toilet paper, soap or deodorant

were poisonous or dangerous.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I had never been peed on,
pooped on, drooled on,
chewed on or pinched by puppy teeth.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I had complete control of my thoughts,
my body and mind.
I slept all night without sharing the covers or pillow.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I never looked into big, soulful eyes and cried.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop a hurt.
I never knew something so furry and four-legged
could affect my heart so deeply.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I had never held a sleeping puppy
just because I couldn't put it down.
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was well.
I didn't know how warm it feels inside
to feed a hungry puppy.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I had never known the warmth, the joy,
the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the
satisfaction of being...
A Dog Mom.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Dog Moms like me!!!

“My Life, Uncut and Unedited”

2011-04-28T17:16:00.001-04:00

The storm has passed and today the four baby birds in our birdhouse are rejoicing as they wait for momma bird to bring them breakfast in bed. Below their home the fragrant flowers are all standing at attention waving up to the big blue sky in all their glorious colors. Today is a great day; I will make sure it is.

There are so many clichés out in the written world, “life is like a box of chocolate”, “when at first you don’t succeed…”, only the good die young”, “when the world gives you lemons…” and so on. I used to think that life was what was given to you, that it just happened. I was wrong, very wrong.

My life was at one time so horrific with black clouds filling my every scene, I cried through the entire production when others were not looking at me on stage. I was a drifter in my own mind wondering from place to place looking for the escape hatch. I found it one day, it was labeled courage.

I embraced my new found courage and walked out of the scenes that had me in harms way, the fights, the anger, the hate. I looked at myself and realized I was all I had and I was going to make it to the big stage one day, people would know me, respect me, and love me.

I left behind every bit of despair and wondered through the streets not yet knowing where my next gig would be, when I might eat again, even where I might sleep. It didn’t matter as it once did, I had courage now and it was all I needed to keep me walking straight ahead and not looking back.

I did make it one day, many years and many struggles later. It was to say the least, glorious! I found my soul mate, I found my talent, and I found that God never forgot who I was and where I was, I was the one that needed the reminder. I did not belong where I once came from, it was a mistake of epic proportions and although I cannot erase the events completely from my memories, I know they are there only to remind me of how far I have come. I overcame hell on earth to be where I am today and I know now life is not just “what happens” it is all about what you make of it, today, tomorrow, and the day after. I control my life. I not only play the staring role, I am the writer, the director, and the producer of this original screen place called, “My Life, Uncut and Unedited” and as of today, my four dogs will tell you, I am wagging my tail to a happy beat day after day.

If you are not happy, make a change and get happy for we only have precious little time here on earth, make it worth the trip.

Love

2011-04-25T10:32:00.002-04:00

When I was a child I used to love to go to the mall with my best friend and just sit and people watch. Granted, I was not always nice in my thoughts and comments in regard to all the people I saw. The words I spoke were not meant to bring harm to the people, it was merely a way for me to take the ugliness I felt about myself and place it somewhere else, if even for just a couple hours.

I was not a loved child, I had an abusive parent, I was fat, I did not like who I was at all. But as I grew up I learned I was who God made me to be and I had better start liking me or my life would be lived in sadness. It was not an easy task, liking myself, my birth mother was constantly telling me what a loser I was, how ugly I was, and that I would amount to nothing at all in my pitiful existence.

I proved her wrong many times over and I still am today. What I have been thinking most about these last few days, is why is she still slandering my name to all she meets and talks to? Why does she get so much delight from being hateful and character assassination? How did I, a kind hearted and loving person ever come from the womb of a evil soul that only wishes to wreck havoc on her on blood for shear pleasure?

Well, to that question I will never have an answer, but I did answer a question about me and my life. I am who God made me to be. I have found my soul mate and married him, I love animals and they love me back 100%, I love to cook and experiment with food, I love hosting children from other countries and having them grow and mature with the guidance of my nurturing and kindness. I love to clean my home and make it a place to snuggle down and find tranquility and love no matter what room you enter. I seek other’s approval, and yet, I don’t need it to feel good about who and what I am.

I matured without a mother’s affection and support and yet I have become a woman whose heart is bigger than the moon, loves those that love me back, and know that I was born from wickedness. But by the grace of God, I have eradicated every last drop of blood within me that contained abhorrence. My life was never perfect, is still not perfect, but I know I am as close to perfect as I can be. I have learned if you cannot share love, create love, or teach love, you will never experience love, and without love, there is nothing but a hollow existence. Start today by loving who you are as a person for you cannot give love away to others if you don't first have love inside you to share.

Farewell again Katharina

2011-04-15T11:37:00.000-04:00

As I watched her on the escalator travel up and then up further to a place I could no longer view her waving hand or her beautiful hazel eyes with a hint of moisture, I immediately broke down my tough girl face and cried as if I were forever lost and all alone although standing in a crowded and bustling airport. Saying good-bye to Katharina this morning matched what it must feel like to have a large part of your tender and beating heart ripped out in a flash of a second.

As I drove home in silence, with tears streaming down my freshly washed and make-up face, I realized it was not that she was gone again that hurt so much, it was that my heart was again so full of her smile, her love, her accent speaking to me in a way only she can, for the new memories that we have made, it is this that hurts so much when she leaves. It was just moments ago we were still creating new memories and then, the next she is gone. I suddenly feel we need more, NOW, not in a year or two, right NOW…I want you back by my side and forever hugging my soul as you hug my heart as only you can.

Upon entering my home after the trip back from the airport, I feel as my oldest dog Otis looks, the sad and droopy eyes, the sorrow upon his face, the looking behind me for Katharina who had followed behind me now since Monday. I lower myself to pat his head and to tell him that she is off again on a fantastic journey and smile as I say the words, for she is my journey around the globe as I feel and learn through the captured stills she sends to me, and the words that follow them. So yes, Otis and I will now rest together, both of us I am sure feeling sad, but oh so happy for the hugs and time we have had this week with someone we both love so dearly.

I can not end this blog without saying how extremely swollen with pride I am of her accomplishments over the last six years and the true reason she is back in the states. She is off to represent her country at the United Nations in NYC. My daughter is an example to all, that with determination, little money, and a little help along the way, a big dream can come true if you truly want it to. She is on her way to greatness and to “save the world”, and as funny as it may sound, I know she will.

Remember a daughter does not have had to come from your womb, she only has had to enter your heart. Until next time Katharina, all my love…

The Simple Life

2011-03-09T12:18:00.000-05:00

God has altered my life in many ways in the last two years. I have had setbacks in my health and yet my heart is overflowing. My health is not as great as it once was, but it could be much much worse, so I am grateful everyday I wake up and can stand and use my hands. I am blessed with inner strength to compel me to keep seeking and giving kindness, searching for those in need of my help, to introduce myself to new and challenging opportunities, to constantly grow in my belief and for the many blessing of love in my life. I have reunited with family members and I have asked others to stay away. I have made new friends, reconnected with old ones, and yes maybe have lost a few as well. I am blessed with a husband that adores me and blessed with all the four-legged children God had adopt me.

My personality has changed as well, I am still very crazy, but mature when needed. I love to laugh and have fun, but know when to be solemn. I try my best to do a good deed everyday, and yet sometimes they bite me in the butt. I am a child of God just doing the best she can to stay focused on the blessings I have and not ask for things I do not need. God has sent to me another daughter, this time from Brazil. Ana Paula is beautiful, caring, smart and sweet as summer corn. A blessing that I did not ask for but God gave to me knowing I needed her and she needs us.

I used to be all about the amount of materials things and how many more could I own. Now, I wear a plastic paw print bracelet in place of the diamond one. I carry a purse that was made by a group that supports and feed homeless dogs in place of the Gucci. Brand names have been replaced with comfortable and affordable. All these material things are pretty, but so is a child’s smile, a puppy taking a nap, or walking barefoot in the sand.

What is in my heart is what is most important not what I wear on my body. I am a softer person now inside, unlike before when I was full of so much hate and anger. I look for the simple pleasures God gave to all of us for my appreciation and to heighten my spirit; a sprouting new flower, a breathtaking sunrise, the picturesque full moon, the dogs all playing and running, the spider spinning her web, the puffy white clouds obscuring the bright blue sky, the vigorous sound of thunder and the rhythm of the rain. A mother bird bring her open mouthed young provisions for breakfast, and the stars I look up to each night as I thank God for my life, the beauty He gave me, the love He gave me, and the know how for doing things to help myself and the attitude to get it done.

So today, as I celebrate the season of Lent, I again thank God for me, simple old me, for who I am, for what I have, and for the love in my heart that overflows each day.

Not Perfect

2011-02-18T11:10:00.002-05:00

My life is not perfect, my life is not just starting, my life is not all about me. My life is a enchanting journey of delight that could not ever be, nor ever was, before my life had Lennie. My life is consumed not with me and what I am doing, but rather sharing it with the love of my life, my small family, my fur-children, and the special people I meet along the path. Never stop smiling, for if you do you will never have those unexpected little chance meetings with people that can change your life.

Glycemic Index Food List Widget

2011-02-10T13:33:00.000-05:00

Glycemic Index Food List Widget

Dog Rules:

2011-01-31T11:10:00.002-05:00

1. If I like it, it's mine.

2. If its in my mouth, it's mine.

3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.

4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.

5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I'm chewing something up, all the pieces are mine.

7. If it looks like mine, it's mine.

8. If I saw it first, it's mine.

9. If you are playing with something & you put it down, it automatically beomes mine.

10. If its broken, it's yours.

Thank you,
The Dog

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T17:19:00.001-05:00

A very Merry Christmas to all the two and four legged friends out there across the globe that celebrate this glorious day. May your hearts be warm and filled with love, may you be safe and happy, and in no pain. May you share a special touch on this, the celebration of our Savior Jesus’ birth. Merry Christmas to you all, and to all a good night.

The Night Before Dogmas

2010-12-22T18:52:00.000-05:00

‘Twas the night before Dogmus, and all through the pound, not a puppy was yelping or playing around. Our leashes were hung by our kennels with care, in hopes that St> Bernard would soon find us there.

Chihuahuas were curled up all snug in their beds, while visions of doggie treats danced in their heads. Max in his collar, dreaming of someone’s lap, had tucked in his tail for a midwinter’s nap.

When outside the room there arose such a clatter, my ears perked right up to hear what was the matter.

Away to the window I scampered with glee, and barked at the shadows that were cast by the tree.

The glow from the moon changed night into day, and started me thinking, “Woof, woof, time to play.”

When what with my puppy-dog eyes did I see, but a splendid dogsled, led my doggies like me!

With a regal furred driver, commanding, not stern; I yelped to the others, “That must be St. Bern!”

As rapid as greyhounds, our saviors they came, so we barked and we howled and called them by name.

“There’s Duchess! There’s King, Fat Chance, and Bare Buffy! On Fido, On Scooter! On Rover, and Scruffy! Go by the red hydrant and run past those trees! Nothing can stop you, not even some fleas!”

As puppies at play chase after a stick, and race to their masters so lovely and quick, So out in the field his canines all flew, catching the Frisbees the good St. Bernard threw.

And then in an instant I heard at the door the scratching and clawing of each little paw. As I pulled in my nose and was turning around, in through the door St. Bernard came with a bound!

He was dressed all in fur from his head to his tail, and his wooden cask was adorned with an icing of hail. A bag of chew toys he had brought in with him, and his mouth was turned up in what looked like a grin.

His eyes, how they twinkled! His ears flopped, how merry! His coat shown like crystal, his nose like a cherry! His big sloppy mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the fur on his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a bone he held tight in his teeth, and his collar encircled his neck like a wreath. He had a large face and furry round belly that shook when he barked, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was fluffy and plump, a big cuddly old pooch, and I laughed when I saw him and gave him a smooch! With wink of his eye and a wag of his tail, we knew right away we’d have homes without fail.

He gave not a howl, but went straight to his deed, and took down the leaches that soon we would need. He opened the door and families stood there, with children, all smiling, and much love to spare.

He leaped to his sled, to his team gave a call, and away they all flew as if chasing a ball. But I heard him exclaim, as he chewed on his bone:

“HAPPY DOGMUS TO ALL AND ALL TO A GOOD HOME!”

Rules for Non-Pet Owners Who Visit

2010-12-16T09:22:00.000-05:00

TO NON-PET OWNERS who visit my home and complain about my pets.

1) They live here, you don't.

2) If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it 'Fur'-niture. 3) Chances are, I love my pets more than I like you.

4) To you, my pets are just animals, but to me they are an adopted son/daughter who happen to be hairy, walks on all fours, and who doesn’t speak clearly.

5.) A home without pet hair is not a home at all.

The Cab Ride

2010-12-12T10:23:00.000-05:00

I arrived at the address and honked the horn, after waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked... 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her... 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?' 'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly...

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice... 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'.

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said.

'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light... Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life...

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?

What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID ~BUT~
THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL!

Talking dogs

2010-06-04T16:22:00.001-04:00

Nibbles

2010-06-02T17:23:00.002-04:00

Just a short update on the baby Abby. She has taken to biting to say hello…she is adorable with her howl and that she moves in for a nibble. Does not matter to her where the nibble is taken from, just along as she gets a few in. Soooo, needless to say this has to end. I have been nibbled on in a few places that hurt more than others if you know what I mean. I will keep you posted on how this goes.

The other characteristic I have noticed of late is she is nocturnal. I get woken up about three times during the night because she is throwing her knotted rope against the walls, or chewing on the throw rug in the bathroom, or just running around and up and down the stairs just for fun. Again, as amusing as this is, it does disrupt my much needed beauty rest.

But all in all, she has become a faithful companion to her “daddy” and she is a joy to have in the home. The three boys have all finally taken to her and have all become one happy family, now if this family could just get some well needed sleep and a few less nibbles on the nipples!

Wet smooches from the pooches!

For the love of a lost child..

2010-05-26T08:23:00.002-04:00

I sometimes wonder why thing happen in life when they do. Life at times appears to be so random, and yet, when you look back after sometime has passed, it all seems to have happened in perfect order. When you stop to think about it, we as individuals really don’t make that many actual decisions in our life alone. They are based on life style, commitments, family values, emotions, and so many other outside and internal factors. One decision we make can effect us emotionally for all our days remaining on this earth, and then still remain in the minds and hearts of those left behind to still continue living on; one decision.

I have personally been involved in tragic family situations, more than I care to admit actually, but I somehow by the Grace of God overcame most of the hurt and pain; to somehow grasp that I was not guilty of anything and I had a RIGHT to a good life without the ghosts of my past haunting me forever. Oh, don’t be fooled, they jump from the closet or out from under the bed at times I least expect them to and cause havoc, but for the most part they are at an arms length away.

I am currently watching my loved one cope with the newest words spoken from a daughter he grieves for every day; she has not passed away, she has just been gone in her mind and taken herself from him heart for a decade now. He divorced her mom and they divorced themselves from their dad; and now, she tells her dad that she doesn’t like him because he left and got remarried, not how she refused to see her dad for weekends, or how they spent holiday's in a restaurant, or that she just "loved" the new boyfriend who became step-dad, who then became the ex of mom. How we remember the events of an emotional past is not always with clear renditions; the heart has a way of folding in “false” memories to make the entire event “sway” one way or the other…because as we remember things, we do not ever want to be the one that made the hurt begin, nor be the one that is at fault.

For this chapter, my husband will feel the pain for awhile, and then file this conversation away with the many others. The saddest part is he loves his daughters and always did what he thought was the best for them. They began a false love on their new step-dad less a couple months after the divorce and then when he was gone a year later, it appears that their faith in their mom somehow grew and their hatred for their dad began to strengthen. I truly believe that the parent with custody has the most responsibility to keep the children and the family connected and together in heart though no longer in household, when that parents alienates the other parent instead, then the beginning of the end has begun. It is sad that the one who caused the family breakdown is the one held in high regard and the one with all the love in his heart is left to grieve the loss.

This is a tragic story that is told thousands of times a day all over the world, I ask that anyone that is in a similar situation, about to get divorced with children, please keep the family alive and well as you dissolve the marriage, they are two separate entities and the family is so vital. What happens in these situations last a lifetime and then some, as it is handed down to the next generation…if I really stop to think about it, this may be why humankind is becoming less humane as we clock off the decades and then centuries on the calendar of life. If we lose faith and love in our own parent, whom has only been good and kind, where does that leave us with strangers.

Sorry off topic today and happy tail wagging.

The Lab Report

2010-05-25T16:21:00.002-04:00

Today I am just providing some reporting on the Lab breed. Despite the name, the Labrador Retriever originated not in Labrador, but in Newfoundland; the same place one of my favorites, the Newfoundland originates. Many labs were exported to England by fisherman during the 1830's. Eventually, however, the breed died out in Newfoundland because of a tax on dog ownership plus British quarantine laws, which made exporting them less profitable. (Good! don't agree with making profits on dogs, there are to many in need of a forever home).

Hope everyone has a great tail wagging day!

Before I was a Dog Mom:

2010-05-09T00:01:00.015-04:00

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I made and ate hot meals unmolested.
I had unstained, unfired clothes.
I had quiet conversations on the phone,
even if the doorbell rang.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I slept as late as I wanted
And never worried about
How late I got to bed
or if I could get into my bed.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I cleaned my house every day.
I never tripped over toys,
Stuffies, chewies
Or invited the neighbor's
Dog over to play.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I didn't worry if my plants,
cleansers, plastic bags,
Toilet paper, soap or deodorant
Were poisonious or dangerous.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I never had been peed on
Pooped on
Drooled on
Chewed on
Or pinched by puppy teeth.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I had complete control of
My thoughts,
My body and mind.
I slept all night without
Sharing the covers
Or pillow.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I never looked into big,
Soulful eyes and cried.
I never flet my heart break
Into a million pieces
When I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew something so
Furry and four-legged
Could affect my heart so deeply.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I had never held a sleeping
Puppy just because I
Couldn't put it down.
I had never gotten up in the
Middle of the night
Every 10 minutes to make
Sure all was well.
I didn't know how warm it
Feels inside to feed
A hungry puppy.
I didn't know that something
So small could make
Me feel so important.

Before I was a Dog Mom:
I had never known the warmth,
The joy,
The love,
The heartache, The wonderment
Or the satisfaction of being
A Dog Mom.

Happy Mother's Day!
- Unknown

Dogs are nice and humans, well not so nice

2010-05-08T10:16:00.000-04:00

I have determined once again that dogs rule superior than humans on the likeability scale of friends. I had what I thought was a friend, not a close one by any means, but a friend that hubby and I interacted with in a social club. This person wrote a few unkind, very unkind, things concerning me and then even had the audacity to proclaim that hubby has eared the right to “wings” for having to put up with me. Pure putrid cast upon me and my dignity, and yet I am still walking tall as I know who I am, and what I am, and it is not in the manner I was distastefully betrayed.

I am not flawless, never have I claimed to be, and for that matter I am usually pretty tough on myself, but yet this has once again validated my way of thinking…why do people find it necessary to be cruel and cause others to experience hurt; even going so far as to calling them unscrupulous? Is this done maybe just to turn the knife just a smidgen deeper as if to inflict the worst pain with words they can summon to vocalize? What kind of person can be this insensitive to another? A dog would never consider such actions, they just want to always make you feel good and be happy in their presence and treat you with decency, well as much as a dog can.

So please, if you are that unhappy with yourself, don’t use your own pain as encouragement to inflict heartless pain on others. If we all would look deep into our dogs eyes we would see there is not one ounce of hatred, cruelty, or revenge and then maybe we could someday be as noble as they are, and one day we humans can walk the planet together in peace with our own kind.

So as I hug tightly my husband and my four fur-children, I am securing the love of humanity within my own walls and pray someday others realize that their hateful, vile, horrid words do bite as hard as fangs.

Another Danger from Ticks

2010-05-06T09:06:00.004-04:00

Thought I should share some very important information . We all know that ticks are extremely dangerous, or we should if you are a dutiful dog-mom. I have always used Frontline Plus on all my dogs, past and present. I just recently read about a dog that contracted Tick Paralysis.

Luckily they found the offending tick and removed it in time; removal of the embedded tick usually results in resolution of symptoms within several hours to days. If the tick is not removed, the toxin can be fatal, with reported mortality rates of 10–12 percent, usually due to respiratory paralysis. The tick is best removed by grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible and applying firm steady pressure.

The dog in the story had become totally paralyzed but I am happy to report is recovering just fine now. The symptoms begin between 2-7 days from the tick's attachment to the animal. Per Wikipedia, beginning with weakness in both legs that progresses to paralysis. The paralysis ascends to trunk, arms, and head within hours and may lead to respiratory failure and death. Currently there is no vaccine available for any tick-borne disease.

So I am encouraging every dog-mom and dog-dad to please, apply the topical, try to stay out of infected tick areas especially in the spring and summer, and VERY IMPORTANT, perform a daily tick check...it just might save your beloved pet's life.
More information can be found at (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick_paralysis)

Another problem caused by Deforestation

2010-04-29T17:57:00.000-04:00

This very disturbing picture was send to me by my cousin Lenny and I was so concerned and felt obligated to post immediately. We need everyone’s involvement to get this back under control and prevent this from going on any longer. Please, write to your Congressmen and woman and put an end to this disturbing problem facing our beloved pets. If we don't stand up for them who will?

Dogs Don't Know Hate

2010-04-20T22:24:00.000-04:00

I have had reservations about what kind of human I am because to me dogs are more sensitive, devoted, faithful, and more loving than most humans. I truly believe that dogs are superior in their ability to forgive and to trust again someone that once hurt them in some way; ironic, and almost insane, to even say the words, but it is what my heart feels with every pump of blood to my mind where it is seems insane to even conceive the notion, but with my very being and conviction, I would place more trust in dogs and reason dogs are more humane than humans for they know no hate.

When I am hurt by a human I do not seek solace in the embrace of a human, I seek my comfort from my dogs, for they know the true essence of absolution that only they can give. They seek not to find your wrong doings, they seek not a reason to blame you, that seek not revenge or to trump you, they seek not to make you feel flawed just for amusement or to raise themselves from a low place they have found themselves in, they do seek only to adore you and ask for so little beyond their basic needs, tenderness, nurturing, and a stroke of your hand upon their furry heads in return for their immeasurable lifetime devotion.

Random thoughts

2010-04-13T19:43:00.002-04:00

God closed a door on me

But opened a new window

I walk on up closer

And view through the pane

Of the glass upon my face.

I must not even think to complain

For He gave me this new view,

To look and see what I can see

And change that for which I can

I see so much before me

And the things that I must do

Come with me said my guide,

And keep an open heart and mind

To all my friends that need a helping hand and for all the love I have received from my human and animal friends God has bestowed upon me, the door never closes without another opening.

2010-04-11T17:29:00.002-04:00

Okay so Abby is now 6 months and she has turned into holly terror! She nipped at my right arm and I slapped her gently on the muzzle and said a FIRM NO! She turned her head and bit hard into my left arm! OUCH!!! So I have to stop letting her be a “puppy” and get down to serious training. She is a Tom Boy through and through, not that sweet little girl I was aiming for.

I know with my help I can make a Southern Belle out of her….yes, maybe? I am going to stay positive and work hard and make this my new most important goal for the next few months. She is very smart and I know with a little bit of education she will show a whole new side, lets just hope it is not her teeth on my backside!

A Time to Frolic

2010-04-08T17:13:00.000-04:00

I was not having such a great week so far, and today as I awoke, it seemed as if it would be just another day of pain and hurt. I try each day to wake up with a positive felling inside and thoughts in my head, but needless to say, sometimes the positive thinking turns to wishful thinking.

I have wanted to spend some time with Abby in training out back on her commands such as, come and stay. It was finally cool enough out this afternoon, due to cold front and the threat of storms. I finally had the energy to head outside with the fearless foursome, as the rain was yet to arrive. We ended up tossing a ball around and running (they did not me) and having a great playful frolicking time. All were exhausted and Otis was a bit sleepy now because of his “storm pill” so we all went inside for a cool drink and a rest.

My dogs amaze me with something every day, today it was that even thru my pain, they can make me feel needed and alive, even playful and childlike. I would have been curled up in a ball on the couch with my pain pills, but they got me up and grooving and I cannot thank them enough!

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T11:31:00.002-04:00

From all of us, to all of you, wishing you a very blessed and Happy Easter.
CC, Otis, Brock, Marley, Abby, and Spencer.

Hail Upon Us

2010-03-29T16:41:00.001-04:00

Last night it very calm and the air warm and a bit humid; it was the calm before the storm. The hail shower came upon us so quickly and with such an urgency, it was as if the world was turned upside down. The dogs all huddled near the back French door to see what was generating all the noise as the pellets banged the window. There was no rain just yet, just the tap, tap, tap of the pellets ricocheting off in all directions…there were some as petite as dimes and others as stocky as quarters, it was as if the storm itself was uncertain what it wanted to release down upon us. It lasted just about ten minutes and the deck was covered with these white glass-like ammunition from the heavens. Just as soon as the sinister clouds were hurrying by the wind began to mature with intensity and the heavens opened the gates and the water gushed down.

Otis having had his calming medication hours before was groggy and glossy eyed serenely sitting and gazing out the window as if some magical doggie treats were drifting like feathers down to earth. The others were within a step of mommy just incase I got scared and would be in need of their comfort. As with all storms this one continued to rotate along past our home and on to the next neighborhood. The dogs all settled into their normal seats on the couch and the chair, mommy rested among them, and all was still and serine once more as night fell upon the cool wet grounds.

Life without dogs???

2010-03-27T09:07:00.000-04:00

I was sitting this beautiful sunny morning with my four dogs all around me on different sides of me sleeping, and one, snoring just a little bit while I am reading random blogs and news on the internet; when a thought came racing into my head. If there were ever a time when there are no dogs on this great Earth, would I still want to be here? Honestly I think not because what would our world be like without them and the attitude towards life. To err is human to forgive, canine. My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am, and my favorite, “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” Need I say more?

Spencer's Spa Day

2010-03-25T16:24:00.000-04:00

All week I was planning on taking my 21 year old cat to the vet to get his nails trimmed, but he was looking pretty ratty so I asked my BFF to help me give him a bath. Yes mixing a cat and water…how would this turn out I wondered, and feared to be honest, because after all, he also need a serious nail trim.

First of all Spencer, my cat, used to be this beautiful large fluffy tuxedo black and white tough guy in his younger years. Now he is a very skinny boy weighing no more than seven or eight pounds. He still eats and has all his functions, shows no pain, so therefore he lives on until he is called to kitty heaven. I just have to say that when I placed the lower two thirds of my beloved kitty in the warm water he just laid in there and loved every moment of “Kitty Spa”. To think after 21 years of self cleaning….well not too much the last year that he would LOVE a bath? So I was all smiles with myself thinking wow, I must be super human kitty loves a bath groomer…well he did love it and I was happy to have been there to give it to him.

So off today we went to the vet’s office. I buckled his carrier into the front passenger seat and off we drove, okay so he road and I drove. He always tells me he loves me in that scratchy kitty voice when we travel. I was so proud he would look so clean and fluffy, well sort of fluffy, that’s not the point , he smelled great and was super clean! We have about a twenty minute ride to Dr. Patch’s office so I drive slow using the side street and Spencer sings to me, his own number one hits of course.

I get within two blocks and it happens, same as always, same as the last time, and the time before that, he throws up. Mind you, any other day it would have been no big deal, but he was so clean from the kitty spa (my bathroom sink, but don’t tell him that). So I pull over remove the one towel he threw up on, replaced it with a clean one, wiped his paw that stepped in it and then continued on to our destination. I am happy to report, he got his nails clipped and was back in his warm bed at home in no time, oddly though, he keeps staring at the sink with a gleam in his eye and then back at me. I think we will try the kitty spa again next week, but not the car ride.

What I lack in people skills...

2010-03-19T08:40:00.000-04:00

Today is Friday and when I awoke to the wet noses and soft breath on my face I was like, ugh, is it that time already. But to be honest, it quickly turned into playtime with the “babies”. The youngest, Abby of course giving all her love to Daddy, while my boy Marley could not have gotten any closer to me in the bed without literally digging and burrowing into me. My handsome “grandpa” Otis lay on the floor stretching his elder body and joint as I do each morning and Brock, well he was front paws to the top of the mattress tongue and tail a wagging. It was morning at our house and all was well.

I am told I seclude myself and don’t allow humans too close to me, and for the most part that is a true statement. Very few “elite” chosen are allowed in. This comes from a past history of hurt, abuse, and seeing and experiencing what one human can do to another human. Dogs, ah dogs, now that is my true love…they are always there for you, then will do anything for you; they see you at your worst and love you the most. Nothing is a pure as a dog’s love. So therefore my motto is as follows: What I lack in people skills I make up for in dog skills. You think I am rude, but my dog thinks I am god. You judge by my outward appearance, my dog judges me by the size of my heart. So why should I care about what you think of me?" Only one person is above these fur-children and that is my adoring and remarkable husband, because he has shown he is as faithful, loving, and respecting man and above any other human I know…so I have come to the conclusion he must have been a dog in his previous life, and for me, that is the highest compliment I can give another human.

Nail Trim

2010-03-17T07:37:00.001-04:00

I just completed canine First Aid and CPR training this Saturday past. I even have a bona fide Red Cross card to prove that I am certifiable, (this many of my closest friends and family already knew). Anyhow, this evening hubby picks up Abby, our youngest, and says, “why don’t you trim her nails?” Simple request I thought, the clippers are out, hubby is willing to help, and it needs to be done. So I proceeded to do what honestly is my first ever nail trim on a dog. I did the front nails one by one and all went well, then she got wiggly, so I stopped with plans to do the back nails later on.

I was smiling, actually proud of myself, like Wow, that was not too bad at all. Yes, I was nervous and so was she, but I got ten nails done and all is good, or so it was. Marley came by as I still held the clippers in my hand, so I placed him in hubby’s lap and started on the right paw one nail after the other quickly snipped off and into the air, after all I am now a pro at this, not so. I got to nail number ten and Marley let out a YELP! Hubby said, “you cut a quick“ and sure enough I did.

I felt faint, sick to my stomach, I had brought pain to my “baby” how did this happen, why was I attempting to trim nails anyhow, I am not trained in this, not a professional, barely knowing how to hold the clippers in my hand….ugggghhhh where is the throw up bucket. I put pressure on his nail, reached for the styptic container and covered the red blood nail with the powder and held his paw while I spoke softly to him words of comfort and apologized many many times over.

So lesson learned this evening, First aid training never really prepares you for the sad doggie eyes, the drooling, nor the blood. I know my first, second, and last, doggie nail trim has been completed all in one evening, they will all go to the vet next time as I am not woman enough…I am too much Mommy.

Doggie Summer

2010-03-16T09:15:00.002-04:00

Good morning everyone! I was lucky enough to see a video posted by a friend on FB called “A doggy summer - A kutyák is szeretik a strandot” Dog's Day at The Beach At the end of this very sweet video it states that the dogs were all trained using the mirror method. I have to say I was tapping my feet and bouncing to the music, “Walking on Sunshine” as I watched with amazement these dog’s performance at the beach. So I ask my brilliant audience, has anyone used this training technique, or even have heard of it?

Per what I was able to find on Google, the method consists of three, equally important, parts: relationship – training – natural for the dog interactions. They also go on to say that your dog reflects the behavior and personality of you, the owner, consequently to change the dog’s behavior, one has to make changes in her own first. I have to say I am very intrigued and a bit fascinated after viewing the video and reading the little I have.

I would never begin a training method without proper research and knowledge of it as possible to be certain I will in no way harm my “fur-children”. So for now I am on assignment to find a book or further articles on this training method, because if it is all I believe it could be, then I want to begin as soon as possible. Who knows, the next video I share with you all may be my "A-M.O.B." (Abby, Marley, Otis, Brock) as the stars in their own video.

Therapy dog?

2010-03-15T08:47:00.004-04:00

Today as I sit at my laptop and sip my Joe staring into the backyard through the French doors, the feisty four are lounged around me; two stretched out in front of the door awaiting either the door to open or the sun to shine through. One, laying in front of the television, and one below my feet. We took them all on a walk yesterday, for the youngest and newest Abby, it was her first walk on a leash. She did well, yet of course needs our weather to cooperate so that we can get out and do it again each and every day. Practice makes perfect and I need the walking more than she does. For some reason this winter my body took on the mission of a winter of hibernating and retaining my excess weight…but that is another story for another day.

I have been contemplating training Abby to become a therapy dog, but question still…am I am appropriate person to be a therapy dog mom. I love my fur-children at times more than most humans, it is because of my early childhood and adulthood…dogs are more faithful, compassionate, and loving. So will Abby sense my distaste for a human we may encounter and it cause her to be aloof towards this human? I will offer help to any human that needs help, but I cannot tolerate hateful, mean, stupid, or angry drama queens. So I will ponder this some more as I train her in the essentials of doggie hood and will allow her to advise me if this is something we should attain together as our next goal in this wonderful life we share.

Red Cross Canine CPR and First Aid Class

2010-03-13T15:12:00.005-05:00

OMG the First Aid and CPR canine class offered by the Red Cross was awesome! I learned so much in those three hours and we had practice time on doggie manikins for rescue breathing and CPR. I am now Certified in Canine First Aid and CPR and because of that, I am a better person than I was this morning. I would recommend this class to anyone that works with dogs or has dogs of their own. As they say, the training may just save a life and think about how that would make you feel!

Oh and don't forget to have your emergency kits stocked and your disaster kits packed as well, especially now with the "stormy" season upon us. These are important "tools" we must all have on hand to keep our fur-children healthy and happy should an emergency arise.

Have a bow wow day to all!

The Dogs and the Storm

2010-03-12T17:01:00.007-05:00

One dog is asleep, one dog is out in the yard throwing a stick in the air and playing catch with it in-between the raindrops, one dog is watching the dog in the yard, and one dog is shaking violently on my lap, problem, yes, the lap dog is the one asleep.

Hold on tight the storms have arrived with vigor and zest and the sky is tormented by lightening and black ominous clouds dropping their water buckets to the thirsty earth below.

I adore the stimulation a vivacious storm brings with it, but for my four-legged fur children, it is a feeling at least one of them could do without so for him it is time for calm and sleepy pill and for the one in the yard, I guess all I can do is laugh and get the shampoo and towel ready.

Toxic Food

2009-11-13T15:14:00.003-05:00

We all know, or most of us know, that giving chocolate to your dog is very dangerous even life threatening because it contains caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous systems.but did you know that macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs? A small portion, we are talking an ounce, can cause temporary paralysis to the hind quarters of a twenty pound dog! If you suspect your dog has ingested these nuts get him/her to the vet immediately; where he/she will probably be induced to vomit and given charcoal and be placed on an IV of fluids. Once the treatments are completed the paralysis is gone in a few days.

2009-11-13T15:13:00.002-05:00

Here is a great site to read more toxic foods to avoid.

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Dog

Pet H1N1

2009-11-06T17:38:00.001-05:00

I was reading in the AP that a 13-year-old Iowa cat has contacted H1N1. It is the first feline case confirmed in the U.S. The cat was treated at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and it reported to be doing fine. They said that it was contracted as well by two ferrets that unfortunately died from this horrible disease; one was from Oregon and the other from Nebraska.

The story said that the Centers for Disease Control knew that this could happen; that our domestic pets could contract the H1N1 virus and this is the first documented case of a domestic cat or dog with the virus.

I had no idea that this could spread to our fur-children! I know that the world is having enough time manufacturing enough vaccine for us humans and wonder how long before there is one for our pets?

It has been recommended that we use the same precautions with our pets in helping to slow the spread of the flu; wash hands as much as possible to prevent the spread and having any children in the home vaccinated may also help defend against the transfer from child to pet.

It is new for the world now with pets having the flu so it is extremely difficult for the authorities to give us an exact measurement of how sick they may become. I know as a dog mom I will be careful now about play dates as well as letting children near my babies unless I can be sure not to see any “flu” signs like runny nose and such. My dogs are my children and I will protect them as any mom would their human child.

So to all, don’t panic, watch your pets, wash your hands, and stay alert to their health and always always love thy pet.

My lost girl, Sandy

2009-10-29T08:38:00.003-04:00

It is quiet this morning and I am up early so that I can get to an appointment in a short while. As I bring the babies outside the leaves are not rattling on their limbs as the air is still, the dogs in the neighborhood yards are still inside their warm beds and the streets are still sleeping at this early hour. A lone squirrel travels the branch of the big oak in the backyard savaging for acorns to stash away for the long cold winter before us. Otis, my mixed breed who truly thinks he is a human fur-child is sitting a few feet away from where I sit holding onto my mug of java. It should be a typical morning for us, we do this seven days a week, sit together looking at the stars, feeling mother Earth's air upon our faces, the wind sometimes blowing our hair, and just sitting. I use this time to remember, dream, forgive, or at times even forget, but just to search my soul and let my mind take me where ever it wants to. Otis I can’t say for sure, but I feel he is doing just the same as I am, just thinking and relaxing while sniffing the air awaiting the day’s full beginning when the world awakes and the quite and soothing time we are now sharing turns into the every day hassles it usually becomes. Our mornings are the clam before the storm, our time to be still, our time to be together, and our time just to be.

Things in our house are in no way what I would call predictable, but we have routines; we have early morning routines, later morning routines, afternoon routines evening and night routines as well. The narrative of Otis and me alone with Mother Nature in our backyard before the sun has even risen is a typical early morning routine. Our later morning routine was just slightly different as it included another fur-child of mine, Sandy. She older than Otis by six years, lab –Sheppard mix, a bit over weight, but what lady these days doesn’t consider herself overweight compared to the models of today? She with her light tan and white her short course fur was beautiful anytime of day or night, but more so when she laid her frame upon the green grass with the sunshine beaming down on her. She would have this smile that she shared with the world and you could not help but feel a smile break out on your own face when she looked at you.

She like many children these days came from a broken home and came to be my child in the year of nineteen ninety nine; and left me on October thirtieth two thousand seven to run and smile upon the stars and heavens that Otis and I now sit and gaze upon during those early hours each day, but now we look upon them with sorrow in our hearts and sadness in our eyes longing to once again gaze upon the beautiful baby girl that was once a significant part of our daily lives and routines, our playmate, our buddy, and now our lost friend.

Sandy was our friend, our companion, our “baby-girl” all one-hundred and ten pounds of her. Although Otis has had his moments, Sandy was the one that could always make you laugh all the while spitting out a mouthful of sandy colored fur that would always find it’s way into anything and everything as she bounced and pranced around with a huge smile on her face of yellow and white.

This is in memory of my "Baby Girl" Sandy who I lost October 30, 2007, it is now two years past and yet I still look for her, think of her, and I still miss her terribly and wish for just one more hug of fur and a wet smooch. Our new babies Marley and Brock never knew our baby girl Sandy but they can sense that something is different with Otis and I today, they can feel our painful hearts and see the sorrow in our eyes. Our memories of Sandy will live on forever in my heart and Otis and I are sending big hugs to you Sandy girl...love you.

Thank You!

2009-10-22T16:57:00.000-04:00

I wanted to thank everyone for their prayers God heard them all! I just got a call from the doctor and I am CANCER FREE!!!!!!! I have tears of joy right now…all I can say is Thank You God.

Sense of Change

2009-10-22T08:29:00.004-04:00

The past few weeks have been difficult for me. I found a lump in my breast so I went to my family doctor, who was amazed at what she was feeling, ordered an MRI and ultrasound two weeks out and set up an appointment with an oncologist surgeon. The waiting the two weeks to have the tests was like a cruel joke and now again I am waiting two days for the results of my core biopsy they did yesterday as they did not like what they saw on the ultrasound or MRI from last week.

What has made this bearable? Of course my husband, he has been so understanding and wonderful…doing dishes, hugging me more often, being extra sweet, and giving me the remote! He is a one-of-a-kind angel from heaven.

But as I am home alone all day it is the comfort of my critters that make the time pass. Did you know tears of joy contain different substances than those of sadness or pain and dogs are able to tell the difference? Some people believe that dogs can detect cancer, I don’t know for sure about all that, but I do know my three dogs gave stayed closer to me, snuggled more, and have been by my side every moment now since I first noticed this lump. I don’t think it is that they know the answer to the test results but they can detect that something is out of the ordinary. Their sense of smell, heat detection, and ability to identify patterns of behavior we can't see is part of their design for survival.

It is wonderful, and yet odd, that dogs are not afraid of humans from the moment they are born into this world and that we as humans are so attracted to a species other than our own. Our affection, bond, and intensely intimate relationship with our beloved pets is something not normally found in nature, but it works and I am happy it does because this week would have been unbearable if it were not for my three fur children.

Who is the Dog?

2009-10-12T16:43:00.004-04:00

The dog is compassionate, selfless and generous; an immense contributor in our lives. We as dog moms and dads seem to be of our own breed as well, we seem to have less hatred in our hearts and thoughts, we have a kind nature about us, we seem to smile more and can see the hurt in others. We offer encouragement to all that need it just as we are encouraged by our adored dogs to get up and exercise even when we’d rather lie on the couch.

Dogs don’t shrug off responsibility and they always have time for you; be it a big sloppy kiss to wipe away a tear while leaning in to offer their fluffy shoulder to cry on, they sit patiently and tilt their heads from side to side as we explain to them our problems of the day and they wag their tail as if to say,” no problem, I got it and we are all going to be just fine.” God gave to them such a massive heart to be our saving grace here on Earth; for with this heart, they continually sooth our worries from a infinite fountain of common wisdom somehow provided to them for such use with us humans.

Our dogs know us better than we know ourselves it seems, they watch us, worry about us, teach us, and always love us. They may not always show you all their secrets, but they most certainly know all yours. God bless the dogs and all they bring to enrich our lives.

Not Going To Try This Again

2009-10-02T10:33:00.002-04:00

Sorry folks I just had to share this.

A blonde decides to try horseback riding, even though she has had no lessons or prior experience. She mounts the horse unassisted and it immediately springs into motion. It gallops along at a steady and rhythmic pace, but the blonde begins to slip from the saddle. In terror, she grabs for the horse''s mane, but cannot seem to get a firm grip.
She tries to throw her arms around the horse''s neck, but she slides down the side of the horse anyway. The horse gallops along, seemingly ignorant of its slipping rider.

Finally, giving up her frail grip, the blonde attempts to leap away from the horse and throw herself to safety. Unfortunately, her foot becomes entangled in the stirrup, and she is now at the mercy of the horse''s pounding hooves as her head is struck against the ground over and over.

She starts to lose consciousness, but to her great fortune, Bobby, the Wal-Mart greeter, sees her and unplugs the horse.

Another reason dogs are better than humans

2009-09-21T10:16:00.005-04:00

Another reason dogs are better than humans, as if we really need more proof; dogs can’t read, therefore woman’s best friend, our dog(s) cannot interpret what you have written as something totally different than what you were meaning. Such as, if I was to write “I have nothing to do today.” To some it might mean that I am bored, sad, or lonely. But in reality what I MEAN is, “There is no place I have to be today.” Do you see a difference? The first could be interpreted and read as if I am bored, while the second clearly means simply that my calendar is free to do as I wish!

Because our best friend, the dog, can’t type or read it may be a positive we humans have never thought about in the past. Can you just imagine because of how much time they have on their paws how often they would be on the Internet, playing games, updating their social network sites? LOL…and with the example I have at the start of this blog they may simply write their friend the Poodle down the street staying how you stayed in bed all day on Sunday…possibly the poodle thinks you ignored your pampered pooch and how bad a dog mommy you are, but what your pooch was really saying was…what a glorious Sunday spent lounging all day at the foot of the bed with my mommy!”

So today I am grateful my pooch cannot read or type, but boy oh boy I sure wish he could turn a door knob and let himself and the two little ones out in the morning and pour me a cup of coffee!

Love that Boy!

2009-09-18T15:02:00.003-04:00

Sometime I wish my dog could talk; well actually more than sometimes. My oldest dog Otis gives me these looks with his eyes, deep and brown, as if the world’s peace answer was in there somewhere and I just need to understand the expression and put words to them.

He is my gentle giant and I love him more than many other things in my life, as much as this may hurt or confuse some, I love him more than some family members and more than many people I know. He has done for and given me more in ten years than some have done or given me in forty so why not love him as much as he has loved me for his whole life.

For now, when Otis gives me those deep brown eyes and a tilt of his big black head with soft fluffy ears I just smile, walk over, and give him a big hug and then I thank him for being a good boy that provides me with unconditional understanding and love….then he gets an ear scratch and cookie…me, well I get a wet nose, a lick on the cheek, and a tail wag…just for being me.

Designer Dogs....Do we need them?

2009-09-13T07:58:00.003-04:00

I have been reading and learning about what is called a “designer” dogs, you know, the ones that are mixed breeds such as a cock-a-doo, lab-a-doo and so on. I have always been an advocate of straight out adoption of a puppy or older dog from a rescue or shelter that is already born and needs a good home, not breeding new puppies to place in this world. I may be slightly bending my view as I read more on the subject.

There are some people that have allergies so they are just unable to have a “common” mutt dog (I have three and there is nothing common about my mutts!) or even a champion blue blood due to the fur on these breeds, hence why I call them my “fur-children” so if they wish to join us as happy and proud fur-children parents, they depend and are very thankful for the new breed (actually cross breeds) as we are for our mutts.

Just like anything and everything in life, there is a place and meaning for all, and in this case a responsible and nurturing breeder of the mixed breed designer dog is okay with me as they fulfill a desire for animal lovers like us who once had to stay at a minimum ten feet away to prevent outbreaks on their skin and a barrage of sneezes; but now they can snuggle, just as we do, with their very own fur-child! How can I say no to that…

What we need it for the irresponsible pet owners to spay and neuter to prevent litters, for those reading please be a responsible pet owner so all dogs are wanted and have a forever home.

Remember

2009-09-11T09:08:00.005-04:00

Please take a moment today and pray for all our service men and woman in battle protecting you and your family. May we also never forget those that perished today in the horrific 9/11 terrorist attack and pray for the survivors and their family as they continue to heal.

I continue to send a heartfelt thank you to all the men, woman, and canines that volunteered their time in the aftermath. These courageous and commendable dogs and their heroic handlers came from all over to offer their assistance, even as far away as France, British Columbia,Puerto Rico and Canada. Each and every one deserves a world of admiration, gratitude, and a warm cozy spot to lie his head for the remainder of their lives.

So to all the canines who gave their noses, hearts, wet kisses, and tail wags to soothe the wounds of our nation; we say thank you again and again, although our words can never express all the gratitude we send, you will live forever in our debt and in our hearts. God bless you and God bless America.

7 Steps to a Happier Pet

2009-09-09T08:21:00.004-04:00

The Humane Society of the United Sates, in its constant battle to end animal neglect, cruelty and abuse, encourages all its members to take the following actions in support of animal.

* Make sure your pet wears an identification tag to enable him to be returned to you if lost.
* To prevent animal behavioral problems, make sure you enroll your new puppy or dog in behavioral training classes, and visit www.petsforlife.org.
* Animal behavioral problems can be health related. Make sure your pet has a complete medical exam by a veterinarian at least once a year.
* Prepare for disasters. Make sure you have a plan for your pet in the event of a hurricane, tornado, fire, or flood.
* Plan for your pet's future in case something happens to you and visit humanesociety.org/petsinwills for more information.
* Learn how to avoid dog bites, and how to prevent your dog from biting, by going to www.NoDogBites.org.
* Have a heart, be smart and make sure your pet is spayed or neutered.

Our pets depend on us for their well being, we can't let them down.

Award

2009-09-07T09:48:00.002-04:00

My friend Marie at adayinmylifephotosandmore.blogspot.com gave me this award, that you so much Marie!

Life the easy way

2009-08-31T10:36:00.002-04:00

It has been an interesting week, so much drama in my circle world of friends and family. It has been difficult for me to “wrap” my arms around the new persona of someone I consider family, due to the “new’ her. It has caused a bit of a ripple in the relationship she and I once shared as well as the relationship I have with her husband and my best friend (her Aunt by marriage). I have learned this week that I cannot and don’t have to accept all things done by others and that I have to stay true to myself and do so without hurting others if at all possible.

I have also been trying to accept the medical difficulties I have been undergoing the last four months and learning to live my life around medication side effects, the fatigue, and the lack of strength in my hands, the constant pain, and the many doctor appointments. I have always been such a go-go-go person, and now I have to learn to take things slow and easy…which I am finding is not a bad place to be if I can keep the bills paid and my household happy.

The time I get to spend with my three dogs and twenty year old cat has been so special to me, it is as if this is what I was meant to do. Teach them, play with them, train them, care for them, and lots of naps with them!

I am slowly accepting I am changing, not so much for the better physically (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia) but spiritually and mentally. Slowly fading are the once must follow rules and phrases such as, “the one with the most toys wins”, and “my house is bigger than your house”, “Don’t you just love my new Jag”, and “Where is your summer home located?” and “my job title is more prestige than yours”; I have learned the simple moments are the ones to treasure. Such as a soft nose nuzzle from Brock, or a funny look from Otis, or a paw on my hand from Marley as we nap. Or the simple pleasure of sitting with hubby and just watching a football game or snuggling on the couch just doing nothing; a day hanging out and shopping with my best friend even if we don’t buy anything, an afternoon on the patio with my BFF sharing our day’s events and a cup of coffee. So much in life is free and worth more than you can ever imagine, if you will only open your mind and your heart and keep your wallet closed.

Have a bow-wow day.

Your Right Foot

2009-08-28T10:42:00.000-04:00

Okay this is not dog or animal related but I just have to share….

I guess there are some things that the brain cannot handle....

You have to try this, this will confuse your mind and you will keep trying over and over again to see if you can outsmart your foot, but you can't. It is pre-programmed in your brain!

Okay, while sitting at your desk in front of your computer, lift your RIGHT foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction.

I told you it drove me crazy, and there's nothing you can do about it! You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the day is done you are going to try it again, if you've not already done so.

Have a bow wow great day!

Did you know?

2009-08-25T19:36:00.003-04:00

Based on an average life span of 11 years, the cost of owning a dog is $13,350.

Dogs only sweat from the bottoms of their feet, the only way they can discharge heat is by panting. Dogs and wolves yawn as a sign of contentment.

Dogs have about 100 different facial expressions, most of them made with the ears. Unfortunately, the likes of bulldogs and pitbulls only have 10, due to their breeding. Therefore, these dogs easily get misinterpreted by other dogs and often get into fights.

One of the worlds oldest breeds of dog is the Saluki, (Picture posted above). It is thought to have been developed in ancient Mesopotamia around 3000 B.C.

"Three dog night" (attributed to Australian Aborigines) came about because on especially cold nights these nomadic people needed three dogs (dingos, actually) to keep from freezing.

A dog's sense of smell is one of the keenest in nature. If a pot of stew was cooking on a stove, a human would smell the stew, while the dog could smell the beef, carrots, peas, potatoes, spices, and all the other individual ingredients in the stew. In fact, if you unfolded and laid out the delicate membranes from inside a dogs nose, the membranes would be larger than the dog itself.

It was recently discovered that dogs DO see in color, just not as vivid as the color that humans see.

Two dogs survived the sinking of Titanic, yes that's right, two DOGS survived. They escaped on early lifeboats carrying so few people that no one objected. Miss Margaret Hays of New York brought her Pomeranian with her in lifeboat No. 7, while Henry Sleeper Harper of the publishing family boarded boat No. 3 with his Pekinese, Sun Yat Sen.

Giving dogs chocolate could be fatal for them, because theobromine, an ingredient of chocolate, stimulates the central nervous system and cardiac muscle. About 1.1 kg of milk chocolate or just 146 g of cooking chocolate (which has more theobromine per gram) could kill a 22 kg dog.

In the original 101 Dalmatians movie, Pongo has 72 spots, Perdita has 68 and each of the puppies has 32.

And there you have it, I thought they were interesting especially the Titanic information.

Canine Intelligence

2009-08-10T08:27:00.003-04:00

Did you know that the average canine has the mental abilities of a 2-year old child? It is true according to the latest canine IQ reported by Stanley Coren, a canine expert and professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia.

The discovery was based on a language development test, revealing average dogs can learn 165 words (similar to a 2-year-old child); including signals and gestures, and dogs in the top 20% in intelligence learn 250 words. WOW, now if mine could just learn a few such as, no counter surfing and please don’t drool on the laptop.

The smartest breeds in order are, Border collies, poodles, and German shepherds. It is thought that these breed are smarter in part because we have bred and trained them to be. The three listed above are on par with the average 2.5 year old child.
Now just when you that was fantastic, how about this; Coren found also that in terms of social smarts, our four-legged friends are even better than the average 3-4 year old.

"The social life of dogs is much more complex, much more like human teenagers at that stage, interested in who is moving up in the pack and who is sleeping with who and that sort of thing," Coren told LiveScience. Huh, if they start gossiping about my love life they are going to learn a few more words!

Dogs also show some basic emotions such as happiness, anger and disgust just as human toddlers do. However the more complex emotions such as guilt are not in a dog’s character; what we humans once thought was guilt was found to be doggy fear Coren noted.

And while dogs know whether they're being treated fairly, they don't grasp the concept of equity. Coren recalls a study in which dogs get a treat for "giving a paw." When one dog gets a treat and the other doesn't, the unrewarded dog stops performing the trick and avoids making eye contact with the trainer. But if one dog, say, gets rewarded with a juicy steak while the other snags a measly piece of bread, on average the dogs don't care about the inequality of the treats, but I know mine do…LOL if I gave one a steak and one a bread stick there would be a grab-fest for the steak and the bread would be lying on the floor, but only until the steak was gone.

Just another reason to hold your head high when you announce you only have fur-children.

Enjoy your day and remember to challenge your pooch!

Paws With a Cause

2009-08-05T13:35:00.004-04:00

Approximately 97% of all people with disabilities are not blind; they are physically challenged in some other way. Paws With a Cause® trains dogs to help with many everyday tasks that can pose significant challenges to those with disabilities.

With their constant attentiveness and loyalty, dogs are the ideal service animal. An assistance dog can alert a deaf parent to the crying of a baby in the next room, or to help with daily independence by opening doors using a special pulling device invented by Paws With a Cause®. Dogs can be trained to pull wheelchairs, transfer a wallet to a cashier and back, and even call 911 when needed.

Paws With a Cause® facilitates the fostering of 1- to 3-year-old dogs from shelters with loving families who provide a safe and loving foundation. The dogs undergo careful training and evaluation so they can be matched with the best possible owner. The Animal Rescue Site is excited to support Paws With a Cause® in its noble work. $20.00 helps transform a shelter dog into a trained Assistant Dog.

In 1979, Paws With A Cause®, first named Ears for the Deaf, was born. Only a few small organizations existed to train dogs for the majority of the disabled population, which includes those individuals with the most severely limiting disabilities. Approximately 97% of all people with disabilities are not blind; they are physically challenged in some other way, and very few dogs were being trained to work with them. Paws With a Cause® trains Assistance Dogs for people with disabilities, provides lifetime team support that encourages independence, and promotes awareness through education.

To help this great cause or to read more about it please visit www.pawswithacause.org
Have a great bow wow day! :)

Fun Facts

2009-08-03T10:33:00.005-04:00

Today is Monday, ho hum....so to add a little fun I have a few animal facts that I thought were pretty interesting.

Do you know the answers to these questions?

Q: Since all prairie dogs look alike, even to other prairie dogs, to tell each other apart, do they: (a) sniff each other; (b) kiss each other; or (c) talk to each other?
A: They kiss, during which they grope each other for familiar physical signs.

Q: You just opened your cat’s favorite food. How fast can he run to get there: (a) 20 miles an hour; (b) 30 miles an hour; or (c) 40 miles an hour?
A: The average cat can hit 30 miles an hour for a short distance. Your cat may vary

Q: According to the American Kennel Club, was the most popular pedigreed dog in the U.S. last year the: (a) German shepherd; (b) rottweiler; or (c) Labrador retriever?
A: The Lab. Next, in order: rottweiler, shepherd, golden retriever, poodle, beagle, dachshund, cocker spaniel, Yorkie, and Pomeranian.

Q: When he gets bored, your dog chews on his paws. Should you: (a) enroll him in group therapy; (b) make him wear mittens; or (c) dab a little oil of clove on his favorite nibble spot?
A: The Old Farmers Almanac says oil of clove discourages nibbling dogs.

Q: According to research at the University of Chicago, not only do birds dream, but they dream about: (a) other birds; (b) worms; or (c) songs they sing during the day?
A: Birds dream about their songs, have dream rehearsals, and sing the same songs better the next day.

Q: Which dog has the best eyesight: (a) Chihuahua; (b) doberman; or (c) greyhound?
A: The Greyhound, better than any other dog.

Okay now some of these I find very interesting while some are just gross...
1.)Hummingbird’s consume half of their weight in food daily.(Good thing I don't take after the hummingbird)

2.)A cockroach can survive for about a week without its head before dying of starvation. (Gross)

3.)The heart of a shrimp is located in its head. (Now I find that interesting and very glad we don't consume the heads)

4.)Every year, $1.5 billion is spent on pet food. This is four times the amount spent on baby food. (Pets are furchildren to many, like me!)

5.)Sharks apparently are the only animals that never get sick. They are immune to every type of disease including cancer.(Okay we need to research this immediately!)

6.)A mosquito has 47 teeth. (And I have felt them all many times over!)

7.)The sex organ on a male spider is located at the end of one of its legs. (So if they are walking on you are they also....well you know? Just thinking outloud here.)

Discussing a Blog

2009-08-01T02:30:00.004-04:00

I was reading an article today from someone talking about blogs so I thought I would discuss it as well, in my own way. There are a startling number of blogs that get started and then get abandoned in cyber space for eternity, many are just on line journals of someone’s life, and some offer a point of view or are trying to sell or promote something, others are written on every so often with no real dedication or specific direction, but in my opinion, what your blog is to you, is the right blog for you. I don’t feel there is a wrong or right way, it just all depends on your style and what you had hoped to accomplish with your blog.

Me, I had just wanted to get some thoughts out, speak some on what I feel is important (Pet food recalls,taking care of your pet), share some laughs (Jasper and the unbaked yeast rolls), share tears on heart breaking stories of animal cruelty (to many here to want to think of), but at the same time rejoice when there is triumph in the animal world (A wonderful dog going home after having been missing for 9 years!), to share a story of amazing dogs (The Amazing Skidboot), and post cute and adorable pictures for us all to be in awe over and to bring a smile.

So with that said, because of my great LOVE for animals, especially dogs, I will offer a tip a day on animal care. Hope you are here each day and share the experience.

PS: Happy Birthday to my fur children Marley and Brock who are two Friday the 31st. I have Marley's picture from last year to share now as this years party is not until Sunday and I will post then.

PSS: Brock and Marley are brothers, but Brock did not come to live with us until shortly after the one year birthday. I found out he was still at the shelter having lived his whole life there and I could not let that be his life forever...he was with us and his brother in less than 2 weeks once I contacted Lori at Pet Tender Angels. Life is GOOD!

2009-07-27T10:47:00.003-04:00

This story is so sweet and brings tears to my eyes...4 year old Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey, her beloved dog that died the day before... She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies..' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey &Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by. Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much..
By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love..

Love,
God

Makes you want to hug the next person you see. Have a great and loving day!

"Just a Dog"

2009-07-23T10:23:00.002-04:00

From time to time people tell me, “Lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or, “That’s a lot of money to spend on just a dog.” They don’t understand the distance traveled, time spent, or costs involved for “Just a dog.” Some of my proudest moments have come about with “Just a dog.” Many hours have passed with my only company being “Just a dog,” and not once have I felt slighted. Some of my saddest moments were brought about by “Just a dog.” In those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “Just a dog” provided comfort and purpose to overcome the day.

If you, too, think “Just a dog,” you will probably understand phrases like “Just a friend,” Just a sunrise,” or “Just a promise.” “Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person. Because of “Just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

For me and folks like me, it’s not “Just a dog.” It’s an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. “Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday people can understand it’s not “Just a dog.” It’s the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “Just a man a woman.”

So the next time you hear the phrase “Just a dog,” smile, because they “Just don’t understand.”

~ Author Unknown

2009-07-21T10:59:00.001-04:00

I know having human friends is viewed as one of the greatest accomplishments in life...but to be honest, most of the time I prefer and I am more comfortable with dogs.

My dogs love me no matter what, they are always happy to see me, never lie to me, don't tick me off, always willing to do what I am in the mood to do, either play or rest. They show their honest affection every time they are with me and what more can you ask for. They are sweet, loving, adorable, and most importantly they choose me to be their best companion and to care for them for life...no matter what, I am there for them and they are always there for me with cold noses and wet sloppy kisses.

Four legs over two in many instances make for better and longer lasting friendships.

Brock - Trying to help

2009-07-20T21:46:00.006-04:00

I have been waiting for my little four-legged fur child Brock to allow anyone other than me to pet him. He will be two on the 30th and has lived with me and my husband now for almost a year. He is the most loving baby, but only with me...he loves to cuddle and be brushed and lay his sweet little head on my lap and watch movies.

So now I am seeking advise on how to get him to interact with...lets just start with my husband who tries so lovingly to offer him a treat or a soft pat on the head but Brock runs the other way. He does this with my best friend Sherry as well, so it is not a male thing. He loves the other two fur children that live here and when I walk in after not seeing him for a few hours he is so excited to see me he is dancing in place and around and around and excited beyond words.

So I think that he can change and allow others to love him, I just need to find out what I can do to help him experience this love so many more than just me want to give to him, as his mom I have to keep trying and searching for the answer.

Trying to help

2009-07-20T07:36:00.003-04:00

Man driving down road, woman driving up same road.They pass each other. Woman yells out the window, PIG! Man yells out window, BITCH! Man rounds next curve. Man crashes into a HUGE PIG in middle of road and dies.

Thought For the Day:
If men would just listen...

This was just an example of how ignorant men can be at times (as much as we love them) and no actual pig was harmed in this fictional story.

A soldier's view of Michael Jackson 's death

2009-07-17T13:26:00.005-04:00

Okay, I need to rant.

I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson . As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villain to many people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point of my rant.

Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds with grief. When a man dies whose only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people, the American people find the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood , and even Congress sees the need to hold a "moment of silence" for his passing?

Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades? What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, & still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America . Where is their moment of silence? Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because they made the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good riddance," and "thank God for IEDs?" When did this country become so calloused to the sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop Icon?"

I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson , they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan . They need to PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people can live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for them. But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit songs that the world will listen too. We only shed our blood, sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they have.

Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it.

Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military;

"So that others may live..."

Isaac
A young man serving his third tour of duty in Iraq.

My thought now...No matter your thoughts or feelings on the war itself, you have to own up to the facts and the feelings of our militery men and woman, and I do think Congress needs to somehow publicly show respect for all our fallen men and woman as they did for MJ. God bless the troups, their families, and America!

Jasper and the unbaked yeast rolls

2009-07-14T19:11:00.004-04:00

Received this via email and thought I would pass along.

It has been awhile since I first told this story and thought that many may have missed it so here it is again. For those that have seen it in my first posting, if you are like me....you can't help but read and laugh and laugh and laugh all over again. :)Those of you who have/had animals will probably appreciate it more. Enjoy

We have a fox terrier by the name of Jasper. He came to us in the summer of 2001 from the fox terrier rescue program. For those of you, who are unfamiliar with this type of adoption, imagine taking in a 10 year old child about whom you know nothing and committing to doing your best to be a good parent.

Like a child, the dog came with his own idiosyncrasies. He will only sleep on the bed, on top of the covers, nuzzled as close to my face as he can get without actually performing a French kiss on me.

Lest you think this is a bad case of 'no discipline,' I should tell you that Perry and I tried every means to break him of this habit including locking him in a separate bedroom for several nights. The new door cost over $200. But I digress.

Five weeks ago we began remodeling our house. Although the cost of the project is downright obnoxious, it was 20 years overdue AND it got me out of cooking Thanksgiving for family, extended family, and a lot of friends that I like more than family most of the time.

I was assigned the task of preparing 124 of my famous yeast dinner rolls for the two Thanksgiving feasts we did attend.

I am still cursing the electrician for getting the new oven hooked up so quickly. It was the only appliance in the whole darn house that worked, thus the assignment.

I made the decision to cook the rolls on Wed evening to reheat Thurs am. Since the kitchen was freshly painted, you can imagine the odor. Not wanting the rolls to smell like Sherwin Williams #586, I put the rolls on baking sheets and set them in the living room to rise for a few hours. Perry and I decided to go out to eat, returning in about an hour. The rolls were ready to go in the oven.

It was 8:30 PM. When I went to the living room to retrieve the pans, much to my shock one whole pan of 12 rolls was empty. I called out to Jasper and my worst nightmare became a reality. He literally wobbled over to me He looked like a combination of the Pillsbury dough boy and the Michelin Tire man wrapped up in fur. He groaned when he walked. I swear even his cheeks were bloated.

I ran to the phone and called our vet. After a few seconds of uproarious laughter, he told me the dog would probably be OK, however, I needed to give him Pepto Bismol every 2 hours for the rest of the night.

God only knows why I thought a dog would like Pepto Bismol any more than my kids did when they were sick. Suffice it to say that by the time we went to bed the dog was black, white and pink He was so bloated we had to lift him onto the bed for the night.

We arose at 7:30 and as we always do first thing; put the dog out to relieve himself. Well, the dog was as drunk as a sailor on his first leave. He was running into walls, falling flat on his butt and most of the time when he was walking his front half was going one direction and the other half was either dragging the grass or headed 90 degrees in another direction.

He couldn't lift his leg to pee, so he would just walk and pee at the same time. When he ran down the small incline in our back yard he couldn't stop himself and nearly ended up running into the fence.

His pupils were dilated and he was as dizzy as a loon. I endured another few seconds of laughter from the vet (second call within 12 hours) before he explained that the yeast had fermented in his belly and that he was indeed drunk.

He assured me that, not unlike most binges we humans go through, it would wear off after about 4 or 5 hours and to keep giving him Pepto Bismol.

Afraid to leave him by himself in the house, Perry and I loaded him up and took him with us to my sister's house for the first Thanksgiving meal of the day.

My sister lives outside of Muskogee on a ranch, (10 to 15 minute drive). Rolls firmly secured in the trunk (124 less 12) and drunk dog leaning from the back seat onto the console of the car between Perry and I, we took off.

Now I know you probably don't believe that dogs burp, but believe me when I say that after eating a tray of risen unbaked yeast rolls, DOGS WILL BURP. These burps were pure Old Charter. They would have matched or beat any smell in a drunk tank at the police station. But that's not the worst of it.

Now he was beginning to fart and they smelled like baked rolls. God strike me dead if I am not telling the truth! We endured this for the entire trip to Karen's, thankful she didn't live any further away than she did.

Once Jasper was firmly placed in my sister's garage with the door locked, we finally sat down to enjoy our first Thanksgiving meal of the day. The dog was the topic of conversation all morning long and everyone made trips to the garage to witness my drunken dog, each returning with a tale of Jasper's latest endeavor to walk without running into something. Of course, as the old adage goes, 'what goes in must come out' and Jasper was no exception.< BR>
Granted if it had been me that had eaten 12 risen, unbaked yeast rolls, you might as well have put a concrete block up my behind, but alas a dog's digestive system is quite different from yours or mine. I discovered this was a mixed blessing when we prepared to leave Karen's house. Having discovered his 'packages' on the garage floor, we loaded him up in the car so we could hose down the floor.

This was another naive decision on our part. The blast of water from the hose hit the poop on the floor and the poop on the floor with stood the blast from the hose. It was like Portland cement beginning to set up and cure.

We finally tried to remove it with a shovel. I (obviously no one else was going to offer their services) had to get on my hands and knees with a coarse brush to get the remnants off of the floor. And as if this wasn't degrading enough, the darn dog in his drunken state had walked through the poop and left paw prints all over the garage floor that had to be brushed, too.

Well, by this time the dog was sobering up nicely so we took him home and dropped him off before we left for our second Thanksgiving dinner at Perry's sister's house.

I am happy to report that as of today (Monday) the dog is back to normal both in size and temperament. He has had a bath and is no longer tricolor. None the worse for wear I presume. I am also happy to report that just this evening I found 2 risen unbaked yeast rolls hidden inside my closet door.

It appears he must have come to his senses after eating 10 of them but decided hiding 2 of them for later would not be a bad idea. Now, I'm doing research on the computer as to: 'How to clean unbaked dough from the carpet.'

Makes my story of when my three dogs ate my homemade Italian Rum Wedding Cake the night before our wedding...they were ill but not as bad as poor Jasper. I on the other hand had to stay up all night baking a new cake and Jasper's mom didn't have to remake the 12 rolls that were missing.

Human Interest Story – brings a tear…

2009-07-10T12:53:00.006-04:00

It was toward the end of Sunday service and our Minister asked, “How many of you have forgiven your enemies?” Eighty percent held up their hands. The Minister then repeated his question, all responded this time except one very elderly lady.

“Bea? Are you not willing to forgive your enemies?" and she replied with a sweet smile “I don't have any.”

"Well Bea, that is certainly very unusual and should be commended, how old are you?”

“Ninety-eight.” she replied. Amazed the Minister said “Would you please come down in front and tell us all how a person can live ninety-eight years and not have an enemy in the world?”

The little sweetheart of a lady tottered down the aisle, faced the congregation, and said,“It's simple really, I just outlived the bitches.”

It's all in the name

2009-07-09T08:25:00.003-04:00

Well today I am a bit excited and very anxious. I have a face book account and yesterday I was searching for my birthmother’s maiden name and I came across a woman in NY with the same last name. I wrote to her with a little information of myself and asked if we could be related. She replied with her family background and I am certain we are related! She is generation ahead of me, which is awesome, as she will have much wanted family history to share with me. I recognized many of the names she supplied, but was unable to unscramble the information in my mind and place everyone in the proper place. I look forward to exploring this new adventure and most importantly, making a new friend with whom I share so much. Wish me luck!!!

A friend for life

2009-07-06T10:33:00.003-04:00

In 1986, Peter Davies was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air. The elephant seemed distressed, so Peter approached it very carefully. He got down on one knee, inspected the elephant’s foot, and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in it.

As carefully and as gently as he could, Peter worked the wood out with his knife, after which the elephant gingerly put down its foot. The elephant turned to face the man, and with a rather curious look on its face, stared at him for several tense moments.

Peter stood frozen, thinking of nothing else but being trampled. Eventually the elephant trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away.

Peter never forgot that elephant or the events of that day.

Twenty years later, Peter was walking through the Chicago Zoo with his teenage son. As they approached the elephant enclosure, one of the creatures turned and walked over to near where Peter and his son Cameron were standing. The large bull elephant stared at Peter, lifted its front foot off the ground, and then put it down. The elephant did that several times then trumpeted loudly, all the while staring at the man.

Remembering the encounter in 1986, Peter could not help wondering if this was the same elephant. Peter summoned up his courage, climbed over the railing, and made his way into the enclosure. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder.

The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of Peter legs and slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.

Probably wasn't the same elephant.

Just a little humor to start the week off; no elephant was harmed in this story.

2009-07-04T20:11:00.010-04:00

Sending Dogs to Prison

I think this is AWESOME, everyone is a winner in this program and many dogs that were wasting away in shelters just waiting for their number to be picked in the lottery of death are now saved and become a beloved and respected service animal for a forever grateful loving friend. How much better could it get for a shelter dog, I am happy with tears for this program and will be sending a donation. If you place prison dogs in Google search you can see many more heartwarming stories, pictures and videos.

To start a program, there must be a sincere focus in helping the lives of the inmates... and to really make a difference to help rehabilitate the inmates. To warehouse inmates, punish them and then throw them back out into the community does not rebuild damage lives but rather it builds more anger and disrespect to authorities.

For more information on how you can help,please e-mail the Prison Dog Project. srpauline@pathwaystohope.org The Dog programs that have allowed a personal approach are the programs that will succeed.

I hope that prison dog programs will base their programs on mutual respect and dignity... where love is the focus... more than control and intimidation because if you want people to return to society, focused on being better persons, then the ingredient of love needs to be included, rules to be followed but not to the point that a program would fold because an officer gave a hamburger to an inmate after speaking at a community school to children about the prison dog program. The DOC punished the officer for showing compassion to a prisoner. The 25 year veteran of the Department of Correction with an unblemished record was so hurt in being treated like that, that he quit the Department of Corrections and the Liberty Dog Program folded because the volunteers who were very supportive of this officer refused to carry on with a program that would treat their staff and the inmates the way this department of corrections did.

Downeast Correctional... Bucks Harbor, Maine

This is a program where inmates in prisons are training dogs to assist the disabled. The dogs are then placed with someone who needs a specially trained dog to assist them.

Also in other prison programs they raise future assistance dogs and guide dogs for the blind for existing training schools, thus cutting back the time that a disabled person must wait for a dog to assist them.

The third prison dog project is where inmates are taking unwanted dogs from animal shelters, then groom and train them to be good citizens. They are then placed back into the community as "paroled pets". This gives the dogs a second chance in life, exactly what the prisoners are wishing for in their own life.

The prison dog programs help the inmates learn how to become "other" centered, thus giving something back to society. The inmates learn needed skills in order to help them get jobs when they are released. They also learn responsibility, patience, tolerance, as well as being good trainers with kindness and love.

The Prison Dog Programs are developing in many prisons around the United States and other countries. It helps to bring a sense of calm in the institutional setting. The dogs are also a bridge between the inmates and the guards as well as with a disabled person to people in the community. When a disabled person in a wheel chair or a prisoner has a friendly dog by their side, people want to go up and greet them. The friendly dog then helps to break the tension.

One of the dogs ready for graduation from the York Correctional Institution in Niantic, Connecticut The dog is wearing a "Gentle Leader", like a horse halter... a gentle way to train. His Picture is up above....how cute!

Money will buy a pretty good dog, but it won't buy the wag of his tail.
~ Josh Billings ~

These prison dog programs are mostly developed without the help of state funds. Many supplies are needed to help other prison dog programs develop, as well as to help them continue on. We need donations and supplies to make this unique rehabilitation program a continued success.

Happy Day

2009-06-27T18:09:00.002-04:00

Do you ever wonder what the day will bring as you lay in bed in the early hours of the morning just before the sun comes up and the day must begin? I try to envision my day before it actually happens; I try to think of a day filled with necessary work, and then friends, both two and four legged, and smiles and joy…it doesn’t necessary always work out to be a good one, but I do think that if I am in a positive mood prior to getting out of bed I have a very good chance of having a day filled with laughter and joy. You should try it sometime and let me know if it did indeed alter your mood for the day.

Dog tired

2009-06-26T11:53:00.002-04:00

So today I am trying very hard to get done what needs to get done. My best friend and I made homemade pizza for my hubby and some friends last night and it was out of this world. Our favorite from last night’s line up was Shrimp Scampi Pizza. We have been making homemade pizza for the last month now once a week, it is fun, delicious, and a great way to spend time together.

I got to bed about 11:00pm and to be honest I was tired but I am still suffering from insomnia so I was up again at 2:00am and was up all night until 6:00am when I again was able to sleep for an hour. So now I am very tired and it is extremely hot outside, so I think I will just get the few small chores completed and then see if I can get a nap in so that I am fresh for when hubby gets home.

Today the picture I wish to share is one of how my mood is…hope everyone has a great day!

OMG!!!!

2009-06-25T08:09:00.008-04:00

Huh, I guess this says it all without any more words from me.

Brock the helpful one

2009-06-23T19:32:00.004-04:00

Today I want to show you my boy Brock’s talent. My husband, to whom Brock will still not go to, loves this one thing about him the most…you see Brock makes cleaning up his “messes” in the backyard very simple for me. He does not make a mess on the lawn at all and they are very easy to locate without stepping in them. The sun dries them out very quickly and thus also reduces the smell. So I am curious if anyone else has a pet that does the same for them?

Week-Old Puppy Flushed Down the Toilet

2009-06-17T09:05:00.001-04:00

OMG!!! I was horrified when I read this headline, but all is well.

Week-Old Puppy Recovering After Being Flushed Down the Toilet
by Kristen Seymour Jun 16th 2009 2:00PM

Dyno, the cocker spaniel puppy, is recovering from a trip down the loo. Photo: YouTube.com

Four-year-old Daniel Blair thought he was being a good boy when he decided to give a week-old cocker spaniel puppy a bath. Unfortunately, the child tried to bathe the puppy in the toilet, and, when he pulled the chain, the tiny pup was flushed right down!

Sky News reports that neighbors were asked not to flush for fear of sending the pup out to the sewer while the fire brigade and RSPCA tried -- but were unable -- to rescue the puppy, which was trapped in a pipe 20 yards from the home.

Drain experts Dyno-Rod were called in for the rescue. They used specialist camera gear to locate the pooch, after which they were able to nudge the animal to a manhole cover so the firemen could grab him.

The puppy, now aptly name Dyno, is recovering, and little Daniel is "so, so sorry." But hey, he learned a lesson -- puppies go in the tub and poopies go in the loo.