Get Those Pets on the Pill

I have volunteered my time to animal humane activities and causes, since I was in high school. For some reason, I missed one of the newest things going. It's the movement to use oral contraceptives and implants as a method of sterilaztion for pets. This could be much cheaper than surgically spaying and neutering pets. There is an organization that is spearheading the research and ideas in this area. It is called The Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs. Here is what they do:

ACC&D is an international, collaborative effort to save the lives of dogs and cats and to reduce their numbers through developing non-surgical technologies for the humane control of cat and dog populations. Members represent the following collaborative interests: academics (research and teaching), animal welfare, veterinary practitioners, the pharmaceutical industry, funding foundations, and regulatory agencies.

Click HERE to view their mission statement.

They have an active petition campaign to encourage support for their mission.

Here is a snippet from the petition:

Imagine being able to sterilize your dog or cat without surgery or anesthesia, but with a simple injection. While a sterilization injection is not available yet, it will be. WHEN is a matter of how much the public pressures pharmaceutical companies, scientists, regulators and funders into developing the right tools. While many U.S. pet owners are able to afford and access spay/neuter surgery, it's often a different story for low-income pet owners and rural residents. Surgical sterilization is also logistically difficult and expensive for population control of un-owned animals, such as shelter animals and feral cats. An estimated five million cats and dogs die each year in US shelters alone.

I think this is a really good idea. It's definitely something that I'd like to research. I'm sure that it will take a while to get all of the details worked out, but the end means could be a great thing. I did sign the petition.

Happy Weekend!

We still have the little guest dog at our house. I was going to talk to her owners last night, but they hadn't gotten home by the time I called it a night (which was around 12:30 a.m.) Casey is going to try to catch them sometime today. She decided that she would overnight with us AKA we couldn't get her outta the house without a fight. She was as happy as a little lark, eating dogfood and chewing on the occassional Nylabone. The little stinker even chewed away on the corner of The Last Command. It wasn't too bad, but it still irks me. I haven't had anything like this happen, since Bear was a puppy. He read the middle of the 5th Harry Potter book with his teeth! It wasn't hard to break him from the habit with chews and other things that he COULD chew to his heart's desire. This little girl is well old enough to know better. Looks like I have work to do, if she's going to hang around with me. Maybe her family can convince her to go back home. It's still the strangest thing that I've ever seen.

I don't have any mind blowing plans for the weekend. The forcast is rainy, so I expect I'll be in the house most of the time. We might go rent a few movies to keep us busy. Casey has shelter duty tomorrow morning. I'll do my housecleaning tomorrow, since I have to take Mom for her doctor's checkup on Monday. She and I are planning to have a really nice lunch somewhere, but we haven't decided exactly where yet. We always have a good time on our doctor outings. It gets us out of town for a change of scenery. Other than that, my plans are wide open. Who knows what I'll get into. Everyone have a great weekend!

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

The strangest thing happened about two days ago. The neighbors that live behind us have this little dog. She looks like a little Sheltie mix, and she's Bear's size. They've had her ever since they moved in, which was about five years ago. We've always known her. She meets us in the back yard, when we let our dogs out. Whenever I would walk Bear in front of her house, she would finish walking the last block with us, and then cut through our back yard to go back home. She and Bear just love playing together outside. Anyway day before yesterday when Casey and I pulled into the driveway after work, she met us there. Not only did she meet us, but when I opened the door to get out, she jumped into the car with me. We finally got her out, and I didn't think anymore about it. Yesterday, it was the same scenario. She met us in the driveway and jumped into the car...but that wasn't all. When I opened the door to go inside, she just walked right in and made herself comfortable. She has very thick fur, so I knew she was hot. I let her stay inside and cool off until suppertime. Later I had gone to take a shower, and when I got done she was back inside!! Casey said she came in, when my friend Elaine stopped by. We let her stay inside until bedtime. She, Bear, and Fergie had the best time playing. This morning, she was at the backdoor waiting to come inside. She had a bite to eat and a drink of water. Again, she jumped into the car with us. For a minute, it looked like she was going to follow our car.

It's just the weirdest thing. She's known us for years. Why would she have such an interest in us so suddenly? Today as soon as the neighbors get in, I'm going to go down there and let them know that she's been hanging out at our house. I don't want anyone thinking that I'm trying to steal their dog or anything. When she comes into the house, she acts like she BELONGS there. The weirdest part is all of my dogs act the same way!! It's just like no big deal to them? I'm just left to think, "what do I do now?"

The Nose Knows!

Most everyone knows that dogs have been using their keen sense of smell to hunt down drugs, bombs, missing people, and now even cancer. But did you know that dogs are also being used to sniff out bedbugs in apartments and hotels and pirated DVDs and CDs? Now, many dogs have been put to work to sniff out these new items. Read all about it HERE.

James Estrin/The New York Times

Jada, with her owner, Carl Massicott, seeking out bedbugs for pay.

I wondered how they were able to do this for a very long time. I somewhat finally understood the process, when I began working at Kindred Spirits last year. This is how it was explained to me. When a dog catches a scent or smells something specific, such as a drug or food, he doesn't smell the combination of ingredients or substances. A dog can smell each ingredient that makes up the whole. For example if you had a bowl of creamed corn, a dog could smell the corn, salt, pepper, butter, and any other ingredient individually.

Here is another interesting fact about how acute a dog's sense of smell really is:

Smell is a dog's sharpest sense. Next time a dog sniffs at you, think about this: just by smelling, a dog can tell where you have been and what you have been doing, what you have eaten, and even whether you are not feeling well. (Perhaps it's a good thing that dogs can't talk.) The dog is using its nose the way you use your eyes to recognize people and figure out something about them. You know your little sister just came home from school because you see that she has her B backpack on; she had peanut butter and jelly for lunch because it is all over her shirt; and she looks might have a cold. A dog's nose enough to detect the scents your little sister picked up at school, the pb and j, and even the chemical changes that take place in her body if she is ill.

Here's another cool fact:

A classic study of dogs’ olfactory capabilities showed that dogs could reliably discriminate members of a single family, including siblings and even fraternal twins.1 A trained dog can retrieve the one stick handled by his owner from a pile of 20 or 30. In other tests, dogs trained to detect a certain odor were able to identify the scent even when presented with a complex blend of scents.

"So, just follow the nose. It always knows!!"

Need A Kitty?

This month has been so crazy I nearly forgot to remind everyone about this. June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month. If you are looking for the furry, feline companion, please take a look at the animal shelter first. Shelters have cats of all kinds, just waiting for good homes. At this time of year, shelters are overcrowded with cats and kittens. If you adopt a shelter cat not only will you get a lifelong companion, but you help out the shelter and other cats as well. Take a look at the shelter stats below by the ASPCA.

There are about 5,000 community animal shelters nationwide that are independent; there is no national organization monitoring these shelters. The terms “humane society” and “SPCA” are generic; shelters using those names are not part of the ASPCA or the Humane Society of the United States. Currently, no government institution or animal organization is responsible for tabulating national statistics for the animal protection movement.

Approximately 8 million to 12 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 5 million to 9 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats). Shelter intakes are about evenly divided between those animals relinquished by owners and those picked up by animal control. These are national estimates; the percentage of euthanasia may vary from state to state.

According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2 percent of cats and only 15 to 20 percent of dogs are returned to their owners. Most of these were identified with tags, tattoos or microchips.

Twenty-five percent of dogs who enter local shelters are purebred. (Source: NCPPSP)

Only 10 percent of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. About 75 percent of owned pets are neutered.

The majority of pets are obtained from acquaintances and family members. About 15 to 20 percent of dogs are purchased from breeders, and 10 to 10 percent of cats and dogs are adopted from shelters and rescues. (Source: Ralston Purina and NCPPSP)

More than 20 percent of people who leave dogs in shelters adopted them from a shelter. (Source: NCPPSP)

Five out of ten dogs in shelters and seven out of ten cats in shelters are destroyed simply because there is no one to adopt them.

The following data are ASPCA estimates unless otherwise indicated.

Our grand cat of the house, Lucy, is 14 years old. She rules the kingdom from the top down, dogs included. I adopted her from my local shelter, when she was only 6 weeks old. She's been with me and Casey ever since. I wouldn't trade her for the world!

EXCITEMENT!!

Today has just been one of those run around everywhere days. Busy, busy, busy. I did find out some fantastic news. My humane association received a $1000 grant to use for our 2nd annual Celebration Pet Day. That means that we can do everything that we want to do, and we can do it nicely. The news came in this morning.

Last night, I had my planning committee's first meeting. The ideas and programming that everyone has lined up is fantastic. There's something for every pet lover. This year, we are also offering a lot of pet educational classes. I've even got a call in to a Red Cross representative about doing pet CPR certifications. This is all just the tip of the iceburg for us. I can't wait to see what all we put together. Gotta run...so busy today!! I'll fill everyone in tomorrow!

Visiting Melissa

After breakfast on Sunday morning, we headed out from Columbus to Cincinnati. We got to Melissa's around noon. It was so good to see her. The last time we got to visit was the end of last October, so it was a reunion of sorts for us. We sat around and just caught up for about an hour or so, before her sister, Sherry, arrived. After catching up with Sherry, we were headed out to see something of a religious monument. Melissa and Sherry just couldn't stop talking about it. It is a HUGE paper mache' Jesus that has been constructed by a local church there. It is so big, that it can be seen by traffic passing on the interstate. Melissa and Sherry said that it was such a sight to behold, that it was causing wrecks on the interestate and nearby streets. Of course, Casey and I just HAD to see it, so we were off. After about a 15 minute drive, it was finally revealed to us.

This thing is so big that in the picture you can see how it looms high above the roof of the church. There was a little amphitheatre in front of it, with a nice little pond and walking path in front of it. There were gardens, benches, and lots of ducks and geese there. Casey took lots of pictures as we were walking the path.

Sherry, me, and Melissa in front of the paper mache' Jesus.

After our visit with the paper mache' Jesus, we headed to Melissa's grandmother's house for a big family cookout. I finally got to meet the family that I'd heard so much about over the years. We met Melissa's grandmother, great grandmother and grandfather, her aunts, her mother and her fiance', and her uncle. They were all such warm, friendly, wonderful people. The food was fantastic, and the company was even better! When we finished eating, it was time for the great Cornhole tournament. Now before you all go off and make some terrible remarks, it's a bean bag game.

The object is to toss a bean bag (full of corn) into a hole in a slanted, wooden board. On the board is 1 point and through the hole is 3 points. I never got one through, but I always got close..."but no cigar". Casey, however, was quite good at it. Melissa and Sherry reigned as team champions. Late that afternoon, it was time to tell everyone goodbye and head back to Mel's place. On our way, Mel called one of her friends, Josie, to come by and join us. We spent the rest of the evening sitting out on Mel's patio talking, drinking wine, and eating chips and salsa. It was wonderful just to relax and visit. Josie is a great girl, and a whole lotta fun. Casey, who was surrounded by women, fit right in. We had some REALLY interesting conversations. Around 11:00, Sherry and Josie headed home, and me, Mel, and Casey went back inside. Mel had bought us a delectable treat, Graeter's Ice Cream! Folks, this is some of the BEST ice cream that I've ever had. Melissa introduced us to Greater's on our first visit, and we've been hooked ever since. After a HUGE bowl of mint chocolate chip and much satisfaction, I called it a night.

On Monday Mel had grad classes, but we had time for lunch. So, we went to another favorite place of ours, Skyline Chili. Here's a couple of shots Casey took, while we were there.

After a good meal and some very sad goodbyes we saw Melissa off to class, and we headed for home. All in all, it was such a WONDERFUL trip and a much needed break. I just can't wait to go again! Everyone have a good weekend!

COSI - Ohio

We were later leaving out for Columbus than we had planned. Since the vet had kept Slate overnight we had to pick him up before we left. We got him back home and settled in with my Mom. We quickly loaded the car and were on our way. The weather for the drive up was just horrible. It poured rain all the way from Nashville to Louisville, KY. That made us run even later. As we got on the far side of Louisville the rain finally stopped, and the sun came out. It was nearly dinner time, so we stopped right outside of Columbus for a bite to eat. When we got into town we went straight over to COSI, and met up with our friends. It was great to see everyone in costume and trooping. We had friends with both the Rebel Legion and the 501st. One of our friends managed to get us in for a sneak peek at the exhibit, Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination. It was absolutely INCREDIBLE!! So many of the props that were used in the Star Wars movies were there and up close to look at. It was sensory overload. There were robots that you could build yourself, an actual landspeeder that you could ride in, a flight in a lifesize cockpit of the Millenium Falcon, and many other interactive things.

After a quick preliminary trip through the exhibit, Casey and I headed over to the hotel to unload the car and freshen ourselves up (By that time it was nearly 9 p.m.) After a little relaxation, it was time to head down and line up for the midnight opening of the exhibit. We walked the 5 blocks down from our hotel. Columbus is a lovely city, so it was a really nice walk. While we waited outside, we got to talk with several people and interact with the troopers. The people were finally let inside at timed intervals to mingle, eat, get an autograph from Jeremy Bulloch (the original Boba Fett), and go through the exhibit. The food was great, and the company and exhibit were even better! We finally got back to the hotel and fell into bed around 3 a.m.

On Saturday, we got up and headed out for a bite to eat. While we were out, we decided to explore the city a little bit. It was so clean and neat. We found a really great cigar shop there with an even bigger reputation called Pipes and Pleasures. Casey loves cigars and pipes, so he was in heaven. Later that afternoon, we headed back to the exhibit and went back through to get some pictures. Everyone was clearing out for the day, so it was a lot easier to get them taken. We then headed back for the hotel, stopping on the river bank to get a bite to eat and take in some of the Art Festival the city was holding. After a huge gyro, it was back to the room and into the pool. Saturday night was the 501st and Rebel Legion party. It was great to get to eat and visit with our friends. Since I had missed him at the exhibit, I had a chance to get an autograph and speak with Jeremy Bulloch. All in all, a fantastic weekend in Columbus. Here are some pictures from the exhibit.

A Clone Trooper outside entertaining the crowd.

More Clone Troopers inside.

Me with Anakin's and Obi Wan's costumes.

Tusken Raider costumes.

Model of Luke Skywalker on his Taun Taun used for The Empire Strikes Back...look at that detail!

Casey with a Destroyer Droid

To see all of the pictures from the COSI weekend, click HERE. Tomorrow, the trip to Cincinnati...stay tuned.

Finally Back!

Well, I was away a little longer than I expected. I had this post ready yesterday, but Blogger was down every time I tried to publish....

I hadn't meant to be away Thursday, but it just turned out that way. When I got home on Wednesday afternoon, I noticed that Slate was holding his cast up and refusing to walk on it. For the past month, he'd been running around as fast as he could go on it. I knew that something wasn't quite right. I noticed that he had pulled all of the padding away from the top of his cast, so I figured that it may be rubbing his leg. I looked and sure enough there was a little bald spot there with a little swelling. I gave him a pain pill at bedtime to help alleviate some of the discomfort, and I hoped that he would be better by morning. At 3 a.m. on Thursday morning, he woke me up whining. Now, Slate is NOT a complainer in any way. He is one tough little dog, so when he started whining, I KNEW something was wrong. Casey and I were due to leave first thing Friday morning for Ohio, so I decided right then and there to take off Thursday and take him to the vet. Casey took the day off to help.

We got him into the vet's early Thursday morning. The tech got him in there and began to cut the cast off. If a dog's face could ever have a human expression, Slate had one as the cast came off. He looked like, "oh, thank you so much!!" As soon as the cast came off, we knew the problem. The cast had doubled over underneath and had cut a large gash into his leg nearly to the bone. I just cried, when I saw it. It looked horrible, and I can't imagine how much it must have hurt him. The vet decided to keep him overnight and surgically repair the gash. They cleaned it up and stiched it. They also gave him IV antibiotics to help. Luckily, his broken bones had healed enough that they didn't have to re-cast his foot. So after another surgery, night away from home, and another $160, we were able to pick him up early on Friday morning.

The vet said that he should be fine, and that we should go ahead on our trip. I called in the best possible caregiver that I know...my mom. She took fantastic care of him, while we were gone. She gave him his meds and many, many treats. He is soooo spoiled. Luckily, the stitches are still holding (the vet was afraid that he was too inflamed and they might not). The swelling has gone, and he seems to feel much better. I just want to hurt whoever put that BB into his foot. NONE of this would have happened, if they hadn't shot him. I swear if I EVER catch who did it, they WILL pay.

The Ohio updates will begin soon!! Stay tuned!

Hot Weather Tips for Pet Owners

Since it's sweltering outside again, it's time for all of us pet owners to be extra vigilant. Pets can heat up faster outside in the hot temperatures than we think. Remember LOTS of shade and LOTS of extra water too! Here are the top 10 hot weather tips for pet owners from the ASPCA.

1. A visit to the veterinarian for a spring or early summer check-up is a must; add to that a test for heartworm, if your dog isn't on year-round preventive medication. Do parasites bug your animal companions? Ask your doctor to recommend a safe, effective flea and tick control program.

2. Never leave your pet alone in a vehicle—hyperthermia can be fatal. Even with the windows open, a parked automobile can quickly become a furnace in no time. Parking in the shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day.

3. Always carry a gallon thermos filled with cold, fresh water when traveling with your pet.

4. The right time for playtime is in the cool of the early morning or evening, but never after a meal or when the weather is humid.

5. Street smarts: When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog standing on hot asphalt. His or her body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.

6. A day at the beach is a no-no, unless you can guarantee a shaded spot and plenty of fresh water for your companion. Salty dogs should be rinsed off after a dip in the ocean.

7. Provide fresh water and plenty of shade for animals kept outdoors; a properly constructed doghouse serves best. Bring your dog or cat inside during the heat of the day to rest in a cool part of the house.

8. Be especially sensitive to older and overweight animals in hot weather. Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dogs such as bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers, Lhasa apsos and shih tzus, as well as those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.

9. When walking your dog, steer clear of areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals. And please be alert for coolant or other automotive fluid leaking from your vehicle. Animals are attracted to the sweet taste, and ingesting just a small amount can be fatal. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect that your animal has been poisoned.

10. Good grooming can stave off summer skin problems, especially for dogs with heavy coats. Shaving the hair to a one-inch length—never down to the skin, please, which robs Rover of protection from the sun—helps prevent overheating. Cats should be brushed often.

Bonus tip: Please make sure that there are no open, unscreened windows or doors in your home through which animals can fall or jump.

I'm Melting!!!!!

Today, I resemble what was left of the Wicked Witch of the West. I'm just a greasy kinda soup on the floor. Man is it HOT here! After an unusally cool May, the tables have turned. In just a week, we've hit summer full tilt. Right now, it's 93 degrees with a heat index of 97! This is only the beginning too! If the first of June is this hot, then what will mid August be like? Hmmmm...I don't remember moving to the tropics. Was I out of the room, when that decision was made? Casey and I were out at lunch. We never could get the car cooled down, even after driving to the far side of town. Yeah, it's that kind of hot. I wish I could walk down a freezer isle right now. It doesn't seem like I can get cooled off anywhere.

I talked with my friend, Melissa, this morning. She lives in Ohio. She was updating me on a few things, since we are visiting her this weekend. She happily informed me that she's having her airconditioners re-installed this week. She said it had been really hot, so it was time. As a life long southerner, I can't quite grasp this concept. What do they do that one week in December, when it's 85 degrees outside, and you have to crank up the AC?? My poor hot, southern brain can't wrap itself around it. Is it really that much cooler just that little bit further north? If so, should I consider summering up there? I guess I'll experience it first hand this weekend. Just my luck, though, the heat will follow me there. Somebody pass me the deodorant!

Weekend Ramblings

The weekend went by way too fast! I chose to take the extra day off this coming Friday, instead of today. So, here I am. Anyway, we didn't do anything earth shattering this weekend. We just rented a couple of movies and took it easy on Saturday night. On Sunday, Casey and I had shelter duty early. Afterwards, Casey cooked a really nice breakfast, while I got cleaned up. Afterwards, we were off to Frankling to meet Pattie Burkitt to pick up my pet portrait. Let me tell you folks, it is SOOOOO good. The computer scan did not do the piece justice. It is so detailed. Pattie did such a good job really capturing the dogs. I am so impressed. She went ahead and sprayed it with the final fixative, so it's ready to frame. She even threw in a set of custom made notecards for me. She's so sweet!! Anyway, with Pattie's permission, here's the final product. Keep in mind, the portrait in person is so much better!

I'm just so excited about it. I've wanted to have one done for so long now. Now, I get to decide how I want it framed.

Yesterday, Casey and I did quite a bit of housecleaning. We were also running back and forth to the grocery store to get supplies for our cookout. It was just family and neighbors. We all had a really good time, along with some great food. Casey was in charge of the actual grilling, so we had fantastic hamburgers, hotdogs, and brats, of course! Since it was so hot out my brother decided instead of a heavy dessert, to make fruit salad and have watermelon for everyone. It was just right for the searing afternoon.

Nothing big is on my plate for today. I'm trying to take it easy this week. On Friday, Casey and I are heading up to COSI in Columbis, Ohio. We are attending the midnight premiere of the new Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination Exhibit. I just can't wait to get in that full scale replica of the Millenium Falcon's cockpit!! We'll be there on Friday and Saturday. On the way back Sunday, we are stopping over in Cincinnati to visit with one of my best friends ever, Melissa. We are spending the night there, before heading for home on Monday. I haven't seen Mel since October, so I'm really looking forward to visiting with her. So, I'm sure this three day week will be a blur for me. I've got laundry to do, packing, and lots of other stuff. Looks like I'd better get the caffeine ready!

Memorial Day

I hope that everyone has a happy and safe holiday weekend. Everyone usually spends this weekend indulging in summer fun. I'd like to take a minute to honor all of America's veterans, past and present. Thanks so much for doing what you do and all of your sacrifices. Thanks for letting me live free!

To all of the men and women serving abroad, thanks for a job well done. We think about you everyday. May God keep you safe.

Andrew, Eli, and Cheryl: Memorial Day, May 2005. I'd also like to remember Casey's cousin, Andrew, who is currently serving in Iraq. He got to come home for a brief visit last March, and if all goes well, will return to us this August! Andrew, we miss you, and we love you! We can't wait until you get home.

Everyone have a great weekend!

Holiday Weekend Kickoff

Since it's now officially the Memorial Day Weekend, I thought I'd share a really cool organization with you all. The organization is The United States War Dog Association. They honor all former and current U.S. Military War Dogs and their handlers. Here's the mission statement from their website.

"The United States War Dogs Association, Inc. is a nonprofit organization of Former and Current US Military Dog Handlers and supporting members committed to promoting the long history of the Military Service Dogs, establishing permanent War Dog Memorials, and educating the public about the invaluable service of these canines to our country."

They have a very special event happening this year on June 10th. They are officially unveiling the U.S. War Dog Memorial.

Scale model of memorial.

The memorial is located in Holmdel, New Jersey at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Please visit their website for more information on the memorial dedication. There's also a lot of excellent tributes and stories of current and former war dogs and their handlers on the site. So take a moment and drop by and honor some of America's most forgotten but deserving heroes.

Cat Reality

As a shelter volunteer, fundraiser, dog walker, cat lover, and overall humane association supporter, I like to keep up with what other associations in the area are doing. For this reason, I belong to several national, statewide, and local humane association e-mail lists. So it was no suprise, when I got my usual e-mail update from the Nashville Humane Association yesterday. One of their shelter cats, Opry, is going to New York to participate in the first reality show for cats. It's the Meow Mix House. Once Opry has had his taste of fame, the association would love for him to find his forever home, and are running a high profile adoption campaign. Here's the pertinent information about the show and adoption campaign from the e-mail that I received:

Adopt A Reality Star!

The Meow Mix Company and the Nashville Humane Association are seeking an individual or family to adopt a very special cat! Opry, a one-year-old grey tabby will make history in June by becoming the first feline from Nashville to ever compete on a reality show!

Meow Mix House

New York City

June 13th - 23rd

Nashville Humane Association is one of ten animal shelters nationwide who will be submitting a cat to compete in the inaugural edition of The Meow Mix House, the first reality show for cats.

The cats will travel to NYC and live together in a decked out "kitty crib" specially designed for them on Madison Avenue.

The house is equipped with webcams in every room and can be viewed in real time at www.MeowMixHouse.com

Nashville residents can show their support by looging onto www.MeowMixHouse.com between June 13th and 23rd to vote for Opry as their favorite.

The cat with the least amount of votes each day will be evicted from the house and sent packing to their new adopted home.

After his 15 minutes of fame are up, the celebricat will be in need of a permanent, loving home. People interested in adopting Opry are asked to contact the Nashville Humane Association at (615) 352-1010. The deadline for application to adopt is Wednesday, May 31 at 5 p.m.

And don't forget to log on to www.MeowMixHouse.com and vote for Opry to keep our cool Nashville cat in the house!

Opry, as seen on the Nashville Humane Association web page.

For more information about the reality show, Opry, and adopting him click HERE.

Design Your Own Dog?

I was catching up on my blogroll this morning, and I came across a great topic over at Pennie's. Let me tell you, this whole fad of designer dogs just hacks me off! These breeders that are making money by breeding two different breeds of dogs are unbelievable! Folks, let's just call these dogs what they are....M-U-T-T-S! Designer dog breeders are making money off of people that just want the "in" thing. They are selling for hundreds of dollars what you can do through a visit to the shelter and a small donation. There is also a free option. You can rescue a stray dog. If anyone out there doesn't know where a stray dog is living, please let me know. I'd like to experience that community for a while. I hate to sound so bitchy, but this type of thing really makes my blood boil. Nature has been creating designer dogs for years. There are so many wonderful mixed breeds waiting in shelters for homes of their own. For years, shelters and rescue groups have had to compete with breeders, and that's o.k. I don't see anything wrong with owning a pure bred dog. That's just some people's cup of tea. In fact, I have two of my own that I acquired through rescue. But now, we have to deal with people that run their businesses breeding mixed breeds too? It's too much for me to handle without a fight.

Labradoodle smchoodle, it's a mutt! These exotic names are just a joke. Anybody can do that. Here are my two designer dogs. Let me know if anyone has any better suggestions for their designer names.

Shiloh, my Jackshund (Jack Russell / Dachshund mix).

Fergie, my Heelshep (Red Heeler / Shepherd mix).

Wow, I'm trendy aren't I? Think you can spot a designer dog over a shelter dog? Take the Designer Dog Quiz. Oh, and something to consider. If combining two breeds is trendy, wouldn't multiple breeds be more exotic? Visit your local shelter today and start a new trend. Getting off my soapbox now. Everyone have a good day.

2 Week Slate Update

Casey and I had a rather quiet weekend. Late Saturday afternoon, we went up to Clarksville for a get together at a friend's house. After a late night, we decided to just chill on Sunday.

Casey took the day off yesterday to help me get Slate back to the vet's office. We were up early and at the vet's office by a little after 10:00 a.m. Slate was a little nervous on the car ride, but that's not suprising. He seemed to settle down, once we got into the waiting area. They took his little cast off of his leg and had a look. They checked the incision they made to remove the BB, and then took an x-ray to see how the bones were healing. He had made good progress, but not good enough to go without a cast. Since the BB shattered the bones apart, instead of breaking them clean, it is taking just a tad longer. I also went ahead and had his vaccinations updated, while we were there. They had given him a mild sedative, while they were recasting his leg, so he didn't mind them so much. His physical was good. Dr. Kinard feels that he's making good progress, but wants to make sure everything is VERY healed, before he let's him go without a cast. So, now he has a bright green cast with little paw prints. He goes back in 3 weeks for another x-ray. I still wish that I could catch who did this, so they could be punished and made to pay my vet bills. I'll keep trying.... Hopefully I'll have pictures of his new cast, before the end of the week.

Beautiful

As I told you all last week. I got a sneak peek at my pet portrait that I commissioned. I've been wanting to get one done for the longest time and finally decided to just go ahead and do it. The preview of the portrait is absolutely beautiful. A friend of mine named Pattie Burkitt did it for me. Her business is Pattie's Portraits: People and Pets in Pastels. She is located in Franklin, Tennessee, and she takes orders from anyone. So if you would like to have one made you can e-mail me, and I'll send you her phone and e-mail.

This is of my Slate. Isn't it beautiful?

This is the actual photo from which the artwork was taken.

Congrats!!

Russell Smith and Debra Weaver, owners Pope's Cafe at the Humane Association Chili Supper February 2006.

I just wanted to say a big CONGRATULATIONS to my and Casey's friends Debra Weaver and Russell Smith, owners of Pope's Cafe in Shelbyville, that has been operating since 1945. As you all know, Debra and Russell have been a huge support for our humane association. Back in February, they held a benefit chili supper for us, and they also catered at our Spring Wine Tasting a couple of weeks ago. Those of us at the humane association value their support and their friendship. They have acquired the various equipment and other items from Nashville's famous eatery Vandyland, which opened in the 1920's as Candyland. I know that they have some big plans, but I'm not at liberty to divulge them here. So, come on down and enjoy a Nashville tradition in Shelbyville. To see the Shelbyville-Times Gazette story, click HERE. I guarantee you the food is fantastic. In fact, Casey and I never miss a week eating there.

Oh and by the way Debra and Russell, Casey and I will there for dinner tonight!! CONGRATS!!

Planning

I'm back after a day at a really good workshop. I just love it, when I learn really great stuff that I can take back home with me. Despite all the benefit that I got out of it, I feel really tired today. Also, it's not helping that I have a slamming headache. I have been productive. I've gotten several items on my "to-do" list. I've made a lot of progress on the arrangements for Celebration Pet Day. I want to have one of those rental Moonwalks for the kids. So, I've been busy calling around and getting prices. We've just about gotten the breakfast menu planned and all of the food donated. I can't believe that we are this far along, and it's only May. Hopefully, I'll be less stressed about the whole thing this year. I have my own committee with actual other people on it this year, instead of just me. That has really helped a lot. Also, it helps that we've done it before this time. Last year, we were completely making it up as we went. This is what we are planning for this year so far:

Children's Star Wars Character Breakfast kickoff

Reptile Program

Dog Show

Dog Agility Competition

Pet Related Vendor Booths and Businesses

Moonwalk

Other Area Animal Rescues

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated. I'd like to hear what other areas do for this sort of thing.

Summer Schedule

Casey and I had a really nice weekend. On Saturday, we just hung around the house until early afternoon. The weather turned out so nice that we decided to take a drive into a few neighboring towns to see what was up. It was really nice to get out and enjoy the sunshine that's become a rarity here lately. We didn't get home too late, so Bear got out to enjoy a really nice walk. On Sunday morning, we met Casey's aunt at Crackerbarrel for Mother's Day breakfast. We had a really nice, long visit. It was good to see her, since it had been 2 years since our last visit. Afterwards, we did a little shopping, and then headed home. We both needed naps, since we did shelter duty VERY early that morning. That afternoon, Casey grilled some of the best T-Bone steaks ever! He fixed a wonderful Mother's Day dinner for Mom. We had a really nice time eating and visiting together. After Mom left, I just fell into bed. For some reason, I was really tired over the weekend. Yesterday, I did the dreaded house cleaning. I really had the drags yesterday, so it took me a little longer than usual. When I finally got finished, I was really glad that I'd done it.

When I checked my e-mail this morning, I had a really nice suprise waiting for me. I had the preliminary sketch and color work for the painting of the dogs that I had commissioned from my friend, Pattie, back in February. Oh, it is so wonderfully done. It looks finished to me, but she still says she has quite a bit to do on it. It's head shots of all 4 of them. They are really detailed too. She captured them perfectly. I can't wait to get it home and framed. I think I'm going to hang it above the mantel. I love it, when I have really cool stuff like that in my inbox.

Little Slate is doing wonderfully. He finished up all of his meds on Sunday. He's just flying around the house and backyard in that little cast. He goes back to the vet on next Monday for a follow up.

Things are typical at work. Classes have started for the summer. I'll be away for a workshop tomorrow, but I'll be back on Thursday. Everyone have a great afternoon!

Weekend Windup

It's that time of week again. That time where I realize that even though it's a weekend, I have little to no free time left at all. Casey aunt is supposed to be in town this weekend visiting. This means after work, swimming, and dog walking, I have to clean house. It's really not that bad, but I'm a bit obessive when company comes over. I have no idea what time she's supposed to be over on Saturday, so I want to get everything done tomorrow night, so I can relax a little. Luckily, I'll be back on my regular schedule next week.

Sunday is Mother's Day. First thing, Casey and I will head to the shelter to do clean up and feeding. I'm not sure what the middle part of the day will bring, but we are having Mom over for dinner. Casey is grilling her a big t-bone steak (those are her favorite), along with the rest of the fabulous meal he is planning. I'm making Mom's gift this year, since the vet bills have drained us this month. I'm keeping it a secret, until afterwards. I've got most of it finished, and it does involve the dogs. I think that she'll really like it. I hope everyone has a terrific weekend!!

To My Mom:

Thanks for everything!! I love you!!

My mother's mother.

Getting Better

Slate is getting better everyday. On Tuesday, we stopped giving him the pain medicine, and he's doing just great. He's going outside and running and playing. He's got a fantastic appetite. That cast that Dr. Kinard fixed him is the thing. He's able to run around and jump up on the couch himself. I'm hoping that when we go back in 2 weeks, that we'll be finished. If not, he'll get another cast for 2 more weeks. He just seems like he's doing so well. Slate is usually a very happy dog and undemanding.

This is Slate's little trick to beg for treats. He just sticks that cast out and waves it around a little bit. I'm going to try to get some little videos of it tonight, so I can post them here. He's so funny. He's really learned how to make the most out of his situation. Don't you just love that little sly look on his face? I'm just so proud that he's making a quick recovery. Dr. Kinard says there won't be any lasting effects either. I am going to talk to a few more neighbors this weekend to see if I can find anything else out. I want to say thank you again to everyone for such great support. I have the best friends EVER!!

Be Kind To Animals

With all of the excitement with Slate this week, I've completely forgotten to mention that May 7 through May 13 is Be Kind to Animals Week. For ideas of things that you can do click HERE.

Since it's Be Kind to Animals Week, I'd like to share one of my favorites pieces with you all again.

The Rescuers' Quilt

Author Unknown

As I arrived at the Bridge, I faced all the animals who had gone there before me. Before each of us go to the Bridge, we live our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles, mirrored in the eyes of the animals awaiting us. An animal Angel sits before each of us sewing our quilt squares together in a tapestry that is our life. But as my animal Angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life as a rescuer that had been difficult, the challenges I was faced with in my quest to save lives and the times I had been tempted to take the easy way out and avoid the controversy rather than speak for the animals who could not speak for themselves. I saw hardships that I had endured for the sake of the animals, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My animal Angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air. Finally, the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been with the riches of the Earth. My animal Angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter and the sweet kisses of the precious animals who honored my life with their presence. But there had also been the trials of illness, and death, and false accusations that took me from their world as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up andbegin again. I spent many nights crying and praying that somehow thestrength would come to go on, asking for help and guidance as I tried to help the helpless. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time enduring it for the sake of the animals who looked at me with trust and love in their eyes.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was. I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the animals gathered there, who stared at me with wideeyes. Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image of an animal who had depended on me. All the animals at the Bridge stood before me, with warmth and love in their eyes. They said, "Every time you gave over your life to help us, it gave us life. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let us shine through, until there was more of us than there was of you."

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing the animals to shine through.

Now go and spread kindness!

Recovery

Slate seems to be feeling much better. Yesterday, while I was at work, my mother went over and took care of him. I wanted to make sure that he got his pain medication on schedule. I felt so bad. I know the little thing probably really hurt all last week, and I want to make sure he has a speedy recovery. When I got home, he was very frisky. He was more than ready to go out with the other dogs. Dr. Kinard padded the end of his cast, so he's able to walk on that leg. As soon as he got in the back yard, he was flying around. He wanted to play and investigate everything as usual. It really made me feel a lot better to see him acting normal. I'm so glad that his injuries weren't any more serious than they were. We've been lucky. So far, the swelling is minimal and there's no sign of infection. He still has a lot more antibiotics to take and at least 1 more x-ray. He goes back to the vet on the 22nd for his next check. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is a good visit.

I want to thank everyone who sent e-mails and comments for their good wishes and prayers. It's funny. You never realize how much impact a small, personal blog can have, until something like this comes up. Then, the flood of support overwhelms you. So, from the bottom of my and Casey's hearts and from Slate: We love you all and thanks so much for your support.

What?!!

Casey and I headed to Dr. Kinard's office in time to have Slate there by 11:00 a.m. The vet gave little Slate's foot a thorough inspection. On first look, he couldn't figure out what was wrong either. He felt that since he wouldn't put any weight on it all and it was a little swollen, we should get an x-ray to see if there was anything wrong internally. After a short wait, Dr. Kinard came back in with the x-ray and announced, "Someone's shot the little fellow with a BB gun." My jaw completely hit the floor. There it was in the x-ray as plain as day: a metal BB and 2 broken bones. I just couldn't believe it. Even today, I'm still having trouble believing it. Someone shot my little dog with Casey just a few hundred yards away!! We've lived in our neighborhood for 8 years. I know all of my neighbors. They know all of my dogs. Who could have done this? Who could be THAT CRUEL!! You guys know that I usually don't like to vent on my blog, but I will say this. If I find out who did this, I will see that they are punished. I'll put them under the jail if I can. I notified my humane association, and I'm going to fill out a police report. Not only will I have them arrested and sue them, but the Humane Assocation will do the same. I never dreamed since I have indoor dogs, that one of them would be the victim of animal cruelty. I'm still really mad today, but there was no dealing with me on Saturday.

The good news is Slate is going to be perfectly fine. Dr. Kinard did surgery to remove the BB and reset the broken bones. Slate has a full leg cast that is bright yellow with little green dog bones on it. We got to pick him up from the vet's early yesterday morning. He goes back in 2 weeks to remove the cast and get another x-ray. At that point, he may be finished. It just depends on how fast he's healing. Let me tell you, he's one spoiled little dog today. I'm at his beck and call. He's been doing this funny little thing. When he wants something, he'll wave the leg with the cast on around in the air like, "gimme, I've been shot you know." His appetite is good, and so far there's no infection. He's a very lucky little dog. Everyone keep your fingers crossed that he has a speedy recovery.

Hop, Hop, Hop

My apologies for not showing up yesterday. My mom had a dental thing come up, so I had to wisk her away to everyone's favorite thing...the dentist and a drill. It's been the typical week so far. It's really quiet at work, since the spring sememester is over. That means that I have Saturday off this week. It will be nice to have a Saturday. But I always feel wronged on Monday, when I acutally have to drag myself into work. Oh well....

Part of my Saturday is already scheduled. I have to take Slate, the long haired Chihuahua, into the vet tomorrow morning. I let him out on Tuesday morning to do his daily business, and he returned with a mysterious foot injury. It's his right front paw. I first noticed him limping and hopping and on closer inspection realized that he had a little nick in his joint area. I got him cleaned up and the little bit of bleeding stopped, before I left for work. That evening, I tried to get a better look at his foot, since he was still limping. Being his usual crotchety self, he wouldn't let me look at it for very long. That night, and in the short inspections that have followed throughout the week, I've found nothing. As of today, he is still limping and has a small amount of swelling on top of his joint and in his paw pads. So, it's off to Dr. Kinard we go tomorrow morning. That itself will make for an interesting trip. Slate is deathly afraid of the car, so we have to give him something before we ever start to the vet's. He's really grouchy anyway because of his paw, so that will help calm him when the vet examines him as well. I really don't want him to bite Dr. Kinard. It's funny when he was younger, he liked everyone and would let anyone do anything to him. No he's a little crumudgeon. Just like a little old man; hateful at times. I know that he's not the only dog that the vet sees like this, but I still hate for it to happen. I love my dogs, and I want everyone else to love them too. I don't think it's anything serious, but I just want to make absolutely certain. Everyone keep their fingers crossed!!

You Better Recognize

Do you love service dogs? Think they go way above and beyond the call of duty? Here's a great contest that Pedigree is running. It's called Pedigree PAWS to Recognize. Pedigree runs this contest to celebrate and honor America's service dogs. There are 5 contestants this year: Rocky, Hero, Polo, Xena, and Quanto. You can read their biographies at Pedigree's website and vote for your choice. This contest is running from April 7th until July 14. If 10,000 votes are received, Pedigree will donate $25,000 to American Humane . So everyone, let's get those votes going! To vote, click the picture above or click Here.

Wine Tasting Wrap Up

The wine tasting went swimmingly well. Casey and I were out and about until after 9 p.m. on Friday night getting all of the supplies. On Saturday, we made 6 lbs. of meatballs for everyone's dining pleasure. We arrived about 5:30 p.m. to help with the last details and make sure everything was set up and ready. Our good friends from Pope's Cafe were there with LOTS of fantastic food. They had Jambalaya, roasted pork loin, fried green tomatoes, chocolate pecan cheescake, dips and crackers and honey and garlic cheese rolls. Let's just say their table was very popular. There were several other restaurants and caterers there as well, but I'm just so pleased that Pope's was THE talk of the wine tasting. Russell and Debra, who own Pope's, have been so supportive of our humane organization. It's nice to see their hard work pay off. The town really turned out for our event. By 7:15 p.m. the place was packed. By 7:45 p.m. the food vendors were nearly out of food. Everyone had a great time visiting and bidding on silent auction items. I got to see a lot of really good friends and make some really good contacts for our upcoming Pet Day. I actually had another high point of the night. I won one of the silent auctions. I won this wonderful framed picture of some "Oh so cute" sea otters. I'll have to get a picture of it and post it here for you all to see. I believe this was one of our biggest wine tastings yet. I didn't take my camera with me but hopefully, I'll have some shots from a friend to post here soon. A big THANK YOU to everyone who came out to support.

Getting Ready

Casey and I are in mode "go" to get the necessary stuff for the wine tasting. Today has just been wild; work and otherwise. We still have LOTS to do, before we can sit down and rest. I have a HUGE list of food items to get for the bash. It will probably take a good hour just to get it all in the basket at SAM'S!! I'm looking forward to it, but I'll also be glad when it's over. It will be nice to rest the brain for a few days. After that, it will be time to get my committee together and officially start our planning for October's Pet Day. I gotta run. Off to shop!!

Wine Tasting 2006

For the next three days, all of my brainpower will be centered on the Humane Association's annual wine tasting and silent auction. We usually hold this in the fall, but this year due to other obligations it's in the spring. I think that spring will add a nice new twist. We have a super silent auction and many of Bedford county's finest restaurants and caterers are represented. This is our biggest fundraiser. This is how we make our shelter building payment and pay our vet bills for the year. So, it's VERY important that we pull this event off right. Our chairperson, Vicy Rivait, has done a super job getting sponsors and donations for the auction.

My part in all of this? I need to get people to attend and help tie up all of the loose ends, where the food is concerned. I have to stop by the shelter tonight and get the checks to go by Sam's and pick up extra supplies. I'll spend my afternoon tomorrow making sure we have everything on our list. Then I'll drop all the stuff by the site and help set up. On Saturday, Casey will be one of the pourers, and we'll be hanging around to clean up after everything is said and done.

So if you all looking for something wonderful to do on Saturday night, please come out and join us. Here's what you need to know:

A TASTE OF SPRING Annual Wine Tasting and Spring Social Saturday, April 29, 2006 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Celebration Grounds: Shelbyville, TN Food provided by the finest restaurants and caterers in Shelbyville $20 per person tickets available at door. Must be 21 or older Benefits the All-Volunteer operated & Non-Profit Shelbyville-Bedford County Humane Association

If anyone is interested, just send a comment or shoot me an e-mail and I'll get you directions.

Buh Bye!!

I can finally let out some of the details of the secret that I've been keeping for the last few weeks. Casey and I have some VERY creative friends in the 501st Legion. A couple of them got together last year and created a very cool prop replica kind of.... They took the idea of Han Solo frozen in carbonite and did it with a twist. They made a replica of one of the most hated Star Wars characters in history, Jar Jar Binks, frozen in carbonite. It is really detailed and life size. They took it to Celebration III last year and George Lucas saw it. He liked it so much that he asked them to make one for him. Since they just couldn't turn George Lucas down, they completed one for him and one for Steve Sansweet, the head of fan relations.

Last week, the guys who made the Jar Jar and engineered the whole thing struck out on a cross country drive to deliver them. Before the left, they hosted a Jar Jar goodbye party. Everyone there could have their picture made and sign a message on the back to George Lucas. Way cool! Casey and I were there. We got to have our picture made and leave our message for Mr. Lucas. I really appreciate my friends inviting us and letting us be a part of their special journey. After a week long cross country drive, they finally arrived at their destination last weekend. It was there that they met Steve Sansweet and got to present Jar Jar to George Lucas himself. I think that is wonderful that their hard work and talent paid off. What a fantastic opportunity they had. I'm just lucky to know such a great group of folks.

Casey and me saying goodbye to Jar Jar.

Need A Friend?

Do you need a furry friend to keep you company while at work or online? Here's a cute little friend to keep you company.

Click HERE.

Casey and I just hung around the house this weekend. Our pay channels ended up showing movies we hadn't seen, so we didn't even have to rent any. We watched Robots and Fever Pitch, both of which I enjoyed.

On Sunday, I whirlwinded the whole house cleaning. Casey kept working on the back room. He unearthed some particularly good treasures. We found quite a few of his original Star Wars figures and trading cards. All of his playsets are out in the garage. We still have to clean those up and bring those inside.

That's about it from the lazy homefront this past weekend. Hopefully, I'll get more creative as the week goes by. I just think that I have a really, really bad case of spring fever.

Lazy

Not much is going on today. I think that I'm just going to be lazy all weekend. I think I'll go to the pool this afternoon and swim. I haven't been feeling all that great the later part of this week. So, I'm going to stick pretty close to home this weekend. Casey and I may get by the drive-in, but I'm not sure. The showing is pretty slim this week, so we may just wait until next week. When I get home, Bear will get to go for his walk. I'm also going to take Fergie out and play ball with her. The littles (Slate and Shiloh) can stay out while we're doing that. Bear can stay out on the dog run. That way, everyone can have some nice outside time this afternoon. It's cooled down a bit and isn't as hot, so this afternoon should be perfect. Well, that's about it for me. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

"Voice of the Voiceless"

I am the voice of the voiceless:

Through me, the dumb shall speak;

Till the deaf world's ear be made to hear

The cry of the wordless weak.

From street, from cage, and from kennel,

From jungle and stall, the wail

Of my tortured kin proclaims the sin

Of the mighty against the frail.

... To each furred and feathered thing.

And I am my brother's keeper,

And I will fight his fight,

And speak the word for beast and bird,

Till the world shall set things right. --Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Voice of the Voiceless

A friend of mine, who is also in rescue, sent me the link to a film that stresses just HOW IMPORTANT spaying and neutering is in this world. The presentation opens with the first stanza of the poem above. This film is called In Hope, An Animal Shelter Story. For me, it's a beautiful, touching tribute to what we rescuers go through on a daily basis. I am sharing the link here, because I believe that it is important that people see the reality that is animal overpopulation: BUT BE WARNED...it is graphic and NOT suitable for children. It is painful to watch, but because of that pain I am motivated to do everything within my power to right this situation. Because of that pain, I go on even though I'm exhausted. Because of that pain, I give up things of pleasure to go and scoop poop. And because of that pain, I've found many furry friends that have changed my life forever. They've molded and shaped me into a better person. If you love animals, please watch this film and share its message with everyone you know. Encourage everyone to spread the message of spay/neuter.

I'm going to send the link to my state representatives, here in Tennessee, to show why their support of Senate Bill 2626/House Bill 3511 the Tennessee Animal Spay/Neuter Assistance Bill, is so important. TENNESSEANS: This bill is still on the floor of the Tennessee legislature, so it is not too late to write your representatives encouraging their support.

View: In Hope, An Animal Shelter Story (WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT. NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN)

Warm Weather Fun

I hope that everyone had a fantastic weekend. Finally, after months of waiting, Casey and I were able to get back to the drive-in on Saturday. I guess that I'm a simple person, because going to the drive-in is one of my favorite things to do. I was almost giddy to get back there. We left in plenty of time to have our dinner at their fantastic concession stand (which became our tradition last summer). Their food is soooooo good!! We acted just like kids and ate anything and everything. Here's our list: foot long corndogs, frenchfries, gigantic Cokes, hot buttered popcorn, and a HUGE funnel cake (these things are as big around as a dinner plate!!) Needless to say, we felt yucky by the time we headed home. We saw Benchwarmers. I wasn't expecting a whole lot, but since admission is only $5.00 for a double feature, I wasn't going to complain. As it turned out, I thought it was a pretty funny little movie. Also, there were PLENTY of Star Wars references as well. I don't know if it was the powdered sugar from the funnel cakes or not, but I spent the whole time laughing like a loon. The second feature was Ultraviolet. Not good at all. There was great action, special effects, and music, but it was VERY short on plot. We finally drug in home around 12:30 a.m.

Sunday was a lounge day. We got up and kinda eased into the day. Casey got the vegetables on cooking for our Easter dinner at Mom's. We made the southern green beans and southern fried corn. We had a little breakfast and after discovering nothing on t.v. to watch, we decided to pop Revenge of the Sith in to entertain us. We headed over to Mom's about 1:30 p.m. and had a delicious dinner. We had spiral sliced ham, garlic mashed potatoes, asparagus, green beans, fried corn, cranberry sauce, and rolls. That's 2 days that Casey and I was stuffed. After recovering from the Easter dinner, I took Bear out on a nice long walk. It was so good to get outside and enjoy the pretty weather. We went back to Mom's for a late supper of leftovers.

Yesterday was a productive day. I spent all day shampooing the carpets and doing some spring cleaning. I stayed busy pulling all of the furniture out and cleaning behind. I really felt good about it all by the end of the day. After Casey got home from work, we fixed a quick supper. We got Bear all leashed up and headed for the video store for some movies. Bear really enjoyed his trip. We got Stay and Chicken Little. Stay was definitely different. I never did quite know what exactly was going on. We haven't watched Chicken Little yet. All in all, it was a very pleasant weekend. I just love summer weekends don't you? Hope everyone is having a great afternoon.

Happy Easter!!

Bear wishes everyone a very Happy Easter!!

I'm just sitting here chilling out on Easter Eve. It's pretty quiet around here today. Everyone's out enjoying the fantastic weather around here. We broke a record in our area for the high temp yesterday. We soared all the way to 88 degrees, but that's just the way of life here in the south. The old saying goes, "if you don't like the weather here, just stick around. It will change in 5 mintues." I can't say that I mind this warm, sunny weather at all. It made for a really pleasant walk with Bear last night. It was so nice to meet all of the neighbors out. As I was walking, I ran into one of my friends, Elaine, and her dog Sunshine. We ended up walking together and had a really nice visit. A little while later, I met my brother and his dog Beuford out. My mother even got out and walked her little dog, Moon. So, the neighborhood really did go to the dogs yesterday.

My hometown is holding an "Eggstravaganza" today. This morning they are having a special Easter Parade for all the pets and their owners. My humane association has been invited to bring out several of our shelter dogs. I'm so excited about this, even though I can't be there. My friend Elaine will be there along with my brother. They've promised to send plenty of pictures my way today. Maybe this will give some of our sweet shelter dogs some much needed exposure. It would be great if they could find good homes of their own.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter holiday and weekend!!

I Need Some Rest

Boy, am I ever dragging today. The non stop Atlanta weekend is catching up with me. It also didn't help that we were at our friend's in Clarksville until after 9:30 last night. I was going to post the details of that little party today, but have been asked to keep the details a secret for another week, which I will do. I DO have some fantastic pictures though, and I will share as soon as I get the go ahead. I CAN tell you all that it is Star Wars related, and it has a rather important connection.

It's pretty quiet around here today. It's good Friday and most everyone is off but us. That's o.k. Casey and I can't wait to get home, just so we can nap. I think we are planning to stop and eat dinner at Pope's Cafe on the way home, so we can just crash afterwards. I would like to remain somewhat upright to take Bear on a walk, since it's so so nice!! I hope everyone is enjoying the spring weather.

Here are a few more shots from the weekend trip:

These pictures are of a Sea Lion named Duke. Duke was very friendly and was nearly 30 years old!! We really enjoyed watching him.

Tennessee Animals In Need of Help

As ususual, as in many times of disaster, animals and pets are the forgotten victims. Right now many animals in Tennessee, close to my home, have been affected by last week's tornadoes. Many displaced animals and pets whose owners are displaced are being brought into the shelters, who are overwhelmed. A local t.v. news personality, Joe Dubin A.K.A. "Big Joe" made a wonderful plea on their behalf at his blog. If any of my readers are close enough to the area and want to help, or if you aren't and want to help anyway, PLEASE feel free to do so. Here is some information about how and who needs help.

"Since last Friday's storm, we have heard all kinds of stories of volunteers and neighbors and friends coming together to help those who were devestated by what happened. But there is still a long, long way to go. Those affected by the storms will still need our help for a long time.

One of the things they will need help with is their pets. Because some of the families have to check into hotels, or move in with friends, or temporary shelters, many have no place for their animals. On top of that, people are finding animals, a lot of them, and taking them to the Sumner County Animal shelter. The shelter has set up a temporary lost and found for about 2 weeks so those whose homes were destroyed and have not located their animals, can come there and see if the shelter has their pet.

Because of that, the shelter is in desperate need of several items. Dog food, cat food, blankets, sheets, towels, paper towels, bleach and toys. I know a lot of you came by on Tuesday and gave money for the Red Cross and I am going to need you just once more.

If you would like to help the shelter, here is the number, 822-0061. They are located at 16 Volunteer Drive in Hendersonville, just off of New Shackle Island road (do a mapquest, google map search for directions..."

More to Share

I'm back today as promised with more pictures from the Atlanta weekend. It's pretty quiet today, for which I'm very thankful. I'm feeling really tired today. Too much going and not enough rest. Tonight is a late night too. We are going up to Clarksville to see a few friends. --I'll have more details and pictures from that tomorrow. It does make for an interesting story.-- For now, here's more from the weekend.

I have no idea what these are, but I thought it was a cool shot. These are located in the southeastern region exhibit.

An overhead tank at the Arrowana fish exhibit.

Fred, a VERY sweet doberman mix that was at the PetSmart adoption event.

Cheech and Chong, adoptable Chihuahuas.

Ladd, an adoptable Schipperke mix that I just fell in love with...no suprise right?

That's all I have time for today. Hope you all enjoy them and have a good afternoon!!

Weekend In Atlanta

Sorry that I didn't post yesterday. It was really hectic trying to get everything caught back up.

First: I just want to say that my thoughts and prayers are with those that were affected by the tornadoes in Tennessee this past Friday. We had 12 fatalities (which makes 35 total in less than a week) and many more whose lives are completely devasted.

Our weekend in Atlanta just flew. We were at home on Friday getting everything ready to go. I finally managed to get all of the laundry done, in between bad storms, and Casey got everything ready on his end. We left out early on Saturday for Atlanta. We took our time getting there; stopping where we wanted. When we got into Atlanta that afternoon, we did a little shopping. I happened to see a PetSmart adoption event, so we stopped there (I'll post the pictures from that tomorrow). We had a fantastic steak dinner, and finally headed to our room to check in and get some rest.

Sunday morning we were up very early. Our reservation time for the Georgia Aquarium was 9:00 a.m. Since our printable 4D theatre tickets never arrived, we had to be there 30-45 minutes early to pick those up. When we got there at 8:15, there was already a HUGE crowd waiting to go inside. The line moved pretty fast and was well organized. If you plan on going, be prepared to go through STRICT security. They have a gate, just like the airport, complete with guards and hand scanners. There is also a frisking procedure they use. We got in, got our coats checked, picked up our 4D tickets, and were on our way.

I'll just say this now and get it out of the way. My take on the Georgia Aquarium is this: It's a really nice place. Since it's the largest in the world, I really thought there would be a few more breathtaking sights. Since I've been to several aquariums, I really expected more. I also think they let WAY too many guests in at a time. To see anything turned into a fight. By the end of the day, I was so frustrated and angry that my whole experience was ruined. When we left at 2:45 p.m., I was exhausted. I will say that the 4D theatre experience was fantastic!! I won't give out all the details here, but you do feel quite a bit, as well as see everything in 3D. It was too bad that it only lasted 30 minutes. All in all, the aquarium was nice. It didn't exactly blow my mind. I know that they are still working things out, because they have only been open since November. Would I go back? Maybe in 5 years, when the crowds thin out. Here's some of our pictures. Our camera battery, for some reason, won't hold its charge very long, so we didn't get as many pictures as we wanted. I'll post more pictures through the week.

In the tunnel.

A Clown Fish in the tropical reef tanks.

Discus Fish

Sting Rays

After we left the aquarium, we headed up to Atlanta's IKEA. That alone was worth the trip to Atlanta. We stayed in there for nearly 4 hours!! Casey picked up some kitchen racks, and I got some really cool dog pictures. There's lots of stuff we wished we could get. We've decided we want to get one of their beds, so now we just have to figure out which one. Did I mention that I love IKEA?

We finally dragged back to our hotel room a little before 7 p.m. We decided to take a quick nap, before heading out late for our anniversary dinner at Carrabba's. Dinner was fantastic as usual and afterwards we went back to the hotel and collapsed into a coma.

We took our time getting back home on Monday. We stopped at all of the outlet malls on the way back, which was a lot of fun. We didn't find a whole lot to buy, but a lot that we want to go back and get eventually. All in all, it was a really nice annivesary weekend. Now, if I can just get caught up on my rest!! I'll have more pictures tommorrow. Everyone have a great day.

Long Weekend

As of the afternoon, I'm officially on my long weekend to Atlanta. I can't wait to get to the aquarium. I'll be back on Tuesday with lots to tell you all and lots of pictures!! Everyone have a great weekend!!

Whew!!

The race is on to get work finished, before the big anniversary weekend. Casey has convinced me not only to take Saturday off from work, but Friday too. He figures that will give us time to get our things together, pack, and get on the road early on Saturday. We'll see. It never quite works out that way, but we'll see. Anyway, that leaves me cramming 5 days worth of work into 3. I'm moving at a pretty good pace. I should be able to finish up tomorrow. Saturday is to be our knock around day in Atlanta. All this week, we've been trying to decide what to do. It suddenly hit me this morning that we can go and hang out at Atlanta's new IKEA. I've never been in one, and I can't wait to see what all the hype's about. I think we are going to have a nice dinner out on Saturday night too. I'm thinking probably Italian and probably Carrabba's, although we may have to hit the Cheesecake Factory for dessert. Then on Sunday, it's off to the Georgia Aquarium for our day of anniversary fun.

Casey made some cute pictures of Bear and Fergie yesterday in their Easter egg bandannas. I was hoping to get them posted today, but I forgot the camera. ACK! I'll hopefully get them posted tomorrow. Well, I gotta run. I still have loads to do. I hope everyone is having a fantastic day!

Busy As A Bee

Well, I certainly made the most of my extra weekend day off. Abner's owners finally claimed him on Saturday morning. Mom was a little blue but was glad that he was able to go back to his home and family. Casey and I ended up spending Saturday with a group of friends. It took the better part of our day, but we had loads of fun.

On Sunday, we got around to cleaning out the garage. We still have some stuff to get rid of, but the bulk of it got done. We also managed to get our manual garage door working. So, what mess we have left can be shut off from the world. We got up early and started working, before the temp started to rise. We finished up, just around lunch time. We were so happy with our accomplishment that we treated ourselves to an afternoon matinee. We went to see Ice Age II. It was really funny, and I really enjoyed it.

Yesterday, I was just a powerhouse. I got the longest errand list EVER done, had lunch with my mother, the dog's to the groomer's, and the house cleaned. I felt quite accomplished by the end of the day. Casey rewarded me with a fantastic dinner complete with homemade cheddar cheese biscuits and homemade peach cobbler. I did end up passed out asleep on the couch by 8 p.m. I guess you can't do everything.