Watch Out for that Tree!

Out with Buddy Christmas Eve and I hear a . I look up and a tree is falling due to the high winds. Needless to say I didn't see well that night wondering what tree was next. A power line is about 10 feet away and the storage shed as well. Crazy coincidence...2 years ago the same thing happened back in CA...Christmas Eve and a wind storm blew threw cutting a power line that started a fire in my backyard. Bad luck?

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Wishing you all a happy holiday!

Sally, Buddy, Albert, George

Gettin' Cold!

Starting to get cold in them hills!

The weather took a turn for the cooler recently. The dogs don't seem to mind much, but they sleep inside under blankets.

TN has a failing report card when it comes to animal rights. The Humane Society ranked it the worst state this year. That is NOT good! There is such a need to protect these animals from those struggling with the economy.

I'll admit, when I was teaching and had a steady paycheck and health benefits, I was insensitive to those in need. Now that I am on the other end, I get desperation. However, that does not give justice to those who neglected the 80 horses or 40 dogs that were found in Middle TN this past month in horrid conditions!

There seems a real need to communicating the value of life in this state despite the zillion churches everywhere. I know it is always the handful that get the attention, but the Humane Society did say TN was the worst state this year.

We always need $$ for dog food here if the season should move you for Sally, Buddy, and the other dogs at D&C Rescue in Murfreesboro.

Cold Nights

We've been having some cold weather as of late. Still no Internet at home so I post at library. This library is the barbershop in Mayberry. Patti the librarian is Floyd the barber. There are the locals and we hang out and laugh a lot. Only in a small town. We are getting a coffee pot and everyone is pitching in for supplies.

Buddy has been extra hyper at night. I hurt my back again and have not been able to walk the dogs daily. I have no bike anymore so I don't ride them. At night, Buddy kinda goes insane. That dog well bounce off the walls if I let him. He doesn't know when to stop.

Sally also was animated. She gets all revved up at night. This morning I heard the dogs running around. This never happens. Buddy is OK with Sally now. Like Albert, Buddy can be with Sally and I have no more concern. So this morning I thought they were chasing a mouse. With the cool weather, there are mice that run around. I've seen two thus far and also killed two inside with traps. Looks like they were just playing and that is a big push forward with Buddy. If he can play with Sally and not get too forceful, I can leave them together during the day.

To all my deep pocket readers, if you want to help with dogs I need money for medication and food. The job market is very difficult out here. I went on another interview and was told flat out, "Why do you want to work for us with your background...aren't you just goning to leave when a better job comes about?" I really think this is why I am not getting hired from jobs I am obviously overqualified to do. So the dog expense adds up with recent tapeworm and flea medication.

That's it...blessings to all!

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Buddy Buddy Buddy

Good ol' Buddy took a five hour romp in the woods Sunday night. I just got new collars and tags for the dogs but was worried his leash would get snagged on something. At 11pm I heard a noise in the mudd room and there he was...like nothing happened. Similar to kids, dogs have no comprehension the worry factor and energy spent trying to find him in that five hours. I was frazzeled and he wanted to play. Gotta love dogs! My neighbor's were great in lending a helping hand in my search...thanks you guys!
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Buddy & Sally

Still w/o Internet at new place...so few updates.

First, Sally is doing great. Her wound healed up well and she seems like her old self.

Buddy is getting along with Sally OK...actually Sally nipped at Buddy and he seems fearful of her. That is not good because this can cause him to overcompensate and attack out of fear. Sally comes alive at night and likes to play so eventually I will try to see if they can romp together some.

Buddy has tapeworms and Sally has fleas. I had to buy some meds for them both today. Buddy needs to take four tabs at once and Sally gets one tab that lasts for a month. Another doggy expense. Buddy ate a mouse and maybe that carried fleas...who knows. I do know when it gets cold mice come inside so Budster will keep busy.

Buddy really is a great dog. It grieves my spirit to know dogs like this are put down (killed) because they cannot be controlled.

The animal control in Memphis had to install cameras because of abuse to the animals. This is totally inexcusable and I hope all dog/animal lovers will let their feelings be heard. Also another county here in middle TN had to close its shelter due to funds. This is not good.

That's it for today...

Sally Found!

UPDATE: 10-16-09
Sally is resting at a friend's house allowing me to keep Buddy (see below posts). She is doing well and finally has peace to heal up. For more pics of her, go HERE.



When I lost Albert & Sally I stopped posting for obvious reasons. I was into a heavy case of the blues.

Then I moved and found Buddy. He was another dog in real need.

Tonight I get home and there’s a call from Williamson County Animal Control… “We’ve got your dog!”

I check my email and there’s an email… “Sally Found…call me or she will die!”

That got my attention.

Since I lost the dogs the best and worst in people have come out. Almost all of it has been “best” but there was an individual looking for a ransom who did not have the dogs but claimed he did. I traced his IP Address. Guess where the email originated from? Cameroon, Africa! I believe in evil and man’s depravity. To tell someone you have their lost dogs, that they are in your living room and you can have them back for money is just plain evil...especially when you do NOT have the dogs at all!

The good people of Fairview, TN have been a blessing. Some of the nicest folks I ever met were part of helping me find my dogs.

Back to Sally…
This poor dog was injured badly. I will spare the details, all to say she was living in real pain and needed surgery to close a bad wound on her right leg. She was living in the woods coming out for food. I guess that’s OK if you’re a raccoon or squirrel, but not a domesticated dog used to sleeping on a carpet floor each night.

I pick her up from animal control tomorrow. If your heart should be moved and you want to help, you can donate on my PayPal account. I am in-between jobs right now and just moved to scale down costs…been at new address three days.

It has been a month since I last saw Sally run off in the woods. Thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts from all my readers. I do believe in that stuff and know there is healing in community. Us animal folks imo are a step above the rest when it comes to caring and giving. I always evaluate a community, city, town, culture on how it treats the innocent, vulnerable, and weak. Yes, this is about dogs and animals, but it is so much deeper than that, it is about the dignity of life.

Off the box now…blessings.

More to come on Sally’s rehab.

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Meet Buddy!

After a long heartbreaking search for both Albert and Sally I decided to foster Buddy.

I moved to a larger place with more land...very rural. A need presented itself and Buddy, most likely a former bait dog, was in dire straits.

The rescue worker is another amazing woman. Know as "Nana" to her grandkids, she has 40 dogs and 20 of them live inside her single....wide....trailer!

Talk about will, passion, and gumption.

Buddy is more than a handful. He is pure adrenaline. Humans pay billions to have this type of energy each year. Buddy has a serious case of separation anxiety which I am working with him on. He has more intensity than Crazy Ivan from long ago.

Buddy is sweet and loves to play 24/7...the pics are rare shots when he pooped out after dinner.

Unfortunately the neighbor's dogs--two mini pinchers--run free. This could be a disaster in wait. I am not sure how long I can keep 'ol Bud, but he's grabbed me heart already. This dog has such a defined personality. At 58lbs, he is a sack of dynamite. That's why laying next to him when he sleeps is so endearing...and unlike Buddy when he wakes.

Miss you guys...

Lost One Week Now...

Hard to believe they are gone. No more running around the house or yard. No more barking when the neighbor rides his motorcycle. Just silence. A cold silence in the house.

The hardest part for me by far is the weather. We have had storms one day after another. Where are the dogs? Where is Albert and Sally?

My friends let me borrow their dog for a few days. It has been nice, but the sadness remains.

What is weird is since the dogs have been lost, all these job offers have poured in. Talk about mixed guilt! Having the dogs was a real strain on decision making for me right now. My life is anything but settled. Without the dogs, I am free to go. Two job offers required just that.

IF CHRIST HAD A DOG
I wonder if Christ had a dog
Loyal and loving like mine;
With two silky ears, and a nose round and wet,
and eyes brown and tender that shine.

I'm afraid that He hadn't, because I have read
How he prayed in the garden alone,
For all of his friends and disciples had fled,
Even Peter, the one called a 'stone'.

And oh, I am sure that dog
With a heart so tender and warm,
Would never have left Him to suffer alone,
But, creeping right under His arm,
Would have licked those dear fingers in agony clasped,
And counting all favors but loss,
When they took Him away, would have trotted behind
And followed Him quite to the cross.

Gotta love dogs....


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Sun Call...no go

Got a call Sunday afternoon saying both dogs were spotted. I went out and drove/walked in the pouring rain for hours...no go. Again, everyone was super cool. Person that called waited in van with family for over 30 mins until I arrived just to show me the house they spotted the dogs walking. There are very good folks out there!


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Dogs Still LOST

Any irony I am watching LOST reruns. Love this show!!!

I wanted to make a post on the power of women. Since losing the dogs it has almost entirely been women that have lent a helping hand. They have been the ones to call, support, and encourage.

Before moving to TN, I lived in So Calif. I was involved with two rescue groups fostering dogs. Every volunteer was female. If women were not involved, the dogs would all be killed in the shelters. I am still in awe over the care given to each lost, fostered, and adopted dog. It is very humbling actually. If all people had this passion to give and serve, life would be incredible for all!

The first day after the dogs were missing, someone responded to my craigslist Lost & Found ad. As it turns out it was a scammer asking basically for ransom money. I was so upset and angry this clown dragged my hopes for a day I went into Rambo mode and blanketed the town with fliers.

The people I met in this process were amazing. Starting with the park rangers where the dogs were lost to the local town newspaper. When I asked to put up fliers in the local video store, the manager was only too happy to help. Both personal calls I have received came from patrons in this store who saw my flyer walking either in or out of the store.

Even at dinner with good friends the second night the dogs were missing, Leah, my friend's 14yo daughter wanted to go out and look for the dogs after we ate. That was a blast of encouragement only a kid could give--pure and reckless..."Let's go look for them now!"

A man named Ray did call me tonight saying a lab killed a skunk on his lawn yesterday morning. That's Albert for sure! He was mad, but when he went to the local video store, he saw one of my fliers and called. So it isn't a lost cause for "dudes"...just a long way to catch the ladies when it comes to having a heart that cares and the willingness to do something about it.

It's been said many times and in many ways, but it takes a crisis to see people come together and break down social walls. Dogs have this "thing" about them that brings out the best in people like a wonderful common language we all share.

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Sad day...lost the dogs 9 - 16

UPDATE 9-18
Just got a call...saw both dogs this morning, one killed a skunk on his front lawn. That had to be Albert! lol Hope still alive.


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Just Friends...

Fires Back Home...again!

As a kid, I do not remember fires every summer at the same time.

Since 2002 or so there has been summer fires in So Calif., many of which are arson. When I taught school, evacuations took place and school canceled for three days one year.

Spoke to my friend in Pasadena and he said it looks like a war zone. My sister and folks said the air quality is so poor, anyone with asthma needs to evacuate the area.

See my post from 2008 when I lived in CA.

















































































Contrast this to TN where everything is green, green, green. I have seen it rain more in eight months here in TN than in eight years back in Calif....wait, make that about twelve years. Not since El Nino hit So Cal in 1998.

KUDOS for DONATIONS

A big THANKS to all who have donated this year. Obviously a tough year for many financially, so it means all the more.

Unless specified, donations go towards food and medical supplies first. This has been a horrible year for ticks. I personally have been blasted by Chiggers--the evil bugs.

DOGZ RULE!

They are amazing creatures...a real blessing. I am still hunting out all dog fighters and puppy mill degenerates. This is where the donations really help. Some recent activity has been horrific.

Again...we appreciate the help.

Ruff-ruff, bow-wow, arf, and all the rest...

If you want to quiet your soul...listen to Thomas Newman

Off to Deer Run

I am volunteering at Deer Run Retreat Center locally. This has to be the best kept secret in Middle Tennessee.

I hope to work at a facility like this soon. Albert loves walking here.




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TN Good, CHIGGERS Bad

Tennessee has been good, but the chiggers are awful.
The itch factor is horrible. I swim in hydrocortisone.

I will never walk the dogs in grass again if I can avoid it.

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White County won't ban pit bulls

Megan Trotter
Herald-Citizen Staff
Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009

SPARTA -- The White County Commission Monday night declined to ban pit bulls, citing that singling out that breed to ban was impossible on the county level.

The meeting room in the White County Courthouse was bursting at the seams with concerned citizens as the commission met to discuss a proposed ban on pit bull dogs in the county.

Recent attacks on citizens by dogs that were part pit bull, along with officers being attacked by the dogs belonging to law violators, prompted Sheriff Oddie Shoupe to bring the problem forward to the commission during its last meeting in July.

County Attorney Gary Dodson told the commission the proposal to ban specific breeds would not be legal unless the county was zoned properly.

However, officials admitted that there was still a vicious dog problem in the community that needed attention.

"We've already answered 372 calls this year. Last year it doubled that. That is $40-50,000 a year that you as tax payers are paying my department to go out and make these calls," said Shoupe.

It was suggested that the people gathered in protest of banning pit bulls get together to discuss ideas for diminishing the problem, as well as deciding what types of laws they wanted to pass. The County Commission requested they bring these ideas back to the next meeting.

"I'm not for banning dogs," said Shoupe. "I have been trying for three years to get this dog situation, this animal situation under control. We have a chance here to do it. These guys are listening to you. They'd be more than glad to help. Let's do it legally, the right way, and help one another and stand together as a group, without vigilantes."

The Sad Report

The penalty is a JOKE for these acts of evil towards these innocent dogs...first class misdemeanor and $4000 fine up to a year in jail.

If these stories tug your heart and you desire to donate...Paypal me and I will get it to the rescue groups in TX and then let you know where the funds went to specifically.




600 Dogs Seized in
Kaufman Co.

Published : Tuesday, 11 Aug 2009, 5:51 PM CDT

PRAIRIEVILLE, Texas - The Humane Society and sheriff’s deputies seized more than 600 dogs and about 15 cats Tuesday afternoon from a suspected puppy mill in Kaufman County.

The society said it started investigating the kennel, which is located near Prairieville just north of Mabank, when someone came to them asking for dog food donations. Representatives visited and found poor living conditions and malnourished dogs.

The animals seized Tuesday were examined to determine which ones needed medical attention.

The majority of them are Chihuahuas, poodles and other small-breed dogs.

Deputies said the kennel’s owners have not yet been arrested or charged.

Prairieville is about 50 miles southeast of Dallas.

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500 Dogs Taken from 'Puppy Mill'

FORT WORTH, Texas - More than 500 dogs and puppies have been taken from what officials call a large puppy mill in Montague County .

According to the North Texas Humane Society, more than 50 volunteers worked through the holiday weekend to prepare for the arrival of the animals on Tuesday.

The canines will be temporarily housed at a warehouse donated by Chesapeake Energy.

Other companies have donated services, including connecting plumbing, electricity and air conditioning in the warehouse, officials said.

Additionally, PetSmart donated food and supplies for the animals.
To donate money and for adoption information, contact the Humane Society of North Texas at 817-332-4768 or log onto www.hsnt.org .

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150 Dead Dogs Found in Freezers

Published : Friday, 24 Jul 2009, 2:32 PM CDT

DEARBORN, Mich. - Police say about 150 dead dogs were found packed in freezers in the basement of a Michigan home where more than 110 live dogs, mostly Chihuahuas, were rescued this week.

Investigators in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn say the two-story house is littered with feces and trash. The 54-year-old man who lives there has been taken to a hospital for observation. Police say the man appeared confused and disoriented.

Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad said Friday that 112 live dogs have been removed from the home, and police believe about five more may be hiding inside. He says a criminal investigation is under way.
The rescued dogs were taken to a shelter, where many residents have donated food and filled out pet adoption applications.

"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
--Edmund Burke

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Skunk-A-Lisious

Decided to let Albert walk on an extra long leash. He explored and was all over hills. On the way home I noticed a skunk smell. I have been noticing this at home as well...thought it was a skunk outside. Got home...smell still there. It wasn't so glaring that as soon as Al walked into the room I immediately noticed...but after a few seconds...EWWWWW, SKUNK SMELL.

I went online yesterday and tried a formula;
32 oz of Hydrogen Peroxide
Cup of Baking Soda
Dish Washing Liquid---MIX

So I take Al to the car wash, wash him down and let sit for 5-10 mins then spray him down. When I got home...there was still a faint skunk smell. I washed him again in the shower, getting all the dish washing liquid out (that stuff really penetrates) and let him dry off.

Hopefully he will be skunk free tomorrow!


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My Cabin

Ruff Ruff Pics

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