front porch
front yard
where I walk the dogs.
Snow Storm
Since moving to TN, I've experienced the most rain in the month of October, record rainfall for the year and the coolest winter in 25 years.
Buddy Needs A Home!
I need to place Buddy to a good home. If you have a contact, email me.
scampydrums a t hot mail com
I would fly him out to the right person. He's such an awesome dog. So full of life
and personality. Very affectionate and is calm inside. Needs exercise and a fenced yard.
He is fine with Sally (see her pic below). I have had no incident of aggression with him
and another dog. He gets anxious around a new dog, but will settle with any other dogs
he has to live with.
.
scampydrums a t hot mail com
I would fly him out to the right person. He's such an awesome dog. So full of life
and personality. Very affectionate and is calm inside. Needs exercise and a fenced yard.
He is fine with Sally (see her pic below). I have had no incident of aggression with him
and another dog. He gets anxious around a new dog, but will settle with any other dogs
he has to live with.
.
Finally Some Good News
The lady who has a dog rescue is moving from her devil landlord and can take all 27 of her rescue dogs! This is great news. It is sad how many simply do not care about these helpless dogs. I know the country is focused on Haiti as it should be, but there is need on our doorsteps as well.
My evaluation of TN thus far, especially in these smaller towns is many people (men in general) see dogs as a possession. This is not far from seeing wives and kids as possessions. The same goes for horses and the like.
Despite a church on every tenth corner, there seems little penetration of the true gospel into the daily culture. Traditions seem to rule over truth. Men who dare to "feel" are seen as weak, so what we really have is adolescent attitudes and a fear of what others think. But it is even deeper than that, it is an individual fear of being vulnerable.
To those who have been shown mercy, mercy is asked. Blessed are the meek--power under control.
My evaluation of TN thus far, especially in these smaller towns is many people (men in general) see dogs as a possession. This is not far from seeing wives and kids as possessions. The same goes for horses and the like.
Despite a church on every tenth corner, there seems little penetration of the true gospel into the daily culture. Traditions seem to rule over truth. Men who dare to "feel" are seen as weak, so what we really have is adolescent attitudes and a fear of what others think. But it is even deeper than that, it is an individual fear of being vulnerable.
To those who have been shown mercy, mercy is asked. Blessed are the meek--power under control.
Lost N Found
Last night I received a call from my neighbor who said one of my dogs was on their porch. Both my dogs were in the house so my stomach tightened. Turns out someone dropped off this adorable little Chow puppy.
WHO leaves a puppy out in the cold of winter? WHO?
I took the dog in. The little boy was cold and scared. He cried and cried until I calmed him down. Then I called Darla at D&C Dog Rescue. This is an amazing woman. She is being harassed by her landlord, he wants to evict her and she is trying to rescue these helpless dogs out of her mobile home.
WHO harasses a woman with three grand kids trying to save dogs? WHO?
Good people need to stand up against fools...and there are so many fools out there!
If you want to help donate anything to help Darla, please do. She is only concerned about the dogs, not herself. She took the little pup last night no questions asked. This is the type of person she is...a very rare person indeed. You can use my PayPal and I will get her the funds direct. She had to close her website due to funds which makes it hard to rescue and adopt.
More on the trouble in Tennessee
.
WHO leaves a puppy out in the cold of winter? WHO?
I took the dog in. The little boy was cold and scared. He cried and cried until I calmed him down. Then I called Darla at D&C Dog Rescue. This is an amazing woman. She is being harassed by her landlord, he wants to evict her and she is trying to rescue these helpless dogs out of her mobile home.
WHO harasses a woman with three grand kids trying to save dogs? WHO?
Good people need to stand up against fools...and there are so many fools out there!
If you want to help donate anything to help Darla, please do. She is only concerned about the dogs, not herself. She took the little pup last night no questions asked. This is the type of person she is...a very rare person indeed. You can use my PayPal and I will get her the funds direct. She had to close her website due to funds which makes it hard to rescue and adopt.
More on the trouble in Tennessee
.
Sally Chilin'
Sally relaxin' on the couch. Weather really chilled...down to 10 at night. I finnaly turned on the heat in order to keep the pipes from freezing. .
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?
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 $$ for dog food here if the season should move you for Sally, Buddy, and the other dogs at D&C Rescue in Murfreesboro.
The weather took a turn for the cooler recently. The dogs don't seem to mind much, but they sleep inside under blankets.
TN has a failing report card when it comes to animal rights. The Humane Society ranked it the worst state this year. That is NOT good! There is such a need to protect these animals from those struggling with the economy.
I'll admit, when I was teaching and had a steady paycheck and health benefits, I was insensitive to those in need. Now that I am on the other end, I get desperation. However, that does not give justice to those who neglected the 80 horses or 40 dogs that were found in Middle TN this past month in horrid conditions!
There seems a real need to communicating the value of life in this state despite the zillion churches everywhere. I know it is always the handful that get the attention, but the Humane Society did say TN was the worst state this year.
We always need $$ 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!
.
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!
.
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!
.
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...
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.
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?
The good people of
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.
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.
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....
.
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....
.
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!
.
.
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.
.
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.
.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
