On my way to work this morning I came upon a sight,
One that I dread be it day or night.
A dog trotting in the road all by itself,
Looking behind and sideways, maybe scared or seeking help.
I thought about the little brown dog all day today,
I escorted her down a busy, curvy mountain road; you might call her a stray.
She had on a collar but no tags did I see,
No matter what I said she would not come to me.
A nice employee at Stewart's called the sheriff for me,
A nice young officer showed up, a deputy.
A nice woman from a rescue then followed our girl,
Who seemed determined in some way as we watched this unfurl.
The deputy lost her down a hill in tall grass,
He couldn't call animal control and gave him a pass.
She followed the power lines trail as best we could guess,
I wonder where she's going, and I will confess,
That I hope she gets where she's going safe and sound,
And that maybe God will bring her homeward bound.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Gotta Love Those Koreans
How is it that Americans still do not relate the eating of dogs with buying cars that support that culture? Yesterday, I saw one of those H$U$ ribbons that say I Love My Pet...on a Hyundai Santa Fe. That's the second one this week. Do they have no clue or really mean that they LOVE their pets and that they were delicious?!
Is it possible that people who drive Hyundais and KIAs have no clue that they are supporting this barbaric practice by purchasing vehicles whose mother company resides in Seoul, South Korea? Just because they set up a plant here in Alabama doesn't mean the profits aren't going to S. Korea.
I wonder if those Koreans laugh every time they see those ribbons, or anything related to a pet, on one of those cars and think what idiots we are. Who has the last laugh. I guess I could go on about buying Japanese cars and shark finning and The Cove, not to mention Whale Wars. It's all relative.
A group posted on FB - how can we condemn the Koreans for eating dogs since it's just their culture like us eating cows and chickens...oh, really? See my response to that:
The next time someone receives one of those horrible things in the mail from a large organization requesting money to fight to end these barbaric practices, I hope they think about it for a moment and then look out into their driveway and say, "wow, maybe I ought to get rid of that piece of crap and buy American..."
Is it possible that people who drive Hyundais and KIAs have no clue that they are supporting this barbaric practice by purchasing vehicles whose mother company resides in Seoul, South Korea? Just because they set up a plant here in Alabama doesn't mean the profits aren't going to S. Korea.
I wonder if those Koreans laugh every time they see those ribbons, or anything related to a pet, on one of those cars and think what idiots we are. Who has the last laugh. I guess I could go on about buying Japanese cars and shark finning and The Cove, not to mention Whale Wars. It's all relative.
A group posted on FB - how can we condemn the Koreans for eating dogs since it's just their culture like us eating cows and chickens...oh, really? See my response to that:
Because when you pull a dog's spine out by his tail while he's still alive to get the "benefit" of the dog being at full adrenaline, you've left my planet of sanity and animals RAISED for food, and have become a monster. That's how I condemn those that do this. Dogs, cats, and horses are not domesticated food source animals. It's hypocritical to me, or most likely ignorance, to see H$U$ ribbons that say I Love My Pet stuck to the back of Hyundais and KIAs. Now you see the irony.
The next time someone receives one of those horrible things in the mail from a large organization requesting money to fight to end these barbaric practices, I hope they think about it for a moment and then look out into their driveway and say, "wow, maybe I ought to get rid of that piece of crap and buy American..."
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Excitement Won't Get You Those Desired Results
I read this blog today, Music To My Ears, by a professional dog trainer who I happen to know and respect. She owns a Bark Busters franchise, and I happen to like that they acknowledge pack behavior and know a lot of dog psychology.
With that said, one of the things that I disagree with in this post is the way in which the reward is to be given to the dog when he remains quiet - "in a high-pitched voice." How can you tell a dog he's a "Good Quiet Boy!!!" if you're saying it in an excited tone of voice? This completely undermines your intent of calming him down and keeping him quiet. Anyone who read A Dog's Purpose fully understands what Bailey meant when he thought humans were confusing when they used emotions or verbalized thoughts that were the opposite of what they wanted him to do.
Yes, dogs need a job, and most certainly yes, dogs need to be drained of excess and pent-up energy. It's what keeps them from barking incessantly, digging, and developing behavioral issues like fur licking, pulling and chewing; chewing up your belongings and house, spinning in circles, and bouncing like a ball.
As for the yipping and yelping (notice it's not barking) when the siren wails, the coyotes out by me do the same thing when the six o'clock siren sends out its one notification from a mile and a half away in town. If you're quiet, you can hear where they are out in the woods sounding like a chorus. So, that to me is primal and normal. The rest is bored, hyper with no rules, zoom behavior.
What job can you give to a chihuahua? I, too, would vote for the physical energy draining of structured walks and play time (exercise=body) along with some mental challenges (discipline=mind) which Rachel offers up as treat games. Redirection is the key. Tired dogs are happy dogs and owners, and the perfect time to give lots of loving (affection=soul) when they are calm and submissive. I don't know why people think that small dogs don't need walks...they're DOGS for God's sake! Hey, look at those two words - made in his name. <3
It's easy to get a dog excited; it's challenging and difficult to keep him calm and submissive, and that should always be the goal. Get out there and walk!
With that said, one of the things that I disagree with in this post is the way in which the reward is to be given to the dog when he remains quiet - "in a high-pitched voice." How can you tell a dog he's a "Good Quiet Boy!!!" if you're saying it in an excited tone of voice? This completely undermines your intent of calming him down and keeping him quiet. Anyone who read A Dog's Purpose fully understands what Bailey meant when he thought humans were confusing when they used emotions or verbalized thoughts that were the opposite of what they wanted him to do.
Yes, dogs need a job, and most certainly yes, dogs need to be drained of excess and pent-up energy. It's what keeps them from barking incessantly, digging, and developing behavioral issues like fur licking, pulling and chewing; chewing up your belongings and house, spinning in circles, and bouncing like a ball.
As for the yipping and yelping (notice it's not barking) when the siren wails, the coyotes out by me do the same thing when the six o'clock siren sends out its one notification from a mile and a half away in town. If you're quiet, you can hear where they are out in the woods sounding like a chorus. So, that to me is primal and normal. The rest is bored, hyper with no rules, zoom behavior.
What job can you give to a chihuahua? I, too, would vote for the physical energy draining of structured walks and play time (exercise=body) along with some mental challenges (discipline=mind) which Rachel offers up as treat games. Redirection is the key. Tired dogs are happy dogs and owners, and the perfect time to give lots of loving (affection=soul) when they are calm and submissive. I don't know why people think that small dogs don't need walks...they're DOGS for God's sake! Hey, look at those two words - made in his name. <3
It's easy to get a dog excited; it's challenging and difficult to keep him calm and submissive, and that should always be the goal. Get out there and walk!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Funny how the Universe works!
Sometimes, (actually for me it's a lot more frequent than sometimes) I wonder what would I do if... And, one of these "ifs" is if I find a stray dog on my way to work. Do I stop and try to get him to come to me and corral him in my car? Do I just watch and see where he might have come from or is going as I've done in the past? Do I stop, hop out and divert traffic? Some of this also rides on whether it's on a highway or in a residential area. Is he hurt and do I now take him to an emergency vet and then call work to say I'll be delayed?
Well, this morning this wondering kind of got a response. As I turned onto the main road out of our hamlet and was making my way up the hill and curve, there in front of me was a large work truck in the oncoming lane stopped dead and a beautiful Bloodhound I've come to know by sight on the property, and his little black and brown companion, greeting that driver and each car and its occupants as it joined the line by barking and jumping up. These guys would've gotten hurt or killed for sure, especially since the little guy had a walking leash on, and you can't really see them until it's too late around the curve.
The Universe came into play in that I had called the town's dog wardens regarding this Bloodhound the week prior because he had been tethered to a big shade tree in a two-day torrential rain without shelter. He told me to contact the sheriff because it sounded like neglect bordering on abuse. I now have a great contact with a nice deputy who investigated the situation and straightened things out. We know the owner is a young, nice guy who loves his dogs, but my perspective of this type of behavior that I've had to get used to is a passed down generational thing that is accepted among country folk - dogs are outside animals. I just wanted him to know that people are watching and that there are Ag and Mkts laws that were created because of, and to prevent, neglect and abuse, and tethered dogs require adequate shelter. I also wanted to meet him in some capacity so I could offer some education and assistance should he be willing to accept it, without stepping over boundaries.
Well, here it was! That opportunity presented itself when I woke him up by honking when I pulled in and up the long driveway, calling the dogs off the road from his driveway (the Bloodhound looked like Marmaduke coming at a full gallop), and loudly calling to see if anyone was home and awake. He came out and I told him they were in the road and almost got hit twice (they were actually having a real ball!) and that the big guy looked like he broke his cable, and handed him the lead of the little guy (I still don't understand where he came from with a leash). We talked briefly and then introduced ourselves. He is a nice guy and I hope to go back and talk with him again since these furry fun makers were wet, gritty, dirty and very stinky. I didn't notice whether they were neutered and it wasn't the time to ask questions about shots. We'll leave that for another day.
So, I left and went on my way to work a little dirtier and stinkier than when I left my house, and now I had an additional aroma reminiscent of skunk...oh yeah, I'll be visiting again :)
I smiled, though, as I drove away because I was happy with the answer I received to my wondering and content knowing that those two were safe. I still get whiffs of skunk and my own big boy loved all the smells I brought home on me and my car.
Well, this morning this wondering kind of got a response. As I turned onto the main road out of our hamlet and was making my way up the hill and curve, there in front of me was a large work truck in the oncoming lane stopped dead and a beautiful Bloodhound I've come to know by sight on the property, and his little black and brown companion, greeting that driver and each car and its occupants as it joined the line by barking and jumping up. These guys would've gotten hurt or killed for sure, especially since the little guy had a walking leash on, and you can't really see them until it's too late around the curve.
 |
| Photo courtesy britannica.com. Not the dog from this story. |
The Universe came into play in that I had called the town's dog wardens regarding this Bloodhound the week prior because he had been tethered to a big shade tree in a two-day torrential rain without shelter. He told me to contact the sheriff because it sounded like neglect bordering on abuse. I now have a great contact with a nice deputy who investigated the situation and straightened things out. We know the owner is a young, nice guy who loves his dogs, but my perspective of this type of behavior that I've had to get used to is a passed down generational thing that is accepted among country folk - dogs are outside animals. I just wanted him to know that people are watching and that there are Ag and Mkts laws that were created because of, and to prevent, neglect and abuse, and tethered dogs require adequate shelter. I also wanted to meet him in some capacity so I could offer some education and assistance should he be willing to accept it, without stepping over boundaries.
Well, here it was! That opportunity presented itself when I woke him up by honking when I pulled in and up the long driveway, calling the dogs off the road from his driveway (the Bloodhound looked like Marmaduke coming at a full gallop), and loudly calling to see if anyone was home and awake. He came out and I told him they were in the road and almost got hit twice (they were actually having a real ball!) and that the big guy looked like he broke his cable, and handed him the lead of the little guy (I still don't understand where he came from with a leash). We talked briefly and then introduced ourselves. He is a nice guy and I hope to go back and talk with him again since these furry fun makers were wet, gritty, dirty and very stinky. I didn't notice whether they were neutered and it wasn't the time to ask questions about shots. We'll leave that for another day.
So, I left and went on my way to work a little dirtier and stinkier than when I left my house, and now I had an additional aroma reminiscent of skunk...oh yeah, I'll be visiting again :)
I smiled, though, as I drove away because I was happy with the answer I received to my wondering and content knowing that those two were safe. I still get whiffs of skunk and my own big boy loved all the smells I brought home on me and my car.
Follow-up to Distressing Ride to Work
For the next couple of weeks I continued to travel over the reservoir due to a roadwork detour. The Thursday following the incident, way off to the calmer side in the water, I could see a goose in the morning mist. I think she was sleeping as her head was resting on her back. She was the only goose out there. I saw this same sight for the next few mornings and evenings, never caught sight of her sleeping again, but she was always alone. Could it be her waiting for her mate to return? I believe that all animals go through their own type of mourning ritual prior to moving on, and the cycle of life continues...
Monday, August 8, 2011
Distressing ride to work this morning...
I live in the Hilltowns of Albany County, New York, and feel privileged to partake in nature's wonderful array of wildlife, foliage, lakes and streams, and reservoirs. It was while crossing over one such beautiful reservoir that I encountered something I've never seen before.
I have been seeing Canadian geese roam about this causeway for the past several weeks, and I know it's dangerous because it is only a two-lane road. I usually fear for the folks fishing off the sides or walking along the narrow shoulder. I've seen the gander of one pair strutting, protecting his mate while she pecked at the grass. I noticed in days past that some drivers would stop and let them cross, or at least slow down anticipating their moves, and some pick-up drivers come very close to them as if to say, "if you get in my way, I'm gonna hit ya."
Well, this morning, the inevitable happened. Unless told by that someone, I'll never know what really happened, but the beautiful gander had been hit and sent rolling into and under the guardrail. I am not sure how long ago this had happened, but I think it was right before I got there because his mate was flurrying down the causeway, running and zigzagging back and forth, hooting and squawking like any wife would do that had just seen her husband killed. I felt so sorry for her that I'm crying now while I'm writing this remembering her hysteria. It was like something out of a children's story book - like Chicken Little when the sky was falling. I've never seen anything like it. I know that they are monogamous, but this went further than some fact about geese; it reached into emotion and my heart and soul.
My mind has a problem with death, as if it can't fathom it or wrap itself around it. It's always been that way for me. Things like this stay with me for a while and really bother me. Was it still dark and somebody just didn't see him as they came upon them, or did someone deliberately hit him without thought or remorse?
How long did that poor goose carry on, and did she keep going back to her dead mate? Did she prod him? How long until she quieted down - if she did? Do they have eggs or goslings to care for? Do they find new mates eventually? Do they commit suicide or spend the rest of their lives alone? I cried on the way to my pet sit prior to my full-time job, and hugged the cats when I got there.
I have been seeing Canadian geese roam about this causeway for the past several weeks, and I know it's dangerous because it is only a two-lane road. I usually fear for the folks fishing off the sides or walking along the narrow shoulder. I've seen the gander of one pair strutting, protecting his mate while she pecked at the grass. I noticed in days past that some drivers would stop and let them cross, or at least slow down anticipating their moves, and some pick-up drivers come very close to them as if to say, "if you get in my way, I'm gonna hit ya."
Well, this morning, the inevitable happened. Unless told by that someone, I'll never know what really happened, but the beautiful gander had been hit and sent rolling into and under the guardrail. I am not sure how long ago this had happened, but I think it was right before I got there because his mate was flurrying down the causeway, running and zigzagging back and forth, hooting and squawking like any wife would do that had just seen her husband killed. I felt so sorry for her that I'm crying now while I'm writing this remembering her hysteria. It was like something out of a children's story book - like Chicken Little when the sky was falling. I've never seen anything like it. I know that they are monogamous, but this went further than some fact about geese; it reached into emotion and my heart and soul.
My mind has a problem with death, as if it can't fathom it or wrap itself around it. It's always been that way for me. Things like this stay with me for a while and really bother me. Was it still dark and somebody just didn't see him as they came upon them, or did someone deliberately hit him without thought or remorse?
How long did that poor goose carry on, and did she keep going back to her dead mate? Did she prod him? How long until she quieted down - if she did? Do they have eggs or goslings to care for? Do they find new mates eventually? Do they commit suicide or spend the rest of their lives alone? I cried on the way to my pet sit prior to my full-time job, and hugged the cats when I got there.
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