KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK

12/24/08: Rebuilding Lives, Two Hands At A Time
YEAR-END REFLECTIONS * www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters

THIS IS FOR YOU:

1. Rebuilding The Gulf Coast, Two Hands At A Time
2. Kinship Circle Recognized For Work In Iowa Floods 2008
3. The Great River Rescue
4. I Rescued A Human Today

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1. Rebuilding The Gulf Coast, Two Hands At A Time

SOURCE: 12/24/08, VIDEO – With My Own Two Hands
WATCH VIDEO NOW: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ44B33HRmo&NR=1

FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE: Thanks to my sister and fellow animal rescuer, Cara Shoss, for alerting me to this beautiful video and inspiration for this message. Brenda Shoss, president, Kinship Circle

From Cara Shoss, cshoss [at] gmail.com — Imagine what we could do if we all used our own two hands to change the world. Keep believing in what you are doing. Happy Holidays to all of you and thank you for using your two hands to make a difference for the animals in the world.

TURN UP YOUR SPEAKERS: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ44B33HRmo&NR=1

KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES:

GULF COAST: Animals In Gulf Coast Storms & Other Disasters

www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/gulfcoast/default.html

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2. Kinship Circle Recognized For Its Work During Iowa Floods 2008 – This Is For You!

SOURCE: 12/2/08, Iowa Dept. Of Agriculture / Iowa Veterinary Rapid Response
Team — www.iowaagriculture.gov/AgSec/IVRRT.asp

KINSHIP CIRCLE received an official certificate of recognition for its work after the Iowa floods in June/July of 2008. Iowa’s Veterinary Rapid Response Team coordinator, Mark Shearer, had asked us to recruit/deploy volunteers to staging areas at Lee County Fairgrounds (Donnellson, Iowa) and Johnson County Fairgrounds in Iowa City. KC also sent search and rescue trained volunteers to severely flooded Oakville, Iowa. Our volunteers even helped Farm Sanctuary “wrangle” some pigs to safety, after destroyed factory farms left pigs adrift in high waters (many died, but more than 60 left Iowa for a life of freedom at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York).

THIS IS FOR YOU…

Who has no money, but jumps on a plane
And taxi-cabs through southeast Iowa…
Because a dog with mange has given up hope.
And a displaced cat needs your voice.

This is for you…
Who corralled a pig twice your weight
Waded in waters to leave bowls of food
And searched for eyes lost in corners

This is for you…
Who reads every word
And networks and plans
To salvage small hearts
Overlooked in the storm

Who gives without question
And sees what others miss:
Animals, cast into chaos…
Terrified and alone

This is for you…
For every mile traveled
And every life touched.

KINSHIP CIRCLE REFERENCES:

IOWA FLOODS, 2008

www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters/relief/default.html

DISCLAIMER: Kinship Circle was tasked to manage out of state volunteers in southeast Iowa. We were not authorized to do shelter setup or break down. Local animal agencies, along with several financially capable large animal organizations, oversaw the fate of unclaimed animals. We were one of a few organizations to remain on conference calls with the state through mid-July, to help coordinate rescue/foster.

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3. The Great River Rescue

SOURCE: 12/08, Rally To Rescue Magazine
LOOK FOR FULL ARTICLE, ONLINE SOON: www.rallytorescue.org/articles/articles.aspx

Rally to Rescue Magazine, Volume 4/Issue 3: The Great River Rescue

Volunteer Tanya Patton cuddles a cat at Barb and Mel Bryant’s farm in Keokuk, Iowa, after the Lee County Fairgrounds shelter closed.

EXCERPT FROM “THE GREAT RIVER RESCUE” JUNE 2008: For weeks heavy rainstorms saturated Iowa and five other Midwestern states, causing rivers to rise and burst through protective levees… Iowa was the worst hit state…

Barb Bryant received an urgent late-night phone call from Iowa’s state veterinarian asking if she’d run a temporary shelter for pets displaced by flooding… The next morning Bryant, co-founder of Animal Protection League, reported for duty at the Lee County Fairgrounds in Donnellson.

“Since this was the first time any of us had done this type of rescue, we were fortunate to receive assistance from members of Kinship Circle, who helped set up our operation. These volunteers had done this many times. Most had worked at Katrina.”

Two trailers containing leashes, crates and food were delivered to the fairgrounds. For more than two weeks volunteers did their best, spending 12-hour days caring for about 100 cats and dogs…

Bryant recalls one man who called the fairgrounds searching for his Beagle. One had been brought in, but he wasn’t wearing identification tags. “’Go to the kennel and call out, Bud Light,’ the man said. ’If he bays at you, he’s mine,’” Bryant says. “So the volunteer yelled ‘Bud Light.’ The Beagle immediately answered. He was so happy someone knew his name.”

In early July the fairgrounds needed the facility back for the Lee County Fair, so Bryant had to find a new place for the remaining animals. That’s when her husband Mel Bryant, who’s battling his fifth bout with cancer, suggested bringing them to their 72-acre farm in Keokuk, Iowa…

After two weeks the remaining 16 pets not claimed or adopted to new homes were transferred to Kirkwood Community College — then shipped to out-of-state shelters for eventual placement…

ALSO: SEE A KC DISASTER AID VOLUNTEER FEATURED ON CNN!

SOURCE: 12/08, “Animal House” video

FIND CNN “FOCUS ON GIVING” VIDEO WITH KC’S BOB RUDE:

www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/news/giving/

www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2008/12/15/fog.animal.house.cnn

Couple Take in 100 Cats / Safe at Rude Ranch: Thanks to this dedicated couple, many homeless animals will have a warm home this winter. Photojournalist Bethany Swain brings us to the Rude Ranch, an animal shelter run by a couple who gave up day jobs to help animals… Rude Ranch Animal Rescue, www.ruderanch.org

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4. I Rescued A Human Today

SOURCE: 12/4/08, From KC Board Member, Nora Marino, Ncmlegal [at] aol.com
Original message from Mary Mitschke, mmmitschke [at] msn.com

I RESCUED A HUMAN TODAY…

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn’t be afraid.

As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn’t want her to know that I hadn’t been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn’t want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn’t feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone’s life. She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven’t walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts kinship circle brenda shoss hurricane katrina hurricane katrina natural disaster nola new orleans louisiana gulf coast animal rescue animal adoption pet companion animal dog canine cat feline feral cats feral dogs floods flooding iowa youtube video volunteer Iowa Veterinary Rapid Response poem story essay critter lit Rally to Rescue Magazine cnn news in the news flickr photos

Shadow came into our lives in the spring of ’97.

It was June 2nd – late spring, early summer. I was just finishing up my freshman year of college. Busy with school, busy with work, busy with friends. Busy, busy, busy.

Rochester springs are rainy, and the spring of 1997 was no exception. The last days of May saw a week-long rainstorm. Consequently, we spent little time outside that week. When the rain finally let up, my mom went out behind the garage – to do some yardwork, or maybe some spring cleaning. There, under our tree house on stilts, she found a shivering, emaciated little dog. The pup didn’t appear to have any identification – no collar or such – but she clearly wasn’t feral, either. She seemed scared of us, yet she didn’t bolt. My mother brought the skeletal dog a bowl of food and water. Gradually, the rest of the family arrived home from school and work, and we took turns trying to coax the little scrapper out from her cramped hiding place.

By now, it was apparent that the dog was injured. Her skin was raw and marked with gravel, and she didn’t seem able to stand. After what felt like forever, my father was able to get a good enough grip on her. He hoisted her up and into the back of his car, and off to the vet they went.

The veterinarian’s assessment, delivered the next day, was grim: the dog’s right rear leg was “shattered,” and she also had some minor cuts and bruises. Most likely she had been hit by a car: the point of impact, her broken, battered rear leg. Scraped skin and embedded gravel suggested a hard, skidding landing on pavement. She was in rough shape – and at the point of starvation, to boot.

Due to the severity of her injuries – and, even more so, the potential cost of repairing and rehabilitating her damaged leg – the vet recommended we euthanize her. “It’s too much trouble,” he said. “Too much money to spend on some stray.”

Luckily, my parents didn’t agree. I remember receiving a call from them that day at work: Well, Kelly, what do you think we should do? Even though they solicited our advice, I suspect that they’d already made their decision, and just needed an extra nudge from us kids. I think they wanted some reassurance that they weren’t crazy for spending a few grand to patch up a dog they didn’t even know. We were a solidly middle-class family, but two grand isn’t exactly peanuts for six people living on one income.

The dog – I think we were tentatively calling her “Jewel” at that point (I may have been, at least) – was transferred from our regular vet to an orthopedic specialist in Sodus, about an hour outside of Rochester. I vaguely recall making the trip with my father; he drove while Mike (Michelle?) and I sat in the back with our newest family member. We had to leave her there, with strangers, for a few weeks so she could be evaluated, operated on, and rest and recover. Of course, we weren’t much more familiar to her than the wonderful veterinary crew who fixed her up. But I felt sad to leave her, just the same.

In the subsequent weeks, we tried to piece together “Jewel’s” story. Judging from her floppy ears and strong face – and especially her broad, muscular chest – we surmised that she must be a pit bull mix. She had a small rip in one of her ears, as if another dog had nipped and torn it. Her nipples were large and swollen, a sure sign that she’d birthed at least one litter. She was also sweet, gentle and docile: in those first hours with us, she didn’t display any signs of aggression towards all the strange humans cornering her. Even when my father picked her up and handled her, she didn’t snarl at or bite him, despite the tremendous pain she must have been in.

“Jewel” had been in some kind of car accident, that much we can be certain of. Whether she was hit by a vehicle, or had been tossed out of a moving car, we don’t know. Most likely the accident occurred on Route 104 (speed limit, 55 mph), which runs behind my parents’ house. A gully separates their property from the highway, and a rickety old chain link fence provides a sort of barrier. Over the years, though, numerous holes have been sliced in the fencing: younger kids sometimes went sledding on the incline off the roadway, while older kids escaped back there to smoke and drink. We think “Jewel” was abandoned – dumped like garbage – on Route 104, then hit by a car, possibly right behind our house. Injured, she managed to drag herself down the hill, find a break in the fencing, and crawl up another incline, until she found shelter behind our house. Because of the storm, we have no idea how long she was out there, slowly dying, before we found her. It could have been as much as week. Judging from her skeletal appearance, it was damn near that long.

We also suspected that “Jewel’s” former “owner” was involved with dog fighting. Whether “Jewel” was a breeder or a fighter, we don’t know. She had some scars consistent with dog fighting, but her sweet temperament would have doomed her in the ring. Perhaps her “owner” realized this as well, and this is why she was dumped?

After a few weeks with the orthopedic specialist in Sodus, “Jewel” was finally able to come home with us. Her shattered leg had been essentially rebuilt: when I describe it as “shattered,” I mean that literally. The bones in her right rear leg were in pieces, shattered; she required a metal plate and pins to repair it. The surgeon cautioned us that the injured leg might always be a little stiff. Later in life, he said, she’ll probably develop arthritis and she may have trouble walking. He even suggested that she might be completely immobile, starting around age eight. (She was guesstimated to be two years old when we adopted her.)

Looking back at early photos, you can see what rough shape she was in: scrapes and scratches, missing patches of fur, a shaved and stitched flank. For the rest of her life, a winding, twelve inch scar spoke of the past trauma she had suffered. It also served as a daily reminder of how amazingly lucky we were, to have her in our lives.

By then, she was the staff’s darling: such a sweet girl, such a tragic story. The luckiest part of her ordeal, everyone agreed, was that out of all the houses along the highway, she found her way into our backyard.

I know I risk sounding overly self-congratulatory here, but I don’t want a cookie. I don’t think what my family did was exceptional; in fact, just the opposite – it was our responsibility as decent human beings. Unfortunately, that’s not how the people around us saw it. My parents received more than a little grief from acquaintances over their decision to “waste” a few thousand dollars fixing up some old stray when they had children at home, mouths to feed. Even our vet, in the business of caring for injured animals, saw the stray mutt as a lost cause. Not because such radical surgery would be too stressful on her body – but because such a skilled, specialized operation would be too stressful on our pocketbooks.

Clearly, I am none too fond of this particular veterinarian.

In any case, “Jewel” came home, battered but no longer broken, and settled into the family. She quickly became a momma’s girl, shadowing my mother wherever she went. She chose her own name, I guess: Shadow.

At that time, we already had one dog: Shannon, a black mutt we’d adopted from Lollypop Farm. Shannon was the remaining half of a pair. Her sister Shana had already passed away; we though for sure that she would outlive Shannon. Shana was Shannon’s protector, her guardian. We were shocked that Shannon outlived her “big” sis (they were the same age, really, but Shannon acted like the babe of the pair) – and by a few years, even.

So Shannon and Shadow did cross paths, albeit for a short time. My memory’s fuzzy here; until I found this photo of Shannon and Shadow sitting together with me, I’d thought they’d never met one another.

I don’t think it was too long after we found Shadow that Shannon passed away, though. I really don’t have many memories of them interacting. In any case, I’m sure they got on swimmingly. They were both such sweet, sweet girls.

We also had a black cat, Woody. So named because I found him in the Adirondacks in August 1994, when I was “supposed” to be camping out at the 25-year Woodstock anniversary concert. (Long story, don’t ask.) He died…jeez…it must be going on two years ago now, in December 2006. Sigh. Time flies, doesn’t it?

We welcomed Shadow into our little “pack,” and life slowly returned to normal. Despite her ordeal, Shadow was a sweet, loving, loyal companion. The capacity for kindness and forgiveness which rests within the hearts of so many animals – not because of the treatment previously received at the hands of humans, but in spite of it – truly is humbling. And more than a little scary, since so many of us are undeserving of their blind faith and unconditional love.

Shadow was exploited and abused, used until she was used up, and then dumped roadside like a bag of trash. Yet, she was still willing to trust and love again. I hope we proved worthy of her devotion.

When speciesists yammer on about “dangerous” breeds, “vicious” dogs and “fighting” animals – pit bulls in particular, the “fighting dog” de jour – I bristle and think immediately of Shadow, my sweet pit bull girl. Perhaps all the “sweet” descriptors are starting to sound repetitive, but if I had to choose one word to describe Shadow, “sweet” would be it. When she came into our home, my youngest brother Mike was nine; I was nineteen. Over her lifetime, she was exposed to a fairly wide age range of children, and many different animals. She was gentle and loving towards them all. Even our rabbit, Pokey, and our many rescued sparrow orphans were safe with her. Our sweet Shadow was a pit bull girl with a heart of gold.

The only time Shadow exhibited signs of aggression was when she needed to protect her pack – when she thought someone was being attacked. In this regard, she’s no different than any other dog – and most humans – I’ve known.

“Dangerous breed,” my ass.

In her first years with us, Shadow started to experience seizures. They were nothing short of terrifying. Shadow would fall into a sort of trance; her eyes would be open, but her mind was somewhere else. She’d start shaking and seize up, all stiff-like. She’d drool uncontrollably and sometimes lost control of her bladder and bowels. All we could do was hold and stroke her until it was over, and then keep her from walking until she had recovered her energy. The seizures, though relatively short – a few minutes, perhaps – took a lot out of her.

The vet’s best guess was that Shadow had experienced head trauma, either from the accident or previously, which was causing the seizures. She had them, off and on, her entire life. Kava pills helped some; they reduced the frequency of the episodes. At her healthiest, I think she was down to one seizure every three months or so. Before we tried kava, she might have one a month or more. We recorded her episodes on the calendar, and learned to anticipate when the next seizure would come.

My college years were such a blur, it’s hard conjure up specific recollections of the animals. I remember that Shadow loved carrots. My mother and sister taught her to balance a carrot stick on her nose; at their cue, she’d flick her head back, tossing the carrot into the air, and catch it in her mouth. Sometimes we’d give her veggies with our lips to steal a kiss.

Like all dogs, she loved treats. My mother’s aunt Millie and uncle Floyd lived next door, and Shadow routinely camped out on their back steps, looking for handouts. Though they didn’t have a dog of their own, Floyd and Millie kept a jar of dog treats in their kitchen, just for Shadow. Oftentimes, Floyd would open the back door, and she’d trot in, like she owned the place. She’d hang out in the porch while he read the paper; a sort of thank you for the treat.

When she dozed off, sometimes her mouth would lull open. She had cute little teefies – I called them “rice teeth,” because they resembled gleaming white grains of rice. Holding her snout in my hand, I’d playfully draw her gums back – “show mommy your teefies!” My vicious little pit bull would tolerate the game.

My senior year of college, I moved out of my parents’ house and in with my now-husband. Shane already had a cat – Ozzy – but being more of a dog person, I missed Shadow terribly. This, even though I lived a short 20-minute drive from my parents, worked nearby and was over there all the time anyway. Except for some very short periods between deaths, I had lived most of my life in the company of dogs. I wanted – needed! – a dog, dammit! And so it was we adopted Ralphie on July 14, 2001.

Ralphie became my shadow. We went everywhere together; I jokingly referred to him as My Other Boyfriend and The (True) Love of My Life. He usually accompanied me to my parents’ house, and he and Shadow became fast friends. They were a comical pair: a short, sausage-shaped wiener dog and a tall, lanky pit bull. I spent hours just watching them play: rolling around on the floor, jumping on and off the couch, making faces and “biting” one another from opposite sides of a blanket. Little bursts of activity interspersed with long periods of lazing around, usually snuggled together in a ball. Such a cute couple!

When I started working Saturday nights, 11PM to 10AM or so, I’d take Ralphie to my parents’ before heading off to work, and he and Shadow would have a sleepover. Occasionally I worked the day shift on Saturday as well, so my parents (and Shadow) would have him all day.

Many animals, I think, need and deserve to be with same-species companions. Dogs, especially. As good as we are to our furkids, a human is no substitute for another dog. Sure, we can snuggle and nose butt and play tug-of-war with the best of ‘em…but it’s not the same. Dogs need like-minded dog companions.

Ralphie and Shadow were each others’ companions.

About a year later, Shane and I made the decision to relocate from Rochester, NY to Kansas City. It was a tough choice; not least among my concerns was separating Ralphie and Shadow. I thought about bringing Shadow with us, but I knew my parents would never go for it. Besides, she was too attached to my mother; it wouldn’t be fair to her. Still, it didn’t seem very fair of me to take her buddy away, either.

Over time, both Ralphie and Shadow recovered from their loss. Yet, it’s something I still mourn over – separating them. It was a necessary decision, but a hard one. Doubly so as neither dog was allowed to weigh in on the matter. Blame the language barrier.

A few months before the move, my family spent a week vacationing in the Adirondacks. We took the dogs and stayed in my grandmother’s cabin. Some of my fondest memories of Ralphie and Shadow – together – are from that trip. We spent a lot of time hiking with the dogs; naturally, the dogs spent quite a bit of time napping together afterward.

Shortly before Thanksgiving 2002, we left for Kansas City.

I’m sad to say that I’ve only seen dear Shadow on three separate occasions since moving to the midwest. Though I thought of her often, I missed out on much of her life. In regards to Shadow, I existed in a weird limbo: she was “mine,” once, but no longer.

We traveled back to Rochester for Thanksgiving in 2003. Our family was one dog larger (Peedee!), and so was my parents’ (Copper!). While Ralphie and Shadow remembered one another, Ralphie was a bit more smitten with Copper, and Shadow, with Peedee. My dogs were super curious about my parents’ dogs, and vice versa. The week was a blur of sniffing noses, wagging tails, flying fur, wet kisses. And a few minor scuffles, natch. (It was usually Peedee’s fault.)

In 2006, we visited twice through the summer and fall. By then, we had adopted dog #3 (O-Ren!), and my parents had “unofficially” taken in a stray cat (Gypsy). Between the humans and animals, the house was filled to capacity. Five dogs seemed insane at the time, but by the second trip home in September, we’d already committed to adopt two dogs (Kaylee and Jayne) from a local rescue group in MO. So I guess it was like a crash course in canine chaos for us.

Each trip home was a jolt – with such infrequent visits, I saw Shadow age years at a time. Her gait became increasingly stiff and stilted. She was slower, less energetic. Yet, despite the vet’s predictions, she was able to walk on her own until the very end.

This past year, Shadow developed a heart murmur. Nothing unusual for a dog of her age, the vet said. Still, she was in and out of his office, and on and off difference medications.

The night of October 31, Shadow suffered a stroke. My parents kept vigil over her throughout the weekend. On Monday, they left her at the vet’s office for tests. The veterinarian stepped out for a house call, and when he returned to check on her, he discovered her labored breathing and purple tongue. He put Shadow on oxygen and called my parents.

My mother and father decided that it was time to let her go.

Last Monday, at 5PM, Shadow passed away with my father and brother at her side.

When I visited my family last, I knew those might be my final days with Shadow. She was eleven, then. Three of our last four dogs had died at age twelve. Even though she was healthy, my baby was getting old. I still hoped, against all odds, that I might be able to see her one more time.

I’ll miss you so much, Shadow. I regret living so far away from you, for so much of your life – but especially in your final years. I knew this day would come, but the knowledge doesn’t make it any easier. I wish I could have been with you when you went, or at least visited with you one last time. I’m so, so glad to know that you weren’t alone in those final moments; to know that your papa and brother Mike were there, too. No one deserves to die alone.

Shadow, you were the last of our family’s animals that I considered “mine.” Bucky and Cap, Shannon and Shana, Woody…and now you, Shadow. Sitting here, with my own five babies, I feel so, so old. You were alive while I was still in high school; you were with my throughout college; you watched me grow up, move out, start my own family and move away from you. I think of you often, sweet girl, and will continue to miss you – as I have all these years.

It’s times like these I wish, fervently, that I believed in God, an afterlife, karma and all that jazz. In lieu of Heaven, sweet girl, I’ll keep you in my heart, with all your brothers and sisters: Bucky and Cap; Shannon and Shana; Woody; Hooks I-III; Moe, Larry and Curly; Henry; Pokey; Lucky; and of course Jodie and Goliath. Promise to greet Ralphie for me, when his time comes? With sloppy wet kisses, of course.

I’m reminded of you, Shadow, every time I look into Ralphie’s eyes. I still feel bad, even now, for taking him away from you. You two were so perfect together – a couple of furry clowns. I’m glad that mom and dad were able to find another companion for you in Copper. I bet he misses you terribly, too.

Mom and dad seem to be doing better, though they still miss you tons. Mom said she sometimes hears you coughing in the next room, and often expects to see you sitting in your chair when she glances into the living room. It’s hard on them; I guess, no matter how many animals you grieve, it never gets any easier.

My sweet Shadow, words cannot express how very sorry I am for the pain you endured when you were just a wee little pup. Humans…well, sometimes we suck. I like to think that we restored your faith in humanity, brought you love and happiness, and proved as deserving of your loyalty as you did ours.

We all love you so, so much, Shadow. We’ll never stop loving you.

Goodbye, my sweet pit bull girl.
 
 

There are various places within which a dog may be buried. We are thinking now of a setter, whose coat was flame in the sunshine, and who, so far as we are aware, never entertained a mean or an unworthy thought. This setter is buried beneath a cherry tree, under four feet of garden loam, and at its proper season the cherry strews petals on the green lawn of her grave. Beneath a cherry tree, or an apple, or any flowering shrub of the garden, is an excellent place to bury a good dog. Beneath such trees, such shrubs, she slept in the drowsy summer, or gnawed at a flavorous bone, or lifted head to challenge some strange intruder. These are good places, in life or in death. Yet it is a small matter, and it touches sentiment more than anything else.

For if the dog be well remembered, if sometimes she leaps through your dreams actual as in life, eyes kindling, questing, asking, laughing, begging, it matters not at all where that dog sleeps at long and at last. On a hill where the wind is unrebuked and the trees are roaring, or beside a stream she knew in puppyhood, or somewhere in the flatness of a pasture land, where most exhilarating cattle graze. It is all one to the dog, and all one to you, and nothing is gained, and nothing lost — if memory lives. But there is one best place to bury a dog. One place that is best of all.

If you bury her in this spot, the secret of which you must already have, she will come to you when you call — come to you over the grim, dim frontiers of death, and down the well-remembered path, and to your side again. And though you call a dozen living dogs to heel they should not growl at her, nor resent her coming, for she is yours and she belongs there.

People may scoff at you, who see no lightest blade of grass bent by her footfall, who hear no whimper pitched too fine for mere audition, people who may never really have had a dog. Smile at them then, for you shall know something that is hidden from them, and which is well worth the knowing.

The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of her master guardian.

- Ben Hur Lampman, 1925
 
 

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Tagged: dog canine pet companion animal my furbabies shadow pit bull pit bull mix mutt ralphie wiener dog hot dog dachshund rat terrier peedee o-ren copper flickr photos memorial obituary ben hur lampman critter lit where to bury a dog grief pet loss flickr photos

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Tagged: poem poetry critter lit dog canine pet companion animal my furbabies rat terrier Jack Russell terrier Kaylee flickr photos

Happy birthday, Mr. Peedee.
 

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Tagged: dog canine pet companion animal my furbabies peedee rat terrier flickr photos poem poetry critter lit happy birthday birthday sweet peedee peedee monster shane brady

Seriously, though, Shane has taken up penning poetry dedicated to our canines in his spare time. Which is totally awesome – I love critter lit! Doubly so when it’s dedicated to my very own furbabies.

So here’s Shane, worshiping Ralphie the wiener dog. More gratuitous wiener shots after the flip. (What? Throw enough “wiener-minus-the-dog” phrases in there, and the traffic on this post will, errr, “shoot” through the roof. Come for the porn, stay for the animal rights activism?)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tagged: animals dog canine wiener dog dachshund Ralphie my furbabies poem Shane Brady poetry critter lit flickr photos photo blogging tribute pet companion animal

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare poem Living Graves George Bernard Shaw meat dairy eggs cow bovine pig chicken vegan veganism vegetarian vegetarianism activism flickr peta peta2 ecard people for the ethical treatment of animals critter lit poetry

So, in lieu of a schizophrenically sentimental tribute to working animals, a tribute to companions everywhere – along with a gentle reminder to love, honor, and cherish them today, tomorrow, and the day after…because you never know when the tomorrows will turn to yesterdays.

For our nation’s soldiers… Bring them home. All of them.

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I Am Your Dog

I am your dog, and I have a little something I would like to whisper in your ear.

I know that you humans lead busy lives. Some have to work. Some have children to raise. It always seems like you are running here and there, often much too fast, often never noticing the truly grand things in life.

Look down at me now, while you sit there at your computer. See, the way my dark brown eyes look at yours. They are slightly cloudy now. That comes with age. The gray hairs are beginning to ring my soft muzzle.

You smile at me; I see love in your eyes. What do you see in mine? Do you see a spirit? A soul inside, who loves you as no other could in the world? A spirit that would forgive all trespasses of prior wrongdoing for just a simple moment of your time?

That is all I ask. To slow down, if even for a few minutes to be with me.

So many times, you have been saddened by the words you read on that screen, of other of my kind, passing. Sometimes we die young and oh so quickly, sometimes so suddenly it wrenches your heart out of your throat. Sometimes, we age so slowly before your eyes that you may not even seem to know until the very end, when we look at you with grizzled muzzles and cataract clouded eyes. Still the love is always there, even when we must take that long sleep, to run free in a distant land.

I may not be here next week. Someday you will shed the water from your eyes, that humans have when deep grief fills their souls, and you will be angry at yourself that you did not have just “One more day” with me. Because I love you so, your sorrow touches my spirit and grieves me. We have NOW, together.

So come, sit down here next to me on the floor, and look deep into my eyes. What do you see? If you look hard and deep enough we will talk, you and I, heart to heart. Come to me, not as “alpha” or as “trainer” or even “Mom or Dad,” come to me as a living soul and stroke my fur and let us look deep into another’s eyes, and talk.

I may tell you something about the fun of chasing a tennis ball, or I may tell you something profound about myself or even life in general. You decided to have me in your life because you wanted a soul to share such things with.

Someone very different from you, and here I am.

I am a dog, but I am alive. I feel emotion, I feel physical senses, and I can revel in the differences of our spirits and souls. I do not think of you as a “Dog on two feet” – I know what you are. You are human, in all of your quirkiness, and I love you still.

Now, come sit with me on the floor. Enter my world, and let time slow down if only for 15 minutes. Look deep into my eyes, and whisper to my ears. Speak with your heart, with your joy and I will know your true self.

We may not have tomorrow, and life is oh so very short.

–Love, (on behalf of canines everywhere)

Author Unknown

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Photo via slagheap

Caption:

Lance Cpl. Charles E. Byerly, a 20-year-old dog handler, shows his dog Danny, 10, some love at Camp Habbaniyah, Iraq, Sept. 1. He wanted to care for his four-legged companion before they head back for Danny’s retirement in Camp Lejeune, N.C. Danny has deployed three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and one to Djibouti, Africa as a military working dog fighting insurgents with Marines. After the dog’s retirement Byerly will adopt his battle buddy. Byerly is from Mars, Pa., and is currently serving a seven-month deployment with 3rd Battallion, 2nd Marine Regiment in the Habbaniyah area under Regimental Combat Team 5.

Photo by: Lance Cpl. Ray Lewis
Submitting Unit: 1st Marine Division
Cleared for Release

To open your heart and home to a soldier’s companion, start at www.guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare holidays memorial day working dogs war dogs military dogs working animals pet companion animal dog canine prose literature yesterdays best friends companions mates

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare Ella Wheeler Wilcox Voice of the Voiceless poetry dog canine

Kinship Circle Primary – PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST AS WRITTEN

1/23/07: Kinship Circle DIGEST / ALERTS FROM MEMBERS
Israel Product Testing Ban, Serbia Still Poisoning, Iditarod Torture + MORE

IN JANUARY DIGEST:

1. Julia Sharp, Well-Known Rescuer, Needs Our Help
2. Israel: Ban Animal Testing For Cosmetic/Cleaning Products
3. Serbia: Mass Poisoning (T-61) Begins Again
4. Serbia: Fire Your Weapons For Those Who Can’t
5. EU: Support Written Declaration, EU Ban On Bullfighting
6. Family Dog Shot By Police Denied Aid; Dies Slowly
7. Who’s Supporting Iditarod Dog Torture In 2007?
8. Spanish Galgo Appeal: Send Email To Save These Dogs
9. Wish SHAC 7’s Josh And Jake Happy Birthdays
10. Argentina: Horse Drops Dead On Street In Entre Rios
11. Atlanta Puppy-Baking Trial Date Set For 1/29/07
12. Romania: Urge Press To Cover Crimes Against Animals
13. Animal Activist’s Home Raided
14. A Stockyard Filled With Sad Brown Eyes
15. PETITIONS TO SIGN

Each DIGEST includes:

* NEWS and CALL-TO-ACTION, submitted by Kinship Circle members.
* CONTACT INFO to reply directly to the activist who supplied the alert.
* Related KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS for more background information.
* Submissions are from KC members and do NOT originate from Kinship Circle itself.
* If emails for letter recipients fail, contact person who supplied alert — NOT KINSHIP CIRCLE.
* Send submissions for KC DIGEST to kinshipcircle [at] brick.net
* Please “clean-up” submitted alerts, and do not send chain of forwarded messages.

==================================

All That Is Best In Me I Have Given To The Animals

REPLY TO DIRECTLY TO: Quote submitted by Sharon Hopkins, montalice [at] tiscali.co.uk

From the preface to “The Story of San Michele” by Axel Munthe (written in 1929)

All that is best in me I have given to the Animals and I mean to stand by them to the last and share their fate whatever it may be. If it is true that there is to be no heaven of rest for them when their sufferings here are at an end, I for one, am not going to bargain for any heaven for myself. I shall go without fear where they go, and by the side of my Brothers and Sisters from the Forests and the Fields from the Skies to Seas, lie down to merciful extinction in their mysterious Underworld, safe from any further torments. Axel Munthe 1857 –1949

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1. Julia Sharp, Well-Known Rescuer, Needs Our Help

REPLY DIRECTLY TO: chris dillenburg, chris_dillenburg [at] yahoo.com

BACKGROUND:

1/17/07, from chris_dillenburg [at] yahoo.com — As many of you already know, Julia Sharp has suffered a mini stroke, and is in need of rest and recuperation. It is important that she avoid all stress at this time.

She has taken on a lot and her rescue vet bill is still very high. This bill is a huge source of stress for her. She needs donations to cover some of the expenses. Her vet office takes credit cards by phone and checks by mail.

The rescue bill as of 1/16/07 is $1,846.69, which is down quite a bit from last month. Julia deeply appreciates all the help she has received with the rescue expenses.

CONTACT INFO TO HELP COVER JULIA’S RESCUE VET BILL:
Morehead Vet Clinic / 103 Bartlett Drive / Morehead, KY 40351
606-780-7387

DONATE ONLINE: www.petfinder.com/shelters/KY224.html

PayPal button at the “STAR website,” solely for vet expenses. Click “make a donation” button above picture of Goofy.

Julia said the vet office will answer any questions people may have about her and the rescue bill. She wants people to know her personal animals are NOT included in the rescue bill. She keeps 2 accounts at the clinic.

*Julia also asks that if people can help a Rowan Pound dogs, to please contact Jan Dacci or Sue Creasap. Contact info is on the homepage of the STAR website, www.petfinder.com/shelters/KY224.html.

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

9/27/06: Pets Caught in CA Fires / Morehead, KY Pound Flood

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2. Israel: Ban Animal Testing For Cosmetic/Cleaning Products

REPLY DIRECTLY TO: adamatova adamatova, adamatova [at] gmail.com

BACKGROUND:

1/15/07, from Joy Sherri, adamatova [at] gmail.com — In light of today’s rejection by the Knesset of an amendment to a law which would ban animal testing in cosmetic and cleaning products, a petition has been written to be sent to the National Council for Experimentation on Animal Subjects and other sources both in Israel and abroad, to strongly request that this ban be reviewed and be passed. The laws against causing pain and suffering to animals are part of our heritage and to have them dismissed in this way by politicians is nothing short of an outrage. I urge you to take a moment to read the petition and to place your name to it.

CONTACT INFORMATION TO PROTEST:

SIGN PETITION: No to Animal Experimentation in Israel Cosmetic Industry

To: National Council for Experimentation on Animal Subjects

I agree that all animal testing in Israel for cosmetic purposes should be banned immediately. We already have hundreds of cosmetic and cleaning products on the market and to deliberately cause animals pain, suffering and ultimately death in order to produce yet more non-essential home care and cleaning products is morally, consciously and scientifically unjustifiable.

On January 15, 2007 a proposed amendment to a bill proposed by Likud MK Gideon Sa’ar that would have seen new legislative action taken to prevent experimentation on animals for the purposes of testing cosmetic or cleaning products was rejected by the Knesset.

I hereby put my name to this petition and strongly request that the Knesset re-review the amendment preventing using animals in testing of cosmetic and cleaning products and to take immediate measures to ensure the immediate cessation of the ongoing animal experimentation in Israel in this industry.

In addition, I put my name here in full support of a boycott against any Israeli product manufactured through animal testing and will hereby be choosing products which specifically state that no animal testing was done in their manufacture.

Sincerely, The Undersigned

SIGN PETITION: No to Animal Experimentation in Israel Cosmetic Industry

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3. Serbia: Mass Poisoning (T-61) Begins Again

REPLY DIRECTLY TO: Slavica Mazak Beslic, epar [at] yunord.net

The Society Friends of Animals FRIEND-EPAR for Esteem and Protection of Animal Rights – www.epar.org.yu

BACKGROUND:

1/18/06, from epar [at] yunord.net — These dogs will be killed in Svilajnac by T-61 after 3 or 10 or maybe 30 days if nobody don’t do something…

These dogs are still in life, but we don’t know how many days, they will. We have bring criminal charge – again, again, and again, but this killers always kill dogs and time go further. This is horrible. We don’t know how we can rescue dogs. We have laws, but nobody don’t implement laws. It is very difficult look at this crime – every day in every of towns and villages in Serbia, and cannot help victims. Serbia is one ocean of pain of animals. Everybody make dirty business with killing strays for bounty (money), because authorities of Serbia don’t want punish this crime. Please help animals!!! Regards, Slavica Mazak Beslic, Friends of Animals FRIEND-EPAR for Esteem and Protection of Animal Rights, Serbia

1/17/07, from Zvonko Palanski, palanski [at] EUnet.yu — NEWS: SVILAJNAC, 17.01.2007 — On 15th January 2007 Director of the company for the Public Services JKP MORAVA, Mr. Miodrag Milosevic and the owner of the firm HIGIJENA TOMIC – Ljig, Mr. Zoran Tomic, signed a contract whose realization started the next day on the 16th. The following prices have been accepted by this contract:

- team of dogcatchers from 8AM – 2PM paid a flat rate 17000 din
- Ketamin stunning with a stun gun 400 din per dog
- dog keeping 210 din a day per dog – compulsory keeping in Jabucani where this object is, 105km far from Svilajnac, is 30 days; if paid by JKP MORAVA
- euthanasia 1000 din per dog
- neutering 3000 din per dog
- vaccination against rabies 500 din per dog
- microchipping 1900 din per dog
- transport of the dogs back to Svilajnac 50 din /km

You can see from the above price list that both sides accepted, that it stimulates euthanasia which costs 1000 dinars, and that neutering, microchipping, vaccination and transport to the place they were taken from is not stimulated…

euthanasia = 1000 din = 12,5 euros
saving the dog = 17300 – 20000din = 216,25 – 250 euros

Guess what option JKP MORAVA always chooses?

The aim here is to show ‘a good will’ in the price list to neuter, rehome the dogs or take them back to the place where they were found, but in fact the only aim is their mass killing, and this is their hypocritical intention to fool the whole civilized world, when in fact they do the mass killing and charge the township’s budget – it is a criminal act against the environment and an economic crime.

This should be taken into consideration by Public Attorney and the Court. We insist that everyone involved in these criminal doings is punished in accordance with the law of Serbia.

CONTACT INFO TO PROTEST MASS DOG CULL IN SERBIA:

President of Serbia, Mr. Boris Tadic: mrakic [at] predsednik.yu
Prime Minister of Serbia, Mr. Vojislav Kostunica: lgvozden [at] sr.gov.yu
Public Attorney General-Deputi, Mrs. Gordana Milosevic Stojanovic: rjtdz [at] bitsyu.net
Veterinary Director of Serbia, Mr.Dejan Krnjaic: vetuprava [at] minpolj.sr.gov.yu
Chef of G17+, Mr. Mladjan Dinkic: oovozdovac [at] sezampro.yu
Mayor of Svilajnac city, Mr. Dobrivoje Budimirovic: soinf [at] ptt.yu
Mayor of Nis, Mr.Smiljko Kostic: mayor [at] gu.ni.sr.gov.yu
Vet station, Vranje: vetvranje [at] ptt.yu
Mayor of Sabac: milosstanojcic [at] sabac.org

SERBIAN MEDIA: redakcija [at] blic.co.yu, redakcija [at] glas-javnosti.co.yu, redakcija [at] kurir-info.co.yu, redakcija [at] politika.co.yu, telegraf [at] eunet.yu

EU PARLIAMENT: agri-press [at] europarl.europa.eu, press-EN [at] europarl.europa.eu

Cc: contact [at] epar.org.yu

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

12/20/06: Slaughter On The Streets Of Serbia

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4. Serbia: Fire Your Weapons For Those Who Can’t

REPLY TO DIRECTLY TO: Marijo, Marijo [at] wagny.org

www.wagny.org/protest

CONTACT INFORMATION:

President Boris Tadic
The President’s Office, Palata federacije
Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 2
11070 Novi Beograd, Serbia and Montenegro
ph: 00 381 11 323 1033; fax: 00 381 11 363 2095
email: mrakic [at] predsednik.yu

Prime Minister V. Kostunica
Mr. Vojislav Kostunica, Prime Minister of Serbia
Belgrade, 11 Nemanjina St. (Serbia)
ph: 00 381 11 3614621; fax: 00 381 11 3061100
email: lgvozden [at] sr.gov.yu

Ivan Vujaèiæ, Ambassador
U.S. Embassy of the Republic of Serbia
2134 Kalorama Rd, NW; Washington DC 20008
ph: 202-332-0333 fax: 202-332-3933, Consular fax: 202-332-5974
email: ambassador [at] serbiaembusa.org
website: www.SERBIAEMBUSA.ORG

SAMPLE LETTER FROM Marijo [at] wagny.org:

President Tadic & Associate Officials:

I write with utter disgust at your brutal and primitive treatment of animals. Photographic evidence and testimony from your own countrymen have been brought to my attention regarding the mass slaughter of domestic animals on your streets. Even more vile, is the bounty paid for the dead, by your contemptible government officials, to hunters and civilians.

I am appalled by the barbaric practices sanctioned by Dr. Dejan Krnjaic, Director of Veterinary Services and his staff and demand his immediate replacement. Belgrade, the City of Nis and the nation of Serbia must reverse it’s inhumane and disgraceful behavior.

Serbia is trying desperately to gain access to the European Union. I caution you all; if you think I will stand by during this process and do nothing, you are mistaken and underestimating measures that I will take to undermine this Serbian goal.

I, my family members, business associates and friends, will endeavor in every possible way to exert pressure on EU Commissioners to ensure that your inclusion into the European Union is rejected at every level; unless you stop the sadistic killing of animals in your streets and amend your barbaric animal welfare policies.

Serbia is an up and coming tourist destination; one I will not visit, until action has been taken. I will caution everyone I know to avoid your country like a modern plague; until such a time when compassion and civilized decency rules your animal initiatives and your nation.

Photographs do not lie. Enter the website, www.wagny.org, and see what the rest of the world is seeing.

www.wagny.org/the_blood_bath

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

12/20/06: Slaughter On The Streets Of Serbia

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5. EU: Support Written Declaration, EU Ban On Bullfighting

REPLY DIRECTLY TO: Maria Lopes, marialopes [at] iwab.org

BACKGROUND:

1/19/07, from IMAB [at] iwab.org — Four MEPs presented on the 15th of January a Written Declaration for an EU wide ban on bullfighting as well as a ban on subsidies to bull breeders. The elapse time will be the 15 of April of 2007. Till today the written declaration was already signed by 22 MEPs but we need a majority to succeed.

CONTACT INFORMATION TO PROTEST:

We launched a campaign of support to this initiative.

On our website: www.iwab.org/campaign.html

You’ll find addresses of MEPs by countries, alphabetical order as well as a sample letter and the full text of the Written Declaration.

Please participate this is a great initiative and it’s the first written declaration on a ban on bullfighting. For the Animals, Maria Lopes, Coordinator

INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT AGAINST BULLFIGHTS
MOVIMENTO INTERNACIONAL ANTI-TOURADAS
MOVIMIENTO INTERNACIONAL ANTITAURINO
MOUVEMENT INTERNATIONAL ANTI CORRIDAS

www.iwab.org

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

COLUMN: Tourist Beware: Bullfights & Blood Fiestas

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6. Family Dog Shot By Police Denied Aid; Dies Slowly

REPLY DIRECTLY TO: Kerri Milam, kerrimilam [at] yahoo.com

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

1/19/07, forwarded from Kimi91 [at] aol.com — Fatally Injured Dog Denied Veterinary Care, Dies Slowly After Being Gunned Down by City Police; Demand Staff Training and New Policies at Fort Worth Animal Shelter — On November 14, a Fort Worth city police officer who claimed “a stray dog charged at him repeatedly” reportedly shot “several rounds from his handgun striking the animal.” The dog, later identified as a family’s companion named Bud, was reportedly shot in the head and chest. According to TV news reports and city officials, the dying dog was left alone at the city’s animal shelter without care for several hours, during which time he surely suffered horribly. Bud died slowly, most likely from blood loss, organ damage, and/or shock.

Graphic news footage shows that Bud was bloodied and unable to walk properly. In the footage, animal control officer Barry Alexander can be seen needlessly restraining Bud on a control pole and prodding him to move forward while he is obviously in pain. The footage then shows that Alexander lifted Bud by the skin on his back and the noose around his neck and put him in a compartment on an animal control truck. Animal control supervisors and health department officials claim that the officer did not know how injured this obviously dying dog was upon leaving him alone in a cage at the animal control center. Officials responded to PETA’s three-page letter offering assistance to prevent another tragedy from happening with this vague, less than helpful three-sentence response.

Failing to provide veterinary medical care to animals “as needed to prevent suffering” is a violation of Fort Worth’s city codes as well as Texas state law. Please contact city officials and demand that immediate action be taken to provide all animal control officers with professional training in injury and disease recognition and that policies be instituted requiring veterinary care or euthanasia for injured animals in the city’s custody.

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR JUSTICE FOR BUD:

The Honorable Michael J. Moncrief
Mayor of Fort Worth
1000 Throckmorton St.; Fort Worth, TX 76102
ph: 817-392-6118; fax: 817-392-2409
email: mike.moncrief [at] fortworthgov.org

Daniel B. Reimer, MPH, Director of Public Health
1800 University Dr., Rm. 232; Fort Worth, TX 76107
ph: 817-871-7201; fax: 817-871-7335
email: daniel.reimer [at] fortworthgov.org

==================================

7. Who’s Supporting Iditarod Dog Torture In 2007?

REPLY DIRECTLY TO: SledDogAC [at] aol.com

Sled Dog Action Coalition, www.helpsleddogs.org

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Please speak for the dogs by sending Iditarod supporters protest emails. The 2007 Iditarod sponsors, musher sponsors, race promoters and business members are listed below. Email addresses with semi-colons and commas in group form can be found on www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm at bottom of page.

CONTACT INFORMATION TO PROTEST IDITAROD SUPPORTERS:

For easy sending, copy/paste as a bunch into your “Blind Copy” box.

jeff.immelt [at] corporate.ge.com, dan.janki [at] corporate.ge.com, Jacques.espinasse [at] vivendi.com, maurie_perl [at] advancemags.com, John_Bellando [at] condenast.com, kklose [at] npr.org, investor_relations [at] hmco.com, editor [at] americanwaymag.com, tom.horton [at] aa.com, Christopher.Gay [at] cabelas.com, rod.ross [at] equilife.com, ken.hanna [at] csplc.com, csab.media [at] cs-americas.com, alan.w.bieler [at] marsh.com, ir [at] hanesbrands.com, DanielJ.Sescleifer [at] energizer.com, conso [at] royal-canin.fr, info [at] royalcanin.us, contact.nl [at] masterfoods.com, contact.us [at] masterfoods.com, gpruitt [at] mcclatchy.com, ircontact [at] simon.com, jlowber [at] gci.com

roger_millay [at] discovery.com, james.moses [at] elderhostel.org, tmattia [at] na.ko.com, corpcsf [at] wellsfargo.com, newsroom [at] alaskaair.com, Shareholders.IM [at] pg.com, Mayor [at] ci.anchorage.ak.us, mayor [at] ci.wasilla.ak.us, yum.investor [at] yum.com, karen.raskopf [at] blockbuster.com, tom.tiller [at] polarisind.com, mhrmarketing [at] mhrmail.com, ir.dcx [at] daimlerchrysler.com, manager [at] ci.nome.ak.us, programming [at] thirteen.org, stevecurwood [at] loe.org, dkravis [at] nutroproducts.com, jvenh [at] acehardware.com, gpn [at] unl.edu, teachersource [at] pbs.org, investor.relations [at] horizonlines.com, kroger.investors [at] kroger.com, gdonnelly [at] mortonarb.org, gtedesco [at] mortonarb.org

info [at] workman.com, vanmarterch [at] lilly.com, toronto [at] gartnerlee.com, investor.relations [at] akzonobel.com, fhees [at] alaskanbeer.com, orders [at] riverboatdiscovery.com, media [at] cruisewest.com, news [at] scholastic.com, skruse [at] hollandamerica.com, abuckelew [at] carnival.com, eileen_masio [at] timeinc.com, communications [at] girlscouts.org, pubaffmr [at] chevrontexaco.com, enterprise.comments [at] exxonmobil.com, info [at] penair.com, employment [at] providence.org, ssolomon [at] dixieline.com, public.relations [at] stihl.us, investor_relations [at] netapp.com, info [at] womenssportsfoundation.org, Investor.Relations [at] aa.com, tony [at] playrooment.com, press [at] echostar.com, ir-newyork [at] shell.com

tjacobs [at] dobson.net, hr1 [at] amerigas.com, contact.privacy [at] mcd.com, customersupport [at] batteriesplus.com, cparrott [at] sportsmanswarehouse.com, ann.simanis [at] elderhostel.org, Chancellor [at] uaa.alaska.edu, info [at] akbushcompany.com, info [at] frontierflying.com, info [at] trapperscreek.com, contact [at] meierslakeroadhouse.com, info [at] talkeetnalodge.com,
innkeeper [at] alaskafrontiergardens.com, rivercabins [at] doyon.com, HolyDogRanch [at] yahoo.com, information [at] maclarenlodge.com, fishing [at] gottafish-charters.com, qiviut [at] gci.net, sales [at] kaladi.com, traxak [at] alaska.com, gkatsion [at] kittelson.com, pat [at] northsloperestaurant.com, pilot01 [at] eagle.ptialaska.net

spikealaska [at] earthlink.net, info [at] inlettower.com, info [at] akdogtour.com, adventure [at] raspberryisland.com, chan [at] d.umn.edu, tma [at] d.umn.edu, allouiz [at] thepastyfactory.com, info [at] barker-ewing.com, ryoung [at] altitudetraining.com, sales [at] redcom.com, jbilitz [at] jjkeller.com, rodney.bolls [at] bglobal.us, trambars [at] trambars.com, info [at] princetontec.com, trophyglove [at] lisco.com, brewpub [at] rmisp.com, gsipe [at] cogentsolutionsgroup.com, info [at] outfitterharborsprings.com, info [at] ndindustries.com, mkrajews [at] volusia.k12.fl.us, sales [at] ursawagon.com, tchozes [at] pathwaynet.com, bellevillenews [at] yahoo.com, admin [at] wtsda.com, hid [at] aelight.com, info [at] westernplows.com, sales [at] pjoperating.com

innkeeper [at] folkestone.com, hughesseafood [at] tds.net, ruby [at] arcocoffee.com, info [at] empirecanvasworks.com, Macgellan [at] mac.com, wiggys [at] wiggys.com, info [at] jupitersolutions.net, info [at] coloradocrossroadsbandb.com, terry [at] unitedrailroad.net, reservations [at] krabloonik.com, info [at] team-diel.de, info [at] globetrotter.de, sales [at] immunocorp.no, post [at] viascandinavia.no, info [at] kamik.com, post [at] brynje.no, post [at] noraid.no, anni [at] visees.no, info [at] alaskakayakacademy.com, info [at] alaskavacationstore.com, spikealaska [at] earthlink.net, alaskansplendor [at] yahoo.com, fish [at] fish4salmon.com, mlitzen [at] kenai.net, info [at] outerlimitsalaska.com, info [at] talkeetnaair.com, wildart [at] davidtotten.com, info [at] alaskagrandview.com, t-wolf [at] alaskatimberwolftours.com, info [at] alaskanativearts.org, POlson [at] randomhouse.com, mcarr [at] nutroproducts.com, lechleiter_john_c [at] lilly.com, bsgro [at] cdschool.org, jschrank [at] cclphoenix.org, mmow [at] elkhart.k12.in.us, greg.creed [at] tacobell.com

FULL CONTACT INFO FOR IDITAROD SPONSORS & PROMOTERS:

www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm#idit

SAMPLE LETTER FROM SledDogAC [at] aol.com:

Dear Iditarod Supporter:

I protest your organization’s support of the Iditarod dog sled race. For the dogs, this barbaric event is a bottomless pit of suffering. What happens to them during the Iditarod includes death, paralysis, penile frostbite, bleeding ulcers, bloody diarrhea, lung damage, ruptured discs, viral diseases and pneumonia. Please end your involvement in this cruel race.

In the Iditarod, dogs are forced to run 1,150 miles, which is the approximate distance between Miami, Florida and New York City. USA Today sports columnist Jon Saraceno called the Iditarod “a travesty of grueling proportions” and “Ihurtadog.” Fox sportscaster Jim Rome called it “I-killed-a-dog.” Orlando Sentinel sports columnist George Diaz said the race is “a barbaric ritual” and “an illegal sweatshop for dogs.”

Please visit the Sled Dog Action Coalition website www.helpsleddogs.org and be sure to read the quotes on www.helpsleddogs.org/remarks.htm . All the material on the site is true and verifiable.

Throughout this eight to 16-day competition, Iditarod personnel encourage mushers to race diseased dogs. Instead of pulling sick dogs from the race, veterinarians frequently give them massive doses of antibiotics to keep them running.

Veterinarians also work to help the mushers before the Iditarod begins. Although the dogs are often sick, veterinarians allow them to start the race anyway. One chief Iditarod veterinarian even published a musher/veterinary handbook advising mushers on how to avoid having prohibited substances detected in pre-race veterinary checks.

At least 130 dogs have died in the Iditarod. No one knows how many dogs die after this tortuous ordeal or during training.

On average, 52 percent of the dogs who start the race do not make it across the finish line. According to a report published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, of those who do cross, 81 percent have lung damage. A report published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine said that 61 percent of the dogs who finish the Iditarod have ulcers versus zero percent pre-race.

Tom Classen, retired Air Force colonel and Alaskan resident for over 40 years, tells us that the dogs are beaten into submission:

“They’ve had the hell beaten out of them.” “You don’t just whisper into their ears, ‘OK, stand there until I tell you to run like the devil.’ They understand one thing: a beating. These dogs are beaten into submission the same way elephants are trained for a circus. The mushers will deny it. And you know what? They are all lying.” -USA Today, March 3, 2000 in Jon Saraceno’s column.

Mushers believe in “culling” or killing unwanted dogs, including puppies. Many dogs who are permanently disabled in the Iditarod, or who are unwanted for any reason, including those who have outlived their usefulness, are killed with a shot to the head, dragged or clubbed to death. “Dogs are clubbed with baseball bats and if they don’t pull are dragged to death in harnesses…..” wrote Alaskan Mike Cranford in an article for Alaska’s Bush Blade Newspaper (March, 2000).

Jon Saraceno wrote in his March 3, 2000 column in USA Today, “He [Colonel Tom Classen] confirmed dog beatings and far worse. Like starving dogs to maintain their most advantageous racing weight. Skinning them to make mittens. Or dragging them to their death.”

Please end your organization’s association with this horrific race.

Sincerely,

==================================

8. Spanish Galgo Appeal: Send Email To Save These Dogs

REPLY DIRECTLY TO: South Devon Greyhound Action, southdevonga [at] yahoo.co.uk

Avon & Somerset Greyhound Action, avonsomersetga [at] yahoo.co.uk

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

1/13/07, from southdevonga [at] yahoo.co.uk — SDGA have received this urgent email appeal from our sister branch – Avon and Somerset Greyhound Action. Please would all our supporters send an email asap to save the lives of these beautiful dogs. Many thanks SDGA

1/12/07, Avon & Somerset Greyhound Action, avonsomersetga [at] yahoo.co.uk — The Kimba animal shelter, a wonderful shelter that rescues greyhounds (galgos) in Spain wants to rescue 10 greyhounds in extremely deplorable conditions and are tied to stakes. The local government of the county (Andalucia) will decide the fate of these poor animals this week. Each of your emails will make a difference. The Kimba shelter informed us with encouraging news that some of the local government people have called them with questions, so please send your letters. They will make a difference!

CONTACT INFO FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT:

delegacion.cadiz.cgob [at] juntadeandalucia.es, consejeria.cgob [at] juntadeandalucia.es, manuel.chaves [at] juntadeandalucia.es

SAMPLE LETTER:

IN SPANISH

Estimado Sr.D. José Antonio Gómez Periñán,
Excma. Sra. Dª. Evangelina Naranjo Márquez Consejera y
Presidente Manuel Chavez,

Reciban nuestra protesta por la situación en que malviven los galgos de las estacas en el pueblo de Chiclana de la frontera y pedimos que todos los galgos se envíen al refugio Kimba para que ellos busquen familias donde puedan vivir dignamente.

Atentamente y muchas gracias …
Nombre:
País:

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Dear Sirs:

We write to express our outrage and to protest the situation in which several galgos are confined in unsuitable living conditions and chained to stakes in the town of Chiclana de la Frontera, and we ask that all of the glagos be sent without further delay to the Refugio Kimba so that they may find families for them who will provide them with a life of dignity to which they are entitled.

Respectfully yours,
Name:
Country:

==================================

9. Wish SHAC 7’s Josh And Jake Happy Birthdays

REPLY DIRECTLY TO: Updates on the SHAC 7, updates [at] shac7.com

www.SHAC7.com

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

1/19/07, from updates [at] shac7.com — SHAC 7 Prisoners Jake Conroy and Josh Harper’s birthday are both coming up on Jan. 31 and Feb. 3!

Jake and Josh are going to be spending their first birthdays behind bars, so please send them a little something in the mail!

Josh’s birthday is coming up on January 31 — he’d love to receive cards, letters, and photos!

Jake’s birthday is Saturday, February 3. He’s asked for friends, family, and supporters to send him pictures (especially photobooth pictures!), myspace printouts, and anything else he might find entertaining or funny. If you don’t know where a photobooth is near you, find out at www.photobooth.net/locations/

Spending holidays and birthdays behind bars is difficult, but cards, pictures, notes, and other birthday greetings make those days special! We will be posting other prisoner’s birthdays as those dates approach. And don’t forget to write all the SHAC 7 and other prisoners. They need our support year ’round!

CONTACT INFO TO WISH JOSH & JAKE HAPPY B-DAYS:

JOSHUA HARPER # 29429-086
FCI SHERIDAN
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
P.O. BOX 5000
SHERIDAN, OR 97378

Jacob Conroy
#93501-011
FCI Victorville Medium I
PO Box 5300
Adelanto, CA 92301

==================================

10. Argentina: Horse Drops Dead On Street In Entre Rios

REPLY DIRECTLY TO: Cornwall’s Voice For Animals, cvfa.uk [at] virgin.net

BACKGROUND:

1/11/07, from Coqui Montiel, The Canadian Voice for Animals, Argentina — A very sad piece of news. As you may know, in Argentina it is summer time and the heat is intense. In my city Parana province of Entre Rios, Argentina there is a decree signed by the mayor in 1992 (who happens to be the same mayor we have now) which bans horses in the street, but like everything in Argentina this is not enforced.

A poor horse fell dead in the middle of a very busy street downtown (she died of heat exhaustion). Local animal activists are tired of not being heard. Vets are supposed to check those animals, but they do nothing but sit around reading the newspaper and drinking coffee instead of working. We, ask you to demand better conditions for the horses and that the town hall provides medicines, food and better sanitary conditions. We also state that it is not true that the municipal vets usually check the horses because this is not the first time this has happened. The addresses are for the mayor, council men and media. Thank you so much on behalf of the animals.

CONTACT INFORMATION TO PROTEST:

turismoer [at] infovia.com.ar, presidente [at] parana.gov.ar, jcalbornoz [at] hcdparana.gov.ar, hagracia [at] hcdparana.gov.ar, jazamora [at] hcdparana.gov.ar, rsmorales [at] hcdparana.gov.ar, bbelbey [at] hcdparana.gov.ar, restreitenberger [at] hcdparana.gov.ar, restreitenberger [at] hcdparana.gov.ar, paceballos [at] hcdparana.gov.ar, ranunez [at] hcdparana.gov.ar, dlpando [at] hcdparana.gov.ar, samenendez [at] hcdparana.gov.ar, malmada [at] hcdparana.gov.ar, ccuscueta [at] hcdparana.gov.ar, aabachetti [at] hcdparana.gov.ar, jmaier [at] hcdparana.gov.ar, opinionciudadana [at] hcdparana.gov.ar,
info [at] eldiarioentrerios.com.ar, locales [at] eldiarioentrerios.com.ar, comercial [at] unoentrerios.com.ar, lt14 [at] radiolt14.com.ar, redaccion [at] radiolt14.com.ar, fmcapital [at] arnet.com.ar, infoweb [at] eloncedigital.com.ar, canal9 [at] c9litoral.com.ar, contacto [at] lavoz901.com.ar

CC: canadian_voice_argentina [at] yahoo.com.ar

SAMPLE LETTER:

Sr. Presidente Municipal de Paraná
Dn. Julio Solanas

Ha llegado a nosotros la penosa información de la muerte de un caballo en pleno centro de la ciudad de Paraná debido a las malas condiciones de salud del animal y el agobiante calor.

Le recordamos que existe en Paraná un decreto Nº 1212/92 vigente desde hace 14 años (y refrendado por Ud. mismo en una gestión anterior) en el cual en su Capítulo V – Artículo 10 expresa CLARAMENTE la prohibición de la tracción a sangre en prácticamente todo el égido de Paraná.

Es una vergüenza que aún sigan circulando esos abnegados animales por las calles sin ni siquiera un grupo veterinarios municipales competentes que les brinde las atenciones básicas (léase) medicamentos, alimentos y control sanitario periódico.

ES MENTIRA QUE SE LOS ATIENDA PORQUE NO ES ESTA LA PRIMERA VEZ QUE ESTO SUCEDE EN EL AMBITO DE LA CIUDAD.

La imagen publicada en El Diario de Paraná, junto al comentario del periodista es más que elocuente y refleja el poco interés en los animales que ha mostrado la actual gestión.

Por lo expuesto y a menos que está situación se revierta en forma inmediata nos ABSTENDREMOS DE VISITAR SU CIUDAD Y HAREMOS RECORRER ESTA IMAGEN EN TODO EL MUNDO.

Name and Last Name (organization if you have one)
Country

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Dear Mayor Julio Solanas,

We have received the shameful news of the death of a horse downtown in Parana due to the poor health conditions of the animals and the stifling weather.

We remind you that in Parana we have the decree # 1212/92 signed by you fourteen (14) years ago in which in its chapter V, Article 10 it is clearly stated that horses are absolutely banned within the city limits.

It is a shame that nowadays those poor horses are still in use without proper public veterinarian assistance (medicines, food and sanitary control). (the horses are used by people to pull carts)

IT IS A LIE THAT THE TOWN HALL ASSIST THEM BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THIS CITY.

The photo appeared in the local newspaper, as well as the caption shows the lack of interested shown by your administration.

For the above expressed and unless this situation is immediately solved we will not visit Parana and we will tell everybody we know about it.

==================================

11. Atlanta Puppy-Baking Trial Date Set For 1/29/07

REPLY DIRECTLY TO: gadove2003 [at] juno.com

ATTEND 1/29 BAKED-PUPPY TRIAL IN ATLANTA, GA:

WHAT: Superior Court Trial – Justin and Joshua Moulder, Felony Animal Cruelty + 10 other charges including burglary, terrorist threats, vandalism

WHEN: Beginning Mon. Jan. 29, 2007 at 9:30 AM ET. Jury Selection begins. Actual trial begins with the opening statements. TBA at a later date.

WHERE: Fulton County Justice Tower
Room 4-E, Judge Thelma Wyatt Moore
136 Pryor Street SW; Atlanta, GA 30303; 404-730-4981
(Take 85 South, to Exit 248 A, MLK and State Capitol, keep left.
Turn left on Pryor Street SW. Parking is approx $12.00 for entire day.)

RSVP FOR TRIAL: Amanda Prentice, 404-285-5707 or gadove2003 [at] juno.com

New trial set in puppy torture case; Atlanta brothers charged with killing animal in oven

1/12/07 — Two brothers accused of torturing and killing a small puppy by stuffing it into a gas oven will be retried beginning Jan. 29.

The first trial of Justin and Joshua Moulder ended last month in a hung jury because one juror refused to convict the two young men, 19 and 17 respectively.

They face up to 85 years in prison if convicted on the series of charges stemming from the incident last August at the Englewood Manor apartments in northwest Atlanta.

Police say the two young men broke into the apartment complex community center, trashed the place and stuffed the live, three-month-old puppy into a gas oven.

The grisly nature of the death endured by the puppy brought intense public interest to the case, including animal activists who flocked to the Fulton County courthouse to follow the case. The first case took about two weeks, including time to seat a jury.

CONTACT INFORMATION TO PROTEST:

PETITION – Seeking Felony Indictment for Puppy’s Torturous Death

BLOG – Puppy Tortured, Baked To Death In Georgia
This blog will provide you with all the updates on this case as they occur.

Paul Howard Jr., DA, Fulton County District Attorney
Fulton County District Attorneys Office
136 Pryor Street, SW, Third Floor; Atlanta, GA 30303
ph: 404-730-4981; fax: 404-730-4785
email: Paul.Howard [at] FultonCountyGA.gov, stopcruelty [at] atlantahumane.org
Thank Fulton DA Paul Howard for his conviction that felony animal cruelty is a very serious crime.

The Honorable Sonny Perdue, Governor, State of Georgia
203 State Capitol; Atlanta, Georgia 30334
ph: 404-656-1776; fax: 404-657-7332
web email: www.gov.state.ga.us/contact_dom.shtml

The Hon. Rep. Glenn Richardson
Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives
PO Box 1750; Hiram, Georgia 30141
email: glenn.richardson [at] house.ga.gov

The Hon. Rep. Bob Holmes
PO Box 110009; Atlanta, Georgia 30311-3203
email: carglor9 [at] cs.com

RELATED KINSHIP CIRCLE LINKS:

9/10/06 – Justice For Puppy Baked Alive In Oven

==================================

12. Romania: Urge Press To Cover Crimes Against Animals

REPLY TO DIRECTLY TO: Cornwall’s Voice For Animals, cvfa.uk [at] virgin.net

BACKGROUND:

Please read the story and see photos:

DOGS IN ROMANIA

protectiaanimalelor.ro/atrocities_glina.html

CONTACT INFORMATION TO PROTEST

Urge the following news media to cover these horrific crimes on animals.

redactia [at] romanialibera.ro, ziua [at] ziua.ro, redactia [at] ziarulcn.com, dan.constantin [at] jurnalul.ro, marina.constantinoiu [at] jurnalul.ro, valentin.zaschievici [at] jurnalul.ro, victor.ciutacu [at] jurnalul.ro, marius.tuca [at] jurnalul.ro, cristina.botezatu [at] evz.ro, webmaster [at] evenimentulzilei.ro, ctp [at] gandul.info, office [at] gardianul.ro, adrian.halpert [at] adevarulonline.ro, ruxandra.negrea [at] azi.ro, valentin.bolocan [at] curierulnational.ro

==================================

13. Animal Activist’s Home Raided

REPLY TO DIRECTLY TO: ADLLA, adlla [at] animaldefense.com

EDITED FOR LENGTH

BACKGROUND:

1/12/07, from adlla [at] animaldefense.co — Animal Rescuer and Rights Activist’s Home Raided, Computer and Camera Taken, SPCA-LA Takes Retribution For Activist Critical of LA Animal Services / LOS ANGELES — The home of Zsuzsa Blakely, long-time rescuer and animal rights activist, was raided paramilitary style on January 10 by fifteen SPCA-LA thugs with guns drawn who threw her to the floor, slammed her head into a bookcase, handcuffed her, threatened to use a Taser on her, locked her inside an SPCA-LA vehicle for two hours, seized animals who were slated for execution at the department of Los Angeles Animal Services at the zero hour, and confiscated her computer and camera.

The search warrant listed an alleged complaint made by a neighbor to SPCA-LA. SPCA-LA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles) is a local and private organization headed by Madeline Bernstein who runs the high kill ‘shelter’ in Long Beach.) But even an alleged complaint by a neighbor should not incur a raid with drawn guns and physical violence. Why confiscate the computer and camera utilized to post Internet pleas to rescue groups nationwide in a heartfelt last-ditch attempt to save animals whom the department of Los Angeles Animal Services (LAAS) makes little to no effort to adopt? Our hypothesis is that such pleas are injurious to the image of its narcissistic, murderous General Manager and the many apathetic, lazy and smug employees who work under him at the department of LAAS.

What seems salient is that Zsuzsa is an OUTSPOKEN and VERY VOCAL CRITIC of the Department of LAAS. She tirelessly devotes many hours taking photographs of animals slated to be killed and subsequently emailing pleas across the nation for their rescue. (The plea for Edgar – one of the many dogs who were killed last week – was dispatched by Ms. Blakely.) An organization in Minnesota called in response, placed a hold on Edgar by phone at the shelter, and sent a representative in LA to bail him out that day. When the representative arrived thirty minutes later, Edgar had already been killed. Ms. Blakely exposed this among many others, to thousands over the internet and sending pictures of Edgar across the Nation…

A spokesperson for Animal Defense League Los Angeles (ADL-LA) – who also has been highly critical of the massive, unabated slaughter transpiring at LAAS – commented: “It is obvious that taking her computer and camera were designed to obstruct her ability to continue highlighting the unnecessary and prolific killing going on in the LAAS Death Camps. For this reason, it is suspected by the humane and animal rights communities that Ed Boks – General Manager (GM) of the department of LAAS – is the incontrovertible author of this unconscionable raid.”

Ms. Blakely’s dogs remain incarcerated at the high-kill SPCA facility in Hawthorne. Their fate is currently unknown to any but the head of SPCA-LA Madeline Bernstein… We will give you updates on this situation as it unfolds.

==================================

14. A Stockyard Filled With Sad Brown Eyes

REPLY TO DIRECTLY TO: Cyndi Smith, cyndiob [at] bellsouth.net

My Vacation – What Sadness

I went on vacation and what did I see
A stockyard filled with sad brown eyes
Looking straight at me

I saw baby calves
With their umbilical cords
Struggling to walk in the mud filled with urine
Laying near rotten onions
Their mother’s bodies caked in mud

Big beautiful houses with a wall
Sit across the street from it all
Suffering animals across the street
Suffering animals that people will eat

Their windows face the stockyard
Every day and every night
Why isn’t something done
Do they think this is right?

I went on vacation and more did I see
Cows coated with mud
Made from urine and feces
It hadn’t rained for five days or more,
I knew that the mud was not from rain
The thought of this brings so much pain
I lie awake through the lonely night
Thinking to myself
Why do people think this is right?

I went on vacation
To a place that is thought to be beautiful
To a place that is thought to be fun
But that beauty was turned to horror
As I watched the stockyard filled with mud and bird droppings,
I saw homeless begging for money on the streets
This place that is thought to be beautiful
This place that is thought to be fun
The place that is thought to be glamorous
Las Vegas – growing, growng, way to fast
The sadness showing more and more
The homeless showing more and more
And the stockyard showing more and more

This city of beauty? No a city of greed, of uncaring eyes, of uncaring hearts
Never again will this place be seen by my eyes
Because my eyes have seen the ugliness
It can’t be hidden away – and I hope that soon
Some others will see, and I can only hope some changes will be………….

Be Kind To Animals, it’s their world too! Cynthia Smith

==================================

15. PETITIONS TO SIGN

Stop CRUEL LEGHOLD TRAPPING in the Basha Kill

Straydogs in Turkey

Justice for SnowBall

No to Animal Experimentation in Israel Cosmetic Industry

Maximum Sentencing for Martin Gray Spivey, alleged dog killer

Mistreated Animals in South East Asia

Philippines: Save Man’s Best Friend from the Dog Meat Trade – Say YES to House Bill 2991

Changing The Animal Euthanization Laws In Georgia

Japan’s Cats & Dogs Need Our Help

Join The World and Outlaw Declawing of Animals

Stop Official Cruelty Against Animals In The Anti-Rabies Centers [Mexico]!

Stop Live Dog Burning Tests In China

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare action alerts kinship circle dog canine cat feline cow bovine julia sharp israel animal research vivisection cosmetics serbia animal rescue strays bullfighting dogsledding animal abuse petitions the petition site Iditarod shac7 argentina horse Zsuzsa Blakely activism censorship first amendment freedom of speech

I wish,

For every dog
searching trash cans for breakfast,
a filled bowl with his name printed in bright letters.

For every dog
who slept fitfully last night, chained in a frozen yard, a soft, warm
bed with a person snoring gently nearby.

For every shelter dog,
spending Christmas morning in a soiled run, a forever home, filled with
sounds and smells of family.

For every “Christmas” puppy given today,
a tolerant, caring owner
who won’t abandon you
as you grow into a real dog.

For every ailing pet,
enough money for your owner
to pay the bills to make you well.

For every lost dog,
a clear, safe road, and well marked path,
to lead you home.

For every old and tired friend,
a warm fire, and a soft bed,
to ease your aches and pains.

and

For every Heart Dog at the Bridge,
a moment when you know that you
are remembered today,
missed again,
and loved forever.

- Author unknown

(Via.)

—————-

Tagged: animals animal+rights poem rescue animal+rescue shelters animal+shelters adoption animal+adoption dogs canines cats felines christmas x-mas volunteer donate foster rainbow+bridge love companion+animals