My Dogs Come First

Nepal arrests 500 Tibetan protestors

2008-04-17T23:43:00.006-04:00

It is no secret that Nepal subscribes to the One-China theory - it's like living within reach of the joke: "What do you feed a 900 pound gorilla? Anything it wants!"

With China acting the thug, not much Nepal can do, they have caved before. The Office of Dalai Lama's Representative in Nepal and the Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office were ordered closed "since they were functioning without being registered with the government" in 2005.

What are 500 protestors to that?

China closes border between Nepal and Tibet

2008-04-17T22:32:00.008-04:00

The Associated Press is saying that the Chinese have closed the border between Nepal and Tibet and are acting the thug on Nepalese soil.

From what the article says it is felt that China might exert pressure Nepal to crack down on some of the 20,000 estimated Tibetan exiles who do not have legal status in Nepal.

Doesn't look like it's going to get any better anytime soon.

Let's do it again!

2008-03-26T00:16:00.014-04:00

In 1980, I was tickled that the summer olympics were going to be held in Moscow. I was in Germany at the time, U.S. Army with a Top Secret and higher clearance and an interesting occupation which I discovered would prevent me from attending. I was bummed.

And then, it didn't matter. The U.S. boycotted, along with more than 50 other countries because of the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Now, according to the Australian Herald Sun, more than 130 have been killed in two weeks of protest in Tibet. It says that China has called for the world to unite in opposition to any campaigns linking the Games to Tibet or any other political issue. Right.

So I find it funny that this comes to a head on 10 March: The 49th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising, a date when an anti-Chinese and anti-Communist popular revolt erupted in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet and the Dalai Lama fled to exile in India.

But even earlier this year, on 12 February, Steven Spielberg made a statement to the press as to why he pulled out as one of the artistic advisors to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games. Props to him.

Now on the world front, some say [read Fiji] that this is an internal matter for the Chinese government to deal with. China is also known to have a policy of non-interference with other countries' internal affairs. But look what they're doing in Darfur...

Sux to be China. The world is watching and the Olympics is only a few months away. Best to get your human rights hats on... Nah. That'll never happen.

Boycott. Let's do it again.

Oh. This opinion bit by Andrew Bolt of the Herald Sun is brilliant. Almost makes me agree... Nah.

Boycott the 2008 Olympics

2008-03-22T17:41:00.002-04:00

I have a friend in India and while a coworker was waltzing through Bangkok on vacay, I was looking up information on travel requirements to India, Thailand and Tibet. Then Tibet blew up the next Monday and China is now threatening the "shattering of the conspiracy and sabotaging activities of the 'Tibet independence' forces."

I say raise the cry of "Free Tibet" and the free countries of the world should boycott the Beijing Olympics. CNN has a good article here

Lovely sentiment for St. Patrick's day...

2008-03-14T18:49:00.002-04:00

Any day for that matter!

The glass is not half empty. The glass is not half full. You just need to add ice. - Anonymous.

Sick pets?

2008-03-14T18:16:00.010-04:00

On one of the e-mail lists I belong to, someone alerted us to this Web link: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/pets/nutro.html.
It seems there are issues with the brand Nutro that have people writing and complaining to the consumer affairs Web site. These are new issues - not linked back to the 2007 dog food recall. These also are DRY DOG FOOD issues - not canned.
If you feed this dog food and feel that recently there is something not right with your pet's world - be sure to check this link out.

Tags: dry dog food, pet food recall, sick pets and consumer affairs

2008-02-27T18:03:00.000-05:00

"Believe there is a great power silently working all things for good, behave
yourself and never mind the rest."

Beatrix Potter
1866-1943, Author and Illustrator

Silence is a sin

2008-02-21T23:39:00.000-05:00

"To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men." ~Abraham
Lincoln

Liberty and justice for all...

2008-02-09T23:19:00.000-05:00

"Trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty." John Adams 1772

Blackberry Curve 8320 blogging testdrive...

2008-02-08T22:13:00.000-05:00

Too cool! I had no idea that (1) I could do this with my BB, and (2) that it would be so EASY. Whee!

Thanks go to Trent Vanegas of Pink is the New Blog for making me see that it IS possible.

Photo for 7 February 2008

2008-02-07T10:11:00.000-05:00

This has been a very long week and I feel like an ear infection is coming on... blech. Guess a run to the doctor is in order this morning.
This is the best photo I have ever gotten of Pris [sometimes called Martha Steward when she rearranges MY world]. She was in 'intruder alert detection' mode when I caught this. She has gotten more protective since Elba passed in a move to prove she deserves that job. So far, I have resisted making a decision as to who gets elevated to the divan.

Tags: Rottweiler, photo of the day, rescue

Musings and photo for today...

2008-02-06T00:22:00.000-05:00

Very long day at work with the promise of another very long day tomorrow. I wish I could retire... no WAIT! I already did that and look where it got me: In harness again. I really do enjoy it, though.

This cardinal was watching as I had repairs done to my well. It blew a gasket and so I was having it replaced. A simple enough repair that costs about a dollar a minute. This guy stood out like a sore thumb and I went inside to get my camera. Still there when I got back, he was chillin' no cats were in sight and he wasn't excited enough to toss up his crest.
A vibrant spot of color in a drab winter burned landscape.

Tags: photo of the day

Here's another thought in the owner vs. guardian conversation...

2008-02-05T00:30:00.000-05:00

I read this earlier today when I was at work and researching quotes for something I'm working on. Consider this opinion of a Founding Father:

"The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence. Property must be sacred or liberty cannot exist." - John Adams.

Of course, he doesn't start or end there, but like everyone else I take what applies to my moment in time :)

Interestingly enough, the quote comes from "The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States" written by his grandson, Charles Francis Adams which has been digitized by those wonderful folks at Google and can be found by clicking >here<.

Tags: pet guardian, pet owner

Guardian vs. ownership

2008-02-02T13:31:00.000-05:00

I belong to a group of dog owners who are active in legislation. I was asked today to put together a few lines on my feelings toward the coming skirmish of words in the proposed adoption of the term guardian vs. owner.

This is where I stand.

I paid for my dogs… I own them. As personal property, I am responsible for their care and protection from the moment I bought them until the day they die.

In the eyes of the law, it doesn’t matter that I love them as family… I am their owner and responsible for their actions.

Ownership as a term indicates legal possession; by definition ownership is a state or fact of an exclusive possession or control of property.

Guardian is a term that refers to an individual that has appointed custodial, temporary care. I don’t believe the 12 to 14 years in the life of a pet family member qualifies as "temporary."

Rights by law

An owner, by law, is responsible for their property. A guardian on the other hand has limited rights of possession that may be temporary when compared to the rights of an owner.

An individual who owns property has rights under the U.S. Constitution not to be deprived of said property without Due Process… which can require more proof to remove property, in this case an animal, than from a guardian.

Easy come - easy go

A guardian can, for all intents and purposes, be quickly appointed - and - just as easily removed from guardian status by a judge without a hearing or trial. If someone does not feel that the guardian is doing their job, they may be removed.

Once the guardian is gone, theoretically the animal reverts to the state control. It is my opinion that in a situation where there are no owners, only guardians, there will be such a flood of animals that the contested animals will be euthanized. How can that be to the best interest of the animal?

Third party complaints

As in EEO complaints, a third person who witnesses an event or situation can become involved without being directly associated. Any person or entity can petition a judge or court to remove a guardian. By law, an owner cannot be so removed.

An owner who has had property confiscated, is entitled by law to participate in and oppose legal proceedings. By law he is entitled to know the evidence against him and is entitled to present a defense.

Not so with a guardian.

And that is why I own my dogs and will be responsible for their care and protection until the day they die.

Tags: pet guardian, pet owner

Tubby Turned Twelve Today :)

2008-02-02T13:25:00.000-05:00

The birthday boy turned 12-years-old today.

Tags: Rottweilers, senior dogs

It must be a full moon - no, wait, that was Feb. 2...

2007-02-07T22:09:00.001-05:00

Another priceless, unknown author piece. Did you write it? E-mail me and I'll give you credit.

Please help!! After two long years of being on a waiting list for an agility dog, we have been notified by the breeder that, at long last, our number has come up and ... WE ARE HAVING A PUPPY!!

We must get rid of our children IMMEDIATELY because we just know how time consuming our new little puppy is going to be and it just wouldn't be fair to the children. Since our little puppy will be arriving on Monday we MUST place the children into rescue this weekend.

They are described as:

One male - His name is Tommy, Caucasian (English/Irish mix), light blond hair, blue eyes. Four years old. Excellent disposition. He doesn't bite. Temperament tested. Does have problems with peeing directly in the toilet. Has had Chicken Pox and is current on all shots. Tonsils have already been removed. Tommy eats everything, is very clean, house trained & gets along well with others. Does not run with scissors and with a little training he should be able to read soon.

One female - her name is Lexie, Caucasian (English/Irish mix), strawberry blonde hair, green eyes, quite freckled. Two years old. Can be surly at times. Almost non-biter (may be protective of her toys), thumb sucker. Has been temperament tested but needs a little attitude adjusting occasionally. She is current on all shots, tonsils out, is very healthy, and can be affectionate. Gets along well with other little girls & little boys but does not like to share her toys and would therefore do best in a one-child household. She is a very quick learner and is currently working on her house training - shouldn't take long at all.

We really do LOVE our children so much and want to do what's right for them; that is why we contacted a rescue group. But we simply can no longer keep them. Also, we are afraid that they may hurt our new puppy.

I hope you understand that ours is a UNIQUE situation and we have a real emergency here!! They MUST be placed in rescue by Sunday night at the latest, or we will be forced to drop them off at the orphanage or along some dark, country road. That would break our heart, but our priority now has to be our new puppy.

Tags: rescue, adoption

Substitute "Pit Bull" with whatever dog breed you own before you watch this.

2007-02-07T11:24:00.000-05:00

Dedicated to the Denver 38

Tags: Denver 38, Breed Specific Legislation, BSL

And now for something completely different...

2007-02-07T00:07:00.002-05:00

I received this in a e-mail from a friend today and it's too good to keep to myself. No idea of who the author is. Is it you? E-mail me and I'll give you credit. :)

I was in Wal-Mart buying a large bag of Purina for Lola [my dog] and was standing in the check out line. A woman behind me asked if I had a dog.

I was feeling a bit crabby so on impulse, I told her no, I was starting the Purina Diet again, although I probably shouldn't because the last time I tried it I ended up in the hospital, but that I had lost 50 pounds before I awakened in the intensive care unit with tubes coming out of almost everywhere and IV's in both arms.

Her eyes about bugged out of her head.

I went on and on with the bogus diet story and she was totally buying it. I told her that it was an easy, inexpensive diet and that the way it works is to just load your pockets or purse with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The package says the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again.

I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a tall guy behind her.

Horrified, she asked if I thought something in the dog food had poisoned me and was that why I ended up in the hospital.

I said no. I was sitting in the road licking my butt when a car hit me.

I thought the tall guy was going to have to be carried out the door.

Tags: dogs, diet, dog food diet, humor

And now for a little action against breed specific legislation

2007-02-06T22:56:00.000-05:00

If you own a dog - you need to be aware of Breed Specific Legislation and what it means to you. For your consideration:

Joint Initiative: Between The Doberman Pinscher Club of America and The American Rottweiler Club presents Operation: Doolittle's Raid

The Legislative Committees of the Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA) and The American Rottweiler Club (ARC) have recognized what every member of the purebred dog fancy has noticed over the past several years. With increasing frequency, legislative bodies in our cities, counties, and states throughout this country have seemingly become hostile to the interests of purebred dog lovers in the United States. Indeed, the passage of the egregious anti-dog legislation in Louisville, Kentucky within the past several weeks has raised the stakes substantially for us.

Anti-breeder legislation is picking up steam. It is in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It has been introduced in the state of Indiana. It is metastasizing throughout the country. We cannot merely fight a defensive struggle and expect that our interests will be preserved. All too often, our members have been faced with struggles on another front. Liability and homeowners insurance companies increasingly refuse to insure, or even cancel, those of us who own purebred dogs despite the responsibility that we take in raising and housing our loving members of our families, and regardless of the fact that our dogs have never had an incident resulting in any claim being filed with our insurance carriers.

DPCA and ARC know this. The American Kennel Club knows this. The AKC Legislative Department does an outstanding job in working with all of us in very difficult circumstances. The problem of fighting against anti-dog legislation in every state and every city cannot be solved at the national level. AKC can only do so much. It is up to each of us to step forward at this time.

People ask: "what can I do?" They see anti-dog legislation everywhere they turn.

They hear stories of insurance companies canceling policies, forcing their friends and family to make choices. Do I give up my dogs? Do I move somewhere where I may be left alone?

These are choices none of us should have to make.

Now is the time for us to go on offense.

Now is the time for us to take the lead.

Now is the time to advance our cause rather than to wait for the next anti-dog bill to threaten us.

DPCA and ARC have launched Operation: Doolittle's Raid. In Washington state, HB 1105 has again been introduced in the Washington House of Representatives. This bill, the "Deeds Not the Breeds Bill", twice passed the House of Representatives. In 2005, the bill made it through the House and received a hearing in the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Consumer Protection Committee. We ran out of time in that session.

Now, the "Deeds Not the Breeds Bill" is moving again. On Thursday, February 1, 2007, HB 1105 passed out of the House Insurance Committee. The prime sponsor of HB 1105 is Representative Tom Campbell who is the Chair of the House Committee on Environmental Health.

HB 1105 is very simple. It is one paragraph long. It simply prevents insurance carriers from refusing to insure or canceling the insurance of any homeowner based upon the breed of dog he or she owns. Its simplicity is transferable to other states.

The DPCA and ARC have committed in Operation Doolittle's Raid to persuade legislators in 20 states to introduce HB 1105 during the month of February. We will strike in 20 states simultaneously. For once, we will be on offense. For once, we will make insurance carriers have to defend themselves on multiple fronts. For once, we will control the agenda instead of the agenda controlling us.

Now is the time. For those who have asked what you can do, we have an answer.

Call your state legislator. Meet with him or her at his or her office. Invite him or her to your local shows as a "Distinguished Awards Presenter" to present the Group or Best in Show trophies. Provide him or her with a copy of the "Deeds Not the Breeds Bill", which is the purpose of our initiative which we have titled Operation: Doolittle's Raid. Ask him or her to introduce the bill immediately.

Here is a link to the bill: http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1105.pdf.

Lastly, once the bill is introduced in your state legislature, we need to know so that we can assist you to publicize that the bill has been introduced in your state. We are now in the process of populating the DPCA LobbyNow Tool with Talking Points to use in the battle that is to come. Our Doolittle's Raid, like the original, is designed to be a daring move intended to shock our adversaries. The DPCA and the ARC need the help of committed purebred dog fanciers throughout the United States, in many different breeds, to launch this initiative successfully.

Cordially,

Jeffrey P. Helsdon
Legislative Director
Doberman Pinscher Club Of America
JURISDOBES@aol.com

Jan Cooper
Legislative Director
American Rottweiler Club
jan4rott@rott-n-chatter.com

Posted with permission ;)

Tags: Rottweilers, Breed Specific Legislation, BSL

Update on simple things...

2007-02-05T12:07:00.000-05:00

I am still a non-smoker, I think it's been a year and 5 months...

I decided in mid December to do something about my post-smoking weight gain and enrolled in LA Weight Loss. I'm not going the route with having to purchase and eat their bars so it's a slow and steady loss. That's an interesting situation in itself. . .

With the diet alone, I am now officially NOT overweight as I have dropped into the 150s.

Not to be complacent, I have 15 more pounds to loose to reach to my goal, so to complement the diet, I joined Contours Express and have been ripping off the padding from the outside while the diet takes care of the inside :)

Every little bit helps.

Tory and Pig Boy

2007-02-05T11:51:00.000-05:00

Tory is so proud of himself he could just spit.

He turned 11 years old Friday, Feb. 2 and has still got it! :)

At about 12:40 a.m. Monday [today] I heard someone outside the house, and it sounded like someone was trying to break into the van. Not metallic noises... muffled ones. Thumps and sounds of movement.

I grabbed my cell phone, put a collar on Tory and sent him out the door with me right behind him.

Tory interrupted a wild boar, bigger than he is [and he's 27 inches at the shoulder and 120 pounds]!

Pig Boy obviously wasn't breaking into the van but doing something that made enough noise that I responded.

He took off and Tory followed but stopped when I called him back. He wasn't sure what the hell that was but wanted to find out.

Gotta say, I've been wondering what has been rooting around in the yard but I thought it was armadillos....

Merry Christmas

2006-12-25T21:17:00.000-05:00

We are fine, the dogs are still here - Elba is officially 12.5 years old next Sunday! The cat that came in from the cold is still here, getting to be a big boy - can't really call him a Tom because he's missing the requisite equipment. Guess that would make him a Harry cat. Piggles the cockatoo is still fine... and I've been quit from smoking over 15 months.

More later... time to go finish working on a Christmas project.

Hurricane season continues

2006-08-30T16:09:00.001-04:00

Boo. This morning I woke up to no Interet access - but by the time I finally got in to the phone number to bitch, it was back up. I unplug my modem and wireless when the computer is off after having the first router I ever hooked up toasted by a storm. Toasted the WAN side of the modem, too. So it wasn't on my end.

Anyway, this had been a tense few days leading up to a grand fizzle.

Don't get me wrong, I love fizzles like this.

Gotta admit, a bit of light rain beats a hurricane - of any catagory - any day. Doppler graphic is courtesy of www.tbo.com and pretty much shows just how this system has come and gone. It has now been reduced to a tropical depression and there is very little orange or red intensity in the rain bands. I've heard no thunder... just light rain.

Nice.

I take that back... ver light thunder in the distance - but it's [knocking on wood] not the red or magenta kind.

Tags: hurricanes, tropical storm Ernesto

Elba and the Alarm Clock

2006-08-21T11:02:00.000-04:00

Elba and the Alarm Clock
Originally uploaded by newsgrrl.

Finally have photos of all the dogs up. Elba is in the background and Vain, known as the house Alarm Clock and conscience, is pictured to the front. Vain is 9 years old and is Tory's half brother... they share the same sire.

Vain is the dog that started me in carting. He has two titles in carting and took third in his first trial at the 2002 American Rottweiler Club Nationals in his division - first time off the property in a cart.

Payback for siblings is everything... Tory was put in harness for three training periods and he went with Vain to Miami to compete in carting trial, both were shown off-lead. Tory beat Vain by seconds and took first place to Vain's second.

Sweet.

Tags: dogs, Rottweilers and senior dogs

Semi-svelt and semi-content

2006-08-20T22:09:00.000-04:00

I was at lunch with my sister and a friend today. The friend is sehr petite and going to Weight Watchers. My sister is getting ready to do something in regards to weight reduction and me? I'm keeping my diet below 1,300 calories at max - mostly trying to stay below 1,000 and debating starting with a real program. I need to say that I am not overweight for my height... but I weigh more than I want to.

One of the nice things about alot of places is that most have Web sites and most of those have nutrition listings available for what they serve. So it helps you to know that that regular DQ Mocha Moo you've decided to have in order to pacify your dark side is more than half your caloric allotment for the day ringing in at 590 calories. Hey, at least I'm looking.

Eating at Mimi's with an iced tea and a Thai Chicken wrap was within my range... I guess. Unlike most - Mimi's only offers caloric information on it's lifestyle fare. BFD. Anyway, sitting there regaling in the flavor I realized that tomorrow it will be 11 months since I quit smoking. Go me!

I wish I could 'undo the velcro and toss out the padding.' I gained the requisite 20 pounds and have been able to shake off 7. I need go back to Curves, I've not been there in about a month. Not that Curves does it all... but it does keep me active until I can get it together to start running or biking.

One of the things I do to keep me grounded - I keep a food journal which keeps me honest and is such a pain in the ass. I don't even try to record the caloric amounts anymore to the things that are 'questionable' - I just highlight them to let me know I know what I'm doing, and I also read the diet-blog.

Tags: diet, nutritional information and quit smoking