This made me cry

Thank you to all the men and women who risk their lives every day to protect mine.

Happy Memorial Day

Update Row the Akita

Here is Row, May 8, 2010, still waiting. He is blowing his coat and could use a good brushing - that will never happen. He will not feel a brush through his coat while he is at this "shelter".

Row has had his hearing continued to May 20, 2010. He still has not been outside. He still has had NO HUMAN CONTACT beyond a food bowl being put into his kennel.

His owner whined and complained that Row was going to have to be in a metal dungeon. Well what the @$#% is this? At least if he were taken home, his kennel could be outside so he could see the sun, yes, it would need a cover of some kind - but that cover could be made of the same chain link as the fence. He could see the sun, smell fresh air feel a little rain on his coat. He could be confined to his HOME inside a HOUSE with his people - if they gave a rat's ass.

But they don't, so my heart continues to bleed for this dog who is waiting, happy to see people when they pass his kennel...until the day that they stop.

May 20 - 8 more days.

Mary Wild Hearing

I received this email from the state of Missouri today:

This email is to inform you of an upcoming court event involving the defendant MARY WILD and court case number 09JECR02236. A(n) Pre trial Conference has been scheduled for 5/24/2010 at 8:30 AM. This will take place in Jefferson, Division 11 Courtroom located at: 300 Main Street in Hillsboro, MO 63050.

I have not forgotten Jersey and the torture she went through as she lay dying in an overheated van during a heat wave in Mary Wild's yard. Mary slept in air conditioned comfort inside the house, while 8 dogs suffocated in that van with no water, no air...7 died. Jersey was one of them.

Mary Wild is showing again, people have seen her - breeders have paid her - have THEY forgotten?

Snow Play

I can't believe I forgot to post this - this was about a month ago - the last big storm we had...guess the pups thought it was okay!

Row Waits

Well, Row the Akita still resides in a Brevard County Florida Animal Shelter. He is still waiting for a court date. He is waiting for a visit from his "concerned and loving" owner.

The wheels of the court system grind slowly; mean while Row waits.

HSUS Fraud?

Nationwide Poll: Seven Out of Ten Americans Wrongly Believe the Humane Society of the United States is a Pet-Shelter "Umbrella Group"

"Consumer Group Reminds Americans that Less than One Percent of Donations to HSUS Benefit Local Pet Shelters
WASHINGTON, March 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Seventy-one percent of Americans questioned in a new opinion poll wrongly believe the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is an "umbrella group" for America's local humane societies. Sixty-three percent incorrectly think their local "humane society" is affiliated with HSUS. And fifty-nine percent falsely believe HSUS "contributes most of its money" to local organizations that care for cats and dogs."

Click to read the entire article

Row Update

As promised I have spoken to people at the shelter where Row is being held.

They say that he is nervous, but that is common among dogs that are in quarantine - Row sees only the feeder and kennel cleaner during the day - the public is kept away from that part of the shelter. They have 7 dogs there right now. I am told that he is given treats but has no interest in toys.

The person I spoke to works 6 days a week and said that to her knowledge, Mr Scott has not been to visit the dog. Neither has she heard of any incident that the dog has shown aggression towards any handlers. That is not to say that Row is not a dangerous dog, I am just reporting the facts.

I have a little more info about his kennel run. The run seen in the picture is called the front run, he has an additional run behind the door in the back which is larger and he is allowed to move between the two. However, neither run goes outside. Row has not seen the sun since the day he was brought to the shelter. I am also told that he is moved from one run to the other for kennel cleaning - I will find out exactly how that is accomplished once I have spoken to his kennel cleaner. I asked if the kennel was just hosed and was told they only do that of the dog shows aggression to handlers - so far Row has not.

He has a Kuranda bed which is up off the floor and a quilt to sleep on. He is eating and drinking okay, has not lost weight that anyone has noticed.

I am a little dubious about what I was told given the history of this shelter, I don't know, I can't go there to see for myself. The person I spoke with sounded very sincere and was careful to state that she could not discuss the "case" but she seemed okay discussing the dog. If nothing else the spotlight we are putting on Brevard County and the shelter, because of Row, may improve the standard of care that other animals receive now and in the future. At least that will be one good thing to come out of this...Did I really just say that, gad, there is nothing good coming from this nothing good at all...There is no silver lining.