Something else I started thinking about today was the idea of - how we've allowed mainstream society to build up such a hatred - such a negative view of pet ownership, but at the same time every day there's something in that same mainsteam news media about how wonderful pet ownership is - about how a companion animal has saved a family member from sure death, or how important pet ownership is to general health, or how good seeing eye dogs are - it's such a dichotomy. It's a dilly of a pickle. A conundrum.
And I don't have the answer to the question of how the 2 ideas can co-exist - how we can hate pet ownership and think that companion animals shouldn't be out in the public landscape and yet recognize how important they are to our mental health and filling out of a full life.
I'm open to ideas. Even dog haters can pipe in.
Category: [Charlie loves Halifax]
Category: [Dog Culture]
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Further on my thinking about shopping with dogs
I had an email from a friend who said she's on the fence about stores who cater to the dog community and allowing dogs into their store - she could see both sides of the equation because no one wants to lose product to dogs lifting their legs and peeing on stuff they're trying to sell.
I said that Personally I don't think there's any sitting on the fence. I think
that there's loss in every kind of business. If a person opens a business selling children's clothing they can't ban children from the store because kids are ruining the product. It's just not possible because parents wouldn't allow it. If a person opened a pottery business they wouldn't ban people from making pottery in their store
because it started to become too messy. But because people are too willing to believe that dogs don't belong out in public they're willing to let people who own dog-related businesses to let them ban dogs from those businesses - and I say those days are past. I am going to stand up for my dog who deserves to be with me and all the other dogs who deserve to be with their owners - and call those business owners what they are - hypocrites.
A lot of the stores that I mention on my shopping page that are just normal stores that allow dogs are store owners themselves who have emailed me saying that they'd heard about my site and they wanted to let me know that they love dogs and they WANTED to be listed a place that allows dogs! So why is that? There is a quilting store that I go to on the Bedford highway that the lady who works there says she PREFERS dogs to children because when kids come in they're always messing up her button displays and it drives her to distraction. Now THAT'S a retailer I LOVE!
So that's the reality that I've chosen to believe in - and it seems that some of the local dog store owners have chosen another. That's too bad - there's lots of places where you can still get great dog stuff and have your dog with you. Spend your money judiciously because it's the 21st century and we want it to be a DOG-FRIENDLY century, don't we!
Category: [Dog Culture]
Category: [Charlie loves Halifax]
I said that Personally I don't think there's any sitting on the fence. I think
that there's loss in every kind of business. If a person opens a business selling children's clothing they can't ban children from the store because kids are ruining the product. It's just not possible because parents wouldn't allow it. If a person opened a pottery business they wouldn't ban people from making pottery in their store
because it started to become too messy. But because people are too willing to believe that dogs don't belong out in public they're willing to let people who own dog-related businesses to let them ban dogs from those businesses - and I say those days are past. I am going to stand up for my dog who deserves to be with me and all the other dogs who deserve to be with their owners - and call those business owners what they are - hypocrites.
A lot of the stores that I mention on my shopping page that are just normal stores that allow dogs are store owners themselves who have emailed me saying that they'd heard about my site and they wanted to let me know that they love dogs and they WANTED to be listed a place that allows dogs! So why is that? There is a quilting store that I go to on the Bedford highway that the lady who works there says she PREFERS dogs to children because when kids come in they're always messing up her button displays and it drives her to distraction. Now THAT'S a retailer I LOVE!
So that's the reality that I've chosen to believe in - and it seems that some of the local dog store owners have chosen another. That's too bad - there's lots of places where you can still get great dog stuff and have your dog with you. Spend your money judiciously because it's the 21st century and we want it to be a DOG-FRIENDLY century, don't we!
Category: [Dog Culture]
Category: [Charlie loves Halifax]
Friday, December 30, 2005
The Politics of Dog Culture
I haven't had a good rant in here in a while, and I've been building up a few - so you better batten down the hatches because here they come - not only have I been thinking about my "Charlie loves Halifax website" and why it exists and the philosophy behind it - I've also shut down my "Skip Guysborough" website - and that's going to take some explaining - and let me tell you, I've got an earful to give.
But first, I'm going to give you some thoughts on my "Charlie loves Halifax" website - why I made it, why I continue to maintain it, why I think it's important to local dog culture, and who I think it's for - is it for the businesses that it's generating revenue for? Do I get anything out of making the website? Is it making any difference in the dog community? What DO business owners think about it? What do owners of dog-related businesses who aren't listed think about it? Why aren't they listed?
"Charlie loves Halifax" is looking at nothing less than world domination in terms of changing the way people look at dog ownership. It's rather unfortunate that I happen to live in Halifax, Nova Scotia - because I know that my ideas are never going to come to fruition in my lifetime - but you never know! I might get enough people seeing things my way to make things happen. I truly see my dogs as my lifetime companions - I want to take them with me everywhere that I go - on my daily errands, to my friends' houses - and almost all my friends at this point in my life share my passions, so they let me bring my lifetime canine companions with me. I want to take them shopping with me, I want to take them with me everywhere - because they are my heart and soul and they want to be WITH ME TOO! When we are at Canadian Tire however, they are not there to play with other dogs - they are there as my companions, they are also not there to pee on the merchandise - they know that they only pee on grass, or outside, or on specific things - because as a responsible dog owner - I've taught them that.
I want people to know what stores locally they are allowed to shop at that they can take their dogs in with them - so that they can spend their money there if they want to. Because I think it's really important politically to spend our money judiciously that way. Even if I don't have my dogs with me I go to the Canadian Tire on Quinpool Road because they allow dogs in their store. And I have written them and told them that. When I get takeout Chinese food I always go to Hop Sings on the Herring Cove Road because they let me bring Buttercup in when I pick up my food. It's as simple as that. And I list all those stores on my shopping page.
Now when it comes to stores that CATER to the dog community you'd think it would be a given that they'd allow dogs into their stores, wouldn't you? Well, this is a real dilly of a pickle - those stores are just dropping off like flies and they've got a MILLION excuses as to why they won't let dogs in their stores. The dogs are peeing on their merchandise and they're losing too much money. They can't properly supervise the dogs in their store. Blah blah blah. Do you know what I say to that? BULLSHIT. A store that caters to the dog community that isn't dog-friendly is not going to get one cent of my money. Period. End of story. And I say that in several places on my website and I'll say that as plain as day here - I don't know if I can say it any plainer, or more plainly. There is absolutely no excuse for not allowing humans and their canine life companions in your business if you are trying to sell them items that pertain to those companions. That is absolutely ridiculous - you can give me any excuse you want, I do not buy it, and I am certainly not going to buy your product. What if a human comes into your store and spills their coffee on something - you've got to take the loss of any product that might cause? Or a bratty child pukes on something?
Simply because you are allowed to have a negative view of pet ownership - the very thing that you are trying to PROFIT from - ooh boy - my blood is boiling now - I've got to go make myself a coffee.....
Okay.... so I WANT businesses who DO along dogs in their stores to make lots of money because they do that - to know that their increases are because of that. I would love to build up a whole niche market of dog owners - in fact a whole tourist trade of dog tourism - I think that Halifax would be the perfect spot to have dog tourism - people coming here simply because it's a fabulous place to visit to have a vacation with their dogs - there's places already where they can come to a hotel that caters to people and their dogs - the Westin, or B&B - the Pampered Paws Inn. There's all the outdoor cafes that they could eat at with their dogs, there's the Silva tall ship they could go on, there's lots of places downtown they could go shopping in that allows dogs - and if we had dog tourism worked out properly - even more places would allow dogs, there's doggie day cares that we could have that would allow tourist to drop off their dogs for the evening so that they could go out dining and dancing. It's such a huge dream - but it's such a great dream of what Halifax COULD be - the dog tourism capital of North America - wouldn't that be awesome?
And all it takes is taking away that nasty negative view of pet ownership - just think about the benefits that it would also have for local pet owners too - because of all the positive things that we'd be doing for other people's dogs we could have them for local dogs too.
Anyway, I went off on a tangent and got off my dog culture thing....
For the owners of businesses who cater to the dog community who don't allow dogs in their stores - it seems like they don't like dogs very much - like Carnegy's (Four Feet on the Floor), B&R's, Willows - even places like Old Navy have no reason why you can't take your dog in with you so that you could try their dog coats on - but you can't. It's stupid. And there's no reason for it. And for that reason I will NOT spend any money there. And for that reason I tell other people not to spend money there - and I tell them why I don't spend my money there - and then they can make their own decisions based on that.
Category: [Dog Culture]
Category: [Charlie loves Halifax]
But first, I'm going to give you some thoughts on my "Charlie loves Halifax" website - why I made it, why I continue to maintain it, why I think it's important to local dog culture, and who I think it's for - is it for the businesses that it's generating revenue for? Do I get anything out of making the website? Is it making any difference in the dog community? What DO business owners think about it? What do owners of dog-related businesses who aren't listed think about it? Why aren't they listed?
"Charlie loves Halifax" is looking at nothing less than world domination in terms of changing the way people look at dog ownership. It's rather unfortunate that I happen to live in Halifax, Nova Scotia - because I know that my ideas are never going to come to fruition in my lifetime - but you never know! I might get enough people seeing things my way to make things happen. I truly see my dogs as my lifetime companions - I want to take them with me everywhere that I go - on my daily errands, to my friends' houses - and almost all my friends at this point in my life share my passions, so they let me bring my lifetime canine companions with me. I want to take them shopping with me, I want to take them with me everywhere - because they are my heart and soul and they want to be WITH ME TOO! When we are at Canadian Tire however, they are not there to play with other dogs - they are there as my companions, they are also not there to pee on the merchandise - they know that they only pee on grass, or outside, or on specific things - because as a responsible dog owner - I've taught them that.
I want people to know what stores locally they are allowed to shop at that they can take their dogs in with them - so that they can spend their money there if they want to. Because I think it's really important politically to spend our money judiciously that way. Even if I don't have my dogs with me I go to the Canadian Tire on Quinpool Road because they allow dogs in their store. And I have written them and told them that. When I get takeout Chinese food I always go to Hop Sings on the Herring Cove Road because they let me bring Buttercup in when I pick up my food. It's as simple as that. And I list all those stores on my shopping page.
Now when it comes to stores that CATER to the dog community you'd think it would be a given that they'd allow dogs into their stores, wouldn't you? Well, this is a real dilly of a pickle - those stores are just dropping off like flies and they've got a MILLION excuses as to why they won't let dogs in their stores. The dogs are peeing on their merchandise and they're losing too much money. They can't properly supervise the dogs in their store. Blah blah blah. Do you know what I say to that? BULLSHIT. A store that caters to the dog community that isn't dog-friendly is not going to get one cent of my money. Period. End of story. And I say that in several places on my website and I'll say that as plain as day here - I don't know if I can say it any plainer, or more plainly. There is absolutely no excuse for not allowing humans and their canine life companions in your business if you are trying to sell them items that pertain to those companions. That is absolutely ridiculous - you can give me any excuse you want, I do not buy it, and I am certainly not going to buy your product. What if a human comes into your store and spills their coffee on something - you've got to take the loss of any product that might cause? Or a bratty child pukes on something?
Simply because you are allowed to have a negative view of pet ownership - the very thing that you are trying to PROFIT from - ooh boy - my blood is boiling now - I've got to go make myself a coffee.....
Okay.... so I WANT businesses who DO along dogs in their stores to make lots of money because they do that - to know that their increases are because of that. I would love to build up a whole niche market of dog owners - in fact a whole tourist trade of dog tourism - I think that Halifax would be the perfect spot to have dog tourism - people coming here simply because it's a fabulous place to visit to have a vacation with their dogs - there's places already where they can come to a hotel that caters to people and their dogs - the Westin, or B&B - the Pampered Paws Inn. There's all the outdoor cafes that they could eat at with their dogs, there's the Silva tall ship they could go on, there's lots of places downtown they could go shopping in that allows dogs - and if we had dog tourism worked out properly - even more places would allow dogs, there's doggie day cares that we could have that would allow tourist to drop off their dogs for the evening so that they could go out dining and dancing. It's such a huge dream - but it's such a great dream of what Halifax COULD be - the dog tourism capital of North America - wouldn't that be awesome?
And all it takes is taking away that nasty negative view of pet ownership - just think about the benefits that it would also have for local pet owners too - because of all the positive things that we'd be doing for other people's dogs we could have them for local dogs too.
Anyway, I went off on a tangent and got off my dog culture thing....
For the owners of businesses who cater to the dog community who don't allow dogs in their stores - it seems like they don't like dogs very much - like Carnegy's (Four Feet on the Floor), B&R's, Willows - even places like Old Navy have no reason why you can't take your dog in with you so that you could try their dog coats on - but you can't. It's stupid. And there's no reason for it. And for that reason I will NOT spend any money there. And for that reason I tell other people not to spend money there - and I tell them why I don't spend my money there - and then they can make their own decisions based on that.
Category: [Dog Culture]
Category: [Charlie loves Halifax]
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Teddy needed some rescuing today
It was pretty wet when we were up in the woods because we've had a lot of rain in the last 24 hours - so a lot of precipitation fell and melted any snow that was also on the ground. There was one particular puddle that Teddy made it half-way through - to a rock and then decided he could walk no further. He needed to be rescued. His little almost hairless legs were NOT going to be touching any of that mucky water.
Needless to say he stayed on the ground for only a very short portion of the walk thereafter - he moved to the inside of my coat for the duration of the rest of our exercise for the day.
Needless to say he stayed on the ground for only a very short portion of the walk thereafter - he moved to the inside of my coat for the duration of the rest of our exercise for the day.
Monday, December 26, 2005
Continuing in My Christmas Day Groove
Do you know how hard it is to type when you've got a 10 pound poodle growling at you because you keep moving your fingers and disturbing his sleep? Let me tell you, it's not easy. Anyway, I'll get it figured out eventually - I'll probably get carpal tunnel in my left hand from having a poodle's head glued to it the whole time I'm on the computer, but that's not what this post is about.
I've been continuing to think about what is important in life, and what is being alone, really - and what is happiness - especially from a Buddhist perspective - which is what I am. I turn 40 this year (2006) - so it's really time to drop the bullshit and do something I think.
This past week there was a Barbara Walters special on the tv you might have seen and it was called "What is Heaven" and it had several different faith's and people's ideas of what and where Heaven is and where we go when we die. Buddhism is a little bit different (or my interpretation of it anyway) in that it's a secular philosophy rather than a religion and there's no God figure - it does talk about after you die in that they believe you're born time after time through reincarnation - but as for heaven and hell - that's happening right here - created by you and your karma. And no it's not created solely and completely by Tara Bayne's dog - although I think that there are a lot of doggie vibrations locally caused by him! So heaven and hell is right here right now - depending on how you look at it and react to things happening - not that anything changes - but it's just you that changes.
It's funny that the mythical Shangri-la would be in a place like Tibet isn't it? A place that supposed to be a lush, beautiful jungle like place where everything is pristine and beautiful and colourful and people live peacefully forever and everyone is beautiful and everything is absolutely perfect. Tibet is supposed to be a rocky, craggy, snow covered place where it's so hard to survive because it's winter there all the time - how can these 2 things be in the same place? I think they are in the same place because of the people who live there - Shangri-la and Tibet are one and the same thing - it is through the eyes of the people living there that Shangri-la exists. And because of that I think that Shangri-la can exist anywhere - it can even exist in Spryfield if I want it to.
That's what I want 2006 to be about - dropping away the bullshit and getting back to the meat and potatoes. I hope I haven't gotten too airey fairey for you. The glass is neither half full or half empty - the glass doesn't even half water in it - it is all just an illusion. It all exists, for sure - but it's just a perception. It just is.
And that is why dogs are so important - they just are too. I thought Teddy was a poodle - but he now looks like a schnauzer. I am completely fucked up about it now. What do you think? He was given to me as a purebred toy poodle.
Here's some pictures from yesterday's extended beach romp - Buttercup was feeling very "randy"!
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Christmas Day
Christmas Day I think - whether you're religious or not - is a time to sit down, look around you and take note of the blessings (if you want to call them that)in your life.
I am so lucky to have the dogs I have - sometimes it's hard to convince myself of that fact when I'm cleaning up my latest bite, or walking them at 10 o'clock at night because of the fact that Daisy can't be around other dogs off leash - but life would be so empty without them. So I'd like to thank Maureen Tate for having the faith to give me Teddy and believing that I'd be a good home for him. I'd like to thank Zonda MacIsaac who runs Celtic Pets for letting me adopt Daisy in 2004 after having fostered her for 6 months - for her realizing the depth of Charlie and Daisy's love for each other and knowing that that really was the reason why she couldn't go anywhere else - and also the fact that I'd move heaven and earth to give her a normal life after her having such a shitty start to life. And I'd like to thank Tara Bayne for showing me Buttercup who was back in the observation area of the SPCA's cages in August of 2003 - I took her home that day to foster and she's been with me ever since. I can't breathe without her. And then there's Charlie who I've had the longest - since February of 1999 when he was 3 1/2 months old - also an SPCA dog. My once in a lifetime perfect dog - if I would've stopped with him people would've thought I was the most amazingly talented dog owner and trainer of dogs because he is so absolutely perfect. Too bad I kept going and took in impossibly broken dogs instead and continue to look like a complete idiot on a daily basis. At least Charlie has stayed pretty much perfect.
So as I sit here writing this - perhaps the world is collapsing, but right in front of me laying on both my arms is Teddy - who wants nothing more than to be in those arms 24 hours a day, and will bite to show his disapproval when he's not. But directly to my left is the most perfect example of a soulmate dog who looks at me like in this picture where I'm giving her head a scratch, and licks my bites like in the next photo - making everything better.
And directly behind me is Daisy laying there - hogging all the bones, because she's such a hungry dog - chewing on them most contentedly - waiting for the next round of wrestling. And directly to my left on the floor is Charlie - just waiting for me to bend down and give him a scratch - also waiting for the next round of wrestling.
So what more can anyone ask for? I guess I'm not really alone on Christmas day - this is what my house looks like today - with a new replacement vacuum cleaner that I went to Walmart at 4pm yesterday to pick up because I threw a piece of my old one in the garbage on Thursday night - and you absolutely cannot be without a vacuum cleaner when you have 4 dogs and 3 cats! Even when one of those dogs has been shaved bald.
So we're soon going to be heading to the beach for an extended romp - hopefully there won't be too many people there so Daisy can have a lot of running too. I'm going to try and get a coat on Teddy so he doesn't freeze to death. I'm interested to see how long it'll take me to get the coat OFF him at the end of the day.
Buttercup getting a scratch
Buttercup having a lick of Teddy's latest wound infliction
Teddy in my arms this morning
Daisy the bone hog
Charlie is the most patient dog in the world
Daisy and Charlie having a bit of a wrestle0
I am so lucky to have the dogs I have - sometimes it's hard to convince myself of that fact when I'm cleaning up my latest bite, or walking them at 10 o'clock at night because of the fact that Daisy can't be around other dogs off leash - but life would be so empty without them. So I'd like to thank Maureen Tate for having the faith to give me Teddy and believing that I'd be a good home for him. I'd like to thank Zonda MacIsaac who runs Celtic Pets for letting me adopt Daisy in 2004 after having fostered her for 6 months - for her realizing the depth of Charlie and Daisy's love for each other and knowing that that really was the reason why she couldn't go anywhere else - and also the fact that I'd move heaven and earth to give her a normal life after her having such a shitty start to life. And I'd like to thank Tara Bayne for showing me Buttercup who was back in the observation area of the SPCA's cages in August of 2003 - I took her home that day to foster and she's been with me ever since. I can't breathe without her. And then there's Charlie who I've had the longest - since February of 1999 when he was 3 1/2 months old - also an SPCA dog. My once in a lifetime perfect dog - if I would've stopped with him people would've thought I was the most amazingly talented dog owner and trainer of dogs because he is so absolutely perfect. Too bad I kept going and took in impossibly broken dogs instead and continue to look like a complete idiot on a daily basis. At least Charlie has stayed pretty much perfect.
So as I sit here writing this - perhaps the world is collapsing, but right in front of me laying on both my arms is Teddy - who wants nothing more than to be in those arms 24 hours a day, and will bite to show his disapproval when he's not. But directly to my left is the most perfect example of a soulmate dog who looks at me like in this picture where I'm giving her head a scratch, and licks my bites like in the next photo - making everything better.
And directly behind me is Daisy laying there - hogging all the bones, because she's such a hungry dog - chewing on them most contentedly - waiting for the next round of wrestling. And directly to my left on the floor is Charlie - just waiting for me to bend down and give him a scratch - also waiting for the next round of wrestling.
So what more can anyone ask for? I guess I'm not really alone on Christmas day - this is what my house looks like today - with a new replacement vacuum cleaner that I went to Walmart at 4pm yesterday to pick up because I threw a piece of my old one in the garbage on Thursday night - and you absolutely cannot be without a vacuum cleaner when you have 4 dogs and 3 cats! Even when one of those dogs has been shaved bald.
So we're soon going to be heading to the beach for an extended romp - hopefully there won't be too many people there so Daisy can have a lot of running too. I'm going to try and get a coat on Teddy so he doesn't freeze to death. I'm interested to see how long it'll take me to get the coat OFF him at the end of the day.
Buttercup getting a scratch
Buttercup having a lick of Teddy's latest wound infliction
Teddy in my arms this morning
Daisy the bone hog
Charlie is the most patient dog in the world
Daisy and Charlie having a bit of a wrestle0
Saturday, December 24, 2005
On Christmas Morning...
On Christmas Morning...
I wish, for every dog searching trashcans for breakfast,
a filled bowl with his name printed in bright letters.
For every dog who slept fitfully last night, chained unmercifully in a frozen yard,
a soft, warm bed with a person snoring gently nearby.
For every shelter dog, spending Christmas morning in a shamefully soiled run,
a forever home filled with sounds and smells of a loving family.
For every "Christmas" pup given thoughtlessly as a "present" 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 soft bed to ease your aches and pains.
For every Heart Dog at the Bridge,
a moment when you know that you are remembered today, missed again and loved forever, that a loving God has a special place for you with Him, until I arrive to meet you in His heavenly home some day.
Missing You Forever,
Your Grieving Pet Parent
Let us hope this goes throughout the world. That it touches the hardened hearts of mankind, and that if even a few loyal pets are treated better because of it, some good has been done, and we who sent this on are part of that goodness.
My sincere wish for anyone who neglects, mistreats or harms an innocent animal is loneliness; years of sadness and despair; that one day your Karma comes back to haunt you, and that you likewise endure that which you inflicted on the helpless. My hope for you is, that for the rest of your life, your Karma will reflect your deeds, and follow you tenaciously as your shadow.
~Author Unknown~
I wish, for every dog searching trashcans for breakfast,
a filled bowl with his name printed in bright letters.
For every dog who slept fitfully last night, chained unmercifully in a frozen yard,
a soft, warm bed with a person snoring gently nearby.
For every shelter dog, spending Christmas morning in a shamefully soiled run,
a forever home filled with sounds and smells of a loving family.
For every "Christmas" pup given thoughtlessly as a "present" 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 soft bed to ease your aches and pains.
For every Heart Dog at the Bridge,
a moment when you know that you are remembered today, missed again and loved forever, that a loving God has a special place for you with Him, until I arrive to meet you in His heavenly home some day.
Missing You Forever,
Your Grieving Pet Parent
Let us hope this goes throughout the world. That it touches the hardened hearts of mankind, and that if even a few loyal pets are treated better because of it, some good has been done, and we who sent this on are part of that goodness.
My sincere wish for anyone who neglects, mistreats or harms an innocent animal is loneliness; years of sadness and despair; that one day your Karma comes back to haunt you, and that you likewise endure that which you inflicted on the helpless. My hope for you is, that for the rest of your life, your Karma will reflect your deeds, and follow you tenaciously as your shadow.
~Author Unknown~
Teddy's Hair Cut
Shit. My world is falling apart because I'm all alone at Christmas and I'm getting a million emails because everyone wants to hear about how Teddy made out at the hair salon. At least I still had the presence of mind to take pictures! I guess the world hasn't collapsed that seriously.
I drove all the way up to Elmsdale because the lady who owns Doggy Styles Grooming is used to working with damaged dogs so she was in fact successful in cutting Teddy's hair - except for a small section that was under the muzzle she had on him - and it's an uneven section - so he's looking pretty funny. I've been trying to pick at it with the scissors since we got home and I've been bitten pretty good several times. I also got bitten good when we were at the groomer putting the muzzle on him initially. Susan the groomer didn't get bitten though, which was good.
It was funny when we arrived - he knew the type of place we were arriving at - I had to pick him up and bring him in the door - his tail went under his butt and he tried to run away - there was no way he was going in there. That was not a good sign.
I did dope him up too. And this time he stayed doped up a long time. And CANTANKEROUS.
I am SO going to get you for this, Mom
You can kill me now because my soul left the building half an hour ago
And then when we got home he sucked it all up pretty good - at 8pm tonight actually he's still shaking... but these pictures were taken at 2pm this afternoon -
And once again all Buttercup can say is - PUULLEEAASSEE!!!!!
I drove all the way up to Elmsdale because the lady who owns Doggy Styles Grooming is used to working with damaged dogs so she was in fact successful in cutting Teddy's hair - except for a small section that was under the muzzle she had on him - and it's an uneven section - so he's looking pretty funny. I've been trying to pick at it with the scissors since we got home and I've been bitten pretty good several times. I also got bitten good when we were at the groomer putting the muzzle on him initially. Susan the groomer didn't get bitten though, which was good.
It was funny when we arrived - he knew the type of place we were arriving at - I had to pick him up and bring him in the door - his tail went under his butt and he tried to run away - there was no way he was going in there. That was not a good sign.
I did dope him up too. And this time he stayed doped up a long time. And CANTANKEROUS.
I am SO going to get you for this, Mom
You can kill me now because my soul left the building half an hour ago
And then when we got home he sucked it all up pretty good - at 8pm tonight actually he's still shaking... but these pictures were taken at 2pm this afternoon -
And once again all Buttercup can say is - PUULLEEAASSEE!!!!!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Holidays and Such
Hopefully this is the last picture of Teddy that I'll take where you can't see his eyes at all - I've got an appointment Saturday morning out in Elmsdale at "Doggy Styles" grooming to have his hair cut. We'll see how it goes. I have my fingers crossed that somehow she'll be able to cut his hair - and the hair on his face without him going up in spontaneous combustion. She is the same groomer who was able to groom Leonard - and Leonard has never let anyone put a comb to her body in her whole life. Leonard is not a biting dog - but she WILL bite you if you come near her with a comb or brush. It's the weirdest thing.
I had to stick this picture in that I took tonight at Seaview - it's like all the dogs were saying - "Mommy - we hate it when you take pictures when all we want is for you to just hurry up and give us pieces of liver!"
Christmas is like the worst time of year - I think I'm going to take to my bed for the next few days, so I probably won't be making any posts. I hope everyone has a nice Christmas wherever they are. Have fun.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Not Dog Related: Vitriol
Vitriol - from Dictionary.com - this is a word who's definition I want to remember because it's a perfect synonym for bullshit that I've been trying to remember. It's been on the tip of my tongue for weeks and I haven't been able to pull it out of my brain and it came to me this morning on my way to work - but it's what my employer has been subjecting me to lately and I'm tired of it. I'm not the only one who's being subjected to it - there's almost 100 employees in my department, but I'm the only one who is in the wonderful position of being the secretary. I could just put up with it for another 2 years - but we've only got this one life to live and 2 years is a long time in that life, so what's the point?
ps: It's not slander if it's true - and I am not a 17 year old child who will be bullied with threats.
So here's the definition of vitriol - I love confusing people with long words. For some people - it's SO easy to do!
Vitriol: abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will [syn: vituperation, invective] v 1: expose to the effects of vitriol or injure with vitriol 2: subject to bitter verbal abuse
Vitriolic: adj 1: harsh or corrosive in tone; "an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose"; "a barrage of acid comments"; "her acrid remarks make her many enemies"; "bitter words"; "blistering criticism"; "caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics"; "a sulfurous denunciation" [syn: acerb, acerbic, acid, acrid, bitter, blistering, caustic, sulfurous, sulphurous, venomous, virulent] 2: of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action [syn: caustic, corrosive, erosive]
Perfect.
ps: It's not slander if it's true - and I am not a 17 year old child who will be bullied with threats.
So here's the definition of vitriol - I love confusing people with long words. For some people - it's SO easy to do!
Vitriol: abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will [syn: vituperation, invective] v 1: expose to the effects of vitriol or injure with vitriol 2: subject to bitter verbal abuse
Vitriolic: adj 1: harsh or corrosive in tone; "an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose"; "a barrage of acid comments"; "her acrid remarks make her many enemies"; "bitter words"; "blistering criticism"; "caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics"; "a sulfurous denunciation" [syn: acerb, acerbic, acid, acrid, bitter, blistering, caustic, sulfurous, sulphurous, venomous, virulent] 2: of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action [syn: caustic, corrosive, erosive]
Perfect.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Daisy's at her hoarding again
For a snack this afternoon I thought we'd have an english muffin with peanut butter on it. I guess Daisy doesn't like peanut butter as much as I thought because instead of gulping her muffin down like she normally does her food - she decided she needed to hoard it - which is what she does when she doesn't like something but she just can't say no to it because you never know when you're going to be starving again and you're going to be needing that muffin you don't like. So she paced around the house trying to find some place to hide the thing. It made for some cute pictures. A few hours later, as I write this - she's still guarding it. It's going to be buried in some snow when we go out for our next pee, I'd imagine.
Daisy pacing around....
Charlie wolfing his muffin down - he doesn't have any problem with anything! And if Daisy looks sideways when she's guarding her muffin - hers will suddenly disappear too!
Daisy's favourite guarding corner
Daisy pacing around....
Charlie wolfing his muffin down - he doesn't have any problem with anything! And if Daisy looks sideways when she's guarding her muffin - hers will suddenly disappear too!
Daisy's favourite guarding corner
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Hoarding May Be in the Family
So I'm trying to get rid of a lot of junk because I'm going to be getting a roommate and maybe it's because I'm in the process of this I've noticed that Daisy hoards food. I think I've noticed it before - but I've never seen her do this before. Sometimes for fun I'll throw a whole bunch of food on the floor so the dogs can graze for awhile - like a whole bunch of popcorn, or chips - and this time it was Goldfish crackers. They're pretty good at cleaning it up 100% and actually look pretty much like cows with their curled lips just going along hoovering it up. But what Daisy did was pick up mouthfuls at a time and take them into the 2nd bedroom and deposit them in different corners so she could eat them a later time. Isn't that odd?
I know that if I want her to be quiet for awhile I'll give her a piece of bread without butter on it because I know she WON'T eat that - she'll just take that somewhere and stare at it and guard it all night - if she was outside she'd bury it, but since she's inside she can't bury it so she just stares at it and guards it. It's an easy way to keep her occupied. But piles of Goldfish crackers? That's weird. What's even weirder is that once she saw that I saw them she quickly ate them up. I should interject here that Daisy is one of the hungriest dogs you'll ever meet - she was skin and bones when I got her - she'd been pretty much left to starve to death - so she can never get enough to eat.
Anyway - here's some pictures to prove what I'm telling you is not a lie:
I know that if I want her to be quiet for awhile I'll give her a piece of bread without butter on it because I know she WON'T eat that - she'll just take that somewhere and stare at it and guard it all night - if she was outside she'd bury it, but since she's inside she can't bury it so she just stares at it and guards it. It's an easy way to keep her occupied. But piles of Goldfish crackers? That's weird. What's even weirder is that once she saw that I saw them she quickly ate them up. I should interject here that Daisy is one of the hungriest dogs you'll ever meet - she was skin and bones when I got her - she'd been pretty much left to starve to death - so she can never get enough to eat.
Anyway - here's some pictures to prove what I'm telling you is not a lie:
Up in da Woods
We were up in the woods late this afternoon playing around and I got a couple shots of note - 1 with Buttercup, Charlie and Teddy with his newest coat on which was given to him yesterday by my friend Joan who me and the dogs went to visit with yesterday. She's got the CUTEST new foster dog named Lola - don't you think this is the cutest dog you've ever seen?
Well Joan gave Teddy this little checked coat that he's wearing in the pictures today. I had to take a picture of his very snowy ass because it looked way too adorable. The world needed to see it.
Well Joan gave Teddy this little checked coat that he's wearing in the pictures today. I had to take a picture of his very snowy ass because it looked way too adorable. The world needed to see it.
Blue Tick Coonhounds
This post exists because I want to leave a comment on the very neat "My dog Votes" blog about my uncle Frank who has blue tick coonhounds to show what an incredibly small world it truly is - the lady who writes the Dog Politics blog didn't know what a coonhound was until she went to speak at the American Dog Breeders Association - and - and my uncle breeds blue tick coonhounds in Ontario Canada and his 3 dogs are probably the best examples of the breed in the entire world (in my opinion) haha! I even have a couple of his trophies in the classy section of my living room wall!
Dogginess comes naturally to me....
This is Hooch - the male of his crew:
and this is Uncle Frank:
Dogginess comes naturally to me....
This is Hooch - the male of his crew:
and this is Uncle Frank:
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
I'm Confused now....
Sometimes I can't get my head around stuff. Just when you think you've got things all figured out somebody says something smart and then you're comfligurated. (I just invented that word...and I think it sounds pretty good.)
I have made many posts here about the seal hunt and what I personally think about it, but that's not what this post is really about. It's about an email I got this morning with a commentary by Paul Watson about his legal troubles. And it's got some interesting points - and now I don't know what to think. I need someone to either say that he's stretching some points, or that he's not telling the truth - or that the Canadian Justice system really has become a farce. I'm open to any of them.
Here's his commentary:
Justice is Strange in the Great White North
Oh Canada Where the Government has the Freedom to Infringe Your Rights
Commentary by Captain Paul Watson
The Canadian Charter of Rights is a wonderful document. It looks very pretty and sounds awfully nice. It certainly presents a marvelous illusion of human rights. Canadians have been convinced they have rights like the right to free speech and expression for example. But what is set upon paper does not appear to be accepted in reality. It appears that some Canadians have more rights than other Canadians. Canadians have the freedom to kill baby seals but they don't have the freedom to protect them. Some Canadians have the freedom to assault people they disagree with while others do not have the freedom to even witness or document an injustice. In April of this year, eleven Sea Shepherd crew were arrested and charged with witnessing, photographing and filming the killing of baby seals on the ice off Eastern Canada without permission from the government of Canada. A few months later, the government decided to charge Captain Paul Watson with the same "offense" despite the fact that he did not leave his ship. The eleven crewmembers were physically assaulted by the sealers and struck with sealing clubs, their faces were bloodied and they had cameras smashed. The entire incident was documented on video. In response to the assault, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police refused to charge the sealers because according to the police, "the presence of the Sea Shepherd crew on the ice provoked the violence of the sealers." Sounds like an excellent precedent for a rapist. "I'm sorry your honour, but she looked so pretty that she provoked me into raping her." The video evidence of the assault was then turned over to the Federal Department of Fisheries as evidence that the crew had approached within a half a nautical mile of a seal being killed. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society filed a suit against the Department of Fisheries and Oceans stating that the regulations prohibiting the witnessing and documenting of a seal being killed were unconstitutional.
On December 9th, 2005, Judge Nancy Orr of the Provincial Court of Prince Edward Island delivered a bizarre ruling. First she agreed that our rights were infringed.
"The applicant's right to freedom of expression has been infringed in this case by the provisions of sections 32 and 33 of the Marine Mammal regulations."
Then she ruled that the government had a right to infringe on our rights.
"The Respondent (The Canadian government) has clearly shown on the evidence in this matter that these regulations are demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society."
And therefore she ruled against us and dismissed our motion.
In other words she ruled that the Canadian Charter of Rights guarantees the rights of citizens except when the government of Canada decides to infringe upon those rights.
As a result, Captain Paul Watson and his crew were ordered to stand trial for the horrific crime of approaching a sealer killing a seal without government permission.
Canada is a land where the rights of sealers to attack seal defenders is protected and where constitutional rights are only rights when it is convenient for the government to present the illusion of freedom of speech and expression. In other words, in Canada you have the right to speak until you speak and the right to expression until you express yourself.
You can almost smell the bananas.
____________________________________
To view photos of Sea Shepherd crew members being assaulted, please visit: http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_051210_1.html .
Action: Taking a strong stand against this violation of human rights, as described by Captain Watson, can help achieve a precedent that will benefit the seals. If you have any connections within the human rights movement, and/or are willing to challenge the glaring injustice administered in that Maritime courtroom, please contact Sinikka: tracs@shaw.ca .
Category: [Sealing]
I have made many posts here about the seal hunt and what I personally think about it, but that's not what this post is really about. It's about an email I got this morning with a commentary by Paul Watson about his legal troubles. And it's got some interesting points - and now I don't know what to think. I need someone to either say that he's stretching some points, or that he's not telling the truth - or that the Canadian Justice system really has become a farce. I'm open to any of them.
Here's his commentary:
Justice is Strange in the Great White North
Oh Canada Where the Government has the Freedom to Infringe Your Rights
Commentary by Captain Paul Watson
The Canadian Charter of Rights is a wonderful document. It looks very pretty and sounds awfully nice. It certainly presents a marvelous illusion of human rights. Canadians have been convinced they have rights like the right to free speech and expression for example. But what is set upon paper does not appear to be accepted in reality. It appears that some Canadians have more rights than other Canadians. Canadians have the freedom to kill baby seals but they don't have the freedom to protect them. Some Canadians have the freedom to assault people they disagree with while others do not have the freedom to even witness or document an injustice. In April of this year, eleven Sea Shepherd crew were arrested and charged with witnessing, photographing and filming the killing of baby seals on the ice off Eastern Canada without permission from the government of Canada. A few months later, the government decided to charge Captain Paul Watson with the same "offense" despite the fact that he did not leave his ship. The eleven crewmembers were physically assaulted by the sealers and struck with sealing clubs, their faces were bloodied and they had cameras smashed. The entire incident was documented on video. In response to the assault, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police refused to charge the sealers because according to the police, "the presence of the Sea Shepherd crew on the ice provoked the violence of the sealers." Sounds like an excellent precedent for a rapist. "I'm sorry your honour, but she looked so pretty that she provoked me into raping her." The video evidence of the assault was then turned over to the Federal Department of Fisheries as evidence that the crew had approached within a half a nautical mile of a seal being killed. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society filed a suit against the Department of Fisheries and Oceans stating that the regulations prohibiting the witnessing and documenting of a seal being killed were unconstitutional.
On December 9th, 2005, Judge Nancy Orr of the Provincial Court of Prince Edward Island delivered a bizarre ruling. First she agreed that our rights were infringed.
"The applicant's right to freedom of expression has been infringed in this case by the provisions of sections 32 and 33 of the Marine Mammal regulations."
Then she ruled that the government had a right to infringe on our rights.
"The Respondent (The Canadian government) has clearly shown on the evidence in this matter that these regulations are demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society."
And therefore she ruled against us and dismissed our motion.
In other words she ruled that the Canadian Charter of Rights guarantees the rights of citizens except when the government of Canada decides to infringe upon those rights.
As a result, Captain Paul Watson and his crew were ordered to stand trial for the horrific crime of approaching a sealer killing a seal without government permission.
Canada is a land where the rights of sealers to attack seal defenders is protected and where constitutional rights are only rights when it is convenient for the government to present the illusion of freedom of speech and expression. In other words, in Canada you have the right to speak until you speak and the right to expression until you express yourself.
You can almost smell the bananas.
____________________________________
To view photos of Sea Shepherd crew members being assaulted, please visit: http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_051210_1.html .
Action: Taking a strong stand against this violation of human rights, as described by Captain Watson, can help achieve a precedent that will benefit the seals. If you have any connections within the human rights movement, and/or are willing to challenge the glaring injustice administered in that Maritime courtroom, please contact Sinikka: tracs@shaw.ca .
Category: [Sealing]
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Winter Wonderland
So we DID have a big snowstorm last night. I'm spending the day today in the back yard and inside the house packing up stuff to go into the basement because I'm REFUSING to shovel - we're supposed to get 30mms of RAIN tomorrow - which is going to get rid of a lot of this snow. So it'll probably make shovelling a complete waste of time.
I did shovel the back deck for the dogs. And I am going out for breakfast with my brother at 10am tomorrow - so if the rain hasn't cleared my car out enough by then - I WILL have to shovel - but I'm going to leave it until the absolutely last minute. My motto has always been - "why do today what you can do tomorrow?" Especially when there's rolling in snow that can happen in the backyard?
My beautiful shed tells the tale of the already slightly sullied back yard pristine snow scene....
Teddy, Charlie and Daisy just hanging out...
But I had to do a close-up of Teddy because he looked so cute all covered up in snow!
And then there's the requisite perfect shot of Charlie being perfect....
and Buttercup looking perfect...
and Daisy looking happier than a pig in shit...
I did shovel the back deck for the dogs. And I am going out for breakfast with my brother at 10am tomorrow - so if the rain hasn't cleared my car out enough by then - I WILL have to shovel - but I'm going to leave it until the absolutely last minute. My motto has always been - "why do today what you can do tomorrow?" Especially when there's rolling in snow that can happen in the backyard?
My beautiful shed tells the tale of the already slightly sullied back yard pristine snow scene....
Teddy, Charlie and Daisy just hanging out...
But I had to do a close-up of Teddy because he looked so cute all covered up in snow!
And then there's the requisite perfect shot of Charlie being perfect....
and Buttercup looking perfect...
and Daisy looking happier than a pig in shit...