Scotland’s saddest dog story……

I belong to an organization called Care2.com, they advocate for human rights, animal rights and the environment in a fun, heartwarming style. They offer a free newsletter that tells stories about the good, bad and the just plain funny things going on all over the world. You can send free e-cards from their website, make friends, join groups, sign petitions, learn about world events, and so much more!

Here is a “happily ever after story” from this morning’s mail:

A Staffordshire bull terrier nicknamed “Scotland’s saddest dog” because he spent more than half his life waiting to be adopted, finally found a new home.

Two year-old Scooby spent 15 months in the kennels and care of the Scottish SPCA. Staff at the Aberdeenshire Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre said Scooby was always passed over for “cute fluffy” dogs and was “dying of depression” because of the situation.

A nationwide appeal was issued last week to find Scooby a permanent home.

Retired police dog handler David Prokipczyn and his wife Anne read about Scooby’s plight in the newspaper. The couple always had dogs in their home, raising two ex-police German shepherds, boxers, a beagle, a Jack Russell terrier, a spaniel and their favorite, a brindle Staffordshire bull terrier named Cassie.

For the rest of the story, read on… http://www.care2.com/causes/happiness-for-scotlands-saddest-dog.html#ixzz1uaBKNHRj

Energetically, Diane Tegarden

A pet is not a child, some say…..

A pet is not a child, some say…written by Diane Tegarden on April 23, 2010- dedicated to Maya

A pet is not a child, some say,
but let’s just think on that,
as you watch your pet born into the world
you share its first moments.

You teach your furkids all the rules
the do’s and don’ts of life,
you teach them manners and morals,
to always do what’s right.

There are things they should
and should not do
and consequences
for acting out.

They must not destroy your possessions,
not to mention your house,
they must not tear up your garden
or your slippers, clothes and shoes.

In what way are they not our children?

You buy them their own bed and toys
and teach them to share with their siblings,
you frown when they play too rough and
pray they behave when company comes over.

When they get sick, you rush them to the doctor
and hold them when they cry.
Once a year, they get their shots
to keep them bright and healthy.

Then, there are all those special dates
like birthdays, to remember,
as well as all those duller tasks,
like taking them to the dentist.

You hurt when they are hurt,
and you can feel their pain,
you cry inside, and try to be brave
as you sit helplessly cuddling them.

In what way are they not our children?

As they mature, you watch them grow,
taking tons of pictures and videos.
They soon outgrow your baby toys
and cute little childhood habits.

As adults,
they may have children of their own,
and then you’re a grandparent
wondering where the time went.

Then comes the time
when they start to show their age,
they scamper less and lounge in the sun
their movements growing slower.

You must be careful with them
because now they are older, arthritis in the joints
causes them to move much slower
and their eyes to grow much dimmer.

In what way are they not our children?

You feed them special diets
and herbal supplements,
you massage their tired bones,
with special lineaments.

Then comes the day you have dreaded
when heart and mind must fail,
you’re never ready for them to go
but one day, they simply leave you.

And the hole in your heart seems to bleed without stopping,
everything reminds you of them.
There is nothing that can be said or done
to ease the pain that they are now gone.

As years go by,
you realize that they cannot be replaced,
you build memorials and talk about them
and honor their memories.

In what way are they not our children?

Feeling like a failure….

This is breaking my heart, but we had to take the dog (we named him “Buddy”) back to the Humane Shelter. Although he was loving, he had some serious behavior problems, some could have been corrected in time, but he’d go absolutely crazy if we tried to leave him alone. Since I’m not house bound (yet), I had appointments this week, and the dog was frantic when I tried to leave, scratching at the cement under the fence until his paws were bloody. Then, the deal breaker, he chased and barked and snapped at our kitties, chasing one of the completely out of the yard. The cat disappeared out of the yard and we were afraid we’d truly lost him. Poor Buddy, he was three years old, and someone had taught him it was ok to jump on furniture, on people and on cats, and he wasn’t socialized to spend any time alone. In three days both my husband and I were worn ragged trying to watch and work with the pup, and our cats were terrorized, which isn’t fair to them. So, we had to take him back, and my heart is breaking because I’d fallen in love with him already. I feel like a failure, both for not being able to help Buddy, and not being able to maintain a safe place for my kitties. 

Don’t feed that dog grapes!!!

The top ten food toxins for your dogs and cats are: grapes and raisins, bread dough, chewing gum, macadamia nuts, nicotine, chocolate, alcohol, pain relievers, tea and onions, according to Fiona Fisher, DVM, the veterinary expert at www.justanswer.com.

Go to her website to learn how and why these common foods can be deadly to pets.

We can help to change our world

We can help to change our world. Here are  two websites that help right many wrongs in our world:

http://www.care2.com     they have many areas to get involved in, including: animal rights, human rights, environment, civil rights, women’s rights, education, global warming, politics, healthy living, children’s rights…the choices are (almost) endless

and another favorite advocate for change:

http://www.change.org/    where you can create a petition, get people to sign it, and read about the amazing changes that have already occurred because big companies received so many responses from their prospective clients, they actually changed their policies!

YES! YES! YES!

(don’t mind me, that’s a Tony Robbins thing I learned!)

Quotes about the treatment of animals

Albert Einstein:

“Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

 Leonardo da Vinci:

“The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men.”

Mahatma Gandhi:

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/being-vegan-in-a-speciesist-world.html#ixzz1XMpAhmVI

A pet is not a child, they say…

A pet is not a child, some say,
but let’s just think on that,
as you watch your pet born into the world
you share its first moments.

You teach your furkids all the rules
the do’s and don’ts of life,
you teach them manners and morals,
to always do what’s right.

There are things they should
and should not do
and consequences
for acting out.

They must not destroy your possessions,
not to mention your house,
they must not tear up your garden
or your slippers, clothes and shoes.

In what way are they not our children?

You buy them their own bed and toys
and teach them to share with their siblings,
you frown when they play too rough and
pray they behave when company comes over.

When they get sick, you rush them to the doctor
and hold them when they cry.
Once a year, they get their shots
to keep them bright and healthy.

Then, there are all those special dates
like birthdays, to remember,
as well as all those duller tasks,
like taking them to the dentist.

You hurt when they are hurt,
and you can feel their pain,
you cry inside, and try to be brave
as you sit helplessly cuddling them.

In what way are they not our children?

As they mature, you watch them grow,
taking tons of pictures and videos.
They soon outgrow your baby toys
and cute little childhood habits.

As adults,
they may have children of their own,
and then you’re a grandparent
wondering where the time went.

Then comes the time
when they start to show their age,
they scamper less and lounge in the sun
their movements growing slower.

You must be careful with them
because now they are older, arthritis in the joints
causes them to move much slower
and their eyes to grow much dimmer.

In what way are they not our children?

You feed them special diets
and herbal supplements,
you massage their tired bones,
with special lineaments.

Then comes the day you have dreaded
when heart and mind must fail,
you’re never ready for them to go
but one day, they simply leave you.

And the hole in your heart seems to bleed without stopping,
everything reminds you of them.
There is nothing that can be said or done
to ease the pain that they are now gone.

As years go by,
you realize that they cannot be replaced,
you build memorials and talk about them
and honor their memories.

In what way are they not our children?

Come meet a wildlife rehabilitation expert- and we’re not talking about Charlie Sheen!

The FireWalker Flare- An Environmental and Renewable Energy Solutions Talk Radio Show!

Our guest on Feb. 15th will be Joel Thomas, author of “Creature Comforts- Wildlife Stories & Solutions”, and we’ll be discussing wildlife rehabilitation.

Join Diane Tegarden as she engages Environmental and Renewable Energy Experts on the second, third and fourth Tuesday of each month at: 10am PST/11am MST/ 12 noon CST/ 1pm EST for a half-hour riveting interview on environmental problems and their solutions through Renewable Energy technologies.

Hope to hear from some of you, come ask your questions, it’s free to call in!!

Callers and Show Guests should call our toll free# 877-221-6957

The Rainbow Bridge- in memory of Melanie

The Rainbow Bridge

There’s a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth, it is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors. Just this side of the the Rainbow Bridge is a verdant land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass. When a beloved pet/furkid passes away, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather. Old and ill and frail animals are made whole, and they play all day together in the beautiful sunshine.

They are happy and content, but there is one thing missing. They are not with the special people who loved them on Earth.

So, each day, they run and play until the day comes when, suddenly, one stops playing and looks up! The nose twitches, the eyes stare, then this one runs from the group.

You have been seen! When you and your special friend meet, you take them into your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again, and you look once more into the eyes of your trusting, beloved friend.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We received this story from a friend when we lost Melanie, and then received it again from the crematorium when I retrieved her ashes. I hope you’ll pass it on to others so they will feel some sense of relief when their special friend passes away.

Hugs,
Diane T. and furfamily

A pet is not a child, some say…by Diane Tegarden

A pet is not a child, some say…
By Diane tegarden
April 23, 2010- dedicated to Maya

A pet is not a child, some say,
but let’s just think on that,
as you watch your pet born into the world
you share its first moments.

You teach your furkids all the rules
the do’s and don’ts of life,
you teach them manners and morals,
to always do what’s right.

There are things they should
and should not do
and consequences
for acting out.

They must not destroy your possessions,
not to mention your house,
they must not tear up your garden
or your slippers, clothes and shoes.

In what way are they not our children?

You buy them their own bed and toys
and teach them to share with their siblings,
you frown when they play too rough and
pray they behave when company comes over.

When they get sick, you rush them to the doctor
and hold them when they cry.
Once a year, they get their shots
to keep them bright and healthy.

Then, there are all those special dates
like birthdays, to remember,
as well as all those duller tasks,
like taking them to the dentist.

You hurt when they are hurt,
and you can feel their pain,
you cry inside, and try to be brave
as you sit helplessly cuddling them.

In what way are they not our children?

As they mature, you watch them grow,
taking tons of pictures and videos.
They soon outgrow your baby toys
and cute little childhood habits.

As adults,
they may have children of their own,
and then you’re a grandparent
wondering where the time went.

Then comes the time
when they start to show their age,
they scamper less and lounge in the sun
their movements growing slower.

You must be careful with them
because now they are older, arthritis in the joints
causes them to move much slower
and their eyes to grow much dimmer.

In what way are they not our children?

You feed them special diets
and herbal supplements,
you massage their tired bones,
with special lineaments.

Then comes the day you have dreaded
when heart and mind must fail,
you’re never ready for them to go
but one day, they simply leave you.

And the hole in your heart seems to bleed without stopping,
everything reminds you of them.
There is nothing that can be said or done
to ease the pain that they are now gone.

As years go by,
you realize that they cannot be replaced,
you build memorials and talk about them
and honor their memories.

In what way are they not our children?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wrote this poem after a dear friend of mine lost one of her furkids, in answer to people claiming that our pets aren’t as important as one’s children.