I’m pleased to announce that Bandit earned his first AKC Pre-Trial Test leg on cattle this morning at the ACDCA National Specialty. Read more…
Posted on October 3rd, 2008
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Today I visited the Hillside SPCA. I drove by the SPCA on my way to the spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Sunday. I kept my GPS programmed for Pottsville, knowing that it would take me by the SPCA again. The area was hilly and wooded, with very beautiful scenery. I understood how Hillside got its name. When I saw the sign for the SPCA, I turned down a steep driveway and found the buildings, surrounded by a peaceful wooded area. Read more…
Posted on October 1st, 2008
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Bandit and I were signed up for a herding practice run on cattle today. The practice runs were about a 45 minute drive from the show site. It was a beautiful drive, with some fall colors appearing. I was glad that I had my GPS along though, because just the two of us went and it would have been easy to get lost on those windy roads.
First we got to watch others do their practice runs on sheep. Then it was our turn to practice for the Pre-Trial Test on three cattle. The cattle were set out for us and then we went to work. Read more…
Posted on September 30th, 2008
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Monday was relatively dry outside. I sat outside and watched the Australian Properties classes. I met Melissa and Christy from ACDRA, the Australian Cattle Dog Rescue Association. They were selling items to benefit their rescue group. It was fun to meet them in person after corresponding with them in the past. It’s nice to put the faces with the names. I bought a braided tug toy for Bandit. Read more…
Posted on September 29th, 2008
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On Sunday morning it was raining as hard as ever. Obedience and agility events were scheduled to run outside. Bandit and I were entered in Open A obedience and Novice standard and jumpers agility. I was still on the fence about running in agility. The field was even muddier and slippier than the day before. We concentrated on obedience first. Just before we were to enter the obedience ring, a line of horses started walking across the adjacent field. Read more…
Posted on September 28th, 2008
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When Bandit and I arrived in Shartlesville, PA for the Australian Cattle Dog National Specialty, it was raining. Too bad because they’d had beautiful fall weather leading up to the weekend, and the events were scheduled to be outside. On Saturday, the agility was run in the rain. I agonized over whether to run Bandit since we had come so far and he had been doing so well in agility. Read more…
Posted on September 27th, 2008
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On September 25th, Bandit and I hit the road on our way to the Australian Cattle Dog National Specialty in Shartlesville, PA. Chase and Cayenne stayed in Minnesota with our friend Becky. My decision to make the trip came right down to the wire. The day after I entered Bandit in agility, obedience, and cattle herding, he pulled up lame on his back foot. The diagnosis was a soft tissue injury that affected him in full extension, like when jumping. Rats! I had to keep him on leash for a couple of weeks, with no sign of further problems, and hope that he would be ok in time to compete. Then the day before we were to leave, I had problems with my truck. Read more…
Posted on September 25th, 2008
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| 8 STATE HURRICANE KATE by Jenny Pavlovic  Â
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Look, Pavlovic takes you through some terrible events and tells some horrible tales, and her experiences and evolution from them. The first chapter had me in absolute meltdown, tears streaming and me snivelling, but, from chapter two it wasn’t as hard on the emotional reaction. I lived through the Ash Wednesday bushfires and saw some horrible things, but I lived through it as a survivor not a rescuer, except of my own and friend’s animals. And then, for whatever reason, I get to read this book during the 2008 American hurricane season, and having in recent times become great friends with survivors of the hurricanes to hit Florida since Katrina, so perhaps I am a bit too emotive. In any case, I have enormous respect for volunteers and those who volunteer to rescue animals, for, alas, there is a significant portion of the human population who are out and out irresponsible, cruel, and worse, who shouldn’t own animals. I don’t actively undertake rescue as my commitment is to my animals, friends’ animals, and those I breed, I can’t solve the world’s issues, but I can do a little bit, and Pavlovic’s book carries an apt quote “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do” Edward Everett Hale.  Â
Essentially, the book is a divestment of Pavlovic’s soul, a soul that matured because she made the decision to go down to Louisiana and help with the rescue of dogs. The biggest issue, despite the time lapse between the hurricane and Pavlovic’s arrival was the ‘administration’, it will make your blood boil to read how poorly things ran, and how the ‘rules’ were constantly changing. I pray America at least has taken on board the disaster they created after nature’s disaster. From this, Pavlovic managed to rescue an elderly but sprightly Australian Cattle Dog type, and the book bears Kate’s name. Pavlovic tells of Kate’s tenacity, in fact her own too as she faced many, many challenges of her own in getting Kate back across eight states, and in getting her healthy and her own life companions events. The book is fabulously supported by adapt quotes – life coaching stuff, but boy, packed with added meaning in relation to the chapters they masthead. Perhaps the text could have benefited from a more diligent editor occasionally as several times the same point was repeated, but I confess to being sensitive to repetition – it is the way of the modern telly documentary and really grates on me. The book is supported by news and contacts for rescue groups in north America, advice on how anyone can contribute to a rescue effort, even without being able to donate money or by travelling into a major disaster area to contribute. In fact, I was thrilled to read, and if I ever travel to America I think I would see if I could attend one, about the Noah’s Wish Volunteer In-Field Training Program for disaster animal rescue volunteers. The book is a well made softcover. While I am not sure who I would specifically recommend the book to, I do wholeheartedly recommend it generally, besides Pavlovic has dedicated at least 50% of the profits to the 8 State Kate Fund, which is the immediate legacy of Kate coming into Pavlovic’s life, because Kate has shown there is an ongoing need for rescue, even on a one on one basis, each day and everyday. In any case, the book is of particular relevance to those that live in areas that could be hit by a disaster, all Australian Cattle Dog owners, probably pit bull ‘breeders’ as that ‘breed’ created so many head and heart aches for the Katrina rescuers, any ‘breeder’ who is careless of where their dogs are placed, and even those like me with myself cosily wrapped up in my world of showing and competition.  |
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Posted on September 17th, 2008
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I’m learning that part of Kate’s legacy is how her story has affected and influenced others. With their permission, their stories will be shared here. Jenn reminded me that this week is the 3rd anniversary of the evening I met Kate at Lamar-Dixon. It means a lot to me to hear of the efforts of Jenn and others like her!
On September 16, 2008, Jenn wrote from Texas:
 Hi Jenny,You don’t know me, but I feel like I know you after reading “8 State Hurricane Kateâ€. Thank you so much for sharing your story and Kate’s.I took in a 10 yr old ACD from a shelter in Houston on the day she was to be euthanized. It has been difficult at times and has taken a LOT of work, but she is now healthy, happy, and gets along with my 2 yr old ACD, Yoyo.I just wanted you to know what an inspiration you are to me. There have been times in rescue that I have felt overwhelmed and ready to give up – but after reading your book, I feel rejuvenated and have a fresh passion for helping these guys – especially the old dogs that deserve a chance.
If I remember correctly, today – September 16 – is the anniversary of the day you met Kate. After over a month of work and worry – we finally got a 10 yr old ACD named Sweetie Pie to her forever home today. This one is for Kate – as she has helped show the rescue world that even the old guys are worth saving.
Thank you again for your diligence in saving as many as you can. You make me want to try harder and do more.
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Posted on September 17th, 2008
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The 2008 Premier Book Award winners include:Â
8 State Hurricane Kate: The Journey and Legacy of a Katrina Cattle Dog
by Jenny Pavlovic
3rd place in the Non-Fiction Memoir/Autobiography category
More info at:
2008 Premier Book Award Winners Â
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Posted on September 15th, 2008
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