When I drove into New Orleans today, I noticed that there seemed to be a lot of traffic leaving town. But I knew it was Labor Day weekend and thought that perhaps some of that was the usual holiday traffic. After picking up my rental car at the airport, I headed to Canine Culture to pick up books for the Thursday evening and Friday events. I had shipped extra books to Canine Culture, where they are sold. Then I checked in at the Creole Garden Guest house west of downtown New Orleans. I chose them for their friendliness to pets (even though I wasn’t traveling with any of my own), the description in the New Orleans tourist guide, their off-street parking, their beautiful gardens and Annie’s well-known breakfasts.
This evening, I went to Petcetera on Magazine Street for a gelato tasting fundraiser for the LA-SPCA. Read more…
Posted on August 28th, 2008
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My friends in Louisiana are keeping a very close eye on Hurricane Gustav. The LA-SPCA is still planning to have their Thursday evening event (and I will attend), but is beginning to evacuate animals tomorrow. Their brand new shelter, located south of New Orleans on the west bank of the river, just opened recently. Their former shelter was destroyed by Katrina.
So far, Humane-LA and ARNO are planning to hold their fundraising/ book signing events as scheduled. I hope Wendy Diamond still comes. Amanda and Martin St. John of Muttshack will probably be there one way or another–either receiving an award for their post-Katrina efforts or evacuating animals in advance of Gustav. Read about their Katrina Promise at www.muttshack.org. Read more…
Posted on August 27th, 2008
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I’m getting ready to fly back to New Orleans for the memorial service on Friday, the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The Humane Society of Louisiana will be unveiling a statue in memory of the animals that were lost during and after Katrina. It’s been an unsettling week. First Hurricane Fay hovered over Florida, dropping torrential rains and causing flooding in many areas. At the LA-SPCA near New Orleans, they were getting ready to sleep at the shelter in case Fay came that way and the streets became flooded. But Fay took another route and it looks like she’ll miss Louisiana. I thought we’d dodged the bullet, but when I called Deedra at Canine Culture today, she told me that she was making evacuation plans. It seems that Hurricane Gustav is on the heels of Fay and may head up the Gulf Coast. Here we go again. Read more…
Posted on August 26th, 2008
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From the website www.Neuticles.com:
“Welcome to Neuticles® Thank you for your interest in patented Neuticles and the revolutionary testicular implant procedure for pets. Inside you will find the latest information and updates. Over 250,000 caring pet owners Worldwide have selected Neuticles as a safe, practical and inexpensive option when neutering. Neuticles allows your pet to retain his natural look, self esteem and aids in the trauma associated with neutering. With Neuticles®– It’s like nothing ever changed…”
Can you believe it? Who is traumatized by the neutering? Do they really think that dogs miss their, um, “Neuts” to the point that they need prosthetics? Who are they trying to kid?
I have a better idea… what about dogs whose tails have been docked? They make hair extensions, right? What about tail extensions? Read more…
Posted on August 24th, 2008
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I am a child of August, born on August 11th 47 years ago. Where has the time gone? I remember August days, riding our bikes, climbing trees, swimming in the gravel pit, trying to get the courage to go off the high dive. I remember riding my pony bareback across the fields at a gallop, and playing with the dog in the backyard. I remember the neighbor’s dog, neglected, tied to a tree, wearing a path in the dirt, not getting food and water often enough, not getting any attention except from me. Why didn’t we butt in and save her?
This weekend we had perfect weather here in Minnesota. Read more…
Posted on August 24th, 2008
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Yesterday we went up to Kim’s to herd sheep. We hadn’t been there for a few weeks, and Chase was off. He didn’t have his usual flair for moving the sheep, and didn’t stay on contact. I think maybe the household dynamics are bothering him. Cay is getting bolder and is pestering him a lot more than she used to. It gets to him sometimes.
On the way home, we stopped at Peterson’s Country Mill. I took Chase in with me and discovered his dream job. I think he would like to be a greeter at Wal-Mart. Whenever he saw a clerk or shopper, he wagged his tailed wildly, usually drawing them over to pet him. Read more…
Posted on August 18th, 2008
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There are some things about becoming an author that I hadn’t given a lot of thought to. I was mostly focused on the writing and book production, then sales and marketing, to get the story out to people.
On Saturday evening, some friends threw me a wonderful book launch party here at my home obedience school, All Breed Obedience in Woodbury, Minnesota. People who I have worked with, trained dogs with, and cared for rescued dogs in Louisiana with came. Ironically, neither of the two women who organized the party has a dog at the moment! Read more…
Posted on August 18th, 2008
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I haven’t written much lately because I’ve been busy with the business of launching a book and putting together a new website. But I want to mention how much Cay has come out of her shell lately and learned from the other dogs. She has learned to retrieve the ball and bring it back to me. She comes over to me and seeks my attention, pushing to be petted. This is quite a change from the scared little dog who wouldn’t look me in the eye. Read more…
Posted on July 31st, 2008
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Neither Bandit nor Chase has been a counter surfer or a thief, which may surprise some of you. Bandit is a purebred Australian Cattle Dog and Chase, we think, is an ACD-Collie mix. Cay, on the other hand, is getting bolder and bolder around our house. She has taken to checking what is on the kitchen counter (if she can get the chance). The other night, I was sitting around the corner at the dining room table and I saw Bandit hustle Cay out of the kitchen. Apparently she had gone in there to “surf†and he had rounded her up and herded her out of there. A perfect use of his herding abilities and “dog police†personality! Read more…
Posted on July 20th, 2008
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We went back to Gene’s for the second time to work cattle. First we worked with Bandit on leash in the small paddock area with 3 cattle again. We worked him on moving the cattle in a circle, both clockwise and counterclockwise. We practiced moving them at a steady speed, giving them time to turn the corners without getting bunched up, but not letting them stall in the corners either. We worked on a wait (stop while standing) and a sit, and kept Bandit from cutting in too tight. All went well and Bandit did a great job. Read more…
Posted on July 19th, 2008
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