STOP TRASHING OUR OCEANS! Amish Puppy Mills. Boycott the Amish! Dog Archaeologist. Therapy Dogs and 9/11. John Denver's "Sunshine”. Cat Love. C.S.S. Hunley. Wayne Gretzky.

For “ Mammal Monday”:

STOP TRASHING OUR OCEANS AND WATERWAYS!

Sponsored by: The Marine Mammal Center

“Inuyasha, a Guadalupe fur seal, was found with netting wrapped tightly around her neck, cutting into her skin. She was skinny, weak and malnourished and hadn't eaten for days. Fortunately, she was rescued and rehabilitated by The Marine Mammal Center, and eventually released back to her ocean home. Many other marine animals aren't as lucky: a run-in with ocean trash can be fatal.

Since 1975, The Marine Mammal Center, based in Sausalito, CA, has rescued countless patients suffering from human-caused problems and injuries — many trapped in trash that you and I throw away every day.

We can treat their injuries but we can't treat the cause of their problems without your help! Sign below and pledge to Stop Trashing Our Oceans!”

www.themarinemammalcenter.org

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Joe The Plumber, even his pants are at half-mast!

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Dozens Of Dogs Pulled From Amish Farm.

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio - “Dozens of dogs were pulled from what investigators called deplorable conditions on Monday.  Ohio SPCA members from across the state gathered at an Amish farm in Pickaway County, where deputies said as many as 50 dogs were being neglected.
Investigators arrived late Monday morning to serve a search warrant to the property owner.

 

Once inside, the director of the Ohio SPCA said that she found dogs and puppies inside living in chicken-coup like hutches with piles of fecal matter that measured more than 1 foot high.  Some of the dogs' paws had sores from standing on wire.

"Were definitely dealing with a puppy mill and we're definitely dealing with inhumane conditions," said Teresa Landon, Executive Director of the Ohio SPCA.  "These animals are matted, their feet are bloody, nails were overgrown."     More and video at: http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2012/10/01/circleville-dogs-removed-from-amish-farm.html

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From me:  I don’t want anything to do with the Amish, because they treat their dogs like hamsters, locked up with automatic feeders and waterers, to make money in their deplorable, cruel puppy mills. 

There again, I won’t have anything to do with factory-farmed meat or poultry, either. It’s not just the Amish who are cruel to animals, many other  ‘farmers’ are too.

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The Amish Puppy Mills

“The kingpin of all Amish puppy mill owners, who routinely debarks the dogs he's breeding by shoving a steel pipe down their throats because he can't stand to hear them bark. No anesthetic, no nothing, Just rams a pipe, etc. down their throats. This Amish guy, in particular, is known to violate all sorts of laws. But he makes so much money that he simply pays off the fines. Apparently, no one can stop him and no one is allowed access into his mills."        More at: http://www.opednews.com/articles/Defending-My-Post-re-the-A-by-Suzana-Megles-110315-129.html

Then they take the spent overbred females to auctions to sell to someone else who will overbreed them,  and get someone to sell the poor puppies online.   See: http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/amish-dog-breeders-face-heat/Content?oid=1953690      and: http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2012/01/06/puppy-sales-on-hold-at-ohio-dog-auction

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The Truth About Amish Country

The Amish (and Mennonite) community are known as“The Gentle People”. Amish Country is known for its wonderful restaurants, craft shops and well-kept Amish farms.

“But one crop; the most important crop to some, still remains. Puppies. Be warned … the Amish life that is depicted for tourist is nothing like the reality. There is animal abuse among Amish in the form of puppy mills. A simple Google search for Amish puppy mills will return thousands of hits. For farmers, a big crop of dogs can gross up to $500,000 annually, with successful operations netting six figures. The men in the suspenders and bushy beards are masking a cruel form of factory farming behind the quaint and pure image of the Amish culture.

What is necessary is to get the word out, to educate and show people and teach people. There are thousands and thousands of dogs each year that are killed for lack of homes, why bring more puppies into the world, especially puppies that are sick and produced out of the most torturous and horrendous conditions imaginable.

What YOU Can Do?

Quite simply, this means to boycott EVERYTHING that is Amish made or Amish related. Do not buy the handmade Amish furniture, quilts, crafts or food products … not even the little squares of fudge at a flea market! Don’t even eat at Amish restaurants! It’s time to send a strong message, loud and clear! And the only way to do that is to hit them where it hurts … the pocketbook!” More at: http://www.madpuppymills.org/the_truth_about_amish_country0.aspx

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Puppy Mills Protest.

Ban Ohio Dog Auctions.

Protestors gather in Millersburg in Holmes County, where hundreds of puppy mills are run on Amish farms to supply puppies for Internet sales and pet stores.

More pictures and article at:  http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/07/_animals_in_the_news_13.html

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Dog Archaeologist Digs for Bones (Not That Kind)

“Meet Migaloo, the world's first dog trained to dig up ancient human bones.  A three-year-old female black Labrador cross named Migaloo and other archeology dogs will work on excavations at ancient civilization sites in Egypt, the Americas, Asia and Europe.

Working with Brisbane dog expert Gary Jackson, she is expected to help archaeologists uncover ancient grave sites across Australia. And looking to the future, it's expected that Migaloo and other archaeology dogs will work on excavations at ancient civilization sites in Egypt, the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

More impressively, Migaloo recently set a world record for the oldest bone discovered by a dog -- a 600-year-old human bone buried 2 meters (6.6 feet) underground. Her accomplishment beat the previous record by 425 years -- a remarkable achievement that also demonstrated the potential for dogs to locate very old bones at fairly reasonable depths.”  More at: http://news.discovery.com/animals/migaloo-dog-archaeologist-120905.html

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How Dogs Help Us Heal and Give Us Hope

Therapy Dogs and 9/11

“I asked Rachel to talk a little about her involvement with the 9/11 aftermath back in 2001. She explained that as soon as she realized what was happening that day, she knew her foundation’s dogs should be there to assist survivors, families of victims, and workers.

Rachel worked with the Family Assistance Center created by Dr. Grace Telesco, as well as Mayor Giuliani. She and her team were honored to be a part of the work done at Ground Zero.

Immediately after the disaster, the dogs went into the Family Assistance Center at Pier 94 and provided support and comfort to everyone who came through. There was a lot of grief and shock, and Rachel remembers the therapy dogs were just amazing during that time.

Dr. Telesco asked Rachel and her dog, Fidel, to participate in a float trip to take families of victims to the site of 9/11 for their first visit since the towers came down. Rachel said it was just amazing to watch Fidel interact with victims’ families on that trip. He provided unconditional love and comfort to so many people.

Then last year, all the mental health practitioners who had worked at Ground Zero gathered again for the ten-year anniversary of 9/11. Some of the family members also came, and were able to see Fidel again. Fidel was 15 by that time and the families who had met him in 2001 were thrilled to see him again 10 years later.

The story of Fidel and 9/11 touched me, and so did another story of a young veterinarian and her dog Chet. I can relate to that story, because I too had a rescue dog who was with me all through vet school. She was with me as I traveled the country doing internships as well. As her life came to its gradual end, it was an amazing learning process for me. The vet who wrote about her dog Chet also learned so much from him, and continues to learn, just like I do. Sometimes even after a dog passes away, the learning continues.”  Complete article at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/09/17/rachel-mcpherson-interview.aspx?e_cid=20120917_PetsNL_art_1

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Sunshine

“Cats love the sun and we love John Denver's "Sunshine on My Shoulders" in our video for a goodbye to summer.”

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How Your Cat Says "I Love You"

“Amy Morgan of Brooklyn, New York, first knew that her calico cat Ruki loved her after he'd been living in her home for about two weeks. "I was in bed, and out of the corner of my half-opened eye, I saw him patiently waiting for me to wake up. The second I moved, he jumped on top of me, purring and kneading my chest wildly. Ever since, he's done that every morning. It's a great way to wake up."

But do cats love? And do they show it by kneading?  "Absolutely," says Jackson Galaxy, a Redondo Beach, California-based cat behaviorist. "A friend of mine says it best: cats are the masters of detached love. She's talking about how cats can seem aloof and unfeeling. They express love in ways that baffle us."

Galaxy decodes seven of your furry friend's signals of l'amour.

1. Grooming
Grooming is the first way that kittens experience care. Mothers groom their kittens from birth, and so licking and being licked become associated with the serenity of being with mom. "Litter mates as they grow older, if they're adopted together, will groom each other for life," says Galaxy. If your cat is licking you, it's a sign of its affection.

2. Purring
A kitten is first guided to its mother's nipples by her purr. As a result, purring is associated with milk and the feeling of satisfaction. And kittens purr back. "It's almost like a Marco Polo type of game: call and response. It's life affirming to them," says Galaxy. "There's debate as to what the purr signifies later in a cat's life, but we do know they purr to sooth themselves -- the purring lowers their heart rate." If your cat is not injured or stressed, purring in your presence is likely related to feeling cared for by you, just as it was cared for by its mother.

3. Rubbing
Cats show affection to other cats, dogs and humans by rubbing against them. (Rubbing includes paw kneading, as in the case with Morgan's calico.) Says Galaxy, "When your cat puts its scent on you, it's saying something like, 'You and I belong together because I smell you on me and you smell me on you.' It's a scent complement." Kneading is also a throwback to kittenhood, when a kitten kneads its mom's teat in order to stimulate the flow of milk. Allowing the rubbing is essential to your relationship with your cat, and you won't smell a thing.

4. Mock Spraying
Male cats spray concentrated urine when claiming territory. In claiming you, your male cat may act as if he is spraying -- backing up toward you with a quivering tail -- but will not actually produce a spray. "They have so many scent glands to rub, they don't need to spray us," says Galaxy. Unfortunately for their human caretakers, an insecure cat may also show love by urinating in its owner's bed. "My clients sometimes mistake this for aggression. It's actually a compliment."

5. Gumming
Is Fluffy rubbing its gums on you? Yep, that's one more way in which your cat may attempt to blend its scent with yours.

6. Blinking
It's been referred to as "the cat I love you." This visual signal usually consists of a stare, followed by a blink, an open eye, and then a soft second blink. "It's actually a sign of trust, like showing you its belly," says Galaxy, who mimics the blink with cats he works with when trying to gain their confidence. "It's a form of communication I know works. Do it a few times with your own cat. They'll begin returning it to you."

7. Gifting
When your cat brings you a dead mouse, it's not a present in the traditional sense. "What seems like an obvious sign of affection is something that comes from a dog or human-centric viewpoint. When a cat brings a dead mouse home, they're saying, 'I bring this thing to my safe place.' It's more a demonstration that your cat feels supremely safe in the home you share. That, too, is a compliment."

To return your cat's affection, Galaxy recommends following its lead. "Experiment. Present your hand and see where your cat forces it. You'll find out what your cat likes to feel." Your cat will discover that people, too, are capable of feeling love.

Read more: How Your Cat Says "I Love You" http://www.thedailycat.com/behavior/understanding/cat_says_i_love_you/index.html#ixzz29JAzCzrP

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On This Day:

Confederate submarine sinks during tests, Oct 15, 1863:

“On this day in 1863, the C.S.S. Hunley, the world's first successful combat submarine, sinks during a test run, killing its inventor and seven crewmembers.

Horace Lawson Hunley developed the 40-foot submarine from a cylinder boiler. It was operated by a crew of eight—one person steered while the other seven turned a crank that drove the ship's propeller. The Hunley could dive, but it required calm seas for safe operations. It was tested successfully in Alabama's Mobile Bay in the summer of 1863, and Confederate commander General Pierre G.T. Beauregard recognized that the vessel might be useful to ram Union ships and break the blockade of Charleston Harbor. The Hunley was placed on a railcar and shipped to South Carolina.

The submarine experienced problems upon its arrival. During a test run, a crewmember became tangled in part of the craft's machinery and the craft dove with its hatch open; only two men survived the accident. The ship was raised and repaired, but it was difficult to find another crew that was willing to assume the risk of operating the submarine. Its inventor and namesake stepped forward to restore confidence in his creation. On October 15, he took the submarine into Charleston Harbor for another test. In front of a crowd of spectators, the Hunley slipped below the surface and did not reappear. Horace Hunley and his entire crew perished.

Another willing crew was assembled and the Hunley went back into the water. On February 17, 1864, the ship headed out of Charleston Harbor and approached the U.S.S. Housatanic. The Hunley stuck a torpedo into the Yankee ship and then backed away before the explosion. The Housatanic sank in shallow water, and the Hunley became the first submarine to sink a ship in battle. However, its first successful mission was also its last—the Hunley sank before it returned to Charleston, taking yet another crew down with it. The vessel was raised in 2000, and is now on exhibit in Charleston.”

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Gretzky breaks scoring record, Oct 15, 1989:

“During a game against his old team, the Edmonton Oilers, Canadian ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky breaks Gordie Howe's National Hockey League career scoring record of 1,850 points.

Gretzky dominated professional hockey during the 1980s, setting numerous records and leading the Oilers to four Stanley Cup victories. In 1988, the "Great One" was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, where he continued to excel as one of the National Hockey League's foremost players. He retired in 1999 as a New York Ranger, holding records for most career goals, 894; most career assists, 1,963; and most career points, 2,857.”

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Yesterday:

When I got up it was still dark and I could see lightening in the distance.  Just as I had fed the animals, dressed and published the journal, the power went out.  It had been out for a couple of hours the previous evening also, due to a fallen tree.  It started raining pretty hard, and Prime was enjoying watching it pour down from the screen porch.  It was very dark and gloomy, so I had to use flashlight to tend to the kitten. Misty doesn’t like it when the TV goes off, sound means a lot to her in her blind little world.

The power company called me with a recorded message saying that the outage affected 169 customers and would be restored by 10.00 am.  Then half an hour later another recording saying that 1500 customers were affected and it will be back on by noon.  I knew that Claudia’s home is all electric, so I tried to call to see it she needed anything.  But she didn’t have a corded phone plugged in, so I couldn’t reach her. 

As it had stopped raining, Misty and I went down there for our walk-about, and to see Claudia.  We all had coffee on her porch.  Oh, how did we do that?  The man across their street had power, as he was on a different circuit that comes from another direction.  So Jay took their coffee maker over there, and plugged it into his golf-cart charger.  There wasn’t much any of us could do, we are all so dependant on electricity, so we just chatted until the power came back on around 11.00am.  It started to rain again just as Misty and I were leaving.

When I arrived back home, the kitten needed to be bottle-fed again, and I was able to wash a load of her little blankies, stuffed toys and wash-cloths.  I had cut up a towel to make little washcloths, and I wash her all over like her real Mama would. She gets a little baby cereal in her bottle now, and sometimes she will suck some pâté canned kitten food off my fingers.  She has been here a week, but I can’t really see any difference in her size or progress. I have some more pictures in my camera, but I am having trouble with it right now.

The Willis church was having a Mystery Dinner Theatre, and I had started to make an organic beef, wheat pasta, and tomato dish, but the power went out again.  My convection oven is, of course, electric, as are the ones at the church.  Because of all the power outages in the area, the Dinner Theatre had to be postponed to another day.