HEY, HEY!  IT'S NEARLY HERE!  
FEBRUARY 26 IS THE 13TH NATIONAL
SPAY DAY!  


DO THE RIGHT THING AND  
SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PET

I have made a solemn promise to Peaches and Beau that even if I were stranded in the wilderness like the Donner Party or the couple in Oregon who were mushroom hunting and became lost, I would never, ever consider EATING them!  The Oregonians were apparently so desperately hungry and evidently had eaten all their harvested mushrooms, so all that was left to eat was their pit bull.  Or perhaps in their gastronomic circle dog perfectly complements wild mushrooms.  Now, I have to say that there is probably plenty of potential good eatin' on my two fat bassets, but I don't care how hungry I got, I'd never resort to eating my dog.  Instead of a last supper, I'd just lie down between my fur friends for a last snuggle before I died.  There are some things worse than death, and eating my best and most devoted companions is definitely among them.

It's hard to imagine that we live in a country where you can be assaulted by law enforcement for merely walking your dog off leash, as was the case with Gary Hesterburg, who was tasered by a federal ranger while walking his two small dogs off leash in Golden Gate National Park.  Whether the man was belligerent to the officer, the article doesn't say, but unless he attempted to physically attack the ranger, I see no excuse for using what could be lethal force against a man walking his dogs.  People don't always survive being tasered.  This is also a weapon used to bring someone down and should be handled as though it were as lethal as a firearm.  I like to think the ranger wouldn't have gunned down the dog walker for his grand offense of having his dogs off leash, but in the America of 2012, who knows?
At any rate, fellow dog walkers, better keep those dogs leashed at all times or the outcome could be shocking.

In regard to the recent proposed changes to laws that affect the welfare of animals in California, I believe that this great state, which once shone as a beacon of progress for the world (but apparently no more), needs to set a strong example for humane treatment of all animals, both pets and those used for food.  I'm appalled that the Supreme Court has decided it is okay for downed farm animals to be used as part of our food supply and that these "wise" men do not see how wrong it is for these unfortunate creatures to be treated so cruelly that they become sick or crippled in the first place.  Instead of being dragged or bulldozed into the food chain, they should be humanely euthanized and their bodies disposed of (but not fed to their brethren) instead of being eaten.  As a very lucky survivor of e. coli and salmonella poisoning years ago, I think that this latest ruling to feed the greed of a heartless industry is reason enough to shun the consumption of animal flesh.  There are healthier foods to consume that don't require the killing of living beings that feel most of the same emotions we do. Bottom line:  You just really don't know what you're eating any more when you buy meat products at the supermarket or at a restaurant.  


As for the Governor's ill-advised proposed repeal of Tom Hayden's law on extending hold times for pets in shelters, I don't believe that the lives of helpless companion animals should be sacrificed to bolster a trashed economy which is the result of stupid, selfish actions of human beings.  We got ourselves into this mess.  Why should our pets pay the price?  They have no voice in their fate, so we have to be their voice.  I would probably not have my wonderful Beau or Peaches if shelter hold times had been any shorter. Certainly I would not have Beau, since he was an older mixed-breed dog that had already been a stray twice before I adopted him.  His three strikes were nearly up, and I found him in the nick of time.  Best day of my life.  And his!  Governor Brown may not have found his Sutter, either, if this protective law were not in force, though I'm sure that purebreds stand a far better chance than the throngs of mutts, seniors and other less adoptable dogs that find their way into shelters, again because of too many stupid, thoughtless, greedy people.  This law gives pets a second chance for a happy ending.  It must NOT be overturned!  Are you listenin', Guv?      

I'm happy to report that those beautiful bassets at the SSPCA, Rufus and Emma, have been adopted.  I'd like to believe that it's because of someone reading this blog, but it's probably more likely due to their appearance in the Sacramento Bee on Wednesday.  But then, every effort helps when the lives of two dogs needing a forever home are at stake.  N'est pas?

What can the California Department of Fish and Game be thinking?  According to the article in the Bee, their new link allows everyone, including hunters, to track the migration of OR7, the lone wolf that has migrated to our state.  Don't you just know that there's a big, white hunter or livestock rancher just aching to bag his very own wolf and hang its carcass on his den wall?  No wonder it's taken 100 years for wolves to come back from near extinction in the West.  In addition to the tracking device on OR7's collar, why not just hang a big red-ringed target around his neck?  Now everyone will be out gunning for him.  How do they expect this animal to survive? Unbelievably stupid, Fish and Game idiots!

 

                                         Keep chewin', chewin', chewin', 
                                             though the rug is ruined.  
                                           Keep them doggies chewin'
                                RAWHIDE!