I'm Juz Sayin'

If you don't own a dog, at least one,

there is not necessarily anything wrong with you,

but there may be something wrong with your life.

~Roger Caras~

Happy Trails,

Sunday is for Family

Mother

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

~1933~

Happy Trails,

Dog Flu and An Award

Our good Labbie pal, Jack, has been diagnosed with a respiratory infection.

He hasn't been able to go to his favorite puppy park to play with his friends.

Feel better and get well soon. Jack!

Coincidentally, two days ago I read an article concerning the spread of dog influenza. If you recently adopted a dog from a shelter, or if your dog frequents doggie day care, boarding facilities, dog parks, or other public, dog-friendly places, please read this important article.

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We were honored to receive the Daisy Awesome Paw-Some Award from our friends at A Doggie Life and Anna's Dog Blog .

This award originated on Daisy's blog and was created by the Purple Hatter. We are to pass the award on to 5 bloggers who blog at least once a week. Please feel free to take this award, with our best wishes.

Happy Trails,

Sassy Says

“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude,

then animals are better off than a lot of humans”

~James Herriot~

Happy Weekend &

Happy Trails,

Just Chillin'

We received this "cool" picture from our good doggie friend, Blaine, who lives in PA with his pawrents, Jan and Walt. Jan and Walt are my wonderful Idita-Buddies.

Jan wrote, "Blaine and I walked at the local college. It was Freshman move in day complete with a picnic. Blaine found the ice they dumped and chomped away like Buddy before plopping his whole body down in the ice mound. Dreams of winter and Iditarod."

Jan (right) and Me

(We're both suffering from a bad case of "hat head".)

Iditarod Restart '09

I'm having Iditarod Dreams, too.

Happy Trails,

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Trails,

This One's for the Birds

Sassy, admiring the beautiful card we received from Shelley.

I've only seen Redpolls in Alaska.

I recently won a giveaway hosted by one my favorite bloggers/photographers, Shelley, at Birding in Michigan. Shelley's photos of birds are amazing. It's as if the birds pose for her. I've learned about many different types of birds by reading Shelley's blog.

Shelley also has a great on-line nature store, featuring her beautiful photography. Be sure to check out her "Sack Michael Vick" products. Fifty percent of the profits of the Vick items will be donated to the ASPCA. Way to go, and thank you Shelley.

Happy Trails,

I'm Juz Sayin'

Say it loud,

I'm black and I'm proud!

~James Brown~

The Godfather of Soul

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Did you know that big, black dogs are often the last to be adopted from animal shelters — a phenomenon known in pet rescue circles as "Black Dog Syndrome"?

Anyone who has worked or volunteered in a shelter can attest to the fact that animals (cats and dogs) with black coats are the hardest to adopt out, they're in the shelters the longest and therefore, they're most likely to be euthanized.

One of the most common reasons given for BDS is a reluctance to adopt certain breeds of dogs (Rottweiler, Dobie) because of their perceived aggressiveness.

Others speculate that black dogs just don't have the right look to catch the eye of potential adopters. There are several things a shelter can do to avoid black dog syndrome. One way is to photograph the black dog against a brighter, more visually appealing background. Black dogs tend to fade into the background when not properly lit, which can make them less appealing than other breeds.

Another tip is to heavily promote the benefits of darker coated dogs whenever possible. In other words, shelter workers should sell the breed, not the color. Many potential pet adopters would consider a larger black dog with a gentle disposition (Lab, for example) than a smaller dog with too much energy.

Anything that can be done to prevent future cases of BDS is certainly worth pursuing.

I'm certainly glad I found my big, black dog in time. I rescued Buddy on his "last day" at the shelter.

Happy Trails,

Sunday is for Family

Mother and Me

Savannah, GA

~1974~

We were playing a silly game at a bridal shower given in my honor. I was married (the first time) 35 years ago, on August 24, 1974. I look at that picture and I see a young, naive girl who had no idea what she was doing or where life would take her. Whew, that was long ago and far away...

Remember that girl, SH?

Happy Trails,

Home from the Lake

Sorry, no pictures of the dogs in the lake. After falling in the lake with my camera during our last trip, I kept Hubby's camera far from the water.

We had a wonderful time and are now preparing for our next RV trip, cross-country to Oregon. We plan to leave the day after Labor Day and at this time I'm not planning to blog while we are traveling. I have decided to take a break from my obsession and give all my attention to my hubby and dogs.

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Thank you all for your comments regarding Michael Vick. I see no remorse in his eyes. Yes, he is sorry. He is sorry he got caught!

I believe in forgiveness, second chances, and karma. Karma will get Vick.

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I was surprised and honored to receive an award from one of my favorite blogs, Life with Dogs. This is a fun award as there are no rules or requirements!

If you've never checked out Nigel, Sola, Fudgepants and company you're in for a treat. They live in Vermont with their very funny, creative hooman. Thanks for the recognition Friends!

Happy Trails,

Sassy Says

Thorns and roses grow on the same tree.

~Turkish proverb ~

Happy Trails,

Wordless Wednesday-Golf ND Style

Happy Trails,

Michael Vick Signs with Eagles

Vick is getting a second chance in the NFL.

Can dog lovers give him a second chance?

The City of Brotherly Love is known more for its nastiness than a forgiving nature.

Read more: http://www.centredaily.com/news/state/story/1452412.html#ixzz0OJuWx02f

Please share your opinion on whether he deserves a second chance.

Happy Trails,

Sunday is for Family

Grandma and Brunie

(my childhood dog)

~1973~

Savannah, GA

Grandma appears to be frowning, but she really loved Brunie.

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We'll be at the lake for a few days. It's deserted since all the kids are back in school. This is probably my favorite time of year to be retired. I miss many things about teaching, but the first few weeks of first grade is not one of them.

Happy Trails,

Zack Celebrates Woodstock

Peace, Love, Rock and Roll!

Happy 40th Anniversary to The Woodstock Generation

Where were you during Woodstock?

I was 16 years old, surfing on Tybee Island, Ga.

A Hippie Wannabe

Sit back, listen to Richie, and remember...

Happy Trails,

Sassy Says

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

~Aesop

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I received this story in an email and had to share.

(Thx, Kay)

Lost and Found Dog Saves Life of Boy with Down Syndrome

by Helena Sung

Photo: St. Petersburg Times / ZUMA Press

Do you believe in canine guardian angels and the kindness of strangers? You just might after reading this story.

Early one morning, Yolanda Segovia's neighbor, Stacey Savige, knocked on her door and asked her to temporarily take in a stray dog she had found. The scruffy terrier mix had no collar or microchip. Segovia eyed the pooch -- burrs sticking to his belly and mud caking his fur -- and reluctantly agreed to foster him for the day.
An erstwhile hairdresser, Segovia hasn't worked since 2006. At 47, she is a survivor of breast cancer and cervical cancer. A divorced single mother of two, Segovia shares her Port Tampa, Florida home with her 10 year-old son Azaiah and 21 year-old son Christian. Her elder son has Down Syndrome; he cannot speak or bathe himself, and he has had heart surgery and a kidney transplant, reports the St. Petersburg Times.

Azaiah immediately took to the dog, whom he named RaeLee (pronounced "Riley"). Segovia and her sons bought the dog a collar, leash, ball and brown bed from the dollar store, and all that day, Azaiah played with the dog, laughing gleefully whenever RaeLee licked his face. "Don't fall in love with him," Segovia warned.

Segovia and Savige made 4,000 FOUND flyers with the dog's picture, stuffed mailboxes and put an ad on Craigslist. When no one called, RaeLee stayed the night at the Segovias' house. His dog bed was placed in the living room, but when the boys climbed into their twin beds, RaeLee dragged his bed down the long hallway and bunked with the boys in their room.

By Saturday -- four days later -- no one had called to claim RaeLee, and he was still living with the Segovias. The honey-colored terrier had started responding to his new name. He almost never barked, loved playing rambunctiously with Azaiah, and was tender with Christian.

One afternoon, the dog settled himself on the floor near Christian as he watched a "Barney" video in his room. Segovia was outside watering the plants when the placid moment was shattered by the sound of RaeLee crashing into the screen door and barking crazily. Alarmed, Segovia opened the door, only to have the dog race back through the house towards the boys' room. Segovia followed, screaming when she caught sight of her son. Christian was "slumped over, his body writhing in a seizure, blood streaming from his nose and mouth." RaeLee stood next to him yelping, but suddenly went quiet when Yolanda reached down to hold her son.

"If he hadn't come to get me," Segovia told the St. Petersburg Times, "the neurologist said Christian would have choked on his own blood and died." The dog, she decided, was a keeper.

But the next day, Segovia and her sons were heartbroken when someone called to claim the dog they had come to love. Randy Cliff, 34, who lived six blocks away said he had been searching for his dog -- real name Odie -- for over a week. Odie had lived with Cliff, his wife, their four children and infant granddaughter. Savige cried, telling Cliff, "That dog saved my friend's son."

When Cliff came to collect his dog, RaeLee a.k.a. Odie, leapt off the Segovias' porch and into his arms. Christian watched from a window. Azaiah stood on the porch watching the man hug the dog he knew as RaeLee. "We're going to miss you," he said, tearfully.

Looking up, Cliff took in the scene -- Christian looking scared, Azaiah looking downtrodden -- and asked, "Is that your brother?" Azaiah nodded yes.
With a sudden change of heart, Cliff put the dog back down. "Maybe Odie was supposed to find you," Cliff told a stunned and delighted Azaiah. "Maybe you should keep him."

And that is how the kindness of strangers -- Savige for rescuing a lost dog, Segovia for taking him in, and Cliff for giving up his pet to a pair of brothers who needed the dog more -- brought RaeLee to live with Azaiah, Christian and their mother.

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For another great dog story, visit random ramblings.

Happy Trails,

Southernism

Even Southern puppies know that ‘gimme some sugar’ is not a request for the white, granular sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table.

Happy Trails,

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Trails,

Lance Mackey Joins LIVESTRONG

Lance Mackey, Nike, and Lance Armstrong unite to inspire and mobilize the world in the Fight Against Cancer.

This video blew me away, even though I am a bit prejudiced.

Just hanging out with Lance at the 2009 Iditarod...

I read on Lance's webpage that my good friends Jan and Walt Tremer are sponsoring Lance's 2010 Iditarod entry fee.

Way to go Idita-Buddies!

Happy Trails,

I'm Juz Sayin'

When you become senile, you won't know it.

~Bill Cosby

Happy Trails,