A time Of Reflection.........

We haven't been served , but if one is dealing with irrational people it is hard to tell what is going on in their little empty heads. . We had made the statement to Commission if they ( NHS ) wanted to stop the harrassment I would be willing to let it go, rather than drag the animals through a rough time. I also didn't want to further tarnish the reputation of what was once a wonderful outfit. Diane had a column in the paper trying to explain the difference between the two agencies, the public will never get it. It was a horrible mistake and if we could get out of it we would..............Animal control has a mandate from the public, it is law and legislation, when you read of the efforts of this group to undo county code, you can see they have no interest in tending their own affairs. Now I notice the SPCA is wanting to make Washoe County no kill, it is none of the SPCA's business what county policy is. None. We have a county agency to enforce county code and follow the model of state law..... get the amateurs off the stage. Your plans run in the deficit, you lose money on every animal, why would we as a government, give you more ??

This is my first Christmas without my dear Louise, a friend for 35 years, more a sister than a neighbor & friend. she was my strength, my champion and most of all she stood beside me, and I beside her as we fought the battles of life. Always good spirits intertwined. Together we survived losing our infant children, we lost our siblings, we grew cancer and heart disease, and we lived with them together. My husband considered her his sister in law, my kids, their Aunt. we fought corruption on every front and volunteered to make our little part of the world a better place. Louise & I both got nasty diagnoses in the mid 80"s, mine an old enemy from 1976 and hers newly found throat cancer, we prevailed as partners til I lost her this summer. Never through all the years did she lose her interest in learning and making the world a better place.

Because she had no voice, she taught me to watch more closely, and discern more carefully what was said and seen. Together we were comforting a teminally ill patient and she was often at the shelter with me. We would slip in and visit with the dogs for a bit to decompress from our other duties. She continued to volunteer for CAW and I changed from Master Gardener to Animal Control. As I hung the Christmas ornaments this year, I looked and and loved all the ones from her over these 35 years. That we spent our last Chrismas, not shopping, or decorating a tree, or plotting a Christmas feast, but in preparing for a court hearing, seemed especially wasteful for a loving laughing friend.
I will never forget what she said as we left that day, she and the 7 other witnesses in attendance, stunned at the breach of code of conduct. All the people that day had gone out with me at different times to look at a potential adoption, all were witnesses to good faith and good behavior.
We were walking through a terrible snow storm and she looked at me and put her finger over her throat to speak, as best she could. She said, The animals have lost the only advocate they have, and she shed a tear. My reply was, just because you don't see the advocate doesn't mean you don't have one.
We will be standing by to pick up the pieces from this Lieds waiting to happen, and there will be no satisfaction in knowing we are right, for the animals will have paid with their spirits.
I will go forward, but I will not forget, nor will I stand by and see animals is horrible conditions. Louise who spent her last Christmas with me, in Court, deserves that. I will bring forth legislation, there are bills to get sponsored, and hoarding issues to be addressed. Sick animals will be treated, and there will be a compassionate environment for all creatures. It is only time, till they self destruct. Louise left a small endowment with HSUS, and a much larger one in my heart.
I hope you can enlarge the picture, it is the last card I made for my friend and I think it speaks to all of us who care......

Is This Snowman A Menace ??

Oreo was reading a column in our local paper, she really can't read, but she listens when I read it to her. We looked over the whole article and the common thought we had was... What the hell is hate mail, and who gets to decide. The piece whined on about some
" hate mail", always unidentified, with no return address. Number one problem, you just toss that stuff.....why are these folks even wasting time, better spent grooming matted animals, reading this? Oreo has a theory. We looked and read over all the stuff quoted as hate mail, my thought was how sad.
One I doubt it ever occurred, just didn't ring true, but there did used to be some flake who posted on Mark's blog about the things "quoted" in the newspaper column. we think it was a pubicity stunt. There is also a commenter on another blog that does the same thing, feed the children first is their mantra, and they get quite mean. What people don't understand is, we live in a free society. that translates to people can make the choices that match their belief system. Here at Oreo's, we believe in doing both......Being kind and generous is not an either / or decision. The problem with the fanatics is simple really. They can't walk and chew gum at the same time. If I have $5.00.. I can put $2.50 in the Sally's bucket and the rest in the animal shelter of my choice. One is not taking away from the other because different people contribulte to different causes, we won't change that.
Mark being the devotee that he is, reposted it on his blog.. really do see it, it is the most inane thing I have read so far from her. Why is it called animal files ? A more accurate title would be fund raising files.
The same free society that lets loonie tunes go all over the country , creating havoc, telling lies, making false promises; and causing animals to suffer; lets others dislike them for it. I think the No Kill movement as presented by this man has turned people against helping animals. He has given shelters a bad name, and that sickens me. The shelters have come so far against overwhelming odds.
Our old NHS was such a great place, the animals were cared for, maybe the building wasn't new, but the care was genuine. These lackeys are phony and cold hearted. It is all about money and numbers. So for them to trot out some bogus story about hate mail in an attempt to get publicity is just one more pimple on their nose. We would like to see the letters, see the postmark, check the mailing code. I guess that was just the final credibily blowthrough for us. we thought perhaps Christmas would bring out some small tidbit of humanity in them, but we were wrong.
I have never met anyone who felt helping animals hurt children, and I am pretty active on all fronts. The type of mind that pushes for a new VA hospital is not the mentality that does anonymous mail, nobody from the Childrens Cabinet is sending them letters, so shame on the rgj for publishing yet another round of BS just to get the name in print. Maybe they just want to divert attention from conditions at the shelter. Still got 750 cats ? The time they could have reached out to the community to help the animals in their care, she wasted whinning. What a bunch of losers............
Pictured is Burley Dog, an ambassador for Animal Control and all the caring staff, who give so much. Every day, with all homeless animals, especially the ones who haven't got a prayer, they show kindness.

Christmas Thoughts From Oreo, The Girlydog.....

Usually when I hang out in front of the tree, my head is filled with dancing milkbones. I count my blessings and hope for more; but this year has a somber feel. I can't stop thinking about the trickle down effect this whole recession has on the spiritual and emotional side of life. I'm not seeing much to get my ears up about. I know my own good fortune, I have lived all my life in one home, have only gone to one vet, never been an only dog and have a "stay at home" Mom.
The last 3 years have been hard for me at times, a crutiate repair went well, Uncle Doug did a bang up job on that, but my reaction to the anethesia was not good. I lost my tear ducts and my salivary glands; I've also developed some pretty strange immune disorders. My Mom calls me a " walking pathology" I'll be 9 this March and I am starting to feel the years. I have lived beyond all my siblings, so the immune problems were genetic. I am worried now about all the pets that won't get needed care. I take about $250 a month just for stuff to keep me comfy and give me a pain free life. How are the animals in shelters getting treatment, and are they ? Some well meaning person told Mom the other day she was going to have to take her dog to NHS she couldn't afford the Rimadyl. I bet they don't give it there either, as more people surrender pets and they ( NHS ) cling to the idea of only keeping them alive at any cost, I wish they understood the true cost. What we are doing to these poor animals is inhumane. HSUS says wait til after the Holidays to adopt, and I agree......... The only thing meaner than keeping an animal caged for your personal agenda, is taking one home you can't care for. Because it will keep getting recycled.
Mom looks at me and cries sometimes, I know more than they think, and it is not good. We are thinking about writing to Maddies fund, there must be someplace to get help for a dog who has a great quality of life, yet could be put down because, without the medicene the eye pain is unbearable. That's what the vet told Ma the last time...Unbearable.
Pictured is Oreo in front of the Tree, eyes wide open and feeling good......