DOGS DON'T GO "OUT OF FASHION", PEOPLE WITH ANTIQUATED IDEAS, SMALL MINDS - NOW THESE ARE NEVER "IN VOGUE" - ALYSSIA

"Everything must change
Nothing stays the same
Everything must change
No one stays the same

The young become the old
And mysteries do unfold
Cause that's the way of time
Nothing and no one goes unchanged" - Quincy Jones

 

IT IS AN UNFORTUNATE REALITY THAT DOGS ARE CONSIDERED AN ACCESSORY BY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

Why people post to social networks and outlets such as Craigslist for certain breed of dogs with a "guarantee to pay the highest price" is beyond reason WHEN all that is needed is simply to:
1. Contact a shelter near you tell them what type of dog ( or cat ) your are looking for and wait until one is dropped off.
2. Contact a rescue ( for example the "Greyhound Rescue" ) give them your contact info - one will be dropped off if there is not one already in residence.

REMEMBER All Breeds of cat and dog will be a local shelter or rescue at some point in your quest to find your "must have" breed. 

BE PATIENT some one some where will find that their new dog is now "old" "out of date" or "out of style". 

"Adopt don't Shop" is not just an mantra of the animal minded it is a practical slogan to reduce the numbers of unwanted dog and cat births which take place every day by people who consider all breed of cat and dog mere commodity.

PLEASE STOP SUPPORTING: 

1. Granny Basement "Supplement her income" Breeding.

2. Soccer Mom's "saccharin smiling with the kids breeding".

3. "Have to pay my graduate bills" breeding.

4. Just crossed the boarder and or Just flew into JFK and "got no money" immigrant breeding.

5. Won the Super Bowl and now I can have my friends in the NFL over to my house to watch  lost and shelter dogs as Dog Bait - Dog Fighting Breeding.

6. Neighbor not resilient nor resourceful "got to save my house and will use it as a puppy mill breeding".

Instead support the thousands of volunteers which Pet Foster or Volunteer their time at Animal Shelters or work full time at animal rescues to help make sure that those breeds ( mixed and "pure bred" ) are not literally out of time because WE believe them to be "yesterdays fashion news."

Learn more about why the Skye Terrier and Water Spaniel and other dogs whose time may be running out here.

"HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY THAT I LOVE YOU" IN LOVING MEMORY OF MAX

MAXIE PADDINGTON, CROSSED THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

Maximillan Paddington - a DSH 24 lb strawberry blonde, tabby was euthanized today at  ~ 4:10pm in Studio City CA he would have been nine in September, 2015  Max suffered from complications from urinary tract disease. I whispered the lyrics to the song: Have I told you lately that I love you" as he looked deep in my eyes and drifted off to his forever slumber.

Loving, Gentle, intelligent and unselfish with his brothers and canine siblings, I found "Bubbi" at Oakland Animal Services in March of 2007, left at the shelter because he was" not neutered and spraying everywhere". I knew when I met "Bubbi" who stood proud and hopeful in his cage praying that I would see him leapt at the chance for a forever home with me and was renamed: Maximillan - Maxie to his friends not long after he came home. As I sit here thinking of him and trying to see the screen in between the tears I wonder ( with strong interest ) how the man above could take two of my seniors in less than one week? Oh I know he has a good reason but never the less that is no comfort to me right now. Maxie and his brother the late Little Bear Wolfe is missed with sadness and profundity. Love and care for your kitty each and everyday.

YOUR PRESENCE UNCLOSED ME - IN LOVING MEMORY LITTLE BEAR WOLFE MARCH 26 - 2015 @1:15PM

“(I do not know what it is about you that closes and opens; only something in me understands the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses) nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands”

— EE Cummings

I met the charismatic Russian Blue / Main Coon mix, aka Little Bear Wolfe - Beary to his friends at Berkeley Animal Services in Berkeley CA, in the autumn of 2007. Not looking to adopt per se - I donated some pet supplies and found myself looking through the cages thinking how I could rescue and or find homes for everyone lucky enough tho have been brought to the shelter.

It was beautiful autumn day when I spied - Little Bear but at first I did not see him. He was at the back of his cage which was high up in toward the back of the shelter and he was checking ME out:)! Long ears as pronounced nose and a handsome long fluffy tail - Little Bear street wise and weary was none the less eager to find a person he could adopt and go home with - that person was me.

Hello what is your name? aahh Bear is that what they call you

"Well my real name is Jackson but you can call me Little Bear - on account as I am only seven weeks old btw do you have a treat I am kind of hungry - or some smokes? (I could use to barter with later?:)" 

( He grinned a devilish but honest grim which compelled me to ask about adopting him - I did )

Although he hesitated when I put the carrier down and opened the door Bear hesitated before he ran about the bungalow in search of  "his room". Little Bear was shy and became adept at stealing food during the night. After the house went to sleep he would use what looked like military tactics to gain food and water use the latrine pull in toys and retreat back to the safety of the library where he held up ( and most likely learned to read:)

Over the years he became strong grew BIG and his purple paw pads, bright green lime colored eyes and long haired smoke colored coats were  what got "all the girls to love him" He walked like he "owned the place" and was quite happy looking out the window at passers by, the garden  the squirrels and the birds - he even said hello to the raccoons who often visited on the back porch.

When I moved the non profit to Los Angeles late last summer, he was looking forward to making  a fresh start with me and the other animals he lived with - he handled the car ride from San Francisco Bay Area like he was well traveled:)  When we settled into our hotel room When we He said... "he loved LA and looked forward to the time when My Darling Theo had a permanent home he kissed me grabbed a bite and fell asleep at my feet.  

During the months we have been in in SoCAL he appeared fine - no health issues at all. Back in 2009 I came home from work one night late and he was on the counter with his leg up in the air crying ( I rushed him to Pets Referral in Berkeley, CA and he was diagnosed with crystals and the doctors unblocked his penis and sent him home - other than that he has  ( appeared ) to be in full and complete health which is why I am shocked that he is gone.

This morning my Mobile Vet Doctor and technician arrived to cut the animals nails. Little Bear is always the last  one  because he is good at being incognito it took a while for us to locate him. Not shy or retiring he does not like people  as he mentioned to me: "I do not like nor trust people, humans have to earn my respect as I have been bamboozled before ( I met you of course )" Little Bear always spoke to me in third person because he  did not believe humans really understood felines:)

The doctor wrapped Little Bear in a blanket and cut his nails without incident. After I bid adieu to the veterinary team I gave out wet treats to the animals. Little Bear did not come down to get his favorite dish - Turkey and Duck. No more than ten minutes had passed between the time I found him and the time the doctor had left when I pulled him out from under a bed  and found him palpatating, foamy mouth eyes bugged as if he was suffocating. I called the doctor back but he was in traffic and could not reach me for another 30-40 mins. I frankly and in a panic told the admin at Mobile Vet that I could not wait that long and even if he was having " an asthmatic attack ) - recall he had no history of asthma he needed to see a doctor or I felt he would die.

I hung up the phone grabbed Little Bear and ran ( literally ) to  Best Friends announced:

"Emergency! I need to see someone now please" I continued  to provide the staff with his history and:

"No smoke in the house no aerosols, no drugs, no people,  no kids, no poison, he's indoors only, he has not been in an altercation, he has not eaten anything "funky" no human food - he only got his nails cut, last  night he was running around the house with his best friend Pyewacket ( a little black kitty ) and he appeared to be fine" I yammered yelled and blurted out shaking and sweating.

The staff took him in the back I gave them my credit card and signed off on all of the emergency procedures necessary to make him better. The attending physician initially said it could be a severe panic attack asthma or diabetes but after she took x-rays and got a second opinion it was concluded that Little Bear Wolfe tough, charismatic, intelligent, handsome friend was suffering from congestive heart failure - his lungs were filled to capacity with liquid and nodules most likely cancer  - despite having a credit card Little Bear Wolfe and I were out of time.

Little Bear Wolfe was found digging in trash cans with his sister an orange long haired white tipped tabby - Genevieve  ( who is the face of My Darling Theo on  our Facebook Page ) and later brought to Berkeley Animal Services where I found and adopted him. I  had the  privilege of growing with hime, loving him and getting to know him  for almost nine years , a complex  yet compassionate personality I will miss his bravado, insight and companionship if he were a man perhaps he would have been a line backer because he was 22 lbs and almost four feet long - we referred to him as Big Boned:).

I held him in my arms and he was put to sleep I can still smell his sweet fishy breath and warm soft fur although his eyes turned an empty black when he passed I still saw in them the brilliant green  which is his signature I love that cat:)

The doctor said in no uncertain terms I did nothing wrong and she knew  by his exam and the way Little Bear reacted toward me even moments before he died suffering as he was that he loved  and trusted me with his life. Little Bear Wolfe crossed the rainbow bridge at 1:15pm this afternoon PST.

I went into detail because I want you to know that sometimes life throws you a hard ball and you don't - you can't see it coming the lesson is this:

1. Love the animals you spend your life with

2.Give the the best - they would do the same for you

3. Use the intelligence God gave you and listen to your pets ( If I had waited for the Mobile Vet to return little bear would have died and continued to suffer at least with the Veterinary practice down the street he had a fighting chance and I was able to  spend a tiny bit more time with him:)

There was no way of knowing Little Bears lungs were full of fluid and nodules until today, the doctor said she was glad for me and him that I did not come home to find him dead on the floor - alone.

In between my tears and head bashing I take a wee bit of comfort knowing that my twin sister, mother and best friend loved him too ( so even though the cat known as Little Bear Wolfe ) "did not trust nor talk directly to humans because I could not trust them" - he knew that he was loved just the way he was:)

In loving memory of Little Bear Wolfe.

Be Well LOVE YOUR FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS - and thank you for your support and encouragement:) 

 

 

FORGIVE HUMANS FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO

THE BEAUTY OF THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING IS MARRED BY THE REMINDER THAT HUMAN BEINGS STILL HAVE  NOT EVOLVED PAST OUR OWN IMAGE, STILL WE STRIVE TO SHATTER DREAMS, FLAIL THE PROMISE OF  THE HUMAN ANIMAL BOND AND STRIKE A POSE WHERE IT CAN DO THE MOST AMOUNT OF DAMAGE - TO ANOTHER LIVING CREATURE.

WHEN THE CAMERA WAS NEW IMAGES HAD A POWERFUL EFFECT ON PEOPLE AND  WITH THIS NEW TOOL INFORMATION WAS SHARED AND PUSHED MANY PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION  WHEN THEY NEVER DID BEFORE. WITH THIS IN MIND I BEGAN TO ASK MYSELF: ARE PEOPLE AROUND THE GLOBE SO COMMITTED TO THEIR OWN IMAGE THEY CAN NOT SEE NOR CARE THE EFFECT THEIR ACTIONS CAPTURED FOREVER VIA DIGITAL IMAGING  HAS ON OTHER PEOPLE? CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE AND SCROLL THROUGH THE IMAGES, SOME OF MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHTS AS  I VIEWED SOME OF THE PICTURES:

 1. Why does this old man feel it is necessary to abuse animals for their amusement and eat their flesh for their nourishment?  Has his life been so unfulfilled he has to take his bitterness out on a monkey?

2. Why do  people who recognize religion have to slaughter animals en masse and in the most primitive way to "please the gods"? 

3. Why does Bullfighting still exist - do men feel it is masculine ( oddly they look rather feminine in their "outfits" . )

4. Why is the fur industry still huge especially in the country where money flows like water and is exported with the same fluidity - don't these people have indoor heating and warm weather gear? 

5. Why did someone shoot an arrow into the back of a dolphin haven't they seen "Flipper?"

6. Who in their right mind subjects a horse and their child to fire? If this person is mentally unstable perhaps the authorities should intervene ( to protect the horse, and the child from further demonstrations of bravado ).

7. Why do people "swim with the sharks" then hunt and kill them and show these images to their children?

8. Why did teenagers shoot and tie a dog to train tracks? Why have these kids been allowed to roam free surely this is not their first act of violence ( it is perhaps the first time their  mental instability and cruelty has been reported to the police ). 

When you see these images ask yourself - why do people like this continue to be allowed to get away with crimes against animals AND how did the animals in the images where they have been left to suffer in abandoned, dreary places get there?

Coming soon to a theatre near you "The Longest Ride" the film is about "enduring love" however  in between the  intimacy scenes which glorify the Rodeo will most likely inspire some men ( and women  howdy up and want to ride a bull " so they can look like the guy in the movie". Will the day ever come where we do not wish to see little men atop the back of drugged and abused animals just for the "sake of a show"? 

YOU can stop abuse and neglect by how you spend your money, your involvement with local politics and your consideration of nature and the environment, one person can not move a mountain but a resourceful individual can start it crumbling down. Have a good weekend - Alyssia

MADISON AVENUE V. ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLY YOU WILL DETERMINE WHICH CAMPAIGN HAS THE MORE PROFOUND IMPACT ON ANIMAL WELFARE

Animal imagery as education campaigns and news alerts are powerful tools which inspire people to take action on a particular issue, educate people who are "in  the dark about animal abuse, rights and welfare" and wish to learn more and remind people who are indifferent to animal suffering that animals have a right to be live on earth, free from the fickle, often un ethical whim of human tastes, greed and arrogance.  ANIMALS PICTURED IN POWERFUL EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS   ANIMALS ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME UNLESS WE  CHANGE OUR BEHAVIOR

ANIMAL IMAGERY UPS THE MADISON AVENUE ANTY 

Animal actors continue to make huge profits for their human owners and for business in Ad campaigns which sell everything from, shoes to nuts.  While some of these images are interesting, perhaps beautiful or evoke laughter my concern, is two fold: photo shoots can be tough depending on location, duration temperament of the "artists" the client(s) and weather conditions. Animals portrayed in these campaigns become unreal and people start thinking sharks eat snickers, and Seals watch ( and care about  video games). Animal actors need to have someone on set looking for their interests exclusively and the animals should have a trust fund set up ( for them:) 

ANIMALS IN PICTURES SLIDE SHOW FROM THE TELEGRAPH

GAME PLAYING  TV WATCHING SEALS

CATS TAKE A PUNCH           

SEAWORLD CAMPAIGN  GETS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL ( ALTHOUGH WE HOPED IT WOULD INEXPLICABLY SAY "CLOSED FOR GOOD"

MINIATURE HORSES WOULD RATHER THRE MINIATURE HUMANS TAKE A WALK

CAMPAIGNS THAT OUT RIGHT INSULT YOUR INTELLIGENCE AND DISRESPECT ANIMALS AND NATURE ALL TOGETHER         

LOVE ON ALL FOURS; LOVING MY CATS AND MY DOGS

If Valentine's Day is no secret why don't more people show their love for their cats and their dogs?

 

Despite the commercial Super Bowl Valentine's Day has become this day is really about how you and I love - a day to assess our behavior toward one another, animals and the environment, Valentines Day is the "Share a Little Love" event of the year:) No denying Valentine's Day is special to me - a little chocolate some flowers and perhaps a romantic date are part of the expectation but the novelty of this Hallmark Holiday is the chance to share the love with those around us who have no rights - our cats and dogs.

My Darling Theo Foundation was founded because of my love for Theo who would have been fifteen on February 10, 2015. Our foundation has an active board, unique programs and a message Pet Friendly = Pet Safe, too! As I develop our programs, message social media and contact potential corporate and non-profit partners, I acknowledge the inspiration the cats and dogs I share my life with continue to give me.

DOGS ARE NOT SHY ABOUT TELLING YOU HOW THEY FEEL - LISTEN

My Dogs let me know with their actions how they feel about me, they acknowledge my presence, smile when they are happy and frown when they are not - they let me know when the food I feed them is satisfactory and when I should keep looking for responsible brands which also taste good  to them. I am a more cognizant of the responsibility I have for them because they love, me.

CATS ARE TOO INDEPENDENT AND INDIFFERENT TO HUMAN AFFECTION, REALLY? 

Much has been written and discussed about cat's "independence". The felines I share my life with are independent love bugs. Their persona's are bursting with talent, courage, and tenacity - hey if cats had thumbs they could hold a microphone and if they could hold a microphone they could reach  the folks in the back of the room who just don't get it ( that cats are smart, need family to survive and want the love of their human companions. On days when I want to give up I take the feline approach: I get up stretch, refocus grab a bite and get back to work:).

THE ENVIRONMENT

Living with cats and dogs I have come to fully appreciate the importance of being environmentally proactive that is appreciating what we have before it is gone- and acting accordingly. When I started gardening almost 25 years ago I studied how eco systems are connected and the value of the data and commitment environmentalists contribute to the safe keeping of the planet. The Dog Walk Stories I ask you to share are part of my education, when I am out with the dogs I see things Mother Nature intended me to witness and I do so because I am spending time with the dogs as they enjoy the simple pleasure of being "out with nature". 

Loving is showing not telling perhaps cats and dogs do understand: I love you do you know how much I love you? or maybe if humans showed how much they love their cats and dogs the animals learning curve would shoot straight up rather than stagnate from confusing signals. Valentine's Day show don't tell:) 

THE R2D2 PHENOMENON: THE FAILURE OF "MAN'S BEST FRIEND" REIMAGINED

Dogs are a construct of men. Men ( and perhaps a few women )

bred dogs based on appearance ( personal taste and fashion ) and for

functional purposed to be used for: protection / companionship / vanity /

arrogance /  sport ( fighting / hunting / racing and as currency to buy

and trade goods. Dogs are the result of human imagination, as limited as

it is one good thing has come out of breeding dogs - dogs love us.

Dogs ( and perhaps their feline companions ) share an unconditional love

for human beings that no robotic or virtual substitute can replicate - ask

any dog lover if they would trade the most sophisticated toy dog that

money could buy for their little  four legged Frisky ( even after their dog

has chewed a hole in their new sofa or urinated on the oriental rug

minutes before dinner guests were expected ) most dog owners would

say almost in unison "No Way"!.

Yet technology enthusiasts, well intentioned scientists and toy

manufacturers continue the race to replicate human companionship don't

they know that a "Tin Man" and a "Tin Dog"  to echo the "Tin Man": 

 Just to register emotion, jealousy, devotion
And really feel the part
I could stay young and chipper
And I'd lock it with a zipper
If I only had a heart

 convinced?   

Okay If you woke up and your dog turned in R2D2 would you be

pleasantly surprised or angry ( after you got over your shock?).

You come home from work - your dog greets you.

You're stuck on the first page of the novel you have been trying to write

for years - your cat jumps up on the desk, you stop fretting

over "blank page syndrome" and pet her until you regain your focus. 

Americans spent over 53 billion dollars last year on their pets - some

body out there thinks animals are here to stay - so why is technology

racing to robotics and virtual our relationships? The answer could lie  

simply in the quest for happiness and because cats and dogs provide so

much happiness and joy to humans, people want the joy to continue -

without the maintenance, sorrow ( when their pet dies ) and the expense

of up keep  love costs money time and energy - I love you babe is not

free or without consequence - anyone who has lived knows that:).

There is hope for our pets, no  need to sound the alarm - yet. Although I

have limited this conversation - pets, to mean cats and dogs,  birds and

fish fall into the category ( No leave fish and birds out of it they should

be free to fly and swim big. It does not matter how charming /

fascinating nor sophisticated - synthetic is fake no living cat or dog can be

replaced with something that requires batteries - ask your friend the tin

man and not cat or dog can be replaced with a robot who is

programmed to think like a pet - ask the Lion - who only needed to

be reminded of his intelligence when he too realized that he indeed had

a  ( functioning ) brain that just needed to be put to good use:).

Almost daily a new app, scientific discovery or tech device becomes

available for consumers to buy and replace living friendships, it is a new

year how about taking a look at  our four legged friends another way

would they be able to give you 100 percent unconditional love if you

were synthetic  Intelligent devices help to make our world easier to

navigate but they will never replace the  beauty, intuition, intelligence

and compassion of my cats and dogs or the ones who wait in the shelter

with the hope of finding someone loving - just like you:).

"Dallos" a robot dog from Anime Vice - could you imagine coming home to this every night?

Don't let an app match you with a dog or cat go to the shelter in person meet "old school!"

MIT - love ya but really don't want dogs and cats to be replaced by replicants:) nor Gremlins:)

Imagine if Rosie went haywire - on your dog getting your pets accustomed to real pet sitters is a headache imagine if the maid were a robot?

Sony's entertainment division is awesome, can we keep kids and the young at heart learning from and interacting with real animals we still share the world - with them:).

Okay Robot B9 could be used to find a missing dog but what if he did not like your dog? Or was under the influence of person who preferred cats?:)

"i'm sorry Dave"......At the rate we are going man could very well wind up living in outer space, what if HAL felt threatened by your new puppy or kitty ( you know what happened to the crew).

R2-D2 and C3P0 were best friends the last thing they want is to meet your cat or dog: Two's company three is a crowd" - I'm sure they have this text programmed into their memory banks:)

It's a good thing "Mother" ( the real ships captain ) liked cats - the Aliens certainly didn't:)