Sophie Dog Zing Cat

We had to put Sophie down last week. It was a sad day. And a sad couple days after. We also got a giveaway cat named Zing. Zing is a bit neurotic, and not really a people cat. Or a cat cat. She is an odd duck of a cat. But very cute, if a bit nervous looking.

Old Sophie girl sunning herself last summer...

Chicken Death

I just read in National Geographic that I cannot call our chicken being 'taken out' by the neighbors uncontrolled dog as Chicken Murder. Murder is only defined as human oriented killing. Hence the title. I don't want anyone calling it the wrong thing. I was not allowed to post the grisly details on here about the demise of our sweet handraised black australorp Florida (Flo ) as per lovely daughter Rose. Suffice it to say, the characters in this story are neighbors, two uncontrolled dogs (pitbull mix and wolf mix), and a fat dog-friendly chicken.
We all know how the story ended. I know how my gun-totin' friends would like me to end it for the dog. This is the careful dance you do with permanent neighbors. I can throw up a fuss (which I did) and report the dog (which I did) but then I have to let it go. It is no good to pit neighbors against each other. Doesn't work very well. And, in essence, they are human and I suppose doing the best they can under their life circumstances. And we all love our dogs, even ones with issues. We had a dog that we put down in Seattle after exhausting all options of training and socialization. He was the best family dog, and loved Rose so deeply, but had been abused as a youngster and had a screw loose with strangers.
The neighbors know the ground they are walking on. I mentioned they could lose their house (some insurance companies do not insure houses with pitbulls or documented aggressive dogs.) I should note that comment about insurance went over with them like a load of bricks. Sometimes my helpful tidbits of information, are not so helpful. We can chalk that up to one of my "put a sock in it" moments.
WELCOME to my neighborhood.

Feisty - Dogs in the Road

Why do I have a pic of kids as soldiers? That is a very good question, and obviously this will be one of those cranky missives that may or may not connect the dots. Plus I am heavily caffeinated this morning.
Yesterday I managed to miss all the ferries over to work. (or, I missed the ferries that would allow me to get to work on time.)
So I had to drive around Puget Sound, it takes about an hour and a half. Around Bremerton the cars were all stopping with flashers on. I was thinking babies ducks? (too early in the year) Deer? (someone would have "quietly" leveled them with a shotgun).. when I got closer it was a black dog wandering aimlessly across the highway lanes. Many people pulled over trying to catch the dog, and I thought of those stories where people run in front of a train to get their pets. They die, the pets are fine.
Even though I was running late, my inclination was to pull over, too. It was an auto pilot response, not really a rational one. Why is helping a dog that actually seemed to be doing just fine and looked a bit on the pitbull breed side such an auto "HELP" response, but something geographically far-away like genocide or starvation open for extensive discussion with moral implications, political partisanship and inaction so much easier? It is easy for me to pull over and save a dog. (or get hit trying) but it is not easy to help a whole country or even a group of people that may not be "like me" or believe in the same things I do. Especially if I felt like I don't know the 'whole story' or 'the real truth'. Well I am beginning to think that is B.S.

OH, and I am going to start saying I am "passionate" about things... not "feisty" or even "argumentative." (My board of directors is not going to have an easy time with me today... please send them your kind thoughts and best wishes)
Photo Courtesy AP Wire, "DRC Child Soldiers"

Lucky Days 2

Old Happy Dog Dancin' in the Snow.

The two workhorse vehicles around the place. And the one fluffy ornament dog. The van odometer just rolled past 100,000! Thanks big-butted white minivan! (note cop -magnet truck in the background)

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Loveliness in the house during the wintertime