RE: A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
OFBCAR is 177th in Georgia. It is still showing as #5260 overall on my computer. They probably haven't updated it today. No. 120 in Georgia is Waynesboro Animal Control (#3855 overall). #1 overall is Best Friends (Kanab, Utah), a place I have visited that is certainly worthy, but much better known.
RE: 2009 OLD FELLA RALLY IN OHIO
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p197/toddnbonnie/dog02.gif
You don't happen to know where I can get an image like that with a German Shepherd tearing up the newspaper, do you?
RE: A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
Good Morning to everyone from nextdoor to Richard and Sue. I forgot to mention that yesterday afternoon, Suzie and Anna found water while playing Frisbee. OOPS! Sisters to the rescue. Tried to lap up every drop of water from the little spring. Must have been to keep the frisbee lubricated and have a reserve drink.They really played hard for a while while poor Peaches just layed in the shade watching and wondering what all the fuss was about. Peaches is such a nice doggie. I just can't understand why Richard would want to toss such a loving creature out of bed especially when she lays quiet. :B:B:B:B
IIRC, The sisters had a habit of finding mud whenever they got together.
RE: Greyhound Owners
There are lots of places here in Colorado to set up a gathering. Plenty of RV's as well as greyhounds (It is a racing state with at least 4 active adoption groups). What did you have in mind?
RE: A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
My thoughts and prayers go with you.
Although your time with Charlie was brief,
Of this you can be sure
We all join with you in your grief,
And know your love was pure.
You gave to him a life and home,
On this his final day
And when his time had sadly come
You sent him on his way
Some day at Rainbow Bridge you'll be
And you'll be cheerful yet
When a crowd of happy dogs you'll see
And the greeting you will get
They say that He sends pets to see
Just how we care and love
Now you have one more voice to be
With others there above.
Rest in Peace, Charlie
RE: Greyhound Owners
There are currently several gatherings for greyhounds and the humans they own. One is in May in Kanab, Utah, one is in Dewey Beach, Delaware in October (about 2000 people), and there are others in California, Michigan and Abilene, Kansas, IIRC. The only one I have been to is the one in Kanab (6 times). Approximately 300 people and an equal number of dogs attend this event, and some have RV's (there are 3 RV Parks in Kanab).
RE: A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
So sorry to hear the news about Charlie. No matter what the final outcome, you know that he will spend the last days of his life in a good home with a good family and friends to play with. I know that the last year has been tough with the loss of Levi and Fella, and now Charlie's illness, but tonight is the start of a new year, a time for Hope. To Richard and Sue, and all my friends on the forum, Jewish and non-Jewish, I wish you a Happy New Year (in Hebrew, Shanah Tovah), and may the coming year be kind to you and yours. Gary
RE: 2009 OLD FELLA RALLY IN OHIO
Probably not. Long road trips seem to take too much out of me and, after Dash's stroke, I just don't want to take the dogs so far from home.
RE: 2009 OLD FELLA RALLY IN OHIO
Bark, bite, chew, nuts, I think you guys are losing it!
Well, Dandy's bark was worse than my bite! :O:B:B:B:O
P.S. I lost it long ago..anyone found it?
RE: GSD's are the best and smartest breed of dog.
GSDs and Border Collies may be smart, but greyhounds have all other dogs beat when it comes to cleverness, sneakiness, and manipulating their owners into doing exactly what they want.
Case in Point: Max the GSD was one of the smartest dogs I ever had. I could teach him a new trick in just a few minutes with a few biscuits. Willow the Greyhound usually refused to learn tricks, although she did eventually agree to shake hands. Whenever I put Max through training, however, she would stand and watch, then follow us into the kitchen where I would give him his biscuits, then Willow would get some for being his "manager".
Case in Point: My mom was visiting one time and was reading at the dining room table while Willow was asleep in a sunny spot on the floor. Sun goes behind cloud. Willow barks at "grandmom" to bring back her sun.
Case in Point: Dash the GSD will hang around when he wants something, but then he always hangs around me whether he wants something or not. Allan the Greyhound, however, used to stand and stare at me until I got up and gave him what he wanted. I swear he was telepathic.
RE: A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
It's amazing what dogs will eat. When Dash was a pup and an adolescent, he chewed up almost everything and anything, including wall insulation, vinyl siding on the house, blankets and pillows, a dog bed, part of the outside deck and even a sofa bed. Max was especially fond of anything made of paper or plastic, including newspapers, magazines, tapes and income tax forms. German Shepherds and Labs in particular have reputations for eating anything, so for your entertainment, I offer the following page from the "Official" GSD Website:
Things Eaten by our GSDs
RE: 2009 OLD FELLA RALLY IN OHIO
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p197/toddnbonnie/doghowdaygoing.gif
What a coincidence, that's exactly how I looked when I saw my 401K balance today! :O
RE: A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
Regarding this very sad and heart-wrenching story. I copied it and emailed it to all my friends and my husband made a comment that made me think.....he said "Wouldn't it have been better for the man who wrote and published the story to have donated $7,000. to a shelter?"
I guess instead of making people cry over a story, how many lives could he have saved with a donation?
Just food for thought......
Remember that old chinese proverb: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime"?
A story like this, especially with the power of the internet, could encourage much more than $7000 in donations. In addition, if people really listened to what he was saying, there would be a lot fewer animals in shelters (and a lot fewer left at dumpsters).
RE: A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
I don't think this has been posted here before, but this was posted on my Greyhound forum recently:
A man in Grand Rapids, Michigan incredibly took out a $7000 full page ad in the paper to present the following essay to the people of his community.
By Jim Willis, 2001
When I was a puppy, I
entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend.
Whenever I was "bad,"you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" – but then you'd relent and roll me over for a belly rub.
My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed and listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs" you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.
Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person"
--
still I
welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate.
Oh, how I wanted to
love them, but I became a "prisoner of love." As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch -- because your touch was now so infrequent
-- and I would've defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me.
These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject.
I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog ," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family,"
but
there was a time when I was your only family
I was excited about
the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look.
They understand
the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life.
You
gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?"
They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you that you had changed your mind -- that this was all a bad dream... or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me.
When I realized I could not compete
with the frolicking for attention
of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room.
A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days.
As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?"
Perhaps because she understood my dog speak, she said "I'm so sorry."
She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself -- a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not directed at her. It was directed at you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of you. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.
A Note from the
Author: If "How Could You?" brought tears to your eyes as you read it, as it did to mine as I wrote it, it is because it is the composite story of the millions of formerly "owned" pets who die each year in American & Canadian animal shelters. Please use this to help educate, on your websites, in newsletters, on animal shelter and vet office bulletin boards. Tell the public that the decision to add a pet to the family is an important one for life, that animals deserve our love and sensible care, that finding another appropriate home for your animal is your responsibility and any local humane society or animal welfare league can offer you good advice, and that all life is precious. Please do your part to stop the killing, and encourage all spay & neuter campaigns in order to prevent unwanted animals.
Please pass this on to everyone, not to hurt them or make them sad, but it could save maybe, even one, unwanted pet.
Remember...They
love UNCONDITIONALLY
RE: Why is the forum demanding my address?
Don't shoot the messenger; the moderator is a volunteer, a forum member like the rest of us, and he probably has no connection with Affinity or any of its affiliates, and they probably won't tell him the real reason. In any case, kudos to Tom for at least trying to complain about the changes, although I would be surprised if it makes a difference. Consolidating databases makes no sense as a reason, since they can clearly be consolidated with existing data (Names, usernames and email addresses can all be used as unique keys for any needed consolidation online). Consolidation by address makes sense only to simplify direct-mail campaigns. While email solicitation can be blocked (sometimes) by filters, junk mail is not, and snail mail addresses continue to be an easy target for companies that want to increase solicitation, or provide/sell the information to third parties; in fact, according to Affinity's Privacy Policy, you must contact them directly in order to stop them from doing so. I am not purchasing anything from them, so they have no real need for my personal information, other than my name and email. Until they provide an onsite "opt-out", or a change in their Policy that requires active approval before they can use the information for marketing purposes, I will not provide my address, not even a phony one, just to update my profile.
RE: A very old stray {The Old Fella Story}
It's 3 years, but that's OK. Happy Anniversary, Richard. Good luck with the commissioner campaign.
FYI, Joy and Don Beard (Joy) were the first to reply to this thread 3 years ago, and they were the first to suggest you find that old dog and bring him home. Although they are prolific posters (almost 900 in the past year alone), I can't find a single post to this thread after that initial one. If they are lurking somewhere, they deserve special credit for starting what has become an irresistible force for improving the life of strays and rescues everywhere.
