Click here to listen to her newly released hit – Buddy’s Song

You find out more about Maria Daines, her music and her work here;
@MariaDaines on twitter

http://www.maria-daines.com/

http://www.oneliferescue.org/

http://www.ddawatch.co.uk/

Unlike most days at the Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray. All the recent arrivals at the Bridge did not know what to think, as they had never seen such a day. But the animals who had been waiting longer for their beloved people to accompany them across the Bridge knew what was happening, and they began to gather at the pathway leading to the Bridge.

Soon an elderly dog came into view, head hung low and tail dragging.

He approached slowly, and though he showed no sign of injury or illness, he was in great emotional pain. Unlike the animals gathered along the pathway, he had not been restored to youth and vigor upon arriving at the Bridge. He felt out of place, and wanted only to cross over and find happiness.

But as he approached the Bridge, his way was barred by an angel, who apologized and explained that the tired and broken-spirited old dog could not cross over. Only those animals accompanied by their people were allowed to cross the Bridge. Having nobody, and with nowhere else to turn, the dog trudged into the field in front of the Bridge. There he found others like himself, elderly or infirm, sad and discouraged. Unlike the other animals waiting to cross the Bridge, these animals were not running or playing. They simply were lying in the grass, staring forlornly at the pathway across the Rainbow Bridge. The old dog took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.yet not knowing for what he was waiting.

One of the newer dogs at the Bridge asked a cat who had been there longer to explain what was happening. The cat replied, “Those poor animals were abandoned, turned away, or left at rescue places, but never found a home on earth. They all passed on with only the love of a rescuer to comfort them. Because they had no people to love them, they have nobody to escort them across the Rainbow Bridge.”

The dog asked the cat, “So what will happen to those animals?”

Before the cat could answer, the clouds began to part and the cold turned to bright sunshine. The cat replied, “Watch, and you will see.” In the distance was a single person, and as they approached the Bridge the old, infirm and sad animals in the field were bathed in a golden light. They were at once made young and healthy, and stood to see what their fate would be. The animals who had previously gathered at the pathway bowed their heads as the person approached. At each bowed head, the person offered a scratch or hug.

One by one, the now youthful and healthy animals from the field fell into line behind the person. Together, they walked across the Rainbow Bridge to a future of happiness and unquestioned love. The dog asked the cat, “What just happened? The cat responded, “That was a rescuer! The animals gathered along the pathway bowing in respect were those who had found their forever homes because of rescuers. They will cross over when their people arrive at the Bridge. The arrival here of a rescuer is a great and solemn event, and as a tribute they are permitted to perform one final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort all those poor animals they couldn’t place on earth across the Rainbow Bridge.”

The dog thought for a moment, then said, “I like rescuers.” The cat smiled and replied, “So does Heaven, my friend. So does Heaven.”

From Goldie at Mikes Dog House
Fergie the Valley Bulldog was within hrs of euthanasia when we rescued her. We knew we didn’t have the funds to fix all her medical needs but there she was at Animal Control.. about to be killed because of her eyes. We couldn’t allow it to happen. She has never known a life without pain. She had almost been “bred” to death and dumped at the pound. She gave her former owners all the puppies they wanted. They sold them for big bucks all the while never pausing to return her kindness by helping ease her pain. This little girl has suffered agonizing pain every time she blinked since she came into this world. She is in need of surgery as soon as possible. With your help, she will get the operation(s) she so desperately needs. For the first time in her life, she will be able to blink without stabbing her eyes and for the first time ever, her eyes won’t hurt anymore.
Fergie needs your help. Her road to recovery will be long, but with your tax deductible donation she will triumph and get through those operations…and retain what sight she has left. Please help. No donation is too small! We have to raise $700 for the operation and $200 for travel expenses. We have $70.00 so far. We will update you each day on her progress.
You can use paypal and send to mkdghs@aol.com…or use Just Give at https://www.justgive.org/nonprofits/donate.jsp?ein=56-2597432
Thank you and God Bless.

1. If you were the sheriff in your town and you learned that Toyotas were disproportionally involved in more auto accidents than any other model, would you:
(a) ban Toyotas and confiscate the Toyota of anyone caught driving one
(b) arrest the drivers responsible for those accidents?

2. Which course of action in Question 1 do you think would:
(a) inconvenience the fewest number of people?
(b) be the more efficient use of taxpayer dollars?
(c) be more effective in preventing future accidents involving Toyotas?

3. If your answer to Question 1 was (a) — ban Toyotas — and the sheriff’s department learned that, by a statistical quirk, drivers of confiscated Toyotas were now perpetrating further accidents by driving, say, Hondas, would you then ban Hondas? If not, why not?

4. If your answer to Question 3 was, “Ban Hondas, too, dammit, something HAS to be done,” then would you propose a ban on ALL car models with names ending in “a,” such as Kias and Mazdas, reasoning that all these brands are pretty much made for the same purpose? If not, why not? If so, how would you deal with car brands that end in the SOUND of “a,” such as Chevrolet?

5. Are you beginning to understand that:
(a) because most of the tens of millions of pet dogs are NOT registered, “breed” cannot be defined in a meaningful way?
(b) that miscreants employ pit bulls, German shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Akitas, Great Danes — that is, whichever dog is handy — as personal tools of terrorism?
(c) that law enforcement authorities could waste inordinate amounts of time (and, therefore, taxpayer dollars) policing a breed ban, adding to their jobs a task perhaps even more meaningless than enforcing jaywalking laws?
(d) that the people most likely affected by a breed ban — that is, those inconvenienced, harrassed and likely to suffer damage — are the 99.9% majority of utterly innocent dogs and people?
(e) most important, that breed bans do ESSENTIALLY NOTHING to address the real problem: Human scumbags who abuse animals?

Key: If your answer to any part of Question 5 is “no,” I’m afraid you have flunked. Please go back and reconsider your responses.

Hint: The answer to the question, “What shall we do about the bank robber who got away on a bicycle?” is not: Ban bicycles. Real answer: If your dog hurts someone, you — not the dog — should be responsible. Anti-cruelty and anti-dog-fighting laws already exist. Tell your mayor, and city or county or provincial council to up the current penalties, and insist that judges enforce those penalties against lawbreakers.

-Test created by Paul Glassner, SF/SPCA
Originally posted at http://pitbullsonlinecommunity.ning.com

I know we’re all tired, frustrated, angry and depressed by what we have to see and deal with every single day. And, our jobs don’t end at 5pm. We’re used to working around the clock, being held hostage to our computers until we have done everything humanely possible to save as many animals as we can.

I shared this privately, but thought many of you fighting on the front lines could stand to hear this too. Since you need to know how much you are appreciated and respected for your dedication and hard work.

I understand that no one wants praise, especially when so many animals are lost. And, it’s those that are lost that make our hearts ache on a daily basis. And, those that remain behind, trembling in cages that make us scramble and fight to save them.

I want to share this with you and keep it close to your heart when you feel overwhelmed and close to giving up.

I am sure there have been days when you have just screamed out loud.

I’ve had a couple of days where I’ve gotten so upset and frustrated that I’ve actually SCREAMED at God – out loud.

With tears running down my face, I’d scream at Him, “Stop this senseless killing and help these animals. Why do You allow this to happen?!!!”

There I was, alone in the privacy of my home, yelling at God, about what I perceived to be His lack of support.

I had my cry and settled myself down. Then, I logged back on to the internet.

I was greeted by a public comment from a stranger saying, “I asked God why He allows this to happen… He said, I don’t allow it, I have you…”

I kid you not. Gave me chills. Never heard from the person before or ever again since.

And, I never made a public comment about being angry at God, it was one of those private moments alone at home and the SECOND I logged back on to the internet, THAT message was waiting for me.

Think about it. And, know you are making a difference.

God bless all of you.

Terrie

M.A.R.S. Safe Haven (Ohio)
www.mars-safehaven.net

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called out, “Excuse me, where are we?”

“This is Heaven, sir,” the man answered.

“Wow! Would you happen to have some water?” the man asked.

“Of course, sir. Come right in, and I’ll have some ice water brought right up.”

The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

“Can my friend,” gesturing toward his dog, “come in, too?” the traveler asked.

“I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t accept pets.”

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

“Excuse me!” he called to the man. “Do you have any water?”

“Yeah, sure, there’s a pump over there, come on in.”

“How about my friend here?” the traveler gestured to the dog.

“There should be a bowl by the pump.”

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

“What do you call this place?” the traveler asked.

“This is Heaven,” he answered.

“Well, that’s confusing,” the traveler said. “The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.”

“Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That’s hell.”

“Doesn’t it make you mad for them to use your name like that?”

“No, we’re just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.”

Author Unknown

A Conversation with Tom McPhee
Many of us watched in horror – from a safe distance – the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Tom McPhee was there. He witnessed the tragedy that befell those who called the Gulf Coast home. Including the animals. Especially the dogs and cats who were suddenly not only homeless … but helpless. Filmmaker McPhee has created a powerful statement about that time – about the heroes and villains who were there and who walk among us. Join us in a conversation with Tom. And when An American Opera: The Greatest Pet Rescue Ever! comes to your city or town, see it. And remember … it could happen again.

Why?

It’s the information age. So why can’t I find the answer to this simple question: Who is legitimately trying to find a cure for canine cancer? Where is the research being done that will explain why a perfectly healthy 10-year-old dog wakes up one day with swollen lymph nodes?

Is cancer indeed such big business that there is no research out there that is not tied to the pharmaceutical companies whose profits depend on dogs staying sick? Is cancer tied to nutrition? If it is, do we want research to be funded by commercial dog food companies whose profits depend on people feeding Fido their food? Are there environmental causes linked to both canine and human cancer?

Google “canine cancer”, folks. There is so much crap to wade through, so many organizations ready to take your money, so many words and so few answers. What’s a concerned pet parent supposed to do? We’ll start with some basic information. We’ll introduce you to some terrific people and dogs. And we’ll keep asking questions. Anything we learn of value … we’ll share.

Luke and The Boys

Luke Robinson lost two of his dogs to canine cancer and asked himself why? Instead of sitting idly by, Luke decided to raise awareness. He sold his truck, packed his bags, prepared his two dogs, Hudson and Murphy, and began a journey. They are walking from Austin, Texas to Boston, Massachusetts – along the way raising awareness for canine cancer. As of March 16, 2009, Luke and The Boys had been on the road for a full year and had inspired thousands of people along the way to join in the effort to find a cause and a cure for canine cancer. Visit their website to learn more about them. You can also follow two dogs a-twittering at http://twitter.com/HudsonandMurphy. The Boys are trying to get more followers on Twitter than Luke, so you’ll have to go out and find Luke if you want to follow him. Woofs and wags, boys!

Here were to be some factoids.
Sadly, the more I looked for FACTS the more confused I got. I’ll be visiting with my favorite reference librarian next week. Perhaps she can point me in the right direction.

The Interview
To end on a positive note, Dee and Terry interviewed Luke from 2dogs2000miles. Learn more of this amazing story at www.barkradio.com.

In positive dog training a cue is a word or a signal to which your dog responds by doing something. Sit is both a cue (word or signal) and a behavior (something your dog does). 

Since dogs are masters at reading body language and learning routines, we need to understand that we offer cues (often unintentionally) all the time. What does your dog do when you pick up your car keys? his leash? your running shoes? Does your dog go spastic with that “can I go, please please please can I go?” behavior? Think about it. Fido wasn’t born knowing that jingling keys mean car. This is learned behavior through observation.

Why should you care? Because understanding how behaviors happen – both good and bad – can enhance your ability to change or modify those behaviors. Don’t know how? Enlist the help of a positive dog trainer.

Love dogs? Be sure to check out and listen to BARK RADIO every Tuesday & Thursday on BarkRadio.com.