Billie's photo shoot

Well, I really admire the folks who wrestle and wrangle our pets into those adorable photos that we see on calendars and holiday letters, etc. I've never taken a dog for a "sitting" before, but this year I decided to get some pictures of Billie. 

The local pet store had a time and date that worked for us. Little did I know that I was expected
 to be in the pen with her, trying to get her to sit, or stay, or be still for a nano second. Billie was so overwhelmed by all the activity and smells in the shop, holding onto her was like holding onto that proverbial greased pig. 

No way could the young lady photographer get anything decent. I was exhausted and discouraged.
 Until. Until I saw the product. She must have had one super fast lens to catch these
...but needless to say, I am well pleased.

From Billie to all who have lost a dog pal

Ling Ling: RIP

Billie and I send this along to all of you who have ever lost a dear dog friend. My sister-in-law sent it to me when my dear old pug Ling Ling died recently:

Dog for Jesus
By Rudyard Kipling (Where dogs go when they die)

I wish someone had given Jesus a dog.
As loyal and loving as mine.
To sleep by His manger and gaze in His eyes
And adore Him for being divine.
As our Lord grew to manhood His faithful dog,
Would have followed Him all through the day.
While He preached to the crowds and made the sick well
And knelt in the garden to pray. 

It is sad to remember that Christ went away.
To face death alone and apart.
With no tender dog following close behind,
To comfort its Master's Heart.

And when Jesus rose on that Easter morn,
How happy He would have been,
As His dog kissed His hand and barked it's delight,
For The One who died for all men.
Well, the Lord has a dog now,
I just sent Him mine,
The old pal so dear to me.
And I smile through my tears
on this first day alone,
Knowing they're in eternity.
Day after day, the whole day through,
Wherever my road inclined,
Four feet said, "Wait, I'm coming with you!"
And trotted along behind.

RIP, Ling Ling and Lily

Billie and I recently lost our two housepals, Ling Ling and Lily.
"Ling" was a thirteen-year-old pug whose time just ran out. Arthritis and hip dysplasia combined to ruin her golden years, and the day finally came when we could no longer claim any quality of life for her. The wonderful veterinarian who counseled me over the past several months agreed that we had come to the end of the road. "I think we got all the miles that were intended, and maybe a few more," he said, moments after her little heart stopped beating.
Lily was a ten-year-old rescue kitty, white with blue eyes, who suffered a sudden onset of something neurological and, after hours of treatment, we decided to put her down when all the vital signs indicated no hope.
Rest in peace, our little friends.

Eager beaver is Billie's new friend

A real chiseler of a neighbor

We've all heard about eager beavers, but my brother Jim and wife Mary had a real-life encounter with just how eager these guys and gals can be. Apparently this guy decided to set up winter residence under their boat dock on one of the Chain O' Lakes in central Wisconsin. The struggle over just whose boat dock was it really lasted for days.

Billie finds this story quite amusing from her warm lounge chair in her warm living room in Southern California, not being the one who must contend with all the beaver debris that had be removed from six feet of 40-degree water. Read it for yourself on my brother's blog, While We Wait...

http://r-j-trainor.blogspot.com/2010/11/endurance-and-my-busy-friend.html

Sixth Day service launched

Some twenty people, a bunch of dogs and one parakeet nestled into The Back Room of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Whittier on Sunday, October 3. They came for the first Sixth Day worship service for people with pets, which will be held at 5 p.m. each Sunday at 10925 Valley Home Ave., Whittier (on the Los Angeles-Orange county line.) A 30-minute service in the Episcopal tradition included the reading and discussion of Holy Scripture, some prayer, and Holy Communion. Attendees lingered afterward for sandwiches and conversation.


Some dog and cat food was collected for The Sixth Day outreach ministry, designed to connect pet food and households where pets are at risk for outplacement due to the economy.

For information, e-mail support@sixthdayfan.com.

Vandy: A Texas-style hero

Billie's new friend is Vandy, a boxer dog on "loan" to a family near Austin, Texas. To show her appreciation for their loving care, Vandy stepped in between the family's one-year-old and a rattlesnake, taking the snake's bite in her face. Some $1,400.00 later, Vandy is on the road to recovery--but still needs a forever home.Who wouldn't want a dog like that? Check out the story and the contact information for Austin Boxer Rescue using the link provided below:

http://www.examiner.com/dogs-in-national/texas-dog-saves-toddler-from-snake?cid=examiner-email

Abandonment of pets a growing problem

There are many responsible pet owners who suffer great anguish over decisions affecting their pets, especially when hard times force them to look for cutbacks in household budgets. Other animals owners see the lives that they have taken charge of as simply pieces of property to dispose of as they wish.

The tough economy is putting pressure on both types of people who have pets, with the good ones sometimes forced to outplace their dog or cat, or to even place them in a shelter. The not-so-good ones are just walking off, leaving pets behind, telling no one, with fatal consequences for the animals. (See link to article below.)

There is help out there, though, especially for the good owners who are motivated to keep their companion animals in tip-top shape. There are no-kill shelters (although we hear they are filling up), there are friends and neighbors and family members who can help.

And then there is The Sixth Day program in Whittier that will help owners with food for their pets in these troubled times. Some limited assistance with other pet care is available from time to time. Check it out at sixthdayfan.com, or e-mail revmary@sixthdayfan.com.

http://www.examiner.com/dogs-in-national/disturbing-trend-more-dogs-abandoned-when-owners-move-away?cid=examiner-email