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

Dogs: The power to light up parks

How it looks

It's the most amazing story. It's called the Park Spark Project and it hails from Cambridge, Massachusetts. What does it do? Converts doggie waste to provide energy for real-time lighting. If that's not the most direct view of the power (literally) of recycled waste, it's hard to figure out what would qualify.

Artist Matthew Mazzotta's idea was put into action at a dog park in Cambridge. The idea? Pet owners simply scoop up Fido or Fifi's deposits and place them into an on-site methane digester, crank the handle and--presto--energy becomes available in the form of methane gas.

This has great prospects not only for community dogs parks but also any large-scale residential dog setting: Kennels, shelters...

Check out the Park Spark Project on Facebook, or on the Park Spark website:
http://parksparkproject.com

Ar right is a sketch that shows what goes on underneath the ground.

Maybe we can bring this up to our city/county officials?

Kinship of all life

There is a wonderful video essay shared on The Sixth Day Facebook page. It came from Billie's good friend Kandi Crees Trickett. Its primary message is about giving a dog a second chance through adoption from shelters. A extremely applaudable suggestion. Its secondary message is equally commendable. This video speaks to the kinship of all life as it explores relationships between canines and humans.  All of it is captured beautifully in this video, which you can catch on The Sixth Day Facebook page or through dogwork.com. Links provided below.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000723746695#!/pages/Whittier-CA/The-Sixth-Day/149816645050738?v=wall&ref=sgm

http://www.dogwork.com/feeling/

Billie's friend Phoenix

Support is needed to offset costs of care for the badly abused German shepherd, named Phoenix since he has risen far above the "ashes" of seemingly certain death.

Found on the loose in Norwalk, California, he bore obvious signs of being used in fighting. Even his ears were cut off. Placed in a shelter, he was slated for euthanasia. But, no. Workers captured by his strong spirit effected his rescue. But his care costs money. If you want to participate in this amazing story of redemption, check out information through the following link.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2010/09/former-dogfighting-bait-dog-escapes-euthanasia-at-southern-california-animal-shelter-seeks-new-home.html

Animal Planet: Animal Oddities

Another wonderful source of animal information--this one of the quirky type--is the Animal Oddities blog available from Animal Planet. If you want a good laugh, scroll down to the video from the Letterman show and watch the dog play dead. A new-to-me version of the age-old trick.

Animal Planet: Animal Oddities

Some hoarders began as rescuers

A frightening thought, but apparently true. People who study such phenomena say that some 25 percent of those busted for animal hoarding started off as rescuers. Along with hoarding of animals often comes neglect, abuse, and often death of companion animals because the situation has grown beyond the person's ability to manage.

When I was growing up we occasionally knew of a "cat lady" or two around town, which isn't to say those women in any way neglected the pets they housed. But many do now, according to sources such as The Hoarding of Animals Research Consortium at Tufts University. In fact, the consortium is prodding the American Psychiatric Association to include animal hoarding among the psychiatric diagnoses.

A word to those in the rescue business: Keep an eye out on those you know and with whom you work. Is age slowing them down? Have they overcommitted? Are you noticing a slacking off in care or cleanliness of the animals or their environs?

Rescue work is critically important. It would be a shame for it to be sullied by the illness or inability of a few to recognize they are no longer able to care for the animals they love. Let's police ourselves, for the sake of the animals and for the sake of all the good work that most rescuers do.

Here's a link to an Associated Press story on hoarding of animals:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gkVdyC3DqPrZ11ijtWXVkl8pqU7wD9HVVG380

Billie's friend Lily

Lovely Lily loves Billie

Yes, even a respectable dog can have a kitty friend and Billie's friend is Lily, who was rescued from the Pasadena no-kill shelter about four years ago. That makes Lily about ten years old. She was an owner-release because, the story goes, the owner had too many kitties and Lily was targeted as the one that should be given away.

Lily loves her home in Whittier, which she shares with her human, Mary, and another cat named Button, an old Pug named Ling Ling, and--of course--Billie.

Eating and sleeping are her favorite activities. Occasionally, she will chase a bug if it's a slow-mover. Lily has a bit of a weight issue, which the Pasadena shelter labeled as "grossly obese." No wonder she was still there after a number of weeks.

Send your pet's picture and story to revmary@sixthdayfan.com and Billie will see to it that it gets posted.

Billie can scarcely wait...

It's getting pretty exciting in Whittier, where volunteers are applying finishing touches to plans for The Sixth Day, a new outreach program and ministry, which gets under way in October.

Understanding that the shelters are overflowing due to cutbacks and also to the number of pets being forfeited by owners in this bad economy, The Sixth Day outreach program will offer pet food subsidies to anyone needing this type of help. If you'd like to assist financially, a tax-deductible check to The Sixth Day Food Pantry @ St. Stephen's will be used exclusively for the food outreach program (and not to support the host church.)

Animal lovers are encouraged to attend the opening service at 5 p.m. Sunday, October 3, in The Back Room of St. Stephen's Church, 10925 Valley Home Ave. A brief worship service in the Episcopal tradition will be followed by a dimple supper and the chance to share notes and stories and ideas about companion animals. If you arrive early, no problem. Person and pet are welcome in The Front Room Coffeehouse, which opens at 4 p.m. on Sundays, starting October 3.

All reasonably well behaved companion animals are welcome, Billie says. Perfection not required.

Getting your goat, Montana-style

In this case, two heads were not better than one.

Babes in the woods, er, babes stuck on a railroad bridge. That's the story from Montana where these two cute little girls were stranded for more than two days before being rescued. It does my heart good when people band together to rescue animals other people would pass on by. The Los Angeles Times should be thanked for bringing us this wonderful story. Here's the link...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2010/09/goats-rescued-after-2-days-on-6-inch-montana-ledge.html

Billie's friend Little Man

Little Man, hanging out in Alabama.

Billie and Little Man have not met, but they hope to do so one day. Little Man lives in Campground, Alabama, with his good friend Tom Petrey.
If you can't guess, Little Man is a bloodhound and, at 3, helps Tom out on the farm by sniffing his way to this or that, roaming free over the many acres, moving the cows from one field to another, staying out all night at times, and generally sounding the alarm for the household each morning. He particularly likes hanging out on rolls of hay.

Book review: Bill at Rainbow Bridge

Billie's friend Patty Hedges offers another book for our shelves. The book deals with the difficulty of losing a beloved pet, sometimes a complicated phenomenon for pet lovers. Complicated insofar as "the rest of the world" does not always understand much less honor the suffering that such a loss produces. Here is a book by someone who understands. Thanks, Patty, for the review:

 

If you have ever struggled or know someone who is struggling with the loss of a pet, Bill at Rainbow Bridge , by Dan Carrison is a comforting resource.  This small novel chronicles the adventures and discoveries of Bill, the bulldog, and his friends at Rainbow Bridge.  It also interweaves their humans' journeys as they grieve their beloved animal companions.  In a gentle and yet profound way, the reader is consoled by learning it is okay to grieve deeply for a pet, to need to talk about it, and is given hope for being reunited with his or her special pet in the future.

--Patty Hedges

 

Billie's friend Pinkie

Billie's attention today is drawn toward Pinkie, a boxer pup credited with saving a young boy's life. When the puppy's 9-year-old master encountered a swarm of bees, he made for the house, while his puppy managed to get herself between him and the swarm. While Richie Bragg was stung a few times--enough to cause anaphylactic shock--his puppy received more than 40 stings, which nearly cost her her life. It's a simple and sweet story of the dog's natural tendency to protect his or her people, even at her own peril. Watch on...
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2010/09/03/dnt.dog.saves.boy.wjw?hpt=C2

Billie's friend Nico

Nico in 2009.

Well, he's more like her hero. Nico is a survivor of abandonment and imprisonment who has found a wonderful new life. His is a story of redemption, plucked out of what seemed a certain poor fate and lifted up into the arms of his new owners in Indiana. The Los Angeles Times newspaper, in its blog launleashed, published an update to Nico's story. I've included the link below for your interest, but really, the photos tell you everything you want to know.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2010/09/nico-dogo-argentino-update.html

Nico today, living the good life. Way to go, Nico.

Billie's friend Barnabas

Barnabas is sort of a relative more than a friend. He lives in Central Wisconsin with my brother and sister-in-law. No one knows exactly how old he is because he is a rescue. The most educated guess is that he is a teenager, now slowing down quite a bit from his earlier and friskier self. Barnabas poses here with a favorite flower. He's a peace-loving sort, a friend to all, and a great companion for his family. Bravo, Barnabas.

Sloth: So cute they deserve a better name

One of the wonderful resources for people who love and admire animals is the LA Times blog, launleashed. In addition to carrying news about pets and other animals from around the Southland (and beyond), the blog also includes a daily or close-to-daily dose of cute. Take for instance the baby sloth pictured being bottle fed. This photo is one among several featured on the blog. The story is about the Aviaros Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica where a number of sloth enthusiasts tend to the needs of at-risk sloths. Great story, great photos, great work. Check it out:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2010/08/baby-sloths.html

High praise for A Dog's Purpose

The following comes from Patty Hedges, who gives a glowing report of A Dog's Purpose. Patty is well qualified to write about such things. First she is a dog lover. Second, Patty was instrumental in launching (and now is part of the ministry team for) Canines at Covenant, a Sunday afternoon worship service where people can bring their dogs. If you're on the west side of Los Angeles, check it out. It's at 5 p.m. Sundays, Covenant Presbyterian in Westchester. Here's her review:

I would like to commend to you the best book I have ever read about dogs.  It is a novel called, A Dog's Purpose,  by W. Bruce Cameron.  It is written from the dog's point of view.  Mr. Cameron understands and articulates the mind of a dog better than anyone I have ever come across in my readings... and I am an avid reader!!!   And, as a dog lover, I love anything positive that is written about dogs.  Paws down this is the best dog-related book I have ever read.

Let me give you part of a review from the back cover, from Duncan Strauss, host of Talking Animals  on NPR: "I devoured it in a 'I-resent-anything-that-prevents-me-from-getting-back-to-the-book-why-do-I-have-to-work-my-kid-is-almost-six-can't-he-drive-himself-to-school?' way."

That should pretty much explain it.

Two comments: As a Christian, I do not believe in reincarnation.  Reincarnation is a part of this story.  And parts of it were just a little hard on this soft heart of mine.  Those said, if you can get past those, this is the most wonderful book!!!

--Patty Hedges

New laws assist pets/owners

California legislators recently approved several laws designed to guard pet rights and pet owner rights. Billie, of course, thinks this is grand. She might even say that, in some cases, the laws don't go far enough. The devocalizing bill, for instance, only preserves the rights of prospective tenants being discriminated against because their pets have not had the procedure. Massachusetts has banned the process completely for dogs and cats. That's pretty progressive, we think...wait...Billie? Why are you gathering all your toys and food bowl? No. We're not moving to Massachusetts. At least not yet.

Check it all out in the Los Angeles Times today.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2010/08/bills-about-fur-labeling-declawing-pet-insurance-and-animal-neglect-are-approved-by-california-lawma.html

The Lady and the Trash-Can Cat

Wow, what a drama this has been. By now I am sure that most people have seen the video of the woman in England captured on video placing a cat in a lidded trash can. First, the cat's OK. Second, the woman has been identified. But what happened in between the posting on YouTube and the identification of the woman is what catches my attention here.

What she did, with forethought (check out the video) and clear intent is appalling, to say the least. The cat might have died. Most certainly it suffered for the 15 hours it was trapped. Unless we discover there is an underlying psychological cause, I would advocate for the fullest prosecution possible. No doubt about it, she's a "bad guy."

But it's what the "good guys" did that is almost more worrisome. A Facebook page was begun (I understand it's been removed) and there actually were entries advocating the woman's death. She's under protection, understandably. As irate as I was when I first caught the video, homicide was the furthest thing from mind.

It is a sad commentary to see those who are clearly on the right side of an issue become as guilty as the party on the wrong side of the issue, display the same, if not higher, level of disregard for life, advocate a level of violence that exceeds the original offense.

I'm an animal lover from the get-go. The woman should be prosecuted, no doubt. But be killed? The Creator of us all would weep, I am certain.

National Dog Day

August 26 is National Dog Day, appropriate for these dog days of summer. Besides loving your little friends to pieces today, why not make a donation to a no-kill shelter or to a spay-neuter program. If you need some suggestions, let me know. National Dog Day has a web site. Billie says to check it out.
http://www.nationaldogday.com/index2.htm

Billie's friend Ivy

Ivy is another French bulldog who knows something of Billie's past. They both came from the same kennel in Fallbrook. Ivy now lives in Pasadena with Pug friend Oliver, feline friends Neville and Missy, and human friends Joanna and Annalise. Ivy has one blue eye and one brown, loves to be scratched under the chin, and generally serves as ambassador-at-large to the world. She is currently enrolled in obedience training with Pasanita Dog Club. When she grows up, she wants to be a therapy dog, perhaps visiting people in jails and prisons.
Good girl, Ivy.

Billie

Billie: Will you be my friend?

Meet Billie, a three-year-old French bulldog who consents to share life with me. She's not my first dog, probably not my last. 

Billie looks at all of life as a wonder. Everything's amazing, from her rag toy to the squirrel outside bouncing along the top of the block wall. Among the things that she finds wondrous are human beings, grass, other plants, cats, dogs. In this way, she embraces all of life--anything living, and some not-living things as well. All of these are her friends. 

We hope you follow our story, and weigh in with your own. All things "animal" are welcome.