Dog Toys!!!!!

Nigel approves of the many toys that were distributed in the kennels yesterday to all of the dogs who love squeakers , squishies and cuddly plush animals.   Don't the toys look like they could have come right out of the stuffed animal aisle at Toys R Us or off of my daughter's bed?  They could have.  They are all "kid" toys that our wonderful volunteer, Kathy, miraculously converted into dog toys.  

She took off the swallowable eyes and accessories, opened them up and added squeakers and cracklers to their stuffed bellies and limbs, before sewing them up and christening them dog-ready .  Some of the totally recycled dog toys have three or four squeakers, others have squeakers and empty water bottles.    The menagerie of bears, bunnies, frogs, and other critters made for hours of fun for shelter dog.  Nigel, on the other hand, preferred a quiet nap on his bed in my office.  Creating dog toys out of discarded stuffed animals would be a GREAT project for scout troops, service clubs, and religious classes looking to help the animals at the League.  Toys with beans don't work, but those toys packed with cotton and batting can be made dog-ready by anyone with a needle and thread!  Thank you Kathy!!

Things I Learned on the Way to Other Things

I don't remember what I was looking up.  I think it was, "when is National Adopt A Shelter Dog Month,."  But during my search I found this headline, Diver’s sea creature find is ‘discovery of a lifetime'. The l18-foot-long oarfish was discovered Sunday afternoon by Jasmine Santana, a marine science instructor at the Catalina Island Marine Institute. The article described  the oarfish was dead but its slender, snake-like body was intact, another reminder that the world is a very big place inhabited by many wonderful and unique creatures.   I don't expect to see an oarfish in real life, but I did see a moose a long time ago. He was a gigantic, magnificent fellow.   The typically, slow-lumbering moose weighs in at more than 1,000 pounds, a few reaching even 1,800-2,000 pounds.   Once a fairly common resident in a number of U.S. states the moose, also known as the largest deer, may not be such a common site in the future.   Another article I stopped at  was a New York Times piece, Moose Die-Off Alarms Scientists, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/15/science/earth/something-is-killing-off-the-moose.html?_r=0,  The article claims that many factors are contributing to the rapidly declining moose population, including climate change.     The article  reminded me of a book I read when my daughter was little, A Moose for Jessica, the true story of a cow who falls for a moose!    People traveled to Vermont from all over the world to see the cross-species love-struck  couple.  By the way my search did lead me to discover that,  October  IS  National Adopt A Shelter Dog Month and we have lots of great shelter dogs waiting to be adopted. 

Left & Lonely!

It was nearly 90 degrees Sunday afternoon.   I decided to seek refuge from the heat in an air-conditioned movie theatre in downtown Silver Spring.  This poor pup, dressed in his best black-terrier coat,  was not getting a reprieve from the beating sun.  He was tied to a lamp-post while his person, presumably,  as reported by a bystander,  went to have lunch at the corner Panera.  The dog tugged and whimpered.  One passerby brought him a bowl of water, another stroked him for a bit and tried to calm his anxiousness with soothing words. Several people knelt down and gave him a quick pat before continuing on.   I watched as  a small crowd of people asked each other what should they do, and wondered, What if the dog wasn't a cute little Toto-look-alike?  What if he was a big, strapping pit bull lunging to get free? I also questioned why would the dog's person think that, being tied to a lamp-post in summer-like heat, on a busy road, would be an enjoyable outing for a dog?  Regardless, a cute terrier or a stocky pit bull, a tied up dog should not be approached, better still a dog should not be tied up, and especially never left tied up and unattended.



Kitten Energy

Getting Ready....

Attack!

I am not getting much work done today.  That's because I have a temporary office mate.   Little T.R. moved in for a few days.  He might not be a teeny tiny kitten anymore, but he is a long way from adulthood.  This little guy is all about playing.  Tennis balls, pipe cleaners, cat toys, pens, pencils, computers!  Yes, compuuuuuutzzzzzzzzers.   "No, no, T.R., go find something else to do, " I say.     He's happy to play with a pipe cleaner, tennis ball or cat toy for a minute, but .... Oh, no -- he's back.   qqqqqqq111111111111111111111111111111.  "Great typing T.R., how about eating a snack?" I ask.   Working in 30 second intervals is not very productive.