UPDATE

For more than 40 days oil has been spewing (I'm actually in need of a much stronger word -- suggestions?) into the Gulf. In today's Washington Post officials from BP Oil Company and from the administration say that it is possible that the oil will continue to spill (need a stronger word here too) into the water until AUGUST!!!!!! That's four months since the explosion, four month since 11 people were killed, four months since birds, mammals, sea creatures and vegetation were contaminated and starting dying off. It's just way too long. We keep hearing that they are trying to stop the spill -- the "top Kill" (whoever heard of top kill before this disaster?) failed, other attempts have failed and now we are told that the oil may not be contained until AUGUST!!!!, it's just not right.

This is one of those situations where it is easy to feel helpless, BUT every one of us can write a letter, let your representatives know that something must be done sooner. Write to President Obama. He mentioned that his daughter asked, "Did you fix the hole?" Let him know that, like Malia, you are worried that the environment will not be able to bounce back from this enormous disaster.

On another matter that I feel equally powerless to control is Bruce. He came home from the hospital on Friday, had a great night, a good Saturday, an okay Sunday and a miserable Monday. He came back to the hospital today. Right now it seems like I can't do much but watch him, offer him food, make sure he's comfortable and drive him to and from the hospital. Bruce has a wonderful medical team caring for him. At this very moment its beginning to look like even they, fabulous as they are, may not be able to help him. The picture to the left is of Brucie chilling in my office after getting fluids. I am grateful to Dr. Rosen for taking my call as she was to board a plane for home. She listened to the update and instructed me on what could be done for Bruce today. I am indebted to three members of the incredible medical center staff, Evelyn, Kira and Maria for administering fluids today, Memorial Day.

Once again, shelter and medical center staff are here when others are enjoying a holiday. Bruce and I (well, probably just me) are extemely grateful.

Some pictures of Bruce During Healthier, Chunkier Times

Bruce and Merl resting

Bruce and Micky just hanging

Bruce's response when Max told a joke

Big Bruce -- The Cat who Picked Me!

I can't help it -- everyone who has every lived with an animal has a favorite. Of course, I've had more than one favorite, I've had been fortunate to share my home with some pretty remarkable animals including Alvie -- the cat who lived in the sewer pipe before deciding to break through my window screen to live with the other cats, Sidney and Artie -- SamMelvin -- my big orange shelter cat who would eat icing off a cake (and did) as well as anything else -- Dave -- My first DC cat, a very thoughtful guy who allowed my daughter to dress him up in princess clothes -- and Bruce.

Big Bruce picked me and my house 6 years ago. I was not looking to adopt another cat. But, Bruce was a shelter cat with no prospects of finding a home. Bruce, a big boned fellow, was pretty ragged out. His hair was thin and patchy and many bones on his big frame were visible. I decided to foster him. I brought him home and he was welcomed by the other cats -- Fiona, Gladys, Micky & Merl. Why not, Bruce was a blob. For the most part, he just hung out in a basket in the utility room. I advertised him as a sweet, gentle cat who was looking for home. Several people called and a couple of them came to meet him. Each time Bruce was in the basket, and each time I took Bruce out of the basket to show him off -- his long body, his sweet personality, his gentle head-nudge Each time, however, Bruce just crawled back into the basket.

A month later, my family and I decided that since Bruce was no trouble, and since he rarely even got out of the basket, he might as well stay. That very next day I filled out the adoptions paperwork, Bruce was no longer a foster cat, but my cat. And, that very same day, Bruce got out of the basket in the laundry room and never got in it again. He sleeps on my bed, on top of my legs or on top of my head (really) and if I try to move, he swats me. He also sleeps on both of my kids' beds, the window ledge and his kitty cup. He plays hard, really hard, especially with Merl. If Merl says enough with a full-face hiss, Bruce says MORE and jumps on Merl signaling that the game is far from over.

But, Bruce is not playing right now. He's in the hospital. His kidneys are not doing what they are supposed to do. The doctors and nurses are working very hard to get Bruce back on track. He's spent two nights this week in the hospital. The picture of Bruce in his hospital cage shows an anxious cat ready to get out. I keep telling him, "Bruce, you chose to live with me 6 years ago, and now you better choose to get better so you can go back home." It's hard to sleep without Brucie on my legs, or even my head.

Cats, Cats, and More Cats!!!

The Washington Animal Rescue League has a GREAT cat room, the resident cats spend time roaming the floor, climbing the kitty-jungle-gym, and playing with lots of cool toys donated by generous supporters. But, as good as it is here, it's not home. We've got some cats who have been waiting a LONG, LONG time for their forever homes. Look at these guys, Bruno, Whiskey, and Jules are just three of the many WONDERFUL adult cats waiting patiently for their someone to say, "I love him, I want him to live with me -- forever!" The more than 5 dozen cats living in the cat room are patiently waiting for homes with people showering them with attention, windows to look out, and multiple beds to curl up on. If your family is thinking about adopting a friend, consider an older cat. Cats have a long life span, an indoor cat can live to be 20 years old! Most kids will be long gone by 20, but a loyal cat, like any of these guys, will be content to stay at home.

To see all of the adoptable animals at the League check out our web site, http://www.warl.org/ or click on the picture of Maya (another long-time resident) pictured in the column to the right.

Homeless Turtles Escape Bulldozers But Face Other Life-Threatening Dangers

Okay, I haven't written anything for awhile because I've been waiting for a fun, happy, feel-good story or event. Unfortunately, I haven't found one and today's entry is nothing but doom and gloom.

An article in yesterday's Washington Post, Gimme shelter -- Folks stick their necks out for Md. box turtles, but ICC may be the end of the road, chronicles the rescue of more than 900 turtles. Since 2008, when bulldozers started plowing through houses, yards, wooded areas filled with hundreds of animals' habitats, volunteers have saved many mini box turtles, most so small that they can fit in the palm of your hand. But box turtles are homebodies -- they would rather not relocate. They have a strong instinct to return to their nesting grounds. A researcher quoted in the article said that that instinct, "...led them past plastic fences that had been chewed through by groundhogs or damaged by vandals."

How necessary is the ICC? Well, it took 50 years of debate before ground was broken. Environmentalists and others tried everything possible to block the 18.8 mile, six-lane highway between Gaithersburg and Laurel, Maryland. Reams of documentation highlighting the loss of habitat for turtles, frogs, snakes and scores of other animals was overlooked for the sake of moving cars more quickly from one county to another. I, along with thousands of Maryland residents, wrote letters of objection during the ICC debate. My neighbor, a wildlife biologist and arborist, was at every hearing in recent memory. Many people tried to stop the construction of the highway and the destruction of homes, neighborhoods, and maybe even entire species. But, the highway is being built; soon, cars will be racing across it. Hopefully, the turtles who are trying to make their way back to their homes won't be splat across the six lanes.

A link to the article can be found on the right. Click on the picture of the box turtle.

Kitten Saved, Dog Not So Lucky

This is Be Kind to Animals Week. Obviously not everyone is celebrating.


The following paragraph is from the League's staff newsletter

• A woman was driving up North Capitol Street when she saw two young men with a kitten. One of them had the kitten by the scruff of the neck and was swinging him as if to throw the kitten into traffic. The woman stopped and asked the young man what he was doing with the kitten and he said he planned to throw him into the street. The woman then convinced him to sell her the kitten for $20. She brought the kitten to the League, where he is being evaluated and will be made available for adoption in the next few days. He is now named Flynn.
  

The cruelty does not stop there. Early today NBCWashington.com's Nancy Norman and Pat Collins reported --

• Bear, a lovable 4-year-old lab mix, was shot and killed while playing inside his fenced yard Friday night. Sandra Benson, Bear's guardian, wasn't at her home in the 5300 block of B Street SE at the time. Her 17-year-old daughter let Bear outside. After she heard Bear barking, a shot rang out. She rushed out to the horror of her beloved Bear shot in the neck. Bear was rushed to the Friendship Hospital for Animals. Veterinarians tried everything, but they couldn't save Bear. Ms. Benson said Bear had never bitten or bothered anyone. He was good with children. He never left the the safety -- which turned out not to be so safe -- of the family yard. Perhaps adding to the crime of opportunity is the fact that the street light was burned out so the area was very dark. It's a felony in the District of Columbia. A $1,000 reward is being offered for help catching the shooter.

Thankfully, in Flynn's case, a passerby cared enough to intervene. The little guy is doing well at the League, and in a couple of weeks will be placed up for adoption. He'll have no trouble finding a forever home, he's adorable. Unfortunately, nothing can bring Bear back. The dog was killed for no apparent reason. His grieving guardians lost a faithful companion. Bear's life was brutally taken by a coward with a gun. Someone knows who the shooter was. Any witness should report that information immediately to the Washington Humane Society. People can report animal cruelty anonymously to the Washington Humane Society at 202 723-5730 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week every day. If you live with animal companions, take good care of them. If you know someone who is not properly caring for his/her companion animal, offer assistance, tell an adult, or report any instances of neglect or abuse to the proper agency. Every community in the U.S. has at least one animal welfare or animal control agency. In many areas, animal crulety cases can be reported to the police. Remember animals cannot ask for help, they depend on each and every one of us.

The Worst Environmental Disaster -- Continued

The oil spill is not contained -- it's getting worse by the minute. Every news update says a greater number of gallons are contaminating the Gulf. Pictures can't begin to show the devastation. It's sooooooooooo sad. A group of wildlife rehabilitators from Delaware is there trying to rescue birds covered in oil. And still, the underground well continues to spew crude into waters. As bad as it is, we may not know the total impact on the environment on some time. According to one AP news report --

• "Efforts to prevent the slow-moving mass from washing ashore in parts of four states have been hampered for days by choppy seas and high waves in the Gulf, but forecasts suggest calmer conditions in the next few days."

Gulf Oil Spill -- An Epic Catastrophe

The picture looks like an old, overexposed film shot that missed capturing the subject. Unfortunately, the darkness in the picture IS the subject. This Associated Press' (AP) April 28th aeriel photo of the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, shows what may very well be the biggest environmental threat that the U.S. has encountered! Sounds like a dramatic disaster-movie exaggeration, doesn't it? It's not. The massive spill, which as of Wednesday covered eight miles off the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River at the Southern tip of Louisiana , is now oozing into the Louisiana wetlands; extreme windy weather conditions are hampering any attempts to contain the seepage, let alone remove the miles of oil. It's not going to get better any time soon -- a clean up, humongous in scope, may never be fully complete. About 42,000 gallons of oil a day are leaking into the Gulf from the blown-out well drilled by the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that killed eleven workers just a couple of days before the 40th anniversary celebration of Earth Day.

While the cause of the explosion has yet to be determined, scientists know that the devastation from the catastrophe will be felt for a very long time. An AP report by Cain Burdeau and Holbrook Mohr offered this distressing update --

• The spill was bigger than imagined — five times more than first estimated — and closer. Faint fingers of oily sheen were reaching the Mississippi River delta, lapping the Louisiana shoreline in long, thin lines.
  "It is of grave concern," David Kennedy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told The Associated Press. "I am frightened. This is a very, very big thing. And the efforts that are going to be required to do anything about it, especially if it continues on, are just mind-boggling."
  The oil slick could become the nation's worst environmental disaster in decades, threatening hundreds of species of fish, birds and other wildlife along the Gulf Coast, one of the world's richest seafood grounds, teeming with shrimp, oysters and other marine life. Thicker oil was in waters south and east of the Mississippi delta about five miles offshore.

Bring Your Own Bag

Look at the picture on the left side of the page titled, Plastic Pollution is Deadly. What words comes to mind? GROSS, Yucky, Ick, Nasty?? How about killer? Scientists estimate that cast-off plastic KILLS roughly 1 million sea birds AND 100,000 marine animals like dolphins and sea turtles each year. Mind boggling! And, get ready for another hard-to-swallow statistic, 80% -- so almost all -- of the TRASH in the ocean is PLASTIC. Plastic takes a long time to break down, so it is not unusual for that toothpaste cap you throw out with today's trash to end up floating in the ocean dumpster. AND, all of those bits and pieces of plastic, including lots and lots of bags, all pool together to create one mega Garbage Dump that is growing daily. According to Scholastic 's Science World April 19th issue, "most of the floating garbage comes from the roughly 200 BILLION pounds of plastic people use each year, or which some 10 percent ends up in the ocean. Much of the trash comes from the land, brought by sewage systems and rivers. Since a plastic bottle can take as long as 500 YEARS to break down, it can swirl in the garbage patch for a very long time."

Last week we celebrated the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. We need to do better, make every day earth day. Figure out what you can do to reduce waste. Bringing your own bag to the store is an easy start. What else can you do? Create a list, but don't use paper!

FAT CATS are Not Cute, They are Unhealthy!

This picture of Aretha, has not been photo-shopped, she is a grotesquely obese cat. And, like the article OBESITY IN CATS... and What To Do About An Overweight Cat (http://www.thepetcenter.com/Article.aspx?id=3401) says, obesity in cats is a common problem that can result in Feline Hepatic Lipidosis - (Fatty Liver Disease), diabetes, and

arthritis, all serious and debilitating illnesses, and all less likely to occur in "normal" weight cats. The article states than 40% of all domestic cats are obese -- Aretha falls into the category of grossly overweight. When she was brought to the League, a whopping 25 pounds was covering Aretha's small frame. In the few weeks she's been here, thanks to diet and exercise she's lost a little over 2 pounds. The next 8-10 will be harder to lose.

First Lady Michelle Obama has made healthy food choices and exercise one of her "pet" causes. She tells children all over the world that she expects them to eat a well-balanced diet and exercise regularly to stay healthy. Childhood obesity has reached epidemic numbers with one in every five children classified as overweight. Childhood obesity is the result of numerous factors including high calorie food choices, sedentary lifestyles, and irregular eating patterns. Obesity in cats can be attributed to the same, difference being people make the food choices for cats and people make food available to cats 24/7 and people lose interest in making sure that their cats get exercise. AND, people often think fat cats are cute. Think Garfield, think Morris.

Aretha is not cute. But, she's sweet. And, with help from the food police and personal trainers at the League, Aretha will get to a normal cat weight, which is rarely more than 12 pounds!

A Home for Kix

Good News!! Kix who went to a foster home two months ago after a very, very, very long stay at the shelter is now in her forever home. She didn't move -- her foster family adopted her!

CELEBRATE!!

April is National Poetry month. Did you know that if you google the familiar lines, "April showers bring May flowers" more than 10,100,000 references pop up? That's one popular poem! And, 2/3 of the way into National Poetry month is National Parks Week -- which means FREE admission to all 392 national parks, now through Saturday. Plus, EARTH DAY is celebrated, on Thursday, April 22nd, smack in the middle of National Parks Week. Why not spend Thursday in a park writing poetry!

To learn more about National Parks Week check out http://www.nps.gov/npweek/
Information on the 15th annual National Poetry Month Celebration is at www.poets.org/npm/
Earth Day information is at http://www.earthday.org/earthday2010

Sea Lions in San Francisco

I saw them. They are big. No, huge -- really humongous! They are loud -- really, really loud. And, less than 6 months ago, more than 1,500 humongous, loud sea lions were hanging out in San Francisco at Pier 39. Last week there were fewer than a couple of dozen sea lions on the pier. No one knows exactly why the San Francisco sea lions came and went -- one of the most logical theories has to do with food. Scientists believe that scores of sea lions were following their stomachs. When the food source moved on, so did the sea lions.

The sea lions I saw were passively sunning themselves, barking now and then, and occasionally plopping into the chilly bay. I would have loved to have seen and heard 1,500 sea lions, but I can't complain, as magnificent as our wildlife is in the D.C. area, there are no sea lions here, and it is highly unlikely that any will find food any time soon in the Potomac or Anacostia rivers.

To read more about the disappearance of the sea lions of San Francisco, check out http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/12/disappearing-sea-lions/

Puppy Stolen During An Afteroon Walk

An article appeared in last Saturday's Washington Post describing how an- 8-week-old pit bull puppy was snatched from his 13-year-old guardian during an afternoon walk. The two thieves were described as youths -- one between 10 -13 and the other 13-16. I read the article certain that the pup would never be seen again and, worse, that harm would come to the dog. I guess the press scared the perpetrators. The dog was found the next day -- thankfully, unharmed. Yet, the question remains, why would two kids be so brash as to STEAL a puppy? What was their intent? Some think it was a joke. I disagree. This was no joke. Stealing is always wrong. Stealing a living, breathing, creature is worse than wrong, but I haven't found the word yet for what they did.

When the dog-nappers are identified, what should be their punishment?

It's Always Nice to Hear Thank You

Saturday, March 20th, Daisy Troop 1563 visited the League. Juanishia, one of the League's Adoption Coordinators gave the girls a behind the scenes tour of the shelter. On Monday I opened my in-box and read a copy of an email sent to Juanishia "Daisy Troop 1563 says "Thank you"!!!! We had a great time, and you were super with the girls. They were happy to collect and donate gently used blankets and towels for the animals." Shelter work can be difficult. People who work in shelters do so because they care about animals and want to make the world a better place for them. We like sharing what we do -- the more opportunities we have to impress upon people the importance of proper animal care, the better. We want all animals to find loving forever homes. That said, it's nice to hear that others appreciate the effort shelter staff make. Juanishia is pictured here with several attentive listeners who obviously love animals. Thank you Daisy Troop 1563 for the blankets and towels.

A Very, Very Happy Update From Kix

Kix, a sweet mix-breed dog, spent Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's at the League. She was here for the snow storms in December and February. Dogs to the left and right of her den were adopted. Dogs across the hall from her went home, too. Kix waited. League visitors walked past her. She tried to get their attention with her broad smile and soulful eyes. When I brought children through the shelter, I would open Kix's den door and she would gently nudge her new found friends, encouraging them to give her one more pat. The children always said, "Why hasn't she been adopted yet?" I didn't have an answer. How could such a great dog be invisible to potential adopters?

And then, recently, a when a League volunteer decided to foster a dog she picked Kix!!!

Kix is very, very happy in her foster home. She sent me this update.

After a week here in College Park, I am very happy. The first couple of days were hard, and I was stressed out so my tummy hurt a little, but now everything is okay! My parents take me on lots of walks. I love to watch the squirrels and robins and sniff where the other doggies have been. We haven't met too many, but I know they are around because I can smell them. My favorite place to walk is down the trolley trail path, where lots of other doggies go. When I'm around the house, I love to cuddle up to mom and dad and get scratched behind the ears. If they are busy, I cozy up in my crate with my fluffy blanket and bunny. Though I love my bunny, I also love chewing on him when I'm excited. He's missing his nose and his right leg...oops! Because I'm a little chubby, I'm on a healthy diet of dry food with supplements of raw chicken, fruit and yogurt. The raw chicken is my favorite. What a good life! I do get a little lonely during the day when mom and dad are at work, but really, I'm a happy dog!

Forever Jailed!

I grew up in Miami, Florida. One of the most exciting places to go back then was the Seaquarium. My friends and I loved to watch the sea animals in their "environment". We made sure to schedule our visits around the dolphin and killer whale (Orca) shows.

I cared about animals back then; I marveled at the beauty and the intelligence of those "performing" animals. Why did it take me so long to recognize that those animals, jailed in circular tubs for my amusement, belonged in the ocean, less than a few blocks away? A whale in the ocean swims for miles and miles. A whale held captive swims in circles, around and around in a "water-cage" day-in and day-out.

In the wild Orca whales live on the average 50 years, or more, with some geriatric whales living 80 years! Captive whales rarely make it to 30. In the wild, Orcas ignore humans. In captivity, more than 20 Orcas have been labeled true people "killers".

Recent headlines tell a story.

• Whale Turns On, Kills Sea World Trainer



• Whale kills its trainer in front of visitors to amusement ...



• Sea World trainer killed: Shamu Believe show resumes with ...



• Sea World whale show reopens two days after attack News.com.au

It is a very sad story for all.

Return to Normal --Sort Of

The snow horses were killed by the plows. But an odd looking fellow with a bucket for a top hat has taken up residence around the corner. Nigel considered decorating the base of the visitor, but I quickly lured him away. Well, it's been two weeks since the second blizzard hammered the area . And, while most things are back to normal, I don't think I'll ever be able to walk Nigel without washing his paws and brushing him off after every single outing. The roads are still topped with sand and salt. The salt can burn pads, and the sand, with the melted snow, turns into teeny clumps of mud that stick to Nigel's legs and belly. The after-walk routine does not phase Nigel --he likes the paw-soak and rub down. In fact, now that the record-setting amounts of snow have melted into more manageable piles for dog walking, Nigel is eager to be outside. He romps on trampled paths and is still eager to munch on clumps of snow -- just not the yellow stuff.

Interesting Animals Come to Visit After the Snow!

It's always fun to go exploring after a storm. Earlier today, I sprinkled bird seed on the snow so the birds, who aren't lucky enough to fly south for the winter, will have something to eat. Then, Nigel and I went for a walk. We were surprised to see new neighbors resting at the corner --a pair of snow horses! With below freezing temperatures expected tonight, and for several nights to come, I think these magnificent visitors will be around for awhile.

Hunkered Down Inside the League

Round two of the blizzard started as a light snow Tuesday night, but by mid-morning Wednesday visibility was almost non-existent from INSIDE the League! Six staff members hosted a two (and in some cases three) night slumber party with nearly 200 cats and dogs! During the day, an additional three loyal Leaguers walked to work so the animals could receive the very best of care. If you've ever wondered what it's like to sleep in an animal shelter, I can tell you it's much quieter than you would think.

Most of our time, however was not spent sleeping -- cleaning, feeding, and medicating animals is time consuming. Of cours, there was some down time late at night --three of us managed a nightly game of scrabble while two others focused on a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle. We were fortunate to have a real meal during the height of the blizzard -- Wah Luck Chinese Restaurant delivered!!! We were very, very grateful.

Like our dogs at home, the dogs living at the League need to go outside -- some liked the snow, others like me, are ready for spring.

Snow Storm of the Century Brings Out the Best, Worst, and Just Plain Fun!

HEROES --We live in Washington, DC, not the North Pole. The weekend weather made some kind of once-in -lifetime mistake. Even the President, who lived many years in Chicago, acknowledged the blizzard in the nation's capital, calling it Snowmageddon. The most snow ever recorded during one storm in our area happened on the weekend. And, three wonderful, loyal Washington Animal Rescue League staffers managed to care for all of the animals. Thanks to Eugene, Ehuniz, and Oscar, the cats and dogs were kept fed and clean. You are my heroes -- AMAZING!!!

DUMB MISTAKE -- Not everyone is so responsible. My neighbor, who has two dogs for his "kids", opened up the door at 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning to see if a plow had gone down the street -- why would a plow have gone down my little street ? -- and one of the dogs ran out. The dog has yet to come back. The dog, an unneutered male, older chocolate Labrador retriever, is not wearing any identification tags and is not microchipped. Not only did record breaking amounts of snow fall, but bitter cold is bearing down on the region. The dog is super unruly. I'm hoping, however, that he let some kind soul take him in or somehow got to the Montgomery County Animal Shelter.


FUN-- Dogs LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the snow. check out the picture of Nigel. Why would a dog want to just park in the snow? Seems to me he'd be a little chilly, guess not. The first time out, while the snow was still falling, was a little tricky. It had already mounted so high that Nigel needed a path to comfortably go to the bathroom. Once that was taken care of, the rest of the outtings have been all fun. Nigel played with his buddy Jackson and another dog who met us in the street. At that time, you couldn't tell the street from the yard. Notice the snow on Nigel's snout? He loves using his nose to tunnel through the snow like a gopher.



HEROES REVISITED -- When I was watching the news on Saturday I saw a a shot of a church that had collapsed in Washington. The reporter mentioned how it was believed that no one was injured, however an Urban Search and Rescue team, who had just returned from Haiti, was in the building checking for anyone who may have been trapped inside. Sounds like D.C. Fire Department Sgt.Christopher Holmes and his partner Cazo were hard at work on their home turf. Thanks. So glad to hear that both are in top form. When I spoke to Sgt. Holmes earlier in the week he told me that Cazo had been injured while looking for survivors in the rubble in Haiti. Cazo's injury was so severe that he underwent a 90 minute surgery to remove the foreign object that was lodged in his flank. Cazo finished a round of antibiotics and was cleared to go back to work right before the storm. Obviously, search and rescue teams don't get snow days!

I've been thinking about an article that I read yesterday -- Anacostia River shows decades-long failure to improve water quality, ecosystem . According to David A. Fahrenthold, In the District, 15 miles downstream, the Anacostia is burdened by tons of floating trash, millions of gallons of raw sewage, and deposits of toxic chemicals. Forty years ago, when Earth Day was established, people were told that ignorance and negligence was destroying rivers, and that immediate clean-up was critical to the life of the Anacostia as well as other bodies of water throughout the U.S. And, today, we are still looking for ways to improve the quality of the Anacostia. What simple things can individuals do?

The obvious, don't pollute -- not one gum wrapper, plastic baggie, or bag of dog poop. And, don't shop unless you are prepared -- Bring a bag. One part of the renewed cleanup effort is already in place: The District's "bag bill," which requires that retailers charge customers five cents for every paper or plastic shopping bag. The funds will go for cleanup measures, but the real hope is to cut use of plastic bags, the most common kind of trash found in the Anacostia's tributaries.

How quickly will things improve?
The District government has stuck by the goal of a fishable, swimmable river -- but set a deadline years over the horizon, in 2032. "We wanted to be realistic," one city official said.

I wonder, does it really need to take 21 more years to turn things around?

Read the article in it's entirety. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/01/AR2010020103217_5.html?sid=ST2010020103347.

Think of ways that you can help now. Share the article with friends. Write letters -- let people in positions of power know that you care and want to be part of the effort to save the Anacostia. What will you be doing in 2032?

Snow Again! This is DC, not Michigan!!

Well, according to those who keep records the average snow fall in the D.C. area is less than two feet per winter. The six plus inches we got on Saturday took us beyond our average. The snow is beautiful and lots of fun to play in, but with it, particularly this winter, comes cold -- extreme cold. Dogs and cats should not be left outside. Report any animal unattended to the proper animal welfare agency in your community.

Be an animal hero. Speak up for animals.

UPDATE

I heard on the radio this morning that the Fairfax County, Virginia USAR (Urban Search & Rescue) unit is home from Haiti. Gone 15 days and reportedly recovered 16 survivors in the rubble! Welcome back Chris and Cazo.

More good news. It looks like my current favorite kitty, Casius Clay, may be going to his forever home very soon; someone, with another older cat, is very interested in adopting him!! I hope they have a tall perch -- CC loves to hang out on the very top of the kitty playground in the cat room at the League. Have a good life, buddy.

Horrors in Haiti

The destruction caused by the earthquake that slammed Haiti earlier in the week is beyond belief. Even as the pictures flash on television and computer screens, it is hard to imagine living through such a nightmare -- yet, among the death and ruins there are survivors. Sgt. Christopher Holmes and his K-9 partner, Cazo -- a German shepherd, are two of the rescue workers searching for people trapped inside the rubble. Chris and Cazo are part of the DC Fire/EMS Department's Urban Search and Rescue K-9 Unit. The day before the earthquake, the pair, along with Fire/Arson Investigator Rodney Taylor and his K-9 partner, Dozen -- a black Labrador retriever, were visiting students at Takoma Education Center talking about their jobs. Chris told the students how much he loves his job, and how he never knows when he and Cazo will be called to help. Little did he know that just 24 hours later disaster would strike and they would be on their way to Haiti.

Chris and Cazo are looking for people among the devestation. Cazo is trained to find survivors. He understands more than 40 words in German. Chris uses those words to instruct Cazo when they are working. When they aren't working it's play time, family time and just everyday down time. Neither of them will get any down time in the immediate future.

A Favorite Dog Update

The Washington Animal Rescue League places scores of dogs and cats in wonderful homes. Sometimes we hear back from their forever homes; sometimes we don't. It's always fun to learn what a certain cat or dog is up to-- what the adopters enjoys about their new friends, what silly things they like to share, as well as the tender moments that warm your heart.

Our training department gets updates about adopted dogs regularly. Quite honestly, I don't remember all of the dogs whose new people send in updates. But a recent email and photo caught my attention immediately. It was from Junie's new person, Erin. She reported that Junie is very sweet and loves her tennis balls and food. I remember Junie and those tennis balls. She had one in her mouth all of the time. Junie was one of those dogs who came in who made me think, "If only I had room for one more...." I'm sure that Nigel and Junie would have gotten along splendidly. However, my schedule and space allows for only one dog. So, Nigel must be content with his dog buddies in the neighborhood and Merl, the only cat of our three, who absolutely adores Nigel. Getting Erin's email reminded me though that Junie was one of those few dogs who I thought, "if only." I was very happy to see the picture of her with her tennis ball. Erin sent another photo of Junie on the bed. Those pictures and Erin's update made me think, "If only they all could get a good home like Junie."

Don't Forget the Birds

I don't have a bird feeder. I did years ago, but I attracted just as many mice as birds, so I gave up feeding the birds. But, the recent snow and the on-going cold made me think about the birds. Can they find enough food to eat? If I feed them today, do I need to feed them all winter long? Since I didn't know the answer to either question, I asked Jim Monsma, the League's resident bird expert.

Here's what he said.

It is fine to feed animals now and then. They eat what they can find, when they can find it. You could leave them in a bad situation if you fed them regularly and then cut them off suddenly.

More important is what you feed them – no bread, for instance – and keeping feeders clean, which many people fail to do. That’s why we have the outbreak of the eye disease among house finches, for instance. This was news to me, when I was growing up we always put out bread crusts for the birds.

Other important considerations --
Keep bird feeders no more than 3 feet from nearby windows (collisions with glass kill more birds than any other single factor with estimates that, on average, every single structure in the country kills 3 birds/year – think about that for a minute).

Keep cats indoors. I can do that!

HAPPY 2010!!!

It feels like we've been celebrating this holiday season in the north pole. And, while this might be great weather for penguins and polar bears, cats and dogs need a little extra attention. Their bodies are not primed for day after day of freezing temperatures. Dogs and cats should not be left outside.

Some animals like the cold. Nigel really enjoys his walks in the cold. But, they are just that -- 10 minute walks, not life on the ice floes. After the brisk walk it's back inside the house with the thermostat set to 68 degrees (not exactly warm, but comfortable, and the lower temperature helps to save energy). And, Nigel's buddies Micky, Merl and Bruce are inside always -- cats do not enjoy the cold and are NEVER safe outside.

Please, Please, Please report animals left outside to the proper agencies. Sometimes just telling an unknowing neighbor that his cat or dog would be a lot happy, safer and WARMER will do the trick. Believe it or not, there are folks who say, "but he's wearing a fur coat." I may not have fur, but when I go outside bundled up from head to toe, I still get cold and don't want to stay outside for very long. How different is that than my short-haired dog who goes outside barefoot?

New Year's resolution number one -- help keep animals warm and safe this winter.