Not made for farm living

I took poor Wyatt to the vet yesterday. Apparently he is allergic to well the farm! LOL! He has an allergy to the saw dust / cedar chip mixture I use for bedding the horses, dogs and goats. GREAT! I have to get him out of here ASAP. He is on medication and has a cone on his head. He is NOT HAPPY about that. I need to move him to a foster home ASAP, get him a bath and hopefully he will start to feel better.

Poor dog.

So, I guess that means a city home for him. LOL!

So it continues

HOLY COW! Can I rewind to last Thursday at like 5pm and just start over.. LOL!!

So, Friday night didn't go any more smoothly then Thursday night and Saturday morning was hell. The rest of the weekend was fine. Sunday the dogs were not bad but then last night..... Wyatt went after a chicken. I was able to grab him before he killed but I think the chicken is now retarded. And I am not kidding so stop laughing.. LOL!

Wyatt goes chasing after the chicken pulling out its' butt feathers, then shacking his head b/c his mouth is full of feathers and I am running behind him in the mud w/ a jammed or broken toe.. not really sure which just know that I can't bend it and it hurts like hell. I slip fall on my ass.. which I am sure it was funny to anyone watching this chain of events. I then chase him for a few more minutes and then catch him. The poor chicken is just laying there. I totally thought he killed it. Of course my father starting going Oh GREAT it is dead, I bet it was a hen. OMG SHUT UP! How about don't let the chickens out of their pen and they won't get eaten by stuff like dogs, cyotes and hawks (yea that is right a hawk took 2 small hens earlier this spring). UGH! He is always SO CONCERNED about the chickens but of course I pay for their feed, feed them, water them, make sure they are ok, my mom collects their eggs, etc. But he is all concerned about them...... whatever!

Back tot he dog........ I take care of Wyatt..... he some how hurt his eye. Which is why he was out of the fence. I needed to check out his eye. He didn't hurt the eyeball part just the eye lid all around it. It is all swollen, scratched up almost like rug burn but on his eye lid. I don't know how else to describe it. It totally doesn't bother him. He acts like nothing is wrong with it.

Anyway, I was getting him out of the fence so that I could give him Benydral and put eye medicine in his eye. Kind of looked like maybe a bee sting or something. He got away from me and who suffers the poor chicken.

After I take care of Wyatt then I go to the chicken who is laying in the same place Wyatt left it. I picked it up, totally expecting it to be dead. It isn't. It is injured but not dead. It can't hold it's head up. Poor thing.

I take it to the barn and my mom and I wash it off with cold water. Looks to have a bite to the head and a bite to the neck. Kind of hard to tell how bad it is hurt but the blood already started to clot so might not be that bad. I put the chicken in a dog crate with blankets a bowl of water and the crate is in a horse stall. I checked on it several times before I went to bed and it was still alive. The last time I checked on it, it was asleep and I startled it b/c I touched him. He tried to walk and honestly he looked drunk.

This morning he was up walking around the stall and I put down some grain for him but he didn't notice. He ran into the wall a few times. I seriously think it has brain damage or something.... Chickens heal really fast so we will see what he is like when I get home. Enough about the chicken.. ok so what other craziness was there this weekend........

Oh my hot water tank blew.. it was going on Friday and I totally knew it but I didn't have time to deal with it. I was in my friends wedding on Saturday so I was a bit busy! Saturday night I tried to take a shower with what was left of the hot water and was able to but couldn't wash my hair. TOO COLD. So, Sunday I just stuck my head under the faucet and washed it. Supposedly washing your hair in cold water is good for it but I think that is a lie.. LOL!!

THEN to top it off my friend's husband won't let her foster Daisy, the big dog any more... he has his days and apparently was having one yesterday. LOL! So poor Daisy is completely sad, she is such a good dog and LOVES kids so being at my house where she is kenneled and doesn't have kids makes her so sad.

I so wish she would get adopted soon. She is just an awesome dog.

Oh, what else....hmmmmm.... Well on a positive note Lenny and Ralf got a home on Sunday. Sparky was adopted Monday and Mercedes adoption will be finalized sometime this week. I have 2 applications one for Nikki and one for Denny so I am praying and hoping they are awesome and can come before I leave on Friday.. I would love to get a few more dogs in homes before I leave on vacation.

Lets see......... I think that is about it. PAWS CROSSED FOR SOME MORE ADOPTIONS THIS WEEK!

Bad dogs

Holy cow, I don't know what was up with the dogs last night but UGH! My friend Kathy called and I answered the phone... do you want like 9 more foster dogs.. LOL

Yesterday work wise and day wise was fine. It all fell apart when I got home.

I got home an hour later then I was supposed to and that meant I didn't have time to go get my nails done for my friends wedding this weekend. I guess I have to get that done today.. which is stressing me out a bit just because I have so much to do today before rehearsal and I hate waiting till the last minute to get stuff done.

Anyway, so I got home and let the dogs out in the fenced area. They were all playing and running around. I played ball with them for a little bit. This was about 5pm. I had someone coming over about 6pm to meet a few dogs and pick one :-) YAY another adoption, all paws crossed.

She was supposed to come Wednesday night but the weather made her nervous. She said she didn't want to drive home in a rain storm with a new dog. Totally understand so rescheduled for Thursday at 6.

Well at 5:36pm she called to say that she had found a dog today at a shelter and it was on hold for her. YAY for her adopting but boo it wasn't one of my kids. I said oh no worries and congratulations on your new rescue dog!

I was so bummed out. But hey at least it was a rescue.

That started the bad evening. Apparently my father had opened the gate to the fenced yard but didn't lock it properly. The dogs figured that out so out the come running around in the driveway. UGH! REALLY! I get them all and put them back in the fence and close the gate the right way.

THEN getting out is fun so Carter with his skinny little tiny body goes sliding under the gate. LOOK MOM WHAT I CAN DO! He did that 3 times. Not that he runs away but we don't need to give everyone that idea. I had to fix / block up where he was getting out every time and he would just find another spot.

Ok, so finally got that all fixed. THEN this orange feral cat that hangs around decided to walk the fence. The dogs noticed and all hell broke loose. They were barking and jumping at him. Of course the cat just sits there are poofed up.. really how about jump down and run away. UGH!
Well after about 5 minutes of crazy barking and getting excited over the possibility of getting the kitty the cat jumps down and runs.

Eddie was like oh no buddy come here!!!!!!!! He squeezed out of the fence and "chased" and when I mean chase I mean fast walking.. he is overweight and has heartworm. Don't worry we are fixing both of that.

Well he decides to walk a circle around my neighbor's pound with me walking behind him saying "really Eddie! come on!" Then he walks back to the fence but I quick patched where he got out so the other dogs wouldn't follow and he looked at me like WHAT! So he walked between my cranky neighbor's garages and down his driveway. With of course me following being him basically talking myself. Well cranky was outside and I was walking my fence line but on his side of the fence and he said "Amy come here." HELLO you don't see me walking after a dog down your driveway? Seriously yet you sit in your drive to count how many I have and harass me, REALLY! UGH! So, I said "I need to get the dog XXX." and just kept walking. Eddie got to the end of his driveway which is basically the end of my fence. I think Eddie was just looking for away back in and laid down and rolled over like to say I AM SORRY MOM! Aren't I cute?

I picked him up and walked back to my driveway and put him back in the fence.

THEN THEN THEN! I was in the barn and heard some arguing between the dogs, I go running out there and poor Romeo is getting beat up. OMG Are you guys kidding me, I screamed. Bad dogs today bad bad dogs. Poor Romeo is such a wimp but I am sure he did something to make someone mad. I took Romeo out of the fence and let him just hang out with me while I feed horses, cleaned kennels and got everything done.

I then walked the dogs on leashes back to the kennels to put them away. There wasn't a snow balls chance in hell I was going to let them put themselves to bed like I do EVERY night because they were so bad I wasn't going to give them the chance to do something else stupid.

Oh and I forgot to tell you that Carter broke his collar some how crawling under the gate AND I get a phone call from a lady who adopted one of my dogs that she needs to bring her back. The dog hasn't done a thing wrong but her dog just doesn't like her and the issues are getting worse.

OMG! REALLY! I WANT TO CRY!

Congress considers cracking down on 'puppy mills'

By Rob Hotakainen, McClatchy Newspapers Rob Hotakainen, Mcclatchy Newspapers – Thu Jun 24, 4:50 pm ET

WASHINGTON — Should large-scale dog breeders regulate themselves or is this a job for the federal government?

The dispute is in the hands of Congress , which is considering a law that would require dog breeders who sell more than 50 puppies a year to be federally licensed and inspected.

It's called the PUPS Act, short for Puppy Uniform Protection Statute. It's aimed at cracking down on puppy mills, facilities where dogs often are forced to live in small cages. Among other things, the measure would force breeders to give their dogs the chance to exercise for at least an hour each day.

Backers say the legislation would clamp down on the most negligent and irresponsible dog breeders while closing a loophole in current law that allows thousands of commercial breeders to go unregulated. A companion bill has been introduced in the Senate .

Under the current law, facilities that breed dogs for commercial resale must be licensed and inspected under the federal Animal Welfare Act, but puppy mills that sell directly to the public are exempt. As a result, large breeders can escape inspection and oversight by selling their puppies online, with consumers often discovering later that they've bought sick or abused animals.

"It can be very disappointing to see a family whose cherished pet has a condition that could have been prevented with more careful scrutiny by the USDA ," said Rep. Lois Capps , D- Calif. , one of the bill's co-sponsors. "So I think that it's very appropriate for us to deal with it here."

Dale Glazer , the owner of the Rocklin Family Pet Shop and Self Serve Dog Wash in Rocklin, Calif. , supports the legislation.

"There certainly needs to be oversight on the breeding of any animals, whether it's for food — like cattle or poultry — or for sale, like dogs," he said. Glazer said the 50-dog limit was too low, however, because breeders would comply by setting up multiple smaller breeding houses, which would help them evade the law.

Critics say the proposed law would be an unnecessary burden on legitimate breeders who take good care of their dogs.

"I don't think it will do any good, because they don't have time to enforce what we have," said Rosemarie Blood , the president of the Sacramento Kennel Club . "I think everybody should go by their own conscience and stand behind their dogs."

She also said that passing another federal law would be a black eye for all dog breeders.

"It doesn't make a good picture for those of us who are trying to breed quality and not quantity," Blood said

Last Chance to win!!!

Entries close June 27, 2010.

Your dog or cat's life instantly brightened the moment you took him home from the shelter or pound. But most pet parents say they also have benefited from that special relationship.

Hill's Science Diet, whose Shelter Program helps save about 1 million dogs and cats each year, ( HillsPet.com/SecondChance ) and Tractor Supply Co. want to know how adopting your rescue pet has benefited both of your lives.

The winning entry will receive a year's supply of pet food, $500 in pet food for their favorite animal shelter, and a featured spot in the Fall 2010 issue of Out Here magazine. Two runners-up each will receive a year's supply of pet food and a spot in Out Here. View contest rules.

Found a dog in Ohio

I feel really bad when some kind person emails me about this really nice dog they found because I know there isn't a darn thing I can do to help. I don't feel so bad when the people are NASTY to me about it!

I don't know if it is just the weather but I have received at least 10 emails in the last week about people finding what they think is a JRT and are un able to locate the owner.

I think it is funny (not funny haha but funny strange) because they feel the need to use the excuse of having too many dogs as the reason they aren't keeping the found dog. Like they need an excuse not to keep it, isn't their dog... at least someone feels responsible for the dog cause their owner sure doesn't / didn't.

I just always laugh when someone says "I work full time and have 2 dogs of my own, I just can't keep this dog I found." I feel like saying "wanna trade lives???" LOL!

Anyway, the laws in OHIO says I can't help them. I am not a government run agency so legally I am not aloud to take in real strays. I can only take in dogs either through the shelter or with a signed released an owner surrender dog. However, I don't take in owner surrender dogs because of how many shelter dogs their are and I feel "your dog, your idea to get it in the first place, you find a home for it." I know sounds mean at first but if people aren't responsible for their actions, if every time something does go as planned they can just get rid of the problem (aka dog) they will NEVER learn that an animal is more then just something you can throw away when you are finished with it.

Ohio (and probably other states too) view dogs as property. Just like a car or a CD or a cell phone. So, lets say a man walks up to you on the street and hands you a bag full of jewelry. He says her I found it but can't keep it. You take the bag of jewelry and find people to "adopt it" / take the jewelry. One day you are sitting at home and you get a knock on the door. It is the police! They are looking for the bag of jewelry and because of your ads in the paper or on the internet they know you have the jewelry. The jewelry was actually stolen (or claimed to be stolen) from a person's home.

Well same thing with a dog. If I take a "found" dog and find it a new home and the person who owned the dog was actually looking for it, I can get in big trouble for stealing. First of all I would have to prove that a strange gave me this dog. Let's say I know how to get a hold of the person that gave me the dog.. do you think if they think they will get in trouble for giving me the dog they are going to admit to it? Seriously??! I highly doubt it. So, that leaves me standing their holding the bag, as they saying goes.

Now here is the kicker! Let's say the owner of the dog makes up some incredible story of how valued monetarily the dog is... let's say they owner says $505 is the value of the dog. Well guess what? I AM GOING TO JAIL! Anything stolen over $500 is a felony! No more dog rescue, no more job, bye bye house, bye bye life.

So you tell me. If you were doing (or do) dog rescue are you willing to take that risk?

Oh not to mention you now have to contact the people you adopted this dog to and tell them they need to return the dog to the original jerk owner who let it get away, didn't really look for it and oh yea never had it fixed.

So again you tell me, is it worth taking in a found dog?

NO

I am hoping was your answer.

Yet when I tell people I can't help them by taking the dog into rescue and they need to contact the dog warden I get this nasty email back from them saying things like

"I was just trying to help. Didn't know no one else would care."
"I am not taking it somewhere they will kill it."
"I thought you were a rescue."
"Nice to know you care"
"Then why do you have a rescue if yo can't help dogs that need it."

I explain to people why I can't help and what they need to do. it isn't like they just get an email from me saying. Nope can't help. Sorry. Or no response at all. So frustrating.

And the one thing that makes me the most mad is when people 100% refuse to locate the owner. I just think it is absolutely MEAN, SELFISH, RUDE to keep a found dog. What if it truly was a mistake the dog got away? What if there is a family desperately searching and searching for their pet? You are so selfish and mean that you are going to keep this dog away from finding it's family? Really!!!??

I know if my dog got lost I would call the local animal control and put an ad in the paper. I would be totally devastated if one of my dogs got lost. And you know what they are ANIMALS and they do jump the fence, break the leash, someone comes to your house leaves the door open, etc. and accidents happen. Not everyone who looses a pet is a horrible dog owner. And I would hope that people would stop an thinking to themselves.....what would I do if I lost my dog?? And then do those things in hopes of finding the owners OR if they aren't wanting or willing to do that then they should turn the dog over to animal control.

So that is my thought for the day!

UGH!

This weekend totally sucked. I am so bummed out... Saturday was the adoption event. We got there at 10am to set up and people were waiting for us. I was like, I am sorry we don't start till 11 and it will take me a little while to set up. They were ok with that...

I had a couple there, really nice who waited for the rescue from Toledo who was coming to show up. She was running late so she didn't get there till noon.. which was fine but this couple waited from 10:30 - noon for her. Then after she got there it comes out they have 2 un altered pets... FOR BREEDING. Really? Because there aren't 30 dogs staring you in the face that need homes. INCLUDING 2 PURE BREED DOGS JUST LIKE THE ONES YOU HAVE AT HOME. UGH!
Ok, so whatever... I blew that off.

Then a women comes up and shooting loudly, although I think that was just her voice would point at a dog and say is that dog aggressive? Does it bite? Will it bite my kids? I am expecting another baby so I can't have an aggressive dog. Are you sure it isn't aggressive?

OMG LADY! I can understand being concerned but do you have to be so rude and scream?

The this poor little dog that Gloria brought was so scared. I think there were too many dogs, too many people and noise. This guy comes up to him and says he is cute and rushes up to the cage. Then dog out of fear growls.. not big bad deep growl but I am scared out of mind growl. So, what does the guy do GROWL back and him and stick his fingers in the cage to torment the dog. REALLY! Then when someone else walks up and says aww poor dog is scared he says HE BIT ME. I turned around and I said he did? He said YEP. I said well we put dogs down who bite so you sure. He said yep. I took the dog out of the cage and started walking him to the car, the guy says well it wasn't a bad bite.

WHATEVER! I saw what the guy was doing but I was too far away and SWAMPED with other people that I couldn't get to him fast enough. We aren't putting the dog down.. I was just trying to make the guy feel bad. I think it worked b/c he left after that.. LOL

Then I had a women say "you charge for these dogs. must be nice since they dogs are all donated." I said "donated? what does that mean'" She said " well don't people give you these dogs" I said first of all someone giving us their dog they no longer want isn't a DONATION. But NO we don't normally take in owner surrender dogs. 95% of the dog we take from shelters where they are going to be killed. The pound still makes us pay for them and then we full vet them and care for them" I then just walked away. She really pissed me off.

Ok, so not knowing how rescue works is fine but this lady was SNOTTY. Her body language her tone... she even rolled her eyes when she said "you charge for these dogs..."

Then someone told me $200 was too much to ask for a dog. I said really Pet Land sells UN VETTED dogs for $1,000. That is ok? He just stared at me blankly. Granted he was like the 3rd person to say that to me so I was a bit irritated.

After standing in the hot sun from 10 - 4... 2 dogs were adopted. :-( I wanted to cry. I still want to cry.

Then to top off my crappy Saturday. My friend who I should have know better to let him adopt a dog has found something wrong with the dog and must return him. Whatever! This will now be the 4th dog he has gotten / had and had to find a new home for b/c well something is always wrong with the dog. Drives me crazy. I thought this time no way.. this dog is too darn good but nope he found something wrong with it. Yea, that is what I needed another dog being returned. SO much for the ones in kill shelters that need out :-( Nothing I can do now.

Yesterday wasn't a bad day b/c of dogs.. yesterday was just a bad day of people being mean for other reasons. Just stinks you try to help people, you go out of your way for people and although some do recognize it 90% of them don't and that sucks.

Sometimes I wish I could be one of those rescues who doesn't care when people aren't happy... I wish I could be like that in my everyday life. I always feel like it is my job to make everyone happy.. why the hell do I feel that way? UGH I hate it. I literally get physically sick sometimes when people are upset.. I shouldn't say people I should say the physically sick comes when my close friends or family members aren't happy...

Anyways, mean people suck! LOL