The Real Bully

Today, I took one of my most favorite dogs in all the world, pit bull and precious love-head Lucy, to Washington Park in Denver. After our walk around the park, my friend Cheryl and I - along with Cheryl's adult male German Shepard Duke, and a Boxer-Shepard mix named Ruby - sat outside a coffee shop called Washington Perk. All three of the dogs, tired, wet and happy from playing in the creek at the park, laid or sat on the sidewalk watching passers by and enjoying the sunshine.

Having not been in Colorado for 6+ years, I had forgotten about Colorado's SICK and WRONG Breed Specific Legislation (BSL), in other words, its ban against any dog that resembles a pit bull. In my temporary state of blissful ignorance, I marveled at how enlightened it seemed so many of the coffee shop goers were. In two or three separate instances, parents of young children - toddlers even - brought their little ones over to meet the dogs. They reminded their children to be cautious, put out the backs of their hands for the dogs to smell, and approach cautiously. But not once did anyone pause or hesitate before giving and receiving love from Duke, Lucy and Ruby. I observed these awesome parents teaching their kids how to properly and safely interact with dogs, and (most importantly) not teaching them to FEAR. The kids smiled and laughed as the dogs got in some petting. Lucy, in particular, got in as many licks as she could, because she loves giving people kisses.

As I sit here tonight, having been reminded of the pit bull ban in CO, and doing some further investigating online, I feel a sense of urgency - and RAGE - over the unfairness and stupidity of Breed Specific Legislation in all its forms. I am ashamed of my home state, especially since CO is seemingly such a dog-friendly state. As long as this kind of injustice is perpetrated against any breed of dog singled out as "highly dangerous", all Coloradans, all citizens of Humankind, remain part of an inexcusable problem.

I've been horrified, reading stories online of hundreds of innocent family pets being hauled away by animal control and gassed to death for absolutely no reason; victims of a new holocaust.

I wept just now when Lucy sauntered into the room, being her most amazing and loving and precious self, and came over to share her one-of-a-kind affection. As a dog, Lucy knows nothing of the travesty unfolding at the expense of her "kind". She is happy and exists for the purpose of loving and teaching people. And, while I have known and loved literally hundreds of dogs in my life...Lucy is special among the special.

The mere THOUGHT that someone could snatch her from her home and MURDER HER, for no other reason than the physical (visible) manifestation of her genetic code, reminds me that we must FIGHT FOR THE BULLIES on this one, and get this ludicrous law and others like it overturned.

Savoring the Adventure

 

 

 

 

 

The Difference A Picture Can Make

Photographing shelter animals (for the shelter's website, blog sharing, publicity, etc.) is fulfilling and productive - for both the volunteer and the animals! Everyone gets outside - gets fresh air, exercise, and loving interaction. And the volunteer has the opportunity to make a real difference, by capturing the true, free spirit of the animal - playing and running outside of the kennel environment.

While volunteering at a shelter can be emotionally difficult, making a creative practice out of one's volunteer work allows for something really positive to come out of an otherwise disheartening situation. Changing the perception of shelters WILL CHANGE shelters themselves. Creating beautiful images of potential pets will draw in adopters, and help people focus on the whole point of animal shelters - which is to get animals into forever homes!

04-19-12/ THE BOYS

While my attempt at walking 120 pounds of solid boxer muscle, in bare feet, with a broken toe...failed...Plan B worked famously. We played in the yard with the ball, the frisbee, and the hose. And then we had two happy, wet, slobbery dogs, and one happy dog walker, who still managed to get these guys the exercise and fun they need and deserve.

A Dog's Life...In Paradise...NOW AN eBOOK!

A Dog's Life...In Paradise | Make Your Own Book

EXODUS: 04 * 08 * 12

To celebrate the constant rebirth of life, and spiritual freedom that both Easter and Passover represent, my (canine and human) friends and I spent Easter morning at Puako beach on the Big Island. The beauty was nearly too much to fathom. Enjoy.