What is wrong with people...

Daughter in law, Dr.J, asks if we could maybe check out a house in the middle of nowhere on some mountain top, where abandoned dogs have been reported. The Sheriff’s office responded, found 2 puppies, one dead, and the momma dog, which he could not catch. The officer took the live puppy to Dr.J at her clinic.

Long story shorter…we drove up the mountain and found the abandoned house. Looks like the people shut down, locked up and walked away in a hurry…left it all, everything…food in cupboards, dishes in sink, garbage everywhere, trash in the yard, AND their dogs!! There is 3 feet of snow and the only tracks are from the abandoned dogs. No one has shoveled, plowed or walked up to the house except the one officer…and his tracks were snow covered! While we were struggling through the snow, there was an unsettling feeling, like the hair on your neck being disturbed! My hubby says, “shhh, I think I hear banjos”. Oh, hey, thanks allot! Like I need you to add to my creepy thoughts!

Ok, so no boogiemen, no one from the “Deliverance” movie…just dogs, abandoned , helpless, starving dogs. The information we had was there was a female (mom to the pup) that had a broken front leg. She was there. A sweet small Black Lab cross with damage to her front leg. AND there were 4 more puppies…adorable little Lab/Rott cross. AND a 6 month old female Lab/Rott cross, AND a year old female Lab/Rott cross.
You doing the math here? That’s 8 dogs!! 8 abandoned dogs! AND I’m sure we saw one more that we can’t find now. We took dog food up and left for that one…we will go back up and look for him in a couple days.

These dogs have been scrounging to stay alive. We saw a chewed on back bone that seemed to be that of a calf, and some venison bones were laying around as were a few empty dog food bags along with all the garbage in the yard. All the dogs had extended stomachs and crusty hair, add to that a horrible smell! So, they all went to Dr.J for a check up, shots and de-worming. Dr.J is guessing pups at around 7 weeks old so they are ready for new homes! 2 of which are now living with the pastor’s daughters and getting spoiled! I hear the other dogs are all doing well also. Dr.J thinks the leg on the momma dog will be saved.

We have the year old with us, and she is doing well, after passing all those horrid worms and getting some good nutrition in her. Isn’t it amazing how a dog can fair so well after being treated so bad. 3 days with this young dog and she now knows how to sit, lay and ask to go outside. She sleeps by the bed…all night without getting up, and she rides in the car like she is a world traveler. She gets along well with the other 4 dogs, lays with the cats and pays no attention to the chickens, ducks or horses. You gotta love a dog like this!! She already has a new home and will move in there next week…it’s just down the road so I will get to see her often!

Still, I’m appalled at the nefarious butts that think they can just leave a helpless critter to fend for it’s self with no consequences. Maybe someday they will suffer what their dogs did.

Kicken Chickens!

I have roughly 35 chickens...I could get a more accurate count if they would either stand still or walk in a single file...but noooo, they have to run around an confuse me! The count I am sure of is the duck...I have "one" duck!

In the mornings all the chickens and the "one" duck are waiting for me close to the front door! I have to walk all the way out to the Chicken house to feed them so they gather around me, walk on my feet, trip me, whatever it takes to hurry me up! They are so bad that I have to gently move them out of my way with my foot...It's my morning dance, "The Kicken-Chicken"!!

The really cool thing about the Chickens is how socialized they are, mostly the young ones, no, I guess all of them now. You see, this "one" duck I mention, well, I feed her out of the grain scoop while I am throwing scratch to the chickens. I do this to tame her so the kids can pet her. Slowly the baby chicks started coming close and eating with her from the scoop. So I just start petting each one as they come to eat. Now the older chickens come close so I can pet them...even the roosters!

The really cool thing is that a few of the young chicks (the banties) fly up on my shoulder or head sometimes. Of course this is all fun and games till one of them poop on my head...then it won't be so cute! I wonder...are all chickens like this...or just mine?!

Mickey!!

Turning 14 years old this June 10th, Mickey is showing his age. Not just the white covering his face, but the distorted look he has. He had a nerve issue a few years back and it left his face dull on the left side. He has lost about 90% of his hearing and has a blurred look to his eyes.

That being said, Mickey still runs, jumps, plays, hoards his toys, loves his treats, and has the most incredible appetite! He is an obedient and loyal dog!

I never thought I, or my hubby would own a wiener-dog. I always thought they were kind of stupid, hard to train dogs...well, I was so wrong!

Mickey was a rescue, I just happen to be the one the owner dumped him on. He was 4 months old and after a few hours with him, my hubby and I decided we couldn't just give this little guy away! I have to tell you, we have had 2 Black Labs, a lab mix, German Shepherd, German Short Hair, Standard Poodle, add to that all the dogs we are around that our friends and family have, and Mickey...has the best vocabulary, the best understanding of the events taking place around him and the quickest response to the right action to take for the circumstance!

I write all this down and share it because I know it is inevitable we will loose him one day. It will be a very sad day. I got a phone call from a friend who winter's in Arizona. Their chow cross just up and died in their arms on New Year's eve. A couple months ago my youngest brother and his wife lost their little sheltie cross. And about 4 months ago, my oldest brother and his family lost their yellow lab. It's so sad and so hard on the families to go through such a loss...In each case, their dog was a HUGE part of their family! Mickey has been there, done that in our family!

Mickey keeps us all on a schedule here, he is a silent alarm as he barks very little...instead, he goes and gets one of the big dogs to challenge the intruder! (like I said, he's a smart one!) He has traveled everywhere with us! He is worldly! He is a perfect gentleman in any motel, and as a passenger in a car, you couldn't ask for better! He knows his boundaries, never runs off and always minds his manners! All of this came naturally...he was not trained!

I could go on for hours on how good and smart this little guy is, how accepting he is of all animals and people...but sooner than later, you will get bored! So, let me leave you with this...Never judge a book by it's cover...the content may be something you wouldn't want to miss out on in life!!

Happy New Year!

Today, January 2nd, 2011...who'd a guessed!?! Back when we were 10, 15, even 25, would have you believed we would this soon be living in the year 2011?! It seems like something out of a science fiction novel or movie! But, here we are! So, let's make the best of a Sci-Fi situation!

This year I would like to do more to improve my life...my relationship with God, my husband, my family and my friends. I'm going to try hard to be a better person, say nice things, compliment someone, support someone in need, share a smile with people that need one. I am writing this so there is a hard copy of it...that way I (hopefully) won't just say it and 2 days later forget it! So, feel free to set me straight if you see me be rude or out of line!

Of course I want to do all the regular New Years resolutions also...loose weight, quit smoking...wait, I don't smoke, What are some others? hmmm, can't think of any, so I guess I'll just call my mom more often!

Well, what ever you do in 2011, do it well, be blessed and happy!

Stay warm...it's cold out there! If you look close, you can see ice on Brio's eye lashes!!