Snotface & Twiggy

Monday Musing: Phoenix Pet Expo 2012

This past Saturday, April 28th, I spent a good portion of the day at the Phoenix Pet Expo. I met new friends, saw great organizations and got to love TONS of pets! Here are a few pictures from the show:

The biggest dog there. BOL!!

 

Pretty sure this parrot does not like the placement of this sign, right above his head!!

 

Wordless Wednesday #59: The Rotating Couch Game

Twiggy's "Boss" Syndrome

I'm curious if anyone else has this issue with their pet. Twiggy seems to believe she is Alpha Dog - all the time, no matter what group of dogs she is with. This did not start happening until after we brought Onyx into our pack, and while she is still loving, playful Twiggy, her "corrections" can seem quite aggressive.

If I am nearby I am able to control this behavior, but I'm not always nearby. And if I turn my back she sees that as an open invitation to go into Boss mode. Our normal pack of dogs (Onyx, Emily, Chester and Olive) are all accustomed to Twiggy and have worked out their own places in the pack so it's really not an issue there. But, when meeting new dogs or new packs of dogs, Twiggy quickly tries to establish that she is Boss. 

I admit that I have not done enough research on how to combat the issue, but I want to. Anyone out there have similar issues with their dog? Or have some suggestions on how to handle Twiggy in Boss mode?

I even stopped going to the dog park because of it. After she pinned her 2nd dog - never bites, but it sounds like she is! - I decided I could not risk it. The first time I thought it might just be random act, but when it happened again with the same dog and then again with a different dog, I knew I had a bigger issue on my hands. It's sad because we all love the dog park.

Thoughts? Advice? It's all appreciated!

Monday Musings: Twiggy's MO

Happy Monday!

Rescue Rambling - I CAN Make a Difference

I've been reading a lot this week from pet bloggers talking about rescue and how they help, or how they wish they could help more, or how it can be hard to help sometimes. All those things are true for me. I donate, share and educate, I wish I could do more and sometimes helping breaks my heart.

I see videos like this one and I wish this could be my life. Rescuing pets that need it and that need a chance. Much thanks to Hope for Paws for all they do! (On a side note, I can't wait to meet Eldad and his wife at BlogPaws in June!!)

Wordless Wednesday #58: Work Review

Justice for Cisco

I write this starring at a blurry screen because my eyes are filled with tears. I just learned about a very sad story regarding a Man and his beloved Blue Heeler, Cisco.

The short of it is that a Police Officer in Austin, TX arrived at the wrong address responding to a domestic violence call. He startled the home owner in the front of the home, drew his gun on the home owner - the wrong man - and then shot the man's dog, Cisco, when it came out barking.

The officer did not give the man the option to restrain Cisco. It didn't matter that the man told the Officer that the dog wouldn't bite while asking why he had a gun pointed at him? This man was innocent. He did nothing wrong. And he lost his best friend. I'm pretty sure I would lose it if this happened to me.

I understand our police officers need to protect themselves, but don't they need to be responsible for their actions as well? Things like checking the address before drawing their gun?

My heart goes out to the man, Michael Paxton. This situation is so sad, and was completely unnecessary. There is a petition going around now requesting APD Officer Griffin be reprimanded for his actions. It just seems to me there should be something done. Something more than just "I'm sorry." Or "My bad." I'm not sure anything will make Michael feel any better, but shouldn't someone be apologizing and reassuring the community that steps are being taken to prevent something like this from happening again? Shouldn't this be more than just an "oops." Cisco was an innocent family member to an innocent man who just wanted to play frisbee on a nice spring day.

RIP Cisco. Run free. You won't be forgotten.

UPDATE: This morning this article was published. It gives a better idea of what happened and just how quickly things transpired. And it clearly shows that Michael Paxton, the innocent non-hispanic man, had no chance to save his dog.

Monday Musings: Puppy Twiggy

Every once in a while I like to share a photo of Twiggy as a puppy. Greyhound puppies are so rare to see. I had not seen one before Twiggy, and everywhere we went people couldn't believe their eyes - even our Vet! Happy Monday!

I Love Rescue Animals Could Use Some Rescuing

Hopefully most of you know about I Love Rescue Animals. They are a wonderful organization in Austin, TX that bends over backwards - basically does back flips - to make an impact in the welfare of pets. And right now that organization is two woman, Ashley and Nikki. They are dedicated women who constantly put the well being of others - especially their fosters and pets in need - above themselves. They devote their time, energy, money, sanity and passion to pets. And, they make a difference.

Right now I Love Rescue Animals is being shown more than the struggle many rescues face. More than their fair share of struggle. They could use some assistance to continue their work. They are looking for forever homes for their fosters. They are looking for support covering HUGE vet bills that one of their fosters, O'Malley, has run up. They are looking for donations so they can continue their work.

Baltimore Brothers Who Set Fire to a Pit Bull Found Not Guilty. WHAT?!!

Yes, you read that correctly. I read this story after seeing the ASPCA post it on their Facebook page. It comes from ABC News in Baltimore - where I also got the picture.

Back in 2009 twin Brothers, Travers and Tremayne Johnson of West Baltimore, poured gasoline onto a defenseless Pit Bull, who was named Phoenix. They burned her over 80% of her body resulting in her euthanasia 5 days later. Thinking about the suffering poor Phoenix endured makes me sick to my stomach, brings tears to my eyes and baffles my mind. How in the world does anyone do this? How can people abuse defenseless creatures - of any species? And how can the abusers continue to walk free?