Sunday, November 30, 2008

Do What's Right....

Today, right now, this very moment, a dog, cat, rabbit, mouse and any other animal which was brought into a shelter is dying. Dying because we could not or would not care for him/her.
We as caregivers to companion animals made a conscious decision to be the protector and guardian of the very animal we have chosen to share our lives with. That means for the life of that companion.... NOT, until we grow tired of him or can no longer keep her.
Todays economy is dwindling and everyone is feeling the effects. But no one is feeling it more than those companion animals whom are dumped at city shelters because an owner feels burdened or is apathetic.
Shelters are being inundated with animals and are unable to shelter them all. Shelters can no longer afford to keep and shelter these animals. So what happens then.... what do you actually think happens in an animal shelter? Do these poor souls live out the remainder of their lives in a sanitary and compassionate environment? NO! The majority of them will be killed because they are UNWANTED by society!
Before you choose that special dog or cat as a christmas gift... before you see that cute puppy jumping up and down, wagging her tail and barking... before that kitten imprints himself on you by his dreamy little purr and kneading of paws on chest, think about whether or not you can commit your busy life to this boy or girl. Check your calendar and pocketbook and see if you are willing to devote your time and money to her or him.

I speak from experience when i say.... A dog or cat (in my home it is dogs and cats) is at least a 12 to 20 year, full time commitment! Are you willing and able to spend your time and money on a companion animal for this period of time?
Think before you buy and if you decide to get that special dog or cat.... make it an extra special one and adopt! Adopt your companion animal, for right now they are being killed thousands at a time because we no longer want them... and this is very, very sad and very, very pathetic!





Free Me....

I roam this world alone, uncaring, careless, free...
Afraid of nothing nor of anyone whom attacks me...
Traits i've honed early in life, whatever shall be will be...
Hit me, kick me, this pain i've felt many times before...
Can you hold me down, can you feel me fighting even more...
My strength enormous and my heart, like the eagle, does soar...
Search deep within my soul, can you see who i am or what i need...
Am i like you, do you hunger for information, shall i let you feed...
No, i am not like you but i do feel pain and, like you, i do bleed...
Forgive me, i forgot to mention one small detail which you may want to know...
But one fear i've failed to address and it is one i shall never show...
Alone... what an ugly word, my eternal enemy, it will never let me go...

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thanksgiving.... What is it to me?

I don't follow holidays as many others do. I don't succumb to tradition or to the "rules" which apply to a hallowed day.  Holidays, for me, are just another day to work and play. Another day to live and survive.

I find that holidays tend to be very hypocritical. A day in which a reason is had for people to get together with friends and family they may not see on any other day. A day to socialize with those in which you don't remember or don't care to remember the next day.... 
Holidays have also become very glamourized and commercialized. People stray from a holiday's true meaning and use it to skip another day of work and be gluttons and drink in excess. Is this wrong, I am not saying it is wrong or right, all I am saying is that people will use a holiday to better suit themselves and forget exactly why the day is celebrated.

I don't need a holiday to spend quality time with people I care about. Nor do I need a holiday to celebrate life, in all forms. For me, everyday should be a day to give thanks to that which makes you happy and complete. Thanks for good health and the health of your friends and loved ones.

Today is a day which has me in very mixed emotions.... I am truly thankful for waking this morning in good health and strength of body, soul and mind. I am thankful for being able to go into work and walking the dogs which are stuck in kennels for the holiday. Making them happy for a little while and allowing them a bit of freedom from their cages. 
I am very thankful that my own boys have health and vitality and such a verve for life. I am thankful that they never are in need of anything and want nothing.

What I am not thankful for is all of the turkeys (roughly 42 million) which were abused, tortured then slaughtered just to satisfy the palates of the millions of americans who gluttonously ate of these magnificent birds. 
I read in bewilderment how george bush pardoned a turkey. Pardoned a turkey for what! This bird committed no crime! He never threatened a life nor did she ever break a law! Yet, for amusement and celebrity, the president pardoned a turkey for no other reason than to humor a nation which has been led by fear....

Well.... I've ranted and I've raved, this is just my two cents worth. You can collect your change at the door, thank you!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Friday.....






Two days behind on my new blog but i am finally starting to feel alive again.... after feeling like shit or half dead with a major head cold.
Friday i survived the elements and a herd of horses after 10 hours of castrating 16 stud horses. It proved to be a very long day as Friday i probably felt my worst, and then after getting to the ranch we were informed that the only way to the stud horse corral would be via horseback. This meant i.... dino, who suffers from equinophobia, would have to jump on a horse's back and ride 8 miles to our destination. Man.... did that make for some great foto ops that will never be seen, not because i don't want them to surface but because we had no camera on hand (thank your god)!
So after a quick lesson in horsemanship from one of the hired hands, i jump on my trusty steed (a very beautiful gelded paint named Zipper) and walked a few circles, first to the right and then to the left. When that felt comfortable i took Zip for a nice trot and stop. After a few laughs (i even have to admit it must have been a pitiful site.... imagine me, wearing Holister cargo pants, trail running shoes and a Northface snowboarding jacket while everyone else wore their wranglers, cowboy boots, cowboy hats and thick jean jackets) we proceeded to the stud corrals where 16 horses awaited to be castrated.
The castrations went extremely smooth and we buzzed by each one in relatively short order. Two of the "cowboys" stayed behind after we left to make sure each horse was standing and not bleeding. No bleeders were found so our job at the ranch was over!
I would like to say that after all of this i've found a new admiration for horses.... unfortunately i cannot! I am still afraid of horses but it is not as severe as before. Now i know that i can control them better and i've a new found respect for them. A respect which will aid me whenever i am called to work with horses, be it in the hospital or on a ranch.

Friday, November 21, 2008

El Nadador

The ebb of life draws near as its water flows....
Its ocean rushes madly to a place no one knows....
Fight the undertow swim wildly to the shore....
Submerged you panic as the light shines nevermore....
Heavy hands pull you under exploding is your heart....
Too weak to continue, from this earth you shall soon part....
Yet an epiphany engulfs your dying soul and mind....
Life is yours for the taking with many wondrous adventures to find....
Alive and powerful are your strokes to reach the surface above....
You are about living proud and free you are compassion and love....

-dino-



Thursday, November 20, 2008

The First....

The First Breath....
The First Walk....
The First Smile....
The First Laugh....
The First Cry....
The First Kiss....

Well folks, my first post.... it may not be as supreme or grandiose as the above mentioned firsts but it is a first none the less.

I've been thinking about blogging for some time now, actually for about four years. I was telling a good friend of mine just today how those who know me say I should carry a journal at all times. This is because my mind is always turning, always working and what emanates from my mind flows out of my mouth and is lost somewhere thereafter. Unfortunately my mind is also a sieve when it comes to retaining my own thoughts and ideas.... but watch out, I have an uncanny ability to retain information which is given/told to me!

My thoughts, my ideas, my voice, my convictions.... this is what you will be reading, or should I say what I will be writing, from time to time. These thoughts will range from animal rights to what I cooked for dinner. My day at work to my day playing frisbee golf or hiking the mountain or taking my dogs for their daily walk or rants and raves about how I hate my life because I find myself somewhere I would have never imagined. Perhaps I will tell you just how wonderful my life is because I enjoy doing what I do for a living and I am surrounded by people who actually care about me and what I have to say and value my opinions. 
I most definitely will be writing poetry.... poetry is something which I do for my own pleasure and rarely write it down for anyone else to read. Hell, I rarely write it down at all and I can kick myself in the arse for not saving any of it. 

Well.... this will be it for now. I am in my third day of having this wicked flu. I thought I was over it two weeks ago but after a great workout on Tuesday afternoon.... BAM! the little bastard entered my body and is making me miserable! Right now all I want to do is curl up next to my boys... Kaitu, Dag and Rufus and sleep away my congested nose and major headache! 
Tomorrow will be a long day for me as I will be out on a ranch helping to castrate 16 horses. And I must add...... I AM VERY AFRAID OF HORSES! Wish me luck!