Spotted Tails

I am what I am

2012-02-10T07:37:00.000-08:00

My name is Henry Keller, and I am an opportunist.

If you are foolish enough to leave something on the counter within my reach, you will find it is gone when you return.

If you naïvely store something you know I like towards the front of the refrigerator, don’t be surprised when it’s not there next time you look.

Oh, so cat food’s expensive? I don’t care. Not good for me? Please - save it!

My name is Henry Keller, and I am an opportunist.

Some would say I’m spoiled, ill-mannered - even incorrigible.

While this may be true, the bottom line is I’m smart and mischievous - I’m a Dalmatian!

Being a charismatic trickster is in my DNA!

And, please, don’t hate me because I’m beautiful...but that’s another story.

So, the next time you don’t know what happened to your sandwich - better make a new one.

My name is Henry Keller, and I am an opportunist.

***

This short memoir by a Dalmatian owner might also be of interest you. I got a chuckle out of it. Ha ha ha ha ha!

Photo at top courtesy of Reg Kittrelle. Others by Henry's mom.

Blessings

2012-01-06T21:17:00.000-08:00

It’s 2012 and winter seems to have forgotten about us here on the central coast. I’m not saying I mind. The days are short with pretty blue skies, and glorious sunsets to behold. What a perfect time to rejoice in the paradise that is Santa Cruz and look to the future with hope.

Up here in the mountains, the squirrels have been chasing each other in the trees and making mysterious small talk. A feral cat decided to take refuge in our shed around Thanksgiving – I’m trying to make friends with him, or her.

Our little store has been quiet since the big Holiday Fair in early December, but a February show in on the horizon. Details are on the events page of our website and we’ll be talking about it non-stop soon enough.

In the meantime, sending whoever is reading this right now all the best the new year can possibly bring and a reminder to make each day count.

Enjoy five minutes of a recent sunset as a way to get started with that.

Chow!

Sweet 16

2011-11-21T06:26:00.000-08:00

She may not get excited about long walks or car rides the way she once did, but she still dances for her food.

Rafa brought Thunder home when she was about three months old. It was Valentines Day 1995. He had been talking about this Chihuahua puppy that he'd met at a friend's house and I wasn't sure about a small dog - we had four cats and a larger dog at the time - I just thought another larger dog would go better with the family.

Finally Rafa won out and he brought the puppy home. He was over the moon for this little black and white baby with specked feet and nose, and a white tipped tail. We didn't know if she was a boy or girl then and somehow checking seemed to clarify things. We named "him" Thunder.

A day or two later we headed off to the vet for puppy shots and Diane at Dr. Raemaker's office looked at us kind of funny and said, "This is a girl and this is a border collie!" I'm sure she was also thinking, "rookies!"

That was 16 years ago and what a life we've all had together. Thunder's an official daddy's girl. Being a daddy's girl myself, I can testify to what a special feeling it is to have that classification. Love, heaped on in big doses, makes for a long happy life.

Thank you to Liz Lange for taking this precious picture of our girl Thunder after this past weekend's outing to the Wash n Wag.

New Dawn

2011-11-11T21:58:00.000-08:00

After spending a couple of days at the local animal shelter helping with an influx of bunny rabbits rescued from God awful conditions with a crazy breeder, I’m exhausted.

The work is extremely rewarding, and it won’t be done for weeks, and it’s hard – physically and emotionally. I came home Wednesday evening and cried for hours.

The rabbits are in an overflow area at the shelter’s back end, in sort of an over-sized garage. It’s clean and it's suitable temporarily – in fact it’s a Hilton compared to where they came from – but there are so many rabbits.

The first day we saw to their basic needs, separated the males from the females and assessed them for injuries. It’s bending and reaching and squatting and lifting – it’s work! That was on Monday.

Wednesday I returned to clean their pen areas and help shuffle the buns to and from the vet exams. There was a time when I was alone, and I noticed a young woman coming and going from the garage.

About the fourth time she came in I saw she that she held a black bag and she carried it into a walk-in refrigerator and laid it on top of the others there. I suddenly felt a knot in my stomach.

The knot lasted the day and into the night, accompanied by shifting feelings of pain and anger, grief and rage – followed by blame. It was business as usual in a typical animal shelter, and animals die in shelters.

If you are reading this and you are a breeder or you buy animals from a breeder or support breeders in any way – please STOP. You are part of the problem. When you buy rather than adopt, you are perpetuating the cycle of pet homelessness. Maybe you didn’t know – it’s true.

My heart is still broken from the disposability of those cats and dogs, a minuscule sample of the larger population – turned into waste because of human selfishness, closed-mindedness, ignorance and irresponsibility. We don’t have to continue the cycle.

It’s hard to believe that we live in a world that needs so much love and yet we destroy the vessels of love so easily. I ask, no I beg for what it’s worth, please – spay and neuter your pets, and speak up! Educate others, be part of the solution – don’t be afraid - this is an opportunity!

For those of you who know me, this post isn’t as bubbly as the norm, but it is a message of hope. A new dawn emerges! As sure as there is a sun and a moon, we are are moving in the direction of compassion, it’s just that the pace is an intangible.

All you have to do is think back to the changes that have occurred over the past 50 to 100 years – it’s a perspective thing. The middle of change isn't easy, and some days trusting in the slow work of God seems inconceivable.

Two events bring pet lovers together for animals

2011-10-11T19:03:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago The Honorable Dalmatian teamed up with Lisa Pawlak and Lee Mosswood, hosting the online store’s 2011 Fall Show. In addition to their exciting animal-themed apparel, art and jewelry products, the owner unveiled a plethora of recycled jeans and fall fashions.

The weekend-long event featured music by singer/songwriter and local favorite Lisa Pawlak and Pottery by Lee. Guests oohed and awed over Lee’s unique and functional stoneware bowls, mugs and this crazy cool teapot!

Where there’s music there is often dance, and the 2011 (and second annual) Fall Show was no exception. The “Official Ben Lomond Dog-Dancing Association” was born on the first day of the event, featuring Lee and her adorable dog Finnegan with Mari and
Lisa’s little dog Samba. Hoots and hollers could be heard by neighbors as the girls and their canine sidekicks pirouetted across the backyard. The moment happened to be caught on tape by volunteer, animal-advocate and all-around sweetheart Cathryn (shown here with Tricia raffling off goodies to raise money for local animals).

Fast forward to this past weekend and you arrive at Roaring Camp’s Happy Howl-O-Ween Harvest Fair, an event that will not likely be forgotten by any of its attendees. Animal lovers and tourists alike were treated to an assortment of adoptable pets (dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs!), a festive atmosphere, costume contests and activities – all, in addition to train rides through the beautiful Santa Cruz Redwoods on a perfectly gorgeous day!

It’s not every day a pet owner can say they adopted their pet at the local train station, but it happened several times over at this past weekend’s event, wonderfully orchestrated by event coordinator extraordinaire Cathryn Boult-Lenono.

Some very lucky raffle winners went home with fancy knives donated by Saber in Aptos, and participating non-profits went home with some much-needed cash. The Honorable Dalmatian was front and center, and customers could not get enough of the Dog is Good apparel line carried by the store. Another hot seller this past weekend was bunny jewelry, hand-crafted by Lavender Rabbit.

If you are interested in attending one of The Honorable Dalmatian's upcoming events, and if you enjoy upbeat and current animal-related news, you simply must become a fan on Facebook or follow the store on Twitter! All products are available online at www.thehonorabledalmatian.com.

If you can't wait for an upcoming show and you see something you'd like to purchase, be it our fabulous jewelry, Lee's pottery, or any clothing items, please contact Mari@thehonorabledalmatian.com.

Roaring Camp Happy Howloween Harvest Fair October 8 & 9

2011-10-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you cross the old west with fun and pets, and toss in a little Halloween? Well, the Roaring Camp Happy Howloween Harvest Fair, of course! Nestled in the beautiful redwoods in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Roaring Camp is an enchanting location for a day of fun-filled excitement that benefits local animal rescues.

Bring your family – dogs are welcome!

From 10:30 am to 2:00 pm:

Halloween costume contests (1:15 Saturday)
Bobbing for weenies (1:15 Sunday)
$5 entry fee (benefits local animal rescues)

Adoptable animal pageant (noon)
Make a scarecrow

11:00 am, 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm:

Trains depart to Bear Mountain
Free pumpkin for Redwood Forest Steam Train ticketholders

Noon to 3:00 pm:

Roaring Camp’s famous Chuckwagon BBQ

Feel free to bring your own lunch ~ Roaring Camp has picnic space aplenty!

Happy Howloween Harvest Fair

Roaring Camp Railroads
Saturday & Sunday
October 8 & 9
5401 Graham Hill Road
Felton, CA 95018
(831) 335-4484

Map and Directions

My friend Cherilyn

2011-08-31T19:33:00.000-07:00

I’m devoting this post to my friend Cherliyn. While I’ve never met her in person, Cherilyn is as dear to me as any friend could be.

Cherliyn lives on the other coast. She designs jewelry and has worked in the music and art industries; all-in-all my friend Cherilyn is an exceptionally talented person.

It wasn't those facets of her life that attracted me to Cherliyn, however. Nope. It was our mutual love of animals.

Cherliyn’s fierce loyalty to animals in danger inspires me every day. She is a passionate voice for dogs, cats, horses and any other shelter pet she spots in a “code red” situation. What’s that you ask?

Code Red at an animal shelter means that an unwanted pet has been brought into an open-door shelter and unluckily finds him or her self in danger of being euthanized, gassed or killed by a heart stick. These terms are not thrown out to be cruel; they are simply the reality awaiting dogs, cats and other animals every day in our nation’s shelters.

A Facebook page called Together for Animals features Cherilyn’s round-the-clock posts of animals in need of immediate rescue, foster care or adoption. The page is followed by over 2200 dedicated animal lovers who also want to make a difference, and they do!

Cherilyn does this because she cares, and for absolutely no other reason. And that’s my friend Cherilyn.

On that note, I leave you with a song that Cherilyn and I both like a lot.

In the end, only kindness matters.

2011-07-30T22:11:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhh. A beautiful day in a perfectly inspirational place to live and breathe – that was today – at Art in the Garden in Santa Cruz. The first annual Art in the Garden started at 10:00 am Saturday, July 30 and continues through Sunday, July 31 at 5:00 pm.

Picture a lovely home, nestled in the mountains above the sea, with art of virtually every medium spread from front to back and out around a flower-framed swimming pool. Friendly and gracious host artists dotted the scenic yard with their wares and the sun kept the fog at bay under a light breeze.

Art! My personal favorites were, well the animal works of course! Marvin Plummer captures the souls of his subjects – what an artist he is and such a sweet guy too. His work can be seen around town, both inside and out.

And the ultra talented Janet Ferraro and her divine equines in pastels and oils. Her passion for the spirit of horses is unmistakable in every piece. I couldn’t resist buying a bright red tee boasting one of her horses “coming through.”

Delectable jams, unique jewelry, pretty glass and fabulous furniture, and so much more. Friends showed, like Janice and Kathy, Bud and Darlene. Bud suggested I try a cracker with hummus and Serendipity gingered white nectarine preserves spread all over it. It worked! In fact, I have a jar of that exact jam it worked so well.

The smell of anise and lavender and chai are sure to fill my head with dreams worth remembering – the Wild Thyme soaps I also couldn’t resist are spending the night in close proximity - and with that, I bid you good night.

There's a hero in all of us

2011-06-20T06:08:00.000-07:00

I had the great pleasure of hearing Wayne Pacelle speak Friday night at one of my favorite bookstores, Capitola Book Cafe. Wayne is the president of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), one of a handful of organizations confronting animal cruelty on a large scale, nationwide and beyond. I wasn’t surprised at Wayne’s passion and dedication – I knew he was a champion for animals– but I didn’t know he was once just a boy who was crazy about animals. I didn’t know he was funny or that he was humble and easy to talk to. I didn’t know he wasn’t so different than you and me.

Friday night’s gathering was a book signing. Wayne Pacelle, in a book that’s beautiful cover features a tender exchange between a grateful child and a knowing dog, emphasizes the deep relationship human beings have with animals today and the surprising level of animal cruelty that still exists despite ours and their capacity to love. I’m just about to crack the cover of my signed copy of “The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them” and I’m sure I will be inspired all the more in my own quest to make a better world for animals. Wayne read a passage from a chapter devoted to the rescue of Hurricane Katrina animals and I immediately knew I would enjoy the writing style of this compassionate personality.

As Wayne Pacelle talked during the evening, I felt many feelings I’ve had about animals, animal rescue and animal cruelty validated. I also felt hope and pride. The choices I’ve made in my life reflect my values and being true to myself is the air that I breathe, it’s the life I lead, and I don’t do it selfishly. As God is my witness, I will make a difference for animals. There's a hero in all of us.

The local Santa Cruz SPCA received a grant in the amount of $5000 from Wayne Pacelle on Friday night. Lisa Carter, the SPCA's executive director and top animal welfare lobbyist, beamed alongside Wayne and also Jennifer Fearing, the HSUS's California Senior State Director. If you'd like to help animals locally, you can donate time, donate online or send a check to:

Santa Cruz SPCA
PO Box 3800
Santa Cruz, CA 95063

Animal Love

2011-06-06T21:29:00.000-07:00

Looking back on days gone by – many days gone by – I remember a 2nd grader, a little girl, a member of the local Brownie troop. She was filled with anticipation and excitement, for she and the other little Brownies were off to visit the local animal shelter! And on that day, circa 1968, as she peered through the wire cages at the sweet furry faces within, something inside her was awakened.

What became of those pets, she wonders now; did they get adopted? Were they loved and cared for by someone?

Today, with the hard reality of shelters bursting at the seams with the same sweet furry faces who have no place to call home, and society’s failure to protect the majority from certain death, she weeps.

Hope is somewhere around the bend, for the army of animal lovers-turned-defenders grows by the day. This mere fact alone brings comfort; she is not alone.

On this day, however, she longs for that once-upon-a-time, for that untainted bliss of pure child-like animal love.

There is a no-kill movement on the rise. Its motivation is to stop the needless killing of shelter pets due to overpopulation. How can this be done? Well, like with any other societal overhaul, not without red tape, money and controversy. Read more on the no-kill topic at any of the following websites. Perhaps there is something you’d like to do:

No Kill Advocacy Center

Best Friends Animal Society

No Kill Now

Did you know that Santa Cruz SPCA is a no-kill animal shelter and that Santa Cruz’s Animal Shelter Relief Rescue saves and fosters animals from overcrowded shelters? Project Purr is all about saving the lives of our community’s cats and The Rabbit Haven rescues and fosters rabbits in our area. These non-profit agencies are some of our very own “crusaders,” and this little awakened Brownie understands the pledge they’re committed to, and she salutes them!

The Woof to Woof is Saturday June 4th – Good times!

2011-05-25T07:24:00.000-07:00

Happiness will be barked and tails will be joy-wagged.

The 7th annual Woof to Woof is Saturday June 4th and you don’t want to miss it. The Skypark soccer fields are a beautiful venue for fun under the sun and located right next door to the Scotts Valley Dog Park for your canine convenience.

This year’s Woof to Woof will feature fun and games for the dogs, food, music and shopping for you, plus a raffle, silent auction and perhaps even a suntan.

FREE parking and FREE admission - even a grumpy old dog can woof about that!

The Woof to Woof is presented by the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, a non-profit agency that assists individuals who are blind or experience visual impairment gain independence to live a full, productive and enjoyable life.

Bring your dog and your festive spirit and we’ll see you at the Woof to Woof – where good times are sure to be had by all!

Woof to Woof
361 Kings Village Road
Scotts Valley, CA 95066
www.wooftowoof.com
(831) 458-9766

Spring Dog Festival this Sunday at Soquel High School

2011-05-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

Bring one bring all - your dogs that is! The 10th annual Spring Dog Festival FETCH A WAVE, hosted by Coastal Dog Owner’s Group, is this Sunday, May 15th at Soquel High School.

That’s right! It’s time to break out the Hawaiian shirts and hats (scarves for the dogs), drape yourselves in puka shells, and join the fun.

This year’s surf-themed festival features agility and lure courses, Frisbee and ball-tossing events, beauty and kissing contests – there’s even doggy stretching, called “Doga” of course! Plan your day around the schedule of events or come for the whole day.

Besides all the fun for your dogs, you and your friends and family will enjoy the many vendors, food, giveaways, rescue groups, raffles and community fun under the (part) sun.

So, polish up the Woody, strap your surfboards on top and cruise on over to Soquel High School this Sunday to fetch a wave! It’s where your dogs want to be! Okay, you really don’t need a surfboard or a Woody, or even a Hawaiian shirt.

General admission is $5 (free admission for children under 10 years old)

Admission for one with dog is $10 (entry plus five tickets for the raffle, contests or tryouts).

You can buy tickets online or at the gate. The Coastal Dog Owner’s Group (CDOG) donates to various dog-related causes in Santa Cruz through their Angel Fund.

FETCH A WAVE
Sunday, May 15th ~ 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Soquel High School
401 Old San Jose Rd
Soquel, CA 95073

Check out the FETCH A WAVE Facebook page!

MAP

Saturn Café hosts The Rabbit Haven and friends this Wednesday, May 11th

2011-05-09T14:56:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday, why not go out for a meal at the Saturn Café? Their delicious vegetarian menu with lots of vegan options and out-of-this-world atmosphere are awaiting your appetite! And this Wednesday The Rabbit Haven will benefit from your meal purchase if you simply print and bring in their special flyer.

If you are lucky, you might even get to meet some of the lovely haven volunteers who foster our community’s rabbit population, educate the masses and operate the bunny adoption shows at Pet Pals twice a month. They will be meeting and greeting (and eating!) at the restaurant between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm.

So, bring a date or pack up the family, and come to the Saturn Café this Wednesday, and don’t forget the special flyer!

Saturn Café
Wednesday, May 11th ~ 11:00 am until 3:00 am (the following morning)
145 Laurel Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-8505

The Berkeley branch of the Saturn Cafe is hosting their version of this event, called Party with the Stars, to benefit the House Rabbit Society in Richmond on the same night.

Albus & Hagrid – what life is like one year later

2011-04-17T12:52:00.000-07:00

It’s been a year since the decision was made to welcome bunnies into our home, proving that we never really know where our lives will lead. My mom, who I was so close to, had passed away just four months before, and Albus & Hagrid became my transport to someplace new, unchartered as it were. The black-and-white bonded brothers kept me busy (and still do), and of course learning all about house bunny life.

My mom volunteered for as long as I can remember, with the historical society of Scotts Valley, then delivering meals on wheels until she stopped driving, and finally as a caller for Dominican Hospital. Who knew that what started with a little extra love when I was so sad would turn up being such a special connection to my mom?

Within months of adopting Albus & Hagrid I began hanging around the bunny adoption shows at Pet Pals and soon became a volunteer helping with show support, eventually becoming a foster mom. There is simply no way to describe the reward – the satisfying filled-up feeling – that comes from giving freely of yourself to a cause that’s bigger than you.

Seeing families go home with soft furry new members - kids and adults alike seem to love the bunny experience - is beyond cool. We usually see the adopters again when they come back for free nail trims, to do matchmaking with another bunny, or just to say hello. There aren’t as many bunny people as there are dog and cat and horse people, so we tend to make up “the rabbit people” community. Did you know bunnies use litter boxes? I didn’t either. There’s a lot I didn’t know about bunny rabbits. My mother’s death rocketed me into another dimension.

The Rabbit Haven is always looking for foster families. They take in surrendered rabbits; they rescue rabbits from bad situations, even off of bunny death row (aka overcrowded shelters). If you’d like to learn about house bunnies and what’s involved with rabbit care, come to one the shows! If you’re not local, ask the closet animal shelter what organization does rabbit rescue in your area – they’ll know.

The Rabbit Haven puts on two adoption shows a month in Santa Cruz and one in Sunnyvale, always on Saturdays. The schedule is easy to find on the home page of their website. Feel free to contact me anytime and I’ll be happy to tell you about what being a bunny mom is like.

One more thing, since Easter is here, please don't ever buy anyone a rabbit (or a chick) for a gift. It's a terrible idea. Stuffed animals and chocolate bunnies are a much better idea. Here's a little video on the topic:

Horses and Angels

2011-03-09T16:19:00.000-08:00

When you’re young, nothing scares you. You learn to do scary stuff – climb trees, ride bikes – without much of a care in the world. Something happens when you get older. Self-consciousness, ego and fear slip into that space left open while you’re busy pursuing life's responsibilities. Suddenly you’re an adult and you realize you never learned how to do that one thing you always wanted to – ride a horse.

Or at least that’s the case for a young woman I know.

She’s a free spirit and full of life, but this secret haunts her. She wants so desperately to get up on the sleek back of a proud horse and let the wind blow through her hair as it lopes along a coast road. She imagines the freedom this ride will mean in so many ways of her life. The direction, as it opens up before her, and the power in each choice.

An angel waits to be there – on the day she chooses to take this risk – to carry her through the experience, gently and safely. Even in her solid faith, she’s frozen. The time is not yet.

Make the Bay Area Pet Expo one of your destinations

2011-02-18T19:36:00.000-08:00

The excitement is building, the countdown is on (7 days, 12 hours, 55 minutes and 41 seconds) - it’s almost time for the Bay Area Pet Expo! This is not a little event. There will be 250 exhibitors from rescue groups to chic boutique and everything in between.

With free admission, an entertainment stage with live demonstrations all day, an agility course, mega adoption event, and Splash Dogs pool event – what could possibly be more fun?

The Bay Area Pet Expo
Santa Clara County Fairgrounds (indoors)
Saturday, February 26, 2011
10:00 am to 6:00 pm

The Honorable Dalmatian will be teaming up with Waggin Tails Doggie Treats in Booth #234. They’ll be right next to the Santa Cruz SPCA in a central area just around the corner from the agility course. Other Santa Cruz area outfits include Pregnant Mare Rescue of Aptos and Luckydogs Bakery from Watsonville.

Bring your pet and come join us all for a day of fun and festivities.

Be there or be bored.

Bring a furry valentine home this weekend

2011-02-08T07:40:00.000-08:00

Punxsutawney Phil has signaled an early spring, there’s plenty of sun expected and love is in the air – do you feel it? Whether you love dogs, cats or bunnies: you are sure to find a valentine at an adoption event in Santa Cruz or around your town this weekend.

Locally, Petsmart on River Street is hosting Animal Shelter Relief’s Valentines Adopt-A-Thon. It runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00. The theme is “Homeless Pets Need Love Too!”

Santa Cruz County Animal Services on 7th Avenue has Meet Your Match from 11:00 to 3:00 on Saturday. Could your valentine be waiting for you at the shelter?

Also on Saturday, The Rabbit Haven is holding their Bunny Adoption Show at Pet Pals on Soquel Drive from 11:00 to 5:00. The days line-up will feature many soft and cuddly bunnies looking for love.

Don’t miss out when you can bring a furry valentine home this weekend!

Valentines Adopt-A-Thon
PetSmart / (831) 429-2780
490 River Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Fri, Sat & Sun, 2/11/11 to 2/13/11 from 1:00 to 4:00

Meet Your Match
Santa Cruz County Animal Services
2200 7th Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 454-7303
Saturday, 2/12/11 from 11:00 to 3:00

Bunny Adoption Show
Pet Pals
3660 Soquel Drive
Soquel, CA 95073
(831) 464-8775
Saturday, 2/12/11 from 11:00 to 5:00

25 Ways to No More Homeless Pets

2011-01-31T15:26:00.000-08:00

These 25 tips are from a Best Friends Animal Society bookmark. Since this qualifies as something you read, I'm passing along the bookmark, "e-style." Please pass these tips along and let's keep working together to end pet overpopulation.

1. Adopt from a shelter or rescue.

2. Volunteer at your local shelter.

3. License, I.D. and microchip your pet.

4. Spay or neuter pets before they are 3 months old.

5. Let officials know that you support animal-friendly laws.

6. Become a Best Friend member at www.bestfriends.org.

7. Donate pet food to your local food pantry.

8. Consider your family's lifestyle when choosing a pet.

9. Get pet insurance to help cover the costs of veterinary care.

10. Train and socialize your dog throughout his life.

11. Join or start a Trap-Neuter-Return program for community cats.

12. When moving, plan ahead to find a residence that allows pets.

13. Provide a landlord with a "good pet" resume with references and photos.

14. Develop and post a pet-friendly rental listing for your area.

15. Volunteer for or start a short-term pet fostering program for families in temporary need.

16. Use an air purifier and create a "no pet zone" to control allergic reactions.

17. Prepare your pet for the smells and sounds of a baby when you're expecting.

18. Teach youngsters how to treat animals they know and those they don't.

19. Request that the curriculum in your local schools include humane education.

20. Visit the Pet Care Library on the Best Friends Web site for resources.

21. Hold a fund-raiser for your local shelter or rescue.

22. Start an off-leash dog park.

23. Help look for a missing pet.

24. Foster a lost or homeless animal.

25. Join the Best Friends Network and get involved in your community and beyond: network.bestfriends.org.

Get the California Pet Lover’s License Plate now and start saving lives

2011-01-20T08:05:00.000-08:00

We first learned about the California Pet Lover's License Plate when Santa Cruz’s Animal Shelter Relief Rescue shared their brochure with us, adding that support for the new California plate was mandatory. Since then, we’ve passed out brochures for the license plate at shows, mailed them to customers with their purchases, and talked about the new plate. So let’s talk about it:

The talented and generous Pierce Brosnan designed the artwork for the plate, which raises money for California spay/neuter programs and also educates drivers by simply stating “Spay & Neuter Saves Lives.” Proceeds from purchasing the plate fund low-cost and even free altering surgeries for California animals.

It is very important that the California Department of Motor Vehicles receive 7500 pre-orders so that production can begin, and animals can start benefiting from the license plates. As of this writing, 2154 of the new plates have been pre-ordered.

Please, think about the good your purchase will do and pre-order the California Pet Lover's License Plate right now.

Sponsored by the California Veterinary Medical Board, the California spay/neuter plate will reduce homeless pets and save lives. For more information, visit www.petloversplate.org where you can find the answers to any questions you have and learn about the inspiration behind the design.

Perhaps someday there will be no more homeless pets. For now, we do what we can and we hope that means seeing you on the road soon sporting your new California Pet Lover's License Plate.

Thank you,

The Honorable Dalmatian
~for the love of animals~

Happy New Year from The Honorable Dalmatian!

2011-01-09T21:15:00.000-08:00

The Honorable Dalmatian, still in its first year of business, closed out 2010 with a "smarl." For three quarters in a row there has been growth. It may not be monumental but any growth in the retail world is promising, and this week, as the owner cut checks to the five fantastic organizations the business donates to, she beamed.

It’s a joy to be part of the pet-loving community in Santa Cruz and it’s an absolute honor to be part of a team of professionals who make a difference for animals in the community. The Honorable Dalmatian donates to the following five non-profit organizations. Each is unique in what it does but all have one thing in common; their tireless work is passion driven - manifested from hearts of gold:

Santa Cruz SPCA
Project Purr
The Rabbit Haven
Animal Shelter Relief Rescue
Friends of Santa Cruz County Animals

It's not too late to get in on the After Christmas Sale and benefit these organizations in the first quarter of 2011.

The Honorable Dalmatian
~for the love of animals~

May 2011 bring the best for you and your loved ones.

Worth the Hype

2010-12-28T15:18:00.000-08:00

If you decide to view this festive and touching video, you will see a group of shelter volunteers who have seemingly gone over the top as they celebrate the adoption of a dog named Cooper. We won’t spoil it for you - we have watched it over and over again - but we would like to hear from you. What feelings do you experience while watching the video? What’s your gut reaction at the end, and is it worth the hype?

The video is real. It can also be viewed on the Nevada Humane Society’s Home Page. Adopting an animal from a shelter or rescue organization saves lives.

Love with Reckless Abandon – It’s Today that Matters

2010-12-26T11:44:00.000-08:00

There are few things harder to bear than the realization that your best friend, your furry life companion, has aged faster than you have. One day you happen to notice a new maturity in your pet’s face – the eyes more thoughtful than you remembered, a trace of gray around the chin – or maybe it’s not that subtle. Perhaps your dog sleeps through breakfast and isn’t interested in walks anymore, or your vet just explained that your cat’s organs are failing. As this reality filters into your psyche – that the friend who loves you like no other and whom you have given your heart to without reservation won’t be with you forever – sadness overcomes over you.

The grief may last only a few seconds or it may alter your entire day and it can reach inside like a sharp-edged spoon to stir up past losses. In any instance, grief is powerful and mysterious, and it’s an emotion that deserves attention. So often in our busy lives we brush aside uncomfortable feelings and march on through our day and our “to do” list, but our spirits suffer when we do this. The more we can learn to live in the moment and appreciate the natural gifts of the grief expression, the more likely we are to invite love into our lives rather than turn away from it. After all, there are shelters filled with pets that need us.

So, what do you do when that realization hits? Take action! Say a prayer, write a poem, call a friend, or just cry. If you’re angry, throw rocks at a tree, scream out loud in your car or beat your pillow with a tennis racket. The simple act of doing something to address the pain instead of ignoring it is suggested by grief counselors in regard to any loss.

And for goodness sake, love your pet with reckless abandon before you have to say goodbye. It’s today that matters.

It’s a darn shame that each of our pets can’t be a total life companion, but it may just be divine that we can love and care for multiple pets during our lifetime.

Most cities have grief counseling for pet loss available through their local shelters or hospice centers. There are also numerous online resources for pet loss including Animal Hospice and Pet-Loss.Net.

Locally, the Santa Cruz SPCA, located at 2685 Chanticleer Avenue in Santa Cruz, offers a grief support group on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.

Kodachrome Memories

2010-12-02T14:01:00.001-08:00

My daddy would be in his 90’s if he were still alive. He just lived to be 65 though, passing away today, 31 years ago.

While I was 19 when he died, on a sentimental occasion such as today, it seems obvious that he gave me a lifetime’s supply of gifts.

Let’s start with the first gift that comes to mind - my love for animals. My dad (pictured in both photos above), whose name was Charles but he went by Ron, had a dog named Duke. Duke was a great dane crossed with a yellow lab - a big guy. I don’t actually remember him except from pictures, but clearly it was Duke who gave me my first dose of doggy kisses, and quite clearly, they made me happy! The pictures below were taken in 1961.

11-month-old me with Duke giving kisses:

Duke giving me a ride while daddy, smiling and smoking a pipe, shares the spotlight:

My dad was a teacher, a professor actually. He taught electronics at Monterey Peninsula College and he had a radio show called Career Corner that aired on KMBY during the 60’s. He made the best vanilla steamers and he told wonderful stories like “Charlie and the Green Griffin,” complete with illustrations. He wrote love notes to my mom and he worked hard to provide for us and build his dream house in the redwoods. He was an A’s fan and a hell of a poker player.

The list of gifts my father gave me continues to be revealed as life unfolds. Besides my passion for animals though, a good work ethic with an appropriate amount of silliness, love and devotion to family, fond memories and the courage to chase dreams are the ones that come to mind today.

I love you daddy and I am so very proud of, and grateful for, your legacy.

Thunder is 15

2010-11-16T10:05:00.000-08:00

I love my Thunder.

Thunder, who was supposed to be a Chihuahua (long story).

Thunder, our little water buffalo.

Thunder, who is a daddy’s girl.

Thunder, Henry's older sister.

Thunder, strong as any bully breed.

Thunder is 15! Happy Birthday sweetheart.

I love my (daddy’s girl) Thunder.

If you like, you can see more pictures on Thunder's Dogster Page.

Starry Starry Day

2010-10-31T22:04:00.000-07:00

What a day! Wow. It was a magical, happy time. Oh, I’m talking about a recent Rabbit Haven adoption show. The setting was Pet Pals and the stars came in all ages, sizes, colors and personalities. I was just part of the staff, catering to the needs of the soft and fuzzy stars, and welcoming their potential new families. It’s nice to be needed :)

There were eight adoptions in one day on this particular Saturday, and each seemed to be an exceptional match. Even my two foster bunnies found their furever homes. Hannah Solo bonded with a rabbit named Oreo, and went off with her new family. A sweet couple fell in love with little Ryan and took him home to share life in the mountains with them. The other six bunnies adopted that day were Fozzie Bear, Moomba, FaFa, Antonio Bunderos, Zizu Bop and Ki. Everyone at the haven wishes each bun a long, happy, adventurous (but not too adventurous) love-filled life!

Following the day’s amazement, it seems I was followed home by two new foster bunnies. One is Kumba, a red Lionhead who is quite athletic – in one leap he cleared a 30” barrier with room to spare before hiding behind a box in the hall for a several hours. Who could blame him? He was on a euthanasia list in another county the day before. Lucky is he who is named Kumba. As it turns out, Kumba is perfect with his litter box and exceptionally sweet. He will make someone a fine pet.

A Lionhead rabbit is quite spectacular in looks and personality – meet Mufassa (who I like to call Mr. Hollywood):

The other bunny that followed me home that day was a little black-and-white Dutch we named Benny. His classic Dutch looks earned him the nod of a couple in San Jose who have since come over and met him - the bond was instant and obvious. I knew Benny had found his home.

Here's a Dutch rabbit with a hankering for a carrot:

So, has my excitement about bunnies got you interested yet? Foster families are always in need. If you're thinking about it but not sure, just keep an open mind!

The House Rabbit Society is an excellent resource for all things rabbit.

The Rabbit Haven’s Adoption Showcase features locally-rescued rabbits in need of homes and/or foster care.

Perhaps you’d like some fun reading while learning more about the rabbit personality. If so, try one of my favorite bunny blogs, appropriately named Disapproving Rabbits.

My Walk for Farm Animals

2010-10-18T22:54:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, October 16, I hopped in a car with two amazing women and we zipped up to Berkeley, California, a little more than an hour’s drive. After having a scrumptious brunch at Gather on Oxford Street – and luring another equally-amazing woman to join us for the day – we moseyed down to our planned venue. Registration was a breeze and included a spiffy tee; the weather was sunny but a bit on the cool side (perfect for walking) and a solid 200 compassion-minded people, some with their dogs, turned out.

Amy carried a sign in one hand and her dog, Sir Mortimer (don’t you dare say it without the proper British accent) in the other. Isabelle, while sporting a humorous bash on KFC tee, walked (and sometimes carried) Amy’s other dog, Robin. Rebecca and I carried a large rectangular Farm Sanctuary banner that, crookedly at times, reminded readers “a compassionate world begins with you.”

Up and down Berkeley city blocks we walked, passing bookstores and restaurants and street musicians. Sometimes on cue we joined in the chant: “What do we want? Compassion! When do we want it? Now!” We got waves and honks, occasional questions and random opposition – all part of a day’s work in the world of change. It’s easy to respond with a smile and share information in a city like Berkeley, not all that different than Santa Cruz in its liberal acceptance. My hat is off to those brave walkers in areas not as open-minded.

Farm Sanctuary works to end cruelty to farm animals and promotes compassionate living through rescue, education and advocacy. The annual Walk for Farm Animals raises awareness about the treatment of farm animals and raises vital funds to support Farm Sanctuary’s life-saving mission.

The walk lasted about an hour, ending at the park where we started from. Having had so much fun and plum walnut French toast at brunch beforehand, we had missed the featured speakers and only had a chance to glance at the silent auction items, but we didn’t miss the reason we were there – to be a voice for farm animals.

For more information about Farm Sanctuary and their rescue, education and advocacy programs in California or New York, please visit the Farm Sanctuary website, become a fan on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

Even though the Berkeley Walk for Farm Animals is over, tax-deductible contributions may still be made to the cause via my fundraising page or directly to Farm Sanctuary.

Ellen Ellen Ellen - LOVE HER!

2010-10-09T22:55:00.000-07:00

If you knew all the things I’ve done to try and attract Ellen DeGeneres’s attention, you might think I was a crazy person. However, I’m pretty sure it’s finally paying off. A little over a week ago @TheEllenShow replied to one of my tweets on Twitter!

Ellen's tweet said “Thanks, Dal!”

Well, this was so rad that I had to call my sister at nearly midnight, in Oregon, to see if it was real. I have been known to imagine things. In a matter of minutes tweeters were following me as if I was a star, and I was sure Twitter was on the fritz. But, I traced the sudden activity back to Ellen’s fabulous tweet – it was being re-tweeted by celebrity followers and other Ellen fans around the globe. THE GLOBE people!

Ellen – you rocked my Twitter universe on September 28!

A few of my past efforts to try and gain Ellen’s attention have included:

• Sending her black-and-white cat videos (she loves them you know)

• Writing her a formal letter pitching The Honorable Dalmatian

• Tweeting her (nevermind how many times), once sharing that I too think Dennis Quaid acting out her verbal commands is all that and a latte too

• Entering her Winter Win Storm contest at least 20 times – each time entering new and zanier information about myself, once even including this photo...

Well, as you can see, I am not at all crazy!

If you like laughing and dancing and animals, and especially if you have any good "bad hair" photos - you need to be watching The Ellen Show.

If that's not your thing, well, you might still like the infamous Dennis Quaid at Starbucks video.

And just for fun, here's Ellen's American Express Commercial. Don't try this at home.

RYAN: Foster Bunny Follies

2010-09-12T17:22:00.000-07:00

Just a wild and wacky week ago, a situation occurred that culminated with our welcoming a foster bunny into our home. We have a couple of rescue bunnies from The Rabbit Haven already so how much could life possibly change with one more?

Ryan’s gray and white fuzzy fur is short and ultra soft. His eyes, which now exude a semi-relaxed sweetness, were seriously bulging out of his little head when we first brought him in.

Is Ryan adorable? Of course he is! Does he have a flip side? You bet!

Never having shared company with a three-and-a-half-month-old male bunny, were we ever surprised at the increase in activity coming from our bunny room! Ha! Ryan basically has one thing on his mind and it is not his food. He’s a juvenile already in bunny years. And while he has plenty of play time, gets to try new veggies everyday and nibbles at all the alfalfa he can eat, the little dude has escaped from his pen twice in a week’s time!

Ryan, who weighs about two pounds, has an X-pen that is 24 inches in height and has eight secure metal sides with slits that he cannot fit through. Nevertheless, he managed to jump out once, and the second escape came when he pulled the sides of the pen into the middle, causing the sheet we had carefully secured over it to collapse – he basically climbed out using the sheet to construct a cloth mountain!

Because of his hormones, Ryan is, shall we say, innocently reckless - he likes to “mark” his freshly-washed sheets with zigzag urine trails that provide a strangely-pungent fragrance. Oh, and our resident bunnies find him very entertaining! The first night Ryan was here, they were actually fighting over who could get closest to him. And just today Ryan got his head stuck in the hard-plastic netting we use in their exercise area. Never a dull moment!

Well, the hormonal hi-jinks all come to an end tomorrow morning when Ryan takes a field trip to the “Altering Agency” aka bunny AA. Life is bound to smell a little better, but I think we’ll actually miss the antics. Soon, Ryan will be available to adopt.

If you have never experienced the zany joy of a silly bunny, we highly suggest this short example:

If you’d like to see rabbits available for adoption in Santa Cruz County, please view The Rabbit Haven’s Adoption Showcase.

This instructional video shows Auntie Heather of The Rabbit Haven assembling an X-Pen:

You can follow The Rabbit Haven on Twitter @therabbithaven for daily tweets about happenings around the haven and upcoming adoption shows.

An Exciting August for The Honorable Dalmatian!

2010-09-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

On August 21, 2010:

The Honorable Dalmatian participated in its first community event - Dog Days of Summer! The event, hosted by the Santa Cruz SPCA, was held at a park off Ocean Street to honor the anniversary of one of the largest animal rescues in the United States following Hurricane Katrina. Operation Just Paws, organized by Lisa Carter of our local SPCA and funded by Doris Day, rescued over 100 cats and dogs from flooded Louisiana in 2005.

A recap and slideshow of the event can be viewed on the SPCA’s blog.

The Honorable Dalmatian’s event booth was browsed by many spectators, most with dogs in tow, who thoroughly enjoyed the dog-themed art, jewelry and clothing. The owner was on hand to meet and greet, and talk about the selection of items the store carries. She shared that the artists whose work she features, including the wall art, metal-crafted jewelry and dog-themed apparel, are also big animal lovers and it clearly shines through in their work. Many of them also donate a percentage of their sales to animal rescue, even on wholesale orders, making some store items “double winners” when purchased. The Honorable Dalmatian donates 5% of its sales to five local rescue groups.

In addition to debuting their awesome concept and product line to the public, The Honorable Dalmatian’s owner had the pleasure of meeting lots of new people - people whom she has begun to call her tribe. These are fellow animal lovers in the community who celebrate that fact any chance they get.

The Honorable Dalmatian is looking forward to the next event and hopes to see you there!

On August 25, 2010:

Drum Roll…………………The Honorable Dalmatian opened their online store for business! The much awaited grand opening – complete with a free-shipping special on coffee orders of three bags or more – is still going on! It’s been just over a week since opening day and if you haven’t had your coffee fix yet, you better get with it!

New inventory is being added to the store several times a week. Look for vintage items, more clothing and art, and fun accessories in the days to come! The store is fresh, clean and colorful, but best of all is the atmosphere of animal love permeating every page!

Social media is buzzing – there’s been tweeting and re-tweeting, and a frenzy of Facebooking – all for the love of animals!

Follow The Honorable Dalmatian on Twitter
Become a fan of The Honorable Dalmatian on Facebook

In the future, The Honorable Dalmatian will pursue a brick and mortar storefront in Santa Cruz. Until then, we hope you’ll shop with us online starting today at www.thehonorabledalmatian.com.

Herman - In Rememberance

2010-08-31T22:45:00.000-07:00

Herman. He was one fine-looking chocolate lab. Sporting his hunter green collar he would swagger about the dog park, sit on people’s feet and generally be cute as hell. What is there to say? He died too damn young.

Though I’m hardly more than a casual observer – our dogs were park pals and I consider his mom and dad friends – I know a few things for certain. Herman was loved, well cared for and his absence has left heartbreak in its wake.

On our first day at the dog park, back when Henry was a year old, we met Mark and Herman. I liked to call them the “H” dogs and Mark and I talked up a storm, in between marveling at the silliness of our dog's behavior. Our first day at the dog park was also Mark and Herman's first day, and how nice it was to share that experience with them. The “H” dogs were instant friends – wrestling, running, chasing, tugging – they instinctively knew how to play with one another.

Over the next couple of years we spent many afternoons at the dog park. Enter Moki, Crash and a few others – and their moms and dads (Moki is the other dog in photos on this page). Dog days were fun. Life was good.

Then one day, not all that many weeks ago, Herman was diagnosed with cancer. It was an aggressive type without many options for treatment. Despite a strong albeit brief comeback, Herman died August 21. He was not even five years old.

This writing is intended to honor the missing "H" dog. My heart goes out to his mom and dad. I hope to always remember Herman’s lovely gentle spirit.

Tiger the Trickster

2010-08-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

Our cat sitter, Craig, has never met Tiger. He knows what kind of food she eats, where to feed her and he knows what she is supposed to look like, but they have yet to meet. The last time my husband and I (and our dogs) went on vacation we got a call from Craig. He was concerned because several days had passed and there was no sign of Tiger. He couldn’t even be sure she was eating because we have two other cats and none tend to eat much while we're gone (it just dawned on me that this could be because the dogs aren’t circling their food like sharks when they aren't there). At our direction, Craig looked in all of Tiger’s known hiding places as we waited on the phone, but she wasn’t in a single one of them. While this unnerved me a bit, this was Tiger we were talking about…

Tiger is an Abyssinian. She’s shy yet flirtatious, always slinking along the walls and the edges of our furniture. She rarely requests affection, preferring instead to be the voyeur. I suspect she watched Craig while he looked for her, mocking him with sly enthusiasm. Tiger is brave and in excellent physical shape for her age (she's 11). She is the only one of our cats that dares walk the catwalk – that’s what we named the ledge high above our A-framed living room. She saunters across it without a care in the world.

When we came home from our vacation, I rushed to unlock the door and check on Tiger, even though I was sure she was fine. She looked up at me from the edge of the dining room door frame as if to say “Oh, hey. What’s up?”

Cats - always playing tricks on their humans!

Together for Animals

2010-07-15T07:14:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen a poster of a missing pet and felt sad, maybe wished you could do something to help? Or read a news article about a tragedy involving animals and got mad? Have you ever heard the statistics of homeless pets euthanized each year and felt an instant pit in middle of your stomach?

What's your calling?

I can answer yes to all of the above questions, and then some, and I bet you can too. We're not alone - there are individuals and organizations doing something about each of them (and then some). Individuals? Yes! One person can make a difference - you can make a difference.

Meet Kelly, the official mascot of Together for Animals:

On June 30, 2010, I was sitting in the waiting room of a doctor's office looking at my mobile Facebook newsfeed. I was reading yet another post about a perfectly-adoptable dog in an overcrowded shelter that was about to become a statistic. The dog was Kelly. Something came over me, divinely motivated I'm certain, and I sent a message to the girl who posted Kelly's picture and story. I suggested that we start a Facebook page just for these "death row" animals that need immediate and mass attention. That night I went home and created Together for Animals. In just over two weeks, more than 600 people have joined the page, some of whom are sharing our posts, and guess what? Animals are being SAVED!

Unfortunately, Kelly didn't make it out. I can't help wondering...what if we had created the page one day earlier?

Follow your heart - Be the Change - for Animals!

My Mom is in My Everything

2010-06-28T15:35:00.000-07:00

It’s been six months since my mom died and I miss her every day. I’ve noticed lately though, she is in (my) everything.

For instance, there is a nest of baby blue jays in the night-blooming jasmine that grows along the side of our house. Every day, several times a day, mama blue jay forages the ground and tree foliage on our property for food, bringing it back to the verbally-boisterous young mouths of her babies. The first baby was born Monday, June 14, with several more born over the next day or two. Now we hear at least six babies in the nest at feeding time. The nest itself is quite intricate, though we can’t actually see the one mama blue jay finally settled on. She had constructed two others lower in the jasmine, only to abandon them in favor of a hidden spot where a thick bunch of the flowering plant reaches under the eaves. I suppose a mother just knows when preparing for a family what their needs will be and how to keep her babies safe.

And this week, I was preparing for a photo shoot with my Dalmatian for the website homepage; The Honorable Dalmatian is putting finishing touches on the site before unveiling it to the public (please stay tuned)! I had to decide what to wear that would compliment Henry but not take away from the star that he is. I knew instantly when I saw the lilac-colored sleeve peeking out between other sleeves in the closet – it was one of the last blouses I bought for my mom, and she only wore it once. I remember the day she did; she asked me “Are you sure it’s not too young a look for me?” “No way Mom!” I said. “You look beautiful!” Wearing her clothes, I confess, makes me feel good – a sort of “adult dress up” I guess you’d call it. My mom will now share the homepage spotlight with Henry and me.

Yet another example, and perhaps the most personal, is the coffee cup I drink out of most every day. It belonged to her. It’s a big, cornflower-blue ceramic cup with the name “Maryland” in raised capital letters along the side. My mom was born and raised in Maryland. She never spent the time she wished she could have with her family back at home, though she talked about them often and they were very dear to her heart.

As I sip my coffee in it now – under a canopy of redwood trees and Henry by my side - I know the importance of family, the depth of my mother’s love and that she will forever be in my everything.

The Power of Lucky

2010-06-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

Lucky was the name I gave to a yellow shepherd-collie mix with the honest-to-goodness face of a deer that my friend Debbie and I rescued from a freeway onramp. This was back in 1994 when the two of us, fresh out of college, went to work in San Jose – or as we Santa Cruzan’s often refer to it – over the hill. I remember that day like it was yesterday: we had just finished lunch at Mr. Chau’s Chinese Fast Food and were heading back to the office when we spotted her. Debbie had driven that day so we were in her little white Fiat with the top down, and before you could say boo she had brought that car to a dead stop in the middle of the intersection of First and Burton. It seemed like time suddenly came to a standstill. There were no sounds of lunch-hour traffic, no voices – just a sweet and scared, angel of a dog standing there – and I got out and scooped her up.

She was wearing a collar with the name Lovey and a phone number. Upon calling the number from the payphone at a gas station on the corner, a boy’s voice answered (in what seemed like cruel sarcasm to me at the time), “We don’t have a dog.” So Debbie and I proceeded to put fliers up around the intersection, called the local humane society, and placed a classified ad in the Mercury News. When our attempts to find Lucky’s owner failed, I kept her. We had brought her home to Santa Cruz after work the day we found her, her honey-colored ears flapping in the wind over Highway 17 in Debbie’s sporty-little convertible. I’m quite sure we captured the envy of most other commuters that day, if not the rewards of attention – two girls in a convertible with smiles plastered on their faces, and between them, the luckiest dog on the planet!

Lucky was the first dog I’d had since being a teenager. I renamed her Lucky and we made stories up about who might have named her Lovey, and joked about Thurston Howell III from Gilligan’s Island calling out for Mrs. Howell, “Lovey… oh, Lovey.” I still giggle today thinking of calling her that. I secretly wonder, however, if Lucky belonged to a sweet-little-old lady (or man) who died or was in a car crash, accidently leaving “Lovey” to fend for herself. Lucky had been well trained by someone – she had, hands down, the best manners of any dog I had known prior or have known since.

Not long ago I wrote about how people who rescue animals are they themselves rescued. Lucky was the first dog to do that for me. I’d had two dogs before. One was Shoni - I’d brought her home from the Santa Cruz Spring Fair when I was 13 years old. The other was Sinbad and I was 17 when an old boyfriend and I got him, though I honestly don’t remember the circumstances. Shoni and Sinbad were both brown, black and tan lab-shepherd mixes. Shoni, unfortunately, spent most of her life tethered outside to a dog house, her care provided for by my parents. Sinbad, sadly, died on Christmas morning 1978 of Distemper – he wasn’t even a year old. Lucky, bless her angelic heart (and the magic of grace), taught me through our unconditional love for each other that I could eventually forgive myself for not loving Shoni and Sinbad the way they deserved. Through caring for Lucky properly, I was able to let go of not knowing better how to care for animals when I was younger. It wasn’t easy though.

I recall a time I was walking Lucky at the old Scotts Valley Airport in the days before there was a dog park and sobbing (loudly) for Sinbad and Shoni – agonizing over their cheated lives, steeped in guilt over any and all pain either dog experienced. It was Lucky who assured me, in that moment and day by day as the years ticked by, that I am a good person, a loving dog mother and deserving of a dog’s love.

Lucky lived to the ripe old age of 17, assuming she was four years old when we rescued her like the vet estimated. The years I had with Lucky helped mold me into the animal rescue advocate I am today, a testament to the power of Lucky.

Precious Moments

2010-06-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

The long-awaited spring sunshine lights my path and warms my skin as I merrily gather dandelions in the yard. My basket is almost full now. As I pick each one, dust off the debris and toss it in, I imagine and wonder.

Is this sense of satisfaction, of wholeness, felt by the organic farmer who selects his crops for market each week? Could it be the way a medicine woman feels gathering flowers and herbs to heal the sick? Is this the pride of a mother as she harvests fresh vegetables before a family dinner in the country?

I like the way it feels. The dandelions are a mainstay for my rabbits and they grow so plentifully here – usually thought of as weeds. I can remember my dad teaching me how to weed. "Push deep" he would say as I flimsily held the trowel in my hand as a child, "you have to get under the roots." I wonder what he would say now, as I leave the roots behind hoping for more "weeds." It's not just the bunnies who enjoy the dandelions!

Yes, my life and mind have expanded once more from choosing to adopt again, to allow two more beings into my heart. I do love them, you know, and will care for them as children for the remainder of their years.

As I rest to write this down I feel a surge of emotion – a sense of awe at the miracle of life. The lavender blooms crisp and fragrant about me, its aroma promising the consistent welcome of new days. I believe I’ll go back to picking now, changed ever so slightly by these precious moments.

2010-05-28T22:07:00.000-07:00

This is an open thank you letter. It’s for the multitude of animal rescue and advocacy groups, shelters, sanctuaries and individuals including YOU. It’s in response to the tireless outpouring of love and concern for animals that you so generously devote to effect change. It’s for loving your pet every day.

Some of you give your time, some write letters and make phone calls, some of you adopt, transport, tweet, pray. Some of you give your money, your sweat and we all shed tears from time to time. Whatever it is that you do, it’s making a difference, and your passion is felt, respected and appreciated. You are loved unconditionally, whether you know it or not.

There are times when one wonders if the world is deaf, dumb and blind. Of course, we learn with age, those thoughts enter when our perception needs adjustment - we’ve given too much for too long and not stepped back to breathe, to take notice of the results of putting one foot in front of the other.

Yes, life is challenging. We have disasters and horrors, and death. There is hope, however. It’s always there doing its balancing act. It’s in the background of every moment. It's in the eyes of your pet. It’s in sunshine and song. It's danced by Ellen. It’s in the passing of Proposition 2. It’s wherever you look for it, but you must look up and forward. Gratitude abounds, I assure you.

So, on behalf of every animal from either side of the rainbow bridge, I say a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you. Rejoice in your hard work! Dance – Play – Love. And don’t ever give up.

How Henry Keller Came to Be

2010-05-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

This share is for anyone who enjoys a true rescue story. It’s about chance, heroism, going above and beyond, and a puppy’s will to live.

One evening, back on December 20, 2005, a man happened upon a near-lifeless puppy along Highway 101 in Monterey County. The pup was alone, scared, sick and covered in his own poo – he was suffering from a prolapsed rectum, which basically means that his rear had come inside out. The man, whose identity is unknown but who must have been sent by God himself, decided to take the pup to the Soledad Fire Department for help.

The kind-hearted firemen in Soledad bundled the smelly puppy in a blanket and drove him to the nearest emergency clinic, nearly an hour away. There the pup would give love in exchange for life. The veterinarian on staff that night was Dr. Kerrin Hoban and she has stated on more than one occasion that this special pup’s “loverboy” personality literally saved his life.

The lucky puppy was a Dalmatian. He was approximately two months old, weighed just six pounds and he was dehydrated. He tested negative for Parvo. Dr. Hoban operated on the little guy and then she operated on him again. It took two tries to repair his prolapsed rectum. She fed him, cared for him and provided him with much-needed love and affection. He was given the name Henry. It is unknown, to date, how he ended up along Highway 101.

With the outstanding care Henry received, he grew into quite a healthy young dog. But there was something else. Henry didn’t seem to be able to hear. Dr. Hoban discovered through the BAER test that Henry was 100% deaf. This certainly leant itself to the possibility that he may have been lost from his litter, but it also could mean he was abandoned. It is unfortunate, but an estimated 11 percent of Dalmatians are born totally deaf with as many as 30 percent experiencing some hearing problems. Fortunately, Deaf Dog Education Action Fund and Spirit of Deaf Dogs are excellent resources for those interested in adopting a deaf Dalmatian - or any deaf animal - and there are always many in need of a good home. Deaf Animals posts deaf cats and dogs desperately in need of adoption several times a week.

Shortly after it was determined Henry was deaf, the name Keller was added to his name and he officially and affectionately became known as Henry Keller. This, of course, is a sort of play-on-words referring to the very famous Helen Keller who was also deaf, as well as highly intelligent and a bit mischievous – also like Henry.

Dr. Hoban got busy teaching Henry Keller hand signals as well as manners. He matured into a seriously dapper but hopelessly silly juvenile Dalmatian and was ready for a good home. Dr. Hoban only decided to adopt Henry out because she also has horses – concerned that he might accidently become the victim of an unfortunate mishap due to his lack of hearing.

So, let’s fast forward to the here and now, no pun intended.

Henry lives a pretty good life with another dog, three cats and two bunnies, in the care of his forever parents. He loves to please and he’ll do just about anything for the “good boy” sign. Being deaf doesn’t bother Henry at all. His other senses are heightened so he sees and smells and feels a bit better than other dogs. He prefers to sleep with his body touching up against his mom or dad. A whole chapter could be written, and probably will, on how Henry’s deafness makes him special.

That’s the story of how Henry Keller came to be. His rescue undoubtedly affected all those he met along the way, and he continues to inspire every day. Rescuing an animal always rescues the rescuer. Just ask anyone who has ever saved a dog’s life.

New Beginnings

2010-05-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

The wind came up both afternoons - it ruffled the sale rack a bit and cooled down the bunnies who were relegated to a hutch on the deck during the event. Because of their strategic location, the buns got to see a lot more action than did the cats and dogs; they were keeping each other company in another part of the house. This allowed for the French doors to be wide open and welcoming. It was a beautiful May weekend and you could smell the redwoods in the breeze! The very tops of their bows could be heard whisper-shimmying while all remained still down below. Pray tell, what did the buns get to see that the cats and dogs missed out on?

The Honorable Dalmatian opened for a home show Saturday and Sunday – that’s what! It was a time for friends and friends of friends to see the culmination of what Mari Rodriguez has been up to all these months.

There were oodles of cute and stylish women’s clothing and accessories, most of it
recycled, some vintage and displayed in off-the-hook ways.

The fun and playful Dog is Good line, which happens to be new clothing the store carries, captured the eye of most everyone and often elicited a giggle.

There was jewelry by a couple of fantastic designers. The Stacey Lamothe Art was a smash, garnering the most sales in its respective category. In fact, the first purchases on both Saturday and Sunday were from her “Barnyard” metal-art collection, which features one of Mari’s very favorites – a horse necklace that reads “Hay!”

The art was limited to one of the most beautiful pieces of stained glass ever, donated by Moonshadow Mosaics, and Mari showing off two pieces of Amberson Art including a precious painting of her dear deaf Dalmatian, Henry Keller.

The Honorable Dalmatian proudly carries the artwork of Tanya Amberson – In fact, Mari loves her painting style so much that she commissioned her to paint the main charactor in the store logo...you know, the one with black spots?

The best part of The Honorable Dalmatian is that 5% of every sale benefits animals. While the store is not a non-profit organization, the business has chosen to donate to local animal non-profits such as the Santa Cruz SPCA, Project Purr, The Rabbit Haven and Animal Shelter Relief (ASR). Let’s see if we can start a new trend – for the love of animals.

“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more” ~ Anthony Robbins

So the friends, and friends of friends, came and went this past weekend, and everyone that shopped seemed genuinely happy they had trekked up to the boondocks in order to attend the store’s premier. The buns got a few pets on their head and ears, the dogs got walked midway through both days, and The Honorable Dalmatian conducted its first weekend of business. There is no denying it – it was a success!

Please look for the store to open online this month and a Santa Cruz storefront to follow soon. See you soon, friend!

The Bunnies – Take 2

2010-04-20T21:34:00.000-07:00

Shhhh – let’s bring down the noise level a little folks! We got BUNNIES in the house!!! I’m not sure that Albus and Hagrid, the two newest members of the Rodriguez household, appreciated the apocalyptic adventure “2010” in surround sound as they were moving in to their new digs. It’s a good thing that they are boys and that their arrival was balanced by mom’s (over-the-top I’m sure) nurturing.

Okay, can you say Cute with a Capital C? Hagrid is black with four white paws and a smattering of white hairs here and there. Albus is pure white with ruby eyes and he looks like a long-eared angel when he sits up and grooms his chest. Hagrid is more assertive, coming up to me first for everything, with Albus a minute or so behind but right in tow.

I fell in love with the pair a few weeks ago at a Rabbit Haven adoption show.

Simba (Siamese) and Tiger (Abyssinian), his partner in crime, have gotten an eyeful of their new bunny brothers but they’ll have to wait a bit for a more formal introduction – just peeks is what they’ll have to be satisfied with for the time being. Simba has already jumped on top of the sheet that covers the bunny pen and is securely clothes-pinned down. I guess he thought it was a floral trampoline.

Buddy (gray Tabby), well, he could care less about his new siblings. He just hopes they plan to share their food!

Albus and Hagrid were fostered with a family who had dogs and cats, and they don’t seem to be concerned that they are currently on display for the rest of the four-leggers in the house. Henry (Dalmatian) is quite fascinated with them. He got a little whiff and most assuredly wants a bigger and better sniff! Thunder (Border collie and resident senior citizen), having always been a “food first” kinda girl, is of the same mindset as Buddy.

I’m not going to lie – I don’t mind the expectation of a tad less noise in the house. There is far too much dang noise in the world. Peace is a good thing. It helps me get to my center where I can leave the world’s busyness behind me, and I know that I am one with all the creatures who share this world.

Bunny-cat and bunny-dog introductions will begin very soon. If you have a story to tell about a similar introduction, I’d love to hear it!

PS: Don’t tell my husband, but I’m delighted to have two more mouths to feed – vegetarians no less! Salad is one of the few things that even I can prepare!

Touched By An Angel

2010-04-06T17:20:00.000-07:00

Easter came and went, and in its wake were many tears. Tears of beauty and sadness, good times remembered and endings that seem to have come too soon. There is nothing like a mother. Take a look at this beautiful woman. Note she is holding a cat. My mom loved cats and I can remember from childhood that her favorite was Myrtle Rose, a calico - a rather fat calico as I recall. I believe the name of the cat she was holding on her lap in this picture was Blackie.

We had so many cats while I was growing up, and though I didn’t know it at the time, my mom was teaching me how to be a mother and how to be responsible. I remember her once letting my brother, sister and I all name a Siamese tomcat “Hungry-Thirsty-Yankee-Doodle.” Hungry-Thirsty-Yankee-Doodle’s turf was the alleyway behind our Oak Lane duplex in Scotts Valley and I suspect he was the reason I remember so many Siamese kittens!

In those days – not all that long ago – there weren’t the spay-neuter programs we have today. Places like Best Friends with the tag line “no more homeless pets” weren’t yet in existence. Now, mind you, our cats all had a home, and I can only hope that the kittens we gave away lived long and happy lives, but if doing it over today, we wouldn’t have allowed cats to reproduce the way we did back then. I guess it was Bob Barker on the popular game show “The Price is Right” that I first remember mentioning the words spay and neuter, and learning what they meant.

Santa Cruz’s Project Purr traps, sterilizes and releases feral cats to reduce the number of feral cat colonies in our area, as well as educating the public. Also, mandatory spay-neuter bills, while controversial, are becoming more popular as society recognizes the need to humanely end pet overpopulation. In just my lifetime I have seen a huge difference in the way our country views pets, social responsibility, and humane treatment of animals. This brings me great comfort, though the work is never done.

As far as being a good mother, my mom taught me the value of being considerate of others and not participating in gossip; she taught me that loving is worth it and that forgiveness, even in the hardest of circumstances, is possible. I’m still growing into all the ways I can be a good mother, for me that means to my pets since I don’t have children.

As I look forward from this sunny, post-Easter spring day, I do so with gratitude for every moment I shared with my mom, good and bad, every lesson learned, and every cat we ever cared for. Each was an integral part of the treasure-filled tapestry of my life, leading to the here and now.

Albus & Hagrid

2010-03-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

I had just finished shopping at Pet Pals and was loading the dog food and kitty litter into my car, and realized that I could use some empty boxes for a project. As I went back into Pet Pals to inquire about boxes, I noticed The Rabbit Haven van. Hmmm. A chance to meet Auntie Heather I thought. Heather Bechtel is the founder of The Rabbit Haven, a local non-profit rabbit rescue, adoption and education program, and she is affectionately known as Auntie Heather.

I wandered around Pet Pals until I spotted the adoption fair happening at the street side of the store. I hadn’t even seen it going on when I was shopping! As I watched people of all ages milling about – kids and their parents learning about rabbit care, two women with their purses on the floor and rabbits in their hands, a couple with their pet rabbits in carriers waiting for their grooming appointment – I suddenly burst into tears. The last thing I expected was to have an emotional outburst in Pet pals on a Saturday afternoon. I suppose there are many reasons for it, not the least of which is my mom’s recent passing. Or what about sweet Karyn who was crazy about bunnies and a volunteer at The Rabbit Haven, and passed away last fall?

After composing myself, I again began to look around. Instead of looking for Auntie Heather, I was focused on the bunnies. There must have been 20 or more, many in pairs: black ones, speckled ones, a white one with a row of black spots on its back, a fuzzy light brown one that looked like a tiny lion, and so on. I read a sign that said that rabbits tend to thrive when adopted in pairs and that some get depressed or withdrawn without a playmate.

I started up a conversation with Kimberlee, a volunteer who is also a rabbit “auntie.” She introduced me to Albus and Hagrid, two male bunnies from the infamous Moreland Woods Rescue in San Jose. Albus was pure white with pink eyes, an albino she said, and Hagrid was black with white markings. I asked if I could hold Hagrid. Kimberlee showed me how to pick Hagrid up and I did, turning him over gently in my arms like a baby as he peered up at me. I could tell that he wasn’t too sure, but he soon surrendered into a relaxing state while I rocked him back and forth. I must have stood there and rocked Hagrid for five solid minutes.

Albus and Hagrid are thought to be brothers, and they’ve been together since (and probably protected one another before) their rescue. I ask myself and sometimes God why there is cruelty in the world but I never get the answer. I just know that we, humans, are the answer to this problem. We have to take responsibility as a society for the actions of our fellows, care for the furry victims, and educate the masses. It might not seem fair, but no one ever said life was. I know for myself, I can’t live with a conscience that ignores the problem.

I didn’t leave Pet Pals on Saturday with Albus and Hagrid but I went to bed that night thinking about holding Hagrid in my arms. I didn’t introduce myself to Auntie Heather either, at least not from a business standpoint. I did send her an email though, and I made an appointment for another visit with Albus and Hagrid in April. And believe it or not, I actually remembered the boxes for my project.

The Pet Cemetery - Part 2

2010-03-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

Last month I wrote about the Pine Knoll Pet Cemetery. In a melancholy way and for especially sentimental reasons, I have taken an active interest in it. A little bit of research discovered that the cemetery was founded in 1938 by Charles Edward Graves who also founded the original Santa Cruz SPCA the same year. He was one of the first veterinary surgeons in the area and he must have really loved animals. One article I found indicated that Dr. Graves, who was born in 1882 and died in 1965, hand-carved at least some of the cemetery’s grave markers.

Lisa Carter, the current (and fabulous) director of the SPCA, has given her blessing to spruce up the acre-and-a-half piece of overgrown property; so my friend Kallee and I went over to survey the work ahead. Kallee is also a bigtime pet lover with several animals of her own including these two cuties:

The oldest graves we found date back to the 1940’s, but there are many unmarked graves. It is believed that at least 350 graves exist at this charming spot, most belonging to dogs and cats, but there are reportedly also parrots and monkeys buried here.

Dukie Boy (1946-1960), Sheba (1966-1977), Rebel (1968-1986) and Tice (1971-1975) are but a few of the residents at Pine Knoll.

Kallee and I figure that trimming a few trees, pulling weeds, raking leaves and cleaning up some of the present grave markers is what’s in store. However, I have since put on my investigator hat and learned that cleaning up the cemetery property might involve a permit. As it turns out, the Mount Herman June Beetle and the Ben Lomond Spineflower, both endangered species, were found on site during a 2002 biotic survey. Paying hands-on attention to the grounds could be the subject of debate if not followed by possible legal ramifications.

Having uncovered this latest information, it seems that a real investigation is needed now and I’m up for it. I see no reason, as long as the property remains a ghost cemetery – unprotected from gophers and other unwanted trespassers – that regular visits to perform the most basic of maintenance should be problematic.

Stay tuned! You can bet that April will bring The Pet Cemetery – Part 3.

Frisky

2010-03-15T13:25:00.000-07:00

Frisky wasn't named yet. He was just a tiny kitten who ran through what Margie’s five-year-old mind remembers as a mouse hole in the fence to escape the rubble falling all around him. You see; the house the kitten lived under was being demolished by a huge scary ball! Black and white and covered in dust, he surprised Margie by running straight at her.

It was love at first touch for both Margie and the little fur ball, and it was Margie’s first ever animal rescue.

Frisky earned his name by his playful ways – he sprinted in a clumsy zigzag formation and pounced at nothings in the air – or it may have been a popular pet food commercial on TV at the time…this was the 1960’s. The name mattered little for Margie had found a playmate and she discovered the divine friendship of a cat.

Mr. Frisky was a bit of a world traveler, in a cat’s world anyway. He moved with Margie’s family from Monterey to four different houses in Scotts Valley before settling in at “606.” 606 was a big A-frame that Margie’s dad built and Frisky loved it! There were wood beams to walk along, high windows to gaze out at life beyond from, and no shortage of nighttime visitors. The raccoons were plentiful in Scotts Valley; one man even had a pet raccoon that rode around on the hood of his truck. You would never see that in Monterey.

Frisky went to live among the stars of heaven some time ago, but he left his mark on Margie's cheek for all time when the sound of her daddy’s power drill scared him – Frisky shot up and out of her arms with claws out. Though that mark has faded with the decades, the mark he left on her heart is one of the many sparks that ignites her passion for animals today.

Margie grew up to become Mari, and Mari has something to say to that green-eyed, black-and-white first cat, “Thank you Frisky!"

Hope Sings Eternal

2010-03-09T14:12:00.000-08:00

Hope is my favorite word of all time. Hope inspires. Hope smiles. Its power is as strong as the sun. Hope transcends energy. It can melt a soggy depression. It can bring to life a dream.

Hope is the thing with feathers
that perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.
--Emily Dickinson

When I think of hope, I think of positive change. I think of growing or moving forward. Sometimes hope means light and sometimes it means relief. For me, at least today, it means making my mom proud. She believed in me more than I have ever believed in myself. She died this past December and would absolutely delight in my dream come true.

And hope is at the center of my dream. On one side is The Honorable Dalmatian, a store I am breathing life into daily, and on the other side is the end of pet homelessness and animal cruelty. The Honorable Dalmatian is a spoke in the wheel of this awesome goal and hope lights the way.

The Honorable Dalmatian will help fund animal shelters and rescue programs through product sales.

According to Wikipedia, hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life.

Everyone has a dream – follow your heart, believe in yourself and never lose hope.

I BELIEVE and I thank my mom for that!

Follow the The Honorable Dalmatian's progress on Facebook or Twitter!

http://www.facebook.com/Thehonorabledal
http://twitter.com/TheHonorableDal

Smarlful

2010-02-27T12:15:00.000-08:00

What is smarlful? It’s an adjective crossed with a verb. It’s a feeling. Smarlful is a toothy smile and a sort of snarl (with absolutely no malice intent) and a whole lot of wonderful.

This "smarling" Dalmatian image is on loan from Dalmatian Rescue of Colorado.

Ask anyone who has ever loved a Dalmatian and they will tell you, this grin-style smile pretty much sums up their charmingly audacious personality. Dalmatians are intelligent, athletic, loving, mischievous, sensitive and silly.

The first time my Dalmatian – that’s Henry at the very top of the page – pulled a smarl on me was about the third day after we rescued him. To be honest, it scared me. I had already witnessed his intelligence and I thought he was planning something usually reserved for a Dean Koontz thriller. I’m so grateful that the momentary fear passed and I learned that this trait was unique to Dalmatians. Now I look forward to each and every smarlful moment, elusive as they may be, and giddiness overcomes me. I always try to give one back, but I just don’t have the spotted good looks to bring about the desired result. The best I can say is the silliness quotient is quite high in our household.

If living with smarlfulness sounds appealing to you, there are many wonderful Dalmatian rescue groups around (see below, or look for one closest to you). Be sure and learn about this active breed and decide if it is right for you and your family, and please be on the lookout (and report) puppy mills. A word of caution: If you allow a Dalmatian into your heart, he/she will own you. Life with Henry is nothing short of an exhilarating experience, and one I wouldn’t trade for anything – not even for a nose like Samantha in Bewitched.

http://www.dalmatianrescue.org/
http://www.secondchancesdalrescue.com/
http://www.savethedals.org/
http://www.dalmatianrescue.com/

And that’s what smarlful is.

The Pet Cemetery - Part 1

2010-02-21T19:50:00.000-08:00

I was on my way to town last week and took a shortcut that brought me by our county’s old pet cemetery. It’s been there as long as I can remember; just around the corner from the elementary school I was riding the bus to when I first spotted it. I’ve often wondered whose pets are buried there. As I slowed down to survey the property, something pulled at me. I turned the car around and went back for a closer look, parking in the only place I could, someone’s driveway.

A very weathered sign at the entrance practically whispered Pine Knoll Pet Cemetery. The trees that intertwine one another around the gravestones seem to be broken down or dying. Even the fresh grass following the recent rains looks to have grown in half dead. Every fiber of my being wanted to start clearing away the dead branches, dusting off the gravestones – reading each one along the way – and setting the crooked stones back in place. But alas, I was on my way someplace and couldn’t just alter my day on a whim.

Well, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the cemetery. These questions haunt me: How did it come to be? Why was its specific location chosen? Who buried their first pet there? When did it begin sinking into its current state of dilapidation? What are the names of the pets buried there and the dates on the gravestones? The cemetery is so old I presume the owners of the buried animals and even their children have since gone to join their beloved pets at the Rainbow Bridge. Who remains now to keep the cemetery up?

The sign indicates that the cemetery is affiliated with the SPCA. I know that our SPCA is busy working with live animals, adopting them out to good homes, and saving others from high-kill shelters around the state. They don’t have time to care for pets that passed on years ago. That’s it! I have to do it. I’m going to organize a day, grab a friend or two, and perhaps I’ll even talk to the neighbor whose driveway I parked in. The lovely bones buried there seem to be asking me to honor their once-cherished lives and I’ll be darned if I can ignore them.

Please return for the conclusion of The Pet Cemetery – it’s sure not to disappoint.

To be continued…

Honoring Chief Spotted Tail

2010-02-15T20:00:00.000-08:00

The inspiration for this blog post is specifically to pay tribute to the namesake for which I have chosen to title my blog. Spotted Tail.

First though, I must clarify. I am not a Native American and can hardly do justice to this heroic Indian chief. This piece is merely intended to honor the beautiful name behind my new blog, Spotted Tails.

The proud "warrior" name Spotted Tail was bestowed upon a Brulé Lakota tribal chief named Siŋté Glešká who lived during the 1800's. Most historians agree that Spotted Tail, while once a great warrior who wore a raccoon-tail accented headdress, chose to speak of peace and human rights in later years. Chief Spotted Tail, having seen his share of bloodshed, came to regard war as pointless - an idea that humans still debate 200 years later - and became a well-respected peace chief.

It is said that Spotted Tail was born in the White River country of South Dakota and grew up amidst horses and buffalo in the Northern Plains. He was uncle to the famous Lakota warrior Crazy Horse and cousin to Conquering Bear, also a Brulé Lakota chief.

When thinking of names for this blog, I came up with the name Spotted Tail because I have a spotted dog, but I became enamoured with the story of Chief Spotted Tail. I love that he turned to peace, using words instead of weapons, and refused to participate in further wars. Imagine the guts it must have taken for this tribal chief to go against the grain in the 19th Century. As legend has it, this may have cost him his life. Chief Spotted Tail was shot and killed by a fellow Indian named Crow Dog.

For a more thorough account of Chief Spotted Tail's life, you may consult any of the following resources or choose your own.

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/NA-SpottedTail.html

http://www.historynet.com/brule-sioux-chief-spotted-tail.htm

http://www.aktalakota.org/index.cfm?cat=1&artid=57

As I enter into the wonderful world of blogging, I find it fitting that this brave ex-warrior be likened with an animal-themed blog. Being an over-the-top animal lover can be met with skepticism. This is certainly true in some places more than others. I'm confident that the totems of the great ones have got my back.

Standing Bear said "The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man's heart away from nature becomes hard."

I hope you'll come back for another dose of Spotted Tails.