Michael Vick - In the best of all possible worlds . . .

I don't like Michael Vick and I abhor the abuse and cruelty he inflicted on the dogs in his care. He fought dogs, he horribly tortured those who did not meet whatever sick standards he and those who participated in the whole mess had for these dogs.

I don't excuse him, I don't think it was right, I don't forgive him. Let's get that clear right up front. I don't care if he gets drummed out of the NFL (although in fairness, I could care less about any sport activity so that also plays a part in my thought process), I don't care if he never touches a football again. I thought it was good and proper that he went to prison and would not have objected to him still being in prison. The man tortured dogs in the most horrible way before they finally died. Inexcusable does not begin to cover it.

I should also mention that I'm none too pleased with the HSUS and PETA who both staunchly wanted all the remaining dogs put down and fought against giving them a chance. That becomes important because in the best of all possible worlds - I think they need to keep out of the remaining controversy of Michael Vick and his infamous treatment of the dogs on his property.

That said, here's what I would like to happen "in the best of all possible worlds." I would like to see Michael Vick get it. I don't think he does yet (but maybe I'm wrong as it is hard for me to be objective.) I would like to see Michael Vick talk to the good ole boys who did not think what he did was so bad and tell them why he was wrong. I would like to hear him say that dog fighting is wrong and why he now believes that. I would like to hear him discuss the torture and abuse he inflicted on the dogs and acknowledge the horror of it, the wrongness of it, the evilness of it. And I want to hear him tell those who still think dog fighting is okay why they are wrong. I want to hear him say - I was wrong.

I understand he went to prison, paid his debt to society, lost his endorsements, is now bankrupt, lost his home & his money & his career. I get that. But he committed a crime and criminals lose or should lose the "high life" lifestyle. Supporters may consider it unfair, I consider it justice.

I'll even buy that in many areas of the country dog fighting is a way of life and people grow up thinking it is acceptable - I'll buy that as an excuse (true or not) for Michael Vick - if he can convince me that he now understands the horror of what he did. And if he really gets it, then I want him to use his voice and whatever influence he has with the red-necks and other good ole boys to educate them. They won't listen to people like us, maybe they will listen to one of their own. But he can only get through to them if he really gets what he did. I don't want to hear content prepared by a speech writer or PR person or marketing representative.

I want to hear Michael Vick stand up and say: "I was so terribly wrong and I am so sorry. Regardless of what my future brings, I will work to end dog fighting, animal abuse, animal cruelty and testify at legislative hearings detailing how low mankind can go and why we need laws to protect the animals. I can't undo the harm I did to the dogs in my care but I will work to prevent it from happening to other dogs."

And if he actually does that, if he actually shows that he gets it, and he actively does what he can to protect other dogs from people like him (or how he says he used to be) - then and only then will I believe he is entitled to another chance to play football or whatever he wants to do in the public eye. I don't begrudge him making a living, I begrudge the lives lost because of his cruelty. Michael Vick gets a second chance - the dogs he tortured, mutilated and killed died horrible deaths. While that can't be undone - in the best of all possible worlds, who better than Michael Vick to tell the story and champion the dogs still held prisoner as fighting dogs through out the country?

A Tale of Two Graduations. . . .

We attended two graduations in the past few weeks. One with over 200 students graduating high school, the other with 29 students receiving their GED. Both were attended by family, friends, and well wishers. Both were composed of graduates glad to be through with the requirements and relieved at completing this part of their life's journey, graduates in both wore caps, gowns and huge smiles.



Students at both ceremonies had faced adversity. Some came from a homeless environment, some fought drugs and alcohol - either themselves or dealt with it in their families, some struggled to comprehend the material they needed to master, others breezed through barely cracking a book. Some were financially comfortable, others barely had food on the table. Most of us really don't know what goes on behind closed doors.



Speakers at both ceremonies spoke of the future, the possibilities, they tasked the graduates with going forward and finding their dreams. One ceremony included the class valedictorians giving short speeches, the other gave each student a few minutes to speak. Each, in their own way, recognized the hard work, the effort, the desire, by the graduates to reach this milestone.



Was one ceremony better than the other? No, they were both a celebration of the graduates, a recognition of their accomplishments, an affirmation that by hard work and perseverence, success was obtainable. We enjoyed both ceremonies, celebrated the accomplishments of the graduates and wish only the best for all of the graduates.



The ceremony that touched my heart the most, was the Godman Guild GED graduation. As each graduate was called to receive their diploma, a few words were spoken about each person - then the graduate made a few comments. Each of these folks, for one reason or another, had dropped out of high school and did not graduate with their class. Some had no choice - their home life did not permit them to continue with school, some simply did not fit into the academic environment, some did not think school was important when they were teens - the reasons vary but the end result was the same, they all became high school drop outs. The class of 2009 beat the odds, they went from drop outs to graduates. One of the graduates said "I'm so proud of myself today." I didn't know her, but I too am proud of her accomplishment. So was everyone who attended. Watching all of these young people bask in well deserved success was a pleasure.

The 2009 graduates at both ceremonies have a right to be proud, they all set a goal to graduate and they all succeeded. Congratulations!

The Obama's Puppy. . . .

I rescue dogs. I prefer to work with puppy mill dogs, but I'll help any that I can. Sometimes I transport from one place to another. Sometimes I foster until a forever home can be found. Sometimes I hold a dog until a rescue can be located to help it. Most times I am genuinely proud of the rescue community. They do amazing, loving, essential work. Overall, rescue people are good people. But every now and again, I am saddened by behavior in the community.

The announcement this week regarding the "First Dog" is one of those occassions. The Obama family did everything right, they researched the breeds that were considered least likely to create problems for a daughter with allergies, they checked shelters and rescues, they talked to owners of the breed, and they accepted a puppy as a gift from Senator Kennedy when the puppy was returned to the breeder.

Yes, it is a purebreed and no, they did not adopt from a shelter. This is a nice family who have added a rambunctious dog to their family and their active lifestyle. A local shelter received a donation from the Obama's and the public will get to watch the trials and tribulations as the family works with a trainer so they all learn to help Bo be the dog he is meant to be. The discussions that have occurred about adopting from shelters or rescues will help lead the public to adopt dogs from these havens. Watching the exploits of Bo and the first family will help others learn to be responsible pet owners.

Like most in rescue, I would have loved to see the Obama's adopt a dog from a shelter or a rescue group. It would have sent a strong message to the public. As sometimes happens, what we want and what we get are not always the same. It's time for rescue to get over their snit.

It seems counter productive to speculate on what the Obama's "should have done." The First Dog is here, he's adorable and clearly going to be a handful. I look forward to watching the adventures of Bo and the Obama family. From watching Bo's introduction yesterday, it looks like it's going to be a fun year! Welcome home Bo!

When it's too cold to go to the Gazebo. . .

The View From the Gazebo is pretty darn cold today, snow is expected over the weekend. Yuk! Nevertheless, life is good. As you can see from the video, the SR's are happy and enjoying life. Wouldn't it be great if all dogs everywhere were as safe and happy as this crew?

A Tempest in a Teapot

President Obama's new blackberry type phone has the public tittering. The announcement that a small group of senior staff and personal friends would have access to the President's email & phone resulted in status seekers whining they should be included on the list. Some disgruntled Americans are accusing the President of deception - using the device to bypass the FOIA. Others are concerned about the President's safety, the possibility of a security breach, hackers gaining access to classified information.

Is everyone forgetting this is the man who, prior to becoming President, has always used a blackberry? Was his phone compromised when he was a senator and had less security? Do you really think the President is going to send and receive messages that would compromise national security?

Our 44th President has a better understanding of technology than his predecessors and agreed to compromises recommended by the Secret Service and National Security Agency. He wants to stay in touch with personal friends and a few select members of his senior staff. The public is making too big a deal out of this. It has become a tempest in a teapot!

Those who are concerned about the GPS capabilities of the phone should consider that the President and their family members have been tracked via similar technology for years. This is nothing new. The FOIA concerns have been dealt with, all Presidential communications will be preserved, all personal communications will be exempt - exactly the way all other communications are treated.

What surprises me the most is why this is such an issue. Is it a result of the news media making it into a story? Is it the result of segments of our society that just want to fuss and complain? Or maybe it's because the country is in turmoil at the moment. Every day brings news of additional lay-offs, the stock market has not recovered, personal and government debt is high, the war in Iraq and the safety of our soldiers is a national concern, thousands of Americans have no health insurance - the list goes on. The offered solutions are complex, debated and argued and no single plan seems optimum.

Most of us don't have a solution to the global economic crisis or how to put our people back to work or the key to stabilizing the economy. We may have opinions on the problems facing our nation, but answers, solutions - not so much.

Should the President use a secure blackberry type device? The answer is a straight forward yes or no. Maybe that's the draw. . . . finally an answer the American people can understand.

Hope and change - the lesson of the Mill Dogs. . .

It's cold in Ohio, several inches of snow and freezing temperatures are enough to keep us inside. No Gazebo today but the view is pretty good on the inside. We've been watching the events leading up to the Inauguration on TV and are warmed by the message and feeling of Unity and Hope. Change is in the air and it is a good feeling.

Mason & I were chatting - mill dogs make the best listeners - and we think this administration has a lot of challenges ahead but we believe with hard work and the support of the American people solutions will be found. We don't think it will happen in a month or even a year. Turning the economy around, ending a war, providing health care for all Americans, re-establishing America's role as a global leader - all of these will take time, sacrifice and hard work from all of us.

Those of us who work with mill dogs are used to this - we have learned the lessons of the mill dogs. They have taught us that regardless of how bad the conditions are, how sick or injured or afraid they are, with time, patience, hard work and hope, they will turn around. They teach us that progess may seem slow, that sometimes a step forward is followed by two steps back. They teach us what it means to persist, to believe, to accept what is now but to hope for what can be. They teach us that progress comes slowly, sometimes in very small steps sometimes it seems like nothing is happening, but then the hard work, patience, and sacrifice pays off. One day we see a step forward and then another and another and before you know it - a mill dog is rehabilitated. We take these dogs in because we want to give them hope and a better life. In the process they teach us to be better people, more patient, more understanding, more forgiving.

Over the next few years, I hope we all remember the lesson of the mill dogs. They learn to trust, to forgive, to love and they become the best they can be. Mason said he wishes the same for our citizens.

Ohio Dogs Lose Again. . .

The dogs and I went outside to the gazebo this chilly, December morning. It's 16 degrees outside right now. There's a slight wind that freezes my ears and burns my gloveless fingers. I'm wearing a coat and I'm cold. I am very grateful that I have a warm home to escape the cold, food to eat, access to running water, electricity, I am blessed and I know it.

I love dogs, I have a houseful. They are warm, they have food to eat and fresh water to drink. They are comfortable, loved and blessed. Yet, I can't stop thinking about the dogs living in the 11,000 licensed kennels in Ohio - and those living in unlicensed kennels totally off the radar. How many are in unheated buildings? How many are outside with little or no protection? It's 16 degrees outside, how do they stand the cold? How do they endure the pain of the cold chilling their bones, the pain of paws on frozen ground, the pain of cold feet on cold wire? How do they survive when their water dishes are empty or frozen solid?

How could the Republican Caucus in the Ohio House of Representatives condemn these dogs to another Ohio winter with no relief from this horror? How can Representative Daniels, the Chair of the State Government Committee justify his repeated refusal to send HB 223 to the floor for a vote?

How is it that we permit the abuse and torture (and that's exactly what it is) that occurs in commercial kennels in Ohio? How is it that we allow unlicensed kennels to slip under the radar? Why do we allow breeders to argue that humane treatment of the dogs in Ohio kennels will impose a financial hardship on them? If they can not raise dogs humanely, why should they be permitted to stay in business? If it is too costly to provide a humane environment, to offer a nutritious diet and clean, fresh water, they should not be permitted to raise dogs.

If breeders in Ohio wish to raise and sell dogs in this state, they must execise and socialize their dogs. They must innoculate litters, vaccinate the adults, keep rats out of kennels, seek proper veterinary care for an injured or sick dog, protect them from fleas, ticks, parasites. They must keep proper records and ensure that breeding stock with congenital defects are humanely removed from their lines - give them to a rescue or shelter - humanely put them down - but stop breeding them and stop selling the puppies to unsuspecting consumers through out the country. If it is not possible to keep the urine and feces removed from the kennels, then they must hire staff to do it or reduce the number of dogs they have. This is not debateable - care for the dogs humanely or get out of the business. Period.

At one of the hearings held on HB 223 and SB 173, Ervin Raber, a Holmes county breeder and an opponent of regulations for commercial kennels stated that in 2007 he spent almost $3000 in vet care for his 150 dogs. I have far fewer dogs and spent more than twice that amount during the same year. If you own a dog or cat, how much were your vet bills last year? Was your vet able to provide an annual exam, vaccinations, a rabies vax, possibly a dental, for less than $20? That's what Mr. Raber proudly announced he spent on his dogs. Less than $3000 divided by 150 dogs is less than $20 per dog. Ask your vet if that is a sufficient investment in a healthy dog used as breeding stock.

All of our dogs are rescues, one was abandoned outside a vet's office in the middle of a very cold night; two came from homes where the owner passed away and the dogs lost had no where to go; 7 are puppy mill survivors, they come from Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Missouri.

Ohio is not alone in their silent consent to abuse, torture, neglect and profit from the misery of dogs raised in sub-standard kennels. Our record is shameful, our legislators permit the existence of some of the worse kennels in the United States. The Republican Caucus and the State Government Committee should hang their collective heads in shame.

They know what goes on in many of the kennels in Ohio, they heard testimony from Animal Control officers, Humane Officers, rescue groups, veterinarians, shelter personnel, breeders who support regulations, and the public. They saw videos of conditions in sub-standard kennels and heard the reasons why existing laws are often not sufficient to take action. They heard testimony regarding the lack of staff, resources, internal politics, local and county concerns that hampered the attempts of dedicated men and women to ensure humane treatment of dogs in commercial kennels throughout Ohio. They heard testimony on why there is a need for a state agency to oversee the unregulated commercial kennels in Ohio. They know the problems, they know the need.

Testimony was given by breeders indicating these dogs don't know any other life, they don't need exercise or larger cages, they are happy with their lot. After all, they are just dogs.

Of course they are just dogs. They aren't human, they don't vote, they don't pay taxes, they don't talk. But I vote, I pay taxes , I can speak. And I rescue. I want you to know that the Republican Caucus, Representative Daniels, and the State Government Committee are supporting and permitting sub-standard kennels by refusing to send HB 223 to the floor for a vote.

They knowlingly condemned these dogs to suffer unspeakable horrors. Many dogs have untreated ear infections that can destroy their ear canals, once in rescue it take months of treatment and hundreds of dollars to clear the infections. When was the last time you had an ear ache? Did you have ear drops and a warm pad to help ease the pain? These dogs have nothing.

Years of poor nutrition, poor breeding practices, poor veterinary care have left many with rotting, abcessed teeth. A number of dogs come into rescue with jaw bones destroyed by the abcesses and infections eating away at their bones. When was the last time you had a toothache? Were you able to go to a dentist? Take an aspirin or pain killer? Even gargle a bit of warm salt water? These dogs have nothing but unending pain.

As the pain increases, they are unable to eat the little food they have, further weakening them. They are easily hurt, injured, attacked by the stronger dogs. Dawin's theory of "survival of the fittest" is played out every day in the sub-standard kennels in Ohio.

It is important that you understand the Republican Caucus and Representative Daniels know this. The members of the State Government Committee know this. They heard testimony, saw videos, viewed photos of dogs that come out of the unregulated kennels in Ohio. They saw piles of feces and dogs matted so badly they could not move. They know. They don't care. They condemned these dogs to more of the same. They chose not to allow HB 223 to go to the floor for a vote. Their silence equals consent.

You can be sure that at least one dog died alone in a kennel last night. It was cold, hungry, too weak to endure. What does it matter? It was, after all, just a dog.