Check out this website

The attached is Wallace's website.  I ran across it surfing the PBRC website.  Wallace is a national flying disc champion and a pit bull.  What a cool dog with a very cool family!  Roo Yori and his wife adopted Wallace from a shelter and have done amazing things with him.  The family has also adopted Hector from BAD RAP.  Hector was a Bad Newz Kennel dog rescued from the Vick fighting ring.  The more I learn, the more I'm disgusted that the NFL let Vick play again.  But Hector is in a safe place and the news is all good for him.  Hector is now a therapy dog.  I love these stories!

Obedience 101

Callie and I have completed basic obedience.  I got the thought one day out walking and she jumped on a lady who was hiking by herself.  Callie is very friendly and exuberant.  She loves everyone.  However, it dawned on me...finally...that unless I had better control of her, a day would come when she would scare someone.  It would escalate because of the way she looks, regardless of whether she's friendly or not.  So I signed up at "Angels in the Making" and work helped me out by making my schedule work with training.  I am grateful.  Callie tested 190 of a possible 200 points in obedience.  She didn't hold the wait/come command for a full minute.  At about 40 seconds she got bored and started walking towards me.  No matter, I am proud as can be of my girl.  She loved training and the interaction with other dogs, as always.  One dog there is a teeny-tiny chihuahua who was rescued from a puppy mill.  She had big problems with large dogs.  Callie brought her out of her shell and they had a fabulous time playing and working together!  What I love most is continuing to smash the pit bull stereotype of the killer dog.  I don't do anything nearly on the level of Bad Rap or Best Friends, or the many fabulous rescue groups on the front lines, but I believe that one by one, responsible pit owners can show the world these dogs are great pets, awesome companions and peaceful, loving dogs.

Kanab, UT

Welcome center at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park

Zion National Park

Pictures

I was going through some old pictures, trying to clear out some memory on my hard drive.  I came across some good pictures that sum up how my life is through my animals.

This was Ozzie's last day.  I can tell from looking at the picture that I made the right choice to put him down.  His hips had given out and he was in a lot of pain.  He had been to hell and back with me.  I think because he knew I was okay, he could go.  This picture was taken with my neighbors dog right before I took him to the vet.  I had to lift him in the car, and it took two of us to carry him to the exam room.  I held him as he slipped away.  I do miss that dog.  He was a great friend.

Eight days later - Callie came into my life full throttle.  She hasn't eased up since!  What a ride!  I love all of her energy and unbridled enthusiasm for life and all it has to offer.  When I was going through the pictures, I cried looking at the pictures of the Great and Powerful Oz.  I started laughing out loud when I got to all the pictures of Callie.  Everyone should have a friend like this - who knows no bounds, and fears nothing!  A friend who hangs with you when your sick and runs with you when your healthy.  A friend who shows how great life can be and how fun it really is to be here no matter what you're doing.

Abbie has pretty much looked this way for two years.  I now sleep with one eye open.  She can't believe that I let this D-O-G (Callie) come home.  Even worse, I appear to take the dog away, but I keep bringing her back!  Who do I think runs this show?!

Last, but most certainly not least, is the Nicholas. He was grandma's cat.  She finally had to go to a nursing home.  She was instrumental in saving my life.  Since I could no longer help her, I saved her cat.  The ungrateful bastard walked into the house, put his paws behind his head and proceeded to tell us girls how it would be...he forgot...grandma had him declawed.  Once he became clear on his role, he has settled in nicely.  He loves to hang out in the backyard, now that we have a fence, and he loves to pretend he's the king of world when us girls aren't watching.  Otherwise, Nicholas is known as the "stalker".  He stalks everyone through the house so he doesn't miss any potential good happenings, but he tries to be quiet so we don't know he's there ready to pounce and run!


It's not much of a life, but its all mine.  Most days I'm pretty content with my little brood.  Other days I wish for more.  One of the things I know for sure...I am lucky to be here at all, so I must learn to live where I am and not worry about anything else.  It's all pretty good when snuggled up in bed and surrounded by my best friends.  They never let me forget that no matter what - they think I'm okay.

The Lost Dogs

I think this book should be required reading for everyone.  The story Jim Gorant tells is so compelling.  Heart breaking and heart warming at the same time.  There is no blanket happy ending here.  Some of the dogs are doing well, some not, some have died.  He lays out the facts.  He shows the good, the bad and the ugly as it is, no punches pulled.  There are good people in this world.  The investigators who took this on. The feds who took this over.  They did the right thing for the right reasons.  The rescuers deserve to be supported and celebrated every single day.  They have taken the mindset of destroying all fighting dogs and turned it on its head, so to speak.  The result has been to evaluate dogs on their individual merits and personalities rather than clear the decks.  I hope that remains the effort.  Actually, I really hope dog fighting comes to a halt, but I fear it won't.  Mostly, I am more glad every single day that because I was able to look at these dogs and their journey, I made the right decision to keep Callie.  She got a lot of hugs and kisses as I was reading this book.  More than usual, but she deserves them all.

The areas of re-evacuation include the Boulder Heights, Pine Brook Hills and Carriage Hills subdivisions, as well as homes on Olde Stage Road and Lee Hill Drive that were allowed back in at 10 a.m. on Thursday.  Residents in the areas of Sugarloaf, from Boulder Canyon to Sugar Court; Fourmile Canyon from Boulder Canyon to Poorman; Sunshine from Boulder Canyon to Poorman; and Lefthand, were possibly going to be allowed back in at 2 p.m., but that was cancelled.  Some residents are extremely upset by Pelle's decision, calling it a "broken promise." Pelle says the safety of the residents is the top priority, especially because there is no phone or electricity going to the homes at this time.  "Our ability to do an immediate notification in the middle of the night and get them out of there if the fire slips the lines is very limited, and I do not want people to burn in their houses in the middle of the night because we can't get to them or get a phone call to them," Pelle said.  The mandatory evacuations did not stop some residents from trying to get back to their property. Cmdr. Rick Brough of the Boulder County Emergency Management Office says one person was ticketed for trying to cross into the closed-off area.  Brough says after surveying 80 percent of the nearly 10-square-mile burn area, 169 homes have been destroyed in the fire. They say another 20 percent needs to be surveyed before they reach a final tally.  Authorities say there were no additional structures reported as burned down or damaged on Thursday.  Fire officials say 550 firefighters were currently working the blaze and an additional 160 firefighters arrived on Thursday to join in the fight.

Boulder Heights is where I grew up.  Sugar Loaf Mountain is where the Betasso Preserve lives.  That was a cattle ranch my Dad's family owned for generations.  My uncle deeded the land to the city as open space.


Most importantly, people need to stay out of fire fighters way.  They can't do what they need to do when people are trying to run to their homes.  I know it's a natural fear response, but really.  I, at one time, lost everything I owned.  Not because of natural disaster, but because of my own horrible behavior.  What I learned on the other side of that - it's just stuff.  I am glad to hear that people are taking care of their families and their pets.  Let the rest go, please.  It is terribly sad, and it takes time to heal, but heal they will if they allow time to work.

Tough to watch

This is where I grew up.  It's hard to watch the place where childhood memories were made go up in flames.  At the same time, I know the life I'm living now is just as important.  My heart goes out to the people there, and I hope it comes under control soon.