The Worst Animal Abuse Case I've Ever Seen

I don't know how I made it through Thanksgiving week at the EC but I did. What a rough 5 days THAT was!

All I can say is I won't stand for animal abuse of any kind. I won't eat their meat and I especially won't stand for deliberate acts of cruelty on animals no matter what species they are. Yesterday pretty much did me in. Just when you think you've seen a lot.......An ACO (Animal Control Officer) rushed into the tx area and demanded help. She could see were were balls to the wall busy but there was something in her tone that demanded attention. Laura rushed out and much to all of our surprise, she and the ACO carried in a Standard Poodle in a garbage bag on a stretcher. Someone had dumped this animal at TLAC sometime in between the ACO's rounds on the street and at the shelter.

Here in Austin, you can drop your dog off (dead, alive or barely alive) anytime day or night. At night, there isn't anyone there so apparently the animals get passed through a one-way door. The ACO on duty swings by through the night to make sure that there aren't any hurt or critical animals and if there are, they bring them to us for treatment or euthanasia depending on how serious they are. All parvo virus cases are euthanized. They never even get a chance. Anyways, the ACO was driving up to the TLAC building to check on the animals and she saw a big black garbage bag. She told us the thought someone just didn't know where to put their deceased animal and left it there. As she went to move it to the correct place, she said the bag moved and made noises. That's when she noticed someone had dumped a half-dead, very sick poodle at the shelter.

To see this was just mind blowing. Honestly, I burst into tears as they pulled the bag off this animal. He/She was covered in large gaping wounds and bruises. We tried to stabilize and give pain meds prior to assessing but it turns out the dog had a broken neck. So there you have it, some asshole took this dog, put it in a bag with very serious injuries and left it to die. I'm not sure what the intention was exactly or how this dog became injured but our guess is a hit by car (HBC) or attack by dog (ABD). Regardless of the person's intentions, their decision for this animal makes them a cold blooded killer in my eyes. How could you put a LIVE animal in a plastic bag with those injuries and leave it on a Sunday night to suffer? Ugh.

It is Important to Give and to be Thankful Year-Round

So here it is, the day before Thanksgiving and I am preparing to go back to work after having a lovely, relaxing five days off of work. I love my job as my readers know but it sure is nice to get some time away! I feel like I may write that after every 5 days I get off (once a month). This blog started with me watching Keeper, my blind Jack Terrier, scooter her butt across my carpet.....she'd still do it if she COULD see I'm sure. Gracie is asleep in her crate and Jarobie is on the kitchen table in fear of the vacuuming I was just doing. All at the 2200 camp is peaceful.

I have clean scrubs to wear for the next few days and cooked a delicious meal for Chad, Stephen, Laura and myself. Chad and Stephen already ate their share and Laura and I will eat ours at work tomorrow. It kind of sucks that my work doesn't provide some kind of meal for the 8 vegetarians on staff like my old hospital did. That is one thing I miss about CVES. The meal consists of garlic mashed potatoes, sauteed asparagus and a veggie loaf, which in my opinion, tastes a lot like stuffing except it holds the shape of a loaf pan. Stephen said the potatoes are the best he has ever had. He must not get out much...LOL. I also made some cupcakes. They're yellow cake with chocolate fudge frosting and rainbow sprinkles. They're pretty rich!

The next 24 hours are going to be a bit stressful with all the running around and preparation I must do to get to Stephen's cousin's house and then to work. I work until 4 A.M this Morning and have to be to his cousin's by 11 or 12 tomorrow and then back to work by 4 P.M. Of course, I am looking forward to it. I'm sad I won't be at The Serviceman's Dinner in Cary, IL, a family tradition since Aunt Susie passed away in October of 2007. The Serviceman's Dinner is something Susie and my Uncle David were/are very passionate about. Our entire family hosts over 100 sailors from Great Lakes Naval Academy in Northern Illinois for a delicious meal, TV and a visit from Santa. We also provide them with cell phones so they can call their families. It's a nice way to spend a day of thanks. Giving is important especially to those who give so much for us (Servicemen or not).

Yeah, so I'm meeting the parents tomorrow. I found a very cute dress to wear to which Stephen says is not necessary. He doesn't get it.....I'm MEETING HIS PARENTS and I'm in love with their son. Yeah, I dropped the L-bomb. I wasn't expecting this but he is right in every way. I'm really anxious for him to meet my friends and family back in Chicago. We're trying to set a date in April or May. With luck, there's a Cubs vs Astros game at Wrigley at the end of May. Jessie James is getting married the last weekend in May and I will be there then so how perfect would it be for the Astros to be there too?!

What else? Uh, well, we went camping this past weekend at Colorado Bend State Park! Talk about a wonderful weekend away. We spent most of Saturday around the fire and Sunday we hiked to Gorman Falls. The dogs really loved it! Keeper rode in a backpack. Some highlights of the trip included seeing a GIANT armadillo at 2 in the Morning when I woke in the frigid night to pee by the tree, the 10 mile gravel road with free range cattle leading in to the park and of course spending hours sitting around the fire drinking beer and margaritas with my honey. It continues to amaze me by how well we get along. He's really something else. We don't bicker or argue. We seem to compliment each other very well thus far. Here is a picture of me, Stephen, Gracie and Keeper at Gorman Falls in Colorado Bend State Park. It sure was beautiful!

I guess I should shower and run some pre-work errands! Hope everyone has a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving wherever you spend it.

xoxo

For the LOVE of Greyhounds. Please Read and Repost!

Just a quick note before reading this really important information. Anyone who knows me knows I have loved Greyhounds for a long time! I wanted to adopt one way back when but when I told them I had a young Jack Terrier, the rescue group said they would not adopt one to me. Apparently they can confuse JRTs with rabbits or whatever it is they chase around the track. I would also like to inform those who don't know, Greyhounds are LIFE SAVERS! Many retired racers are blood donors to other dogs who are in dire need. Greyhounds have a high PCV (pack cell volume) and a lot of them are able to donate thanks to their very gentle, mellow nature. Besides all that, many Greyhounds are universal donors!

EVERY ANIMAL DESERVES THE CHANCE AT A WONDERFUL LIFE IN A FOREVER HOME!!! If anyone here in Austin wants to take a road trip to rescue a Greyhound in December, I am totally up for it. I am off the weekend before Christmas.

Attention...the Dairyland Race Track in Kenosha, Wisconsin will be closing on December31, 2009. 900 Greyhounds need to be adopted or they will be euthanized.Please help me get the word out; there is only 6 weeks to get this task done. Contact Joanne Kehoe Operations Director P: 312.559.0887 OrDairyland Race Track Adoption Center direct at (262) 612-8256

PLEASE REPOST THIS EITHER AS A NOTE OR A STATUS UPDATE ON YOUR FACEBOOK, MYSPACE, TWITTER OR BLOG! HELP SAVE THESE DOGS!!

The World's Smallest Pitty Party

I always get great ideas for blogs as I'm ready to fall asleep at night (or morning, depending on how you look at it). I log on the next day ready to write and I have little to no direction. Sometimes it comes to me and other times I find myself typing endless lines of crap while thinking of other things I should be doing.

So what to report? Life is good. It continues to be good even though I've had a rough few hours here at home. I'm getting a little down on my living situation only because I feel like I'm the only one that puts in to the house. I really miss having a "home." We don't have a couch, I don't have a real bed and well, I just want to WANT to stay at home once in a while. I woke to find a couch in the living room this morning only to discover it smelled of cat urine. I instantly became pissed off and put it back outside. I had a minor pitty party and decided to sweep and vacuum. Of course last night was the topper of everything. While pulling out from an ATM, I didn't realize there was a higher than normal curb and I scratched the very bottom of my brand new car. I jumped out of the car and looked for the damage. I couldn't find any right away as it is pretty unnoticeable from certain angles. Needless to say, I'm feeling very, very upset about that. I've been beating myself up for it since it happened. I'll have to look at it and see what can be done to fix it if anything. I could vomit I'm so upset.

Camping with Stephen was awesome. I'm as head over heels for him as he is for me. Inks Lake was lovely minus the rain! Yes, we camped in the rain. I was able to get a pretty awesome fire going and cooked us a yummy meal. He said at lunch yesterday that dinner was one of his favorite parts. I'm glad I can make him happy on a consistent basis. I think our best is way out in front of us. As we lay in the tent, rain coming down, I looked at him and he looked at me with such contentment. It was an amazing moment that I don't think I'll ever forget. I'll bite my tongue on all the sappy shit for now but just know that I never anticipated feeling this way ever again.

Trying to Impress My Honey

In an effort to be more domestic, I attempted to cook seitan for Stephen today. I read many different recipes and really took my time preparing it. Well, I think it sucks. It isn't as good as Yummy Yummy's soy gluten and that is what I was aiming for. I guess I'll include it in the veggie stir fry I'm going to make him but won't blame him in the least if he decides to pick around it. Oh the joys of being a vegetarian.

We have an ongoing joke about "fag food." That's what we call a lot of what we eat. I guess if you're reading this and don't really know me, you could find that rather offensive. Rest assured, I mean no malice. We've even gone as far as talking about making a web-based cooking show called, "Fags Like Us- A Vegetarian Cooking Show." I think between the two of us, he is the better cook. He makes the yummiest stuff for me all the time! Though his meals are pretty simple, they are quite tasty. Maybe I'm being too elaborate for my own good. I should thumb through the pages of the new vegetarian cook books my momma got me for my birthday and pick something more simple.

As Katherine said, "Millie, he'll be crazy about you no matter how bad the food tastes." Stef said he agreed whole hearted with K. There's something about Stef that makes me want to take care of him. Maybe because I feel it's a two way street. I'd do just about anything for him and trust him with anything that is mine. I can not wait until our camping trip on Sunday! Just me, him and "our" dogs with a nice camp fire and lots of stars!