Monday, May 31, 2010

On this Memorial Day - please take time to honor our DOGS of WAR

Please take the time this Memorial Day to remember our dogs of war.

In all previous wars we brought home our highly trained military dogs to retire with their handler or to continue to serve EXCEPT for Vietnam. When our military was ordered out of Nam our dogs were tied to camp poles and left to watch the soldiers they loved and protected walk away and not look back. Those dogs were considered to be excess baggage.


What happened to those dogs? Most starved to death - used for target practice by the Viet Cong or skinned alive and eaten by the Viet Cong who considered them to be a delicacy. Rumor has it that those who weren't tied or confined, ran behind the planes leaving with the troops they loved so dearly or waited patiently beneath helicopters for their orders which never came; and then, when they were completely exhausted, went back to their last camp and held vigil, patiently, for their handler to come back. (If you would like to learn more, click on the War Dog graphic. It will take you to a very sobering site.)


Out of 3,000 Viet Nam era war dogs, about 200 came home.

This Memorial Day let us remember fallen soldiers who lived, and died, for our country and for the soldier at the other end of the leash.

Dogs do not have the option of enlisting in the military. Yet, after they are chosen and trained, they stand next to their handler willing to give their life - without question. When a war dog locates a bomb, or a large cache of weapons and explosives, or even deters an attack, it isn't considered to be out of the ordinary. It isn’t covered on the news, you won’t see it in the newspapers, and chances are you will never know about it. However, the handlers, know. The Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Seamen who had their lives saved by one of these loyal and highly intelligent canine soldiers know. The war dogs also know they did well and usually receive a special meal at the end of a long day.
This blog entry is dedicated to the military dog teams of our great country. Please say an extra prayer and remember not just the dog teams that have given their lives but all dog teams worldwide who continue to be on the front lines. God bless and keep them all.


Please visit the United States War Dogs K-9 Wall of Honor. You are here because you love dogs. You will leave those pages deeply affected.

A Working Dog
GOD SUMMONED A BEAST FROM THE FIELD...

And he said, Behold man, created in my image. Therefore adore him
You shall protect him in the wilderness, shepherd his flocks,
watch over his children, accompany him wherever he may go;
even unto civilization.
You shall be his companion, his ally, his slave. To do these things,
God said, I endow you with these instincts uncommon
to other beasts: faithfulness, devotion, and understanding
surpassing those of man himself.
Lest it impair your courage, you shall never foresee your death.
Lest it impair your loyalty, you shall be blind to faults of man. Lest it
impair your understanding, you are denied the power of words.
Let no fault of language cleave an accord beyond that of man with
any other beast; or even man with man. Speak to your master only
with your mind and through your honest eyes.
Walk by his side: sleep in his doorway: forage for him, ward
off his enemies, carry his burdens, share his afflictions;
love him and comfort him.
And in return for this, man will fulfill your needs and wants-
which shall be only food, shelter and affection.
So be silent, and be a friend to man. Guide him through the perils
along the way to the land that I have promised him.
This shall be your destiny and your immortality.
So spoke the Lord. And the dog heard and was content.
(Anonymous)



God bless America
God bless our troops
It is the 
VETERAN,
 not the preacher, 
 who has given us freedom of religion. 

It is
the VETERAN,
 not the reporter,
  who has given us freedom of the press.

It is
the VETERAN,
 not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
   
It is
the VETERAN,
not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is
the VETERAN,
 not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is
the VETERAN,
 not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.
 

National Canine Cancer Foundation

Friday, May 28, 2010

WOOF! ☺A contest where EVERYONE is a winner! How cool is that!☺ WOOF!

The dog blogging world has lost many of its beloved members over these past weeks. Some of our other members are fighting the good fight for their lives. A lot of sadness has traveled throughout the Universe with buckets, if not rivers, of tears shed in profuse sadness for love lost and love remembered. As we were traveling from blog to blog to offer our condolences, and to hopefully leave words of encouragement, something caught our eye on The Portuguese Water Blog. We made a note that we would come back to it and share the fun with all of our friends when the time was right. Today, we think the time is right and we hope that you do, too.

The Portuguese Water Blog is having it's Second Annual BANDANNA DAY to be held on June 10th over on their bloggy. Here is some information about how you can 'put your bandanna in the ring' as copied from their site:


Fudge and the others can't wait to see what you all decide to wear. We're looking forward to making lots of new friends again this year. Let's beat last year's record of 73. You can start sending your pictures anytime. I'll save them till the 10th.

Here are the 4 easy steps to play along:

1. Find something red to wear.
2. Have your person take your picture.
3. E-mail your picture to me at wilcoxhall@ymail.com
Include your name, the state or country where you live, and your blog or website so we can link to you.
4. Check in on this blog on June 10 to see all the pictures.

We know that all well dressed dogs (and c*ts) have a bandanna somewhere in the house. If they don't then they need to grab their leash, tell their human being to grab the car keys and go shopping! The color this year is RED and - who doesn't love red or look pretty in red or look handsome in red!

Here's a sneak peek at our arsenal of bandannas but we're not going to show you the photo of our PURRsonal choices because we want you to be surprised on the 10th when those wacky, wild and crazy Portuguese Water Dogs post all of the photos!


So travel on over to The Portuguese Water Blog (Fudge is a cousin of First Dog Bo Obama) and read all about it! Then grab your momma or dadda's camera, put it in their lap, sit pretty and pose with your snazziest bandanna tied around your neck - or heck, loop it around your tail if that is what suits your fancy! Pick out your best photo and shoot it on over to the momma of those fun lovin' Portuguese Water Dogs!

Gotta run. We just found another bandanna we want our momma to iron! I'm tellin' ya, this modeling thing is gettin' to be kinda fun!

PeeEss: And, if that isn't enough activity to keep you busy this weekend, Miss Mayzie is having a 'guessing contest' over on her bloggie! WOWZA, a fun-filled weekend for all!
National Canine Cancer Foundation

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

L♥ve gained - L♥ve lost - L♥ve remembered


For my beautiful Starr
Heavenly Father, Creator of all things.
Thank you for blessing me with this loyal dog.
Thank you for letting her teach me unselfish love.
Thank you for all the memories that I can recall
to brighten my days for the rest of my life.
Finally, in gratitude, I return my dog to you.
Amen.
Grieve not, nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you
I loved you so-`twas Heaven here with you.

Just a Dog

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog." Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise." "Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day. 

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog," just smile, because they "just don't understand." 
Richard A. Biby
National Canine Cancer Foundation

Monday, May 24, 2010

Good-bye darling Maxdog of South Africa, you now belong to the Universe


Today we celebrate the life of darling Maxdog of South Africa. If you judge the impact that a life has made while on earth by the tears shed upon its death, then this dog, this Golden Retriever who lived in South Africa, was a hurricane - a tsunami - a tornado - an earthquake of monumental proportion.

Tonight my precious Max, I will stand under the midnight sky and will look for the newest, brightest and biggest star in the heavens. I will reach up and touch you - for the first time.

National Canine Cancer Foundation

Friday, May 21, 2010

Sweet Mona is in need of the dog blogging Universe to give her our l♥ve and support

If you will, dear friends of the infinite internet Universe, please journey over to offer your strength and ♥felt PURRayers for dear Mona who has had surgery to remove a mast cell tumor. There is no way that a face as cute as hers should ever feel sad - nope, not never!
National Canine Cancer Foundation

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Making new FURends - it's a good thing

 This is Turke. Doesn't he have a nice smile

One thing you can say about us is that we are friendly. Momma says sometimes we are too friendly (aren't we supposed to sniff crotches when we greet someone?)

We went out for our morning walk in the bloggies and found a new friend. A German Shepherd Dog friend who is a rescue and who just started his furry own bloggy. His name is Turke and we think that you will be inspired by his story. Turke nearly lost his life at a furry young age when he was hit by a car and left at the side of the road. But don't be sad because he is thriving now that he has his FURever home and fambly - who just happen to be his 'failed-foster-fambly', hehehe! (Happens all the time like that, ya know)

Go ahead - stop over to say WOOF! Sniff him out and be sure to invite him over to your place fur some good sniffs and play bows, too!
National Canine Cancer Foundation