Few things in life drag out as long and laboriously for a teenager as can a day in school. Gazing out the window as a teacher droned on about an irrelevant subject, I would watch the birds and dream about being at home with my animals. And the instant the bell rang, heralding the fact that I was no longer obligated to remain in that seat, I literally flew out the door.
My dogs were never a disappointment, and always met me with wagging tails, and smiles lighting their faces. Out came the leashes, and before I could even grab a snack, we were off for a walk.
During one such outing, we passed a neighbor who, lead in hand, was happily being pulled along the sidewalk.
“Hi,” I called. “When did you get the dog?” I kneeled to greet the little black creature, and realized immediately that she would whelp soon.
“We got her today. Her name is Fiona. Isn’t she cute?” my young friend, Pete, answered.
I bit my lip and smiled, nodding, “Hmmm…” Trying to remain honest while sizing up this, well, not the prettiest of dogs, I offered, “She’s awfully sweet, but it looks like she is going to have pups really soon.” Continue reading “Puppy Factories 101” »
My son, Jordie, was breathless on the other end of the phone. “Mom, there is a ground squirrel here that’s been hit by a car. It’s alive, but pretty badly injured!”
“Where are you?” I asked.
“I’m phoning from the corner store. It’s up the road from here a bit.”
“Okay, I’m on my way.” I hung up the phone, found a small animal crate, and some heavy gloves. I sighed, “Here we go again…”
Jordie had encountered the animal while riding his bike to a friend’s house, so the drive was short. He hailed me, and pointed towards a small brown creature writhing on the ground. It flopped over and over, like a worm that had been cut in half.
“That’s not a ground squirrel, Jord. That’s a weasel.” I thought back to my days working at the Vancouver Children’s Zoo, and to how no one ever wanted to have to clean the weasel cage. Intelligent, but not taking kindly to the humans who held them in captivity, the weasels would have to be tricked into a holding cage so that the cleaning could be done in safety. Continue reading “Rescue of a Weasel” »
In the best of economic climates, it’s difficult to ask for and then actually acquire, business donations for charities. But as we wade through a recession, wincing as some of the largest corporations themselves beg for money, it makes that solicitation even harder to place.
There are now so many bona fide, honest and imperative charities within our shrinking world, each depending on the goodness and the now nonexistent, extra money of the world community, that an actual statistic speaking to that number, is unavailable. There are people and animals around the world that are dying from hunger, thirst and preventable diseases, or have lost their homes to natural disasters. With this being the case, how does one find the courage to ask beleaguered people and corporations to donate to less critical but nonetheless important, causes?
Continue reading “Seeking Donations” »
sending...