♥ Ten Ways To Get In Shape To Own A Horse ♥
 
1. Drop a heavy steel object on your foot. Don't pick it up right away. Shout "Get off! Get off!"

2. Leap out of a moving vehicle and practice "Relaxing into the fall". Roll lithely into a ball, and spring to your feet! 

 
3. Learn to grab your checkbook out of your purse/pocket and write out a $200 check without even looking down.

4. Jog long distances carrying a halter and holding out a carrot. Go ahead and tell the neighbors what you're doing.They might as well know now.

5. Affix a pair of reins to a moving freight train and practice pulling it to a halt. And smile as if you are really having fun.

6. Hone your fibbing skills. "See hon, moving hay bales is fun!" and " I'm glad your lucky performance and multi-million dollar horse won you first place - I'm just thankful that my hard work and actual ability won me second place".

7. Practice dialing your chiropractors number with both arms paralyzed to the shoulder, and one foot anchoring the lead rope of a frisky horse.

8. Borrow the US Army slogan; "Be all that you can be'...(add) bitten, thrown, kicked, slimed, trampled."

9. Lie face down in the mud in your most expensive riding clothes and repeat to yourself: "This is a learning experience, this is a learning experience,..."

10. Marry Money! ♥
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date Saturday, January 28, 2012

 



A Minneapolis woman was forced to say goodbye to the dog that came to her rescue, when it was put to death by Minneapolis Animal Care and Control (MACC) on Saturday – despite a sanctuary’s offer to take it in.


Debra Peters said her pit bull, Putz, was only trying to defend her when it bit her ex-husband during a recent domestic dispute. The man spit in her face before kicking the dog. When he took a swing at Peters, Putz came to her defense, biting the abuser on the wrist and stopping him from attacking.

”(He) kicked Putz and I said, ‘What did you do that for?’ and he went to swing his arm at me and that is when Putz jumped up and got him on his wrist,” Peters said. “He was only protecting him[self] and me.”

Yet, Minneapolis Animal Care and Control determined the dog would not make a good pet during an evaluation, meaning it would be put down.

Two animal groups hoped the judge would allow a re-evaluation, but the judge declined. One group even offered to put the dog in a sanctuary and never adopt it out, but the city refused that offer as well.

"What does this tell us about other women who are in abusive relationships?" asked Claudia Beckman. "Dogs are our best friends, and they can be protectors."

On Saturday,  the order was carried out, and the brave little dog who tried to save his owner, drew his last breath ... what a betrayal to "man's best friend".

One has to wonder why one dog is proclaimed a "hero" for defending his owner, while another is put to death ... was it the city the dog lived in? or was it the breed of the dog? or what? ... a very sad situation.



Pit Bull Putz_20120120073736_JPG
♥ Rest in peace Putz ♥



Read more here : http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/putz-pit-bull-death-row-jan-19-2012 and http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/investigative/pit-bull-put-down-despite-sanctuary-offer-jan-22-2012 .  Photo courtesy of Fox9 News .

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date Tuesday, January 24, 2012

 



Have you ever lost your dog/pet before? What steps did you take to find them? What worked? Did not work? Did a "Reward" work?
 
In addition to placing BIG bright/neon-colored signs (not your small flyers), like the one above, on street corners ... here is a quick list we put together on where to POST local flyers (ask first, of course, and place on their bulletin boards and/or door or store fronts) >>>

  • - Handout to neighbors (door-to-door)
  • - Schools
  • - Churches
  • - Post Office (AND local mail-person)
  • - Police Station (AND any local police you see out & about the area)
  • - Fire Station
  • - Dog Walkers/ Pet Sitters (like All God's Creatures Pet Services )
  • - Food delivery places (Pizza, Chinese,etc.)
  • - Gas Stations
  • - Veterinarians
  • - Dog Groomers
  • - Pet stores
  • - Fed Ex/ UPS delivery-persons
  • - Newspaper delivery-person (Pioneer Press, StarTrib, Local papers)
  • - "Milkman"  (i.e Schwans, Coborns, etc.)
  • - Garbage man
  • - Grocery Stores
  • - Local Businesses 
  • - Lawn/Snow removal services


You could also "paint" your car window with the info., like these folks did! Just make sure you use your cell number, or one of those pay-by-the-minute cell phones (to protect your privacy & safety), and NOT your home phone number. Oh, and be sure to use washable/non-permanent "car window paint/chalk".>>>

Of course, we have social media available to us too, now-a-days ... so make a Facebook PAGE (not a profile) for your DOG/CAT ... yes, it is OK to make a PAGE for your pet. If you make a profile for them, Facebook will take it down, but pages are allowed.

Once you have a page set-up for your pet, upload your "LOST" flyer and several recent photos of your missing pet.  Then start "sharing"/cross-posting like crazy.  Ask all your friends & family to share your posts too. Also make sure to go to all the Facebook pages of the places listed ABOVE, and place your "LOST" flyer on their Facebook pages TOO. There is also a great page on Facebook called  LOST DOGS - MN. Be sure to post your pet's information (flyer), and a clear photo, there too.  They do a great job getting the word out!

Facebook is a great tool for communication ... for organizing search parties, posting updates, any sightings, and THANK YOU's once your pet has been found. Pages are also public, and viewable by all ... including search engines like Google. So if the person who finds your pet Googles "Lost male Boxer Blaine MN", for example, they would find your Facebook page!


Hope this list has been helpful to those searching for their beloved companions.  If you have any additional suggestions, please feel free to post them in the Comments section below.


P.S. A friendly reminder ... when passing out fliers, do NOT place in mailboxes (it is illegal) ... place in the NEWSPAPER box, or roll-up and place in screen-door handle.  The BEST method, of course, is to ring the door bell, and TALK with everyone you can. They will be more likely to help, if you ask them face-to-face to keep an eye out for your pet.
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date Friday, January 20, 2012

 


PLEASE CROSSPOST ... ALERT >>> Missing/Lost BOXER >>> Coon Rapids, MN area <<< Have YOU seen him?? #Lost #Dog #Boxer #MN

*Name - "Chief"
*Color - Fawn w/dark mask
*Gender - Male (neutered)
*Docked tail
*Natural/floppy ears
*Wearing BLACK collar with tags

*Recently seen at "the new development across from Blaine High School",and at "Norway and 108th", and "behind Eisenhower elementary in Coon Rapids"

*Lost 1/10/12 around 5pm Coon Rapids, MN near Foley Blvd & Northdale Blvd

♥ ALL help, and prayers, are welcomed & appreciated! ♥

If found or SEEN, please contact numbers on above flier, or post here, or contact All God's Creatures Pet Services (http://www.agcpetservices.com/contact-us.html), or contact The Twin Cities Boxer Club (http://groupspaces.com/Boxers/ ) ... THANK YOU!!!
 
 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 
Update (Friday - 01/20/12)>>> We are very sad to share that "Chief" has been found ... unfortunately, he was hit by a car and died.

As owners of Boxers, we know the tremendous joy these goofy and adorable doggies can bring into our families, but we also know the deep sadness and heartbreak that comes when they pass away.

Our thoughts and prayers will be with Chief's family as they grieve his loss. ♥

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chief-Help-Find-My-Boxer/213558725401397
 
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date Thursday, January 19, 2012

 

 

Join the largest online protest in history

tell Congress to stop this bill now!


Join The Strike! and add this to your site!

 

Urge everyone you can reach to

contact Congress now (CLICK HERE).

 

 

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.


On Jan 24th, Congress will vote to pass internet censorship in the Senate, even though the vast majority of Americans are opposed. We need to kill the bill - PIPA in the Senate and SOPA in the House - to protect our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity.
See this timeline of SOPA and PIPA events and the activist backlash.

Confirmed Participants:


If you can also tweet at us at @FightForTheFTR from your official Twitter account, it will be easier for us to verify your participation. A blog post about why you are striking is great too!

date Wednesday, January 18, 2012

 



When I am Old...
I shall wear diamonds
And a wide brimmed straw hat
With silver and leather on it
and I shall spend my social security
On white wine and carrots
And sit in the alley of my barn
And listen to my horses breathe.

I will sneak out
in the middle of a summer's night
And ride the chestnut mare
Across the moonstruck meadow.
If my old bones will allow.

When people come to call I will smile and nod
As I walk them past the gardens to the barn
And show, instead, the beauty growing there
In stalls fresh-lined with straw.

I will shovel and sweat and
Wear hay in my hair as if it were a jewel.
And I will be an embarrassment to all
Who look down on me.
They've not yet found the peace in being free
To love a horse as a friend,
A friend who waits at midnight hour
With nuzzle and nicker and patient eyes
For the kind of woman I will be
When I am Old.

Written by Patty Barnhart


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date Tuesday, January 17, 2012

 


 In All of Creation

In all of creation, it was only the dog that chose freely to leave his own world and walk beside us in ours.

For over 100,000 years, they have shared our caves, our huts, our tepees our igloos, our cabins, our farmhouses, our apartments and condos, and even a thin blanket on a cold city street with a homeless person.

All across this earth, in every place man inhabits, he has sought to share his life, his work, his world with a dog, and unique among all four legged creatures, the dog has sought to understand and share his life with us.

Dogs guard our children, follow us into war, and lie next to us on the floor of our sickrooms as we are dying.

They wish desperately for us to come back when we leave them, and in the beat of a heart, would give their very lives to protect us.

They love us whether we are kind, or unkind, and are quick to forgive our angry words and harsh treatment.

Surely they are much better friends than we deserve. We owe them the best of ourselves, of our patience and kindness and empathy, especially as we teach them all the mystifying, confusing aspects of existing in our human world.

Incapable of artifice or deceit, there is an innocence and clarity that shines from a dog's eyes.

They sit quietly concerned beside us when our hearts are broken, trying to kiss away our tears, and when we are happy, they leap for joy to share our pleasure.

All they ask is to be near us, to pass their lives at our side.

We should be ever grateful, every day for the grace that extended us the privilege of having such friends as these.

~Author Unknown



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These are just TOO funny ... why don't they show these on TV?  Have you ever seen one of these doggie commercials on TV? Lovin' it! ♥




















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Since everyone loved "Where's the Cat?" so much, we thought it would be fun to put up a "Where's the Dog?" post. Besides, it's only fair, right?  Don't want to leave the dog-lovers out of all the fun! So, here ya go! Enjoy! ♥

Oh, there are THREE (3) dogs in this picture ... 
one dog on-leash, and two dogs without a leash.

Also, just as in "Where's the Cat?", once you find the Dogs, PLEASE do NOT spoil it by saying WHERE they are.  You can say that you found them, and how long it took you though ... just NO hints, please ... just as with the kitty, the doggies really are there ... plain-as-day, once you see it ... LOL ♥

 To enlarge the photo even more ... hold the "Ctrl" key while you scroll OR while you press the "+" key.


Have Fun! :o)
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date Wednesday, January 4, 2012

 



Christmas season will always hold an additional memory for us.  It is when our sweet Sheba passed away.  She was such a special dog, and although the tears have lessened with the passage of time, and we cherish all the good memories ... during this time of the year, Sheba is especially on our hearts & minds. If you have ever had a special pet in your life, you will understand.


We have always loved this poem from Mr. Stewart about his beloved Beau, and would like to share it all with you, in memory of our beloved Sheba.

Hug your doggies,
~Pamela


* By-the-way ... we had meant to post this several weeks ago, but was delayed due to illness.

date Monday, January 2, 2012

 
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