From "downtown" Gold Hill, 5 p.m.
From home 5:15 p.m.
From home 6 p.m.
A late start to the season. This one started along I-5 between Gold Hill and Rogue River.
It’s That Time of Year . . .
Tag Archives: News and Politics
Big Waves
Several people made videos of the tsunami in Crescent City last week. Not to detract from the horror in Japan, I found the speed at which the tide advanced intriguing and somehow mesmerizing. It is easy to see how one could be lured to the beach and then overtaken by the waves.
Dog and Daughter
Missy brought Minnie to visit her dad at the office yesterday. We took the opportunity to get a couple of semi-staked photos. Now 5 months, she is learning to stand still like a good girl
It’s interesting: Ava looks almost totally Zoe to me from the pictures, but I see a lot of Carbon influence in Minnie. She has round bone, great topline and tail-set. Wish she had color around the eye on her show side, but don’t we all. She’s going to be a good-sized girl at about 28 lbs now, but I don’t think she’ll be over-sized.
Her father was delighted that Minnie has now turned into a “real dog” who is big enough to rassle with.
As I muse on other recent non-dog-related items in the news:
1) I always thought that some people had strong Neanderthal characteristics.
2) I always thought that offshore drilling was a really bad idea.
But nobody ever asks me!
Legal Double-talk?
There has been an outcry on one of the lists about California Rabies Bill AB2689. Now let me say to start with that I’m in favor of as little vaccination as necessary and support the research to determine the length of effectiveness of all vaccines, including rabies. Visit www.rabieschallengefund.org/ for information on research and current legislation.
Here is a portion of the original post (legislator names omitted):
CALIFORNIA Rabies Bill AB 2689 and will require annual rabies vaccinations and puppies to be vaccinated at 3 months of age in “rabies areas” (portion of bill text below) as determined by the State Public Health Officer — violation is impoundment.
It is URGENT that ALL concerned pet owners contact the committee and tell them to reject this bill in its entirety. The COMMITTEE PHONE is (916) 319-3958 and the members contact information is listed below. PERMISSION GRANTED TO POST AND CROSS-POST this notice, please help spread the word and take action to defeat this legislation.
SEC. 2. Section 121690 is added to the
Health and Safety Code , to read:
121690. In rabies areas, all of the following shall apply:(b) Every dog owner, after his or her dog attains the age of three
months, shall, at intervals of time not more often than once a year,
as may be prescribed by the department, procure its vaccination by a
licensed veterinarian with a canine antirabies vaccine approved by,
and in a manner prescribed by, the department.
I must be reading this differently than other people. I take “after his or her dog attains the age of three months” to mean after 3 months, not at 3 months or by 3 months. And I read “not more often than once a year” not to be every 12 months, but that the vaccine shouldn’t be given at less than 12 month intervals.
Our current local regulations require rabies vaccination at 6 months of age (which is after the age of 3 months) with the first booster 12 months later and additional boosters every three years (which is not more often than once a year).
It does mean that “the department” could then make a rule requiring vaccination at 3 months and every 12 months. That I would not support.
Maybe this is why I’m not an attorney.
Dog Show Terrorists?
The below is currently circulating through the dog e-mail list universe.
Ok to cross post
I DON’T SUPPORT HSUS OR PETA, neither should you. EDUCATE YOURSELF www.exposeanimalrights.com These organizations are not what you think they are.
To all who show, I received this from my showdog list.
By the way, this is a warning to all who show at the show this weekend (Belleville , Illinois). PETA terrorists put antifreeze in water dishes when dogs were out being shown. The handlers noticed the pink color (they said it looked like Kool-Aid) and changed the water, discovering by the odd smell what it was. It was announced over the loudspeaker to not put your dogs into their crates without checking water dishes first. Lots of people immediately took their dogs out and locked them in motor homes. We just decided that one of us would be guarding the crates at all times from now on. I am furious about it. This is what they consider Ethical Treatment of Animals? They are sick people.
There has been debate on showdogs-l as to whether the event happened as the only reports are second-hand. People agree that the announcer did come on over the loudspeaker as reported. But that in itself is not verification of the event.
As with others, I have heard reports at shows to “watch the dogs, PETA is here” but have never witnessed anything first hand. When questioned, people wandering around taking pictures have always just been interested in the cute dogs. That does not mean that it could not happen or have happened.
The first thing I thought when I read the Illinois report was “how horrible” and I immediately googled for news coverage of the event. What did I find? Nada. Why not? If someone was actually trying to kill dogs anywhere, this would have been a prime tidbit for local news.
So here is my advice for exhibitors and for club officers at shows. If there is an event make an issue of it. If an illegal act is done, such as endangering a dog, contact the police. Contact the local television stations and I’ll bet they’ll get someone there. Have people interviewed with their happy dogs, showing how much they love showing and meeting up with their family at shows (well, that’s what our dogs do). The AR groups certainly get television coverage through all of their ads. Why shouldn’t we get equal time?
But truthfully while there may be protests as there was at Westminster, I have my doubts about anyone associated with either PETA or HSUS actually attempting to harm dogs at a show. Most members of the organizations belong to them because they love animals. They may not know that the heads of the organizations may be opposed to the use of domestic animals even to the point of banning pet ownership.
If they feel that Animals have Rights equal to humans, that would make putting antifreeze in a water bowl at least attempted murder. And if so, the crime should be reported and prosecuted as such.
I’m afraid that I agree
From Mail Tribune: Ashland, Medford growers markets ban dogs starting Aug. 1
I took Huxley one time last year. He was good, but there were too many other dogs who weren’t. Too many large rambunctious dogs being handled by small children. Small children who belonged to clueless parents: “Oh, he’s just being friendly” when the dog is staring intently and doing a slow tail wag. Just before lunging.
Maybe another answer would have been to ban small children with clueless parents.
Unnecessary
From today’s Oregonian: Bill banning puppy mills clears Oregon Legislature.
Of course, we are all against “puppy mills”. But there are already statutes that deal with animal abuse and neglect. I don’t understand how the new legislation will make it more enforced.
They did raise the initial limit from 25 dogs to 50. I’m sure that there are some mushers who were glad for that. But then again the bill says “for the primary purpose of reproduction”. That would theoretically exempt all but commercial breeders.
In other words: it would exempt hoarders. The worst cases we have seen as far as abusive and neglectful conditions have not been from USDA-inspected kennels. It has been from hoarders whose dogs are kept for reasons relating to the mental-health status of the owner, not for the express purpose of breeding.
In one of the more inane parts of the bill, it makes it illegal to stack crates. Huh? And the care portion of the bill, including this provision, pertains to anyone with 10 or more dogs who are 8 months or older. Ten dogs is not all that many for any hobby breeder who is actively showing and also keeps retirees. Mandy and I have 9 between us. And when her 4 visit my 5 we will certainly need to stack the crates in the dog room.
Oh, and it looks like you have to put the dogs somewhere else if you need to scoop poop out in the dog yard. That’s ok: Alice prefers to scoop it herself anyway.