Doll Stanley

Everything's going according to Murphy's law - but I'm gonna be chipper anyway.

The Canine Care center project was supposed to have had a grand opening on Oct. 15, and I was to leave for SF on the 23rd. My mom will have her 87th birthday without me - bummer! well there is some good news.

The taupe and forest green metal & wood insulated and heated 6x12 ft dog homes are in place. All but 2 of the 11 covered dog decks are in place. We have 6 good size enclosures. They will suffice until we can raise money for larger enclosures.

The chickens and turkeys are strutting their stuff in their new 100x100 ft enclosure. Harry and Richard (brother roosters) were confined in a covered dog pen while they waited for the new enclosure. They use to live in the huge willow tree in the back, but the dog population grew and took the space under their tree (not good). When I introduced them to the chickens we rescued from a recent cruelty case, they said, "Oh Yes! Girls!" They are coll brothers. Harry looks after Richie. When they use to fly from the tree over the dogs I would be there to supervise. If Richie didn't make the fence, Harry would come back and do kick jumps to encourage Ritchie. I decided a pen was better than the risk of losing Richie.

Edna and Jan are painting the inside of our wash & storage (taupe & forest green) building. Then the linoleum will go down. Yes, the sink was detached for this. If you recall the plumber attached the sink to the floor before the linoleum was put down.

The shade cloth has been a challenge. The post holes for the support beams were dug before we decided on the dog buildings. We are laying a beam across the poles to heighten the cloth so the doors to the buildings open. They each have a front door for us humans, and a front and back dog entrance. There are windows on 2 sides, and resting benches built into each end for the dogs to lie on or under.

The road is pretty well settled. The fences have another step before completion. We had freeze-proof water faucets put in, and Mr. Mims is going to advance us our office building - equipped with a shower/bath, sink, and toilet. We must raise the money for the building, and a barn. We will expand the cattery next, and build a flight cage for the birds that the local vets save. Even the wildlife rehab station doesn't have a flight cage.

I have been up to 4:oo every morning except 2. One was a 3:20, the other was an all-nighter. Next week I have to get some sleep. I had to do my computer work at night.

Tuesday evening the Carson & Barnes circus came to town. Edna and I held signs for the cars coming and going to see. We chose to focus on the elephant protection act. We were covered by Mississippi Network News (a news service for small radio stations all over the State. The reporter, and editor of our local paper were both away, so I will ask for a ltr-to-the-editor.

I got help from Best Friends with spreading the news that we are looking for an animal caregiver. Of course someone that can leap pine trees and jump off cliffs with agility & grace.

Legislation is on the front burner again. We have a meeting tonight. we hope to at least get our seizure bill through this year. It came close last session. We are making a few changes to our euthanasia bill, and the anticruelty to animals bill.

By the way, I no longer use the word euthanasia unless it is to end suffering from terminal disease, or injury. I am fully aware that the animals killed due to overpopulation cannot be stockpiled, but I think we need to call it what it is -- killing. This might possibly get some of the "not spaying my dog" folks disturbed enough to get with it.

We have a new pup, I'm feeding a Dane that won't yet be caught, and....

I am working some cruelty cases, and addressing other issues, but I think the report on the sanctuary should be our happy moment.

Sadly, I tell you that we lost our Grettle. She was a 7+ yr. Dane who was with us for years. I loved her dearly. She and her roommate, Hammer (a rottie/dobbie x, named by Louis) were bosom buddies. When I took them on walks with up to 12 other dogs there was always a great time, but orderly. To the creek, in the woods, whatever, they set an orderly and purposeful pace. I don't think I can ever walk without dewy eyes again. What a sweetheart. Thankfully she had a mercifully quick death from a rapid onset of cancer.

I wish you could all be here to help. the weather is favorable, we just don't have enough hands. Everyone involved in our project has too much to do.