Rescued Insanity

Less Wordy Wednesday – Look for the Light

February 27, 2013

There isn’t anything particularly exciting about the below pictures. No unique poses or set-ups. Yet I am so thrilled to have taken them. For the first time in what feels like eons it has been light enough to pull out the camera during our morning walks.

It’s a late winter miracle!

And there is grass! Do you see that? Sure, it’s brown and dead but it is lovely to see spaces that are not covered in snow.

With the increasing light, I have to believe the worst is over. March is only a few short days away. Good things are coming, I am sure of it.

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Filed under Wordless Wednesday

Passing the Spay/Neuter Kool-Aid: Because Pets Deserve Better

February 27, 2013

The pet blogosphere has lit up this week in support of World Spay Day. A most worthy initiative indeed.

Reading all the varied opinions on spay and neuter surgeries has been enlightening. When I was a kid, it seemed like it was just what you did. If you had a dog or cat, you made sure he or she couldn’t have babies. It was a no-brainer. When I entered the world of animal welfare as an adult, at first it baffled me how many people didn’t automatically alter their pets. Unless one plans on breeding, I didn’t understand why she would take the risk. Now I realize it is a lot more complicated than that.

There are many good reasons people have for not spaying or neutering their pets. I trust that everyone reading this today knows all about the costs and benefits. I’m not going to ramble on about it again. You all are responsible and have made your decisions in the best interests of your family. It’s part of why we get on so well.

The struggle begins when trying to reach those who don’t read the literature – people who genuinely don’t know the costs and benefits of spaying and neutering. These are the people who might need the information shared by organizations across the continent in promotion of the big event.

By this point, you all know how I feel about cats. More specifically, you know how I feel about the massively massive overpopulation of cats and how these beautiful animals are often ignored, abandoned, and then euthanized. It is impossible for me to think of spay and neuter programs without immediately thinking of the feline plight. In my opinion the latter cannot be improved without the former. These neglected animals are the reason World Spay Day exists.

The large cat overpopulation problem has been building for decades. There is no one individual or group to blame. Most people who bring home pets have the best of intentions. No one adopts a cat unless one enjoys being around animals. People might be misinformed but they are not purposefully negligent. Yet, no matter how kind the thought, priorities change. Life happens. Vet care is expensive. Things get busy. Appointments are pushed off. Indoor cats escape. Things get busier. Pets get forgotten.

I understand. There is a lot to think about every day. That’s why spaying and neutering is so vital. It’s kind of like insurance. I don’t want to think about how many litters of kittens my cat could have sired by now if he wasn’t altered. Between Calgary and Halifax, he might have had quite a crew of offspring. And we’d never even know it. Getting him snipped prevents me from having to worry about his fatherly duties. I’d hate to think of more cats killed due to my own ignorance.

Cats like this guy:

And this guy:

And even these guys:

They are the lucky ones. None of the above cats will ever have to face euthanasia because they are unwanted. I wish I believed they were the majority. Cats deserve better. All companion animals deserve better.

World Spay Day isn’t about debating whether or not it’s healthier to keep a dog intact for two years, or five years, or forever. It’s about saving lives. The animals aided in these promotions aren’t the ones owned by knowledgeable humans making informed choices. They are the ones who may otherwise face abandonment or death.

It’s a cause I am pretty sure we can all get behind.

Poster shown above taken from SpayUSA.org.

10 Comments

Filed under Blog the change, Cats Are Awesome

Laziness and Rest: Totally Not the Same Things

February 25, 2013

At the end of a week, I am wiped. I arrive home every Friday evening declaring my plans to get some serious rest. Does that happen? Of course not. Instead, all I do is loll around watching DVR’d episodes of Community, wondering why my university never hosted campus-wide paintball fights.

This may sound very restful. Indeed, I am not doing anything. If it wasn’t for Shiva, I probably wouldn’t leave the house at all during such a session. Unfortunately, it turns out that after two days of such laziness all I am is more tired.

How can this be?

Dogs don’t have this trouble differentiating. They seem to innately understand their immediate needs and how to meet them. If they are thirsty, they find some water and drink. If they are tired, they climb on the nearest couch and sleep. If they are hungry, they find the nearest human and beg for treats. It’s that simple.

We humans seem to have our wires mixed up. If we are thirsty, we debate the ethics over bottled versus tap versus soft drink. If we are tired, we tell ourselves we need to suck it up. If we are hungry, we calculate how many calories we’ve already eaten, decide it’s too many, and go back to work.

No wonder we don’t truly understand what real rest is. By the end of a long week spent denying ourselves, it’s natural for us to want to indulge in extreme lazy. Of course, this only makes us feel unproductive and exhausted, setting us up for more failure once the work week begins again.

I am completely guilty of this. But, as they say, nothing changes if nothing changes. If I am going to break out of this work-till-I-drop-then-waste-away-on-the-couch routine I need to acknowledge my problematic behaviour and come up with solutions.

Rest is… Spending time playing with my three fuzzy foster kittens.

Laziness is… Reading a trashy novel and feeling guilty for not sweeping the floors.

Rest is.. Taking the dog for a three-hour trip to the dog park.

Laziness is… Watching a Will Smith movie I’ve already seen three times before.

Rest is… Going to bed at a decent time before I fall asleep on the couch.

Laziness is… Sleeping in as late as possible and then rushing around to get everything done before work.

Rest is… Eating regular meals that fill me up.

Laziness is… Grabbing an energy bar or a handful of chips and berating myself for eating crap.

Rest is… Long, cozy chats on the telephone with family and friends.

Laziness is… Responding to emails five days late and spending the whole time apologizing for said lateness.

Rest is… Getting my chores done during the week so I can enjoy fun on the weekends.

Laziness is… Procrastinating and hurrying to do my laundry at 10 o’ clock Sunday night.

Rest is… Petting Shiva at night when she snuggles up on the couch.

Laziness is… Batting Shiva’s tongue away as I try to get a blog post up at the last-minute.

So it’s a work in progress. The point is I need to be more aware of what I am doing and how I could better be spending my time. Sure, lolling around can be fun. However, there is a limit. What is better is getting out and appreciating the moment. Finding things that inspire me. Relishing my abilities. Taking time to get things done so I don’t beat myself up for not doing them later.

I am not saying I am going to delete everything from my DVR or give up potato chips. Please. But I do think it’s important to understand what makes me feel rested and what just makes me want to delve further under the blankets. There is a time and a place for Community. A sunny Sunday afternoon is not it.

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Filed under Personal thoughts

Should We Put the Extendable Leash Behind Bars?

February 21, 2013

Is that were it belongs? Many people I’ve talked to would be thrilled if extendable leashes, such as the infamous Flexi, were outlawed. I gotta say, I have cursed them multiple times myself. It often seems to me that the length of the leash is inversely related to the size of the dog. The tinier the puppy, the further he is away from the human at the other end. Not only does this strike me as dangerous, it’s also really annoying for everyone else on the sidewalk.

Naturally, this is a stereotype. Before I get all sorts of hate mail, I’d better correct myself. There are many wee dogs who are calm on a leash and walk beautifully beside their handlers. There are also many large dogs who tug and yank and scream at the end of a long, extendable line. It’s just the latter don’t get walked very much after their people end up in the hospital due to one too many shoulder dislocations.

One councillor in my municipality has proposed an end to these types of leashes on city streets. As quoted in a CBC news article, he believes:

“The length of the leash allowed dogs to go to further into private yards and defecate and then leave the stuff behind. Also, if it’s too long it allows an unruly dog to be more free to lunge at a person.”

Speaking from personal experience, a dog can lunge and defecate regardless of the length or style of leash.

We actually purchased a retractable leash for Shiva before we even brought her home. My childhood dog used one all the time so it was just another product I assumed we’d need. I thought they were better than boring old 5-foot lines. Most have more comfortable handles and they are advertised as giving dogs more freedom. How could that be a bad thing?

Shiva’s reactivity quickly put an end to that line of thinking. It only took a few episodes before the line snapped and the leash sat at the bottom of a garbage can. I was just grateful said snapping happened in our backyard and not on a city street.

Despite this bad experience, I am not wholly against these tools. Long lines are quite useful for those working on recalls. In the appropriate places at the appropriate times, I see nothing wrong with giving your dog wider space to roam. Many breeds – like beagles, greyhounds, and Siberian huskies – are difficult to trust off-leash. Extendable leashes enable these dogs to enjoy a run without worry. In my opinion, it would be a shame if this was no longer a possibility.

We all have our biases. Most dog walkers are responsible and don’t allow their canine companions to roam aimlessly into the road or on private property. I know when I rant under my breath about the three Chihuahuas yapping at the end of their extendable leashes, that most people who walk small dogs pay much closer attention to their charges. But it still annoys me.

Once more it seems to be a case of the few ruining it for everyone else.

What do you think? Should municipalities place restrictions on the length of leashes? Do you think this is a problem even worth debating?

44 Comments

Filed under Bits and pieces, News

Less Wordy Wednesday – Best. Birthday Gift. Ever.

February 20, 2013

I’ve often joked that it’s a good thing Shiva is a mixed breed all her own. One Shiva is probably all the world can take. We don’t know if she had any siblings but I am inclined to think not. I am sure the screams would have ricocheted across the city by now.

However, I stand corrected. After opening my birthday present this year, I’ve determined two Shivas is actually a good thing.

Shiva herself agrees. Now she has someone to blame when we find garbage strewn all over the floor.

As lovely as the new Shiva is, though, I think I still prefer the original. There is one=hundred-percent more cat chasing with a classic Sheevs, but there are also at least as many cuddles.

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Filed under Wordless Wednesday

Taking to Heart What Other People Think

February 18, 2013

Me today, February 18, 2013

It’s the complete opposite of what everyone tells you to do. No one ever says “pay more attention to the opinions of others.” It seems so counter-intuitive. We are taught to trust ourselves more than anyone else, that what other people believe about us doesn’t matter. All my life I have heard the same old lecture: stop worrying about what other people think.

Blah, blah, blah. If I had a penny for every time I heard that phrase, well, I probably wouldn’t be running in shoes with holes in the bottom.

This is a feat that at times seemed impossible. How does one cut out the nagging jibes in the background? How am I supposed to abruptly stop caring what my friends, co-workers, and grocery store clerks secretly think about me? These people are in my life and they matter. I see the same Tim Horton’s cashier several times a week. It’s important to me that our interactions have a friendly air. Procuring my mid-day coffee should not be a hostile activity. Furthermore, I think it is important to be considerate of other people. If we all wander around not ever thinking of the concerns of others, it won’t take long for the world to turn pretty miserable.

Obviously, I took the concept a little too literally. Shocking.

This is going to sound awkward but I am going to stammer it out anyway. Through conversations with my PH I have come to learn that perhaps I have been taking the wrong approach. The more inward I focus, the crappier I feel about myself. I am always going to be harder on myself than anyone else could be. It’s always a surprise when someone else says something kind or when someone views my actions from a positive perspective rather than a negative one. I will always search for and poke at the flaws and am stunned when others don’t do the same.

My PH has gently pointed out that perhaps I need to start believing my own press. Maybe instead of ignoring, I need to embrace, the opinions of others. It’s probably a good bet that our mail carrier – who I worry thinks we’re nuts based on all the packages we receive addressed to “Rescued Insanity – thinks better of me than I do of myself. It might be time I start to believe him.

Or her. I don’t think I’ve actually met the carrier in our neighbourhood yet. Which is probably a good thing for both of us. On our old street Shiva and the carrier had one sticky interaction too many. I am surprised he continued to deliver mail to our door at all. There were days I am sure he contemplated just throwing it on our lawn and dodging away.

Me, many years ago, roughly February 2007.

Me, February 18, 2007.

It’s funny, and a little sad, that despite how many things have changed in my life between the years these two pictures were taken, I’m still very much the same person. I look a little different and my priorities have altered completely, yet I am still the same uncertain person inside. And you know… I think that’s okay. Who I am doesn’t need to change. How I view myself does. When I think about what the twenty-five year old woman in the photo above would think of the thirty-one year old woman in the first picture, I get stuck. Would she be proud? Would she be disappointed? I know she would think I am in desperate need of a hair cut.

I like to think she would understand. I hope she would see all the happiness in my life and brush off all the sad. My birthday gift to myself is that it doesn’t matter what she thinks any more. It never should have in the first place.

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Filed under Personal thoughts

Why My Rottweiler Let My Pomeranian Beat Her Up – and Other Important Questions

February 15, 2013

Blog statistics aren’t something I delve into very often. They usually make me feel icky inside. Numbers have always had that effect on me, really. Ever since I entered ninth grade and encountered trigonometry. And graphs.

Naaaasty. Wasn’t math so much nicer before all that crap? When all one had to do was find the value of x?

Because it’s been a self-esteem-kicking week, I decided I may as well pummel myself down further and dust off the ol’ Google Analytics. Maybe I just needed an excuse to pour myself another glass of wine, I am not sure. Regardless, I logged in and immediately became immersed. It wasn’t the statistics themselves that grabbed my attention, though. I really still could care less about those. It was the common search terms.

Hilarious stuff, truly. If you haven’t checked out yours lately, I highly recommend it for a giggle.

Most of the top ten items on the list made sense. A lot of “rescued insanitys”, “heart dogs”, and “what to buy before getting a dogs.” It stunned me that according to Google the top search term for my website is actually “Rottweilers” and by an enourmous margin. It is something like thirty percent! To this day my most popular post ever written was the one in which I admitted to an instinctive, yet embarrassing fear, of the breed. I hope this means my shame-faced confessions have helped other people conquer their own demons.

Yep, focusing on the positive today.

Many of the other search terms were not nearly so logical. I thought I would share some of the ones that had me raising an eyebrow. The title of this post being number one, here are some of the others on the list:

“Empty bread bag” – This makes me a little sad, actually. I hope these people were able to find some cheer through my silly stories, despite their lack of bread.

“Pimp outfit” – I am sure most of these people were sorely disappointed.

“Cats are evil” – Egads! No! Cats are AWESOME! Awesome, I tell you! Pay no attention to the cat plotting my demise in the shadows…

“Name a breed of dog a man would be embarrassed to admit he’s afraid of” – This is a judgment-free zone. You will not be mocked for your fear of Yorkies here. I promise.

“Picture of elephant’s front feet” – Did you find what you came for? If you didn’t here you go:

via

“Tim Flach poster” – I am sorry to say I didn’t know who this was until I looked up his name. I am so glad I do now.

“Fort Needham Memorial Park” – Ugh. Worst. Dog Park. Ever.

“Don’t say you ever loved me you always loved yourself” – Yikes. Good luck with that. Sounds like you are better off without.

“Absurd looking dog handlers” – You came to the right place?

Why, yes. I would rather stick a slobbery pouch in my back pocket than wear a fanny pack.

“Breed of dogs with crook at the end of tail” – I believe you are thinking of the Briard.

“If my dog shits in the woods do I have to pick it up” – Yes.

“I fostered kitten now its gone and I miss it” – Awww, that’s sweet. There is an easy solution to that problem, though. Why not foster another?

“Just Say Nana Na Nan Anananaaaana” – You know what? I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Have you come across any interesting search terms for your website? Do share. I always appreciate a reason to laugh.

35 Comments

Filed under Bits and pieces, Silly Stories

It’s About the Little Things – A Valentine’s Day Ode to My Dog

February 15, 2013

It’s no secret that the purportedly most romantic day of the year fills me with more irritation than it does love. From the forced gestures to the poor quality chocolate, I have never been big on celebrating Valentine’s Day. There is something about bright red heart-shaped boxes that makes my eyebrow twitch. It’s not that the concept behind the day bothers me. The idea of taking time to appreciate loved ones is a good one. But the way it is all packaged up gives me hives. It’s all just so… Artificial. Is there anything more offensive than obligatory affection?

Not to me there isn’t. If grand gestures and “I Wuv U” teddy bears are your thing, that is fine. For me, there is far more romance in the every day, little things we do for each other to show we care. Things like scraping ice off your car, or picking you up after work on a rainy day so you don’t have to take the bus. Laundry might not sound very romantic, but if you do a load for me, I will feel special.

Our animals understand this instinctively. Dogs aren’t big on shiny jewelry or fancy dinner dates. All they want is our company and attention. They know that large gifts, like expensive new toys or the latest in dog collars, are empty unless they have someone with whom to enjoy them. There is no point in buying your dog a trendy, scientifically tested tug toy unless you are willing to hold the other end. We could spend hundreds on cozy memory foam dogs beds for Shiva and she would still prefer to sleep on the couch with us.

Dogs get that it is the little things we do for each other that run the deepest. Cuddling on the coach after a long hike, throwing that stick just one more time, forgiving them when they chew a hole in our favourite slippers. On the flip side, no matter how I am feeling, when Shiva runs towards me with a wiggling bum and a wagging tail, suddenly I know everything will be okay. She puts up with my having to go to work and I put up with her occasionally humiliating me in public. We show we care not by purchasing big bouquets of flowers one day a year, but in the small things we do for each other every day.

In my opinion, that’s what love is all about.

Thanks so much to Ann at Pawsitively Pets for the adorable Shiva and “TC” Valentine images! They are just too sweet.

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Filed under Holidays, Sweet Animal Stories

Less Wordy Wednesday – Snow Day!

February 13, 2013

Nova Scotia did not escape from the wicked blizzard that hit the northeast this past weekend. What are they calling it? Nemo? Whatever the name, we had a good time watching the flakes fall outside the window. It’s just too bad we eventually had to crawl out and deal with the aftermath.

002

Ah, shoveling, the greatest Canadian pastime since drinking beer and watching hockey. Don’t worry, once the work was done we did a lot of those, too. Like a true fitness instructor, Shiva did her best to keep the team motivated.

What we do without her?

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Filed under Wordless Wednesday

As My Broken Weave Poles Gently Weep

February 12, 2013

I feel like I have been holding out on you. Like there is that dang clichéd pink elephant in the room – or I guess in my head – that I can’t talk about. Rather, I can talk about it, I have just chosen to keep silent. Yes, I do have things in my life that I don’t share online. Many things, in fact, as I am sure do you all. Our blogs are really only pieces of us, aren’t they? However, as this thing does pertain to the life of my dog it feels weird to not have said anything. It could be because the subject has been depressing the heck out of me.

Perhaps I am a bit chagrined, especially after all the drama. Oh man, the drama. It seems so remote now but it meant a great deal at the time. In truth, it stills does. A lot. I am just trying to pretend it doesn’t in hopes I get over it. Denial and television, my recipe for getting through life.

Are you ready for it? Here goes:

Shiva and I are no longer formally practicing agility.

That’s the big reveal? And I bothered to lift my head because…?

It mostly just sucks. I don’t know if I want to go into the reasons why. They mostly revolve around confronting latent fiscal problems and pulling my head out of fantasy land. I guess denial hasn’t served me all that well in the past. For now we’re just stuck with television, and even that is up in the air.

Sitting here trying to get it all out is making me even more unhappy with it all. I don’t have to explain anything to you and yet I feel like I owe you a lot more than a shrug and a “well, this bites.” I feel like I have let you down. You who have been so incredibly encouraging and supportive while I angsted over rear-crosses. You deserve a big golden trophy. At the very least you deserve more interesting stories! It’s been hard thinking of things to say lately when our lives consist of getting up, walking the dog, going to work, coming home, walking the dog, going to bed. And then repeating it all again the next day.

It’s all a little anticlimactic. After all the work we’ve done, it’s hard to just stop. Sure, we can still practice on our own and we have. I can tell you right now, without a goal in mind, it’s not the same. As the time passes, I wonder if we’ll ever start again. By the time we have the ability, I may no longer have the desire. Shiva might not be physically able to at that point anyway.

Perish the thought! This is one puppy who will live forever. Right??

So yeah, that’s a bit of what I have been going through. I apologise for the gloomy attitude. No doubt I am once again taking it all too seriously. It just makes me really sad. As with blogging, I met a lot of really awesome people through dog sports. Now that the activities can no longer be a part of my life, the people won’t be either.

I am trying to keep my brain on the things I can still enjoy. A quote from Doggerel’s most recent post has helped me gain a little perspective. The author said: “I have always just wanted a dog of my own to walk with me. And now I have one.”

So do I. There was a time that was the goal. When I finally achieved it, when Shiva learned to walk on a leash without injuring my hands or snarling at garden gnomes, I figured I couldn’t ask for anything more. It was enough for me back then. It can be enough for me now.