Wish I spoke dog

I am very confused. Jackson has developed, quite randomly, some weird new unpleasant behavioral problems. I am not sure if all of them are connected someway...maybe it's something me or my boyfriend are doing and aren't aware of? I really don't know.

I think it started with excessive barking. When I first got him, the first few times I walked him he would bark and run to the end of the leash at strangers. This obviously displeased me so I would correct him by using a firm "NO" and would make him pay attention to me. I basically showed him that I am boss and this new household has rules. That's all it took with him. He caught on super fast.

That was the end of that until about maybe two months ago. I was sitting in the grass with both dogs and a man walked by with his two very respectful, non threatening dogs. You know those dogs that when they see another dog, they go nuts, barking and growling loudly and yanking/jumping around on the end of the leash completely ignoring the owner?? Yeah, that was Jackson. He managed to claw my leg too. I was furious to say the least. Not to mention, very VERY baffled by his behavior.

Since getting Bleak and being super close to him since day 1, I have become a strong believer that dogs really do have more insight on the goodness of others(human or animal) almost immediately. This why if Jackson would occasionally bark at certain people or another dog, it didn't bother me. But now it's turned into excessive barking at pretty much anyone he doesn't know.

So that is where these behavioral problems started. Well, one random idea is it all ties into him having separation anxiety. Maybe it's just anxiety in general. Just a thought since this has been there worst problem since I moved 4 months ago.

Which leads me to another problem that I originally wasn't going to mention, but maybe I should just to document it.

Jackson has had separation anxiety since I got him. It was never severe at first. He would just cry for like 10 minutes or so. When I left the house, I would close him off in my bedroom. Until about 2 or 3 months of doing this, he randomly decided that he couldn't take it and clawed the shit out of my door. I started leaving him loose in the house with Bleak and he seemed much happier.

Since moving, I discovered that leaving them home alone would result in my eviction(no exaggerations here). I started working with them and got to the point where we could leave them for 30ish minutes without any signs of anxiety. After doing this for about a week, you'd think they would get better. But no, Jackson randomly got over anxious before I even left one day and as soon as I shut the door he started barking and howling immediately. Again, me=baffled.

OK on to the most recent things. He has started doing little things here and there...like trying to steal Bleaks food during feedings and barking madly at the one cat and chasing him out of the room. The biggest thing that actually worries me though happened yesterday. I noticed that when I went to give my normally super affectionate dog kisses on the face, he would growl. Even to the point where his lip would start to quiver and curl up abit. I punished him for it, which I probably shouldn't have. Then later that day, I believe I went to give him a hug and he growled at me again so I started saying "NO. BAD" and he randomly peed. I wasn't anymore harsh with him then usual, which is why I am worried.

My guess is his recent issues could be due to nutrition. I haven't had their protein supplement stuffs in quite sometime. That could maybe explain why he's stealing Bleaks food(and eating his poop). Maybe he feels unsatisfied? I'm going to order it, and if this continues after a couple weeks of him being back on it, then I will definitely need to see a vet and maybe consult a professional trainer to give me some answers.

Oh! and also,  can't recall if I have made a post about Bleaks problems, but for the longest time he would involuntarily urinate. That stopped about 2-3ish months ago and I was soooo happy(and proud that I officially had a reliably house trained dog). He randomly started peeing again last week. He stopped again though so lets hope whatever the problem was, it has ceased and I am sincerely hoping that it was just a fluke.

That is all for now.

XD

Jackson is...plotting?

Handsome boys.

Oh geez, just look at that face. *swoons* AND THE FEETS!!! SQUEEE

People are Scum- Part 1

I say part 1 cause I can guarantee I'll have more rants regarding this sad excuse of a species called Human Beings.

So yesterday I was on Facebook and someone had posted an ad off Kijiji about a dog needed a home. I immediately reposted it, being the animal lover I am. However, when I read it again and thought more about it, it seemed fishy. I am not going to post the actual ad, but I will summarize what was said.

The poster claims that they are fostering a dog for a rescue group and that in four days they have to move. If the dog has no home, then they are forced to surrender it to a shelter where it will most likely be put down due to it's age(the dog is 12). The poster also claims that the rescue group whom they are fostering for can't take the dog back and that most rescues won't take in the dog due to it's age.

Ok, where to begin? First of all, even if this particular rescue group cannot take the dog back maybe due to over capacity, then LOOK FOR ANOTHER. I googled this persons location and found TONS of other rescue groups. Many even state that they will take any dog. Even elderly dogs.

Not only is that bullshit, but it puts a bad name on rescue groups. What if someone saw that who has to surrender there pet, but then they think they can;'t cause this ignorant person said rescues won't take elderly dogs? Guess what happens. Another innocent life is destroyed all because some piece of shit scumbag won't send out an email to other rescue groups. Instead they resort to lies.

Also, an important point, most rescue groups will even transport the pet with absolutely no cost to you. I had my rescue, Jackson, transported all the way from Ottawa to London. It didn't cost me anything extra.

Another thing, I understand situations arise and sometimes you have to move, but everything else in this ad seemed off, so this also makes me feel as though they are telling lies about this too. Rescue groups take there work very seriously. They make sure a possible foster parent is going to commit fully to an animal they take into there home. If you knew you had to move, then you don't take in the dog, and I know as a matter of fact a rescue group won't give a pet to someone whom they know will be moving.

Again, something urgent may have come up though.

I decided to email this person to suggest that they contact other rescue groups. They got rude with me right away and...well I will post the messages.

Me: "Can;t you find another rescue group? There are tons and I am sure many would even be willing to transport her since most rescue groups do anything to keep animals out of high kill shelters."

Moron: "no offence but i wish people wouldn't send messages like this as it fills up my inbox and takes away room from productive messages from people who might be able to help.  even most rescue groups don't care about elderly dogs, that is why this rescue group woudn't take her back."


Me; "People honestly "fill up" your inbox? I find that unlikely. The reason i replied is cause your ad seemed like complete bullshit. Rescues do not care about age. I googled the Hamilton area to check if you were lacking rescue groups. Not even close to lacking. Clearly you were lazy and didn't want to attempt to even send a few emails to groups. Even if a specific group couldn't take her, I guarantee they'd at least point you in the right direction."

Moron: "You find that unlikely when YOU yourself just sent another useless message when I have already told you to keep your rude and unhelpful messages to yourself?  We have contacted plenty of rescue groups, and if that's all the help you're going to be, is to send people insulting messages, maybe the problem you are pointing out is more of a YOU problem than a SOMEONE ELSE problem.

I'm asking you again not to bother sending me any more messages.  I posted an ad trying to find an elderly dog a home.  If you're not going to be part of the solution, don't cause problems."

And then sent this one too. "Even if I had lied in an attempt to find a dog a home, who the hell cares?  And even if I did post on kijiji instead of contacting a shelter where the dog might be kept alive but in a cage, or a lab where she would be alive but tested on, who the hell cares?  I mean realistically, even if I was a complete lying douchebag like you've decided I am because you'd rather not help in any way but want to make the whole situation MY fault and NAMECALL, typical unwashed Hamilton behaviour

I AM FINDING A DOG A HOME AND YOU ARE SENDING RUDE MESSAGES, NAMECALLING, AND GENERALLY WASTING MY TIME."

Me: "I am helping by encouraging you to contact other rescue groups. But since you won't, I did the work for you.

I hope someone gets in touch with you soon, and I sincerely hope that your ad finds this dog a forever home as opposed to just another foster hope. This dog doesn't need to be put in a shelter where it will most likely be put down. Rescues don't kill. Consider it."

Apparently, calling someone lazy is name calling.

So, that last message I sent was after I contacted multiple rescue groups in Hamilton and Toronto. A couple replied shortly after asking for contact info(the person changed the ad and said the dog found a home) and that it is inexcusable for a rescue group to deny an animal needing help. One reply in particular was extremely informative since the group was aware of this so-called rescue group that wouldn't take the dog back. And they know what dog I was referring to. Whether all this is truth or not, doesn't really matter. That dog was thrown in an inhumane situation. (Btw I hate the term "Inhumane". It suggests that people do good on a regular basis when in reality, there are WAY more scumbags then people who are completely selfless)

Anywho, here's the email I was just talking about.

"The Rescue (if you can call it that) is called "Kit Kat Club" and we had never heard of them but apparently Pet Valu on Wilson Street in Hamilton has been featuring their kittens (selling their kittens in their store) but declined that they had any other involvement with them.  This is contrary to what I have found and as we do some promotion for Pet Valu, we will be contacting the owner to make a formal complaint.

It would appear that this group has been fundraising and such but the money apparently seems to be going into pockets rather than to help the animals.  (this is second hand info and based on how they have treated this poor dog that was in their care)

Kit Kat Club does have a facebook page where the dog can be seen.  We have been in contact and hopefully this will be resolved very shortly as the SPCA has been to the house to check on the dog's condition and to lay charges if able.  Regardless that this woman was just fostering, the dog was in her care all summer and according to her, has eye infections and is  totally flea infested.  He has been kept in a shed and from what I understand (second hand info) was being fed cat food.  It is only because Martha is moving and the group refused to help her with the dog that she posted to us as well as several other places asking for help.  She should have done something long ago to get help for this dog.

What Martha told us is that the dog was taken from an elderly woman who was going into a nursing home and she paid Kit Kat Club $150.00 to take the dog.  The group then asked her to foster the dog and they have refused to help or contact her again other than to tell her to contact us.  I hate to think what she would be feeling is she knew where her beloved pet ended up!    

As of yesterday, the SPCA had been informed and were going to the house to meet with Martha and see the dog.  I don't know if they will give us any information at this point but we would sure like to know what happened to the dog.

I just saw the email from Korinne saying the dog had found a home.  I do know that there was someone, a gentleman of good honour willing to take the dog but not sure that happened before the SPCA got there.

This is all just too horrible and I hope someone can do something about this so called group!!!

Karlene

Rescue Director

Ugly Mutts Dog Rescue"

 

Well, there you go.

New tattoo design

This post is for myself.

I am planning a new tattoo. The concept is  basically reversing the roles of humans and animals in factory farming. I want a pig standing on it's hind legs dressed in butcher garb( shiny black, long gloves with an apron in the same style). The gloves are going to resemble a regular glove, so human hand shape. The feet are going to be bare and they will be pigs hooves.


As for the pigs head, I want it very sinister looking with blood on the mouth area, dripping. Something similar in style to this.

In one hand (hoof?), I want a typical butchers knife with blood on it, and in the other I want it holding a silver platter with a human arm on it with the fingers curling in distress. Kind of like how a spiders legs curl up when they die. I want it to suggest alot of trauma to the human.

This apron.

These gloves.

I want the angle of the tattoo to be looking down on the pig. Like when people take pics of themselves with the camera up above there head, angling down so that the head looks big and the body gradually gets small looking. I want the pigs eyes super detailed and sinister.

Sorta like this...but not really. -.-

I think I want the colours similar to that tattoo I posted up abit. Where the pig is kinda black and white, but the blood is full colour.

A rant of sorts...

This post is going to tie into two things. Firstly I will start with how this train of thought came about.

I was just browsing photos of random celebrities and one of the main topics usually is how they got their great bods through a specific diet and exercise. This is of interest to me, so I read them. I would like to post a photo and a diet plan here that I just came across.

Here we have Jessica Alba. She looks great, noone can deny that('m not one for tans, but that's completely irrelevant). The article posted with this photo shares her diet plans. Here it is;


If you want to get an amazing body like Jessica’s, you’ll have to follow a very strict plan. Jessica is currently on the South Beach Diet and this is her typical day:

• Breakfast
  1 cup oatmeal with berries with 3-4 scrambled egg whites when working on the film set.

• Lunch
  Salad with 170 gms (6 ounces) of chicken breast or fish (salmon, tuna)

• Dinner
  Sashimi or or 170 gms (6 ounces) of petit fillet of beef or other lean protein with unlimited veggies and 3 small red potatoes

• Snacks
  handful of almonds or hot air popped popcorn

 I said this is going to tie into two topics at the beginning of this post. The second one is about, guess what, veganism. I feel the need to point out a misconception about it that non-vegans always seem to think. "How boring. What do you eat?" *facepalms* What did I eat today?

When I first woke up I killed off some Red Curry Thai dish from last night(fucking goood shit). Then I had a carrot cake Cliff bar. Then the bf went out and fetched a horde of food including subs from Mr.Sub, three kinds of awesome soup(Red Curry, Moroccan Chickpea, and a sweet potatoes vegetable one). Then I killed off a Nanaimo bar, and I've been picking at a chocolate cheesecake. Both desserts come from www.sweetsfromtheearth.com btw.

All this and it's only 6:30.

I weigh 127ish pounds, I am 5'6", and no, I don't just have really good metabolism(people are actually surprised at my weight fyi. I personally think most girls just lie and say they are lighter than they really are). Before going vegan, I weighed alittle more then 10 pounds heavier, exercised 5 days a week, calorie counted like crazy, and tried my best to avoid ALL junk(which is torture for me. It really is), and I never looked half as good as I do now.

Now it's rare that I check out the calories of my food, and even if I do, I never get bummed out like I used to. Like I said, I am thinner. I'm not as fit as say, Jessica Alba, but that's cause I stopped working out a couple months ago. I intend on doing regular yoga again soon though.

My point is that people accuse vegans of depriving themselves of good, hearty, delicious foods, which is so unbelievably untrue. I eat way more types of food than I ever did before veganism, or than most average people. Every night my dinner looks like and tastes like something off a restaurant menu. I adore grocery shopping cause how veganism opened me up to a larger variety of dishes. Also, the creativity of trying to mimick traditional dishes, but veganize them. It's fun stuff!

Compare what I have eaten so far, to what Jessica Alba eats in an entire day. Or any other celebrity(this applies to everyday people as well).

I eat what I want, when I want, and I keep a leaner, healthier figure than when I wasn't vegan. I should also mention that I don't need to eat this often. I do it cause I can, and I no longer have to control myself for fear of losing my lean figure.

That is all. Farewell, until the next rant.

Insomnia...

Can't sleep. I randomly started thinking about something whilst lying in bed and it has left me restless. I had pointed out in a previous post about how I've felt distant around my friends. "It seems to bother me alot now that my friends, some I've had since the beginning of school pretty much, are the same as the people I rant about every day. I feel distant from them and not just cause I moved. *sigh*"

It's just, I feel totally different around them. Like I'm always on edge. I was with one friend recently and she particularly has no consideration whatsoever, which is bizarre to me since she is an animal lover. For example, we'll be eating and she'll be talking about how good the beef she's eating tastes...or how she went out to dinner the other night and got *insert a bunch of tortured animal bits here* and how it was awesome. I just don't get it. Does she think I'm going to feel joy that she very briefly enjoyed the passing of animal flesh over her tastebuds?

She even asked me to have my mom pick up milk for her. I did it. I feel like scum. I know I'm not consuming it, but even being a part of something involving animal products disgusts me more then anyone can even imagine. I feel such guilt.

My point about her asking me to get her milk...does the thought not even cross her mind that maybe I would not like that? I don't know. I think if she'd be willing to expose herself to what's really going on in factory farming, she'd be more considerate. But no. Her eyes remain shut. Even though I know she is well aware that what happens in order to get her that "delicious" cheese is not pretty.

She once said that just because you eat/use animals products doesn't mean you don't care about animals. This has some truth, however allowing yourself to be blissfully unaware is not ok and never will be. It's like people who actually care but won't take the leap into veganism act like they have a disability or have some sorta disease and can't physically do it. I did it. What makes me so fucking special?? "But I couldn't give up burgers"(This is of course said in a sympathetic tone as if I'm supposed to be understanding). I love food. I'm a raging chocoholic...not to mention I love other junk food desserts(cheesecake to name one!). I knew that it's is not worth having a living creature brutally tortured just for me to sit on my fat ass and indulge in something that lasts no more then a few moments. I shop at regular grocery stores. I see these things I once craved(and still do when I see them), and I walk away from them. It's not worth it. Not even close.

Fyi, I went six months without chocolate. I couldn't even go 6 hours before. I only recently have eaten it again due to the fact that vegan options are way more readily available than where I previously lived(I live like a 2 minute walk from a vegan restaurant :D)

Back to what I was saying before; I love food. It's not like I never cared for it so it made it easier to give up dairy, egg, and meat. I can honestly say I love eating more then ever now as a vegan. I have been opened up to way more variety in food, and such amazing tastes. Guilt free. It's actually fun grocery shopping and cooking, trying to recreate a traditional non-vegan dish, or coming up with something completely different. Veganism is an art. Or at least I think so.

Just want to point out some foods that taste or look like animal products that I have recently discovered. Oyster mushrooms look and have the texture of chicken. Artichokes are very much so like fish, texture wise. Portobello mushrooms have a very meaty, beef-like taste. Mushrooms in general are a very good alternative to meat.

Back to the whole friend issues...I feel very bad for speaking poorly of this one friend in particular, but why should I accept that she lives a life supportive of cruelty and condemn others for it? It's cruel, selfish and wrong. And this is not a matter of opinion. Cruelty to animals(or any living being) is wrong.

As I posted in my previous blog, next month is Vegetarian Awareness month so I am going to push stuff on my friends. If it's to no avail, I honestly have no idea what to do...

Until there are none... rescue one!

I thought I'd make a post dedicated to rescues. I am of course referring to the act of finding homes for homeless animals.

Such a sweetie. :)

This is Jackson. I know I mentioned him in a previous post right when I adopted him, but I haven't really followed up on him in more detail. Maybe a small description of him is needed?

Jackson is a longhaired Dachshund. He's a small Standard, hence why he's larger then Bleak. Actually, they are about the same height due to Jacksons super short legs. Jackson is much stockier and less "puppy-ish" looking then Bleak. Jackson turned four in July but the exact date is unknown.

Jackson was surrendered to www.wienerdogrescue.com due to his owner at the time allowing him to cling too much to her. It's easy to see she allowed him to rule the house. This in result made him aggressive towards the children she started fostering when they wanted his old owners attention.

Jackson was super overweight when he first arrived in his foster home. When I got him, he was still large even after losing a few pounds(I liked to refer to him as my "walrus" ;p)

So now I have had him since the beginning of this year and I must say, he is amazing. He's better behaved then Bleak, whom I got at 5 weeks old! Jackson was possessive when I got him and you had to be weary with toys. Personally, I do not believe this is any reason to give up your dog, even though I am happy his old owners did or else he would not be mine! It only took me like a month to teach him whose boss. Things we accomplished were; having him bring toys to me and drop them infront of me and allow me to take them, we did some leash work, which still needs work(I think he just gets excited since I don't think his previous owner did much with him. Plus, he has all this new found energy since his dramatic weightloss), basic commands like come, sit, stay, down, etc, he won't run through doorways unless told he's allowed to, and he also will back up super fast when told to do so(it's quite cute), plus more that I can't seem to think of.

I'd like to point out that his toy aggression was pretty severe. I had quite the battle scars to prove it from one certain occasion. :\ But with patience and practice, he's seriously amazing. And he is also around my niece, and nephews whom are all between the ages of one and three with absolutely no aggression. We still supervise just incase.

I already posted the link where I adopted Jackson from, but I'll post it again!www.wienerdogrescue.com
I just wanted to make a shoutout to them since they do amazing things. This group is all volunteer work. I can't even imagine how much it costs to do this sort of work since a fair amount seem to come in injured and sometimes needing super expensive surgery. It's truly amazing the dedication put into this rescue group(and all other rescue groups too I'm sure). I hope to maybe foster in the future. It'd be tough, but well worth it no doubt.

So if you are considering getting another pet, look into rescuing. I understand some people are maybe picky about what they want, whether it be breed, or temperament, or anything else. I understand. I was specific about what I wanted. And look who I ended up with. A gorgeous, blue-eyed, Piebald longhaired Dachshund who has become bestfriends with my first born, Bleak(and just about anyone else he meets, dog or human). Just because you didn't pick the dog from a litter, doesn't mean you have to settle for just any breed(at Shelters you can't exactly be picky). Opt for rescues. There are many breed specific rescue groups located anywhere and everywhere and are usually willing to transport the pet to you(Jackson came from about a 10 hour drive from me). Rescue groups never put down animals due to over crowding.

I would like to point out that I am not encouraging people to avoid Animal Shelters. If you are not picky, and you just want a loving companion, go to your local shelter. The kill rates are super high. It's devastating to know perfectly healthy, innocent animals are killed just because someone wanted a puppy, and the large abundance of selfish breeders.

Adopt! You won't regret it!

One more thing, October is Vegetarian Awareness Month! http://www.worldvegetarianday.org/  I believe that if you truly want to make a dent in animal cruelty, then vegan is the way to go. But any effort is appreciated by me and I encourage people to try vegetarianism/veganism for a month. Look up recipes, read up on the impact it makes, and also watch documentaries, or read articles on the various mistreatment of animals. It's a huge bummer, but it is also an eye opener and people need to see what happens every single day.

Spread the word. ;)

Irrelevant Update

I have not posted in here in like over two months so I figure I should post something. I had originally started this blog just as a place to vent. Somewhere to spew information. But the truth is, I've been happy, hence less need for venting. I'm still bitter, and always will be, about the lack of compassion for other species(and our own), and environmentally related issues. But this isn't going to change anytime soon. Not in my lifetime. I'll still do my part though and hopefully influence others to do so.

I have found someone who is on the same page as me. I thought that was a lost cause and to just accept that. But I was very happily wrong about this. I need this. It seems to bother me alot now that my friends, some I've had since the beginning of school pretty much, are the same as the people I rant about every day. I feel distant from them and not just cause I moved. *sigh*