Iowa Mink Release Fails to Rescue

As I write this blog, an FBI helicopter is humming above our small town.  Many will lose sleep to that surprisingly loud flutter tonight if it persists into the wee hours of the morning.  Our small town has fallen victim to domestic terrorism.  The federal and local police are searching for the terrorists.

A local mink farm was broken into and 1200-1500 mink were released from their cages a few days ago in an attempt to "rescue" them.

http://www.kcci.com/news/29426211/detail.html

The culprits apparently tried to repeat the act tonight, as the law lay in wait for them.  We will see what the news has to say tomorrow about this evening's incident.  Meanwhile, the helicopter hovers above us, viewing our town in infrared and night vision scopes, and the residents text each other to lock doors and vehicles as the terrorists try to find a place to hide.

While I will never wear a mink coat, or admire anyone who does, I believe the people who attempted this rescue did so with very little knowledge about the repercussions of their actions.  They have not saved a single life tonight.

Releasing mink who have spent their entire lives in cages into the wild in the middle of the night is an immature and unsuccessful attempt at making a statement.  These mink are raised with water and food allotments handed to them.  Few of them will survive and fewer will thrive following sudden abandonment just weeks before an Iowa winter rears its ugly head.  Rather than running to freedom, the mink that remain loose stay on the property that they recognize as theirs, engaging in territorial fights, killing each other, one by one.

Many of the released mink were trapped by the farmer and volunteers following their release, and are now residing in cages with unfamiliar cage mates.  Those mink who were housed together are now separated and housed with those whom they have not yet established a hierarchy.  This is the equivalent of placing unfamiliar, scared, and aggressive dogs into a small cage (or ring, sound familiar?).  The result is fighting and often death of one or more of the cage mates. 

The actions of these people are equivalent to putting a band-aid on a slit throat.  It is not pretty, will not help the victims, and will not win you any praise.  If you want to make change, support the legislators trying to make that change.  Educate the public.  Decrease the demand, and the profit will decrease.  All of these take time, but it is the only way to protect animals.

Acting out illegally, and causing the amount of stress you caused in these animals is not going to gain you any praise from me or from most in the animal welfare circuit.  While we may or may not agree with your views about mink farming, your weapons should be words, not acts of cruelty.  Acts like these cause a loss of respect for animal welfare and animal rights supporters by the general public.  We come off being viewed as criminals, too uneducated to recognize the difference between saving one vs. protecting many.  We are viewed as unstable morons racing around screaming, "Let the pretty mink free"! 

Rather than save a small group of animals, our actions should provide a blanket that protects all of them. It is equivalent to buying a puppy from a store because you feel bad that it came from a puppy mill.  If you feel bad for puppies sold in stores, then you should try to get the store to discontinue selling puppies, not support the store by purchasing the puppy to "rescue" it.  Pick up your pens, grab a dictionary and a thesaurus, and make a real difference by writing to your legislators and educating your friends, family, and the local public. 

Why mink release is considered an act of domestic terrorism, I am unsure.  I suspect it is because it is considered an attack on the agricultural industry and lies in the same realm as an attack on our food source, IE cattle or hogs, as may happen in an act of war. 

If this is the interpretation, and is the reason why the federal agencies seem to be involved in catching "mink liberators", I think the government would be better off spending this time and money rewriting the laws that make up the animal welfare act, and better defining the animal industries and protecting the animals in their care.  Hogs are not mink are not dogs.  They all deserve their own set of rules and regulations as their husbandry and produce is not similar.

Releasing a pathogen as an act of war in order to deplete our nations food source is an act of terrorism whose ramifications would be felt nationwide.   That, I do understand.   Releasing mink from a farm, mink who are intended for the backs of the filthy rich is difficult for me to view as an act of terrorism.  Their production is meant to support egos and vanity, while cattle and hogs support the nourishment of families.  One is cosmetic and superficial, the other is a mainstay of life (unless your a vegetarian but the truth is that the majority of our nation is not).  Mink release does not threaten our survival...

Although I would hate to hear that thousands of Iowans froze to death this winter due to an unfortunate delay in mink coat production.

If you really think about it,

Don't we look just as ridiculous wearing theirs???


"Cruelty is one fashion statement we can all do without."
~Rue McClanahan

"Behind every beautiful fur, there is a story. It is a bloody, barbaric story." 
~Mary Tyler Moore


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***Special thanks to those of you who provided words of support and encouragement in reference to my preceding blog.  I truly appreciate it, even though there were too many emails to respond to personally.  Thank you. :-)

Where Am I?

I am tired. 

Having experienced some personal tragedies, as well as some rescue related tragedies and dilemmas, I am mentally and physically exhausted.  I am shocked that I have let the blog set idle for this long, as it is my therapy, and my friend, but even now I am stretching to find something to write about.  I feel as though I owe people an explanation of where I am and why I have been silent.

I am tired.

Rescue burns people out.  It burns people out emotionally, physically, and financially.  It can do so quickly.  I am not at my breaking point, so do not interpret this as a retirement letter.  But I am tired and our work seems futile in the grand scheme of things.

Rescue people learn to focus on the eyes of the animals within their care to keep them going on a day to day basis.  I feel as though I cannot focus on that one face anymore.  I am distracted.  There is too much I cannot do, and the job seems undo-able.  The scale of what needs to be accomplished in order to protect animals is astronomical and feels completely out of my hands as an individual.  I feel like a salmon swimming up a never ending stream with a current so strong I cannot make it to the destination I seek.  I feel my contribution is just an insignificant drop in that stream.

I am tired.

I am trying to focus on gaining my health back by working out, eating better, and having conversations with friends that are unrelated to animals and rescue.  I am trying to focus on the few animals we have in our rescue without being intimidated and overwhelmed by the mass killing of dogs and cats in shelters, the over breeding of dogs and cats in mass production puppy mills, and the overall apathy and inaction of people who really do care about animals but justify their inaction with, "I just couldn't do what you do."

I am tired of being tired.

I will continue to write at some point, and I will continue to rescue because both of these are an integral part of who I am. 

But I have to find the me who can be there for family, and friends, the me who can trust people, the me who is not cynical and depressed, the me who can smile and laugh sincerely, and the me who is not the automaton who seems to have taken over my life.

I have to find me. 

If you see me anywhere, tell me to come home.




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Dog Holds Vigil by Soldier Companion's Casket

Jon Tumilson was a Navy Seal.  Jon Tumilson was an Iowan.  Jon Tumilson is a hero.  Jon was one of thirty soldiers killed in Afghanistan when the Chinook helicopter in which they were traveling was shot down on Aug. 6, 2011 by Afghani forces.  He was 35 years old.  A photo of his funeral has gone viral and become one of the most popular photos on the Internet being spread worldwide.

At the funeral, his family sat, grieving just a few yards away from the flag draped casket.  One family member needed to be closer. 

Jon's loyal Labrador Retriever, named Hawkeye, left the side of mourning family members to lay beside the casket of his hero and best friend. 

The photo was taken in a small town in Iowa named Rockford, which is nestled in Floyd County, Iowa.

In an ironic twist, in the same county where a dog showed his unconditional love and loyalty for his human companion and his photo generated worldwide admiration, there are at least five Government approved puppy mills.  Commercial breeders reside within the cities of Ionia, Charles City, and Rudd, all neighbors of the little town of Rockford, where Hawkeye stood vigil for his fallen companion.  There are hundreds of dogs in Floyd County living their entire lives within a cage with little, if any, show of human affection.  "According to the USDA, at least 23,000 adult dogs are kept in Iowa commercial kennels."  

(Above Photos used as examples and not of Floyd County)

The love that Hawkeye showed to his hero has shown the world the true value of a canine companion.   Dogs know and understand loyalty, unconditional love, and they mourn the loss of their companions, human or canine.   Dogs are true companions, and not something to be kept in a cage for a lifetime of neglect and repetitive breeding.  A dog's love and life long companionship are worth so much more than the money their puppies produce.

While Hawkeye has earned the privilege of leading the University of Iowa Hawkeye's onto the turf covered field during a football game, we must remember the hundreds of dogs within Floyd county, and the thousands in Iowa, and millions of dogs nationwide, who have never stepped foot onto grass or felt the wind blow.

Perhaps Floyd County and Iowa will open their eyes to the honor of being a dog thanks to the world's appreciation of Hawkeye's actions.  But it is more likely the horrific lives of the commercial breeding dogs will continue to be hidden and government approved.

I suspect that if Hawkeye could speak, he would voice his opinion loudly.

Our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Jon Tumilson. 

There are two heroes of which you should be proud.

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Scentsy! Your purchase will help us RESCUE and prevent Tail fires!

Going away to Veterinary School was a big move for me.   I had gone "away" to undergrad but was only an hour and forty five minutes away from home at any given time.
I coped with this separation by calling home routinely, twice a week. My Mom was always glad to hear from me, but when the conversation started getting too long, she would say, "Ok, that's enough." This was before the cell phone era (ok, I am dating myself), so each minute on the phone was a billed minute. Mom figured one minute less on the phone, was money put towards my education.

One night I was talking with my Mom on the phone. The only phone we had was in the kitchen. It was a rotary phone that was physically attached to the wall (again, dating myself). You were tethered to it by one of those curly springy cords connecting the handset to the base and you were very limited by the two foot cord in the distance you could travel while speaking.  This shortened any lengthy conversation a teenager might have because there was no privacy, and you had to sit down on a stool that was certainly not meant for long term use.  Again, no cell phones.

Mom stopped me in the midst of our conversation that evening by stating, "Hold on a minute, the cat's tail is on fire."

There was no panic in her voice. There was no urgency in the "matter of fact" statement at all. I hear the phone's hand set being placed down on the counter. Meanwhile, I am on the other end of the phone panicking!

"Mom?! What do mean on fire??? MOM?!!!!"

A few moments later, she calmy returns to the phone. "It's okay, I put it out." she says flatly,  and proceeds to continue with the previous conversation. Meanwhile, my heartrate is up, I am panting, and my eyes are widely dilated!  My mind is in a frenzy.

Mom had lit a scented candle on the center of the stove, part of her evening ritual. Oreo, our longhair tuxedo cat, had pounced onto the counter and proceeded onto the stove to investigate Mom's supper which was still in a pan on the stove. During the cat's investigation, her tail spent a moment too long hovering over the lit candle, and it quickly burst into flame. The cat was completely unaware of the danger it was in.

Mom noticed the flame, walked over, picked up the cat, carried her over to the faucet, and doused that tail under a cool stream of water before any harm was done. The cat was safe, and was more upset about the wet tail than the burning tail 

The funniest part was my mother's calmness during and after what could have been a disaster! What if the cat ran and spread the fire throughout the house?   The possibility of damage to the cat, to the house, and potentially to my Mom is very sobering.

While I love scented candles for the fragrances they provide, I dislike the potential for danger that escorts them into the house. With pets, children, and my swiss cheese memory, I worry about the risks of the candles getting knocked over or being forgotten and left to burn when no one is home. I also happen to be married to a man who blows the candles out as fast as I can light them. He worries about soot stains developing on the ceiling. Each time he blows them out, he declares "The wick is too long! The wick is too long!" like Paul Revere declaring that the Red Coats are coming during his Midnight Ride.

Recently, a friend and volunteer pet foster mom, approached me about a new product, Scentsy flameless candles. Scentsy Warmers use a low-watt bulb to melt scented wax slowly.  With no flame, soot, smoke or lead to worry about, the Scentsy system is a safe way to produce a pleasantly smelling environment.

The scents are fragrant and there are so many that everyone can find a favorite. If your child sticks their fingers into the melted wax, it is completely safe. It does not burn the skin. It is comparable in temperature to a paraffin wax dip. Warm but not dangerous. If your furry feline knocks the unit over, there is no flame to spread. The Scentsy burners are much more attractive than a half burned soot filled jar-o-candle.

I can finally have a nice scent emanating throughout the house without the fear of letting it burn too long or unsupervised. The Scentsy plug-in has taken the place of our night light in the hall. It provides plenty of light for the stairwell and we awaken to the scent of our preference each morning. I am so enamoured with this product that our South Hamilton Animal Alliance is having a fundraiser with our local Scentsy representative.

From now until September 30, we are holding a Scentsy products fundraiser. You can view the products at https://judebeme.scentsy.us/Home . When you arrive at this page, you will see a little box in the upper right hand corner labeled "My Open Parties". Scroll through them to find the "South Hamilton Animal Alliance Fundraiser" then click on "Buy from Party". You can then view the products, with styles that represent everything from animals to sports, contemporary to vintage, classic to country. If you already own a Scentsy burner, stop in and order a few new scents! The burners make wonderful gifts for showers, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and there is something to suit everyone's taste.   

With each purchase, you will help The South Hamilton Animal Alliance to provide shelter and medical care for our animals in need, as well as make your home a safer place for your family, furry and otherwise. If you order online, your order will be shipped directly to your shipping address, and the South Hamilton Animal Alliance will be credited for the sale.

You can visit our adoptable animals at http://www.jewellanimalhospital.petfinder.com/ . If you cannot find a Scentsy product that suits you, hopefully you will find a furry friend that will...






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Mommy! Look! Mommy! LOOK!!!

We were at the Iowa State Fair on Tuesday.  I was on the phone talking to a pediatrician about a cat bite case that led to a rabies quarantine, when my son started yelling, "Mommy! Look! Mommy! LOOK!!!"  As I turn around expecting to see some crazy fair ride or giant deep fried snack that he is excited about, I see that he is jumping up and down pointing at a soldier in full camouflage military fatigues.  Then Miranda joins in, "Look Mom!" with an excited smile on her face. 

The soldier is only about three feet from Connor, so he was fully aware of my kids' exhuberant reaction as he walked by.  Being preoccupied with the seriousness of the phone conversation, I was unable to apologize for my kids making such a scene.

To my surprise, rather than continuing to walk by the two crazy kids, the soldier stops and looks at Miranda and Connor.  He stoops down, reaches into his camouflage pocket (I couldn't see it), and says "I have something for you guys." 

He pulls out what would be comparable to a baseball card, but one for soldiers.  His photo, taken in Afghanistan, is on the front, and his information including name and deployment history is on the back.  I wished I had not been on the phone when this happened, because I would have loved to have spoken with him and thanked him for his service.  I would have loved to have taken my kids' photo with him, but I am not sure I would have thought to take one at that very moment, even if I had not been on the phone.

After a brief conversation with them, the details of which I am unaware, he stands up, points at the kids, and says, "You guys take care."  I cupped my hand over the mouthpiece of the phone, and said strongly, "You too," hoping he heard both the concern and the respect in my voice.  I cried as he walked away.  Yep.  I did. 

I placed that soldier's card on the mirror above each of my kid's dressers.

I must admit I was surprised by Connor's reaction to the soldier, unsure of what prompted his excitement.  After thinking about it, I think I may have an idea from where the excitement originated.

When my father turned 18, our country was involved in World War II.  Years earlier, his mother had moved from England to the US around the time of WWI, sometime between 1914-1916.  His father remained in England to serve his country, and joined her in the US after his service in the Royal Armed Forces was complete.  

By the time my father was old enough to enlist, he did, enthusiastically.  He enlisted in the US Navy, and completed boot camp.  By the time he was ready for active duty, the war was officially over. While never doing active duty during wartime, his bravery showed in the choice he made to serve during wartime.  This choice is the source of my deepest admiration for my father. 

I remember noticing my father at parades when I was younger,  Every time a veteran's group walked by, whether they were marching, playing instruments, or riding,  he would remove his hat out of respect, hold it up in the air, and say "Thank you" to the veterans as they walked by him.  If the Star Spangled Banner was playing, my Dad's hand was over his heart, and he was singing with tears in his eyes.  I am not sure if any of the veterans noticed my father amidst the crowds of people present at the parades, nevertheless, he showed his respect, and I noticed, even if no one else did.

I always feel a deep admiration for soldiers when I see them.  Whether you agree with the political reasons behind a troop's deployment or not, you must have respect for the person.  You must have respect for the person willing to put their life on the line for what they believe in; a person willing to leave the people they love for months or years at a time for the country and people they love.  I don't usually approach the soldiers I see, but I have pointed soldiers out to my kids, explaining to them who they were and what their uniforms indicated regarding their choice of service.

So, perhaps this is where my son's excitement about seeing a soldier came from?   Perhaps he senses my respect when I see a soldier.  My father passed away a few years ago, but he would have been proud of Connor's reaction to the soldier that day.

OH SHOOT!!! 

I just thought of something. 

Perhaps Connor's reaction to the soldier stems from something else.

Perhaps it stems from the movie "Transformers"...the good soldiers vs the evil alien robots?

Na.  I am going to go with the pride and respect thing.  Transformers or not, soldiers are heroes.

Thanks Dad!

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Help From Home...

A young lady that worked at my clinic a few years ago while in high school, has been visiting the clinic lately.  Her name is Alexis, and she is close friends with my veterinary assistant, Miguel, who most of you know by now from other stories.

Now that Alexis is a young adult, and is living on her own, she has decided it has become time for her to become a doggie mom.  She has always wanted a dog of her own, and the time has come to make that dream a reality.  She visits our clinic, and meets our adoptables but is waiting for "just the right connection".  I think most of us that are pet parents understand exactly what she means.  After several meet and greets, Alexis would leave the clinic a little disappointed that she had not met "the one" but hopeful that the right dog was out there for her.

A few weeks ago, we took in a pair of adorable puppies. 

These two adorable puppies came from another animal shelter that was unable to place them on their adoption floor because the puppies were timid and did not pass the "personality" testing.  So this adorable pair of six month old pups were made available for rescue to other qualified rescue groups willing to take them into their adoption program.

When Miguel saw these cuties, he sent his friend Alexis a text message.

 "When you get a chance, you should stop at the clinic.  We have two cute Cocker spaniel mix puppies for you to see."

Alexis stared at her phone, reading the words in disbelief, as a brief recollection of a recent dream overwhelmed her.

Entering adulthood was not the only reason Alexis chose now to become a pet parent.  She was hoping a puppy of her own would help her heal and adjust to a tragic change in her life.  Just five months ago, her father died unexpectedly in a car accident.  She has been struggling to cope with the loss that occured just 8 days before her 20th birthday.

Just a few weeks prior to Miguel's text, Alexis was on a family vacation in Colorado.  On the last night of this family trip, she had a dream.  In this dream, her father and her grandfather (also deceased, and with whom she had shared a special bond) stood before her, alive and well.  It gave Alexis a warm feeling of comfort to be so close to them again, even if only in a dream.

As the dream continued, her Grandpa said, "These are the puppies for you, Alexis."  With the men, were two very cute, shy, cocker spaniel puppies.

Her father smiled in amusement as Alexis seemed overwhelmed, joyful, and definitely caught off guard by the two puppies romping at their feet, unsure of which puppy to call her own.

Her Grandpa turned to her again, "You have to pick one, Alexis." and he gave her a gentle smile.

As Alexis awoke, she felt the comfort of having seen them again, but the visit created a new longing for them to be with her now.  She wished that last night her Dad had chased her up the stairs growling like a tiger, the way he did at bedtime when she was just a girl.  She longed for him to be there as she climbed out of bed, waiting to give her that big morning bear hug meant to wake her up and start her day. 

The presence of the two puppies in the dream made little sense to Alexis, despite her ongoing search for her own dog.  She would often pray to God that he could help her through this tragedy.  She would ask God to help her find a puppy, and help her be patient in her search.  She would often "talk" to her Dad about getting a puppy, asking if he could help her find the right one.  When you consider this, perhaps the strange presence of two puppies in that dream was not so strange.


As Alexis stood looking at her phone two weeks later, reading the words texted to her by her friend Miguel, the dream suddenly made sense.  She knew before meeting them that, as her Grandpa had said in the dream, "These are the puppies for you."

She begged Miguel to put a hold on the pups until she could get to the clinic, fearful they would get adopted in the few hours it would take before she could make it to the clinic. 

She arrived at the clinic a few short hours after the text.  As her dream had predicted, she had a difficult time choosing which puppy would be hers, and she could hear her Grandpa's words, "You have to pick one, Alexis".  And slowly, the choice was made.

Meet Izy, one of two dogs that had been deemed unadoptable by one animal shelter's standards.  She is now a beloved family member and providing the gift of comfort and unconditional love.  Two lives have been completely changed for the better.  

It seems as though Izy was destined to provide the comfort, the humor, the occasional stress of pet ownership to a young woman who needed help to heal, a woman who cried out for help in finding her canine companion, a woman who received that help from the two people she least expected would be able to help her. 

While we struggle with loss, the truth is, we never lose those we love, and Little Miss Izy is tangible proof that love can surpass all boundaries.

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Update on Previous Blog Topics 2

(colored text is linked to the original blog...click on over and refresh your memory!)

Help Find Lizzy: Dog Lost in Ashland Kentucky!

I am thrilled to report that Iowa Dog Lizzy was reunited with her family after running loose in Kentucky for six lonely and heart wrenching days!  Lizzy's family was fortunate enough to have received a few informational leads as to where she had been spotted which was instrumental in her recovery.

Relaxing after the Run

Bring Hanah Home

I am sorry to say that Hanah, the dog that went missing following the Joplin, Missouri tornado, has not been found.  They are still actively searching for her, so please join their Facebook group, Bring Hanah Home.   Hope is not lost.

 

 

 

Meet the Sweets: Herkie the Hunk

Herkie, our senior lab with no hope for adoption, is doing wonderfully at his new home in New England.    

 

Herkie needed help getting up on the bed due to his hind end weakness, so his new family made him his own set of doggie stairs!  It doesn't look as though Herkie helped much in the construction process, but I am certain his old joints will appreciate the human efforts!

 

Clean Cut, Senior, White Male Seeks ...

 Remember him?

A picture (or two) is worth a thousand words!

Addie's Story: 3 part series...

Part 1

Part 2 

Part 3

Addie is doing great after eight years of being separated from her puppyhood home and family! Even in her senior years, she manages to climb into her own bed, and has the occasional left over Filet Mignon!

Addie and Cody are acclimating well to each other, as you can see by the video above.  They look for each other all the time and each wants to know what the other is doing at any given time.  Addie will not go potty unless Cody comes along too.

Ellie's Story

Part 1

Part 2

Ellie, after her visit to the Oncology Department at the Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine is doing great!  Oddly, the morning of her appointment, her lesion had seemed to disappear (of course).  After discussing it with my husband, we kept the appointment just to be on the safe side.  They made some wonderful recommendations for her care, and suggested that surgery was not likely necessary.

After a few days of not even being able to find the lesion, and not a single step of lameness.  I decided to hold off on chemotherapy.  She has since had no signs of any problems with that foot or leg.

Either of two things happened.

1. The biopsy analyzed by a lab (not associated with Iowa State), was misinterpreted.

2. The well wishes and prayers of people far and wide made a difference.

I prefer to believe it was the latter of the two.  Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, and your concerns.  Thanks go out to you from Ellie and her pal, Kirby!

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