Another Reason To Avoid Florida: Poison Toads

Another reason to "love" Florida: Hordes of poisonous toads are
invading some neighborhoods 

Generally speaking, I'm the kind of person who likes frogs and toads.

Where I live in New England, they never cause much trouble at all. They just eat annoying mosquitoes and other biting and damaging insects. What's not to love?  

Florida, of course, does everything differently, and often, worse. Which brings me to some toads in the Sunshine State that make me want to stay far, far away.

They're called cane toads, and lately, they've been taking over neighborhoods in much of southern Florida. Worse, they're poisonous. Dogs and cats love to catch toads. They put these toads in their mouths, the toad secretes a toxin, and the pet dies.

Humans can get ill from these things, too.

Since these toads are invasive, they have few natural predators and are overwhelming some areas.  As USA Today notes, local news stations in Florida have been broadcasting images of these toads clogging pool filters, hopping in large crowds across driveways and partly covering lawns.

Individually, the toads look cute, even though they are poisonous. The huge numbers of them look like a horror movie.

This outbreak of marauding toads was probably brought on by humid weather, a rainy spell and a surge in temperatures into the 80s and low 90s. The epicenter of this invasion seems to be Palm Beach Gardens neighborhood of Mirabella where people can't bring their pets outside and children can't play outdoors because there's so many poisonous toads.

One resident, Jennie Quasha, told television station WPTV, "I just see a massive amount of toads and frogs everywhere, covering every square inch....You can't even walk through the grass without stepping on one."  Quasha said hundreds of them were in her swimming pool. So much for a nice leisurely dip in the pool on a humid Florida afternoon.

Exterminators can get rid of some of the toads, but it looks like people will have to let nature take its course. The numbers of toads will go down, but they won't disappear entirely.

Which is another reason to not enjoy the Sunshine State.

Dale Hansen Explains Why We Love Our Dogs, And Each Other

Dallas sportscaster Dale Hansen with Miss Hailey.

My favorite local sportscaster in the nation is Dale Hansen at television station WFAA in Dallas-Fort Worth.

I've featured him a few times in this blog post because the man always makes more sense than just about anybody I've seen on television.  A couple examples of where I featured Hansen are here and here. 

Hansen is a gruff, no-nonsense type of guy that seems stereotypical of sportscasters. But he often goes off-script, commenting on things that might offend some not-so-thoughtful sports fans. His somewhat liberal views sometimes clash with those of conservative sports fans in Texas. Almost everybody loves Hansen anyway.  

This week, he did a commentary on the newscast that had nothing to do with sports, but one that I think everyone can agree with, that is a must-see, especially if you own a dog. Or, more accurately, as Hansen puts it, if a dog owns you.

On the day of his commentary, his bassett hound Miss Hailey passed away. So he devoted his segment on WFAA to Miss Hailey, and why dogs make us more human. By the way, Hansen's comments also fully apply to anyone who has a cat, or any other favorite pet.

While discussing Miss Hailey's passing,  Hansen tells us, "Anyone and anything you love will eventually end in tears, but it is the deal we make......You can avoid the pain and tears of losing a loved one. All you have to do is never love. I choose the pain and tears. But Dr. Seuss was right. Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

Oddly, I think the world would be better off if we all chose the pain and tears. Here's the whole video. Worth the watch, for sure:

Retired Officer Gets To Keep Police Dog He Worked With After All

It now appears Marietta, Ohio police officer Matt
Hickey and his partner Ajax will enjoy their
retirement together after all. 

It almost took an act of Congress to get this done but a retired cop in Ohio will be able to keep his K-9 partner with him.

The case became national attention when it appeared that Ohio law might have separated retiring officer Matt Hickey from Ajax. 

The two were inseparable as they worked, but the town of Marietta, Ohio said that when Hickey retired, he could not keep the police dog named Ajax.

This, even after Hickey offered to pay the city $3,500 for Ajax, a value set by the city.

City officials had said a state law had tied their hands. Under an Ohio law, Ajax was considered municipal property. The only legal way to let Ajax go was to sell Ajax at an auction to the highest bidder, said television station WBNS

"The dog is property of the city of Marietta," said Paul Bertram II the city's law director.  "Because it is personal property, it is treated like a shovel. That's just the way it is."

Hickey worried somebody might outbid his $3,500 and keep the dog, even though he and Alex really belong together.

Marietta resident Corey Orr tried to help. He set up a GoFundMe account that raised $70,000 for Hickey. That money would be used to outbid everyone else at the auction and let Hickey keep Ajax

The latest news is good, though. The town decided that they were misreading the law and found a way to let Hickey keep Ajax, reports television station WCMH in Columbus, Ohio. 

Since Hickey was the only K-9 officer on the force and was retiring, Marietta's K-9 police unit was "disbanding."

In that case, since the unit was disbanding, state law allows Hickey to buy Ajax for $1.00.

I'll note here that social media was jumping all over city of Marietta officials, but I give them some credit because they realized they had to follow the letter of the law. It was never anything personal against Hickey or Ajax.

Plus, the city did eventually find a solution that pleased everyone.  I think they realized how awful it is to separarte a man and his dog for no good reason.

Hickey said he would work to clarify Ohio law so nobody has to go through the stress and uncertainty he and Ajax did. An Ohio state representative is already beginning work on legislation to accomplish this. 

As for the $70,000 raised through GoFundMe, that money will go to Vested Interest in K-9s, which buys bulletproof vests for police dogs throughout the nation.

I wish Hickey and Ajax many good times together in their retirement.

Yup. Pets Are Totally Weird

This is Tonks, one of our dogs. This is also Tonks' idea
of finding a comfortable position to rest on the couch.
Pets are weird.  

Anybody who has a dog or a cat or almost any other pet knows their behaviors can be a bit, um, strange.

My two dogs, for instance, find the weirdest and seemingly most uncomfortable positions to take a snooze:  Upside down, hanging precariously off the back of a chair, splayed out in the middle of the hallway.

Whatever. Most other pets are bizarre, too, so I know I'm not alone.

Luckily, we have an outfit called the Pet Collective that documents and compiles some of these strange furry dudes and dudettes in action,

Here's the latest compilation, for your viewing pleasure:

Sarah McLachlan Can't Bear To Watch That Tragic ASPCA Ad Featuring Her Song, Either.

I get such a frustrating jumble of emotions at just the thought of that ASPCA commercial.

Sarah McLachlan in that emotionally painful
ASPCA ad. Even she says she can't bear to
watch it, no matter how admirable the fundraising goals.  

You know the one. As you hear Sarah McLachlan's sang song "Angel" play, we're subjected to abused and lonely dogs and cats who just need you to adopt them into your warm, loving, safe home. 

(If you don't want to become a puddle of emotion, don't click on the above link to the ad)

Like millions of other people, especially animal lovers, the second the commercial starts, I change the channel. I can't bear to subject myself to those sad, beautiful and deserving animals.

Then I get angry. That TV ad is so manipulative.  How dare the ASPCA play on my emotions with such a blunt instrument to get my donations?

Then I feel guilty. Of course the ASPCA is trying to manipulate me. That's Advertising 101. We're supposed to be manipulated into doing what the advertiser wants. That's effective advertising.

Let's face it. No matter what we feel about the ad, we can't blame the dogs and cats that need our help. Of course, we can't give all our money to the ASPCA and we can't take in every pet that needs a good home.

Which leaves us frustrated.

All these jumbles of emotion are what make us change the channel when the ad comes on. Actually, I don't think the ASPCA is particularly worried that we change the channel, come to think of it. Just the act of having to do that gets us thinking about them, and the dogs and cats that need help.

The ad does its job without us even having to watch it.

That means it's a helluva effective commercial.  According to the New York Times, the ad raised $30 million for the ASPCA in just the first two years after it began airing in early 2007.

Which brings us to Sarah McLachlan.  (Her new album is out this week!)

McLachlan, too, says she changes the channel when the ad comes on, as it's too much to bear. 

To me, that gives us permission to change the channel. The important thing is we do what we can to keep animals safe and protected and loved.

If you and I do that, I'll declare us all off the hook.

Awesome Photographs Of Adopted Pets and Their Companions

Over at Buzzfeed, photographer Theron Humphrey's project in which he visited all 50 states and talked to people who had adopted and rescued pets, mostly dogs, and took pictures of the happy pairings.

On of Theron Humphrey's pet adoption photos.  

Scroll down the Buzzfeed page and look at a few of those photos, all of them are beautiful and will put you in a good mood.

Another fun thing to do is go to Humphrey's site, called Why We Rescue, where you can listen to the people who adopted the pets, what motivated them to do so, and how the move benefitted both them and the dogs.

Once there, click on any of the pictures, and you get a series of photographs that offer clues to the kind of life the people lead, the kind of life the pet leads, and how everything works. All beautiful photographs.

While you're looking at the photos, you hear an interview where the person who adopted the pet tells a little bit about themselves and their family and their pet.

 Another one!

I love the window into all these regular lives we get, and how these "normal" lives improved with the rescued pet.

 I haven't had a chance to listen to them all, but the ones I did hear are really awesome.

Check it all out!

I can' resist one more.  

Hideous: Woman Allegedly Tried To Burn Down Pet Shop With 27 Puppies Inside

It's one thing to burn down your business, maybe for insurance fraud. It's illegal and dangerous and people deserve jail for doing such a thing.

Gloria Eun Hye Lee is accused of burning down
her pet store with 27 puppies inside. The puppies
were rescued and are OK. She looks like
a real sweetheart, doesn't she?  

But this arson story is even worse: A woman in Las Vegas named Gloria Eun Hye Lee, 35, is accused, with a boyfriend, of setting fire to her pet shop with 27 puppies inside, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 

Just so you don't freak out over those puppies:

Thankfully, well placed sprinkler heads in the building and a very quick response from Las Vegas firefighters meant the firefighters were able to rescue all 27 puppies.

Somehow, none of them puppies were injured. Definitely lucky!

Lee was arrested soon after the Jan. 27 fire. The boyfriend was arrested later in Indiana, according to the Review Journal.

Prosecutors said surveillance video indicated that as Bills was splashing kerosene around the store to light it up, Lee was retrieving files to take with her before the place burst into flames.

So if what prosecutors say is true, she was trying to save some files but didn't give a damn about the puppies?  What kind of sicko is that,  knowing she was going to kill a bunch of harmless, living, trusting puppies, and care much more about a bunch of stupid files?

Gawd I hope they put this woman away for a long, long time if she's guilty. 

Lee apparently doesn't have the best track record, according to the Review-Journal:

"The prosecutor added that Lee had three prior convictions from California, for escape, larceny from a bank and forgery.....

Lee also had a prior run-in with Clark County animal control officers in 2008. She was charged with 37 counts for violating county ordinances in caring for the animals in her pet shop, including failure to vaccinate the animals and improper confinement of the animals. The case was later dismissed after Lee corrected the violations."

I don't know why she was still in the pet business. The record suggests she's not great with animals.

The puppies that were rescued are at an animal shelter until they are fully vaccinated. County officials will decide who the dogs belong to. They might be put up for adoption.

Maybe  the firefighters who rescued the puppies could get some of the dogs, if they want them.

Bailey The Dog Is Very Sick; I'm A Worried Parent

I've never had kids, but now I have a taste of the anguish parents feel when their kids get really sick.

Bailey, the sweet boy we adopted a year ago is very sick, and he seems to be getting worse. He stopped eating Saturday and it's been downhill from there.

Bailey just last week, when he was
still feeling good

The veterinarian thinks it's a really bad case of pancreatitis. Bailey is 13 years old, so this is not a good thing for a dog his age.

But, Bailey's a tough old guy, so we'll see what happens.

The vet's office spent the day yesterday controlling Bailey's fever, filling him up with fluids, flooding his system with antibiotics and giving him pain medication.

He actually seemed to rally a bit by evening. They had me take him home, because he'd be more comfortable in his own digs, ,and I'd bring him back to the veterinarian's office this morning for more treatment.

Bailey seemed OK for awhile last evening, but he spent most of the night crying in pain and fear. You feel so helpless, obviously. I wanted to fix it, but all I could do is gently rub is neck and back and tell him I was there.

Bailey always feels better when there's somebody nearby, so I think a lot of his yelping was his need for reassurance that I had his back. I was happy to oblige.

If I get so wrapped up in worrying about Bailey, I can't imagine what a parent who has a child with, say, cancer goes through.

My husband Jeff is out of town, working. He obviously wishes intensely he could be here. But he's been incredibly helpful via phone, via email. Jeff knows I'm upset about this, and he says and does exactly the right thing to make me feel better, and keeps bolstering my strength and optimism.

It's amazing how much love you can feel over a distance of 1,000 miles.

Barb, the woman who takes care our boys for us during the day while we are at work, has been incredibly helpful too. Her expertise and compassion is just incredible. So, with people like that around, this little crisis is certainly bearable.

And of course, I feel guilty because I'm screwing over other people, especially people I work, because I'm not where I'm supposed to be, doing what I'm supposed to do. Somebody has to pick up the slack. My slack.

Bailey loves to stand outside and let the wind
blow through his fur.  

People have been patient with me, but still.

A certain other dog is being a very good boy, too. Jackson, our two year old cocker spaniel with the wild personality,  has been providing me with happy companionship and has been contributing lots of comic relief.

Last night, Jackson sensed I was a little upset when I tried to sleep for a little while. He cuddled up against me and licked my hand. Has Jackson been taking compassion lessons from Jeff and Barb?

I know all this sounds like a self pity party, and it is. This is a routine problem, a part of life for so many people. And it's trivial, given the unfortunate and sad, intense pain and suffering in the world. This little problem with Bailey throws into stark relief the good fortune I have.

I have the ability to keep Bailey as comfortable as possible in a warm, safe house. Incredible people are surrounding me and helping. We have the financial wherewithal, sort of anyway, to give Bailey some good medical care. No humans around me that I love are hungry, homeless, sick or suffering.

Which is a reminder that I'm better off than most people in this world.

I don't know if Bailey will pull through, or pass on. He did seem to rally just a bit as I coaxed him into the truck to return to the veterinarian's office this morning. The veterinarian just called me to report Bailey is hanging in there.

Bailey has lived us with a year since we adopted him.  Even if we lose him, he's given us a year of dog wisdom, joy, companionship, dog kisses, loyalty and love through his calm, steady and zen-like demeanor.

Which is another reason among many why I feel lucky and blessed.

A Dad's Sweet Reaction to Christmas Puppy Surprise

A fun, brief video is going around of a man's reaction when he looks into a car and discovers his Christmas gift. A puppy!

Apparently a previous family dog had died recently after 15 years. The guy's wife and son decided the dad was ready for a new dog.

Looks like they were right, judging from the Squee!! video below. Perfect reaction, sir!

Bonus points to the family for getting a rescue dog  from the shelter.

Bailey The Dog Moves In With Us

Funny how families can change dramatically at the drop of a hat.

Like ours, for instance.

Bailey, the latest addition to the
Modereger/Sutkoski family. 

It's now a two-dog, two person household here in St. Albans with the arrival of Bailey, a dog of indeterminate breeds and high levels of sweetness. (His name until Tuesday was "Baileys" but Jeff and I decided to drop the "s")

We'd vaguely discussed getting another dog at some point, but had no firm plans.

Barb, the woman who runs the excellent Deja Vu Kennel in Milton, Vermont  where we take Jackson, our very active cocker spaniel, was worried about a dog she was taking care of.

The dog's name was Baileys, because his fur is the same color as Bailey's Irish Cream.

Baileys' family had fallen on hard times, from what I heard, third hand.  They had to move to a place that wouldn't accept dogs. Their future together was uncertain. Barb was looking for a foster family to take Baileys in temporarily. Would Jeff and I be interested?

Jeff and I discussed it Monday night, and decided we would tell Barb on Tuesday that we were leaning toward become Bailey's foster family, but we'd have to think about it for a few days.

Tuesday morning, I brought Jackson to  Deja Vu Kennel,  like we usually do. Barb introduced me to Baileys.  I noticed immediately how sweet and affectionate he is.

Then she told me Bailey's family abruptly got an opportunity out of town. They couldn't take Baileys, and had to give him up. That day. The family said they would bring Baileys to the Humane Society of  Chittenden County  and hope for the best.

Now, the Humane Society does an excellent job. But Bailey just turned 12 year old. He might not be that adoptable. He could be euthanized there.

I know I can't save every dog out there. I can't turn into a hoarder. I can only take care of the people and the animals that I can manage. Doing more would be unfair to me and especially the dogs and people I try to aid.  Sombody else will have to do the rest. Cold as that sounds, that's just the way it is.

But I'd already made a connection with Bailey. And he with me. He looked me in the eye when we met  briefly Tuesday morning and we formed an attachment. I know Bailey didn't know what was going on, but it almost feels like he looked at me and said, "You're my last chance, bro."

I could manage two dogs in the house, and so could Jeff.

Jeff was at work. I called him and told him the situation. "I couldn't live with myself if we let him go," I found myself blurting out. I found my eyes getting wetter.

Jeff wanted him too. Our family's fate was sealed. Bailey is now a full standing member of the Modereger/Sutkoski/ household.  I feel like the Brady Bunch theme song should be playing right now.

It'll be hard at times, but Jeff and I have the wherewithal to take care of Bailey. We'll give him an imperfect, but good home. He'll be loved. Jackson will make sure he has a fun playmate.

Jackson has some jealousy issues, but I know that will work out. Both Jackson and Bailey crave individual attention. Both dogs will realize soon enough that there's plenty of love to go around at this house.

Despite the jealousy, Jackson and Bailey do play well together.

Bailey looks and acts younger than his 12 years. He's mellow. Incredibly affectionate. He already likes to curl up under my desk as I type away at my laptop.  I know that given his age, Bailey won't be with us for too many years. That makes me sad, but I'll just enjoy the time we have together and focus on that.

Right now, as I type this, he's at my feet, listening to the clatter of this keyboard as I sit on the couch pounding away at the laptop.  He looks at me every once in awhile to see that I'm OK, and that I think he's OK. We agree everything is fine and go back to what we're doing. Jackson's asleep, curled up against my side, looking blissful.

Jeff had to go to work for a few hours and he'll be home soon. The four of us will go outside and play around the yard. A happy, suddenly bigger family.