Mundelein, IL

Well, it has been almost a full week since Sanity and I returned from Chicago, or more properly Mundelein, IL. As usual, I returned totally brain-dead and functioning on habit alone. Don't have a clue as to how I can tip the scales more in my favor on that point. I have managed to figure out a way to work around the FMS/CFIDS issues. I simply take my LaFuma longe chair with me and when I start feeling the warning signs of "the wall"
approaching I head for my chair. I am even getting darn good at bossing, oops, I mean teaching from that chair. So far I have not had a single complaint about my approach. So that part is good. It's just the "brain drain" that goes with 4 full days of teaching, leading, guiding, bullying, cajoling, babying a large group of people with dogs and some pretty strange superstitious beliefs is ferocious.

Enough on that and on to the most amazing thing that happened to us.

It all started with a phone call from a United Representative at 6:30 p.m.
the night before we left. This call was to inform me that my flight had been cancelled and that I would have to make other arrangements. I sort of pitched a low-key fit. As I pointed out to her, I had made my reservations more than a month in advance, I was traveling with a service dog and a special chair and just how did she suggest I go about finding a new flight at this late date? She wanted me to go to National or Dulles when BWI is only 20 minutes from me. Again, I asked for her suggestion as to just how I was to go about arranging for ground transportation at this late date? She said she would call me back within a half hour.

Sure enough, before the half hour was up she was back on the phone to me and I now had a new reservation flying out of BWI at 9:00 a.m. I thanked her for all her help, hung up and called the Airport Transport Service to change my pick-up time. Nice, cause it meant I could actually sleep an hour and a half longer in the morning.

Morning came, we made it to the airport and from curb to baggage check, through security and to the gate. It was total pandemonium. The area around two gates was totally packed with mostly unhappy people. All people who had been bumped from the earlier flight, plus all the people that were scheduled to fly out on the flight we were now on and another flight. I was sitting in a wheelchair right next to the check-in desk and I could see the computer screen. The more I watched the more worried I got. It was becoming pretty clear that there was no way Sanity and I were going to fit on that plane, no matter how small Sanity curled up, no matter if she was willing and able to hold a sit/stay for the entire flight. It just wasn't going to work. So...

I handed the ticket agent my boarding pass and asked her if I was seated in the right area considering how much room the two of us took. She agreed that I wasn't and said she would see what she could do about moving me.
Some time passed, I spent it mostly protecting Sanity for the unfriendly advances of a couple of out-of-control brats. Then the agent handed me a new boarding pass and said that the new seat would give us a little bit more room, but not much.

As she was handing me the pass, she was saying "hi" to a good looking gentleman who was getting ready to board the other plane. He overheard what she said to me and stopped. Took a look at me, at Sanity and at what I was having to do to keep the brats away from her. He asked me if I would be interested in flying first class? My eyes must have sort of bugged out of my head and I know my mouth was hanging open in a sort of stupid, fishface manner. He had to repeat his question because I was speechless. All I could do was shake my head yes.

He already had his wallet out and with that he whipped out a credit card and told the ticket agent to upgrade us to first class. I'm sitting there saying, "thank you, thank you" over and over again. The agent, took his card, glanced over at us, handed his card back to him and said, "Don't worry, I'll arrange it so the airlines picks up the tab." He simply smiled this totally dazzling smile, told me to enjoy my flight and boarded the other plane. Blink and the generous stranger was gone!

The agent handed me a new boarding pass and in answer to my questions, would only tell me that the gentleman was a weekly regular and a super nice man.
About 10 minutes before it was time for us to board the pilot walks passed, stops to talk to the agent, they both look at me, the pilot leaves and the agent says to me, "This really must be your lucky day. The pilot just told me the seat I gave you wasn't the best one and to move you to the best seat.
So she once again takes my boarding pass and hands me yet another one.

On the plane, the man who was supposed to have the seat next to me was moved to another first class seat, leaving Sanity and I to fly to Chicago is super first class comfort.

Amazing. Totally amazing. See there really are nice people still out there and I now am convinced that I have a major "pay-it-forward" to do at some point in the future.

And that is our story for Chicago.

Here are the pictures and I'm sorry they aren't in order. I tried. Really, I did try, but for the life of me I don't understand the logic(?) behind the way this blogsite uploads and then adds them to my blog. No matter how or what order I use it never comes out the right way.

For those of you who were there, enjoy the memories and a few more chuckles.

Update on Reno

Please follow this link http://www.tarkom.com/Reno.htm to learn even more about how completely unreasonable this town has chosen to be. Remember, you could be the next victim of anti-dog sentiment. Do take the time to write a letter and remember to be polite. The necessary address is in the linked blog entry.

When you go to the next Reno site, make sure you take the time to scroll down past the part you already know and get to the backstory part. It will show you just what sort of thinking all dog owners are now up against. We must fight this on all fronts, before it is too late for all of us.

Town of Holland, Wisconsin

This is Reno, he is no longer welcome in Town of Holland, Wisconsin. Shame on the residents of Town of Holland, Wisconsin. Keep reading to find out why.
I am sharing this post with all of you because I feel very strongly that everyone needs to see just how the restrictive and unbending anti-dogs laws really effect the individual. The unfriendly Town of Holland, Wisconsin is a place you don't want to live.

Here is a story of dogs, highly and careful trained, dogs who give back to the community far more than they will ever take, dogs who brighten the lives of many. This is the story of a town chasing away dogs trained to provide a community service. No, the dogs in question are not of the breeds the headlines love to tout as killers. The dogs in question are Labrador Retrievers. I ask you, all of you, just what sort of people live in a town that drives away dogs trained to bring a little sunlight to shut-ins, encourage a child to learn to read, entice an old man to take his medicine? Is this the sort of cold, uncaring town you would chose to live in? For me, I know it is a town I would go out of my way to avoid. Shame on you, Holland, Wisconsin, shame on you.

________________________________________

In the wake of the town board's decision not to issue a variance for the number of dogs I have, I've been preparing for each dog to go to his new home. What should the dog take with him to help settle in? What do the new owners need to know about their training and handling? What do these people need to know about the dogs' individual likes and dislikes? What their souls are like?

One of the dogs leaving is my Reno. Oh my God. Reno.

He needs his semi-deflated basket ball. A bumper of course. A cow femur bone preferably stuffed with peanut butter, but it's fine plain if that's all there is. He'd like a spot on the couch if one's available, but he'd never be rude or pushy about it.

He gives 5 with both paws individually and then "10" with both. After this, he leaps into the air, and then spins one circle and grabs his tail. He's a very mellow dog by nature, and this trick just cracks him up. It's his only one.

He barks three barks to let you know someone's arrived, and then quiets. Other than that, he never makes a noise. His obedience is terrific, on or off leash. His manners are terrific. He has the temperament of an angel. He passed his Canine Good Citizen / Therapy Dog International test as a walk in. He leaves and go lays down when you eat, although he's happy to help you out with the leftovers if invited. He looks sad when you give him a bath or trim his nails, but he always cooperates. Reno always cooperates.

He is wonderful with anyone he meets, human or animal. Any age, any temperament. He used to go to work with me at the assisted living facility. There was an old crotchety man who would only take his meds and come out for meals in exchange for being able to take Reno for a walk and throw a few bumpers for him. The only time I ever saw this man let his guard down or his expression soften was when he was with Reno. He'd been a hunter when he was younger. I guess the dog took him back to better days.

Reno loves to ride in the car. He makes the most wonderful face if you ask him about "The Bird." He likes to "tunnel" through your legs, and stop in position to get scratched above the base of his tail. His back feet march in place as he does this. He likes to be scratched behind the ears, too.
On the day he passed the final series of tests needed for the American Kennel Club to award him the title Companion Dog, he was mounted by another male dog who had gotten up during the exercise known as the three minute down. Not only did Reno not get up from his down, but he looked at me across the ring and wagged his tail as if to say, "See? I am a GOOD boy."
Yes, Reno. You're a VERY good boy.
God help me next Wednesday when he's taken out of here.

Eleanor Herrick
Holmen, Wisconsin
----------------------------------------

Eleanor, my heart cries for your pain and let's hope you are able to find a more friendly town to live in and soon since Town of Holland certainly isn't friendly to man nor beast.

Girl Scout Cookie Time

It's Girl Scout Cookie time and the awful Thin Mint version is still available. How's a person supposed to say "no" to them. I was strong and only agreed to buy a single box.


Sanity managed to get a whiff and then a taste. She agrees they are just too, too sinful.


Come on Sidney, please give me just one more. I won't tell on you...


Donning Sidney's vest Sanity tries to con the Big Boss into believing she is no longer a dog and should be given access to more and more Thin Mints. By positioning herself next to Caesar her hope was that the "clothes would make the person". Sadly, it was not to be. The Big Boss has been around too long to be fooled by such transparent ploys.


I do think we should all give her an "A+" for all her efforts. Don't you?

Peterborough, CANADA

Well, Sanity and I are back from the cold and windy and snowy north. Here are a few pictures of everyone hard at work. Tomorrow I will try and write some of my thoughts about the trip and share some of the comments. For right now you will just have to make do with the pictures.

The Dragon Lady trying to figure out just when to shoot flames and when to only blow smoke.
The Dragon Lady calls the class to order on the first morning.

Friday morning and finding the right seat. This classroom setup is done to encourage good study habits.



Why are you fondling those dogs?


No fondling here.


Learning what it feels like on both ends of the longe line, before adding the dogs.


From longe line work comes the heel position and all that is left to be done is give the position a name.


Good example of leash handling skills and ready to start heeling.


"Whaaat?"


All work and no play, leaves Jill a dull girl. Since we don't want a dull Jill, playtime is a part of the work day.

An early off-shoot of the sit on the dog exercise is the ability to "stand on your dog" with great success.


Here's a very good right turn in the making.

Still learning how to handle that leash on a right turn, with practice all things get better.

No protruding dog on this left turn.


An almost perfect left turn in the making.


a good right turn in the making.
Breaks turned into calm, restful times that allowed everyone to recharge their batteries.
In order to teach the sit position and help the dog understand, for the first two days we adjust the collar so it is high and snug. Not too tight, not too loose, but just right.

Practicing "Left, right, sit your dogs"


Adding of the third row and everyone, "sit your dogs".


You want me to do what?


Now you want me to sit! Are you crazy? No way will this happen.

I can't believe I really fit and yet she really does manage a sit stay on that tiny one foot by one foot place board.

Everyone, stand your dogs.

A case of the handler losing heel position while the dog does an excellent job of holding a stand.

How to control helium filled thumbs when the threaten to drag hands up over head. After all the laughter, this turned into a really good demonstration of how helpful the figure eight exercise is at teaching heeling in a very small space even if your dog is the size of a small mac truck.

Hidden comments

I get to read all the comments before anyone else does. Call me a control freak, if you will, but that is just the way I want it. So anyway yesterday I get a notice that a comment has been posted. I read it and wonder why it was written since it is referring to a post written by a resident of the city in question. All I did was give that post a larger viewing audience.

Now comes the really strange part. The comment was attached to one of the reports I did on Cap Haggerity's memorial service and the food and memories time held after the service. Why there? Why not post the comment as an attachment to the blog entry it was referring to in the first place?

Anyway, I thought it would be a good time to encourage the rest of you to respond and you certainly can't respond if the thing you are responding to has been hidden from general view. So here it is in all its twisted illogic. Please read the Albuquerque NM:The Least Dog Friendly City in America entry to learn what they are complaining about and please take note of the fact that I did not author the piece. It was simply posted unedited in any manner by yours truly.

So with no more ado, there ya' go..................

At 6:09 PM, ABQDog said:

I think Sanity is a definite misnomer. Anyone from Maryland calling Albuquerque an unfriendly city to dogs because we've passed the HEART ordinance to protect them needs her head examined. Who will this ordinance hurt? Overzealous and irresponsible breeders, people who fight dogs, people who abuse dogs. Evidently Maryland has no animal overpopulation problem, so they have the time to criticize those of us working to save the thousands of purebred dogs that are killed right away. Unfortunately, we in Albuquerque don't have that luxury and are working tirelessly to educate people and push a spay/neuter campaign. People like you are clearly in it for yourselves and not for the animals. You make me sick. Just stay on your side of the Mississippi and we'll all be better off.

ABQDog.

My goodness, I had no idea that the citizens of Albuquerque were so stupid and cruel that they needed the type of heavy-handed control the HEART law imposess. What's more that law is cruel and in the long run will do far more painful damage than anything that may or may not have been going on before the law was passed.

Albuquerque NM:The Least Dog Friendly City in America

Brief background

About 3 years ago, a city councilwoman sponsored an animal ordinance in Albuquerque. Despite attempts by many individuals and groups within Albuquerque and surrounding areas to have the City simply enforce the existing ordinance, the Mayor finally signed HEART (Humane and Ethical Animal Rules and Treatment) into law June 6, 2006. The law was to go into effect August 22, 2006. An attempt to collect sufficient signatures on petitions to force a referendum vote on HEART was not successful. This was mainly due to the fact that the media (print, radio and TV) was solidly behind the City and there simply wasn't enough money available to purchase media coverage. In early August, the City Council entertained an "emergency" motion to postpone the date of the law being effective until October 10, 2006. The effect this had was (intentionally in my opinion) to shove the new Animal Ordinance to the back of everyone's mind . . .
perhaps it would be postponed again, etc. Efforts that were ongoing after the failure of the petition drive met with even more inertia from city residents after the postponement of the law. The AKC kennel club in Albuquerque, along with individual members who had business interests within the City or who lived outside the City but would be required to comply with aspects of the new law, filed a lawsuit against the City in early August. The City responded with several motions to dismiss claims contained within the lawsuit. The Court moved this case through the judicial system with all speed and the case was dismissed in September.
It has been appealed but the law went into effect October 10, 2006.

Current status

The Mayor has gone on record in several public venues as stating that the law would be "selectively" enforced. As it stands right now, HEART applies to every animal in the City limits. Animal is defined by the City as "non-human mammal, bird, amphibian and reptile" and includes all wild animals as well as domestic ones.

While the City states in the Findings section preceding the law that this law will not affect responsible animal owners, it is hard to imagine how it cannot unless one accepts the City's premise that ALL animal owners are irresponsible.

Some of the aspects of the law that will not affect responsible animal owners - it is an act of animal cruelty to withhold water at night while housetraining a puppy. It is an act of animal cruelty not to provide "constant access" to water to any animal. (By this definition it is an act of animal cruelty to walk your dog so anyone who walks their dog, by the City's definition is not a responsible animal owner.) It is an act of animal cruelty to crate your dog in a crate that is not greater than the minimum size required of a boarding kennel. It is an act of cruelty to violate the Leash Law. The definition of a secure enclosure is one where an animal cannot come into contact with another animal or human. So even though the City allows a resident to keep up to four dogs without a special permit, the City also makes it illegal to put more than one dog out in the yard at a time.

The multitude of inconsistencies in the law make it difficult to determine what actually is and isn't permitted. However, not to worry -- these provisions will only be "selectively" enforced. So unless you happen to live next to someone who doesn't like you and complains to ACC, or have the wrong breed, or live in the wrong neighborhood, or have the wrong surname, etc. you should be just fine in breaking the law and committing acts of animal cruelty without facing punishment.

The new law enables ACC to confiscate any animal on a citation - not a conviction - for animal cruelty. That includes having your dog walk from your front door to your vehicle off leash unless the front yard and driveway is completely fenced. The law specifically states that "verbal control" is not sufficient even on your own property.

Any business (other than veterinarians) dealing with animals must now purchase an Animal Services Provider Permit in addition to a business license. Any conviction for animal cruelty makes one unable to obtain such a permit and thus unable to maintain doing business in the City of Albuquerque.

My business is down even more than the normal pre-holiday slump. Somehow I get the feeling it is related to the fact that I'm now having to ask potential clients and students to sign a release exempting me from liability if they get cited for animal cruelty for following training advice that is illegal in the City.

Future Concern

The Mayor of Albuquerque has higher political aspirations. He is pushing for HEART or a similar statute to be passed at the state level in the January 2007 legislative session. He has already told the surrounding counties that the City will penalize any county that does not adopt a similar ordinance. At the current time, the unincorporated part of Bernalillo County is currently contemplating changing the existing animal ordinance and changes have been proposed to the ordinance in part of Sandoval County (where I live) and the Village of Los Ranchos.

Politics plays a huge role in the future of owning any kind of animal.
Animal rights organizations are currently funding many political campaigns for candidates at all levels of government (this is how HEART was sponsored in Albuquerque) so to say that discussing politics is bad form on a list devoted to professionals in animal related fields is not being realistic about what is currently occurring.

As Margot noted, Dog Fancy listed Albuquerque as one of the top ten dog friendly cities in the US. I'm not real optimistic about the future of any animals in the US anymore.


Jan Gribble NADOI #925
IACP #1016
CDBC, IAABC #076
ABC Dog Training LLC - Albuquerque, NM - (505) 410-5810 abcdogtraining@juno.com - www.newmexicodogtraining.com

Voting time

The time to vote is almost here. When you go to the polls, please know just who it is that you are casting your very important vote for.

The following information has been taken from http://saova.org/index.html. The Sportsman's and Animal Owners'Voting Alliance has been doing a wonderful job of gathering together all the information necessary for all of us to vote to protect our animals and our right to own them. Please take a few minutes and look at what they have to offer all of us in the way of information.

"Candidates identified with the legend " Animal Rightist Endorsed " are the problem. They consistently vote for legislation to strip us of our rights to hunt, fish, and own pets and livestock. Incumbents with a record of voting to protect our rights, and open-seat candidates with favorable responses to SAOVA's candidate questionnaire are SAOVA ENDORSED." saova.org site

For those of you who live in Maryland here is what you need to take to the polls with you as an aid to your decision making. Remember the more AR backed candidates elected the more likely it is going to be that downright anti-animal, not just dog, but all domenstic animals, bills will be proposed and then voted into law. Breed specific bans will morph into all dogs and the bans will themselves morph into forced spaying and neutering, forced microchipping(the better to enforce the spay/neuter laws. Spay and neuter until there are none, means just that. Until there are none. Please don't vote for someone who has taken AR money, is AR supported or an AR supporter. (AR = animal right political movement)

The Maryland list:

Maryland's November 7, 2006 General Election

Governor Incumbent Bob Ehrlich (R) -- SAOVA ENDORSED
Martin O'Malley (D) - Animal Rightist Endorsed
U.S. Senate OPEN SEAT Ben Cardin (D) -- Animal Rightist Endorsed and Funded
1st District Incumbent Wayne Gilchrest (R) - Animal Rightist Flirtations
2nd District Incumbent "Dutch" Ruppersberger (D) - Animal Rightist Endorsed
3rd District OPEN SEAT John Sarbanes (D) - Animal Rightist Endorsed vs.
John White (R)
4th District Incumbent Al Wynn (D - Animal Rightist Endorsed
5th District Incumbent Steny Hoyer (D) - Animal Rightist Flirtations
6th District Incumbent Roscoe Bartlett (R) - Animal Rightist Endorsed and Funded Bill Sponsor
7th District Incumbent Elijah Cummings (D) - Animal Rightist Endorsed
8th District Incumbent Chris VanHollen (D) - Animal Rightist Endorsed and Funded
Animal Rightist endorsed and/or funded state legislators
Senate
Candy O.Greenway (3-D)*
Norman R. Stone (6-D)
Patricia A. Foerster (7-D)*
Katherine Klausmeier (8-D)
Rich Corkran (9-D)*
Delores G. Kelley (10-D)
Bobby A Zirkin (11-D)*
Edward J. Kasemeyer (12-D)
Sandra B Schrader (13-R)
Bill Askinazi (15-R)*
Brian E. Frosh (16-D)
Jennie M. Forehand (17-D)
Richard S. Madaleno (18-D)*
Jamie Raskin (20-D)*
Paul G. Pinsky (22-D)
Nathaniel Exum (24-D)
Ulysses Currie (25-D)
Thomas McLain Middleton (28-D)
Herb McMillan (30-R)*
James Ed DeGrange (32-D)
Scott Hymes (33-D)
Lisa Gladden (41-D)
Jim Brochin (42-D)
Joan Carter Conway (43-D)
Verna Jones (44-D)
Nathaniel J. McFadden (45-D)
George W Della (46-D)
Gwendolyn Britt (47-D)

House
Kevin Kelly (1B-D)
LeRoy Myers (1C-R)
Patrick N. Hogan (3A-R)
Sue Hecht (3A-D)*
Donald B. Elliott (4B-R)
Tanya Thornton Shewell (5A-R)
Nancy R. Stocksdale (5A-R)
Wade Kach (5B-R)
J.B. Jennings (7-R)
Susan Krebs (9B-R)
Emmett C. Burns (10-D)
Adrienne A. Jones (10-D)
Shirley Nathan-Pulliam (10-D)
Jon S. Cardin (11-D)
Dan K. Morhaim (11-D)
James E Malone (12A-D)
Elizabeth Bobo (12B-D)
Guy Guzzone (13-D)*
Shane Pendergrass (13-D)
Frank S. Turner (13-D)
Anne R. Kaiser (14-D)
Karen S. Montgomery (14-D)
Herman Taylor (14-D)
Jean B. Cryor (15-R)
Kathleen Dumais (15-D)
Brian J. Feldman (15-D)
William A. Bronrott (16-D)
Marilyn R. Goldwater (16-D)
Susan C. Lee (16-D)
House-cont.
Kumar P. Barve (17-D)
Luiz Simmons (17-D)
Ana Sol Gutierrez (18-D)
Jane Lawton (18-D)
Henry B. "Hank" Heller (19-D)
Sheila Ellis Hixson (20-D)
Tom Hucker (20-D)*
Barbara A. Frush (21-D)
Tawanna P. Gaines (22-D)
Anne Healey (22-D)
Justin David Ross (22-D)
James W. Hubbard (23A-D)
Marvin E. Holmes (23B-D)
Joanne C. Benson (24-D)
Carolyn J.B. Howard (24-D)
Michael L. Vaughn (24-D)
Dereck E. Davis (25-D)
Melony Ghee Griffith (25-D)
Veronica Turner (26-D)
James E. Proctor (27A-D)
Joseph F. Vallario (27A-D)
Sue Kullen (27B-D)
William Daniel Mayer (28-R)
Sally Y. Jameson (28-D)
Murray Levy (28-D)
John Bohanan (29B-D)
Michael E. Busch (30-D)
Virginia P. Clagett (30-D)
Don Dwyer (31-R)
Joan Cadden (31-D)
Terry R. Gilleland (32-R)
Mary Ann Love (32-D)
Theodore Sophocleus (32-D)
Bob Costa (33B-R)
Mary-Dulany James (34A-D)
David D. Rudolph (34B-D)
Barry Glassman (35A-R)
Susan K. McComas (35B-R)
Michael D. Smigiel (36-R)
Mary Roe Walkup (36-R)
Rudolph C. Cane (37A-D)
D. Page Elmore (38A-R)
Norman H. Conway (38B-D)
Charles Barkley (39-D)
Nancy J. King (39-D)
Jill P. Carter (41-D)
Nathaniel T. Oaks (41-D)
S.I. "Sandy" Rosenberg (41-D)
Curt Anderson (43-D)
Ann Marie Doory (43-D)
Maggie McIntosh (43-D)
Keith E. Haynes (44-D)
Talmadge Branch (45-D)
Hattie N. Harrison (45-D)
Peter A. Hammen (46-D)
Carolyn Krysiak (46-D)
Brian K. McHale (46-D)
Doyle Niemann (47-D)
Victor Ramirez (47-D)


* non-incumbent



Go to SAOVA's 2006 endorsements page to find your own state, if you don't live in Maryland. Please vote and please let your votes support our animals.