Trial Run

Dino & Queenie

Peaches, the dog Norman found and SW fostered

Dino is home on a weekend trial with Norman.  Norman has a chain and outdoor shed with dog house for him as well as a bed next to his chair in the house when it is cold.  I have a feeling Dino will be in the house more than out on that chain.  Do I like the idea of a chain?  Not at all - but I have been to Norman's place, I have seen the care and attention he gives his dogs.  Dino will not be a dog "abandoned" on a chain in the backyard.  Norman has taken his time, visited often, has developed a good rapport with the pack by tossing snacks and taking Dino for walks.   Dino did not look back - he got in the truck with Norman and off they went.  If things don't go well, he will be back this evening or Monday.  This is a potential adoption which is "out of the box" for me.  The gold standard is "no chains."   One needs to look at the whole picture, particularly with Norman.  He shared a story about Rambo with me - it was typed on stationery with Rambo's photo at the top.  This time, he didn't weep - he is ready  to give Dino a chance - and Dino is ready to take it. 

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk Hounds is an independently licensed small division of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk is in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Sanctuary is just not Home

At distance - Farrah had recently arrived

A now confident Farrah, within her milieu at least

Sometimes a dog just stays.  Farrah and Monk are such dogs.  If anyone really ever wants Farrah (I have one home ready for her when they have a house and yard) besides this home, they will go through a rigorous screening with a definite house visit before and after her adoption.  Farrah is special and precious to me.  Her initial rescuer, M., knows more than I what she went through prior to delivering her puppies.  She was a dog so literally beaten down, so timid, so fearful, M. and the vet were considering sending her to heaven.  Instead, she came to Silverwalk.  I know I have told her story before, but Alice and I were discussing dogs who could move from Silverwalk to Safe Harbor when and if there were ever room - Farrah and Monk are two who would not.  Like Ebony now at Safe Harbor, some dogs find their niche and making them move would cause undue hardship on them.  I love Farrah - and she "loves" me - she even put both her front paws on my lower back the other evening to remind me to pet her.  When she came, I could only pet the top of her head, not her body at all :(.  She is changed and yet still shy, still fearful.  I have hopes for a furever home for her....but as I say, they will have to be so perfect, unlike me...but I know they are out there. 

A young Monk "on Beagle point"

Monk by Rochelle Steffen - Look at that face!

Monk, on the other hand, may or may not be able to move.  He and his brother Chip began as feral puppies.  Their rescuer and I are convinced they were not abused but simply never socialized, most likely being born in the fields and found after floods.  Chip is now in foster care in MN.  Interesting, Monk, the more shy of the two, blossomed after he no longer had Chip on whom to lean.  I love Monk, too - he is calm, barks and protects his yard, comes into the house for meals, allows me to pet him, trim his nails and even take him for leash walks, though reluctantly and always with relief to be home.  He is rather a card, too.  I could not find him for breakfast - looked all over twice, started to get a bit worried and then remembered how he will, on occasion, tuck himself into a crate...by golly, he was in Todd's crate with Todd.  Now, this left me in a dilemma - who actually ate Todd's breakfast that I put toward the back or Monk part of the crate?  I heard no squabbling so at the time had no clue Monk was there.   I gave Todd a bowl of kibble after finding Monk in with him and gave Monk his own.  So, one got two, while one got one....Beagles - the dogs with hollow legs.  Monk is GORGEOUS.  I would really like to find him a  home, too.  He would need to be an indoor/outdoor dog though when it suits his fancy, he is fine eating in the outdoor pen - particularly in summer. 

Of course, all the adoptable dogs here need homes.  People will say to me, how can you let them move on away from you?  Because I will hear from you in a month or so about how well they are doing, how they have changed, relaxed, truly come into themselves in a much smaller pack than they live in here.  Because this is not home - this is sanctuary - home is with YOU.  And God bless you for adopting dogs in need. 

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk Hounds is an independently licensed small division of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk is in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

"You know you have been doing Rescue too long when...."

I received this in an email this morning.  Some things I need to change such as "heel" - I need to curb my tendency to tell my confused patients to "sit" and "stay."   I love the Queen of ......you'll see.   Thanks to April for forwarding. 

YOU KNOW YOU'VE BEEN DOING RESCUE TOO LONG WHEN....

You have a mental list of people you'd like to spay, neuter or euthanize.

You stopped at a house with a "Free Puppies" sign in the yard to have an
Educational "Chat," and your kids had to post your bail.

Running out of paper towels is a household crisis.

You not only KNOW all the characteristics of a good "stool," you discuss
them at dinner.

Your checks have messages on them like "Subtract Two Testicles For Every
Four Feet."

You have a bumper sticker that reads "My German Shepherd Is Smarter Than
Your Graduate Student."

You secretly wonder about such things as how animals can manage without
wiping.

You pray they will someday manufacture Teflon furniture.

You have phone calls forwarded to PetsMart.

You absentmindedly pat people on the head or scratch them behind their
ears.

Given the choice of having your teeth cleaned or their teeth cleaned,
they get their teeth cleaned.

You not only allow pets on the couch, guests have to sit on the floor
because the dog has "territorial issues."

Your spouse missed the final game of the World Series because the cat
wanted to watch his favorite video, "Birds of North America."

Anytime the animal appears lethargic, you go on-line and investigate
vetmed websites, pose questions to your address book and on e-lists, and by the
time you digest all the information and field the correspondence, the animal
has torn out the window screens, and left something disgusting in your favorite pair of shoes.

Your chatroom handle is "Queen of Spayeds."

You and your vet are on a first name basis and he genuflects when you
enter the waiting room. His daughter at Harvard refers to you as "Auntie."

You needed a prescription to recover from "Old Yeller."

You've forwarded more warnings about the dangers of chocolate, onions and
mistletoe than the National Center for Disease Control has issued about
anthrax and smallpox.

You wear white year 'round, not because you are flaunting a fashion law
or belong to a religious sect but because it is BLEACHABLE.

The world would never guess from your "critterspeak" posts to
e-lists that in reality you are chairman of the IBM corporation.

By the time you investigate different flea control products, their
advantages and potential risks,natural versus chemical methods, and study
the life cycle of the flea, any fleas have died of old age.

You tell your children to "heel!" in a grocery store.

For relaxation, you went mall hopping with your girlfriends. Your eyes
glazed over when you saw a sign in front of a pet shop, "20% Off All
Puppies & Kittens," and you slapped three security guards before 
they got you safely contained in the manager's office. 

People are still talking about your spay-neuter holiday greeting from 
last year, "Deck the Halls with Balls of Collies."


Anonymous

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk Hounds is an independently licensed small division of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk is in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Snow and Sadie

We had snow today.  People in this area do not do well; they are not well equipped to deal with over an inch of snow - and it wasn't even icy, really - we do have ice storms which are horrific.  There were over 40 accidents reported between 0600 and 1000 this morning - no one was hurt, a  miracle.  I grew up in the northern plains - MN, SD and MT.  This to me is a picnic - I love cold, crisp weather with snow.  I love to drive in it - I even like driving in blizzards...but not white-outs.
The dogs enjoyed it, too.  I am trying to increase my daily physical activity so every two hours, I get up from reading, the computer or napping and play with the dogs, clean house or take someone for a walk.  Today, I ran around the field again as I had done yesterday - playing ball with Lady Bug, throwing a stick for Justus, trying to keep Cane and Dino from morphing into more of the grumpy "old men" they can already be - sheesh.

Sadie, Black & Tan Coonhound

Later, I took Sadie for a walk.  This is the first time I had walked Sadie.  It is hard getting out of my house if I pick up a leash - EVERYONE wants to go for a walk or a ride.  Getting the dog I want is tricky and getting out the door with only that dog takes some maneuvering.  We made it and had an interesting walk.  Sadie has been pretty much a couch potato.  She does not walk well on leash; neither does Hoss - no surprise there, eh?  She may have been out of practice, the day and weather did lend itself to increased canine energy - and then we passed the yearling cows - what in the world were they??  Sadie can have the most mournful bay you have ever heard but on this walk, she just barked and barked.  Was distressed on the way back when I put her on a short leash to help her stay at my side - had no clue.  Something to work with her on.  She was glad to be home but I also think she somehow did enjoy her walk.  I did :). 

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk Hounds is an independently licensed small division of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk is in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Ten Reasons To Get A Dog, Not A Facelift Or Plastic Surgery | Global Animal

I love this article and reasoning. I am now 57 - proud of it since the cancer I had was 50% fatal. Be thankful you are who you are - you have earned those laugh lines and that silver hair. Do exercise, eat well, sleep enough, learn and push your brain - and if you don't already have one, get a dog.....please enjoy.

BTW, yesterday evening, I was at Panera. Using my Panera card, I "earned" a free bagel. I have brought them home to the pack before and planned to again yesterday - an Asiago cheese bagel. Hmmm...forgot I had Hoss in the car. He got to eat the whole thing - lucky duck.


Ten Reasons To Get A Dog, Not A Facelift Or Plastic Surgery | Global Animal

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk Hounds is an independently licensed small division of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk is in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

"Be the Change You want to see in the World" - Gandhi

Roscoe desperately needs a new home

My commitment to my rescue dogs this year goes way back to the start of Silverwalk Hounds - a SMALL, HOME BASED sanctuary where hounds and senior dogs can learn to live in a pack within a home, receive basic training (house training not guaranteed), be safe until adopted or live out their lives here.  The number of dogs at Silverwalk has grown too large to meet this crucial goal.  Why is that?  I have a hard time saying "no" to a dog or person in need; the economy tanked so adoptions slowed and needs increased but mostly, it was me.  I never, ever want to be in a situation where I am so overwhelmed with dogs and the cost/responsibility that it would take leaving rescue all together to save myself.  A number of us are in a conversation about this very thing currently on Facebook.  So, at the behest of stating my "...fresh commitment to act on behalf of animals" from Blog for Change for Animals, this year Silverwalk is re-committed to a smaller pack - dogs adopted out will not be replaced till the pack size goal is reached.  What is that goal?  It is a pack size and composition which lends itself to a feeling of wellness, wholeness and attentiveness within and without the pack for each member dog.  I know this does not meet the needs of many dogs, but it will, "as God is my witness," make a great difference to those dogs involved.   Dog packs take very careful, attentive management - of which I learn more every day both here, in my reading and in my working with others in rescue.   I have met, appreciated and learned from so many people in rescue - adopters, foster homes, other rescuers, volunteers, those who just stop by and offer some bills to "feed the dogs."   Rescue is a wonderful community.  I want it to stay that way for Silverwalk.

copyright NoKillAdvocacyCenter

I am committed to the no-kill sanctuary of which Silverwalk has become a division, Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary in Jackson, MO.  This is a dynamic sanctuary which has grown, thrived and won the support of the community at large in Cape Girardeau County, Jackson and local environs.  I would like to start transporting again - I believe in the necessity of animal transports to save higher numbers of dogs than I can do myself.  Thus, Silverwalk will be aligned with other entities to save, in my case, primarily dogs....and that makes us bigger than we actually are.

I think balance in life is very important.  It is crucial for me to be able to practice nursing at the highest level available to me....this takes time, study and planning.  My spiritual life is the underpinning of all activities and foci of my life; I ignore it at not only my peril but the peril of Silverwalk, Safe Harbor, my nursing practice and my leisure time.   Stepping out of our comfort zones is always a tough thing to do but most always leads to personal growth - or at least an appreciation of how others live or what they do and are.

Let me be clear, though.  Even at the highest numbers of dogs I have ever had on site, even when I have been most frustrated, overwhelmed and broke, coming home to my dogs, sitting with them, letting us love on one another, has always made my day complete.   How can you make a difference for animals this year? 

Agnes RIP

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk Hounds is an independently licensed small division of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk is in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Redemption

I received my copy of Nathan Winograd's Redemption on Tuesday.   Was unable to get to it till yesterday evening.  I like to peruse books - I check out the front papers, the back, the introduction, the acknowledgments, etc.  It is how I read books.  I ordered my copy from Mr. Winograd's website.  I did not expect what I found - tears sprung to my eyes.  As I was going through my new book ritual, I found a personal, hand-written inscription to me, personally, from Mr. Winograd. 

I have always treasured signed books.  My father took me to meet Marguerite Henry and then, brought home a second signed book for me when he ran across a book signing by her without me with him.  Walter Farley, author of The Black Stallion and Man O'War, did not have time to respond to a child's request - even a child who had checked out and read MO'W 7 times before her parents bought her her own copy.  He was, according to his secretary's letter, too busy.  Ms. Henry was not - she understood the needs of children; she had a fan club; she made time for us at book signings.  Mr. Winograd, a very busy man, too, took time to acknowledge me and our mutual goals.  Thank you.  

I am a member of No Kill Advocacy Center.  No Kill is happening in both rural and urban, open admission shelters throughout the country.  Please, read Redemption, check out nathanwinograd.com, educate yourselves about No Kill - which is what I am doing.  I don't know enough yet - only that dogs and cats are needlessly being killed by those who care - this practice needs to stop and can be changed. 

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk Hounds is an independently licensed small division of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk is in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Pet Blogger Challenge @ Silverwalk

I am somewhat of a concrete, left brained person who is thrilled when my right brain breaks through - which is one reason I change backgrounds so much, I think.  In answering the questions posed by the Pet Blogger Challenge, I plan to work through them - and see what happens - maybe that right brain will kick in. 

Justus - a year old Jan. 6, best guess

1. When did you begin your blog?

April 22, 2008 - here is the first paragraph of my first entry named "Inauguration:" "Inauguration seems to be appropriate for this upcoming year and this new blog. I have wanted to be able to update my adopters/friends/sponsors on the stuff going on at Silverwalk for sometime. I hope to update this at least every other week, sometimes more often."  I am happy to say I soon began blogging more frequently and each year have increased the number of my entries. 

2. What was your original purpose for starting a blog?

As noted above, it was to keep my adopters/volunteers/friends up to date on the goings on at Silverwalk and with the dogs.

3. Is your current purpose the same?

Basically, yes. 

If not, what’s different?

I have taken the liberty of addressing some political issues here in MO re: dog welfare issues, have found many other dog bloggers whom I have quoted or linked for better/more information on a topic. 

If so, how do you feel you’ve met your goals?

Justus

I have met my goals and am starting to exceed them.  What I am really enjoying is the dog blog community I have met.  I love to get comments and try to respond as much as possible to those blogs I regularly read - I often follow links on other blogs finding treasures.

4. Do you blog on a schedule or as the spirit moves you?

I pretty much blog when the spirit moves me; the longest between entries now though is a week and then like this past week, it may hit every day for a bit. 

If the former, how often — and what techniques do you use to stick to it?

If the latter, do you worry about… well, whatever you might worry about (e.g. losing traffic, losing momentum)?

I haven't paid attn to traffic as the blog is for those mostly already interested in Silverwalk.  

5. Are you generating income from your blog?

NO. 

If so, how (e.g. sponsor ads, affiliate relationships, spokesperson opportunities)? I am an affiliate for the publisher Dogwise, the badge for which is on my site.  So far, I am the only person who has bought through that link - HA. 

If not currently, do you hope to in the future — and how?

The idea is tempting but I would only want to do as some of my fav bloggers do - represent a product/link I believe in and use. 

6. What do you like most about blogging in general and your blog in particular (bragging is good!)?

I love talking about my dogs and sharing information, links, videos to those also interested particularly in rescue dogs.  I so enjoy writing that when my boss suggested I was not too old to get my BSN in nursing, I replied when I go back to school, it will be for journalism or English.  I would like my writing to be more focused, clear, informative.  I like having non-dog blogs in my good blogs list as I think anything we do is done better with wider information than in our focused world.

7. What do you like least?

Sometimes, blogs feel narcissistic to me - me, me, me.  Why am I putting this all out into a public arena when I could write a private diary or private blog?  Do people really want to hear this?

8. How do you see your blog changing/growing in 2011?

I hope this blog will continue to garner followers, be more informative re: the world of rescue/foster for dogs especially hounds.  I share my faith, my nursing, my frustrations here as well as my dogs; I try to keep most of the non-dog stuff for my other blog, Silverwalking but life isn't always neat.   I really, really want to champion those who adopt and foster dogs - they save dogs every day....

Justus, started as foster; adopted by me :)

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk Hounds is an independently licensed small division of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk is in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Catching up with the Pack

Betty Boop

Danny

Interesting week, this.  Betty Boop is in heat, Danny Quinn thinks he is a stud (ha), therefore, Betty is going to the vet's tomorrow to stay till she is spayed....Hoss plays "you can't catch me" when outside the fence but makes darn sure he is home for meals and in the house in the evening when it is cold without the sun.  He is also the first dog of the year to have a TICK.  Cane is even more crabby - he is getting double doses of Rescue Remedy, has almost all his hair back and is quite rambunctious.  Jedi is still losing hide to the fence as he raises along the inside of it with Hoss on the 

Jedi

Hoss

Cane

Sheila

Justus

Allie Mae

outside.  He is now on very high calorie puppy food to help put weight back on himself.   Farrah is defending herself when in her crate from Kisses and others who harass her...good dog.  Queenie is doing zoomies along with Annie.  Seymour reads my mind.  Both he and Sheila need to see the groomer ASAP.  Sheila Sheltie is 14 years old!  She doesn't act or look like it; one eye's cataract is growing so she has peripheral vision but otherwise, she is herding us as normal, demanding petting as a Princess should.  Justus is getting walked and worked every other day at least - and daily inside the house.  He is still fixated on tissues....egads.  Kisses needs a foster or home out of this menagerie of multiple dogs....but is doing better.  Dino may be going to a foster/adoptive home this coming week; unsure about Jedi as his potential housemate was ill last week and I haven't heard how she is faring; just heard, is doing better, most likely had a TIA (trans-ischemic attack - an often precursor to a stroke), Todd is on probation in his foster home due to his nocturnal habits....wonder from whom he picked up those?   If Sadie doesn't come in the house soon after meals, she sets up a mournful howl with the rest joining in the hound-song.   Lady Bug must have at least one daily dose of tennis ball throwing/retrieving.  She is infectious - Allie Mae can catch a ball in the air! Cane chases them, Justus,too, but won't retrieve...suddenly, I have a small pack of tennis ball freaky dogs :).   Who woulda thunk in a bunch of hounds?We have had the most pleasant evenings, though - with all of us napping in the house, the couches full and snores all around.
I tried to get the photos in order but found it impossible - so hope the captions help; I missed Margie & Monk - who are well.

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk Hounds is an independently licensed small division of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk is in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Train Your Dog Month

Please check this out - National Train Your Dog Month.  Sounds like the first year.  What a great idea!  I really need to focus on one or more dogs daily on a regular basis for simple basic training.  It is the small, basic steps done consistently in multiple venues that make your dog rock solid in training, recall, obedience.  Justus comes to mind as he needs lots of walking so lots of chances to work him outside, at the store, on the bike trail, etc.  He should be a sponge dog.  Have a wonderful month training - think where you and your dog could be come February!  and ask me how Justus and I are doing.

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk Hounds is an independently licensed small division of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk is in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Shiloh's Legacy Continues

I mentioned Shiloh in the previous post - how he was a neighborhood dog and finally adopted into a wonderful family.  He was more than that - he was an ambassador for Silverwalk and our volunteer recruiter.
Shi and I were at lunch one day at a local bakery.  A young woman walked by, loved on him and went on.  She came back when she was done and said how much she missed her dog.  I said well, if you need a dog fix, you can always come out and help walk dogs, and gave her my card.  She replied, I will - and I will talk to my sorority as well.  We at Silverwalk had two good years of sorority volunteers walking and petting dogs.   They have moved on in their lives but one stays in touch, wanting to adopt Farrah when her home is more settled.
Today, two young women came to the door.  I truly did not recognize them.  About four months or so ago, they had found Shiloh on one of his walkabouts, called and then called our local humane society who told them how to get to Silverwalk.  They brought him home and put him in the yard...I must have been working as I wasn't there.   They came today to volunteer in the spring, help raise funds, do whatever for Silverwalk and the dogs.  They had done volunteer work for Special Olympics with such good karma, they wanted to keep volunteering.  What an unexpected blessing - and they have friends, too.   I let them know Shiloh had been adopted - but his legacy of ambassadorship obviously lives on.   Thank you, Kim and Megan.
On a similar note, a colleague at work has two sons who want to come out to volunteer as well.  Thank you, Kelly.  I feel as though I have an embarrassment of riches.  Now, I need to be sure to make these experiences good ones for the dogs and the volunteers.  What fun!

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk Hounds is an independently licensed small division of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk is in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Ahem....badassery.....er....BADASSERY!

There is a reason I share more than dog blogs in my favorite blog list.  There is much to be gleaned from personal, positively focused blogs not necessarily dealing with dogs or rescue.  We are more than our dogs' owners - we are our own persons.  YES, Hoss - it is TRUE, no matter how much you are convinced otherwise.  HEY, give me back that mouse!  Ahem.  Speaking for myself, I need to hear different perspectives not only from the rescue/dog welfare world but others who may or may not have pets.  Many do but the blogs they write are not pet focused.  I find them enriching.

 I found Karen Walrond's blog, Chookooloonks, through another blog...if I recall, I will give credit  - and the credit goes to Kristine at Rescued Insanity - thanks so much!  "Badassery" is not a term I normally would use UNTIL I read Karen's definition.   THEN, the badge went up by Dog eat Doug under the Dog Blessed banner....I offer it here with obvious and complete credit and a link in the entry title to Karen's blog entry.  So, though I may say it soto voice, I plan to be a ....er....badass this year.  Read on -

"And although the following might not be an exhaustive list, if I were to put a definition around what someone who practices badassery would be, it would go something like:

• Someone who isn't afraid to wish good things for herself.  Someone who believes she's worthy of being happy.
• Someone who isn't afraid to make goals, and then once those goals are made, isn't afraid of taking those first, tiny steps toward achieving those goals. 
• Someone who realizes that taking care of himself isn't selfish or egotistical, but that sometimes you have to put the oxygen mask on first before you start helping others.
• Someone who realizes that at his core, he's a good person.  And that given this, when he makes a mistake, maybe he should go easy on himself.
• Someone who, when bad things happen (and make no mistake, they will happen), will not spend valuable time thinking about who did her wrong, or why the world is conspiring against her, but will instead spend that time working through it by taking care of herself, leaning on friends as necessary, asking for help when needed, and treating herself as she would a good friend going through a similar situation.  Someone who, when life knocks her down, does what she can to pick herself up, dust herself off, and try, try again. 
• Someone who makes kindness to friends, people around him (like waiters and others in the service industry), and even strangers his primary focus; and who also takes care to surround himself and cultivate relationships with good friends who have equal focus.  Someone who is never afraid to speak his mind or his truth, but always does so with kindness.
• And finally (and probably most predictably), someone who works hard at reframing the things that make him different, recognizing them as attributes that are sources of great beauty, and when used for good, maybe even superpowers.

Yeah.  That person? In my opinion, that person is a badass.
So here's to working toward more badassery in 2011.
And also? Here's that playlist I was working on.  It's sort of my Soundtrack of Badassery.
And finally, while I'm at it, a new year's wish for each and every one of you:  may this year be even more than your hearts desire." - Karen Walrond, JD

My prayers, goals and desires for this year are, in a hazelnut shell (thanks, Julian), to work backward from them as I envision them fulfilled at the end of the year in order to make progress, not procrastination.  The plan is for 2011 to be a watershed year on multiple fronts - ooohh, ambitious.  I certainly am not in this alone - none of us are, IMHO - God is always with us, whether or not we are able or choose to accept that fact....

Here is a start: I use the word "owner" deliberately.  I own my dogs; I am not their guardian.  "Ownership" conveys a legal responsibility for their welfare, whether the dog in question is my personal dog or an adoptable one.  I am also their "mom" - because "mom" equals "love." 

Thank you, Karen, for so carefully and clearly adding definition to both my and Silverwalk's  New Year - giving hope, responsibility, compassion, and direction using a term bound for double takes.

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk Hounds is an independently licensed small division of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk is in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.

Forward!

It has been pretty amazing to read and watch the blogs I follow with summaries of 2010 and plans for 2011.  I have enjoyed them all.  "YesBiscuit," however, captured my attention and earnest evaluation re: the No Kill Conference in Washington, DC this summer, July 30-31.  I have downloaded scads of information, uploaded a link on my Facebook page which I want to share with our local Humane Society.  I do not believe Cape Girardeau and its environs cannot meet 90% no kill.  We are a deeply committed area to family, neighbor and the American flag.  We could do this - we need to do this.  Attending this conference is my dream for 2011 along with earning my CNIII at work and sitting for my Critical Care Nurse Certification.  Oh, my!

What happened at Silverwalk in 2010? 

• Silverwalk Beagle & Hound Sanctuary, Inc. became a "small division" of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary.  We remain a not quite equal part of Safe Harbor, so we chose to remain incorporated with our own license.  We have been blessed particularly by the sanctuary's director, Alice Wybert.
• Shiloh found a home.  Shiloh is a wonderful Beagle who had been here for almost 3 years.  He had been adopted once but at that home in St. Louis, perfected a technique for climbing/jumping multiple chain link fences.  He came home - too dangerous in St. Louis.  Here, he tried golf at the Country Club as well as swimming, attended a funeral and church at Hobb's Chapel and generally blessed the neighbors with his visits.  Now he is in a home with a family and no other dogs.  After some adjustment, he and his new family are doing well.
• Danny Quinn achieved national fame after getting his greedy little head stuck in a jar trying to get the very last Milk Bones at the bottom.  Here is the Perspective on Pets link - and Danny's Draw the Dog.com cartoon.
• Erin Easton wrote about and Kristin photographed Silverwalk Hounds for the TBY section of the Southeast Missourian.  Then, Erin became a wonderful volunteer at Silverwalk :).  BTW, Jedi TreeWalker, the Walker Coonhound trying to climb into my lap in the first photo, will be going home sometime in January. 
• I became more engaged with other bloggers, particularly dog bloggers.  The one thing I did not expect in rescue generally were the friendships, e-mail acquaintances and outright friends I have made over the years, not only with other rescuers, shelter workers and trainers but also with adopters and inquirers.  Now I very much feel part of a group of dog bloggers who learn and share what we are doing with our dogs...it is a very fun ride :). 
• Silverwalk took on too many dogs :(.  As I told Olivia, our Dept of Ag inspector extraordinaire, Silverwalk is the only dedicated hound rescue between St. Louis and Mississippi (yes, I could have abbreviated MS but it is so fun to type).   I am finally to the point I cannot take in any more dogs till I adopt out many....and it breaks my heart.  This is another reason I am so excited about the No Kill Conference this summer; like Adoption Options from Petfinder and Petco, it will be an intense two days with speakers I admire and read, helping me and us find means to help us and our communities be more pet and animal friendly. 

As you may have noticed above, 2011 includes a major focus on my vocation of nursing.  Finding balance in life is always tough but the diversity of my interests, God given as they are, not only enhance and challenge my life but allow me to give back to the community in which I live, local and far flung.  My wish and prayer for you is to look closely at how you want this new year to end - as a friend has counseled, work backward from there to get to where you are being led.  A wonderful, challenging and celebratory New Year to us all.  

Check our adoptable dogs - click the logo

Silverwalk Hounds is an independently licensed small division of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, Inc. in Jackson, MO, a licensed, 501c3 tax exempt sanctuary mostly for cats with some dogs and now Silverwalk Hounds. Silverwalk is in Cape Girardeau County, MO, specializing in Beagles, other hounds and senior dogs. There are always dogs needing adoption and sponsorship. Please see Silverwalk Hounds for more information about Silverwalk and Safe Harbor, our dogs and "adorable adoptable" cats needing very good homes.