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A couple months ago, I posted a response to a great letter-to-the-editor written by Nicole B of Appleton, WI to the Post Crescent editorial section. Her letter is thus:

Letters: Treating animals right is testament to humanity
There has been much bad news lately for animals in our area— from violent crimes against them to puppy mills to high-euthanasia rates in the shelters.

There is also a glimmer of hope among all this sadness. The rumble in the community is turning into action and it’s time for us to stand up for those who cannot defend themselves and demand action.

Local no-kill rescue groups are struggling to meet the demands and, thanks to some veterinary clinics like All Creatures and the Fox Valley Animal Hospital, more kitties are finding good, forever homes. Dog daycares like Clever K-9s and the Dog Lounge also have stepped up to provide services to some homeless dogs.

It will take the entire community to rise up to face the apathy of pet treatment in our area by embracing spay/neuter initiatives, supporting no-kill rescue and demanding harsh punishment for those who prey on cats and dogs to take out their anger.
Other communities across the country have adopted these philosophies and it’s a testament to our humanity and capacity to love. We don’t have to fail, and we can end the killing.

Nicole Boesken,
Appleton

I noticed a number of very good responses to it, along with a disturbingly large number of sick responses, as well. (It bothers me to think of how many people out there consider animals as ‘things’ to be controlled and used as they please. But, that’s a posting for another day.) My own response is here.

My conclusion… we need more people like Nicole in our world. People who understand the importance of animals and their welfare. We’re all tied together, folks. People and animals… we’re all a part of that little thing called ‘circle of life’. (and, no… I won’t start singing.)

How we treat animals reflects who we are as a people. Care, compassion, love, understanding… those are the traits that make us human. Let’s start showing it.

Peace out!
Julie

(In response to a February 29, 2008 post on the Appleton Post Crescent website on the connection between animal and human abuse)

I am still shocked that Wisconsin does not have a division of the ASPCA, nor any segments in the police departments there for animal abuse and rights.

A few years ago I checked into animal/humane law enforcement officers. I truly wanted to go into a career that would allow me to help in that area. But, Wisconsin has nothing. In fact, I even found many articles that mentioned many community PDs do/will not put much emphasis into shutting down puppy mills because they don’t have the manpower to dedicate a person (or persons) to cracking down on them. And, there are no true laws in place to do so, even if they did.

I was absolutely shocked. So much abuse. So much death. All unnecessary. And, all linked to domestic abuse, as well.

As a community, we need to speak up and get our officials to listen.

Julie

HI all!

Well, today I officially received my very own ‘Hit Man’ scam email. I’m so proud!! *wipes small tear from eye*

For those of you wondering, it’s a lot like all those relatvies I never knew I had in Nigeria who have emailed me wanting to leave me money. Except this time, I’m supposed to GIVE someone my money so they won’t go through with the hit AND give me all the tape-recorded conversations from my would be assailant.

Huh… if they truly knew me, they’d realize I never received all that money from my cheapskate, Nigerian relatives. So I cannot afford to pay him off. Guess that ’source close to me’ isn’t so close afterall. And, as one of my TRUE ‘close’ friends so nicely reminded me, I’m just not important or popular enough to have a hit on me. Now… that’s just depressing.

But, in case any of you receive the same delightful email, go here for some info that may be helpful: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_hit_man_scam. It has information about the email and a link to the Internet Crime Complaint Center of the FBI. (if you don’t believe me, here: www.ic3.gov )

It’s been going around a while now, so it’s nothing new to the authorities. BUT, as with any email asking for any money or personal information, do not respond to it. If you want to learn more about an email you receive, take a small portion of the text and Google it. You will find many sources of information on the wonderfully whacky web.

If you feel your life truly IS in danger, go to your local authorities. Period.

If you’re like me - just not important or popular enough to have a true hit out on you - go grab another donut and cup of coffee and drown your sorrows. Then, write an email to friends and family to remind them of how utterly unimportant you truly are.

Okay… back to work with you while I go make another pot of coffee!
Jules

now… where did I leave those donuts….

Flags are at half mast today. Fans on their front porches playing ‘TAPS’. Husbands crying, wives consoling. Children staring, lost and confused, at a lone football lying on the front lawn… er, snowbank.

Everyone… let us not mourn the loss of OUR great one, but, instead, hold our heads high and know that we CAN and WILL move on and that the Packers, once again, will be great.

Congratulations to Brett Favre (and his family) on his retirement. He actually made watching football FUN! We can only hope to again find someone with as much youthful exuberance to join the game of football.

What a damn fun run it was! What an exciting final season to watch!! The first time in my life I just couldn’t miss a game!

As a community - and by that, I mean WORLD community - we need to put more emphasis into no-kill shelters and animal care centers. Too often, I have heard stories from members of the community about taking good, loving, healthy animals to a shelter, only to find out that within a day or two they were euthanized.

There are so many options out there, if folks would only take the time to act with their hearts, instead of their ‘bottom line’. Folks need to get educated, act up, voice their concerns and just plain get out there and help the ones who cannot help themselves.

I recently came into possession of a book written by a gentleman who is a leader in the No-Kill movement, Nathan Winograd, called “Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Revolution in America”. I highly recommend to anyone and everyone - READ THIS BOOK!

In fact, I don’t just recommend it… I CHALLENGE everyone to read it.

Of course, to read it will educate you on what is truly happening in shelters across America that still believe euthanasia is the only option for the five million healthy cats and dogs killed in shelters each year.

Peace Out!
Julie

Monday, December 31, 2007, my family got together in Groton, SD to say goodbye to my Grandma, Margaret Hubbard. We received a call on Christmas Eve that she had stopped swallowing: the final stage of Alzheimers that has been steadily stealing her life for the past nine years.

I’ve always known Grandma for her love of dancing, wild colored clothing, her cooking and her trailer at the lake where she taught me how to fish (and how to clean what I caught - which I still do to this day .

What I learned this weekend was that I knew only a small part of who Margaret Hubbard really was.

To the community of Groton, South Dakota, she was much more. She was a midwife for many years. A house-cleaner at the Circle Pines motel. For 30+ years, she was secretary to the superintendent of Groton High School, where she took care of everything from keeping the school running, to watching out for the kids, to punching lunch tickets, to being the ’safe place’ for the country kids to stay with in bad weather. She helped with the ladies auxiliary with baking for church functions. She worked trades with local hunters - they provided her with plenty of game and meat for the year, and she baked for them at Christmas.

I cannot even come close to everything she was to everyone. But, I can say this… I miss her greatly. I have missed her for the past nine years. Alzheimers took her from us at that time. What it left was simply her shell. Last week, she was finally released from that horrible disease and she is now fishing once more, remembering all of her life’s good times, and out dancing to all hours of the evening.

Grandma… thanks for all the wonderful things you taught me, and those you never realized you passed along to me: like being who I am and living my life no matter what anyone else thinks. Life is for living, and loving and sharing. For that lesson, I am forver grateful.

My lesson for those reading this: Spend time with those you love, for you never know how long you’ll have with them.

Goodnight, Grandma. I look forward to fishing with you again!
Love, Julie