I am in love. Another man has stolen my heart and I’m hopeful I’ll be the better for it. James P. Owen is probably not someone you’ve ever heard of before unless you are a cowboy. I certainly hadn’t till just a few weeks ago. Mr. Owen is the originator of “cowboy ethics” and “The Code of the West”. I know. This doesn’t seem to have anything to do with dogs or politics or “fighting City Hall”. Bear with me. Because I see a definite link.

As Mr. Owen outlines it, this is the code that all cowboys followed then and still follow today:

Live each day with courage.
Take pride in your work.
Always finish what you start.
Do what has to be done.
Be tough, but fair.
When you make a promise, keep it.
Ride for the brand.
Talk less and say more.
Remember that some things aren’t for sale.
Know where to draw the line.

Even though there are very few of us who are driving cattle to Kansas City anymore, or putting up miles of fencing or laying brands or breaking horses, all ten of these principles still apply to life today if we let them. Some may think they are old-fashioned, simple or just plain hokey but following them could make a major impact on our world if we only would. Why? Because they’re based on ethics and doing what’s right, not what’s expedient. They offer stability, not chaos, to a society urgently in need.

How does this apply to dog owners and breeders and fanciers? The Code is based on personal responsibility; something that pretty much all of us profess to believe in when it comes to the owning, breeding and treatment of dogs and other pets. Most of us expect people to do “what’s right and fair” when it comes to the owning of dogs……right and fair for the owner and right and fair for the dog.

We also believe in freedom – freedom to have our dogs, to participate in our dog activities without interference, to live our doggie lifestyle. The cowboy ethics principle that particularly applies here and now is “do what has to be done”. For the past several years, and for the immediate future, dog owners have been in a fight for their existence and way of life. Forces gather to take all this away from us, either all at once, or piece by piece over time. It’s time to do “what has to be done”. I offer this quote from Mr. Owen’s book, Cowboy Ethics: What Wall Street Can Learn from the Code of the West:

“In Kevin Costner’s Open Range, the cowboy heroes are Boss Spearman, a tough old cattle drover who has endeavored to steer clear of bloodshed, and his hand Charley Waite, who has clearly done some killing in his time. While resting their herd, they run up against Baxter, a despotic rancher who rules the nearby town and hates “free grazers” like Boss and Charley. Baxter’s men rough up their friend, Mose, and the bullying rancher lets them know he means to kill them all and scatter their herd if they do not quit his domain.

‘You reckon them cows are worth getting killed over?’ Charley asks Boss when he vows to protect the herd. ‘The cows is one thing,’ says Boss. ‘But one man telling another where he can go in this country is something else.’”

I think all dog lovers need to “Cowboy Up”. NOW.

Spring Has Sprung

Today is the first official day of spring and it certainly looks like it outside my window. The sun is bright; the sky is deep blue; a strong March breeze is blowing. A textbook spring day is all around me. My sinuses have recognized this. They aren't particularly happy. I try to soothe them with a little Tylenol. They cooperate for a couple of hours and then begin complaining again. Tyrants at this time of year.

I should be out trimming more bushes, clearing more brush and generally doing all those spring cleanup chores that demand to be done this time of year. Actually, "scream" would probably be a better word. And what's more, they all scream at the same time. It's not like they could be polite and ....... get in line. No, no. It's like 10 puppies pulling at your shoe laces as you try to walk 5 feet across the floor.

I suppose I will get to most of it. Eventually. It may be Memorial Day or later though. I'm not making any promises. For this afternoon, I think I'll just enjoy Spring in all her blowsy beauty. To hell with chores. They'll be there tomorrow. The Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, so will I.

I'm Not Doing So Good

Well, another 6 weeks has gone by and I haven't been blogging a bit.

BAD DOG....sit....stay.....WRITE.

Actually, I have been writing, just not in this particular forum. I do a lot of writing and researching (among other things) for a nonprofit I volunteer for: The Alabama Canine Coalition, Inc. (www.alabamacaninecoalition.org). And lately, I've been pretty busy with it. Protecting my rights and other people's rights to own and breed and maintain dogs and other animals is getting to be a full-time occupation these days, paid or not. Animal rights vs. animal welfare. They're just not the same thing at all and most people don't know that.

Anyway, I'd like to get back to my "fun" blog writing. And I will. It just may not be anytime real soon.

My New Reality

A couple of days ago as I was trying to drift back to sleep after being awakened by a scratching, moaning dog, I had an epiphany. Not a good one. As I struggled to regain mind quietness, all of a sudden from out of nowhere came this thought: in 13 years, I will be 70.

You can imagine how my effort to return to blissful sleep was shattered. 13 years used to sound like, oh, 30. Now, it sounds more like 5. And this is all the dogs' faults. All of them....the ones here now and the past ones who have gone on to the great Rainbow Bridge in the sky. 13 years is just about the length of my dogs' lives. I am one dog away from 70. OH.....MY.....GOD!

50 I embraced. 55 could be dealt with. I was just getting my head wrapped around the possibility of an upcoming 60 in a couple of years. But 70! This whole idea has rocked my world. Did I never expect to get to 70? I don't know what I've been thinking........"not thinking" would actually be more accurate I guess. There are a whole lot more things I'd like to do, see and be before this body starts a more rapid decline. (My knee is leading the march towards decrepitude.) Guess I better get my ass in gear.

Thank you, puppies. I think.

Snips & Snails & Puppy Dog Toenails

The weekly/bi-weekly War of the Toes was waged this afternoon once again. And once again, I emerged victorious, although with great effort. Trying to shorten dog toenails is one of the few things about dog ownership that I really don't like. I don't know of a dog that truly likes to his nails clipped. I have heard of a few that don't seem to mind. Mine are not those.

Blue used to be very stoic about the whole thing. He didn't like it. But he liked me better. As soon as Vivi came on the scene with her drama queen antics about every little thing, he decided that maybe if it was working for her, it would work for him. He's not nearly as colorful about it as she is, but he's not the sweet martyr he used to be. Viv is a regular Camille. Today she decided that maybe a small attempt at BITING my hand would stop the torture. NOT. Instead, she got the Crocodile Dundee stare down and a very guttural, sharp "NO". I bet she tries again.

While I'm on the subject of dogs, please take a look at a really good blog on how to keep your rights to own, breed and maintain your pet: doglawsatlarge.blogspot.com There are those whose sole aim in life is make sure that owing pets comes to an end and to do that they are attempting to pass anti-dog laws across the country. If you love your furry companions, you better take heed. Join with other responsible owner groups to safeguard your rights to your pets.

A New Era in US Politics?

I have had the TV on all day long. I'm about to be in Inauguration Overload. Although I have to say, it's been pretty invigorating to see the excitement and hope in thousands of peoples' eyes.

I didn't vote for Obama. I wanted to, sort of. There were a couple of things holding me back. I didn't vote for John-Boy McCain either. There were couple of things disturbing over there, too. I did vote though. If you don't pay, you can't play.........no vote....no complaining. And I like to bitch and whine sometimes.

But Obama is our president. And I am ALL FOR the United States presidency. I'm also ALL FOR our Constitutional rights, our freedoms, our privileges, our way of life. So, I will find the things that I can agree with Mr. President on and I will voice my opposition to the things I can't. I hope that all the promise that Barak Obama represents blossoms in the coming four years. And that the mistakes and missteps will be few. I'm ready to give the guy a fair shot.

Rock on, America...........

Sidetracked AGAIN

I'd like to say that I've finished with that attic thing. But you know the answer to that already. Isn't it amazing how you can lose focus so quickly and so completely when it comes to "cleaning out"?

In my defense, I have made a marvelous start. And it IS just the 9th of January. But somehow the days of this week have just slipped by without me even opening the door to The Black Hole.....well, maybe I could just say The Dark Gray Hole; some progress has been made after all.

Tomorrow is already committed to something else (a knitting class; thank God it's not grooming dogs or cleaning up anything!). Sunday, I know at least one little black dog that requires a "re-bath". So, it looks like the week of the 11th will have to be designated as Resume Organization Week. Sigh. Keep your fingers crossed that I can say "all done" at the end of the week.