Hoosier Daddy?!

1) Indiana is officially called for OBAMA, BABY!

There will most definitely be some celebratory euchre this weekend here in honor of it.

2) Dallas County was 60% BLUE, and McCain won the state of Texas by LESS than a 10% margin, which is awesome. And for a while there, the state of Texas was BLUE on my computer screen:

3) New ObamaBats font already released.

4) My boy Clive says "ROOOOOOOOOOOO" in support of Massachusetts' vote to BAN greyhound racing!

5) Though I am very saddened that it seems California will pass Prop 8, I am also very happy that the state passed Prop 2 to provide humane conditions and rights to factory farm animals.

Minute by Minute

an open letter from Carrollton
(originally published in the Dallas News)

Letter from Carrollton

12:00 AM CDT on Friday, June 20, 2008

Sandra Laird, director of animal care, Operation Kindness Animal Shelter, Carrollton

Desperate times for pets

All we have to do to get our blood pressure up these days is to look at the prices we are paying at the pump. This is bad enough, but we are also paying higher prices for just about anything we buy that is trucked in. The ones who might be paying the ultimate price are the dogs and cats being turned in at our local shelters and humane societies.

People are losing their homes, having to move in with other family members and the pets that were once a part of their families are now being surrendered. We are just beginning kitten season, and more puppies are born all the time. People are not coming to the shelters to adopt these animals. When you don't know how you are going to pay to fill up your tank, you are not likely to take on the expense of a new pet.

You cannot imagine how I feel when I tell the lady who is bringing in her cat or a fellow humane officer, begging us to take some of the animals whose time is up, that we cannot accept any more animals because we are just too full. I agonize for the animal service officer whom I just said "no" to, as she or he looks for the last time into the beautiful eyes of that puppy or kitten that they are about to give back to God.

It might be wise for the Dallas City Council to adopt the proposed new animal ordinances that are about to go before them.

Sandra Laird, director of animal care, Operation Kindness Animal Shelter, Carrollton

A Bumper Crop

So I went to REI today before work. mmmmm...REI. I picked up my order and did NOT let myself kill the extra 30 minutes I had by roaming around the women's section, so instead I let myself browse the dog section which was right by the checkout. And, to my surprise, I saw that REI carries Katie's Bumpers! What are Katie's Bumpers you ask, and why was I excited to find them? They are dog toys made from recycled fire hoses, and are tough, they float, and they are brightly colored and patterned so dogs can see them easily. I had bookmarked the website a month or two ago but didn't want to pay shipping, so I was glad to find them at REI and discounted. Score! I bought the one that has 3 squeakers in it, so hopefully Maggie will appreciate it.