Random Thoughts...Food, Firearms, and Fun

Potato, Potahto? Baked Potato, Mashed Potato?

2017-01-17T22:55:00.001-08:00

When I can’t sleep, I write. What I write usually upsets people, because it's brutally honest, and much like A Few Good Men, some people can't handle the truth. Recently, I've felt ambushed from some who used to be in power (and who are at least 30 years older than me) in a Masonic organization, because I wasn't giving them every detail of a fundraising activity (a bingo). I wasn't asking for help, because I had help from others, and I knew from past experience that the help I might receive would be lacking. I was duly summoned to a meeting, as was Mac. We were told it would be to discuss the future of the organization, and instead, it was to discuss fundraising.

Now, as I thought it was to discuss the future of the organization, I didn't bring any of the fundraising stuff with me. When we started talking about it, because I was ambushed, and a little rusty on my Toastmasters Table Topics skills, I wasn't able to answer all of their questions. So, those who used to be in charge decided they knew better than me, and decided to plan a dinner instead.

We hammered out details, even though I knew we wouldn't make nearly as much with the dinner, but since it was obvious they didn't want a bingo, I worked with them. A few days later, the person in charge of the baked potatoes cancelled. So, I adapted and overcame, because that's what I do. It served me well in monitoring, and in my job, and why wouldn't it serve me well here?

I opted to have mashed potatoes instead of baked potatoes, only to have my decision changed, and me reprimanded by one of the women because I didn't consult the group on my change. We went from baked potatoes to mashed potatoes. Oh, the horror! Oh, the humanity! Gasp! I ask you, does it really matter? As far as I'm concerned, when someone who says they'll be in charge of something and then backs out of it loses the right to have any say on what goes on with what used to be her responsibility.

I've had some other issues with the organization, like feeling that no one is listening to me, because well, they've demonstrated time and again they aren't. I ask for a check for $225, what do I get? A check for $250. I ask for the grand pooh-bah to come to a banquet, what do I get? The grand pooh-bah will be at a regular meeting. I outline a specific procedure to obtain a fundraising item early, what do I get? Someone goes rogue and gets the item a different way, ignoring that I have other people waiting to get the items early too. I ask about a lease agreement, and say I've talked to the building management, and what happens? Someone else takes it upon herself to contact building management. Those are just the recent times I've realized that no one is listening to me in the organization.

I've been fighting a good fight with the organization, trying to make suggestions on how to attract a younger crowd. It's tough to interest people to show up for a 2.5 hour meeting, where all that is accomplished is introducing a bunch of people with "titles" even though others know who they are and their titles, some fancy footwork, and some motions to pay bills, accept reports, etc. It is even tougher to convince people to take a role in the organization when they must get dressed up in white gowns, white shoes, and, as it was so not-so-nicely pointed out to me, white stockings.

It becomes even tougher still when the ladies participating are not very tolerant of others who don't fit their traditional mold. If you have multi-colored hair, or tattoos, or if you are openly bisexual or lesbian, good luck. They may let you join, to take your dues money, but they won't embrace you like some would. I generally fit into their "norms" and they barely tolerate me. I think they tolerate me only because I'm a warm body filling an officer role. If I wasn't doing that, I think they wouldn't tolerate me due to my age and my views.

Of all things, they lament that the organization is dying, and they need new members. Considering that they aren't very tolerant, that eliminates most of my friends. Of the others, well, they don't have the time or the desire to sit through a 2.5 hour meeting. Ask others who might have a Masonic connection, like from Mac's lodge? Definitely not. I don't want the lack of tolerance to reflect poorly on his lodge.

Is the hill of baked potatoes vs. mashed potatoes the hill upon which you wish to die? It isn't for me, but for some, the type of potato is a battle worth fighting.

Apparently Dream Dinner's Doesn't Value My Business...

2016-10-03T19:38:00.000-07:00

They just about admitted it, since I bothered to point out that none of the newer employees have ever taken the time to introduce themselves, and since I admitted to my quirks...

Wendy,

I stand by my staff and I am very proud of the excellent customer service they provide to every guest that walks through our doors.
I can only conclude from your emails that you are not happy at our store and no longer wish to continue as a guest. I will go ahead and cancel your October order.

Respectfully,
Dorothy Kolmer
Manager

dreamdinners.com	Dream Dinners Lancaster P. 717-509-4530 F. 717-509-4531 lancasterpa@dreamdinners.com 1577 Manheim Pike Lancaster, PA 17601

From: Wendy Lunko
Sent: Sunday, October 2, 2016 10:23 AM
To: Lancaster Dream Dinners
Subject: Re: cancel my order

Dorothy,

Sorry for not replying sooner, but as I explained, my schedule was crazy other than Wednesday. I've been across the state and back twice, and in Maryland, since Thursday morning.

What would be best is honoring all of the publicly available sessions that people schedule. If that isn't an option, then you need to offer other options. First, give people more than a few hours notice about it. Give them a chance to be proactive. But giving me a few hours notice, when I'm at work? That gives me no time to try to do anything other than react.

When they call people, they need to not make it sound like it is because they want to leave early, or my business isn't worth staying open. Rather than saying, "You're the only one in this session, can you come in early?" whoever calls should say, "You are the only one in your session. As a courtesy, if you'd like, we can make your meals for you, and have them ready when your session would start." Again, a little more notice, and you'll have time to have the meals ready, or you'll get people who will say, "I can reschedule my session," because maybe another day does work better. Or even call and offer to switch it to made for you at no cost, for picking up at another session time. Had someone called on Monday morning and offered the made for you option, I'd have jumped at it for Monday or would've sent Mac there for Tuesday.

As far as customer service, I honestly cannot even tell you who was working on Wednesday night. When you asked to speak to Lisa, I had to ask a general question of, "Where is Lisa?" because I don't know who Lisa is. I don't know anyone's name who was there on Wednesday. They've never introduced themselves to me. Mac pointed out that he's been coming with me to sessions for most of a year. He has no idea who anyone is, because none of them ever bothered to introduce themselves to him. When I started at Dream Dinners, employees introduced themselves, got to know me, etc. Now, I walk in and am greeted with a generic "Hi," and no one takes the time to even ask how I'm doing. What sticks with me about how customer service should be, and the substantial drop off in it there is what happened about 2 years ago in December. I arrived early to my made for you session because I'd lost my job that afternoon, and knew if I went home in between, I wasn't going to want to leave the house. Becki was there, and saw that I was upset. I started crying, and told her what happened, and she gave me a hug, told me to take my time, and stay there as long as I needed. It was like she cared about me. Now, it's like, "Oh, another customer."

I wish you'd elaborate on the persuasive behavior. I've chimed in to sing the praises of Dream Dinners to other guests, or have answered questions when I can, but if those are a problem, I'll happily keep my mouth shut.

I can be very set in my ways when it comes to certain things, like which cooler shelf, which drawer for my purse, and even how things are packed in the cooler. I like the top left cooler shelf, because I'm tall, so I don't need to bend down as much, my stuff can only fall on one side, and it's easy to find if I use that one every month. I like one of the top drawers, because being tall, I don't need to bend over as much to set anything in it. Packing things in my coolers? I know that if pans go on the bottom, they get crushed, but likewise, if they are stuffed in to the top, they get crushed. It's why I bring 2 coolers. That way, there should be enough room for everything, without things getting crushed.

I can also be very vocal in my opinions, and in asking about foods that may have nuts. I think that the layout for some of the meals could be improved, and I would hope that corporate would want feedback like that. I think that some of the Mexican meals can be improved too, and have shared those opinions. For example, to me, the creamy salsa ranch or sour cream topping on the chicken enchiladas reminds me of vomit and makes it look unappetizing. I've probably shared that opinion at a session, and explained that because of that, I don't take the bag of the salsa topping. Rather, we use green sauce at home. Again, I'd think feedback like that would be welcomed by corporate. I thought that was part of the point of us rating and reviewing meals. I am very vocal about nuts, because that can kill me. If asking about allergens, and making a big deal out of it is a bad thing, then I will happily be wrong, because it's my life that can end if I eat them.

As far as the meals having hot spices, I know they do, and wouldn't order them if I didn't want the hot spices. A quick look at my order history can show that I don't avoid the meals with hot spices. I get foods that are often spicy. The note about nuts can be confusing, because I do sometimes order a 3-serving of a meal that has nuts. I do that for Mac, for when I know I won't be home for dinner (out of town, work event, etc.). If it's a 6-serving, and it has nuts, then it shouldn't get them. If it's a 3-serving that has nuts, it's for Mac, and nuts are great. This goes back to the employees don't know the guests now.

As far as charging me for the made for you, I have no problem paying that if I'm going to be late and ask them to make my meals. I do have a problem paying for that if I'm being asked to do that because I'm the only one in the session. For example, I'd have no problem paying it had I arrived on Wednesday to find all of my meals assembled, since I was 30 minutes late. If the solution to me being the only one in the session is, "We'll make your meals for you," and I arrive on time to find out I'm being charged, I have a problem with that.

If I'm not going to go to Lancaster, I'm not going to drive past Lancaster to go to West Chester, nor am I going to drive to Frederick or Colmar. Lancaster is far, all of those are farther.

Wendy

From: Lancaster Dream Dinners
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2016 4:26 PM
To: Wendy Lunko
Subject: Re: cancel my order

Wendy,

I too do not wish to argue and I feel this all went to far. In hindsight I should have left a message. I was home and I don't know why I thought that mattered.

I appreciate your feedback on how it feels to be asked to come in early, but isn't that better than cancelling a session? I'd really like to know. I don't want any guest to feel we are lacking in customer service. I pride myself on the excellent customer service we provide. But we can all improve!

I have always had pleasant exchanges with you, but some of my staff have not. They have witnessed some persuasive behavior from you in the past, which caused some nervousness.

There are different recollections of the callback they received from you. They were very busy when you called, which is why I said they were busy. The lead should have called you back when things slowed down so they could have made your meals.

We would like for you to continue to come to our store. All we ask is that you show up on time for your sessions or call if you will be late and respect the staff. Going forward if we do have to make your meals because you are going to be so late then we will have to charge you the made for you fee. We can add notes to your account with your special requests, like you did with the nuts. This will be a great reference. They were honestly unsure about making your meals because many of the meals have hot spices.

If you decide to not return to our store there are stores in West Chester, Colmar and Frederick Maryland, but we hope that doesn't happen.

Dorothy

dreamdinners.com	Dream Dinners Lancaster P. 717-509-4530 F. 717-509-4531 lancasterpa@dreamdinners.com 1577 Manheim Pike Lancaster, PA 17601

From: Wendy Lunko
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2016 2:46 PM
To: Lancaster Dream Dinners
Subject: Re: cancel my order

Dorothy,

I am very busy, moreso with my new job, than I had been previously. I made time in my schedule to be there Wednesday night, and knew that with Mac being out of town much of October, we'd use the meals for the rest of this week and weekend, I'd have one three-serving for while he was gone, and then we'd need to get there right after he returned. The offer to assemble my meals for free, at this late date, when I cannot pick them up until after he leaves, means I have a freezer's worth of food that I won't eat.

As far as another store, where is there one within reasonable driving distance?

I do not appreciate being asked to reschedule, or being made to feel as if I am keeping people who obviously do not want to be there, there. Asking me to reschedule, because I'm the only one in that session, sends the message that my business is not valued. It's not the first time I've been asked to come early or reschedule.

I've not asked to come in when you don't have a publicly available schedule. However, you have at least twice asked me to reschedule or arrive early. Once, I was able to accommodate the request, although it meant rearranging my plans for a morning. On Wednesday, I was simply not able to accommodate that request. When I indicated that, it was made to seem as if that was an inconvenience. It struck me that I should not be made to feel like my business is an inconvenience to your employees.

If employees do not want to stay to their scheduled time, then that's an employee issue, and should not affect customers. Something that stuck with me about Wednesday night was that when I spoke to someone, I told them that if it was easier, they could start making my meals. You and the employees both indicated that they were too busy to make them, and I know sessions can be busy. However, when you and I spoke, you also indicated that they were standing around, waiting for me to arrive.

If they were standing around, waiting for me to arrive, why didn't they start making my meals? I'd have been thrilled to find out they'd assembled all of them. I'd have even paid the $20 made for you charge. If they were standing around waiting for me, like was claimed, then perhaps employee retraining concerning how to best provide customer service is in order.

I don’t want to argue about this. In hindsight, I should’ve called to say I would be late, but I honestly had no idea how late I’d be. Some days, I can practically fly to Lancaster, other days, 30 is a disaster. It was raining, and we all know how that can affect traffic around here. I also wish you had left voice mail, as I’d have called you, or the store, whichever you’d have preferred, to tell them where we were.

Going forward, assuming Mac decides he wants to keep the October and future sessions, I will call if I’m going to be even 5 minutes late, just so no one has to wonder if I’ll show up.

Wendy

From: Lancaster Dream Dinners
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2016 11:46 AM
To: Wendy Lunko
Subject: Re: cancel my order

Wendy,

Your order has been cancelled. I am sorry to hear you do not want to take us up on the offer to assemble your meals for free.

Jackie and Cindi are aware of Wednesday night. The 3 of us discussed how to move forward. We value your business and understand that circumstances come up when making appointments a month in advance, on both ends.

We truly want you to have a wonderful experience when you are at Dream Dinners, but it seems we cannot provide that for you. We do not want to turn you away, but maybe you would be happier at another Dream Dinners location?

If you decide to stay at our store then we will have to come to an understanding, which we can discuss.

I will leave this up to you. Please let me know how you would like to move forward.

Respectfully,

Dorothy Kolmer

Manager

dreamdinners.com	Dream Dinners Lancaster P. 717-509-4530 F. 717-509-4531 lancasterpa@dreamdinners.com 1577 Manheim Pike Lancaster, PA 17601

From: Wendy Lunko
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2016 9:06 AM
To: Lancaster Dream Dinners
Subject: cancel my order

Dorothy,

Please cancel my order and refund my $20 deposit for September. Mac and I discussed, and as we would not have the meals for this weekend (Thursday-Tuesday), and he is going to be out of town much of October, there is no need for our September order.

Wendy

Dream Dinners, Bad Experience for a Long-Time Customer

2016-09-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

I’ve been a Dream Dinners customer in Lancaster, PA for a few years, and have even blogged about my experiences. After last night, I may not be a customer much longer. I received a call yesterday afternoon, indicating that I was the only person in the 6:45 session, and asking if I could come in early.

Calls like that are bad business practice. This isn’t the first time I’ve been asked to reschedule or arrive early, because I’m the only person in a session. The last time, I rearranged by schedule to arrive early, but it meant adding a lot of driving to my day. This time, I simply could not arrive early.

Calls asking customers or guests to arrive early or reschedule are bad. Many of us opt for Dream Dinners because we’re very busy. Asking us to rearrange our schedule just adds additional stress, and part of what Dream Dinners offers is a reduction in stress.

When I returned the call, I indicated that I would be there when I could be there. I also said that if it was easier for them, they could start making my meals. I thought that telling them they could start on my meals would allow them to leave early, since it would be less I would need to make.

I drove home from work, picked up Mac, and left on the 45 minute drive to the location. I knew I was going to be late, but wasn’t sure how late, due to rainy weather and traffic. I didn’t call, in part because I thought I didn’t need to, since I’d told them I’d be there when I could, and if they wanted, to start making my meals. Should I have called? Yes, in hindsight, I should’ve called and told them I’d be far later than anticipated.

About 5 minutes before I reached the location, I received a phone call from a number I didn’t recognize. I didn’t answer the phone, as I generally ignore numbers I don’t recognize. When I did arrive at the location, they were closed.

They let me in to explain that they were closed, because Dorothy told them to close. She was the mysterious phone call, but opted not to leave voice mail. The caller did not leave voice mail. Had voice mail been left, I’d have immediately called her and said where we were. There were 2 of us, and we had a total of 8 meals, counting at least one duplicate, so it was not going to take us long to make them.

She explained that, as I was 30 minutes late, the employees had been standing around, not doing anything for 30 minutes, and she made the decision to close. Her solution was that they will make the meals for me, and I can pick them up at my convenience next week.

I’m very frustrated at this situation, for a number of reasons. Yesterday was the only day I could be there, and I wanted the meals for this weekend. In fact, picking up the meals next week doesn’t help, as Mac will be out hunting for much of October, so we won’t need the meals.

I drove 45 minutes in each direction, and accomplished nothing. I wasted an evening, and more importantly Mac wasted an evening, when he has a honey do list a mile long (splitting and chopping wood, refinishing my car’s headlights, removing the air conditioners from the windows, etc.), and leaves in less than a week for almost an entire month.

Perhaps my biggest frustration though, is that when I said to Dorothy that I’d indicated they could start making my meals, she said they were too busy to do that. Then, she said they’d been standing around, not doing anything, waiting for me to get there. I’m confused. Which is it? Were they too busy, or were they not doing anything, waiting for me to arrive?

What it comes down to is that, in their rush to leave early, the employees lost sight of how to provide customer service. When I was not there by 6:45, instead of wondering, “What do we do?” the employees should have said, “She said we can start making her meals. Let’s work on those, and she’ll take less time to assemble what remains. We can still go home early.” Instead of solving the problem in a way that would benefit all involved, the employees chose to solve the problem in a way that upset a long-time customer, and sends the message that customer satisfaction is not a consideration there.

I was frazzled, stressed, and was looking forward to having my session and spending an evening with Mac. While I like to assemble my own meals, I’d have even been fine with showing up and having all of my meals assembled. Instead, I was upset, stressed even more, and don’t have the meals I need for the weekend, but will end up with meals I don’t need sometime next week.

As it stands Mac wants me to cancel this order, and I probably will. He also suggested that we not return, and I will admit, I’m toying with that idea. We’ve struggled to find 36 servings to order with many of the recent months, between menu items that just aren’t appealing or menu items that seem priced way over their actual cost. My experience last night is just one more negative against a concept that I once loved.

As an update: Mac and I spoke at length, and I’ve cancelled the September order. I can’t justify having 8 meals sitting in the freezer for much of October, when at best, we’ll have about 4 days where we’ll need dinners before my next session. We’re still trying to figure if we’ll keep the October session, or if we’re walking away completely.

Remembering Milo

2016-05-19T04:24:00.000-07:00

When Mac was in the Marine Corps, I became friends with Barb. We met through an online Marine Corps wives/girlfriends group. She and I became close friends, even though we were several states apart. She helped me weather a lot of challenges, and we stayed in contact, even though we both stopped frequenting the group.

Years ago, to help her son, she adopted a pup named Milo. She didn't know just how much Milo would help her son, and how much Milo would change their lives. Milo helped save her son's life one weekend, and from then on, they were extremely bonded.

What Barb didn't realize was that where they lived had BSL. One day, she opened the door to police officers who told her that based on how he looked, Milo needed to go. If she failed to get rid of him, they would. Instead of surrendering him, Barb moved to another township, where she could keep Milo. To her, Milo was family, and she wouldn't abandon him.

Since March, Milo had been having health problems, and underwent surgery to try to correct it. Unfortunately, Milo decided last night that it was time to go to the Rainbow Bridge. I know Mauser was there to greet him, and the two of them are running through the fields playing.

Losing a pet is so difficult. My heart goes out to Barb and her son. If you have furbabies, give them an extra hug and kiss today.

Trump and Political Events

2016-04-22T02:36:00.000-07:00

Mac and I are both registered Republican, and for once, it looks like the Pennsylvania primary will matter. I'm still undecided about who will get my vote, because I'm not really happy with any of the candidates, Democrat or Republican.

Last night, Donald Trump held a rally about half an hour from our house.Mac wanted to attend, so I agreed, figuring I'd keep an open mind, and at least listen to the rhetoric. The rally started at 7. By the time Mac got home and we ate dinner, we didn't arrive near the Farm Show Complex until 6:30. By that time, people were parking along the side roads. Every possible parking lot was being used, and people were being charged $10 to park in these lots. There were hundreds of people making their way to the complex and thousands in line at the complex. I decided I wasn't up for dealing with that many people, so Mac parked in front of the complex, hopped out, and I went off to enjoy a cup of coffee while he waited in line.

The line to enter the Farm Show Complex wound from the doors, back the sidewalk, to the edge of the building, and then around the parking lot twice. The auditorium holds about 7,600 people, and there were thousands still waiting to enter when the rally ended. There were about 15-20 protesters near the entrance, and Trump supporters as well.

When I picked up Mac after the rally, he was disappointed about not making it inside, but was still excited. I happened to pick him up right near where the protesters were, and right about the time our local media is reporting that things escalated between the protesters and Trump supporters. Oddly enough, we didn't hear any shouting or excitement. I think this is another case of the media exaggerating.

Please, if you have yet to vote, and are undecided, do your homework before voting. Dig deeper than just the standard media reports before making a decision. I still haven't made a decision on who to support, and probably won't until I'm standing in front of my voting machine on Tuesday. And, please, remember to vote!

Updates and Other Things

2016-04-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

I've been very busy with school, Eastern Star, the dogs, and cooking dinners for Mac's Blue Lodge. I just realized that I never posted an update after Mauser passed. Losing Mauser was so incredibly difficult. He passed at home, on Saturday, October 3. I still cry over him sometimes.

We swore we'd be a two dog house after Mauser, as Mauser was a last minute addition to save his life. Within two weeks, we'd both decided the house was too quiet, and decided that Mauser would send us a dog that he thought needed us, when he thought we were ready.

At the beginning of November, by chance, I saw a posting for Jackson, a 9-year-old German Shepherd mix, surrendered to Staten Island AC&C due to allergies. Mauser had been named Jackson at the Manhattan AC&C, but didn't answer to it, which is why we named him Mauser. A few begging messages, and this Jackson became ours too.

I picked him up in Matamoras, PA, while Mac was in Idaho, hunting. He didn't want to answer to Jackson for me, so we named him Schultz. Mac met him on Thanksgiving. He's his own dog, with his own personality, and his own way of doing things. He barks when we get home, until we open the door. He barks when we're in the basement and he's upstairs, like he wants to see us.

At the same time, he does things that Mauser did, like he's saying, "Mauser sent me." He loves Mauser's chair, he's dumb like Mauser (but so lovable), he needs to be picked up to be on the bed, and he loves to snuggle.

Eastern Star is going well. In May, I'll be installed as Associate Matron, and Mac as Associate Patron. I'll be in charge of Ways and Means.

Mac's now Worshipful Master of his Blue Lodge. I've been cooking dinner before their meetings each month. Last night was their Table Lodge, which was very fancy. That dinner was the one that concerned me the most. I'm thrilled it is over! It went well, and apparently there were a lot of compliments about the food.

PawTree Dog Food Review

2016-03-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

It seems that when one is in direct sales, one has a lot of friends in direct sales. A friend is a consultant for PawTree dog products, so I figured I'd try it. The dogs loved the PawTree beef liver treats, so I thought I'd see how they enjoyed the food. After looking at all of the choices, I selected the X-Large read Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe. It says that it is for all breed sizes, so I figured it would be good for my three large-breed kibblers.

When I ordered the X-Large Real Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe, I expected to receive one bag. My order was delayed, and I never received an update to it until I reached out to my consultant. I finally received a tracking number, with a note that they were going to be out of the office for the weekend, and not much of an apology for the delay.

When my package arrived, it wasn't one large bag, it was three smaller bags. It also included a form letter saying, "Our label printer wasn't working, so we couldn't print the custom labels." So, the bags have labels that read, "Your Pet's Name Here."

Upon opening the bags, I noticed that the pieces of kibble were extremely small. Rather than normal kibble, it looked like small breed kibble. The pieces are smaller than a pea. In addition, the kibble varies in color from dark brown to light brown.

As I have three large breed dogs, I'll finish these bags, but won't purchase additional food, as the pieces of kibble are just too small for my dogs, and are not what I expect from kibble that is good for all breeds.

I had high hopes for this food, and am highly disappointed.

ETA: I submitted this review to PawTree's website, but two weeks later, it still has not appeared. You can draw your own conclusions about that. --4/6/16

Mauser: I Am, Therefore I Am

2015-10-06T03:49:00.001-07:00

Mauser joined our family at the age of 10, after being found tied to a fence at the corner of Jackson and Grand Streets in Manhattan. At New York Animal Care and Control, he developed kennel cough, and he was scheduled to be euthanized. A volunteer described him as “He is a little opinionated, like barking back when I put him back in his kennel. His upset is short lived though and soon enough, he is kissing me through the bars…Or, when I first pointed my camera at him, he protested than got used to it. He is like my old grandpa but a spunky version of him.”

An urgent plea on Facebook found its way to us, and an hour before he was to be killed, we reserved him. His adoption built and strengthened friendships and bonds, before he even left the shelter. He came home from Manhattan on September 20, 2014, and immediately found his place in our pack. He lived his life with us showing his spunky side.

Once he felt better, his spunkiness really manifested itself, as did his love of food. Too short to jump onto the kitchen table, he pushed a chair out, jumped onto it, and then jumped onto the kitchen table to eat the treats resting there. Were it not for knocking an empty can from the table, he’d have devoured the entire bag without being caught. At Christmas, he was disappointed he didn’t have a place at the table, and when a seat opened, he quickly claimed it, and sat at the table, waiting patiently for his dinner to be served.

Mauser was a goofball: always a goofy smile, usually acting silly, and always looking for treats. He would occasionally pull treats down from counters, and once knocked a pizza box off of the stovetop, chewing through the cardboard bottom to try to reach the pizza. He also tried to save a pizza box from its demise in the garbage, trying to remove it from behind the garbage can, and pushing chairs out of the way as he attempted to retrieve it. The pizza box was one of the few things he managed to retrieve, as he never quite mastered catching treats gently tossed into the air in his direction.

Not a student of philosophy, Mauser did not believe the Rene Descartes proposition of, “I think, therefore I am.” Rather, Mauser lived his life on the philosophy of, “I am, therefore I am.”
A city boy for much of his life, he quickly learned to enjoy long walks in the woods and exploring all of the new sounds and smells of country life. He also enjoyed that many of the nearby dogs were friendly, and he was eager to visit them, at his house or theirs. He never met a dog he didn't like, and even when his arthritis was flaring up, he would take off with his stiff, not-quite fast gait to go greet a dog.

Mauser found a love for snuggling and nuzzling with us. He nuzzled and rubbed his face against blankets and pillows, and rearranged blankets so they were just perfect for his comfort, making little sighs of contentment. He snuggled with his family as often as he could, and protested when he wasn’t included in every activity. One for always talking, he sent a message from the Rainbow Bridge: a single turkey feather, on the same ground where the city boy learned to love the country life and the woods.

On Living and Dying

2015-10-03T17:04:00.001-07:00

For the last few weeks, Mauser hasn't been doing well. He's had an intestinal bacterial infection that the vet likened to colic in babies. His arthritis has been getting worse, and on Monday, his front legs gave out, and he fell down the outside steps.

He's 11, and for a few days, I wasn't sure he'd give me my wish: to give us at least one good year. But, he rallied late during the week of his adoption day (September 20), and until this last Monday afternoon, it seemed like he might give us far more than a year.

Watching him is more than tough. I cry before work, I cry at night before bed, I tell him goodbye and that I love him every time I leave or go to bed.

I knew when we adopted a 10-year old dog with arthritis that it would be tough at some point. I just didn't think it would be this tough.

He had been eating chicken and pasta three times a day, and was still spunky enough to spit out the pasta when he only wanted chicken. So, we fed him what he wanted, when he wanted.

The vet added pain medicine, so I don't think he's in pain.

Last week, he wouldn't do his business, so I called the vet. They gave him fluids, did x-rays, lab work, and sent him home with more pain meds. The vet said his spinal arthritis is really bad, and since he came home, he's refused to eat. We've tried beef, beef liver, bison, chicken, hash browns, nothing. He won't stand up, he won't move, he won't eat or drink.

This is heartbreaking, and I wish I could do more for him. I hope he knows he is loved. I know he knows, but I keep telling him that so I know he knows.

He had a great year, with lots of adventures, lots of treats, and lots of love.

I don't know his past, but I know he had lots of love with us. I just wish I could've given him more.

Take a few minutes, and hug your dogs for me tonight!

I Was a Lifelong Steelers Fan...

2015-08-30T13:47:00.002-07:00

I hope Michael Vick is worth it to the Pittsburgh Steelers, I really do. Signing him has upset a lot of fans, a lot of rescues, and has a lot of people trying to justify how he's "turned his life around," or "done his time."

I've been a lifelong Steelers fan. I'm 37, and some of my earliest memories are watching games with my father and going to training camp every year, as a Daddy-Daughter day. I remember the One for the Thumb t-shirt that was huge on me, as a child, but that I proudly wore. Steelers football days were Daddy-Daughter days, and the Steelers were always something that my father and I could discuss, a tie to bind even as I was looking to find my own way. One year, on Christmas Eve, when I was maybe 8, my father slipped on ice and broke his leg. A few days later, I remember watching a Steelers game with him sitting in his recliner, me on the couch. They started showing a replay of the Immaculate Reception, and as Franco Harris somehow found the football, my father made a leap from recliner to floor, and started pounding the floor and yelling, "Go Franco, go! Go Franco, go!" That's how I knew my father would be fine.

Recently, I've made the pilgrimage from across the state to at least one game each year. Some years, we've been lucky, and have managed to snag tickets for a second game, but most years, we know we'll be able to attend one game. We make a weekend out of it, visiting my parents taking Monday off of work, making the trip for breakfast or lunch at Primanti Bros., tailgating, and watching the game.

Now, with this signing, I will not support the Steelers. This breaks my heart, but in good conscience, I cannot support the Steelers. It breaks my heart that, with all of the outcry over Michael Vick, the Steelers chose to tell so many of their fans that they value winning over the lives of so many innocent dogs. The dogs he fought usually didn't want to fight, but only wanted to please their owners. Unfortunately, the owners, like Vick, didn't want the dogs to be dogs. Rather, they wanted the dogs to fight, and were willing to kill them if they wouldn't fight or if they lost.

Yes, I understand that Michael Vick went to prison, and "did his time," except that he didn't do time for dog fighting. He did time for sponsoring dog fighting. He also didn't even receive the average sentence for one count of dog fighting. He received less than that, even though he could have been charged with several counts. He didn't do time for hanging dogs, slamming dogs to the ground repeatedly, or for connecting jumper cables to dogs' ears and batteries, and then throwing the dogs in a pool, electrocuting them. His pool had claw marks from dogs frantically clawing, trying to escape the death that awaited them. For those who say this was part of his culture, and he didn't know better, what sort of sick, twisted human being needs someone to tell them that electrocuting dogs is wrong? This was not a mistake, or a one-time slip, this was a cold, calculated, life choice. Michael Vick chose to fight dogs over a course of years. He chose to hang dogs, to slam them to the ground until they died, to use them as jump ropes until they died, and he chose to connect jumper cables to dogs, with the other ends connected to batteries, and chose to throw them into his swimming pool. Think about how long it takes to connect jumper cables. At any point, he could have stopped. He CHOSE not to stop. It wasn't a one-time mistake.

What sort of role model is Michael Vick to the children of Pittsburgh? What sort of message does he send to children? If the message the Steelers want children of Pittsburgh to know is that it's acceptable to kill numerous dogs, in all sorts of horrible, inhumane ways, and still be rewarded with lots of money, then the Steelers have achieved that goal, and are currently sending that message to the children. I choose to send the message that hurting innocent animals by fighting dogs, and then killing them by slamming them to the ground like a great James Harrison play, or hanging them, or electrocuting them is NEVER acceptable, and those who do should only earn what they can from working in prison, and not a football contract.

Until Michael Vick is no longer a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, I will be funneling the money I would give to supporting the Steelers through NFL Sunday Ticket, merchandise, tickets, and concessions, to animal rescues, particularly those that deal with saving the dogs who have lived through the horrors of dog fighting.

Ongoing Saga of Sinus Issues

2015-06-10T18:18:00.000-07:00

I've posted before about my sinus issues, and after fighting a sinus infection for February and March, my primary care doctor suggested I see an ENT. I've seen several ENTs, and only one of them suggested surgery. The others said that surgery probably wouldn't help. They suggested allergy tests, I've had those, they don't show anything that would really minimize sinus infections if treated with shots. Off I went to the ENT this morning, anticipating being told that I needed to have a CT scan, being told to use Flonase or something similar, etc. Instead, I was told that the sinus pain may be from TMJ, or from septal spurs, or a combination of both. I have nasal spray to use when I have a sinus headache, to see if the spurs are the cause, and I'm to use a night guard and take muscle relaxants for a week to see if that helps. I'm intrigued, and am hoping this solves it. Now, I don't think it'll solve the sinus infections, but if it helps with the pain, I'll be thrilled.

New Job, Crazy Life, Crazy Dogs, Helping Mended Hearts Rescue

2015-03-29T18:14:00.001-07:00

Wow, it's been ages since I took time to write! I started a new job a few months ago. It's at another engineering firm, but it's only a few minutes from Mac's job, so that will be nice when we find a new house. It has changed where we are house-hunting a bit. I'm still selling Pampered Chef on the side, and if anyone wants to place an order for anything, I have a fundraiser for Mended Hearts Rescue right now. The link for that is: http://www.pamperedchef.com/pws/wendylunko/guest-landing/8908395822235;jsessionid=C5723B2FD4543152EE0CE5B6A7DEA0BB Mauser is getting along quite nicely with the rest of the pack. Geno gets very possessive of me, but it's usually more that he'll insist on pushing his way in and climbing onto me if Mauser is nearby. Mauser has a good amount of energy for a 10-year-old dog, although in the past few days, it's been obvious that his arthritis is acting up, as he's not wanted to do much but hold down the furniture. He's comfy in the recliner right now, and we'll get him to the vet this week to see what we can do for him. In addition to working, I'm still active in Eastern Star. In a little over a month, I'll be installed as the Conductress, which means I have to remember lots of different things--ways to walk, ways to introduce people, etc. I'm confident I can do it, but it will take some memorization and work on my part! I'm still monitoring the occasional rescue transport, and driving a few. Mac drove one this morning, while I tagged along, and I monitored it. We drove a very sweet, shy, pregnant lab mix, headed to a rescue where she'll have her puppies in safety, and then will get a family to call her own. I still go to Dream Dinners monthly, and I'm way behind on reviews for menu items! I will get to those one of these weekends!

Kapotas Wallets, Not Just for Minimalists!

2015-02-20T03:34:00.002-08:00

This post brought to you by Kapotas Designs. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Random Thoughts.

I'm always looking for new wallets, probably because I overfill mine with cards I rarely use, and then complain when they fall apart in a few months. Seriously, how many times have I used my California Tortilla loyalty card? The closest location is 40 minutes away, and if you forget your card, they can look up your account by phone number. Most days, I only ever need my debit card, my driver's license, and my concealed carry permit, if all of those. On a good day, I have a few dollars in cash too.

This is where Kapotas Designs and their leather, minimalist wallet enters the picture. Handmade, minimalist wallets that attach to the back of a cell phone, or really, any flat surface you'd like. They attach via micro-suction backs, and you can remove/reapply many times, without damage. Get a new phone? Peel it off and stick it to your new phone!

Did I mention these are handmade? In Ohio, and each wallet is unique. There are different patterns and colors. Mac, if you are reading this, and are looking for a gift, I'm partial to the Cheetah print! In addition to the Cheetah print, you can also buy these in black, brown, or cobalt blue.

Each wallet holds up to 4 credit cards, and for a small fee, you can add an optional cash sleeve. Need a way to hold business cards, but find most business card holders worthless? These will each hold up to 10 business cards.

I'm quite enthralled by these, and perhaps my favorite part is that each wallet has a thumb cut out, so you can easily slide your cards out of the wallet when you need them. I never realized how important "finger slots" were in wallets, until I bought a wallet without a finger slot in the id compartment. Guess how long it takes me to remove my id, and guess how annoying it is! All the more reason a thumb cut out is necessary.

Headed out for a night of bar-hopping? Remove your wallet from your phone, attach your id photo side out, to the micro-suction back, place your credit cards in the wallet, and toss it in your pocket. You minimize the chances of losing your wallet, and when you need your id, it's right there!

When you get home from bar-hopping, pull your id off of the wallet, and reattach the wallet to your phone. If the micro-suction back picked up some pocket lint, simply dampen a paper towel with a few drops of water, wipe the back a few times, and it's like new! Amazing, right?

Check out Kapotas Designs and pick out your favorite!

Amour d’Art Fine Art Gallery

2015-01-20T15:16:00.003-08:00

This post brought to you by Art Gallery. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Random Thoughts.

I'm always looking for new art, so that when we move, I have an idea of how to decorate. I love looking at the Amour d'Art Fine Art Gallery images on their website--I'm already formulating decorating ideas, and we don't have a new house yet!

We've looked at a few homes with sunrooms, and while it's not a must, I'd love to have sunroom, especially during the winter, so I can curl up there on weekends to read and relax. I love the James Coleman Art collection they have. I would love some of the Tropical Series images, especially if we have a sunroom at the new house!

I also quite enjoy the Artist Sam Park and the work Amour d'Art has. Those images really transport you to the location. Depending on the style of the house, these might tie in really well too! Decisions, decisions!

If landscapes aren't your thing, then consider Pino Art, which is great too!

If you happen to find yourself in California, and you are looking to buy art, why not check out The Amour d’Art Fine Art Gallery? If you aren't in California, why not browse their site? They offer free shipping with a minimum purchase.

#52Snapshots (of Life)

2015-01-04T18:44:00.000-08:00

Since I'm trying new things this year, I figured I'd participate in the 52 Snapshots of Life project at The Lazy Pit Bull. Every week has a different theme, and you post a photo of that week's theme. This week's theme is "new."

My photo for this week isn't a "new" photo, but since Mauser is "new" in our lives, I figured this is his chance to shine! The photo is his "adoption" photo--we'd just walked him outside of the NY AC&C Manhattan shelter.

Alpo Wholesome Biscuits #AlpoDogBiscuit

2014-12-31T19:09:00.001-08:00

I received Alpo Wholesome Biscuits to Review in order to write this post. I am not being compensated in any other form for helping spread the word about the new Alpo Wholesome Dog Biscuits. Alpo / Purina is not responsible for the content of this article. I was afforded this opportunity because I am part of the BlogPaws Professional Blogger Network. The Alpo dog biscuits were provided by Nestlé Purina. Random Thoughts only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. The opinions in this post are my own.

I love finding new treats for my dogs, and as Generalissimo Geno seems to love hard, crunchy biscuits, I was very interested in the Alpo Wholesome Biscuits! Nestle Purina just introduced the new Alpo Wholesome Biscuits for dogs, and they are now available in grocery stores.

They are affordable, and you can buy them when you pick up your groceries. They come in three sizes: small, medium, and large. I received the large biscuits, in a 24 oz. package, because my smallest dog weighs about 55 lbs!

A few facts about the Alpo Wholesome dog biscuit:

It comes in three size: Small, Medium, and Large
It contains 23 vitamins & minerals
It contains Calcium to help support strong teeth and bones
Real chicken flavor

When you look for these at the grocery store, you'll want to look for this package:

Now, granted, it's not the best photo, but I had three dogs nudging me, waiting anxiously for me tto open the package! When the package arrived, I was mobbed at the door, and was afraid my three were going to knock me down and claw open the box! They smelled the treats, and couldn't wait to try them!

You can imagine how annoyed they were with me when I paused to inspect the dog biscuit before giving it to each of them!

Yes, that's Geno rolling his eyes at me, saying, "Mommy! I want it now!" I knew Geno loved them, because he was willing to sit still for a photo. Most times, if I even point the camera at him, he'll run away!

Geno absolutely devoured his, and Cobaka wasted no time eating hers, while Mauser took a bit of time to figure out how to eat his, but then again, he's now down 16 teeth after surgery a few weeks ago, so I'm not surprised! I think Geno may have a new favorite--Alpo Wholesome Biscuits!

They're just the right size for "large" dogs--not too small that they'll try to swallow them whole, but not too big to give them too much of a treat.

I like giving the kibblers crunchy treats, because they are good for their teeth, so I was happy with that aspect of these treats. One disappointment was that the treats contain corn gluten meal, which means these are a very rare treat for Cobaka especially, but occasionally, I'll humor her!

Unemployed and Writing

2014-12-11T19:20:00.001-08:00

Yes, you read that correctly... I'm now unemployed, as of Tuesday. That said, I'm now working on writing a book, and have launched a kickstarter campaign to cover publishing costs. If you want to donate, here's the link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/287148108/wendy-writes-a-book.

I've been wanting to write a book for years, and so I'm taking this as a reason to do so!

That said, if you have any leads for marketing, corporate communications, or proposal preparation, feel free to let me know!

Buy Art Because You Like It, It Moves You, It Rewards The Heart and Mind!

2014-11-22T17:00:00.001-08:00

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Art Gallery. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love The Amour d’Art Fine Art Gallery's motto: "Buy Art Because You Like It, It Moves You, It Rewards The Heart and Mind!" I enjoy some art, but some of the "great" art just doesn't thrill me!

I also don't like art galleries that insist on only one type of art, or try to belittle me. I'm not an art history major, nor is art my "thing." That said, I know what I like when I see it.

This is why, "Buy Art Because You Like It, It Moves You, It Rewards The Heart and Mind!" is perfect for me! It's what I do now! It's how I shop for art now. If you happen to find yourself in California, and you are looking to buy art, why not check out The Amour d’Art Fine Art Gallery Sale? If you aren't in California, why not browse their site? They offer free shipping with a minimum purchase.

If you've never seen a Pino Daeni collection, check it out too! They are really great!

Sleep Number Sleep IQ Technology

2014-11-16T09:05:00.000-08:00

In exchange for my post, I will receive a CoolFit™ Foam Contour Pillow.

Thanks to Smiley360, I was given the opportunity to try out the Sleep Number Sleep IQ technology, and in exchange for writing a blog post about it, I'll receive a CoolFit Foam Contour pillow. To try out the technology, one must go to a Sleep Number store.

Mac and I checked out Sleep Number a while back, but we decided to postpone buying a new mattress until we move, because we'd like to upgrade to a king-size bed. We currently have a queen-size bed, and with three dogs, and our bedroom doesn't have quite enough room for a king-size bed, plus two nightstands.

I've been intrigued by the "DualAir" technology, and the concept of selecting a mattress's firmness based on what I want that night, and how I feel. I'm also curious about how I actually sleep, and if I'm getting restful sleep. This Sleep IQ technology claims to provide answers to if one is getting restful sleep or not.

They bill it as nothing to wear, and nothing to do, which is nice, although even after seeing it, I question how it would actually work. I don't know that it would remain accurate throughout time and would give me accurate answers.

The technology is available to be added to most Sleep Number beds if you already own one, or you can buy it on a new mattress. It's not "cheap," but then again, Sleep Number beds aren't "cheap." I'd definitely want to try it out for more than a few minutes in-store before making a final decision on it. It looks interesting though!

Fall Beach Vacation Rental Special Lincoln City, Oregon

2014-10-17T12:15:00.005-07:00

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Oregon Beach Vacation Rentals. All opinions are 100% mine.

Looking to take a break from work and spend some time relaxing at the beach? Why not spend some time along Oregon's gorgeous coast? Consider Lincoln City!

If you're like me, when you go to the beach, you want more than a hotel room. I like being able to cook meals and have some space in which to relax. This is where Oregon vacation beach rentals by A1 Beach Rentals enters the picture.

They have some amazing deals for the fall. If you book 2 nights, you get a 3rd night for free in November. This also applies to weekdays during October. That's like saving 1/3 on the cost of your lodging! Who doesn't like saving money?

It's not too late to book one last vacation for 2014, and you can take advantage of some great rates and deals, while enjoying a gorgeous fall season along the Oregon coast!

Check it out!

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Pampered Chef Freezer Cooking Workshop Review

2014-10-07T08:17:00.000-07:00

I'm always looking for ways to pick up a little extra spending or saving money, so as of this week, I've become a Pampered Chef consultant. If you want to order anything from Pampered Chef, please drop me an email through the contact form, and I'll let you know how to place your order.

Before I decided to do this, I participated in a Pampered Chef Freezer Cooking Workshop at a friend's house. I figured it would give me some meal options that I wouldn't have through Dream Dinners, as Mac and I usually order duplicates of some of the Dream Dinners meals.

The concept of the Pampered Chef Freezer Cooking Workshop is similar to Dream Dinners, but it is designed to give the consultant some sales, and give everyone who attends a chance to try out some of the Pampered Chef products. The consultant gives you a total for the Pampered Chef Pantry items you'll need to order, and then she handles placing the order. She then also sends you an email listing all of the ingredients you need to bring to the workshop for each menu item. You are responsible for going to the grocery store, buying the items, chopping, cutting, and separating the meat into Ziploc bags you've labeled with the name of the meal.

On the second page of the handout you receive, it lists the items you need when you are going to prepare the items at home. This includes soup broth, sauces, pasta, etc. If you don't buy this at the same time, you'll need to make a separate trip to the grocery store later.

You then transport all of the items on the first page of the list to the workshop in a cooler. Once there, you follow the directions provided to prep all of the veggies and assorted other items, and you add the veggies and such to Ziploc bags with the Pampered Chef Pantry items.

It is a nice way to try out various Pampered Chef products, and you do leave the workshop with several Pampered Chef Pantry items, along with seven meals. That said, it's definitely not going to cause me to stop going to Dream Dinners.

I mentioned that I go to Dream Dinners monthly, and someone said, "But it's so expensive." I spent $70 on Pampered Chef Pantry items, plus another $150 on the meats and other ingredients necessary for the meals, for what amounts to 42 servings roughly. Rounding the numbers, that's $5.25/serving. I usually spend under $5/serving at Dream Dinners. Yes, I'm sure had I not needed to buy Ziploc bags, and had I comparison shopped, I probably could have lowered my total spent on ingredients.

It involved two trips to the grocery store--one to pick up the first set of ingredients, another to pick up the ingredients I need to actually cook the meals at home. How much is my time worth? Yes, with Dream Dinners, I need to stop at the grocery store and pick up side dishes and such, but I have the option of buying them there too.

Once at the session, I had to do all of the prep work, and my biggest complaint with cooking is that I don't enjoy the prep work. It took about two hours to assemble seven meals at this workshop. At Dream Dinners, I'm usually in and out in less than 90 minutes, and there, I assemble 12 meals.

One of the other things I didn't care for with this workshop was that some of the ingredients included things like, "3/4 cup of milk," or "four slices of sandwich bread," or "three cups of tortillas." We generally don't keep sandwich bread on hand at home, so it required me to buy an entire loaf of bread. For things like that, it would be great if the consultant could assign those to one guest, with each guest bringing a different item. For example, one guest could bring milk and bread, two or three could bring tortillas, one could bring a wedge of Parmesan cheese, since we only needed half an ounce, etc. Another option would be for the consultant to figure out how much it would cost for all of those, and then At Dream Dinners, I don't need to worry about any of that--it's all there.

The session was fun, although I wouldn't regularly attend. However, if I could gather a group of friends, and we could take care of some of the planning, like dividing up the ingredients a bit, I might consider this as an every few months supplement to Dream Dinners.

Chap Stick Hydration Lock Review

2014-10-02T06:32:00.002-07:00

I received a free product for the purpose of my review. Opinions are 100% my own.

I joined Smiley360 a few months ago, and recently just received my first product to try for a "mission." I received a tube of Chap Stick Hydration Lock. They have two varieties, and I received the Moisturize and Renew variety.

I started using it as soon as I received it, and it stays on my desk at work, so any time I feel my lips getting dry, I can slather it on and not worry! I've been using the moisturize side far more than the renew side, although I do try to use the renew side at least once a day.

Both sides have a very pleasant, almost tropical scent, and both apply very smoothly, with no hesitation. Both sides leave a nice, shiny coating, but it's not super-glossy, which is nice. It's not sticky either, so I don't feel like my lips are glued together.

I did notice that if I go a few days without using it, my lips start to get chapped and crack, so this is a must use!

My only gripe about the product is that because it's like two tubes in one, it's a larger tube in length. There is a benefit to that though... It's easier to find in a purse, and I'm less likely to lose it!

If you are interested in learning more about Smiley360, you can click here.

Introducing Mauser, Our New Family Member

2014-09-22T09:51:00.003-07:00

On Thursday evening, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and saw that a friend's dog page had shared a photo and description for a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois at Manhattan Animal Care & Control. Named Jackson, he was set to be killed after 12 PM on Friday. Mac and I talked at length about it, and on Friday morning, I bit the bullet and paid for his adoption fee online, reserving him for us. If we didn't pick him up in Manhattan on Saturday afternoon, he would still be euthanized, and I'd forfeit the adoption fee. So, Mac and I ventured up to Manhattan on Saturday, arriving around 2 PM.

Knowing how quick to kill the NY AC&Cs can be, I was braced for a horrible trip. I'd heard stories of how the employees would try to discourage adoptions, and how they'd deny adoptions if you didn't bring everything with you, and I was prepared for the issues, including them possibly saying that for whatever reason, we couldn't adopt him, and they were going to kill him. So, I made it a point to have proof of residency, vet records for Geno and Cobaka, anything and everything I could think of, just in case they asked for it! Part of my preparation for that was knowing that Mac would probably not react well to having driven to Manhattan to be told that, and I jokingly asked friends in a dog group on Facebook to have bail money at the ready.

One of those friends lives in Brooklyn, and offered help if necessary, and agreed to meet us there, with knish, because I knew if nothing else, Mac could wait outside and eat, while I dealt with bureaucracy at its finest. She arrived, with lots of knish, bail money, and an attorney on speed dial!

When we arrived, I signed in, and then the waiting began. We all waited semi-patiently, and I bit my tongue a few times, but didn't speak up, afraid that they'd take it out on Jackson. Eventually, after waiting for half an hour or so, they got started on the adoption "counseling" and all of the assorted paperwork. Soon enough, we were allowed to meet Jackson, and interact with him. It was arranged so that if we connected with him, we could walk him out the front door, without having to do any paperwork after that.

Yes, Mauser now has a home with us, and once he is over his kennel cough, we'll start working with him on some obedience training, with the goal of pursuing his Canine Good Citizen.

For those wondering why we'd be compelled to add another dog to an already hectic house, well, this is what I posted to the Urgent Part 2 - Urgent Death Row Dogs Facebook page:

"Thank you so much to those of you behind the scenes of this page, and to the volunteers at NY AC&C Manhattan, who wrote such a great description of Jackson, the 10-year-old Belgian Malinois. Your posts and those who shared him truly saved him, as I noticed his thread thanks to a share--yes, shares save lives! For those who doubt it, Jackson (who we renamed Mauser) is a great example--sharing works. It may not save every dog, but it does save some, and that's better than nothing! Thank you also for answering my questions via message and email, and for calming my nerves.

To the volunteers--your job is often thankless and heartbreaking, I'm sure, but thank you! Thank you for capturing Jackson's (Mauser's) personality, and for caring and worrying about him. The comment about him that read, "He is like my old grandpa but a spunky version of him," is what drew me to him, because my grandfather was always very spunky, and it felt like he was sending me a message to go save Jackson. Know that, for him, you made a huge difference, and we will be always grateful for that!"

When you get frustrated about people sharing posts of dogs who will die soon on Facebook, please know that sometimes, it does work! Rather than scrolling by, or unfollowing the pages that share, please, take a few seconds and share at least one of those dogs!

We didn't do anything special really, and we didn't do anything that everyone else can't do. If you are looking to add a new companion, be it a cat, dog, rabbit, bird, etc., please consider adopting from a shelter or rescue. So many animals die each day, week, and year, only because humans have previously failed them, and they ended up in shelters. You don't need to drive far to save a life--in most communities, your local shelter isn't no-kill, so while they may not have the hard and fast deadlines like NYC does, you can save a life at your local shelter too.

Surrendering a Dog to a Shelter

2014-09-15T08:45:00.002-07:00

A "friend" that I've known for over 10 years is now looking to rehome her second or third dog within a year. The other one I'm sure of nipped at her kids, so that dog was rehomed. This one is a 6-month-old boxer puppy, who digs, chews, and jumps. Last week, she asked for training suggestions. This weekend, she posted that her "heart is breaking," but they need to rehome the dog, because he digs holes in the yard and keeps chewing things, from the sofa to the walls to his bedding.

It's a puppy!!! Puppies chew, puppies dig, puppies jump, because they don't know not to do that! They need training and exercise! Boxers, when bored or not given enough exercise, dig and chew. Add both together, and you get what she's experiencing.

I first tried suggesting that she go through rescues, if she's determined not to try to keep the dog. Then, when I couldn't sleep last night, because I was that upset over it, I felt the need to really share my opinion.

A friend suggested I be gentle with this friend... I generally fail at being gentle, as some of you know... "Dogs need schedules and routines. Yard time doesn't equal attention and exercise necessarily. You cannot give a dog two days of exercise and expect it to last a week. How is he getting out of his kennel? I have a Houdini here, and when she must be crated in a crate we know she can escape, we use zip ties and/or padlocks to keep her in the crate while we are gone.** How is giving him away any different from letting someone steal him, other than in this case, you get to do a screening of sorts? You can't control what happens if they get tired of his behavior.

I don't know if you adopted Iwo from a shelter, bought him from a breeder, or bought him from someone selling dogs on craigslist or some such. I will caution that if you adopted him from a shelter or bought him from a reputable breeder, before you do anything, you need to check your contract and make sure you can give him away without returning him to the shelter or breeder. In many cases, you are required to give the dog back to the shelter or breeder. In shelter cases, some will simply kill the dog as an owner surrender, figuring it is unadoptable. Even some rescues will do that, because there are millions of healthy, adoptable dogs in shelters, that some rescues figure it's better to pull those and try to place those than place a dog that's been returned by an owner for various behavior habits.

I will say this as nicely as I possibly can, knowing that every day, dogs end up at shelters and are killed because of situations like this. I will try to be as nice as I can, keeping in mind that week in and week out, I drive and monitor transports for dogs who were pulled from high-kill shelters down south, some literally minutes before they were to be killed, because owners surrendered them or didn't care enough to take care of them. Every day, on my news feed, I see dogs in shelters whose time is up, and they will be killed within 24 hours, simply because the shelter doesn't have space for the dogs coming in that day. So, before you get mad at me for saying this, keep in mind that every day, people take dogs to shelters and say, "My heart is breaking, but we need to get rid of our dog. He's a good dog. You'll find a home for him without a problem." You know what happens to most of those dogs? They die in the shelter, wondering why their people left them there. If they are lucky, they get a needle slipped into a vein. If they aren't, they get a needle rammed into their heart, or they get thrown in a gas chamber. That's the reality of getting rid of a dog.

This is the second dog you're getting rid of now in a year or so, right? If you cannot put in the time, effort, and money to train a dog, especially a high energy and high maintenance dog like a boxer, do future dogs a favor and don't own a dog."

**Cobaka, especially when she was younger, loved to try to escape from things. I swear, she's triple-jointed, as she's escaped from harnesses, she's escaped from leashes, collars, multiple crates, etc. So, yes, I've zip-tied crates closed to keep her in a crate while we were gone for a few hours. Now, mind you, when she wants to be in her crate, she goes in there herself and stays there for quite a while.

So, please, if you are thinking of surrendering a dog to a shelter, stop for a minute and realize that, in most cases, your dog will DIE in that shelter. If you absolutely cannot keep your dog, find a rescue for the dog. If you cannot find a rescue, create your own adoption contract, conduct a home visit, check references, etc., and make it part of your adoption contract that if the person cannot keep your dog, they MUST return the dog to you.

Not doing that virtually sentences your dog to death. Your dog wouldn't do that to you, why would you do that to your dog?

If you find you are unable to give your dog the time, training, and exercise it needs, do all dogs a favor and after you surrender that dog, don't get another dog. Get a fish... They don't require much work or money.

Sushi or Hibachi? Try both!

2014-09-09T12:07:00.003-07:00

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of One Dynamic Marketing Solution. All opinions are 100% mine.

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