Brett's Blog

Blog Essay

Blog Essay

When I first began my Blog I was very unsure of what I wanted to write about and had no idea where the blog would take me.  I was a bit slow in getting started due to some personal issues, in addition to just plain old procrastinating!  After much thought, I chose my topic to be on animals, a surprise only to people who don’t know me.

My animals are very important to me and advocating for those who can’t advocate for themselves is equally important to me.  I found that once I chose my topic, especially one that I was passionate about, my blog was easier to get started.

I did check my other classmates’ blogs to see what had already been done (and not done, in some cases).  I was truly inspired by some of them, especially Brianna’s blog.  When I first saw her blog, I thought “Darn, I wish I had thought of that!”  I thought that because it appeared to be interesting and fun, something I would know about and could write easily.  So, that’s when I racked my brain searching for something that I knew about, because I find animals interesting and I think so do a lot of other people.  I felt my topic of animals was something that I could identify with and hopefully my readers would find interesting and could connect with. 

Over the years I’ve experienced a lot with my animals and have had unique experiences with them and with other forms of wildlife.  I’ve also had the opportunity to be a volunteer for animal welfare groups and have learned a tremendous amount.  My passion for animal advocacy has grown out of learning about the astronomical numbers of unwanted animals here in the

United States

as well as around the world. 

As I began my blog I chose to write about how big a part of my life my animals are and the things I do for them and other animals, such as volunteering for my local shelter.  I really didn’t know which direction I would take with my blog because I’ve had so many different encounter/experiences with animals that it could go in many different directions.  Now that the assignment is complete, and when I finish all of my coursework in a few weeks, I hope to continue my blog not only to write more about animals and ways people can help them, but to keep up with my writing skills. 

I think the greatest thing about this blog assignment has been the fact that I could do it in short snippets of approximately 250 words.  When you write about a topic that you enjoy it doesn’t seem as laborious as writing a multi-page term paper.  I found that this is also an excellent assignment for someone like me, who has ADHD and a very short-attention span. 

When I contemplated what to write on, as far as the animals go, I thoroughly enjoyed sharing some of the situations I found myself in such as with JoJo and his eye.  I am an information person and love to share things that other people may also find valuable when it comes to taking care of their own animals.  Blogging was another way for me to share the information I’ve gained over the years about animal care, animal rescue, animal welfare and how to support local animal organizations.  In a way, blogging has become another outlet for me to educate the public about animals.  I hadn’t thought of blogging in that way before, but of course I had no idea what blogging was really about or how vast it has become.  Blogging about animals has given me an internet voice on a topic close to my heart.  My husband would say that it is another way for me to tell people what to do because I act like such an authority figure when it comes to the animals, well other things too.

The most important thing I’ve learned about myself in terms of blogging and this assignment is that I really like to writing on a lengthy basis on what I’m truly passionate about.  I like to write in general, but being put on the spot  to write about something specific or even something that doesn’t interest me can be very tedious at times.  By choosing what to write about, when to write it, being able to be creative about it by adding photographs and adding links to websites made the process all that more enjoyable.

Learning about hypertext in Landow and applying it in our blogs also helped everything come together for me.  I had no idea what this course was about when I signed up for it.  I told Dr. Kareithi that I really needed to work on my writing more for what I want to do when I get a real job.  He told me to find what courses you, Dr. Kearney, were teaching and any of them would be great.  Honestly, I thought this course looked like a skater course.  I should have known coming from Dr. Kareithi’s recommendation that it would be anything but.  I knew what I needed and he knew what I needed and it wasn’t a skater course.  However, that being said, and after looking at the syllabus and thinking what have I gotten myself into, breaking the course down into smaller parts such as the website into three sections, the wiki, and the blog, each was very doable with the blog being the most fun and free.

The freedom of a blog was what made it most appealing in the end.  Not only was I addressing an issue close to my heart, but I also felt as though I was doing a little community service by informing the reader about things with animals they may not otherwise know.  Having the freedom to write about anything I wanted, within reason, gave me more incentive to stick with the blog, make it my own, and expand upon it.  Adding the photographs of my own animals, the links to other photographs and the video were really the highlights of the experience because they gave a window into what I was writing about and expanded upon the passion I felt for what I was writing about.  The visuals just helped to create a backdrop for my writing.

My blog writing has also helped me tremendously in putting my thoughts into text regarding what I was doing as far as looking for employment after graduation.  Just putting into writing and reading it on the internet was a good way for me to evaluate what I want to do.  Sometimes I tend to think about things a lot, but may not act on them, but seeing it in writing or print gives substance to those thoughts, gives them validity and gives me the go-ahead to embrace those thoughts.  My blog about “HSHA needs you and HSUS needs me” was a great way for me to sort out those thoughts and “see” how I felt about them by thinking them through and reading them on a computer screen.  They seemed more real, as if seeing the print gave the words more credibility.

Blogging has made me feel as though I have a license to be an author.  I would never have thought that otherwise. Sure, we write for school and maybe for our jobs, but I always thought to be an “author” meant a paid professional.  Of course, I am not getting paid, but the fact that it is “published” gives me a great sense of accomplishment and not just as a student.

ZooToo down the tubes!

The poor animals just can't seem to get a break.  After all the hype about the ZooToo 1 million dollar makeover contest, I just found out the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area has been disqualified!  Ever so disappointing. 

They were disqualified becasue they had been the subject of lawsuits over cruety investigations.  This is wrong.  Animal shelters who have humane police officers are subject to lawsuits brought about by those people who have been found to be in violation of animal laws.  According to Kelly Hitz, "it's the nature of the beast."  Please read the related article in the Patriot-News. 

While this doesn't occur on a daily basis, it does happen and I don't think they should be disqualified for something that they don't have full control over.  HSHA is in desparate need of a makeover.  However, I'm sure all those shelters that have participated in this contest are deserving just because of their committment to providing care for animals.  While I wish it were the animals here in Central PA, I'm sure there are just as deserving animals in another part of the country, that I hope will be well served by a makeover at their shelter home.

Perhaps there is a very generous donor out there in the Harrisburg area that would like to make a significant contribution to the animals at the Humane Society of Harrisburg.  Any contribution, large or small, is welcome and most appreciated!

When the parents are gone...

My sister, Mary, sent this video to me the other day and it is an absolute hoot!

Download Whentheparentsaregone.wmv

If we had a pool, my Daisy would be doing the same thing. Well, we do have a pool, the kiddie pool I bought her a few summers ago, but she can't exactly doogie paddle, but just splash around.

Daisy was the most energetic and crazy dog I've ever known.  My love for animals was truly tested that first week she came into our lives.  She was only 3 months old and had been rescued from a high-kill shelter in North Carolina, where her mother had been put down.  She had a brother that I wanted to adopt, but he was already spoken for.  That was a blessing in disguise, because I don't think they would have lasted very long together as they were both wild.

Daisy was the most high-strung dog as a puppy and really didn't grow out of that puppy stage until she was more than three years old.  At one point during that first week we adopted her, I actually thought of giving her back to the rescue I had gotten her from.  However, Daisy's short life had already been traumatic.  Daisy had been adopted by another family just a few weeks before I had decided to adopt her.  They had named her Lucy and had her for five days before deciding she was too much.

I was really at my wits end with her because she was so hyper. I loved this dog , but realized if I couldn't handle her, no one would be able to and I would hate to think what would happen to her with someone who didn't love dogs as much as I did.

Dogs are somewhat like children that never grow up. They are perpetual toddlers and must be told all the time what to do and be trained.  Needless to say, we entered puppy kindergarten together.  Daisy was so out of control that she was the only one who didn't graduate and I felt like a failure as a mother and dog owner.

That was until one day Daisy discovered water.  She took to the water on her first swim and we finally found the only thing that would wear her out, until we discovered the frisbee.  This dog just had the most energy of any dog I had ever seen.  She just needed to exhaust herself in order to calm down.

So, now I can totally appreciate this dog in the video taking the slide and jumnping right into the pool.  He just needed a little exercise as all dogs do.

Oprah takes on Puppy Mills!

Please, if you do one thing tomorrow, Friday April 4th at 4:00pm, watch OPRAH!  She will feature a special presentation by correspondent Lisa Ling on  Puppy Mills in Pennsylvania and the correlation between them and the pet overpopulation crisis we are facing.

The Humane Society of the United States has more information on their website about the telecast.

Also, the Philadelphia Inquirer had an article in today's paper about the show.  Also discussed will be Governor Rendell's push for new Dog Law which wll help the many breeder dogs facing inhumane conditions in our commonwealth. 

This is a very worthwhile show and hope everyone will tune in.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20080403_Oprah_takes_aim_at_Pa__puppy_mills.html Posted on Thu, Apr. 3, 2008 Oprah takes aim at Pa. Puppy mills By Amy Worden Inquirer Staff Writer When Bill Smith puts up a billboard, people notice. His biting ads lambasting the puppy mills of Lancaster County - one features a beagle in a dishwasher to show how small the legal cage size is - have been fixtures on the Pennsylvania Turnpike for three years. Frustrated that conditions for thousands of breeding dogs in the state's commercial kennels had not improved despite Gov. Rendell's 2006 pledge to clean up substandard kennels, Smith, the Chester Springs animal welfare advocate, brought his campaign to Chicago , to the doorstep of Oprah Winfrey. "I thought, 'Who could reach more people than any other person on the planet?' " said Smith, founder of Main Line Animal Rescue. His shelter takes in about 500 puppy-mill castoffs a year: the breeding dogs, often riddled with health and behavioral problems, and the puppies that are too old or too sick to sell. In February the billboard, with a plaintive puppy face and a polite request to Winfrey to do a show on puppy mills, was posted on bustling Kennedy Boulevard , four blocks from Winfrey's Harpo Studios. Main Line board member Marsha Perelman donated $10,000 to rent the billboard space for a month. They didn't need a month to convince the nation's number-one talk show host and a dog lover herself. A week later, Smith said, producers called and told him they were planning to devote a show to abuses in puppy mills. "I was grateful," said Smith after receiving the call. "I knew if she did a show on this it would help a lot of animals." The show, which airs tomorrow (4 p.m., 6ABC), includes graphic undercover footage of Lancaster County kennels, along with related segments on dog auctions and the high rates of euthanasia in shelters. Smith is the featured guest. Smith spent two days last month with Oprah correspondent Lisa Ling traveling to kennels and pet shops in Southeastern Pennsylvania to show the relationship between the puppies sold in pet stores and, as Ling said, "the horrific conditions" in many large kennels. "People will see the connection between pet stores and they will meet the puppies' mothers in their rabbit hutches," said Smith. "It's really upsetting." They toured a number of mills and saw cages stacked to the ceiling in sheds. They saw 15 or 20 small dogs stuffed in rabbit hutches. They watched kennel operators dragging dogs by their front legs. They left with 19 dogs, suffering from severe dental disease, and a very sick puppy, which later died in a veterinary hospital. Rendell, who has adopted puppy-mill dogs, beefed up inspections in the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement and hired additional dog wardens, but his effort to toughen regulations stalled last year over opposition from breeders, farmers and sportsmen. Rendell's spokesman, Chuck Ardo, said the governor would introduce a revamped legislative package in the next few weeks. "The governor's affection toward dogs is well-known," said Ardo. "He will be visible in promoting this legislation." Smith said the show has the potential to have greater impact than any legislative or regulatory changes. "It still comes down to consumers buying puppies from pet stores," he said. Meanwhile, Smith already has one new convert. "I would never, ever adopt another pet now without going to a shelter to do it," Winfrey said in a statement released yesterday. "I am a changed woman after seeing this show." She is dedicating the show to her cocker spaniel Sophie, who died last month. Contact staff writer Amy Worden at 717-783-2584 or aworden@phillynews.com.

On a wing and a prayer...

On a lighter note, I had a very interesting thing happen to me.  (This is a completely true story by the way.)

One afternoon I happened to look out my front bay window and saw a bird sitting right on the outside ledge...less than a foot from the ground and within perfect reach of one of the boys, Max, Pudgie or Ozzie (my cats).  I didn't know what kind of bird it was, as I am an animal lover of the furry kind and not so much the feathered kind, although I love all animals.  I looked at it through the window and it didn't appear injured. So, I opened the door to see where the boys were, but none were in sight.  The closer I got, the bird looked like a pigeon and just stared right up at me and appeared to be tame.  All I could think was that it would be dinner for one of the boys if I din't get it out of there.

I ran downstairs and grabbed one of my cat carriers, put newspaper in it, brought it outside and set it on the ground next to the bird.  She walked right in the carrier and I closed the wire door.  As she walked into the carrier I noticed she had an orange band on one of her legs with very small writing on it.  I began to wonder if she was  a bird that was being tracked, so I took her inside, put her up high on a tall chest of drawers and immediately called my vet. 

My veterinarian is Dr. Kathy Purcell 

who owns Boiling Springs Animal Hospital.  She also happens to be the Cumberland County Wildlife Rehabilitation Coordinator.

I reached one of the girls at the front desk and she said it could be a homing pigeon.  She gave me a website for homing pigeons and said I should try to read the numbers on the band and follow the directions on the website.  I could barely make out the numbers on the band and wrote them on a piece of paper.  I typed in the web address and sure enough I found a phone number to call.

In a slightly southern, backwoods kind of drawl "El-Low" said the voice on the other end of the phone.  I told him I had a pigeon with a band on its leg.  "Oh, sure, can you read me the numbers" he asked.  I read the numbers and he said "yep, that's her, we had a race in Ohio over the weekend and she probably got tired and needed to rest."  I asked him where he was from and he said, Newark, Delaware.  I was floored.  This poor bird was flying from Ohio to Delaware!  All I could think was that she must be absolutlely exhausted.

The man asked if I wouldn't mind if she stayed with me a few days to 'rest up' and get her strength back.  He said all she needed was some bird seed, a little water and she'd be fine.  I was still in shock that this bird could fly that great of a distance and din't believe she'd ever make it home.

After two and a half days, I took "Dolly" whom we named after Dolly Parton, out of her crate in the garage.  It was around 2:30 in the afternoon and she waddled around a bit for nearly a half an hour.  I really didn't think she would leave, but I went into the house for a minute and when I came back out, she was gone.  I prayed none of the boys had gotten her and that she was somewhere safe.

Later that evening I got an e-mail from Larry the pigeon guy.  It read "Thanks for taking good care of her, she made it home about 5 o'clock and doesn't look worse for the wear." - Larry

Two hours and she didn't even have mapquest!  Animals continue to amaze me.  I am very thankful she chose my house to come and rest her wings at.  She must have known I was an animal lover!

ZooToo update

Today is the last day of the shelter makeover contest.  It looks like the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area is 6th in overall points, so it will win at least $5000.  The top 20 are finlaists and judging will determine who is the most deserving of the million dollar makeover.

I sure hope we win, we are in desperate need of a makover for the sake of the animals.  We have outgrown our space and need to add on immediately.  However, the final notofication won't come for another month.  We will have to wait and see who the big winner is, we may still come in 2nd place and win $10,000, but we are assured $5000 for being in the top 20 nationwide.  Kudos to all the participants who are helping animals in their communities.

I am really impressed with the number of people who have joined ZooToo and have become regular "posters" on the site.  It certainly shows a dedication to all of the animals across the country and it's a good feeling knowing there are other people out there like myself advocating for all of these homeless creatures.

I am hoping that the sponsors of the site realize the huge success of this contest and plan to do it again next year to help another deserving shelter.  By working together, businesses, non-profits, and individuals can hopefully overcome the overpopulation of animals and end their mass suffering.

Naming the New Dog Law...

My internship  will soon be finished and Special Deputy Secretary of Dog Law Enforcement Jessie Smith apporached me today about extending my stay to a paid internship for the summer.  She has been working on the new dog law legislation with Governor Rendell and the Dog Law Bureau.  This summer they will be very busy getting the bill drafted and she asked me if I would like to help.  She knows my passion for animals, especially dogs and thought I would be interested.  As much as I would like to get a job that pays well, I am tempted to take the paid internship, knowing the pay will be very low.  This is something I am extremely passionate about and feel a great need to be a part of.  I may not be a major player, but just being involved in making a difference in the quality of life for these animals will give me a great sense of satisfaction.  I guess my husband will have to put up with me not having an income for a little while longer.

Part of the new dog law is naming the bill. They are trying to come up with something catchy, but meaningful and professional.  I hope to contribute to help make it something special that the public can identify with and truly understand the purpose of the bill.

When I went back to school a few years ago, I never thought I would end up in the Department of Agriculture, working on dog related issues.  I was a Business Administration major when I started at HACC, I then switched my major to Information Technology.  When I started at Penn State Harrisburg, I chose a Communications major because I didn't really know what I wanted to do, but liked the idea that  I could take cinema, video and humanities courses. As I approach graduation, I am thankful for all of the guidance I have received from my professors who have helped me find my way in helping to make a difference in the lives of animals. 

Walk for the Animals - Giving to the shelter

On Saturday May 17th, the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area will hold its annual 5k Run/Walk for the animals at Wildwood lake Sanctuary.  This is a great opportuntiy to get out and enjoy some fresh air and exercise with your dog(s).  If you don't have a dog, come on out and meet some adoptable dogs from the shelter. 

HSHA also offers micro-chipping and low-cost vaccinations at this event.  Last year's event raised over $15,000 for the animals.  We hope to exceed that this year!

HSHA holds many fundraisers throughout the year such as the Penguin Plunge in January, Bartending night in February, the Run/Walk in May, Auxiliary yard Sale in May, Wine tasting in June, Christmas in July, Claws and Paws Golf Tournament in August, Hogs for Dogs in September and the Fur Ball Gala and Auction in November.  It is through these fudraisers that we are able to provide a safe haven for unwanted animals and a place where they can be adopted.  We definitely have something for everyone and hope to see you at one of these events.

Most people don't realize it, but animal shelters such as HSHA receive no government funding and rely solely on the generosity of individual private donations to support unwanted animals in their communities.  Did you ever stop to think what our community would be like if we didn't have an animal shelter to take care of all of these homeless animals?  We would see a lot more animals on the street because there would be no spay/neuter services provided, no humane police officers to intervene on behalf of stray animal attacks or dog fighting.  Starving dogs and cats would roam the streets in large quantities looking for handouts.  In fact, in many countries that's exactly what goes on.  Through the generosity of individual donors, volunteers and some businesses, our Humane Society here in Harrisburg has been able to maintain its shelter to care for all of these animals. Check out their website for more information or to make a tax-deductible contribution. 

Me or the Dog...

My latest interest is Animal Planet's, Me or the Dog TV show.  I think one of the most important things people can do for their dogs is to train them.  I personally have two high-maintenance dogs and Dingo is the worst.  He is a Shiba-Inu with a very stubborn personality.  He's the kind of dog that gives dogs a bad reputation. 

Fortunately, with good training, bad dogs can learn good behaviors.  This show is all about training, for the owner and for the dog.  Safety is also of utmost importance, especially when it comes to children and dogs.  I highly recommend visiting the website and watching the show for good advice on how to make a happy home with your dog.

Victoria Stilwell is a dog trainer from England who has been working in this field for more than 15 years.

Her show is a huge success. According to the show's website: For the past three years, Victoria has been working with some of Britain's most unruly dogs (and owners!) on her TV show, It's Me or the Dog. On the show, she counsels families with difficult dogs to help solve their pets' behavior problems. She has also written two books (It's Me or the Dog: How to Have the Perfect Pet and Fat Dog Slim: How to Have a Healthy, Happy Pet). Detailing her reward-based training philosophies (which include "Thinking Dog" and learning the power of body language in both owner and dog), the books give owners the keys to having a happy, confident pet and a balanced, healthy dog-owner relationship.

Many dogs end up on the street or in shelters because of bad behavior.  By training dogs properly we can help keep dogs in their "furever" homes and reduce the number of unwanted pets.  Training is available at local pet stores such as PetSmart and trainers are also listed in the YellowPages.  Victoria lists several training tips on It's me or the Dog website too.

A good dog is trained dog!

Burea of Dog Law

I'm doing an internship this semester at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture in their Press Office.  It's mostly interesting as many topics relate to animals.  I got the internship through my very good friend, Jessie Smith, who was appointed Special Deputy Secretary of Dog Law Enforcement, two years ago by Governor Rendell.  Jessie knew of my passion for animals and my desire to get employment once I graduate!  Needless to say, I'm happy she offered me the internship.

One of my projects has been to create an Excel file of all the different types of kennels in Pennslvania.  I had no idea there were more than 1000 kennels in this state alone!  There are many types of kennels: breeder kennels, hobby/show breeders, research kennels, non-profit shelter, rescue, for profit pet stores, sporting dog kennels and more.  The number of breeder kennels is staggering.  With such a huge overpopulation of dogs in Pennsylvania it's hard to believe we still allow dogs to be bred and sold.  Although Jessie can't divulge everything about the survey, I can only presume it may be to find out how many are actual breeder's.  Since Governor Rendell is committed to cracking down on puppy mills and to changing the current dog law.  I hope this information serves a valuable purpose in helping to address the needs of dogs who are bred and kept under inhumane conditions.

To learn more about kennels in Pennsylvania, or to look up a kennel to see if it has met current inspection standards please visit the Kennel Inspection Database.