I can’t tell you how much I dread the coming of the cold New England winger more every year. The fact that I have a gorgeous Border Collie who is immune to cold and damp weather forces me to rise up and embrace the *joy* of walking in the dark and in the cold.
Do I like doing this?
No, most often I don’t but there are a few nights when the sky is clear and the look of happiness on Bae’s face as she’s catching the Frisbee are enough to remind me that I did the right thing. After all, my ancestors were Norwegian farmers in the midwest and they had to deal with the cold without central heat or fleece pajamas so who am I to complain?
I’ve learned that it only seems like the worst activity in the world until you get out there and then it’s not so bad. Plus, I can avoid both myself and my Dog gaining the winter 10 pounds if I am able to keep “walking in the cold”.
Loosing a family pet is very traumatic for everyone in the family, there are a number of on-line recourses to help you and your family members through your loss. Some offer grief counseling others information and message boards. Please check these sites for more information and services offered.
? C.A.R.E. Pet Loss Hotline http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/CARE/
? UC-Davis Pet Loss Support Hotline http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/petloss/
? Pet Bereavement message Board http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ptbereavemen
? Arizona -Companion Animal Association of Arizona www.caaainc.org
? Massachusetts Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine
http://www.tufts.edu/vet/petloss
? New York College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University.
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/Org/PetLoss/
? Association of Pet Loss and Bereavement is a nonprofit association concerned people who are experienced and knowledgeable with pet death. http://www.APLB.org
? The Delta Society is a nonprofit organization that provides
information on the human-animal bond. www.deltasociety.org under
the Learn section (pet loss and bereavement).
? Various Articles by Moira Anderson Allen, M.Ed., on pet loss and
bereavement. can be found at www.pet-loss.net
? Washington State University College of Veterinary medicine
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/plhl/support.asp
? Pet Loss Bulletin Board
Best friends has a pet loss support forum for people dealing with pet loss. To join or visit the Prayers healing and support bulletin boards go to http://bestfriends.org/theanimals/forums/
According to Scientists at Stamford University dogs come in 2 colors Black and Yellow, they have determined this after doing gene research. Dogs do come in a variety of colors but they all stem from these 2 colors. An Irish Setter is just a different shade of yellow as is the apricot poodle. A chocolate lab is just a lightening of the black gene the same would hold true for a grey or blue dog. According to the report a Dalmatian which is a white dog with black spots is genetically a black dog. I remember someone once telling me that the Great Pyrenees was a black dog with a big white spot, I guess this can hold true for many dogs like the harlequin Great Dane. I Guess this will make people rethink what color their dog really is.
