Shelter Tales
My friend Duke, the Bloodhound, is still at the shelter, and lately I’ve also been working with Mr. Big. Big came to us starving, terrified, and extremely reactive in his kennel. He plays a nice game of fetch and is very affectionate. He’s learning to trust the world slowly, one person at a time.
I’ve learned a lot from working with Big, and there’s a lot more for me to learn. Luckily, there are some great resources to help with that. In the last few months, for instance, I’ve been a frequent flyer on Maddie’s Pet Forum for animal professionals. It’s an amazing source of information and support for those of us who delve into the world of animal shelters and try our best to provide the best possible care for animals.
Taking part in forum discussions helped me see that there is a support network of folks out there who are enthusiastic about helping other “shelter folks.” With an upcoming trip to Maine in mind, and encouragement from the Maddie’s forum folks, I contacted the ARLGP to invite myself for a visit.
Voila! I met with Shannon Cote, Volunteer Program Manager, and Olivia Whitton, Canine Manager. They were completely gracious and welcoming, and Shannon sent me wonderful resources as a follow-up to our visit. Their facility is much bigger than ours, but we face many of the same issues, and it was good to see their approach to providing care to the homeless pets they serve.
Resources
Maddies’ Fund website: In their own words, “Maddie's Fund offers the industry a national voice, important funding opportunities, learning resources and easy access to network connect and share ideas to keep people and pets together.” Anyone interested in animal shelters will find great info and support at Maddie’s.
Maddies’ University: While these free offerings are presented to an audience of shelter staff, the topics will be of interest to many people. For example, here’s a video about how to address the problem tenants face with pet ownership and ways to keep them together with their pets.
Potsdam Humane Society: Here’s the link to adoptable dogs and cats at my local shelter; you can also find information about volunteering and events.
Out in the Yard
For a few days my “yard” was in Portland, Maine. I hadn’t been to Maine since I was in college, and while I’d seen the ocean a few times since, I hadn’t seen - or heard - crashing waves in a very long time. Our visits to the coastline were simply a feast of sights and sounds that nourished and soothed.
We were able to visit rugged shoreline with crashing waves and, at Crescent Beach, the lull of beach and softly lapping waves.
Besides the grandeur of the landscape, there was also the intrigue of shoreline rockscape that looked like weathered logs.
Walking along the waterside path in downtown Portland, we had a nice evening topped off with a slice of rainbow.
Back home, the Japanese Lilac are holding onto their browned blooms.
In another season these spent blooms would be overlooked or judged dull, but with so little color left in the landscape they are a welcome touch.
I’ve dismantled my porch garden and moved the usual suspects inside - the geraniums, the corn plant, the various avocados. I know they’ll be okay inside for the winter - not super happy, but okay. Others I’m not so sure about.
I’ve been a fan of Thunbergia ever since a plant I had growing on my front porch was visited by a leaf cutting bee who took nicely cut half circles off of the leaves. This year I grew them on my front porch in planters left over from last year’s potted pepper plants. I’ve brought them inside, we’ll see how they do - often the dry indoor air doesn’t do this kind of plant any favors, but they’re so pretty, I’m giving holding them over a try.
Resources
Guide for Gardners about the Herbicide Glyphosate: The consumer advocacy organzation, Drugwatch, offers this easy to understand overview of information about Glyphosate, the primary active ingredient in Roundup that is also contained in Rodeo and Touchdown. Bayer, which most recently manufactured RoundUp, has been the subject of lawsuits about the chemical.
If you have Roundup, Rodeo, or Touchdown herbicides in your shed or garage and are thinking about whether to use them next season, this information can help you make an informed choice.
Alternatives to Roundup: Drugwatch offers an impressive list of ways to combat weeds that don’t endanger people, pets, or aquatice life.
And, if you have an aquarium and use glyphosate containing products such as AquaPro Aquatic, Roundup Custom Herbicide, and AquaNeat, you’ll want to consider whether the risks are worth it to you. Some algae growth is good for your aquarium, and there are easy methods for removing it by hand - I like the using one of those little blue milk jug caps. You might get your hands wet, but isn’t that part of the fun?
At the Writing Table
Some writers document everything that’s going in their lives. I have sometimes wished I was more like that, but I tend to go in the other direction. When things are going on, I don’t write. For example, although I brought my morning pages journal with me to Maine, I never opened it, and I didn’t sit down with it until a few days after we got back.
Most of my writing since I’ve returned from Maine, which has actually been mostly revising, has been going on at my kitchen table, or on the sofa. I’m not sure I can even call my table upstairs a writing table anymore, given how little writing I’ve done at it.
I have reminded myself that writing, and life in general, goes better when I’m reading a novel, so I’m back to having a couple of novels nearby. I just finished rereading Austin’s Persuasion, and one by Elizabeth Taylor (the writer, not the actress) who might be best know for the novel The Wedding Group. Here’s a partial list:
Yeshiva Girl, by Rachel Mankowitz Just getting started on this book by an author I got to know through my WordPress Blog. It’s off to an excellent start.
Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont, by Elizabeth Taylor Hard to classify, but a wonderful read. Love it.
And here’s three more. In particular, I loved Larkin’s The People We Keep.
Resources
BookShop I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: check out BookShop, where you can shop online and support your local bookstore with your purchases.