US Dentist Kills Treasured Lion in Africa

http://www.grindtv.com/wildlife/hunter-who-killed-cecil-the-famous-african-lion-identified-as-minnesota-dentist/#geLjCXAZuECWfFCO.97

A lot of people have come out against what this "hunter" did and I agree.  I understand other types of hunters and meat eaters suggesting where to draw the line but this seems pretty damn obvious to me.

He has gotten in trouble before for his kills.  He is on REPEAT. He broke the law.
He is a "healer" yet spent $55K to kill something rare, revered, and PROTECTED.  Read this article. Read others (upset balance of the pride, hurt the local tribe, etc). Bad all the way around. The locals do not get much of the money at all (land owners do) from these trophy kills.    Locals make more showing us the rare animals than killing the rest of them off. We are killing the "trophy" animals extinct in the name of KERCHING, money money, show-off, fame, and EGO.

Biggest 2 things that stand out to me:
He said he didn't know it had an GPS collar on. Really?  You brag about being able to hit a playing cart at 100 yards with a bow, yet with binoculars and bait, with a human friendly lion you did not see its GPS collar nor did your two guides for pay ?  BULLSHIT.  How about when you beheaded it and skinned it? Where you able to see it then Walter?  My oh my but how did you ever find a cavity in your patients' teeth?

Then it was badly wounded by your arrow.  Cecil did not die right away. Estimates are 40 hours of time went by before you tracked it down and shot it to death (a relief at that point). So it was a slow, torturous, heartless kill.  Sad, sick and wrong. And no, I don't think that is right for any animal.

People do kill for meat, kill to survive, but we are getting better with generations in how we treat animals.  What GOOD could have come from your $55K versus your illegal killing spree(s).  Yuck. You are grinning and smiling like you really accomplished something. Anyone with money could have killed that lion but they didn't.  So congratulations on your money and now the ramifications of not caring, not showing concern for a valued life. I hope you do face serious charges because you are full of sh%& on this one dude.   You knew it was wrong. You baited it, drew it out of a protected park and shot it with a GPS collar on. And you damn well know Lions are a protected, endangered species. That is precisely WHY you had to pay so much.

I think it is a psychopath (diminished empathy and remorse) that shows no regard for life. You actually draw pleasure from it.  Not my kinda of dentist or anything else. I am just sad because it is a rich American that did this TO and IN another country.  Gives us all a bad name.  So that is why this is different folks.  It is like luring a  rescued outdoor dog out of its yard, with a bone, shooting it with its collar on, then smiling over its dead body in pictures - knowing they are only a few of these left anywhere in the world.  We see people do that and we call it sick.  Just disgusting and I do hope he pays restitution for this, makes it right to those people and the lion pride.

Yes, Karla. Coyotes DO bark and now I know.

Today I did my trail run in NC around 10 am.   I run this trail often and it is pretty deserted and remote.  My little dog Shanti always runs with me (off leash when we are alone) since she loves to run but she always seems spooked as the trail gets deeper into the woods and further from the parking lot.

Today about 1 mile in, I heard a dog bark/howl near us over my earphones. I knew it was close but I could not see it in the thick brush.  Shanti was a bit scared yet intrigued. It kept getting closer and closer and then popped onto the trail about 30 yards behind us.  And it stopped. Just stared at her and she stared back with her lowered stance, tail up.  And it was not a dog. It was a Coyote. And they were having a stand off because my Shanti "don't take no shit".  Like EVER.

We have never had any issues in the past so I kept running into the woods and got Shanti to follow me closely. The Coyote followed barking the entire time at us.  I know they are afraid of people and obviously it was not rabid. At the end of the trail, we turned around and there it was on the upside of the hill from us so I did my best to get a video (please play below you will see it move about half way through).  It followed us, barking all the way and crisscrossing the trail for 3 miles or about 30 minutes.  You could tell it was agitated with us.  However, every time I stopped, it would stop barking. Very odd. Only barked when we moved/ran.

After researching I found out that Coyotes do bark and they are territorial.  Shanti was in her/his space and boy it was letting us know it. Other runners heard it and remarked- thinking it was my dog when they passed us exiting the trail.  But I was the only one with a dog and I was the one it followed, deeper into the woods alone. It was not too happy. It was very vocal and always close.

We left unharmed and hopefully this Coyote will find a home a little deeper into the woods and not beside a public trail run.  Some theorize that with our drought, the Coyote has increased or moved its territory in search of food and was probably also hungry to be up "this late" (11am) for a nocturnal animal.  They do eat smaller dogs of course and Shanti is only 45 lbs so perhaps a target for a bigger, hungry Coyote. I let the trail owners know so they could post a sign so others can take safety precautions. All in all, a good run with my tame dog and my wild dog in pursuit. If you knew my Shanti you would understand this...."and I am not sure which was which".  :)

Nope. Not going out in this heat today.

But thanks for asking -Shanti Baby

Why we do it. Why we rescue, rehab, foster, and adopt.

The Story of Sexy Lexie

It's human nature to root for the underdog.  We are touched by the rags to riches stories. The athlete that wins against all odds.  The rise from the ashes type of story that gives us all hope. Most of us (if not all) have our struggles in life and were born with dreams.  We want to see that happy ending as it gives us hope and joy, a sense that good does happen every day. And it does.

As the story goes, Lexie was a street dog.  Part boxer and not sure what else.  She ran with her best friend a black lab mix in a small town in North Carolina.  She 'belonged" to an older lady that lived on a busy street, but was allowed to run free. She was not taken care of well, by most standards.

So Lexie and her buddy would keep their days full by roaming the streets, playing, and begging for food.  Each day they went to a construction work site and workers would share their boxed lunches with the dogs.  I was told that one gentleman would pack an extra "sammich" each day so he could give it to the dogs.

Lexie had a scar, a beauty mark really, that ran vertical along her face/jaw line.  She had a stick or bone stuck in her mouth and could not swallow or get it out for several day.  So a worker took a pocket knife out and cut it out. A kind act to save her life, but awful at the same time.She was thankful and she healed.  Then one day, running with her best mate in the road, her best friend and companion was killed in front of her. She was not hurt but did not want to leave her buddy. She was grieving and the construction site workers were worried about her.

Her story got around, she was basically a ward of the streets, no real home, no collar, no vet visits, just a name and a need.  She was alone. No one was able to rescue her and I had heard enough so I agreed to foster Lexie.  And as many of my readers know, we animal lovers usually have a full house but have hearts that cannot turn away from need.

When Lexie arrive to my house, she was underweight and terrified of people. I imagine she has been hit, yelled out, shooed away, and probably worse. She would not stand in the house. A 70 lb dog crawled on her belly across the floor in complete submission with such loving eyes that said "please don't hurt me".  So for the few days that I had her, I would hold her, pet her, tell her "no one will ever hurt you again".  I cleaned her up, took her to the vet and mainly just showed her unconditional kindness. And this dog exuded love.

I told the Lexie story to friends of mine and they said "we will take her".  I had so many dogs already and Lexie needed more to come out of her shell to trust people again.  So like many foster parents, my friends came down (drove from out of state) to see her and fell in love instantly.  I knew they had the love, time, patience and room for her in their pack.  I am filled with happiness each time an animal is adopted into a loving home, yet I always cry to see them go because I fall in love almost instantly with those pure hearts. I wouldn't change that for the world.  I see myself as fortunate, to see the beauty of our world and what animals give us, teach us, 

We learn with each day to be patient, kind, active, mature, responsible, calm yet assertive (props to Cesar Milan).    And they give us unconditional love.  They look up to us. They depend on us.  As the saying goes..."God, let me be the person my dog thinks I am".  Amen to that. So Lexie taught me that even when your home is full, you can do more. You always have more love to give and being type A person, she had a calming affect on me. She needed for me to be soft, slow and kind at all times.  Her soulful eyes said it all and that's what made her beautiful. Everyone that knew her felt something, like an "old soul presence" within this shy, quiet dog. I can see that. I choose it. I want it.  I want that connection with life and love.

Sexy Lexie was approximately 1-2 years of age when she left my home to be with her new family (I only had her a short time). She had just the BEST life and I wish I could tell you all about it. It was grand. They worked with her, gained her trust.  Showed love, patience, dedication and she was a part of the dog pack. Her role was the sweet mama dog.  She never was bad, mean or acted up - even though she had been through so much (I am sure much more than we will ever know). She continued to love humans unconditionally and teach us more about ourselves. 

Her foster/adoptive parents gave her an amazing home, proper care, food, shelter and frankly spoiled her for 8 glorious years.  She had the best playmates, yard, love, bedding, warm home to sleep at nights, and peace. She could relax.  Her needs were taken care of by thoughtful, loving women who continued to rescue more dogs, while Lexie took them in as her younger siblings.  She was an easy dog to love.

Today we say goodbye to Lexie.  She passed away in her sleep unexpectedly early this morning.  I saw a picture of her last night on Facebook and felt oddly drawn to it.  Maybe an energy connection. Her family is grieving but I know she is running free with her lab best friend, smiling, happy and safe.    I wanted to tell her story because this is why we do it.  Why we help those in need.  It makes us better people. I thank each and every dog that comes into my life because I learn from them. They give me so much more than I give them. I am filled with gratitude.  And awe because they are such loving, trusting creatures that provide us joy, companionship, and a sense of pride.  We are worthy.

Lexie found where she belonged and lived a fulfilling life.  My heart goes out to her family because I know it can be like losing a child.  The rescue and foster network is a tight bonded one.  We always seek to help and do the best for the animals. We all stay in touch. Share pictures and stories, and new animals in need. I was once asked "why are dog activists so active, so involved, so powerful in their message" and I think it is because it is easy to make a difference. and we cannot bear to see an innocent being suffer. All you need is love to take in a dog and give it a great life and you will get back so much more.  We can see the difference one dog makes and how it can touch the lives of so many people, like Lexie.  

And as a collective group, we do grieve together.  Everyone that she came in contact with, loved her. Family, friends, dog sitters, and workers.  We all feel something when they pass. We share their stories and their pictures.  We miss them and our thankful for our time together.  We heal with each day, brush ourselves off and do it all over again because there is so much need and our hearts are compelled to act.  

RIP Lexie.  You were an amazing dog and will be missed. It was my honor to be your human for a short time and I hope I can be the same level of "person" you were every day.  Much respect.

How to safely break up a dog fight

http://www.dogingtonpost.com/how-to-safely-break-up-a-dog-fight/

Try this article for tips. I have been bit a few times and remember that is always a serious risk so do it right- and read how to prevent fights. Watch for the signs (stares, growls, etc).

Be safe.
Karla

I see it. I see the fish.

Tie the rope to my leg and pull me back in the boat once I get it.  - Buddy Love

I gotta run now. My girlfriend just rolled into town.

 Sam I am

Sam loves his big blond gal