Happy New Year

Hope Everyone has a great New Year!

I will be away from the blog for a few weeks. Look forward to catching up on my reading when I return.

Zelda meets Santa/ A Win in December

This year I have been quiet about the Cowboys. Afraid to ask if this was going to be year 14 without a playoff win.However ,after beating the New Orleans Saints 24-17 I have to ask Tony Dungy to keep talking trash about the Dallas Cowboys.


Maybe, just maybe, Wade Phillips has learned how to motivate his players in December. At the Cowboys final team meeting Friday night, coach Wade Phillips played a clip of Tony Dungy's comments aired on NBC's Sunday Night Football.






Patrick: "Is their season on the line next Saturday in New Orleans?
"Dungy: "It really is. They've got to win that game otherwise they're not going to make the playoffs.
"Patrick: "Do they have any chance of winning?
"Dungy: "No chance."

In Remembrance

Bless us O Lord, as we gather here in Thy name in remembrance of our shipmates and comrades who served our country and to promote the defense of our American ideals and heritage. Guide and direct us in our deliberations that they may give glory and honor to Thee and be for the good of all mankind in Thy Holy Name.

AMEN.

Chapter Purposes of PHSA

To keep alive the memory of our brothers who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, and for fraternal, patriotic, historical and educational purposes; to preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members; to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead; to maintain true allegiance to the government of the United States of America and fidelity to its Constitution and Laws; to foster true patriotism; to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom and to preserve, protect and defend the United States from her enemies whomsoever.

The joy of the job

When a police officer gets shot on the job it makes national news. ( as it should) Sadly many people in my job are assaulted everyday but know one really hears about it. Below I posted the whole story because I believe it deserves to be shared.

I don't carry or have the authority for a gun on the job. The weapon I have is a baton and my feet for running. I often hope I can out run a bad guy or run one over with my truck.

December 2, 2009
Update: Baltimore animal control officer shot on job
Peter Hermann of our Baltimore Crime Beat blog has this update about the city animal control officer shot last night while trying to help a dog:
A 37-year-old animal control officer was shot and wounded Tuesday night shortly after he had investigated a report that dogs were being kept illegally in a South Baltimore house and after he had seized a dog from a house in a separate call at another location, according to city officials.
Jermaine Barnes, who has been on the job four years, was treated at Maryland Shock Trauma Center for a gunshot wound to his hand and released. Mayor Sheila Dixon visited him while he was at the hospital.
Police haven’t made any arrests, but the city’s chief police spokesman, Anthony Guglielmi, said detectives “are trying to figure out if it was related to the course of his duty or if it was random gunfire.”
Interim Health Commissioner Olivia D. Farrow issued a statement saying that Barnes had seized an animal from a house and then, about 7 p.m., had responded to an anonymous call that someone was keeping five dogs in a house in the 700 block of Pontiac Ave. in Brooklyn. City code requires anyone having two or more dogs have a kennel license.
But Barnes found no dogs at the address and drove around to the 800 block of E. Patapsco Ave. “and was filling out paperwork when he was shot.” Police said the driver’s side window was shattered and that Barnes was hit in the hand.
Authorities did not divulge other details about the call on Pontiac Ave. or say whether anyone was home or whether Barnes had spoken to anyone. But Farrow’s statement says that “officers undergo customer service training on how to mediate disputes and avoid physical confrontations.”
The statement added, “It is a dangerous job, but a necessary one in order to protect public welfare” by ensuring that pets are properly vaccinated, dangerous animals are caught and hurt or endangered animals are rescued.
Bob Anderson, director of the city’s Bureau of Animal Control, refused to comment.

Happy Thanksgiving

Almost Turkey Day

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, I was searching email cards. On this journey I came across some pics that made me chuckle and thought I would share.

First off, if you need something to wear you can make a fashion statement with this Turkey Hat for you or or your loved one.

Don't want to leave your dog or cat out of the fun? Try this!

Sarah, still wish you won, but no Turkey Pardon will be better.





The best ever Thanksgiving show made for TV has to be WKRP. You can catch the whole eposidoe on Hulu. Warning-you will laugh and may laugh a body part off.

www.hulu.com/watch/322/wkrp-in-cincinnati-turkeys-away

New Idiot Award

Recently I have been trying to keep away from work related posts and just have fun with the blog. The reason is I have been trying to detach from work and do and think about other things. However, after closing this case out and two weeks have gone by I have to share it.

Dog owner "I don't know whats wrong with my dog"
Me- "Try feeding him some time you stupid f%#@K!"

I am happy to report after daily food and water the dog is doing much better.

Good Old Shoot Out Movie

Not many people I know enjoyed the Boondock Saints the way I did. I have been looking forward to second one and got to see it this weekend. It picks up in Ireland where the MacManus family is tricked into coming back to Boston over the brutal killing of a priest. It is a mindless movie with lots shoot em up fun.

As much as I was looking forward to the MacManus Brothers coming back for revenge, Julie Benz steals the movie as Special Agent Eunice Bloom.

The Dude

One of my all time favorite movies is the Coen Brother's The Big Lebowski. I don't know how I missed them on you tube but glad I saw them now. The first one has an Animal reference I once thought only an animal control officer would find funny. The second one is based on the small yet funny role of John Turturro as the great bowler Jesus Quintana. They are a must watch if you like the movie.

Queen Sophie

I needed to get a new dog bed this week and found this one.

Seriously!!! This thing looked a lot smaller in Cost Co. Oh well. As you can tell, she is enjoying it and less area I have to vacuum.

Car Jacked

Found this story while reading Animals Behaving Badly's Blog. I had to share it for those of you who do not look at the blog. The only comment I have is it cracked me up, but would scare me to death to have to run the call.

The young bear that got trapped in a car near Florrisant. (Teller County Sheriff's Office)

As the bear rummaged around the car causing extensive damage, the door closed and it couldn't figure how to get out. (Teller County Sheriff's Office )

The car alarm was blaring, and there was a light moving around inside.

A couple in the Colorado Mountain Estates subdivision near Florissant thought someone was trying to steal their car early Wednesday.

When deputies from the Teller County Sheriff's Office responded at about 2:30 a.m., they discovered a young bear in the car.

The bear was as surprised to see the deputies as the deputies were to see the bear, said Mikel Baker, spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office.

One of the two deputies took some pictures of the bear, opened the car door, and the bear was gone in a flash, said Baker.

According to Baker and Teller County Sheriff Kevin Dougherty, this bear — like so many others — was

After deputies opened the car door, the bear was gone in a flash. (Teller County Sheriff's Office )

very smart and had learned how to open car doors.

But as the bear rummaged around the car causing extensive damage, the door closed and it couldn't figure how to get out.

The light the couple saw moving in the car was the dome light of the vehicle, which momentarily wrapped around the bear's head, said Dougherty.

Baker said that bears are extremely hungry as they prepare for hibernation. No food should be left in a car, she said, as bruins, with their keen sense of smell, will detect the food and try to get inside.

In recent years, one bear practically destroyed a car after yogurt was left in it. Afterward, investigators found yogurt smeared throughout the car, said Baker.

Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from my all time favorite vampire.

One of the few modern women to make Paladin's Girl Friday

http://thereluctantpaladin.blogspot.com/2009/10/girl-friday-10022009.html

The Ancient Celtic Festival of Samhain

One the Eve of Samhain, the 31st October, ancient Celtic peoples believed that the veil between this world and other more mysterious realms was at its thinnest. This was a time at which creatures of the other world were at large. Witches would fly on their broomsticks, or ride on tabby cats transformed into black horses, around the countryside. Fairies and hobgoblins would also roam the earth, adding an extra air of glamour, and fear to the peasant population.

At this dark time of the year there was much divination to shed light on what the New Year would bring. Bright fires were lit local high points across the Scottish Highlands, and communities could become quite competitive over the size of their bonfires, competing with the neighbouring communities whose fires would be visible for miles around. Whoever threw a stone into the embers of the fire would learn whether they were “fey”, or destined for great misfortune in the year to come. If the stone lay broken, or was missing, in the morning then there was much to fear in the year ahead, whereas an intact stone was a promising sign.

Your Animal Control Officer

Work has been crappy and just in a mood. This was sent in to Dear Abby years ago but still holds true today.

I am your Animal Control Officer. I am not the dreaded "dog catcher" or the "murderer" you call me.

I'm not the one who allows your pets to breed, then dumps the unwanted puppies and kittens on roadsides and in shelters. I'm the one who must find the tiny animals before they die of starvation, exposure or disease and, as an act of mercy, exterminate them. It hurts me to be forced to kill hundreds of thousands of animals each year, but because of your irresponsibility, I have no choice.

I'm not the one who abandons unwanted animals on the farm roads, telling myself some friendly farmer will surely take them in and give them a good home. But I am the one who picks up the frightened animal who waits in vain for its beloved master, wondering why it has been abandoned. I am the one who must help that friendly farmer trap, tranquilize or kill that animal because it has begun to roam in packs with other abandoned hungry animals, killing livestock, fowl and game.


I am not the one who breeds and fights dogs in the name of "sport." But I'm the one who fights the breeders and participants, and must pick up the dead and dying animals that have been left behind.

So, remember the next time a stray dog bites your
child, your trash is dumped and scattered, your pet is
lost, stolen, poisoned or hit by a car, and it is the
Animal Control Officer you call not the "dog catcher."


The next time your pet is picked up, or you are cited for neglecting or abusing it, remember that I am only trying to get you to fulfill your responsibility to your pet, your neighbor and yourself.

Do not scorn me. Respect me, for I am the product of your irresponsibility. I love animals, and I care.

Birthday Cake for Joey

My little buddy Joey just turned 9 this weekend. (Happy Birthday once again Joey!) He had one of the most unique cakes I have ever seen. It is topped with all lego Starwars Stormtroopers.

6 more days till Halloween

I would never do this to my dog. However, some of the costumes you can find for animals crack me up.

For Theresa Foss

My prayers go out to the whole Foss family. To any of my friends in blog land, please add a prayer,thought, or just a place in your heart for this family. I did not know her , but often fear that some day this will be me or someone I am close to.

Animal Control Officer funeral services
Story by: Tina Detelj

Funeral services were held Tuesday for a Plainfield Animal Control Officer who fell and hit her head while responding to a call. Those who knew Theresa Foss remembered her as a selfless person who gave everything to helping animals.
Foss was really active in the community. She was a mother of three, a public servant, and a cheerleading coach.
People, from across the state, came to give a salute to a 17-year veteran.
"It shows that we are one big family. We support each other any way we can and we're there for each other," said Mark Ring of Waterbury Animal Control.
Among the pall bearers was Karen Stone who worked side-by-side with Foss.
The Plainfield animal control officer was hospitalized for a head injury September 29th after she fell responding to a call of an aggressive pit bull. She died last Thursday.
"It was shock pretty much at first hard to believe that one of our own could go down so easily," said Stone.
Foss is believed to be the first animal control officer to die in the line of duty. During the service, Foss was remembered by the police chief in Plainfield and by the cheerleaders she coached. One of her colleagues recalled something she always used to say; "save the drama for your mama."
"And I could just see Terri saying that to the girls. So it was touching," said Donna Duso of Groton Animal Control.
Fond memories filled the Lighthouse Church of God but in the shadow of sadness for the loss of this mother of three and public servant.
"We all tend to be like New Englanders our own little towns and Terri was the one who tried to pull us all together and I think that's what I"m gonna miss the most from her," said Duso.
A loss serving as a reminder of how dangerous their job can be.
"You never think getting knocked to the ground by a dog is gonna be the last thing you ever do it's just tough out there it really is and to see this happen is very sad," said Ring.
Foss was 47-years-old when she died.

Stevie Ray Vaughan

This month my all time favorite musician would have been 55. As luck would have it, most of Texas is under a flood watch. If you have never heard this it is amazing. Happy Birthday Stevie you are missed here in Texas.

Marry had A Little Lamb

In 1991, Texas governor Ann Richards proclaimed October 3, Vaughan's birthday, to be "Stevie Ray Vaughan Day

9 Words

Learning a foreign language can be tricky.
Here is a list of nine words that have a different meaning between men and women. Has not helped me yet but maybe it will help out a poor soul.

(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
(5) Loud Sigh: This is not actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)
(6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.0A
(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do no t question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome’, that will bring on a 'whatever').
(8) Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying F-- YOU!
(9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

What was the First Movie to Scare You?

As you know from my last post I am looking froward to the release of the DVD Trick or Treat. This picture alone makes me want to see the movie. I am not positive where my fascination with horror films comes from but I think it may come from mom. She does not like all the gory films of today but she never missed an episode of the Gothic Soap Opera Dark Shadows. Now I was an infant when this show was almost over but it must have sunk in.

Today I remembered the first movie to ever scare me. Believe it or not I was 4 years old and it was a low budget, made for TV movie called Gargoyles.

So now I know Why I like this guys movies so much.

Bruce Campbell

In Gargoyles the voice alone scared the socks off of me as a kid. I have now learned the movie won an Emmy for award winning monster costumes. Below is a taste of the movie from YouTube. Yes it is cheesy, but by making this discovery today look at all the money I saved on therapy.

Would love to get comments as to what was the first movie to ever scare you???

Trick or Treat

Not to be mixed up with the 1986 title, Trick or Treat may finally be a recent horror movie worth seeing. About a year ago I saw a trailer for this and forgot all about it until my brother mentioned it was coming out next week. It is suppose to surpass all recent Horror films and not focus on a gore fest. The first time I looked at this trailer I found it creepy. In getting ready for the spirit of Halloween I hope it does the same to all of you.

http://trickrtreat-movie.warnerbros.com/

"Trick 'r Treat is a collection of creepy stories that mixes fun with fear, candy with poison, and laughter with screams.In the tradition of Creepshow and Tales From the Crypt comes four interwoven tales set on Halloween night: a high-school principal who moonlights as a vicious serial killer, a young virgin whose quest for that special someone takes a gruesome turn, a group of teens who carries out a cruel prank with disastrous consequences, and a cantankerous old man who battles a mischievous trick-or-treating demon."

A call I don't want to get

I get to experience all kinds of stories involving animals. I never want to run this call.This has got to be one of the oddest Animal Stories I have heard in a long time.

Adopt this Cat

A lesson on why cats on a leash not the best of ideas.

A friend of mine sent me this and I do feel for this ACO. If you watch closely you can tell what is going to happen even before the cat goes nuts. I also found it funny and yet sad at the same time when the cat bites him a he drops the leash.

Budget Cuts

I am probably late on seeing this but wanted to post it for my own amusement. Just reminds me of things to come of here on the job. I always hear of great plans for equipment to come but instead I get sent to calls such as loose bobcats or a man in the street beating a dog with a wire with nothing more than basically a stick .

Been Caught Stealing?

The other night I was in my bedroom when I could hear Bruce Hornsby on Jay Leno comming from the livingroom.
The strange thing is, I found myself singing Jane's Addictions Been Caught Stealing.



Has Bruce Hornsby Been Caught Stealing? You be the Judge.

Priorities

For all of you who keep calling me to help you because you feel I need to remove all the birds from the city, I have one last tip I found online to help you out.

The Men, Women & The Search and Rescue Dogs

In memory of all the men, women and even animals who served and are still serving.

And this helps animals how?

I learned quickly in my line of work to stay away from over the top animal rights groups.

Why you ask? Basically because at this point in life I have not lost my mind completely.

Dear PETA, Please explain how this advertisement helps anything. Disregard that because I think if I open myself up to read your answer it will kill to many brain cells. I never thought you would top the stupidity of the milk gone wild protest, but congratulations you have done it. Way to go!

P.S. Pam you look fantastic as always but run away, run away, from this !!!!!!!!

Poor Scotty

This poor girl really had a bad day. Not only did she get tapped by a car, she decided to run through all the burs. Luckily she should be fine according to the vet that looked at her.