Squirrel Appreciation Day

We would like to thank Christy Hargrove from Asheville, North Carolina for Marley's favorite Day. She initiated Squirrel Appreciation Day on January 21, 2001.  Mother Nature Network has collected a variety of factoids on Squirrels in appreciation of their special day; unfortunately, it seems in 2005 a pack of squirrels were offended by the barking of a dog and killed the dog.

Marley doesn't believe squirrels have ever hurt a dog and she has her own ideas on how this day should be celebrated.

Say What?  Squirrels have their own day?

I can celebrate by chasing them.

Wait, I just heard one, let me at him!

What is the Hayden Act?

A friend sent me an article yesterday about the Hayden Act, after reading it and posting on Facebook I realized I needed more information.  I've compiled a bit of what I found just in case you were unaware of the Hayden Act.

California State Assembly Bill SB 1785 also known as the Hayden Act was introduced by Tom Hayden.  This bill extends the amount of time an animal shelter is required to keep an animal prior to having them destroyed.  There have been a variety of challenges to the law such as Governor Schwarzenegger attempted to suspend the act in order to balance the budget and at this time Governor Brown is planning on suspending the Act.

While I am a supporter of streamlining finances and making processes more efficient, I believe the ramifications of suspending the Hayden Act would erase many of the strides we have made in the care of animals.  At this time you can call the Govenors office(916)445.2841 or you can email him.

For more information on the Hayden Act you can click on one of the following links:

• Hayden Act - Yes, wikipedia had the best information. 
• Copy of the Hayden Act - actual text
• Shelter Law information 
• Governor Brown proposes to destroy Hayden Act; no one seems to care
• more information 

I have a great deal of respect and admiration for employees of Animal Shelters.  They have a difficult job that involves rescuing lost pets;investigating animal abuse, neglect and complaints;  providing care for quarantined;animals and finding homes for animals they have rescued or has been relinquished. They also have the unfortunate task of euthanize;animals that are sick or dangerous. The shelter employees I've spoken to find this a very difficult task and they will do as much as they can to prevent an animal from being euthanized.Many shelters also partner with rescue organizations who may be better equipped to help an animal become adoptable.  I believe the suspension of the Hayden Act would not only make their jobs more difficult but increase the number of pets being destroyed. 

Spay Day

The Sacramento Area Animal Coalition sponsors Spay Day once a year and it provides low-cost spay or neuter surgery for a pet.  The surgery costs $15 for a cat and $20 for a dog.

They start taking applications for Spay Day start on January 21, 2012.  Approved applicants will receive a phone call to schedule their appointment starting January 28, 2012. If you live in Sacramento or Yolo counties and your income is below $35,000 (proof of income is required) you qualify.

You will receive the following:

• Spay or Neuter surgery
• Basic Vaccines
• Microchip
• Dose of flea treatment

To apply visit their website at www.sacanimal.org after January 21, 2012 and fill out their on-line application.

If you own a pit bull or a pit bull mix you may qualify for reduced or even free spay or neuter surgery anytime at the following locations:

• Sacramento County Animal Control offers reduced cost ($10-$15) spay or neuter surgery for pit bull, pit bull mixes and domestic cats. 
• Sacramento SPCA offers FREE spay or neuter surgery for pit bull and pit bull mixes for residents of Sacramento County and the City of West Sacramento. 

2012 Goals for Marley

January is the start of new goals and resolutions for the new year.  Our agility trainer suggested we write down our training goals for the year and then begin breaking them down to make them happen.  Basically decide on a long term goal, such as entering a trial.  Determine mid-term goals that will help in reaching the long term goal, such as practicing a variety of sequences.  This will help determine the short term goals, such as having a solid contacts.  Upon reviewing our last year I've come up with a few goals for Marley and unfortunately Marley has a few of her own goals.

• This is the year Marley will weave.  We are really close and I  think this will be accomplished by the end of January.
• Running dog walk.  We have spent a lot of time running on a plank and I expect we'll do a lot more running on a plank until Marley stops jumping off the dog walk.  I want Marley to have a solid running dog walk by June.
• Once she we are comfortable with all the equipment, I want to enter a fun trial.  I've found one in June and one in November; I'm thinking we'll be ready for June event.
• I've found some lure coursing events closer to home and we'll start attending those this year.
• At our agility Christmas Party, I received a lot of advice on tracking and everybody encouraged me to try Rally.  I want to start working on those in July (I don't want to slow down our agility progress by adding another activity).

Marley and Riley after a two mile walk.  

Marley's Goals:

• Marley wants more...long hikes, cookies, play time, etc.
• She wants a new kitten (ok, maybe its me that wants a new kitten)
• She wants to make friends with the neighborhood skunk.  I'm not happy with this at all, we have had two close calls and I do not want to experience a skunked dog.  At this time I'm stocking up on skunk spray remedies (if you have one please feel free to share).

I think 2012 will be a great year for Marley as long as she doesn't try to befriend the neighborhood skunk.