One By One

 One By One

One by one, they pass my cage
a little old dog, arthritic with age
way past prime; can't run or play
they shake their heads and go away


I once had a home,  once had a bed
a place that was warm , where i was fed
now my muzzle is gray and my eyes fail
who wants a dog so old and frail

My family decided that I didn't belong
I got in their way, my attitude was wrong
Whatever excuse they made in their head
can't justify how they left me for dead

And when I came to the end of my rope
You looked at my face, and i finally had hope
You saw thru the gray, and the legs bent with age
and felt I still had life beyond this old cage

You took me home, gave me food and a bed
shared your own pillow with my poor tired head
We snuggled and played and you talked to me low
you love me so dearly you want me to know

I may have lived most of my life with another
but you outshine them all with a love so much stronger
and I promise to return all the love I can give
to you my dear person, as long as i live

It may be with for a week, or for many years
we will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears
and when the time comes that God deems I must leave,
I know you will cry and your heart will grieve

When I arrive at the bridge, all brand new
My thoughts and my heart will still be with you
And then I will brag to all those who will hear
of a person who made my last days so dear.

Author:  Unknown

October 1, 2014 Meeting Pictures

Pet Waste Bags

Is anyone is interested in Pet Waste bags as described below, I can order them for us and the more we purchase, the better the cost.  I use these bags and find they are excellent. Please let me know as soon as possible so I can place an order.  I will place an order in mid October.  You can email me or call me.  Please tell me how many boxes you want, your name, address and phone number on your message.  Thank you.   Carene

Here is a description of the bags:  

• Size: 8" w x 12.75" h
• Quantity: 200 Bags on a Roll per Box
• Minimum order: 4 Rolls 

SAVE with Volume Discounts!

We will have Fl. state tax and shipping costs for ground shipping 

Quantity (200 bags/roll)	Total Qty Bags	Price per bag	Total Price	You SAVE
4	800	5¢	$40
10	2000	3.2¢	$64	36%
40	8000	2.5¢	$200	50%
100	20000	2.5¢	$500	50%
400	80000	2.38¢	$1904	52%
500	100000	2¢	$2000	60%

They are degradable*, extra strong, and thicker than grocery bags. Dog Walkers like them, so they will use them! They don't split or break like thin bags, provide superior leakage control and odor control and are twice as thick as the competitor's Doggie Poop Bags!

The difference between degradable and biodegradable:

Biodegradable - green, but can leave traces of toxins
Degradable- made from oil, but breaks down into harmless materials

The Minutes from the Last Meeting - July 2nd, 2014

The next meeting will be September 3rd, 2014 - Look forward to seeing you.,

On Wednesday, July 2nd, 2014, in the Eisenhower Recreational Center, at approximately 7:00 PM, our RDOG3 meeting began.  As you know, there was no meeting in August. 

Bonnie and her yellow Lab, Patriot, from South East Guide Dogs, were our guests for the evening.  Bonnie explined the importance of guide dogs, the cost to raise them, being puppy raisers etc.  Questions pertaining to puppy raisers: do puppy raisers receive special training, what costs are involved in raising a puppy, how old are the puppies when they arrive in a puppy raiser’s home, what age do the puppies return to Southeastern Guide Dogs, do puppies arrive house trained, are puppies crate trained, are the puppies allowed in public places like other service dogs, where are the puppy raiser groups, are puppy raisers involved in any extracurricular functions, are there age requirements for puppy raisers, how do I apply to become a puppy raiser etc.  Please contact GuideDogs.org/RaiseAPuppy

Bonnie also discussed other programs:

Paws for Independence – pairs visually impaired individuals with superbly trained guide dogs and provides lifetime follow-up to active graduates. 

Paws for Patriots – Guide Dogs: pairs visually impaired veterans with trained guide dogs and provides lifetime follow-up to active graduates.

 Veteran Service Dogs:  Some of the dogs are better suited for jobs other than guide work.  Specially selected dogs are trained and placed into service careers benefitting veterans with Post Traumatic Stress, or placed as therapy dogs at military facilities.

Gifted Canines – Canine Connections Dogs:  Places dogs that are not destined to become guide dogs as companions for children who are visually impaired as a way of educating them about the responsibilities associated with owning a dog.

Public Service Dogs:  Places dogs that are not destined to become guide dogs into public service careers such as search and rescue and arson, bomb and drug detection.

Ambassador Dogs:  Places dogs that are not destined to become guide dogs as ambassadors who provide outreach to hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and schools.            Questions and answers followed.

Door prize and 50/50 were drawn.

Meeting adjourned approximately 8:15 PM.      

You Are All Invited!

DOG FOOD RECALLS

Please click on the above link to check if the food you are feeding your dog has been recalled. 

Your Help is Needed

This is a plea for volunteers at the

Marion County Animal Shelter.  

 

Dear Animal Lover,     

"I have been volunteering once a week at the Marion County Animal Shelter located in Ocala, since June, 2012, and my main job there is walking dogs.  I am now concerned about there current volunteer program, as I have become the only volunteer to walk dogs.  Right now they number 52.  Some of these dogs aren't out of their kennels for two weeks, and sometimes because of this inactivity and lack of human socialization, a few become "kennel crazy" and are therefore put down, all because they are not walked on a regular basis.

 

    All of these dogs are great shelter dogs and deserve a second chance.  Walking them regularly, even for a mere 10 minutes, would provide one method of "saving their lives" until they can find a permanent home.

 

    Consequently, this is a plea for anyone who may be interested in giving a few hours of their time as a "dog walking" volunteer to the Shelter.  Unfortunately, one cannot just "show up" to do so, as the county insists that a volunteer application be submitted, and once accepted, the volunteer watch a video which provides information about interacting with the dogs while at the Shelter (which is a good tool).  The Shelter is located at 5701 SE 66th Street, Ocala, FL 34480, (352-671-8700).

 

    Please contact me at my email address (grdmohio@aol.com) or phone (352-693-2314) if you or someone you know may be interested in volunteering.  I can answer any questions, or even take you to the shelter if needed for a "preview".  I know the dogs would be elated to see you!!

 

    Thank you -

 

    Gail Meyer

 

Next Meeting is 7 - 8:30 Wednesday - the first Wednesday of the Month

Don't miss it!  Will be in the Admiral Nimitz Room at Eisenhower Recreation Center.  We have some news for you!  We will also have a guest speaker, Kathy Thomas, owner of Bedtime Tails Luxury Pet Hotel.

We Need Photos of Your Dog for the Blog
Please send me photos, tell us how you got this pup and what your pup means to you.  Attach some pictures and also any stories you would like to share.  We all would love to get to know you and your pup better.  Hope to hear from you.  carene