my dogs, waiting to be walked

Atlanta Pet Food Bank

For the past few months, I have had the honor of working with Ann King at Blooming Cookies, a creative cookie/gift company that ships nationwide. We've been working on a line of eco-friendly gifts, which fabulous. Also Blooming Cookies are all-natural, preservative free, in biodegradable wrappers, and very, very, tasty. If you're going to indulge, I recommend the Oatmeal Raisin Cookie.

The Blooming Cookies office is a very dog-friendly environment. Ann is very involved in Animal Rescue and there's always a posse of dogs with her. Just a few weeks ago, after hearing that folks in Atlanta are abandoning their pets because they can no longer afford their food and care, that Animal Rescue and Control facilities are beyond capacity, she rallied pet rescue groups, volunteers, and pet businesses to support a brand-new Pet Food Bank. Donations are accepted at many companies and shelters around Atlanta, and the food is distributed at PALS Atlanta for needy pet owners. Support already has been huge, and Ann was on WSBTV news last night, drawing more attention to the issue.

More information on how to donate, volunteer, or pick up pet food: See "Animal Activism"
WSBTV clip

ode to boo and spooky

we have 3 dogs, all of them rescue dogs, two are "sisters", beautiful junkyard shar pei pit bull mixes that someone in our neighborhood abused and then abandoned. Despite their bad reputation, Doug took them in about 7 years ago, (we were dating at the time) and they were mean, mean, mean. Strangely enough, their names were Petite and Babette. Doug changed their names to a more befitting Spooky and Boo. Upon meeting me, Spooky promptly bit me in the leg - from behind- a sneak attack. Luckily things went uphill from there and with a stable home, regular meals, nature hikes, and lots of love, the girls have mellowed out considerably. A sneak attack is more like dogbreathy licking. Dog #3 is a ridiculous Katrina rescue puppy, a small wirehaired terrier mix that runs circles around the big girls. More on him later.

our dogs expand my heart constantly. this quote, by the Dalai Lama, on people, animals, and our big, happy planet:

the creatures that inhabit this earth--be they human beings or animals--are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.