(With apologies to William Wordsworth)

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Did you have problems voting yesterday? I did too. But apparently they’ve fixed that. Voting ends August 7th, so please vote every day!

Click here to vote for Rumpydog for the Petties Best Cause Blog!

This week I stopped by PetSmart and I saw this:

It caught my eye, because usually dog warning signs look something like this:

As I am wont to do, I began to think about the meaning of each sign, and the purpose of displaying either of them.

I’ve never before posted signs where I lived, because I didn’t see the point. In most areas of the country, they don’t lessen your legal liability for injuries caused by your dog unless the person injured was clearly trespassing.  Besides, I was naive to all that until I had a dog injure another dog. After that incident, my dogs didn’t go outdoors without me out there with them.

I’ve always found the old Beware of Dog signs intimidating, as if the dog within was a vicious attack dog. The other sign, Dog on Premises, seems less intimidating. It’s a “Please don’t leave the gate open because I have dogs,” kinda sign, as opposed to, “enter this yard, leave missing a body part.”

After my mower was stolen, I changed my mind and posted these signs outside either entrance.

I liked these. It’s the same message, but without the red background.

I wanted any would-be burglar to think twice about going inside, and protect myself if the dummy does anyway. I’ve also purchased a Dog on Premises sign to attach to the outside gate.

Do you use warning signs? Why or why not? 

Filed under: pets Tagged: advice, Alaskan Malamute, Dogs, legal, liability, pets

I know! It’s the time of year we’re expected to be grateful. So we do more than just talk it up, we put our words into action by giving to others. We get all gassed up thinking of the gratitude we’ll see in the faces of those we’re determined to help.

SOURCE: clipartsheep.com

But here’s the rub: people aren’t necessarily grateful for our efforts. When that happens, we become disillusioned with even trying to help others, and we begin lobbying to cut EBT benefits to those that sorely need them.

Before you rush in all gung ho to be someone’s savior only to come out the other end of the experience a tea party conservative, allow someone who makes a living doing this share some advice on how to be effective when working with others.

SOURCE: clipartsheep.com

Believe it or not, not everyone wants your help. And just because you think someone’s situation needs to improve doesn’t mean they think the same. So make the most effective use of your time by focusing on those that want help.

Not everyone that says they want your help, truly does. Some just want the free stuff. Giving people things can be very helpful, but if that’s all folks want, then they don’t really want to change their situation. Before you start giving money and things to people, ask yourself what is your motivation. If you want to use gifts to facilitate change, expect that person to initiate change before you give the stuff. If all you want to do is give away free stuff, I’d be glad to take it off your hands.

When helping others, it’s important to focus on the big picture and not get stuck in the little details. A family who is struggling financially may have hit a string of bad luck. Or it may be because of drug use. It could be that the man of the house is abusive toward his wife and refuses to allow her to work outside the home, though they need the income. It could be mental illness has incapacitated someone. So be sure to ask not only what’s going on, but why it is.

The greatest gift you can give someone is the honor of hearing their story. Sometimes all a person needs is to be heard, without judgement, and without you rushing to try to fix everything afterward. Everyone deserves to be heard, but those who are willing to be still and listen to another are few and far between. Dare to be one who will listen.

People in need are still people. They have their dignity, and they don’t appreciate you using their misfortune to pat yourself on the back. So help for the sake of helping, and not because you want to feel good about yourself.

SOURCE: clipartsheep.com

It is better to give than receive. But trust me when I tell you that by giving of yourself with no strings attached, you will get back far more than you will ever give. So give of yourself with a loving heart and without expectations. The experience will be totally worth it.

We are in middle Tennessee. For the most part, the move went smoothly. There were some issues- there always are- but we survived….. well, I’ll get to that later.

If you are planning a move with your multi-pet household, here are a few tips that have worked well for me.

Accept that the moving preparations will stress out your companion animals. You are stressed, and your animals will pick up on that and become stressed too. Make sure you keep things as normal as possible. Walk, feed, treat at the same times. Pay attention to your furry family. Assure them that this is temporary and that they will not be left behind.

Let your vet know you’re moving. Ask for copies of your vet records, and refills of meds. Ask for any advice your vet staff have for making the move smooth for your companions.

Consider moving your companion animals first. My mother lives near where we moved, and graciously allowed the cats to stay at her home for a couple of days. I boarded Rumpy at a vet in her town. When I moved to Florida, I made contact with a local vet and they agreed to board the animals so they would be safe while we were loading, driving, unloading. If you do use a new vet…..

Rumpy after his boarding experience. He got a bath too, allegedly.

Check out that vet you’re using. I didn’t call around earlier and was scrambling to find a vet that would board Rumpy before Memorial Day. I ended up paying more than I should have had to, because the vet clinic I used required they do a physical and give Rumpy flu vaccines in order to board them- an extra cost of $89. That’s the price ya pay for not planning ahead.

Once in the new home, find a local vet if you haven’t already done so.  If you’re moving to a large metropolitan area, finding vet care is not a big deal. But when I moved to Panama City, most of the local vets did not see patients on Saturday and would only provide emergency services if you were an established client. Otherwise, it was an hour drive to the nearest emergency vet clinic. Go ahead and establish yourself with a vet and let them know your companions’ special needs. And if you have your vet records, you can drop them off with a new vet without having to have an actual vet visit for each animal.

Be vigilant with open doors and windows, and don’t let cats outside right away. Your companion does not know this area. A stressed pet may try to bolt from an open door or window. Cats that spend time outdoors need time to acclimate to the new home’s location. Otherwise they may get lost. The last thing you need right now is to have to conduct a search for a lost pet, so keep your guard up, and advise others entering the home to do so also.

My poor baby. Please keep him in your thoughts.

And last, but very important, pet-proof the new home. I woke up this morning to find Junior had caught his paw in a mini-blind cord. I scrambled to find a vet that would see him on a Saturday morning. There was no bone fracture, but the vet is concerned there may be nerve damage and that he may never be able to use the leg again. I am devastated, but it didn’t occur to me that could happen. He’s recuperating in Rumpy’s crate and taking meds twice a day. Please send all the healing energy you can spare his way.

I do have a better idea. Don’t move if you don’t have to; it’s really a pain in the ass.

I get it. You want to impress. So this weekend has been spent shampooing carpets and cleaning the bathroom tile crevices with a toothbrush.

The in-laws are coming! The in-laws are coming!

If you haven’t already, you’ll begin your food preparations today or tomorrow. You’ve already decided whether to go with something new or the tried-and-true holiday favorites. Turkey or alternative meat-free roast. Dressing or stuffing. Green bean casserole. Pumpkin pie.

Some of you are even decorating for Christmas before the guests arrive.

And of course you’ve consumed all the articles and vlogs on how to keep it simple.

Enough already! Hell, I’m tired just writing all this!

We all have the media images of the perfect holiday without thinking of how much work goes into making that perfect meal.

These crazy holiday gathering expectations make me want to vomit all over your freshly pressed table runner. Get a fucking grip, will ya?

This holiday was originally a celebration of having survived a year of hardship, and was marked by eating, drinking, and shooting off guns. And all that food consumed was cooked by 4 over-worked women, because by then those four were the only ones left. The place stunk too, because Pilgrims didn’t bathe. That cleanliness is next to godliness thing? That didn’t come over on the Mayflower.

Fast-forward almost 500 years and we’ve gone to antiseptic living conditions, but we’re still over-working the women. Sisters, enough! The guests who truly carry a grateful heart would be happy with a peanut butter sandwich. And the rest? Well, who really gives a shit what they think anyway? They are petty and spiteful and probably jealous.

This is how I see the ungrateful bastards.

Let me be clear: I am not grateful that you’re killing yourself this week to clean and cook and entertain, then spending money all weekend long on things others don’t need and probably don’t want either. And the fact that you’re doing all that spending in the name of the Christ child is kinda creepy if you think about it.

So here’s the advice that no one will give you about how to celebrate Thanksgiving: Be open to whatever the day brings. Be grateful for what you have, especially if you’re not a white dude, because this time next year you might not have it. And quit worrying about being perfect. Not a one of you I’m guessing will lie on your deathbed mourning that you won’t have one more chance to get the meal right. At least, I hope you don’t.

Enjoy your day. Enjoy your life. 

And give me a cookie!

If you have some free time in the next couple of months (insert eye roll emoji here), how about checking out I Am Magazine. This online mag celebrates ALL women, not just the young skinny pretty ones. I am a bit partial since they posted one of my blog posts recently. But even if they hadn’t, I wholeheartedly support anyone who’s working toward making the world an equal place for all women.

I seem to have attracted several new followers lately. Welcome!

Some of them are spammers or businesses wanting me to buy something. But many are actual bloggers hoping to connect.

For those of you bloggers who are new to the scene, allow me to share with you a bit of wisdom I’ve learned over my years of blogging.

Good photos enhance a blog post. Doesn’t necessarily have to relate to the blog content. 

I guess by now you’ve decided why you’re blogging. Want to make money? Then I hope your blog is cooking, kids, fashion or cute pets. Those blogs attract the most hard-core fans, and you’ll want to cultivate a fan base in order to sell them things. Kevin Kelly has a theory that all any artist needs is 1,000 true fans to survive. So build that fan base and sell that book, or whatever it is you’re trying to sell!

If, like me, your blog is a creative outlet, fear not. Sometimes we, too, get lucky. Go ahead and build that fan base. These are the people who will support you when you’re down and rejoice with you when you’re up.

There is no easy way to attract people to your blog. You’ll want to put yourself out there on social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. That means putting content on each of those sites and engaging with fans there. I confess, I’m not so good at that. Facebook wants you to have a 2-hour response time on comments, but I have a life outside of social media! Just do what you can. Pics will reach further, so post them often. Videos are OK but keep them short and sweet.

Use captions to share info too. Readers who scan your post will read your photo captions. 

Study your readers. No, you won’t know everyone who visits your blog, but you will know those that “liked” the post. About those likers- up to 1/4 of them never read your content. They’re scrolling a reader liking everything in hopes you’ll return the favor on their blog. Some collect likes as a means of stroking their ego. Others use WordAds and are making money if you click on an ad. Over time you’ll be able to tell who’s who.

Respond to comments left on your blog posts.  That lets readers know you heard them, and creates relationship with them. Don’t argue. If it’s a troll, use them to your advantage. Some bloggers have been known to cement reader loyalty when they gang up together to fight a common enemy. Or you can do like me and delete them.

Don’t sell yourself short. I get emails most every day from people wanting me to hawk their product. Some want me to do it for free. Others offer me the “opportunity” to try their product for free in return for a blog post about the experience (and social media posts). Look, your time and the exposure you give a company is worth more than that $10 toy or bag of treats, so they’re definitely getting the better end of the deal. Don’t forget, if you take them up on the offer, you need to say something to the effect in the blog post. Don’t do it too often because you’ll find your readership numbers will fall on days you post reviews. Unsolicited reviews are more attractive to readers because they don’t feel you’re being influenced.

Photos don’t have to be perfect, but should be eye-catching. Crop out distractions. 

And, finally, the only way you’re going to stick with blogging as long as someone like me is if you enjoy it. So write about what interests you. Allow your blog to evolve as you do. Now go forth and conquer!

I want to end it with Facebook, but I can’t bring myself to say good-bye.

I have my reasons for wanting to stay, the most obvious being my desire to stay connected to people I wouldn’t otherwise connect with.

Let’s face it, things have changed.

When I first met Facebook, it was a cool place to meet people and talk about all kinds of things. And if I wanted to use the voice of my big, floofy dog to instead of my own, so what?

Before long Facebook became more demanding. It wanted my “real” identity and banished the floofy dog to a corner called a “page.” It wanted my phone number, and the ability to track my location. Then I found it was stalking me as I traveled around the internet, and using my photos to identify me using facial recognition software. It was also stalking my friends.

Rumpy had his own Facebook account until they banned “fake” accounts. If only they cared about dogs as much as they do fake news.

Eventually this place morphed from a beauty shop to a reality show. People had no qualms posting racist, sexist, or otherwise bigoted crap because they had “friends” who would agree with them. People lied about how great their lives were. People lied about how bad their lives were to con others into giving them money.

I’m sick of the bigotry, the narcissism and the never-ending stupid shit. I’m sick of being drawn to the app several times a day like a moth to a flame only to find my blood pressure rising as I wonder why I keep doing this to myself.

If those aren’t enough reasons to end it with Facebook, today I learned that Facebook took all that data it gathered on my via stalking and sold it to a Chinese company that has been identified as a possible security threat to the US. Oh, sure, Mark Zuckerberg SAYS he cares about us and wanted to bring the world closer together, but what he DOES is steal every aspect of our personal lives and sell it to the highest bidder. He is a very dangerous man, and Facebook is a very dangerous company.

So why the hell am I still with Facebook? Why can’t I bring myself to end it once and for all?

Have you found the courage yet to say good-bye? How’d it go?