America in all its Glory

Mabry Mill, Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia

What a gorgeous shot of Mabry Mill in the Blue Ridge Mountains (Virginia). Such a peaceful, serene setting.

Sitting on the edge of the water. Taking a worm and baiting it on the hook of a line that is attached to a long, thin tree branch. Gently "cast" the line into the water. Now to sit quietly, watching the dragonflies skip across the surface of the calm water. Listening to the frogs calling to one another. All the thoughts of your daily life are no longer with you - all you are thinking about at this moment is the beauty of the trees, where they simply meld into the banks of the water.

Who cares if you ever get a nibble on your line. Just to enjoy this moment that you will never live again. That is life!

Every crime committed by an illegal immigrant should never have happened!!!


Read my posting under Illegal Immigrants.

A quote from President Theodore Roosevelt addressed on immigration in 1907:

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American ... There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag ... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty, and that is a loyalty to the American people."

Thursday, July 26, 2007

They are just too precious

Recently, North Shore Animal League America rescued three Chihuahuas, who we suspect were the inbred litter from backyard breeders. All three of these precious little bundles, only 10 weeks old, have no front legs. Physical deformities such as these are often the result of irresponsible breeding. While we are happy that the breeders chose to surrender these puppies to a shelter instead of fates far worse, we are saddened that the terrible misfortune of the deformities had to happen at all.


The terrible reality of backyard breeding is nothing new. We see it over and over again and the heartbreaking sadness of it never subsides. Backyard breeders are those who breed their animals for various inappropriate reasons. Often, they do not have bad intentions or even realize that they are contributing to a huge problem, but they are. Backyard breeders often breed animals with the intentions of making money or just imagining how cute it would be if their pet had babies, and what wonderful babies they'd make.

North Shore Animal League America rescued the Chihuahua puppies as part of our out-of-state rescue mission. One of our sister shelters, who did not have the proper facilities to care for the pups, reached out and asked for our help. They knew that without the proper care and environment, the puppies would most likely end up being euthanized. Without hesitation, we scooped up the puppies and rushed them to our advanced facility, eager to get them evaluated medically and emotionally.

When you first see these little guys, it seems like a veil of tears. They didn't have to be this way, and it seems so unfair. They are so tiny and seem helpless. How will they ever manage? But after a few moments, those tears of sorrow and dismay turn to a smile of hope and faith. They can manage - they will manage, and North Shore Animal League America is going to help them.

Two females and a male - all in good health - are hopping around, playing, barking, pouncing, and learning to use their back legs to stand upright. We have named them Venus de Milo, Carmen and Pablo. They have no idea that they are disadvantaged and seem very happy to have each other and to be alive. They are as sweet as can be and get around surprisingly well.

North Shore Animal League America is devoted to helping the precious pups strengthen their back legs and is committed to training them to walk upright. We are also looking into some type of apparatus that can assist them in walking. So far, several companies have come forward offering their expertise in front-end carts, and we are working with them to create something that the little Chihuahuas can wheel around in. Eventually, when they are as self-sufficient as possible, we want to place Venus, Carmen and Pablo in their forever homes where they can live out the rest of their lives happy and healthy.

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