Sunday Morning Update From Pattrice

It's 7:30 a.m. here (Princess Anne, Maryland) and I've just finished my chicken (and dog and cat) chores for the morning. Well, almost. There are still the cat boxes to do. We have a lot of cats here: some indoor, some barn cats, and most in-and-out. Many -- like the half-dead FIV+ cat my students led me to on the campus of the university where I teach -- we took in deliberately. (He's fine now. We call him Ty-Juan and he stays inside.)

Others have been dumped here. I guess people know that we take in
animals and figure that it's okay to just drop off a kitten a drive
away. Our latest arrival -- a half-blind kitten called Lucky 13, has
been here only two weeks. His best friend? Ty-Juan, who turns out to be extremely nurturing.

The big question that everybody has is: Do the cats and chickens get
along? Yes! The barn cats cuddle up along with the chickens in the
coops on cold winter nights. On rainy days, you will often see cats and
chickens huddling together in the bedding shed, staying dry together.

Okay, One Last Thing - Really! (And then I'm going to bed - I promise!)

PLEASE - If you live in the Reno area and are a registered voter, please be sure to vote for SCOTT KELLEY for Reno City Council Ward 4, ERIK HOLLAND for Mayor, JOAN LISCOM for Washoe County Commission District 5 and FRED LOKKEN for Sparks City Council Ward 3. These are all wonderful, amazing, energetic and caring people. They will be true public servants and deserve your vote in the primaries and in the general elections in November!!

One More Thing

If you have not already pledged, you have until Tuesday night to do so!! Thanks so much to everyone who pledged and to Pattrice and Miriam for the amazing work they do at the Eastern Shore Sanctuary!! Good morning Miriam and Pattrice!!! Hugs to all the birdies!!! A total of $1,144 was raised!!! I'm still shocked over that amount!! 100 percent will go to the sanctary!!

Also, a special thank you to the latest sponsor Erik Holland, a hilarious, bubbly and wonderfully unique person!!

Good Morning and Good Night!!

Good morning, good night and thank you all!!! Now get some shuteye!! ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ :-) Everyone did great!!!

Second to last post!!

Almost done!!!! Almost there and then we can all go to sleep!!! YIPPPPEEE!!!!

Thank you again to everyone!!!

Thank you to all of the sponsors, commenters, Monitor Sara and everyone who played a role in Blogathon 2006!! You guys are amazing!!

The Home Stretch!!

Sara and Alhena - thanks for all the comments!! Sorry I did not get to leave more on your blogs, but I feel like a zombie!! I left a few though. You both have great blogs and I enjoyed reading some of the posts. You guys SO kick butt!!

2.5 Hours!!!

I am SO not a stay up all night person! I must be getting old because this is even way tougher than last year! How's everyone else doing out there in cyberland? Thank you again to all of the wonderful sponsors!! We are up to more than $1,100!!! You all kicked butt!!!

No Off Switch!!

The only problem with dog farts helping me stay awake is that there's no off switch!! haha

Three Hours to go Before Shut-Eye

Hey Everyone!! No long now! Keep it up! I can see the light!!

Oh Now My Brain is Really Fried!!

Ugh! Egad!!! Yikes! Four hours to go!! Almost done!!! I think I can ... I think I can ... I think I can!! Yeah, go bloggers!!

What Did the Chicken Say to the Blogger??

Nothing, silly! Chickens don't talk!!

Almost There!!

Five hours to go!! Compared to 24 - that's nothin'! We're in the home stretch!! Keep going fellow bloggers! We can do it! Then, we can sleep ALL day Sunday! Yay!!!

A Killer Ride by Guest Blogger Erik Holland

I was recently driving down the Gabbs highway with a friend who is an animal lover. She is a vegetarian and has made me nervous upon occasion while hiking in the autumn woods because she'll audibly say "murderers" around hunters with guns. It has generally felt to me like I should be respectful and not insulting around those who are bigger than me--or have guns while I have a pocket knife.

Another time, I was ordering a cheeseburger at a In and Out burger in California and she loudly piped up," That's a dead animal sandwich."

Seriously, however, I respect her concern for the creatures with which we share the earth.

Anyway, back to the Gabbs Highway. It was a dark ,moonless but very warm and humid night in late July. Although it was midnight, the temperature still hovered in the high 80s.
As I drove along the road, a rabbit the size of a small dog ran out in front of my truck and STOPPED right in front. THUMP!

My companion screamed at me, saying," didn't you see that rabbit?? What are you doing?"

I assured her I would be more careful and cut my speed. Not more than three miles along the road, another coyote sized rabbit ran out in front of my truck. I swerved, but THUMP!

My companion screamed at me."WHAT ARE YOU DOING?????????? DIDN'T YOU SEE THAT RABBIT!!!! YOU MURDERER!!!!!

I apologized profusely--after all, this was two more rabbits than I had hit all summer.

I slowed to about 40 mph and you can guess what happened--another rabbit ran out from lthe side of the road. I swerved and missed that one, but then another came out from the other side and ran right into my truck Thump!

"That's IT! LET ME DRIVE!!!!!!!"

I wouldn't let her--I didn't want to become roadkill ourselves by swerving too hard to avoid another rabbit. I did slow down to 30 mph and managed to avoid hitting any other rabbits. There were also mice and snakes on road.

I've never experienced anything quite like it.

Is Anyone Out There?

Is anyone still awake? Chris? Scott? Erik? Bro? Mommy??? Hello????

Do I dare shut my eyes for 20 minutes. Egad. This is a gamble. I'll have to set several alarms!

Meaningful Shmeaningful

I have so many more thoughtful, meaningful, important things I want to write about but my eyelids are heavy, my butt hurts (from sitting!), my birth marks are starting to resemble Disney characters and my dog's farts are the only things keeping me awake! And, the thoughts are just not coming. Thank God I'm not a doctor! Could you see me being really tired during a surgery? "Okay, now pass the thingamabob, you know, the sharp thingy so I can cut this squishy bloody thing .... yup ... that's it. I think. Thanks, Bob. Now, hand me one of those pincher clamp things for this thing that looks like chicken ... mmmm ... it tastes like chicken too!"

Seven Hours to Go

I can hear the bed calling my name! Only seven hours to go. How come 6 a.m. feels like it's so much farther away than just seven hours? Boy this day has sure gone by fast!!!

Late Evening Update From Guest Blogger Pattrice

The sunset routine here at the sanctuary is pretty much the sunrise
routine in reverse: empty the food and water bowls, close the coops,
etc. Tonight it ran a little longer than usual because the new birds
didn't yet know where to go and had to be carried into their new coop.
The little one I was worried about seems to have perked up a bit, due
to the vitamin-enriched mush I fed her. It'll be sunrise here before
the blogathon ends, so I'll send another morning update to let everyone know how she is.

For those who are curious about how and why we rehabilitate former
fighting cocks, here is my latest article on that topic:

Rehabilitating Fighting Roosters by pattrice jones
http://tinyurl.com/lf9by

Please also visit our page on the topic (to which I have
not yet added the above article):
http://www.bravebirds.org/rehab.html

30 Lashes With a Wet Noodle

Does anyone else say this? What exactly does it mean, where did it come from and what in hell is a wet noodle??!!

My Fall From Grace

Today, when my friend Susan was visiting, we sat out on my porch for a little while. I sat in a broken plastic chair that I had recently glued back together. Stupid, stupid, stuuuuupid! After a few moments, that sucker cracked in half like a walnut in a nutcracker and I did the broken chair roll, winding up stunned and sprawled out on the porch, legs in the air, shocked looks on mine and Susan's faces! Wow. It's been at least three months since I took a tumble that looked THAT ridiculous!

This past winter, after feeding the pigeons on a cold, icy, Reno morning, I was making my way down the hill out back, when I hit a patch of ice, doing the first full split in my entire life. Oww. I swear I heard the pigeons chuckling behind me. I limped around for a few days after, but thanks to yoga, I was limber enough that I didn't majorly pull anything - just suffered a small tug of the 'ol pride, but it healed fast.

Pleez Perdon the Teyepos!!

Az the hourz drau later and me eyes are ready to buhg out of me hed, typos will bee apeering moore and moore frekwently. Pleeze ovur look thees. Thanck yu veddy veddy much!!!

Thank You to the Latest Sponsor!!

Thank you my newphew, Dmitri - barely potty trained and already rakin' in the dough! haha Thanks bro! I know it was you. You're awesome, kiddo! Thank you for being the world's best brother and for making for me the world's best nephew! hehe Well, Vesna helped too, of course. Huggs and kisses to D and D and to Ves!!! :-)

Rescuing the Robin by Guest Blogger Scott Kelley

Last night Heather and I returned to my house to talk about politics and discuss some strategies. When we walked inside we immediately saw feathers everywhere! "Potato (my cat) got a bird," I said aloud. Heather simply gasped an 'oh no.' Potato came into the room meowing loudly and in a way that showed how proud she was. I have to admit that I was proud too. My little baby is a hunter. BUT I also figured there was a bird carcass somewhere. So Heather and I started picking up feathers and as I neared the television I saw a little bird quietly sitting on the chair. The bird was in a nervous disheveled state but it wasn't mangled or bleeding badly. Somehow, in it's life and death struggle with Potato, the little bird has survived intact. This is when Heather sprung into action. She gathered the bird up and put it inside my bathroom. She provided food and water. She checked on it during the evening. The bird is now at her house and is being fed worms. Please believe me when I saw Heather believes in animal rights. I knew this but it wasn't until I saw her rescue the bird last night that I realized she is an animal Mother Theresa. I think that animals all over Reno speak her name in reverent barks, meows and chirps. I am happy to know such a wonderful woman!

I'm Baaaack!

Whew - got the trees all watered in the last lick of daylight and the dogs settled in for the night. Didn't have enough daylight to pick up dog poop. I guess I'll save that fun chore for tomorrow! Thank you to all the bloggers for sticking with it and doing such a wonderful job. And a special thank you to my blogger monitor, Sara, for staying on top of things as well as reading and posting comments on my blog. Thanks for the support, Sara. You rock!! I will visit your blog site a little later. Keep up the great work!

I'll Be Back in 30 Minutes! Stay Tuned!

Trees and dog poop, here I come!

Worms Galore!

Since I found the secret worm hotspot and learned the secret handshake, I've been digging up loads of worms all day, which are eagerly being gobbled up by Mr. Robin, who loves picking around in the dirt tray. With any luck, his wing feathers will grow back and he will return to the wild, fatter, healthier and with a mad craving for earwigs! He may not ever want to see a worm again after this! haha In the wild, robins eat all sorts of insects, not just worms. Today, I was able to find a few earwigs and some rolly pollies, but not the diverse diet of bugs he'd be feasting on if he were doing his own hunting!

Darnit, a Hornet!

For those of you who spend a lot of time outside and in the garden, please wear extra bugspray and take extra precautions this year. Apparently, the hornets are more aggressive than normal this time of year and weather conditions are right for a higher population, it seems. Everywhere I look, there are hornets. Last Sunday, I was stung on the arm. My arm swelled and it was painful for a few days, but I'm fine. Hornet stings hurt and swell, but are usually only dangerous for small children, the elderly, and those who are allergic, or anyone who gets stung multiple times. They do not leave a stinger in you like bees. It is pure venom and the amount dispensed depends on how long they are able to bite you. My friend's mom was stung a few days ago as well.

Please do not go on a hornet-killing rampage. They are normally gentle creatures, but right now they are taking care of their babies and defending their hives. Unless you have small children or elderly relatives living with you, and unless the hornets are a major problem, please practice the Live and Let Live way of life. But, please use caution. Do not move fast or frantically. Even if they are angry, hornets are less likely to bother you if you move slowly when you are near them. Please do not approach the hive or let your pets bother it. And, most of all, please remember that hornets do not sting because you're a nerd and they don't like your clothes. They are just doing what hornets do and what nature intended. Please respect nature.

I'm a Little Behind so Please Stay Tuned While I Catch Up!

I've had such a busy day of blogging, taking care of my animals, visiting with Susan, emailing people and digging up worms for my rescued robin, that I just counted my blogs and realized I've fallen slightly behind the two we are supposed to post every hour. I am going to type my fingers off in the next few minutes to catch up before I go outside to water my trees and pick up dog poop - no rest for weary! haha Thank you all for visiting my site and supporting the Eastern Shore Sancutary!

There is Still Time to Pledge!!

Sponsor Me!
If you have not done so already, please click on the "sponsor me" link above to pledge ANY amount to the Easter Shore Chicken Sanctuary. Thank you so much to those who have already pledged!!

Join Reno-Area Environmental Group, Voters For Sensible Growth, Today!

Voters for Sensible Growth (VSG) is a non-profit group, formed in February of 2006 to fight the Proposed Amendments to the Regional Master Plan as well as other land/growth issues having a negative impact on local residents, wildlife and the economy. This group has grown quickly from 20 to nearly 80 members and brings together many people affiliated with other environmental organizations. VSG is affiliated with the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN). In addition to speaking out at city, county and planning meetings, VSG members are gearing up to fight a possible proposed public lands bill as well as collecting signatures for a slow-growth petition and spreading awareness to local residents on what is happening. Please email me at poochpal74@yahoo.com if you live in the Greater Reno Area and would like to join VSG or be added to the VSG email list. Below, I've pasted a summary of issues surrounding our current land/growth problems.


Summary of Current Growth/Regional Plan/Annexation Issue
Updated July 29, 2006

(This is a long and complicated issue, so this is the best and shortest summary I can give. This summary was also written with the help and input of VSG member, Susan Lynn. Much is left out, but this is enough of the general idea for you to jump in at the point we are at now.)

The cities of Reno and Sparks as well as Washoe County have a long history of not agreeing on local issues. The state legislature required the three entities to combine their master growth plans, which sequentially resulted in the 2002 Truckee Meadows Regional Master Plan (the original regional plan was created in 1995), which was carefully constructed using the input of planners, officials from all three entities AND local citizens. It took several years to complete and focused on keeping in tune with the characteristics for which our area is known – water, open space, desert, wildlife areas, etc., and it called for major future growth to center around Reno’s urban core, meaning inside the McCarran Loop, in order to prevent sprawl and leapfrog developments.

The City of Reno and developers realized this plan would not suit their money-making ideals and found a loophole in their City of Reno Master Plan, which they believed allowed them to ignore the Regional Master Plan. The City of Reno (Mayor Cashell and Councilman Dwight Dortch) proceeded to annex into the city a large area south of town in rural Washoe Valley. Despite a huge outcry from county residents, city officials and developers began planning casinos and housing subdivisions all over this area, which was home to sparse residents and wildlife.

Washoe County defended its citizens and sued the City of Reno to stop them from developing these outlying areas south of town. Judge Hardesty ordered the governments of the City of Reno, the City of Sparks (somehow they got into the mess on Reno’s side) and Washoe County to reach an agreement on the land issue. Since Reno/Sparks argued that they needed room to grow outside of the McCarran Loop, they told Washoe County that they would give up the development area south of down, for an even larger chunk of land NORTH of town (160,000 acres of desert, including public lands designated as open space), which they say they plan to save for growth in future decades, but salivating developers are ready to pounce NOW with maps, plans, etc. as soon as the land is annexed. If this Settlement Agreement is not implemented by mid 2007, it becomes null and void.

Officials and developers will make billions of dollars from this deal and will stop at nothing to implement it, even though it does not follow the rules of the Truckee Meadows Regional Master Plan. Since local officials and developers will make billions of dollars from this plan, they are not about to let something as minor as the Regional Master Plan stand in their way. This is why they have been rushing a set of Proposed Amendments in front of the 2007 Regional Plan Update against the wishes a large number of local citizens and community organizations. They have hired high priced marketing firms to put positive spins on their Proposed Amendments. They have pressured and intimidated planners and employees into giving them what they want and to keeping their mouths shut. Finally, they have imposed sales taxes, fees and special assessment districts on the existing residents to help pay for this sprawl that includes more water, sewer, roads and schools.

Regional Planning Director Dave Ziegler and Regional Planning Commissioner Fred Lokken (who is running for Sparks City Council Ward 3) are only two of several good people recently pushed out because they asked hard questions about this barely legal money-making scheme set up by a small group of developers and local officials. They key officials pushing this are Reno Mayor Bob Cashell, City Councilmen Dwight Dortch and Dave Aiazzi, Washoe County Commissioners Bob Larkin and Bonnie Weber, Sparks Mayor Geno Martini and Councilman Mike Carrigan – all Nevada good ‘ol boys with extensive business and political ties. The main developers/speculators are Perry DiLoretto, Bob Lissner, Todd Jaksick, George Peek and Tom Gallagher. These men are using their power through political contributions and standing to become even more rich and powerful if they are able to pull this off.

Recently, Regional Planning Director Dave Ziegler and Regional Planning Commissioner Fred Lokken (who is running for Sparks City Council Ward 3) both resigned. They are good men and refused to be bullied into making poor decisions. On June 28, the Regional Planning Commission voted to PASS the Proposed Amendments. On July 27, the Regional Planning Governing Board also voted to PASS these amendments. This board is stacked with pro-growth and pro-developer officials. We must still show them the fight is not over and that we will not rest as long as open spaces and massive wilderness areas are threatened. We must be more vigilant NOW than ever in defense of the environement! Even though these amendments have been passed, the officials and developers still need the approval of a federal lands bill for Washoe County that will allow thousands of acres of PUBLIC LANDS to be sold to developers!! We must gear up and fight this with everything we’ve got! That is where we stand right now. I will update this as things move forward.

Susan .... What Would I do Without You??!!

A few postings down on this blog, are guest posts from my dear friend and mentor, Susan. I don't even know where to begin so let me start by saying that Susan has helped guide and shape my environmental activism these past few years. She is an amazing woman with grace, strength, class, inner and outter beauty, and immense wisdom. I feel blessed to have learned so much from her and even more blessed to have her as a friend.

We worked together for two years until she started her new job about six weeks ago. Today, she visited me for a few hours and we talked nonstop the whole time! We didn't even break the surface on catching up on ONLY six weeks!! One my funniest memories with Susan was the day we looked out the second story window from where we worked and spotted a stray dog wandering around in the road.

We both headed down to help him, but as we got near him, he trotted away. He would approach men who were walking by but not us so we assumed he belonged to a man. As we started down the road after him, I noticed an elderly gentleman out on the sidewalk and saw the dog approaching him. "Will you help us catch that stray?!" I hollered. "He appears to favor men!" The dog had sniffed at the old man already and started to wander away. But, hearing what I said and being quite a sport, the elderly man hobbled along with us in pursuit of the dog.

Finally, Susan and the elderly gentleman were able to grab hold of its collar at the same time. They stood there together with a firm grip. We thanked him gracefully and he nodded, simply staring back at Susan and myself. "Well, he's got tags," I announced crouching down to read them. "Luckily, we should be able to find the owner," I added. "OWNER?! I'm the owner!!" screeched the old man as he held tight along with Susan to this poor dog's collar. Apparently, he was not only old and out of it, but had a major hearing problem as well!! Needless to say, THIS was an outcome that took Susan and I completely off guard as we looked momentarily stunned from each other to the old man before laughing hysterically all the way back to the office.

Evening Update From Pattrice: An Unexpected Rescue!

Quite unexpectedly, we just took in a group of "broiler" chickens from
a local woman who arrived at our door. They (the chickens) must have
fled the chicken catchers who "depopulate" the fetid sheds into which
young birds are crowded or jumped from the truck headed for the slaughterhouse. In any event, somehow or another they ended up on the property of this woman's neighbor, who then found us online and asked her friend to bring them to us.

The new birds are adorable but in very bad shape. Their feathers are
coated in excrement and a couple clearly have the joint problems that
are so common in these birds (who are bred to grow excessively large
excessively quickly). Anyone who saw and smelled them would swear off
poultry immediately. There's one who I am worried about, and have
settled it into a cage in the yard for injured/disabled birds, but the
others are probably going to be fine. They are young -- these birds are
sent to slaughter at only 6-8 weeks of age -- but now they are around
older hens who are already taking them under their wings.

This is what we are here for and what you are blogging for.

Note from Heather: Pattrice, you are amazing!! I will say prayers for the little one who is not doing so well. Hopefully, some good care and TLC will bring her around. Thank you for doing what you do!!

This is me and one of my rats, Andy. He's a major momma's boy! I had just gotten my other rat, Briggsie, at the time of last year's Blogathon. I got Andy a few weeks later since Briggsie seemed lonely and depressed. Briggsie and Andy are the best of buds, though they tend to bicker over mom's attention when I am in their room playing with them. Usually, the fights are minor and end with me putting one on each shoulder! People who say that pigeons are just rats with wings, don't know much about rats OR pigeons because both animals are quite intelligent, unique and intriguing. Really, this is a compliment to pigeons, not the insult that ignorant people think they are delivering!

For Chris in China

Chris, who lives in China, recently emailed me about the Blogathon. He's a supporter of the Eastern Shore Sanctuary and was asking me how my pet chicken got along with my dogs and cats. Well, Chris, Bonnie thought she WAS a cat! She loved the cats and dogs. She would sleep, eat, and strut around all day with the cats. It was a great thing to watch. I think the cats and dogs took to her because I introduced them all slowly and carefully. Bonnie never ran or made a fuss and chickens always prefer company. It was important to Bonnie to be among the crowd always. To her, we were her dog, cat and human flock. I always thought that if she returned to a coop with other chickens, she would turn up her beak at them and never believe that SHE was actually a chicken! She would probably think, "What am I doing here?! I don't belong here." Personality-wise, Bonnie was very pushy, outgoing, social and demanding. God help the person who accidentally sat in HER chair. OR, the dog or person who dug around in HER garden! She was wonderful and will always be missed!

MY friend Heather by Susan Juetten, guest blogger

So fun to visit my friend Heather and her 6 dogs, 4 cats, 2 rats, mice and a 70-piece flocks of pidgeons she feeds in semi-rural Lemmon Valley!

Today was community day in my valley on the other side of Reno, Washoe Valley. First the Pleasant VAlley volunteer Fire Department's pancake breafast followed by the Democratic picnic at Kruse Park.

Think I better take my new little kittie home. She was thrown out of a car window in a paper bag near UNR, and of course Heather ended up finding a home for her. That would be me. Hope Little Bit my 11 years old kittie and Zoe the dog accept her quickly.

My Neighborhoods Chickens by Guest Blogger Susan Juetten

You'd never think my suburban neighborhood would go crazy for chickens, but then Juniper Hill isn't really your typical suburban neighborhood, in spite of the more dominant large new houses.

The poultry craze started several years ago when Harriet and Brett were offered an existing flock of mature hens, and to house them turned the treehouse of the former owners children into quite a nice, safe chicken yard. This year I swear Harriet should have given up her career as a partner in a law firm and taken on poultry management full time, she did so well encorporating the 10 new chicks and Vincent the beautiful rooster into the existing elderly flock after they were old enough. And then came the ducks, for whom Harriet and her elderly father now living with her cared for equally well, and who now have their own duck yard and pond behind the house.

Alice, one of the chicks, has grown into a magnificent rooster. His crowing is still not perfect, but he tries, nice and early just like Vincent.

My other closest neighbors and friends already own two horses who are elderly and pets really, and Snoopy the dog and several cats. So poultry envy soon turned into a little flock, which eventually separated itself into two flocks, one of banties who roosted on the front porch I guess because the flock of leghorns and reds would let them into the jumble of juniper and brush they roosted in.

That neighbor, a fine woodworke, finally got around last week to building a coop that looks like a liuttle house, he overbuilds everything, can't help himself, and now all of their chicks live at night anyway quite close to our fenceline and my bedroom, well not 1/3 acre close, but close enough so that when their 1 chick turned out to be a rooster I can hear him as well as Harriet's rooster quite well in the morning.

I will put my foot down if the morning rooster din gets as bad as it is on the Big Island, where it was hard to sleep past 3:30 a.m. becuase of the crowing feral roosters.

Please Take Action to Protect Nevada Wilderness!

If you live in Nevada, PLEASE pick up the phone and make two important phone calls! Call Senators Reid and Ensign and ask them to support the preservation of 730,000 acres of wilderness in White Pine County, Nevada. White Pine County officials are pushing for the preservation of 520,000 acres. The Nevada Wilderness Coalition is pushing for 730,000 acres! This land includes important wildlife habitat and a wildlife study area. The bill has not yet been introduced, but will be soon so please call ASAP. It will only take a few minutes and it will have a huge impact! Here are the phone numbers:

Sen. Reid: 202-224-3542
Sen. Ensign: 202-224-6244

Playtime!

This is Nosey, Mandy and Daniella - three of my dear, sweet pooches!

Rotation Time

I just finished rotating my pooches and getting them situated - Frasure out of the house and into the dog run; Reuben, out of the dog run and into the house; Nosey into the play area; and Jeffy and Daniella into the bedroom because my friend, Susan, (who is also my environmental mentor) is coming over with her dog, Zoe. They are going to adopt the orange tabby kitten that was tossed from a car window a few weeks ago. As I was walking to my car after work a few nights ago, a guy asked if I wanted a kitten. He had rescued this precious little baby after he saw her thrown from the car window. His landlord was giving him only a few days to get rid of her. So, of course I took her. And, I am grafetul to Susan because this funny, energetic, happy little girl will be getting a really good home.


This reminds me: Please spay and neuter your pets and spread the word to your friends! This is the only way that we will get the pet population under control so pets are not euthanized every day in pounds across the nation. Please SPAY and NEUTER!!! Be a responsible pet owner.

Snaggletooth taking a cat nap on a hot day!

Another Guest Blog From Pattrice: Afternoon Update

It is hot Hot HOT here at the sanctuary today! All of the birds, who
were so busy and noisy this morning, are wisely keeping still and quiet
in the shade. I have had to go out into the sun, to check water bowl
levels everywhere and also to make sure everybody in the
injured/disabled yard is okay (they are) and now, having done that,
will stand under a cold shower to make my head stop throbbing.

Thanks again from everyone here at the sanctuary!

Blog on!

pattrice

Worm Hunting

I have yo get more worms for the robin. I promise I have some really cool things to blog about today and as soon as I find another clump of worms and bathe my pooches, I'll come back and share some great info, cool stories good advice. See you in 30!!

Hang in there bloggers. You are all doing great! Only 18 more hours to go! We're almost there!! I'll be back in 30! See ya!!

Like This, Dad?!

Remember when you were little and even the simplest tasks took so much concentration? This is my nephew, Dmitri. Isn't this a cute photo? He looks just like my brother. My brother even gets this exact puzzled expression when he's on the toilet! hehe

Toads, Everywhere!

Here a toad, there a toad ... everywhere a toad! This toadally cool! Everywhere I look in my yard, there are toads - ever since there was a huge downpour a week ago. I've never seen this many toads before out here the desert. It's a toad phenomenon .... hmmmm I'm a tad(pole) puzzled. Pull up a (toad)stool and maybe we can figure it out.... hehe

Hit the Worm Jackpot!!

Mr. Robin is gonna be one fat turkey soon. I just dug up and dumped almost a dozen fat worms into his dirt tray. Although, still scared and wary of me, he wasted no time diving right in! I bet he will gobble them down in less than five minutes. It is amazing how many insects and worms birds can devour! Bonnie (my deceased pet chicken) would eat as many worms as she and I could find. I never heard a "No thank you, mom. I'm full," from her! Then she'd make her way to the blackberry bush!

A Morning at the Sanctuary - By Guest Blogger Pattrice Jones

Eastern Shore Sanctuary co-founder Miriam Jones is out of town today, so it's just me, the birds and the barn cats to cheer Heather on during Blogathon 2006.

I got up today at sunrise as usual. Then:

Let dog Madeline out into the back yard.
Brought elderly dog, Zami, along with me as I do my chicken chores.
Fed the barn cats.
Filled up the water bowls in the yard for "broiler" hens and foie gras
ducks.
Added some fresh water to the duck pond in that yard.
Opened up the coop and let the "broiler hens" out to forage before the
heat of the day hits.
Filled up the water bowls in the yards for roosters, "layer" hens, and
miscellaneous ducks.
Added some fresh water to the duck pond in that yard.
Filled up the feed bowls in those yards.
Opened up that barn.
Carried out the two former fighting cocks who still sleep in cages inside
the coop.
Took elderly dog, Zami, for a stroll up the street.
Filled up the food and water bowls in the yard for injured and disabled
birds.
Opened up that coop.
Carried out any birds who needed extra help.
Set those birds up with individual food and water bowls.
Took dogs Dandelion and Arlo for a stroll up the street.
Fed the dogs.

In the middle of all this, our new helper, Christopher, arrived, so he
will be putting down fresh bedding in the coops, which I otherwise
would have done before the second dog walk. Right now, he's clearing
some brush in one of the chicken yards in order to encourage the birds
to make more use of the foraging areas available to them.

And that's our morning update.

From Heather: Thank you Pattrice! This is what Pattrice's days look like from before dawn until after sunset. She will be caring for the sanctuary residents all day long.

Meet Some of the Brave Birds of Eastern Shore Chicken Santuary and Education Center

The Eastern Shore Sanctuary is located on the Delmarva Peninsula, where 13 million birds are slaughtered every week. The sanctuary provides a haven for hens and roosters who have escaped or been rescued from the poultry and egg industries or other abusive circumstances. It has become a refuge for local roosters and hens who have escaped from factory farms or fallen from trucks headed for the slaughterhouse. Flora, pictured below, is one such bird.

Former egg factory inmate Flora investigates a grape.


Here are some more touching and heart-wrenching photos from the Eastern Shore Sanctuary website. There are many more photos and stories on their site. They have some wonderful photo galleries so please visit their website!

Contrary to popular belief, roosters often like each other a lot. These two elderly roosters have been best friends for years and go everywhere together!



Foie gras factory refugee D'affe saying a big hello!



The chickens are taken to slaughter at only six weeks of age. Little Song was lucky... she fell from the truck headed for the factory and ended up at the Sanctuary.



Here are some of the happy roosters and chickens socializing during a spring day at the sanctuary. Life is good!

Thank to Those Who Have Pledged!!

THANK YOU to all the generous sponsors of my blog!! You are all amazing!! So far, we have raised $1,024 for the Eastern Shore Sanctuary!! I can't believe it!! Thank you all so much!!

Scott Kelley
Bob Fulkerson
Anonymous Sponsor
Alhena
Susan Hammersley
Geliotfan
DeLora n Cat TxGRRLS
Kathy Rakestraw
Anonymous Sponsor
Random Bird
MuckrakerReno
Stephen Tchudi
Harry Thomas

Other Local Candidates Who Deserve Your Vote

Joan Liscom - She is an advocate for smart growth. She listens to what poeple have to say. Joan is a hard worker, a compassionate person and sincere in everything she says and does! She is running for Washoe County Commission in District 5.


Erik Holland (in photo below) - He is a local artist and activist involved in environmental preservation. Erik is running for Reno Mayor. He wants to see smart growth, affordable housing and politicans who respect public process!



Fred Lokken - This is a man with integrity. Recently, he witnessed the dishonest practices and fear tactics being used by certain local officials. In an act of defiance, he publicly resigned from the Regional Planning Commission after disclosing he did not agree with the way in which local officials were trying to implement new policies that would cater to rich developers, ignoring a huge public outcry against these policies. Please elect him to the Sparks City Council for Ward 3!

Please Vote for Scott Kelley for Reno City Council Ward 4

From left: local artist and Voters For Sensible Growth (VSG) Treasurer Amy Louise-Mazza, Scott Kelley and local artist and Reno Mayoral Candidate Erik Holland.


Reno, Nevada residents: If you want someone in office with a kind and compassionate heart, someone who has been studying politics since he was a child, someone who is running for office to have a positive impact on the people and animals in our community, then please vote for SCOTT KELLEY for Reno City Council Ward 4. He has been working hard in his campaign to compensate for his lack of funding and politcal backing. He lives in a lower income neighborhood and interacts daily with his neighbors. He is always on the look-out to report new graffiti. SCOTT KELLEY is not one of those slick, suave, overly confident "politicians." He's a regular guy who wants public input, fairness, equality and honesty put back into local government. Please choose carefully during the upcoming primaries and on election day in November. We are deciding who will make important choices for our community in the future! This is not something to take lightly!

Breakfast is Served!

Finally!! I just found seven worms for my rescued robin! I suppose they were sleeping in on this lovely Saturday morning. Breakfast is now served! I buried them in the dirt tray so Mr. Robin can have fun digging them out. Of course, seven is only a small snack for a robin so it was time to bring out the big guns - the sprinkler!! After a nice soaking, and some more digging, I am hoping that Mr. Robin will enjoy a FEAST for lunch!

There is Still Time to Pledge!!

Sponsor Me!


There is still time to sponsor me! Just click on the link above! ALL of the money you pledge will go directly to the Eastern Shore Chicken Sanctuary and Education Center in Princesss Ann, MD. This amazing sanctuary takes in slaughterhouse chickens, former fighting roosters, geese, ducks and basically anyone who has two legs and feathers. Please visit their website: http://www.bravebirds.org to see great photos and read the amazing stories of survival and recovery of many of the sanctuary's birds. Pattrice Jones, one of the sanctuary founders, is an amazing and compassionate woman. Thank you Pattrice and Eastern Shore Sanctuary for giving a second chance and a better life to these brave birds!


Sponsor Me!

Crushed Bike, a New Friend

After dining the other evening at India Kabob with a sweet and wonderful guy (how much better can life get?!), we backed over a bicycle in the parking lot. Thankfully, the rider was not attached. He was inside India Kabob dining with his sweetie. We tracked him down because it was the right thing to do and gave him our info so we could pay in full for the damages.

"Where do I know him from?" I kept thinking to myself. As we drove away, I looked down at his name on his business card and then it hit me! He and I were both volunteers the night before for the Nevada Wilderness Coalition's Phone Bank, an event urging people to call Senators Reid and Ensign to urge them to support the preservation of 730,000 acres of wilderness in White Pine County, Nevada. I will post the numbers and more info later in the Blogathon so if you live in Nevada PLEASE call them about this important issue!!

Ah, but I digress (and such a cliche thing to write!!) .... Anyway, of all people's bikes to run over! I guess the four of us could have just introduced ourselves to each other inside India Kabob, but how boring would that be?!

Just One Worm, Please?!

I've been out digging in my normally worm-filled gardens to feed an injured robin. Normally, I can't dig one scoop of dirt without five worms dropping out. BUT, of course, this morning when I need them, they are nowhere to be found. And, you should see the mounds of dirt I've overturned in the past 15 minutes! Who let the word out? Worms, where ARE you?!

Hungry Pigeons

I just counted 50 pigeons sitting on the wire out back of house. There are around 75 total. They are waiting for their breakfasts. I feed them every morning. They are fun to watch as they gather in their little pecking circles, several males taking this opportunity to show off as they poof their necks out in the mating dance. Prim and aloof, the ladies continue to peck at birdseed, pretending they are unaware that the pigeons of their dreams are just inches away flexing their feathers for them...

Good Morning World!!!

Ack! A little late but I have 3 good excuses:
1. injured bird
2. 10 minutes for my old dog to walk to the front door to go potty
3. slow computer

Good morning world and hello fellow bloggers!!

Thank You to More Sponsors!!

Sponsor Me!

Three days until the start of Blogathon 2006!! Please click on the above link if you would like to sponsor me. So far, the pledges are totalling $929. I wish to thank all of the generous supporters! The most recent ones to pledge are:

Local Investigative Newshound - Frank Mullen
Voters for Sensisible Growth Secretary/Retired College English Professor - Stephen Tchudi
Computer Guru/Longtime Friend/Hubby of Longtime Friend - Harry Thomas


A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS PLEDGED SO FAR!!! BE SURE TO VISIT THIS SITE ON SATURDAY TO READ MY EVERY HALF HOUR POSTS AND TO CHEER ME ON!!




Here's a photo from this past winter of me sledding near Lake Tahoe. That's Harry Thomas sprawled out on the right and his wife, Christina (one of my closest, longtime friends), next to him. Christina and I met in 1992 at UNR when we lived in the same dorm. Now we work together! That's me on the left sporting the green hat I croucheted this past winter! Doesn't that snow look nice?!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

I want to thank those who have already pledged for their kind and generous donations!! This will help all of the birds at the Eastern Shore Sanctary. 100 percent of the money goes to the Eastern Shore Sanctuary!! Thank you all and please continue to spread the word!!

Alhena is blogging in the event and she is also a sponsor for the Eastern Shore Sanctuary! Please click on her name to visit her blogsite and to sponsor her! She is blogging for Compassion In World Farming(CIWF).


Other Sponsors:
Susan Hammersley
Geliotfan
DeLora n Cat TxGRRLS
Kathy Rakestraw d
Anonymous Sponsor
Rndom Bird

EIGHT Days Until Blogathon 2006!!!

Sponsor Me!

Sponsor Me!
If you look really carefully right in the center of the photo, you can see a stick bug in the sagebrush. I took this photo out in my yard. Isn't it cool?! This morning, I saw a spider eat a bug, which is always a fascinating thing to watch as well. Eight days until Blogathon 2006! Please hurry and make your pledge!

Cattail Wig!

My cat, Skinny Minnie, REALLY loves my old dog, Daniella! Isn't this a cute photo? Whenver Daniella is outside, you will see Skinny Minnie (who should have her name changed now to Fatty Maddie) rubbing up along side of her!


Sponsor Me!

Runaway Rooster Comes Home

"Canines beware." That was the warning from the New York Post when a scrappy rooster was seen fighting off dogs and fending off park workers at Frederick Johnson Park on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Now, thanks to local rescuers and a helping hand from Farm Sanctuary, the "fearsome fowl" has come to stay at the Eastern Shore Sanctuary in rural Maryland.

The Eastern Shore Sanctuary is the only farmed animal sanctuary to rehabilitate former fighting cocks and is often the last resort for roosters of all varieties. The Frederick Johnson Park rooster -- now known as "Freddy J" -- arrived at the Eastern Shore Sanctuary yesterday and is in the process of settling in to his new home.

Thanks are due to the intrepid Manhattanites who finally managed to catch Freddy J and to Farm Sanctuary, which arranged for the veterinary tests needed to clear him for interstate travel and also arranged for
transport to our sanctuary.

Visit the Eastern Shore Sanctuary online at www.bravebirds.org to learn more about our organization or make a donation. Donations also may be mailed to the address below. Visit www.bravebirds.org/rehab.html to learn more about the rehabilitation of roosters used in cockfighting.


Eastern Shore Sanctuary & Education Center
13981 Reading Ferry
Princess Anne, MD 21853 USA
410-651-4934
http://www.bravebirds.org

This is my friend, Erik Holland. He is an artist, cartoonist and activist. He is vibrant, funny, full of energy and running for Mayor of Reno! If you live in reno, please vote for him. He really cares about our community. Erik would like to focus on smart planning, slow growth and resource conservation to avoid sprawl and leapfrog development.

ERIK HOLLAND FOR RENO MAYOR!

This is me out hiking in the desert a few weeks ago. I love to hike out in the desert with my dogs. It is so beautiful! Please pledge today and sponsor me in Blogathon 2006 to help me raise money for the Eastern Shore Chicken Sanctuary and Education Center!

Sponsor Me!

This is Bonnie and my cat, Skinny Minny. Bonnie died a year and half ago, but she was the first and only pet chicken I ever had. I rescued her from my neighbor's coop where the other chickens were bullying her and pecking at her. She had so much personality! Bonnie changed my view of chickens and actually caused me to become a vegetarian. Her favorite things to do were pulling worms out of the gardens to eat and napping in my lap! She was awesome!

This is Scott Kelley. He is running for Reno City Council Ward 4. If you live in Reno, please vote for him. He has a heart of gold and really cares about making positive changes!

















Please visit his website http://www.sk4citycouncil.com/ for more information on his life and views!

Sponsor Me!

Welcome to Blogathon 2006!! Yup, it's already been a whole year since the last Blogathon! Wow - time sure flies! Once again, I am blogging to raise money for the Eastern Shore Chicken Sanctuary and Education Center in Princesss Ann, MD. I have never been there but I correspond regularly with Pattrice Jones, one of the women responsible for founding and running this amazing sanctuary, which takes in slaughterhouse chickens, former fighting roosters, geese, ducks and basically anyone who has two legs and feathers. Please visit their website: http://www.bravebirds.org to see great photos and read beautiful stories on chickens and other birds who are living proof that these creatures have feelings, personalities and lives worth saving. Thank you Eastern Shore Sanctuary for the amazing work you do!