Yesterday, the San Antonio Area Scottie and Westie Rescue held our 6th annual "Texas Terriers & Bluebonnets" fundraiser picnic. We had around 80 people and 65 dogs on hand for food, fun, prizes, games, pictures and a bagpiper!
Follow me down below to read more and see gratuitous doggie pictures, and more of the fun!
When you are involved with animal rescue, you don't really see the impact you've made in a life, until some of the dogs you have helped save, get together for one big "Arooohaha" in a park. Roughly one-half of the dogs at yesterday's picnic were rescued at some point in their lives. It is so rewarding to see dogs that came into intake, some starving, some scared, some beaten, some broken, and some all of the above; happy, healthy, barking and loving life with their forever families. All the work and tears become tremendously worth the time and emotion we invest in saving these little dogs.
Yesterday, we kicked off the festivities with the "Parade of Rescues" where those of us, (probably half of us who attended), who are owned by rescued Scotties/Westies/Cairns followed this wonderful bagpiper around the park while she piped:
<center></center>
One of the biggest challenges of running an animal rescue group is funding. No matter what, there is never enough money to cover all that needs to be done. Even when veterinarians volunteer their services, we still have to find money to cover the costs of medicine, vaccines, microchips and many other supplies. We raffled off this quilt and raised over $1,000 to help fund the rescue for the coming year!:
<center></center>
The money will be used to help defray the costs of spay/neuter, vaccinations, surgeries, and a lot of other medical care these dogs need when they come into rescue.
The fun and games consisted of an "Egg Race," where the objective was to be the first person across the finish line still holding a spoon with an egg in one hand, and a leash connected to a willful terrier in the other:
<center></center>
The next game was the "Sock Race," where participants tried to put a sock on each of their dog's paws, and then be the first person to cross the finish line with the dog still wearing all four socks. This is Dot, who was not at all convinced that socks were appropriate attire for terriers:
<center></center>
And then we have Levi, who decided to stage a protest during the Obedience Competition: <center></center>
And last night in my own house, the reviews were in; Four Paws Up from one very pooped Scottish laddie, Angus:
<center></center>
We ended the picnic yesterday afternoon and before I head into the Top Comments, I want to leave you with a picture of some Texas's famous Bluebonnets and Black-Eyed Susans:
<center></center>
And now on to today's Top Comments!:
Wee Mama sends in these quotes on parenting which were posted by plf515 in the diary Teach Your Children Well (with apologies to CSN&Y.
From Gloriana & Cronensense
KibbutzAmiad has a great way to frame the idea that setting an end-date in Iraq would be giving our enemies a timetable.
From greeseyparrot
In Kagro X's Is Congress a coequal branch or not? MT Spaces has a great talking point:
Congress has a choice -- take to their beds in despair or stand up where they belong.
From llbear
Indycam captured Katie Couric's value right here.
From ezdidit
wahineslc, who is not a whistleblower, rings the bell about why it is hard to be one in this comment.
From rogerdaddy
Kath25 talks about the US failures in Iraq.
From madgranny
sherlyle gets some advice, some laughs, and possibly even a new hairdo in this fun thread.
From kath25
Though it's from a troll diary, the troll himself suggests a rather Lord-of-the-Flies-esque outcome of believing the "myth" of "global warming." Funniest thing I've read in these parts in weeks.
Top MoJo provided by Gloriana.
Without obvious tip jars, C&J, and first comments:
1 The part that baffled me by KibbutzAmiad - 118
2 He must testify with the lies they have... by ImpeachKingBushII - 76
3 And FWIW by emptywheel - 74
4 Timmeh was particularly defensive by litigatormom - 67
5 I am waiting GBeck to ask wolfie wether Riza by wuod kwatch - 62
6 I kinda expected this after by OneCrankyDom - 61
7 This is the sort of diary by dannyinla - 60
8 Our priorities are completely screwed up. by KingOneEye - 54
9 This is hilarious, but... by kath25 - 51
10 No problem by pontificator - 50
11 Arlen Specter denied by cosmic debris - 50
12 Computers Can Kill by Magnifico - 50
13 They're so matter-of-fact about it, too. by renaissance grrrl - 49
14 Halfway there by eugene - 48
15 Key word by emptywheel - 48
16 But, consider this: by LithiumCola - 47
17 What does this mean? by barelycontainedfury - 46
18 Beware of the Abq. Journal piece... by Richard Cranium - 46
19 Does 1010011010 cause a fatal error by DemocraticLuntz - 45
20 Front Page of by Ken in Tex - 45
21 Pretty damning.... by cici414 - 44
22 (video) Nancy Pelosi on The Tonight Show by Scarce - 44
23 Pajamas Pete strikes again by Land of Enchantment - 44
24 Unbelievale work by vcmvo2 - 44
25 ...... by Irishkorean - 44
26 They were lost, by FOS - 43
27 If the goal of invading Iraq by litigatormom - 43
28 Good Educamation by Magnifico - 42
29 Think about how stupid the WH is. by edwardssl - 42
30 this is the sort of diary we should see by edrie - 42
With everything:
1 Come & join me at the DC Yearly Kos Fundraiser by dengre - 337
2 Problematic little Tip Jar by LithiumCola - 288
3 Thanks for reading. by RenaRF - 234
4 WFWJD? by litigatormom - 223
5 I am just a recorder.. by Welshman - 202
6 Tip Jar by Mash - 192
7 Hope this brings you a smile this weekend! by frankzappatista - 190
8 Uh. Recommended. :) by renaissance grrrl - 153
9 Tip Jar by gjohnsit - 153
10 Tip Jar. by Newsie8200 - 151
11 The part that baffled me by KibbutzAmiad - 118
12 Fred Hiatt hearts Gonzo by byteb - 99
13 Tips for Albuquerque Journal.... by Pink Lady - 93
14 But, but, but... by tjb22 - 91
15 Love to hear what you've done... by citizen53 - 87
16 He must testify with the lies they have... by ImpeachKingBushII - 76
17 And FWIW by emptywheel - 74
18 Ya know, I've never set up a tip jar by converger - 74
19 Timmeh was particularly defensive by litigatormom - 67
20 I am waiting GBeck to ask wolfie wether Riza by wuod kwatch - 62
21 I kinda expected this after by OneCrankyDom - 61
22 This is the sort of diary by dannyinla - 60
23 I'm an early arriver, and also by Major Danby - 56
24 Our priorities are completely screwed up. by KingOneEye - 54
25 here i am! by buhdydharma - 54
26 Tip Jar by Immigrant Punk - 51
27 This is hilarious, but... by kath25 - 51
28 Tonight's resource by pastordan - 51
29 Computers Can Kill by Magnifico - 50
30 No problem by pontificator - 50