If you wish to know how far our country has come from its original origins as a nation founded on belief in God and for the majority, belief in Christ, please look up the news story on the following link.  I realize fully that we are a pluralistic society with citizens of many faiths or lack of faith, put this news story happened at Georgetown University, A CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY, in Washington D.C. Have we who believe have no rights anymore?  Will every symbol of faith in God be removed lest we offend someone somewhere?  What has happened to us???

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=46667   

 

I am also attaching an article written by me published in “The Royal Spaniels” this spring. 

 

HAVING MY SAY: “THE TAIL IS WAGGING THE DOG”

Meredith Johnson-Snyder

After a ten year retirement, I am back to work as a substitute principal in my old urban school system. Kids and the system have not changed much in the last ten years that I have had the freedom to travel chasing my Cavalier dream after retiring after so many years as a school principal. Why am I beginning an article in “The Royal Spaniels” by mentioning my former and now current again work? I am mentioning it because in my first conference with a parent, the parent tried to turn the conference around to blame me and the system for the child’s misbehavior. I had attempted to stop an emotionally disturbed young boy from running out of the school by putting my hands on his coat. The first thing the parent did was accuse me of putting my hands on her child while she refused to consider the child’s behavior. So many times in our society, the small minority of the guilty have gotten away with misbehavior or crime, by accusing the system of violating individual rights rather than apologizing for those acts against the majority of society. In my case the tail has never wagged this old bitch and I put the responsibility right back on the student without allowing the parent to put the school or me on trial for trying to uphold the rights of the rest of the student and staff population for a safe and orderly school. My point is that all to often in many areas of our lives, our society, our government, foreign governments and in our world in general, the desires, rights, or needs of the majority are cancelled out by very vocal minorities who wish to achieve their own agendas whether good for the majority or not. And we allow it to happen because we do not let our united voices be heard!

Take a look at recent past and current events in our country. The majority of Californians are outraged that tax money will be used to support the irresponsibility of the mother of octuplets who made a decision to use fertility treatments and multiple embryo transplants at the same time knowing full well that she could not be fiscally or medically responsible to take care of her six children much less eight more. The taxpayers of California and her fourteen children will pay the price for her own need to have “more children to love” without her considering the welfare of those children. One woman takes advantage of the system and the majority will pay as no one can or wants to deny the needs of her children and have given up trying to let their voices be heard.

Then we have the case of the border patrols in one of our Mexican border states where two of our border patrols shot at two fleeing drug dealing illegals, hitting them in their fleeing rears. So who gets in trouble? The two border patrols representing our government and doing their job go to prison while our government gets sued by the drug dealing criminals—another case of the majority sitting back and allowing injustice to rule. A couple of drug dealing tails certainly wagged the border patrol our legal system’s dogs.

Now to the news of the night which had me reaching for something to throw at the television. The United Nations is once more considering a resolution which would forbid the media from saying anything negative against Islam. Free speech is guaranteed by our Constitution; court battles rage over censorship in this country. Yet, the UN resolution would attempt to put a gag order on journalists or newscasters who might be critical of the Islam extremists who behind their religion to advance their agenda of hate and destruction—certainly not the agenda of Islam! To my knowledge, this resolution does not extend to other religions; it could still be open season on Catholicism, Evangelism, Judaism, and Voodoo to name a few. Atheism is of course still protected and continues to win the war against any kind of religion displays in government buildings, schools, newly minted coins, and, of course, public prayer and religious observances. Since in many Islam nations, religion and the government are the same, the possible UN resolution will thereby prohibit any criticism of Islam governments also. So a small number of nations will wag the UN tail and may get away with it despite what the too polite and politically correct majority may wish.

Now how does all my outraged rambling relate to our world of dogs? The tail in the way of the animal rights movement is definitely wagging the the body of the majority dog lovers and breeders who for some reason have little or no voice in protecting their rights to own and breed dogs. Will the majority do anything to fight back? They may win a battle or two, but are definitely losing against the political machines of the HSUS and PETA who are trampling over the rights of the rest of us.

As we all know, the world of purebred dogs is coming under attack. While we have concentrated on breeding and showing, animal rights groups have positioned themselves to eradicate purebred dogs and, in fact, all domesticated animals in several countries in the world, the UK and the United States being the top targets. Look at what has already happened in Switzerland; look at how fox hunting, a long tradition, has been eliminated in the UK. In the US, several communities and cities have passed breed specific legislation, restricted the number of dogs one can own, limited number of litters bred during a year or legislated no breeding at all, and put breeders under the jurisdiction of dog wardens who can enter a breeder’s home to check records without notice and seize dogs over trumped up charges without the breeder or dog owner having any way to get the dogs back. Every week, more proposed anti breeding and anti dog edicts come to our attention. This week, proposed legislation in Pennsylvania calls for the end of cropping and docking; an owner of a cropped or docked breed must be able to show at any time a certificate that a veterinarian performed the cropping or docking of their dog or face having the dog in question asked seized. New Hampshire has bad legislation in the works; California will be once more introducing mandatory spay/neuter legislation; West Palm Beach, Florida, has forbidden any breeding within its borders causing breeders to move elsewhere; Ohio, my state, will be introducing legislation to control and tax breeding in this new legislation session. The list goes on and on.

The public relations effort of the animal rights groups to demonize the breeders of purebred dogs and the dogs themselves is paying off. The public as well as many celebrities are extolling the virtues of shelter dogs as being healthier than purebreds, but who would really know as there are no health statistics being kept on mixed breeds and no mixed breed clubs tracking health problems. The unsuspecting public is duped into believing that buying a purebred will result in the death of a supposedly “healthier” shelter dog while shelters are sending dogs from one end of our country to another to fill empty shelters and importing puppies and dogs from other countries because in some parts of the country there are not enough shelter dogs to be adopted and shelters support themselves through adoptions. However, PETA and HSUS continue to specialize in successfully influencing public opinion against purebreds and breeders despite so many of us working to improve the lot of shelter dogs and pushing the neutering of the puppies we sell to pet homes.

There are so many anti breeding bills being proposed that one cannot keep up. The HSUS is now going after farmers in Ohio after their success of passing Proposition 2 in California. Farmers will not be able to operate as they have since our ancestors stopped being foragers and began to domesticate animals and grow food. Proposition 2 and the proposed Ohio Bill will drastically change the way farmers treat livestock. It is wrong to treat any animal inhumanely whether in care or slaughter, but animals are not humans as the HSUS would have us to believe. As long as we refuse to organize and fight back by docking (oh, my, did I use that awful red flag word?) all animal rights wagging tails, the interests of the purebred dog world will not be protected and all we may have left are the tails without the dogs.

HAPPY

EASTER!!!

 

ENJOY YOUR DAY AND REMEMBER THE REASON!

 

 

 

I am really too tired to post tonight, but will give it a try. I had a terribly busy day taking Al to doctor’s appointments and his therapy. His CAT scan today shows no evidence of brain trauma and he is also going to be released from therapy.  The neurosurgeon gave the okay for Al to drive; not being able to drive was very hard for Al and hard for me because he is a terrible passenger seat driver and I do not take corrections well!

I have heard from another one of my oldies owned by Jim and Margie Rogers.  It is truly wonderful knowing that Cavaliers that I brought into this world have made their families so happy and have been so loved.  I remember Ruff Rider well. His sire was Ch. and and Ch. Redthea Daniel of Rattlebridge, ROM. Happy Birthday, dear Fletcher!

I just wanted to let you know I’m doing fine, almost 14 years after 
leaving Rattlebridge.  Although Mom and Dad call me Fletcher, my 
Rattlebridge name was Ruff Rider (son of Daniel).  My 14th birthday will be in a few days on March 27th.  I’m happy to say that I’m pretty spry for my age.  I have a slight heart murmur that I take a daily pill for, and I’m a bit hard of hearing.  I still have all my teeth and my eyesight is good.  I can still jump up on the bed or couch (most of the time) and I still love a good (short) game of fetch with Daddy.  I’ve had a good life, moving from Columbus to El Paso, Texas then back to Missouri where we are now.  I have three rescue  companions (from my vet): two Cavaliers and a Japanese Chin.  I love to bark at them when they play with each other, but I still prefer playing with my humans.

Love,
Fletcher

Al and I were married twenty five years yesterday, the day after he wound up in the emergency room again for the same symptoms he had when he had the bloods clot and fresh bleed.  He checked out to be okay, but we are very watchful and he is certainly not one hundred percent, but he will be. I continue to work as I find that I have a renewed calling in the principalship and am happy being back working with kids. After setting my own hours for ten years, it has been hard to go to bed at a relatively normal hour so I can get up at five–a perfectly horrible hour!  I did not always get laundry done before now I am really behind.  I understand all the dog bedding, but cannot for the life of me understand how two people can generate so much laundry.

I have been working every day but do not know if the pattern will continue as I go in when a principal is absent and a building needs coverage.  We have the home base covered, so Al is in no danger of being without immediate help should he need it.  It is a worry, but I am really happy to be back in the schools and Al is really happy to get me out of his hair.

I have a couple of nice puppies that I intended to keep at least for awhile, but now that my time is so limited, I will let them go. I have simply no time to show right now and have accepted very few judging assignments.  This is the week of Crufts in the UK and I usually attend, but am fine with staying home as Al held down the fort for the last ten years as I traveled as I wished.  I wish I could see all the Cavaliers at Crufts and could watch our own Peter Green judge Best in Show, a very great honor for this great dog man originally from Wales, but an American for years. I am sure that Peter will do a brilliant job of judging.

 

Fourteen years ago, I let a dog named Walk the Walk, Dash, go home with Jim Mineo who has loved him and has cared for him so well over the years.  I just got an email from Dash that I would like to share:

Greetings from one of your pups….”Dash”….Walk the Walk.  I am getting
on in years, 14, but what a good life I have had.  I moved to Canfield Ohio
from Rattlebridge and have always had a companion cocker spaniel to play
with. on occasion even a springer.  I had to show them the ropes and what
was expected of them.  The highlight of my year was always the summer when
my family spent time at their lake house, and the arrival of three
grandsons, oh how they love me!!!! Unfortunately time marches on and I have
lost all my canine companions and am now alone.  I would miss them except
age has taken its toll on me as well and am not as playful as I was in the
early years.  I ma blind, deaf, lost most of my teeth and have seizures, but
I still manage to find my way to the dinner bowl, my bed on a couch in a
bright and warm sun porch, and of course to any friendly hands willing to
give me attention. I just had a haircut last week and look like the puppy
that left Rattlebridge many moons ago. Keep up the good work and breed many
more puppies just like me………Love Dash

I am so touched by Dash’s note and know that I will see him again at the Rainbow Bridge someday.  Stay happy and healthy, Dash.  Thank you, Jim, for loving him so much. 

Also, from Marilee Snyder, a wonderful picture of “Harley” (who really needs to drop a bit of weight!!! as Marilee knows. LOL) waiting patiently to be asked to play in the snow:

 

As probably known by many, I served as an elementary school principal in Columbus Ohio City Schools for many, many years. While I started my career in education in high school and still hear from my first high school theatre class (four years younger than my 22 was a lot then and nothing now!), I did not want to do middle or high school sports as dog shows were even then my beginning addiction.  So after supervising the secondary reading program, I elected to go into the elementary principalship which I loved. When I started to feel burn out after 33 years and began having a few health problems, I retired and put all my efforts into the Cavalier mania traveling the world telling Al that when he needed me home, I would curtail my traveling and be home. I have always missed the principalship and really felt it was a calling; after cutting back on breeding and showing at least for now, I finally gave in to my long felt urge to return to school and have been substituting as an elementary and middle school principal in my old district. From the first moment that I walked into my first assignment, I felt that I was home.  I am working nearly every day and seem to be spending a lot of time as a middle school assistant principal as well, of course, as an elementary principal.  The problem is that middle schools start really early and this old night owl has been staying up until the wee hours and getting up at nine a.m. for quite a few years now. Rising at five a.m. is horrible!  I hate it.  Leaving the house by 6:30 a.m. every morning exposes me to a world I have seldom seen.  While others may delight in the quiet of early morning, my dogs have been conditioned to sleep in.  My poor Wendy and Snoop do not even open an eye when I leave, just snore away.  We have not done mornings in forever.  Poor Al who loves mornings does not love the very new early hours that I am keeping. 

I still cannot go to bed early and have just finished doing the dogs  before I started on the blog.  In fact, I just finished my The Royal Spaniel magazine article about legislation, what a surprise!  I am late getting to bed and will seriously pay the price in the morning. Good night for my morning wake up is less than five hours away and I am an old woman now who should know better!

 

Thank you to all who have called, emailed, or sent cards during my husband’s surgery.  Al continues to improve.  He came home Monday night and immediately began to bring in firewood from the front porch then told me to stop “harping” at him when I went ballistic.  He insists on driving which, of course, I will not let him do. He gets even by front seat passenger driving and nagging me with every turn I take until I am ready to drop him off in the middle of the interstate.   He is back to normal and I am grateful, not for the return of his curmudgeon attitude, but that he is well enough to be himself!

Legislation

With the new legislative year, anti breeding legislation is cropping up in several states with more proposed bills on their way. The Animal rights activists are on the move. HSUS and PETA feel that they have an “in” with President Obama as Ophra, Peta’s person of the year, certainly does have in with our new president.  The campaign to disillusion the public from buying a purebred from a breeder and to go to a shelter to get a pet continues to invest in high end publicity.

I believe fully in giving shelter dogs a home; every dog and cat, for that matter, deserves a caring, loving home. However, the claim that purebreds have horrible health problems is one more PR tactic of the animal rights activists.  Yes, purebreds do have health problems; veterinarians can identify purebred breeds and note the problems. Some breeds tend toward specific problems. Each breed’s national breed club, such as the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, funds research for the health problems in the breed. The American Kennel Club also funds research.  Through DNA testing there are real efforts to identify the gene behind specific health problems so that those health problems may ultimately be treated or eliminated. The problem with the claim that mixed breeds do not have health problems is that statistics on their health problems are not done.  Believe me, mixed breeds do have health problems and in a later entry I will use an article that clearly outlines the purebred health vs. mixed breed health controversy.

HSUS and Peta have huge budgets for advertising, not for seeing to the actual welfare of animals, but to the “rights” of animals. Both organizations would like to see the ownership or “the enslavement” of animals ended and the guardianship of animals implemented, giving animals the same rights as humans.  I am all for humane treatment of all living beings, except for perhaps the horrible Japanese beetles that eat my roses every year, but as much as I love animals, I do not feel that they should be personified and still believe God created them to serve mankind in the many wonderful ways that they do.

The following article by Kendra Bobulsky, legislation liaison for the Golden Retriever Club of Central Ohio, compares animal rights to animal welfare and hopefully will shed some light on current developments:

I promised an article on the difference between Animal Rights, the radical anti-pet ownership movement, and Animal Welfare, where individuals fight for the health and well being of animals using grounded and intelligent means and arguments.

Animal Rights sounds like a great idea. Most of us care deeply about the safety and health of all animals. We may differ on our views of hunting, raising animals for slaughter, the use of traditional livestock management techniques such as battery cages, but no one wants to see abused, abandoned, or neglected animals hurting with no one to fight for them.

Animal Rights groups claim to fight for these animals, unfortunately they also want to eliminate hunting, meat consumption, animal breeding of any kind, and in fact, the ultimate goal of these organizations is to eliminate domesticated animal ownership entirely. They feel any use of animals, even as loved family companions, is torturing and objectifying the animals. Some organizations, such as PETA and Green Peace have, on occasion, shown their true colors, utilizing anarchist tactics to fight for Animal Rights. Thankfully the average American understands the radical nature of these groups.

Unfortunately some groups have hidden their ultimate agenda and have successfully marketed themselves as organizations that truly want to help animals and their owners. The Humane Society of The United States is the largest organization of this kind. Most Americans confuse them with local humane societies that actually rescue and re-home domesticated animals. HSUS is NOT a rescue organization. All monies going to HSUS go directly to their massive political fund, masking their true agenda in an overwhelming media campaign, manipulating caring individuals in government and across America, all the while using this ill obtained support to chip away at the rights of animal owners everywhere.

Many of the issues supported by HSUS seem well intentioned, but each political move is part of a calculated agenda that has chipped away at the rights of animal owners and we are now looking at bills that could cause irreparable damage to pure bred dog sports, including breeding restrictions, dramatically increased costs for breeders and kennel owners, collar regulations, and increased government oversight that will only hurt those of us who want to follow the rules, ignoring any problem dog owners who are supposedly the targets of these pieces of legislation.

Animal Welfare supports the animals and the owners. It uses fairness and intelligence to support rescue efforts, responsible breeding practices, and good legislation that will benefits animals and owners.

Please take the time to understand the difference. Please take the time to support Animal Welfare. Please take the time to educate others about the dramatic but hidden difference between these two movements.

The Animal Welfare Council has some more information at:

http://www.animalwelfarecouncil.com/html/aw/rights.php.

Kendra Bobulski

GRCCO Legislative Liaison.

AND MORE IN ILLINOIS:

The Sportsmen’s and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance (SAOVA) is a nationwide, nonpartisan group of volunteers seeking to elect politicians  who will vote to protect the

The Sportsmen’s and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance (SAOVA) is a nationwide, nonpartisan group of volunteers seeking to elect politicians who will protect the rights of sportsmen, pet owners and farmers concerned  about protecting their traditions, avocations and livelihoods from anti-hunting, anti-breeding, animal guardianship advocate.

For more information and to study the archives of this active group go to:

saova.org
 

A SAOVA message to sportsmen, pet owners and farmers concerned  about protecting their traditions, avocations and livelihoods from anti-hunting, anti-breeding, animal guardianship advocates. Forwarding and cross posting, with attribution, encouraged.<P><HR></P>Illinois Breeder Licensing HB 198/SB 53 Call to Action

February 11, 2009

SAOVA Friends,

HB 198 was scheduled to be heard by the Business/Occupational Licenses Committee on February 10th. However, the bill was never addressed in Committee.  It will remain on the Committee’s agenda and will be rescheduled at the request of Rep. Fritchey.  The bill will devastate responsible breeding in the state and hundreds of Illinois dog breeders have already voiced their opposition to HB 198. We must continue to increase the pace until the voices of opposition number in the thousands. 

Contact for HB 198 Sponsors:

Representative Angelo Saviano (R, 77)
217-782-3374 / 217-557-7211 FAX
skip@skipsaviano.com

Representative Deborah Mell (D, 40)
217-782-8117 / 217-558-6369 FAX
Deb@debmell.org

Representative Jack D. Franks (D, 63)
217-782-1717 / 217-557-2118
jack@jackfranks.org

Representative Daniel J. Burke (D, 22)
217-782-1117 / 217-782-0927 FAX
dburke@housedem.state.il.us

Representative Greg Harris (D, 13)
217-782-3835 / 217-557-6470 FAX
greg@gregharris.org

Representative Michael J. Zalewski (D, 21)
217-782-5280 / 217-557-1934
repzalewski@gmail.com

Representative Keith Farnham (D, 43)
(217) 782-8020
krfarnham@comcast.net

Representative Lou Lang (D, 16)
217-782-1252 / 217-782-9903 FAX
RepLouLang@aol.com

Representative Harry Osterman (D, 14)
217-782-8088 / 217-782-6592 FAX
HJO17@aol.com

Representative Sandy Cole (R, 62)
217-782-7320 / 217-782-1275 FAX
sandycole@comcast.net

Representative Jack McGuire (D, 86)
217-782-8090 / 217-557-6465 FAX
Jmcguire86@sbcglobal.net

Representative Al Riley (D, 38)
217-558-1007 / 217-557-1664 FAX
Rep.Riley38@sbcglobal.net

Representative Linda Chapa LaVia (D, 83)
217-558-1002 / 217-782-0927 FAX
Chapa-laviali@liga.gov

Correction: Rep. Luis Arroyo remains a cosponsor. Contact info:
(217) 782-0480 / (217) 557-9609 FAX
Repdistrict3@gmail.com 

Use the form letter available for download at the SAOVA website http://www.saova.org/Illinois.html. The form letter leaves room to add a talking point of your own for personalization.  Please sign and fax the form to all Cosponsors.  Send the form to friends and family and request their help. 

Find your own Representative http://www.ilga.gov/house/default.asp  and send your opposition to HB 198.
Use the link on the SAOVA website to email all Licensed Activities Committee Members at one time and oppose the Senate version, SB 53.

Join SAOVA, Illinois State Veterinary Association, Association of Illinois Pet Owners, American Sporting Dog Alliance, United Kennel Club, and the American Kennel Club in opposition to HB 198/SB53. Please send a copy of your organization’s opposition letter to saova@earthlink.net or fax to 866-291-2343 to be added to the growing opposition list!

And in Oklahoma: Please take note:

February 1, 2009

HB 1332:  Pending legislation that will require that anyone who is a
breeder, person, firm, corporation or other association that qualifies and
is certified as a breeder, dealer, animal rescue, out-of-state
dealer/breeder, shelter, or retail pet store that sells, gives away, or
transfers a cumulative total of twenty-five or more animals of any age in
any one (1) calendar year directly to a consumer, co-breeder, retail pet
store, to a person for research purposes, or to any person acting as a
broker who has accepted animals for transfer to a third party and is
licensed pursuant to the Oklahoma Pet Quality Assurance and Protection
Act.[1]

.        Includes all animal rescue organizations that utilize foster homes
if they accumulate more than 25 animals.

.        Stipulates that out of state breeders cannot transport in OK
without a state license.  Under the provisions this would include out of
state breeders that exhibit at dog/cat shows within the state of OK.[2]

.        Calls for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture to develop and
implement regulation pertaining to this bill.  There is nothing that
requires representation from stakeholders or public input.

.        The bill will duplicate federal regulations and laws already in
place.  Would it not be beneficial and fiscally responsible to support the
federal agency and help to enforce laws already in place?

.        The bill proposes to assess fees and fines as the revenue source to
implement and sustain the activities of this law.  It calls for a fund
specific to the activities of this law which opens the door for donations
from individuals and nonprofits.  The state will incur the fiscal
responsibility to ensure that funds are available.[3]  The state’s
fundraising methods are to impose higher taxes.  With the expected shortfall
in state revenue is this the time to impose more tax burden on Oklahoma’s
individuals and families?

.        Gives any peace officer the authority to enter the premises of an
individual or facility. There is nothing that states peace officers will be
trained or must be accompanied by trained personnel.  

.        This bill allows members of law enforcement to enter onto property
without cause.[4]

.        Penalties include liens against the licensee’s personal property
for failure to meet fines.

.        Responsible breeders follow ethics guidelines and existing federal
laws.  The provisions of HB 1332 will encourage substandard breeders to
burrow further underground.

.        The bill does not list an element for consumer protection.
Consumers should be educated and hold a reasonable portion of the
responsibility when purchasing pets.

Summary:  HB 1332 is a continuation of last year’s attempts to impose
punitive measures that duplicate federal efforts.  This bill will have a
negative impact on responsible breeders with valid USDA licenses, those that
visit our state for recreation and legitimate organizations that provide a
valuable rescue services to animals.  The bill will have a negative fiscal
impact on tax payers and consumers while infringing upon the rights of law
bidding Oklahomans.

While OAIA encourages animal advocates to look for solutions to community
pet issues HB 1332 as written cannot solve the issues of producing healthy
pets for consumers and eliminating substandard breeding practices.

*********************************************************************************************

We are in a fight for our rights to own and breed dogs. Please take note and write your Senator and Congressman about protecting our rights please. Check the proposed legislation in your community, city, county, and state and let your opinions be known.

Until next time . . .

Haven’t had time to stay updated. Al is fine at home. Busy running him back and forth to physical therapy. Will catch up as soon as possible. Thank you again for all the prayers, notes, cards and emails, I really appreciate it.

 

Al continues to improve.  He will be moving to a rehab facility which also housed his radiation treatment for the skin cancer, mycosis fungicides (sp???) which a rare cancer which goes inward if not checked. He has been undergoing radiation for three years and it is at least halted in its tracks, thank God!  He appears to have no real deficits from his brain surgery to relieve the blood clots and fresh bleeding.  However, he does need rehab for balance and his continued improvement.  He, of course, wants to come home; I don’t want him home until I know he can function well at home.  One fall and it could be disaster.  He of course is angry with me, but those who know me know that  I can hold my ground with sympathy not my strong suit when it comes to his doing what he needs to do to get well!  Anyone who knows us thinks we are the “Bickersons.”  A friend liked to say about her marriage that she and her husband fought for recreation. Al and I never fight, but my “cave man” husband argues with me all the time especially when I am after him about his health. Of, course, I am never at fault!!!  I  would love to be sweet, loving, and docile but my husband is of the old school and does not respond well to sweetness and lightness.  He says he married me for my “moxie” but which has driven him crazy all these years!  My excuse is that I am from Brooklyn with a New York attitude; my midwestern husband has never like New Yorkers but the man married me anyway! 

I have been visiting my friend Bobbi Brady, a Doberman breeder and fellow judge, as she has been in the same hospital as Al.  An urinary tract infection that she has been fighting for a month turned into a malignant tumor on her bladder which had spread to her longs.  Needless to say, this was not caught until too late. She died yesterday of heart failure due to reduced capacity of the lungs. We are all devastated as Bobbi was one of the finest people I have never known. She leaves a wonderful family who love her deeply.  I made it to Hospice where she had just been moved only a couple of minutes after she passed. The first words her husband said to me was “You have lost your partner.”  Although I have known Bobbi for forty years, it wasn’t until the last few years that we teamed up to fight anti dog and breeding legislation in Ohio. For three years we haunted the the Statehouse and were instrumental, we would like to believe, in helping defeat HB 446.  We often joked that we would be blue haired old ladies tottering around the Statehouse perpetually lost as as long as we have haunted the Statehouse, we got lost every time.  I loved her and will really miss her.

Thanks to all who have continued to pray for us; I will answer all the emails and calls when I can.  My blog is my way to keep my friends in the loop. Please say a prayer for the soul of my Bobbi. I am sure God has welcomed her with open arms as she was such a very good person.

Until next time.  Meredith

Thank you to all who prayed for my husband during his emergency brain surgery.  Al fell on the ice about three weeks ago and hit his head on the front walk.  OF COURSE, I wanted to take him to the emergency room and, OF COURSE, my stoic, bull headed, stubborn, hard headed (well, not really in this case),  John Wayne type husband refused.  (He, OF COURSE, will never have the opportunity to refuse to take my medical opinion again,  He may have won the battle, but he has certainly lost this war!)

After falling, Al developed a headache which lasted a couple of days, but no other symptoms until Monday this week when he told me that his left arm had suddenly gone numb.  We went to the closest ER where he had a CAT scan which showed bleeding in his brain (but at least it showed he had a brain!).  Instead of consulting with a neurosurgeon there, I had the squad take him to Riverside Hospital where my own neurosurgeon, the  brilliant and gifted  Dr. Mark Hnilica, practiced.  Al had an older blood clot, like pudding I was told, on the brain as well as fresh bleeding. Dr. Hnilica performed surgery yesterday, cleaning out the clot and stopping the bleeding.  Al was quite a long time in recovery, but when he got into the room, he was lucid, hungry, and changing from my sweet, ill, needy husband rapidly back into my beloved curmudgeon self as the first words out of his mouth were not “oh, my darling, beloved, devoted, sweet, loving wife,” but, “when do I eat?”    Dr. Hnilica was pleased with the surgery and felt that there would be no deficits.  Al will be in the hospital for about a week, but prognosis for a full recovery looks good. 

Al’s daughter Carolyn and husband Ron and children, Audrey and Darrin, as well as our dear friend Sara stayed with me during the surgery. Many thanks to friends Cindy, Nanette, and Sara for taking care of our dogs and to my niece and nephew, Annie and Eric , for taking a few dogs back to the farm to stay during this time.

Most of all, thank you for all of you who have prayed for Al and for me. Thank you to God for once more taking care of us through another medical ordeal and for answering our prayers.  God is good!