. . . a little long, but definitely worth the read! We need to do something to understand how far the animal rights movement, not the animal welfare movement, but the animal rights activists will go.  Please read the following especially the section 20/20 videos a out the seizure of dogs.  It could happen to you!!!! Hit the the line that says “front page.”

http://petdefense.wordpress.com/2008/12/22/join-the-crusade-against-hsuspass-it-forward/ml

Tiny:
http://tinyurl.com/8v2drf

Please send the above URL to as many people as possible and ask them to do the same. We need to educate about what is really happening in the land of the free:

Also please read the following:

 

I hope not, but Peta certainly thinks so. PETA is now demanding network USA not to air the Westminster Dog Show.  PETA will not stop until the ownership of animals is eliminated.  Please go look at the following link and please comment about this ridiculous demand:

Date: Tue Jan 6, 2009 8:10 am ((PST))

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/01/peta-to-usa-net.ht

 

I don’t know about you, but I am very glad that 2008 has come to a close.  The years of the present administration are almost over; hopefully, the new administration will truly initiate much needed change.  Our country is going through very tough times and the end will not be over soon.  Our county, president elect, our troops all over the world, and our fellow citizens who are have lost and are losing jobs and homes all need our prayers this following year.

Our New Year’s letter- a recap of our 2008

This past year has been one of many changes in our lives. If we have not been in touch, please forgive us. We are sorry we did not send Christmas cards last year and are late sending this out this year; hopefully after reading this you may understand why. We had been thinking about downsizing and selling our farm for quite some time, but change is very hard when one is used to a certain way of life. We had our horses and our famous Rattlebridge Cavalier breeding and showing program to consider as well as Al’s “farmer mentality.” However, with our advancing years, we thought that we needed to decide the time to move rather than let the time decide for us. We accidentally happened upon our wonderful new home in Galena, Ohio, just a few days before Christmas last year and had it signed, sealed, and closed on December 28 because we felt instantly that this was “home.” Then the fun of moving horses, dogs, all of our equipment, totally crammed house and barns began. We moved into our new home on February 21, with no dog facilities completed and no idea when we would be able to move dogs so we could put the farm up for sale. However, it all took time, but with the help of friends and contractors all is fairly complete, the dogs we kept are here, our horse is being boarded but will soon be moving back to the farm as M’s niece and her husband are doing a lease/purchase and will use the property to board horses and mainly dogs as the kennel set up is great. Al and M are delighted as they are very close to Annie and Eric and their first child, baby “Fritz.” Meredith has lost much of her wanderlust which had her traveling around the world judging and showing and now just wants to be home with Al to pursue other interests besides just breeding and showing; we have really downsized our breeding program; we keep far fewer dog and have no wish to show at the present time. What the future brings with our Cavalier endeavors is unknown, but after 42 years of “doing dogs,” M is ready to be home where Al needs her now. His health is stable, but orthopedic problems plague him. At almost 80 he just refuses to admit that he cannot do all the outside work he loves to do.

Our new home has lovely gardens, but no swimming pool (thank God the farm is in family hands so Al can swim all summer!). In her totally compulsive/obsessive manner, M has driven Al crazy extending all the already lovely flower beds of our new home,, civilizing a couple of the raggedy wooded areas (he won’t let her touch the main woods), and planting trees as though the place didn’t have enough trees already! They have even gotten in the holiday spirit and actually decorated for the first time in years! M has become very active in St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she went briefly as a child and again when Al and she built their first home in Delaware, Ohio. She has also been busy writing articles for major dog magazines and fighting anti dog breeding legislation; she is pleased that the latest bill died on the Ohio Senate floor at the eleventh hour before recess. Al continues to be M’s greatest support and is very encouraging of her recent return to Columbus, Ohio, Public Schools as a substitute principal and would like her to ask for her own school full time next year just to get some peace around the house.

Al’s daughter Carolyn and her family are fine. Al delights in his grandchildren, Audrey and Darrin. Both are really good students and very active in school. Audrey is beginning to plan for college as she is in her junior year. Audrey’s dating adventures keep Carolyn intrigued for lack of a better word and Al very amused as he remembers Carolyn’s teen aged years all too well. Stuart is continues to make his life in Texas.

We do hope we can keep in touch during the following year. May you have peace and joy in 2009. We pray that God takes care of our country and all of our citizens especially our soldiers all over the world. May God bless our country and our new president elect that he may lead us wisely and justly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This past year has been one of many changes in our lives. If we have not been in touch, please forgive us. We are sorry we did not send Christmas cards last year, but now you will hopefully understand why. We had been thinking about downsizing and selling our farm for quite some time, but change is very hard when one is used to a certain way of life. We had our horses and our famous Rattlebridge Cavalier breeding and showing program to consider as well as Al’s “farmer mentality.” However, with our advancing years, we thought that we needed to decide the time to move rather than let the time decide for us. We accidentally happened upon our wonderful new home in Galena, Ohio, just a few days before Christmas last year and had it signed, sealed, and closed on December 28 because we felt instantly that this was “home.” Then the fun of moving horses, dogs, all of our equipment, totally crammed house and barns began. We moved into our new home on February 21, with no dog facilities completed and no idea when we would be able to move dogs so we could put the farm up for sale. However, it all took time, but with the help of friends and contractors all is fairly complete, the dogs we kept are here, our horse is being boarded but will soon be moving back to the farm as M’s niece and her husband are doing a lease/purchase and will use the property to board horses and mainly dogs as the kennel set up is great. Al and M are delighted as they are very close to Annie and Eric and their first child, baby “Fritz.” Meredith has lost much of her wanderlust which had her traveling around the world judging and showing and now just wants to be home with Al to pursue other interests besides just breeding and showing; we have really downsized our breeding program; we keep far fewer dog and have no wish to show at the present time. What the future brings with our Cavalier endeavors is unknown, but after 42 years of “doing dogs,” M is ready to be home where Al needs her now. His health is stable, but orthopedic problems plague him. At almost 80 he just refuses to admit that he cannot do all the outside work he loves to do.

Our new home has lovely gardens, but no swimming pool (thank God the farm is in family hands so Al can swim all summer!). In her totally compulsive/obsessive manner, M has driven Al crazy extending all the already lovely flower beds of our new home,, civilizing a couple of the raggedy wooded areas (he won’t let her touch the main woods), and planting trees as though the place didn’t have enough trees already! They have even gotten in the holiday spirit and actually decorated for the first time in years! M has become very active in St. Mary’s Catholic Church where she went briefly as a child and again when Al and she built their first home in Delaware, Ohio. She has also been busy writing articles for major dog magazines and fighting anti dog breeding legislation; she is pleased that the latest bill died on the Ohio Senate floor at the eleventh hour before recess. Al continues to be M’s greatest support and is very encouraging of her recent return to Columbus, Ohio, Public Schools as a substitute principal and would like her to ask for her own school full time next year just to get some peace around the house.

Al’s daughter Carolyn and her family are fine. Al delights in his grandchildren, Audrey and Darrin. Both are really good students and very active in school. Audrey is beginning to plan for college as she is in her junior year. Audrey’s dating adventures keep Carolyn intrigued for lack of a better word and Al very amused as he remembers Carolyn’s teen aged years all too well. Stuart is continues to make his life in Texas.

We wish you a blessed holiday season and a blessed New Year!

Al and Meredith,

email: meredith@rattlebridge.com

 

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE VERY DANGEROUS TO PET

DIMPLE BALLS

The below dimple ball has a vacuum effect that can trap the tongue of a dog, cutting off the blood supply, so that the tongue horribly swells and cannot be easily removed.  The Labrador pictured below had to have his tongue amputated and had to learn to eat and drink without a tongue. Please tell your local pet stores and perhaps write the corporate office of pet store chains asking them to remove the dimple ball from the shelves.  Please protect your beloved pets!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

POTPOURRI

A fellow Cavalier breeder lost two of her beloved Cavaliers quite tragically.  They ate Potpourri which is evidently poisonous to dogs.  Despite major efforts to save these beloved pets, the Cavaliers died.  Potpourri is toxic to pets.  The breeder involved is having tests run on the Potpourri to determine the poison but it is thought to be the die in the potpourri.  Please safeguard your pets as they can die a horrible death after ingesting Potpourri.  I cannot warn you strongly enough!!!!!!!

 

From a Dog to His Crabby Owner:

When you first brought me home with you,
You used to like to play.
You promised me that in your heart
Forever I would stay.

Something’s happened lately
And I don’t know what to do.
It’s time that I remind you
Of why God sent me to you.

Your voice is loud and angry
When you’re talking on the phone.
You growl a lot and say
That I should just leave you alone.

You know that I can’t do that,
It’s the crime of canine crimes,
I will be right there by your side
In both good and bad times.

I know there’s human things
That I will never understand,
But I think that I am helping
When I lick your tired hand.

I hope I make you happy
When I fetch my favorite toy,
It used to be a lot of fun
It used to bring you joy.

You used to like to talk to me
And look into my eyes,
You knew there was a great spirit
Behind a canine disguise.

I love you even though you’re mad
Your voice I will obey,
I hope that you still love me, too,
Although you will not say.

I’ll remind you now
Of why I came here from above,
To give to you and teach you
All about pure selfless love.

So remember this about those things
That make you seem so sad,
You’d realize, if you’d play with me,
That nothing’s quite that bad.

Love always,
Your dog.

I have just received the most beautiful calendar featuring many paintings of Cavaliers.  I thought if you had last minute shopping for your Cavalier loving friends, that one of these calendars might make an ideal gift.  Barbara Garnett- Wilson and her husband Roy have designed the calendar which has been nominated by the Dog Writers Association of American to receive an award in February.  Take a look:

http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001JNABCU8DApN_eDDy_1dtOF45vazV6hy8Q0_K9FF6-NiDNKoUqFfYc-KhvHcY_os64L_z0T1fa2aOrvt7yX6L–o3ZFRUXEcsGNMRFl8MhqzG3vssiyOE_g%3D%3D

It is now the Advent season leading to Christmas, the birth of our Savior.  Trying to keep the religious significance of this increasingly commercial season is hard with all thy hype going on.  I just hope that we all remember the food pantries so in need in this economy and give any donations of clothing and food we can.  I for one will not be passing up the Salvation Army Santas this year as the Salvation Army in our county served Thanksgiving dinner to many more people in need than ever this year. 

The state of Ohio is so broke that many social services that help the poor may be cut back. However, the legislation to create a Kennel Authority in HB223/SB173 is in committee. Does not make sense.  There is also a tax being proposed by our EPA in Washington that would tax every farm animal for the amount of emissions it creates.  The “fart tax” it is being labeled and I am not kidding.  More on this and other legislation next time.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!! We in this country have so much for which to be thankful even in the bad times we are having.  I am grateful that we finally sold our farm to my niece and her husband who will run a boarding kennel.  I am grateful that after ten years of retirement, I am back in Columbus Public Schools as a substitute principal.  I really have missed children so this is a great way to be involved yet not have to work every day. I am grateful for my husband, the long suffering guy being married to me.  I am grateful for my wonderful Cavaliers, my crossbred Snoop ( no I did not name him), and my cat Emma who is finally a house cat because Snoop decided it was not worth doing a job on Emma.  The two of them now sleep back to back on our bed.

I am grateful for our lovely new home as we are so very happy here.  Most of all I am grateful for my faith and the knowledge that God does provide.  I pray that He is watching over all of our fellow Americans who are losing their jobs and their homes, going to soup kitchens and food pantries for the first time, and trying to survive in our present rotten economy.  We can only pray for those less fortunate, give generously when we can, and ask God to protect and bless these United States of America as we do all we can to turn this economy around so that everyone can have a job, health care, and a place to call home. 

Anti breeding legislation is coming to a head in Ohio, but more on that tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving to you all.  Kiss your Cavaliers!!!  Meredith

I keep meaning to update this blog more frequently, but have been so busy with so much going on in our lives.  First of all yard work, yard work, yard work–both here and on our farm.  I go into a planting frenzy every spring and fall; since this was our first fall at our wonderful new home, I have gone crazy extending flower beds, planting probably much too many bulbs, spruce trees, Washington Hawthorn seedlings from our farm to line our property, split perennials from the farm, and my precious daylilies which have followed me from house to house for almost forty years.  Four weeks of yard work from morning until night does wonders for one’s hands–NOT!!!  Al is thanking my upcoming judging assignment this weekend for forcing me to stop the yard work and get my hands and nails done so I look more “lady like,”  a state to which I have never really aspired. 

Our lovely Ch. Rattlebridge Delta Dawn has her first litter of three boys and a girl which are really darling.  The rest of our dogs are doing great at our new home although I am sure they must miss all the acres that they had to run at the farm.  We do field trips to the farm often for them to run and play. 

I do wish the farm would sell, but the market in our former county is so horrible that we can only hope with the election over that things might pick up.  Please pray for our new President and Vice President that God guides them to bring our country back not only economically but internationally also.  We all have to suck it up and do our best to give back to our country which is the best place to live in the world.

I love the following little story and thought others might enjoy reading it.  “Puppy Size” follows:

This little story has been reprinted many times.  Author seems to be unknown. This is one of the neatest stories you will ever hear. You will know precisely what this little girl is talking about at the end (you’ll want to share this one with your loved ones and special friends)! It is called

“Puppy Size”

Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. “We’ve been back to this

animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we

started all of this,” the mother told the volunteer.

“What is it she keeps asking for?”, the volunteer asked.

“‘Puppy size!'” replied the mother.

“Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that’s what she’s looking for.”

“I know… we have seen most of them”, the mom said in frustration.

Just then Danielle came walking into the office.

“Well, did you find one?” asked her mom. “No, not this time,” Danielle

said with sadness in her voice. “Can we come back on the weekend?”

The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed.

“You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there’s always

a supply,” the volunteer said.

Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. “Don’t

worry, I’ll find one this weekend,” she said.

Over the next few days both Mom and Dad had long conversations with her.

They both felt she was being too particular. “It’s this weekend or we’re

not looking any more,” Dad finally said in frustration.

“We don’t want to hear anything more about ‘puppy size’, either,” Mom

added.

Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning.

By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section

that housed the smaller dogs.

Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the

first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the

animals during times when visitors weren’t permitted.

Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a

closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one.

One by one she said, “Sorry, but you’re not the one.”

It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup.

The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the

dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.

“Mom, that’s it! I found the right puppy! He’s the one! I know it!” She

screamed with joy. “It’s the puppy size!”

“But it’s the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last

few weeks,” Mom said.

“No…not size… The sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed”, she

said.

“Don’t you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me

love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger

the sigh!”

The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn’t know whether

to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little

of both.

“Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from

work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right

puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms”, she said.

Then, holding the puppy up close to her face, she said, “Mom, he loves

me. I heard the sighs of his heart!”

Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you

sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress

of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air

on a hot day. Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at

what you hear. ‘Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the

moments that take our breath away.

Until next time . . .      Meredith