Comments (20)

By kilax, April 11, 2009 6:12 pm

I’ve admitted that we walk our cat, Data, outside on the leash. There was a bit of curiosity about it, so I made a couple of videos to show you!

Data actually walking:

Data stops for a second:

Ha ha. I keep laughing at myself about that second video. I think I am the only one I make laugh. Oh well! I laugh at myself all day long.

Yes, I realize I am strange for taking Data out on the leash. He really likes it though, and this way we can go outside together and I don’t have to worry about him.

Comments (12)

By kilax, February 25, 2009 12:30 pm

Awhile ago, I wrote about how happy I was to see a happy animal story in the paper.

This is the kind of article that made me say that. Toni Fedor had her boyfriend watch her dog while she went to work in 2007. When she came home, her dog was so severely beaten that he lost an eye. On Monday, the ex-boyfriend was sentenced to 10 days in jail, along with a two year probation, a psychological evaluation, and 150 hours of community service. He also had to pay $1500 to cover veterinary expenses.

Ten days in jail seems like a very lenient sentence to me (And oh, why is this being settled over a year later?). But Fedor is quoted in the story as saying, “I feel like it’s a punishment that fits the crime.” Does that mean she is satisfied with this minimal sentence?

Think if that was YOUR pet. YOUR dog. YOUR cat. YOUR bird. YOUR ferret. YOUR rabbit. YOUR whatever. I know animals are not the same as people. I am not crazy. But when you have a pet, they FEEL like family.

Ten days in jail is not the appropriate sentence for hurting a family member like that. Especially a small, defenseless family member.

People who hurt animals are likely to go on and hurt PEOPLE. Many studies back this up. I think the boyfriend deserves a bit more time in jail, and a little bit more than a psychological evaluation.

And this guy (scroll to bottom), who kicked a cat so hard that it had to be euthanized? I hope he does get the full three years in prison.

Comments (23)

By kilax, February 4, 2009 7:22 am

I’m always drawn to the animal-related stories in the newspaper. I have to read them.

Unfortunately, a lot of them mention abused, mistreated animals, living in squalor conditions.

Once I read something like that, I can’t get it out of my mind, no matter how hard I try. I still think of a program I saw on tv when I was 8 or 10 years old. I am not sure what the program was about – animal abuse, or druggies – but they talked about how these people put their fish in the microwave, and shot up their dog with drugs.

I feel sick just writing that, imagining that.

And those Sarah McLachlan ASPCA commercials? Don’t even mention them. I have to mute the tv and look away (Steven can attest to that!).

So, I was happy to see this article in the newspaper today, about a firefighter who saved a mom, son and cat from a fire that destroyed their home.

“A life is a life, no matter whether it’s a person or an animal,” said Chuck Sanow, the firefighter who rescued the cat.

I can tell you, that is a statement I agree with 100%, and I was very happy to see the article on page 3 of the paper.

I know it’s just a fluff, “feel-good,” story, but it worked on me. It did make me feel good. The quote gave me some hope that other people feel the same way.

I even went as far as to cut out the article and put it on my wardrobe at work for inspiration.

*Christina (my sister), I feel like I am channeling Horton!

Comments (11)

By kilax, May 7, 2008 6:55 pm

The highlight of my day was seeing these baby goslings.

This goose has been nesting in front of the job site I visit every Wednesday in the suburbs. She sits right near the entrance, and hisses at me every time I walk by.

Yes, I realize it is sad that this was today’s highlight. What was yours?

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Today’s Idiom: to rule the roost – to be in charge, to be master

Data rules the roost in our household.

Comments (13)

By kilax, April 17, 2008 6:04 am

A few nights ago, I was playing fetch with Data. I picked up both his yellow ball and his orange ball and said to him “I am going to throw both of these down the stairs at the same time. You bring back the one that is your favorite color.”

He brought them both up, together! Holding one completely inside his mouth, and the other with his teeth. He never does that.

What a little overachiever.

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Today’s Idiom: a wet blanket – one who spoils fun

One of my college friends was a total wet blanket – she always wanted to go home early so she could spend hours talking to her long-distance boyfriend.