I had originally intended to write about Thanksgiving.  However, the events of yesterday have shifted my awareness, so I have many streams of thought racing through my monkey mind.

First the good: Thanksgiving is only a few days away.  I think most of us take time to count our blessings, express gratitude, and reflect upon what is right in our world more than just one day per year.  Satya is a sanskrit word that means "truthfulness."  Giving thanks is about seeing truth, about speaking truth.  Many of us, myself included, have seen unpleasant changes over the past year.  Financial hardships, health issues, and more.  Satya teaches us to look through the hardships.  Less work and less money allows us to explore what is really important.  Is a nicer car better than spending time with family, or volunteering to help those in need?  Having health problems lets us be thankful when those challenges are overcome, and to give thanks to those people who give support and help us through.

A little good, and a little bad:  Cade and I were out representing the Crestview Kitty Group yesterday morning.  We were at the Shalimar courhouse in response to the case of Joe Bruner, accused (and caught on video) of baiting his dogs to maim and kill cats and rabbits.  These actions are horrible.  The creatures who met a painful, frightening fate deserve justice.  Those people who came out, and who simply honked their horns as they drove by, proves people have compassion for other living beings.

Now for the bad:  Yesterday afternoon I was speaking with Susie of the Animal Protection League when a black and white puppy with a red harness seemed to appear out of nowhere along the curb outside.  It was obvious the baby was injured, as he hobbled and crawled under a car.  As Susie and I tried to coax him out, a man walked over to us as a truck circled and pulled into the driveway.  It turned out the puppy was his - and had fallen out of the back of the pickup.  When the man picked up the puppy, it became obvious he was severely injured.  One back leg and pelvis was broken, and he had suffered internal injuries.  We advised (scolded) the man - and the lady who he was with - to never let an animal ride in the back of a truck.  We also told them the puppy needed immediate medical attention or he would die.  They seemed put off by our "involvement" and drove away.

I truly truly hope the puppy was taken to a vet.

So give thanks, be truthful, and take care of one another.  Namaste

I took my boys to PAWS to volunteer some of our time.  As a parent, I think it's important to raise our children with a sense of generosity and giving.
We were told it was a bad day to walk dogs (which was my intent), so we spent our time playing with the adoptable cats and kittens.  It was fun to see how these shelter cats responded to my crazy Cade.  They were more loving to him than our own cats!

In the afternoon I took Jojo and Tressel to the Bark Park at Uptown Station.  Jojo really thinks she's the playground monitor whenever we go out.  "No horseplay, you darn kids!"

On Thursday, I was as PAWS for shelter doga.  Thanks again to Beate Janssen for joining me again!Our partners were Babe and Whiz.  It is always wonderful to have a practice with others - double the benfits!

The Northwest Florida Fair opened last Tuesday.  Terri Wilkins, NWF Fairgrounds Assistant Manager and PAWS volunteer, gave PAWS a booth for free.  Kudos to Terri!  I helped out for a couple of hours on Saturday.  Our adorable adoptables on hand Saturday were Gizmo, Nubby - and Whiz, now renamed Liz.  We spoke with lots of great people about adopting dogs and cats from shelters.

The Crestview Kitty Group can't be stopped - except by Hurricane Ida.  Today, Monday 11/9, is the sentencing of James Decatur Lee.  The CKG rally this afternoon has been cancelled due to the coming storm - but we'll be back!

I had to post this picure of Snoopy and the Great Pumpkin.  I know it's a few days late, but I sincerely think you'll like it!

I have been a supporter of the Best Friends Animal Society since I can't remember when.

Please check out this great article about how they are using yoga to work with traumatized dogs
http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=news&mode=entry&entry=78F43B72-B91D-F7B7-04FB67E606C1E20B&utm_source=delivra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Wag+while+you+work

I have seen great results working with the shelter dogs a PAWS myself.  Doga is a wonderful tool to begin chiseling away fears and bad experiences, and discovering the wonderful animal that lies beneath!

Saturday I took the all the kids to Uptown Station.  Cade & Connor went trick-or-treating through the stores.  Cade was excited - possibly due to sugar overdose.  Connor was trying to soak it all in and figure this craziness out!

I then brought the other kids - Jojo, Tressel, and even Pepper.  Big kudos to Nicole Poch from 3 Dogs and a Chick (http://www.3dogsandachick.com/ )for donating the dog goodies for trick-or-treating for dogs.  It was also the grand opening of Central Bark, the off-leash park at Uptown Station.  Yes, it's a bit small, but it's a great local place for dogs and people to exercise and socialize. 
This event was a great opportunity to see adults, kids, and dogs all together.  The costumes and candy upped the excitement and strangeness factor.  I was concerned by how many children seemed fearful, or at least uneasy, around dogs. 

It is important as an adult (and not only parents) to teach children respect for living things: don't pet a dog without asking first, don't have food in your hands or pocket when  you pet a dog, be calm, etc.  Have we over-emphasized these lessons so that the children are nervous and anxious?  Or have we passed down our own fears to our children about dogs?  As dog guardians, how can we help teach others - adults and kids alike - how to interact with animals with joy?

Saturday was terrific!!  Chillly, but terrific!
Oct 17 was the annual Dog Daze festival at the Fort Walton Beach Landing.  I was there at the Crestview Kitty Group booth, and held three doga demonstrations that day.  BIG THANKS to all those who participated with me!
I had a great time meeting lots of people and their dogs.  Some of the more unusual dogs we saw were a Dogue de Bordeaux, an Affenspincher, a pair of English mastiffs, and my favorites - all those one-of-a-kind mixed breeds!  Jojo and Tressel were on their best behavior all day - momma is so proud!

Tuesday Oct 20 I'll be in Crestview from 12 - 3pm with the CKG at our first rally in the Joe Bruner case.  Please come support the victims of animal abuse.

Tuesday at 5:30pm I'll be at the NWF Fairgrounds for my free doga class.  As the weather is turning colder, this may be my last freebie of the year.  Don't miss out on this opportunity to come and try doga for FREE!  You can get more information about this class on the "Special Events" page.
See you there!

On Sunday I drove to the Niceville dog park with Jojo, Tressel and Pepper - only to find the gate locked.  Presumeably this was because of the upcoming Mullet Festival - but consdering there were only 2 trucks parked nearby and no one was doing any setup, I was irked at being unable to let the dogs run and socialize.

I did let them romp for a few minutes at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds, but unlike the dog park this area is not fenced.  I felt uncomfortable letting Pepper wander without a barrier to keep her safe, so we left after only 10 minutes.

Jojo went back to the vet today for x-rays to determine the cause of her limp.  The good news is she doesn't require surgery.  The bad news is nothing showed on the films, so my vet's best guess is arthritis.  I'm thinking it may also be soft tissue injury.  Either way, I have some more anti-inflammatories for her.

This coming weekend is Dog Daze, and the weather forecast looks GREAT!!  I'm so excited to expose more people to doga - please come join me at the Landing on Saturday.

Yesterday I was back at PAWS.  I was fortunate to be joined by Beate Janssen, a wonderful lady who does dog training and pet sitting, as well as energy work. 

The universe works in strange ways... a few days ago I was thinking about Batman, a dog at PAWS that I'd done a doga session with over the summer.  Imagine my surprise when he was brought out to me for doga yesterday.  Batman is a sweet little border collie mix who calls out to me.  I was saddened to see him still at PAWS.  My mind began to imagine how he could join my already-full-to-the-brim family.

Can you be Batman's hero?  Or maybe you can open your heart and home to another animal that needs you?

What a gorgeous day - sunshine and light breezes.  I was elated and grateful for the wonderful weather!

I was in Crestview today with the Crestview Kitty Group, rallying in front of the court house.  James Decatur Lee was in court again today.  After his previous seven court appearances resulted in continuances, he is finally going to stand trial for the beating deaths of several kittens.  His trial is scheduled for Tuesday September 29. 

If you can, please come out and support the CKG on Tuesday.  Remember - animal victims of abuse cannot speak for themselves.  A conviction won't erase the pain those kittens endured, nor bring back their lives, but justice means their short lives meant something.  If this conviction can send the message that abuse and cruelty are wrong, maybe another life will be spared this type of suffering.

You can learn more about the Crestview Kitty Group by visiting
www.crestviewkittygroup.weebly.com