Life is Ruff

A Martin Luthur King Tribute

Favorite Quotes:

"Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true."

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

"Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars... Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

"The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood."

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. That is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant."

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

"I submit to you that if a man hasn't discovered something he will die for, he isn't fit to live."

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights Leader & Clergyman
(1929 - 1968)

Labels: Politics, Tribute, UTube

~Marla barked at 12:28 PM

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Tuesday, September 19, 2006

"Just a Dog"

Musings

by Richard Biby, Contributing Editor
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or, "that's a lot of money for just a dog."

They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog." Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."

AP Photo from Hurricane Katrina 2005

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog," but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you will probably understand phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise." "Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a man." So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog." just smile, because they "just don't understand."

Roca (C) 2006 Versatile Hunting Dog Magazine, February 2006

Labels: Fun Stuff, Tribute

~Marla barked at 10:00 AM

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Monday, September 11, 2006

We Will Never Forget

I wasn't even alive on 9/11. I came along almost one year later, but i've seen the videos and I've heard the stories. These slideshows and report are a tribute to the dogs and workers that gave everything they had in the days after this tragedy. Just as we must never forget those that gave all on 9/11...so too we must never stop honoring those that gave 101% in service to their country.

"If these dogs only knew what a difference they make. Certainly, there's nothing that can replace the precision of a dog's nose—and absolutely nothing that can replace a dog's heart."
— Bob Sessions, rescue worker, Federal Emergency Management Agency

Shhhhh...

(Photo: Sep 15, 2001, AP / U.S. Navy, P. Keres)

Over 250 canine search and rescue dogs worked around the clock at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon after the September 11th terrorist attacks. These heroes worked without the benefit of gas masks and protective clothing. They climbed and searched places considered to dangerous for humans. This photo tribute is in their honor in recognition of their bravery and heroic efforts.

America Canine Search and Rescue - September 11, 2001

Tribute From For Pits Sake:

Today we mark the five year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America. Time goes by, but memories stay forever. We lost family, friends, co-workers, and thousands of people that we never met. Every person who lost their life that day was somebody's loved one, and the wave of America's grief and loss was felt all over the world.

One-year-old "Porkchop" gets some kind reassurance

from partner Erick Robertson of Oakhurst, California. SAR dogs—
especially those trained to find living people—feel increased stress
and depression as time passes with no survivors found.
(Photo: Sep 19, 2001, AP / Suzanne Plunkett)

To this day, the events of September 11, 2001, still bring intense hurt and sadness to many people. But the message of September 11th is not only ofhurt, sadness, and loss. September 11th also speaks of courage, determination and perseverance. The 9/11 tragedy resulted in the largest search and rescue (SAR) K9 deployment/response in the history of the United States. People all across the world were touched by the images of hundreds of SAR dogs and their handlers painstakingly combing the ruins searching for survivors, and later, the remains of the lost.

While viewing this Tribute to SAR Dogs, remember that although it seemed like the world stopped on September 11, 2001...it did not. As the eyes of the world watched hundreds of SAR dogs and their handlers searching at the WTC and the Pentagon; all over our country children were still missing, elderly people suffering from Alzheimer's disease were still wandering off, hikers were still getting lost, and people were still drowning. Hundreds of SAR dogs were searching there too, searching their communities to bring the lost or the missing home to their families and loved ones.

Whether they were at the WTC or searching our own neighborhoods, these hard working dogs provide joy and also closure to thousands of families and will go on, for as long as they can, searching to find loved ones lost or missing in our communities. All of our nation's SAR dogs are heroes...and someday one could be your HERO!!

I Can Be Your Hero

Labels: Tribute

~Marla barked at 10:05 AM

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Thursday, September 07, 2006

RIP Mate

The crocs aren't the only ones shedding tears over the loss of this remarkable man and animal lover. He gave us all a greater appreciation for the strange, the unusual, the often ugly and the misunderstood. Steve Irwin saw beauty when no one one else could.

It's only fitting that as this one blogger pointed out, that Steve and all of his precious animals, including his beloved Sui now reside at Rainbow Bridge.

An Interesting Day at the Rainbow Bridge

Written by drharper on LiveJournal

Rainbow Bridge is a place of both peace and anticipation as departed pets await their beloved owners. There are plenty of things to keep them contented while they wait: trees you can't get stuck in, endless meadows, splashing streams, thickets perfect to hide in for pounce-attack games.

But one day the residents noticed some rather...unusual newcomers arrive.

The koalas and the kangaroos slipped in rather quietly, but then came the bearded dragons, the skinks and the goannas. The influx of snakes startled an entire family of cats up a tree. Pythons, cobras, tiger snakes, brown snakes and even fierce snakes. There were so many at one point, it seemed the ground itself was alive with writhing. A burly wombat shouldered his way through the crowd and plopped down in a shady spot, barely missing a Jack Russell terrier who yapped indignantly as he abandoned his position.

And then the crocodiles showed up.

Finally, a Great Dane managed to get up enough nerve to approach one of the reptilian giants.

"Um....excuse me," he said hesitantly. "But, why are you all here?"

The croc dropped her jaw and laughed. "Same as you, mate," she said. "Waitin' for someone who loved us."

The dogs, cats, gerbils and other "typical pets" looked at each
other in confusion, then at the plethora of weird, ugly and
downright deadly creatures assembled. Who on Earth could possibly
love some of those faces?

"I see him!" shouted a green mamba from his vantage point in one of the trees. A cacophony of squeeks, hisses, bellows and roars erupted as the mob surged forward toward a lone human walking across the field toward the bridge. The other animals managed to catch a glimpse of him before he was overwhelmed by the crowd.

"CRIKEY!" he shouted joyously right before he was bowled over by the wombat.

"Well I'll be," said a Persian as she tidied up her fur. "It's that Aussie my human liked to watch on TV. Had to be the craziest human on the whole planet."

"Oh, please," remarked a echidna as he hurried by. "Is it really that crazy to passionately love something God made?"

"No, it's not," they heard a voice say from their crowd. "You see, I, too, was with him, at his side, as he caught the crocs, the snakes, and the spiders and spoke on the importance they have in life. For you see, I am his mate, his dog Sui. To you ordinary animals he may seem crazy, but to me he is simply known as a Best Friend."

And with that comment, as the animals looked on with surprise, she ran barking, clearing a path to him, and jumped in his arms, licking his face as he cried, "Sui, my mate, my friend. How I've missed you so." And with that, they all crossed the Rainbow Bridge together.

Labels: Tribute

~Marla barked at 5:26 PM

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