Paw Print

This weekend I was reading the December 26, 2008 BALTIMORE JEWISH TIMES (weekly publication of parent, Alter Communications, Inc.)
when I saw an article with the headline “Just Purrfect!”, written by Alan H. Feiler, Managing Editor.
With my 20 year old cat sprawled across my lap like a blanket I was anxious to read the article, a nice break from the unfortunate Bernard Madoff scandal. 
After reading the article the main character of the article should be embarrassed for himself - not to mention he’s a kindergarten teacher
(aren’t we supposed to learn right from wrong and good from bad from our parents and teachers?).  Aren’t adults supposed to lead by example and be mentors? 
Something went definitely wrong in this situation and the result…
a fun at heart calendar benefiting the Humane Society of Baltimore County new cat project gone bad.  Shame, shame.
http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/news/jt/local_news/bikers_take_out_their_claws/9569

I recently read the novel The Power of One written by Bryce Courtenay in 1989.  The story is set in South Africa during the 1930’s and 1940’s and is about a young Anglo African boy nicknamed Peekay.
Peekay lead a challenging life having to find his inner strenght to survive time and time again while befriending and being coached by several very special people he encountered through his journeys. 
The story is one of the most powerful messages I’ve read in a long time and a message I hope I do not ever forget, The Power of One.

When I read the story below I immediately thought of The Power of One!

This is a story about a dog who was born on Christmas Eve in 2002.

He was born with 3 legs - 2 healthy hind legs and 1 abnormal front leg which needed to be amputated.
He of course could not walk when he was born.  Even his mother did not want him.
He was rejected and scorned.

His first owner also did not think that he could survive.  Therefore, he was thinking of putting him to sleep..
At this time, his present owner Jude Stringfellow came into his life and wanted to take care of him. 
She was determined to teach and train this dog to walk by himself.  She thought, all we need is a little faith.
Therefore she named him ‘Faith.’

In the beginning, she put Faith on a surf board to let him feel the movements of the water.
Later she used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure and to reward him for standing up and jumping around. 
Even the other dogs at home helped to encourage him to walk.  Amazingly, after only 6 months, like a miracle,
Faith learned to balance on his 2 hind legs and jumped to move forward.  After further training in the snow, he can now walk like a human being.

Faith loves to walk around now. 
No matter where he goes, he just attracts all the people around him.  He is now becoming famous on the international scene. 
He has appeared in various newspapers and TV shows.  There is even one book entitled ‘With a little faith’ being published about him. 
He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies.

is present owner Jude Stringfellow has given up her teaching job and plans to take him around the world to preach,
‘that even without a perfect body,  one can have a perfect soul.’

In life there are always undesirable things.
Perhaps a person who feels things are not going as well as they could will feel better
if they change their point of view and see things from another perspective.

Perhaps this message will bring fresh new ways of thinking to everyone.
Perhaps everyone can appreciate and be thankful for each beautiful day that follows.

Life is the continual demonstration of the power of thinking positive and having faith.
Believe in yourself.  Never lose faith.

If you don’t already think animals are far more spiritually advanced than we humans, think again.

Stuart Brown describes Norbert Rosing’s striking images of a wild polar bear coming upon tethered sled dogs in the wilds of Canada ‘s Hudson Bay.

The photographer was sure that he was going to see the end of his dogs when the polar bear wandered in. 



The Polar Bear returned every night that week
to play with the dogs.

May you always have love to share,
health to spare, and friends that care.

I warned you if you made one more sound…

Poor little kitten, probably scarred for life now.

Hmmm, another frightening thought…a standard poodle with a dye job.
I truly am passionate for all dogs but I don’t dress them up in silly clothes or dye their hair!
Another photo from Ron Tarver in The Inquirer shows Danzig, a standard poodle with a dyed Mohawk!!!  Really people!!!!!
The owner of Danzig inspired by the Lord of the Rings themed birthday party her friends threw her last year, decided to turn her most compliant 4-year old standard poodle, into the resident dragon.
She had his Mohawk dyed purple.  Her quote, “It’s perfect on him and a nice combination of both of our personalities.” 
Would love to see her hair if the poodle has a purple Mohawk, poor dog.

Great caption with this photo from The Inquirer shot by Staff photographer, Ron Tarver - Sam the poodle has a flower doodle.
Really?  Included in an article Puppy luxe the expanded explanation was as simple: the white standard poodle made his rounds as a therapy dog sporting a temporary flower tattoo and purple paws,
the owner said the only thing she got tired of was answering the question of whether Sam was born that way?  Really???, don’t people know to think before they speak? 
The flower doodle design is just like wall stickers I had in my room in the sixties, some doodles never go out of style—just maybe on a poodle.

Photo show stopper!  I loved this fabulous photo from the November 2008 Inquirer Lifestyle glossy section shot by Staff photographer, Clem Murray - it’s one of those photos that just makes you smile.
Things don’t appear to be too tough for English mastiffs Rommell and Moses and the oh so innocent looking Jack Russell terrier, Louie Prima.  Not all dog’s have a dogs life, these three have it made it the shade!
Louie Prima better mind his p’s and q’s after seeing the paw size of Rommell and Moses!