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Pensive Prattling by Shaki

Watch out for the ducks and geese!

Dear Diary,
I would like to put in a word of caution for Fur owners who habitually walk their pups in parks, city or private, especially if there is a concentrated population of ducks and/or geese, or for that matter, pigeons. Our park where I luv to walk is loaded with both the "quackers" and the "honkers."
There is a fungus spread by birds such as these, as well as chickens, etc., which can insidiously infiltrate your human's lungs and which also can show up elsewhere in the body. My Daddy, last year had to have lung surgery because of such an infection, and it looks as though it has shown up in him again. He was susceptible because he has a weakened immune system due to medicines he was and is required to take. If one has been or is being treated for cancer, has severe allergies, asthma, or is being treated for other infectious diseases, this can be very dangerous. From now on, Daddy will walk me elsewhere, 'n' Mommy will take me to the park. For me it's a win-win situation, but I am still concerned for my Daddy.

What a Doctor's Visit Can Mean!

Dear Diary,
I have an interesting tale to tell. It involves a dog, my no-fur Uncle, 'n' several "authorities." The story begins with a dog bite. My NFU was cleaning out debris by our lakefront here in Fla. While visiting with a neighbor, the neighbor's dog came over, 'n' my NFU being a dog-lover carefully put his hand down for the dog to sniff as most humans will do. Well, the dog bit his finger. After a few days my NFU went to the doctor as the finger was not healing, etc. On being informed as to what caused the injury, the doctor said he (the doctor) had to contact animal control or whomever in Fla. he's s'posed to contact in relation to animal bites. Come to find out, even if a dog has had all its shots, it still must be quarantined. This is law in Fla. This happened up here where we are, but my NFU by then was back home at his doctor's in Sarasota. Well, the dog catcher stopped by our house today as it was the address given by my NFU, and the neighbor's dog has been put in quarantine. The doctor said that having all the shots required of us pups, does not necessarily make our bites safe, esp. if the one bitten has an impaired immune system as my NFU has.
We are all saddened and stressed by this. In fact, if my NFU had known that by going to see the doctor this was going to be reported, he wouldn't have gone. As it turns out his finger was by that time, seriously infected and he is now on bed rest as a result. The pup in question was mauled by a gator 2 years ago 'n' also, he is kept crated much of the time outside, although he is generally well-treated and exercised. BTW, the dog in question was not on leash. Even out here in the country where we are at the moment at my Mom's Fla. family home, people walk their dogs on leash. Perhaps had the dog been on leash this wouldn't have happened. This is a cautionary tale for us doggies 'n' our humans. We pups should be on leash or fenced when outside, and humans must be extra careful when addressing a strange pup as he approaches, even if its owner is present.

Thoughts for the 4th of July

Dear Diary,
I am writing this today because it is the birthday of our nation. If it were not for what I am writing about here, it is a possibility that we might not be having the joyous celebrations in its honor. My pawrents just returned from a trip to France where they spent several days in the Normandy region. They were sad not to have had me with them as French families take their pups everywhere with them. But, this is not really what I want to relate to you. I want to let you know what they saw there and what they told me about their experience. They first went to a museum in St. Mere Eglise, one of the storied towns so affected during the D-Day landings. They said it was chilling to see a replica of the young soldier whose parachute got caught on the spire of the eglise, hanging on that same spire as though it had just happened. Likewise, visiting the American cemetery at Colleville Sur Mer is heart-warming, inspiring, sad, and makes one feel proud all at the same time. They were awed by the sheer effort and bravery it must have taken the Allied servicemen to land at the beaches....Utah, Omaha, and others....that can be viewed at Point du Hoc, and then climb those rocky cliffs under the relentless barrage of gunfire. July 4 is not just a time for celebrating with good food, family, and fireworks, but also a time to reflect on those long gone who guaranteed through perseverance and sacrifice that we may do so.