A Shelter Christmas Story (Author Unknown)

Tis the night before Christmas and all through the town,
every shelter is full - we are lost but not found.
Our numbers are hung on our kennels so bare,
we hope every minute that someone will care,
They'll come to adopt us and give us the call,
"Come here, Max and Sparkie - come fetch your new ball!!

But now we sit here and think of the days
we were treated so fondly - we had cute, baby ways,
Once we were little, then we grew and we grew -
now we're no longer young and we're no longer new.
So out the back door we were thrown like the trash,
they reacted so quickly - why were they so rash?
We "jump on the children:, "don't come when they call",
we "bark when they leave us", climb over the wall.

We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed,
now we suffer the consequence of the errors THEY made.
If only they'd trained us, if only we knew...
we'd have done what they asked us and worshiped them, too.
We were left in the backyard,or worse -let to roam-
now we're tired and lonely and out of a home.
They dropped us off here and they kissed us good-bye...
"Maybe someone else will give you a try."

So now here we are, all confused and alone...
in a shelter with others who long for a home.
The kind workers come through with a meal and a pat,
with so many to care for,
they can't stay to chat,
They move to the next kennel,
giving each of us cheer...
we know that they wonder how long we'll be here.

We lay down to sleep
and sweet dreams fill our heads..
of a home filled with love and our own cozy beds.
Then we wake to see sad eyes, brimming with tears --
our friends filled with emptiness, worry, and fear.

If you can't adopt us and there's no room at the Inn --
could you help with the bills and fill our food bin?
We count on your kindness each day of the year --
can you give more than hope to everyone here?
Please make a donation to pay for the heat...
and help get us something special to eat.
The shelter that cares for us wants us to live,
and more of us will, if more people will give.



Don't forget about all those who are spending the holiday alone, while sleeping on concrete. If a monetary donation isn't possible, a few hours of your time always brightens the day of those without a home.

Long Time Gone

Well, it's been a long time since I barked an entry, and I finally managed to weasel the computer away from mom. Mom and I participated in a dog-walk to raise money for a local animal rescue on Saturday and I had a great time. I know I'm a good dog but it's nice to hear it from time to time (or in the case of the walk, it was more like 20 times :-)

We went through an area near something mom called "frat houses" on the way back to the start point, and I accidently stepped on a piece of glass and cut my paw. Being a GSD I didn't let this stop me from completing my goal, and even got a goodie bag when it was all over (and a nice bone later that day).

In other news, my leg has been doing GREAT lately! I can actually run and hop around again and it's wonderful. Mom recently surprised me with a new frisbee and we tried it out a few days ago. It was SO much fun. The wind kept catching it though so I haven't quite gotten down the flight pattern yet in order to catch it in the air, but I'm sure I'll get it eventually.

It's almost time for mom's favorite show: Bones, so she's gotta get some work done and I've gotta get off here. [I love the show name, that's just one more reason me and mom are so close!]

Paws Off

I've been paws off the computer for nearly a month now while Mom gets ready for something called a candidacy exam. Not sure exactly what that is but I'm sure ready for it to be over with, she's been so cranky it's been a full time job cheering her up all the time! Training has also slowed down a little again, due to Mom being bugged out all the time.. when I want to annoy Tonks, which is pretty much any time I'm awake, I say she was "collied out" because she's a spastic little dog!

I have learned a few new things, and since we haven't been working on obedience as much, we've been working on some tricks at home, since I am a shepherd and can't truly take time off and just be lazy. I can now "peakaboo" which is basically the starting point for some "weaving" Mom is going to try with me next, or at least that is what she says. I also play dead, when someone says bang and pretends to shoot me with their finger... I personally think this is kind of stupid so I might also add I play dead badly, because I always raise my head up to let Mom know I'm really okay and she shouldn't worry, then put it down again really quick so I still get my reward! I also do circles and spin in different directions, but Mom doesn't like this anymore because of me having surgery and all.. I enjoy it though and will spin 2-3 times really fast, then stop and grin at her because I know she doesn't like it.

Mom's putting together some more footage of winter playtime here in PA, and is hoping to have that posted after her big exam and finals (so probably January).

Happy Turkey Day everyone, since I'm probably not going to be on here again until the middle of December (grr).

Ode to a German Shepherd Dog

THE GERMAN SHEPHERD

I saw a glimmering vision
It took my breath away
'twas the silhouette of a shepherd
More regal than words can say

The beams of light they danced
on a coat of endless black
A vision of perfection
Atop an iron back

He stood there like a statue
for all the world to see
What a vision of perfection
The German shepherd can be

The look of a noble prince
Lord of all he surveys
Confident in himself
Eyes fixed in aristocratic gaze

Never shall I forget
The vision I saw that day
Of the mighty shepherd
Who took my breath away


Mom saw this on the GSD forum and said it is exactly how she feels about me.

An entry from Mom

I'm writing this as Sirius sleeps next to the window or I'm sure he would object. We were out on one of our normal daily walks this week, but decided to take Tonks along with us this time (they normally go one at a time). When it came time for some off leash running, Tonks took off like a flash, something Border Collies seem especially apt at, and Sirius took off after her all grins and tail wags.

Sirius has healed very well from his surgery in May, and if you didn't know it, you wouldn't even know he had surgery, but he will never by any stretch of the imagination be as quick as the little lightning bolt named Tonks, at least not when there are turns or obstacles that must be maneuvered. Sirius became frustrated that he couldn't catch her, and though he would never admit it now, started to cry while running after her! He even came back to me with a look that read, "she isn't playing fair, make her slow down!"

After plenty of pets and the rest of the walk Sirius was back to his normal happy-go-lucky self and was content for her to lay next to him and cuddle that evening (something else he wouldn't want everyone to know).

German Shepherd Security

I guess the maintenance and office staff forgot I am a German Shepherd this past week because the didn't not inform mom they were planning to check our smoke alarms and fire extinguishers before they attempted to come in the house. For the most part I like all of them and when I'm out on patrol with mom we normally stop and say hi, but I am not authorized to let strangers into the house while mom is at work and it's a good thing mom decided not to kennel me that day, because I actually had to do some work! There was only one attempt to enter our house and then they mailed my people with the following statement: "Our workers managed to shut the door in time, but Sirius acted in a very aggressive manor we did not think he was capable of, and the workers have let us know they will not be returning to your apartment and ask that you bring your fire extinguisher to the main office for inspection."

We saw the workers out again a few days later and of course I had no problem with them petting me since mom suggested it to get them comfortable with me again, it's just a known fact you don't forget what a GSD is capable when put in charge of something!

My people said I should be part of the D.I.A (Dog Intelligence Agency)...

I don't get it?

There have been some interesting occurrences in my area lately and I thought it best to inform others incase similar instances are happening in their area (not to mention someone might have more insight as to what's going on).

A woman RAN from me a few days ago. This involved her seeing mom and I walking toward her and her Pug (but still being about dog lengths from her). Her jerking the Pug while he's trying to check his mail (i.e. sniff a shrub). We get a little closer and she tugs the leach again and runs to pick up the Pug, then jogs away while looking at us in utter terror. While this affect on people can be good at times, like when someone is walking uninvited toward my mom or seeming like they are going to hurt her, this isn't a time I was doing the "mean shepherd" face/bark, and was simply strolling along glad to be out with mom on a nice day. Mom tried shouting at her that I'm friendly (while I wagged my tail to show it's true), the woman just scowled at us and continued to her car???

This was followed on another day by a woman telling my mom that big dogs shouldn't be walked trough the town-house complex court yard (a complex in which we live), and that she doesn't like big dogs because "they are dangerous." I know not everyone is going to like me, as a GSD this is something I've had to live with since I was a puppy, but this woman's dog was going crazy and not listening to anything she said, and she thinks I'm dangerous???

I was the proud new owner of a Frisbee for about 3 minutes. Mom threw it and it went SO far, and I loved chasing after it, but the second time it was thrown I managed to catch it and in one bite snapped it almost completely in two.... *sigh* sometimes we shepherds forget our own strength... So now I no longer have a Frisbee to play with.. * little puppy whimper I hope no one heard*

As you can see, it's been a kind of difficult week, but mom said we might try to pick out a new Frisbee today.. one that's a lot stronger this time!

War comes to an end

Well, after many negotiations, I think the monk war has finally come to an end. They agree to stay out of my back yard and to not dart in front of me when I'm on patrol with mom (she uses the code word walk, but I know what she means). It's good we were finally able to come to a compromise, which was, of course, they do what I ask.

We do have a new and growing problem on the frog population front, however. The only good thing is that Tonks is actually quite good at herding them up and found 12 or so of them on her patrol w/ mom a few nights ago! For a Border Collie, she's doing pretty well.... I, of course, think it's because she was trained by a German Shepherd. I'll keep monitoring the situation and alert my readers to any changes in Canine/Frog relations.

I had to miss class on Saturday because it was raining and the class I'm in now is held outdoors. Mom doesn't have a problem with training in the rain, but she knows I hate what it does to my paws.. mainly, making them wet. I have never nor will I ever be accused of being a water dog. I'm a civilized canine and prefer the softness of the couch to muddy stream bottoms and to cool off via the air conditioner (which I nose to let mom know the vent needs to start blowing cold air after a hot day out and about town).

Life of a German Shepherd

Well as you know the work of a GSD is never done, and my life recently is no exception. I've started back to school again and it's going really well (of course this is no surprise to me!). I've also made several new friends lately, one of which is another new neighbor! She's still a puppy, but seems pretty smart. I plan on keeping tabs on her over the next few months as a sort of informal evaluation to see if she could be beneficial to the neighborhood defense alliance.

A side note on my recovery status: I'm doing MUCH better and am actually even better than I was BEFORE the surgery. I can run full speed now (though the little dog still can out run me, I tell her it's because I let her just so her ego doesn't get to big). I can also do the GSD hop like never before, mom said it's my intimidation hop since most K-9 dogs do this when they are telling a person who is doing something they shouldn't be to back off in a hurry.

Well I have to get back to my training, I'll try to be better about keeping up with my logs in the near future (so many new recruits I've been getting a little behind).

Buster Cube = Rubik's Cube?

Hi everyone!

I have recently discovered a WONDERFUL new toy! Granted, it isn't a ball or anything, but it is almost as great. Mom said it's called a "buster cube." It's a big plastic toy and if you bat it around w/ your paws TREATS COME OUT!!! Sometimes it's harder than other times, and you never know what kind of treat your going to get, but it is well worth the wait--I worked on it for nearly 45 minutes one night and mom kept laughing at my treat retraction techniques. Sometimes I bat it around w/ my front paws, sometimes I kick it across the room and other times I hike it like it's a football (which seems to be Mom's favorite way for me to get treats).

I don't particularly care for it being hard plastic, because that means there is no way for me to work on my jaw strength by chewing it up!

I inclosed a link in case you're interested, since in addition to chasing it around the room, you have to actually figure out how it works... something we GSDs love to do!

About my favorite toys, for all you GSDs looking for something to play with:

Learn about the Buster Cube here, here, or here, the last of which has an accompanying video.

My all time favorite toy is an Everlasting Fun Ball!!! I've CHEWED for hours and it is still just like new... something my Mom says doesn't happen with any other toy, even a Kong!