Violated!

Violated. I feel absolutely violated. I had my debit card information stolen for the third time last week and I am beside myself. Sorry - no dog pictures or adorable stories in this writing - I am just trying to wrap my head around identity theft and online fraud.

People keep saying, oh don’t get so upset – it’s not personal. How could it not be personal when someone is stealing from me? I’m just another person trying to make ends meet and pay the bills and then this happens. I’m sorry, but it is very personal to me.

So for a week I have been calling the bank, canceling my card dealing with the people who auto bill my card for things like the Y and my Audible membership. Things have just been a train wreck. I have no debit card, I worry that other information has been stolen as well. I sit her and stew over the fact that I have tried to do everything I could to ensure that this doesn’t happen; yet once again her I am.

I use McAfee, spyware killer; I only shop where I know. I shred my bills and statements; I always tally my receipts and then shred them too. What else can I do?

I know technology and science advances and all of that are supposed to make a better world, a better life, but I just don’t get it. My landlord’s kid perpetually has a cell phone hanging off his ear and is so sullen and rude for absolutely no reason that I can fathom. People are more self indulgent and less courteous than ever before. I love talking to my friends – but what happened to personal, face-to-face discussion. Even if the technology existed there is no way my parents would have ever given me a cell phone in high school. Nobody rights letters any more and you can forget thank you notes.

I know life is supposed to be better in this modern world – but why do I feel that things have just gone horribly wrong? I used to scoff at my parents and others for talking about the good old days, but now I just wonder where those days went.

I love online shopping, I like the convenience of checking my bank statement online – I just don’t want to be stolen from. These people online that steal your information have no face, no name and really rarely ever get caught or punished for their crime. The unknown has violated me and I think that is what bothers me the most. I see the world spinning at a break neck speed and bad behavior, rudeness and theft are now part of everyday life? I just do not get it. I don’t want to get it.

Cutie!

Okay, I am obsessed! Dory is too darn cute. We were over at the vet today, she got her lyme vaccine out of the way and now since she is officially ours she got "microchipped". The vet staff all raved how cute and what a good girl she is. The vet pronounced her in perfect health and she is good to go until next summer.

My mom asked what she was like the other day, did she have any traits or behaviors. BOY DOES SHE EVER!!!

To look at her you see this slim pawed medium size Lab girl and when the UPS Man rings she lets out this mighty, deep "WOOF"!! The bark does not match the pink collared girl. On the boat the other day, Dory was trying to catch flies in her mouth - another cute trait that she shares with my first Lab girl Gillie.

Today's cute attribute I noticed is that she seems to rest her head on things. Dory was sitting beside me while I was checking my email and she sat here beside the chair and rested her head on the coffee table. I had to laugh, I mean I have seen her rest her head on the chair arm, but there she sat just resting her head on the table as if it was too heavy to lift.

Chris calls her "Hammy" because she is very expressive and well, a ham for attention. I know that people say that others never want to hear about your kids or pets - but I really can't help myself. Having a younger dog around for the first time in a long time is invigorating. I am gushing because I am definitely in love with Miss Dory Blue Young!!

Dory's Day at Sea!!

I know, I know - I've talked all about Emily's passing, Dory's adoption and my occasional free form rant about life - now Dory takes main stage.

Yesterday was Dory's first day aboard the Kanaloa for a day of fishing. For those of you don't know, the Kanaloa is our 25 foot Parker fishing boat moored in Salem, MA.

Anyhow - after the boat being off the water for 3+ weeks Chris and I decided to go fishing and take Dory along. Needless to say I was a little nervous. It's one thing to ride in a truck for two days, meet a new family, get used to a new schedule and become accustom to urban life - but riding on a continuously moving machine on the water is a whole NEW thing.

We started out the day slowly, getting up to the boat around 10 am. Dory was excited from the get go, packing the car, making a couple of stops picking up bait, gas and ice.

When we arrived at Winter Island park where we keep the boat Chris unloaded our supplies and Dory and I headed over to the rocky, lighthouse side beach front. This is usually not too populated and great entry way for dogs as it is a gentle slope into the water.

Dory seemed cautious at first so I steamed ahead into the water - it was very warm by New England standards. Dory on leash crept in as a cheerily called her name and gently sprinkled her with water. Let's just say she needs to work on her style and form, but she was definitely swimming. There were a few women enjoying the shore and watching our antics. The marveled at Dory's bravery and all gave her a congratulatory pat. They asked about her and I told them she was was rescue dog, and said what a great experience it had been working with the Lab Group.

For a Southern girl she did just fine. Our next challenge was going down to the floating docks.

Winter Island has an aluminum drop down ramp to the docks and even for the sure footed it can be a challenge when wet, rough seas or low tide. Dory was a champ and scooted right down. Once on the dock I saw a familiar face - a boat called "Makin' Waves" and their large Old English Mastiff. He is very cute and always out with his people. Dory said "hi" and then sat down with me to wait for Chris to bring the boat around.

While we were waiting a couple of women with a gaggle of young girls came by - they all wanted to pet Dory and she willingly obliged. The youngest looked to be about five and kept waving to Dory saying "good by Dory, good bye" as the boat she boarded pulled away.

Amazingly Dory was not afraid of crafts pulling up to the dock and actually board the boat as Chris stepped off to tie the dock lines. I guess she figured if it was good enough for him - it was safe for her.

Anxious at first, but she settled right in. We checked our lobster pots (traps for you non-NewEnglanders) and then headed over to children's Island Rock - right off of Children's Island in Salem Sound. Dory loved peering over the rail and enjoyed watching all the seagulls dive and swoop. The bait was a mystery to her - she kept sniffing it but fortunately did not try to eat it! Herring makes great Striper bait but smells and is very oily.

She marveled as Chris and I cast out over and over again and was very interested in our catches as we brought the keepers on board - three in all on the day out of a total ten caught (Liza 3, Chris 7).

As we rapped up our big adventure we took the boat over to the docks off Beverly Harbor. There is a quiet corner that is great for boat washing and as we made our way down the channel and through the harbor it was great to see people point, smile and wave at Dory as we chugged through the water. For some reason people love to see dogs on the water and what is cuter than a Lab in a neon life vest peering over the gunwall of a boat!

All in all the day was a success. Dory seemed to like the boat and we can be confident next time we go out in the boat.

On the Menu at Casa Liza tonight - Atlantic Striped Bass and rice with asparagus unless you are wearing a fur coat - then you are having Lamb & Rice kibble.

I'll be in PRINT!!

One of my postings is called Labs4Rescue Article - I finally submitted this article to my local paper and I got the email today they will be going to print with it around August 25, 2006!!!

How cool!!!!!

Labs4Rescue article

It’s a sunny warm August day and the commuter park and ride lot off of Route 93 looks pretty much like any other boring piece of asphalt. What is unusual about this day is it is transport day and individuals and families are milling around and anxiously awaiting the trailer that will bring dogs, all eagerly awaiting to start new lives in new homes with loving families.

Most of these people, like me chose to adopt a “rescue dog” instead of buying a puppy. Some adopt because work and family schedules make it tough to adopt a puppy, some feel it is important to save these dogs from rural Southern and mid-Western high-kill shelters and some just love dogs and want to do a good deed.

When my Labrador Retriever Emily passed away this spring, I was, like many long time pet owners, devastated. She was twelve and had developed a fatal heart condition, and even though I know she had led it a good life and had been a great companion, it truly did not ease the pain. I missed the sound of her tags jingling as she moved around and it was very sad coming home each day to an empty house.

It was at this point I began surfing the Internet and I was surprised to find what seems like millions of homeless and needy pets all just begging for a good home. Shelters near and far had websites and there were countless breed specific rescue groups. I was entering a whole new and often heart wrenching realm.

I read books and articles and finally settled on working with a Labrador Retriever rescue group, there are several reputable groups in the New England area and I ultimate began working with Labs4Rescue based out of Killingworth, Connecticut. Labs4Rescue is an outstanding group of volunteers working from Tennessee to all over New England who are committed to giving Labradors and Lab mixes a second chance in loving homes.

Some Labs are surrendered but most come from high-kill shelters in the South and Mid-West. Before Labs4Rescue volunteers post dogs for adoption they make sure the dog is healthy and happy. The dogs undergo a veterinarian screening and are spayed/neutered and then they are placed in foster homes where they are assessed for temperament and behavior. All the dogs are vaccinated, received heartworm and flea prevention and are treated for any prevailing health conditions. Before fostering or adoption takes place a volunteer goes to the home of the prospective family to make sure they have the proper space for the dog and asks them critical questions to make sure that a rescue dog adoption is the right choice both for the family and the animal they adopt or foster.

After I filled out an online form and paid my $15 non-refundable fee, I combed through the endless profiles on their web pages to find the right match. Each dog had a photo or two and usually a story that would bring a tear to even the toughest guy’s eye. It was sometimes overwhelming and at times just down right depressing. I had concerns about adopting a dog I had never met, but those fears were eased after my first phone call.

Shortly after submitting my application I started to get phone calls and emails from the volunteer coordinators for the dogs that I had indicated I was interested in. I discovered that each dog has a person who coordinates its foster care, transportation and ultimate adoption. These volunteers were polite, knowledgeable, supportive and truly wanted to help me find just the right dog.

Labs4Rescue has put in place a “foster to adopt” process that allows families to foster their prospective dog for two weeks before they have to commit to the adoption, if the dog is not the right match, the group works to find a better match for the dog and the family fosters the dog until that happens. Families can either choose to find another dog or have their adoption fee refunded.

When I finally picked the perfect candidate, a three-year-old female black Labrador Retriever, there was a whirlwind of paperwork and emails. The dog I finally selected was an owner surrender, the couple was divorcing and the dog was too much trouble. The Labs4Rescue coordinator told me that when they went to get her they found out she had been tied up outside and sleeping under the porch in the dirt. She had skin and coat issues and had never been spayed. Labs4Rescue picked her up, put her in a loving foster home, had her spayed and got her back to good health. Upon hearing her story, I was sold, she sounded like a dog how could use a good friend.

I sent in my $350 adoption fee and anxiously awaited her arrival. I was like a mother-to-be with a list of things to do and buy. Since my last dog had been older she didn’t need a crate, so I had to get a new one, I wanted to make sure the new dog had the proper food and would have not only Emily’s old toys but some new ones as well. I started investigating obedience classes and made an introductory appointment for the new dog with my veterinarian.

Finally the day arrived, I drove up on a beautiful Saturday afternoon waiting with over dozen other adults and children for the transport trailer to arrive. As each furry friend was brought off the truck, people broke out into smiles and happy voices. There were children frolicking with excitable puppies and young dogs and adult dogs with trepidation gently greeting new owners. The driver smiles as he hands off each dog and their information packet to the adopters.

I’m not sure how each of the dogs have fared in their new home, but I can tell you there is a 3 year old Lab who now enjoys lounging around the house on one of her several doggie beds and has recently discovered the joy of swiping a slice of pizza off the counter when no one is looking. We have some work to do together, I have just signed us up for obedience classes this fall, but from the first day she has been a great dog.

I decided to call her Dory, and she doesn’t have to sleep under a porch anymore or worry about someone giving her up because it is convenient, she has a home for the long haul and I have a beautiful new companion.

If you think rescue adoption for you I highly recommend it. If you are looking for a breed specific rescue group check out the American Kennel Club website at www.akc.org and click on the Future Dog Owners tab for a link to rescue groups. If you are interested in learning more about Labs4Rescue, check out their website at www.labs4rescue.com or contact them at PO Pox 955, Killingworth, CT 06419. Their slogan is “Save a Lab, have a friend for life!”