New PeTA Stats

PetaKillsAnimals.com has posted the information regarding PeTA's "shelter" statistics for the year 2007. Good news is - their death rate decreased from the prior year. The BAD news - 90.1% of their intakes were euthanized (you know, KILLED). Actual numbers...1,815 out of 1,997.

Considering that PeTA's grifting methods brought in over $30 million during 2007 - you would think they would have been able to save a majority of the animals brought to their "shelter".

PetaKillsAnimals.com noted that neighboring shelter Virginia Beach SPCA was able to adopt out (nee, SAVE) almost 70% of its animals...and did so with a much, MUCH smaller budget than the ne'er-do-wells at PeTA.

Check out the full report posted at http://petakillsanimals.com/

And if you're wondering why I use the lower-case "e" in PeTA? Well...the "e" is supposed to stand for "ethical"...and ethics is one thing that PeTA does NOT have.

Catching Up

The past week has been something of a whirlwind. On the way back from the CO roadtrip for Duri's tryst with Achilles, my back called it quits. BIG time. Each successive gas or potty stop it became progressively harder for me to get out of the car, much less walk. Thank goodness Duri was kindly very well behaved and never tried to bolt from the backseat - she just calmly watched me struggle and didn't offer any trouble. During my ultra-brief stay in CO we did manage two breedings - so here's hoping for some lovely pups to arrive in mid-November.

Much of last week was spent in a daze thanks to muscle relaxants and pain killers and I finally got back to more normal functioning on Thursday, although sitting in a chair was not enjoyable at all (I had worked from home Monday afternoon and all day Tuesday, then took a day off after my doctor's appointment Wednesday morning). I managed to get caught up with various web projects Sunday and most of my ISWS Registrar duties, and we did get some cute candids of the K- and L-Band litters, who spent both days outside. Also got some new stacked pictures.

"Beta" (the irish-marked black boy) and "Anti-Mo" (our name for the little boy that almost looks like "mo") leave for their new homes this week with 515am drop-offs at the airport (separate days) - so I know I'll be early to work 2 days! Scooter (aka "Duncan Jr.") also has a new home that we're working on travel arrangements for. So the wee beasties are gradually leaving the nest! Perri (Harper/Ginger) hitched a ride with Jill to the Atlanta shows where his new family picked him up - causing Borzoi fanciers, and an Iggy fancier, to turn their heads with admiration!

Interesting Definition of "PC"

'Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.'

~2007 winning entry from an annual contest at Texas A&M University

HSUS Scheisters

Check out the latest from Nathan Winograd on the unethical practices and showboating practiced by the H$U$:
http://nathanwinograd.blogspot.com/2008/09/dubious-deals-at-hsus.html

CO Here We Come [Again]!

Duri came into season last weekend. It would have been nice for her to do that just prior to our trip to Longmont, CO for the specialty the other weekend so I wouldn't have to jaunt my not-so-jolly and tired self back up there so soon...but we'll make do. Last night she started getting vocal...I do believe that she's in standing heat today, so hopefully a Saturday afternoon arrival will bear fruit. Her mother had long, receptive heats (5-7 days). Duri's first breeding experience, she was too busy fussing about "oh! you want to be on top!" so I'm sure how long her fertile portion of her heat actually lasted.

I plan on getting some nice pictures of the sire this weekend as well, and then will update my Puppies page at the Gryffyn's Aeyrie site with all the info. I am pretty excited about this breeding too. Duri will be 8 years old this coming December and she gave me several very promising pups in her breeding to Solo.

From Hell to Heaven (or close to it!)

I managed to survive "Hell Week"! Hoorah! And all the work resulted in some nice wins in both Silken Windhounds and Borzoi - so much the better!

At the inaugural Southern Silken Specialties in Georgia, Gabe was Reserve Winners Dog and Best Bred-By Exhibitor on Saturday and his uncle Tyler was Best Opposite Sex. Luna was Reserve Winners Bitch. At the Saturday specialty (the ISWS qualifier), Gabe was Winners Dog and then went on to win Best in Specialty Show!! He was also once again Best Bred-By. Luna was again Reserve Winners Bitch. For his trouble, Gabe got a lovely biothane sighthound collar - even more exciting, it looks like the collar's designer/creator will be getting one of our puppies!

Victor and Gabe on their big day

On Monday at the Rocky Mountain Borzoi Club specialty show, Nox went on to win Best in Sweepstakes and her brother Sasha (who lives in CO with Sylvia Sieverding) was Best Opposite in Sweeps! This was our second year in a row to win BISweeps - last fall it was Lars who took the honors. Faina won the Bred-By Exhibitor class and went on to Reserve Winners Bitch. Sasha won the 9-12 Puppy Dog class and then went Reserve Winners Dog. Solo won an Award of Merit. All in all a nice day!

RLynn and Solo, Award of Merit, RMBC Fall 2008
We also got to meet with our friends and extended family at both events. The Lockards brought Kenny to visit and show, and the Turnell's brought Bailey (Arthur/Miss T) and his little girlie friend they got from Sara. She's a petite little thing and cute as a button! There's never enough time to visit it seems like!

It took a couple days to recover from the trip, with my back acting up as well as an episode of costochondritis from sleeping (likely twisted) on a hard bed at KOA. But I still had a great time!