Where I am, the circumstances and my thoughts on it all.

Its been a very rough time. First finding out by accident that I had been fired, my boss didn't even tell me or give any notice. Just a trouble ticket on our server informing them he was firing me. Since my own web sites were stored with my boss's server...I wasn't even left with the option of falling back on that. There was no unemployment to turn to since I am self-employed technically. Top that off with being fired a couple days from pay day and not being prepared to go without pay...things unraveled pretty fast. Adding insult to injury was all the work I had done on decorating his house, once it was done, I was too.

Besides worrying about me and my fur kids and wondering what to do, it is pretty heartbreaking since I had worked very hard for a year to repair credit and finally be able to dump this huge commercial building and get out from under the overload and into a down-sized situation where life was more manageable and maybe even enjoyable. I am still kicking myself for unknowingly paying off debts...I could have used that money now. I am kicking myself by getting bogged down in my boss's concerns when I knew back in November I should be worrying about my own situation and getting my self set to move. Maybe that was part of the plan, who knows?

I had finally devised a good financial plan that made sense and better yet, I was excited about. So one Monday morning I woke up with a a great joy that I had a dream again only to find it dashed a few hours later. Instead of excitement about the future I was suddenly scrambling to survive.

It's a tough time for it to happen. I had dislocated my shoulder and was nursing a severe case of achilles tendonitis already as well as a very serious and pressing health concern. So here I am loading up the dumpster with my belongings and cleaning and lifting. I keep moving so things don't tighten up. Once I sit down, I am done. I have had to turn to unlikely friends for help to get things ready for the realtors and used up favors so now it is just me.

I have worked hard my entire life, most of my life is about work with little time to play unless it involves my dogs. I guess they are the only thing I never felt guilty about spending time on.

This is a nice place to live, but for me it has always been a big anchor that demanded so much time that I could only dream of life without all the responsibilities. Now it has a hidden agenda as commercial properties fall under different laws...and the recourse I might have had with a residential property are not there for me. So life becomes day to day with doom hanging over my head, and not much protection.

A lot of the things I have surrounded myself with are things I salvaged and repurposed and they are not of much value but they are to me. Even so, I can't think of any of that because it is just me and my fur kids I need to worry about and I guess for me, its the fur kids that have me laying awake at night. They count on me and I can't let them down.

It is with some horror that I realize that one of the things that made my life shine is the one that led me to this point. I wrote about a place and tried to let others see what a great place it was and little could I have known that bringing attention to what you have discovered can lead to your downfall. Perhaps there is something in me that others find offensive and the desire to obliterate it overrides everything else. I will never know.

I want people to know that I feel so ashamed to be in this place, here and now. I have dedicated myself to helping others how and when I could and it is such a big part of who I am, I don't even know how to be concerned for myself. I just feel horrible about having to worry about me.

On one level I am fighting and trying to keep a positive view on things, but there is a sinking hole growing that I can't deny. All I can assure anyone of is that I will keep my fur kids safe one way or the other.

This job and the circumstances of it have isolated me more than I would have thought possible and I can only assume that intent was involved with the whole mess. It is hard to look back and begin to question the way things have played out and come to the realiation that I was just plain stupid and naive. I wasn't just thrown under the bus, a lot of thought went into making sure it was the right bus, on the right route at the right time and I walked out in front of it without a clue.

If I should lose contact, I will miss everyone who has inspired me through their causes and made me a better person in so many ways. I have cried with you and struggled with you and there have been successes and failures. There have been moments I carry with me forever and things I will never forget.

For me, life is a continuous sequence of humbling events and I have always kept foremost in my mind that one must always be aware that when things are bad, worse things can happen. A very smart man once told me "even the mighty can fall" and I took that to heart to mean I should never feel smug in my own situation. There are no guarantees in life.

At the same time, I have to admit I am very tired. The rises and falling of my own life have made me tougher, but they have taken their toll. It becomes harder to find that spark that makes me fight. I can only ask that I not be judged too hard on my own failings. And that I can only do what I can, no more, no less.

There is little compassion in this world, and a lot of people without compassion. But animal rescuers restore my faith in the world every day. My prayers and best wishes go out with you always, whether its on the road hauling animals to safety or making a stand to change things. You touch me, you touch others, you make a difference in this world. When one torch goes out, another sputters into life and it goes on.

Always remember that you can't save them all, but you can save one. That's all that matters. For now, I will pass my torch into your safekeeping. Keep it burning for me.

I am fighting the good fight and keeping the faith...as much as possible.

Becca and her crew

PS: If anyone would like my permanent email to keep in touch...let me know and I will send it. I am not sure how long I will be here on myspace.

You don’t have to be very deep into the world of animal rescue before you start shaking your head and wondering at the actions of some people when it comes to caring for their animals. In a world full of Free to Good Home ads and animal shelters, animals have become an all too disposable commodity. Puppies and kittens come home to enjoy a few days of novelty and then are relegated to the back yard, a shelter, a dumpster and worse. Some are lucky to enjoy a few good days.

It’s something I think about every day. I think about it while I am scouring out the pet dishes  and sticking them in the dishwasher. I think about it when I am dumping and refilling bowls with fresh cold water even when they are full. I think about when I make sure the dry food dishes are full and when I open all that extra special food at the end of the day. I think about it when wagging tails appear at the sound of the treat jar being opened. I think, there are animals out there who have no food. It makes me wonder.

I think about it during bath time when coats are scrubbed clean and all the animals are silly, happy with being clean. I think about it when the dogs line up to have their nails trimmed and give me big kisses because I tell them they have “pretty feet”. I think about it when I brush their teeth and laugh at all the awful faces they make. I think about it when I am sitting in the vet’s office and asking them to check the records to see who is scheduled for the next wellness check up. I think, there are animals out there that no one takes the time to care about. It makes me wonder.

I think about it when I am washing their blankets that they like to snuggle with on the couch. I think about it when I am vacuuming the cat beds. I think about it when I am retrieving the twentieth toy to find its way under the chair and place it carefully back into their baskets of well-loved treasures. I think, there are animals without a bed or anything to call their own. It makes me wonder.

I think about it when we’re out on a walk, whether it’s a hike or just a walk through town. I think about it when I jingle the car keys and they are just as excited to be going down the street to the store as they would be to be going on some grand adventure. I think about it when they are full of anxious, excited squeals on the way to a training class. I think about it through endless games of tug and fetch. I think, there are dogs who spend their entire lives chained. It makes me wonder.

But I mostly think about it at the end of the day when I haven’t spoken one angry word to the dogs  and I have removed the cats from the counters patiently for the umpteenth time. I think about it when they lay their heads in my lap and I tell them how good they were today. I think about it when I see their big warm eyes full of love and hear the sighs of contentment that slowly give way to happy dreams. I think, there are animals that have never known any love. It makes me wonder.

It’s such little things, the tasks of daily living. They take mere moments of time. It’s food and clean water and a warm place to sleep and some care, patience and love. These little things make a life for an animal rich beyond its dreams. That so many find it too hard to provide these very simple things really makes me wonder.

In memory of the NC Pitbulls, victims of an unjust policy.

ARTICLE VII. KEEPING OF PIT BULLS AND OTHER RESTRICTED BREEDS OF DOGS
SECTION 6-22 PIT BULLS AND OTHER RESTRICTED BREEDS OF DOGS LICENSED
(A) All current owners of pit bulls and other restricted breeds of dogs shall within ninety (90) days of
the effective date of this ordinance license their dog. Pit bull is defined to mean:
(1) The bull terrier breed of dog; -or-
(2) Staffordshire bull terrier breed of dog; -or-
(3) The American pit bull terrier breed of dog; -or-
(4) The American Staffordshire terrier breed of dog; -or-
(5) Dogs of mixed breed or of other breeds than above listed which breed or mixed breed is
known as pit bulls, pit bull dogs, or pit bull terriers; -or-
(6) Any dog which has the appearance and characteristics of being predominantly of the
breeds bull terrier, Staffordshire bull terrier, American pit bull terrier, American
Staffordshire terrier, any other breed commonly known as pit bulls, pit bull dogs, or pit
bull terriers, or a combination of any of those breeds.
(B) The following other restricted breeds include:
(1) Dogo Argentine
(2) Canary Dog (Canary Island Dog, Presa Canario, Perro de Preso Canario)
(3) Presa Mallorquin (Perro de Presa Mallorquin, Ca de Bou)
(4) Tosa Inu (Tosa Fighting Dog, Japanese Fighting Dog, Japanese Mastiff)
(5) Cane Corso (Cane Di Macellaio, Sicilian Branchiero)
(6) Fila Brasileiro
(7) Any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one (1) or more of the above
breeds.
(C) Furthermore, any person who acquires ownership of a pit bull or other restricted breed, or any
person owning a pit bull or other restricted breed who relocates their residence to the City shall,
within thirty (30) days, license their pit bull or other restricted breed and comply with all
provisions of this Chapter regarding ownership of said animal.
(D) Pit bull dog or any other restricted breed of dog licenses.
(1) Requirement. Any person who may own, possess, harbor, keep, or maintain a pit bull
City of Oshkosh Chapter 6 - Page 25 Municipal Codes
 
City of Oshkosh Municipal Codes
Revisions thru 12131102
dog or any other restricted breed of dog shall do so only after first having obtained a
license from the Health Director or designee and only after complying with terms of said
license.
(a) Any pit bull dog or any other restricted breed of dog that attends and
passes an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Program will be exempt
from having to obtain a restricted dog license, upon providing the Health Director
or designee with proof of successful completion of said course.
(2) Fee and Term. Any person who may own, possess, harbor, keep, or maintain a pit bull
dog or any other restricted breed of dog shall annually on or before December 31 of each
year, license their dog. The license fee, which is not pro-ratable, shall be set annually by
Administration, and shall cover the costs of the program.
(3) Conditions for License Issuance. A license may be granted and issued subject to proof
of the following:
(a) Current vaccination for rabies.
(b) Current City license.
(c) Neutering or Spaying. Documentation of sterilization from a licensed veterinarian
shall be presented.
(d) The animals age, weight, coloring, and any special identifying characteristics.
(e) Two (2) 4"x6" color photographs of the dog.
(f) Proof of a surety bond in a sum not less than $100,000.00 for any liability
incurred by virtue of injury inflicted by said dog. Said document shall name the
City as co-insured solely for the purpose of notice of cancellation of the policy.
(4) Conditions for License Maintenance. A license granted and issued hereunder is
conditioned upon the following:
(a) Compliance with Subsection (3) above.
(b) The dog, while off the premises where kept, must be muzzled and restrained by a
substantial chain or leash not exceeding six (6) feet in length and under the direct
control and supervision of a mentally competent adult. The muzzle must be
made in a manner that will not cause injury to the animal or interfere with its vision
or respiration but must prevent it from biting any person or animal.
(c) No person shall permit a pit bull dog or any other restricted breed of dog to be
leashed/chained to any inanimate objects such as trees, posts, buildings, etc.
Furthermore, no pit bull dog or any other restricted breed of dog may be kept on a
porch, patio, or in any part of a house or structure that would allow the dog to exit
such building on its own volition.
(d) The pit bull dog or any other restricted breed of dog while indoors shall be
securely confined and be under the control of a person at least eighteen (18)
City of Oshkosh Chapter 6 - Page 26 Municipal Codes
 
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Revisions thru 12/31/02
years of age.
(e) The pit bull dog or any other restricted breed of dog when outdoors and
unattended must be locked in an escape-proof kennel approved by Health
Services Division Staff or the Humane Officer. Minimum standards shall include
the following:
(1) Fencing materials shall not have openings with a diameter of more than
two (2) inches.
(2) Gates within such pen or structure shall be lockable and of such design to
prevent the entry of children or the escape of the animal.
(3) Such pen or structure must have a minimum dimension of five (5) feet by
ten (10) feet and must have secure sides and a secure top. If it has no
bottom secured to the sides, the sides must be imbedded into the ground
no less than two (2) feet.
(4) The pen or structure shall protect the animal from the elements.
(f) The owner shall have posted at each possible entrance to the owner's premises
and on the pen or structure where the pit bull dog or any other restricted breed of
dog is kept a conspicuous and clearly legible sign made of metal or plastic,
fluorescent in color. Such sign must be at least eight (8") by eleven (11 ") inches
in rectangular dimensions and shall contain only the words "RESTRICTED
BREED OF DOG" in lettering not less that two (2") inches in height.
(g) A license tag will be issued to the owner at the time of issuance of the license.
Such license tag shall be attached to the pit bull dog or any other restricted breed
of dog by means of a collar which must be worn by the animal at all times, clearly
visible, and shall not be attached to any pit bull dog or any other restricted breed
of dog other than the pit bull dog or any other restricted breed of dog for which the
license was issued.
(5) Subsection (13)(3)(c) shall not apply to any pit bull dog or any other
restricted breed of dog which is registered as an active participant in a dog exhibition or
skills association or organization for which the owner must present a certificate of
registration from the American Kennel Club and/or the United Kennel Club, and a
signed and notarized affidavit that the animal has or will be used as a show dog or is
a registered service animal. The exception does not apply to any pit bull dog or any other
restricted breed of dog which has not actively participated in any such shows in the
previous twelve (12) months.
(6) Reporting Requirements. All owners, keepers, or harborers of a licensed pit bull dog or
any other restricted breed of dog must within ten (10) days of the incident, report the
following information in writing to the Health Director or designee as required hereinafter:
(a) Provide a certificate or other written proof of euthanasia from a licensed
veterinarian.
(b) The removal from the City of a licensed pit bull dog or any other restricted breed
of dog.
City of Oshkosh Chapter 6 - Page 27 Municipal Codes
 
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Revisions thru 12/31/02
(c) Verification of death if the dog is killed, destroyed, or dies from any other cause or
means.
(7) Sale or Transfer of Ownership Prohibited. No owner shall sell, barter, or in any other way
dispose of a pit bull dog or any other restricted breed of dog licensed with the City to any
person within the City limits. The owner of a licensed pit bull dog or any other restricted
breed of dog may sell or otherwise dispose of a licensed pit bull dog or any other
restricted breed of dog or the offspring of such dog to persons who do not reside within
the City.
(8) Impoundment and Destruction. A pit bull dog or any other restricted breed of dog which
is owned, possessed, harbored, kept, or maintained in violation of this Ordinance may be
impounded and destroyed by the City or its agents at the expense of the owner, following
notice and an opportunity to be heard by the Health Director or designee. Any person or
party aggrieved by such decision of the Health Director or designee may appeal such
decision to the Common Council by filing a written notice of appeal with the City Clerk
within five (5) City business days of mailing of the written order from the Health Director
or designee. The pit bull dog or any other restricted breed of dog W be impounded,
but not destroyed, until the time for appeal has expired or until any timelya eal has
been heard and a decision rendered. The City elects not to be bound by I
Wisconsin Statutes, with respect to administrative procedure in this regard. All costs
incurred shall be the res onsibilit of the owner of the pit bull dog or any other restricted
breed of dog. 

It's been a newsworthy week or so for pit bulls. I wanted to write a blog about a totally different subject...but there are things that just seem to stand out that need mentioning.

There were a few good stories. Hektor, former Vick dog passed his therapy dog test to become the second Vick dog to achieve that goal. Roo sent out a message on his Wallace the Pit Bull Group:

"Hey everyone!  Just sending out a quick last minute message to let people in the Twin Cities area know that we'll be at the Twin Cities Pet Expo again this year performing with the MN Disc Dog Club throughout the weekend.  www.twincitiespetexpo.com"

"Hector will also be there and you can have some nice professional pictures taken with them after the show to raise money for the club and A Rotta Love Rottweiler/Pit Bull Rescue if you'd like.  Hope to see some of you there."

"Regards,
Roo"

That was good news after Bonita's death during surgery to try to fix all the damage done to her teeth at Bad Newz Kennels. As most of you know, Bonita, a former Vick dog, had her teeth pulled and filed down and no matter how hard Best Friends tried they couldn't get her health back up to par.

Then there's the news that the 49rs or the Vikings might be considering adding Vick to their rosters. I cannot imagine how Roo feels about that, as he lives in Minnesota. All the time and energy he has put into Hektor, only to be looking at the prospect of Vick appearing on his local sports news. Kind of like putting a pedophile in charge of UN Children's issues...just an insult to everyone who has worked so hard to house, rehab, and rehome Vick's four-legged victims.

Insult is added to injury as we mourn the unjust deaths of 147 pit bulls in North Carolina, doomed by a badly written law which states that any dog raised or kept for fighting is deemed dangerous...even if it is a newborn puppy born after the dogs were seized. All are aghast that even though rescue was available for each and everyone...the law prevailed in black and white with no shades of grey and it was a battle lost before it began. I myself have shed a few tears over the callousness of authorities on that one. I can't call it a euthanization...it was a slaughter. What world do we live in that we can support laws for slaughter?

There are heroes in the news this week as well. Mann, the pit bull who saved his family from armed burglars and took a bullet in the leg, resulting in the loss of his leg. At nine months old he had more honor than someone like Vick could ever have.

Not to forget the other banned breeds; a rookie drug-sniffing dog working for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency found 477 pounds of marijuana on his very first tour of duty. The two year old german shepherd is described as precocious. I like "precocious". It beats "vicious" any day.

On another note, the Humane Society of the United States reports that only 14% of people acquire their pet through a shelter while 38% purchase from a breeder and the remainder acquire pets from a friend, relative or taking in as a stray. There are 10,000 people born every day in the US, there are 70,000 puppies and kittens born....Just a reminder Spay Day USA is Tuesday, February 24. Spay or neuter, please.

As I am wrapping up the news for the week and reviewing all the threads I follow, I also want to urge more people to volunteer for transports. It is so sad to see a transport fail due to one unfilled leg. I know these are tough times and a tank of gas has become a precious commodity, but there is nothing more rewarding than looking in your rear view mirror and seeing a death row dog grinning over a new chance...Once you do it you will find that it is a rare privilege and can touch your heart like nothing else.

Remember, always report any suspected animal cruelty. You are their voice.

Ever occur to you why some of us can be this much concerned with animals suffering?  Because government is not.  Why not?  Animals don't vote. 
~Paul Harvey

It's a mantra I wake up to each day along with the morning coffee and standing out in the cold waiting for the dogs to come back in..."I shall never forget". It's remembered in the faces that haunt me from the computer screen every day. It's remembered every time I hesitate a moment in reposting an urgent cry for help. It's remembered when I am in my car listening to the sad refrains of Maria Daines' "I don't want to fight no more". And it's remembered every time I hug my dogs and look into their solemn brown eyes.

I suppose there are people who wonder why I would have opted to advocate for pitbulls in the sea of animal rights issues out there. Or what insane thoughts must have been going through my head the day I veered right instead of going straight ahead and  ended up at the shelter, adopting a pitbull mix. All I can say is there is something that tugs at my heartstrings when a creature which has suffered so much at the hands of man is so vilified and misunderstood and become one of the true underdogs of the dog world. Pitbulls need heroes and I chose to be one.

It's been a little over a year and a half since I made that decision to take a detour and now I share my life with two pitbulls, both of whom had rocky starts in life. Unwanted, left to fend for themselves, with few prospects for a happy ending, these two have taught me a lot about what pitbulls are and are not. In the process they have changed who I am as a person and taught me things about myself I never would have thought of, little less learned.

Charm was one thing, a mix who was still growing out of the puppy stages and infinitely energetic. I think the true beginnings of understanding arrived with Domino,  who tops the charts in size and strength. I remember our first days together, he would jump up on the couch and sit up and stare into my eyes, which was very unnerving.



I would think, what is he thinking? Can I trust him? Did I take on too much? It seems funny looking back now as I struggled to maintain that calm interior exactly how deep my own misunderstanding ran. Domino still jumps up on the couch and fixes me with his unnerving stare and it generally means are we going for a walk anytime soon, is it time to eat yet? I totally underestimated the deep and complex intelligence of pitbulls, something which I have no problem with today.

I have learned to read the many expressions of Domino, the difference between a wagging tail and a WAGGING tail. The way he draws up his jowls when he is thinking about something. And I have learned that in every moment of every day, he is the most trustworthy, gentle, loving soul there is. Everytime I see him with kitten, Fable, latched onto his nose and pulling on his lips, it makes me smile and I no longer keep an eye out for any roughness on his part. All in all, I don't think in my long life with dogs I have ever had such complete and total faith in a dog.



A lot of people say I lucked out with my two. I may be lucky, but it wasn't luck. I think that is why it tugs at my heartstrings so much to see pitbulls dying in shelters without being given a chance or banned because of what they are. I know in my own heart that if I had opted to give any of those pitbulls a chance I would have been as deeply rewarded.  And rewarded I have been.




I don't think there could have been a more effective way for me to discover that part of myself that is a lot kinder, a lot more joyful and a lot more gentle. Pitbulls do that to you if you give them a chance. When you share your life with a creature who embodies those qualities, it is hard not to be forever changed. There's a saying "I want to be the person my dog thinks I am". I think it had to have been written with pitbulls in mind.

So whether we're tearing up the agility course:



Or working hard at obedience school:



Or helping raise money for a local shelter:



Or just hanging out at home:




I repeat to myself "I shall never forget". I shall never forget that there are cowards who put dogs out to fight. I shall never forget there are people who would torture these dogs for fun. I shall never forget there are people who would rescue them from fighting and then kill them because they are too vicious. I shall never forget that we created these precious beings and then betrayed them so cruelly. I shall never forget to tell people that all they need is a chance, one chance, to prove that there is no forgiveness quite like a pitbull's.



Thanks to Sherry Kidwell for a wonderful video. Give pitbulls a chance.

Better late than never they say, in a mad flurry we were all off after a long day of work racing the setting sun.



Despite temperatures hovering around 30 degrees, a sharp north wind followed us through the trees.



Even though it was a bit too cold for the dogs to be out long, sometimes their mental well-being overrides the weather. Domino especially was in need of some energy burn off, with Charm not far behind.



As Domino made off on his own explores, I followed the last rays of the sun with my camera.



Last night's snow covered up all the hard work the thaw had accomplished.



Light was a precious commodity in the first stages of dusk.



Setting leaves on fire like candle flames in the shadows.



And painting the trees with streaks of light.



Here and there flames of color where the light sifted through the branches.



And for brief moments painting ominous trees with a more welcoming light.



I am not sure what type of creature left these tracks in the snow but it brought to mind the tales of snow snakes from my skiing days...



So lineated was the light that it painted the shadows in blue tones and the light in warm tones and fooled one into thinking that warmth waited if one climbed.



Any attempt to capture it was washed away in strokes of watercolor.



The fresh snow made the ice deceiving and the dogs were naturally wary and steered clear, and it seems that the creatures of the forest agreed for the most part. Though the wind sculpted illusions of traffic.



The cold and the setting sun soon swept us on our way, my fingers frozen and Domino recalled from his adventures on the cliffs.



Captured leaves dangled like emergency lights along the trail. I always wonder at what force creates so many impaled leaves along the way.



I scan the trees for hidden owls, but the only sound in the forest is the faraway sound of a lone woodpecker.



Charm is anxious to be on her way back.



The sun creates odd colors in the snow and I am witness to the fact that snow is not merely white.



“Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories”



Winter itself has brought me many warm memories this year. But there is never a winter that, as it draws to its close, I don't regret having been out in it more. It's always easy to watch winter through a window and easier still to justify why one can't venture outdoors. But it's something that is good for the human soul. We need a daily reminder of that more primitive part of ourselves to stay connected to nature.



“In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer” - Albert Camus

There is a flurry of activity in Wisconsin when the weather warms up for the day. People venture out on errands left undone during the bitter cold and we all emerge like hibernating bears, hungry for fresh air and sunshine.



The dogs were almost in disbelief that they were going to be out for the day, but wagging tails and happy smiles quickly appeared.



Being very much of the mind that sharing one's life with dogs requires thought, I filled my pockets up with dog treats for our walk today. And Domino stuck to me like glue the entire walk.



I still think it is very gratifying to see Domino looking so spot on healthy. He makes my heart feel good when I look into those eyes and see a dog sure of his place in the world. Such different dogs those two are, but they each hold a special spot that is all their own.



We wandered on and off trail. Domino and Charm sometimes walking in my footprints as the footing is slippery and difficult as the snow begins to melt.



The trees remind me of a documentary I once saw about Henry Moore, the sculptor. He said he was often inspired by walking in the woods after a storm, the fallen trees were his inspiration.



Although I took along a star filter, there was little of the classic melt to photograph and the snow seemed to be dissolving into slush rather than producing the drips I had hoped for.



We took detours down all the deer trails. Me climbing over and under fallen trees while the dogs rambled on ahead.



Leaving some of our more traveled trails for another day, the dogs returning time and time again to see if they had earned a treat.



At the upper lake, the water lay in puddles on top of the ice. The dogs have learned to steer clear of the ice on our hikes, which brings some peace of mind. It is best to teach them when the ice is solid so that they don't make the mistake of attempting it when it begins to thaw.



We followed crisscrossing trails, not exactly sure where the real trails were in the snow.



The dogs dug holes in the snow banks while I enjoyed my own detours.



My trails were marked by tufts of deer left behind by their makers.



The sunlight coming through in weak streaks while a chilly wind reminded us all that winter has not given up yet.



The squirrel nests have survived every storm winter has delivered and their architecture is highly underestimated.



The fallen leaves are sort of "in house memos" reminding me of how much the canopy controls the life of the forest.



Charm is thrilled to have Domino to explore with instead of tracking him down on his explores.



So happy she spends a good amount of time charging up and down the trail doing her own pit bull imitations.



The light falls quickly and Domino stays so close he runs into me from behind from time to time. Its amazing how a pocket full of dog cookies can make squirrel chasing pale by comparison!



It is sometimes funny on our walks, I find myself smiling over this shot or that and more often than not the reward is a lot of wasted memory card. As in searching for unicorns, sometimes it is the quest that is important.

Finally a day that feels like the icy grip of winter is letting go. With dogs wound tighter than clockworks, I set off on an explore in woods painted with the subtlest of color.

Perhaps I have always been an explorer in my own mind, and given a few acres of woods to wander, I have ventured deeper into details.

They say photography is supposed to change the photographer, and I think this is true in my case. I have worked my way from the broad brushstrokes of nature down into the elements of the composition.

I have explored things, I have hunted light, I have tracked forms and these days it is the abstraction that interests me.

But then there are always the stories hidden there as well. The trees nibbled bare by hungry animals after a long winter.

Or the tent caterpillars homes finally torn and shredded by winter winds.

There are the subtle changes in the color of tree bark which comes before the first buds appear.

Nature is always winding and twisting, new things from old.

The signs of thaw are only there when I look more closely.

And winter is never quick to give up its hold on the forest.

Nestled inside a shriveled leaf, a patch of insect eggs or perhaps an odd lichen or something in between.

The dogs are black and white counterpoints up and down the trail.

I stop a moment to consider the black and white in the forest.

February brings its own light. A softer light than January's stark clear light.

I could fold the colors into color chips and be endlessly pleased with the combinations.

Even Domino eventually slows down, worn out by running through the snowdrifts and climbing rocks.

We stop a moment to catch the view on the bigger lake.

It seems so many things have collapsed under winter's hand, but then the seeds rest in snow which will deposit them safely for spring.

Sometimes I think that people don't wander enough. We spend too much time moving with purpose. Maybe the trick is to be like nature, wandering with a sense of purpose. Nature is forever doing things at random which turn out the way they are supposed to. Life is sort of like that, there is design even in the most random of things. In some ways, it doesn't matter what out intent is, the outcome is what it is. Maybe that is one of the things the dogs have taught me, try to look at things without thinking about them too much.

I ran across this little pitty girl and thought I would share the information as her petfinder site doesn't have any info on her.

This is Fiona:

She's listed as a boston terrier/ pit bull mix. I called the shelter and she is about 8 weeks old and came in as a stray (I suppose with mom). She is definitely part pit bull but the rest is a best guess by the shelter vet. Currently, her caretaker says she is looking a bit like a boxer with big boxer feet. He said she's a mouthy little thing, but then she's 8 weeks old.

Oh yeah, you know I was tempted by this pretty black and white girl! What a cutie. What a great addition to any home. Check her out.
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12935077

She is located at:
Sheboygan County Humane Society
920-458-2012
info@myschs.org
3107 North 20th Street
Sheboygan, WI