A little over a week away from the holidays of Christmas and Kwanzaa, I once again implore all of the people who read this: do NOT give a living creature as a present or gift! This is my usual winter rave and rant.... Any pet - be it a puppy, kitten, bunny, rat, mouse, ferret, bird, spider, snake, iguana, frog, fish, pig, calf, dog, cat, pony or horse - needs a life-time of care and attention. Care and attention and love. All three of these things take time, patience, and (unfortunately) money. There are vet visits, grooming, annual shots, food, treats, toys, collars, halters, cages, aquariums, terrariums, pasture and stalling to consider.
If you have a good friend or lover that truly loves animals, give a donations in your friend's name to a no-kill shelter, a local Humane Society, or a local zoo. There are all sorts of refuges around the country that accept donations in someone's name to "sponsor" a specific animal for a certain amount of time. You can donate to dog and cat and horse and other rescue groups...
I know a whole lot of people who pass a dog or cat, and say, "Oh, I wish I had one!" That person usually does not have a pet for a good reason - their job takes them away from home frequently, they have to work odd or late hours, they don't have a "normal" schedule; or they have other commitments that take up their spare time.
Remember that if you take an animal home, to your home, or someone else's home, as a gift, that you are ultimately responsible for the care of that animal for the rest of it's life. Believe it, or not, but all creatures form some type of bond with their human care-givers. Dogs form a pack, cats a clowder, rodents form colonies, and large animals form herds. If you take a small animal away from it's family, YOU are now it's family and leader.
If you really, terribly need to give a person a pet, tell them about your need to do so. If they will accept the full responsibility this entails, then take them to an animal shelter, Humane Society, or rescue center, and let the person who will be the owner/guardian select the pet of their choice...
Please do NOT give a breathing, living creature as a gift - ever - unless it's to yourself, and you have the time, love, money, and ability to care for it for it's lifetime.
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Chincoteague Ponies That Live Off-Island - Photos
Lewis' Bailey Boy
Arkansas Ashley
Winchester Fred, son of the two ponies
pictured above
Surfer's Last Jewel
Salty Cowboy
Surfer's Island Princess Kiska
Stormy
*** With many thanks to the owners of these ponies for sharing
their personal photographs. ***
Critter Encounters Caused 6 Million Emergency Room Visits Over 5 Years
I was actually "lured" into reading an article because it stated that "animal bites" caused over 6 million emergency room visits during a 5 year period. That seemed like an enormously high number to me, so I read the article. After telling about the study, who conducted it, and that it was gathered from information nation-wide, the article again stated that it was all based on "animal bites." It then made a two sentence statement about man encroaching into the territories that used to "belong" to bears.
Puzzled, I read on, because I know that there are not that many attacks by bears, even though the rare occurrences are hugely covered by today's media. Then I had my "ah-ha" moment. The medical community considers insect bites and stings as being an "animal bite" in billing and recording charges for insurance.
In any event, I came away with some interesting factual knowledge. During the years of the study, an average of 1,291,507 patients per year were seen in emergency rooms; those 6 million patients ended up with patient care charges of $5.96 billion.
The great majority of incidents were not life-threatening, and, again, a great majority of those were due to patients scratching at insect bites and causing infections. The three highest ranked reasons for visiting the emergency room in percentages were (1) 41% for non-venomous arthropod bite or sting, (2) 26% were for dog bites, and (3) 13% were for stings from hornets, wasps, and/or bees. That means that 54% of the visits were for insect bites or stings. - Now, please don't get me wrong on this - I am highly allergic to stings of bees, hornets and wasps, and I carry an epi-pen at all times because of that. - And most of these visits were because people had scratched or irritated the site of the bite or sting, and had caused an infection.
There was a low percentage rate of patients who died after their visit to the emergency room and then a subsequent admission into the hospital. Of the deaths caused by these bites, the highest death rate was caused by bites from rats, the second highest was from bites delivered by venomous snakes or lizards, and the third highest fatality percentage was caused by dog bites.
Again, it was an interesting study, but I really feel that calling insects "animals" is very misleading.
Puzzled, I read on, because I know that there are not that many attacks by bears, even though the rare occurrences are hugely covered by today's media. Then I had my "ah-ha" moment. The medical community considers insect bites and stings as being an "animal bite" in billing and recording charges for insurance.
In any event, I came away with some interesting factual knowledge. During the years of the study, an average of 1,291,507 patients per year were seen in emergency rooms; those 6 million patients ended up with patient care charges of $5.96 billion.
The great majority of incidents were not life-threatening, and, again, a great majority of those were due to patients scratching at insect bites and causing infections. The three highest ranked reasons for visiting the emergency room in percentages were (1) 41% for non-venomous arthropod bite or sting, (2) 26% were for dog bites, and (3) 13% were for stings from hornets, wasps, and/or bees. That means that 54% of the visits were for insect bites or stings. - Now, please don't get me wrong on this - I am highly allergic to stings of bees, hornets and wasps, and I carry an epi-pen at all times because of that. - And most of these visits were because people had scratched or irritated the site of the bite or sting, and had caused an infection.
There was a low percentage rate of patients who died after their visit to the emergency room and then a subsequent admission into the hospital. Of the deaths caused by these bites, the highest death rate was caused by bites from rats, the second highest was from bites delivered by venomous snakes or lizards, and the third highest fatality percentage was caused by dog bites.
Again, it was an interesting study, but I really feel that calling insects "animals" is very misleading.
Monday, December 10, 2018
Three Mares Donated to Chincoteague Pony Herd - Photos
With several deaths of foal-producing mares throughout this year (three due to accidents and one from pythiosis - "swamp cancer"), three adult mares were donated at the end of last week to the herds owned by the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company. Two were born on Assateague, and are returning, and the other one is of pure Chincoteague blood, but was born in Texas. All three mares are currently at the Carnival Ground, and if the Pony Committee follows the same path as with the Misty family donations, the mares will stay on Main Street until the Spring Round-Up, when they'll be released on Assateague with the 2018 Buy Backs.
Good Ole Days Bailey's Star, call name "Star," was born in Texas in 2003 or 2004, and is from the direct line of Lewis' Bailey Boy, a Chincoteague pony stallion who currently stands at stud in California.
Good Ole Days Bailey's Star, call name "Star," was born in Texas in 2003 or 2004, and is from the direct line of Lewis' Bailey Boy, a Chincoteague pony stallion who currently stands at stud in California.
Star
Millennium Midnight, call name "Oreo," was foaled in 2000, and is the daughter of Miracle Man and Chantilly Lace.
Oreo
Tidewater Treasure, call name "Treasure," is also from the 2000 foal crop. She is the daughter of Cherokee Chief and Blondie.
Treasure
All three mares are proven producers, having at least three foals apiece. I do not know if they are in foal, or not, at this time. As the Misty mares were not bred, I would guess that these mares are open, also.
Friday, December 7, 2018
Read These Four Books to Understand American Government Today...
If you want to understand our American government in Washington, DC today, I recommend you read the following four books. Before you read those four books, I recommend regarding the situation in the White House and in Congress, I also recommend that you read two articles and the Constitution itself with all of it's Amendments.
First I recommend the article "A More Perfect Union: The Creation of the U. S. Constitution" which may be found at: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/more-perfect-union
Then the body of the Constitution itself at: https://www.archives.gov/founding-doc/constitution-transcript
The Bill of Rights, which are Amendments 1 through 10 to the U. S. Constitution, may be read at: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript
The text of Amendments 11 through 27 to the U. S. Constitution can be read at: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/amendments-11-27
As a work of language and law, our United States Constitution is frequently praised as a marvel of being short and to the point. But it was written in the 18th century, and many of the ideas, concepts, words, phrases, and euphemisms seem odd today, if not misunderstood. If you have trouble with the original text - and a large majority do - here is an article that explains our Constitution and the amendments in plain contemporary American English: https://www.usconstitution.net/constquick.html
After the above essential, but quick, civics lesson, these are the four books that I highly recommend you read. All four are written by ex-military men, all are contributors to MSNBC, all have testified before Congress, and all four books are very important in understanding what is happening in our American government - and, indeed, in governments in countries all around the world.
The first book is: The Plot to Hack America written by Malcolm Nance.
The second book is: Messing With the Enemy: Surviving in a Social Media World of Hackers, Terrorists, Russians, and Fake News written by Clint Watts.
The third book is: How to Catch a Russian Spy written by Naveed Jamali.
The fourth book is: The Plot to Destroy America written by Malcolm Nance.
The amount of detail in all of these books is astounding. They certainly opened my eyes and my mind to things that I had not thought about, or even considered, regarding social media and how it can be used to insulate, isolate, essentially brain-wash, and frighten individuals.
These are books that every concerned American should read from cover to cover, and then sit and contemplate what they have learned.....
First I recommend the article "A More Perfect Union: The Creation of the U. S. Constitution" which may be found at: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/more-perfect-union
Then the body of the Constitution itself at: https://www.archives.gov/founding-doc/constitution-transcript
The Bill of Rights, which are Amendments 1 through 10 to the U. S. Constitution, may be read at: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript
The text of Amendments 11 through 27 to the U. S. Constitution can be read at: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/amendments-11-27
As a work of language and law, our United States Constitution is frequently praised as a marvel of being short and to the point. But it was written in the 18th century, and many of the ideas, concepts, words, phrases, and euphemisms seem odd today, if not misunderstood. If you have trouble with the original text - and a large majority do - here is an article that explains our Constitution and the amendments in plain contemporary American English: https://www.usconstitution.net/constquick.html
After the above essential, but quick, civics lesson, these are the four books that I highly recommend you read. All four are written by ex-military men, all are contributors to MSNBC, all have testified before Congress, and all four books are very important in understanding what is happening in our American government - and, indeed, in governments in countries all around the world.
The first book is: The Plot to Hack America written by Malcolm Nance.
The second book is: Messing With the Enemy: Surviving in a Social Media World of Hackers, Terrorists, Russians, and Fake News written by Clint Watts.
The third book is: How to Catch a Russian Spy written by Naveed Jamali.
The fourth book is: The Plot to Destroy America written by Malcolm Nance.
The amount of detail in all of these books is astounding. They certainly opened my eyes and my mind to things that I had not thought about, or even considered, regarding social media and how it can be used to insulate, isolate, essentially brain-wash, and frighten individuals.
These are books that every concerned American should read from cover to cover, and then sit and contemplate what they have learned.....
Monday, December 3, 2018
Rest In Peace, Raindancer
Kachina Shenandoah Raindancer was only with us for a short time. This brave little palomino filly was born on 25 June of this year, and left us on Monday, 3 December. Her dam's full name is Kachina Grand Star, and her sire, "Hoppy," is Effie's Papa Bear. Raindancer was #49 at the annual Pony Penning Auction this past July. As a designated "Buy Back" filly, with a winning bid of $10,000, she was returned to Assateague with her dam and sire. However, she was one of the seven ponies diagnosed with "swamp cancer" at the Fall Round-Up. She has been under the care of veterinarians since mid-October, and had surgery to remove the afflicted flesh. Unfortunately, the pythiosis invaded the ligaments, tendons, and bone of her leg. She was painlessly euthanized so she would not suffer as the disease would continue to invade her body.
She will be mourned greatly. My heartfelt sympathy is given to the family who purchased her with such great hopes.
She will be mourned greatly. My heartfelt sympathy is given to the family who purchased her with such great hopes.
The blue dot on her hip is washable dye to indicate she was chosen
as a Buy Back filly.
The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company has now lost two of the seven ponies fighting equine pythiosis. Raindancer, above, and Essie on 30 October. Please send healing thoughts to those five ponies fighting for their lives on Chincoteague, where they receive 24-hour care from the Fire Fighters, and have a veterinarian assess their health every 48 hours. Thank you for caring.
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