Sunday, September 05, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Woo is Me
I guess you must be wondering why I haven't made the call for everyone's "Uncle Jack Armageddon/Celebrity Death Ghoul Pool" guesses... sigh.
For reasons yet to be explained to us, Uncle Jack will not be visiting us this year.
I know.
Seriously, I know.
I'll wait until you're done howling with abject sadness.
Uncle Jack has visited us every year since I was a wee little fluffy puppy, and frankly I have no idea what we're going to do with ourselves this year. Oh sure, the humans are still taking the time off and all, but still, there won't be any of this:
No waiting for Uncle Jack to wake up (or for the door to mysteriously open that allows us to jump and stomp on Uncle Jack)
And yes... no Celebrity Ghoul Pool!
For those of you who aren't a regular reader (shame on you) every time Uncle Jack visits, a famous celebrity dies. I'm still not sure my friends in Australia (Huffle, Opy) have ever forgiven him for killing off Steve Irwin.
Uncle Jack also brings along some sort of horrific natural catastrophe (Katrina is one fine example), and something in the human house usually breaks (attic fan, telephones).
I'm not sure if the earth has been notified that Uncle Jack won't be visiting (there's two hurricanes approaching the East Coast)... hmmm. Perhaps we should hold the ghoul pool and the natural catastrophe pool, and the what will break at the human's house pool. Maybe all these years it really wasn't Uncle Jack... maybe the HUMANS are the cause!
Regardless, we'll miss you Uncle Jack. Wish you could visit this year, but we understand. We'll just save up the claw for next year.
Meeshka
P.S. We haven't told Spineless Bionic hip/knee puppy Sam that Uncle Jack isn't visiting. We're seeing how long he stares out the window. For all we know, he's staring at a bug.
For reasons yet to be explained to us, Uncle Jack will not be visiting us this year.
I know.
Seriously, I know.
I'll wait until you're done howling with abject sadness.
Uncle Jack has visited us every year since I was a wee little fluffy puppy, and frankly I have no idea what we're going to do with ourselves this year. Oh sure, the humans are still taking the time off and all, but still, there won't be any of this:
For those of you who aren't a regular reader (shame on you) every time Uncle Jack visits, a famous celebrity dies. I'm still not sure my friends in Australia (Huffle, Opy) have ever forgiven him for killing off Steve Irwin.
Uncle Jack also brings along some sort of horrific natural catastrophe (Katrina is one fine example), and something in the human house usually breaks (attic fan, telephones).
I'm not sure if the earth has been notified that Uncle Jack won't be visiting (there's two hurricanes approaching the East Coast)... hmmm. Perhaps we should hold the ghoul pool and the natural catastrophe pool, and the what will break at the human's house pool. Maybe all these years it really wasn't Uncle Jack... maybe the HUMANS are the cause!
Regardless, we'll miss you Uncle Jack. Wish you could visit this year, but we understand. We'll just save up the claw for next year.
Meeshka
P.S. We haven't told Spineless Bionic hip/knee puppy Sam that Uncle Jack isn't visiting. We're seeing how long he stares out the window. For all we know, he's staring at a bug.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wordless Wednesday
More thoughts on this on trenchant thursday.
Meeshka
Friday, August 13, 2010
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Justice for Bear-Bear - An interview with his family
While this blog is typically written tongue-in-cheek from Meeshka's point of view, the seriousness of this event compels us to temporarily break from that style. We know that you all will understand.
Like many of you, we have been following the tragedy of Bear-Bear, the Siberian Husky who was shot and killed on Monday August 2, 2010 in the community of Quail Run - a sub-division of Severn, Maryland. Hearing about a meeting to show support for the family, we felt compelled to attend. After the meeting at the park where Bear-Bear lost his life, we caught up the the Rettaliata's and asked them if they would be willing to talk to us and address some difficult questions about the incident. They agreed - what follows is the story of Bear-Bear and how his life was tragically cut short in an instant.
The officer who killed Bear-Bear was not available for comment.
August 5, 2010
8:00pm
When asked why they brought their dog to the Quail Run Dog park, the Rettaliatas said that prior to moving to the community nearly a year ago, they had lived in an apartment. The allure of the community dog park just made them want to live here even more so. It would enable their dogs could get proper exercise, provide an opportunity to socialize with other dogs, and enjoy themselves in a safe and secure fenced in area. Rachel sadly recounted that “... I think it was Bear-Bear’s favorite place, so I think that’s what is really tragic” about the incident.
While not an “official” Anne Arundel County Dog Park, the Quail Run Dog park is privately owned, and considered a “dog run”. All of the residents who bring their dogs to the park allow their dogs to run off-leash in the run. There is reason for this - - experienced dog owners know that, generally, leashed dogs are more protective and aggressive when approached by other, unrestrained, animals.
Ryan recounted one of many occasions in which there where at least 15 dogs, including Bear-Bear, inside the run, playing, chasing, and having fun with no incidents or issues. He further stated that his neighbor’s small child would regularly run up to Bear-Bear outside of the dog park, jump on him and hug him. After the incident, they were told that no report would be filed by Anne Arundel County Animal Control, as neither of the dogs had received bite wounds, or scratches, and that no humans had been bitten or injured.
Stephen Kurinij, brother to Rachel, was at the park with Bear-Bear at the time of the shooting. Stephen regularly brought Bear-Bear to the park and was a regular at the nightly 6:30pm gathering of dog owners. Stephen told us that he was already in the fenced dog park with an unleashed Bear-Bear when a couple with their leashed German Shepherd approached the dog park. The couple asked if Bear-Bear was friendly, to which Stephen replied that he was, and the couple stated that their dog, Asia, was also friendly and entered the fenced in area, with Asia still on the leash. Stephen was approximately 7 feet away from the couple, and saw Bear-Bear running up to greet the new dog in the enclosure and initiated play. He said that the rough-housing, which was common and expected in Stephen’s experience at the dog part escalated quickly, with both dogs rearing up on their hind legs. Stephen said that he felt the wife panicked as Asia, the couple’s German Shepherd, began tugging her as she held on to the leash.
It was at this point, the man, yelled at Stephen to “go get your dog, break them up”, and as Stephen processed that information, then began to retrieve Bear-Bear, the man took two steps back, drew out a Glock 17 9mm pistol, aimed, and shot Bear-Bear. It was only after the man called 911 that he inform Stephen of his status as an off-duty Federal Police Officer. Stephen refutes the shooter’s claim that the he had tried to break up the “fight” and was subsequently attacked by Bear-Bear prior to the actual shooting.
While it is not uncommon for two parties to dispute the facts of any legal incident - it is important to note that the officers report clearly states that there were no other witnesses to the event. To the knowledge of the Rettaliata’s and their neighbors to whom we spoke - the investigating officers apparently failed to check any of the homes which border on three sides of the park to determine if anyone else had seen the event. However, after only a few short minutes ABC2 News was able to discover an eye-witness who, in a video interview, corroborated Stephen’s side of the story - that the officer did not attempt to break up the dogs before drawing his weapon and firing.
The family later learned from other residents that it was apparently the off-duty officer’s first time at the park. According to other residents it was the officer’s wife who typically brought the shepherd to the park alone, and always on leash, as it seemed skittish - that the off-duty officer, her husband, had not accompanied her in the past.
Once the Anne Arundel County Police and Animal Control arrived, Stephen informed the officers that Bear-Bear was not his dog, and he was instructed by the police to retrieve Bear-Bear’s owner. A member of Animal Control also told Stephen that if the dog wasn’t taken to a vet for treatment, he (Stephen) would be charged with animal cruelty ... as Stephen rushed home to get Ryan, leaving Bear-Bear alone in the run, bleeding, both the police and Animal Control remained outside the fenced in area.
When Ryan arrived and rushed to attend to his wounded pet, an Anne Arundel County Police Officer instructed Ryan to stop. Ryan, visibly upset, insisted several times that he wanted to go to his wounded dog, at which point an Anne Arundel County officer reportedly pulled and pointed a taser at Ryan’s chest and ordered him to stop. Ryan knew that if he was tased, he would not be able to help Bear-Bear, so he complied, at which point the officer lowered the taser and told Ryan to go to his dog, but not to move him.
When Ryan approached Bear-Bear, his dog rolled onto his back as he always did to receive belly scratches, the same officer that pulled the taser yelled to Ryan that he was told not to move his dog. While Animal Control and Ryan moved Bear-Bear onto a stretcher, the County police officers were talking to the now identified Off-duty Federal Officer and his wife and were also petting the German Shepherd.
The family is not sure of what procedures were followed, or not followed in regard to the off-duty officer firing his weapon. Newly passed legislation HR-218 (also known as the “Law Enforcement Officer’s Safety Act”) allows off-duty officers to carry weapons under certain conditions. However, a number of questions remain unanswered:
Ryan transported Bear-Bear to the Anne Arundel Veterinary Emergency Clinic, where veterinarians subsequently performed exploratory surgery to determine the severity of Bear-Bear’s wounds. The officer had fired on 9mm HydraShok round into Bear-Bear's abdomen.
A HydraShok is similar to a hollow-point round, except that the tip of the round is sliced during manufacturing so that when it is used - the round not only spreads out to a much wider width than the tip of the round, but actually peals open into a star-like shape, or shatters completely sending fragments through the target’s body. It is designed to inflict maximum damage, and that is exactly what it did to Bear-Bear.
One round from the off-duty officer’s personal weapon resulted in a ruptured colon and kidney, it completely severed the pancreas, and perforated Bear-Bear’s intestines five times. Severe blood loss would require many blood transfusions, and there was doubt that the pancreas could successfully be reconnected.
Some readers to the many articles covering this incident have speculated that the dog could have been saved, but money was an issue:
“... we would have spent more...” Rachel said. “... they did exploratory because they said if they had gone in, there might not be a chance, but if [the] exploratory surgery [revealed] there might be a chance, we would have paid... we would have paid $10,000. I would have never gone back to school, I would have taken a second job, and we would have done all of the physical therapy possible. I could never have lived with myself if we had just said it was too much money.” Ryan added that they just couldn’t go home not knowing they hadn’t given Bear-Bear every chance to survive. “It took a $1.00 bullet to rip all of this away from us.” Ryan added sadly.
With his survival at a minimum, the family was allowed just a few minutes alone with Bear-Bear. A few last moments to convey their love and grief for a dog who’s life started so horribly; whose future looked so bright thanks to a rescue organization and subsequent adoption by two young newlyweds; a life cut short after only 3 years in a split second of what appears to be a senseless act.
At 12:15 A.M on August 3, 2010, Bear-Bear’s suffering ended as the veterinarians put him to sleep, a little more than six hours after the shooting.
Tuesday morning, August 3, 2010, when the couple arrived at the Anne Arundel County Western District Headquarters - they encountered a vacant building and a red phone with poor reception. They just wanted some answers. What was being done? What was their recourse? Could they get a copy of the police report? Were they required to file charges? They found that a police report wouldn’t be available (standard procedure) for 3-4 days, but that the case had already been closed. When they asked to speak to someone in person, they were told that officers at the scene were not on shift, but after insisting on speaking to an officer, one came out to speak with them. He informed them that the case was closed, and that their only other recourse was a civil charge. They were also told that Stephen was evasive during questioning. “I actually have neighbors telling me that when they were watching them talk to Stephen, it looked like they were interrogating him, they weren’t even talking to him like a human being...” Ryan said.
Rachel, and her brother Stephen, come from a law enforcement family. Their Grandfather was a Baltimore City Homicide Detective, and from a young age they were “raised with the utmost respect for police officers, fire fighters, anyone that gives to civil service” according to Rachel. “... but there’s always going to be a bad apple, so this is just about bringing out [the fact] that he can’t hide behind a badge, that he did wrong and its not ok.”
“From what I’ve heard, when he identified himself as a Federal Officer, they absolutely went with the assumption that the HR 218 Act, which allows all Federal officers carry arms across the United States, they thought he fell under that jurisdiction...” Ryan responded when asked why he felt the county closed the case so quickly. “... so they didn’t bother to investigate, because alright, that’s your word, great.” He further feels that this on-the-scene determination ruined their chance to accurately investigate. “They didn’t even know there were witnesses. There were a couple of kids sitting on this green box...” he points to a small green utility box on the edge of the park “... and one kid on a bicycle that a TV station found” who corroborates Stephen’s story. “... it amazed me that how could you not go to these houses and ask if anyone was looking out their window, was anyone in their backyard, no one was walking through?” Rachel stated incredulously. “Yes, Stephen, Bear-Bear and this German Shepherd were alone in this park, but look at it now, there’s people everywhere, driving and walking their dogs.”
Prompted by their parents, Rachel called the news desk at WBAL and the Baltimore Sun. “The Baltimore Sun has been vastly instrumental in getting this whole thing out there” Ryan said thankful for their assistance in spreading the word. Once word spread from the Sun article, the family then appeared on WBAL Radio with C4 and other local media outlets. Word also spread when a post from a member of Tails of the Tundra cross-posted the article on Facebook and ignited a fire of angry dog owners. Two Facebook groups; “Justice for Bear Bear”, and the similarly named “Justice for Bear-Bear” were started. Combined the pages now have thousands of international members, and membership continues to grow daily.
The family is overwhelmed and thankful for all of the support they have received, stating that it gives them the strength to continue.
The public outcry reached the office of John Leopold, Anne Arundel County Executive, - himself a dog owner - on Wednesday morning and he demanded the case be re-opened and thoroughly investigated. Within hours of that announcement, the Anne Arundel County Police Chief released a statement that the investigation was ongoing. The National Humane Society is now working with the Anne Arundel Police Department to investigate the matter. The family reached out to PETA, but their automated voicemail states that they do not become involved in matters of police involved shootings because it is far too common.
Later that evening the Fort Meyer Police Department. where off-duty officer who shot Bear-Bear is employed, issued a press release. In that release the FMPD stated that the officer had been on annual vacation during the incident, and that he had been cleared of any wrong doing by the Anne Arundel County Police Department who had jurisdiction over the incident - and that the officer was returning to work the following day (Thursday).
When asked how this matter would have been handled if the shooter had been a civilian, the family stated they were convinced it would have been handled much differently. “They would have come out and confiscated the weapon, which they did not take his weapon, they probably would have taken him to jail, they probably would have given him a breathalyzer... there were a lot of things that would have been handled differently had it been civilian-based.” said Ryan. “And we probably would have been treated, or at least my brother, as victims rather than someone that needed to be interrogated.” added Rachel
It should be noted that it is unknown whether or not the off-duty officer who shot Bear-Bear was tested for drugs or alcohol, but that a standard checkbox on the police report (which is now publicly available online) indicates there was no drug or alcohol use involved in the incident.
As to readers comments that charge the Rettaliata’s are using this incident as a catalyst for financial gain through a public lawsuit of the officer or his department the family again strongly disagrees. Breaking down into tears, Rachel stated that “... financial gain will never bring Bear-Bear back, no amount of money will ever bring him back to us ... its about claiming responsibility.” They feel strongly that Bear-Bear deserves a fair investigation, the officer needs to face up the split-decision that he made on Monday night - a decision that left a beloved family member dead. They feel that he doesn’t deserve to carry a weapon or be relied upon to serve on a police force, whose purpose is to protect and serve the people.
The community also expressed a lot of concern for their safety with the off-duty officer in the area. Residents were shocked by their new neighbor after the shooting, stating that he and his wife were yelling at them saying things like “what would you do if you dog were attacked” and “you didn’t see anything”. They also state that he was strutting around acting like a hero.
Some residents are now hesitant to come back to the park knowing that the off-duty officer lives in the area. “Its not the place it was anymore, it won’t be for a long time...” Rachel said sadly, “... but it is a safe place, not everyone runs to the dog park with guns on their hips...” Ryan added that the dog park is the community meeting place for dog owners, reminiscing how his dog played joyfully with the other dogs and even children, citing how his neighbor’s 2-year old child “... just runs up to my dog and jumps on his neck and hugs him, so ... bringing him down here was a very safe situation for us, and I would really, it would break my heart if people stopped showing up and that part of the community stopped to exist... that would be a travesty.”
On August 5th, at 6:30 pm under storm darkened skies and rain, local supporters gathered at the Quail Run dog park, an impromptu meeting arranged through one of the Facebook groups. Citizens brought
their dogs, children, flowers, and signs to show their support and condolences for Bear-Bear. Three local law enforcement officers stood at a respectful distance from the gathering. Local media had earlier reported a “police presence” for the event, as it was expected to be a very emotionally charged gathering. Those fears however were ill-formed, participants simply gathered near the fenced in dog run and talked amongst themselves and comforted the Rettaliata family despite the continued rain.
At one point, Ryan strode across the park and shook the hands of each of the three officers - thanking them for coming.
Most of the participants were regular visitors to the many Maryland dog parks,
and discussed how they were prepared to deal with some unruly dogs, possible issues, even fights during their visits, but none could fathom the possibility that an armed person could simply shoot their dog, no matter what the circumstances. Some explained their methods for peacefully breaking up dog fights. How leashed dogs can feel constrained and vulnerable when approached by an unleashed dog and how it was the sometimes written and always unwritten rule of dog park etiquette to immediately remove the leash after entering.
In the rain, as unleashed dogs playfully ran within the confines of the dog run, with their excited yaps, and sometimes growling rough play, Ryan spoke to the crowd and expressed his family's thanks for the outpouring of support and condolences.
A representative from the County Executive's office reiterated Mr. Leopold's promise of a full and thorough investigation of the matter.
At one point, Ryan was asked to identify the shooter. His response was to emphasize that due to high tension and comments made online, he would not release the man's name, adding that we all needed to allow the justice system to run it's proper course. Retaliation against the man or his dog isn't an acceptable option or a solution Ryan stated.
Behind the Rettaliata’s, in the dog run where Bear-Bear had been shot, a dog stopped and sniffed at the spot where Bear spent his final moments in the dog park he loved as the rain slowly came to an end and rainbow appeared in the distance.
Like many of you, we have been following the tragedy of Bear-Bear, the Siberian Husky who was shot and killed on Monday August 2, 2010 in the community of Quail Run - a sub-division of Severn, Maryland. Hearing about a meeting to show support for the family, we felt compelled to attend. After the meeting at the park where Bear-Bear lost his life, we caught up the the Rettaliata's and asked them if they would be willing to talk to us and address some difficult questions about the incident. They agreed - what follows is the story of Bear-Bear and how his life was tragically cut short in an instant.
The officer who killed Bear-Bear was not available for comment.
August 5, 2010
8:00pm
When asked why they brought their dog to the Quail Run Dog park, the Rettaliatas said that prior to moving to the community nearly a year ago, they had lived in an apartment. The allure of the community dog park just made them want to live here even more so. It would enable their dogs could get proper exercise, provide an opportunity to socialize with other dogs, and enjoy themselves in a safe and secure fenced in area. Rachel sadly recounted that “... I think it was Bear-Bear’s favorite place, so I think that’s what is really tragic” about the incident.
While not an “official” Anne Arundel County Dog Park, the Quail Run Dog park is privately owned, and considered a “dog run”. All of the residents who bring their dogs to the park allow their dogs to run off-leash in the run. There is reason for this - - experienced dog owners know that, generally, leashed dogs are more protective and aggressive when approached by other, unrestrained, animals.
Ryan recounted one of many occasions in which there where at least 15 dogs, including Bear-Bear, inside the run, playing, chasing, and having fun with no incidents or issues. He further stated that his neighbor’s small child would regularly run up to Bear-Bear outside of the dog park, jump on him and hug him. After the incident, they were told that no report would be filed by Anne Arundel County Animal Control, as neither of the dogs had received bite wounds, or scratches, and that no humans had been bitten or injured.
Stephen Kurinij, brother to Rachel, was at the park with Bear-Bear at the time of the shooting. Stephen regularly brought Bear-Bear to the park and was a regular at the nightly 6:30pm gathering of dog owners. Stephen told us that he was already in the fenced dog park with an unleashed Bear-Bear when a couple with their leashed German Shepherd approached the dog park. The couple asked if Bear-Bear was friendly, to which Stephen replied that he was, and the couple stated that their dog, Asia, was also friendly and entered the fenced in area, with Asia still on the leash. Stephen was approximately 7 feet away from the couple, and saw Bear-Bear running up to greet the new dog in the enclosure and initiated play. He said that the rough-housing, which was common and expected in Stephen’s experience at the dog part escalated quickly, with both dogs rearing up on their hind legs. Stephen said that he felt the wife panicked as Asia, the couple’s German Shepherd, began tugging her as she held on to the leash.
It was at this point, the man, yelled at Stephen to “go get your dog, break them up”, and as Stephen processed that information, then began to retrieve Bear-Bear, the man took two steps back, drew out a Glock 17 9mm pistol, aimed, and shot Bear-Bear. It was only after the man called 911 that he inform Stephen of his status as an off-duty Federal Police Officer. Stephen refutes the shooter’s claim that the he had tried to break up the “fight” and was subsequently attacked by Bear-Bear prior to the actual shooting.
While it is not uncommon for two parties to dispute the facts of any legal incident - it is important to note that the officers report clearly states that there were no other witnesses to the event. To the knowledge of the Rettaliata’s and their neighbors to whom we spoke - the investigating officers apparently failed to check any of the homes which border on three sides of the park to determine if anyone else had seen the event. However, after only a few short minutes ABC2 News was able to discover an eye-witness who, in a video interview, corroborated Stephen’s side of the story - that the officer did not attempt to break up the dogs before drawing his weapon and firing.
The family later learned from other residents that it was apparently the off-duty officer’s first time at the park. According to other residents it was the officer’s wife who typically brought the shepherd to the park alone, and always on leash, as it seemed skittish - that the off-duty officer, her husband, had not accompanied her in the past.
Once the Anne Arundel County Police and Animal Control arrived, Stephen informed the officers that Bear-Bear was not his dog, and he was instructed by the police to retrieve Bear-Bear’s owner. A member of Animal Control also told Stephen that if the dog wasn’t taken to a vet for treatment, he (Stephen) would be charged with animal cruelty ... as Stephen rushed home to get Ryan, leaving Bear-Bear alone in the run, bleeding, both the police and Animal Control remained outside the fenced in area.
When Ryan arrived and rushed to attend to his wounded pet, an Anne Arundel County Police Officer instructed Ryan to stop. Ryan, visibly upset, insisted several times that he wanted to go to his wounded dog, at which point an Anne Arundel County officer reportedly pulled and pointed a taser at Ryan’s chest and ordered him to stop. Ryan knew that if he was tased, he would not be able to help Bear-Bear, so he complied, at which point the officer lowered the taser and told Ryan to go to his dog, but not to move him.
When Ryan approached Bear-Bear, his dog rolled onto his back as he always did to receive belly scratches, the same officer that pulled the taser yelled to Ryan that he was told not to move his dog. While Animal Control and Ryan moved Bear-Bear onto a stretcher, the County police officers were talking to the now identified Off-duty Federal Officer and his wife and were also petting the German Shepherd.
The family is not sure of what procedures were followed, or not followed in regard to the off-duty officer firing his weapon. Newly passed legislation HR-218 (also known as the “Law Enforcement Officer’s Safety Act”) allows off-duty officers to carry weapons under certain conditions. However, a number of questions remain unanswered:
- Under this legislation, are off-duty officers required to identify themselves prior to taking any lethal action?
- Are officers who are involved in off-duty shootings required to undergo blood alcohol and drug testing?
- Following a such a shooting, is the firearm in question confiscated until the investigation ends?
- Wouldn’t it be standard procedure to suspend or place such an officer on suspended leave until the investigation was over?
- Whether HR 218 (which specifically states that it does not supersede state laws which prohibit the carrying of off-duty weapons to certain locations including public parks) even applies in this case.
- How are citizens who are obviously not allowed to carry weapons into dog parks expected to react in such situations - and why didn’t the off-duty officer respond in that way?
Ryan transported Bear-Bear to the Anne Arundel Veterinary Emergency Clinic, where veterinarians subsequently performed exploratory surgery to determine the severity of Bear-Bear’s wounds. The officer had fired on 9mm HydraShok round into Bear-Bear's abdomen.
A HydraShok is similar to a hollow-point round, except that the tip of the round is sliced during manufacturing so that when it is used - the round not only spreads out to a much wider width than the tip of the round, but actually peals open into a star-like shape, or shatters completely sending fragments through the target’s body. It is designed to inflict maximum damage, and that is exactly what it did to Bear-Bear.
One round from the off-duty officer’s personal weapon resulted in a ruptured colon and kidney, it completely severed the pancreas, and perforated Bear-Bear’s intestines five times. Severe blood loss would require many blood transfusions, and there was doubt that the pancreas could successfully be reconnected.
Some readers to the many articles covering this incident have speculated that the dog could have been saved, but money was an issue:
“... we would have spent more...” Rachel said. “... they did exploratory because they said if they had gone in, there might not be a chance, but if [the] exploratory surgery [revealed] there might be a chance, we would have paid... we would have paid $10,000. I would have never gone back to school, I would have taken a second job, and we would have done all of the physical therapy possible. I could never have lived with myself if we had just said it was too much money.” Ryan added that they just couldn’t go home not knowing they hadn’t given Bear-Bear every chance to survive. “It took a $1.00 bullet to rip all of this away from us.” Ryan added sadly.
With his survival at a minimum, the family was allowed just a few minutes alone with Bear-Bear. A few last moments to convey their love and grief for a dog who’s life started so horribly; whose future looked so bright thanks to a rescue organization and subsequent adoption by two young newlyweds; a life cut short after only 3 years in a split second of what appears to be a senseless act.
At 12:15 A.M on August 3, 2010, Bear-Bear’s suffering ended as the veterinarians put him to sleep, a little more than six hours after the shooting.
Tuesday morning, August 3, 2010, when the couple arrived at the Anne Arundel County Western District Headquarters - they encountered a vacant building and a red phone with poor reception. They just wanted some answers. What was being done? What was their recourse? Could they get a copy of the police report? Were they required to file charges? They found that a police report wouldn’t be available (standard procedure) for 3-4 days, but that the case had already been closed. When they asked to speak to someone in person, they were told that officers at the scene were not on shift, but after insisting on speaking to an officer, one came out to speak with them. He informed them that the case was closed, and that their only other recourse was a civil charge. They were also told that Stephen was evasive during questioning. “I actually have neighbors telling me that when they were watching them talk to Stephen, it looked like they were interrogating him, they weren’t even talking to him like a human being...” Ryan said.
Rachel, and her brother Stephen, come from a law enforcement family. Their Grandfather was a Baltimore City Homicide Detective, and from a young age they were “raised with the utmost respect for police officers, fire fighters, anyone that gives to civil service” according to Rachel. “... but there’s always going to be a bad apple, so this is just about bringing out [the fact] that he can’t hide behind a badge, that he did wrong and its not ok.”
“From what I’ve heard, when he identified himself as a Federal Officer, they absolutely went with the assumption that the HR 218 Act, which allows all Federal officers carry arms across the United States, they thought he fell under that jurisdiction...” Ryan responded when asked why he felt the county closed the case so quickly. “... so they didn’t bother to investigate, because alright, that’s your word, great.” He further feels that this on-the-scene determination ruined their chance to accurately investigate. “They didn’t even know there were witnesses. There were a couple of kids sitting on this green box...” he points to a small green utility box on the edge of the park “... and one kid on a bicycle that a TV station found” who corroborates Stephen’s story. “... it amazed me that how could you not go to these houses and ask if anyone was looking out their window, was anyone in their backyard, no one was walking through?” Rachel stated incredulously. “Yes, Stephen, Bear-Bear and this German Shepherd were alone in this park, but look at it now, there’s people everywhere, driving and walking their dogs.”
Prompted by their parents, Rachel called the news desk at WBAL and the Baltimore Sun. “The Baltimore Sun has been vastly instrumental in getting this whole thing out there” Ryan said thankful for their assistance in spreading the word. Once word spread from the Sun article, the family then appeared on WBAL Radio with C4 and other local media outlets. Word also spread when a post from a member of Tails of the Tundra cross-posted the article on Facebook and ignited a fire of angry dog owners. Two Facebook groups; “Justice for Bear Bear”, and the similarly named “Justice for Bear-Bear” were started. Combined the pages now have thousands of international members, and membership continues to grow daily.
The family is overwhelmed and thankful for all of the support they have received, stating that it gives them the strength to continue.
The public outcry reached the office of John Leopold, Anne Arundel County Executive, - himself a dog owner - on Wednesday morning and he demanded the case be re-opened and thoroughly investigated. Within hours of that announcement, the Anne Arundel County Police Chief released a statement that the investigation was ongoing. The National Humane Society is now working with the Anne Arundel Police Department to investigate the matter. The family reached out to PETA, but their automated voicemail states that they do not become involved in matters of police involved shootings because it is far too common.
Later that evening the Fort Meyer Police Department. where off-duty officer who shot Bear-Bear is employed, issued a press release. In that release the FMPD stated that the officer had been on annual vacation during the incident, and that he had been cleared of any wrong doing by the Anne Arundel County Police Department who had jurisdiction over the incident - and that the officer was returning to work the following day (Thursday).
When asked how this matter would have been handled if the shooter had been a civilian, the family stated they were convinced it would have been handled much differently. “They would have come out and confiscated the weapon, which they did not take his weapon, they probably would have taken him to jail, they probably would have given him a breathalyzer... there were a lot of things that would have been handled differently had it been civilian-based.” said Ryan. “And we probably would have been treated, or at least my brother, as victims rather than someone that needed to be interrogated.” added Rachel
It should be noted that it is unknown whether or not the off-duty officer who shot Bear-Bear was tested for drugs or alcohol, but that a standard checkbox on the police report (which is now publicly available online) indicates there was no drug or alcohol use involved in the incident.
As to readers comments that charge the Rettaliata’s are using this incident as a catalyst for financial gain through a public lawsuit of the officer or his department the family again strongly disagrees. Breaking down into tears, Rachel stated that “... financial gain will never bring Bear-Bear back, no amount of money will ever bring him back to us ... its about claiming responsibility.” They feel strongly that Bear-Bear deserves a fair investigation, the officer needs to face up the split-decision that he made on Monday night - a decision that left a beloved family member dead. They feel that he doesn’t deserve to carry a weapon or be relied upon to serve on a police force, whose purpose is to protect and serve the people.
The community also expressed a lot of concern for their safety with the off-duty officer in the area. Residents were shocked by their new neighbor after the shooting, stating that he and his wife were yelling at them saying things like “what would you do if you dog were attacked” and “you didn’t see anything”. They also state that he was strutting around acting like a hero.
Some residents are now hesitant to come back to the park knowing that the off-duty officer lives in the area. “Its not the place it was anymore, it won’t be for a long time...” Rachel said sadly, “... but it is a safe place, not everyone runs to the dog park with guns on their hips...” Ryan added that the dog park is the community meeting place for dog owners, reminiscing how his dog played joyfully with the other dogs and even children, citing how his neighbor’s 2-year old child “... just runs up to my dog and jumps on his neck and hugs him, so ... bringing him down here was a very safe situation for us, and I would really, it would break my heart if people stopped showing up and that part of the community stopped to exist... that would be a travesty.”
their dogs, children, flowers, and signs to show their support and condolences for Bear-Bear. Three local law enforcement officers stood at a respectful distance from the gathering. Local media had earlier reported a “police presence” for the event, as it was expected to be a very emotionally charged gathering. Those fears however were ill-formed, participants simply gathered near the fenced in dog run and talked amongst themselves and comforted the Rettaliata family despite the continued rain.
At one point, Ryan strode across the park and shook the hands of each of the three officers - thanking them for coming.
Most of the participants were regular visitors to the many Maryland dog parks,
A representative from the County Executive's office reiterated Mr. Leopold's promise of a full and thorough investigation of the matter.
At one point, Ryan was asked to identify the shooter. His response was to emphasize that due to high tension and comments made online, he would not release the man's name, adding that we all needed to allow the justice system to run it's proper course. Retaliation against the man or his dog isn't an acceptable option or a solution Ryan stated.
Behind the Rettaliata’s, in the dog run where Bear-Bear had been shot, a dog stopped and sniffed at the spot where Bear spent his final moments in the dog park he loved as the rain slowly came to an end and rainbow appeared in the distance.
More Outpouring of support for Bear-Bear (and a Mutatoe Incident)
As we wait for the slow wheels of justice to grind, I wanted to share the outpouring of concern and support from the Dog Blogging community. This is just a small example of those who support Bear-Bear:
Indy’s Corner
Khyra’s Khorner
The Thundering Herd
Jan’s Funny Farm
The Magicsleighdogs
Cyber Sibes
Stumpy’s Daily Dose ‘o’ Dirtville
Biloxi’s Blue No More
Holly’s House
Juniorbabee and Orion
Ozzball or Ozzie
I’d post more, but my paw was cramping from all the cutting and pasting.
On a lighter note, the humans have been very distraught over Bear-Bear’s death. They’ve been a bit on edge and sleep deprived, but paying a LOT more attention and lavishing us with goodies because they know even more how precious life is (we dogs keep trying to tell them, but do they listen? NOOOOO!).
Anyhoo, yesterday the human woman was out back with the Mutatoe and from Mutatoe says, he cornered a 4-foot long vicious reptile. He told me that he subdued it, but it escaped and slithered away like the coward it was.
Here is an actual picture of the not so evil Maryland Black Rat Snake:
Here is what actually happened when Mutatoe encountered the Maryland Black Rat Snake:
Luckily, the snake was unable to swallow Mutatoe because of his ample ass.
Indy’s Corner
Khyra’s Khorner
The Thundering Herd
Jan’s Funny Farm
The Magicsleighdogs
Cyber Sibes
Stumpy’s Daily Dose ‘o’ Dirtville
Biloxi’s Blue No More
Holly’s House
Juniorbabee and Orion
Ozzball or Ozzie
I’d post more, but my paw was cramping from all the cutting and pasting.
On a lighter note, the humans have been very distraught over Bear-Bear’s death. They’ve been a bit on edge and sleep deprived, but paying a LOT more attention and lavishing us with goodies because they know even more how precious life is (we dogs keep trying to tell them, but do they listen? NOOOOO!).
Anyhoo, yesterday the human woman was out back with the Mutatoe and from Mutatoe says, he cornered a 4-foot long vicious reptile. He told me that he subdued it, but it escaped and slithered away like the coward it was.
Here is an actual picture of the not so evil Maryland Black Rat Snake:
Here is what actually happened when Mutatoe encountered the Maryland Black Rat Snake:
Friday, August 06, 2010
Keep your eye on the ball (Justice for Bear-Bear)
Hey everypup, kit, hamsterrier,
My humans had the opportunity to go to the community gathering for Bear-Bear last night at the Quail Run Dog Park. It was stormy, so I opted not to go, as we all know how much I like thunder and lightening (not). From their report, there were a lot of pups and humans there, joined together to honor our fallen Husky (he will receive a posthumous membership in the Husky United Liberation Army - HULA soon). It was also reported in the news that there would be a large police presence as this issue was very emotional. There were three uniformed representatives of the Anne Arundel County Police department in attendance. Calling them a large police presence is a bit... over dramatic I would say, which brings me to my point:
We need to keep our eye on the ball. Although not something a lot of huskies are interested in (you throw the ball, you can go get it yourself), it sounds a lot better than: keep your eye on the fledgling bird, and we all know how that usually turns out, especially if Mutatoe is involved, and that's NOT the point I want to make.
We all get very angry when a breed of dog goes rogue and does something bad and the humans call for a breed ban, and new laws, and blah blah. Placing blame on an entire police force (Anne Arundel County, or DoD Federal Police) is the same thing.
There are MANY good police people out there doing good for humans and dogs, cats, etc., and we can't just lump the actions of one human into the whole of the law enforcement community. Even though the initial investigation was handled... not very well at all, we can't blame the entire police force for that either. The investigation is ongoing, thanks to the wonderful support of pups like you, and it will be done thoroughly, honestly, and completely, and only then can we lay the paw of blame (if any).
We must focus on the human that shot Bear-Bear. He will be investigated and the human justice system will determine what (if anything) happens to him. Whether we agree or not, we must not jump to conclusions (it just wears you out, all of that jumping), we must not pre-judge (because I wouldn't like it if people thought I might be a killer wolf based just on my stunning good looks), and we must continue to insist that justice be served, without being totally obnoxious or evil about it. In Mutatoe's own words: you catch more fledgling birds if you sit there and be patient until they fall into your mouth, or something equally weird like that. The lesson is: we let them know that we are sitting under the nest with our mouths open, its up to them to do the right thing and fly straight out of the yard. Yeah, I know its a strange analogy, but how else do you make sense of what the Mutatoe says?
Meeshka
My humans had the opportunity to go to the community gathering for Bear-Bear last night at the Quail Run Dog Park. It was stormy, so I opted not to go, as we all know how much I like thunder and lightening (not). From their report, there were a lot of pups and humans there, joined together to honor our fallen Husky (he will receive a posthumous membership in the Husky United Liberation Army - HULA soon). It was also reported in the news that there would be a large police presence as this issue was very emotional. There were three uniformed representatives of the Anne Arundel County Police department in attendance. Calling them a large police presence is a bit... over dramatic I would say, which brings me to my point:We need to keep our eye on the ball. Although not something a lot of huskies are interested in (you throw the ball, you can go get it yourself), it sounds a lot better than: keep your eye on the fledgling bird, and we all know how that usually turns out, especially if Mutatoe is involved, and that's NOT the point I want to make.
We all get very angry when a breed of dog goes rogue and does something bad and the humans call for a breed ban, and new laws, and blah blah. Placing blame on an entire police force (Anne Arundel County, or DoD Federal Police) is the same thing.
There are MANY good police people out there doing good for humans and dogs, cats, etc., and we can't just lump the actions of one human into the whole of the law enforcement community. Even though the initial investigation was handled... not very well at all, we can't blame the entire police force for that either. The investigation is ongoing, thanks to the wonderful support of pups like you, and it will be done thoroughly, honestly, and completely, and only then can we lay the paw of blame (if any).
We must focus on the human that shot Bear-Bear. He will be investigated and the human justice system will determine what (if anything) happens to him. Whether we agree or not, we must not jump to conclusions (it just wears you out, all of that jumping), we must not pre-judge (because I wouldn't like it if people thought I might be a killer wolf based just on my stunning good looks), and we must continue to insist that justice be served, without being totally obnoxious or evil about it. In Mutatoe's own words: you catch more fledgling birds if you sit there and be patient until they fall into your mouth, or something equally weird like that. The lesson is: we let them know that we are sitting under the nest with our mouths open, its up to them to do the right thing and fly straight out of the yard. Yeah, I know its a strange analogy, but how else do you make sense of what the Mutatoe says?
Meeshka
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Justice for Bear-Bear
Everypup, kitty, hamsterrier... I have something very serious that I want all of you to do.
On Monday, 2 August 2010, in my community, a wonderful husky named Bear-Bear was shot and killed in a local community dog park.
Bear-Bear was adopted from Tails of the Tundra Siberian Husky Rescue, which is where Sam the Spineless Bionic Hip/Knee pup, and Loki came from.
On Monday, while Bear was playing in the fenced in dog park, like he did most nights at the same time, an off duty DoD officer arrived with his wife, and his German Shepherd, Asia, on leash. According to Bear's caretaker, the dogs were playing, when the Officer felt they were playing too rough, demanded the caretaker get Bear, then stepped back, pulled a 9mm handgun and shot Bear.
Anne Arundel County Police and Animal Control arrived and proceeded to stand outside the fenced area questioning the officer and Bear's guardian, while Bear lay on the dirt dying. Witness accounts say that they treated the officer like an old friend, while they held a taser on the guardian and wouldn't let him enter the pen and help Bear. Eventually he was allowed in, Bear was loaded on a stretcher and taken to the Annapolis Emergency Vet. Nothing could be done to save Bear, as the bullet (a hollow point) had pierced several of Bear's internal organs. He was put to sleep.
The Officer stated that Bear had jumped on his dog and bit him, then when the Officer tried to get Bear off his dog, Bear lunged and tried to bite him then bit his dog a second time. Witnesses, who the police did not interview say otherwise. Animal Control did not file a report because they found no bite marks or injuries to either dog, except for Bear's lethal gunshot wound.
County police closed the case and stated that there was no criminal charges.
We need your help! A massive social network movement is underway to get justice for Bear-Bear! We have succeeded in informing the County Executive to re-open this case. We want you to keep the pressure on the county, the county police, and the Federal Officer's workplace. His employer currently states that no charges will be filed and he will be returning to work tomorrow (5 August 2010).
It doesn't matter if you live in Anne Arundel County Maryland, please call and demand justice for Bear:
John Leopold, Anne Arundel County Executive
(410) 222-1821
jleopold@aacounty.org
Anne Arundel County Police Western District
(410) 222-6155
P02438@aacounty.org
Fort Myer Public Relations (Officer's workplace)
(703) 696-0596
Director of Public Affairs
(703) 696-4979
John the facebook support page:
and the Justice for Bear-Bear support page on Facebook
If you would like to contribute to Bear-Bear's medical expenses go to paypal and send your donation to k.rettaliata@gmail.com
Everyone has permission to cross post this blog posting to the world!
On Monday, 2 August 2010, in my community, a wonderful husky named Bear-Bear was shot and killed in a local community dog park.
Bear-Bear was adopted from Tails of the Tundra Siberian Husky Rescue, which is where Sam the Spineless Bionic Hip/Knee pup, and Loki came from.
Anne Arundel County Police and Animal Control arrived and proceeded to stand outside the fenced area questioning the officer and Bear's guardian, while Bear lay on the dirt dying. Witness accounts say that they treated the officer like an old friend, while they held a taser on the guardian and wouldn't let him enter the pen and help Bear. Eventually he was allowed in, Bear was loaded on a stretcher and taken to the Annapolis Emergency Vet. Nothing could be done to save Bear, as the bullet (a hollow point) had pierced several of Bear's internal organs. He was put to sleep.
The Officer stated that Bear had jumped on his dog and bit him, then when the Officer tried to get Bear off his dog, Bear lunged and tried to bite him then bit his dog a second time. Witnesses, who the police did not interview say otherwise. Animal Control did not file a report because they found no bite marks or injuries to either dog, except for Bear's lethal gunshot wound.
County police closed the case and stated that there was no criminal charges.
We need your help! A massive social network movement is underway to get justice for Bear-Bear! We have succeeded in informing the County Executive to re-open this case. We want you to keep the pressure on the county, the county police, and the Federal Officer's workplace. His employer currently states that no charges will be filed and he will be returning to work tomorrow (5 August 2010).
It doesn't matter if you live in Anne Arundel County Maryland, please call and demand justice for Bear:
John Leopold, Anne Arundel County Executive
(410) 222-1821
jleopold@aacounty.org
Anne Arundel County Police Western District
(410) 222-6155
P02438@aacounty.org
Fort Myer Public Relations (Officer's workplace)
(703) 696-0596
Director of Public Affairs
(703) 696-4979
John the facebook support page:
and the Justice for Bear-Bear support page on Facebook
If you would like to contribute to Bear-Bear's medical expenses go to paypal and send your donation to k.rettaliata@gmail.com
Everyone has permission to cross post this blog posting to the world!
Sunday, August 01, 2010
I want a raise
Its food time, and I want food. What do I get? I get this crap:
I mean, good GAH! How much do I have to put up with before I get out the claw!
Meeshka
I mean, good GAH! How much do I have to put up with before I get out the claw!
Meeshka
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Sharing
Its time to revisit the concept of "sharing" again. I'm pretty sure that in past posts I've made it very clear that:
Before I could officially ask him for it, the human woman came outside, saw us in conference, yelled at us, grabbed a plastic bag, and started her run out to us. Typically this ends with the Mutatoe spewing the tasty, dead thing out for the human woman (because he's such a suck up mamby pamby momma's boy), and the tasty dead thing gets tossed over the fence.
I didn't know whether to be proud or angry when he chewed and swallowed it. On one hand, there's the defiance of not kowtowing to the human woman and relinquishing the delicacy... but then there's this whole "I didn't get mine" thing. It looked pretty tasty too. Just to be on the safe side, I threw him to the ground and stomped on him, just so he's clear that the procedure should have been: ptooey dead thing toward me so that I can snatch it up and swallow it.
He's useless.
Meeshka
- What's mine is mine
- What yours is also mine
- If you refuse to give me what it is yours, I will take it
- Taking things typically involves shedding your blood, so its just easier to hand it to me and don't make me ask for it.
Before I could officially ask him for it, the human woman came outside, saw us in conference, yelled at us, grabbed a plastic bag, and started her run out to us. Typically this ends with the Mutatoe spewing the tasty, dead thing out for the human woman (because he's such a suck up mamby pamby momma's boy), and the tasty dead thing gets tossed over the fence.I didn't know whether to be proud or angry when he chewed and swallowed it. On one hand, there's the defiance of not kowtowing to the human woman and relinquishing the delicacy... but then there's this whole "I didn't get mine" thing. It looked pretty tasty too. Just to be on the safe side, I threw him to the ground and stomped on him, just so he's clear that the procedure should have been: ptooey dead thing toward me so that I can snatch it up and swallow it.
He's useless.
Meeshka
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Shameless Plug
Ok, I had such a large response to my non-trip the other day, that I bring to you:
Get yours here, while the supplies last!
Meeshka
Get yours here, while the supplies last!
Meeshka
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Pupdate
I will refrain from complaining about this horrendous heat here in Merryland... ITS HOT!!! The human woman says that its payback from all of the lovely floofy snow we had this winter when I had my very own Mt. Queen Meeshka snow pile. PFFFT I tell her, then I claw her.
On top of the heat, we've had HORRIBLY LOUD thunderstorms, mainly at night. I've had to claw the human woman out of bed a few nights in the row. She's been curling up downstairs on the couch, but no matter how much I claw, the human man refuses to come downstairs with us. I did manage to claw him down last night, but he just put the gate up and went back to bed. I need to revise my strategy for next time.
So... after putting the stinky cooling bed in MY spot of the bedroom right next to MY air conditioner vent, the human woman FINALLY got the hint that I wasn't going to lay on it and FINALLY moved the stupid thing. She put it out of the way somewhere so they wouldn't step on it... and... well...
It is pretty comfy and cool, and situated nicely right by my spare air conditioner vent so a can stretch out my feety feet to keep them nice and cool. The human woman caught me, then started making a high pitched keening noise. I'm never sure what that's suppose to mean but if she keeps pulling her hair out in clumps, she's going to look sillier than she already does.
So, this week I kept hearing the humans mentioning something about "going" somewhere. I knew that they were planning on taking me to the Dogs With Blogs trip in New York City (where they make salsa) where I could finally meet Brooke and Greg and get to sniff all of the good pee mail that Benson and Opy had sent me. I also had a message from the Mutatoe and the Spineless Bionic Hip/Knee pup Sam for the humans on the loss of their sweet Charlie.
So, on Friday, when the humans started spelling things like LEASH, and CAR, I knew it was time to go. I got myself all floofy and sharpened my dainty little feety feet claws for my formal greeting, and pranced around all happy.
Like clockwork, the harness came out, the leash came out, I got to go out and HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL ITS HOT OUT THERE!!! The front yard seems waaaay much hotter than the back yard, and of all things, my private chauffeur didn't even cool the interior of the personal Queenly RAV vehicle for me! I really need to find better help.
Off we went to New York... except we started heading in a more sourthernly and westernly direction than where New York is located and ....
SONOFA....
I was at the VET! I was FURIOUS! No cavier, no 4-star hotel, no room service? No massage, no champagne, and certainly no fun with the Dogs with Blogs gang.
On top of getting pulled and poked and prodded and jabbed with needles... THEY TRIMMED MY SHARP TALONS!!!! There was nothing I could do, I was simply overwhelmed and they even put a muzzle on me... ON ME!!!!
Oh the woomanity!
Once I was done, I had to poo from all of the trauma AND THEY STOLE THAT FROM ME TOO!!!
Back in the hot Queenly RAV again and THIS time I was sure we were off to New York, the lights, the sounds, the broadway shows... I just needed all of my shots and stuff for travel across state lines, I was sure of it.
Until we pulled up at the house again. Seriously? That's it?
So, to all of the wonderful Dogs with Blogs humans and pups that made it to New York... sorry I couldn't be there. My humans are so lame.
Meeshka
(Cultivating more sharp nails)
On top of the heat, we've had HORRIBLY LOUD thunderstorms, mainly at night. I've had to claw the human woman out of bed a few nights in the row. She's been curling up downstairs on the couch, but no matter how much I claw, the human man refuses to come downstairs with us. I did manage to claw him down last night, but he just put the gate up and went back to bed. I need to revise my strategy for next time.
So... after putting the stinky cooling bed in MY spot of the bedroom right next to MY air conditioner vent, the human woman FINALLY got the hint that I wasn't going to lay on it and FINALLY moved the stupid thing. She put it out of the way somewhere so they wouldn't step on it... and... well...
So, this week I kept hearing the humans mentioning something about "going" somewhere. I knew that they were planning on taking me to the Dogs With Blogs trip in New York City (where they make salsa) where I could finally meet Brooke and Greg and get to sniff all of the good pee mail that Benson and Opy had sent me. I also had a message from the Mutatoe and the Spineless Bionic Hip/Knee pup Sam for the humans on the loss of their sweet Charlie.
So, on Friday, when the humans started spelling things like LEASH, and CAR, I knew it was time to go. I got myself all floofy and sharpened my dainty little feety feet claws for my formal greeting, and pranced around all happy.
Like clockwork, the harness came out, the leash came out, I got to go out and HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL ITS HOT OUT THERE!!! The front yard seems waaaay much hotter than the back yard, and of all things, my private chauffeur didn't even cool the interior of the personal Queenly RAV vehicle for me! I really need to find better help.
Off we went to New York... except we started heading in a more sourthernly and westernly direction than where New York is located and ....
I was at the VET! I was FURIOUS! No cavier, no 4-star hotel, no room service? No massage, no champagne, and certainly no fun with the Dogs with Blogs gang.
On top of getting pulled and poked and prodded and jabbed with needles... THEY TRIMMED MY SHARP TALONS!!!! There was nothing I could do, I was simply overwhelmed and they even put a muzzle on me... ON ME!!!!
Oh the woomanity!
Once I was done, I had to poo from all of the trauma AND THEY STOLE THAT FROM ME TOO!!!
Back in the hot Queenly RAV again and THIS time I was sure we were off to New York, the lights, the sounds, the broadway shows... I just needed all of my shots and stuff for travel across state lines, I was sure of it.
Until we pulled up at the house again. Seriously? That's it?
So, to all of the wonderful Dogs with Blogs humans and pups that made it to New York... sorry I couldn't be there. My humans are so lame.
Meeshka
(Cultivating more sharp nails)
Friday, July 16, 2010
Odds and Ends that aren't really odd, nor the end
Woo everypup, Its me.
Yes, yes, I know, long time no woo again, but seriously, the heat has kept me on the air vent, so I just oozed off to let everypup know of the fantastic article on Turbo!
Go here and get the links, its very cool... but not as cool as my air vent, which I'm running back to now.
Meeshka
Yes, yes, I know, long time no woo again, but seriously, the heat has kept me on the air vent, so I just oozed off to let everypup know of the fantastic article on Turbo!
Go here and get the links, its very cool... but not as cool as my air vent, which I'm running back to now.
Meeshka
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Another Product you won't see from Meeshko
I'm sure you've all seen that annoying commercial where humans buy some stupid product called "Bark Off". (hint for humans: how many times will you get screwed over buying something from the tv when you can wait and get it at most drugstores only to find its a piece of doo doo?... just asking).
The premise is that a human gets a dog, but doesn't like its barking. This is sorta like a human having a baby and not liking its non-stop screaming... don't see any ads for "Baby Off" do you? Nooooo.
My human woman muttered something about getting one for the constant Mutatoe yapping. Despite being a husky (the jury is really still out on that actually) he's got the MOST ANNOYING girly scream yap when he:
1.) wants something
2.) wants to be taken out
3.) can't find the human woman
4.) just because
Frankly, I'd dig into my savings account to make that racket stop, especially when he's doing it, and pawing at me with the spongy mutatoe claw to get me to chase him. Oh yeah, there's gonna be chasing, but I can guarantee you it won't be fun.
Anyhoo, the problem with the human woman getting one of these is that, well, they're stupid and a waste of money that should be used to buy me more cookies.
I think I did convince her not to get the stupid thing, except she said that she had an even better invention that should would be. Something called the Meeshk-off.
I have no idea what she means by this.
Meeshka
The premise is that a human gets a dog, but doesn't like its barking. This is sorta like a human having a baby and not liking its non-stop screaming... don't see any ads for "Baby Off" do you? Nooooo.
My human woman muttered something about getting one for the constant Mutatoe yapping. Despite being a husky (the jury is really still out on that actually) he's got the MOST ANNOYING girly scream yap when he:
1.) wants something
2.) wants to be taken out
3.) can't find the human woman
4.) just because
Frankly, I'd dig into my savings account to make that racket stop, especially when he's doing it, and pawing at me with the spongy mutatoe claw to get me to chase him. Oh yeah, there's gonna be chasing, but I can guarantee you it won't be fun.
Anyhoo, the problem with the human woman getting one of these is that, well, they're stupid and a waste of money that should be used to buy me more cookies.
I think I did convince her not to get the stupid thing, except she said that she had an even better invention that should would be. Something called the Meeshk-off.
I have no idea what she means by this.
Meeshka
Friday, July 02, 2010
The Proper Way to Wake the Human Woman
The Human Woman is getting lazier and lazier lately. She hasn't been getting out of bed promptly at 5am to feed us breakfast. No amount of wooing or clawing seems to work any more.
The Mutatoe came up with a sure-fire way though:
You should have seen her move.
Meeshka
The Mutatoe came up with a sure-fire way though:
Meeshka
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The Leash
This morning the Mutatoe got the 2nd of the 3 fledglings in the deck nest. The human woman has decided that at least one of the tasty snacks has to make it out of the nest, so she's getting the collar and leash out and only taking us out hooked up to her. This is ridiculous.
First of all, she has no idea where my favorite pee spots are, and she keeps trying to lead me over to where the Mutatoe pee spots are... euw, not going there.
Secondly, if the leash comes out, that means going someplace fun, and the back yard is not fun, especially on a leash where we can't chase little fragile squeeky birds that can't fly.
I am NOT amused.
First of all, she has no idea where my favorite pee spots are, and she keeps trying to lead me over to where the Mutatoe pee spots are... euw, not going there.
Secondly, if the leash comes out, that means going someplace fun, and the back yard is not fun, especially on a leash where we can't chase little fragile squeeky birds that can't fly.
I am NOT amused.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Another Brilliant Idea
Yeah, Yeah, I know, its been a while since I've blogged. I've had plenty of ideas to share with all of my many fans, but you know what I have to deal with.Every time I've clawed her to let her know its my turn on the computer, or the iPhone, or the iPad, she just pushes me away, or bribes me with a cookie. I don't tolerate the pushing, but I'll take a cookie any time. Frankly it got to the point where I was bugging her to blog just to get a bunch of cookies and I was so full from getting so many cookies that I didn't feel like blogging anymore. Hmmm, perhaps the human woman isn't as stupid as I thought.
Anyhoo, the latest greatest brilliant idea she's had was to get me a cooling bed. Its something called the Canine Cooler. Its some handy dandy squishy bed that's suppose to keep my nice and cool in the house. Um, that's why air vents were put in floors, but hey, whatever.
The only problem with this thing is that at first it smelled really bad... like new plastic. Overwhelmingly icky new plastic. The human woman tried a few things to make the smell go away, like spray Febreze on it, but that just made it smell like plastic flowers. Then she tried covering it up, but that defeated the whole cooling soothing purpose, so then she decided that the only thing she could do was to rub the Mutatoe all over it. That took out some of the stink, but then it smelled like Mutatoe and who wants to lay on that?
It also feels strange, its all squishy and weird feeling under my feet, so I wasn't too crazy about it. At first I just put my delicate little front feety feet on it, and yes, it was cool and soothing. Then I lay my head on it, but that's where I draw the line! I'm not going any further.
The human woman tried several ways to entice me on the thing:
1.) pushing me onto it. I merely walked over it and jumped on the bed.
2.) pulling me onto it. I merely knocked over the human woman and jumped on the bed.
3.) telling me that I wasn't allowed on it. While a brilliant stroke of reverse psychology, I didn't fall for it.
4.) Telling me that if I didn't like it, I'd give it to the Mutatoe. Mutatoe laughed and said he didn't even want it.
5.) this:
Friday, June 11, 2010
Fledgling Season
Although I prefer grub season (small tasty bits in the ground, you just snoofle their location, dig them up, and enjoy), the Mutatoe likes fledgling season. For me, its just too much work for so little reward.
Chase the squeaking thing, catch the squeaking thing, squish the squeaking thing, listen to the human woman scream, give the non-squeaking thing to the human woman who throws it over the fence, and that's it. No tasty reward for all of that hard work.
This season its been Mutatoe 4, fledgling birds 0. You'd think they'd learn by now.
Chase the squeaking thing, catch the squeaking thing, squish the squeaking thing, listen to the human woman scream, give the non-squeaking thing to the human woman who throws it over the fence, and that's it. No tasty reward for all of that hard work.
This season its been Mutatoe 4, fledgling birds 0. You'd think they'd learn by now.
Sunday, June 06, 2010
I'm Not Moving
I'm pretty sure that I can hold my pee until winter, cuz there's no way I'm leaving this air vent and going outside in 90 degree weather.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
I Want Food NOW!
Now to show my disgust over having to wait for dinner, I'll fling a Kong throughout the house and complain.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Fur Trafficking
I have been inundated with e-mails about the latest "thing" to help soak up all of the oil that's leaking out of some burned down platform in the south.
Apparently stupid humans blew up a stupid oil rig and now oil is leaking out of the bottom of the ocean and threatening to pollute a whole bunch of land. In case you weren't aware... we all live above oil. It leaks out all the time, seriously. Even this "green" know-it-all page says so, but they seem to act as though it would all stop if we didn't use oil, um, no probably a whole heck of a lot more oil would leak out if we were sucking it up and using it, but hey, whatever. If you want to find out just how much oil seeps from the ocean, go check out this all scientificky page and learn (among other things) that "Santa Barbara seeps, for example emit 5,280 to 6,600 gallons (nearly 20 to 25 tons) of oil per day, and natural seeps have been active for hundreds to thousands of years".
Fine, the one in the south is pretty dramatic (because it was a man-made thing, not a natural thing, much like humans freak out about their car exhaust causing global warming, but a volcano spewing more noxious fumes than any humans could produce in a zillion years DOESN'T contribute to global warming) and therefore, if its a man-caused disaster (not to be confused with man-caused disasters that blow up innocent women and children) then man has to fix it... and therefore they are stealing our furs.
Someone has figured out that furry creatures (seals, birds, polar bears, Ron Jeremy, etc.) simply attract oils. They are forever cleaning us off with Dawn dishwashing liquid (gratuitous plug there, thanks in advance for the cases of freebies you'll be sending me), and sending us back into the wilds... only to become covered in oil from some natural seepage, but screw us them, that's nature.
Putting 2 + 2 together, the humans have figured out that if they take animal and human furs, they can stuff all that fur in a nylon and sop up the oil. BRILLIANT... except for that part where they try to figure out what to do with tons and tons of oil soaked furs in nylons without harming the fragile eco-structure... like... burning it in cars or or something. I would imagine that the smell is something to behold. Imagine wet dog smell... now imagine wet oily dog smell. How about tons and tons of wet oily dog smell after weeks in hot sun. Glorious!
So, since humans are so incredibly stupid, I will give them the answer they need to produce a very cheap, "green", reusable, earth friendly way to sop up the oil:
Squirrels.
Tie a rope around a squirrel, dip it into the oily water so its furs will suck up the oil. Bathe squirrel in dawn dishwasing liquid (its gently on your hands, not the grime), throw squirrel back into oil.
See how easy that is?
In the meantime, leave my furs alone, I'm using them to entice birds to build nests from my furs nearby so that during fledgling season, there are plenty of quick squeeky toy tasty treats falling from the sky.
Meeshka
Apparently stupid humans blew up a stupid oil rig and now oil is leaking out of the bottom of the ocean and threatening to pollute a whole bunch of land. In case you weren't aware... we all live above oil. It leaks out all the time, seriously. Even this "green" know-it-all page says so, but they seem to act as though it would all stop if we didn't use oil, um, no probably a whole heck of a lot more oil would leak out if we were sucking it up and using it, but hey, whatever. If you want to find out just how much oil seeps from the ocean, go check out this all scientificky page and learn (among other things) that "Santa Barbara seeps, for example emit 5,280 to 6,600 gallons (nearly 20 to 25 tons) of oil per day, and natural seeps have been active for hundreds to thousands of years".
Fine, the one in the south is pretty dramatic (because it was a man-made thing, not a natural thing, much like humans freak out about their car exhaust causing global warming, but a volcano spewing more noxious fumes than any humans could produce in a zillion years DOESN'T contribute to global warming) and therefore, if its a man-caused disaster (not to be confused with man-caused disasters that blow up innocent women and children) then man has to fix it... and therefore they are stealing our furs.
Someone has figured out that furry creatures (seals, birds, polar bears, Ron Jeremy, etc.) simply attract oils. They are forever cleaning us off with Dawn dishwashing liquid (gratuitous plug there, thanks in advance for the cases of freebies you'll be sending me), and sending us back into the wilds... only to become covered in oil from some natural seepage, but screw us them, that's nature.
Putting 2 + 2 together, the humans have figured out that if they take animal and human furs, they can stuff all that fur in a nylon and sop up the oil. BRILLIANT... except for that part where they try to figure out what to do with tons and tons of oil soaked furs in nylons without harming the fragile eco-structure... like... burning it in cars or or something. I would imagine that the smell is something to behold. Imagine wet dog smell... now imagine wet oily dog smell. How about tons and tons of wet oily dog smell after weeks in hot sun. Glorious!
So, since humans are so incredibly stupid, I will give them the answer they need to produce a very cheap, "green", reusable, earth friendly way to sop up the oil:
Squirrels.
See how easy that is?
In the meantime, leave my furs alone, I'm using them to entice birds to build nests from my furs nearby so that during fledgling season, there are plenty of quick squeeky toy tasty treats falling from the sky.
Meeshka
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Just Once
I'll go and get the stupid thing ONCE, and that's it, don't expect anything more, and stop using that stupid squeeky voice!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
A Very Special (Blossom) Post
I’m allowing my human woman to post on my blog for the very first time.
Yes, I know, I know, she’ll want to do it all the time, but for this article, I felt it was the right thing to do, as it is a realistic (from a human perspective) way to clip our nails. I’ll reserve my comments for later, but for now, here is her advice (you can laugh at her if you want).
I’m sure you’ve done a Google search already and have found a myriad of instructional pages (some with pictures) on the finer points of trimming dog nails. You’ve looked through the information, learned about the “quick”, the different tools associated with trimming nails, and looked at the pictures of people trimming dog toenails... and I’m sure you’ve laughed hysterically and perhaps with a bit of frustration.
Oh sure, its a piece of cake when the dog just lays or sits there, hands you a paw and allows you to snip away at each claw, but what are you suppose to do when you own a husky who flees at the mere sight of nail clippers, stuffs themselves into the smallest crevice and lays on its feet to keep the evil clippers from touching them, and then shrieks and screams as if being tortured the moment the clipper comes remotely close to their paw. Yeah, where are those instructions???
Nail Clipping “Myths”
Ok, not truly “Myths” but these helpful tips are handed out to dog owners as gospel and if they don’t work, then there’s certainly something dysfunctional with the owner. Well, I’m here to tell you that I call them “Myths” because not everything is foolproof when it comes to huskies, not everything is going to work in your case, and it also doesn’t mean that you have a dysfunctional dog or are a dysfunctional owner. Most of these tips come from people who don’t have problems clipping their dogs nails. They tell you these things and then look at you as though you’ve sprouted another eye in your forehead when you tell them it doesn’t work. Go ahead and try these, but if they don’t work, don’t consider you or your husky a failure.
Play With Their Feet
Oh yeah, this is handy advice when a person gets a puppy, but what about those who adopt an older dog, or who don’t have the luxury to play with their feet because their nails are dangerously long? For those of you giving out the “Play with their feet” advice to someone that says “I need to clip my dog’s nails”, please smack yourself in the head.
Playing with their feet, in the long run, will get the dog use to having its feet touched and played with, and that’s a good thing, but when you introduce the nail clipper to the equation, expect full tilt panic and screaming... of the husky, but sometimes I’ve heard stories of owners having nervous breakdowns around nail clipping time.
Put Them On Something
Most groomers insist that putting a dog up on a table, a slippery table is better, will keep the dog off balance to a point where you can do most anything you want with them. If you are an experienced husky owner, please take a moment to laugh hysterically at this statement.
While it is true that most dogs will feel a bit more vulnerable and can be better managed on a table, a husky owner needs to be aware that clawing and leaping from the table is a good possibility. Shrieking, clawing and leaping is a better possibility, and shrieking, clawing, leaping, taking out table and plowing down owner is the best possibility. If you’ve never put your husky on a table, you should always have a spotter or two available to keep everyone from hurting each other. You may want to have a spotter located away from the table with a pre-dialed cell phone to 9-1-1.
Distract Them
Some will advise that you provide them with a distraction. While they are busy chewing, licking, or doing whatever to the distraction device, you clip their toe nails. Ok, while this may work for one nail (if you are lucky) most likely what will happen is that they will fall for the first clip, then realize you are up to something they don’t want to have happen and will ignore the “distraction” until you have given up in frustration.
Have Someone Hold Them While You Clip
This technique is only good for people who have friends that haven’t heard the horror stories of fur, shrieking, clawing and other husky-like behavior and actually can’t come up with a semi-valid sounding excuse when you corner them for help. Holding a husky still when a husky doesn’t want to be held still is just asking for a visit to the emergency room (if anything for the ruptured ear drums from the shrieking) and loss of close friends.
The Methods That Work
So you’ve read through the informational Web sites and know what the quick is, you’ve seen the two types of nail clippers that are commercially available, you are stocked up on styptic pens, dog treats, some valium (for you), and you are ready to clip your husky’s nails. Here are some methods that actually do work.
Groomer
Ok, its the coward’s way out, but hey, it is the easiest way out. Drag them to a groomer and have their nails clipped. The groomer not only has all of the instruments of nail clipping, but is also probably experienced with dogs that don’t like their nails clipped and have devious ways of dealing with it. If you can afford the expense, drag their fluffy little butts over to the groomer and you don’t have to deal with it.
Bribery
We all know that the husky is the “what’s in it for me” dog. Want them to come in... make it worth their while, want them to sit still while you clip their nails... bribe them. Typically the bribery method is a two person effort. One person to do the clipping while the other entices the husky to ignore the nail clipper wielding one with a tasty treat. There will still be pulling and wrestling and a general disagreement over when a nail can be clipped but the bribery aspect makes it a much more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
If you don’t have a conspirator to hold the bribe treat, then you can try slathering peanut butter on a kitchen cabinet. Husky licks off peanut butter while you clip nails. Work fast and efficiently, as a husky can lick peanut butter off a cabinet in record time. This method also ensures nice clean cabinets.
Sneak Attack
There’s nothing shameful about sneaking up on a sleeping husky and snipping off a nail when they aren’t expecting it. There’s nothing in the rules of nail clipping that all 16 (more if there are dew claws involved) have to be clipped at the same time. The only problem with this method is that they’ll never trust you ever again and you will most likely suffer their wrath while you try to sleep, as they can be very spiteful.
Yes, I know, I know, she’ll want to do it all the time, but for this article, I felt it was the right thing to do, as it is a realistic (from a human perspective) way to clip our nails. I’ll reserve my comments for later, but for now, here is her advice (you can laugh at her if you want).
Clipping Toe Nails
The Realistic Method
I’m sure you’ve done a Google search already and have found a myriad of instructional pages (some with pictures) on the finer points of trimming dog nails. You’ve looked through the information, learned about the “quick”, the different tools associated with trimming nails, and looked at the pictures of people trimming dog toenails... and I’m sure you’ve laughed hysterically and perhaps with a bit of frustration.
Oh sure, its a piece of cake when the dog just lays or sits there, hands you a paw and allows you to snip away at each claw, but what are you suppose to do when you own a husky who flees at the mere sight of nail clippers, stuffs themselves into the smallest crevice and lays on its feet to keep the evil clippers from touching them, and then shrieks and screams as if being tortured the moment the clipper comes remotely close to their paw. Yeah, where are those instructions???
Nail Clipping “Myths”
Ok, not truly “Myths” but these helpful tips are handed out to dog owners as gospel and if they don’t work, then there’s certainly something dysfunctional with the owner. Well, I’m here to tell you that I call them “Myths” because not everything is foolproof when it comes to huskies, not everything is going to work in your case, and it also doesn’t mean that you have a dysfunctional dog or are a dysfunctional owner. Most of these tips come from people who don’t have problems clipping their dogs nails. They tell you these things and then look at you as though you’ve sprouted another eye in your forehead when you tell them it doesn’t work. Go ahead and try these, but if they don’t work, don’t consider you or your husky a failure.
Play With Their Feet
Oh yeah, this is handy advice when a person gets a puppy, but what about those who adopt an older dog, or who don’t have the luxury to play with their feet because their nails are dangerously long? For those of you giving out the “Play with their feet” advice to someone that says “I need to clip my dog’s nails”, please smack yourself in the head.
Playing with their feet, in the long run, will get the dog use to having its feet touched and played with, and that’s a good thing, but when you introduce the nail clipper to the equation, expect full tilt panic and screaming... of the husky, but sometimes I’ve heard stories of owners having nervous breakdowns around nail clipping time.
Put Them On Something
Most groomers insist that putting a dog up on a table, a slippery table is better, will keep the dog off balance to a point where you can do most anything you want with them. If you are an experienced husky owner, please take a moment to laugh hysterically at this statement.
While it is true that most dogs will feel a bit more vulnerable and can be better managed on a table, a husky owner needs to be aware that clawing and leaping from the table is a good possibility. Shrieking, clawing and leaping is a better possibility, and shrieking, clawing, leaping, taking out table and plowing down owner is the best possibility. If you’ve never put your husky on a table, you should always have a spotter or two available to keep everyone from hurting each other. You may want to have a spotter located away from the table with a pre-dialed cell phone to 9-1-1.
Distract Them
Some will advise that you provide them with a distraction. While they are busy chewing, licking, or doing whatever to the distraction device, you clip their toe nails. Ok, while this may work for one nail (if you are lucky) most likely what will happen is that they will fall for the first clip, then realize you are up to something they don’t want to have happen and will ignore the “distraction” until you have given up in frustration.
Have Someone Hold Them While You Clip
This technique is only good for people who have friends that haven’t heard the horror stories of fur, shrieking, clawing and other husky-like behavior and actually can’t come up with a semi-valid sounding excuse when you corner them for help. Holding a husky still when a husky doesn’t want to be held still is just asking for a visit to the emergency room (if anything for the ruptured ear drums from the shrieking) and loss of close friends.
The Methods That Work
So you’ve read through the informational Web sites and know what the quick is, you’ve seen the two types of nail clippers that are commercially available, you are stocked up on styptic pens, dog treats, some valium (for you), and you are ready to clip your husky’s nails. Here are some methods that actually do work.
Groomer
Ok, its the coward’s way out, but hey, it is the easiest way out. Drag them to a groomer and have their nails clipped. The groomer not only has all of the instruments of nail clipping, but is also probably experienced with dogs that don’t like their nails clipped and have devious ways of dealing with it. If you can afford the expense, drag their fluffy little butts over to the groomer and you don’t have to deal with it.
Bribery
We all know that the husky is the “what’s in it for me” dog. Want them to come in... make it worth their while, want them to sit still while you clip their nails... bribe them. Typically the bribery method is a two person effort. One person to do the clipping while the other entices the husky to ignore the nail clipper wielding one with a tasty treat. There will still be pulling and wrestling and a general disagreement over when a nail can be clipped but the bribery aspect makes it a much more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
If you don’t have a conspirator to hold the bribe treat, then you can try slathering peanut butter on a kitchen cabinet. Husky licks off peanut butter while you clip nails. Work fast and efficiently, as a husky can lick peanut butter off a cabinet in record time. This method also ensures nice clean cabinets.
Sneak Attack
There’s nothing shameful about sneaking up on a sleeping husky and snipping off a nail when they aren’t expecting it. There’s nothing in the rules of nail clipping that all 16 (more if there are dew claws involved) have to be clipped at the same time. The only problem with this method is that they’ll never trust you ever again and you will most likely suffer their wrath while you try to sleep, as they can be very spiteful.
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Woo-less Wednesday - Sharing
(Hey Human Woman - there's this thing called a washing machine... just sayin)
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Sunday, Sunday
Watched the human woman lift heavy things, paint other things (there are now white mutatoe prints in the back room), and generally spend her weekend running around like a scalded marmoset.
THIS is how you spend a weekend (and weekday actually)
In the words of Turbo: Stupid humans.
Now I'll have to lay and listen to her complain all week about how she's tired and needs another weekend.
THIS is how you spend a weekend (and weekday actually)
In the words of Turbo: Stupid humans.Now I'll have to lay and listen to her complain all week about how she's tired and needs another weekend.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
A Moment of Silence Please
I'm sorry I haven't been posting much. On top of the human woman hogging the computer to post for Kara's human woman, I've been mourning the loss of a very special friend.
I didn't know you long, but you held me up and were there for me when I needed you. I will miss you, and hope to see you again in a few months.
Until then... run free Mt. Queen Meeshka... wherever you are
I didn't know you long, but you held me up and were there for me when I needed you. I will miss you, and hope to see you again in a few months.
Until then... run free Mt. Queen Meeshka... wherever you are
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