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redfoxwritesstuff · 4 years ago

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Of Dust and Ashes. Chapter 31

So, good and bad news. The good, you’re getting your update right on time. More good news? The next update should also be right on time! In exchange for two bits of bad news, my laptop died. RIP and my daughter has been Covid’ed out of daycare and is stuck home until her test result comes in which means I too am stuck at home. I may be around more... or less.

Chapter warnings: None? Some blood and talk of the aftermath of the snap. Series warnings: Dude, at this point- if it can be a warning, it’s probably either already in the story or planned. Please read responsibly. Series rating: M for mature themes, graphic violence, sexual content and death.

Wanna catch up? Masterlist is here. Wanna drop me a tip? Buy me a Ko-Fi.

Chapter 31: Stew

Dee paced the waiting room. Each lap across the wood floor took less time. When she realized she was near a jog, she forced herself to slow down. It wouldn't do to work herself up.

She should have been talking to Rachel. Now was a perfect time to explain the situation with Sasha in more detail. How else could Rachel ever feel comfortable enough to trust the new woman. If Rachel didn’t trust Sasha, how could they be sure that she would stay with her?

If Rachel left the Clinic and struck out on her own, it was very likely that her baby would die. If she got lucky, she herself would survive until the spring. Dee didn’t want to put much time, effort or resources into keeping the ungrateful woman alive but she also didn’t want her to die. There had already been more than enough death.

The fact that they’d already done too much already to keep her alive gnawed at her. They had left the safety of the farmhouse to keep her alive. They killed people to keep her alive. Trust got hurt because they decided to save her. She owed it to them to survive until the spring. If saving her resulted in Trust's death, she owed it to them to survive.

Swallowing her anxiety, Dee forced herself to sit next to Rachel. “Make yourself at home.”

“What?”

“This is where we’re going to be leaving you.” Dee didn’t want to be talking. She wanted to be trying to sneak up on the exam room again. She wanted to check on Trust. But she knew she would only be a distraction. Clint wanted her to work on setting Rachel at ease.

“I thought… I thought we would be going to a house… This isn’t somewhere people can live.”

Dee took a deep breath, willing herself to be calm. Silence ticked on around them. She reminded herself that she had a different experience with the Decimation than Rachel. She had known many horrors during the last five months but she had traveled. She had seen the extent of it through a great portion of the country. She had seen what it did to cities, towns, people and most importantly, to families.

Rachel only knew what this small part of the country. She was a local to Kansas. She’d lived in the small town she had grown up in. Those who remained had banded together to protect themselves and their supplies. When King Jacob’s men had shown up and offered to absorb them at the cost of a minor tax, it was hard not to hear them out. It had seemed like a great way to gain more safety and support. The majority agreed to join with King Jacob, believing with all their hearts that they were doing what was best for the town.

They hadn’t expected that the minor tax would include most of their supplies. It had taken the King’s men looting the town for them to stand up and say enough. The result was only bloodshed and the kidnapping of most of the women and young boys.

Dee had listened to a bit of her story while they had walked through the city, on their way to the truck. If that was what had happened here, she could only imagine what happened to those living within the expanding territory of King Mason. There were so many other self named 'kings'. How were they running their territories?

Clint had mentioned that the reforming government was working with the self titled Kings on the East Coast. What were they like? How many people had they hurt? The idea made her sick.

“You can live anywhere, now. Zoning rules don’t apply.” It was a bad joke and Rachel didn’t laugh. “There’s a stove, generator, well water, rooms and beds.”

“Exam rooms and beds.” Rachel pointed out.

“True. But the walls are thick and solid. It’s out of the way and you’ll be living with a nurse.”

“But-”

“We won’t make you stay. But this is where we will bring supplies and this is where we will leave you. The rest is up to you. But if you come and go from here, come back to get supplies and leave again- you could lead others here. It’s up to you.”

Rachel was silent for a moment. Finally, she opened her mouth to say something as Clint rounded the corner. Dee shot to her feet and rushed across the room, heart beating wildly in her chest. Her stomach rolled. Blood was smeared on his hands. Though she tried, she couldn’t make her voice work.

“He’s okay.” Clint’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a tight hug. It was everything she needed. “He’s okay.”

“Really?” Tears slipped down her face. She told herself it was dumb to cry over a dog but couldn’t stop.

“Sasha was able to remove the bullet. Stitched him right up. He got lucky, it missed everything vital. He may always have a limp though, it nicked his shoulder blade but she doesn’t have a way to cast it.”

“He’s going to be okay?” She asked again, as if he hadn’t already said he would be.

“Yeah. Some pain meds for a few days. He’s going to be sore for a while.”

“He’ll be fine, assuming infection doesn’t set in.” Sasha added, rounding the corner. “I’d like to keep him in an exam room overnight to make sure he rests. We’ll offer food and water in a while when he’s fully awake.”

“Why can’t he stay with us?”

“I don’t want him ripping the sutures. If he’s alone in a small room, he won’t be doing much moving around. Just for tonight, maybe some of tomorrow.”

“Hopefully he leaves them alone.” Clint grumbled. “I don’t exactly have a cone of shame in the truck.”

“If you could get one, that’d be best.” Sasha offered.

“We’ll see.” Clint grumbled. His back was sore. His legs were sore. His head ached from lack of sleep and stress. “It’s not something that many would think to take and hoard at least. Shouldn’t be too hard to come by.”

“If you can, antibiotics and animal medications? Any literature they have as well- I’m a nurse, a people nurse. Not a vet. I’m playing a dangerous game of guesswork using what I’ve got on him.”

“Not likely on antibiotics. Most people know that they will need antibiotics if they get hurt. Most don’t know the names- they probably just shoved everything they could in a bag and called it a day. But a cone and maybe some books should be easy enough.” Clint didn’t want to go anywhere. He wanted to sleep. Still, Sasha was a valuable resource that was already paying for her keep. The least he could do was enable her to be a bigger resource. “I’ll go after we eat, swing by the farmhouse and load up supplies as well.”

“You will come back.” Sasha pressed. Though it wasn’t presented as an option or a question, it was. The way she twisted her hands and her eyebrows bunched together gave it away. She would have been a pretty young woman, before everything had happened. Clint would bet that as she came into her new life now, she would once again be a pretty young woman.

“I will. You’ll have Trust so I have to. Can’t leave the mutt behind, now can I? Dee’d be heartbroken.”

Sasha nodded and turned. “You’re all probably hungry. I’ll see what I can make.”

“Let me.” Dee insisted.

“I’ll build up the fire.” Clint offered, dragging himself to the wood stove.

“But-”

“I’d rather you give Lizzy a checkup and her shots. Rachel could use a once over as well. We can make food while you do what we can’t.”

Dee made her way over to Rachel who was still huddled in the chair. “Sasha here is going to give you and Lizzy a once over, okay? If Lizzy is strong enough, she’s going to give her her shots.”

“Why?”

“The shots? Because we want to protect her from as much as we can.”

“Herd immunity is questionable at best right now.” Clint added. It had been something that had been weighing on his mind. More than a few of Lauren’s mom friends had opted out of giving their snot goblins shots. They would give imaginary reasons full of made up science that only made sense on the most surface level. “Half the population is gone and antivax was gaining traction. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if there is a resurgence of most of the shit we gave shots for in the next decade. There may not be enough kids in some areas that had their shots, kids born now probably won’t get their shots for a while, if at all- large holes in a very thin herd.”

“I’ll give shots to any kid who needs them.” Sasha pointed out. “Other doctors, nurses still alive will too. We don’t want to see things like whooping cough and measles outbreaks becoming routine again.”

“You will. But others may only give it in exchange for food or supplies. Others still may hoard the vaccines, only giving them to members of their family or group. It’s a new world and you’ve got to stop thinking in terms of this being temporary.”

“But the Avengers, You’ll fix this.” Sasha pressed.

“No. We. Won’t.” Clint punctuated each word with the toss of a handful of twigs and kindling into the wood stove. “We- They tried. They failed. The grape that did this is dead. The stones are destroyed. It’s over and this is what’s left.”

“But-” This time it was Rachel that spoke up only to receive Clint’s glower.

“But what? The world will come back to something that looks normal? Fat chance.” Clint directed his attention wholly to his task when he noticed both Sasha and Rachel shrinking back from his glare. “The Avengers are working with the government to re-establish order and rule on the east coast, moving west. They’re filling the government and military ranks.”

“That’s good then?” Rachel offered. Sasha had abandoned the room to prepare for the exams.

“Is it?” Clint scoffed as he took a long stick lighter from Dee’s offered hand. Before long, Sasha would have to light her fires with matches and then, learn to strike a fire with flint. It was one of the many ways people were not prepared to live a life like this. “They are absorbing the self titled rulers, naming them governors and mayors. Do you think King Jacob would have made a good mayor? That’s what he would have become, if they came and he still held the city. Sure, they’d require him to raise the standard of treatment of the people, give them freedom but still.”

“They can’t be. They’re heroes. That’s not-”

“It is. Tony’s got crippling PTSD and has all but given up. Thor’s busy doing whatever to settle his people. Bruce has locked himself in a lab. Nat and Steve are working damn hard to bring the government back damn near on their own but they are only two people. They can’t be everywhere and they can’t fill every spot. The Avengers you hold so dear are down to one super soldier and one very tired assassin.”

“What about you?” Rachel asked. “You’re still alive.”

“Am I?” Clint snapped, regretting it instantly as Dee draped a calming arm across his shoulders.

“You are.” She whispered in his ear and he clung to that.

“I can’t support putting people like that in charge of other people's lives.” Clint said.

Both he and Dee knew there was more to it, though they rarely spoke of it. Clint was bitter. He was angry. He blamed them. They failed to save everyone. He blamed himself, too. He wasn't there to have the chance to help, to fail with them. Now, he wouldn’t- no, he couldn’t help them put people like the self named King Jacob in power.

He understood why they had to do it. He wouldn’t help but he wouldn’t stand in their way. Let the terrible king’s reign for now, someone would likely go through and kill them later. Someone like-

“Come on.” Sasha called out, ushering Rachel and the baby out of the waiting room with a clipboard in her hand and what looked like two charts. It was so normal that Dee couldn’t help but smile at the sight. If playing doctor made Sasha feel better, all the better.

The fire crackled as Clint stacked a few large logs on top of the pile of flaming kindling and thick sticks. He waited for the first to begin catching before adding the next.

“There are others like King Jacob.” Dee said.

Though it was not a question, Clint answered. “Yeah. I won’t let them hurt you. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

“Can you really promise that?” Dee asked. “Our own government, your friends are allowing them to keep power and giving them authority.”

“I won’t let them touch you.” Clint insisted.

“Back in California, there was a man calling himself King-”

“Did he hurt you?”

“No, I never had a encounter with him. I’d hear him and his people on the radio, making announcements of their power or whatever. There were stations that resisted, TV and radio. One was taken over while on the air. People died. He isn’t a good man.”

“Bad people are going to rule the world, at least for a while.”

“They did before too, I think. It was just less obvious.”

Clint laughed, though the sound was bitter. “True enough. But there were others who kept them in check.”

“Like we did today?” Dee whispered. Her heart was pounding in her ears. She knew she was dancing around something but she couldn’t pinpoint what. It was something dark that didn’t want to be given voice. Perhaps it was evil. Perhaps it was madness.

“Yeah.” Clint whispered. “Just like today.”

“I’ll see what I can find for dinner.” Dee said.

With that, they turned away from the unnamed madness, leaving it hanging and powerless. If they didn’t look at it too long, maybe they could ignore the siren call. What would happen if they listened? What would happen if they gave it voice? What would happen if they took more power than they had now? What power could they have?

~~~~~<3

“Well, Lizzy seems to have gained a good bit of weight. She’s doing much better than that first day. Got her shots in. I’d like to keep her on the normal schedule for them, if possible.”

Sasha’s voice cut through the room as they entered. The heavy smell of stew greeted them. It smelled heavenly and drew a rumble from her stomach. How Clint and Dee could manage to make something that smelled that divine with the food she had, she couldn’t imagine. Somehow, they did though and she couldn’t wait to dig in.

“Everyone’s okay, then?” Dee called out, straightening her back. She’d been slumped over the stew, mixing the pot to keep it from burning. Clint was next to her, making something akin to flat bread on the stove top.

“For the most part.” Sasha wouldn’t call Rachel healthy but she would admit she could be in worse condition.

“There should be plenty to eat, at least.” Clint said, flipping the bread like disks when the first side was browned. “Grab bowls so we can eat up.”

The meal passed with soft words and long spells of silence. Sasha and Rachel both ate two bowls and many, many disks of bread. Clint wasn’t surprised. Sasha had looked to have been stretching her food. He couldn’t blame her. She had no real reason to trust that he would come back with supplies like he had promised.

While they had been waiting for Sasha and Rachel, Clint had taken his time to poke around her supplies. She had some canned meat and a almost empty freezer. He had every intention of filling her freezer with meat and ice. He’d see to it that they could last a month between supplying trips, if they ever were unable to make the trip.

Setting his empty bowl to the side, Clint stood up. “I’ll go grab supplies as promised before it gets too late.”

“You’re going to come back, right?” Sasha asked as if he had somewhere else to go with all the supplies.

“Yeah.” He directed his attention to Dee. “That stew will taste even better tonight. When the fire burns down, throw it back on the stove to simmer.”

She nodded her agreement, pulling herself to her feet as Clint gathered his keys, boots and coat. As he stood from tying his boots, she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. His arms crossed over her’s, his hands clasping around her’s.

“Be safe.” She pleaded.

“Always.”

“Come back to me.”

“Always.” He promised again. “I will always come back to you.”

“I love you.” She whispered, as if it was a sacred secret.

Turning, he placed his hand on the side of her face. Fingers slipped into the strands of her hair as he brought his lips to her’s. The kiss was soft, sweet and chaste yet it was somehow everything she needed from him. “I love you, too.”

After letting him go, she watched him slip into his coat. He checked his gun before pushing the furniture from in front of the door. As it closed behind him, she squeezed her eyes together. After taking two slow, deep breaths, she began pushing everything back in place.

She wondered if it would ever be easier to watch him leave.

~~~~~<3

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#clint x oc #clint x ofc #clint barton x ofc #clint barton fanfiction #clint barton x oc

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thecrazydoglady-posts · 4 years ago

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Miniature Bull Terriers

Temperament:

- Upbeat, Mischievous, Comical, Fearless, “Terrier fire”

Size:

- Height: 10-14 in @ the shoulders

- Weight: 18-28 lbs

Life Expectancy:

- 11-14 yrs

- activity levels tend to slow down around 11-12 yrs

About:

- Almost exactly like the Bull Terrier

- Square, muscular, strong for their size

- Large, egg-shaped head and dark, triangular eyes

Nutrition:

- In order to not change a dog’s diet too fast, find out what your new puppies diet was at the breeder’s.

- For a day or two a puppy may not eat because of the new surrounding, any longer than that; contact a vet.

- Don’t leave food down for a puppy if it doesn’t clear it.

- If the puppy experiences any other symptoms, then contact a vet

- If not, the puppy is most likely ‘training the owner’, bull terriers tend to do this, don’t put the food back down and continue with feeding normally.

- Follow breeder/vet advice on portions; bull terriers are sensitive to becoming overweight.

- Ask your breeder for a natural method feeding chart

- Bull terriers have very powerful jaws and can chew off and swallow pieces of bones which can cause blockages in the digestive system.

- Don’t give your mini bull terrier bones

- Raw hide chews should NEVER be given to bull terriers (including minis!)

- They can be swallowed and get stuck in the throat

Grooming

- Minis have fast growing nails, regular trimming is needed

- Minis are prone to “eye boogers”, just use a damp clothe to wipe them away and then a dry cloth to dry whenever you spot these

- At home weekly ear checks, look for wax (use a cotton ball to gently remove any wax), or infection (redness, swelling, bad odors). If any signs of infection, contact a vet

- Regular teeth brushing and vet cleanings

- Regular baths (every three months, unless your mini plays in dirt or mud (which is not unlikely!) then use a bristle brush to remove dirt then bathe immediately.)

- Use a hypoallergenic shampoo, minis have very sensitive skin.

- Outside shedding season a weekly once-over with a soft brush or a hound glove is all that’s needed for a well groomed bull terrier!

- During the twice a year shedding season (spring and fall) a daily once-over is recommended.

Basic Brushing

You’ll need: a bristle brush, a fine-tooth comb, and a grooming glove

1. Use bristle brush, start at head and work down he dog’s body, ending with the hind flanks (the space between the hip and thigh) and the tail. Be gentle but thorough!

2. Use the comb, use long strokes to remove loose hair.

3. Use the grooming glove.

4. (Opt.) Spritz a little conditioning spray or rub on a bit of coconut oil

Exercise

- Mini bull terriers require enough exercise to keep good muscle tone.

- Preferably access to a yard but can live in a sizable apartment or condo.

- A moderate walk daily is needed after the 1 year point

- NOT AN OUTSIDE DOG

- A “sudden lameness” can occur in puppies

- Puppies’ joints can’t handle the energy the puppy wants to exert

- Minimum exercise, no jumping up and down from heights, or sudden stops at high speeds for puppies

Training

- Minis will usually require a trainer with a firm hand and a gentle voice, with patience and a good sense of humor

- Clicker training is recommended

- Positive, light, and fun training that keeps the terrier’s attention is most effective

- Heavy socialization from 8-20 wks is essential, and starting training early is a good idea

- Canine Good Citizen programs are awesome!

- Some cool trainers listed by state below!

Health

Ask your breeder for:

- Health tests performed on sire and dam (father and mother)

- Results on heart and kidney issues, deafness, luxating patellas (a kneecap disorder), and primary lens luxation (dislocation of the eye lens) tests

Recommended Health Tests:

- BEAR Testing

- Kidney-Urine Analysis

- Opthalmologist Exam

- Cardiac Exam

- PLL DNA Test

- May have issues with glaucoma, lens luxation, and deafness

- Susceptible to kidney disease

- Regular hearing and eye exams are highly recommended.

Official Breed Club Health Statement

History

- Bull terriers were created as fighting dogs in 1830s England

- Cross between bulldogs and (now extinct) english terriers

- Soon a mini version was worked on to use as above-ground ratters (it’s exactly what is sounds like.)

- Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1991 as their 134th breed.

Other Future Owner Info

Energy Level: Energetic

Children: Better with older children

Barking: Likes to be vocal

- Can’t be home alone for too long

- Will get bored and tear apart everything

- They can suffer from separation anxiety which can cause nonstop barking and chasing of the tail incessantly

- Incredibly affectionate

- Unneutered male don’t get along with other males

Breeders:

Puppies avaliable June 2020 in Georgia - DILLIGAF MBT

Breed Club Rescue: Miniature Bull Terrier Club of America

Breed Club Rescue Name: Kathy Brosnan

Breed Club Rescue Email: [email protected]

Breed Club Rescue Link: https://www.mbtca.org/

California: [email protected] / Lil’itch (AKC Breeder of Merit)

Canada: [email protected] / JewelsMBTS

Colorado: [email protected] / Bantam

Connecticut: 203-710-9971 / Olmar Kennels (AKC Breeder of Merit)

Delaware: [email protected] / Ironhead

Florida: [email protected] / Minnehaha

Illinois: [email protected] / Sly Dog Kenne

Kentucky: [email protected] / Old Forge

Michigan: michkdm@yahoo / Ironwood

Missouri: [email protected] / Eggstream (AKC Breeder of Merit)

Montana: [email protected] / Big Sky

New Hampshire: [email protected] / Ann Wiggins

New York: [email protected] / Anchor Up

Ohio: [email protected] / Omega (AKC Breeder of Merit)

Oregon: [email protected] / Calypso (AKC Breeder of Merit)

South Carolina: [email protected] / Menusha (AKC Breeder of Merit)

Texas: [email protected] / Sunrise (AKC Breeder of Merit)

Virginia: [email protected] / Patronus (AKC Breeder of Merit)

Wisconsin: [email protected] / Kenron

Trainers:

Alabama: Island Dog LLC / Hunstville, AL

Alaska: Your Dog ETC / Anchorage, AK

Arizona: Obedient Beat K9 Training / Phoenix, AZ

Arkansas: Clay’s Top Dog / Conway, AR

California: California Academy of Dog Training, LLC / Downey, CA

Colorado: Noble Beast Dog Training / Denver, CO

Connecticut: Secret Lake Dog Training, LLC / Avon, CT

Delaware: Positive Results Dog Training, LLC / Wilmington, DE

Florida: Jacksonville Pawsitive Training, Inc. / Jacksonville, FL

Georgia: Pups To Pockets, LLC / Peachtree Corners, GA

Hawaii: Pro Dog Hawaii / Kaneohe, HI

Idaho: Canine Companions of Pocatello / Pocatello, ID

Illinois: Torbel’s Canine Connection / Bourbonnais, IL

Indiana: Over The Rainbow Dogs, LLC / Muncie, IN

Iowa: Top Canine Solutions, LLC / Cambridge, IA

Kansas: Daiger Dog Training, LLC / Kansas City, MO

Kentucky: Dependable Partners Dog Training, LLC / Louisville, KY

Louisiana: Dog Gone Right, LLC / Hammond, LA

Maine: Pamela Belcher / [email protected] / Eliot, ME

Massachusetts: PetSmart, Chicopee MA / 413-377-2883 / Chicopee, MA

Michigan: FIDO Personal Dog Training, LLC / Ferndale, MI

Minnesota: Dog Talk Training MN / Coon Rapids, MN

Mississippi: Pawsitive Companionship, LLC / Memphis, TN

Missouri: Spry Dogs / St. Louis, MO

Montana: Intelligent Canine / Billings, MT

Nebraska: Big Moose Dog Training / Malmo, NE

Nevada: imPETus Animal Training by Holistic Hounds / Las Vegas, NV

New Hampshire: Wagging Tail Academy, LLC / Hollis, NH

New Jersey: Dogstar Training NJ, LLC / Aberdeen & Hightstown, NJ

New Mexico: Good Dog Training Center & Doggie Resort, LLC / Rio Rancho, NM

New York: Drew Watson Pups / New York, NY

North Carolina: CANINE PawRTNERS / [email protected] / Charlotte, NC

North Dakota: Captain’s Canine / West Fargo, ND

Ohio: Pups Grow Up, LLC / Dayton, OH

Oklahoma: Elizabeth R. Maupin / [email protected] / Moore, OK

Oregon: Auntie Sally Dog & Puppy Training / Milwaukie, OR

Pennsylvania: Grandma’s Dog Daycare / Pittsburgh, PA

Rhode Island: Patience Inspired Dog Training / Coventry, RI

South Carolina: Bright Mind Canine Services / Charleston, SC

South Dakota: Tenacious Dog Training / Sioux Falls, SD

Tennessee: Ren’s Pups, LLC / Hendersonville, TN

Texas: Smart Dog Dallas / Dallas, TX

Utah: Three Little Pits Pawsitive Dog Training / Kamas, UT

Vermont: Diamond in the Ruff Dog Training / Burlington, VT

Virginia: Paw in Hand Training / Catharpin, Va

Washington: Matters of the Canine Kind LLC / Tacoma, WA

West Virginia: Wee Beasties, LLC / Danese, WV

Wisconsin: Best Paw Forward / Menomonee Falls, WI

Wyoming: Progressive School for Dogs, LLC / Greeley, CO

Sources:

- https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/miniature-bull-terrier/

- https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/c_dg_miniature_bull_terrier

- http://thebullterrierclub.org/ownership/feeding-3/

- https://apdt.com/

#dogs #dogstuff #dogmom #dogs of tumblr #dog #terrier #bullterrier #miniature bull terrier #akc #animal #pets #puppies #terrier puppy

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portlandmainehomes · 7 years ago

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21 Most Unusual Pet Encounters Realtors Are Still Reliving

If you thought cranky and quirky buyers and sellers presented one of the biggest challenges Realtors face, you may have forgotten about something even more unpredictable: their pets. Real estate industry experts shared the strangest encounters they've had with animals. Some are hilarious, while others are downright scary. All will make you think twice the next time you enter an open house. 1. Get off me, goat! via GIPHY "Was showing an acre of property to buyers. The sellers had some farm animals — chickens, goats, etc. One of the goats started following me around. Almost aggressively, harassment style, and this was not a small goat. Eventually, well, it tried to mount me. Horribly embarrassing, I ended up running inside while my buyers toured the rest of the backyard. For some reason, it was fixated on me. My clients could not stop laughing." -- Leah Bubb, Realtor® with HomeSmart 2. Dead or alive? "Came upon a mini schnauzer peacefully sleeping on a bedroom bed. As I got closer, I realized it was not only dead and stuffed but that it had a breathing apparatus in it to make it seem alive!" -- Amy Williamson, Realtor® with RE/MAX Integrity Actual footage above, no lie! 3. Realtor or dog sitter? "During an open house I was asked to hold a dog outside, but I needed to sing to the dog and rock it like a baby. I was like ‘…What?' But I did it." -- Pate Stevens, an agent with luxury real estate firm Nourmand & Associates. 4. A wee accident "I was getting ready to start the open house and the client was cleaning her things so I took the dog in my lap, and when he got back down I noticed it (he was tiny so it wasn't a lot, but still! Pee!)! Not a great way to start off! It showed visibly on my outfit and the tenant freaked out, she was so embarrassed. Luckily I have a pup at home so I knew that with a tide pen and a hair dryer I could get it out. The tenant was mortified but had both of those things so I got it out and moved on." -- Sam Lazar, an agent with Triplemint. 5. Oh, rats! via GIPHY "There was a time recently, where my buyer and I were traveling through the home. I am not a fan of unfinished basements. With flashlight in hand, (because in the unfinished ones, the lighting is always horrible) we walked down the long hallway. And we heard the oddest sound. A mixture of a squeak and scratching. At first I was really nervous because I thought there were mice. Then there it was! A big fat rat in a cage. We both let out a screech and got out of the basement real quick." -- Denise Supplee, Realtor®/Investor/Landlord Expert/co-founder and operations director of SparkRental.com / Educator at Snaplandlord.com. 6. These guys weren't so lucky...

"I had a listing appt and the main showcase of this hoarders home was in the basement. I'm glad I brought an "assistant" as I just knew he might be an odd duck when I got the call. He looked at us with a weird excitement and asked us to come see his most prized possession. (Yes we had a mag flashlight and pepper spray) Turns out it was a mouse museum. Dead mice in jars. He promised to name the next one after me!!!! 😳 I passed on the listing." -- Danielle Mahnken, Agent with Gloria Nilson & Co Real Estate 7. Dog day afternoon via GIPHY "My clients and I got locked inside an apartment because the door knob wasn't secure. After not being able to get out for awhile one of my clients climbed out the fire escape and starting banging on windows. He unknowingly knocked on a doggy daycare directly under the apartment and when the employee opened the door, at least 15 dogs ran out and started running around. Once the employee corralled all the dogs back inside, we were able to walk through their store to escape." -- Maggie Fanney, an agent with Triplemint. 8. Reptile Room "Showing Instructions: Locked door in basement is reptile room. Do not attempt to open, as they are uncaged. If buyer is interested, seller will open room for 2nd showing. Needless to say I didn't show the house." -- Jessica Thomas, Former Professional Development Chair at Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS® and Realtor® at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate- Kansas City Homes 9. Horsing Around "Here I am, fresh off the licensing train at the ripe age of 18. Meeting a new potential client, I show up early open up the house. It's a cute little bungalow in a small 'historic' town. I walk around the corner and there is a horse in the living room! (vacant home) It's just chilling there! To be honest, I'm not sure how it even got in there. But you could tell it had been in there a while. I called the listing agent and he had no idea how it happened or who the horse belonged to. So, I called up a family member who runs a rescue and after doing some footwork, we got it home. Almost a decade later and it's still one of my favorite stories." -- Danyl Winderlin, Realtor® with Realtypath 10. Hogging all the attention via GIPHY "While I was showing a vacant home, a massive hog wandered up to the property and started eating grass. He stayed the whole time we were showing. When I told the listing agent about the hog, she stated that it was negotiable." -- Emily Isbell, Realtor® at The RealTeam Homes & Land 11.Table-sized turtle via GIPHY "I was photographing a home and the homeowners had left. I was on the third floor and heard a bunch of noise on the main level like furniture was being moved around. I thought they were back home, but when I came in the living room there was a GIANT turtle in the center of the room. I mean like the size of a big round coffee table. He was banging into the furniture and causing quite a ruckus! -- Angela Romano, Realtor®; at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach 12. Hamster mishap "During a showing, I was in the hallway turning on lights while my clients were checking out the hall bath. I stepped into a child's room to flip on the light at about the same time the pet hamster escaped from his plastic exercise ball,apparently the child had forgotten to take the hamster out of the ball and put the little guy back into his cage. Before I knew it, the hamster had rushed passed me, down the hall and into the hall bath, where my client proceeded to stomp on him! He did not die right away, so we gently placed him back into his cage but I cannot imagine that he lived much longer... That was an awkward phone call to the listing agent but I was sure glad that I wasn't in the listing agents shoes, having to tell the family before they came back home. My clients did not buy that home." -- Brenda Miller, REALTOR® at eXp Realty 13. Monkey business "We have a local lender in this area that has a pet Capuchin Monkey. He brings it to closings sometimes, always a hit!" -- Ed Cordle, Realtor® at Genesis Real Estate 14. Creepy Kitty via GIPHY "My partner and I were showing a precious little townhouse to a client. A beautiful solid white fluffy cat lived there. The cat had a pure evil expression the entire time and followed us around the house. When we got to the master bedroom, the cat jumped up onto the bed, looked us dead in the eyes and peed on the bed never breaking its glare at us. Pure evil!" -- Danyalle Friday, Realtor® at Montgomery Metro Realty 15. Just ducky via GIPHY "A garage full of ducks at the home inspection. Keep in mind, they weren't there before. And boy did it smell horrible!" -- Roberta Tynik Lejeune, Realtor® at Better Home and Gardens Real Estate 16. Just Batty via GIPHY "Walked down into the unfinished basement of an older home a few weeks ago... was only down there for about 10 seconds until a bat flew by my head. Bye Felicia." -- Ryan Ballard, REALTOR® at Key Realty 17. Butting heads via GIPHY "Chased by neighbor's goats all the way into the house, where they then began butting the door. A horse in the garage was a big surprise too." -- Jackie Merritt Realtor® The Danberry Co., Realtors 18. Polite Parrot via GIPHY "I was showing a house once, and I arrived before my buyers. I rang the doorbell just to be sure no one was home. When no one answered, I opened the door and heard, 'Hello?! Who's there?' Startled, I started to apologize and explain that I was a Realtor® who was there for a showing. I got cut off again with another, 'Hello?! Who's there?' About 30 seconds later, I finally realized it was a parrot and not a person." -- Kara Pagliarulo, Attorney at Law at Attorney Support Solutions, Kara Pagliarulo, Esq. 19. Squirrely showing "I came across a caged pet squirrel once. He didn't seem happy. -- Jamie Hering, Realtor® at Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate 20. Magic carpet via GIPHY "I was showing a home and the owner was there. There was an empty glass tank. I asked what used to be in the tank and he said it was a snake. When I asked where the snake was he said he wasn't sure but he knew it was around somewhere. When I looked in the corner there was a lump moving under the carpet." -- Heather Bennett, REALTOR® at Hunt Real Estate ERA 21. Pig contingency via GIPHY "The sellers had a pet pig, and for unknown reasons, they had decided to leave the pig roaming around inside the home when they left. Just as the buyers arrived, 'Stella' came swaggering out of a bedroom to greet everyone. She was a medium-sized pig, quite charismatic, and friendly, although noticeably aromatic if you catch my drift. That pig stayed right by my buyers' sides during the entire showing, walking from room to room, occasionally squeaking it's approval while looking up at the young couple. I could tell that these folks were becoming more attached to the pig than to the house itself. They had fallen in love! As we were departing the home, the buyers were non-committal. I thought to myself, 'They really love this pig, and I also knew that the sellers had a dilemma to solve that the buyers didn't know about. They couldn't bring their pig with them to the new apartment they were moving to. So just before entering our vehicles to leave, I said, 'You seem to have taken a real liking to 'Stella.' They nodded in agreement. 'If you decide to place an offer on this home I could write a contingency into the contract that the pig would go with the house. I think the sellers might just go along with that!' They smiled and said, 'You're kidding with us, right?' I said, 'No, I'm serious! I'll write it right into the deal if you want!' The young bride looked squarely at her husband and said, 'Hon, Let's do that!' Back at my office, I placed the contract/offer in front of Gene, my then manager, for him to peruse and approve. He smiled while staring down at the clause, 'The pig (Stella) conveys with the property.' The deal was made, and everyone was happy. Everyone at my office got a big kick out of this unique contingency which I included in the offer. We had lots of fun in those days at the office. All the agents were like family and friends. After the closing, one of my colleagues, Raylene, presented me with a little statue of a pig that really resembled Stella. I still cherish that statue to this day, and look at it when I need a smile." -- Tom Cirignano, author of The Constant Outsider I'll leave you with a viral video that's making its rounds on the internet (trust me, it's pet related — just wait for it). No word on whether the woman is a door-knocking agent or not. Let's just pretend she is. Read the full article

#forsale #Home #House #iwanttomove #Listing #mainerealtor #newhome #Property #realestate #Realtor #townsendre

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newfixin · 3 years ago

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I hope its okay that I add onto this! If you wanna stick with the architecture, look more towards the Midwest areas. Photos from St Louis, Kansas City, Eureka Springs, and Hot Springs look like this. Those all have different types of southern, Victorian style architecture. If you want a Southern setting, I suggest looking into places you would think to see in Gone With the Wind: Atlanta, Birmingham, basically any plantation. For Really south, I suggest looking into New Orleans.

All of these places look extremely different in their downtowns than other parts of the cities, and are all Old towns. They pride themselves on maintaining accurate examples of architecture from the time. I have also only mentioned places I have actually been, as having lived in the south/southern midwest area my whole life.

Southern!Amity Park headcanons to follow:

-they didn’t notice the ghosts for so long because Old people in old towns literally just sit around in the same places and you never see them move, but everyone knows they will be home sleeping by 8pm. Old man seems to have stopped aging and has worked at the same place for 50+ years? My old bus driver turns 102 this year and has been driving the bus since he was 17. No one is going to bother them because disrespecting old people? not a good idea in a southern town.

-Loud noises at night? Tornados sound like trains, except louder. Everyone within a 100 mile radius owns at least 1 shotgun and there are wild animals everywhere that may attack your livestock (or you!). Metal roofs get really loud when its even slightly windy. Wolves and coyotes howl all the time, and when they start so will all the neighborhood dogs. There are hundreds of reasons for weird ghostly noises at night.

-lets be real, everyone does believe in ghosts but not the way the fentons do. Ghosts are just the chill you get when your barn feels like its pushing you out the door at night. Teens sneaking into old abandoned houses (oh there are Always abandoned houses everywhere) tell ghost stories until someone sees their shadow and they all leave scared. The janitor swears there is a woman haunting the court house at night, always waiting for her turn in line to see the judge (if you see her, kindly listen to her quiet whispers attentively, when she is done she will fade).

-For it to be a small school where everyone knows each other, a graduating class will have to be less than 100, anything more and you will get scoffed at for calling it a "small school". I imagine Amity having roughly 150-200 kids per class, so not everyone knows each others name but everyone will know if you are new.

-Small schools mean that these kids all knew eachother from childhood! I graduated with 100+ other people (out of 200) that had never went to another school their whole lives, so I do mean it when I say they known eachother since absolute childhood. Also, there was probably only one daycare in town, and their parents all went to school together too.

-The Mansons own half the town, and everyone knows it (shout out to the Johnsons that own half of my town). They can trace their linage back thousands of years, and Sam's great grandmother was an American Princess (yes there were american princesses).

-Maddy and all of her family were originally from Amity. Maddy left to go to college, married Jack, they began working for the university, then had Jazz. Maddy moved their family back to Amity after her father got sick, and he died only a year after Danny was born, but he had left them the house so they decided to stay. (southern tradition: the kid that comes back to help you in old age will probably get the house, and the kid that tries to put them in a nursing home will get nothing. Sometimes the oldest boy will get everything tho, just depends on how Traditional the family is.)

-Maddy and Jack try to describe their research to the town but no one really gets it. They are always the weird family, but Maddy's family has lived here for hundreds of years so they still get southern hospitality.

-The lab isnt in their basement, its hidden in the storm shelter that originally an underground cool house (there are still some in use near where I used to live since not everyone has electricity). Its always cold down there, even with all the machinery and air vents. The ops center is in the barn. In the south, its a "don't show don't tell" type of feel. The Fentons dont mention their research and hide their labs, and the town ignores it and just calls them odd behind their backs.

-The old outhouse setting on the far end of the yard, closest to the woods, has a second entrance to the lab that they never use. When Danny is exploring one day he finds it and shows Sam and Tucker. They have been sneaking into the lab for 3 years before the accident, though they never really touched anything.

-Tucker is still considered the geek of his class because less than half of their class even has wifi access. He will still be an outcast but he's also the person everyone goes to for tech advice. He has lived in Amity all his life, and they just accept that he is one of them.

-Sam is the only goth in the school. Nothing really would change about her family because they already dress and act like rich southerns.

-Jazz is the brightest in her class and all the teachers tell her that she is just like her mother when she was in school.

-Danny gets good grades, and his teachers never really push him to be exceptional because he doesn't need to be in a small town. He flourishes in math and science tho. He still gets beat up by Dash, and the teachers blatantly ignore it, since they still believe that boys should "fight it out" (i have personally seen teachers let this happen).

-The town isn't rude to Jack even though he is clearly neurodivergent. In my experience from the south, if anyone were to call Jack's behavior rude, they will be told that he is just "special" and will definitely earn glares for pointing it out. Anytime Jack oversteps, one of the old ladies in town will hear about it and will call Maddy.

-Danny's accident still happens his freshman year and he's out of school for a month. This is when the Manson's get mad about Sam spending time with Danny, since she was spending the night when he got hurt. The Fentons had to break the biggest southern rule of dont show dont tell, and explained that Danny got hurt in the lab where they were doing experiments.

-The Mansons influence parents to keep their kids away from the fentons, and thats when the trio really stands out as a trio. Used to they were just best friends, but now they couldn't make any friends. None of the A Listers could even hang out with them for fear of being kicked off of a team (the Mansons were the only funding the school got for the athletics department) or not winning their pageant scholarships (Mrs Manson always ran the pageants and was an unofficial judge).

This was honestly way longer than it was supposed to be, but i think i covered all of the southern aspects

I went out to a museum thing today and it really got me thinking.

AU where Amity Park is a cozy little Georgian / Victorian style town that’s kind of rural instead of a big bustling city.

(More detail under the cut)

Keep reading

#im not gonna proofread this #long post #Thank you for reading!!#Wow I should really get back into writing #mine

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brideofedoras · 4 years ago

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Please don't mind the glare on the framed artwork. I finally got around to framing some of my daughter's best works, and I had to sacrifice our superhero funko pop display to have wall space for the pieces shown in art shows. There will be two more pieces added to this wall (she has a painting and a charcoal sketch in a show this upcoming weekend!).

KC Wolf and the cow skull were from 6th grade. Her art teacher at the time taught the styles of famous artists to her elementary classes. KC Wolf (as in the mascot for the Kansas City Chiefs) was based on George Rodrigue's Blue Dog, and hand selected by Mrs. Starr to be shown in an area art show for students. We learned at the art show that Lakota could have submitted more art, so I showed them a photo I had taken of her Georgia O'Keeffe inspired cow skull. They handed her a blue ribbon on the spot.

The boy and tree pencil drawing was a landscape prompt at the CAC Art Show this past October. She received a first place ribbon.

Two of my absolute favorite pieces of hers. The caterpillar was one of her 4th grade art pieces. The bottom is a portrait of us she drew in daycare when she was 2 1/2 years old. She hates that I framed it.

I set up a "studio" for her in the dining room... and she is actually using it. She especially loves the string lights.

I should get her all the Bob Ross Funko pops. I apologize for how dark the photo is, the other Bob is the Deadpool Bob Ross.

These are the pieces being shown at the community art show this weekend.

This one isn't Lakota's. My mom drew this (in pencil). Mom was extremely talented... and would be so incredibly proud of her granddaughter's talent.

I need to talk to my dad about one of Mom's pieces from high school, the naked lady charcoal sketch. It's beautifully done and deserves to be on display. And Mom's Black Sabbath sculpture (a beautifully sculpted head of an African American, sadly due to age and improper storage it is starting to fall apart).

Anyway, I am just a very proud mom of my daughter's art and wanted to share.

#art #art is life #proud mom #support your kids' passions

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singbox13-blog · 5 years ago

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Philly Used to Be a Cat Town. Now It’s Gone to the Dogs.

Crankcase

Screw you, New Philly, and your schnauzer too.

Philly dogs have taken over our once cat-loving town. Photograph by Colin Lenton

When I moved to this city fresh out of college in 1978, I brought with me my cat, Julio, who’d been living (illicitly) in my dorm room. I rented a ground-floor apartment at 21st and Walnut — it cost $145 a month — and Julio and I settled in. The married couple in the apartment next door, Geoff and Danielle, had a couple of cats. Jimmy, the gay guy who lived above them, had a Persian, and Liz, the girl who lived above me, had a loud Siamese. This was a city of cats then; you’d walk down the block and see them sitting in windows, dozing or eyeing pigeons dubiously.

We had cats because cats were suited to the way we lived. We were homebodies; there were so few reasons not to be. The city had hardly any good restaurants — Steve Poses had opened Frög, the sword-tip of the renaissance vanguard, five years earlier. There was Bookbinder’s — well, there were two of them — where no one could afford to eat, and there were joints like Little Pete’s, where anybody could. A few years earlier, Chestnut Street had been closed to private vehicles to create a “transitway” for pedestrians and buses. The result was a bleak, empty canyon slicing through the city. Muggings were rampant. There wasn’t any nightlife except for a bunch of cheap bars — McGlinchey’s, McGillen’s, Dirty Franks — whose surly, sullen bartenders (cheers, Ruthie!) would have laughed in your face if you’d asked about the cocktail du jour.

Sounds awful, doesn’t it?

It was great. Did I mention the $145 rent? There wasn’t any traffic, because nobody could afford cars. It was so safe to bike in the streets that I was a bike messenger for a few years. There was no such thing as social media, so no one cared that there was no place to go. You’d have the neighbors over for beers, then cook up some burgers or chicken while cats wrapped around your ankles. Why go out? Where to?

None of us had dogs. Dogs were for suburban tract houses, out where there were fences and kids. It wouldn’t be right to have a dog here. It would be heartless to leave it cooped up in a tiny apartment all day.

But you could leave a cat with a litter box and a big bowl of dry food while you went to the Shore or the Poconos for a weekend. And you would go to the Shore or the Poconos on weekends, because the city was old and bleak and gray. You kept your head down when you walked those mean streets. You got where you were going. You didn’t linger. There weren’t marathons or pop-up bars or Restaurant Weeks or Roots Picnics. We weren’t sharers. We kept cats, and we kept to ourselves.

•

I don’t know when the changeover began. I’m not sure when I started to see them — the dog people — out on the sidewalks and in the parks, strutting and smiling and greeting people they didn’t even know. Oh, maybe there had been a poodle or two in Rittenhouse Square in the old days, walked by a butler or prim Chanel-suited matron. But the two veterinarians closest to my apartment were cats-only. I don’t remember any pooper-scooper laws; instead, there were occasional polite signs suggesting that you PLEASE CURB YOUR DOG, which, for the uninitiated, means have it defecate in the gutter instead of on the sidewalk. No one was asking you to pick up that poop. There literally weren’t enough dogs for anybody to care.

Maybe the switch dates from 1980, when the first Broad Street Run was held. That same year, the Phillies won the World Series and then the Eagles went to the Super Bowl, startling us all. Or maybe it was in 1984, when developer Willard Rouse III announced that he was raising One Liberty Place, busting through the longstanding “gentleman’s agreement” that no building in Center City would be taller than City Hall. (Such a rebel!) Or 1991, when Ed Rendell was elected mayor of a city on the brink of bankruptcy and vowed to turn it around.

Rendell was big and gruff and loud, a transplant from New York, where they’ve always had dogs, because New Yorkers don’t care about anybody else’s quality of life. He had dogs — a succession of golden retrievers (what else?), Mandy and Maggie and Ginger and Royal. When Maggie died, Rendell penned a tribute that read, in part: “I lived on this earth for over 73 years and as a trained lawyer, the most persuasive empirical evidence I have found about the existence of God is that someone must have done something to create that special bond between dog and human. It exists for us with virtually no other animal and I can’t believe it was just an accident.”

If you’re touched by that, you must be new around here. Philadelphians are cat people — private people — and private people don’t emote this way. We might whisper in Kitty’s ear while cuddling her in our lap, but we don’t shout it from rooftops. We’re tidy as a litter box. We don’t slobber. We don’t wag our tails. We have dignity.

You have to stay a little removed, after all, in a city of rowhomes. You have to pretend you don’t overhear the couple next door arguing in bed, or notice the booze bottles in their trash can, or see the underwear hung out to dry in their backyard. You have to remain aloof — like a cat, you know? You mind your own business, addressing a paw with your tongue while the bill collector knocks just across the street. That’s the way our moms and dads were. That’s how we were, back before Ed Rendell.

•

Once, this was a city of suspicious nocturnal predators. Today, it’s home to cheerful tail-waggers, and the difference is as startling as Dorothy’s transition from Kansas to Technicolor Oz. There are now dozens of dog parks in Philly. There are bakeries that will make your dog a custom birthday cake, and doggie haberdashers where you can get Sparky suited up for your wedding or a holiday. There’s puppy yoga at breweries and Yappy Hours at bars. As I head into work along South Street, I pass two doggie daycares as well as an Unleashed by Petco (which has a self-serve dog wash so you can scrub the city grime off Rocky) and an outpost of the chic local chain Doggie Style Pets. There are Philly folks who’ll perform acupuncture on your dogs, and tattoo artists who adorn human arms and legs with canine faces. It’s a rare cafe that doesn’t have a doggy water bowl beside the outdoor tables. You can even bring your pup with you to work, if your employer is Urban Outfitters HQ or Neff Associates or Petplan, the Philly-based pet insurance company started by two Wharton students. There are dog walkers galore, along with trainers and groomers and therapists and psychics and programs where kids read to dogs. I and my kitty kin sit at home and marvel at this canine industrial complex. According to the American Pet Products Association, Americans spent $72.13 billion on Fluffy and Squeaky and Tug last year, with the annual cost of cat ownership two-thirds that of a dog, at $988 vs. $1,549. That cat cost is wildly inflated, btw, since it budgets $30 annually for toys. You only buy toys for your cat the first few months you have her, until you figure out she doesn’t give a damn about toys; she just wants to chew your houseplants.

Dogs, if I can be frank, are the spawn of success and gentrification. The Inquirer said so two years ago in an article called “If It Seems As If Dogs Are Everywhere in Philly’s Gentrifying Neighborhoods, They Are.” It quoted a Villanova economics prof, David Fiorenza, who says millennials are having dogs before they have children. A third — a third! — of American millennials who buy houses cite wanting more space for their dogs — a motivating factor that outranks marriage or the birth of a child. A WHYY report last year on gentrification in Grays Ferry quoted a longtime resident, 83-year-old Theodore Jackson, on the subject of his new neighbors: “They love them dogs.” Hey, that wasn’t a cat mask Chris Long put on.

One consequence of the influx of pups has been an influx of poop. Those “Curb your dog” signs are gone, replaced by ones warning of $300 fines for not picking up after your pet. (By “pet,” we don’t mean cat. And by “picking up,” we don’t mean putting that shit in a plastic bag and depositing it on someone else’s stoop.) If you want to get Old Philadelphia going, start a conversation on this subject. Beneath our (cattily) inscrutable expressions, many of us are seething with resentment toward doggy doo. “I see it everywhere,” one co-worker who lives in Rittenhouse hisses. “I stepped in some this morning,” another bitches. Neighborhood blogs froth at the mouth about the excrement situation. In 2018, Beth Ann Dombkowski, a resident of Passyunk Square, mounted a gallery exhibit of photos she took of dogs as they were pooping. In 2012, a Tacony man was shot to death by the guy two doors down for not picking up after his Chihuahua. Which reminds me: Earlier this year, a South Philly dog owner died after being punched, allegedly by another dog owner whom he’d asked to leash his pet.

Cat people don’t kill each other. We have no reason to.

•

Last April, the City of Philadelphia’s verified Twitter account tweeted out:

ANNOUNCEMENT: After noticing that our top audience interest is DOGS, we have decided to become a dog and cat rating account. Reply with your dog and cat pictures and we’ll rate them.

The “and cat” was a sop; felines were nowhere on the accompanying chart, which showed the account’s audience interest in dogs at a staggering 100 percent, ahead of “weather,” tech news” and even politics. Granted, the tweet went out on April 1st. But even on April Fools’ Day, the joke worked because it rang true: Who doesn’t love dogs?

Once upon a time, Philadelphians didn’t. Back in the day, this city’s sports heroes were cat-like loners like Allen Iverson and Mike Schmidt. Now, New Philadelphia has rallied to goofy Cameroonian wolfhound Joel Embiid and bulldog Bryce Harper. The favored writers in my salad days were embittered sourpusses — Stu Bykofsky, Christine Flowers, Buzz Bissinger. In March, the Inquirer — the city’s newspaper of record — started a new Sunday section, “The UpSide,” that prints only good news. Yippee, puppies and rainbows all around!

This city you kids are making is a foreign place to us — bright and happy and colorful and buzzing with life. It has parklets and bike lanes and hammocks you can hang in. It’s got more City Council candidates than you can throw a stick for. It wins all kinds of awards — for new architecture, new recreational venues, new chefs. It’s been declared best place to visit and City of the Year. Its sports teams are in ascendance. Clearly, you newcomers think this relentless assault of excellence will pound down our native gloom and let the sun shine in. Haven’t we ever heard of cats’ bad habits — that they hang out with witches and suck the breath from babies? Don’t we want our faces licked?

Um, no. No, we don’t, thank you. We’re into pain; isn’t that obvious from the public officials we elect? We’re proud that Slate recently labeled cats “the world’s most uncooperative research subject,” and that a study in the journal Animal Cognition concluded that “the behavioral aspects of cats that cause their owners to become attached to them are still undetermined.” You dumb kids, we loved this place when it was a pit.

So go ahead and encourage us to adopt our very own bowwow buddies. Keep telling us how comforting a dog would be in our dotage. Go on saying: “You think you love that cat. Wait till you try a pup.” Sashay past us with that dachshund dolled up in a Rhys Hoskins jersey, or your chow chow with the lion cut, or that terrier with the tie-dyed hair. Woo us with research on how people who share their homes with canines are healthier, happier, and less likely to be visited by thieves. We’re Philadelphians. We know exactly what you’re up to. A new study from Penn Med says the number of olds who suffered bone fractures from walking their dogs more than doubled from 2004 to 2017. A full 17 percent of the total injuries were hip fractures, which just happen to give us a 30 percent chance of dying within a year. You kids may be yanking at the leash to take over this town. But Kitty and I will just wave from the window, thanks.

Published as “It’s a Dog-Eat-Cat World” in the June 2019 issue of Philadelphia magazine.

Source: https://www.phillymag.com/news/2019/06/15/philly-dogs-cats/

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jasonborne24 · 8 years ago

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The Kansas City Afternoon Link Lookout

Our afternoon is inspired by Instagram sensation Lindsey Pelas hotness and a contemplation of top local news stories. Take a peek: Show-Me Kangaroo Support

UMKC Downtown Arts Campus Inches Closer To State Funding

After hitting a high note last month with overwhelming approval in the Missouri House, the proposed University of Missouri-Kansas City downtown arts campus is scheduled to debut next week before a tougher audience, the Missouri Senate.

Prez Trump Isn't Coming . . .

C-SPAN 3 to broadcast live from Liberty Memorial on Saturday

C-SPAN 3 will broadcast live from the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City on Saturday to mark the 100th anniversary of the United States' entry into the European conflict. The program "American History TV" will begin at 9:30 a.m. Central time and will include viewer calls and tweets.

D-Day Coming Soon . . .

Sidewalk improvements, pedestrian safety up to KC voters

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Midtown mother is on a mission to make the urban core more pedestrian friendly. Kaitlyn Bunch walks with her 3-year-old son and 4-month-old twin girls every day. Her son's daycare is only about five blocks away, but the short walk is full of safety issues.

Fighting Kansas City Cruelty

Animal abuse could be sign of domestic violence, humane society and Rose Brooks team up to show what to look for

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Police and prosecutors from around the metro area are learning Thursday how animal cruelty can be a sign of domestic violence in a household. The Humane Society is teaming up with the Rose Brooks domestic violence shelter to teach officers how dog fighting and other examples of animal cruelty often are linked to more serious felonies.

Golden Ghetto Economy Powers Kansas

JoCo drives almost unbelievable amount of Kansas job creation - Kansas City Business Journal

Johnson County has become a major job generator for Kansas, the Shawnee Mission Post reports. During the first nine months of 2016, 84 percent of the jobs created in the state were in Johnson County. Ed Eilert, chairman of the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners, highlighted the county's job creation role during the State of the County address Tuesday.

KCMO Green Front Porch Winning

Union Station using 16 percent less power

KANSAS CITY, Mo - Union Station is becoming more energy efficient and it will save the famous landmark operating expenses. About a year ago BCS Performance Solutions helped Union Station make updates to its power system - this includes lighting, electric and in the chiller room.

Talking Taxes In Kansas City Kansas City Museum hosts open house ahead of April 4 election And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now . . .

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kansascityhappenings · 5 years ago

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Local veterinarians adjust to ‘new normal’ as COVID-19 changes how they work

PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. — The Tomahawk Animal Hospital in Prairie Village has been deemed an essential business. But they, along with many other clinics, are adjusting to “curbside care.”

It’s the new normal for Dr. Kent Kraus and his team. He or a technician walks out to the client’s car, gets the pet and its history.

Then they make their way inside without the owner.

“We treat it, do whatever we have to do,” Kraus said. “Then either Dr. Bower of myself will go outside, stay 6 feet away, and talk to the owner about what’s going on with their pet.”

Pet owners like Marsha Orrick, who need immediate assistance are grateful.

“It’s really great that he’s found a way to do this,” Kraus said. “It could be our ‘new normal’ for a while, but I’m appreciative of it and I know that all pet lovers have to be.”

Kraus admits the domino affect from COVID-19 has slowed business, but he’s determined to stay open. He has 10 employees and a lot of pets to think about, like O’Reilly — a blind and retired therapy dog.

Places like PetSmart are open to sell pet food and supplies, but voluntarily closed doors to the grooming salon for the next few weeks.

Elkhound Ranch Kennel in the Northland temporarily closed after the Animal Health and Safety Department said it had to shut down due to COVID-19.

Owner Adam Munsterman called the department back with questions and was told he actually can be open for boarding, daycare and grooming.

Even so, they’re only seeing about 15% of normal traffic.

“As an owner, it’s scary,” Kraus said.

Orrick worries money will affect more than just small businesses.

“I just hope people don’t abandon dogs because of finances,” Orrick said. “There are resources out there, and we don’t need more pets in shelters. We need them to stay in their home because it’s a stressful time!”

Kraus also does house visits. At this time, it may be difficult to get away from the clinic, but he said he will do what he can to help.

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports https://fox4kc.com/tracking-coronavirus/local-veterinarians-adjust-to-new-normal-as-covid-19-changes-how-they-work/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2020/03/26/local-veterinarians-adjust-to-new-normal-as-covid-19-changes-how-they-work/

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lvdoghotelcom-blog · 7 years ago

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At this doggie daycare, the big dogs don’t hold all the power

This article was first published on the Kansas City Star.

BY RUSS PULLEY

Zac Jacobson, an employee, in daycare room for the smaller breeds. Russ Pulley

Photo from the Kansas City Star: At this doggie daycare, the big dogs don’t hold all the power

At Cuddle Up Pup, Yorkie owners don’t need to worry about a Great Dane stomping on their pooch while it’s at the kennel.

A new “pet resort” has opened in north Lee’s Summit, giving dog owners another option for daycare or boarding for their animals. One of its features is a “teacup” daycare room for those little breeds.

Cuddle Up Pup was the dream of a Belton couple, Andrew and Stephanie Haddadi, who opened their “luxury” dog care June 28.

Stephanie Haddadi had been manager at a Johnson County facility, where it seemed like there was a kennel on every block.

Andrew Haddadi noticed there was an underserved market out there for the smaller breeds.

It’s a step up from the usual boarding facility, the couple said, offering the convenience of longer hours, drop-off and pickups, and grooming seven days a week with 24/7 staffing.

While some dog daycares split their guests into groups for small or large animals, their facility has individual play rooms to provide space for tiny, small, medium and large dogs, and different personalities. They’ll also soon open a room for “geriatric” animals, which don’t have the zip of younger pets.

The 10,400-square-feet facility is a renovated Montessori School at 951 N.E. Wildwood Drive. Several months ago, the couple approached the city for a minor revision of Lee’s Summit zoning laws to convert the building into their dog boarding facility, because it was in a commercial area. Previously the city only allowed the facilities with outside dog runs in industrial-zoned locations.

Andrew Haddadi said they’d been looking for the right location in Lee’s Summit for several years, while Stephanie Haddadi saved her tips to help finance the venture.

She said she’s been in the industry since she was a teenager, starting by working at a veterinarian office where her mother was a vet technician.

They have a Chihuahua and Irish wolfhound of their own.

Indoors, they’ve upgraded housing from pens to “suites” that have tempered-glass doors, painted walls, bedding and music, a stark contrast to the cinderblock and chain-link fence found at some centers. Daycare rooms are outfitted with couches for lounging; and toys and tents for playing.

Outside there are five play yards with artificial turf, easy to clean and sanitize.

“It feels like being at home, not like being in a pound,” Stephanie Haddadi said. She said dogs spend most of their time in a daycare room or outdoors. “At the end of the day they’re tired. They’ve released their anxiety or energy and they sleep at night.”

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thecrazydoglady-posts · 4 years ago

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Treeing Walker Coonhound

Temperament:

Smart, Brave, Courteous, Sensible

Loving, Intelligent, Confident

Size:

22-27 in (male)

20-25 in (female)

50-70 lbs

Life Expectancy:

12-13 yrs

About:

Long, muscular legs

Nicknamed “The People’s Choice”

Nutrition:

In order to not change a dog’s diet too fast, find out what your new puppies diet was at the breeder’s.

For a day or two a puppy may not eat because of the new surrounding, any longer than that; contact a vet.

A hound that isn’t working can be prone to becoming overweight

Treeing Walker Coonhound puppies between eight and twelve weeks old need 4 meals in a twenty-four hour period.

Feed treeing walker coonhound puppies 3 to 6 months old 3 meals in a twenty-four hour period.

Feed pups 6 months old to one year 2 meals in a day.

By the time the treeing walker coonhound makes his or her 1st birthday, 1 bowl in a day is sufficient.

Many times adult treeing walker coonhounds might do better with two smaller meals. It is your job to learn your treeing walker coonhound’s eating habits.

High-quality dry dog food provides balanced nutrition to full-grown treeing walker coonhounds and can mix with canned food, broth, or water.

Your treeing walker coonhound may like cooked eggs, fruits and vegetables, and cottage cheese, but these should be less than 10 pct of his or her daily food allowance.

Grooming:

Very low maintenance

The coat repels dirt and mud, occasional baths only

Trim nails every couple weeks

Ears cleaned weekly

Exercise:

Long daily walks

Love running and hiking

Always keep hounds on leash!!

Training:

Very intelligent and eager to learn

But also are stubborn and independent

Fun and entertaining lessons with praise for good behavior

Some cool trainers listed by state below!

Health:

Overall a healthy breed

Make sure the breeder has screened for:

Hip dysplasia

Eye anomalies

Recommended Health Tests:

Hip evaluation

Ophthamologist Evaluation

Thyroid Evaluation

History:

Origin: United States

Year AKC Recognized: 2012 as 175th breed

Were used to hunt raccoons

Future Owner Info:

Energy Level: Somewhat Active; Don’t let the name fool you— Walkers are runners

Good with Children: Yes

Good with other Dogs: Yes

Barking Level: Likes To Be Vocal

Breeders:

Breed Club: National Treeing Walker Coonhound Association Breed Club Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NTWCAparentclub/

Puppies available Fall 2020!

Kennel Name: Heritage Hounds

Breeder Name: Brenna Carlisle

Website: http://www.heritagehounds.net

Location: Ragland, AL 35131

Phone: (404) 354-4124

Michigan:

Kennel Name: Stackem Up Kennel

Breeder Name: Tricia L Snedegar

Location: Vermontville, MI 49096

Phone: (517) 726-1326

Kentucky:

Kennel Name: Lost Heritage Hounds

Breeder Name: Cole Vanover

Website: https://www.facebook.com/LostHeritageHounds

Location: Louisville, KY 40272

Phone: (502) 550-3633

Alabama:

Kennel Name: Sidearm Kennel

Breeder Name: Lori Mills

Location: Grand Bay, AL 36541

Phone: (125) 153-30255

Trainers:

Alabama: Island Dog LLC / Hunstville, AL

Alaska: Your Dog ETC / Anchorage, AK

Arizona: Obedient Beat K9 Training / Phoenix, AZ

Arkansas: Clay’s Top Dog / Conway, AR

California: California Academy of Dog Training, LLC / Downey, CA

Colorado: Noble Beast Dog Training / Denver, CO

Connecticut: Secret Lake Dog Training, LLC / Avon, CT

Delaware: Positive Results Dog Training, LLC / Wilmington, DE

Florida: Jacksonville Pawsitive Training, Inc. / Jacksonville, FL

Georgia: Pups To Pockets, LLC / Peachtree Corners, GA

Hawaii: Pro Dog Hawaii / Kaneohe, HI

Idaho: Canine Companions of Pocatello / Pocatello, ID

Illinois: Torbel’s Canine Connection / Bourbonnais, IL

Indiana: Over The Rainbow Dogs, LLC / Muncie, IN

Iowa: Top Canine Solutions, LLC / Cambridge, IA

Kansas: Daiger Dog Training, LLC / Kansas City, MO

Kentucky: Dependable Partners Dog Training, LLC / Louisville, KY

Louisiana: Dog Gone Right, LLC / Hammond, LA

Maine: Pamela Belcher / [email protected] / Eliot, ME

Massachusetts: PetSmart, Chicopee MA / 413-377-2883 / Chicopee, MA

Michigan: FIDO Personal Dog Training, LLC / Ferndale, MI

Minnesota: Dog Talk Training MN / Coon Rapids, MN

Mississippi: Pawsitive Companionship, LLC / Memphis, TN

Missouri: Spry Dogs / St. Louis, MO

Montana: Intelligent Canine / Billings, MT

Nebraska: Big Moose Dog Training / Malmo, NE

Nevada: imPETus Animal Training by Holistic Hounds / Las Vegas, NV

New Hampshire: Wagging Tail Academy, LLC / Hollis, NH

New Jersey: Dogstar Training NJ, LLC / Aberdeen & Hightstown, NJ

New Mexico: Good Dog Training Center & Doggie Resort, LLC / Rio Rancho, NM

New York: Drew Watson Pups / New York, NY

North Carolina: CANINE PawRTNERS / [email protected] / Charlotte, NC

North Dakota: Captain’s Canine / West Fargo, ND

Ohio: Pups Grow Up, LLC / Dayton, OH

Oklahoma: Elizabeth R. Maupin / [email protected] / Moore, OK

Oregon: Auntie Sally Dog & Puppy Training / Milwaukie, OR

Pennsylvania: Grandma’s Dog Daycare / Pittsburgh, PA

Rhode Island: Patience Inspired Dog Training / Coventry, RI

South Carolina: Bright Mind Canine Services / Charleston, SC

South Dakota: Tenacious Dog Training / Sioux Falls, SD

Tennessee: Ren’s Pups, LLC / Hendersonville, TN

Texas: Smart Dog Dallas / Dallas, TX

Utah: Three Little Pits Pawsitive Dog Training / Kamas, UT

Vermont: Diamond in the Ruff Dog Training / Burlington, VT

Virginia: Paw in Hand Training / Catharpin, Va

Washington: Matters of the Canine Kind LLC / Tacoma, WA

West Virginia: Wee Beasties, LLC / Danese, WV

Wisconsin: Best Paw Forward / Menomonee Falls, WI

Wyoming: Progressive School for Dogs, LLC / Greeley, CO

Sources:

https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/treeing-walker-coonhound/

https://sites.google.com/view/ntwca/home

https://animalcaretip.com/how-to-take-care-of-the-treeing-walker-coonhound/#:~:text=High%2Dquality%20dry%20dog%20food,or%20her%20daily%20food%20allowance.

#dogs of tumblr #dog #dogs #dogstuff #dogmom #puppies #treeingwalkercoonhound #hound #coonhound #akc #akcregistered #pup #pupper

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kansascityhappenings · 5 years ago

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Best places to take your dog to in Kansas City this fall

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With cooler temperatures finally here, it’s now the perfect time to take the dog out for a nice evening stroll. Some dogs really hate the heat — and their owners don’t want to walk in it either. Fall is prime time to stretch your legs.

Kansas City has a wide range of parks, public spaces, and hotels that cater to dogs’ needs. Whether you are new to the area or have lived here your whole life, this article will help guide you to finding the best experiences for your loyal canine.

The specialty hangout spot for dogs is in the River Market area. Bar K Dog Bar gives dogs the chance to hang out and play with other pups; meanwhile, their owners get the chance to make new friends and grab some coffee or a beer. The popular park is located on the shore of the Missouri River in Berkley Riverfront Park, under the Heart of America Bridge.

Bar K is open 9:00am to 10:00pm daily serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner to both humans and dogs. The menu includes items like: chicken tenders, deviled eggs, steak bowls, macaroni and cheese, salads, white bean chili, fresh baked cookies, and Betty Rae’s ice cream. Dogs can also be treated to beef stew, chicken risotto, ice cream nuggets, and turkey bacon jerky. Selections for dogs are on a different menu.

Anyone without a dog is welcome to visit Bar K for free. Pups need either a membership or guess pass to enter. Bar K also has private event spaces where you can hold dog friendly meetings, birthdays, fundraisers, and more. There is the nearby River Market Dog Park, which is free. The River Market has a myriad of restaurants with outdoor seating where you can relax with your dog while eating some grub.

Ermine Case Junior Park is also near Bar K. Not as many people use the area. It’s a small park with a good view of the river. Case Park is south of Ninth Street to Tenth Street on Jefferson Street. It is adjacent to West Terrace Park.

In the Westport area, Mo Brew has open patio seating in its outside bar. Dog owners are welcome to bring their pup. Mo Brew is located on 39th street. It features rare craft beers, and a cheap happy hour menu — $1.50 burgers and $1.50 fries from 3:00pm to 7:00pm Monday thru Friday.

Kaldi’s has two locations in the Country Club Plaza. Kaldi’s is a great stop for coffee and a place for your dog to rest. Both locations have outdoor seating.

West Bottoms is open to walkers and their dogs. Most of the antique shop owners are cool with pups. The area gets extra foot-traffic during First Fridays.

Marshalls actually lets you shop with your dog. The store has a wide selection of dog treats, clothing, and toys.

Shawnee Mission Park includes a large off-leash dog area. There is also a lake where your dog is free to swim. The park has a beach, boat and kayak rentals, and several trails. It’s an excellent place for relaxation and recreation.

The Pet Ranch Dog Park is located off 151st and Olathe. The park has 13 acres of free land for canines to roam. It is an exclusive dog park costing $35 a month. The park features a dog pond and an agility course.

For those looking for an urban dog park: head to Swope Park or Loose Park just south of the Country Club Plaza and Penn Valley Park. Jackson County’s Longview Lake Park is an ideal location for fishing, camping, and hiking. Penn Valley Park and Swope Park have off-leash sections.

Other dog parks in the metro include: West Terrace Dog Park in Downtown KC and Waggin’ Trail Off Leash Dog Park in North Kansas City.

Leafwood Dog Park has lots of grassy space, and a charming wood-fenced area. It is well maintained, has water-hosing stations, and nine whole yards. It’s a little bit of a walk to actually get to the park.

Crestview Park in the Northland has a new jungle gym and woods all along it. There is also a creek. It’s a kid friendly park.

The Trolley Trail through Brookside and Waldo is a winding track that brings in people from all walks of life along with their pets.

Tails and Trails is in Grandview. It has lots of open space and a water fountain.

Dogs are also welcome in some parts of the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Dogs must be on a leash; they are restricted to the mulch paths or the International Sculpture Trail around the Pavilion.

For the perfect picnic spot, head to the lawn of the The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The lawn has a walk-through maze and the iconic, larger-than-life Shuttlecocks.

Maple Woods Natural Area in Gladstone is a great place to get some exercise, hike, and walk the dog. It’s also a spot known for wildlife and bird watching. It’s secretly tucked between a neighborhood and a highway. There are several hiking paths, making each visit unique. This is also a great place to see the leaves change color this fall. The area gives people an idea of what the north Kansas City area looked like before people settled here and buildings took over the skyline.

If you’re willing to take a longer drive, Kill Creek Streamway has a lovely off-leash dog park. The view there is spectacular. The park isn’t well-known unless you live in De Soto. The park has a stream as well as bridges for dogs to explore. Those who love walking outside with their dog should definitely check out this nature spot.

Hotels and lodging for dogs

Traveling with a furry companion can be stressful. It’s not always easy to find a dog friendly hotel. Several of Kansas City’s hotels offer pet-friendly accommodations including: The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center; Hotel Indigo – Downtown; Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center; Ambassador Hotel Kansas City; Intercontinental Kansas City at the Plaza; and Residence Inn Kansas City Downtown/Convention Center, and 21c Museum Hotel.

Airbnb also has several different listings that are dog friendly. From condos, duplexes, houses, lofts, and even mansions — sometimes you can find a better deal than what a hotel offers. (Although, the mansion prices are in the thousands of dollars.)

Kansas City is also home to top dog day care centers: Camp Bow Wow, Dog’s World of Fun, Pooches Paradise Daycare Resort, Pete & Mac’s Pet Resorts, Doggie Style Bowtique, and Dog Pawz.

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports https://fox4kc.com/2019/09/28/best-places-to-take-your-dog-to-in-kansas-city-this-fall/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2019/09/28/best-places-to-take-your-dog-to-in-kansas-city-this-fall/

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kansascityhappenings · 5 years ago

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‘I just love him to death’: Lifelike ‘Reborn’ doll helping metro woman calm her anxiety

BASEHOR, Kan. – A Basehor woman who uses a lifelike baby doll as a form of treatment says the “Reborn” doll has been more therapeutic than traditional healing methods.

Like most moms, Penny Kolojaco can’t stop talking about her baby, Wyatt. But if you take a closer look and you’ll notice he isn’t a typical baby. He’s a Reborn doll.

“I just love him to death,” Kolojaco said. “It does everything a real baby does, but it’s a doll.”

People get the dolls for several reasons. Some collect them, while others use them for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. Kolojaco got her doll five months ago to help with her anxiety.

The 52-year-old, who has an adult daughter, worked at a daycare for 30 years. When she was forced to leave due to health reasons and had to move her mom into a nursing home, Kolojaco felt lonely.

“I cried a lot. I wasn’t eating. I was stressed out really bad. I couldn’t sleep,” she explained.

Kolojaco talked with her doctor about using a Reborn doll as a therapy tool. He told her to try it.

Months later, Kolojaco said the doll worked like a charm.

“I went to the doctor a couple of weeks ago, and he said my stress level is 30% down than what it was, and they took me off my anxiety medicine,” she said.

Wyatt keeps Kolojaco busy.

She dresses him, feeds him every four hours and changes his diapers. He’s also programmed with a heartbeat and cries if he’s without his pacifier too long.

“To me, he’s a tool that I’m using to help me cope with everything I’m going through,” she said.

Kolojaco takes Wyatt with her everywhere, including to the grocery store, library and bank. She said she can’t do that with her dog.

She said she doesn’t think her Reborn baby is strange — despite the odd looks she sometimes gets when she’s with it.

“I just kind of ignore that and just go on,” Kolojaco said. “He’s not creepy. It may not work for everybody, but thanks to Wyatt, I’m doing a lot better.”

Kolojaco paid less than $200 for her Reborn doll, but they can cost upwards of $4,000.

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports https://fox4kc.com/2019/09/18/i-just-love-him-to-death-lifelike-reborn-doll-helping-metro-woman-calm-her-anxiety/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2019/09/19/i-just-love-him-to-death-lifelike-reborn-doll-helping-metro-woman-calm-her-anxiety/

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kansascityhappenings · 6 years ago

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He taught himself this skill in prison. Now he’s using it to brighten the lives of cancer patients

With loving hands and a dainty hook, a craftsman is making the world a little warmer by crocheting colorful caps — almost as colorful as the tattoos on his muscular forearms.

Kurt Stapleton learned to crochet in prison a decade ago. Now he’s making hats for cancer patients who’ve lost their hair.

“About a year ago, I initially posted something about making chemo hats and friends shared it,” the 42 year-old told CNN. He thought his post might raise a little local interest in the knit caps. “I got a lot more than I anticipated.”

Now the Madison, Wisconsin, resident ships his caps to cancer patients all around the world, free of charge.

He has made about 50 hats in the last month and has another 40 or so on order. People as far away as Thailand, South Africa and the Philippines are wearing his hats.

Stapleton also receives donations from across the globe to help fund his project.

“Because of donations, I’m now able to put lotion, candy and what they really need when they are going through chemo.”

He knits caps to honor his late father

Stapleton knows all too well what chemo patients need. In 2006, he lost his father to bladder cancer.

“I wasn’t able to do anything to help him. It happened so fast,” he said.

The caps he makes now are his way of honoring his father. “I’m trying to put some good into the world.”

The death of his father was part of a tough period in Stapleton’s life. He had other struggles. In May of 2009, he was arrested and charged with two counts of armed robbery.

“I was addicted to Percocet and Vicodin. I went to a pharmacy and told them to give me the pills,” he said. “That was rock bottom.”

During his three years behind bars, Stapleton learned crocheting. It was comforting for him, so he spent a lot of time learning how to do it.

“They had a donation program for inmates to make things for children in need,” he said. “I started that way. I taught myself.”

His caps mean a lot to those who get them

Stapleton, who manages a warehouse, stands well over six feet tall and weighs 230 pounds. But he’s all heart.

“I pick up my son from daycare after work,” he said. “I do chores around the house and feed the animals.”

His menagerie includes a dog, two gerbils, three cats, four tortoises, a fish and a reptile called a bearded dragon.

“In between time, I crochet,” he said.

Wendy Oren of Edgerton, Wisconsin, is fighting ovarian cancer. She wears one of Stapleton’s caps like a suit of armor.

“You can’t put it into words — what someone thinks is the littlest thing. And for him to not even know me, to make sure I got a hat, it was just a wonderful feeling,” she told CNN. “I felt supported and loved.”

But Stapleton is quick to deflect praise for his efforts.

“I’m just a guy making hats,” he said. “The people who are battling cancer are the heroes.”

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports https://fox4kc.com/2019/02/17/he-taught-himself-this-skill-in-prison-now-hes-using-it-to-brighten-the-lives-of-cancer-patients/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2019/02/17/he-taught-himself-this-skill-in-prison-now-hes-using-it-to-brighten-the-lives-of-cancer-patients/

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kansascityhappenings · 6 years ago

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Therapy dogs can spread superbugs to kids, hospital finds

NEW YORK — Therapy dogs can bring more than joy and comfort to hospitalized kids. They can also bring stubborn germs.

Doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore were suspicious that the dogs might pose an infection risk to patients with weakened immune systems. So they conducted some tests when Pippi, Poppy, Badger and Winnie visited 45 children getting cancer treatment.

They discovered that kids who spent more time with the dogs had a 6 times greater chance of coming away with superbug bacteria than kids who spent less time with the animals. But the study also found that washing the dogs before visits and using special wipes while they’re in the hospital took away the risk of spreading that bacteria.

The results of the unpublished study were released Friday at a scientific meeting in San Francisco.

One U.S. health official said the findings add to the growing understanding that while interactions with pets and therapy animals can be beneficial, they can also carry risk.

“Whether covered in fur, feathers or scales, animals have the potential to carry germs that make people sick,” said Casey Barton Behravesh of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pet therapy can help people recover from a range of health problems. Past studies have shown dogs or other animals can ease anxiety and sadness, lower blood pressure and even reduce the amount of medications some patients need.

But there have been episodes of the superbug MRSA riding around on healthy-looking therapy dogs.

MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, often live on the skin without causing symptoms. But they can become more dangerous if they enter the bloodstream, destroying heart valves or causing other damage. Health officials have tied MRSA to as many as 11,000 U.S. deaths a year.

The bacteria can spread in daycares, locker rooms and military barracks, but public health efforts have focused on hospitals and nursing homes.

The Baltimore study looked at 45 children who interacted with the four dogs — petting, hugging, feeding or playing with them — over 13 visits in 2016 and 2017.

Among kids who had no MRSA, the researchers found the superbug on about 10 percent of the samples taken from those kids after the dog visits. They also found MRSA on nearly 40 percent of the samples from the dogs. The researchers also determined that the more time someone spent with the animals, the greater the chance of ending up with the bacteria.

The researchers think the dogs were generally clean of MRSA when they first came to the hospital, but picked it up from patients or others while they were there, said one of the authors, Meghan Davis.

“Our hypothesis is it’s really person-to-person transmission, but it happened through contact with the fur,” said Davis, a Johns Hopkins public health researcher and veterinarian.

Under hospital protocols, therapy dogs must be bathed within a day of a visit and are checked for wounds or other health problems. Children who see them are supposed to use hand sanitizer “but that wasn’t strictly enforced,” said Kathryn Dalton, another one of the researchers.

Later in the study, the researchers asked the dogs’ owners to bathe the animals with a special shampoo before the visits. They also had the dogs patted down every five to 10 minutes with disinfecting wipes at the hospital.

Those steps dramatically decreased the bacteria level on the dogs, Dalton said.

She hopes further study will show that such cleanings can reduce any risk of superbug infection.

“I really had the opportunity to see how important these dogs were to the patients,” Dalton said. After the sessions with the dogs, the kids “would say how much this made their day.”

from FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports https://fox4kc.com/2018/10/06/therapy-dogs-can-spread-superbugs-to-kids-hospital-finds/

from Kansas City Happenings https://kansascityhappenings.wordpress.com/2018/10/06/therapy-dogs-can-spread-superbugs-to-kids-hospital-finds/

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