"Believe there is a great power silently working all things for good, behave
yourself and never mind the rest."

Beatrix Potter
1866-1943, Author and Illustrator

Silence is a sin

"To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men." ~Abraham
Lincoln

Liberty and justice for all...

"Trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty." John Adams 1772

Blackberry Curve 8320 blogging testdrive...

Too cool! I had no idea that (1) I could do this with my BB, and (2) that it would be so EASY. Whee!

Thanks go to Trent Vanegas of Pink is the New Blog for making me see that it IS possible.

Photo for 7 February 2008

This has been a very long week and I feel like an ear infection is coming on... blech. Guess a run to the doctor is in order this morning.
This is the best photo I have ever gotten of Pris [sometimes called Martha Steward when she rearranges MY world]. She was in 'intruder alert detection' mode when I caught this. She has gotten more protective since Elba passed in a move to prove she deserves that job. So far, I have resisted making a decision as to who gets elevated to the divan.

Tags: Rottweiler, photo of the day, rescue

Musings and photo for today...

Very long day at work with the promise of another very long day tomorrow. I wish I could retire... no WAIT! I already did that and look where it got me: In harness again. I really do enjoy it, though.

This cardinal was watching as I had repairs done to my well. It blew a gasket and so I was having it replaced. A simple enough repair that costs about a dollar a minute. This guy stood out like a sore thumb and I went inside to get my camera. Still there when I got back, he was chillin' no cats were in sight and he wasn't excited enough to toss up his crest.
A vibrant spot of color in a drab winter burned landscape.

Tags: photo of the day

Here's another thought in the owner vs. guardian conversation...

I read this earlier today when I was at work and researching quotes for something I'm working on. Consider this opinion of a Founding Father:

"The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws of God, and there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence. Property must be sacred or liberty cannot exist." - John Adams. 

Of course, he doesn't start or end there, but like everyone else I take what applies to my moment in time :)

Interestingly enough, the quote comes from "The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States" written by his grandson, Charles Francis Adams which has been digitized by those wonderful folks at Google and can be found by clicking >here<.

Tags: pet guardian, pet owner

Guardian vs. ownership

I belong to a group of dog owners who are active in legislation. I was asked today to put together a few lines on my feelings toward the coming skirmish of words in the proposed adoption of the term guardian vs. owner.

This is where I stand.

I paid for my dogs… I own them. As personal property, I am responsible for their care and protection from the moment I bought them until the day they die.

In the eyes of the law, it doesn’t matter that I love them as family… I am their owner and responsible for their actions.

Ownership as a term indicates legal possession; by definition ownership is a state or fact of an exclusive possession or control of property.

Guardian is a term that refers to an individual that has appointed custodial, temporary care. I don’t believe the 12 to 14 years in the life of a pet family member qualifies as "temporary."

Rights by law

An owner, by law, is responsible for their property. A guardian on the other hand has limited rights of possession that may be temporary when compared to the rights of an owner.

An individual who owns property has rights under the U.S. Constitution not to be deprived of said property without Due Process… which can require more proof to remove property, in this case an animal, than from a guardian.

Easy come - easy go

A guardian can, for all intents and purposes, be quickly appointed - and - just as easily removed from guardian status by a judge without a hearing or trial. If someone does not feel that the guardian is doing their job, they may be removed.

Once the guardian is gone, theoretically the animal reverts to the state control. It is my opinion that in a situation where there are no owners, only guardians, there will be such a flood of animals that the contested animals will be euthanized. How can that be to the best interest of the animal?

Third party complaints

As in EEO complaints, a third person who witnesses an event or situation can become involved without being directly associated. Any person or entity can petition a judge or court to remove a guardian. By law, an owner cannot be so removed.

An owner who has had property confiscated, is entitled by law to participate in and oppose legal proceedings. By law he is entitled to know the evidence against him and is entitled to present a defense.

Not so with a guardian.

And that is why I own my dogs and will be responsible for their care and protection until the day they die.

Tags: pet guardian, pet owner

Tubby Turned Twelve Today :)

The birthday boy turned 12-years-old today.

Tags: Rottweilers, senior dogs