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My
boyfriend came home with a fifteen dollar bag of designer dog biscuits.
He said, "You think he's gonna like them?" I said, "I don't know, he's
out in the backyard eating doody, lemme go ask him".
Elayne Boosler
Happy New Year 2003!!
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On behalf of my five rescued greyhounds, I'd like to thank you
for I've been involved with greyhounds since 1993 and upon adopting
my Anyway, many, many thanks for taking a stand. You're in a class
by Should you come back to Kalamazoo, I'll be the one in the anti-racing With sincere & heartfelt thanks. On Behalf of the Greyhounds,
Thanks for the kind words. I did receive lots of greyhound related emails (see our new WE GET MAIL page), but put yours in the No Bones column because you also had some questions. Yes, Actors and Others for Animals is very much in existence, extremely active in promoting and funding spay/neuter in California. They have a yearly fashion/entertainment show in L.A. which helps fund that work and should not be missed if you’re in the area. Of course, sometimes it’s hard to tell the Actors from the Animals, but never from the Others. Earl Holliman who heads it up is such a kind, gentle and dedicated animal welfare activist, along with the hysterically wonderful JoAnne Worley, who is always there to support the cause. For Angelenos reading this, if you need financial assistance to get your cat or dog fixed, they can help. If you’re an actor who needs to be fixed, please call Animals and Others for Actors. As to your first question, will I come back and play Kalamazoo? If you were there you know I have to wait until that heckler dies. I really don’t recall getting a word in that night, and this was BEFORE there was a Starbucks every third parking space. As for the many who wish that greyhound racing would die out, it seems to be doing so, which is why these referendums to put slot machines at the tracks keep coming up in many states. Happily, they are usually defeated, except currently in Florida where Jeb Bush is thinking of installing them without a vote by the people (that’s Florida all right!). It seems to me if they had put slot machines at Dachau, it would still be a thriving enterprise. Your instincts are correct, change usually occurs only when you can affect someone’s pocketbook. If you and your group can successfully organize a boycott against tourist destinations like Florida, and let them know you’ll take your vacations in non-dog racing states, it’s probably the only way to start seeing a meaningful change in policy. As for actors/comedians boycotting hybrid “casino/dog tracks”, I’ve not heard much about them booking big name entertainment. I’d like to send that heckler there though! When I canceled the racing symposium gig at which I had been booked (by a hybrid “agent/slot machine”, actually), one racing newspaper said, “She has no trouble playing Las Vegas casinos, where the Sports Books take bets on greyhound racing”. Yeah, well everybody’s smoking in the casino too, but I don’t work for Philip Morris. All the best to you and your herd, and thanks for all the good work you do.
Great website, thanks. I didn’t understand your answer to the person last time who asked about the Amanda Foundation benefit he saw you perform at. He was saying he thought maybe you and Bill Maher got paid to perform there, when he thought the money was for animals. And you said “It was”. Was that a funny way to say you guys did get paid? It wasn’t clear. Thanks. Sluggo Dear “Sluggo” I did not have sex with that woman… Oh, sorry! No, of course we didn’t get paid. We were ecstatic to be there! The Amanda Foundation is one of the best dog and cat rescue organizations anywhere. They are staffed by tireless volunteers. They do thorough home checks to make sure the little creatures they place will have a good second act. They care SO MUCH!! I would pay THEM to be there, and so would Bill. However, thanks for thinking we might be animals!!!
For the guy who wrote to you last time about going to the Amanda Foundation benefit who said he didn’t mind the high ticket price because it was for the animals? The ticket price wasn’t high at all!!! It was like, a movie, popcorn and a soda! There was a huge buffet of every kind of great and exotic food, open bars, gift bags, entertainment, and cool auctions. We go every year and can’t believe it has stayed this cheap. Jean S., Studio City Dear Jean, I’m still back there on the guy who thought we were animals!
As a boxer owner, I love the breed, and hate to see any animal mistreated or neglected. My neighbor has 2 boxers, both of which they hardly spend any time with, ie: never take for walks or take inside the house to be part of the family. I am writing to get some advice about the female - here is her story: She jumps the fence to stretch her legs - so they leave her tied Is this something that I can report to the animal society? I have already offered my neighbor to have play dates so the dogs can get attention and exercise. I’ve offered to dog sit while they are out and made suggestions on how to re-design their fence so she won't jump over it. Any suggestions appreciated. No Name Please, California
If there is any way you could tie your neighbors to the tree and muzzle them, I’d be glad to come over and put a bowl of water just out of reach. I just don’t understand why people like this get dogs. It’s totally inhumane, and some of what they are doing is against the law. It is against the law to leave a dog tethered outside and exposed to the elements all day with no access to shelter. Fresh water must be provided and reachable. I don’t know about the law regarding the muzzle, especially if she can’t open her mouth to drink, but it’s awful from a humane standpoint. There is also a regulation on leash length so the dog isn’t being strangled or unable to move around at all. You could contact the SPCA LA (if you’re in southern California), or your local humane society, and request that an officer visit these people and check on the situation. The officer will instruct them on what is legal in the treatment of their dogs, and hopefully on what is morally humane treatment. You could file a noise complaint with the police dept., and then ask them to call Animal Control to come pay a visit once they saw the situation. It would help if you could get some of your other neighbors to speak up as well, perhaps these people will finally “get it”, or at least enough calls could bring a humane officer to come and help. You have done the exact right thing as a first step, being an incredibly thoughtful and understanding neighbor, offering to educate them and help care for their dogs. What a pity they don’t understand the gift you are offering. Dear Elayne, If you could be any kind of dog, what kind would you be? Jack M., Des Moines Dear Jack, An Elm.
My girlfriend had to put her dog to sleep after almost a year of him getting more and more sick. That was three months ago and she doesn’t seem to be getting over it. I think it’s getting worse. I’m really worried about her going off the deep end. We’ve been dating for almost a year so we haven’t been through any kind of thing like this. I feel like she is pulling away from me, almost like I’m bothering her, but I’m just trying to help her move on. I would appreciate any advice you could give on how to get her to let go. E.B., CA Dear E.B., I’m so sorry for the loss of your girlfriend’s beloved pet. I understand your concern, but people mourn in their own way, at their own pace, and even though it might seem like a long time to you, it’s just something you can’t “make someone get over”. She’s very lucky to have such a concerned, caring friend, and all you can really do is just be there and keep listening. She’ll let go when she can. You can show that you’re patient and loving and understanding and it can only make the relationship better in the long run. When I put my dog Petey to sleep, I am sure my husband felt just like you. And he couldn’t write to me! I couldn’t do anything, didn’t even swim for months after swimming almost every day for twenty years. One day, still missing Petey so much, I went out to swim. My black lab Wiley was acting strangely. He would stop his running midway through the laps to stare into mid air. He kept running over to Petey's favorite spot in the grass and looking up very energetically and running around. I finally said, “Is it Petey, Wiley? Is Petey here?” And he got very happy and jumpy and excited and barked and was chasing whatever only he could see for the whole swim. I mean he was running with a pal! And I could feel Petey was here. Wiley now has all of Petey's toys, two baskets full. This dog had a bigger dowry than the Empress of Japan. I went into the jacuzzi, at the end of the yard, and we did our usual routine. Wiley got a toy, a yellow squeaky bat, and kept dropping it in the jacuzzi, and I'd throw it across the yard for him. Well, I accidentally threw it all the way across the top of the house and it landed on the roof, nowhere near the jacuzzi. I would need a ladder, and would have to walk across the roof to the front of the house if I ever decided to get it. About a half hour later my husband came home. He sat on the edge of the jacuzzi, saying, “It’s so good to see you swimming again. I was really worried for a while”. I said, “Petey was here today”. Well, he just looked at me the way he does. I said, “You don't believe me?” He thought carefully and decided on the truth, “No.” With that, the little yellow bat came flying out of nowhere and landed smack on top of my husband’s head. Without missing a beat I said, “Now do you believe me?” And without missing a beat either he answered, “Yes.” Okay, time to go to the park!!!!! Copyright Brooklyn Productions, Inc. 2003-2006 |
