The facts I’ve learned regarding puppy mills and animal shelters are as follows:
- 99% of all animals are sold in pet stores or on the internet and are born with inhumane and abusive conditions.
- Dog shelters are overpopulated with some receiving over 500 dogs monthly. Unclaimed or unadopted dogs are euthanized to make room for other dogs. Sadly, in the U.S. up to 4 million dogs put down yearly.
After becoming aware of this heartbreaking issue we decided our next dog, as well as any future dogs, would come through rescues, shelters or reputable breeders. And even if you have a particular breed in mind, there are rescues for most of them. And a way to save a dog is not through buying one from pet stores--unless you ask questions about where the dog was born--it only fund’s the terrible abuse and keeps the puppy mills churning. We also wanted to to put words into action.
We felt compelled on adopting a female because they get take the brunt of the abuse at puppy mills forced to produce litter after litter, until they are no longer needed for profit. We signed up at the GSP resuse website and began our search. Very soon we began to read the stories of these dogs and wanted to adopt all of them. As all rescue stories can break your heart so will Bella’s. Here’s her story…
For starters, we were told she was 5 when her true age is at least 7. This was found out through what paperwork we had been given. Her eyes truly tell her life story. We had her groomed almost immediately due to her strong odor, and they needed to bathe her twice, and yet she still smelled. The groomer also informed us that her ears were “atrocious” and her nails were “horrendous.” Since we have bathed her twice more, and the odor is better, but surprisingly still present. Medically, she was in need of 4 vaccines, one of which she was never given. Bella was underweight to the point where her rib cage was fully visible and the the bumps of her spine showed down her back. She gained 4 pounds within the first week with us, a little more weight the next week, and now is back to a healthy weight. Unfortunately, she was never given any heartworm medication her entire life and is lucky to be alive since she was kenneled outside for many years.
She came to us with having hookworm, lyme, anxiety, and conjunctivitis. She is being medicated for all along with follow-ups. She may also need to have a one of her canine teeth removed soon because it is cracked. Apparently, the cracked tooth happened a year ago when she sustained major injuries by chewing through a wire kennel, and escaping because she was left alone and like most GSP can have a high level of anxiety. She chewed and pushed her body through the wire fencing and is scarred from her belly down her right leg. The injury was severe and her hair will never grow back in certain areas.
Her teeth were very yellow and were never cared for either. It’s amazing that in a short time what better dog food, greenies, and rawhides can do! Her teeth have already come along way, not to mention her level of security, affection, and her upbeat personality.
Despite all these issues, she is very lovable and known to be a great bird dog. She has pointed several times on our acreage as well as on walks. And as far as Cooper is concerned, she’s a keeper!
About three weeks ago I received a few pieces of mail from hunting guides and outfitters in Maine. I didn't think much of until I read them closely. Every piece of correspondence congratulated me on winning the Maine moose lottery. If you are a regular reader of this blog then you may be aware that I have had an ongoing relationship with the state of Maine and their moose lottery permit system. A 20-year relationship to be exact. The following week after the initial mail drop, a spate of letters, brochures and pamphlets jammed my mailbox. I was fuming and ready to call the state Maine to complain that they had given my personal information without my permission to a bunch of outfitters and guides, who all seemed in on a joke that was on me. I even went on the Maine website to see if I had been chosen for the lottery by some odd chance. Nope. Then I received the final piece of mail and this time it was from the state of Maine. I knew what it was going to say before I opened it: “…we apologize for allowing your personal information to be used in an unauthorized manner and…” But it wasn’t so. The letter informed me that I had won the Maine moose lottery. Finally the coveted Maine moose permit would soon be in my hands. So you know the drill. I’ll drop in at my dealer’s and ask to see the latest rifle and this time I will actually buy one. Any recommendations on calibers and rifles? 
It was a sudden-death duel in Bejing in Men's Skeet--Norway's 
NH Fish and Game Department finalized their 2008 hunting season dates and bag limits for woodcock. The season will run from October 6 thru November 4, bag limit is 3 birds per day.
I have a grizzled old hunting partner who had a young dog—I won’t mention the breed of his dog for fear my hunting partner disown me. Well my partner thought a year-old pup would be fine for the upcoming pheasant season and come fall the young dog was excited as all get out. She also forgot the reason we were dressed in blaze orange and proceeded to romp through the grassy fields chasing butterflies. Why do I mention this embarrassing incident and potentially have a hunting partner divorce me? Two reasons. One is not to take a gun pup out in the field too soon. Make sure your pup knows who to take his cues from (that would be you). When your pup does make his or her debut make sure you can control their behavior. A pup with flopping ears chasing butterflies is embarrassing to the dog’s owner and his hunting buddies at the very least, but it could also lead to a lost dog since everyone’s concentration is on the brushy edges and birds. The second reason is that the state of 