Huntley's Mom

Thanks Y'all for the kind words, From what we have been told, the spores that cause this infection are airborne and are usually inhaled. The mystery question is why a supposedly healthy dog couldn't fight it off. She obviously had some weakness in her system that our friends and their vet were unaware of. We have learned a hard lesson, and I will be checking our dogs for cuts, scrapes, etc., when we are outside, which is always! I don't know how to stop breathing, so good luck to us all. Warmest Wishes, Patti Jo

Hey Y'all, a tragic death has occurred this past week. Our neighbors' female 4 year old lab died quickly from Cryptococcis Neoformans, a fungal infection of the brain. All the info I have found says bird droppings are the number one cause of exposure. The mystery is why a otherwise healthy young dog would die from this? All I have found is that unless your immune system is weakened, you should be able to fight it off, with little or no symptoms. As far as the autopsy could tell, she was a healthy dog. We are puzzled as is the vet. Hunt and Mags have lost a good friend, as we have. Our friends are devastated at Lisa's death, as they are very caring, knowledgable pet owners, and can't understand what they did wrong, and are concerned for their other two dogs. Everyone here is upset about her death. Any advice would be helpful to us. Sincerely, Patti Jo

Still A Mystery... The X-Ray showed....Nothing! We are suspecting a bruised pad, or sprain or strain. Hunt is still limping, so rest is in order, if possible! I have given him 1/2 of a 100mg rimadyl, but hesitate to use it. He showed no signs of Arthritis or OCD (Osteochondritis Dessicans). Any ideas? Inci, best of luck with your pup. I am holding your hand, figuratively. Can you feel me squeeze your fingers? Bill, since Hunt and Mags are rescues, all the experts around here guestimated their ages at 6-8 months when rescued, so we decided to do like the racehourse folks do, and made them one year old on January 1. So, that makes 'em both 4 years old this past New Year's Day. BTW, anyone read Seabiscuit? I am engrossed in it right now. The movie will star Toby McGuire as Red Pollard, Jeff Bridges as Charles Howard, and Chris Cooper as Tom Smith. I can't wait to see it! Is 4 too young for arthritis? My vet says no. I was surprised, but with such an active dog, I guess thay can wear things out pretty fast. Bill, what about the acupuncture for Craig's elbow? Do you give him supplements as well? Hunt gets Glucosamine every day, and fatty acids. We feed Nutro Natural Choice Lamb & Rice, cause the fat-protien ratio seems right, and it is a really good product. Of course we are not perfect, and they get a bite from the table now and then. Not much, though. All info is welcome! Yours Truly, Patti Jo ------------------ quote: Patti & Wayne McAhren 2264 Fairway Drive Mobile, AL 36606 USA (251) 479-1777 (H) Master Printing Company (251) 476-6979 (W)

Happy New Year, Y'all! Hunt-Boy is favoring his left front leg, and has been for a while now(3-4 weeks), off and on. We suspected a bruised pad at first, but think it might be more serious. He is a real trickster, and when having fun with his pals exhibits no lameness at all. He will launch himself from our porch, about 4 feet up, out about 6 feet, and hit the ground and sometimes the concrete sidewalk running full speed. I know, STOP THAT! We rested him for a week, and he was better, but not well. He gets glucosamine every day, a fatty acid supplement, is not overweight, and very active and healthy otherwise. He is now 4 years old. He is more lame in the AM, after rising, anfd less as the day wears on. Vet wants to X-Ray tomorrow, which we have agreed to do. Dana, or vet tech suspects a bone spur. I am anxiuos about tomorrow, as Hunt will be sedated, albeit mildly. I am a worry-wart. Any suggestions? How about hold my hand? Best Wishes, Patti Jo ------------------ quote: Patti & Wayne McAhren 2264 Fairway Drive Mobile, AL 36606 USA (251) 479-1777 (H) Master Printing Company (251) 476-6979 (W) [This message has been edited by Huntley's Mom (edited 01-06-2003).]

Wow! The scores are amazing considering the difficulty of the Finals this year. Congratulations to everyone! A special thanks to the web master/mistress who kept all of us who could not attend updated minute by minute! And the pictures! Fab! Can't wait to hear some stories when y'all are rested and ready to spin a tale or two. Congratulations all! Patti & Wayne ------------------ quote: Patti & Wayne McAhren 2264 Fairway Drive Mobile, AL 36606 USA (251) 479-1777 (H) Master Printing Company (251) 476-6979 (W)

Hey Y'all, The last time I thought seriously about genetics was in eighth grade when I won the local science fair with my paper/project on Gregor Mendel and my little patch of sweet peas that I cross-pollinated, and observed the dominant and recessive gene expressions of color characteristics. Whew! I was reaching to remember that! What a nerd I was/am... What about Natural Selection? Isn't that the most desirable way for dogs to be bred? And what does Natural Selection mean today when talking about the domesticated dog, where "we" control the selection, so to speak? Denise, your Dart Board really helped me visualize the predicament the Shepherds are in. And yes, I will also admit to a sleepless night or two myself, thinking how I could help in some small way to preserve and improve the working Border Collie. The differences seem to be so great in what a particular shepherd thinks constitutes a good dog. It seems that would be enough to insure a diverse gene pool. Do we really know what gene expressions constitute good breeding? And is that all there is? Just good breeding? The possible combinations are infinite, and never occur the same way twice, unless we are talking cloning, and that has it's own set of concerns. Denise, I will admit that my undergraduate degree is a BA double major in psychology/mathematics and a minor in statistics. My graduate work is in biostatistics. You may pick my brain if you like about the numbers game, but I feel sure that you have access to many statisticians much more qualified than me. After all, I am not currently practicing biostat. I do remember that good science goes a long way in searching for the answers. The more I hang out with you guys and the more I learn, the more I worry about y'all's way of life. It just doesn't seem right to me that all that might go by the wayside due to ignorance, pigheadedness, ego, whatever the curse might be. Are the dogs in the white/yellow/orange areas really missing the right stuff? Or are they sleepers? Possible good breeders? Does the mapping of the dog genome answer any of those questions? Is there a clue there to help preserve the working Border Collie? Humbly and with best regards, Patti Jo ------------------ quote: Patti & Wayne McAhren 2264 Fairway Drive Mobile, AL 36606 USA (251) 479-1777 (H) Master Printing Company (251) 476-6979 (W) [This message has been edited by Huntley's Mom (edited 10-18-2002).]

Bill, Deb, Carl, Count me in! (We are now down to 25.00 per person). Sincerely, Patti Jo ------------------ quote: Patti & Wayne McAhren 2264 Fairway Drive Mobile, AL 36606 USA (251) 479-1777 (H) Master Printing Company (251) 476-6979 (W)

Environmentalists Hail the Rancher Here is an article talking about The Rancher versus The World. Regards, PJ ------------------ quote: Patti & Wayne McAhren 2264 Fairway Drive Mobile, AL 36606 USA (251) 479-1777 (H) Master Printing Company (251) 476-6979 (W)

About the same devastation as the loss of small businesses like ours. I don't want to think about it... Keep up the good work, Patti Jo

Point well taken, Bill. But, I will argue with you about the subsidies in the printing industry. Or maybe I should say small business. 'Bout the only compensation we get is for complying with the handicap access to our business required by the Feds, and that has nothing to do with the printing industry in particular. Maybe in the past, when the paper industry was young, but most R&D was/is privately done and financed. Hell, I can't even get Microsoft, HP, Hurst, and Adobe to provide me with a workable driver for my 12 x 18 laser printer, even with my supplies guys(Hurst) in my corner. I'd be spending big bucks on polyester plates if my printer would work, and yet all I hear is: No, Microsoft needs to do it, no, HP needs to do it, no, Adobe needs to do it, no, Hurst needs to do it. Hell, SOMEBODY do it! Dang! Yet, good ole all-American competition should solve this right? Well, it's been almost a year, and all I get is "It's coming, I promise!" From where? From whom? When? When I bought the HP printer/Microsoft operating system/Adobe software/Hurst plates, not one mentioned or asked if the driver would fly. Just took my money with a smile. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, well, look out. I know we are inexplicably intertwined with government almost everywhere. Ranchers have roads and phones and water and electricity and sewage mostly, too, just like us city folk. Their kids go to public schools, and get scholarships and loans, too. They ride on a "free" school bus, many eat a "free" breakfast and lunch at achool. I pay lots of property tax, school tax, sales tax, income tax, equipment tax, etc.,etc., just like most, too. So I conceed the point about subsidies, and that it is probably a weak one. Still, I ask again, how much does it cost the Rancher in livestock lost? Will meat/wool prices skyrocket if ranching goes away in Idaho? Will the land really deteriorate without cattle and sheep grazing? Do I care whether the long time Ranchers continue their way of life? Yes, I do. I know what it is to be uprooted rudely. But, once again, life is change. I'm not saying it's good change, but it comes even when we don't want it. Not too many hand feed presses anymore. I guess this "managed" change is what rubs the wrong way, but it is all "managed" to some degree. Just is it "managed" to your liking? Again I say, Too many people, too few wolves. Regards, Patti Jo ------------------ quote: Patti & Wayne McAhren 2264 Fairway Drive Mobile, AL 36606 USA (251) 479-1777 (H) Master Printing Company (251) 476-6979 (W) [This message has been edited by Huntley's Mom (edited 09-05-2002).] [This message has been edited by Huntley's Mom (edited 09-05-2002).]

I belive the full name of the Fund was the Turner WildLife Fund, or something like that. It must be Ted/Jane. How ARE their Bison doing? Ranchers shootin' 'em yet? Tonight's In Search of America episode is about Boulder,CO HS kids putting on the play HAIR! "When the Moon is in the Seventh House...." Flashback! What is Peter Jennings doing to us? Not much rain here, but better than the past 4 years. We are still in a deficit. We need a good ole hurricane. Whoops! Did I say that? Well, a little one would not hurt. Hunt is disgusted with us 'cause we are babysitting a 10 week old Maltese for a few days. Bossy little thing. How COULD we? Of course she loves Hunt, and pesters the daylights out of him. I rescue him every so often so he can get some rest! Peace & Love, Tiger Lily PS Wish we could give you a hand with the trial. We will one day. ------------------ quote: Patti & Wayne McAhren 2264 Fairway Drive Mobile, AL 36606 USA (251) 479-1777 (H) Master Printing Company (251) 476-6979 (W) [This message has been edited by Huntley's Mom (edited 09-04-2002).]

Hunt's Grrrrrrrrrate! He gets better and better all the time. The other day I picked up the neighbor kids from school, and Hunt went along for the ride. When they loaded in, I said to Hunt, "Go lie down in the back now, we need the room, and you won't be there very long." The kids all laughed at me, but had looks of amazement when he did as I said. Sabina said, "How did he know what to do?" How indeed! I still think the only problem we have on the planet is overpoulation. Too many folks, not enough resources, or in other words, Too many humans, not enough wolves. How do you solve that problem? Especially when we are based on an everexpanding idea of everexpanding! Less is definitely more in my book. I can see both sides of the Rancher/Wolf thing, I guess being a Libra makes me try to keep things in balance all the time. What a crock! The Turner Fund guy seemed a bit fanatical, Babbitt seemed worldly, and the ranchers were just downright in shock about what was happening to them. I think the point about the Ranchers feeling entitled to Federal Lands is right on, but how do they NOT feel that way? And oh yes William, I would be happy to leave the city if for no other reason than Hunt's wellbeing. He deserves his own flock. Maybe one day! ------------------ quote: Patti & Wayne McAhren 2264 Fairway Drive Mobile, AL 36606 USA (251) 479-1777 (H) Master Printing Company (251) 476-6979 (W)

Who saw the report on ABC last night about the Grey Wolves' reintroduction into Central Idaho and Yellowstone? Their amazing success has stymied the rancher and the Feds both, according to the report last night. I watched the whole thing, and still don't know how I feel. I thought both sides of the discussion had merit. What did that one fellow mean when he said that "Hamburger prices would not increase a single penny a pound if grazing on Federal land was stopped completely in Idaho"? Can that be true? Are ranchers really losing significant numbers of calves and lambs and guard dogs? Aren't the ranchers subsidized significantly by the Feds in land leases, water, feed, health care, breeding practices, compensation for beef/lamb/wool prices? One wolf pack was feeding exclusively from one ranchers stock, The Bakers, I believe, and that pack was destroyed because they determined that the had become habituated to the stock. Could they not be relocated? I am fascinated with the idea that the west is "Managed", and not at all a natural place. From what I could understand, if the Feds had not "Managed" it in the beginning, it would basically be uninhabited still today. That is my idea of a good thing. I am of the opinion that their are too many humans and not enough wolves, but I am not a cattle or sheep rancher, nor do I live in the west nor near wolves. I have lots more questions, but I hope this will stimulate a discussion, and I will learn. Don't get me wrong, I love a good steak, a juicy leg of lamb, and while I don't live in a climate where we require much wool, I do have leather shoes. If lives must change, I tend to say, OK, that's what life is, change. No one subsidizes the printing industry for me. I compete pretty much in the free market. I change with the times. I do all typesetting/prepress on computer, where before it was all photographic. I have some expensive darkroom equipment you can have for the hauling. I scan digitally, were before we shot lots of halftones. We do still have a handfeed press, but mostly for nostalgic reasons. It looks way cool, and the kids love to see it run. Do you see what I am asking? Why are ranchers special? Why are wolves expendable? Where is the answer? Sincerely, Patti Jo ------------------ quote: Patti & Wayne McAhren 2264 Fairway Drive Mobile, AL 36606 USA (251) 479-1777 (H) Master Printing Company (251) 476-6979 (W)

Is it just me? Or does it seem that animal suffering made public seems to hit a nerve with people quicker than when it is human suffering? Is it too surreal to believe when it is human, and more believable when it is dogs, cats, elephants, etal? The towers collapsing was hard for me to get my mind around, it took me a long time for the reality to sink in. In Pensacola this past week, we had a German Shepherd (Alsatian-I love that! I am reading Man Meets Dog by Konrad Lorenz, the Nobel Laureate in Animal Behavior) set on fire, and the response was quick, forceful, and positive in the community. Money and help poured in immediately. Literally hundreds of offers to adopt him, and thousands of dollars raised in a matter of days. Now I know the efforts made at the towers. I am not comparing that at all, but rather the initial gut reaction when events happen. It is mind-boggling either way, but I think maybe our self-preservation defenses kick in when the horror is of the magnitude of 9/11. We just don't want to believe it, and it takes a while to face it. I have heard many folks discussing the gassing of the dogs with such vehemence. It is a horror, but no more than the loss of human lives so wantonly carried out by madmen. It is ALL mad. My point? Maybe the images of the dogs will strike a cord with some that might not otherwise take notice. Maybe the reality is more "real" now for some. Maybe it is one more reminder for us with short memories that it is almost a year since this nightmare began for the USA. It isn't over, it won't be over for quite a while, and life will never be the same for us. I am hopeful for peace, but not very optimistic. Sincerely, Patti Jo ------------------ quote: Patti & Wayne McAhren 2264 Fairway Drive Mobile, AL 36606 USA (251) 479-1777 (H) Master Printing Company (251) 476-6979 (W)

Man! I wish I had been there! Awesome! Patti Jo