Silly Cat and Dog Angel T-Shirts

I received an awesome surprise email. My customers, Shirley and Dean, sent pictures modeling their silly cat and dog angel t-shirts they purchased from me. Both are avid animal lovers and guardian to a sweet-as-can-be fur-baby pooch named Caddy.

Notice the pictures.  For the first time ever, pets are being allowed on the golf course.  My shirts have now got "game".  Fore!

Cruise on over to my website, www.SusanCalvert.com, to purchase your own silly pet t-shirt to wear at the golf course, work or school.  They are guaranteed to generate some laughs.  Email me a picture wearing it and I'll feature you on my blog

Wordless Wednesday, 7/28/2010

The Canvas Project 3, Part 1

I'm excited to be participating in another public art project with Art House Coop. In case you haven't heard, they left the beloved warmth of Atlanta, GA and relocated to the happening art scene in Brooklyn, NY.

For this project, I will receive three @ 4x4" canvases with randomly selected words to interpret as I deem fit. Like the previous canvas project, this one will also be turned into a book and at least one canvas from each participant will be included in it.

The opening for the upcoming show will be held on December 3, 2010 at:

The Brooklyn Art Library
201 Richards St #16
Brooklyn, NY 11231

Below is my published image (top, left) of the word "HEAVY" on page 36 in the 2009 book.

Click here to see all of my art entries from the 2009 show.

Hunting with Lucy Dog

While Lucy and I were outside watering plants in the gardens this afternoon, a chipmunk ran past her. I turned to aim the hose more accurately at a plant, then turned back to check on Lucy. There she was with a tail hanging out of her mouth.

Lucy dog proudly held her catch in her mouth while wagging her tail at me. She dropped it on command. We went inside, got a bag and said our goodbyes to the chipmunk. Thankfully, she did not roll on or eat it.

Who needs a cat when you've got a focused Retriever? Way to go Lucy dog!

Stamps to the Rescue - Adopt a Shelter Pet - Ellen DeGeneres Show

I received the following disturbing email today:

"A new stamp is coming out the end of April called "Animal Rescue: Adopt A Shelter Pet Stamp" featuring shelter dogs and cats. The purpose of the stamp is to raise awareness to the millions of dogs and cats in shelters across the U.S. To launch the stamp Ellen DeGeneres is giving one million meals to shelters when people buy the stamps. The cost is the same as a regular stamp - 44 cents.

Money from these stamps is going to HSUS. Ellen has not been shy about her support of HSUS. Money given there will NOT go to animals in shelters. HSUS's 2008 tax returns revealed that less than 1/2 of 1 percent of their budget funds a traditional (dog/cat) shelter.

Money given to HSUS goes instead toward lobbying, anti-animal ownership legislation and attorneys.

Please DO NOT BUY these stamps and advise your friends to do the same."

My 'reply to all' in the email chain was:

"I am purchasing the stamps. While you may not agree on how the money is spent, it is still a good thing that it promotes adopting pets, many in desperate need of good homes. Several charities cannot return 100%. The mere fact that Ellen is giving money in return is good enough for me. She's an awesome individual.

Something doesn't sound quite right. I'd like backup research on this information you are circulating."

I promptly emailed the above to the Ellen Show. In the meantime, I received the following reply from the sender:

"People really need to start thinking for themselves instead of following the hapless Hollywood types. My suggestion, read the entire story http://ofbf.org/news-and-events/news/707 and make up your own mind. As far as I'm concerned I support the local no-kill shelter directly. I really don't need Ellen to misguide me."

To which I replied:

"I don't see anything in your link about Ellen's stamps.

I found these articles on the stamp which do not say anything about HSUS:

http://retrorenovation.com/2010/03/20/animal-rescue-adopt-a-shelter-pet-stamps-and-halo-meals-campaign
and
http://www.postalnewsblog.com/2010/03/17/usps-launches-adopt-a-shelter-pet-stamps-on-ellen-degeneres-show"


In conclusion, to EVERYONE reading this blog:

Help me out here. Please leave a comment on this post and spread the word like myself and the "hapless" Ellen DeGeneres are doing. The lives of shelter pets depend on us.

PS: Purchase your Adopt a Shelter Pet stamp here to show your support.

Animal Legislation in GA

Georgia Alert: Status of animal legislation in Georgia as of March 8, 2010

Legislators will reconvene Monday, March 8, for the 21st legislative day of the 2010 session of the Georgia General Assembly. It’s crossover day at the Georgia General Assembly. Legislation has to clear one of the two chambers (the House or the Senate) before the end of the day or it is dead until next year, local legislation is exempted

SB 131 - The Revised Georgia Trust Code of 2009; (Bill Hambrick) - allows creation of a trust to provide for the care of an animal(s) and/or a charitable trust for animals. Status: Substitute passed House and will go back to Senate for reconsideration

HB 62 - Cancelable educational loans; State Veterinary Education Board; (Gene Maddox) - provides loan relief for large animal veterinarians willing to work in rural Georgia for specified times. Status: Passed Agriculture Committee, now in Rules

HB 109 - Cockfighting; punishments; provisions (Bob Bryant) - provides same wording as last year’s dog fighting bill for chickens. Status: No movement

HB 219 - Antifreeze; more than 10 percent ethylene glycol; provisions (Tommy Benton) - mandates including denatonium benzoate as a bittering agent. Status: Passed House

HB 429 - Family violence situations; protection for family pets; (Sharon Cooper) - allows a judge to include animals in a restraining order. Status: Passed Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, now in Rules

HB 692 - Uniform rules of the road; securing live animals in motor vehicles (Karla Drenner). Bill may be amended to only apply to the Eisenhower Interstate Network. Held in Agriculture Committee

HB 788 (HB 606 introduced in 2009) - Animal protection; methods of euthanasia; provisions (Tom Knox) - would mandate the exclusive use of sodium pentobarbital allowing exceptions, eliminate grandfathered gas chambers 4-11-5.1 (b)(2) and exceptions for counties with a population of 25,000 or less 4-11-5.1 (h) Status: Passed Science and Technology Committee, now in Rules

HB 574 - Stalking cases; protection orders; include animals (Pedro Marin)- allow a protective order to include the protection of animals. Status: No movement

HB 1153 (HB 1148 also introduced) - Public health and morals; offense of cruelty to animals; (Kevin Levitas) - Status: Judiciary Non-Civil Committee to consider a substitute on March 8th at 1:30

Sent by:
Humane Association of Georgia, Inc.
A statewide coalition of humane societies, animal control and rescue groups and individuals.

About the organization:
HAGA is known for the Animal Protection Act of 2000 that makes some acts of animal cruelty a felony and the Dog and Cat Sterilization License Plates that and the Dog and Cat Tax Check Off to fund statewide spay/neuter projects. Our formation allowed Georgia to be the first state by law to allow animals in disaster shelter. We were formed to support good animal legislation, provide education about good animal stewardship and help animals in times of disaster. HAGA is a member of the Georgia Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster.

Hats Off To Us: Exercising with Lucy Dog

Oh my! It's been a long time since I last posted. Some major events have occurred since then.

The last quarter of 2009 was a bit surreal. My husband was in and out of the hospital four times. He's doing better. A big "THANK YOU" to all of our family and friends for your support during his health crises.

Recently in 2010, a good friend of ours ill with cancer passed away. We were truly saddened by the event. Like me, she was a gardener who loved to watch the flowers open and smile. In honor of her life, we sent her family a cross with my favorite saying on it: "One is nearer to God in the garden than anywhere else on earth." RIP, Karla.

To combat the stress of the past six months, I started exercising. Specifically, participating in 5K races. Of course, my little super dog, Lucy, has been training with me.

We have reaped fantastic results from our time together. I am much stronger and for the first time in my life, I can do a push-up. Lucy's torn ACL is healing nicely too.

Here's a picture of me and Lucy on our way to train in the 'hood. Lucy is wearing her harness so we don't damage her trachea should she get spirited and pull upon seeing another pooch.

I'm being fashion-forward wearing a Dr. Suess Who-ville hat. I always receive positive comments when wearing crazy hats. They make people laugh.

I love hats. If you want to give me a gift, send me a funky hat. I promise to send you a smiling picture sporting your gift. LOL!