The Hunting Cairn

  By Florida Bill 

                                                                    Tip your hat to the hunter extraordinaire: the Cairn terrier. The little dog with the big personality. 
                                              The feisty Cairn, almost always  wheaten or black in color, though maybe a blend leaning slightly to toward rouge, is a descendant of a wolf, believe it or not, and gained its fame and reputation as an aggressive hunter in the fields and underground tunnels of beautiful Scotland. Some say it was in the Isle of Skye.   They were commissioned to examine rocky piles known to farmers as cairns and to rid them of any interlopers such as mice, rats, snakes, rabbits or squirrels or any other unwelcome critter hanging around.
                                              In fact, it was said these hunters would "go to ground," in search of such critters, and there are still competitions where terriers are sent into tunnels with caged rats and timed on how quickly they reach the prey and for how long they perform: barking, baying, scratching or staring intensely.  
                                          With a determined nature and guided by a nose which can always detect a foreign critter hiding where he does not belong, the sturdy Cairn would do his work and provide for the farmer, his friend and mentor, a rock pile as free and as sterile as a rock pile can be.  Unwelcome visitors are dispatched by the Cairns by grabbing them by the neck and delivering some mighty shakes. 
                                                In America and much of the world, the tough little Cairn has become a respected and beloved pet in tens of thousands of homes. They love their owners and the kids and other dogs--well, most of the time, when it comes to other canines.  They do a  good deal of barking and they will sound off mightily at footsteps, even those dropped by a squirrel or bunny. Some owners will laughingly say their Cairns bark at the sound of a leaf dropping.
                                                They are powerful and dominating when it comes to rodents and the unlikeable critters are never too much for the determined Cairn. According to canine expert Stanley Coren, he learned of a terrier named Tiny who was said to have polished off some 5,000 rats in his lifetime.  That's dedication. 
                                                 Recently, I saw on a social media site an inquiry and concern from a Cairn "mom" that her pet was an overly aggressive hunter of little critters, and that perhaps that was a negative quality which her Cairn possessed.  Somewhat distressed, she invited comments from other owners on what she perceived as an unwelcome trait which she was not fond of.
                                                  The answer is that the instinct to hunt is in the canine genes. For me, also a Cairn booster, I look upon their talent to ferret out the intruder with admiration--a Cairn doing what a Cairn was meant to do. 
                                                   Not too long ago, while living in sunny Florida, our male, Andy, a handsome, wheaten colored Cairn weighing in at about 16 pounds, left our back door and raced to the far end of our fenced one-acre yard. He seemed to be on a mission.  Minutes later I saw him furiously shaking a black "rope" in his mouth.  It wasn't a rope, it was a black garter snake about three feet long.  Most interesting was that Andy seemed to know that the alien was there. He made quick work of the intruder.   How?  What tipped Andy off?  
                                                    Just a couple of days ago, our 7-year-old black Cairn, Wendy, declined to answer our whistle and call which was completely unlike her while inside our home in South Florida. We went to look for her and found her staring at a closed closet door.  It was the unmistakable Cairn "death stare," with her nose inches from the tiny slit under the door. No question, but there had to be something inside the closet where we have boxes stored with Xmas decorations and other items and some luggage.  We were hoping that a mouse had not gotten into the house. 
                                                  Opening the door, Wendy shot in without hesitation. She nosed around items piled on the floor and darted under the shelf housing the air conditioner. Presto, within seconds, she exploded out with a large Palmetto bug--an unpleasant fact of life in Florida--in her mouth, zoomed to another corner of the house, and then dropped the lifeless meddler onto the floor. Thanks, Wendy.  We cleaned up the remains, and Wendy then went about her business. 
                                                Niki, another female cairn of ours, would suddenly stake out a pantry or closet and we knew it was time to buy a mouse trap. 
                                                  The search by the young and middle aged Cairn is never ending.  Maybe age will slow them down, but just a little.  The cairn does not discern which intruder might be a more or less welcome addition to the terrain. They are all prey.                                                          In Florida, and perhaps elsewhere where there is an abundance of sun and showers, we need to keep an eye on the inquisitive Cairn lest in his instinct to hunt, he comes upon the dreaded Bufo toad, which will react to danger by exuding a substance on its skin which is poisonous to dogs and can even be fatal. When the Cairn sees the  toad, he attacks and most large toads cannot move fast enough to escape.  If it happens, which it has to us three times, we wipe out the inside of the dog's mouth with a wet rag and then rush the little fur head to the vet for immediate treatment, which will save the dog if the action is timely enough. Anyway, be on guard against these dog menaces.  Bufos are ugly looking dudes whose size can match a dessert plate. 
                                                Is the Cairn a dedicated hunter?  You bet.  Absolutely.  We sometimes fear ours got an overabundance of terrier genes.  So, what is it about an unwelcome  critter which draws their attention?  What do they hear?  What do they smell?                                                     The dog's nose is, according to some experts, about a million times more sensitive than man's ability to smell. In one experiment I read about, a tiny mouse was placed in the center of a one acre field of grass, and the dog, (must have been a Cairn) was released to hunt.  Within minutes, the proud dog returned, mouse in tow. That was all nose.  It was the hunter, home from the hills. 
                                                 The Cairn terrier has a tradition to uphold.  Hunting is what he does and what he has always done. His people and the unconditional love which he bestows upon his owners of course comes first.  But intruders and aliens are definitely not welcome in Cairn territory.   So do not be concerned.  Enjoy your Cairn.  There is no other dog like yours in the world!!!!                                                    
                                              XXX
                                             

  

IT'S UNCONDITIONAL

                                            By BILL JUNEAU 

                                                               Let's be honest; there is something about dogs which is very special, and that awesome quality strikes a chord deep within certain humans, who become known as "dog people." This is pretty much a lifelong affliction for those who succumb to it. 
                                      And inside this phenomenal canine kingdom is the incredible Cairn terrier, the little guy with the huge personality whose ancestors hailed from the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Characteristics that apply to the average canine seem to apply to the Cairn terrier tenfold.
                                           With a thirst for adventure and his carrot tail pointing toward the sky, the Cairn is a hunter extraordinaire; a "ratter" with a nose ten thousand times more sensitive than his human friends and mentors.  He is very smart yet at times he "comes" at his own pace depending on what's in it for him.  Some say the Cairn, while affectionate, marches to the beat of his own drum, although a treat will usually raise the volume. As they always say at Westminster, the big dog show: "It's a terriers' world; they just let us live in it." This is especially true of our Cairn friends.
                                           Some dog owners think, "If only dogs could talk." Well, they do.  Think of that loquacious relative who downs a few too many sherries at Thanksgiving and chews your ear off between courses: now look at your cairn standing by the window barking at falling leaves. Some similarities, you think?
                                           Yet we probably don't even realize the extent of the average dog's vocabulary. (Cairns in particular are considered very "vocal.") There is no doubt that certain words, like walk, treat and suppertime, are in their dictionary.  The word "no" is perhaps more debatable. 
                                           Delivering their message is accomplished  through their ears, tail and body language. Yes, the "bark"-- now there is communication worthy of a good translator.  Noisy--yes, at times it can make you think about the dreaded shake-can or squirt gun as a remedy. 
                                            Canine psychologists have studied "dog talk" for a good while and have determined that they communicate about three main topics:  emotional states, social relations and the expression of wants and desires.  Barking is in different pitches and tones, so listen carefully, quips Dr. Stanley Coren, a professor of psychology---a man who  knows "dog talk." 

                                             The  professor, who is the author of the book, "The Intelligence of Dogs,"  has done a good deal of research in carving out the interpretations of man's best friends. For example, the continuous rapid barking at mid range pitch translates into specific canine rhetoric:  "Call the pack.  There is a potential problem.  Someone is coming into our territory." Our cairns, in particular, are especially good at alerting us to the arrival of the pool service...the handyman, the dry cleaner, the lawn guy. 
                                             But then, one or two sharp, short barks, at mid range pitch, is more welcoming, the doggie version of "Hello there."  But change the pitch slightly upward, says Dr. Coren, and you have. "What's this?"  In other words, "Is there a slight movement at the back of the yard?" 
                                              There are all sorts of growls. Some graduate into a bark, and some say, "Beware--back off."  With a lower pitch, the growl/bark sends the warning, "I'm upset and ready to fight."  Dr. Coren also identifies the "undulating growl with high pitch, as "if you come at me, I may fight or I may run." This latter translation probably does not apply to the average terrier, which has no idea how small it is and rarely backs down.
                                               Understanding the language of your dog, and getting your dog to understand you, is a big part of canine ownership.  
                                              Of course there is unspoken communication too. There's that look of pure contentment as your cairn settles in next to you on the couch at night, sprawled out like a contortionist sometimes, which says "I am at peace, all is well."
                                            Many dog owners become especially loyal to a particular  breed. This is usually most common with dogs with a lot of moxie, or, let's admit it, "attitude," like our beloved Cairns.
                                             Perhaps that is part of the magic of the Cairn, be it he or she, black, brindle or wheaten. Ah, just to see him zipping about in his back yard or on the beach; or looking over the trees and bushes, or sniffing (or digging energetically) at the ground.  Is there a busier breed?  How about that moment when your Cairn attacks his squeak toy, resolved to rid that beast of all noise-making ability.  Yes, that is a Cairn being a Cairn.
                                             Do you ever wonder about the memory of a dog?  Does he store something in that busy head and then recall it in subsequent days.  Absolutely, observes Dr. Coren.  And he has some first hand experience from his days with his Cairn, Feldspar, whom he praises for his vocabulary and ability to recall.  Feldspar would always cower and hide upon hearing the word "Bath.  "  Conversely, said Coren, another of his dogs actually raced to the shower room upon hearing that word.  Can your Cairn count?  Try putting three dog cookies in your pocket and then give him only two.                                             .  
                                             In Florida, where we used to live before moving to Sun City the grass and bushes are the home for those little lizards we call gekkos. There are trillions of them.  The search for them is never ending for our Cairns. They will sniff and hunt relentlessly or until something else become more important, like maybe suppertime or a little ball chasing.  
                                             Put it all together and remember how he joins you when you are taking a nap, or accompanies you on that walk.  He is, one writer has said, "the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself." A dog doesn't love us just because we do something for him like feed him food and water; let him sleep with us in bed; comb his fur and take him for a car ride.  He just loves us anyway, and that's what  "unconditional" means.  

                                                -30-

Pelosi prays for Prsident Trump

              By Florida Bill                              

                                   In Nancy Pelosi's recent news conference, she announced to the press that its full speed ahead, and that she has given the order to the Judiciary Committee chairman, Jerrold "Fat Jerry" Nadler  to draft Articles of Impeachment against the nation's 
45th President. 
                                  She had a sanctimonious aura about her as she informed the press and those listening in on television that impeachment would go forward.  It is with "confidence and humility" that I now speak to the need to take the president down in accord with the constitution.                
                                   But as she turned haughtily, and prepared to leave the stage,  Reporter James Warren, a tough, no-nonsense newsman for Sinclair TV, stopped her in her tracks with the question: "Speaker, do you hate the President?"  It was a rhetorical question for sure and Warren knew the answer.  If the 80-year-old Pelosi was a slave to honesty, she would have responded, "Yes, I do--and he ought to be in prison." 
                                 But telling the truth is not part of the Pelosi playbook, as her accusations that President Trump is a criminal and an  "imposter" who has violated his oath to the constitution are so disingenuous and far-fetched that her ability to be truthful about anything is suspect.  She is the first and only woman to serve as Speaker of the People's House and in that role she is the powerful, central figure in the completely partisan attack by Democrats on the Republican President. 
                                 But then, instead of exiting the platform in the face of Warren's question, Pelosi did an about face and exhibited an even more  sanctimonious face;  and then declared that she does not "hate" the president..."Do not accuse me," she snapped.  She was raised a Catholic, she told the news reporters, and was taught not to hate anyone.  And in this case,  she does not "hate" the President.  She actually thinks of him every day and  "prays for him."  
                                 Though not hating him, she added:  "I think the president is a coward when it comes to helping our kids, who are afraid of gun violence." I think he is cruel when he doesn't deal with helping our Dreamers, of whom we are very proud.......and he denies climate change. She avoided saying that he belongs behind bars as she has said in the past.  
                                Her voice was low and a bit raspy and she gave the impression that she was fighting back tears, a technique often used by politicians trying to make a point, and to escape ridicule for some blunder. At that point, she turned her big gun on Warren and castigated him for his arrogance and for his daring to ask such an insulting question.   Acting as though she was  speaking to an underling in the great halls of Congress, she told the veteran reporter: "Don't mess around with me with those kind of words."  On that note, the Pelosi turned and left the room. 
                                The House with its 233 Democrats are expected to vote yes on impeachment of the President. All 197 Republicans in the chamber have said they will vote against impeachment.   The partisan effort runs contrary to two previous impeachment efforts.  With President Clinton, Republicans and Democrats voted in favor of impeachment.  President Nixon,  who resigned prior to formal action by the House, was facing bipartisan demands that he be impeached. 
                                  If the articles of Impeachment are voted, those charges will be sent to the Senate for trial and two thirds of the body, 66 senators, would be needed for a conviction. The Senate is controlled by the Republicans who intend to "mess around" with the Democrats,  and acquittal of President Trump is regarded as a certainty.
                                  President Trump has called the entire impeachment attack on him a "hoax" and a political "witch hunt" pushed by Democrats " who have gone completely insane" because  Hillary Clinton was the loser in 2016.  President Trump's attorneys have said that if there is a trial, Republican defenders of the President will subpoena everyone with relevant information and that may include Congressmen Schiff and Nadler; the hiding whistle blower; and former Vice President Biden and his cocain-addicted son, Hunter; and other disingenuous  individuals in "the swamp" who participated in the dishonest attack on a duly elected President. 
                                  
                                              xxx
                                                                                  

Welcome home Lt. Lorance

 By Florida Bill                                

                                    The curtain has gone up and there is sunshine for U.S. Army Lt. Clint Lorance who has been pardoned from a murder sentence for a make-believe war crime committed in Afghanistan. He had served six years of a 19-year sentence. 
                                    President Trump issued a full pardon for the 34-year-old officer, a career soldier  in command of a nine man platoon in the rugged Afghanistan mountains for only three days when the so-called war crime took place. His men opened fire on a trio of Afghans on an approaching motorcycle, whom he had reason to believe were terrorists hell bent on a suicide bomb mission against Americans.  His order to his men to "engage the enemy" was a split second decision. 
                                     Lorance was pressed into the command position following injuries to the former squad leader from a bomb hidden by cyclists.  Senior officers who had recruited Lorance for the platoon leadership had warned him to be on guard against Afghans pretending to be allied with American interests, but in actuality were working with the Taliban. They were more than willing to kill themselves as long as they could take  Americans down with them--all in the name of Allah. 
                                  Lorance had to make a split second decision when he ordered his men to fire upon the cyclists, who refused to halt when ordered and ignored a warning shot.  If he acted too soon, it was an error in judgment during war, and making him into a murderer and sending him to prison was simply the wrong thing to do.  Freeing Lt. Lorance was the right and moral thing to do, and the President did it.  
                                     Taliban terrorists cannot be identified by uniform and generally are indistinguishable from Afghans who reside peacefully in villages.  They simply look the same and dress the same.  To army officers leading a platoon, danger and death are always imminent, and mulling over a decision or seeking a diplomatic solution to a threat can never be an option.      
                                     Lorance was convicted of two counts of second degree murder 13 months after the incident in 2012 and sentenced to 19 years at Fort Leavenworth prison. For the past six years he has occupied a cell alongside terrorists, army deserters and enemies of the country.  Among his compound cellmates was Major Nidal Hasan who, in 2009, in an explosion of Islamic violence, shot and killed 13 fellow soldiers and injured some 30 others during an assembly at Fort Hood, Texas.  It took four years to bring Hasan to trial, although he admitted and even bragged about his killings in the name of Allah.  He was convicted of premeditated murders and sentenced to death.   He awaits execution while his mandatory appeals move through the appellate courts.  
                                    Thousands of Americans saw the  injustice of Lt. Lorance's conviction, and  signed petitions for clemency that were given to President Obama, and later to President Trump.
                                    Obama, whose disdain for the military is well known and a matter of record, threw the Lorance plea for clemency into the wastebasket, yet he looked favorably on many others as he exited his office as President and as Commander-in- Chief in 2017.  Obama  granted clemency to nearly 2,000 drug pushers and users,(231 in a single day) and he freed and commuted  the sentence of the traitorous Pvt. Bradley (now Chelsea) Manning who served just 3 years of his 35-year penalty for his betrayal of America by publicizing highly classified data. 
                                 Army prosecutors were too quick to find fault with Lt. Lorance, after it was determined that the men on the motorcycle were not in possession of any weapons.   The actual soldier or soldiers who shot the Afghans (it wasn't Lorance) could have declined an improper order from their lieutenant, but they did not, and weapons were fired in response to the lieutenant's order.  Other soldiers in the Lorance platoon were granted immunity from prosecution so long as they testified and laid the blame entirely on Lt. Lorance for acting recklessly and with malice for Middle Easterners. 
                                                Clint Lorance was 28 years old and had been a soldier for 10 years.  A native of Oklahoma, he had enlisted after high school and was making the military his career.  He loved the army, and his country and he sought to make his family proud, his mother has said. His family and his friends praise his character and devotion to duty.  As a soldier, he studied and eventually obtained a commission as a second lieutenant and later was promoted to first lieutenant.  No matter how you wish to examine this case, Clint Lorance  is no murderer and does not belong in a military prison.
                                                Lt. Lorance has been supported by many members of Congress and combat veterans as well as the more that one hundred thousand people who signed the petitions to the President seeking clemency.   
                                                On November 15, Lt. Lorance packed up whatever gear he had and left Leavenworth in full uniform with his silver bars on his shoulder after receiving a telephone call from Vice President Pence.  He was greeted at the gate by friends and family members, including his mother who worked diligently for his release. Asked about his future plans, Lorance said that he intended to remain  an officer in the army of the United States, and that despite his travail had no bitterness for the military.   
                                                Upon signing the pardon papers,  President Trump said that when "our soldiers have to fight for our country, I want them to have the confidence to fight," and know that we are  behind them. Welcome home, Lieutenant. 

    

"Fake News" and the ABC Apology

                            BY FLORIDA BILL 

                              When pornographic material was surging and there were efforts by legislators to control it, a Supreme Court justice observed in a decision in 1964 that he would have trouble defining that which constitutes pornography.  " I know it when I see it," he asserted.
                            Those comments by the late Associate Justice Potter Stewart reminded me of the ongoing controversy over what is  "fake news." Is this a delusional figment in the mind of President Trump, as his critics charge, or is there such an animal as "fake news."  
                             Would you know it if you encountered it?  Would ABC or CNN or MSNBC or NBC know a phony news report aimed at the President?   You Might ask them if the following qualifies.
                             Recently ABC television aired a segment which it entitled "Slaughter in Syria" and the video showed exploding bombs which lighted the sky and the voice-over told of the new war in Syria precipitated by the incompetence of President and wrong call of the nation's President who betrayed Kurdish allies who helped the USA destroy ISIS. The film  aired on "Good Morning America and World News Tonight which was viewed by millions of Americans. 
                              As it turned out, the video was a 24 Carat fake and the films were actually made by ABC cameras in 2017 during the annual gun shoot celebration in Knob Creek, Kentucky.  Apparently the station which been outspoken in its hate for the nation's President, dipped into the station archives and posted the video in an underhanded effort to attack the President. 
                              ABC might have gotten away with the fraud except for an eagle eyed viewer who recognized the films as not from any bombing in a border town in Syria by Turkish soldiers, but rather homemade films of years ago selected to persuade listeners that America's Commander in Chief, President Trump, was sucking up to his friend, the Turkish President, and giving a helping hand to the Russians pursuing their own interests in the Middle East. 
                               So when the hoax was revealed, what did ABC do?  On October 13, a few days following the revelation that ABC had posted phony films, the network "tweeted" an apology, and a lame one to say the least. It read: 
                               "We’ve taken down the video that aired on “World News Tonight" Sunday and “Good Morning America” this morning that appeared to be from the Syrian border immediately after questions were raised about its accuracy.  ABC News regrets the error." 
                               So far as I know,there was no explanation as to how the mistake had occurred and  there was a dearth of reports on the incident from other corners of the media.  Fox News' Tucker Carlson reported the "mistake" made by ABC, and noted that it was a part of the media's continuing disingenuous machinations to discredit and bring down President Trump.
                              It is hard to believe that the network station, which clearly despises the President would actually stoop so low as to intentionally post a two-year old video which had been stored in its archives as a way of driving a knife into the President. But it happened.  Citizens can decide for themselves how it might have happened. 
                              Ever since the election of Trump, the media, electronic and print, have ganged up on the President and accused him of lying (7-10 times a day according to some critics); and of being a racist because of his promotion of border security.
                              Efforts are underway by Democrats in the House to put together Articles of Impeachment, but with all of their windy and sanctimonious statements have been unable to show any crime which the president has committed.  Allegations of colluding with Russia and obstructing justice are democratic fantasizing and have fallen as part of the "fake news" agenda against the nation's 45th President. 
                                                xxx










              

All Dogs Go To Heaven

        By Florida Bill

                              When you come to that sad and distressing moment when you must bid goodbye to your dog, remember that the farewell may not be forever.  There is some very good authority telling us that there will be a happy reunion with that faithful little fur head at the glorious Rainbow Bridge, gateway to Heaven.                                          The grief at losing that special pet is profound, almost indescribable.  In some ways it is similar to the sadness suffered at the loss of a human friend or relative; but different since we have always believed that we will be reunited with them in the afterlife. 
                               So what is the deal with our four-footed friends.  Is it true that all dogs go to heaven?  Mark Twain has noted that "Heaven goes by favor; If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in."   But that only begs the question. 
                                              Along that same line, a prominent European writer has noted that dogs are our link to paradise.  "They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent.  To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden where doing nothing was not boring --it was peace."                

                               Not too long ago, America was blessed with a visit from Pope Francis.  We heard his voice calling for peace in the world and for love and respect for all men.  But in another earlier message, the Pontiff observed that our four-footed friends are not lost forever and that "Paradise is open to all of God's creatures."   Really good news for us dog people.

                              Actually,  Francis is not the only Pontiff who has said that beloved pets do not make a permanent departure.   Some years ago, Pope Paul VI, while consoling a broken-hearted little boy whose pet had died, told the youngster that he would again see his dog in the "eternity of Christ."  His words were very comforting to the boy;  and yes, those words resonate in the same way with us old timers whose time on this earth is coming to an end. We are like our dogs, "short timers."  And it is good to know that religious experts confirm our long-held belief that we will be reunited with every dog we've ever had when that time comes.   

                            Will Rogers, a man who loved his furry companions, would be pleased too.   This great humorist once said that "if there are no dogs in heaven, then, when I die,  I want to go where they went."  Well with the popes and others passing on the question, it is looking pretty good.  They will be there and we'll see them so long as we make it there too.   

                             There are hundreds of millions of dog owners in the world and more frequently than not, a special steely bond develops between the canine and his owner.  There are those who do not or have never owned a dog, and perhaps regard the relationship as mythical rather than mystical.  But I know I am right; the relationship is special--ask any pet owner. 

                              I remember when I was a soldier in Korea, I owned a small terrier-type pooch named Maggie and she was with me most hours of virtually every day of  my 16-months in that far-away country.  When I walked guard duty with a rifle, Maggie was there and when I was in the mess hall she waited outside by the door; and at bedtime, my cot and sleeping bag were her bed too.  On our small compound in Ouijongbu, soldiers with their dogs were quite common and unrestricted on many posts in this land where America had gone to defend. 

                             Sadly, when I said goodbye to Korea, I had to say farewell also to Maggie. I can still see her to this day,  sitting by the side of a road, ears up, watching and alert as our truck pulled away.  I loved that little lady, and I am hoping that Maggie will be around to greet me at that famous bridge beyond the stars.  
                            Occasionally, I think back about our four-footed friends and their special place in life and I am reminded of the words of an old Missouri lawyer who, reflecting on our furry companions, observed that "the one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous . . . is his dog."  

                           To dog aficionados, and maybe to Pope Francis himself, there is the story of the  "Rainbow Bridge."  Accordingly, when a pet dies, it goes to a meadow and is restored to perfect health, and spends its days running and playing with other dogs, with plenty of fresh food and water. The only thing that is not perfect is that he misses his owner left behind on earth.  When the owner dies, he approaches the meadow and it is at that moment that his pet sees him and their eyes meet.  Excited, the pet runs to the owner's arms licking his face in joy, and side by side they cross the Rainbow Bridge together into heaven, never again to be separated.

                          Today, living in sunny Florida, my wife, Chrissy and I have two dogs,  Cairn Terriers by breed, each weighing about 15 pounds.  They look like the dog, Toto, in the movie The Wizard of Oz.  Sammi is wheaten-colored and Wendy is Black. They are non-stop yappers and never saw a bird or leaf that did not require their comment; the arrival of the pool man or the dry cleaner is enough to provoke a deafening frenzy.  Yet, we have bonded with them in a big way, and it is impossible to imagine life without them.  But a dog's life is short, and we have had other dogs before them, all of whom became special and unforgettable. We are happy about Pope Francis's views on the matter.        

                         One final word on dogs and the hereafter: Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of "The Secret Life of Dogs," was asked in an interview if she believed that all dogs go to heaven. Her answer was logic at its best: "If there are no dogs there, it is not heaven."

GENEROUS SENIOR CITIZENS

          BY FLORIDA BILL  

                       While going through a stack of mail that had piled up over several days,  I was hit with the realization that almost every letter was a solicitation for a cash contribution from various organizations.  A wide variety of  persons, places and things are in dire need of assistance and I wondered how come they they are all zeroing in on me.
                        Maybe I am just one of the names and addresses taken from the voting lists or from the telephone directory, or whatever.  It is more likely that I made a contribution to someone in the past and my name was put on a list that was sold to others as a potential giver; and resold and then resold again. Presto, I am really, really  popular and my mail box in Sun City is overflowing.  So, if you ever make a charitable or even a political contribution, look out, my friend.  There is big "X" on your back, and you are marked as a potential donor for  all time!!!
                        Conservatively speaking, and aside from the usual bills, I figure that I am the recipient of  about 200 letters a month which are in the category of "help us" mail 
                        In this latest batch of letters, there were solicitations from veterans' organizations,  churches and religious societies, and animal welfare and rescue groups. Others came from children's homes and shelters, and from centers which provide meals to the needy. One urgent request called for  at least $27 to provide "soothing treats" for recently rescued Orphan Donkeys. In return you are given a deck of cards with pictures of donkeys on them. 
                     What it boils down to is that if you don't contribute, they'll keep bombarding you with requests until you do. If you are generous and do contribute, you will receive a thank you letter and for sure the solicitations will continue.  Your name is in the "positive" column and you will continue to receive requests for donations until the end of time.  
                         And lest I forget, there are the unending notifications from politicians and political parties.
                        Even though federal elections are not until November of next year, office holders are gearing up for reelection; and there are men and women throwing their hats and bonnets into the ring--looking for money. I guess that's the way a democracy works, and I respect it.  But, it can become annoying with requests from unheard of candidates from other states that one has no reason to support.                       
                          Strangest of all are the packages containing goodies to encourage your generosity, such as coins, ranging from nickles to half dollars to checks made out in your name. Or you might get shaving cream and toothpaste--but  these are not for you, they are to be returned and forwarded to veterans and soldiers along with your donations. Calendars and name stickers for envelopes arrive almost daily.
                        Things really heat up around Thanksgiving and Xmas.  Solicitations begin pouring in by late fall and the requests arrive in thick envelopes with gifts for the giver which are often X mas cards, 2020 calendars, calculators and pens.  Here it is, early fall, and I have acquired some 30 calendars and countless  Christmas cards as the holiday season approaches   
                         I am an ex-GI and have  a soft spot for the military and for the faithful dogs that served with them. Disabled Vets,  Blind Vets, Wounded Warriors, Mutts on a Mission and scores of similar organizations seek donations. The causes are worthy, but who can contribute to every one of them, and who knows which ones are legitimate or if there is a worthier cause.  Very often the stories are sad and tug at the heart strings.  Perhaps that explains why Americans are so generous in sending out checks.                
                         Organizations such as the Charity Navigators remind citizens to be careful of scam artists out there. They try to monitor charities and estimate what percentage  of contributions actually go go to the causes, but many groups do not reply to their inquiries or can't be trusted and new ones pop up every day.  
                       This whole world of fund raising, with letters, phone calls,  emails, and gifts smacks of big business. Yet I had no idea just how big.  I decided to do a little research and try to get a handle on just what is going on. And hey, nickle and dime stuff,  it isn't.
                        According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCSS) there are more than one and one-half million   non-profit charities registered in the United States.  If you have a particular activity which you feel passionate about, your donation can find a happy home.  And in 2018, charitable giving in the United States totaled $427.7 billion dollars, with 68 percent of that huge bundle coming from individuals.  The average annual donation is about $120. 
                         That is some huge amount of giving by generous Americans, and for the record, it even dwarfs the America's foreign aid, of some $50 billion annually.
                          There are admonitions about giving, say the charity experts. Don't succumb to  "knee jerk" generosity or sob stories--give some thought to the charity and check into its operation.  Also, hang up on on the telephone solicitor who calls around dinner time. Too many telemarketers get a credit card and a commitment out of the homeowner between  bites at supper.  In the end, only a few cents on the dollar wind up with the charity, and the rest lands in the pocket of the fund raiser and his aids.
                            Compensation paid to CEOs and presidents and financial directors of large charities sometimes top $500,000 for a year.  These sky high salaries are often the subject of criticism, but these administrators of  these billion-dollar enterprises claim they have as much responsibility and as many costs as any titans of industry.                        
                             So, open your mail and look over all those begging you for help. Go ahead, contribute to disaster zones and abused animals and lonely soldiers and sick and needy children. But if you want to feel  good about it,  make sure  the charities you choose to endow are deserving of your generosity. Pick a few, check them out, and concentrate on those, instead of sending money to everyone that tells a sad story. 
                            The lion's share of your largess should wind up with those who need your help, and not just provide happy times for the fund raisers.


                                             xxx

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