tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72161178240646667342024-02-07T18:46:17.477-08:00ChoreTimeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-61214712344742134322013-01-07T14:18:00.001-08:002013-01-07T14:21:21.628-08:00One in every crowdThere is one in every crowd. A photo to make you smile. Look for new things coming very soon on Chore Time!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyEY7vFcpsmDNNIko7T3_1PeRggHq09ceQjQko2Fk6GJl6D_y7ANujGOT7mngNjBOhofTkpLYABlRzFYkwKGJFKJNXjxocBfhUzo0dLj2f8BDQt1WVqYLmCudnnkSdvA3kHGGdEUVkYXt/s1600/_DSC0044.NEF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyEY7vFcpsmDNNIko7T3_1PeRggHq09ceQjQko2Fk6GJl6D_y7ANujGOT7mngNjBOhofTkpLYABlRzFYkwKGJFKJNXjxocBfhUzo0dLj2f8BDQt1WVqYLmCudnnkSdvA3kHGGdEUVkYXt/s320/_DSC0044.NEF.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-19258105710277542992012-04-05T08:00:00.000-07:002012-04-05T08:00:07.153-07:0072 Hours Without Services<header class="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #013b63; font-size: 25px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://agcanada.com/grainews/2012/03/22/72-hours-without-services/" target="_blank">72 hours without services (as posted in Grainews)</a></h1><h2 class="subhead" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #393e44; font-size: 19px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We all know that bad weather or other emergencies can mean the loss of power, phone and other services. Make sure you’re ready to keep your family and farm safe</h2></header><footer class="pbs clearfix" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><div class="meta-info pts" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted</i> <time class="updated" datetime="2012-03-22T20:23:41+00:00" pubdate="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mar. 22nd, 2012</time> <i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by</i> <span class="byline author vcard" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fn" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://agcanada.com/contributor/shanyn-silinski" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(64, 114, 151); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #013b63; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Shanyn Silinski</a></span></span></div><div class="social-share pts" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; 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background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; height: 20px; left: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; visibility: visible; width: 32px;" tabindex="0" title="+1" vspace="0" width="100%"></iframe></div> </div></footer><div class="entry-content pbl" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 560px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 30px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Canadians are advised to be able to survive without municipal services for up to 72 hours in an emergency. For rural and farming residents, outages could last much longer.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Is your farm prepared for 72 hours without power, gas, phone, emergency services or even cellphone and Internet?</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Preparing a house in town for a 72-hour break is an enormous task; preparing a farm can seem monumental. You may think you’re prepared, and you could be, but when was the last time you checked? Or practiced?</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Canadian government has a website: getprepared.gc.ca, but resources like this are no use if you don’t use them. If you’re like a farmer I know whose excuse is, “I’m too busy farming,” you’re putting yourself, your family and farm at huge risk.</div><h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #393e44; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">One farm’s story</h2><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We have beef cattle, horses, companion animals and a small child. We live in a rural area which can have, at times, limited road access. We choose to live here, so we have to take responsibility and plan for times when we won’t have municipal services.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our check list includes:</div><ul style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 1.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Food, water, medications and animal care supplies</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Generators and fuel</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Pump and hose</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Well maintained equipment</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Fire extinguishers</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Supplementary water supplies for livestock</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Shelter and feed for animals</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Supplementary heating</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Alternative cooking tools (solid fuel stove, propane and wood pellet barbeque)</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Food that does not require freezing or refrigeration</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Extra medications and first aid kits</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Animal health kits</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Leashes and crates</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Halters and ropes</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Weather radio</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Emergency power source for phones and other electronics</li>
</ul><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The most important thing we have, however, is a plan we practice. We know what to do in a severe summer storm, we know what to do in a deep freeze with no power and we know where to put our livestock in a drifting blizzard. We time each other, we practice and we communicate. We also understand that sometimes one of us may be alone to take care of things when the unexpected happens.</div><h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #393e44; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Family Safety</h2><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The safety of your family comes first. Making sure you have safe places in case of a storm and that you can start the generator and know first aid is key. We subscribe to weather alerts on our smart phones. We watch both U.S. and Canadian radar maps for storms. A storm coming from the south can give you a day’s warning if you look at the U.S. radar, but only hours if you rely solely on Canadian forecasts.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Even children can learn first aid and CPR. Find a certified local trainer and get your whole family trained. Make sure you have everyone’s medication on hand — allergy medication and needs for chronic medical conditions. Make sure your pets can be crated and handled if you need to evacuate with them. Always have your vehicles fueled up and in working order. Even a quad or tractor can be a life saver, but not if they don’t run.</div><h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #393e44; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Animal welfare</h2><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Canada has federal and provincial laws and regulations regarding the care and welfare of all animals. In essence they state that you cannot knowingly leave an animal to suffer and die. That includes evacuating or abandoning your property and leaving animals behind without food, water and shelter in safety. Of course, most of you wouldn’t knowingly cause harm to your animals.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Have you planned for their care in a 72-hour or longer situation? How will you provide water, feed and shelter? Ventilation in confinement housing is a big concern. Most producers with intensive or high population operations have redundant systems with multiple back-ups. But how long can you rely on your back-up system? Was it designed for six, 12, 24 or more hours? When did you last test it?</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Animal caregivers need to be aware of conditions like freezing rain that can adversely impact the animals in their care. For range animals, freezing rain can be deadly. Can you provide shelter and ice removal? What about footing in an ice storm for cattle? Creating trails to get stranded range cattle to feed may require some literal leg work on your part. Maybe you could make a temporary shelter from bales. Or move the animals to a treed shelter and still provide feed and water. How would you deal with injuries?</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Weather extremes and the loss of municipal services are realities. Our preparation is what will make the difference on our farm, to our family and to our community. If the power went out right now, and a storm blew in, would you be ready? Right now? If you don’t know, maybe now, while the lights are on, would be a good time to start. †</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-85596418558637550472012-03-31T08:00:00.000-07:002012-03-31T08:00:04.617-07:00Be a Good Farm Guest<header class="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #013b63; font-size: 25px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://agcanada.com/grainews/2012/03/22/3-steps-to-being-a-good-farm-guest/" target="_blank">3 steps to being a good farm guest</a> (as posted in Grainews)</h1><h2 class="subhead" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #393e44; font-size: 19px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As farmers we assume we know all about farm safety. But different farms have different safety rules and needs. Here’s how to be a good farm guest when you’re visiting or helping, and some tips for welcoming visitors to your farm</h2></header><footer class="pbs clearfix" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><div class="meta-info pts" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted</i> <time class="updated" datetime="2012-03-22T20:27:16+00:00" pubdate="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mar. 22nd, 2012</time> <i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by</i> <span class="byline author vcard" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fn" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://agcanada.com/contributor/shanyn-silinski" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(64, 114, 151); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #013b63; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Shanyn Silinski</a></span></span></div><div class="social-share pts" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; 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border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="" width="300" /></figure><div class="entry-content pbl" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 560px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 30px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you’re like most farmers, you like to help out when you visit friend or neighbour’s farm. Helping is great, and often truly appreciated. It can also be dangerous and potentially deadly.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you’re helping, being a good farm guest requires setting aside what you know of your own farm and listening to your host’s instructions. Grain farming is not the same as beef farming, that one is a “no brainer.” But have you thought about the differences between moving beef and dairy cattle? Riding horses and feedlot horses? What about farms with specific handling practices like low stress? Even if you have a livestock operation you don’t likely handle your animals the same way as your friend. Even your handling equipment may be different.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Beef farming friends who are helping at harvest need to keep in mind the same equipment safety rules that they employ during haying or silage season. All equipment has different safety requirements.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you’re going to be a good farm guest and want to help out, remember three things: communicate, confirm and continue.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Communicate: Ask what is going to be done. Make sure to share what you are able to do. Communicate about what is being done, and who you’re working with. Ensure you are comfortable with the plan, and let your host know if you’re not.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Confirm: Personal experience has gotten me in the habit of asking guests who wish to help move livestock or even fix fence to confirm what we are each going to be doing. I need to know that they’ll be where I expect them to be, for their safety and mine. On our farm we have an “eyes on safety” rule — the person heading up the animal work or operating the equipment does not start until they have visually confirmed that everyone is where they need to be.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Continue: Farming operations are time sensitive, whether it be harvesting, doctoring animals or even moving equipment. There is, however, a maxim worth remembering: fast is slow, slow is fast. Doing what needs to be done at a safe speed is the fastest way to get it done. It takes much longer to redo a job than to do it right the first time.</div><h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #393e44; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Notes for a good host</h2><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Make sure at least one person who is familiar with your farm is with your guests at all times. This is not the time to test their knowledge. It may seem silly to have to remind someone to watch out for the back feet of a cow or keep away from a moving auger, but it’s also safe.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Working visits with children are full of potential for fun, great photos and danger. Regardless of their age, visiting children (and your own children) need to be supervised by an adult who’s away from the work. As a parent, I know that in the excitement of playing with friends, my own son can forget our safety rules.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Have a safe play area designated and a responsible adult supervising the children. Make sure no one moves or does any work until they confirm that the children are where they’re supposed to be. Children are curious, fast and small. This makes them difficult to see until they are in the middle of a dangerous situation.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Quick tips for visitor safety:</div><ul style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 1.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Safety first for you and your guests.</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Know where your first aid kits are.</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Visually confirm everyone is safely in position before starting work.</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Communicate what you want to do, what could happen, and Plan B.</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Continue to get the work done.</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Keep the children safely away from where you are working.</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Ensure everyone is wearing the correct gear.</li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Put the phones on vibrate or mute — you may think your ringtone rocks but the livestock won’t.</li>
</ul><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Remember, “safety first”. No one wants a fun farm visit to end in tragedy. †</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-268446471273992522012-03-27T08:00:00.002-07:002012-03-27T08:00:00.971-07:00Fire Safe Farm<header class="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #013b63; font-size: 25px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://agcanada.com/grainews/2012/03/22/9-ways-to-make-your-farm-fire-safe%E2%80%A9/" target="_blank">9 ways to make your farm fire safe</a> (as posted in Grainews)</h1><h2 class="subhead" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #393e44; font-size: 19px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fires happen. Make sure you’re ready to protect your family, your livestock and your yard if the worst case scenario happens to you</h2></header><footer class="pbs clearfix" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><div class="meta-info pts" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted</i> <time class="updated" datetime="2012-03-22T20:20:18+00:00" pubdate="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mar. 22nd, 2012</time> <i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by</i> <span class="byline author vcard" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fn" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; 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border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 560px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 30px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How fire ready is your farm? A google search for “farm fire preparedness” will turn up at least 3 million hits. There are many publications and websites. But how many farmers actually put that information to use? Here are some very basic things you can do to ensure that you’re ready for the worst.</div><h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #393e44; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Field and Farmyard</h2><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Your fields can be a huge fuel source for a fire. You know this if you burn stubble. Dried grass, brush and stubble, even standing ripe crops, are vulnerable to fires.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When you stand in your farmyard and look out at the fields, ask yourself, if there was a fire, where would you plough a fire break? Do your fields come right up to the windbreak in your yard? Do you have a dugout or pond to pump water from? Have you noticed what seasons bring the strongest and driest winds?</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A farmyard can be a fire trap or it can be defended. Planning ahead and placing resources correctly can make all the difference.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Test your ability to hook up the tractor and discer. How quickly could you do it safely? Can you create a fire break around your yard, or is that area cluttered with old equipment? Are the gates wide enough?</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Start up your pump and hose and test it. A pump that won’t fire and a hose with holes or cracks is more useless than no pump or hose. If you don’t have them, you’re not counting on them. If you have them and they don’t work, you’ll waste valuable time fooling around with them.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Make an evacuation plan for your farmyard. Know who will stay to keep things wet and plough fire breaks and who will leave to safety. Know where you will go, and make sure you have an alternate route to get there in case the regular way is blocked by fire or smoke.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Knowing what to do while the fire is small is critical in keeping it under control. At no time should you risk your own health or safety. Equipment and even animals can be replaced, and crops re-grown. Your family will not skip mourning you because you died saving the new tractor.</div><h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #393e44; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Barn and Livestock</h2><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Livestock are very vulnerable to injury and death in fires. Their housing is fraught with danger as it’s filled with both fuel and ignition sources. It is also very difficult to remove animals from many modern farm buildings. Most farmyards with multiple animal buildings are not designed with emergency evacuation or animal containment in mind.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Make a plan and share it. You need to plan how you’ll take care of your animals in the event of a farm fire threat. Barn fires are as different as the varied barn designs you see everywhere. Each has a strong point and a number of weaknesses. You know your barn well. But if you aren’t there, who will know what to do? You may have a top notch fire plan, but have you shared it with your local fire department, or your neighbours? Their lives could depend upon it.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Think about what your animals will do. There is no set way that livestock react in a fire, but there are some common reactions. “Fight or flight” is one description, and animals will sometimes do these one right after the other. They will run away from danger that they cannot fight, but fire fire is not truly seen as a danger to most domestic animals. The fire fighters, the outside noise, lights and sounds of human panic are understood as danger. Their instinct to go to a “safe place” is strong and, tragically, that safe place is the burning barn you are trying to save them from. Knowing how to prepare your horse barn, with fire halters and proper strategies for calming moving animals, can save their lives and yours.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Make your barn fire safe. What can we do? Better alarms, fire walls, reducing fuel load and ignition sources. Make sure your barn can be “shut off” in sections so a fire can’t control the entire facility.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Don’t forget about open range livestock. These animals face tragically different fire dangers. Wildland fires will push animals to higher ground or against fences that they cannot see. They may become entangled in partially burnt fences. After extremely fast moving grass fires, I’ve seen cattle with their legs burnt, but no soot on their faces. Given a chance, some horses and cattle can instinctively find safety, but this is not a strategy you can count on. Fences, natural barriers and factors such as noise, wind, water bombers and smoke can disorient, confuse and panic animals back into the fire they were fleeing.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">8. Keep yourself safe. Never allow someone into a burning building to save an animal. This instinct is strong but also deadly. People can be overcome quickly with smoke and require rescue themselves.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">9. Provide care after the fire. With people and animals, smoke inhalation is very often the cause of death in a fire. Toxic smoke suffocates many long before the fire reaches them. Animals “rescued” from smoke often require treatment, and sometimes euthanasia, due to smoke damage.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Planning ahead can reduce losses, but until we can eliminate fires from our farms we won’t eliminate the deadly impact they can have on our farms and communities. †</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-25294914827030035492012-03-22T13:22:00.000-07:002012-03-22T13:22:47.377-07:00Keep Kids Safe<header class="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #013b63; font-size: 25px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://agcanada.com/grainews/2012/03/22/keep-kids-safe-on-the-farm/" target="_blank">Keep kids safe on the farm</a> (as posted in Grainews)</h1><h2 class="subhead" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #393e44; font-size: 19px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s wonderful to have children on the farm, but it’s also dangerous. Try Shanyn Silinski’s “eyes on safety” method to keep your family safe</h2></header><footer class="pbs clearfix" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><div class="meta-info pts" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted</i> <time class="updated" datetime="2012-03-22T20:19:32+00:00" pubdate="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mar. 22nd, 2012</time> <i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; 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border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 560px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 30px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m a rancher, raising cows and riding horses. My husband manages a crop-based farm. We are also parents. Our first and most important job is keeping our son safe.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Each year in Canada an average of 115 people are killed and another 1,500 are hospitalized due to farm-related incidents. From 1990 to 2005, 217 children aged 14 or younger were killed on Canadian farms. Approximately 45 per cent were under the age of five.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Working on a farm is a full time job, and so is being a parent. The two do not have to be incompatible but doing both takes planning.</div><h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #393e44; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Children and livestock</h2><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Animals can be as curious as children, and although there are many cute stories, photos and movies, children and animals are a potentially deadly combination.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do your best not to have your children around when working with your livestock. To many prey animals such as cattle and horses, the size and speed of a child mimics the movements of predators like coyotes. When you have calves and foals, the dams are going to be much more protective of their offspring. A peripheral view of a smaller fast moving “something” may result in a kick or a head butt from a cow or a horse. They won’t stop to see if it’s a child or a coyote.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do not ask children to watch gates, operate handling equipment or hold medications. They don’t have the physical strength or the mental concentration to do adult work. Even an older teen can become distracted.</div><h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #393e44; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Equipment Safety</h2><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Equipment safety is much more than tractors and augers. It can be about the tools in your farm shop, the truck or the handling system you use for grain or livestock. If you are farm safe (and you all are, right?) then you know that farm equipment is scaled for adult use. It is designed for adults to operate safely when they follow the safety guidelines. No farm equipment is designed for children.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The small size of children can lead them to crawl or climb into unsafe places. Ladders and maintenance doors are a source of endless wonder for children. Teach your children that they cannot play in or around equipment. They should not play with tools and handling equipment.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stationary equipment and moving equipment have different concerns for farming parents. Sometimes if you have to move a tractor or a truck the safest thing is for your child to be with you. But how safe are they?</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Standing behind the seat of the tractor can lead to a child leaning against a window that may pop open. A child in Manitoba recently fell out of a tractor window and narrowly missed being run over by the implement her dad was towing.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A combine parked in a shop for an oil change seems pretty safe. Except for the bucket of oil, which a child can easily fall into and drown. Even farm chemicals can be deadly to children because of the size of exposure they are able to handle.</div><h2 style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #393e44; font-size: 22px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Eyes on Safety</h2><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Eyes on Safety” is a basic program we use on our farm. It is not (yet) been formally written up nor marketed. It is a simple rule — no adult proceeds with farm work until they can put their eyes on the other people in their immediate area. Adults and children. The rule is simple: if I can’t see you and I’m the one starting the animal work or operating the equipment we don’t start.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When working with livestock we don’t start moving them until we have visually confirmed that everyone who is supposed to be working with the animals is in place and anyone who isn’t is safely accounted for elsewhere. Sometimes this “visual” check requires a walk to find everyone, or even a text message.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When working on equipment, the person running the machinery doesn’t start an engine or engage a PTO until they visually confirm the location of the people in the yard. We also require that if someone is going to be working on a piece of equipment in the field that they take the keys out and keep them on their person — a “lock out.” No one wants to be head first in a plugged haybine and hear the tractor start up.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Children make farming more challenging but also more rewarding. This is our chance to share our Make time together something worth remembering for the love and the laughter, not the heartache and tears.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And keep in mind: the same rules we engage with young children are also the ones we use when working on farms with the elderly or those in poor health. They may know what they’re doing on a farm, but their age and health require us to watch out for them.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are many great resources on the Internet for farm safety and great programs for families and their children. Use your rainy days and evenings to do some research and make sure your farm is a place where dreams can be grown. †</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-11338702507646990622012-02-25T11:38:00.000-08:002012-02-25T11:38:00.164-08:00That NEVER Happens Here<footer class="pbs clearfix" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><div class="meta-info pts" style="background-attachment: initial; 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</ul></div><div class="entry-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 560px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Famous last words, as we saw last year, with the incredible flooding in the normally dry areas of southwest Saskatchewan and even up into Yorkton area. Catastrophic flooding which destroyed rail lines, highways and washed away valuable farmland and pastures. Homes which have never seen flood waters all of asudden were not just waterfront but water-immersed properties. Fires, floods, tornados, blizzards, ice storms, drought and other natural disasters can seemingly be predicted. That we base many of those predictions on only 100 or so years of record keeping, and on the best guesses of science doesn’t dissuade people from believing, “That NEVER happens HERE!”</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Never is a long time. Never is one of those situations that should never be banked on. Who would have thought in January 49 of 50 states in the U.S. would have snow on the same day, and the lone holdout, Florida, had their snow two days before?</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This winter many communities known for their winter and mountain sports have seen flooding, ice storms and other weather oddities. It is one thing for a town or a tourist destination to be prepared for the unexpected, but it can be another thing entirely for a producer with livestock or who lives some distance from town to be prepared.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My husband went through two years of ag diploma at our kitchen table, the only thing I didn’t do was write exams and get the diploma. I know for producers the bottom line is always the big question — how much does it cost me to do (whatever)? I don’t know your operation but I can guess you do pretty well. You know how much it would cost to replace infrastructure, equipment, animals and effort. But do you know how much it would cost in comparison to the time invested in being prepared? I would think 10:1 would be a fair ratio — a pound of prevention for an ounce of cure.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The biggest cost in preparedness is time and effort — do you have the time to sit down and have a plan with your family? The measure in Canada and the U.S. is to plan for 72 hours without essential services like power or outside assistance. In other more remote areas you should be aware that up to five days without assistance is your measure. If you have not sat down with your family and your business partners, even your neighbours, to discuss a plan perhaps that should be the first step. There are some great online resources, which will be listed at the end of this article for you to access.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Coming from an emergency services and preparedness background I see things a bit differently than some folks who are looking purely at their usual annual plans and forecasts. There are basic kits for families, but farmers need something a bit more robust. And for producers who don’t have livestock, but perhaps have hobby animals or pets, don’t skip the animal parts! Even if you live “close” to town you can still be isolated in a storm or other natural disaster.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What to have ready — and while it may seem obvious — this is as practical as it can be: generator with fuel and oil (tested so that you know it runs and more than one person knows how to start it); stored water (in containers that can be reached by all family members), medications, including prescriptions, for everyone including pets and livestock, food that is non-perishable, cleaning supplies, school and entertainment (do you want to be snowed in with children and have nothing for them to do but ask you what they can do next?!), storm radio, am/fm radio, charger for phones and most importantly a plan!</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Watch the weather, on both sides of the border, there are some great sites that show excellent radar maps for Canada and the U.S. With all of our “connectedness” we shouldn’t be surprised by weather except in the most extreme conditions such as a tornado or flash flood.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Make sure your family and staff know the safety plan for the farm. Do you know where the electrical and gas shutoffs are? Is there an all-weather access for emergency services? Who are you checking in with so folks know you are safe? What is the interval before they call for help?</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By doing some research while sipping a morning or evening coffee, and sitting down for an hour during the day, your family can make a plan that could reduce the impact a severe incident could have on your farm. Not all disasters are natural — a train derailment or a fire for example — but being prepared is more universal. If you factor in the cost of your time to be prepared, to look at some sites, to actually write down a plan and put together your survival</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You don’t have to even leave the farm sometimes to find exceptional, emergency situations you’ve never seen before.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">storage tubs you’ll find that it is significantly less than the time, and physical and emotional cost of rebuilding after finding yourself unprepared.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are many factors to consider when creating a plan depending on the area you live in — are you prone to floods? Do you have limited road access? Are you physically able to perform the tasks needed if stranded for a time? Do you understand the risks of your location? I’m pretty confident that in Australia they did not count on their flooding covering an area the size of Texas. Disasters can strike anywhere — an earthquake in Indiana or Ottawa — but if we work at being prepared we will be better able to handle what comes.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you have specific questions, feel free to email me and we can address them further in this column for the benefit of all. (Also this website has some good information as well: <a href="http://72hours.org/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(64, 114, 151); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #013b63; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://72hours.org/)</a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-16805665502482285352012-02-20T11:36:00.000-08:002012-02-20T11:36:00.369-08:00Don't Farm Yourself To Death<header class="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #013b63; font-size: 25px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Don’t Be Farming Yourself To Death</h1></header><footer class="pbs clearfix" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px !important; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; zoom: 1;"><div class="meta-info pts" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted</i> <time class="updated" datetime="2012-02-15T19:35:34+00:00" pubdate="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feb. 14th, 2011</time> <i>in Grainews</i></div><div class="meta-info pts" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><br />
</i></div></footer><div class="entry-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 560px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How many of you know at least one story of a farm tragedy? A horrible accident that injuries or claims a life? My husband’s Baba watched her father die in a thrashing machine when she was a child. I recall at least three family friends or neighbours who were killed doing what they love — farming. Just last year an elderly Alberta farmer servicing his combine nearly died after he became trapped inside the engine compartment. Being trapped there for over a day caused him to reexamine his commitment to his family and his love of farming. Many farm children over the years have perished, and some are maimed for life. Many continue to farm, through the great support of Farmer’s With Disabilities.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">At any farm show the true “Maytag man” though is the person promoting farm safety. Everyone is looking at freebies and shiny new toys at the shows. They are not thinking of blood, of planning for safety, or risk of death doing what they love.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There is a deadly attitude about farming: “If I’ve done it this way for years, regardless of how unsafe it is, I can continue to do so.”</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sitting snug in the house on a winter day it may not seem necessary to be planning for spring safety, for calving safety, for feeding next week and being safe. But this is exactly what needs to be considered in order to prevent injury or tragedy.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There are a few areas where our safety is most at jeopardy when we are farming.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Working alone.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Working with equipment.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Working with livestock.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Working when distracted.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Working in extreme conditions.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WORKING ALONE</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Are you scoffing? Are you saying, “If I didn’t work alone nothing would get done!” Fair enough, and I can relate. But how safe are you working? I shudder when my farmer husband works alone because he can become very focused on the task rather than safety. Are you chocking wheels? Are machines turned off? Does someone know what you are doing, when you’ll be done and where to look for you? If his family had known he was servicing the combine, I’m sure that older Alberta farmer wouldn’t have been trapped for 24 hours awaiting discovery.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WORKING WITH EQUIPMENT</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Are you using your equipment properly and safely? That loader bucket is not the best place for a ladder so you can reach a higher point beyond the ladder’s length. Are you aware of the safety measures and guards for your equipment? Do you know why they are there? (And no, it is not to frustrate you!) A few years ago, when people used to put their spare tire on the front of the truck with a long screw, a family friend stopped his manual-drive truck to open the gate. He safely opened the gate and got back in the vehicle while the truck was rolling. He pulled up to the garage and again left the truck in neutral, however tragically, he miscalculated and was pinned by his spare tire rack against the garage door. They found him dead the next day.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WORKING WITH LIVESTOCK</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is a reality that any livestock can be deadly. Any animal can bite or kick. Some are more potentially lethal than others, but never underestimate the threat of a frightened or angry animal. We are all familiar with the dangers of bulls, but more dangerous than a breeding male animal can be a mother cow, or an animal distressed by being separated from the herd. Australian-style handling systems make it safer for sorting livestock on your own, but they are not always used or available when you need them. A young southern Alberta farmer died while checking on his cattle, as one of the “ol gals” was just done cleaning her calf. He turned his back on her, and bent down to tag the calf. He had a new dog with him, one that the cow didn’t know. The cow felt sufficiently threatened to attack and she gored the man to death. Horses, llamas, cattle, pigs and sheep can kick and strike, run you over and many bite. Paying attention when working animals, and going slow, makes safety sense.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WORKING WHEN DISTRACTED</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You’ve all done it. I’ve done it. We’ve all been out doing farm work when our minds weren’t totally on task due to some distraction. This happened to me last spring. My favourite cow had gled on her horn, neck and hoof. I was moving her up to cut the wire off. Things were going well until I moved a bit too fast and she instinctively struck out with her leg. Her hoof left a mud smear on the brim of my ball cap. Fortunately I jerked back at the right instant, otherwise we could have had a tragic collision. But, I had been distracted, not paying full attention of where I was standing. If you are upset or distracted don’t do farm work. Take time to focus and calm down, it could save your life.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WORKING IN EXTREME CONDITIONS</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fire, flood, and storms of all types and any other extreme condition can make farming extra hazardous. Not only are you dealing with the “normal” business of farming, but you have the added conditions. Last year when the rivers flooded in southeast Saskatchewan there were images on a CBC slide show of a stuck farm truck, then a tractor coming down the road, and then both a stuck tractor and farm truck, then all you could see above the water were the roofs of said vehicles. Was it worth losing both? What if the producer had been trapped? Working with animals in extreme conditions requires extra time, care and patience they are not going to understand you are “helping.” Always be aware of the dangers, never approach an extreme condition alone, if at all possible, and remember if someone has to rescue you they are also endangered.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Another aspect of extreme and distracted conditions is farming with children on farm. There is nothing more exciting than being on a farm when you are young. There is nothing more distracting than farming with children around, if you don’t have a plan. Do you have a safe play area? Do you have an eyes-on safety plan that everyone is accounted for before machinery is moved? Are the chores the children do on the farm age-appropriate and adequately supervised? It is tempting, especially with older children and teens, to make use of those extra hands to help. But your children and grandchildren are not adult farm hands and they require us to think of their safety first. They don’t have our maturity or ability to think things through, and their natural curiosity can overcome any admonition for safety. They are worth the time to keep safe, and there is nothing worth more than your child or grandchild’s health, happiness and life.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Farming is a way of life, and like many careers, it has it its share of dangers. It also has wonder, excitement, and satisfaction beyond measure. You are no less a farmer if you take a few minutes at the next farm show to learn about farming safety. You’ll be a great role model to your family and to other up-and-coming producers if you model safety as part of your farm business. What does safety cost? One measure is how much would your disability or death cost your family? I would wager the time spent to have a safety plan, and to act upon it, would return the investment by providing more time doing what you really love — farming.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Some safety reference resources:</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://choretime. <a href="http://blogspot.com/2010/04/spring-farm-safety-" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(64, 114, 151); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #013b63; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">blogspot.com/2010/04/spring-farm-safety-</a> children. html</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/farmsafety/index.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(64, 114, 151); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #013b63; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/farmsafety/index.html</a></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Province of Manitoba offers a grant program to build safe play areas on farms for farm children and grandchildren. This program offers producers the chance to build a play area that keeps their farm children safe. Please check into it and include your children in your safety plans.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.fwdcanada.com/Additionally" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(64, 114, 151); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #013b63; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.fwdcanada.com/Additionally,</a> many of the provincial farm animal care groups offer livestock, family and farm safety programs and training. Use Google to find resources in your area.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-63339030096796502392012-02-15T11:35:00.000-08:002012-02-15T11:35:06.199-08:00Ensure Snow Has The Moisture<header class="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #013b63; font-size: 25px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ensure Snow Has The Moisture</h1></header><footer class="pbs clearfix" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; 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border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted</i> <time class="updated" datetime="2012-02-15T19:33:23+00:00" pubdate="" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jan. 10th, 2011</time> <i>in Grainnews</i></div><div class="social-share pts" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="g-plusone" data-annotation="none" data-size="medium" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div> </div></footer><figure class="single-image" id="image-16227" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 536px;"><img alt="Make Sure Snow Has Enough Moisture For Livestock Needs." class="attachment-medium" height="237" src="http://agcanada.com/grainews/files/2011/12/gn-20110110-017-ensuresnowhasth-37064-MI0001main.gif" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="" width="288" /><figcaption class="flex-caption" style="background-color: rgba(1, 59, 99, 0.792969); bottom: 0px; color: white; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 10px; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.292969) 0px -1px 0px; width: 517px;">Make Sure Snow Has Enough Moisture For Livestock Needs.</figcaption></figure><div class="entry-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 560px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Winter has many challenges for both producers and livestock. Producers are often looking for better ways to not only feed and water their animals more efficiently, but also with an eye on holding or reducing costs. Bale and swath grazing and forage stockpiling can all contribute to a healthier bottom line.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When feeding animals this way water is always a concern. Letting livestock water out of live water is not an environmentally sound practice, and is now prohibited in many areas. Dugouts are not safe for watering unless specific watering areas are fenced off and then you have to break ice daily. Footing and safety concerns when using dugout watering systems are a factor for both producer and animal. Using new types of frost-and energy-free systems requires planning and traditional watering systems can be costly (installation, maintenance and energy usage) and a fixed water source can limit the producer’s ability to utilize their full grazing program potential.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Some producers use nature’s winter water source, snow, for their animals. While this seems a good and natural choice there are some precautions producers should keep in mind when deciding to use snow for water.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Successful snow grazing depends on several factors, some of which can be managed by the producer, and others which cannot. As a precautionary note on the semi-arid Prairies we do not consistently get the quality and quantity of heavy -moisture snow required for snow grazing as a primary water source for livestock.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Measuring the moisture content of snow can be as simple as melting a quantity of snow and measuring the melted water. As a general rule, 10 inches of snow equals one inch of water. Snow holds most of the water content closest to the ground, which is why you can break through a dry ice crust in spring and find yourself standing in a slush puddle.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If possible, producers who use snow grazing for water should do so as a secondary or supplementary water source, and plan to use it in emergencies. Cattle, in general, will grow accustomed to using snow for water if given the chance to adjust, but the snow that provides sufficient moisture should be free of ice crust and wet. Dry snow or snow with a heavy ice crust will not yield enough water for cattle to meet daily water requirements and can sharp ice may injure their mouths.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When snow-grazing cattle, the producer should be very aware of animal body condition and monitor it carefully. Adjusting to snow as a water source can take a few days, and the animals should be checked often during this period. Be sure to investigate any animals which are overly vocal, pacing near their usual water source or losing condition. This is especially a concern in pregnant cows and cattle close to calving in the colder months.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The energy required to eat enough snow to slake a thirst and to melt it internally may not be worth the stress and extra feed which animals need. There is some debate on this and most resource sheets will note differing opinions, it is important to read about conditions in your area and not rely solely on fact sheets.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Animals require up to 40 litres of water/day in colder weather, and unless snow is very wet and easy to ingest they may be under supplied. Cattle nearing calving or in early lactation, with higher water requirements, should not rely on snow for their sole source of water. They will rapidly lose body condition.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Generally most provincial agriculture departments have guidelines and suggestions for snow grazing. It is important to check the condition of cows daily and no less than every two days when snow grazing to ensure there is no loss of body condition or undue stress on the animals.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Energy-free and frost-free water systems can be economically placed and provide year-round water for your livestock. Many producers have designed their own systems and many designs are available online. Knowing the water quality of your snow and understanding your livestock will allow you to make choices for their winter care that do not compromise their welfare and well being and don’t negatively impact your bottom line.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: franklin-gothic-urw, Helmet, Freesans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.75em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Winter care, when planned in advance, can include snow grazing but the plan needs to ensure it is providing the basics of food, water and shelter for any animals.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-73582771772803233732011-07-19T20:22:00.000-07:002011-07-19T20:22:45.380-07:00Social Media Storm?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIedXgADwvoip8NCL7krPlu-My49TLzPgUGRJS8nGmI4dpkkQNjfsKFh2twKEJNZFBMURztS4Rp52rID35hhhx24Nv69LC-d6obOSdeD69TbA3r62ZAXu6-l6QxaJeRyrjJbZxv0sQxbT/s1600/DSCN1788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIedXgADwvoip8NCL7krPlu-My49TLzPgUGRJS8nGmI4dpkkQNjfsKFh2twKEJNZFBMURztS4Rp52rID35hhhx24Nv69LC-d6obOSdeD69TbA3r62ZAXu6-l6QxaJeRyrjJbZxv0sQxbT/s320/DSCN1788.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My heart hurt today, <i style="font-weight: bold;">so badly</i>, when I read a story about a mama dog and her new born pups, <i style="font-weight: bold;">saved from traffic</i> and <i style="font-weight: bold;">shot by animal control.</i> My heart hurts daily <i style="font-weight: bold;">when I see the posts and calls for help</i> and I wonder...<i style="font-weight: bold;">can we create enough of a social media storm</i> to actually create <i style="font-weight: bold;">change for animals?</i> Can we?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Can we hold <i style="font-weight: bold;">animal caregivers accountable</i>? Can we hold <i style="font-weight: bold;">communities accountable?</i> Can we show that the <b><i>someone who should do something is actually YOU and ME?</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We cannot do it by <i style="font-weight: bold;">spouting hate</i> or by <i style="font-weight: bold;"> promoting violence</i>. We cannot <i style="font-weight: bold;">be a voice expecting to be heard </i> if we have nothing to say! <i style="font-weight: bold;">Shouting about a problem</i> doesn't solve it. We need to <i style="font-weight: bold;">find solutions</i> and we need to <i style="font-weight: bold;">create an atmosphere for change</i>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites <i style="font-weight: bold;">give us access to millions of people</i> and we should be, and <i style="font-weight: bold;">can be</i> changing things. We can <i style="font-weight: bold;">reach media</i> and <i style="font-weight: bold;">interact with people</i> in an instant way. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you could <i style="font-weight: bold;">know your message would be heard</i> what would you say? If someone asked for <i style="font-weight: bold;"> a solution what would you offer?</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My heart hurts, <i style="font-weight: bold;">for cruelty to animals is one small step away from cruelty to you and me</i>, One small step from animal abuse to people abuse. <b><i>Why in the world don't we do something before they get to that step?</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No matter how <i style="font-weight: bold;">much we shout NO! NO! and STOP! STOP! </i> unless someone actually finds their voice <i style="font-weight: bold;">to hold these people accountable, these organizations, these communities </i>and that means being <i style="font-weight: bold;">good at sharing our message.</i> That also means <i style="font-weight: bold;">not feeding hate with hate</i> or offering <i style="font-weight: bold;">violence as a response to violence</i>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Create a storm...but remember this<i style="font-weight: bold;"> the thunder makes lots of noise but the lightning does the work!</i> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-12454937704059809312011-05-16T20:56:00.000-07:002011-05-16T20:56:37.192-07:00Horse MeatThe Canadian Food TV Network, on their show Top Chef Canada, chose to utilize horse meat. This ignited an uproar across the media and in social media. Facebook has groups, there are posts and comments going around and around. The station issued a statement which, on the surface, seems to indicate sensitivity to the issue but does not actually answer any questions.<br />
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I have a <i style="font-weight: bold;">singular issue with this </i>and it is this: <i style="font-weight: bold;">there are two types of horses going for meat in North America</i>. One group of horses, like cattle, sheep, swine and poultry are <i style="font-weight: bold;">purpose bred</i> for meat. The second group are <i style="font-weight: bold;">no longer wanted companion horses</i> sold at auction or driven to the plants by owners.<br />
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New regulations <i style="font-weight: bold;">are supposed to ensure traceabilty for horse meat for the use of non-approved drugs prior to slaughter</i>. CFIA is supposed to ensure <i style="font-weight: bold;">humane transport and killing. </i>Provincial authorities are supposed to <i style="font-weight: bold;">ensure animal welfare standards are met for the animals.</i> <br />
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I don't believe for a minute that <i style="font-weight: bold;">anyone outside of a small, vocal group</i> cares that there are two types of horses going for meat. Everyone one sees <i style="font-weight: bold;">horses the same</i> and sometimes that isn't <b style="font-style: italic;">a bad thing.</b> <br />
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So a horse, is a horse, except for when <b><i>someone wants to eat it</i></b>, of course! <br />
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When you see a horse <i style="font-weight: bold;">being sold at auction</i> you can safely bet it is <i style="font-weight: bold;">going for meat</i>. <br />
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You can tell when <i style="font-weight: bold;">it has been a companion.</i> Would you choose to send a loyal animal friend to a <i style="font-weight: bold;">surely frightening end</i> and do it willingly? Many do. Many do it when <i style="font-weight: bold;">their horses are sick, old, injured, unable to work</i> and <i style="font-weight: bold;">too much bother</i>. The take the <i style="font-weight: bold;">out of sight</i> and <i style="font-weight: bold;">out of mind</i> position. Once the horse is gone they <i style="font-weight: bold;">forget it entirely</i>. <br />
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If we are going to <i style="font-weight: bold;">accept horse meat as food TV fodder</i> then <i style="font-weight: bold;">Food TV</i> needs to accept that their choice isn't supermarket simple. It isn't a <i style="font-weight: bold;">clear cut case of </i><b><i>protein</i></b> but often a case of a long, hard trip for an end that is not ensured to be humane at any stage. <i style="font-weight: bold;">Not to say that all horses face this end but too many do.</i> <br />
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I look at my horses, and I remember the <i style="font-weight: bold;">one I couldn't save from slaughter</i> and I won't forget him. He was <i style="font-weight: bold;">deserving better of me</i> and I was not in a position to save him. I know <b style="font-style: italic;">if he had to he would forgive me </b>but animals always forgive. Shouldn't we <i style="font-weight: bold;">be doing better by them? Yes! We should.</i><br />
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Tell the food shows, tell your friends with hobby horses and <i style="font-weight: bold;">acreage companions</i> that they have animals <i style="font-weight: bold;">that deserve better.</i> We have to ensure that their <i style="font-weight: bold;">lives and their deaths</i> are humane, caring and full of love. We cannot toss aside our animals <i style="font-weight: bold;">and forget about our responsibilities to them</i>. In life, and in death. We owe them that for <b><i>unfailing loyalty and love with no boundaries or limits.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>We cannot have a country that claims to care for animals when we toss them away like trash when we are done with them.</i></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-3799507039134726862011-05-12T09:55:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:37:17.812-07:00Make them Stay<b><i>I know it has been a while since there was a Chore Time post, I've been working on other writing and taking a break from the animal rescue community. But today I have to write and I hope you can read, comment and share.</i></b><br />
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I was reading, <i style="font-weight: bold;">once again</i>, about all the animals (dogs, cats and others) who are going to be <i style="font-weight: bold;">shot, heartsticked, gassed or lethally injected</i> and the cries from those who would save <i style="font-weight: bold;">adoptable animals</i> from being just one more <i style="font-weight: bold;">disposable item in an incinerator or landfill</i>. I was reading about <b style="font-style: italic;">volunteers in New York City </b>who go and spend time with <i style="font-weight: bold;">animals who are going to die</i>. <br />
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It started me thinking <i style="font-weight: bold;">about the times I was there while a pet crossed the Rainbow Bridge</i>. The tears, the heart ache and the <i style="font-weight: bold;">awesome </i><b><i>responsibility</i></b> of being there for their last breath, their last heart beat. <i style="font-weight: bold;">If we care about them we are responsible for them</i>. In life and through to their death.<br />
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This isn't new, call it <i style="font-weight: bold;">pet recycling</i> if you have to put a tag on it. We recycle and reduce, we reuse and re-purpose<i style="font-weight: bold;">. We are being more green, we are being more energy lean</i> and yet we still throw away our animals (and too often our children and elderly but that's another post) like they are trash.<br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">Shelter reform is needed, certainly, but we also need a reform of the heart!</i> We need people to care about the living creatures they call <i style="font-weight: bold;">property</i> and consider their rights as fellow citizens of the earth. <br />
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We need to remember <i style="font-weight: bold;">they freely love us</i> and so often they <i style="font-weight: bold;">loyally trust us</i> even in face of repeated abuse. They were made to <i style="font-weight: bold;">be our friends, our companions, our blessing</i>. They are not meant to be left behind, dumped off, abused and tortured.<br />
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My heart aches for each animal that is <i style="font-weight: bold;">killed</i> for not reason other than <i style="font-weight: bold;">the unsound reasoning of a person who wouldn't search for other options</i>. Each animal that is dropped off at a kill shelter should have a requirement of the owner <i style="font-weight: bold;">to attend their kill session. That's right!</i> I said it. If you dump your adoptable animal you should have to <i style="font-weight: bold;">stay with them as they die.</i> You should be required to hold their bodies as they stop breathing, as they relax in death. If they are 'lucky' enough to be injected. If they are at a heartstick or gassing facility <i style="font-weight: bold;">you should still have to watch</i>. Understand the choice you are making.<br />
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It is a choice. It is a <i style="font-weight: bold;">choice for life or a choice for death</i>. It is a choice of <i style="font-weight: bold;">not planning or a choice of not caring. </i> It is a choice. Are you choosing for <b style="font-style: italic;">welfare, for life</b> or are you choosing for <i style="font-weight: bold;">someone else to have to bring death</i>? If you had to stay, would it change your mind?<br />
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<b style="font-style: italic;">I hate to stay</b> but when my dear old friend or a seriously injured pup <i style="font-weight: bold;">needs the ultimate relief from their pain</i> it is my responsibility to be there for them. To be <i style="font-weight: bold;">there with them</i>. I keep their collars and one day I'll start a memorial tree for all the empty collars, and make it a foundation and a mission to make sure that no animal is<b><i> forgotten in their last moments.</i></b><br />
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Could you do it? Would you do it? If you cannot, do you have other plans in place to ensure that your animal doesn't face it alone?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-5714995740833846942010-10-22T08:24:00.000-07:002010-10-22T10:52:25.640-07:00360 Rescue<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">The world of rescue is <b><i>full of roads</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> and like life </span><i>full of choices<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">One of the most </span><b>challenging things</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> for most rescues is making hard choices for very ill or injured animals. For animals whose temperament or age make them </span><b>unsafe</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> and </span><b>unhappy</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">. </span></span></i></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></span></i></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">The other </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>hard choice</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> can be to choose not to pull when the </span><b>resources are not available</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">. The constant cry for money and fosters, volunteers and adopters gives the impression that rescues live in a constant </span><b>crisis mode</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">. </span></span></span></i></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">So often there is a strong </span><b>need to save them all<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Too often this comes at a huge cost to the </span><i>animals</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> and the </span><i>rescue</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. It does not have to be this way. There can be </span><i>sustainable balance</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> where animals can be saved, the rescue can provide care and there are </span><i>adoptable animals<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">finding a forever home!</span></span></i></span></b></span></i></b></span><br />
<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></b></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">As an example, a rescue which is <b><i>oriented saving the next dog</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> can forget about the dogs which are </span><i>still needing their care</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> and the </span><i>fosters and adopters</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> which still need their help and support. Rescue needs to have a </span><i>360 view</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> of the world around them, not just a small </span><i>angle of focus</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. If you look at it </span><i>not as a pie chart</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> but as a person who stands </span><i>looking out the same small window</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, you may see what I mean.</span></b></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">That <b><i>small window</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> may only show </span><i>dogs (for example) who need to be pulled from a kill shelter</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> or it may show </span><i>a sick animal suffering with no care</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> but it doesn't show the whole picture. It doesn't show the other important jobs of a </span><i>full rescue</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. It doesn't show that the animals </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>still need you</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> even after they are </span><i>saved.</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">A full </span><i>360 rescue</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> not only pulls animals from harm (</span><i>close to home or via long distance relay transport</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">), they ensure that the animals are </span><i>treated, assessed</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> and made ready for </span><i>foster homes</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> and then they work with their fosters to get them </span><i>ready for adoption</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. Fosters and volunteers are what makes </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>rescue work</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, and no one can afford to squander their </span><i>life blood</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">We need </span><i>less crisis mode</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> rescue and more </span><i>360 rescue</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> where the animals are not just </span><i>saved</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> but also cared for until </span><i>the end of their life<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">No one can survive </span><b>in crisis mode</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> for long.</span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i>360 rescue </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> and those who see the whole rescue picture understand that </span><i>you are not successful if you are only focussed on one area<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">It has to be more than </span><b>the pull, the dramatic save</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> it has to be the day to day animals are being placed with the right people, the fosters and adopters have someone who </span><b>is available to help them</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> and they know </span><b>they are not alone<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">. </span></b></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></b></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">All animals, </span><b>not just special needs animals</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">, should have the fosters and adopters </span><b>staying in touch with each other</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> for support and help. </span><b>Fosters</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> need respite, they need breaks </span><b>so they don't burn out</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">. Volunteers need to be </span><b>heard</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> and those who are adopters </span><b>need to feel a sense of community.</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> As a rescue you need </span><b>to be there for the easy animals </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> and those who are </span><b>more challenging.</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">When a foster or adopter calls </span><b>to say they are lost and don't know what to do</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> you need to </span><b>be there for them</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> and not be focussed on the </span><b>next pull, next crisis, the next __________</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">. You made a </span><b>choice to save that animal</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> you need to keep </span><b>helping that animal</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">.</span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br />
</span></span></i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Fosters make it <b><i>easier</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> for animals to be </span><i>adopted</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> - build supports </span><i>for fosters!</i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Adopters make a choice <b><i>to adopt not shop</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> - built supports </span><i>for adopters!</i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Volunteers give of their <b><i>time and resources</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> - make every </span><i>bit count!</i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Rescues make choices about <b><i>the animals they save</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> and the </span><i>resources they use</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> - they need to </span><i>be accountable for each animal</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. </span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">From the time you pull to the time they have their last rest. That may mean making </span><i>hard choices</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> in a time of </span><i>crisis</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. It may mean </span><i>doing things differently</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> or </span><i>facing challenges</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> in other areas. That could mean </span><i>choosing for the animal and not for the human self.</i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Animals only know <b><i>quality of life</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> not </span><i>quantity of life</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. People put the quantity on things, forgetting that there are times when </span><i>quality counts more</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. That may be </span><i>hours, days, months or years. All they know is now is good, or bad.</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Could you <b><i>choose for the animal</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> when that choice meant </span><i>stopping their suffering</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">? Or do you have to </span><i>have the save? </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Can you picture how many </span><i>could be helped</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> if you didn't </span><i>need the save</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">? </span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Join the discussion about </span><i>360 Rescue</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> here at Chore Time!</span></b></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-5134352240954151572010-10-20T06:46:00.003-07:002010-10-20T06:46:29.008-07:00NO Designer Dogs!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="actorName" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Manitoba-Voice-for-Animals/111714872175833" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Manitoba Voice for Animals</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed-breed_dog" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed-breed_dog</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This is an excellent wiki article about mixed breed dogs - there are times when we do deliberate crosses, there are times to keep the bloodlines pure bred but to bring in new genetic material to avoid inbreeding and there are many times where by accident or design a dog is mated for the sole purpose of puppies. These dogs are often labelled "Designer Dogs" when they are anything but!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">When you purposefully mix dog breeds you are looking to maximize on the good traits of both parents (often purebred) so that you have a calm demeanor in a working animal (for example). What a responsible person does not do is combine animals who have traits that are not desirable and magnify them - mixing dog breeds who both have genetic tendencies towards breathing problems, for example. Or combining breeds that both have high drive without considering what their purpose, their job is going to be.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mixing large and small breeds can lead to physical challenges such as a small framed animal with the gains of its larger breed counterpart. This is an animal with health issues from the start.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">When petstores and online ads market "Designer Dogs" they are combining a cute mix of names from most often 'guessed' at breeds in the parent dogs. This 'chidoodloor' is a random breeding of two intact animals for the sole purpose of making money. With a high cost to the buyer, to the shelters and vets who end up caring for these animals when their health and temperament deteriorates.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The breeders of 'designer dogs' can be puppy mills and backyard breeders who do not take proper care of the health of the animals, they do not provide proper socialization, remove puppies too early from their dams, they do not give adequate attention to the physical needs of exercise, healthy food and clean water and proper shelter for these animals. They breed indiscriminately, they breed many times and when they no longer can do this they are dumped, killed or left to die.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Stores who can bring in 'designer dogs' are deliberately feeding the market of ignorance and providing the unsuspecting public who has a tendency to trust pet stores with animals that wont' be what they want or pay for.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I have seen ads for 'designer dogs' that go from $900 and down...!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">By educating people we can stop this trend. Just because it has a 'designer' name doesn't mean it was a well thought out or good idea. Most often, if you look at the runways of Paris and New York, you see things that are strange, unwearable and quite dangerous. The same holds for so-called 'designer dogs' - they are strange, they are often not able to be a long term, healthy family pet and sometimes their health and temperament can create dangerous situations for the families, the vets and the shelters where they eventually get dumped.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Do your part, next time you hear someone talking about 'designer dogs' educate them, when you see ads for them, report it to the site owner and post educational information. If you know a store which sells these dogs ask them to stop, put them in contact with a reputable rescue to learn where their dogs go and give them an option to actually help dogs instead of adding to the problem.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">If you know someone personally who is breeding 'designer dogs' or is a backayard breeder contact us and we'll give you some resources to help educate them. If you know of a puppy mill report it, and if you know where they sell to, share that with us.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-4434571800906851732010-10-14T20:09:00.000-07:002010-10-14T20:09:45.446-07:00How Many Stand Silent?<div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b>How Many Stand Silent? </b></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How many stand silent,</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Watching as you quietly die?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How many stand silent,</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Watching as you are abused?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">One, a dozen, the whole world.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What if no one spoke for any of us?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Would you speak if the hand raised,</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">was raised against you and yours?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How many stand silent,</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Knowing who deals death</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Just beyond their door?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How many stand slient,</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Knowing cruelty lives and thrives</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Just beyond their door?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">One, a dozen, the whole world.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What if no one looked at any of us?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Would you cry out or would you cower away,</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">if the cruelty was coming through your door?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How many stand silent,</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Waiting for someone to speak?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How many stand silent,</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Believing the lies, "I've changed"?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">One, a dozen, the whole world.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">What if we stopped believing them?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How many stand silent...</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How many stand silent waiting for...</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Just one person to say, "Stop! Enough!"?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br style="font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;" /></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How many stand silent...</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">How many stand silent waiting for...</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Someone else to make the world change?</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">copyright Shanyn Silinski 2010</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-9643456669577143762010-08-23T09:16:00.000-07:002010-08-23T09:16:52.467-07:00Messages we give kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L0pSZF11F6UwFZNvRk30rnc2N1P5ZI82XyRjrLa1hB2jvd_cCW1InUf2L3dmcuUzHiJszCeXXRwyOGOW2hoEwHTdqZ-TRAKofy0ijbZZNk8vmJaN3z41wr27S73nwgoNx9rFQJqcuv16/s1600/DSCN2505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L0pSZF11F6UwFZNvRk30rnc2N1P5ZI82XyRjrLa1hB2jvd_cCW1InUf2L3dmcuUzHiJszCeXXRwyOGOW2hoEwHTdqZ-TRAKofy0ijbZZNk8vmJaN3z41wr27S73nwgoNx9rFQJqcuv16/s320/DSCN2505.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*disclaimer: Luke and Anna are playing...he knows how to get out of the crate,</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> indeed he was the one that put them both in there with water, snacks and a bed...</span></i></b></div><b><i><br />
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<b><i>Messages</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, we get them daily. We send them daily. We either </span><i>get them</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> or </span><i>we don't</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. Do we actually </span><i>think about them</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">? I mean </span><i>really think</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> about the message, the intent and the actual </span><i>outcome</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">?</span></b><br />
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Two stories come to mind today that really bring this <b><i>home</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, and<i> </i>I mean </span><i>right where you live</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> home.</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">1: Ad posted on-line: please come get our mama cat and her two day old kittens or my boyfriend will kill them.</span></b><br />
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<i>Follow up: a good, dear friend who is also an animal rescue friend, went to get them. A child, around 10, told her, "Thank you for taking our kitties, I was so sad that they were going to get killed. I'm happy they get to live and have a good home."</i><br />
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<b>Questions: <i>what sort of lesson is this young girl learning about why things get killed (someone doesn't want or value them anymore) and about caring for those around us (kill it if you cannot give it away). what sort of lesson is she learning about being responsible for not only herself but for those animals? What sort of value does her mother's boyfriend have for her? Is she as expendable as a mama cat and kittens? </i></b><br />
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2. Woman at a dog park with her children, they are playing rough with their dogs, but the woman is 'proud' that her kids can kick the dog, pull its tail and poke it in the eye. "See it doesn't even mind if you throw it down!" she states proudly. <br />
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<i>Follow up: a friend, who works with dogs and other animals, is concerned. She asks why this woman is proud of her children's bad behaviour. Then she asks what happens if the dog finally has 'enough' and snaps? Of course the dog will be gone because it broke the biggest rule of all - <b>do not do unto others</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">. </span>The dog will die, they will get another, and the cycle will start all over again.</i><br />
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<b>Questions:</b> <b><i>what sort of lessons about respect, caring for others and physical safety are those kids learning? Are they learning that dogs CHOOSE not to bite us? Are they learning they are responsible for their animals? Are they learning that causing hurt is wrong? Are they being taught to treat others as they would like to be treated?</i></b><br />
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3. A neighborhood watches as yet another dog dies of neglect in a yard. The neighbors are not unaware of what is going on, they talk about it, they know who is doing this and it isn't the first dog. Won't be the last. No one is sure what to do, so they say nothing, hoping that someone comes up with a miracle, life saving plan.<br />
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<i>Follow up: the owner gets pressured to take the dog to the vet, refuses help and no one knows what happened to the dog. No one knows when the next dog will come to that yard. Everyone knows what will happen to it. The families who talk about it, know about it and stay quiet are teaching their children not to get involved. They are teaching their children to be silent in the face of abuse.</i><br />
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<b>Questions: <i>Would they be silent if it was a child being abused? What about an elderly person? Would they stay silent if they knew they were teaching their children to be quiet in the face of abuse? What if it was them being abused, would they want someone to speak up for them?</i></b><br />
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Three tough situations - varying degrees of lessons being taught. What would <b><i>you do</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">? What would </span><i>you say?</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> Would you </span><i>speak up</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> or </span><i>remain silent?</i></b><br />
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What lessons are <b><i>you teaching your children? </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">What lessons do you see </span><i>being taught</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> that you </span><i>remain silent about</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">?</span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-80120356596178736302010-08-14T21:54:00.001-07:002010-08-14T21:54:46.523-07:00Empty Collars<i>Up on a hill, surrounded by rolling grassy slopes and wild flowers, watered by a spring of sweet water, stands a great old tree. The branches are gnarled and twisted with age, the leaves grow in rich shades of green. The trunk is wide and offers many roots for climbing, sitting and shade.</i><br />
<div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div><i>This is no <b>ordinary tree</b>, it is a <b>memory tree</b>. Each branch is hung, not with fruit, but with collars and tags. There are old ones made of rope, some braided twine, others of fine leather or other material. The tags are shiny, they are old and worn, some metal, some plastic, some twinkle and some are empty rings. Each one holds the memories of a dog that has cross <b>The Rainbow Bridge</b>. </i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div><i>Their people come here, to hang the collars, to leave their memories with the tree. Of little puppy teeth chewing, of old grey muzzles snoring softy, of a working dog's first successful job, of a service dog's last task. The memories <b>hang from the tree</b>, with each push of the wind the collars shift and softly sound. With each movement the wind brings <b>memories to the people left behind</b>. </i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div><i><b>We remember</b> a cold nose, soft ears, toe nails ticking on hard floors, puppy barks and old dog mumbles. </i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div><i><b>We remember</b> wagging tails, first confident steps, tripping over toys and soggy chewies.</i><br />
<i><b>We remember</b> first glances filled with love, we remember puddles and poopsciles.</i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div><i><b>We remember</b> our dogs, those who wore the collars that hang from the tree, and we love them still.</i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div><i>The memories they leave in our minds also leave <b>paw prints</b> upon our hearts. </i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div><i>We <b>never forget</b> their first moment with us, nor do we ever forget their last. That last breath, that last heartbeat, that last living look. Those who lived long lives or those who were barely here - if they were with us long enough to touch our hearts we can rest knowing we also had them long enough to show them our love.</i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div><i>I never forget: Whiskey, KK, Kahula, Jessie, Voodoo, Andy, Sparkie. See you at The Bridge!</i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div><i>(this post is dedicated to the memory of the dogs I've loved and those I love still...feel free to change dog for cat, collar for halter, and remember your animal friends who have crossed The Bridge. The love is the same, no matter who we loved, how or when.)</i></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-38234018346687944942010-08-08T19:36:00.000-07:002010-08-08T19:36:27.367-07:00Caring for Fosters<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.</i></span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">- Mother Theresa</span></em></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rescue Community,</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Perk up your ears. Give me a tail thump on the floor if you can hear me. I'm talking to you. How are you taking care of your fosters? Not your animals but those people who actually foster animals for you. What is your plan for caring for them? If they gave you a grade would you be an A+ or slipping below the D mark? What color ribbon would you be given at the end of the day?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Give me a woof if you've checked in with a foster, had a foster orientation, perhaps done a foster respite where your fosters get a break (without guilt), how about a foster appreciation day? Stars on a chart for how many days/dogs/cats/months/years they've fostered?\</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Give me a roll over and a 'shake-a-paw' if you've calculated how much your fosters really are worth to your shelter, rescue or group.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chewies and squeak toys for everyone who has called, visited and stopped by to say 'hey thanks' with something special for a foster. Seriously, I'll mail them out if you send me proof. I'll even get the cute animal ones and organic chewies.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Or are you like so many others rushing from pull to pull, dog to dog, always calling for fosters and always needing more? Instead of saying thanks or do you need a break, are you always looking to your fosters for the next dog? Do you offer support, respite and training for fosters? Do you have a plan to help your long term fosters take a holiday or a break by caring for their dogs, which really are your dogs?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What would happen to your rescue, shelter, organization if your fosters were not available? What if the reason they were no longer available was something you could have prevented? If hind sight is 20/20 then I'm giving you a long view as someone who has and is a foster - we do it because we want to help, because we care and we are giving people. We are doing it for you because we chose you or continue to choose you.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every organization who relies on volunteers takes care of them, or they soon find they have none. Rescue must operate the same way - you need someone who is responsible from your rescue, shelter, organization for the well being of your fosters. It is a must - there are so many good and worthy causes for our time - making and keeping us with yours is critical to YOU.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every organization that relies on volunteers knows their value because they wouldn't be in business if they had to PAY for the work their volunteers do, they would no be able to function. Especially non-profits and charities, especially those who work in challenging areas with children, the elderly or animals. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I want to hear from you - good, bad and ugly - what is your BEST foster story, what is your WORST. What is the BEST thing someone did to say thanks, what was the WORST thing someone did that made you question why you were supporting them with your home, your time and your love.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fosters are more than a house, a 'free board' for your animals - they offer a chance for animals to become adoptable, they offer many times training and rehabilitiation for those dogs and cats and other animals that wouldn't have chance otherwise. They give you space to work with those animals who cannot be fostered, those who need special care and aren't ready to get on the adoptable road. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fosters are more than people who take care of your animals for you, they are the reason your animals can and do become adoptable . They are the reason successful shelters and rescues have animals get adopted. Fosters are key to your success, whether you have a few select or you cast the net for anyone who has a spare spot for a crate.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So folks, who is going to be cashing in on the chewies and squeak toys? Who is going to be re-examining their policy and treatment of fosters, and who is confident that they won't see a foster of 'theirs' commenting with anything other than love and glowing praises? </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-15991208824681920782010-06-22T20:05:00.000-07:002010-06-22T20:05:04.927-07:00Someone KnowsIt almost <i>breaks my heart</i> to see and hear the stories of animals that are <i>abused, neglected, mutilated, left to die and abandoned</i> on a daily basis. It seems no one is immune to the <i>cruelty </i>whether they are <i>committing</i> the crime or remaining <i>silent </i>about their knowledge.<br />
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It is proven, and known that <i>many violent offenders</i> learn their craft <i>on animals</i>. What is not so well known but equally valid is <i>many who abuse and neglect animals</i> will do the same to <i>people</i>. Starve them, beat them, torture them, send them to the plant ill or injured, leave them to die the list can literally go on and on. This is <i>horrible, unconscionable </i>and <i>obscene.</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqTEgbuFE2v6lxHnGVm5fRn1-4oGqcx6mMQy4wpT8bThFlj9U1lhrTECDYdetzBjYZA5p9f2YRthWW_qICf3c494WZBDz4pxRbhiVmHyNccGL4AHa0P9i-AaiVV8Wwg6cO_DOnlAAsEb7/s1600/eye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqTEgbuFE2v6lxHnGVm5fRn1-4oGqcx6mMQy4wpT8bThFlj9U1lhrTECDYdetzBjYZA5p9f2YRthWW_qICf3c494WZBDz4pxRbhiVmHyNccGL4AHa0P9i-AaiVV8Wwg6cO_DOnlAAsEb7/s320/eye.jpg" /></a></div><i><br />
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There is one other person or persons that need to be <i>called out</i> to answer for their <i>choices</i>. and those are the ones who <i>know </i>something is wrong, and remain <i>silent</i>. Every jurisdiction in Canada and the US offers <i>anonymous tip lines</i>, you don't even have to reveal <i>how you know</i>. You just need to <i>say something</i>!<br />
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Someone always knows, they know <i>the kid down the road</i> or in their church is not someone they would <i>trust</i> their children to. They know that when 'Billy' is home the pets seem to be having more accidents. They know that a family is retreating in to a <i>bruised silence</i>. They know that no one called, drove or broke down a gate to check on their own animals. They know someone has quit living or started becoming more violent, addicted or depressed. <br />
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These are the people who are <i>never surprised</i> when the person gets caught or the act is revealed, why? Because deep down in their conscience they knew, and they choose to remain silent. They <b><i>made the choice</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> to shut up and hope that it would magically 'go away'.</span></b><br />
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People who abuse animals <i>never just 'go away'</i>, they stop for reasons such as: death, incarceration or they move on to people. They don't suddenly start, except in rare psychological cases, and they don't just as suddenly stop. <br />
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On Facebook, on the news and on the blogs people are <i>cursing the abusers</i>, the violence against those with no voice, and <i>they are right</i> to be outraged and angry. I am saddened deeply by these stories and photos and videos. But they don't tell the whole story, they don't get to the <i>deepest, rottenest core</i> of it all - someone always knows and they rarely do anything about it. They don't call, they don't get help, they don't consider it their responsibility as a member of a community.<br />
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<i>What about you?</i> Are you a 'stay silent' type who doesn't know or want to know? Are you a 'speak out' who does their best and tries to stay the course? Do you know why you are the way you are? Were you abused? Did you witness abuse? Do you know <i>deep down in your heart</i> that if you were in the place of those animals or an abused person that you would want someone to speak up for you? Would you want it to be someone like you?<br />
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In Manitoba you can call the police, any local detachment or 9-1-1. You can contact the Provincial Welfare Vet at 945-8000. Every province has a similar number, each province has municipal, city and RCMP who can be reached. The sooner you speak up, the sooner the animals can be helped and the sooner a tragedy can be averted.<br />
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You can make a difference, can you choose for that? Don't be the silent someone who always knows but never speaks...I cannot abide by that. If you are at risk, call anonymously, pass a note in the store, reach out to someone who can get you to safety and tell your story. No one, not anyone, should be abused. There is no 'degree' of abuse, there is no 'less' or 'more'.<br />
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Abuse is abuse, violence is violence, silence is silence.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-28666259815568238512010-05-27T08:09:00.000-07:002010-05-27T08:09:47.334-07:00Why Ohio Won't Go AwayYou have seen the video, or have seen the story. You may have chosen NOT to view the video, that to me is a wise choice if you are already aware of what they are talking about. I personally didn't need a visual reminder, my mind can drill down and drag up all sorts of images without the help of YouTube.<br />
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If you don't know what I am talking about here are some links that discuss the story from a couple of sides:<br />
<a href="http://www.agweb.com/DairyToday/Article.aspx?id=157584">http://www.agweb.com/DairyToday/Article.aspx?id=157584</a><br />
<a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dcnow/2010/05/animal-rights-groups-video-shows-abuse-at-ohio-dairy-farm.html">http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dcnow/2010/05/animal-rights-groups-video-shows-abuse-at-ohio-dairy-farm.html</a><br />
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One worker has been charged but this wasn't the work of one person, this is a system of abuse that shows a blatant disregard for animal well being, worker well being and welfare. The news stories may quote this as a isolated incident or as something out of the norm. And industry really wants to believe this, but how can we be sure? How can we, as an industry, stand up and say we are doing our best when videos and stories like these come out? How many 'exceptions' can there be?<br />
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We've had Chino with downer cows, we've had Death on a Factory Farm for hogs and now we have Ohio with dairy calves and cows on farm. These stories are not going to go away, especially Ohio because not only were they abusing animals, but they abusing calves. Blunt force trauma may 'do the job' but that doesn't mean it is the right way or the best way.<br />
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The physical welfare of the animals is compromised, the welfare of the workers is devalued as they are taking on tasks that they are untrained or unprepared for, or worse, becoming desensitized to. There is a devaluing of life that is going to be pushing citizens (consumers and producers) into legislative changes which may or may not be in the long term best interests of the animals or the agriculture industry.<br />
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When we consider the numbers of calves born daily to dairy operations and the numbers of calves which are put down (I do not consider blunt force trauma to a calf euthanasia - argue with me if you will but I just don't see it as a 'good death') because there is a shrinking veal industry and no finishing market for dairy steers there is a lot of room for devaluing life, for cruelty and for abuse.<br />
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When you consider how some animals, any species, are treated you can see how the welfare for animals can be compromised because their well being has NO CASH VALUE. The missing factor here is perception.<br />
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If you have read my blogs before you know that my belief is that perception becomes reality. What people believe about us comes from what they see - do they see you doing your job well? Then even if you goof it up they will believe you are doing a good job and that you care. If you do a great job and you are not seeing as caring then your work won't have the same impact. This holds true in policing, politics and farming.<br />
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Face it folks, are your farm practices up to the scrutiny of YouTube? Can you honestly say you feel comfortable showing your practices to the world because you KNOW you are doing the best you can for the animals and for your farm. I believe that any sector on any given day can be one video away from the sort negative attention that can only hurt agriculture.<br />
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If we are doing a good job why aren't we saying so? If we, as an industry or sector, are confident that we can stand up for what we do - why aren't we?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-75728781184581049922010-04-16T14:22:00.000-07:002010-04-16T14:22:20.932-07:00Spring Farm Safety: Children<div class="MsoNormal"><i>Welcome to our first of a series of Farm Safety Blogs by guest blogger Glen Blahey, CRSP, Provincial Farm Safety Coordinator. Thanks Glen!</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i></i>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Vc6CbAIRopY52EbBpVLXXlUcet5Eac_9X4j0YVcEtoJWZSNpk7l5Lqwq2sK7xe6LiDWccEDoqhkIJXsLJMl8MO3g-dv5N6Qzx5qkRdj0y3QLbaNPW40GTY0GwlfW1Uq4waf1-7OnhSTY/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Vc6CbAIRopY52EbBpVLXXlUcet5Eac_9X4j0YVcEtoJWZSNpk7l5Lqwq2sK7xe6LiDWccEDoqhkIJXsLJMl8MO3g-dv5N6Qzx5qkRdj0y3QLbaNPW40GTY0GwlfW1Uq4waf1-7OnhSTY/s320/010.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The sun is out and so are the children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With more vigour then last year and a curiosity that has grown by 10 times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what should we be doing to protect them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gut reaction is to say they were here last year and they know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the question is; are they really able to recognize all the risks that exist on your farm and are they able to understand cause and effect?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Most child development professionals will tell you that young children have relatively short attention spans and they can not perceive consequences such as a critical injury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we should be doing a few things to help our children grow and thrive.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Firstly, boundaries need to be established – no wandering around the farm yard, workshop, barns, sheds and so on unsupervised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The best solution is a safe play area – an enclosed space that keeps the toddlers from wandering off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They need a space where they can play and be safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Manitoba Government has a grant program for farm families to help offset the cost of building such areas – <a href="http://www.gov.mb.ca/healthyliving/injury/farmsafety.html">http://www.gov.mb.ca/healthyliving/injury/farmsafety.html</a> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Secondly, children should only accompany adults to work areas when there is someone to continually supervise that child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the supervisor is busy working who is watching the child as they explore – and perhaps disappear from sight behind a wheel, into a pen or to the edge of the lagoon?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thirdly, we all want to share with our children what we do, and they are like gigantic sponges that soak up the mechanical things we do like turn the key in the ignition, unlatch a gate or flip a switch. But before we get too carried away showing 4 year old Johnny how to start the tractor and shift it into gear, we need to remember that it is not a toy, Johnny will remember what we show him, but he will not understand what to do if he wanders over to that tractor when no one is watching and starts it and shifts it into gear.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Our children are our most precious ‘crop’ – protect it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered, and his states and all their clans are preserved.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><em><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Confucius</span></span></em><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-32146692995853729582010-04-15T15:22:00.000-07:002010-04-15T15:22:22.617-07:00Protecting Our Comfort Zone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUsn8IT3tQz0W-l7UinAv-5-NaNNEOWey-l-pTQWEBZopqKPnFwCY_wtLCDzh1HJrb6lAwtE59zgyV3FsZ1l2zoBzd6Ksy45s4v4QB6kNYihlrRWARy01l04-gG5pUZKwhI8iYTh_RbuH/s1600/comfort+zone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="34" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUsn8IT3tQz0W-l7UinAv-5-NaNNEOWey-l-pTQWEBZopqKPnFwCY_wtLCDzh1HJrb6lAwtE59zgyV3FsZ1l2zoBzd6Ksy45s4v4QB6kNYihlrRWARy01l04-gG5pUZKwhI8iYTh_RbuH/s640/comfort+zone.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Do you have <b><i>these signs</i></b> up around your industry, your cause, your work? <b><i>I'm sure you do</i></b>! We all do, some are small and only in certain areas (personal or private information, places where we are just ourselves). Others are industry or cause wide. They stop us from <b><i>doing important work</i></b> because they limit our audience, our scope, our very reach to do our work.<br />
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You say, <b><i>"Not us!"</i></b> or <b><i>"Not here!"</i></b> but yes it is you, and yes it is here. <br />
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This is what I have learned, from the inside to the outside, from the outside in. There comes a time when we<b><i> run out of converts</i></b> in our own church (horse industry, pork industry, beef, dairy, sheep, goat, GMO seeds, pick yours).<br />
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There comes a time when you have to choose between meeting <b><i>the outside world</i></b> and speaking out for what you stand for, believe in and work at. Or choose to say <b><i>inside your comfort zone</i></b>, put up the yellow and black tape and hide away - hoping that the big bad media, activists, consumers, competition just magically get smart or go away.<br />
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Folks, I am here to tell you that when you end up with no one <b><i>but the converted to talk</i></b> to, it is time to <b><i>stop talking</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> and </span><i>start communicating <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">outside the comfort zone</span></span>.</i></b><br />
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<b><i>Horse industry</i></b> - are you for or against horse slaughter? Are you for or against welfare? Are you for or against eventing, rodeo, trail riding, pony rides at fairs? Are you willing to stand up <b><i>outside your comfort zone</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> and say that? Are you for or against owners of horses who do not belong to an organized horse group? What is your stand on spade bits, tie downs and quirts? Do you have a breed preference that is blinding you to horse industry wide issues?</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">That </span><i>gasp you heard</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, the one that sucked all the dust off of everyone's key boards is the collective gasp of someone being told to get the lead out. </span><i>Suck it up</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, you won't be popular for speaking out. </span><i>Suck it up</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, you won't even be able to convince everyone your point of view has value. Speaking up isn't about </span><i>popular</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> nor is it about </span><i>consensus</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. It is about sharing </span><i>what you know, the information you have</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> with those who do not know it, have it and need it. It is not </span><i>about you</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Speaking out is about </span><i> sharing information, providing resources, telling another side to an issue, advocating for your industry to someone other than your industry.</i></b><br />
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Pork producers telling other pork producers they are doing a great job means nothing - nothing to anyone who <b><i>isn't a pork producer</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">! Prove to me, a </span><i>consumer</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, that your world is changing to meet </span><i>the needs of your animals, your customers.</i></b><br />
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The beef industry telling other beef producers that they are making a difference means nothing to me. The auto industry telling its own members <b><i>how good they are doing things for the consumer</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> means nothing. The messenger cannot spend all their time speaking to other messengers. </span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Talk to </span>ME</b>. On my own grounds, in <b><i>my</i></b> own media, in <b><i>my</i></b> own language about why what you are doing matters, why what you are doing should count in my score keeping, why what you are saying should be <b><i>weighed any differently</i></b> than anything else that is said by sources I have come to trust.<br />
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<b><i>"We are concerned but really it isn't our job to do anything, it's _______'s job. We are here to support an industry that ________ of _________. It means jobs, it means money. It wouldn't be an industry if no one supported it." No one wants this type of media friendly, teflon covered, wiggle word double speak. Your media relations people </i>LIED</b>.<br />
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</i></b><br />
That isn't communication. That isn't a message I care to hear. It tells me nothing except where you've taped up your "<b>comfort zone</b>" signs. Tell me how I can make a difference where <b><i> I am</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> not where </span><i>you are</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. </span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I read the news, I see the </span><i>cruelty</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> that is done. What I don't see is </span><i>proactive steps for change</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. I don't see you on Facebook, I don't see you blogging, I don't see you </span><i>reaching any new audiences</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. We matter. We can choose. We can read and research and make decisions. Go to a social networking site and do a search - how many groups, fans and discussions are going on? Hundreds? Thousands? More? </span><i>Where are you? Where is your voice?</i></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">What you need to understand is that </span><i> if you don't do your job</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> we will assume you either cannot do it or are uninterested in doing it </span><i>outside your comfort zone</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. Which one is it? You cannot speak out for horses, you cannot share resources and reach the people who are outside the easy bounds of your comfort zone? Or don't you care enough to try? Is the disinterest an indication of your </span><i>lack of regard</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> for the audience or an indication of </span><i>your fear</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">?</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">You tell me. Really, </span><i>please</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> do. Tell me why </span><i>social networking, blogging, advocating, speaking out, reaching past the comfort zone</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> is so threatening, dangerous and hard to do? I'm inviting you agriculture industry to tell me. Please show me where is </span><i>your fight</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. Please show me where is </span><i>your passion</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. Please </span><i>come out</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> of the comfort zone into the world with the rest of us.</span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I'm mean you </span><i>animal agriculture groups</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, I mean you <i><b>commodity groups</b></i>, I mean you <i><b>welfare alliances</b></i>, I mean you </span><i>lobby groups</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, I mean you....</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUsn8IT3tQz0W-l7UinAv-5-NaNNEOWey-l-pTQWEBZopqKPnFwCY_wtLCDzh1HJrb6lAwtE59zgyV3FsZ1l2zoBzd6Ksy45s4v4QB6kNYihlrRWARy01l04-gG5pUZKwhI8iYTh_RbuH/s1600/comfort+zone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="34" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUsn8IT3tQz0W-l7UinAv-5-NaNNEOWey-l-pTQWEBZopqKPnFwCY_wtLCDzh1HJrb6lAwtE59zgyV3FsZ1l2zoBzd6Ksy45s4v4QB6kNYihlrRWARy01l04-gG5pUZKwhI8iYTh_RbuH/s640/comfort+zone.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-85560716013287339072010-04-03T13:06:00.003-07:002010-04-03T13:06:11.568-07:00The Good, The Bad & The Ugly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFGVOeg-OLKgaDCnA3xHRoZks_nC1n45YhSfkoyfJp7vd8cGfZjYv_G1w-j5Wo44n_MGk75laW2sC-lyr-20qradHJtq05Chr9sWRjybSZHWSQP7cz_-IoJ6i1W7GSYGUkhtXQCw7zoE/s1600/Tribe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFGVOeg-OLKgaDCnA3xHRoZks_nC1n45YhSfkoyfJp7vd8cGfZjYv_G1w-j5Wo44n_MGk75laW2sC-lyr-20qradHJtq05Chr9sWRjybSZHWSQP7cz_-IoJ6i1W7GSYGUkhtXQCw7zoE/s320/Tribe.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“It’s disgusting that people would do this,” she said. “It’s sick. This is one of the worst cases (of neglect) I’ve ever seen.”</span></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></i></b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The bad and the ugly is taking an older dog, such as Tribe, not letting her walk enough to wear down her own nails, leave her starving on the side of the road. The ugly is her being hit not once, but twice by cars. The bad is her condition. The really bad is that Tribe is not alone, there are many dogs, cats, horses and other animals experiencing abuse, neglect, outright abandonment and cruelty this <b><i>very moment</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">!</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">The good is Animal Control Officers like Bonnie, the good is people like Sally Hull of Hull's Haven Border Collie Rescue, Darcy of D'arcy's Arc in Winnipeg, the people who have joined forces to have a single voice for small shelters and all rescues in Manitoba. Manitoba Voice for Animals has been working to find Tribe a foster to care for her and help her golden years be her best.</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">The comments you see expressed on social networking sites, blogs and in emails express our outrage (<i>entirely justifiable</i>), our horror (<i>completely understandable</i>) and our disgust (<i>if you aren't then stop reading right now</i>). They show our displeasure and strong feelings about this dog and all animals who have been treated like her with no love, no respect and no care.</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">The old saying, </span><i>"The more I get to know people, the more I love my dog (cat, horse, fish, ferret, etc)!"</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> can be no truer than when you hear the voices of animal lovers united in outrage. I would love to be able to harness that sense of outrage and channel it in a slightly different direction.</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">When we feed the negative, when we build comment upon comment we do get our feelings out. No doubt about it. We also don't get a chance to use that energy to say, </span><i>"Hey someone cares!"</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> or </span><i>"Hey, someone is looking out for animals, let's help!"</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> It doesn't give us a chance to say good things about rescue, about animal control officers who truly put welfare first, about shelters working hard to have a no-kill world.</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">As loud as our voices can be in outrage, the do </span>NO GOOD<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">! We only add to the </span>UGLY<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, we only remind ourselves and others of the </span>BAD<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">. We don't get the chance to speak out, and be heard, about the choices people have. About the resources available to them that the side of the road is not acceptable and here's why...fill in your reasons...</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">We don't get to use our voices to </span>shout out <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">about rescues needing fosters, shelters needing loving forever homes, we don't get to speak up for the animals. When we spend out time on the outrage too long it passes and our voices are lost in the noise of the day. No one is left with an idea, a clue, that there are </span><i>better choices</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">, </span><i>better options</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> and we lose a chance to gain </span><i>a friend, a foster, an adopter.</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">When we get past the first few chances to speak with outrage we have a small window where people pause to get their breath - a moment that the media and the public share - where we can fill it with <b><i>good information.</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> We can use that small window to paste a link, post a blog, write a comment, volunteer our selves and our voices for the greater cause of </span><i>caring for our animals!</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><i>Responsible pet owners </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">do not do this to their animals. </span><i>This act of cruelty</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> is going to be a rally point for people. </span><i>We as people</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> care enough to share our resources, our knowledge, our passion and fill that window with something other people and the media can use. Links to rescues, links to vets, links to Facebook groups and fan pages where the questions of </span><i>"What can I do?"</i> </b> and <b><i>"How can I help?"</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> meet face to face with the people who can properly answer them.</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">We can choose to turn the outrage into something that can bring good, we can choose to use our space of time to be heard in a way that gives people tools, choices and resources. Options for something better for themselves and animals. </span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>Be outraged! Be angry! Be offended! Be careful<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">...the hateful words you say today could drown out the information you would wish to share tomorrow. The unfocused anger could leave us with no energy left to speak out and advocate for change.</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">It's okay to say </span><i>this is terrible</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> but it is even better to follow it with </span><i>but together we can do something to change it!</i></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-51058459136136257332010-03-29T14:01:00.000-07:002010-03-29T14:01:28.080-07:00Guest Blog: Rescue Work Can Be Bad For Your Health<b><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Rescue Work Can be Bad for Your Health</b></span></div></b>by Sheila Webster Boneham, Ph.D.<br />
Author of <a href="http://www.rescuematters.com/">Rescue Matters! How to Find, Foster, and Rehome Companion Animals</a> (Alpine, 2009).<br />
<br />
Rescue work can be bad for your health. I know, that seems an odd thing for me to say, since much of my writing career for the past 14 years has promoted companion animal rescue and responsible pet care in one way or another. But the longer I work with rescuers and write about responsible human-animal relationships, the more concerned I become about what rescue does to some people. Whether we call the results “burnout” or “compassion fatigue” or something else, the signs and results can be significant.<br />
<br />
But first, how do you know if you, or someone you know, is burning out? Signs of burnout vary because we all process stress differently. In addition, we all bump into rescue situations that make us furious and sad. If we can feel those emotions and then move on to productive action, we can maintain personal equilibrium and, hopefully, continue to have a positive effect. But sometimes the emotions that we experience overwhelm us. Typically, a person who is burning out experiences one or more of the following feelings or behaviors:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>chronic physical exhaustion</li>
<li>depression</li>
<li>a sense of hopelessness</li>
<li>chronic anger</li>
<li>impatience with pet owners, other rescuers, or potential adopters</li>
<li>lack of compassion for people </li>
</ul><br />
When those feelings overshadow more positive aspects of life , including the positive aspects of rescue work, it’s time to take a step back and reassess. Why? Several reasons. First, feeling overwhelmed makes a person less effective at his or her job (whether paid or volunteer). Not only does that feeling make it difficult to accomplish necessary tasks effectively, but it diminishes our ability to interact effectively with other people - and that clearly is an essential part of rescue. Eventually chronic stress will affect a person’s physical health as well, potentially leading to serious illness.<br />
<br />
So what to do if you (or someone you know) seems to be burned out? And what can you do to prevent burnout from happening in the first place? Here are some suggestions:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Be realistic. If you don’t have the time, space, or energy to foster animals, then find another way to help. Do what you can do, but don’t beat yourself up for what you can’t do. </li>
<li>Trust your colleagues to do their jobs – don’t try to micro manage everyone else. </li>
<li>When you have enough on your plate, learn to say no. Don’t feel you must explain or make excuses; just say, “Thank you for thinking of me, but at this time I have to say no.” </li>
<li>Maintain some balance in your life, and have some fun. Rescued animals are important, but so are your own pets, your family, your friends, your job, and your health. Make rescue part of your life, not your whole life. </li>
<li>Take part in or spectate at other sorts of animal-oriented activities, and get to know responsible breeders, fanciers, and trainers. Listen with an open mind to what they have to say about animal-related issues. </li>
<li>Be as kind to people as you are to animals, be slow to judge, and avoid gossip. Focus on positive action. Educate the people who will learn, realize that some won’t, and move on. </li>
<li>Ask for help when you need it. </li>
<li>Take breaks from rescue when you need to, for a week, a month, a year. You can always come back to rescue work later if you want to, or you may find other ways to contribute to society. </li>
</ul>Think of this self-care as a preventive healthcare program for rescuers. After all, if you ignore the niggling signs that something is wrong, you may burn out completely. Stay healthy and happy, and you can continue to help animals indefinitely!<div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mFjq4E1IuS9zqJfMCK21YQkcEmTuP06TRcnT8N-0q83msGlu-zHJqepuZZBGWlpTS3Q3QdofpQRa-BvAwxn-gVcNIlLjjH6w-kxxigo0eljRKSPOAOt7PP0hzN-B2Szk72jHQevJoRku/s1600/rescuematters300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mFjq4E1IuS9zqJfMCK21YQkcEmTuP06TRcnT8N-0q83msGlu-zHJqepuZZBGWlpTS3Q3QdofpQRa-BvAwxn-gVcNIlLjjH6w-kxxigo0eljRKSPOAOt7PP0hzN-B2Szk72jHQevJoRku/s320/rescuematters300.jpg" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div><i>Thanks Sheila for the guest blog spot, be sure to look for Sheila and the Rescue Matters! Fan page on Facebook as well as check out her website. When work in rescue, like so many other areas, we need to care for ourselves so that we can care for others. SJS</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-58604113980475054912010-03-12T07:34:00.000-08:002010-03-12T07:34:35.667-08:00Here comes the spring...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4bU55alG-3mASQhoAR9PsCTc1lLyZn3d3j72n5ftArLnXKmRfEt3LCJj24IEmBYNn-CYKYsn7sGM7jTZ3wNhBvgaEiRZ_OfddRxYdSJQR3o6tyUx0W2tGM2HeA0sOeEsBSKcG7bqz0cm/s1600-h/158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4bU55alG-3mASQhoAR9PsCTc1lLyZn3d3j72n5ftArLnXKmRfEt3LCJj24IEmBYNn-CYKYsn7sGM7jTZ3wNhBvgaEiRZ_OfddRxYdSJQR3o6tyUx0W2tGM2HeA0sOeEsBSKcG7bqz0cm/s320/158.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It’s starting to feel like spring – rain instead of snow, melting white stuff and mud everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Manitoba we start thinking about our annual spring arrival – flooding!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How prepared are you on your farm, in your home and in your family?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many guides, links and resources to help people prepare for flooding, evacuation and cleaning up as you return home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But how many people have used them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feeling pretty confident that, as a Manitoban, you have flood planning under control and you are ready? Okay, one more question: what is your plan to care for your animals?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are three basic options when you are faced with a flood situation: stay put, evacuate with animals or evacuate and have ‘care-in-place’ for your animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s talk a bit about each, with a focus on animals.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Stay Put: when you are behind a dyke or in an area where it is safe for you to stay in your home or on your farm there are things you should do in preparation for that stay, especially if you could be isolated there for a time during the height of the flood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"></div><ul><li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ensure you have enough food and fresh water for your animals</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Make sure you have medications/prescriptions filled for any animals who are on medications</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Have a first aid kit for animals handy</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Make sure you have an evacuation kit for each animal in case you do have to evacuate (detailed below)</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Have a container for collecting poop from your animals (if you have animals in a confined area or yard) to keep their outdoors area clean for you and them</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Have a list of your animals, with their names, chip or tag numbers, ages and a photo of each attached with contact numbers should you and your animals become separated at some point during the flood</span></li>
</ul><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Evacuate with Animals:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>there will be times you have to leave with your animals, and there are some special steps to take to ensure a smooth evacuation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"></div><ul><li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If you animals have special food (critical for sensitive animals such as those having treatment, or specialty breeds)</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Be sure each animal has their own crate with name and contact number on it</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Be sure each animal has a collar, tags, leash or other way of identification on them when possible</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Take your list of animals with you when you leave</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If you have an ‘Animals In Home’ sign in your window, take it down so rescuers know there are no animals inside</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Double check that the evacuation centre you are going to will let you bring your animals, if it does not contact the Provincial Welfare Vet or a local rescue to find where your animals can go during the evacuation</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Leave early! If you are in an area that is under evacuation notice, move your animals out early so they can be safely cared for with less stress</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ask for help! If you cannot transport the animals you have, ask for help and ask early!</span></li>
</ul><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Care-In-Place: there will be times that individuals and communities leave their animals behind to have ‘care-in-place’ provided for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This situation relies on volunteers to check on animals left behind after the people are evacuated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make their job easier using some of these steps:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"></div><ul><li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Put up your “Animal In House” sign so they know it is a house with animals (these are a free download <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=11269703&id=10150093661630131">here</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=11269704&id=10150093661630131&fbid=10150093672670131">here</a>)</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Leave a list of animals, names and any special needs they may have</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ensure that they have adequate food</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Do not leave any animals behind that are: pregnant, with very small newborns, having recently had surgery or otherwise need constant care as this is not the job of care-in–place volunteers. Make arrangements for them in advance and evacuate them early.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Animals which are dangerous, aggressive or threaten caregivers may be removed by animal control for everyone’s safety, be sure to notify caregivers if any animals have issues that can be dealt with before an issue arises</span></li>
</ul><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If you feel any animals are in danger, have been left behind without care or have other welfare concerns or questions about flood preparations please call the Provincial Welfare Vet at 945-8000, Animal CARE Line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are outside of Manitoba, call your local ALERT or CARE line for assistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Link up with your Rescue groups on Facebook, in Manitoba we have the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Manitoba-Emergency-Response-for-Animals-MERA/350344557286?ref=ts">Manitoba Emergency Response For Animals (MERA) which</a> is looking for volunteers but also will be helping with animals during the flood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216117824064666734.post-80690702861843782892010-03-10T12:05:00.000-08:002010-03-10T12:05:35.921-08:00What do you use your Facebook for?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrkgcFX6QIPxxbPM2Gdwt-Y7PNXviGLz2Uf2jh74tK17Xn2ZvyGKJ3wn0KdR0nf_ysyJGPWoNf-4drVTllWSX3_qeK0NF1t6szwwm56dke_awt9b7UDqTBngK-X4lhtv7T-T_pxMJ_rWJ/s1600-h/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrkgcFX6QIPxxbPM2Gdwt-Y7PNXviGLz2Uf2jh74tK17Xn2ZvyGKJ3wn0KdR0nf_ysyJGPWoNf-4drVTllWSX3_qeK0NF1t6szwwm56dke_awt9b7UDqTBngK-X4lhtv7T-T_pxMJ_rWJ/s640/094.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-size: 8pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;">Picture this: a fire in a city, a dog is scared and runs away from the noise, the smell and the confusion. The family is injured, the lost dog is older and alone in the night. One message on Facebook gets the word out to hundreds of people, many of which start looking or messaging friends in the city to look. Photos are posted, numbers are shared and later the dog is found and is safely being cared for. Literally with a single message popular social networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter can connect people from next door or around the world.</div><div style="font-size: 8pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;">Picture this: an animal lover learns about two senior dogs that no longer have people caring for them on their remote farm, and the neighbor is going to shoot them if no one gets them out before winter. Someone stops by and drops off food but they are essentially alone. Their photos and a story are shared with a breed rescue group (in this case <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hulls-Haven-Border-Collie-Rescue/10150093661630131?ref=ts" style="color: #0079c2; text-decoration: none;">Hulls’ Haven Border Collie Rescue</a>, of Teulon, MB). The group posts the photos to their Facebook pages, and asks their members to cross post and share. The request? Find a home for these two dogs to ‘retire’ to, and find drivers for their rescue relay (a series of drivers or sometimes planes, which transport rescue animals from distant areas to a safe place) and arrange for everyone to put the trip together. The dogs found a home, the drivers volunteered and the diligent Customs Officers’ ensured they were properly documented for entry and they are enjoying a working retirement on a Manitoba ranch.</div><div style="font-size: 8pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;">What would the outcome for these three dogs have been without the efforts of rescue volunteers and the power of social networking? Certain death for two, and possibly a long, cold time spent alone and lost for the other.</div><div style="font-size: 8pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;">One of the quickest ways to get in touch with people, Social Networking has been tested and used by Emergency Measure’s Organizations to notify members, by animal rescue groups to get help for animals in need and by the community while looking for people who may be at risk. The world shrinks according to how connected we are to each other, and while this can lead to many challenges it opens up far more opportunities. When planning to be prepared for emergencies, social networking can be a key tool.</div><div style="font-size: 8pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;">There are many ways that social networking can help provide resources, and information about animal care and animal welfare. Through groups and fan pages information can be shared, requests and posts can be uploaded, photos and calls for assistance can be circulated and people from the animal rescue community can connect with each other, share resources and talk. A quick search for ‘animal rescue’ revealed over 775 pages and almost 4000 groups! Not all are going to be actual rescue organizations, some maybe support groups, authors and resources. Some could be activists or just folks fooling around but even with all that where else could you find literally thousands of people who share, care and work together with a common goal – in this case, animal rescue.</div><div style="font-size: 8pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;">Other ways to connect include blogs and websites – one a newer media and the other an old standard. The trouble with either of them is the lack of immediate connection you get in social networking. You literally can put out a message and come back with response minutes later. From grass roots local organizations working with groups from both sides of the Canada-US border, to international groups sharing information with their hundreds of thousands of members and everything in between.</div><div style="font-size: 8pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0pt; margin-right: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;">Post, cross post, share, like and comment can make all the difference in the world to an animal or animal rescue group. What do you use your Facebook for?</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1