Protect Boulder Dogs' Freedom on Open Space

From Boulder FIDOS and B4ROS:

Help me continue playing on Boulder trails

Boulder City Council will meet to have the first reading of OSMP’s extreme proposed Green Tag program changes on Wednesday, March 5th.

Please attend to show your support for your fellow dog guardians, and to show your opposition to the proposed green tag program changes. You're asked to come to the meeting wearing your dog leash, to plan to speak at the meeting and/or write to the Council members at council@bouldercolorado.gov.

Here are some talking points for a speech or letter recommended by FIDOS (Friends Interested in Dogs and Open Space and B4ROS (Boulder for Reasonable Open Space) to oppose OSMP’s extreme proposed changed to the Green Tag program. I have copied all of the following verbatim:

1) OSMP is unnecessarily attempting to punish the majority of dog guardians for the infractions of a few.
2) OSMP’s proposed changes are unfair. OSMP has gone over the top in targeting the single user group of dog guardians with these costly, complex, and excessively punitive proposals.
3) Regarding offenses such as one strike loss of Green Tag for chasing wildlife, or two strike loss of Green Tag if your dog does not come IMMEDIATELY when called --- No other user group faces loss of open space privileges for committing any offenses on or off of open space. Climbers do not lose open space privileges if they violate a seasonal raptor closure. Mountain bikers do not lose open space privileges for biking on a trail closed to bikers. Hikers do not lose open space privileges for hiking on closed trails, or for creating social trails. People do not lose open space privileges for harassing wildlife while trying to take that perfect photograph. Dog guardians should not be unfairly targeted with the harsh punishments outlined in OSMP’s proposals, which would even include Green Tag loss for a single offense of chasing a squirrel into a tree - on Open Space land or anywhere in the city of Boulder.
4) The $734,000 price tag, for just the first year, needed to implement OSMP’s proposed Green Tag Program changes, then followed by a $135,000 ongoing annual cost, is too high. This money could perhaps be better spent on building new trails.
5) Historically, Boulder has always been a dog friendly place. Just look at the picture in the 1967 first Open Space tax poster. If we don’t allow dogs proper off-leash access, only the wealthy, who can afford acres of land, will have this privilege. This culture of dog friendliness has been eroding gradually, and now there is another OSMP proposal to introduce a much more restrictive and controlled environment, with a complex set of rules and punitive regulations. Dogs are family members. Dogs need to run and to exercise. Dogs benefit us all by making us lead healthier lifestyles.

Maddie loves to run on Boulder trails

OSMP has used your tax dollars to prepare and fund unnecessary changes to the Voice and Sight program. These changes will have only 'social' impact (memo to council 6/18/13), designed solely to reduce dog related 'conflict' on open space. This perceived conflict is supported by carefully designed studies paid for by OSMP to counter previous studies conducted by CU.

Voice and Sight dog guardians will face increased fees, penalties and revocation of V&S open space access as well as DUI style re-education for an enhanced range of infractions. No other open space user cohort is governed by regulation of this scope and magnitude.

Click title below if you want to order  my book(s):

MAGGIE the Dog Who Changed My Life

FINAL YEARS Stories of Parent Care, Loss and Lives Changed

Craigslist Inadvertently Causing Harm to Animals

According to the Care2 petition site, "Craigslist is helping dog abusers find animals to torture by failing to enforce their own rules." You won't find the animals for sale in the "for sale" section because it is supposedly against the policy of Craigslist. Some dogs and cats are offered for free. The concern is that animals given away on Craigslist could be used for research facilities, as bait animals for dog fighting, or by people who torture and kill animals. Technically, you can’t sell animals on Craigslist, but you can charge a re-homing fee. This may open a door for puppy mill operators, too.

What can you do? You can visit  the Care 2 petition site to sign the petition to DEMAND AN END TO SELLING DOGS ON CRAIGSLIST. You can help save the sweet innocent face above from the poor dog below.

Ariel Wulff made a great suggestion in the article Pets in Danger on Craigslist. Because Craigslist reaches every major city in US, she viewed the Craigslist pet ads every day in her city and skimmed every dog and cat ad. She wrote a short letter to each person  advertising their pet on Craigslist for free. Ariel believes that "many of these people love their pets and don’t even want to get rid of them, but are in desperate situations and feel like they have no other choice. They honestly do not know the danger they are putting their beloved pets in."  She suggests we can do the same in our cities. It's a way to do something to help dogs and cats that you may never have thought of.

Check out my books on Amazon if you are interested:
MAGGIE the dog who changed my life  
FINAL YEARS Stories of Parent Care, Loss and Lives Changed

Wasn't It Yesterday?

How did it happen? Wasn't it just yesterday we adopted her at 10 months old from the Denver Municipal Animal Shelter? She is clearly the most agile dog we have ever had. Now, my girl, Maddie is 8 1/2 years old. Still vital and lively, still joyful and loving life. Smart and understanding so much. (She benefited from what Maggie taught me about how much dogs tune in and understand what we are saying and what we want).

But I see the changes. The expanding white hair under her chin and between her paws. The limp when she gets up at times, not going as far on hikes, tiring more quickly when she plays. So I want to honor you, my Maddie girl, by sharing these photos of you with the world. I am grateful for you and hoping we have, oh, so many more years together. 

2011 or 2012? 

My beautiful girl doing her favorite thing, 2012

Ball fun, 2012

Throw the stick! Lake Havasu, January 2014

With Tigger on way to AZ in truck, December 2013

Camper contentment, December, 2013

Sun snooze in Catalina State Park, December 2013

 Thank you, Maddie girl, for being in my life. Love you, Poo.

Click title below if you want to order my book(s):

MAGGIE the Dog Who Changed My Life

FINAL YEARS Stories of Parent Care, Loss and Lives Changed

From MAGGIE the dog to FINAL YEARS and Parent Care

You may wonder how I went from writing about my soul mate dog in MAGGIE The Dog Who Changed My Life to writing about parent care and loss in FINAL YEARS Stories of Parent Care, Loss and Lives Changed. Although they are two different topics, both of my books bring to light difficult feelings and experiences that many find hard to talk about and listen to. Both MAGGIE and my parents touched my deeply and changed my life.

Are you a caregiver to aging or ill parents? Have you lost your parents?Many baby boomers are part of the sandwich generation caring for both their children and elderly parents. In my new book, FINAL YEARS Stories of Parent Care, Loss and Lives Changed, ten people shared stories of tough decisions, family dynamics, grief, and healing as their parents’ health diminished and they eventually passed. I weave my own account through each of their chapters.

December 5 the Best Day to Enjoy Saving With a Kindle Countdown Deal

For only $1.99 (list price = $6.99) you can download a Kindle copy of my book for yourself and gift a copy of  FINAL YEARS to a friend or family member. This Kindle Countdown Deal runs until tomorrow (you can see the countdown clock here for how long you have to buy at this price before it goes up in increments of $1.00 back up to $6.99). You don’t need a Kindle to read a kindle book. You can download a free Kindle app on your computer, Mac, iPad, tablet and most smartphones.

Are you a caregiver feeling alone, unsupported or unsure where to turn? Visit dawnkairns.com if you want to learn more about FINAL YEARS Stories of Parent Care, Loss and Lives Changed and to find kindred spirits for what you may be going through. You might also like the articles on my other blog, Final Years Blog, at http://dawnkairns.com/final-years-blog/. Here you can find an excerpt in two parts for my new book, Final Years, and other articles on caring for aging parents. Take care.

Click title below if you want to order  my book(s):

MAGGIE the Dog Who Changed My Life

FINAL YEARS Stories of Parent Care, Loss and Lives Changed

Longmont Humane Society Now and Forever Campaign Reaches Phase 1 Goal

Volunteer Camie Kirkevold works with a cat named Kiki on Wednesday at the Longmont Humane Society. (Matthew Jonas/Times-Call)

According to The Longmont Humane Society they have reached their Phase 1 goal of their "Now and Forever" Campaign.  They avoided foreclosure! They were able to make their November payment of  $772,227.68 "because of the generous support of our friends and donors in Longmont." 

They did it "after cashing in its investments," director Liz Smokowski told the Longmont Times Call. The investments netted $363,118, which combined with $526,932 in donations exceeded the amount needed for this year's payment.



The shelter's Board members have worked diligently to "improve and augment" their operating finances which the Longmont Humane Society has been concerned about for several years. Over the past two years, Longmont Humane Society changed leadership in order to take a new direction and respond to the urgency of their financial situation. As a result, they have raised animal adoption prices, reduced staffing costs and marketing expenditures, increased the number of volunteer positions, and boosted their fundraising efforts. "Longmont Humane Society has achieved a combined positive cash flow from operating and investing activities over the past two years." They say their cash drain "is related to financing of the construction project and the related bond offering that was taken."Without their principal and interest payments, Longmont Humane Society would be wholly sustainable.  

The Longmont Humane Society will still need to raise the final $2.4 million even after this payment. Liz Smokowski, hired in 2011 by the Longmont Humane Society, told the Times Call the shelter is "still seeking donations to cover the payment because cashing in the investments drained all of the its savings." Their operating expenses are now compromised and they have no reserves.

The fundraising campaign is titled, "The Longmont Humane Society: Serving the Community Now and Forever." Focused on the November payment until now, they now seek "to raise $3.1 million to pay off the remaining loan amount by the fall of 2014." Next year's loan payment is also $772,000, so they are far from out of the woods. Phase 2 of their campaign is to raise $2.4 million by the end of 2014.

Donate to the Now and Forever Campaign here

Click title below if you want to order my book(s):
MAGGIE the Dog Who Changed My Life
FINAL YEARS Stories of Parent Care, Loss and Lives Changed

You and I Together Can Keep Longmont Humane Society From Foreclosing

Longmont Humane Society is still working avoid foreclosure. I wrote about them in a previous post on 8/7/13. They are still looking for donations. And still hopeful.



I so want to help. Do you? Longmont Humane Society is just a few miles up the road from where I live. They help so many animals. Probably like you, what I can contribute alone is limited. With your help, here is what I will do. My new book, FINAL YEARS Stories of Parent Care, Loss and Lives Changed  is on Kindle. Between now and November 29, for each of you who purchases a Kindle copy of FINAL YEARS , I will contribute the full amount of $6.99 per book to Longmont Humane Society. Simply email your receipt from Amazon to me at dawnkairns@yahoo.com. It doesn't sound like much, but it can add up if you choose to participate.

To learn more about the plight of Longmont Humane Society, see the 10/31/13 article in the Times Call newspaper for the full story and for how you can donate directly to the shelter. With only 12 days left, more than $200,000 still needs to be raised. They have raised over $500,000 in the past several months. Please take a moment to watch the 11/17/13video above from 9NEWS.

If you have any quick fundraising ideas for Longmont Humane Society, please share them with me in your comments. Thank you for your help!

Click title below if you want to order my book(s):

MAGGIE the Dog Who Changed My Life

FINAL YEARS Stories of Parent Care, Loss and Lives Changed

Dog Travels Ten Miles from Adoptive Home to Find Beloved Canine Partner Left Behind

I have known dogs have emotions, don't you? For us and for each other. Those of us who have and love our dogs can't miss it. My dog, Maggie, (MAGGIE the dog who changed my life) was my main teacher on this one, although I think I always knew. They love, hope, can be sad,disappointed, heartbroken, and more. I think only animal researchers have to fool themselves to believe it isn't so.

It began on the streets of Terre Haute, Indiana. Two street dogs, Ben and Jade met and bonded. OK, it seems they fell in love when you hear the whole story, reported both on the Care 2 Blog and in The Tribune Star. They were both known and cared for in their community, but when Jade became pregnant, they were trapped and taken in by the humane society in Terre Haute. Initially kenneled together, the shelter separated them when Jade gave birth. Mom and pups were taken into foster care for eight weeks. All six puppies were adopted. Then Ben and Jade were reunited at the shelter until ... Ben got adopted and Jade didn't. For three weeks Ben was in his adoptive home while Jade remained in the shelter ten miles away. On a cold December day Ben seized his chance when Jason Lawler took on the trash. Ben darted out the door and trekked the ten miles in the cold back to the shelter to find Jade.

It's a touching story with a beautiful ending. I encourage you to read the full story in The Tribune Star and the Care 2 Blog where I first learned how love will find a way with two beautifully bonded dogs. Let's just say that even though the Lawlers were convinced they only wanted one dog, their minds and hearts were changed! Read the full reunion story on one or both of the links I shared above. It brought tears to my eyes. How about you?

Click title below if you want to order my book(s):

MAGGIE the Dog Who Changed My Life

FINAL YEARS Stories of Parent Care, Loss and Lives Changed