Do Not Use Laser Pointers With Dogs – Part 12
A follow-up on Gracie’s progress.
Gracie, at her vet’s office to be weaned off Prozac.
In Part 10, I shared what I’m doing to help Gracie overcome laser pointer syndrome. She has progressed. She went to her vet last week for weaning off Prozac. The Hemp CBD seems to work better.
Gracie has not had a full-force episode since about February. She gets distracted easily now so stops before she bounces, barks, or stares at the floor. Outside noise was a trigger, but as of last week, although she barks, she only took a position to look for the elusive laser twice and was immediately distracted when I called her name. I wish I could capture that on video, but it happens quickly before I can get to my cell phone. The video below is Gracie on her sniff-trail.
I’m still unsure if the laser pointer syndrome will be totally reversed, but Gracie’s progress has certainly been a miracle. Her progress has also helped me. The OCD made Gracie miserable, and it consistently kept me on my toes , feeling helpless. I am thankful for Victoria Stillwell and Two Sides To A Story; Victoria for sharing logic in a video that dogs with laser pointer syndrome have to be taught to use their sense of scent again, and Two Sides To A Story for sharing the difference between Hemp CBD and Cannabis CBD.
Do Not Use Laser Pointers With Dogs. Part 11
Take Action
Since experiencing what happened to Gracie with the laser pointer and being informed by a trainer what caused her behavior, I’ve found numerous articles on the internet and threads on forums such as Reddit and Quora. Some of the comments in the forums go back 6 years, yet I had not heard of the danger of using laser pointers to train or play with dogs until after it happened to me and Gracie.
We should not have to look for such information on the internet. The warning should be on product labeling the same as the FDA requires the warning about the danger of laser pointers when pointed in eyes. It should be on product packaging the same as the Surgeon General’s Warning is on cigarette packaging.
Under the law, pets are considered property. Pets are living property with biological and environmental needs. Some of those needs must be provided by mankind. Mankind is served a benefit from dogs that go beyond being just family pets. They work in law enforcement, the military, and as guide dogs. Various organizations place advertisements on television networks asking for monetary donations to help living property — abused and abandoned dogs and cats .
Our pets have a unique position in our lives.
Dogs and cats must be protected from “toys” that cause them injury.
Laser pointers sold as pet toys need a warning label. The verbiage can be that using it to play with cats and dogs might lead to Obsessive, Compulsive Disorder; or psychological damage in which there is no known cure. While a recall of the product would be perfect, we are not seeking a recall or making laser pointers illegal but rather, a warning label on the packaging.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission is the federal agency in the U.S. that has authority to warn and protect the public about hazardous products.
“CPSC works to save lives and keep families safe by reducing the unreasonable risk of injuries and deaths associated with consumer products and fulfilling its vision to be the recognized global leader in consumer product safety.”
Laser pointers are listed on the Commission’s 2023 annual report for Hazard Identification and Monitoring. Read the rest of this entry
Do Not Use Laser Pointers With Dogs. Part 10
Part 10. Trials and Trying. What I’ve Done That Helps Gracie.
Redirecting to scent appears to be a key.
The laser pointer has no taste, no smell, no sound. The dog relies solely on its vision. Professional trainer Victoria Stillwell of “It’s Me Or The Dog” was called upon to help a dog with laser pointer syndrome. By that video I learned an important lesson; i.e, get the dog to use its sense of scent.
I am not a professional trainer. Before I begin sharing what I’ve done to help Gracie, I would like to point-out that I never shined the laser anywhere other than things on the floor or on the floor itself, and only on the first floor of my house that has an open floor plan. I generalize that I used the laser pointer for about 4 hours over a period of 2 weeks, but it may have been fewer hours.
Since beginning this series, I’ve also learned that Gracie has genetic anxiety. She has not outgrown the slimming when she is afraid. The anxiety she inherited causes her to be hyperactive and afraid. When I first spoke with the breeder, she dismissed it by saying that German Shepherds are high-energy. High-energy does not mean that a puppy should play for 4 hours nonstop and doesn’t rest unless placed in her crate.
Gracie’s behavior from the genetic anxiety is totally different from her behavior due to laser pointer syndrome. Laser pointer syndrome IS NOT inherited anxiety. However, veterinarians treat genetic anxiety and OCD with the same meds.
Helping your dog lessen the obsessive, compulsive disorder (OCD) episodes might depend on how long you used the laser pointer. So, the results that I’m getting might not be the same results you get or it might take longer to see positive results. It’s still worth a try. Read the rest of this entry
Do Not Use Laser Pointers With Dogs. Part 9
Part 9: Medication and Hiring a Behavioral Modification Trainer
Photo: https://montkush.com/hemp-vs-marijuana-whats-the-difference/
Since being informed that the laser pointer caused my precious puppy to develop OCD and why, I’ve watched numerous videos and read numerous articles regarding dogs with laser pointer syndrome/OCD. There is only one trainer that I found on video that shows what they did to help the dog. That is Victoria Stillwell of the television program “It’s Me Or The Dog”.
When a dog is having an OCD episode, the generic advice of “needing more exercise” is insufficient. A good amount of written material by trainers gives nothing more than that generic advice.
Before we can give a dog with laser pointer syndrome/OCD more exercise, we first have to get its attention. We also need to identify triggers.
According to Canine Behavioral Specialists in the Tampa Bay Area:
“Behavioral Specialists focus on shaping behaviors in animals and tend to work with pets displaying behavior problems. They can recognize how and why your pet’s behavior is abnormal, and can effectively teach you how to understand and work with your pet. “
Gracie has two vets. Both are aware of her behavior after the laser pointer. Both recommended that I hire a behavioral modification trainer, but neither knows of one in our area that they could recommend. Read the rest of this entry
Do Not Use Laser Pointers With Dogs. Part 8
Part 8: Videos On Social Media of Dogs Psychologically Damaged By Laser Pointers, and Videos of Professionals and others Addressing the Issue.
The following are videos, some showing dogs exhibiting OCD after playing with a laser pointer. This is serious and there is no known cure. Veterinarians prescribe medication such as Prozac, but I’ve experienced that it doesn’t stop what triggers Gracie to look for the elusive laser. With plenty of chew toys, puzzle toys, and exercise, the dog might stop looking for the elusive dot as long as there are no triggers.
There is Gracie when she’s played fetch, and tug-o-war, and a sniff game and she’s tired, but when she hears something outside and starts to bark, she gets triggered and has an episode. There is Gracie when she’s calm but sees me with a broom, and she is triggered. (Maybe the broom causes her to think that I’m going to sweep the dot out of the floor so she can catch it.)
Of the videos below by trainers, only one shows what she uses to help the dog. That trainer is Victoria Stillwell of the program “It’s Me Or The Dog”. Since no others say or show what they do to help dogs with OCD because of playing with a laser pointer, in an upcoming post, I’m going to share some things that I’ve done that have helped Gracie. They are not cures, but they have helped her so that she isn’t looking for that elusive dot unless she is triggered, and some of the things that triggered her a month ago no longer do so.
In the following videos by trainers, they conflict on one important fact which is, how much playing with a laser pointer causes laser pointer syndrome/OCD? Some say one time. Some say “long term use”. Personally, I don’t think that this issue should be generalized. It is my opinion that the longer a dog plays with a laser pointer, the more symptoms they exhibit that are associated with where the laser pointer was pointed during play.
The first video is one of my Gracie, before and after the laser pointer. It is also in Part 2. An interesting thing is that all of the dogs demonstrate the same behavior when searching for the elusive light.
The Mutt Master, Deb Nabb
Do Not Use Laser Pointers With Dogs. Part 7
Part 7 – Cynthia Elizarraras, Petco’s Third Party Claim Specialist, Passes The Proverbial Buck.
If Petco would simply address my requests to them regarding the product, the misleading description, and requiring that the description contains a warning, I would not be concerned with proving anything to a “claims specialist”. Although being reimbursed for my current and future expenses is the right thing for Petco to do, there are other pet owners who, like me, had no idea that a $5.00 product would cause their pet such psychological injury that they might end up spending thousands of dollars in medication and behavioral modification training over the course of the pet’s life.
Yesterday, Gracie went to the vet. Prozac changes liver enzymes that cause jaundice and hepatocyte necrosis. The vet favors Hemp Oil rather than Prozac and I agree. Before starting Gracie on Hemp Oil, the vet wanted a liver panel. I was not opposed to this. Gracie is not yet a year old. If her liver is being damaged from the Prozac, I want to know. The liver panel cost was $326.00. This cost was necessary because of the Prozac which was necessary because of the OCD, which came about due to using a laser pointer in training and to play with Gracie.
On February 8, 2024, Cynthia Elizarraras left me a voicemail. Since January 18, 2024, I had sent her several emails and left several voicemails that were unanswered. In her voicemail, she stated that she received the documents I sent and was forwarding them to the “vendor”. That was it. She did not address the questions I asked of her in my emails and voicemails.
Cynthia Elizarraras did not identify the “vendor” and as of writing this post, she has not returned my phone call asking her for the identity. I’ve not received any communication from the “vendor”. So now, I have to wait to hear from the vendor who I do not know and thus, have no way to contact.
It’s been very difficult to find who owns the Leaps and Bounds brand, which is the brand of the laser pointer that I purchased. One source says that it’s a Petco brand, but is manufactured in China.
Petco is selling laser pointers that fraudulently misrepresent their product through silence of the damage it can cause to pets. By selling the product without full disclosures, Petco might be guilty of product liability and marketing defect. “Defects in marketing deal with improper instructions and failures to warn consumers of latent dangers in the product.” Cornell Law School
Most recently, I tweeted to Petco and although it appears on my timeline, my tweet to them does not appear on their timeline. They might have me muted. If so, if I make a purchase at Petco or through their website and have an issue, I’ve been banned from making that issue public and having it addressed. Based on my experience and the numerous tweets on Petco’s account, I have no reason to believe that Petco responds to customers through any other form of media including telephone. Petco is like the laser pointer when it is turned off — I can look for them, but they are elusive.
Pets Are More than Property
Do Not Use Laser Pointers With Dogs. Part 6
Part 6 – I Inform Petco of the Danger of Laser Pointers for Dogs
On October 6, 2020, CNN reported that Petco is no longer selling e-collars.
“Shock collars are not consistent with our mission of improving lives,” Petco CEO Ron Coughlin told CNN Business in an interview.”
Petco also did a Press Release. Petco’s CEO sounded like a sincere person who is truly interested in discontinuing the sell of products that damage dogs. As I write this, I am fighting back tears so I can continue to see to type. This is why …
On December 28, 2023, I emailed Petco’s CEO, Ron Coughlin. On the subject line, I put “The Danger of Laser Pointers and Dogs.” I requested a read receipt. Coughlin’s X (formerly Twitter) profile says
“Improving the lives of pets, pet parents …”
I thought certainly he would want to know that Petco is selling a product that is marketed as a toy for dogs, but when used, causes them OCD. My email to Mr. Coughlin ended with the following:
Do Not Use Laser Pointers With Dogs. Part 5
Part 5 – Sources That Report on Laser Pointers Causing Canine (and Feline) OCD
Photo: pupford.com
An internet search of Google for “laser pointers and dogs” returns over 3 million results that include articles published on the websites of Humane Societies, by Veterinarians, dog trainers, and the American Kennel Club. There are threads posted on forums of people sharing their experience. Those comments have a common thread that I relate to, i.e., they did not know of the harm of using a laser pointer with their dog. Unfortunately, the Google search also includes advertisements for laser pointers, marketed as toys under the heading, “Best laser pointers for dogs”.
I’ve visited animal shelters. I’ve gone to veterinarian offices. Many of these places have loads of literature about products to protect your dog from fleas, ticks and heart worms; but not one had any information on using laser pointers with your pet. In all the posters and pictures on the walls of their waiting rooms, not one warns of using laser pointers with cats and dogs.
The following are pertinent excerpts from eight (8) articles by credible sources that are available on the internet. If you decide to get involved to have a warning label put on laser pointer packaging, the following information supports why, and the seriousness. (The links open in another tab or window.)
1. Laser Pointers: More Frustration Than Fun. American Kennel Club
“The movement of a laser pointer triggers a dog’s prey drive, which means they want to chase it. It’s an unending game with no closure for the dog since they can’t ever catch that beam of light, like they can when chasing a toy or food.”
“Many dogs continue looking for the light beam after the laser pointer has been put away; this is confusing for your dog because the prey has simply disappeared. This can create obsessive compulsive behaviors like frantically looking around for the light, staring at the last location they saw the light, and becoming reactive to flashes of light (such as your watch face catching the sunlight and reflecting on the wall, or the glare of your tablet screen on the floor). Dogs that exhibit these behavioral issues are often frustrated, confused, and anxious.”
Do Not Use Laser Pointers With Dogs. Part 4
Part 4 – How I Learned That The Laser Pointer Caused Gracie Psychological Injury
In early December, I finally made contact with a local trainer organization that responded professionally and had their prices upfront. After sharing with her the things I want Gracie to focus on and her behavior looking for the elusive laser beam, she sent me a link to an article. After I read it, my heart sank. By using the laser pointer, I caused my precious puppy to develop OCD.
The guilt I felt was almost unbearable. Friends and family tell me I shouldn’t feel guilty because I didn’t know that laser pointers cause dogs to have OCD. They are correct that I did not know. I relied on the product’s description. Why are pet stores selling that product? I feel responsible just as a parent of a human child feels responsible if they purchased a product for their infant that damages them for the rest of their life.
Because the Hemp Calming Treats contain melatonin, I had to wait 24 hours before starting Gracie on Prozac. The vet said that it would take at least 2 weeks before I saw a change. I asked what I could give Gracie for those 2 weeks and he told me CBD, but not with additives.
Learning my lesson with the laser pointer, I was not going to depend on marketing descriptions for CBD for dogs. I conducted research on THC and dogs and learned that THC slows their respiration and heart. It can kill them. There are also amounts of THC that prevents the metabolism of Prozac.
When I underwent treatment for cancer and surgery, I had a medical marijuana license and purchased CBD that contains small amounts of THC. It helped me sleep without waking up in pain, and when I did wake-up, I wasn’t sore and achy. Until December, 2023, I’d not gone to the dispensary since calendar year 2019. Wow! Was I in for a surprise!
Since Illinois made marijuana legal, the dispensaries seem to only have products that causes people to get high. Even the oil they have contains enough THC to cause the high. They’re no longer selling CBD that contains small amounts of THC. I called Gracie’s original vet. He was also Gracie’s predecessors’ vet. After I informed him of the issue, he gave me the name of the company he uses for CBD – Innovet.
After a month of being on Prozac, I actually think the Hemp Calming Treat with melatonin worked better for Gracie, but I can’t take her off the Prozac because the dosage has to be reduced to wean her off of it. I can’t give her the Hemp treats because melatonin interacts with Prozac reducing its effect. I’ve not yet given her CBD and before I do, I want to get her back to her original vet and get his advice. She has an appointment next week.
Next: Part 5 – Sources that report on laser pointers causing canine OCD.
Do Not Use Laser Pointers With Dogs. Part 3
Part 3 – Being Responsible for Gracie In Spite of Her Behavior.
I share this because while our pets demonstrate behavior of looking for the elusive red dot, life goes on. We are still responsible for them in every way. I looked into the loving eyes of an 8-week old, living ball of fur, and promised to love her. Since bringing her home, she has been my companion; my living security to alert me of strange noises; my baby to keep healthy and to learn so she matures into the best dog she can be. God knows that my heart needed her.
It was now October. A month went by without answers. My beautiful puppy was turning into a snarling dog almost daily. Did this mean I shouldn’t get her spayed and chipped? No.
Her regular Veterinarian is against altering German Shepherds until they are a year old. This is because of studies that the girls should go through at least one heat because of certain hormones they need for their bones so they don’t develop hip dysplasia. There was something I encountered involving Gracie, and I had to make a decision. Read the rest of this entry
Do Not Use Laser Pointers With Dogs. Part 2
Part 2. The Laser Pointer Arrived.
My feet were still swollen so I could not get on shoes other than house-slippers. I would take Gracie in the backyard to play fetch and play tug-o-war with her in the house. After the laser pointer was delivered, I used it, pointing it to Gracie’s bed and saying “bed.” She jumped for the red dot. I then pointed to a toy, (squeaky pig) and said “pig”. She ran for the red dot on the pig. After about 10 minutes, I put the laser pointer down and told her “bed”. She went to her bed. I said “pig” and she went to the pig. Later that day, we went through the exercise again.
The next time I used the laser pointer, I added more items. The session was about 20 minutes and since she was having what I thought was fun, I pointed the laser on the floor for her to chase and allowed her to continue playing for an additional 10 minutes or so.
The third time using it, I noticed that Gracie was coming closer to me, like a dog does when playing tug-of-war and wants to get closer to your hand. So, I stood up so not to point the laser close to her body and after going through her name-identity exercise, I pointed the laser on the floor and allowed her to chase it.
About a week thereafter, Gracie began digging into her bed. She shredded it, pulling out the stuffing in the center and the sides. Since I brought her home at 8 weeks old, she had never chewed or dug in her bed. I perceived that she thought the laser dot was in her bed. I threw the bed away and stopped using the laser thinking that was that. It wasn’t. With the bed gone, Gracie began digging at the floor where her bed once laid. She knew where I kept the laser pointer and would go to the cabinet and whine, but I was not going to use it again.
Her digging in the floor where her bed once laid progressed to tearing up each toy that I had pointed to with the laser. With those toys gone, she progressed to raising up on her hind legs and pouncing hard enough to shake items on tables. She barked loud and excessively. I could not get her attention. This went on for almost 15 minutes. Her eyes glazed and her tongue hung out the side of her mouth. She moved her mouth close to anything that moved, including my hands, stopping short from putting her teeth on me. I refer to this behavior as an “episode.”
Do Not Use Laser Pointers With Dogs. Part 1
I’m on a mission with hope that my experience might help others and our precious pets. This is an 8-part multi-part series. I’m going into great detail because what happened put me on an unexpected journey. Some of you might have experienced that journey, or are currently experiencing it. Hopefully, you have not encountered that journey and the information in this series will help you, or someone you know to avoid it.
I want to also share how you can take an active part to prevent unknowing pet owners, and dogs and cats, from being brutally injured by a product that commits animal cruelty under the marketing deception that it’s a toy.
Additionally, I’m asking for your help to save dogs and cats by pursuing warning labels on laser pointer packaging. It would be nice if sellers of laser pointers as toys for pets would voluntarily discontinue selling them, however, based on my experience with Petco, it’s humanly impossible to reach decisions makers.
In this series, I’ll give you resources to articles and videos regarding laser pointers causing dogs obsessive, compulsive, disorder, (OCD). This issue also applies to some cats. It’s not my intent to ignore cats and cat owners. My focus is on dogs because that is my personal experience.
Gracie at 4 months old.
Visitors and followers might already know that I got an 8 week old puppy in June, 2023. Her name is Gracie. She’s a German Shepherd Dog. They might also know that I had a difficult time finding a local trainer for her. I’ve taken part in, or directly trained dogs since I was 8 years old, but I’m now a senior citizen and it’s been 12 years since I trained a puppy. I know my limitations, so I had a plan before I brought Gracie home. That plan involuntarily changed first, by not being able to find a local, experienced trainer and secondly, the laser pointer.
In August, I developed edema in both feet. For 3 weeks, I could not get on shoes. During those three weeks, I considered that I had to keep Gracie busy inside because I could not walk her. I hired a local trainer and my main focus was to teach Gracie to walk at heel. We had been walking and she was doing good, but she has that herding tendency to suddenly put her body across the front of me. I figured the trainer would concentrate on walking at heel and we would move to other things once my feet were better.
Along with not being dependable, that local trainer betrayed my trust. Rather than teach Gracie to walk at heel, he put her on a 30 foot leash and allowed her to run wherever she wanted because he doesn’t believe a dog should be on leash — only come when called. I terminated his service after 2 weeks.
It was not only physical exercise that Gracie needed, but mental exercise as well. Gracie was approaching 5 months old. I ordered a laser pointer online from Petco. My intent was to use it to point to items and tell her the name so she would know the names of items. My plan was to advance her to bringing me items on command. I purchased the laser pointer based on the product’s description.
The relevant part is, “… is irresistable [sic] to most pets – from dogs to birds …”
I came to learn, and will share in part 4, why it’s irresistible and because of that, it causes OCD.
Next: Part 2 – The Laser Pointer Arrived.
Happy New Year 2024
May this new year bring you all good things that your heart desires. May the world have peace, understanding and respect for others.
Happy Holidays 2023
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to;
- All of those enjoying celebrations with family;
- All of those enjoying quiet time with a loved one;
- All of those who are alone, maybe reminiscing about holidays past;
- All of those missing friends, relatives and acquaintances who have passed on;
- All of those agonizing over the amount of minimum payment on their upcoming credit card bill and if they should get a second job;
- All essential workers working today;
Train My Puppy, Please. Watch Out For Scammers.
Shea Quinn is a full-time professional dog trainer, located in DeKalb, IL. In approximately 4 months of seeking a local trainer, hiring then terminating a trainer, then seeking another trainer, Shea is the only full-time trainer that I’ve met. He has been the most helpful although he has not personally met my puppy. His patience and advice to me is greatly appreciated. This post includes an interview with Shea. Of the ten or so dog trainers that I’ve spoken with or hired, Shea is the only one who did not attempt to b.s. me.
The following is pertinent parts of my experience with dog trainers.
In August, a friend posted an inquiry on a website for a dog trainer for my puppy, Gracie. Shea phoned me the next day. He gained my respect by giving me respect. I had spoken with a few other trainers who I think I intimidated. See, I’m a senior citizen now, but got my first dog in 1959. I was a daddy’s girl and as my dad trained Roscoe, I was right by his side. Roscoe was my friend, protector, and playmate. He was a Boxer/German Shepherd mix and lived so long that I forgot he was going to die someday. Roscoe lived long enough to see my son born.
I developed a love for dogs and often went to the library and checked out books on dog training. I’ve had dogs for approximately 64 years of my life. Miss Z was the first who had professional training to learn to walk on leash at Dave’s Doggie Den, and that was in calendar year 2010.
My Miss Z went to the Rainbow Bridge in November 2021. I was unsure if I had the energy to raise another puppy. Along with that, because of the surgery I had due to cancer, (all tissue was removed down to my breast plate), my upper body strength is not what it used to be. My physical therapist said that my weight limit when using both hands is 25 lbs. Well, I’m a big-dog person so if I got another dog, I was going to need help training, especially in walking and not pulling on leash. I’m not a professional dog trainer. I know my limitations.
Gracie
My friends and family encouraged me to get another dog and in June of this year, I brought Gracie home. I figured I would hire a trainer to help me beyond the basic commands. Gracie grew fast. She went to sleep one night as a 20 lb. puppy and woke up the next morning weighing 50 lbs. and 5 feet in length. Okay. I’m blowing it out of proportion, but she is growing really fast.
I had planned taking Gracie to the same trainer I had for Miss Z, but his classes are in the evening. I don’t drive at night. Then too, it turned out that Gracie has salivation anxiety each time she was put in the car. Notice I said “put in the car” because she would not get in the car on her own. I called her the Ghostbuster puppy because she slimmed all over her front paws and legs. Even her eyes ran with slime.
Her obedience training was hindered in August when I developed edema in both feet. No. It’s not my heart. I walked for 4 hours in the wrong shoes. For 3 weeks, I could not get shoes on my feet. My home care assistant took on the project of teaching Gracie to get in the car and ride without slime. Now, we can get her in the car and she barely salivates. However, getting her back in the car after she’s been out is a problem. She plants her feet as if in concrete and has to be picked-up and put in the car. I cannot physically pick her up. Once in, she does not salivate at all on the trip home.
My friend who posted the inquiry for a dog trainer was trying to help me. I had spoken to some trainers but they only talked about training to sit, stay, lay, come, and heel. What about counter surfing? What about jumping up on visitors? What about learning to place? And, what about getting Gracie’s paws out of the concrete setting? Read the rest of this entry
The War Between Israel and Hamas – 7 Movies About The Holocaust
I grew up on the West side of Chicago. It was the late 50’s. Our neighborhood was diverse, The majority of the merchants were Jews. Most lived in the apartments above the storefronts where they had meat markets, toy stores, dry cleaners, hardware, and home furnishings. Mrs. Isaacson owned a drug store. She gave me my first puppy who we named Roscoe.
I saw men with numbers on their arm and asked my dad about it. You see, I was a daddy’s girl and Saturdays were days he spent in the local newspaper stand, talking with other older men. I went with him pretty much everywhere on weekends when he was off work, and looked forward to going to the newspaper stand. I looked at the paper doll cut-out books and the comics, and I listened. Being 6 years old, I didn’t understand much of what they were saying, but I did understand that they each understood each other. They talked about what happened in other countries, why they were in Chicago, what they had endured and what they survived. They talked about trust and distrust. They talked about giving their children better lives.
Yes, at the age of 6, I looked forward to getting a brand new Buick as a high school graduation present!
My dad died when I was 16-years old. I grieved really hard and it was not until I became an adult that I thought back to the things I learned from my dad, rather than wondering what my life would be like had he lived.
It was my dad who exposed me to the real world, including knowledge of the Holocaust and why it is important for the Jews to have their own land returned to them.
Being a people close to my heart, I’ve been drawn to movies about the Holocaust. Here are the trailers for some of them. I won’t put a description. They are in order for the year they were released.
I encourage you that with war going on in Israel, it might be a good time to remember that today, there are still hateful, evil people wanting to repeat history, and moral, strong people of all nationalities and colors who say, “never again”. Read the rest of this entry
Personal Update
Friends, followers, visitors,
I haven’t published a blog post since December, 2022, and I apologize for that. Additionally, for several years now, I’ve missed not keeping up with my favorite bloggers, visiting, commenting on their blogs. I’ve always looked forward to putting more time into doing that, but always seem to fall short.
In April, I was assigned a home care assistant who is wonderful. As of January 2023, I had been without an assistant for over a year. One agency had an influx of applicants from surrounding towns that are known as Trump country. They were not vaccinated and refused to wear masks. I wondered why anyone with that attitude would want to work in home healthcare. In my opinion, working in the homes of seniors with chronic illness with that attitude is the same as committing 1st degree murder by proxy. They were no good to the agency because clients with chronic illness don’t want such disrespectful people working in their homes.
By the way, I get my 5 year breast cancer survival check-up this week. Other than some neuropathy as a side-effect of one of the chemo drugs, and an occasional phantom pain, I’m doing fine on that side of the coin. The other side is tinnitus. My ENT physician resigned from that specialty and now practices skin cancer surgery. The new ENT said there was nothing he could do and walked out of the room. My primary care physician is resigning at the end of the month so I have to start over with a new physician. Well — don’t get me started on my experiences with the medical system.
Question; has anyone switched from Twitter to another platform? If so, please share your thoughts. Some old friends are no longer on Twitter and I would still like to keep up with them. WordPress no longer automatically posts blog links to Twitter. This might be why I no longer see recently published posts on Twitter from those bloggers I follow. We now have to manually post the links to Twitter.
Meanwhile, since my dog went to the Rainbow Bridge in November 2021, I’ve pondered whether I am able to raise a puppy. It’s been 12 years since I raised a puppy which means, I’m 12 years older. In April, I adopted a puppy from a shelter in Woodstock, IL. That shelter had her since she was 6 weeks old, but did not put her up for adoption until she was 12 weeks old. After having her 2 weeks, I returned her. That shelter is unlike other shelters I’ve adopted from. They did not conduct any temperament tests, nor train her to do basics such as sit. The puppy behaved like a feral cat.
Gracie at 7 weeks.
In June, I got an 8 week-old German Shepherd puppy that I picked out when she was 6 weeks old. She is gracious, which is why I named her Gracie. She’s growing really fast, learning fast. She was housebroken in 3 weeks.
In another week or so, I should be able to get her into the car without her being anxious so I can take her for professional training. Right now, I call her the Ghostbusters dog because she slimes when riding. A professional trainer gave me instructions on how to alleviate her from the anxiety, and it seems to be working.
One thing I’ve learned is that studies have been conducted on breeds that have propensity for hip dysplasia, and vets now recommend not having them altered until they are a year old.
Gracie at 3 months old
Study results suggest that hormones may have an influence on the risk of hip dysplasia. There are certain hormones that are necessary for their bones to mature, so altering them before they are a year old depletes them of those hormones. I’ve not had a girl dog previously that was not sprayed before her first heat cycle, so this is going to be new to me. Wish me luck.
My crochet of caps for cancer patients has slowed down since Gracie came home. I used to complete 3 caps a day. Now it’s a good thing if I can get 1 cap completed in 3 days. But, Gracie won’t be a puppy forever.
Happy Holidays
May this coming year find you in great health, financially sound, and peace in your life, this nation, and the world.
Art work from DreamsquoteM
Opinion | Trump’s Running and the Feds Are Coming: What the Next Two Years Will Look Like Legally — Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories
I found this Opinion piece, written by Politico, to be very informative.
I do have one disagreement, and that’s with the last paragraph. To the best of my knowledge, based on case decisions that I’ve read regarding sentencing, sentences of supervision are not considered a conviction for purposes of disqualifying a defendant from exercising Constitutional rights, such as owning a firearm, voting, and running for public office. A felony conviction disqualifies the person from doing those things. In this matter specifically, if Donald Trump is convicted of a felony, he would not be allowed to run for public office.
The entire article has 9 bullet points. It’s an excellent read.
Donald Trump announced his third run for president Tuesday night in a move that was widely perceived as a gambit to stave off a federal criminal indictment. It won’t work. Trump is likely to be indicted by the Department of Justice, making him the first former president to campaign for the White House while facing charges. The historic nature of this scenario seems fitting for a candidate who has defied every norm of American politics during his seven-year career in public life. While unprecedented, there are certain realities of federal prosecutions that offer a useful roadmap for how the next two years will likely play out in the courts.
1. Will Trump’s announcement affect the Justice Department’s decision to indict him?
Not really. Donald Trump was the immediate past president and one of the most well-known and controversial politicians in the United States. He has been widely regarded as the de facto leader of the Republican Party and a likely nominee. DOJ would not have opened a criminal investigation into Trump if they weren’t willing to consider indicting him.
In other words, the fallout of a potential indictment of Trump was already baked in to DOJ’s decision-making. Even if Trump hadn’t announced, they would have faced the same criticism, and Trump would have likely argued
2. When would the DOJ issue an indictment?
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Justice Department waited until after the Georgia Senate runoff on Dec. 6 to make any overt steps — an indictment, execution of another search warrant or an arrest. Once that political event has passed, charges could come before or after the holidays.
that he was indicted to deter him from announcing his candidacy in the future.
Opinion | Trump’s Running and the Feds Are Coming: What the Next Two Years Will Look Like Legally — Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories
Universal Background Checks Will Not Be Effective Because of Diversion Programs
According to the ATF, if convicted of a felony criminal offense, you are not allowed to legally purchase firearms.
We have the 2nd Amendment, but we also have diversion programs in the criminal justice system.
Sentencing to diversion programs make it impossible for background checks to report actual cases where defendants plead guilty to a lesser offense to avoid having a felony conviction.
One example is Frank James. In April, 2022, Frank James opened fire in the Brooklyn, New York subway, wounding ten (10) people.
When this story was in the news, a reporter asked if it was known how Frank James legally purchased the gun. The answer was that James had not been convicted of a felony.
In 1995 while living in Irvington, NJ, James was charged with one count of making terroristic threats; a felony. He was allowed to plea down to harassment, a misdemeanor, and sentenced to one year of probation.
What we see is a person who was charged with a felony, who plead down to a misdemeanor, and because that was allowed by prosecutors, he was able to legally purchase a gun that he used to wound 10 human beings. Read the rest of this entry
We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident 