Speckles was running loose in Hailey and brought to the shelter for safe keeping. Surprisingly, no one ever came to claim this adorable young lad. He is a very cute and friendly dog who hasn’t received much training yet. This young, strong boy has lots of energy and should blossom in a good home with positive training. He would benefit most from an experienced dog owner who will show him the ways of the world and become his benevolent leader. At the shelter, Speckles is playful with the other dogs, but sometimes he gets a bit pushy and dominant. He is basically a big, unruly puppy who just needs some boundaries and consistency in his life. This handsome, speckled pup is looking to start a new life and find a home that will last forever this time. Speckles is a medium size neutered male Heeler Am Staff Terrier mix born around December 2007.

Blackie was found in Ketchum running in traffic. Although she had a collar with “Blackie” hand written on it, no one came to claim her. Blackie loves people and wants attention so badly, she is under-foot and literally manages to get you to trip over her! Blackie is a classic diamond-in-the-rough dog. She has had little training her short little life and just seems desperate for affection & attention. Blackie has so much love and energy and just looking for somewhere to vent it. It is our belief that with some consistency, training, regular exercise and love, Blackie will be a fabulous and dedicated companion. Blackie seems to like other dogs. Once she gets comfortable with a new canine friend, she’ll play a bit wildly. At the shelter, she did not show much interest in cats, but that may not be the case once she becomes more comfortable and gains a little more confidence. She is a very friendly dog, but because of her high energy level, she might be a bit much for a family with small children. If you are looking to make a big difference in a special dog’s life, come meet Miss Blackie. Blackie is a medium size spayed female German Shepherd mix born around November 2007.

Petey was surrendered to the shelter when his owners had to move and couldn’t take him along. Petey is a wonderful dog. He loves people, and his favorite thing is cuddling. He gets along well with other dogs, but he needs a family with the time for him; someone who can give him the attention he deserves. This big, sweet, handsome fellow is truly wonderful, with a big heart and a warm lick. Petey is a 65 lb black and white neutered male American Staffordshire Terrier mix born around 10/1/04. For more information on Petey and the many other dogs and cats awaiting adoption at the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley, call 788-4351.

Cowboy originally came to the shelter as a stray. He was adopted into a loving home, but, sadly, his owner recently passed away. He came back to the shelter for a new home. Cowboy is a big, friendly, outgoing, handsome teddy bear of a grey Tabby-Manx. He is large, but proportional and very active and agile. Typical of a Manx, Cowboy was born without a tail and a congenital malformation of his lumbar vertebrae. So, while he is a truly wonderful cat and well worth it, he might need a little special attention due to the shortened spine. Cowboy is a normal cat in every other way. He is extremely loving, affectionate, and full of personality… just a great cat! Come meet him and watch him try to steal your heart! Cowboy is a 16 lb neutered male DSH grey tabby Manx born around 9/12/04.

Birdwatchers on Terroroids?

I read about how U.S. Security agents are keeping an eye out for birdwatchers. Seems you will need a police escort in some aviary areas now to enjoy this pastime every bit as popular as baseball, apple pie and Mom. 

I wonder how this will affect arrowhead hunting in Idaho. If you can’t glance up at a bird, you might as well stare at the ground looking for obsidian chips. But no, this subject looks like he’s studying the sand awful hard. Must be devising a method to dig under buildings and do something nefarious. Better re-fund rat patrol to guard all of Craters of the Moon’s perimeter. And what was he planning to do with that WMD arrowhead once he found it? Better medicate him. Maybe Cheney can hold the needle. Not having a human heart* makes him less squeamish than people who have been inoculated into normalcy.   

So Mom, please bake a file into my next apple pie ration. Because when our Bill of Rights starts lining birdcages, thoughts like these will be deemed unpatriotic and land me in a slammer with no birds-eye view. Perhaps my opportunity will arise when the guards are watching a tight baseball game in late innings. Cheering fans will cover my filing and I’ll be saved by the purity of that last bastion of good old America -Baseball! (Except for the steroids)

 Chattering Bird Brains  

The other day, as I was ducking underneath a construction crane, a robin redbreast flew by and almost hit me upside my head. “Whassup Mrs. Robin and why are you so bewildered?” I asked her. “Well it seems that these days to attract a mate you have to squawk louder to be heard over all the machines grinding away at progress. This is driving me batty.” 

“I can see that by your weird & waspy flight path. But you know, a lot of the humanoids are complaining that you birds are creating such a racket that they can hardly concentrate during important tennis matches.” 

“It’s not our fault we have to breathe deeper and sing louder to be heard over the cacophonous symphony of soot-making machines. Also, what is it now with you humans? I see that they are bringing in police escorts into some aviary areas now. Are you going to tag bad birds or something?” 

“Nah that’s merely a precaution to ensure photographs taken anywhere within five miles of human installations will be only of birds and nothing else. To ensure the stability of all human structures.”  

“Makes perfect horse sense to me!” said all the birdbrains.

Bird-brained horn honking laws 

Recently there have been several cases featured in the news about motorists in larger cities receiving warnings or tickets for excessively honking their automobile horns. Certainly, I’m a fan of maintaining peace and quiet, but the peace officers in action would do well to interpret a law that reads, “Automobile horns shall be used for emergencies only” with some broadmindedness.  

A few days ago, I was driving down the highway with a friend. We approached some flickers standing in our lane. These woodpeckers appeared to be distracted by something off the side, and we could see they were not sensing our approach. As we came upon them, I lightly tooted the horn at a strategic moment, taking into account the Doppler Effect. The birds went quickly airborne, as my friend exclaimed with some amazement that he never considered that lightly tooting your own horn could save bird lives.  

Was this an emergency? Certainly for the birds it was.  

On my last trip to Montana, I drove up that old dusty Red Rock road, to that vast wetland aviary area beyond. There to my sweet delight, I witnessed some seldom-seen Trumpeter Swans. As we intersected within a hundred feet of these tremendous birds, I politely waved, smiled, and then lightly tapped my horn for a pleasant hello. The birds responded in kind fashion with light trumpeting. My friend claims it sounded as if they were laughing at me, because when I pointed at them, I was pronouncing their name with a jazzy ‘Trumpeteer’ Swan twang.  

Garfield was once a loved family member, but circumstances changed, and he found himself at the Shelter. As his name suggests, Garfield is a big, handsome, wonderful, orange and white fluff ball. He is loving, kind and a real personality. When you walk into the Shelter, Garfield will greet you with a meow-hello, though it’s not like you would miss seeing this gorgeous guy without it. Garfield deserves a “forever home” he can count on for a lifetime. Let Garfield warm up your home with his loving presence — He is not to be missed! He is a medium size, neutered male Domestic Long Hair born around DOB March 2002. NOVEMBER IS CAT ADOPTION MONTH!!!!