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Aug. 7th, 2003
Viola Joke-of-the-Day
Aug. 7th, 2003 12:42 pmQ: What's the definiton of "perfect pitch?"
A: Throwing a viola into a dumpster without hitting the rim.
Q: Why do violists stand for long periods outside people's houses?
A: They can't find the key and they don't know when to come in.
Q: What's the difference between a seamstress and a violist?
A: The seamstress tucks up the frills.
Q: What's the difference between a washing machine and a violist?
A: Vibrato.
Q: Why do so many people take an instant dislike to the viola?
A: It saves time.
A: Throwing a viola into a dumpster without hitting the rim.
Q: Why do violists stand for long periods outside people's houses?
A: They can't find the key and they don't know when to come in.
Q: What's the difference between a seamstress and a violist?
A: The seamstress tucks up the frills.
Q: What's the difference between a washing machine and a violist?
A: Vibrato.
Q: Why do so many people take an instant dislike to the viola?
A: It saves time.
A case for Milo
Aug. 7th, 2003 05:23 pmThis story is several weeks old now, but ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
foxmagic's post today reminded me of it, so I figured, since he has the perfect segue, I'll tell it now. First, go read his post about the miracle puppy. Then, come back here. Don't forget to come back here, 'k? He's fascinating, but I still have a story to tell. Ready? GO!
Welcome back. Moving on....
My father volunteers at a no-kill animal shelter in one of the nearby suburbs. It is called A.D.O.P.T., or Animals Deserving of Proper Treatment. He goes in several days a week to walk dogs, and keep them company. About a month ago, a new dog was brought to his attention. It was Milo, a Basenji mix, anywhere from ten to eighteen months old, just like the dog in Brian's article. The thing most people unfamiliar with Basenjis need to know but don't, is that they are a very temperamental breed. They've only been domesticated since the 1930's, so they are still very primitive (not my words), extremely intelligent, and quite independent. However, Milo seemed to have more problems than just this working against him.
He was picked up by animal control when he was probably about (by my math, anyway) five or six months old. He languished there for almost three months, until his 90-day expiration date loomed very closely. At said animal control, there is a sympathetic employee who will call the A.D.O.P.T. shelter to try to place animals who are about to face the needle or the gas chambers. Milo arrived at the shelter, and they immediately noticed two things: 1)He didn't like women- he wouldn't come near them except to bark and snarl (being only a Basenji mix, he does have a very intact bark box- the breed itself, while capable of all sorts of interesting noises, does not bark), and obviously was extremely threatened by just having a woman in the room 2)He had a severe case of "kennel cough", which is similar to upper-respiratory infections that humans get.
This shelter is a great thing, but being almost completely volunteer-run has limited space and resources. They try to "foster" out animals whenever possible, so there will be an empty cage when one comes in facing imminent death. For a couple months now, Dad has pondered fostering a dog, but wasn't sure he wanted the added responsibility, especially since the dog would most likely need to be crated during the day when no one was home (most of the animals at the shelter are strays, or removed from homes due to abuse/neglect situations, and therefore can be high maintenence animals until they are thoroughly trained), and didn't think that was fair to an animal. However, his feelings about Milo were different. Our family has experience with Basenji's- we had one when I was very little, and one again seven or eight years ago until he chewed the house to shreds (that dog was taken to the very same shelter and immediately adopted by a family who had someone home at all hours of the day, and as far as we know, is living happily ever after). Because he knows something about the Basenji temperament, and because it is summer and he has some time home, Dad thought he might consider fostering Milo, with the understanding that if it worked out, Milo would become a permanent part of the family.
Except....
( Details )
Maybe you're trying to figure out what my point is by telling this story. I think my point is, my heart goes out to Milo and other animals like him. He's barely a year old, and he's been on the street, obviously mistreated and neglected, and here he is, an absolutely gorgeous animal who probably will be put down (the shelter does reserve the right to euthanize animals if they are dangerous or on the brink of death), because he is considered unadoptable. I don't question poor Milo, I question the people who allowed him to get into this condition. I can't even begin to guess at how he's lived his life so far, but he has every evidence of being a street dog, one could even almost call him feral. And not only was he allowed to get into this condition, but no one seems to want to try to do something for him. In my humble and admittedly uneducated opinion, I think the best home for Milo is one that has an enormous backyard, with a dog run and dog house, and a very patient, loving, understanding person (male, of course) who could just give him time, and move slowly around him and feed him and when Milo is ready, give him some cuddles (I've seen him cuddle, he is too darn cute!).
The thing is, the same culture that creates dogs like Milo is the same culture that does the same thing to children. We mistreat, abuse, neglect and otherwise damage children- even children who are born into "privilege"- to the point where they have no choice but to grow up the same way Milo is headed. Except we don't euthanize badly behaved children- we just lock them away and knock them around some more until they are horrendously behaved adults.
I didnt really mean to turn this into a soap-box, but I guess its just natural progression that it ended up there. I feel horrible about what will probably happen to Milo unless someone can come up with a brilliant idea for him. I feel equally horrible about what happens to kids unless someone comes up with a brilliant idea for them. I'm a non-violent person, as many of my friends are aware. But for several years I've had the opinion that anyone who damages a child should be taken out back and shot between the eyes. Maybe I'll have to widen that to include animals.
Anyone want a dog, who has lots of time, patience and space, with no women living in the house?
Save a life. Go adopt from your local animal shelter. And if you aren't looking to adopt and you have some extra cash, consider a donation. Milo deserves to live.
foxmagic's post today reminded me of it, so I figured, since he has the perfect segue, I'll tell it now. First, go read his post about the miracle puppy. Then, come back here. Don't forget to come back here, 'k? He's fascinating, but I still have a story to tell. Ready? GO!Welcome back. Moving on....
My father volunteers at a no-kill animal shelter in one of the nearby suburbs. It is called A.D.O.P.T., or Animals Deserving of Proper Treatment. He goes in several days a week to walk dogs, and keep them company. About a month ago, a new dog was brought to his attention. It was Milo, a Basenji mix, anywhere from ten to eighteen months old, just like the dog in Brian's article. The thing most people unfamiliar with Basenjis need to know but don't, is that they are a very temperamental breed. They've only been domesticated since the 1930's, so they are still very primitive (not my words), extremely intelligent, and quite independent. However, Milo seemed to have more problems than just this working against him.
He was picked up by animal control when he was probably about (by my math, anyway) five or six months old. He languished there for almost three months, until his 90-day expiration date loomed very closely. At said animal control, there is a sympathetic employee who will call the A.D.O.P.T. shelter to try to place animals who are about to face the needle or the gas chambers. Milo arrived at the shelter, and they immediately noticed two things: 1)He didn't like women- he wouldn't come near them except to bark and snarl (being only a Basenji mix, he does have a very intact bark box- the breed itself, while capable of all sorts of interesting noises, does not bark), and obviously was extremely threatened by just having a woman in the room 2)He had a severe case of "kennel cough", which is similar to upper-respiratory infections that humans get.
This shelter is a great thing, but being almost completely volunteer-run has limited space and resources. They try to "foster" out animals whenever possible, so there will be an empty cage when one comes in facing imminent death. For a couple months now, Dad has pondered fostering a dog, but wasn't sure he wanted the added responsibility, especially since the dog would most likely need to be crated during the day when no one was home (most of the animals at the shelter are strays, or removed from homes due to abuse/neglect situations, and therefore can be high maintenence animals until they are thoroughly trained), and didn't think that was fair to an animal. However, his feelings about Milo were different. Our family has experience with Basenji's- we had one when I was very little, and one again seven or eight years ago until he chewed the house to shreds (that dog was taken to the very same shelter and immediately adopted by a family who had someone home at all hours of the day, and as far as we know, is living happily ever after). Because he knows something about the Basenji temperament, and because it is summer and he has some time home, Dad thought he might consider fostering Milo, with the understanding that if it worked out, Milo would become a permanent part of the family.
Except....
( Details )
Maybe you're trying to figure out what my point is by telling this story. I think my point is, my heart goes out to Milo and other animals like him. He's barely a year old, and he's been on the street, obviously mistreated and neglected, and here he is, an absolutely gorgeous animal who probably will be put down (the shelter does reserve the right to euthanize animals if they are dangerous or on the brink of death), because he is considered unadoptable. I don't question poor Milo, I question the people who allowed him to get into this condition. I can't even begin to guess at how he's lived his life so far, but he has every evidence of being a street dog, one could even almost call him feral. And not only was he allowed to get into this condition, but no one seems to want to try to do something for him. In my humble and admittedly uneducated opinion, I think the best home for Milo is one that has an enormous backyard, with a dog run and dog house, and a very patient, loving, understanding person (male, of course) who could just give him time, and move slowly around him and feed him and when Milo is ready, give him some cuddles (I've seen him cuddle, he is too darn cute!).
The thing is, the same culture that creates dogs like Milo is the same culture that does the same thing to children. We mistreat, abuse, neglect and otherwise damage children- even children who are born into "privilege"- to the point where they have no choice but to grow up the same way Milo is headed. Except we don't euthanize badly behaved children- we just lock them away and knock them around some more until they are horrendously behaved adults.
I didnt really mean to turn this into a soap-box, but I guess its just natural progression that it ended up there. I feel horrible about what will probably happen to Milo unless someone can come up with a brilliant idea for him. I feel equally horrible about what happens to kids unless someone comes up with a brilliant idea for them. I'm a non-violent person, as many of my friends are aware. But for several years I've had the opinion that anyone who damages a child should be taken out back and shot between the eyes. Maybe I'll have to widen that to include animals.
Anyone want a dog, who has lots of time, patience and space, with no women living in the house?
Save a life. Go adopt from your local animal shelter. And if you aren't looking to adopt and you have some extra cash, consider a donation. Milo deserves to live.
