k9stylist1968's Blog

This has got to be the dumbest prosecution in history!!  A hairstylist in Boulder, CO faces $1000 in fines and may lose her dog because of a humaniac on a power trip charging her under an outdated law that bans coloring domestic animals.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...98/detail.h
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Another groomer pointed out that the way the law is worded, anyone who grooms a dog could be slapped by this law, as the ban on coloring includes altering the appearance of an animal to conceal or camoflage structural defects.   Most good groomers don't just shave dogs down; we sculpt the hair to create angulation where there is none (or very little), to make the dog look more like its breed standard.   Bad groomers just follow the lines of the dog and cut every hair; a superior pet stylist knows which hairs to trim and which to leave. 

But this woman isn't a groomer, she is a hairdresser who colored her poodle pink with beet juice and Kool-Aid (other products used to color dogs include moistened sidewalk chalk, food-coloring, Blo-Pens, and human color products such as Manic Panic, Jazzing, and Beyond the Zone).   She was trying to raise funds for Breast Cancer research and the poodle was a great walking, prancing, billboard.  The haircut on the dog isn't great, and the coloring is a bit uneven, but the dog is NOT "abused" in any way contrary to the claims of the Humaniac who is persecuting (I mean "prosecuting") the dog's owner.

And Yes, I'm as much of a "criminal" as this woman is, as I have colored a few dogs, myself--including my own standard poodle who was a very bright magenta last summer.   I don't know if KS/MO have laws like this in place, but they need to be reworded and clarified.  The laws are intended to protect pet and livestock owners from thieves who would alter the appearence of stolen animals and sell them, and they also protected bunnies, chicks, and ducklings back in the day when a handful of unscrupulous sorts would dye them with fabric dye or spray paint, rather than harmless products like Kool Aid and beet juice!

...from the Professional Bull Riders.    These guys are amazing athletes who compete because they LOVE what they do.   There is NO football player as tough as a PBR cowboy.   How many NFL players could come back, three weeks after dislocating their shoulder, and play as well as before the injury??    The PBR cowboys only get paid if they WIN; there are no multi-million dollar contracts guaranteeing a paycheck if they bump their head and sit out for 6 weeks.   A 300-pound lineman has NOTHING in toughness and courage on 5'3", 115 pound Brian Canter.   Toward the end of the 06 season, Canter had a 2000-pound bull roll over ON him, and had to be carried out of the arena...but when he was told he had the option of a reride, he accepted it and had to be CARRIED to the next bull, and he rode him for an excellent score.  THAT is a true athlete!

But the toughness of the riders and the self-sacrifice/courage of the bull fighters who distract the bulls so the cowboys can get away safely are NOT my primary reason for loving the sport of bull riding.  Nor is it the element of extreme danger in the  ultimate test of man vs beast.   And it's not even the spectacular rides when a great rider is matched with an equally awesome bull....  No, it's the true sportsmanship and comraderie among the competitors, as well as their accessibility to and appreciation of their fans.   

These guys celebrate great rides made by other riders, just as much as they do their own high-scoring rides.   At  the end of last weeks World Finals, when Justin McBride was  preparing to accept the trophy and million dollar bonus check from Ford Trucks, the man who has placed #2 in the world the last three years, Guilherme Marchi, was congratulating him on topping off an incredible season.   The microphones weren't close enough to air their entire conversation, but McBride was congratulating Marchi, as well for being the most consistent rider on Tour for so many years.  When he realized the cameras were on them, McBride pointed toward Marchi, and said, "That's a true cowboy."    When being interviewed throughout the Finals (and really throughout the season) McBride always commented on the skill of his closest competitors (Marchi and 20-year-old JB Mauney), saying he always expected them to ride as well or better than he, and he considers the bulls his competition, not his fellow riders.   

Congratulations to McBride on an amazing 2007 season, and best wishes for a rapid recovery from shoulder surgery (he's the rider who won the event three weeks after dislocating his free-arm shoulder).    Also congratulations to Finals event winner, Wiley Petersen whose Faith, love of his wife and children, and upbeat attitude make him a champion in any fan's eyes.  

 

 

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?sec...ive&id=5749
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This story by the Chicago ABC affiliate was a bunch of hyped BS.   They took a tragic accident, handled appropriately by the groomer involved, and made it into a "story" that made groomers look like a bunch of uneducated Bozos who just pick up a clipper one day and call ourselves professionals.  A salon that has been in business since 1961 with just one tragic ACCIDENT now has its entire reputation sullied by irresponsible "journalism".    Even sadder is the fact that many of my cohorts on both petgroomer.com and groomers.net are bashing this poor groomer, buying into the media hype without knowing ALL the facts of the case.

If incidents like this were the norm, they wouldn't be newsworthy.   The truth is that the vast majority of pet stylists/groomers/'canine aesthetic technicians" (whatever you call us) are dedicated professionals who spend a great deal of time and money attending dog shows and professional seminars/tradeshows to hone our craft.   We have to know the correct breed profiles of over 180 purebred dogs (and cats), and be able to modify them to please the individual pet owner.    On a daily basis, we are snapped at, urinated/defecated upon, yelled at by  impossible-to-please owners....  We handle most of these incidents with a quick, firm reprimand and a smile.   We risk being severely maimed by dog/cat bites, abcesses from imbedded hairs, respiratory ailments, carpal-tunnel syndrome, and back injuries.   Some groomers have even died of multi-system atrophy, due to exposure to insecticides over a period of years.    Many work alone in their salons, having to groom dogs efficiently, while being interrupted by the phone and/or clients coming and going at the most inopportune times.... Yet we love what we do, and the majority of us are excellent.  

It was implied in the "news" story that the groomer was negligent; that she left the pup unattended on the table.  Since we were not given the groomer's point of view, we don't know.  This was a Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy, 11 months old.  SCWT's are VERY energetic and stubborn--and while generally friendly and playful, can have an attitude.  The dog did not die from strangulation, but a broken neck.  There is NO groomer who, despite every caution and being 100%  hands-on, has not had a dog suddenly launch itself off the table.   A SCWT is heavy enough that it could easily fracture its neck by doing just that.     I would imagine that salon has now installed the Groomers Helper and/or LIPSystem restraints on each table. 

Now, I DO have to tout the advantages of using a mobile groomer, such as myself.   For one thing, I AM on of the relative few groomers who has taken the voluntary certification examinations sponsored by the National Dog Groomers' Association of America.    With mobile,  your pet gets 100% of the groomer's attention for the entire time we're at your home.   The phones are answered at our storefront salon, so I'm not distracted even by that.   I'm at your home, so as long as it doesn't distract your dog, you can watch the entire process through the van's window.   I use restraints on both the neck AND the belly, as well as a cross-tie on very energetic/stubborn pets, so the pet is secure and can't put full weight on either individual restraint.   Being mobile, I blow-dry each pet by hand, so there is no risk of overheating in a drying cage (another common story the news media likes to use against the grooming profession).   The products I use are top-quality, and are included in the groom price (unlike the PetSomethings that use the equivelant of Suave as their basic shampoo and charge you more to use the better products); between the products and the blowdrying, you WILL notice a significant improvement in the quality of  your pet's haircuts.    Mobile grooming fees are higher than most salons, but surely it's worth it for your pet to receive safe, one-on-one attention. 

 

 

After making that long, bittersweet drive to Washington, KS (and back) on Monday, October 1, I find my home eerily quiet without the wild golden pup running around like a bull in a china shop....  On November 16, 2005, I made the same drive to pick up a cute little ball of fuzz who I loved, trained, took out in public places to expose him to as many situations as possible to prepare him for the day I knew would come but still dreaded.    After almost two years of laughter, love, joy, and occasionally embarrassment, frustration and aggravation brought on by a growing puppy--and that long adolescence--it was time for him to move on to the next phase of his life: Returning to KSDS, Inc.    He will be given his physical evaluations at K-State either this Friday or next, then assuming he passes, he will be evaluated and placed in one of KSDS' three assistance-dog programs: Guide, Service, or Social.   Or he may need to go to the Topeka women's correctional facility for some "intermediate" training.

Arthur's littermates welcomed him to the Canine Housing Unit with barks of joy, and he loved figuring out the automatic waterer and the door to go to the outdoor kennel.    Now, it's just a waiting game until I hear if he passes evaluation.... And until they have another litter of puppies so I can do it all again. 

 

Goodbye to My Assistance Puppy by Unknown Goodbye, dear friend. You and I have been together since you were small enough to be carried in my arms. I am saying goodbye and not farewell. Down the road, I hope we will see each other again. You are going away to complete your destiny and to help me achieve a dream. From the moment you came to live in my house you have been my greatest challenge. Just as you had to rely on me for your care and training, one day your partner will rely on you for safety and independence. I am told you are worth a lot, but your value to me is greater than any sum of money. You have been my furry friend and companion. We have worked and played together. You have slept in my room. Many times, I have laughed at your antics. Sometimes, I have cried over you. You have helped teach me the difficult lessons of patience and responsibility. You have helped me mature as a person. Take care, dear friend. I wish you well. I know that you will do your best. I will never forget you.

 

WHEN will people put the blame in the right place when police chases end tragically for innocent (and sometimes not-so-innocent) people????   It is NOT the fault of the police, but the criminal who is running from them, when these tragedies occur.    What are the police supposed to do--let them go if they take off???  If they can't pursue a fleeing criminal, how are they to do their jobs?

While I sympathize with the gentleman whose wife was killed by the criminal running from police, his comments that his wife's MURDERER  wouldn't have been driving wrecklessly if the police hadn't continued chasing him, angered me.   The police wouldn't have needed to chase him, if  he hadn't run.  HE, and he alone, is the guilty party. 

Same with the "innocent" kids in Kearney a year or so ago....  The police were there looking for someone else, but those kids, clearly guilty of something (or paranoid schizophrenics??) jumped in the car and sped off.   At that point, the police had no way of knowing that none of the people in that car were the guy they were looking for.     After a brief chase, the "innocent" driver lost control killing himself and his passenger.   Yet, every news report blamed the police for pursuing the fleeing vehicle. 

(stepping off the soapbox)

 

The Professional Bull Riders will take over Fox TV on three Sunday afternoons between (yawn) football games. 

This weekend Fox 4 will air the final two rounds of the PBR US Army Classic from Greensboro, NC.   It will air at 3:30pm.

September 30 is the Mohegan Sun Invitational from Uncasville, CT...

And on October 14, the Rocky Boots Invitational from Columbus, OH.  

If you haven't seen a PBR telecast, you're missing out.  

From pbrnow.com:

PUEBLO, Colo. (September 11, 2007) - This weekend the PBR'S elite Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler (BFTS)  returns to action on FOX for the first of three events to be aired this fall on the network following the NFL.  At 4:30 p.m. ET, on Sunday, September 16th, FOX will air the final and championship rounds of the U.S. Army Invitational, the 25th event of the 2007 BFTS season.   This is the second consecutive year that FOX has featured the PBR in its fall sports line-up

The next two opportunities for fans to catch adrenaline-charged PBR action on FOX are on Sunday, September 30th and Sunday, October 14th at 4:30 p.m. ET each weekend. FOX will showcase the final rounds of the Mohegan Sun Invitational and the Rocky Boots Invitational, respectively.  Viewers should check their local listings for the times in their areas.  The Rocky Boots Invitational is the last regular season event of the 2007 Built Ford Tough Series season and as such it is the last chance for the PBR bull riders to qualify for the $3.2 million dollar Built Ford Tough World Finals which take place in Las Vegas October 26 - November 4th. 

Fans can expect to see all the hard-hitting bull riding action they've come to expect from the PBR and the Built Ford Tough Series presented in true cutting edge, FOX sports fashion this fall.

For more information on the PBR and its fall season events on FOX, please contact Denise M. Abbott at 719 242 2800 ext. 3-381 or via email at [email protected]

About PBR:

More than 100 million viewers tune in each year to the PBR on FOX, NBC, VERSUS and on a host of foreign networks across the globe.  With approximately 500 hours of prime time programming annually PBR ranks among the most prolific sports on air, in addition to attracting over one and one half million live event attendees each year with its multi-tiered event structure which includes the marquee Built Ford Tough Series presented by Wrangler, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company Challenger Tour, the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Tour, and the Discovery Tour, designed specifically for entry level contestants. The PBR is headquartered in Pueblo, Colo., and has over 1,200 PBR bull riders competing in more than 300 PBR sanctioned competitions in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico.

 

 

(anyone who believes the animal rights  propaganda about bull riding, keep your BS to yourself.  You have been misinformed by the AR lies.)

http://www.associat edcontent. com/article/ 359112/national_ canine_research_ council_reveals. html

 

The news media is helping the animal rights movement take away our right to own pets by hyping up the pit bull.....  How many times, even on Fox 4, have we seen the teaser graphic of a snarling pit bull type dog--and the story is about a "dog attack".   It's odd that if it's not a so-called pit bull (it is a class or type of dog rather than a true breed)--or a Rottweiler a few years ago--the attacking dog's breed is either not mentioned at all or barely mentioned in passing.    These stories help promote the AR's lobbying for breed-specific legislation, which will effectively make the pit bull type dogs extinct.   But for those of you buying into the pit bull terror hype, don't think they're not going to find a way to come after our goldens, poodles, maltese, chihuahuas...as well.   The animal rights movement is about eliminating our right to own pets of ANY kind.   "Dangerous" dog breeds are just the easiest initial target, and the media is helping the AR in this cause. 

As shown on Carrie Coogan's "Try it Before You Buy it" segment this evening, the professional Furminator tool is available to the general public, as is their reformulated (cheaper for mass-marketing, therefore NOT the same quality as we pros used to exclusively purchase from them). HOWEVER, before you think you can do it yourself at home, there are a couple details that you need to know:

1) The Deshedding shampoo and conditioner do NOT work to their maximum potential unless they are run through a bath system, such as a Hanvey Bathing Beauty or a Hydrosurge power-washer. These units help drive the products into the pet's coat, deep-cleaning the coat and skin, loosening more coat, and giving the pet a hydro-massage. Oh, and they cost about $500, so not cost-effective for anyone but a professional....


2)The High-Velocity dryer that Carrie commented that we pros use doesn't just dry the pet faster. It also loosens and blows a large volume of undercoat off the pet before we ever get to using the actual Furminator tool. I must add that human hair-dryers get way too hot for use on pets, and should only be used for spot-drying small parts of the pet.

Professional groomers have far better tools and products than are available to the public at any Petsomething store. Like any professional service, you will pay more to have us do the work, but our knowledge and skill will yield far better results than you can possibly achieve at home.

For their show debunking the myriad of 9-11 Conspiracies!    The conspiracy-theorists claiming the US government was responsible (or at least knew of and looked away) look like the lunatics and idiots  they truly are.   These people have no respect for the thousands of lives lost that day; they are as evil as the Al Qaeda Terrorists who murdered so many.    I say that because of their annual protests at Ground Zero during the Memorial services.   So many people object to Fred Phelps disrespectful protests at the funerals of our soldiers, why don't they get as angry over the 9/11 Conspiracy-theorists doing the same thing at Ground Zero???

The show debunks EVERY conspiracy theory with facts--and includes interviews with people whose words have been taken out of context by the Conspiracy Loons and used to "prove" their delusions.   It's amazing how different the meanings of those comments are when they're kept in their actual context. 

 

The program "9/11 Conspiracies: Fact or Fiction" will re-air tonight at 8pm central; and again on September 9. 

Does anyone know where the plane that crashed in Sao Paulo Brazil was headed?  Was it bound for the US?

Regardless of who was or was not aboard, this crash is a terrible tragedy, and I pray for those who were lost--and their loved ones left behind.  

As a fan of many of the Brazilian Professional Bull Riders, I also pray that none of them were on that plane.  It's likely that some are/were travelling back to the US yesterday and today after the PBR's 3-week break, in preparation for this weekend's event in Tulsa.   

Does anyone know for sure how Kemper Arena will be used after the Sprint Center opens?   During last year's American Royal, there were rumors floating around that it would become a fulltime rodeo and bull riding facility.   I, for one, would be thrilled to death about that.    Those who have never seen a rodeo in general and bull riding specifically are missing out!    Bring more PBR events (they have two more tours that are not represented in KC yet), and add the CBR and X-Treme Bulls tours.  

A single 8-second bull ride has far more excitement and energy than an entire football, baseball, or basketball game.   The cowboys are anything but "dumb rednecks" as some might believe.  These are true athletes who compete purely for the love of the sport.  And do NOT believe a word of the BS spread by PeTA and its clones.   The livestock are treated as the great athletes they truly are.  They would not (and could not) perform if they were neglected or abused, as the animal rights loons claim.   The cowboys compete with injuries that would sideline a big, brawny football player for 6 weeks or more.   Maybe other sports should adopt the rodeo/bull riding pay schedule---NO win, NO pay.... 

You don't see the "bench" clear at a PBR event for a fight; but if one of their own is injured and in danger, you will see the others jumping in to save their fellow rider.    Love of God, Country, and Family are predominant themes at these events, and the athletes are always accessible to the fans--unlike other sports.   The cowboys sincerely celebrate each others' great rides--even if another's victory costs them a paycheck.    The heroism and athleticsm don't end with the riders, either.   The power and grace of the bulls is as great (even greater at times).... And there can't be enough good said about the bull fighters (formerly called "rodeo clowns"); they are most comparable to the Secret Service, putting themselves in the path of a charging bull so the rider can safely escape. 

PeTA president Ingrid NewJERK (newkirk) is proposing a tax break for vegans, claiming that meat-consumption causes more greenhouse emissions.  

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has launched a “Tax Meat” campaign, proposing a 10-cent-per-pound excise tax on meat. PETA has also asked federal lawmakers to give tax breaks to those who have sworn off the consumption of animals. PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk sent letters to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid urging them to extend to vegetarians the same tax breaks that hybrid car owners receive for purchasing vehicles with low carbon emissions. Newkirk claims vegetarians are responsible for fewer greenhouse-gas emissions and "environmental degradations" than meat-eaters.

Hmm... wonder how they compensate for the common, err, "side-effect" of bean and broccoli consumption???   After all, cattle ARE vegetarians, and if their gaseous emissions contribute to this supposed global-warming, wouldn't the benefit be off-set by more human flatulence??

 

 

we REALLY need a rolling eyes icon available for use on the blog page!

Country in the Woods (Corporate Woods, that is).... 2pm

Headliner is Nashville recording artist, Tracy Byrd whose hits include "I'm Holding Heaven"; "Keeper of the Stars"; "10 Rounds With Jose Cuervo"; "Watermelon Crawl"; "The Truth About Men"..... 

 

http://www.countryinthewoods.net/

 

In the last year or so there have been many horrible stories (none local thank God) about pet groomers seriously injuring or even having pets die in their care.   Sadly, these isolated tragic incidents are eaten up by the News Media.     The truth is that most groomers are highly skilled professionals and such incidents, while tragic, are quite RARE.   Do injuries occur? Yes.  We're working on living creatures who are often less than cooperative.    We're working with very sharp scissors and blades that oscillate at 4000 rpm.    Grooming can be stressful to the dog, and stress elevates the body temperature; combine that with a heated drying cage, and a dog possessing a compromised respiratory system (most of the stories have involved Shih Tzus, Pekingese, Yorkies...all breeds prone to breathing issues), and heat stroke is a good possibility.   That is one reason many groomers (myself included) hand blowdry the pets as much as possible; the other reason is that it just makes the pet look way better than one that has been cage-dried.    If I have to cage-dry a pet, it's usually just a little dampness left on the face and feet, and it's done using a cool fan.   Most of the time, by the time I have the next pet bathed/blow-dried, the one with the fan is dry.  (this is at my other job at a veterinary hospital--with the mobile, it's 100% hand blowdried). 

It would make far more sense to me (and other groomers on the petgroomer.com and groomers.net message boards) for the Media to interview other groomers when these incidents are reported.   Let people IN THE PROFESSION inform the public of the precautions taken in THEIR salons to avoid these serious/tragic incidents, rather than interviewing PeTA/HSUS members who know little or nothing about grooming pets, and are, in fact AGAINST pet ownership and therefore the entire pet care industry.    The outcry when these incidents happen is always about "Groomers need to be regulated/licensed...." 

While licensing of groomers may or may not create a bit more respect and less of the "anyone can shave a dog" mentality, it cannot prevent accidents in the grooming salon.    Most licensing Bills (currently in MA, PA, and NY, I believe) call for banning "cage dryers".   The wording is so vague that it would be possible to revoke a groomer's license if she used a fan on a cage (as I do) to dry a part of a pet that the pet won't tolerate the High-Velocity dryer.    Again, accidents can be prevented, yes--but the nature of our profession won't eliminate all accidents/tragedies.   Is a groomer to blame if she takes a dog with a heart condition the owner doesn't disclose?  Is the groomer to blame if the dog whips around and gets its tongue nipped as the groomer scissors around his back feet?  Unlike veterinarians, who have every pet restrained to the point of immobility, groomers have a lead around the neck and MAYBE a LIPSystem (slings) or Groomer's Helper (head-restraint) on the pet.    We're expected to make every dog look PERFECT, regardless of its age/health/behavior/coat condition... but if the dog zigs when we zag, WE are blamed for the injury.  

As my profile states, I do mobile grooming, meaning I go from home to home in a van containing a complete grooming salon.   A couple weeks ago, I arrived early to one of my clients' homes, and the little neighbor boy (5 years old) came up to the van and started asking me all sorts of questions.  

Now he wasn't bothering me, as I had about 30 minutes before that customer's appointment, and they weren't home....  But this little boy had no qualms about talking to a total stranger, and that bothers me....what if the next person in a "work" van in that neighborhood is a pervert?? 

He wanted to climb into the van to take a look, and I wouldn't allow it.  I told him he needed to either go home and get his mother or stay a few feet back where he (presumably) was within her visual field (although I never saw her). 

This seemed to be a bright little boy, asking all sorts of intelligent questions and telling me many stories while I waited for my client.  It just really concerned me that a child that  young was outside with no adult visible and wanted to climb into a total stranger's van.