My dog can be a handful at times. But that doesn’t mean you can’t like him because of the way he is. “Have all the boxes finished unloading?” Dad yelled. “Just a few more left and then we’re done!” Mom replied. My family and I had just arrived at our new house in Charleston, West Virginia. My mother is a veterinarian and she loved animals very much. The building that she worked in was transferred here at Charleston, and she also got a promotion which she is now the manger at Valley West Veterinary Hospital. I preferred still living in Nashville, Tennessee because I miss having the time to play with my old friends; I grew up living near a farm, and a much warmer climate. No wonder my mom loves animals so much; just like I love my dog Ellie.
The day I moved away, a lot of things were going through my young mind. As I took my last look at my home, I remembered all the fun times I had with my family and friends through out my life. Now I was moving 800 miles away from all of that with no insight on what lied ahead for me. As my family and I drove away from our Michigan home, I looked out the window wondering what Virginia would be, and what my friends were doing. A lot of things were going through my mind at the time. At the time my main worry was if I would make any friends, and how I would adjust to everything. During the whole drive down, my mother would often let me know that everything would be all right and I would like it. Trying to be strong and hold back my tears, I just shook my head no, wondering why we had to move so far away. Life would be different for me and I knew it would.
If I were going to be giving an in-home animal welfare audit on the following animals: large and small dog, 3 cats, 2 hamsters, and a goldfish, I would first start off my audit by examining the home and the surroundings of the animals. This would be my first and most obvious observation that would give me a great deal of insight as to if this is going to be a good or a bad audit. I would look at the condition of the floors, the walls, stairs, cabinets, doors, and the overall infrastructure. If there were scratch marks on doors, cabinets, defecation stains in the carpet, or other unordinary signs, I would begin digging deeper into things. I would also examine the outside condition of the house. I would look at what the backyard looked like, if there were outdoor cages/pens, if the grass was missing from parts of the yard that could indicate neglect from being tied outside for too long, and look to see if the outdoor area is maintained properly meaning fencing and landscape. Next I would look into each animal closer.
It was Friday morning, November 11, and I was in one of my most favorite places in the world, a tree stand. It was a very cold, clear and beautiful morning. The sun was peeking over the trees, the birds where singing, the squirrels where looking for their breakfast and a slight rustle in the leaves told me a deer was not far away.
My first horse I bought is what has helped shape me. I bought him with my own money for 1,000 dollars in hope to make him into a barrel horse. It was a warm spring day when we went to buy him. I was twelve and was so excited to go get my new three year old horse. Normally when you go buy a horse you look and make sure they have a good conformation but i did not care what he looked like. When we got to the ladies house I loaded him into the trailer before she could change her mind. Little did I know the struggles and successes that were to come. He helped me become responsible, persistent and, preserver through any obstacle.
Josh criticized on time here at school. He told me that I was a no good white trash short cracker. It was when he first moved here he didn't know anyone so he did not know who the big dog was around these parts. I felt down about it at first but then “then i realized that I was better than him because he called me names and I hadn't said a word to him. I am proud about the way I handled it. He hasn't called me a no good white trash short cracker since then. This experience has not change the way I offer feedback to others i'm still the big dog in these parts.
It was a chilly, wind gusting day. Sitting in the dark waiting for the thrill of a lifetime to arrive. I can hear something crunching the leaves, walking right down the steep hillside. All I can think about is the deer that could be heading my way. That was the moment before the big buck, it was exhilarating to me because of my family tradition, the thrill of the hunt, and the reward I was about to take.
I felt the chill of the morning enter my room as Bucket opened my window and climbed inside. It wasn’t even his job to gather the boys. My head was racing with questions, but the look on his face told me there was no time.
When looking at an animal what do you see? Are you able to feel their pain, happiness, or doubts? Spending time at my local animal shelter opened my eyes to the emotions these animals were feeling. Being kept in a cage not knowing where you are and that you are not with your family is scary. What do we expect these animals to do besides sit in the corner and cower? Not only was I able to connect on such an emotional level with them but I felt I was able to show them a little love as well.
It was the summer of 2012 and my family and I thought that there was something missing in our life’s. We gave it some thought and time when we came to a conclusion that we needed a dog. For me, it would be the first dog I would ever have, so we got a female dog named Alexis.
On 08/16/17, at approximately 4:34pm, I Deputy Warden N. Christian with Franklin County Animal Care and Control (FCACC) was dispatched to 2804 Stonehenge Dr on a dog at large, no known owner. I arrived at the location and knocked on the door. Complainant stated the dog was in the backyard. I went around to the back of the apartment complex and a unknown female was holding onto the dog (American Bulldog Grey/White). I placed a leashed on the dog, I asked if the unknown female knew where the dog lived, she stated it lives a few house down at 2800 Stonehenge Dr. As I was walking the dog to my vehicle a unknown African American male approached me and stated he knew the dog owner. I asked if he can contact him for me. The unknown African
As a kid, I fell in love with the idea of getting a puppy for Christmas. Wrapped in a small box with a bow on top sitting under the tree just like the movies and tv shows I had seen. I can remember making a Christmas list of all the things I wanted that year, and every year the same thing that I wanted had said “puppy” with it underlined so that my mother knew which was my favorite on the list. Every year no surprise, I didn’t find a dog. I never understood why I never received one. When the kids at school talked about the few dogs they had at home made me so jealous, but I hoped that one day it would be me to have my own best friend at home.
The day consisted of counting minutes and mile markers. Driving on the empty highway, away from the child that I was, to the adult I was forced to become. Every tree, every sign, every mile marker that passed by was another reminder of how fast I was approaching the one thing I had wanted every second of everyday of my life. This day I would finally become the owner of a horse, the day my dreams would come true. My naive and childish self couldn't fathom how much my life would become uprooted by this horse and this day.
My electric fence stopped working, for there is no electricity. I found out the evening of the day I woke up. House lights went out, electronics stopped functioning, vehicles wouldn’t start. ‘They had set off an EMP and now the world I know has been cast back into the dark ages.
Some people think of them as animals. Some people think of them as objects. Some people think of them as friends. Then there are the few who think of them as family. Horses have always been like family to humans, except sometimes closer. There are many benefits to owning or being around horses. They come in many different colors. There is a multitude of breeds, also. Additionally, they have a long history with humans. Horses have unique behaviors. Showing horses has been the past-time or even career of many people. Furthermore, caring for horses can be a handful, but is definitely rewarding. Finally, riding horses is not just a hobby or a sport, but an action of your heart. Horses are wondrous creatures that have lived with man or thousands of years.
From the first dog I got to the first time I picked up and played a trumpet, and from the losses I’ve had to endure to the greatest friend I’ve made in my life. These little “first” events have made me the person I am today. Today if I was to describe myself in one word I would say that the word guardian would be the most accurate to who I am. I am the kind of person who would lay down his life for anyone. I’d take a bullet for just about anyone, or hold a door back to stop someone who was to hurt my friends. I would even jump on top of someone to protect them from something falling on them, and I would even carry them to safety even if it would cost me my life. The “first” events that I have experienced have left a scar on me good or bad each one has made the man I am today.