I really feel sorry...

I really feel sorry for the neighbor's donkeys.

The poor things have no shelter in this bitter cold weather.  Weather that has already seen two snowfalls since Oct 15 and temps down in the single digits.  Those poor donkeys, their personal pets, are stuck in the backyard in these horrible conditions, conditions that neither man nor beast should have to suffer.

Several years back, Bernalillo County mandated that livestock MUST have shelter if kept in small areas, in other words, if they are not out on the open range but are kept in paddocks, etc.  At the time, I spoke against increasing animal rights encroachments upon the property rights of animal owners.  I still do not agree with the greatest part of the animal ordinance, but I can see the value of this portion, especially after seeing their animals suffer from being out in the elements.

In the past, the neighbors were cited for not having any shelters for the adoption donkeys.  After being cited, they built some run-in sheds for that group of animals.  However, those donkeys are easily seen by anyone traveling up and down County Line Road, whereas, their personal donkeys are kept in the backyard, which is hidden from the general public's view.  So, their pets go without and their pets have been going without for several years now.

The poor things...  They are out there in the rain, in the snow, in ice storms, etc. Their only shelter is provided by the lee of the house and that only protects from the north and west.  If we get a sou'wester, the animals will be even more exposed to the elements.

Donkeys Out in the Rain, Summer 2013

This past summer, during a bad storm, they were standing in the rain as it poured down in buckets. There was no escape and little protection from the rain provided by the remaining trees in the yard.  I'm quickly becoming of the opinion that the neighbors should not have any animals, let alone donkeys.

Now it's cold and conditions are not dry. There is nothing worse than being cold & wet. I've seen the donkeys with icicles hanging off of them!  Surely, that cannot be good for them.  It is very sad.

Poor things....

Misty Morning...

Fog?

Fog in the desert?

Even more bizarre...  a heavy fog combined with a south wind, not a zephyr of breeze, but wind...  enough wind that it would move a sailboat.

Way too bizarre, even for New Mexico.

Baby It's Cold Outside...

Brrrr...

Damn!  It's 10:40 a.m. and it is ONLY 22 degrees F outside!  The thermometer needs to be calibrated!

And, it's snowing....  The greyhounds don't want to go out.  They're curled up into tiny balls and occupying the warmest places they can find.

Nampa burrowed in a comforter on the bed

So, since everyone is as snug as a bug in a rug, I've only one thing left to say....

Lyricist Sammy Cahn & Composer Jule Styne, July 1945

Ripple Effects

Everyone knows that if you toss a pebble into a pond, ripples extend outward from where it hit the water.  Other possible changes brought about by that pebble can include frightened fish from the pebble's descent; a splash from the pebble hitting the still surface of the pond; or a bird frightened by the plunk, the sound of the pebble hitting the water.  We know that our actions also affect others, ripples ever extending outwards. It is change enacted through a single and simple act...  the ripple effect.

The Democrats in Congress enacted what is erroneously called the Affordable Healthcare Act aka Obamacare. There isn't anything 'affordable' about it and it has cost many people.  The blame for Obamacare lies strictly on the shoulders of the Democrats as not a single Republican voted for it.  Nancy Pelosi's now famous comment, "You have to vote for it to see what's in it" resonates with her disdain for those people who voiced concerns about the act, those who wanted to read the massive bill before its passage.  But, no....  the Democrats rammed it through.

One PROMISE that people heard a lot from the White House, from the President's own lips was, "If you like your health care plan, you can keep it.  If you like your doctor, you can keep him."  We Americans have been hearing him say that for years, at least since 2009. Other highly ranked Democrats continually supported his statement.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that Obamacare "means making sure you can keep your
family's doctor or keep your health care plan if you like it."

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin told Americans, including those who were happily insured, "we are going to put in any legislation considered by the House and Senate the protection that you, as an individual, keep the health insurance you have, if that is what you want."

Harry Reid

And, let's not forget that Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray said: "If you like what you have today, that will be what you have when this legislation is passed."

They lied.  All of them.  Lies & fabrications...  An empty promise but one heck of a sales pitch and boy were Americans sold a bridge in the middle of the desert.

Now, the ripple effects from those lies and from the passage of the bill are being felt by one & all.  Here are some of the act's side effects.

1. Millions of people have lost their INDIVIDUAL health care plans, plans that they liked.  This number doesn't include those millions of people who are going to lose their insurance when the business mandates kick in AFTER the 2014 mid-term elections.
2. Obamacare taxes, mandates, regulations, and indirect costs on small- and medium-size businesses are directly impacting whether or not businesses can expand and hire. CBO Director Doug Elmendorf testified before the House Budget Committee that Obamacare will result in an estimated 800,000 fewer U.S. jobs. A survey of small to medium sized businesses, which was conducted by the US Chamber of Commerce showed that many businesses are already seeing increasing health care costs and, to cope, 31% of franchise and 12% of non-franchise businesses have reduced worker hours, a full year before the employer mandate goes into effect.
3. Health plans offered by colleges have been severely affected.  As of today, 9 New Jersey schools saw the cost of the health care plans they offered to students triple.  Students at Bowie State in Maryland saw the cost of their health care policies go from $100 to $1800 for two semesters. This is an increase of about 1500%.  Bowie State has dropped the plan.  Many colleges finding  have stopped offering health care policies to their students.
4. Obamacare adds 18 million people to Medicaid and it is estimated that by 2019, more than 80 million people will be on Medicaid. Taxpayers, who are already strapped by rising costs of essential goods will be footing the bill. 
5. Nearly 25% of ALL SENIORS rely on Medicare Advantage. Obamacare makes such deep cuts to the M.A. program, $455 Billion, that 50% of those seniors, who are currently covered, will lose their coverage. Where is that $455 billion going?  It's going to pay for Obamacare. 

Cancelled Coverage as of Nov 14, 2013
Article at Wall Street Journal

Obamacare is an unmitigated disaster.  The dysfunctional portal with its lack of security to our most personal information is only the 1st symptom.  It is a sinking ship and the rats are abandoning it in an act of self-preservation.  Remember who those rats are the next time they run for re-election.

The Last Dog on Earth...

This short story was written at least 7-10  years ago. Thankfully, someone found a copy of it!  Sadly, no one has any idea as to who wrote it to give credit.

With the USDA / APHIS run around of Congress regarding the Animal Welfare Act, this is where we are heading. The anti-animal asses are working towards the abolishment of animal ownership & companionship. Make no mistake about it.  They are masters of incrementalization, like an apex predator, preying on the weak and those they've split off from the herd, the divided.

As animal lovers, we need to set aside our differences, if we want to continue to have animals gracing our lives.

Elaine

---

They were at the door. Her little dog was growling softly. She tried to hush the sound. She knew what they wanted. She felt as though her heart was being ripped from her chest. She had managed to hide her little friend for years.

She shared her food and bed with her. She had bought her on the black market. It had cost her dearly but it was worth it.

She had been so alone. Nothing to love her or for her to love in return. Her children had grown up and forgotten her. Her husband had died two years before she found Sweetie. Sweetie had been a tiny black and tan ball of fur showing her Yorkshire Terrier background. Of course, she knew that Sweetie could not have been purebred. There had been no purebred dogs for years. There were few dogs since the breeders had been slowly and methodically beaten down.

When this first started, everyone sat back and said they could not possibly be the breeders they were talking about. After all, they loved their dogs and they were not "puppy mills". They would never let themselves be overloaded with dogs. Some of them did not get overloaded nor did they breed more than a litter or two a year. They were smug and secure in that only the puppy mills were being raided.

The raids were relentless. They would take place in one state then another. The dog raiders got smarter with every raid. They learned about warrants, the court system, the law in different states and they used whatever means they could to eliminate the breeders of dogs. Some people thought the raiders were dog lovers trying to save the poor mistreated puppies.

HSUS is NOT law enforcement, contrary
to what they would have you believe.

Some of them were dog lovers, at first. The well-meaning rescue groups were used. The American Kennel Club was used. They would revoke the rights of the breeder who was raided. Kennel clubs were infiltrated and destroyed from within. The very fiber of the dog world was silently unraveled one string at a time.

Everyone would rise to arms against every breeder raided. Saying things like that terrible person mistreated those poor dogs; that person had too many dogs; and that person is crazy. If the truth were not provoking enough they would lie and say that person should die. They campaigned by e-mail, petitioned the courts, and used political pull. Even when common sense would tell them that they did not know the facts or circumstances, they persist.

They would see fat happy tail wagging dogs and would say abused dogs. They no longer believed their own eyes. The dogs tried to tell the truth but no one could hear them. True, there were cases of abuse, beaten, starved, and sick animals, at first. Then the tide shifted. Good honest dog loving people started to being raided. Any reason was used. Dogs were taken and the owners refused rights to reclaim their dogs. The raiders started to narrow the number of dogs which were in violation. Any person with a dog became a target. Dog grooming became a thing of the past.

SWAT raid on dog breeder

Veterinarian services were performed out of back rooms under the dark of night until there were no veterinarians. Dog shows had long disappeared along with the American Kennel Club. Children were told tales of the days when every boy had a dog to run with through fields.

The stories of " Old Shep"," O'Yeller", "Call of the Wild"," Lassie" and all those wonderful stories which would bring tears to the eyes of grown men were being forgotten except by a few.

But she remembered as a little girl the small dog who loved her, followed her everywhere, and gave her comfort like no one on earth could give. She just had to find her that special warmth, the grateful lick-kiss, something that loved her unconditionally and a reason for getting up in the morning. She found Sweetie.

Now they were at her door to take the life that she cherished. The warm little black and tan 3- pound body that loved her as much as she loved it. And there was no one to stop them. The old lady with the last dog on earth lay down with her face to the wall.

Boston Wins!

BOSTON WINS WORLD SERIES!

Yesterday, the Boston Red Sox won Game 6 of the World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals to win it for the for the third time in the past decade. This coming just one year after finishing in last place and two years after a historic collapse in September.  Way to go guys...  You're proven the value of teamwork.

Congratulations! Go Sox!

It's Zuppa!

Winter is not my favorite season.  Usually, it's cold and damp...  that combination just makes one's bones ache.

However, there is one thing that I really like about winter...  It's soup season!  I love, love, love soup!

Tonight, I made Pasta y Fagioli.  It's an Italian soup that combines pasta and beans.  This was the first time I made it and it really turned out good.

Here's the recipe...

1 large sprig of fresh rosemary

6-8 sprigs of fresh thyme

1 bay leaf

Put the herbs in a piece of cheesecloth and secure closed with some kitchen twine.

6 cups of chicken stock
Leftover roasted chicken meat

In a large pot, heat at a simmer the 6 cups of chicken stock and add the herb package to it.  I use fresh made stock.

3 oz diced pancetta

Pasta y Fagioli Zuppa

1 large onion diced fine

1 stalk of celery, diced fine

1 carrot, sliced thin

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tbs olive oil

1 tbs butter

Heat the oil & butter in a saute pan.  Add the pancetta, garlic, carrot, celery, and onion.  Saute until tender and then add all to the chicken stock.

12 cherry tomatoes cut in half

1 can red kidney beans (drained & rinsed)

1 can white kidney beans (drained & rinsed)

After adding the saute'd vegetables, slice 12 or so cherry tomatoes in half and add to the pot.  Also add in the drained & rinsed beans.

Salt & pepper to taste.

About 8 minutes before serving, add 1 cup of pasta, such as elbows, bows, or ditali.  Cook until the pasta is el dente and serve with a dusting of Parmesan cheese and/or red pepper flakes or "naked"!

Enjoy!

Snow?

Oh good grief!   It's too early!  It's not even Halloween...

This morning, we awoke to SNOW???

Yes, snow.

Still, I shouldn't complain. We have between 1/2" - 1" while the more northern town of Cimarron has 3" and that's at 6:45 a.m.  Not sure how much more we're gonna get.

Snow on Dog House - 16 Oct 2013

Last night, this snow started out as rain.  Rob & I were watching TV when we heard thunder.  Both of us where like, "What?  Thunder?  Nah...." and then we heard the distinctive sound of hail hitting the windows.  Hmmm...  sure enough....  must have been thunder.  Upon closer examination, the hail revealed itself to be little, round snowballs, which is called "grauple".

At 7:02 a.m., the temperature is 32.5 deg F.

EXTENDED FORECAST
	Today Mostly cloudy with rain and snow showers likely in the morning...then partly cloudy with a chance of rain showers in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 40s to mid 50s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph shifting to the west 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon.
	Tonight Clear. Lows in the lower to mid 30s. Northwest winds 10 to 20 mph in the evening.

Snow....  Just way too early in the season.  I think it's going to be a long, cold, hard one.

Elaine

Where do we go from here...

Well, the neighbor's appeal of the Zoning Commissioner's ruling was heard by the Bernalillo County Board of Adjustment.

A goodly number of their supporters were there, speaking for them. Supporters included neighbors up the street, whom we have never met, and others who have seen fit to call me a liar and worse throughout this entire process simply because I do not want to live next door to a livestock rescue.  The air was heavy with tension and the ill feelings were palpable, so much so that after the hearing, when I found myself in danger of being left alone with them, I asked my neighbors, Karen & Terry, to please walk with me to the garage.

After they and their supporters spoke, it was our turn.  Concerns voiced included: noise, flooded pens, soiled rainwater run off, numbers of animals, the previous online threats made by the appellants, etc. It is truly a nasty business which has set neighbor against neighbor. The County Line Neighborhood Association, an entity which has extended invitations to those in the neighborhood who are in favor of the operation, also opposes the rescue as voted upon by the active members and that was made clear at the hearing.

After all sworn testimony had been heard, the Board members cussed & discussed the issue. I believed that Ms. Barbour was going to vote for them as she was the one who made the previous motion to give them another deferral.  It was obvious that the Chair, Mr. Carrillo (?), was supportive of them.  And, another member, Mr. Chavez, commented how it is beholden upon people to care for and to help animals (or something similar) and how much he tried to help animals.  "Oh great," I thought, "Here it comes.  They are going to be approved."  Much to my stunned surprise, Ms. Barbour motioned that they be denied the conditional use permit and, excepting the Chair, the Board upheld the Zoning Commissioner's ruling!

As many, including myself and my husband, in the opposition camp have stated throughout the process, we are not against donkey or animal rescue. We are against the establishment of a livestock rescue business, regardless of species, in a residential area where most properties are about 2 acres in size. An operation of the size they are running needs more acreage and many fewer neighbors. In the past 20 years, since we've moved here, at least 20 new houses have been erected within a 1/2 mile circumference of the neighbor's property. This is not the right location.

Now, the question is, where do we go from here.  Will they be filing another appeal, this time to the County Commissioners?  Will they cease operations?  Will they move?  Will they continue doing business as normal?  Will the County issue them a 'cease and desist operations' letter? So many, many questions.  Guess we'll be finding out sooner or later.  For now, I'm just glad this is somewhat over.

Potato & Corn Chowder With Green Chili, PotaCheese, and Bacon

Oh...  this is a really good, really hearty soup.  It's perfect for a cold winter's night and I want to share the recipe.

Potato & Corn Chowder with Green Chili, Cheese, & Bacon

6-8 large potatoes, cubed
8 cups of water

Place water & cubed potatoes in a large pot and cook until soft.

1 tbs butter
1/2 large onion, minced
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
4-5 green chilies, chopped

While potatoes are cooking, melt the butter in a pan and add the onion, garlic, and green chili.  Saute until the onions are translucent.

1 bag of frozen corn
1 pt of chicken stock
1 tbs dried thyme
1 tbs salt (or to taste)
1 tbs black pepper (or to taste)
1/2 cup sour cream

When the potatoes are soft, puree until smooth. When smooth, add the onion mixture, corn, stock, thyme, salt & pepper, and sour cream.  Heat through.

1 lb shredded cheddar cheese
1 tbs flour

Toss the cheddar cheese with the flour and add to the pot, stirring constantly to prevent sticking and to smooth out any cheese lumps.

6-8 slices of bacon, fried crisp & crumbled

When soup is smooth and seasoned to taste, serve with crumbled bacon on top.

This would probably be good with a bit of red bell pepper in it too, chopped fine.

CALL TO "BATTLE STATIONS" - - "IT'S NOW OR NEVER!

By: Frank Losey (franklosey@twc.com)
Information on Website: www.memoryofchaucer.com/franklosey.htm

I wish to share what I believe "Everyone Needs to Hear, Rather Than What They Want to Hear."

The APHIS FINAL RULE is like a runaway freight train, and I personally and professionally believe that the only realistic, practical way to "derail" the "freight train" before November 17, 2013 is for a Federal Judge to issue a Temporary (ideally a Permanent) Injunction that would expressly prohibit the USDA from implementing the Final Rule. In short, the "60-Day Time Bomb clock" is ticking, and if a Federal Injunction is not issued before November 17, 2013, the APHIS Final Rule will have the "EFFECT" OF LAW THAT MAY BE ENFORCED AGAINST ANY BREEDER THAT APHIS (A.K.A. MS. SARAH L. CONANT) DETERMINES TO BE IN NON-COMPLIANCE!

Although the APHIS Final Rule is a "Regulation," it is a "Readers Digest" version of the PUPS Bill, and it will "grease" the HSUS path for HSUS to begin 2014 with a Full Court Press to persuade Congress to enact the PUPS Bill. In this regard, an unchallenged APHIS Final Regulation will strengthen the arguments that HSUS will put forward for Congress to enact the PUPS Bill. And what is so chilling is that when the PUPS Bill comes up for a vote, the APHIS Rule will - - repeat "WILL" - - be cited in support of an "eleventh hour" floor amendment to add a few tweaks that purportedly will be technical in nature, but could be the final nails being drilled into the figurative coffins of all Hobby and Commercial Breeders.

While there is so much truth in the adage that "Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures," I fervently believe that "Desperate Measure" of citing subjective "loopholes," such as claiming that all dogs bred fall into the hunting or working or any other "exempt" dog category is doomed - - yes
doomed - - to failure because Dr. Rushin stated that decisions will be made on a "case by case" basis. Such a subjective "case by case" statement could be cited as one of the judicial arguments for seeking a Federal Injunction because it constitutes an admission that the Final Rule is so vague and ambiguous that breeders may be subject to subjective rather than objective standards, which will create a realistic potential that their Constitutionally guaranteed due process rights may be jeopardized because they will be subject to arbitrary interpretations that would not stand the scrutiny of judicial review. In this regard, bear in mind that "case by case" interpretations may very well be made by Ms. Sarah L. Conant, the former HSUS Litigation Attorney who is now the Chief of the APHIS Investigative and Enforcement Branch! And she has the authority to decide how great fines will be for a violation of this Final Rule, and in "appropriate" cases, she may further make recommendations as to "prosecutions!"

BOTTOMLINE: Those who believe they can circumvent compliance with the Final Rule by claiming that they fall within an "exception" are playing with fire that could ultimately result in fines and lifetime prohibitions from ever being permitted to breed dogs. That is why it is so important to challenge the Final Rule before it becomes, in effect, a "Rule of Law." In this regard, if all breeders contacted their respective Member Organizations and urged them to immediately and collaboratively work together in order to seek a Federal Injunction NOW, the "Window of Opportunity" to stop the "runaway freight train" will not be lost, and the PUPS Bill may be mortally wounded, and lose Congressional Support!

The "Desperate Measure" that has the greatest chance of success to stall and "derail" the runaway APHIS FINAL RULE freight train is for all breeders - - Hobby and Commercial Breeders - - to make a commitment to "STAND UNITED," and to cease and desist "pointing fingers at one another," and follow the HSUS Playbook Strategy of presenting a "unified front."

Last year the HSUS orchestrated the APHIS Proposed Rule as part of its "masterful" and diabolical Strategic Plan, which it has "masterfully" orchestrated over the last 10+ years by, step-by-step, deceiving and dividing the breeder community of Hobby and Commercial Breeders. First, it deceived the hobby breeder community in the 2004-2006 time-frame by claiming that it only was targeting the commercial breeders which it referred to as the nasty and inhumane "PMs." (Note I never publicly use the phrase that the "PM" stands for because it was designed by the HSUS to create a false image in the minds of the America Public and Elected Officials! And it has worked, even though it is the equivalent of a despicable racial or ethnic slur.)

Many within the Hobby Breeder Community have used the HSUS' "PM" phrase over and over again without realizing that this usage supported the "divide and conquer strategy" of the HSUS because it offended a significant number of Commercial Breeders who truly, truly care about the health and welfare of their dogs and puppies, and who meet or exceed even the AKC Standards. And to the dismay of AKC and the thousands of AKC Breeders, they were shocked on May 1, 2013 when the HSUS stated that the AKC was "joined at the hip" with the "PMs!" All the more reason for AKC Breeders to cease using the "PM" phrase that predictably will transition into the HSUS referring to
Commercial "PMs" and Hobby "PMs."

Predictably, the HSUS will use any attempt by the Hobby Community to exempt themselves out from under the Final Rule as further evidence that the AKC and its Hobby Breeders are "joined at the hip" with the "PMs," and the HSUS will put on a major push at the beginning of next year to claim that the
flaws associated with the APHIS Final Rule can only be corrected by the passage of PUPS. In short, "loophole" arguments will be cited as a reason for swift passage of the PUPS Bill, at which time a few "tweaked" provisions will be added as late night "Floor Amendments," which Amendments would
tighten the noose tighter around the necks of all breeders - - Hobby and Commercial - - and provide yet another basis for HSUS to press for publishing a new and even more stringent Final Rule that will have death knoll implications for all breeders. This is why Commercial Breeders must support all efforts by the Hobby Breeder Community to stop the USDA from enforcing the Final Rule with a Federal Injunction. In this regard, if the collective efforts of "ALL" breeders resulted in a Federal Injunction that barred the enforcement of the APHIS Final Rule, such an Injunction would all but absolutely- positively "kill" - - like a "poison pill - - the PUPS Bill, which Bill is even worse than the APHIS Final Rule. Thus, a "WIN-WIN" for all Hobby Breeders and all Commercial Breeders. In short, the PUPS Bill would become "toxic," and even the current co-sponsors would not push for a vote.

In the words of Benjamin Franklin: "We must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." In short, Commercial Breeders must support any effort by the Hobby Breeders to obtain a Federal Injunction that will stop the USDA from enforcing the APHIS Final Rule on November 17, 2013.

The time, cost and expense of seeking a Federal Injunction will be substantial. However, in the long run, the cost of supporting the effort to obtain a Federal Injunction will pale in comparison to the financial and psychological cost to all affected breeders who are forced to either comply with the APHIS Final Rule, as interpreted by Ms. Conant, or to cease breeding dogs all together. In this regard, no Hobby Clubs or State Commercial Breeder Organizations have the financial resources to independently fund an effort to stop the immediate and follow-on "carnage" that will occur if the Final Rule is not successfully challenged in a Federal Court. That is why I believe that it is imperative for an
organization, such as AKC, to take the lead in pursuing the effort to seek a Federal Injunction. They have the name recognition and stature to make the representation to a Federal Court that it has "legal standing" to represent the interests of the single "largest class" of breeders in the U.S., as opposed to just a few breeders. Here it is significant to note that AKC Breeders not only include Hobby Breeders, but also include a significantly large number of USDA Commercial Breeders. While AKC is in the best position to take the lead, all other Commercial and Hobby Breeder Organizations should financially support the Federal Injunction Option to the best of their financial ability.

If the APHIS Final Rule is not Successfully Challenged, there may not be another opportunity to derail the HSUS Freight Train. From a military perspective, when possible, it is best to pick the battles you have the best chance to win. The APHIS Final Rule may be the best battle to wage because there are so many flaws and "omissions" in the Background Justification published in the Federal Register that may be cited as the legal bases for a Federal Judge to grant an Injunction. (I do not wish to publicly cite all
of the legal bases as I do not believe it is prudent to give the HSUS a "heads-up." Never tell your enemy how you plan to defeat it!)

BOTTOMLINE: As an attorney, I professionally believe that the published discussion of the Comments that APHIS referenced in the September 18, 2013 Federal Register provides a number of legal arguments that may be cited in support of a Lawsuit that seeks to restrain the USDA and APHIS from
enforcing the APHIS Final Rule.

The Words of "It's Now or Never" have never been truer or more appropriate to say.

Frank

Flies and Pestilence.... Oh My!

In communications to the Zoning board about the Andrew Cross & Dorothea Lotter d/b/a Edgewood Longears Safehouse zoning case, one of the concerns that I've voiced concerns pestilence, which includes flies and rodents.  Flies have been a big problem now for a couple of years and rodents have been a concern, especially mice, since they can carry two deadly diseases:  Hanta Virus and Plague, among other transmissible diseases, including cuterbra aka "bot fly", a parasite.  Cuterebra flies are found in conjunction with rodents and, as any horse owner knows, rodents are a problem when you have livestock to feed.

http://www.doghealth.com/parasites/cuterebra-infestations-in-dogs

Several of us have complained to Zoning about the trash in their yards and that the trash can serve as a home for mice, rats, snakes (rattlesnakes), black widow spiders, and other unwanted critters.  

Trash Piles for Rodents and Other Pests to Hide

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), "Plague has occurred in rural and semi-rural areas of the western United States, primarily in semi-arid upland forests and grasslands where many types of rodent species can be involved. Many types of animals, such as rock squirrels, wood rats, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, chipmunks, mice, voles, and rabbits can be affected by plague."

We've lived out here for 20 years and in all that time, some of our neighbors have had a horse or two.  When we first moved in all those years ago, there were people out here running cattle.  One morning, I awoke to find 5 steer of various vintages roaming around in my garden.  I went outside and shooed them away with a dish cloth.  The sheriff's dept came by and lassoed them up and took them home.  It's been interesting.  However, I must say in all those years, we've never had the fly problems like we have had the past 2 or 3 years.

Nampa's Butt - Bot Fly Larva Infection

This year, the flies have been absolutely wicked.  Before putting the dogs outside for any reason, they get sprayed with fly spray.  The yard is picked up religiously to help control flies.  We are using fly traps...  fly paper... and fly swatters and still there are flies.  I HATE flies!  The large numbers of donkeys being kept by the neighbors doesn't help with the fly situation and neither does the fact that they do not religiously pick up the animal waste in their yards.

So, where am I going with this?  Several of my dogs have been infected with bot fly larvae.  My vet is of the opinion that the problem has its roots in the neighbors' donkeys, probably from the manure that isn't picked up regularly.  That manure draws in the flies.  In 20 years, we've never had a dog get a bot fly infection.  Now, at least three of them are infected.  I'm seriously upset.

Oh...  by the way, people can also become infected with bot flies.  I think it's time to buy some hazmat suits for us and the dogs.

Don't Let The Rain Come Down....

In the mornings, as we drink our coffee, we like to watch Steve Stucker on Channel 4, KOB-TV.  This morning, he was saying that the state will be getting more rain today and for several days more.  Now then, I like rain and we've been in a drought and the state NEEDS the rain, but come on now...  can we have one sunny day or a couple of sunny hours between storms?  For some reason, a song from the 1960's is running through my brain, "Don't Let the Rain Come Down (Crooked Little Man)".  It's a cute song by the Serendipity Singers and I believe it reached #2 during 1964, right behind the Beatles!



The refrain goes...

Ah Ah Oh No Don't Let the rain come down,
Ah Ah Oh No Don't Let the rain come down,
Ah Ah Oh No Don't Let the rain come down,
My roof's got a hole in it and I might drown...
Oh yes, my roof's got a hole in it and I might drown.

I know...  I know....  no complainin' when it's rainin'.  However, most of the state continues to be under flood watches and flood warnings.  While we are OK up here on our hill, many in the state are not OK.  Lives have been lost and homes destroyed.  It's bad, folks, and many formerly dry arroyos and river beds are flowing full, hard, and fast.

Flood Watches & Warnings on Mon, Sep 16

The hounds & I have been pretty much house bound because of the mud.  Our drive, rather than having puddles, has a lake.  Yesterday, I took a shovel and dug a small trench to help drain the drive.  Makes me feel like I'm living in a rural, red neck area because I can go "mud bogging" in the front yard!

Mud Bog in Front Drive

Mud in this neck of the woods is its own life form.  Anyone who has any experience with it knows why they use it to make bricks and adobe homes.  Once it hardens, there is no removing it.  When you walk in it, you grow by inches.  Years ago, whippet owner & vet, Lisa Costello, wrote a poem about "mud...  Albuquerque mud."  I surely wish I had kept that poem.

The neighbor's donkey paddocks down by the road have standing water in them. The poor critters are standing in mud & muck.  As I drove by on Saturday to go to the yarn store, where I'd not been in two weeks, I couldn't help but notice the mud caked onto their hooves.  The picture below was taken on Saturday, Sept 14 at 9:44 a.m., when I was driving past.  Poor things!

Edgewood Longears Safehouse Flooded Donkey Pen

As bad as the donkeys have it, a new neighbor to the south is getting it worse.  The flow going through that flood area (yes, the donkey pens are built in a flood drainage area), is to the south.  All the water that has gone through those pens has settled in the one to two acre field that is housing two horses.  At least, the horses have grass underfoot.  They don't have to stand in mud.

Ah ah...  oh no....  don't let the rain come down....

More on the Weather...

Today is something like the 5th day in a row where it's raining.  I've not seen rain like this since leaving Maryland in 1993. Locals say it hasn't rained like this in New Mexico since the 1970's, maybe the 1960's.

Last night, early this morning, we had a rip snorter of a storm roll through. It was probably the most violent storm we've had in the 20 years that we've been living in this house. We were seeing lightning every couple of seconds and there was one that was so strong, it shook the house.  Excepting for Nampa, the dogs were shaking in their paws.

Javelin (L) & Jib (R) in Front Yard

We've had several inches of rain and it is commonly said that 1" of rain = 12" of snow.  If this weather holds, we're going to get a normal winter here, which is something we've not had since before the Maxies lived in the house next door. That was in 2004, I think.

Look at the photo of Jib & Javelin running in the snow in the front yard. In places, the snow was deeper than they were tall.

Javelin was returned to us as a yearling in 2003 after her "owner" bugged out, abandoning her and the other greyhounds in his possession.  Thankfully, Laurie Soutar took them in.  She kept Javelin for the coursing season and then returned her to us after Jan 1, 2004.  In 2006, we had a good snowstorm at Christmas, when we got about 24" or so.  But, we really haven't had a normal winter or snowfall since.

Nick in the Front Yard

I don't know what the neighbors with their donkeys are going to do if we have a normal winter & normal snowfall.  They won't be able to get out of the neighborhood in their small, yellow car to buy feed for the donkeys.

In a normal winter, there are times lasting several days, sometimes a week, when we cannot get out with the 4WD Toyotas. Sometimes the snow has been so deep that State government has been known to send around front end loaders to DIG OUT people! One year during Bill Richardson's term of office, the State was dropping livestock feed to herds of cattle which were stranded without feed.  I seem to think that happened the year we had 11 feet of snow in our front yard.  It can get bad out here.  The neighbors with the donkeys have no experience with a normal, East Mountain winter and our normal snowfalls.

Well... I'm kind of curious as to how the shelters for the donkeys, which appear rather ramshackle, will hold up with a foot or more of snow on them.  I'm also wondering how their fences will hold up. It may be an interesting winter.

Rain.... Rain... Rain...

Today marks day 3 of some, at times, torrential rains in New Mexico. There's mud everywhere and it's the deep, boot sucking off kind of mud.  You step in it and your shoe is gone, never to be retrieved.

Flood Watches in New Mexico

I'm guessing that we've had about 2" of rain here at the house.  However, other parts of the state are in much worse shape.  We're quite fond of saying, "No complaining when it's raining..." but this is rather extreme.  Roads are closed throughout the state because of storm damage; Roswell is flooded; and about 80% of the state is under either a flood watch or warning.  Good Lord! People have had to be airlifted out of Artesia and the Guadalupe mountains in southern NM saw more than 11" of rain!

ACTIVE ALERTS FOR 87104

FLASH FLOOD WATCH A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 12:00AM MDT SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Posted at: 10: 41 AM MDT Friday Sep 13 2013 Expires: 7: 00 PM MDT Friday Sep 13 2013

They are aying that the rain will continue all day today and more is forecast for tomorrow.  

7-DAY FORECAST FOR 87015
Today 66 52	Saturday 71 51	Sunday 72 50	Monday 74 50	Tuesday 74 49	Wednesday 77 50

Colorado has it worse. Lives have been lost in Colorado.

  

Never Forget...

2,977 victims of which 2,753 were in the Twin Towers in NYC....  Gordon Aammoth Jr...  The first of the names to be read in New York.

2nd Jet Striking the World Trade Center on 9-1-1

It's been twelve years...  twelve years since the Twin Towers fell in a heinous, terrorist attack, an attack that had been compared to the sneak attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941, another day that lives in infamy.

It seems like not a day has gone. The pain and anger is fresh. Perhaps some have forgotten, but not all. The friends and relatives, who lost love ones, have not forgotten and neither have I.  I'll never forget seeing my elderly mom crying, saying, "It's Pearl Harbor all over again."  That was the day I comforted my mom, rather than my mom comforting me.  It changed the relationship between us forever up until the day she died.

I'll never forget desperately trying to get my brother on the phone to check on the kids, my niece & nephew, and keeping those efforts away from my elderly mom - their grandmother.  You see, they were both in New York at that time.  Hours later, my brother was finally reached and he let me know that "the kids are fine... they are safe."  I thanked God many times that day for that small miracle.

One of the USS Joseph Hewes family, Capt Robert Edward Dolan, was lost that day at 9:37 a.m. when American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon. Our hearts are with his family on this day, as they are with all the families.

This was a horrible and terrible day.

God bless everyone on this day of remembrance. May we all reflect on what is truly important - our families and friends.  Never forget...

A New Friend...

I made a new friend today, Santa Fe Deputy Sheriff Stephen Orr.  What a nice man!

He stopped by the house last week one day, while I was out. He left his card with the short note, "Please call!"   Come to find out, he needed to deliver some correspondence regarding Alberta "C.C." Hockett aka Alberta "C.C." Evans of Canyon, TX, who owes me a large sum of money from a judgment against her for breech of contract with regard to a dog, Ch DM Dots N' Dashes, I loaned to her son, a junior handler at that time.

Anyway, Deputy Orr finally caught up with me today, when I met him at the Dairy Queen in Edgewood.  What a nice man!  We instantly hit it off and probably chatted about all things hither, thither, and yon for the next 20-30 minutes. I left him with the promise that the next time we go prairie dog hunting, I will call him and let him know.  I really hope he's able to come along with us. However, realistically, between his schedule, Rob's schedule, my schedule, and anyone else's schedule, it may be difficult for all of us to be in the same place at the same time.  But I can hope!

In addition to the prairie dog hunting, he's interested in possibly joining up with Rob and the NM MILSURPS (NM Military Surplus Shooters) for their Sunday shoots.

Did I happen to mention, I really like this man!

I'm honored to call the Deputy, this fine man, my friend.

As A Neighborhood...

This was originally posted as a reply under the comments on the post titled, Stalking Me.  However, I deleted it there and am putting it here.

---

Barbara, perhaps they should have talked to the neighbors before deciding to put a livestock rescue in the neighborhood. The neighbors said nothing up until the filing with zoning, because we were trying to be good neighbors, sucking up our complaints because we had been assured by Andrew on numerous occasions that, "It's only temporary." Well, the neighbors are still waiting for the "temporaries" to leave.

Robert, yes, the neighbors believe that the potential for them to harm us exists. They have already exhibited complete disregard for the neighbors over the years in several ways, not all of which are related to donkeys. In this particular instance, they crossed a line that should never have been crossed with their comments and implied threats about an armed vigilante group, regardless of whether or not it was true.

With regard to the knocked over sign, anyone, who knows this area, could look at how the sign was laying on the ground and with the given "directions", determine that no car hit it. It has every appearance of being staged. Then, to implicate one of the neighbors by the color of their truck... bad, bad, bad. If a dead animal was placed on the fence post, why is there no photo? There are photos of everything else.

Robert, not having a Federal tax exempt I.D., charity status, or sanction by the NMLB has not stopped them from soliciting donations in the past, why should the neighbors actions to prevent the zoning change keep them from getting donations now?

As a neighborhood, we do not want the donkey rescue. Several of us have been harassed by abusive phone calls and other such nonsense.

As a neighborhood, we no longer trust the residents of that property. They have abused the neighbors' goodwill. Just as some of their supporters have abused this blog by posting hateful comments, some of which have been removed.

As a neighborhood, we feel they are not people who honor their word. Out here a man's word is his bond.

As a neighborhood, we do not want a business, especially one that brings strangers into the area.

As a neighborhood, we want our quality of life back; our peace & quiet. When they had 2 donkeys, it was quiet. When they took in a small herd of donkeys, it became noisy and it hasn't been quiet since.

As a neighborhood, we do not blame or hate the animals. It isn't their fault; the fault lies with the people. Prior owners of the property had animals, including livestock (horses) and there were few issues.

This entire situation is of their making. They should try to fit into the neighborhood; not the neighborhood change to fit them.

And, yes, I am speaking for the neighborhood as interim President of the County Line Neighborhood Association.

Dyno-Mutt Systems Press Release - Gas Attacks...

With all the talk lately of gas attacks in Syria, we here at Dyno-Mutt Systems, a division of Yummy Mutt Feeds, thought to bring to light this almost, long lost press release about our bio-engineered, gas recycling system called FAART.

This recycling system was the product of the fine engineers at Dyno-Mutt Systems, Inc. We here at Dyno-Mutt suspect that the Syrians have stolen our patent and are using the FAART system for their nefarious purposes.  We wanted to clear the air.  We disavow any connection to the Syrian government.

Here is our original press release...

---

DYNO-MUTT SYSTEMS, INC.

A DIVISION OF YUMMY MUTT FEEDS

PRESS RELEASE 

JULY 1996

Introducing the newest system of integrated greyhound design and utilization, Dyno-Mutt Systems is proud to announce the release of FAART (Fast Acceleration And Rapid Transit).

A Pair of FAART Equipped Greyhounds

FAART is an innovative, gaseous system that integrates several purposes of the flexible greyhound design. It provides both rapid acceleration and transport for the dogs. And, most importantly, it surpasses the stringent California EPA standards for fuel powered vehicles.

FAART can be used in the following ways:

Hook FAART up to the existing fuel system of your transport vehicle. Not only will you get a cleaner exhaust and non-polluting vehicle, but the higher octane rating (200) provides more pickup than ever with the benefit of increased mileage! A FAART equipped greyhound not only provides the fuel to get to a lure course, but then can run also!

FAART provides quicker acceleration off the line and provides an extra boost during long straights for coursing dogs. It is completely legal according to existing ASFA and AKC rules.

FAART equipped greyhounds are currently being used to provide natural gas (methane) for the City of Albuquerque to run its public transportation system and to heat public buildings (higher BTU value = less fuel used). NOTE: since the introduction of FAART, Albuquerque has been recognized as a "clean air city" by the EPA.

FAART equipped greyhounds are an effective anti-crime device. During the execution of a crime against a FAART equipped system, FAART erupts and incapacitates the criminal, leading to an easy arrest. A word of caution, those in the company of a FAART equipped greyhound need to stay upwind or suffer the same debilitating consequences as the criminal.

FAART is effective fumigation for pesky, ground digging critters (see gophers, prairie dogs, woodchucks). It is quiet and efficient (subprogram SBD). During the testing process, an incident took place proving FAART's effectiveness at fumigation. A burrowing owl was downwind of the test area in an abandoned prairie dog town. As the gas permeated its underground nest, it reportedly staggered from its burrow saying, "give a hoot, don't pollute".

And, FAART is sub-sonic, so as not to disturb any protected, threatened, and/or endangered species in your area, i.e., black footed ferrets, desert kangaroo rats, mountain lions, Mojave tortoise, etc.

FAART does not use expensive fuels (ethanol and/or petroleum) that are notorious for polluting the atmosphere. It uses a cheap, readily available fuel source in the form of soy and soy by-products. This fuel can be purchased at any grocer, pet or feed store. It can even be legally grown at home and is good for the planet. Whatever is not used can be 100% recycled.

FAART is environmentally friendly.  When not in use, FAART can be shut down using Pepto-Bismol, Di-Gel, Gas-X, or any of the other gas reducing/eliminating items available in your local market or pharmacy reducing the possibility of a ruptured fuel cell or accidental leakage. FAART can also be disabled by the introduction of soy free fuels.

What is better than existing propulsion systems? Why, FAART, of course!

Rob Summerhill
CEO and Top Dawg

Elaine Summerhill
Secretary, Administrator, and all around Minion

Stalking Me...

The other day, Wednesday, we had a landscaper come to check out the front yard where I want to plant some trees and bushes.  There are multiple reasons for the plantings.

1. To effect a repair of an area destroyed by the neighbors' donkeys;
2. To serve as a visual barrier between the yards;
3. To hide from view their destroyed property, which is an eyesore, and the piles of trash that litter the place;
4. To help serve as somewhat of a 'noise break'; 
5. To help serve as a windbreak; and
6. To, hopefully, create a better curbside appeal, to show that most of us in this neighborhood have some pride of ownership.

Yesterday, after speaking with the landscaper on the phone, I was in my front yard, staring down the fence line, looking at the damage, and conceptualizing where we are going to place three tall pine trees and some wire fencing to protect them from the neighbors' donkeys.  I also scoped out dead & dying trees and shrubs for the landscape crew to remove...  trees & shrubs on my property that have been killed by the neighbors' donkeys.

So, while I'm out there, one of the neighbors just had to come outside to stare at me.  I don't know if they were trying to intimidate me, harass me, or what.  Nothing was said, they just stared.  It was most uncomfortable as I kept expecting a bullet in my back. If I walked anywhere, they followed, never saying anything...  just staring...  kinda like a stalker.  They are just rude.

They say, "good fences make good neighbors".  Seeing that fence should tell you something.  I can't fix it, it's their property and it's posted.  I took a chance once before to keep an animal from ingesting a plastic bag, not again.  After all, in their own words, if I were to trespass or bother their property, they could, "blow me away".  Nice....  huh....

Being stalked in Edgewood.....

What We're Dealing With...

This morning, one of the neighbor's supporters decided to let me know on this blog their opinion of me & our efforts to keep our neighbors from starting a livestock rescue next door.

Jack pushing on the fence to graze my yard

Now mind you, they are currently keeping 5 donkeys in their 1/3 acre backyard where they allow them to push on the fence and graze our property.  Our property has been grazed so much that for a 3' wide swath it is nothing but bare dirt and a couple of newly rooted cholla & prickley pear cacti.   The donkeys pushing on the fence to get to our yard has really damaged it.  I knew it was in bad shape, but I didn't realize how bad it was until today when I was discussing options with the landscaper.  After really looking at the fence today, I'm not sure how it's holding those animals in that yard.

The fence posts are bent, which is to be expected.  The 4" square, wire field fencing is sagging.  It's sagging so much that it is down to the elbows of one of the smaller, standard sized donkeys. It won't be much longer before the mammoth donkeys will be able to step over it and into my yard.  The staples which held the fencing to the wooden corner posts have all pulled out.  Truly, the only thing holding up that fence, which is right on the property line, are the bent, metal, t-posts.  That's it folks!

Anyway, I've digressed.

The supporter of our neighbor, who didn't have the courage of their convictions to post their name, proceeded to lambaste me for standing against our neighbors.  Like our neighbors, they are nothing but bullies and they are cowardly ones, at that.  Heck, I'm not even going to say anything more about these obviously unbalanced people, I'll let their words do the talking.  Enjoy!

These kinds of people, animal rights activists, are all cut from the same mold.  The thrive on drama. They spread all kinds of misinformation & disinformation.  They love to be "the victim" and they are hypocrites.  They want people to believe they are kind & considerate, when they are everything but.

The comments above are just so typical and it just goes to show the kind of people we're dealing with.

Gotta Wonder Why....

I gotta wonder why people turn on their friends all in the name of rescue.  It doesn't matter if it's dog rescue, horse rescue, cat rescue, or any other kind of rescue including that of unborn children who are being slaughtered under the guise of "choice".

Normally sane & reasonable people develop a Jeckyll & Hyde persona and they turn on those they've known for years in favor of those they may have been acquainted with for a much shorter period.  I'm speaking of many, many years shorter.  And, of course, they never ask their friend of many, many years for their views.  They would rather believe the false friend.

By the way, for those who do not know, a false friend is a person who is not really your friend. They are acquaintances, people, who we may have encountered by way of a common cause.  Through that cause, we may become real friends or not.  That depends on them. They may want attention, popularity, your belongings or just plain and simply, your money.

People involved in animal rights are ALWAYS after something other than your true friendship.  They will stroke your ego and mollify your desire to help someone or something less fortunate. If you buck them at all, do not agree with them 100%, they drop you like a hot potato.  Another classic move of theirs is to condemn and lie about you, twisting everything to their advantage.  Noted animal rights groups where this is more than obvious include, but are not limited to: Grey2K, HSUS, and PeTA, as well as their minions.  They trash good people and those who should know better believe them!

Ya know, I just don't get it.

Noise & Stuff

Since our return from Newport, R.I., the donkeys have been very vocal. Maybe it's the cooler weather; maybe they have new donkeys; maybe they have jennies in season.  But they've been very, very vocal.  For instance, last night they started braying at 9:54 p.m. and they continued to bray until 10:07 p.m. - NON STOP!  It wasn't just one donkey, but a whole passel of them...  Mr. Squeaky, Foghorn, and one or two others.

Yesterday afternoon, Karen K. & I went to visit with Mrs. Perea, a neighbor.  Mrs. Perea is a sweet lady who had 82 years of life under her belt.  She's a lovely woman and she does not like the donkeys. One reason for her dislike is she is not in the best of health and the donkeys prevent her from getting a proper amount of rest.  Another reason is that she wants to sell her home, but she's concerned (legitimately) that having a small herd of donkeys so close to her home will affect the property's value. The donkey paddock in the valley is about 300' from her house and 45' from her fence line.

Mrs. Perea has good cause to be concerned and she isn't alone in her concerns about the effect that the establishment of a donkey rescue will have on property values.  It is a well known fact that animal noise and bad neighbors can and will reduce property values up to 20%!  So, if your home is appraised for sale at $100,000, you will only get about $80,000 for it.  That is a considerable chunk of change to lose!  Face it, for most of us, our homes are the biggest investment we have.  We have dumped many hundreds of thousands of dollars into our homes: purchase, taxes, insurance, improvements, and repairs, only to have our investment evaporate due to bad neighbors and noisy animals.

According to an article, Seven Neighborhood Threats to YourHome's Value, by Brian O'Connell, published in MSN Real Estate, bad neighbors can seriously affect the value of one's property.  Real estate professionals say that a bad neighbor is any home or business that turns people off.  

"A bad neighbor is one that has no consideration for the rest of the community," says Mindy Pordes, co-founder of Pordes Residential Sales & Marketing in Aventura, FL. "For example, someone who doesn't take care of the outside appearance of the home, such as the gardening, painting of the outside of the home, roof, garbage, and general upkeep.  In addition, a bad neighbor may have constant visitors taking up parking spaces, perhaps on the street, loud house parties, dogs that bark all night or stray cats lingering around."

Another article, Nine Things That Will Trash Your Home's Value, published in Business Insider on May 15, 2013 states 

"A nearby property's overgrown yard, peeling paint, and clutter can easily knock 5% to 10% off the sale price of your home, said Joe Magdziarz, the president of the Appraisal Institute and a real-estate appraiser with 40 years of experience.  A true disaster – a junky home in deplorable condition and a yard packed with debris – could cost you even more."

Our neighbors, Mr. Cross & Ms. Lotter, fit the description of "bad neighbors".  They have accumulated piles of trash and junk on their property, making their yard 'unkempt'.  The trash and junk are eyesores, as are the run in sheds in the donkey yards as they are in need of repair.  They have not been taking care of their home and there is missing siding, odd materials used to patch the house, old tires around the base, and, in general, it is an eyesore and in desperate need of repair. 

The same Business Insider article goes on to state, 

"Noisy neighbors (or their pets) are enough to drag home values down by 5 – 10%.   There's a reason prospective home buyers are advised to make multiple visits to homes and at all times of the day: Noise can be a property value killer."

The noise; the lack of upkeep; the piles of trash & junk; all of them result in decreasing the property values of the other homes around them.  The homes directly affected as they share property lines with these people and their noisy animals are:

1046 County Line Road (Zillow estimate - $189,000)
1052 County Line Road (Zillow estimate - $296,000)
1038 County Line Road (Zillow estimate - $253,500)
17 Whispering Elms (Zillow estimate - $187,600)
2 Log Cabin Lane (Zillow estimate - $168,200)
8 Log Cabin Lane (Zillow estimate - $167,500)
12 Log Cabin Lane (Zillow estimate - $172,200)

Other homes in close vicinity, especially those adjacent to where they hide donkeys at 12 Log Cabin Lane and 1058 County Line Road are:

14 Log Cabin Lane (Zillow estimate - $200,700)
5 Whispering Elms (Zillow estimate - $178,600)
1056 County Line Road (Zillow estimate - $162,100)
1058 County Line Road (Zillow estimate - $290,900)
1081 County Line Road (Zillow estimate - $276,300)

It's rumored that they have several other places where they are hiding donkeys in a never-ending shell game. I know I've personally seen a couple of donkeys down on Quiet Valley Loop, which is where one of their supporters lives.  Of course, there were only 2 donkeys at the Quiet Valley Loop location, not a herd of 13 or more.  Makes a difference with regard to noise.

Some examples of noisy donkeys in the news include:

Reese Witherspoon, neighbors complaining about noise levels

Neighbors in Brussels complain about Lola.

Joseph, the Brierley donkey heard 2 miles away

Donkey stories on Horse & Hound


Other donkeys have made the news for other reasons:

Abandoned donkeys

Donkeys Maul & Kill Pensioner

Texas Mayor Killed in Donkey Attack

By the way, BernCo Animal Services was called last night about the noise, just to notate how long they brayed.  

Hopes Dashed Upon the Rocks of Government...

Well, our hopes were dashed upon the rocks of government.

The Bernalillo County Board of Adjustment, the members of which include: Linda Barbour (Vice Chair), Steve Becerra, Toby Atencio, George Castillo (Chair), and Bernie Sanchez, gave them, yet again, another deferral, which they requested the day after the signs were to be posted.  I guess I should be happy.  It was ONLY a 60-day deferral, not the 90-days that they requested.  Yet, I'm not happy.  They should have not only been denied their request, their appeal should have been thrown out entirely!

You see, the appeals packet has a page, a contract agreement, that states they shall post the zoning signs 15-days prior and keep them posted for 15-days post hearing.  The appellants, Andrew Cross & Dorothea Lotter d/b/a Edgewood Longears Safehouse, did not post the signs until 3-days prior to the hearing.  That contract page states that failure to post and maintain those signs shall be cause for the appeal to be either deferred OR denied.

The reason I say that the referral and the appeal should have been denied is because the signs were to be posted on July 23.  They did not post the signs.  On July 24, they submitted a letter requesting a 90-day deferral.  I submitted a letter on or around Aug 1 requesting that the deferral request be denied, citing the obvious - no signs - and that it was an obvious ploy to get yet another deferral. The signs were posted, after they were contacted by someone, probably zoning, just 3 days prior to the hearing.  Then, the Board of Adjustment grants them another deferral.

These people have received deferral after deferral; extension after extension and they are STILL BREAKING THE LAW!

Enough already!

Countdown.... 6....

Only six (6) days left until the zoning hearing before the Bernalillo County Board of Adjustment regarding the proposed donkey rescue next door.

Sigh....

Six more days before I get to say my piece, again.

Six more days before, hopefully, they will be told to "cease & desist" operations...  told to STOP taking in more donkeys...  told to be rid of those they currently have...  to to OBEY THE LAW!

Six more days...  One can only hope.

Lack of Civility

When did it become acceptable to be uncivil?  To be rude?

It seems like in this day & age, rudeness is not only acceptable, it is encouraged and excused!  "Oh...  he's just expressing himself...  He's practicing his 'freedom of speech'..."

Neighbors Donkeys 

Freedom of speech?  Perhaps, but others also have the right to be free from YOUR speech.  It is OK to disagree with someone, but do it with civility.

Another example of people being uncivil is one of my neighbors. We are in the middle of a dispute with them as they want to open a donkey rescue right next door.  Now then, if they were on 10 acres of ground, that wouldn't be an issue.  However, they are on less than 3 acres in the middle of a residential neighborhood!  So, many of us, the neighbors, are opposed to having these very noisy animals in our backyards.  In my case, some of those very noisy animals are parked 50' from my bedroom window.  I tell you, there's nothing quite like being startled out of a sound sleep by the sound of a Navy submarine dive klaxon.

Even so, no harm is wished upon the animals.  They cannot help what they are.  So, when I saw one of the neighbor's donkeys eating a plastic bag, I did the neighborly thing and started talking to it, hoping to get it to stop eating the bag.  It worked and the animal dropped it.  That's a good thing!  An ingested plastic bag can cause all kinds of problems:  twisted intestine, colic, impacted bowels, etc.  None of them are good and all of them are potentially deadly to the animal, let alone costly to treat.

My neighbor & owner of the donkeys, Dorothea, was walking down the hill.  When she was within speaking distance, I told her about the bag and that she may want to remove the it from the yard so he didn't start eating it again.  She totally blew me off and ignored both the bag & the animal.  When he saw her, thankfully, he mosied on over to her and I reached through the shared fence and removed the bag.  Problem solved!  I hollered over to her that the bag was removed so she didn't have to worry about it.  Much to my chagrin & surprise, she proceeded to give me a ration of shit, telling me to stay away from the donkeys which have been eating my front yard!  WTF????  Here I am doing her a favor and she's giving me a ration of shit?  Telling me to stay out of an area of my front yard?  Who the hell does she think she is?????  I'll go anywhere I please in my front yard.

So, I walked over to her and gave her the bag.  She never shut up...  haranguing me...  Turned my back and told her she was an "ungrateful wench" and that her donkeys could choke on the damned bags the next time.

That's just one example of being uncivil.  There are many, many more...