The Weight

I pulled into Nazareth, I was feelin' about half past dead;
I just need some place where I can lay my head.
"Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?"
He just grinned and shook my hand, and "No!", was all he said.




Take a load off Annie, take a load for free;
Take a load off Annie, And you put the load right on me.


I picked up my bag, I went lookin' for a place to hide;
When I saw Carmen and the Devil walkin' side by side.
I said, "Hey, Carmen, come on, let's go downtown."
She said, "I gotta go, but my friend can stick around."





Go down, Miss Moses, there's nothin' you can say
It's just ol' Luke, and Luke's waitin' on the Judgement Day.
"Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee?"
He said, "Do me a favor, son, won't you stay and keep Anna Lee company?"




Crazy Chester followed me, and he caught me in the fog.
He said, "I will fix your rack, if you'll take Jack, my dog."
I said, "Wait a minute, Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man."
He said, "That's okay, boy, won't you feed him when you can."

Catch a Cannonball, now, to take me down the line
My bag is sinkin' low and I do believe it's time.
To get back to Miss Annie, you know she's the only one.
Who sent me here with her regards for everyone.

Zoe Monster - Has anyone seen my momma?

Zoe as a young puppy 

It's hard to believe a year has passed since helping our Zoe Monster cross the bridge.  Her, Maggie and Bam Bam are all together again along with the other hounds who have passed.  Slowly the heartache of losing Zoe has been replaced with the thousands of memories of our time spent together.

Zoe was born at a puppy mill in Oklahoma.  As a small puppy she was ripped from her mother's care and transported thousands of miles across country where she ended up in a south Florida pet store.  A nice family bought Zoe as a puppy only to realize caring for four small children along with a rambuncious puppy was more then they bargained for.  That's where Maggie and I found Zoe.

Meeting dem cows

With all these memories it would be impossible not to think about my Zoe.  She touched my heart in so many ways that she will always be a part of me I will never forget.  Slowly, the tears and sadness were replaced with a smile that reflects the love we shared.

I always knew I did good for Zoe but I still hope her last few hours weren't ones of suffering for her.  Zoe truly deserved my love as she brought about an inner peace that I can never thank her enough for. 

While we don't really know what happens to our pets after they pass from our hands it is my hope for Zoe that she is back with her momma as well.

Zoe had a blessed life living with the hounds and me.  Our time spent traveling with Maggie and then Cleo where the happiest time of my life.  While she always had a comfortable place to sleep, was surrounded with the love from the hounds and I, Zoe's momma was not so blessed.  I've often thought about the contradictions of life that had Zoe sleeping on my warm bed while her mother slept in a small cage for probably her entire life. 

Zoe overlooking the Klamath River

While Zoe loved the attention and the belly rubs that came with being a cherished pet, Zoe's mom only knew the role she played as someones breeding stock.  Zoe enjoyed life to the fullest - Zoe's momma was deprived of the chance of simply being someones devoted pet - someones best friend.  While Zoe slept on a warm blanket did Zoe's momma sleep on a wood floor or wire mess?  While Zoe always had the best of food - the best of vet care - did Zoe's momma even know there were people who cared? 



While Zoe's eyes would light up when she saw a small child did Zoe's momma ever get the chance to play with a child?

To many leaders in our No Kill movement the cruelty that puppy mills represent is taking a back seat as they stumble through excuses on how puppy mills don't contribute to the regional pet overpopulation issues that continue to haunt our public shelters. 

Even more offensive is the posturing that these leaders are taking, willing to "compromise" with those groups like MoFed and the NAIA who have spent years defending irresponsible breeders like the one who "owned" Zoe's momma.

Maggie and Zoe - match made in heaven

I can't accept this rationalization with breeder interests I despise in order to hitch my wagon to this new fang led No Kill Nation movement.  It is in Zoe's honor and the memory of Zoe's momma that I will recommit myself to opposing puppy mills and the cruelty and misery they breed by refocusing my efforts to educate others on the politics and political deal that brushes aside puppy mill cruelty in order to justify this new fang led movement. 

Sweet dreams till we meet agian

Sacrificing my principles while chasing a No Kill dream that is full of smoke and mirrors is not a road I will travel. 

Instead my voice will be reserved for speaking out against irresponsible breeders who want us to look the other way while they continue to use and abuse the innocent victims of puppy mill abuse that deny hope for Zoe's momma. 

That's the least I can do for my Zoe Monster.  Rest in peace my sweet girl.

Memory's from the vault - my love on the air

Two of our treasured Miami Dade survivors - Sydney and Agnes

Sydney a few months out of MDAS

No one will hurt me again
No one will cause me to lie
No one will control me by pain
No one will cause me to cry




I was looking for love
In wandering eyes
Like a ship trying to fix on a beacon
I learned how to sigh

Sydney Barrett

On the ribbon and wires
It's a habit that's so hard to weaken

No one will ever manipulate
Make me promise to do or die
No one can make me hesitate
What can I lose if they try

I was looking for love
Like the very first time
Didn't realise love never left me
Contradicted - conspired

Agnes a few weeks out of MDAS

I connived and designed
Nothing on earth could arrest me.
Reception is hazy
When you put your love on the air

Our Agnes

Always knew it was crazy
To put my love on the air
But I only communicate
When I put my love on the air

You don't have to consummate
Love on the air



http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/d/david_gilmour/love_on_the_air.html

All I see are dark eyes

Oh, the gentlemen are talking and the midnight moon is on the riverside
They're drinking up and walking and it is time for me to slide
I live in another world where life and death are memorized
Where the earth is strung with lover's pearls and all I see are dark eyes.

A cock is crowing far away and another soldier's deep in prayer
Some mother's child has gone astray, she can't find him anywhere
But I can hear another drum beating for the dead that rise
Whom nature's beast fears as they come and all I see are dark eyes.

They tell me to be discreet for all intended purposes
They tell me revenge is sweet and from where they stand, I'm sure it is
But I feel nothing for their game, where beauty goes unrecognized
All I feel is heat and flame, and all I see are dark eyes.

Oh, the French girl, she's in paradise and a drunken man is at the wheel
Hunger pays a heavy prize to the falling gods of speed and steel
Oh, time is short and the days are sweet and passion rules the arrow that flies
A million faces at my feet but all I see are dark eyes.

Bob Dylan - Dark Eyes