Death, Dying, and Unemployment

For 28 years, I was fearless.  Working in the airline industry automatically means instability; like walking through a mine field with clown shoes on.  But still, the constant layoffs always seemed reasonable.  You'd see the list of names affected and think, "he really sucked at his job", or "with that attitude it's a wonder she lasted as long as she did".

And for 28 years, I made it through that minefield just fine.  Until the time I didn't.  Until the time the layoffs seemed to have no rhyme or reason other than age and salary.

This felt like a death.  A death of a partner whom I've been with for 28 plus years.  The same stages of grief; disbelief, bargaining with God, anger, incredible sadness, and finally being resigned to the fact that that stage of my life is over, done, kaput.

Many days I still sleep walk through the hours, just waiting for dark so I can crawl back into bed, to hopefully sleep without dreams.  More and more now though, I feel a spark of hope, and apply for a job or two.  Or do a load of laundry.  Both tasks seem insurmountable some days, doable on others.

When strangers ask me what I do, I stumble on the answer.  Who am I, if not my job?  "Temporarily unemployed" is my usual answer, at which point I feel them shrink away from me like it's contagious.  In reality, they don't care one way or another; I could have said "I'm a paid operative for the CIA" and the response would have been the same.

So for now, I'll celebrate getting the laundry done.  Last week I celebrated getting out of bed before 10.  Who knows - next week might be even better.

Justice for Millie

Millie is a 14 week old Bluetick Coonhound puppy that was slammed to the floor multiple times into her own feces simply because she went potty inside the house.  Her back leg was broken so badly local vets couldn't fix it.  After being stabilized, she was transported by Marshmallow Foundation volunteers to the University of Minnesota, where she underwent surgery to repair the break.  More volunteers went to transport her back to Detroit Lakes, where she is now resting comfortably in a foster home.

This incident was witnessed, and the police were called.  The alleged perpetrator was arrested, made bond, and has a hearing scheduled for early next week.

Good news, right?  Maybe.  Animal abuse cases are rarely prosecuted, simply because there are often no witnesses, or the witnesses are intimidated by the perpetrator so they don't report it.  And if they are prosecuted, the offenders are given a warning or small fine.  Some states only treat it as a felony if it's the first animal abuse offense.

And here's a statistic that should concern everyone: Intentional cruelty to animals is strongly correlated with other crimes, including violence against people.  

Help us help Millie and ensure that justice is served.

1. Donate to Millie's care here.


2. Call the prosecutor in this case and tell her that animal abuse should not be tolerated in our community.  Her name is Jennifer R.J. Knutson, Assistant Becker County Attorney, at 218-847-6590


3. Contact your local officials and your state legislators and demand that animal cruelty be treated as the serious crime it is.


4. Volunteer for your local animal shelter.  If your heart can't take the daily contact with the animals, volunteer to transport to vet appointments or to other rescues.  Millie wouldn't have gotten to Minneapolis without caring people who were willing to go the extra mile (pun intended).

It starts with one person.  And together, we can change the world, or at least change our community.  For Millie.

 

White and Privileged

I have white privilege.  If I get stopped for speeding, it's likely I'll get a warning.  If I step into a crowded elevator, people won't back away from me, unless I forgot to shower that morning.  If I walk into a liquor store with a hoodie on, no one asks me to put the hood down so the security cameras can see my face.  When I walk down a sidewalk, people won't cross the street to walk on the other side.

When people see me, they don't assume that I'm a troublemaker.  I could have the most vile of views, and yet if I showed up to march in support of my hatred, I'd not only get a permit, when violence arises, people would blame the protesters and not me.

I don't worry about being pulled aside at the airport and being subjected to extra "security" measures.   No one will forcibly drag me from an airplane.  I don't worry about random gunfire killing me in my living room.

White lives have always mattered in a country built around the concept that all people were created equal.  White Christian lives matter even more.

So yes, I am white and I am privileged.  And I am ashamed.  People like Peter Tefft of Fargo do not represent me.  I don't want to make America hate again; we've had too much of that already.  I want to live in a country where my life matters just as much as anyone else.  Anyone else.  No exceptions, period.

 

 

 

Death to Lutherans

Got your attention, didn't I.  After this week's horrific events in Charlottesville, VA, I've been seeing posts on Facebook and Twitter saying that the counter-protesters are as much to blame as the neo-nazis, white supremacists, and fascists in attendance.

Yes, there was a valid permit to march.  And yes, there were counter protesters that fought back physically.  But putting these groups of people in the same box is sickening.

Is it because the protesters were chanting "death to Jews" that you feel that both sides are to blame?  You're not a Jew, you're not African American, or Latino, or Muslim, or any of those things.

So let me ask you this.  What if they chanted "death to Lutherans" and came to Detroit Lakes to spew their hate speech?  If you stood on the beach with your own signs telling the haters to go home, and an anti-Lutheran drove his car into your line of folks, would you still think that both sides were equally to blame?  Because the Lutherans were yelling too, and spitting, and I think I even saw one throw a punch.

The KKK originally thought that Catholics were in the same category as blacks and Jews.  Did you miss that part of history?  Look it up.  Catholics aren't to blame for the cross burnings are they?  What about the lynchings?

And just because you're not one of the groups they hate now doesn't mean you won't be someday.  The nazis hated more than just the Jews.  You know from school history about the 6 million Jews murdered, right?  The Jews were just one of the groups the nazis hated.  Estimates of between 11 and 20 million people were murdered by this "hate group".   Read here for some statistics.

Martin Niemöller was a Protestant pastor that spoke up against the nazis.  He was one of the counter protesters.  He spent the last 7 years of nazi rule in a concentration camp.

Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Why a Dog Park Is Important

I recently read a letter in the the Detroit Lakes paper from a couple that bemoaned the fact that the city was (finally) going to build a dog park.  They didn't like the park near them, and didn't want to drive or walk to the city park so that their kids could play ball.

So let me tell you why a dog park is good - for humans.

1. At dog parks, pets serve as a safe way to meet new people and engage in conversation.  Normally shy, socially awkward  people come to life when talking about their dog.


2. You learn a lot about people based on how they treat their dog and how their dog interacts with people and other dogs.  Kids can learn ways to better train their dog (adults too) simply by interacting with experienced dog owners.


3. Dog parks provide a place for owners to get information about local veterinarians, groomers, shelters, and more.  Let your dog run and play and network!


4. Relationships made at the park are oftentimes extended outside the park.  It's a community of like-minded people, and you might find that you have more in common than being a dog lover.

So the advice I would give to the family opposing the dog park is this. Get a dog.  And bring the whole family for an afternoon at the park.  You might just enjoy yourself!

No Judgement Here

Animal rescue is stressful.  It's full of long days, with joy sprinkled in among the heartbreak.  Sometimes, no matter what you do, you can't save that precious life.  Sometimes you can, but your Facebook feed is full of comments about how everyone else would do it differently.  Or with judgment on the humans that caused the misery to begin with.

Yesterday, a family surrendered a 5 year old dog because he was "sick".  They downplayed the illness, so the shelter thought that it was something simple, like worms perhaps.  The family couldn't afford medical care for Sheba, so they brought her to The Marshmallow Foundation in Detroit Lakes.

It was soon apparent that Sheba was much more seriously ill.  Large blood clots were coming out of her rear, and she was vomiting.  And the smell was horrendous.

The Marshmallow Foundation is in a rural area, where the closest after hours emergency hospital is in Fargo.  But emergency services are very expensive, and the shelter is barely hanging on with donations as it is.  Luckily, a group of dedicated folks got a local Vet to see Sheba after hours, and she's being treated for rat poison and heartworm.

When the shelter manager asked the rescue community for help and advice, some responses were helpful.  Some were not.  All sorts of judgement creeped into the comments; everything from what Vet she should be taken to, to "you know she's dying, right?".

And of course, it's hard not to judge the family that surrendered her.  It's very hard.  But in the moment, Sheba needed immediate care, so my hero, the shelter manager, gently reminded someone on Facebook that we needed to focus on what we could do rather than judging the humans.

This morning I read a post about dogs and puppies frozen to the ground in the Turtle Mountain reservation; the rescue folks there, instead of getting badly needed help, got all sorts of judgement.  I thought it worthwhile to quote some passages here.

"This is not a reservation problem. This is not a native problem. This is a geographical economic problem. We are the second poorest county in the state and have the highest jobless rate. It's hard for people to find work when there are not enough jobs. Our nearest big city is 2 hours away. When affordable vet care isn't available, how do people get their dogs spayed or neutered? When they don't get spayed or neutered, they breed, and continue to do so."

"For those that choose to criticize or complain, that is your right. All I ask is that before you do, please look in the mirror and ask what you have done to help the problem."

So our constant plea for donations and volunteers is because we don't have the same resources as larger communities.  Please withhold your judgement.  The job is hard enough.  "There but for the grace of God" is a phrase I repeat to myself often.

And despite the lack of resources, Sheba was not left to die.  Sheba was not euthanized because the shelter couldn't afford to treat her.  The shelter manager didn't go home after 8 hours and assume someone else was taking care of it. That is the beauty of a small rural community.  People band together to help.

For updates on Sheba and more ways you can help, like and follow us on Facebook or go to the website to donate or see the adorable dogs and cats ready for adoption.  Our next fundraiser, Hairball,  is at Zorbaz in DL on April 2nd 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm if you want to have some fun while donating to a good cause.  If you can't make Hairball, dress up in your best Bonnets and Bowties and come watch the Kentucky Derby at The Speak Easy in DL.

Woof You Be Mine?: Local Animal Shelter Residents Have Lots of Love to Give | Detroit Lakes Online

Source: Woof you be mine?: Local animal shelter residents have lots of love to give | Detroit Lakes Online

I was interviewed by the Detroit Lakes Forum last weekend about volunteering and animal adoption.  Meagan did a great job on the article, which highlights the need for volunteers as well as potential adopters.

The kitten in the photo is Luther, and he will likely come live with me if he's not claimed by his owner soon!

Here's a link to the article.