Seeing this boy for the first time today made my stomach roll- he is in such sad shape, I half expect him to die within days, but he has lots of spirit, and is happy now, so that might make ALL the difference. He has been moved around ALOT in the last month- this is his fifth "home" in just that short time, so no doubt he wonders where he will end up tomorrow.

The sad fact of mastiff rescue is that those who used to favor pitbulls are now turning to mastiff breeds because pitbulls are being banned in so many places. Because mastiffs will NOT fight, they are seriously injured when put in the ring, and then these so-called owners can't wait to dump them off on the first person who is willing to take them. The individual I picked him up from today ended up with him by responding to an ad on Craigslist; the seller emailed her pictures that must have been taken quite a while ago, because they do not show the shape he is really in. When the seller arrived and got the dog out of her truck, this individual was sickened by the shape he was in, and rather than send him back with the seller for more abuse and neglect, she paid the money and took the dog in, to try to get him into a rescue somewhere that would give him a fighting chance. Unfortunately, mastiff rescue, like so many others, only take select few, usually those who do not need much help so they do not have to spend much money on the dog before adopting them out and collecting their fees. Dogs that need extensive medical care are left by the wayside to survive any way they can. These are the dogs I end up hearing about, and being asked to take on myself.

The plan with this guy was to get some weight on him, get his medical issues cleared up, and then decide which of two prospective homes he is better suited to. After seeing him, and discussing the situation with those concerned, it seems the best thing for him would be to give him a new name, help him heal as much as he can emotionally and physically, do what we can to help him to forget the hell he has experienced, and just let him enjoy what life he has left right here with us, rather than moving him around yet again after he has spent the time here that it takes to get him back in shape. (A new name for an abused or neglected dog is a routine procedure that seems to help them put the past behind them, and separate themselves from everything the old name represented.)

It seems that when I come by to catch up on daily blog posts, there are at least a few new members from the Central NY area. Is there any interest in forming a group based on the Finger Lakes Region of NY? Whether it be strictly a virtual group, a physical group, some of both, whatever? Maybe everyone wants to remain solitary, but would like to share ritual, craft, etc. ideas with others? Thoughts?

In honor of the brand new calendar year, I made myself a new journal and a brand new dream diary as well.  I had kept both in prior years, but both were hit & miss at best.  So, I broke out fresh composition notebooks, labeled them, and put them right where I could not miss them. 

These past few days, I have been totally wiped out, and have done nothing more than sleep every available minute.  I didn't even bother to wait up with my daughter last night to watch the ball drop, I went back to bed, and was fast asleep by 10 PM. 

This morning, I woke up at 5 AM with a dream fresh in my mind, so I grabbed my dream diary and started writing.  By the time I got all the details in, it had taken an hour, and six pages front & back.  Put the journal back on the shelf, and head back to sleep (hopefully, anyway.)

I *DID* get back to sleep, and quickly, at that.  At 7 AM, again I am awake, with yet ANOTHER dream fresh in mind, and start writing again.  Another 45 minutes of writing, and I just HAD to get up, even if only for a few minutes.  So, I started at least that part of the new year off right.  Hoping the rest follows suit!