How To Have Fun With Fido

by Karen Lee Stevens.
This originally appeared in the South Coast Beacon.

There's no doubt about it--I'm a party animal. So, when I opened my mail the other day and found an invitation to Santa Barbara Pug Rescue's annual Pug Party, I yipped in excitement. A party with dogs and a cake? It just doesn't get any better than that. But, I can tell you right now, you're not going to find me making small talk and nibbling on the broccoli and celery sticks for long. I'm going to be right in the middle of the action with a digital camera in one hand and a notebook in the other. Karen Lee Stevens, Cub Reporter.

From the moment I stepped through the gates of Connie Phillip's County English estate on the Riviera, I was surrounded by a plethora of pampered pugs. There was nary a bark nor a bite among these squishy-faced, curly-tailed cuties. There were pugs puckering up in hopes of winning the Best Kisser contest, while others preened about in lavish attire in anticipation of taking home the blue ribbon for Best Costume. Those too pooped to party could be found cooling their paws in a shaded play pen.

My favorite pug though had to be four-year-old Molly, a paraplegic pug who belongs to Mandy Evans of Santa Barbara. Molly doesn't let her handicap slow her down. This sweet and friendly four-year-old pug propels herself around with her very own custom-made set of wheels. Evans frequently takes Molly into local schools to talk about what it's like to love and care for a dog with special needs.

The pawpularity of pooch parties are increasing exponentially, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. The findings showed that, in 2004, nine percent of dog lovers held birthday parties for their canines, a six-fold increase over the previous year.

No one knows how to party with panache better than Arden Moore, author of Dog Parties: How to Party with Your Pup. She says, "Wouldn't you rather attend a dog party than a snobby wine-tasting affair, a pricey candle party, or a put-you-to-sleep Monopoly marathon? People parties are passé--dog parties rule!"

I couldn't agree more. My recent foray into dog party-dom was absolutely pugalicious and I can't wait for another one. Pawty on!

Karen Lee Stevens is the pet columnist for the Montecito Journal, published biweekly in Montecito, and is the founder and Executive Director of AllforAnimals.com.

Janet Wolf To Get A "Free Ride?"

By contributor Jon K. Williams, Santa Barbara Progressive Coalition.

The News-Press trumpets "conspiracy" since several Democratic electeds have spoken in favor of Janet Wolf’s running for county board of supervisors. Would that there were enough cohesion in the local Democratic Party to actually conspire or, as a less biased and judgmental publication might call it, "reach consensus to effect positive change."

Personally I believe, as the News-Press says it does, that our community can only benefit from hearing the views of multiple candidates on a wide range of issues. I fear, however, that the esteemed daily journal will not be able to control its own libertarian urges when it comes to commenting on the discussion that ensues.

Today, before anyone actually declared intent to run for office, we heard from the paper that Ms. Wolf is the "hand-picked successor" of outgoing supervisor Susan Rose, a woman they call "beleaguered and polarizing, one of three off-putting twisted sisters leaving behind a legacy of ineffective representation."

Now that’s starting things off with an open mind, isn’t it?

The editorial concludes, "Party bosses want to give Janet Wolf a free pass to November." I challenge the News-Press to publish an accurate and well researched article explaining who these local "party bosses" are and how they wield such nefarious power.

I'm not suggesting there's a conspiracy on the part of a certain paper and those hoping to see the 2nd district go to a conservative candidate, but "Free Debate and Fair Reporting" needs to be our battle cry and all concerned readers have to help keep the News-Press editorial board in line.

Friday Night Films Continue Tradition

There's an ongoing tradition in Santa Barbara called "Friday Night Films." You are invited to come view a timely film at Friendship Manor. The address is: 6647 El Colegio, Isla Vista, every Friday night at 7:30 pm.

Films on the schedule for this month:

December 9 -- "CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HITMAN."
John Perkins’ personal account of the events that forced him to choose between conscience and the glamorous life of power, luxury, and beautiful women.

Also playing, "NEW PATRIOTS." Five U.S. military veterans, including a Congressional Medal of Honor winner and a woman West Point graduate, speak out about terrorism, patriotism and their transformation from warriors to peace activists.

December 16 -- "EMBEDDED LIVE." Embedded Live contains a stage performance of Tim Robbins' controversial satire that pointed out the horror and the folly of the American invasion of Iraq. The story of the play concerns a group of journalists who have been embedded with troops on the ground in the fictional country of Gomorrah.

December 23 -- "SOLVING THE CRIMES OF 911." A great gathering of concerned citizens met at Patriotic Hall in Los Angeles on October 23, 2004, in an exciting and often dramatic demonstration of citizen courage and responsibility.

They drew on Common Law for precedent, elected and convened a Citizens' Grand Jury, formally rejected the legitimacy and conclusions of the Kean-Hamilton 9/11 Commission and declared the 'Official Story' "physically impossible, contradictory, implausible and fraudulent."

December 30 -- "ON THE EDGE" by Ron Dexter and Douglas Gillies, winner of the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival Award for Best Global Perspective Documentary. "A discussion by a blue ribbon panel, including Mikhail Gorbachev and Jane Goodall on options and outcomes for a sustainable world."

Friendship Manor is in the heart of Isla Vista on the corner of El Colegio and Los Carneros. The events take place upstairs in Jaimison Hall near the library and meeting room.

Parking is at the Manor Corner parking lot (the entrance is on the southeast corner of the empty lot at Camino Pescadero and El Colegio, on the east side of Friendship Manor.) The opening is nearly opposite the west end of Cervantes Road. Do not park in the underground parking structure! Better yet, walk, bus or bike to the film.

All are welcome. Suggested donation is $3 to $5 or whatever you can afford. For more information contact Art Schwartz by e-mail (art.farm at cox dot net), or call him at 968-1965.

This event is co-sponsored by Campus Greens, Hopedance, Isla Vista Co-Op and Veterans For Peace.

The Little Pug Who Could

by Karen Lee Stevens. This column was first published in the Montecito Journal.

Down through the ages, the rallying mantra, “I think I can; I think I can,” has resonated with children and adults alike who revel in Wally Piper’s, The Little Engine That Could. This timeless classic is one of the greatest stories of motivation and power of positive thinking ever told.

There is a little engine of another sort that faces life’s daily ups and downs head on. Her name is Molly, and this perky pug is a remarkable testament to the indomitable will of the spirit. You see, this friendly four-year-old cannot accomplish a lot of things that her canine counterparts take for granted--simple stuff like walking on all four legs or going to the bathroom.

Like most puppies, Molly was born with energy to burn and initially appeared healthy in every way. But, at three months of age, the unthinkable happened--her back legs simply stopped working. After a battery of tests, veterinarians determined that her spine was twisted as a result of a birth defect, cutting off the nerves from her cranium to her caboose.

Euthanasia was quietly suggested. Her human mom, Mandy Evans, refused to be derailed by any thoughts of putting her precious puppy to sleep. Instead, Mandy pledged to pamper her paraplegic pooch, even going so far as to change her diaper several times a day and incur an avalanche of ongoing veterinary bills.

So, just how does Molly get around on a daily basis? Quite nicely, thanks to her very own set of custom wheels, which Mandy can strap to her backside faster than you can say put the pedal to the metal. And, on any given day, this curly-tailed cutie can be found enchanting school children and the elderly at several venues on the South Coast where Mandy regales eager listeners with tales of what it’s like to love and care for a dog with special needs.

Mandy, a corporate event planner in Santa Barbara, possesses an entrepreneurial spirit and recently launched MySpecialDog.com with her business partner, Kevin Roberson.

Their online magazine is devoted to raising awareness of dogs and other animals who are handicapped in some way, whether it is from paralysis, loss of a limb, or blindness. In addition, she is planning to launch Molly Inspires, a line of greeting cards. Mandy and Molly have already appeared on local television and radio shows and are hoping to garner national exposure in the near future.

This dynamic duo appears to be right on track by focusing on what you can do, rather than what you can’t do.

Karen and her new friends will be conducting a doggy fashion show in the Spring of 2006 as a benefit for MySpecialDog.com and All For Animals, Inc. For more information on how you can help make this a first-class event, send email to: karen at allforanimals dot com.

Karen Lee Stevens is the pet columnist for the Montecito Journal, published biweekly in Montecito, and is the founder and Executive Director of AllforAnimals.com.

I Am Thankful

By guest blogger, Karen Lee Stevens

Though I've never been particularly attached to any specific holiday, Thanksgiving has long been one of my favorite days of the year. It is a time to focus on family and friends and to reflect upon our many blessings. It is also a time to give thanks for the animals in our lives.

I am perhaps most thankful for my work, for it is here that I find inspiration and fulfillment. Between writing professionally about animals and managing All for Animals, Inc., the organization I founded eight years ago, I have the opportunity every day to make a difference in the lives of animals in need.

I am thankful for the tireless efforts of the volunteers and staff at the myriad animal shelters and rescue groups in our community. It is they who give abandoned and abused animals' hope for a brighter tomorrow.

I am thankful for dogs' warm kisses and wet noses. I am thankful for their silly antics that make me laugh even when I'm having a bad day. I am thankful for their ability to find joy in the simplest pleasures--a tennis ball, a car ride, a belly rub. I am thankful for Guinness, my next-door neighbor's beagle. Her exuberance and endless delight at taking a walk with me never cease to bring a smile to my face.

I am thankful for the gentle grace and dignity of cats. Their serene presence and throaty purr can unravel even the tautest of nerves. I am thankful for my cat Cassidy. Even though he has long since passed away, our deep connection transcends time and his soulful presence still envelopes me. He was my muse, my teacher, my purr-fessor, if you will.

I am thankful for the sparrows that built a nest on my front porch and for the tiny bobbling heads that tentatively peek out at the sound of my voice. I am thankful for their cacophony of whistles and warbles outside my bedroom window every morning--they are nature's alarm clock.

I am thankful for the pods of dolphins that slice effortlessly through the surf and instill in me a sense of wonderment, of peace, of bliss.

I am thankful for the innocence of animals in a world that has become increasingly filled with uncertainty. Without animals to calm, to soothe, and to share love and affection, life would be infinitely more difficult. I am thankful for all the animals with whom we share the earth.

This Thanksgiving, please take a moment to give thanks for all the creatures that enrich your life and enhance your appreciation of nature.

[What animals are you thankful for this holiday season? Send your comments to: karen at allforanimals dot com]

Karen Lee Stevens is the pet columnist for the Montecito Journal, published biweekly in Montecito, and is the founder and Executive Director of AllforAnimals.com.

Karen is also a freelance writer and author of the book, "All for Animals: Tips and Inspiration for Living a More Compassionate Life," published by Fithian Press and a 2001 Cat Writers Association Certificate of Excellence winner!

Introducing Our New Blogger, Mickey Rowe

by Mickey Rowe, UCSB research biologist.

This is officially my first blog contribution. I'm no neophyte on the net; e-mail has been my primary means of communication since 1988.

I wrote my first web pages in the early 90s, when Mosaic was the only web browser anyone used.

And "anyone" wasn't a whole lot of people...

But I've resisted the blogosphere until now. I've generally felt my life to be full enough not to go looking for such added distractions. I was drawn to the Central Coast News Mission by another local blogger. The local aspect has reeled me in...

Many of you may know my name from having seen it attached to letters to the editors of The Lompoc Record. Generally when I write there, I'm responding to something someone else wrote.

Here, I'd like to initiate conversations. But I'll save that for later. Since blogging has developed a history, I'll bow to the wisdom of some who have come before me. In particular, David Ciaffardini suggests that blogs that aren't kept short aren't read.

I'm unlikely to keep all of my posts short. But I'll try to reveal myself and my concerns mostly in small, tolerable doses. I hope to give readers some things they'll like and some they won't... but above all, my aim is to make people think. I hope some will return the favor. --Mickey P. Rowe, mrowe at lifesci.ucsb.edu.

What Are Taxpayers Entitled To Know?

Photo by: Scott Jacobs
Gotta stay alert and watch what the state government does with our money at all times, especially when it comes to stem cell research in our own backyard.

Basic facts here courtesy of the blog, The California Stem Cell Report.

The Santa Barbara, Merced, Riverside and Santa Cruz UC campuses have applied for "type three" grants for specialized stem cell training programs. Yet the California stem cell agency created by Proposition 71 says this application information is secret.

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) is organizing a $45 million effort to create a cadre of stem cell researchers through grant programs.

Type three grants offer training at "one or two levels of education." Each grant can support up to 6 trainees, with a budget of no more than $500,000 per year.

But the names of the applicants have been kept secret by the CIRM.

CIRM's claim to secrecy is based on language in Prop. 71 that says CIRM "working group" records are not public. A working group is scheduled to make recommendations later this month to the Oversight Committee on which applicants should receive grants.

Following approval, only the successful applications would become public.