The mare rescued from sure slaughter, rejected from a failing PMU (pregnant mare urine) farm in North Dakota - when she took steps towards me recently instead of fleeing in terror, that was a major reward. The rescued donkey who comes to me for treats, when once she was terrified of me - that's a reward. When I walk into the pasture and am surrounded by horses who equate kind words, love and carrots with the sight of me - that's rewarding. The dogs who gaze adoringly at me - the big ol' blue tick hound who was a bag of bones when we brought her home the dachshund who spent the first seven months of his life in a small cage the kitten who almost drowned in a toilet and was brought back to life with a warm bath and blow drying - they love me. I get rewarded for taking care of animals. God said animals are here for us to take care of, and I do all I can.

But I can't agree with one blogger's suggestion that it's wrong to care for animals when people go hungry. I've never passed up an opportunity to help human beings in need, if I could help. They own us, don't you know? It's their rights to climb onto our pillows or our backs/sides/stomachs and purr us to sleep. The cats don't even pretend to wait until we're asleep. We have a five-minute play period when I get up in the morning before they are allowed outside. Dachshunds are notorious for being sneaky and loving warm blankets, so I let them play their bedtime games. They know the command 'Off the Bed!' very well, but I've feigned sleep just to see how sneaky they can be, easing onto the bed and nudging their ways under the covers. My dogs sleep inside at night, usually in the bed with us after we nod off. They get canned food as a treat, unless they go play pitiful for the two neighbors who spoil all the neighborhood dogs with boiled chicken and canned meat. I don't buy special diets for my dogs, and my cats don't get those little fancy individual cans of food. But both of them, as well as Dobro and Winchester, love sweaters. Pixie Belle didn't like her Christmas collar with bells and Jade was way too fat for her Santa outfit. No, I don't dress my dogs in frilly clothes, although I have put sweaters on them in cold weather and do own some cutesy outfits picked up at a dollar store. My answers to these questions may not jive with other people's opinions, but I base my opinions on what I've seen and learned in life. Do they go to Heaven? Is it right to spend so much on our animals when people go hungry? Are service animals considered pets? I am an animal lover, a rescuer of any living creature in need, and owner of more felines, equines, and canines than I can easily count. A recent blog on the Statesboro Herald Web site raised questions about animals.

Vvvvvvvv animals