Message from the Publisher

As I’m writing this, the temperature reached almost eighty degrees on March 30th, with the threat of rain for the next five days. Temps will be going up and down from the 30s to the 60s. Unfortunately, Easter looks to be only about 43 degrees with a low of 36. Glad I haven’t put away my winter coats yet. It’s definitely been a roller-coaster ride with temps.

However, things are starting to bud, and the April showers will be welcomed by all the trees and flowers that will soon be making their spring debut.

My dog Eddie though does not like walking or being in the rain. I have to drag him out the door to do his business. Baths are like pulling a mule into the kid’s wading pool that we use to get him wet and clean. Mae, on the other hand, doesn’t mind at all. Being a full lab, she loves the water, but when she gets soaked, it takes forever for her to dry off. That all too familiar wet dog scent, no matter how clean they are, seems to linger forever.

What’s nice about walking in the rain though, they inadvertently get nice baths. I simply have to wipe them down and then condition their coats. Even Eddie will start zooming through the basement after I’ve toweled him off, feeling so much better.  It just takes him a while to realize baths are for his own good.

The Spring thaw as I call it, brings more than just nicer temps. It brings garbage that has been laying dormant under the snow and leaves. When I do walk my dogs, I make it a habit to pick up some garbage along the way. Living down the street from a couple of fast-food establishments, restaurant and bar, makes for an abundance of flying garbage, bottles, cans, and drink cups coming down our street.

I’ve seen people open their car doors and simply dump their trash out onto the pavement or throw it out their window. There can be a garbage can literally ten feet away, and they won’t make an effort to throw it out. There are also people who will be pulling their garbage cans out to the curb on trash day and just ignore litter that is on their property; they simply walk right past it like it’s not there.

As you might guess, I despise litter. When it’s left to pile up, it makes our neighborhoods look dirty and undesirable. Every day, my husband and I pick up garbage; mostly on our block, but I also try to pick it up while walking if I know there’s a garbage can nearby.

I also read an article that squirrels are picking up discarded vapes and seemingly puffing away! They are attracted not to the nicotine, but to the fruity smell the vapes give off. They think its food! Wildlife experts said that the critters could inadvertently consume microplastics by gnawing on the vaping devices, but they could also ingest the nicotine.

This might seem funny, but the truth of why it’s happening is not funny at all.

The article stated, “This is solid proof that the entire world needs to be more mindful of what we discard and how it affects nature’s creatures.”

There were reports of a bird in New Zealand that died after swallowing a vaping device, as well as pictures of a squirrel trying to bury one in Wales.

There are probably thousands of “litter casualties” that go unseen and unreported with wildlife, but wild animals are not the only victims. A Veterinary Poisons Information Service reportedly received 680 calls about vape incidents involving pets since 2017, 96 percent of which concerned dogs. Many have even died from consuming liquids from vapes.

Eddie might not be nature’s creature, but he can definitely sniff out chicken bones that someone just threw out on the ground. And once they are in his mouth, there’s no stopping him from chomping down on them. I just pray he doesn’t end up choking!

So, while you are out and about walking, cleaning up your yard, or hiking your favorite trail, take the time to try and pick up some litter. If everyone just picked up one or two pieces of trash a day, just think how much cleaner our environment would be and safer for wildlife; pets too.

And, I would urge people to hold on to their litter until there’s an opportunity to dispose of it safely and responsibly.

Earth Day is April 22nd, do your small part to save the planet!

Happy Easter everyone! Stay safe, pray for peace and GOD BLESS AMERICA!