Polly Dog – 1996-2007

Sad news, friends – Polly had to be put down this morning. She’s been battling sudden-onset kidney disease for about six weeks and despite her best struggle it got the better of her. Until yesterday, she was still fighting through it and always had a bit of energy to chase a squirrel, run after a ball, or bark at Evil. She oversaw Emma’s birthday party last week and was retrieving sticks in Mascoma Lake just before that, but yesterday lost the use of her legs and she and I stayed up last night with her labored breathing which eventually turned into continuous seizures. She died just before 8 o’clock this morning with her whole family comforting her. Her ashes will be spread on our property at her favorite resting place.

She was a magnificent beast and the best friend a man could have. While we had planned to have several more years with her, we greatly value all the time we were honored to call her part of our family. She will be greatly missed.

Rest in peace, P-dog.

5-year old Hero

Rayshun McDowell, a hero and 5-year-old boy, protected six other children outside his parents’ home from a rabid fox. He

“grabbed a rabid fox by the neck and pinned it to the ground during a family cookout, protecting six other children before his stepfather could step in.

“I wanted to protect my little brother,” said Rayshun, who battled the animal in the front yard of his home Sunday in Kingstown, a town about 50 miles west of Charlotte.

The fox bit Rayshun in the leg, but the 61-pound-boy held the animal down. Health officials later identified the fox as rabid.”

Rayshun’s parents, Shinda Linder and Ryan Thompson, are to be commended for raising such a brave child. Sam Lockridge, a county health official, advised other children to not be so brave. It’s a shame when a society can’t celebrate its heros out of some nebulous fear of litigation.

Emma’s going to be four tomorrow. I’ve tried to teach her bravery, sacrifice, and courage, but even though she fancies herself as a Wonder Woman-in-training, I’m not quite sure I’ve done as good as job as Rayshun’s parents. Hopefully I’ll teach her to shoot better than the family’s neighbor.

Let Freedom Ring

The following towns in NH don’t feel the need to take away the rights of their citizenry to send off fireworks for Independence Day. If you’re going to be going somewhere to watch town-sponsored fireworks, head to one of those where the people still know why we’re launching them in the first place (and support their local economy while you’re there).

ACWORTH
ALEXANDRIA
ALLENSTOWN
ALSTEAD
AMHERST
ATKINSON
BARNSTEADBARRINGTON
BELMONT
BRENTWOOD
BRIDGEWATER
BROOKLINE
CANDIA
CANTERBURY
CARROLL
CHARLESTOWN
CHATHAM
COLEBROOK
DALTON
DANBURY
DOVER
DUNBARTON
EAST
EXETER
FRANKLIN
GRAFTON
GREENVILLE
GROTON
HANOVER
HARRISVILLE
HENNIKER
HILL
HILLSBORO
HINSDALE
HOLLIS
JAFFEREY
KINGSTON
LACONIA
LANDAFF
LANGDON
LITCHFIELD
LONDONDERRY
LYME
MANCHESTER
MARLOW
MASON
MILFORD
NEW CASTLE
NEW LONDON
NEWBURY
NEWTON
NORTHUMBERLAND
NORTHWOOD
OSSIPEE
PIERMONT
PITTSFIELD
PLAINFIELD
PLYMOUTH
ROCHESTER
RYE
SALISBURY
SANBORNTON
SHELBURNE
STARK
SULLIVAN
SWANZEY
TAMWORTH
TUFTONBORO
UNITY
WESTMORELAND
WOODSTOCK

Source: NH Dept of Fire Safety.