Friday, March 7, 2008

Scenes from the Show - 2008

Lovely calico Selkirk Rex.

A gorgeous Ragdoll.

Show Manager Gene Baturin with Russian Blue "Buck."

Thursday, March 6, 2008

In Memorium


Grand Champion Galidorn's Marilyn Monrex of Woodsprite

May 5, 1991 - March 5, 2008


After almost seventeen years, my favorite traveling companion and best bed buddy left me for the final journey she had to do on her own, and crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I've been through a lot of changes in 17 years. The Divine Miss Marilyn has been my only constant.

She wasn't the kitten I was supposed to get. Good friend Deborah Kane of Galidorn Devon Rex offered me a lovely calico kitten to use as a foundation for my own breeding program. (CH) Galidorn's Barbara Gordon of Woodsprite ("Babs") was cute, spunky and personable... BUT... when I laid eyes on her litter sister, The Divine Miss Marilyn, I was completely, truly, hopelessly smitten.

Yes, I took both girls home. Marilyn, however, was the only cat or kitten I ever promised would never leave my home.

Equal parts ditziness and intense concentration, one minute she'd look at you like she'd never seen you before, and the next she'd be on your chest, patting at your face trying to get your attention. No matter how many times you could set her down, she'd pop right back up and persistently push her way into your attention. Then, when she'd had enough, she'd wander off, but toss questions and comments over her shoulder as she ambled from room to room.

Like all true divas, the Divine Miss Marilyn had a full actress's range of volume, tone, and vibrato -- everything from whispered "meffs" to sweet-voiced queries to full-throated, Marlena Dietrich moans, to outboard motor purrs that could be heard across the room.

I kept my promise.

I miss her terribly already. I wish I could do this tribute better. Maybe later, when it doesn't hurt this much.
_____

If any of you are in the memorial spirit, I would request that donations go the Morris Animal Foundation.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Morris Animal Foundation

PAIN MANAGEMENT FOR YOUR PETS, KEY INFORMATION EVERY PET OWNER SHOULD KNOW –LIVE WEBCAST TO PET OWNERS, MARCH 13, 8:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. (EST) VIA MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION

World-Renowned Pain Management Expert Robin Downing, DVM, Will Conduct Webcast For Pet Owners, Covering All Aspects Related to Pets and Pain

DENVER, March 3, 2008: Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) will sponsor a live webcast for pet owners on pain management for their pets on March 13, 2008, from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time). The live webcast will cover all aspects of pain management, including common causes of pain, overlooked hidden causes of pain, anticipating and avoiding pain in your pets, communicating with your veterinarian and how to ask the right questions. Participate in the webcast at: www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org/livechat. In addition, a webcast on pet pain directed to veterinarians takes place from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. EST. Both webcasts will be available indefinitely for global audiences on a non-live basis at the webcast address.

Leading this webcast will be Robin Downing, DVM, a MAF Trustee and one of the world's leading experts on pain in animals. In 2005, Dr. Downing became the third veterinarian in the world to acquire diplomate credential from the American Academy of Pain Management. As of today, fewer than a dozen veterinarians worldwide hold this credential. Dr. Downing is founder and past president of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management and was co-chair of the task force that authored the "2007 AAHA/AAFP Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats." In 2006 she opened The Downing Center for Animal Pain Management, LLC, the only comprehensive pain management and pain prevention practice for pets in Northern Colorado. Contributing to the discussion will be Patricia Olson, DVM, Ph.D., president and CEO of Morris Animal Foundation. For more information, contact: Michael Burke, mburke@morrisanimalfoundation.org.

About Morris Animal Foundation: Morris Animal Foundation, established in 1948, is dedicated to funding research that protects, treats and cures companion animals and wildlife. MAF has been at the forefront of funding breakthrough research studies benefiting animals in some 100 countries, spanning all seven continents on Earth. MAF has its headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The Foundation has funded nearly 1,400 humane animal health studies with funds totaling more than $51 million. One hundred percent of annual donations go to fund health study programs. For more information, call (800) 243-2345, or visit www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org.

© 2008 Morris Animal Foundation, 10200 E. Girard Ave., Ste. B430, Denver, CO 80231
All Rights Reserved.