Pride

A Belgian Malinois, similar to a German Shepard, but smaller and more compact are the favored working dog in our armed forces.   They are highly trained and skilled.

They are equipped with oxygen masks for the 30,000 ft. jump and wear protective armour made by Jim and Gloria Slaters of Winnipeg who design and manufacture the best armour available for police and military working dogs.

The e-mail had more pictures and more history of these wonder dogs.   There are 2,800 dogs deployed around the world and they are now treated as full members of the service.   Once upon a time, after the Vietnam War, U.S. combat dogs and surplus army equipment were left behind when the Americans pulled out.    Now that is a sad statement to read .  In my thoughts, if they could get the men out, then they could have taken the dogs right along with them.   How sad and how cruel.   I know, I know, my understanding of the actual happenings is vague and I along with thousands of others thought we had no business over there, but our men and these animals certainly needed to be looked after no matter what.   Life is not fair, we find that out every day, but it is life and it is up to each one of us to work out 'the fair'.

So today, the ending of our first week in July, our summer weather of two days of high seventies has changed to cool foggy mornings and delightful summer days in which to enjoy the outside.    I know a lot of you are inside enjoying air conditioning and that is keeping you sane, but give the sunshine a short visit as it is good for your body and you need to absorb its rays for at least fifteen minutes if you can.    Vitamin D . . . something we need and here in Oregon we do not see the sunshine much so we glow when we have a sunshine day.  Make your seconds count, not because you have to, but because you want to.  Hugs to all.