Have you heard about debarking dogs? It is a surgery that cuts the dog's vocal cords so they cannot bark. I am in shock that people will actually do this to their dogs. I am an animal lover and cannot imagine having a dog that cannot bark due to my actions.

I read a post on this at this site: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35219154/ns/health-the_new_york_times/?GT1=4...

I realize that barking can at times be bothersome, but really everything in life can be bothersome. If a dog barks it is because it is feeling something. There are some dogs that bark incessantly, but that is part of who they are. To silence them is just unnecessary. I think it is laziness on the owner's part.

Today I took my three year old niece to the St. Louis Science Center to see the Dinosaurs Unearthed Exhibit. We walked through hallways lined with realistic looking dinosaurs that roared at us.

It was quite amazing. I do not know who was more awed, Ali or I. She was not scared of the fantastic creatures, which suprised me a bit. Imagine being 3 years old and walking past monsters. I wondered why she wasn't scared. Was it because I was there holding her hand or is she just fearless? I hope it is a combination of both. I hope my presence gives her confidence to face scary things knowing I will be there to help her, but I also hope she has enough self-confidence to meet challenges head on.

When a voice on the phone told me Sarah had passed away this week, I couldn’t connect the words to MY Sarah. When I tried to share her words with friends, I realized MY Sarah was actually many people at different times in our lives. While the journey was too short, her life’s path has always been one with curves and challenges.

Stacey's favorite cause, Canine Helper's Allow More Possibilities Champs--the wonderful prison program that teaches inmates to train service dogs- lost a dear friend, Ruth. She passed away from breast cancer.

Now one of Ruth's puppies is in the Bissell MVP Pet Photo Contest. Please vote for Foo Foo in memory of the late Ruth Ann Grantham, a committed puppy raiser. Find the link on the next page--the contest ends tonight!

With the New Year comes snow, in Missouri at least. I thought I was ready for anything now that I am free, but I severly underestimated the power of snow.

Not only do I feel like I am five years old and want to fling myself into it everyitme I walk outside, but I am terrified to drive in it. I hate the feeling of not being in control, especially behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. I have not driven in the snow in 19 years. Yes, 19 years.

As most of you know, this was the first Christmas I spent free in a very long time. I got caught up in the hustle and bustle, the gifts, the music. You name it and I was caught up in it and it was WONDERFUL!

I had such a wonderful time. I missed everything while I was incarcerated but one of the main things I missed was just the spirit of the season. In prison, we try to forget that it is Christmas, but not out here. Here it is done with style. It started the day after Thanksgiving and will be ending shortly. I will be sad to see it go.

I just watched the last hour of the movie Hound Dog with Dakota Fanning. I missed the first part of it, and I would have liked to have seen it.

This movie was very compelling and I was immobilized in front of the screen. After the girl was raped and started to shut down, I saw so much of myself in her that I could not turn off the tv if I wanted to.

My boyfriend asked me why I was so mesmerized by a story so tragic. The answer was I wanted to see if she could pull her spirit out of it. I got my answer.

If you have not seen this movie, think about seeing it if you are strong enough and if you think it will not cause flashbacks for you.