rldarby's Blog

Bradly,

My wife and I have rescue pets from TN, MS, and AL.  We would be glad to care for one of your pets until this matter is resolved.  PLEASE DO NOT TAKE YOUR PET TO A SHELTER!  We will take care of them indefinity if needed.  We have pets that stay indoors and some that stay outside so that does not matter.  We presently have five dogs and two cats.  We do not have a limit on the number of pets we cab have here in Batesville, MS.

PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU STILL NEED HELP!!

rldarby@bellsouth.net

Memphis, a sports town?  I doubt it.  The lack of sports, professional or not, in this town is totally due to the lack of interest in all segments of society.  Yes, we have the Forum and the Grizzlies and we have Autozone Park and the Redbirds.  But what about the failures.  No NFL; the hockey team flew south; no sellouts at any venue; and no interest for any other form of professional sports in this town (except rastlin'). 

Even our amatuer sports programs have fallen.  The crowds at Tiger games (any sport) is lackluster.  We have better turnout for high school events.  Our youth programs suffer due to lack of parental involvement.  Memphis Motorsports Park plowwed up its dirt track due to low turnout and only has four major events per year.

Is it any wonder that our crimw rate is so high?  We have NOTHING ELSE FOR PEOPLE TO DO!  Let's all go out and get drunk or high and rob or kill somebody. 

Sports is important to teach hand-eye coordination.  It teaches teamwork.  It teaches discipline.  It teaches respect for others and self.  It teaches that not everyone is a superstar.  It teaches a good work ethic.  It teaches to play by the rules or suffer the consequences.  It teaches healthy habits.

GET OUT AND PARTICIPATE, MEMPHIS!!!  If you want to be a sports town then it has to start at the local level, not the corperate level.

The more I read about the things going on in the world, especially in politics, I wonder what has happened to common sense.  I don't understand what has happened to the simple logical thinking that we all grew up with.  I see crime going unpunished at all levels.  I see government and people that refuse to live within their means.  I see ne regard for God, family, or country.

I am totally confused at what has happened to my world.  I know that the Bible tells me that "The LOVE of money is the root of ALL evil."  so I guess I can take that and the fact that It also says that "in the Last days , many will be deceived".

If you stop and take a sober look at our world and can't see that things have gone completely heywire, then you may be part of the problem.

Our town here in N MS is like any other on Friday nights, FOOTBALL!  However, it is unfortunate that in our town we have two schools that field a team every Friday.  Both play well.  Both are in good locations and have nice stadiums.  One school in public while the other is private.  One school in large and the other is small.

I said that this is unfortunate because last Friday night both schools played home games.  The large school is South Panola High School with a 60 game winning streak.  They were playing Clarksdale in front of 12,000 fans and media.  The other school is North Delta Academy.  They played in front of less than 2,000 fans and no media.

Why do I mention this?  After all, people want to watch the "big" games.  I am a parent and former official and have never understood why school boosters and sponsors would leave the PLAYERS of their team just to go watch the bigger game.  I'm sorry but the ND game was just as important to their players as the SP game was to theirs.

How do you think the ND players felt when they walked into their home stadium and the visitor's section had more fans than they did?  Betrayed?  Forsaken?  Unimportant?

Go to a game on Friday night!  Support YOUR team!  Show these young people that you care about THEM!

My wife and I have a soft spot for children and animals (In that order).  Since we live in northwest MS, the only animal shelters are in Desoto county which are at least an hours drive for me.  On Saturday, Sept 1, my family was in Memphis and decided to go by the Memphis Animal Services shelter since we were looking for a dog for our 5 year old daughter.

Just in the way of background, we have rescued approximately 60-75 dogs and cats over the last five years and managed to find good loving homes for them.  I especially like to rescue dogs that are "aggressive" or "timid" and watch them change into loving pets.

We found a small dog that my little girl loved and was labeled "ready to adopt".  When I went to the front counter I was told the dog had not been spade yet but I could give them my money and get the dog next week.  I infirmed the people that I would take the dog to my vet and send them copies of the records since I could not afford another trip back up next week.  That could not be done according to policy.

First of all, if these people care about these animals the policy would permit people with ID showing that they live 60 miles from Memphis/Shelby county to adopt these animals to good homes.  Secondly, who is it to say that a pit bull is vicious and can not be adopted.  I was shown cages of pit bulls and mixes that will be put down just because of their "presumed" breed.  My daughter walked up and pet many of these animals.  I WOULD NOT LET HER DO THAT WITH A VICIOUS ANIMAL!!!!

I am a firm believer that these animals are only as mean as the owner makes them and I have been very successful at rehabilitating over 20 of these dogs.  If the dogs are mean, then go after the owner.  There is only one reason for making dogs vicious and that is fighting.

I suppose I should not be surprised at what I saw and was told.  After all, look at the way people in the Memphis area treat there children.  Raise them in the streets to be criminals or molest them and get no serious punishment.  Mississippi may not be any better but I can only be responsible for what happens in MY house.  And in MY house, my children are loved, taught, and nurtured by their PARENTS and our pets are loved and treated humanely.

I recently saw a couple of signs about upcoming elections in North Miss.  I thought they were funny yet true.

"Stop repeat offenders... don't re-elect them."

"Politics.  'Poly' meaning many.  'tics' being blood suckers"

"Political exercise... running for office."