Category Archive : Pets

Bored of spending a relaxing day at the beach, basking in the bright sun, frolicking in the waves? If so, we think you’re crazy… but we’ve got an idea for you if you need a little change. There are so many fun things to do on the sand in San Diego, you just have to try to ignore that alluring ocean.

We suggest visiting Belmont Park, just seconds from the coast, so you can get a taste of both worlds, land and sea. Belmont Park is an oceanfront amusement park on the boardwalk, located on Mission Beach. Perfect for all ages, this park offers a wide variety of attractions that will guarantee you a great day. The main attraction is the historic Giant Dipper roller coaster, which has entertained children and adults alike since it opened in 1925.

Visitors can enjoy traditional and contemporary attractions like The Liberty Carousel, The Vertical Plunge, Tilt-a-Whirl, Thunder Boats, Krazy Kars, and Speedway Bumper Cars. Ride the artificial waves at the Wave House, play miniature golf on a glow-in-the-dark course, take a dip in the pool, get lost in the mirror or laser maze, climb a mountain and win big in the arcade Center or game stations. You can even shop and enjoy a wide variety of cuisine throughout the park, including beachfront restaurants as well as food court-style dining.

If you just did a double take on “riding the artificial waves,” then yes, you read correctly. While wave machines, wave pools, and surf machines date back to the 1920s, it wasn’t until the late 1980s that anything came close to recreating the thrill and challenge of the ocean. It was then that Wave Loch founder Tom Lochtefeld developed “sheet wave” technology, which he later used to create the FlowRider® and FlowBarrel® wave rides, two of Belmont Park’s most popular rides. .

The FlowRider® is a low profile foil wave that resembles the thrill of an ocean wave that is perfect for beginners and intermediate riders. Its large open face allows riders to express themselves creatively with a variety of movements. The FlowBarrel® incorporates a hollow tube, reef or barrel, along with a nice steep face, resembling the kind of strong waves surfers look for all over the world. Flowboarding (surfing on FlowRider® and FlowBarrel®) is 1/3 surfing, 1/3 snowboarding, with a mix of skateboarding and wakeboarding for fun! You may fall, but the cushioned surface of the FlowBarrel® and FlowRiders® will leave you jumping and itching to try again. Come and enjoy the endless sun and waves, no experience required!

Parking and admission to Belmont Park are FREE! You can also check it out, even if you just want to come for a walk on the boardwalk and have a look. If you decide to try out some rides, wave rides, or other attractions, you can purchase tickets when you arrive. Remember, Belmont Park is right on Mission Beach, so you always have that boring old option to lie down…

The Panasonic AG HVX200 was released in December 2005 in NTSC format and in April 2006 in Pal. It is a high definition video camera with a fixed lens. Record HD video to solid-state P2 cards or DV video to MiniDV tape.

What is P2?

P2 is a tapeless recording of DVCPRO, DVCPRO50, DVCPRO-HD, or AVC-Intra broadcasts onto a solid-state flash memory card. It is a professional digital video storage medium that was introduced in 2004 by Panasonic.

One of the main advantages of P2 is that the card can be used directly with your PC if a slot is available. There may be some additional drivers that need to be installed for this to work, but once you’re up and running it can save a lot of time and effort trying to transfer the data.

The Panasonic AG HVX200 has many additional and improved features that make it a top-of-the-line camcorder for professional video producers. The Panasonic AG HVX200 offers an extensive menu that new users may find a bit intimidating, more professionals on the other hand will be surprised at what this camcorder has to offer.

Panasonic AG HVX200 Features:

Advanced gamma functions and eight gamma settings including two CineGammaTM modes and NewsGammaTM mode

Advanced Image Settings: Color Matrix, Detail, Chroma Phase, Color Temperature, Break Points

Two ND filters: 1/8, 1/64

82mm filter diameter

Two hot-swappable P2 card slots

Hot swap, loop, pre-record (3 seconds HD, 7 seconds SD), one shot and interval recording functions

Mini-DV tape transport for DV recording

Internal downconversion and frame rate conversion of HD source recorded on P2 cards to Mini-DV tape

True HD picture quality with low compression DVCPRO HD intra-frame recording

Multiple formats: DVCPRO HD, DVCPRO 50, DVCPRO, DV selectable

HD recording formats: 1080/60i, 1080/24p, 1080/24pA, 1080/30p, 720p (variable frame rates)

82mm filter diameter

Two hot-swappable P2 card slots

Hot swap, loop, pre-record (3 seconds HD, 7 seconds SD), one shot and interval recording function

SD memory card slot for scene file sharing

Remote control for zoom, recording (start/stop)

Remote control for focus, iris control

SMPTE timecode reader/generator with multi-camera timecode matching via IEEE 1394

SMPTE color bars

Three programmable user buttons

Finding a camcorder with all these features is half the battle when it comes to creating professional videos. The AG HVX200 is so high-tech that it is widely used by newspaper photographers and news readers.

When shopping for any camcorder, always ask if there are any additional items you may need. Very often, a replacement battery or case can mean the difference between getting that extra piece of film or not.

This camcorder varies in price. It can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000, depending on what is offered along with it or as optional extras.

Not only are they big in size, Newfoundland dogs are big in strength and great in loyalty. Typically black in color, the loving and patient Newfoundland dog is distinguished by its unique webbed foot which allows it to be great swimmers. Once used for working dogs in water rescue. They are considered easy to train and eager to please. Very laid back, almost sluggish at times, this giant pet, like most extra-large breed dogs, has a slower metabolism, which means less intense exercise, but he’s 6 feet from nose to tail, and the males weigh up to 160 pounds on average. Surely you have the space for this black bear in your house.

The Newfoundland’s coat requires weekly grooming as they will shed and mat like crazy. Perhaps an outdoor space that includes a fenced-in yard for him to stretch out his giant body and an extra-large doghouse, even climate-controlled, would be nice to keep him comfortable under all that fur. When it comes to a pet of this size, you can’t help but consider the logistics of how they will literally “fit” into the home. Their disposition is calm, gentle and loving, which makes them excellent in a home with children. They will protect with a deep bark when their keen sense of hearing picks up the noise of someone approaching.

As with many large breeds, they can develop problems with their weight-bearing hips in later years. The extra large doghouse will give them room to lie down and out of the way so they don’t have to get up to move. With their massive size and weight, they can sometimes be a challenge to work around in the home, so this outdoor oasis for rest and relaxation may be the best idea for dogs and owners alike.

Barbados has much to offer in all its beauty and splendor, but there is also incredible tropical marine life in the depths of the waters to discover. Sure there is no problem if the deep sea is your hobby, if you are trained, qualified and equipped to dive in the deep sea, but this is not an option for most visitors to Barbados. However, these visitors need not miss out on this fascinating deep-sea tropical life if they take a tour on the Atlantis submarine.

The Atlantis Submarine and these tours have been specifically designed to take visitors who are unable to dive deep into the surface waters and see this incredible tropical fish life for themselves. You will take a short scenic boat ride of approximately 10 minutes to the dive site at Freshwater Bay, also known as Clarke’s Reef on the west coast of Barbados, where you will arrive and watch as the 65ft submarine slowly rises out of the water for you to board. . First you see its antennae emerge, then a circular cone, and finally the tubular white steel helmet. You have to go down a ladder of 10 steps and then you are on board the submarine. Once all passengers are on board, the sub slowly emerges into the water and sinks to about 100 to 150 feet, stopping at the coral reef that stretches for about two miles and is about 60 feet high, before go to the bottom of the ocean. where you will find an old shipwreck.

The submarine offers a comfortable and spacious air-conditioned cabin and accommodates up to 24 passengers with seats on each side for you to sit in large circular viewing holes opposite each other so you can see first hand the incredible colors and tropical marine life that surround you. surrounds, including visiting and getting up close to the old shipwreck. The interior of the sub’s cabin is maintained at sea level pressure for your comfort and a large 52-inch porthole is located at the front of the sub for additional viewing opportunities. You will see the pilot here surrounded by all of his controls and he moves the sub at a very slow speed (1.5 knots) so that he can slowly navigate the underwater marine life. You’ll discover that curious exotic fish can peek through the submarine’s portholes, and the 40-minute expedition is narrated by an expert co-pilot who will guide you through your underwater journey and explain what he’s seeing.

The submarine will then rise and your boat will be waiting to take you back to shore. You’ll want to make sure you’ve brought your camera with you and you’ll be advised not to use your flash as taking pictures through the port holes will come out black, but without using the flash you’ll be able to get some good pictures, albeit better. your camera will probably make a difference. You can use the flash indoors to get clear images of yourself on board a submarine. Each porthole has a picture card so you can try to identify which dazzling fish you have seen. You are likely to see a variety of fish including butterfly fish, silversides, parrot fish, as well as possibly a barracuda and a sea turtle. The sea fans give you an amazing view of colorful sponge life bobbing in the waters and they are truly amazing. As the sub moves deeper into the wreck, this incredible coral life and tropical fish are left behind and you can see the bottom of the seabed.

This is a wonderful, easy, safe and comfortable way to explore the incredible marine life in the deep sea without being a qualified deep sea diver. These tours are award winning and highly recommended as a fantastic aquatic experience, something not to be missed.

Excerpted from Only Angels: How to Breed and Train the Perfect Greyhound

The more pesticides you use, the more fleas you will have. There are four universal truths regarding insects:

1. Insects will eat.

2. You can’t eradicate all insects.

3. Pesticides will ALWAYS backfire because insects adapt.

4. Pesticides can be harmful to your dog, your children and to you.

Pesticides, sooner or later, will be counterproductive for the user. They are effective when initially used, but over time their effectiveness dissipates and eventually the bugs will develop stronger generations that are immune to them. This is because the insects reproduce rapidly and have many offspring that have mutations that resist the insecticide. As this process occurs, living insects will pass on their new genetic traits to offspring, and most of the new generation will be immune to insecticides. So we have to keep coming up with newer, stronger alternatives.

Pesticides have one big drawback: they are all dangerous.

Pesticides are also expensive. Ask anyone who uses the monthly spot-on products. Every time you use pesticides on your dog, you are also using them on yourself. Whether you use a few drops of a product, a spray, or a powder, everyone in the house will be exposed. Even professionally applied pesticides evaporate a little and affect people living in the house. Pesticides have been shown time and again to have very negative effects on pregnant or lactating women, infants and young children, as well as cats, dogs and birds. I’ve never been a fan of toxic insecticides, but when I learned that monthly flea sprays on your back are derivatives of nerve gases, I knew I’d never use them.

so what is the alternative? The natural approach. Why? Because it is effective, economical and does not harm you, your dog or the environment. There are many methods used in natural flea control. Manual harvesting is very effective. Every time your dog comes in from outside, quickly run a narrow-toothed flea comb over him and wash the critters down the drain. This can be time consuming if you live in a multi-dog household, but luckily there are other methods. Fleas live on outdoor plants. Adding algae to the soil helps plants develop their own arsenal against pests. Kelp is an important and underrated defensive weapon. When composted into the soil, it adds many plant nutrients and enzymes that act as preventatives against insect pests.

Two of my favorite natural weapons against fleas are diatomaceous earth (sometimes called diatomaceous earth) and steam cleaning carpets and dog bedding. Diatomaceous earth is a mined mineral product consisting of the remains of fossilized single-celled diatoms that lived nearly thirty million years ago. It kills pests like fleas, worms, or any hard-shelled insect because its sharp silica edges pierce its soft shell. Therefore, insects cannot become immune to it. It is inexpensive and is considered safe for humans and animals. It is even added to some animal feeds to kill parasites and intestinal worms. It is also used in stored animal feed to detect pests. Animals such as birds that eat the insects killed by the diatomaceous earth particles will not be harmed. There is a word of caution when it comes to diatomaceous earth: there are two grades. One is the type used to filter swimming pools and spread around the garden, the other is food grade and this is the only type to use on your dogs or in your home. Why? Because it will not harm the lungs or the eyes. It’s hard to find the food-grade type and my suppliers are constantly changing. When diatomaceous earth is not available, a good alternative to shampoos and sprays is made from Erigeron (Canadian fleabane), a rare herb whose oils dissolve the shells of fleas and other insects without harming you or your pet. Erigeron is preferred over natural citrus-based flea killers that can trigger allergies in some dogs or burn sensitive skin.

There are many other options, including a wide variety of sprays, shampoos, and natural treatments, but I’ve found the easiest, purest, and most foolproof way to get rid of fleas: steam. Of all the natural flea control methods I’ve used, this one works the best:

THE STEAM OF YOUR FLEAS AWAY!

I bought a small handheld pressurized steam unit (not the mopping type), which is relatively inexpensive compared to the current cost of pesticides. The steam unit has a nozzle that allows the steam to be released as a pressurized stream at 212 degrees F. I treat my carpets, upholstery, and dog bedding every month and voila, zero fleas! It also kills dust mites and is great for disinfecting. It is easy. It is not toxic. It is environmentally friendly. Works! I used it weekly at first, but found over time I could use it less and less and still be flea free.

You can also use the unit to clean and disinfect other areas of your home. Steam kills E.coli and salmonella and is great for cleaning burnt-on foods from oven racks or burners. Since using it I have noticed a real improvement in my dust mite allergies so I guess it must be killing the mites along with the fleas. There are probably other brands that work too. This turns out to be the one I use. If you choose to buy a steam unit, make sure it has a pressure nozzle that allows the steam to come out in a strong jet. Mild steam units for steaming clothes won’t work to kill fleas unless they also come with a pressure nozzle.

WARNING: DO NOT USE THE STEAM DIRECTLY ON YOUR DOGS AS THE STEAM COULD BURN THEM. It doesn’t seem necessary to say that, but better safe than sorry.

Copyrighted Cherie Feherman 1998 and 2010. All rights reserved.

Caring for an Akita dog during pregnancy is basically common sense. She must be carefully watched and made to feel as comfortable and happy as possible. You must ensure that she has dry bedding, plenty of clean drinking water, and regular good quality food. For the first five weeks she will probably behave quite normally. She can have the days “off” from her. She may be hungrier. She may show a slight change in temperament and be more careful about her behavior, but as long as she’s obviously healthy and happy, that’s all that matters.

As soon as you suspect she’s pregnant, it’s a good idea to contact your vet so she can note the due date in her diary and monitor the bitch’s progress. Akitas do not carry much water with their puppies, however there will be a considerable amount of weight to carry as the weeks go on. In general, it is not recommended to give him a lot of extra food in the first few weeks. Experience has taught us that overloading a bitch with food will increase the weight of her puppies, and she will also gain weight. This causes two problems. First of all, she won’t exercise as well and therefore won’t keep her muscles toned. Second, the puppies will be fat, which means they will be larger and will experience a more difficult passage through the birth canal. And when they are born, they will be fat and lazy.

It’s much better to have an active mother and lean, vigorous puppies, who will fight to get to the teats to fill up on that all-important first milk from the mother. We have found that the best policy is to feed a balanced diet with an increase in food after about five weeks. Naturally, the mom-to-be will be Hungarian, but rest assured that any food you give her from her will be passed on to her unborn babies before she takes it herself. She is a natural at taking care of parents. Additives in the form of calcium and perhaps iron are a good idea, again after the five week period. These days, most foods are carefully balanced and numerous additives are not needed. In fact, the general opinion is that they can do more harm than good. But if the dog suggests that she may have a deficiency, she should take her to the vet for proper testing and analysis.

Akita bitches “hide” their puppies very well up to at least five weeks, more often six. They may not show any signs that they are pregnant, and this can be extremely upsetting to owners, who obviously want to know if they are expecting a litter so they can make the necessary preparations. Probably the best indication is swelling of the bitch’s nipples. Starting at three weeks, these may “pop”, or slightly enlarge and become more pink in appearance. In our experience, this is the only “safe” sign. Ultrasound scanning can also give a definitive diagnosis, but this is expensive and sometimes hair must be removed from the side or underside of the bitch.

Your dog may show signs of rib thickening at or much earlier, but this is highly unlikely. Akita Inu female dogs do not generally carry their babies across their distance like most breeds. They hide them under the ribs and then “drop” them and carry them in the womb, like a cow carrying her calf. Whether you see positive signs or not, it’s wise to contact your vet and note the expected due date in your diary so it’s available if needed.

Seven weeks into the pregnancy, introduce the bitch to her whelping site. A suitable sized box should be prepared and the absolute minimum measurements for this would be approximately 4ft 6in by 3ft. This will allow the dog to lie fully stretched out on her side. The box can certainly be larger, but not so large as to allow the pups to wander away from their mother and get lost. Make sure the dog is happy with the crate and its position. After a few days, she will welcome the peace, quiet and solitude of this area, accepting it as the natural place to give birth. If she is not happy, you must give in to her and make other arrangements. She probably has a good reason for not wanting things the way you do. So listen to her and adjust. She can accept the box and then on the day of delivery, she changes her mind and wants to go somewhere else. Again, you must give in to her request. She can go back to the crate after she has had her first pup, but let her decide. It’s worth all the fuss to have a happy and satisfied female dog that successfully comes through her pregnancy and gives birth to her puppies safely, without causing you, or herself, any undue anxiety.

It’s a good idea to consider the best cities to be a vet tech if you’re going into this field, whether you’re looking for schools, about to graduate, just graduated, or already working in the field but thinking about moving. The best cities for vet techs are the cities with the most jobs in this field, the highest salaries, and the most general amenities for residents. There are a few cities that top the list right now.

It might seem like big cities like New York, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles would top the list just because they’re so big and there are so many resources, but this isn’t necessarily the case. While these can be great places to go to vet school, they are not necessarily the best places to be a vet tech because the job field is very competitive and the cost of living is very high. This may be fine for vets, but since vet techs earn much less than vets, it can make life quite difficult.

For vet techs, Phoenix, Arizona is actually the best city in the United States to build a career. Many animal owners in the Phoenix area have small pets like cats and dogs and large animals like pigs and horses. And the cost of living is still very reasonable. The second best city for veterinary assistants is Orlando, Florida. If you’re looking for a good place to move, this could be ideal, especially if you want to work with smaller pets. Tucson, Arizona is the third best city and Houston, Texas is the fourth best.

As a veterinary assistant, you will be expected to assist veterinarians with exams, procedures such as X-rays, surgeries, and day-to-day functions such as keeping records, welcoming patients, and tidying up the office. Some people start their careers as vet techs to gain experience as they continue their studies to become full-fledged veterinarians, while others are happy with this career and all the satisfactions it offers. After only a short period of training, you can enter this field and begin the rewarding job of caring for pets.

The RT Wave (EV-L2R5803) is brought to you by Videocomm Technologies and is the only wireless elevator camera system in the industry. This unique wireless camera system requires no software, setup, or programming. This allows for quick and easy installation (plug and play) and is used for the most intensive surveillance operations. Provides real-time DVD-quality images up to200 floors, this system stands above any other elevator camera system.

The system comes equipped with a modern, low-profile corner-mount camera that provides clear video from 480 TV lines of horizontal resolution and has a hardware-based MPEG-4 video compression format. A minimum illumination of 0.4 lux enables viewing in low-light environments. The 2.8mm wide angle lens allows you to see every corner of the elevator. This will help easily identify residents, employees, and visitors. A rugged, vandal-proof dome housing prevents any system tampering (IP-66 rating).

The RT Wave system also comes with a wireless transmitter and receiver with 6 rubber ducky antennas for a continuous signal and does not require a connection to the elevator mechanics or trip wire. It has a digital immunity to signal interference. A remote control is also provided with the system to help control the color brightness, hue and saturation of the video. Two universal mounting brackets, three power supplies, and a 25-foot low-loss power/video cable complete the kit.

No equipment maintenance or inspection is required with this system. It is also FCC and IC approved for use without a license.

I had never heard of a Bavarian Mountain Hound before my partner, Anton, broached the topic of getting one. We already had two black Labs, a terrier, and two cats. As far as I was concerned, our animal family was complete.

All of our animals worked. The two farmers worked with Anton during bird season to retrieve pheasants, woodcocks, snipes and ducks. The terrier would catch any rats around our farm and the cats would catch mice and leave their headless carcasses on our front step. Anton, however, felt that there was room for one more animal in our herd; a Bavarian Mountain Hound to help him track down live and injured deer during deer season. Similar to a Beagle in size but reddish-brown in color with a black face, it has a short coat and weighs about 70 pounds when fully grown. Hunters use this breed when tracking deer to shoot or when wounding a deer but still able to run. They are bred to track deer through the mountains of Bavaria and can track an injured deer for miles.

I had a hard time persuading. The animals we already had were expensive and very hard, yet rewarding, work. Bavarian Mountain Dogs are relatively new to Ireland so it was difficult to find other people to ask questions about the breed. I researched everything I could online and while I didn’t find anything objectionable about them, they still didn’t sell me. Because they are a rare breed in Ireland, we knew that if we wanted one, we would have to be on a waiting list. Anton made some preliminary calls and, to his disappointment, he discovered that there were only a handful of breeders in Ireland and that all of his puppies were booked for that year. I was relieved because it meant I had more time to make sure this was the race for us. I had some specific concerns about the race. First of all, we live in a rural community and had read that they were not reliable without lead if they picked up an odor. We let our dogs run free around our house often and I was afraid a Bavarian Mountain Hound would run too far or worse, chase the neighboring sheep.

We get on with our lives and put the dog out of our minds. A few weeks passed when a breeder from Northern Ireland contacted Anton. He had been disappointed by someone who had booked a male puppy and he wanted to know if we would be interested. We talked about it for a few days and Anton had long talks with the breeder and we finally decided to give it a try. The puppy was eight weeks old when we decided we wanted him. The breeder recommended that we name him now and collect him when he was sixteen weeks old, that way I could do preliminary training with him. He also invited Anton for a day to do some hunting so he could watch his mother and father work. We were both happy with this arrangement and decided to call our newest addition Riley.

A few weeks later, Anton made the long trip to Northern Ireland to pick up Riley. He met his mother Heidi and his father Alfie and spent time with the breeder learning about our new pet. When they got home, I met Riley at the door and fell in love instantly. Lanky and shy at first, he followed me into the living room and climbed onto my lap.

Riley was definitely not what he expected the breed to be. All the research he did before bringing him home was helpful, but he had a lot more to learn. He was adorable, like all puppies, with his big dark face and long clumsy legs. We kept him by our side for the first few days as we had with all of our puppies. Unlike our other pups, Riley was very calm and not prone to the random outbursts of emotion that we had experienced with Labradors and terriers. He loved our company and, unlike the crazy Beagle-type dog he expected, he was lazy and loved lounging by the fire. At night he went to his pen in our shed with the other dogs and didn’t cry or bark. He was a far cry from the separation anxiety all of our other dogs had experienced and, in short, he couldn’t believe our luck.

Our first insight into the negative traits of the breed was a few days after we brought Riley home. He was so calm and didn’t seem anxious about being in the pen at night, so we didn’t think to leave him alone in our living room while we went shopping. We drew our curtains so the cats couldn’t bother him at the window and set off on our short trip. This was a big mistake. When we got back home, I immediately noticed that the curtains were now open. On closer inspection, they were not open. They had been cut in half. Yes, our wonderful, calm and placid puppy was, in fact, a normal puppy after all.

Riley is almost a year old and the Bavarian Mountain Hound is my favorite breed of dog. He is loyal, intelligent, and a fantastic hunting partner for Anton. They tracked many deer together this season and although he is lazy and loves to lounge by the fire at home, when he hunts he is dedicated and committed and can go for miles. As he demonstrated by destroying my beautiful curtains, he hates being alone and is very destructive when left alone inside for too long. As I write this, he is curled up next to me with his head on my shoulder. He is fiercely loyal and affectionate towards his owners, as is typical of the breed. He gets along with the other dogs, but he definitely sees himself more as a human than a dog and seeks human company over canine. His hunting instinct makes him chase the poor cats if they get in his way, but he is kind and loving with children. He is not a guard dog, where Labradors and terriers will bark at the house if they hear someone outside, he will barely raise his head from the bed.

If you’re considering adding a Bavarian Mountain Hound to your family, there are a few things you should seriously consider. Do you have an interest in hunting? These dogs are scent driven and it is in their nature to hunt. They enjoy tracking over any other form of play and exercise. Do you have a lot of time to spend with the dog on a daily basis? This breed adores their owners and gets very upset when they can’t be with them. Can you commit to loving and caring for a dog for about fourteen years? If you can answer yes to these questions and decide to adopt a Bavarian Mountain Hound, you will find yourself a loyal and loving companion for years to come. Adding Riley to our family was one of the best decisions we have ever made, I hope this article helps you make the right decision for your animal family.

… He was running. He ran and ran until he thought his heart would explode along with his burning lungs. The air felt like he was on fire with every breath of oxygen.

The dark, wet, urine-smelling streets offered no shelter. The footsteps of his pursuers were not far behind. They did not blow whistles but shouted back and forth. Its snaps, clinks and clinks of metal, wood and plastic made their distinctive noises as the chase unfolded. “Carry him down the alley, Roger! I’ll cut him off the other end!”

Running and running some more, he didn’t know where he was or where to run next. The dark alley allowed for some cover and protection. A door led an entrance to a stairway of rotten and broken planks. They headed up. Higher and higher, she climbed. The danger that pursued them was already far behind. They couldn’t find it. He was standing on top of the bombed-out building looking down at them. Those who are adorned in blue and black outfits with attached sparkly and glittery ornaments; some were silver and some were gold in color. The gold ones were attached to the belt line of everyday clothing, while the silver or tin ones were attached to the pursuer’s assigned blue chest pockets.

Looking over the edge of the roof, he saw them searching furiously and frantically. They were searching but they were afraid to go in and up the rotten and moldy stairs of the dark and ominous bombed out building. His fear encouraged him to climb those stairs and go out onto the twelve-story roof.

Over the edge, the ledge produced a nest of beige-yellow orbs. The rounded things were big but smaller than a basketball. She handled the eggs with tender care, for they felt warm and inviting to the touch. He felt the need to keep them close, to protect them. He didn’t know why.

Wrapping the three of them tenderly and carefully inside her heavy winter coat, she started down the stairs; heading home Something, someone placed an unexpected and unwanted hand on her left shoulder. Startled, he tried to run for the door that led to the stairs below. The hand morphed into one grip, then another.

The big, strong grip prevented him from getting out; to move; to go home.

“Where are you going with those eggs boy?” said a strange and threatening voice. Without turning to see who was questioning him along with the powerful restraint, he replied, “I’m going home to take care of these babies!”

“You drink?” the voice asked. “Those aren’t babies! It’s our breakfast!”

A power seized him. A power he did not recognize gave him the courage and confidence to challenge would-be usurpers of him.

Before he realized there were four assailants, the sight of them flying backwards and being caught by the asphalt filled every one of his waking visions. They lay bleeding, bent and broken. The fourth was thrown from the roof and lying dead in the dumpster below. The ‘Green Beret’ martial arts training seemed to work on its own in a fatal defense of him and his newly found babies.

The eagles grew over time. They had never flown nor had the feeling or desire to do so. The natural God endowed with strength and beauty subliminally urged them to abandon the sanctity of the backyard hit. They were beautiful and powerful young egrets. Heaven beckoned – freedom beckoned; the wind called loudly.

The other chicken, parrot, finch, pigeon and ‘Tweety’ birds wondered who and what kind of bird the three were. They didn’t know what they were. All they knew was the love, care and respect shared and reciprocated here. They were brothers and sisters. They took care of each other. They protected each other. The little ones could go in and out of small cracks in search of food and unattainable desires for the bigger ones who couldn’t. The dog, the wolf, the fox, and any other threat, enemy, or predator did not dare venture into their peaceful and loving home, at least while their three larger-than-life siblings were around. “They kept us all safe: everything and everyone remained apprehensive or aloof if only because of their opulent stature.”

The three eagles did more or less what the others in the house did. But something told them they were destined for something more.

A large shadow crossed his forehead during the day. They looked up and saw a magnificent sight. “Which view to hold?” shouted one of the three eagle brothers. “What is?” the others asked. “She looks just like us!”

“How can you know?” asked one of the family members. “He’s so high up and so far away I can barely see him!” exclaimed the chicken.

“We can see it clearly, like it’s right next to us!” said one of the sharp-eyed eagle brothers. The man said: “He is of his kind, my children. He like you, is majestic… he is an Eagle!” he said with pride and a wide smile on his face. “You are destined to fly as he does. He, like you, is the ‘King of the Sky – The King of the Birds! I have raised you here to protect you and keep you safe from harm – today is the day I must ride on the clouds and answer the call.”

The man began to undo the sky screen keeping them penned in the patio area with the other birds in the patio. The three brothers began to stretch and flap their eight-foot-long wings. They began to emulate the king bird above.

“Oh this feels great, it feels magnificent, how empowered we feel, it’s just glorious! Bro, we knew we were more than garden birds! Not chicken, parrot, finch, pigeon or Tweety – we knew we were/are eagles ; Kings of heaven!

A loud explosion sounded as the fence along the house wall shattered into toothpicks. Cages and shocks collapsed, allowing sick and injured birds to shudder, cry, howl, scream and scream in pain, agony and panic. Guardians and soldiers charged, bumped and stomped everywhere, in the name of search, seizure, rescue, arrest and destruction.

“We know you have a pot farm here! You’re a baba drug dealer! We know you robbed the neighborhood Micky-D’s, gas station, donut shack, grocery store and ‘Driving While Black!’ You have killed a man and attacked his friends!

They punched, kicked and pushed the man who tried to turn the other cheek. He couldn’t.

The eagles rushed to defend. The Game Wardens and Troopers were severely attacked by the ‘larger than life’ avenging birds. The first eagle flapped its huge wings and created a funnel of wind with the power of an “F-3” tornado. Blowing up several of the marauders, throwing them back and into the street. The second eagle grabbed two intruders, one in each talon; and with little or no effort, it flapped its mighty wings and flew above the surrounding buildings and houses. The captive prey screamed at the top of its lungs as if flipped over and frightened by the tallest and most powerful roller coaster of monsters on the planet. Flying high and fast, the mighty bird swooped down and, like a bomber, dropped the two grown men into the city’s rainwater reservoir four and a half miles away on 33rd Street. The third eagle stood with its eight and a half foot wingspan extended. The increased posture greatly intimidated the remaining marauders. They reached for Nets, Tasers, Guns, Batons and other available assault weapons.

The eagle flashed its great bright and sharp eyes. The fear of God overcame them. Two of them notably soiled the front of their pants while they were frozen in fear. The others, in their fear and hatred, continued their attempted rampage.

The man sprang into action. Three prowlers were kicked backwards in the street, while another with a gun drawn was flipped over the man’s right shoulder and slammed to the concrete floor. The sound of broken pottery and human bones filled the immediate air. The other happy and healthy garden birds joined the melee in defense of their precious and beloved abode. They all managed to push the intruders back and out into the street near their vehicles.

The media discovered, reported and filmed the warrantless assault on the man and his friends. All charges were shown to be baseless and the charges to be unfounded. The unreasonable attack and accusation was concocted and engineered by an evil corrupt member of the force who was exposed for abusive tactics and harassment on multiple occasions for his indiscretions and blatant disregard for police protocols in his personal vendetta and terrorist practices against those whom he he considered and believes to be undesirable and below him. The truncated reports of him have caused an undue rift between the responsible authoritarian community and the community at large. The surreptitious act was corrected with resistance to injustice and bitter resentment.

The eagles, who were raised on chickens, flew in Mighty Wings of Truth and Justice with Glorious Pride alongside his partner Sky-King: The Man was Free and Run Away No More.

Until next time…

‘SANKOFA’