Wednesday, July 21, 2010

So that is pretty much the end of this blog. I've some other projects on the horizon, probably still a few months away, which I'll link to from here when they're up and ready.

Once again, thank you all for reading and especially thank you all for caring and helping find homes for abandoned animals. You are all they have.

33 comments:

Lynda said...

Oh no, please reconsider, Fred. Keep me posted on what you have coming up - you have my email.

Lynda

Lynn said...

I feel so selfish. I don't want you to go. I have come back here so many times to read of Stella's last days. I don't know what it is. Thank you for sharing just a little bit more. Take Care, Fred.

Amy said...

I have checked your blog almost daily since Stella's passing, in hopes that there would be a new blog post. Maybe new pictures of dogs for adoption at TAS, maybe thoughts on Stella, or maybe one of your stories. In the back of my mind, I was afraid that the blog posting would be of the "goodbye" variety. You are such a talented writer and an amazing advocate for the animals at TAS. Selfishly, I am very sad to see this blog end, but I know that you have to do what is best for you. I will look forward to reading about your future projects soon. In the meantime, take care.

Anonymous said...

I wish you the best and am sorry for your loss of Stella.

Thank you for sharing all the you have.

Anonymous said...

HEY. U can't go.
See blog motto? Giving voice to abandoned dogs?
Still lots of abandoned dogs who need a voice, a champion.
So get back here already! Hahahaha....

Anonymous said...

Fred, you have done so much for the animals and for all of us.

I'll be watching for your new projects and, if you find the urge to write on Onebarkatatime again, we'll be here.

Brooke said...

Selfishly, I don't want this blog to end either. But that's the only constant in life, change.

I wish you all the best in your new endeavours.

Ian said...

Thank you for all the time you gave in writing this blog.
I`m going to keep you in my google Reader lineup just in case.
You are such a talented writer and I shall miss reading your blog.
If you`re going to be writing elsewhere even occasionally please post a link in this blog.

siouxee said...

I think because of all those abandoned animals you often blog about - which we share via different means, I beg you to reconsider leaving the blog. First, though, take care of yourself as I know things are difficult right now. Take your time, and let time mend your heart and help your family overcome life's obstacles. I believe Stella would approve if you were to keep on sharing with us.

Angele said...

I, like everyone else selfishly do not want you to go. I too have checked this blog daily.

I know you have to do what is right for you but I and the animals will continue to hope that you come back soon.

As everyone says, you are a passionate writer, an advocate for the animals, an inspiration to anyone who cares about animals and not being able to read your blog daily feels like such a loss.

Please take care of Rocky and your mom and we hope to see you soon

Erin said...

Much like everyone else, I am going to miss you. You've truly done wonderful things for many animals, one of which I am lucky to call my girl. So thank you again for giving them voice and I wish you success and good things on your future ventures.

Michelle said...

Dingle and I hope that you reconsider. Since I was given the link to your blog a few years ago I have checked it every night for new updates... and will continue to hoping that one day there will be new entries.

Good luck with everything Fred!

Vida said...

All the best to you and Rocky, Fred. I truly hope to hear from you in one form or another. You write beautifully, passionately, eloquently. You have brought Stella into our hearts and helped countless animals with your photographs and wonderful stories. You have inspired me in many ways to help the abandoned animals in my area of rural Greece. There are so many of them and often they are mute in the face of an uncaring humanity but you have shown me how we can start to speak for them. Thank you. Thank you.

Unknown said...

Hugs... I know I just posted a minute ago, I hadnt read through this far! Im so sorry to hear about Stella. I hope you reconsider ending your blog. Its truly amazing what you've been able to capture here. Take care.

LynnO said...

Thank you. I'll miss you.
Thank you for sharing your heart and soul as well as your perspective.
I'll miss Stella too.
I have several 14 year old retired sled dogs, and they are perhaps rather like Rocky.
Bless you for sharing your family with us all.
Be well.

Harlem_Star said...

Hello Fred,

I too selfishly would love for you to continue your blog. I know I have mention it here before but because of YOUR efforts, we subsequently adopted TWO dogs from the TAS(North). You inspired me to love and care for two unwanted pets instead of buying one from a breeder.
I can't begin to tell you how much joy, love , and happiness they have brought to me and my partner's life. We don't have children and we believe that they are our furry kids. With that there comes pain and sadness of losing a loved one. I can't say that I know what you are going through as both my pets are still here with me, but I know that that is the inevitable. All we can do is rise up from that pain and carry on.
You are a great person and even without knowing you, I too feel the loss of Stella.
Please be well and know that there are a lot of kind strangers that will miss your writings. Take care, and best of luck!

Julia, Harlem and Coltrane

Fran Coughlin said...

Dear Fred;

I have been so busy organizing the August 29th event at Coronation Park I hadn't checked out your blog. I came here to ask if you would give the event a "plug".

It took me a few times to read though your recent blogs as my eyes kept on welling up reading about Stella and knowing myself how difficult it is to say goodbye to a dearly beloved pet, friend, and companion and I work hard to this day trying to be the person my girl Glory thought I was.

Thanks for all you have done over the years Fred as you and other like you have SO made this world a better place in which to live for all creatures big and small.

I know that whatever you decide to do will be done with grace, humility, gentleness, dignity, intregity, kindness, compassion and love.
My best to you and yours.

Social Mange said...

I keep coming back, hoping you'll have changed your mind and started writing again.

Nuffink.
*sniffle*

Please know that many people are thinking of you.

Joan Sinden said...

It is unbelieveable how many dogs have died this summer, Fred - my condolences to you, and I hope you make it through okay with Rocky. Old dogs are the easiest dogs to love, and very hard to watch - but it's a gift to let them go. It really sucks that we have to get old and die - I just lost one of my guys in July - and it really killed me that I was letting go a dog that was sick and old - I wanted the dog I had a year and a half ago, but I could never have that dog back - and that's how it goes. The only pain left is the one we have to live through ourselves. I still have 3 very old dogs like Rocky - so we'll see what the next little while brings. I wish you luck.

Anonymous said...

Miss you...

Heather B said...

Just stopped by to see if you had changed your mind. Guess I was hoping to read one of your stories to make my self feel better. Ten days ago, I had to say good bye to my Tobey after 11 short years. My boy was incontinent and could no longer walk. He cried for me to fix him and I couldn`t. We share your pain, Fred .
But, please reconsider about the blog.
You give us light when its dark. You help the helpless and speak for those with no voice.
You are loved and missed.
Be well. Peace.

Lynn said...

We're still with you Fred.

GoLightly said...

Fred, I wanted to say thanks for reading my blog. I've reported my neighbour to the OSPCA. I watch her put her animal through the neglect she seems to enjoy heaping on all animals she's ever owned. Filth, isolation, and neglect. Totally legal. "Suitable and adequate", according to the OSPCA. THAT has shaken my belief in the OSPCA to the core.

I defended the OSPCA staunchly, because I knew they were the only organization that could help this latest unfortunate animal.. I feel like an utter fool, now.
I am completely disheartened by both organizations, OSPCA & THS, at this point. I don't "believe" in them anymore.
Animal welfare begins at home, doesn't it.

Thank heavens for the kind people. There just aren't enough of us, it seems.

I know your Stella was one very lucky dog.
Your torment over her last moments brings familiar tears to my eyes.
You cared, Fred.
You cared. So many, so many, don't.
Godspeed, Stella.


Best of luck in whatever you do next, and thanks again, just for being there.
Gives me a smitchen of hope, in this dark unfeeling world.

Unknown said...

Oh Fred, I just heard from Kim that Stella had passed away. I'm so sorry for your loss. Simba and I moved out of Parkdale in the spring - hence not seeing us around the neighbourhood. Take care my friend.

Melissa

Jake said...

I, like many people have said before, keep coming back, checking and hoping that maybe you've reconsidered. I'm relativly new to the blog having just discovered it in Feburary, but I am lucky to have had the priviledge of reading your work. Please know that your words do make a difference, I adopted a dog from TAS South having seen him here, as I'm sure many have. Selfishly I hope you return, in your own time, to give hope to dogs that have very little.

neny_ri said...

I have to say... Angus looks just like my Bella... it's amazing!!! they are exactly the same!
i wish i could send you her photo so you could see it. bella was born in village in Croatia near the border collie farm, we were told she's a mix of border collie and husky, but i never saw the husky in her...

Unknown said...

I came here after awhile without a computer or internet and saw that you are ending your blog. I will miss your posts although I didn't always comment.
I am so sorry for your loss. Take care and keep speaking out for the ones that cant!

georgia little pea said...

hello. i just found your blog tonight and of course, it is too late because you have already ended it :(

i just read some of your posts on stella *sigh* and i think i will have to add you to my favourites list regardless, if only to read your old posts.

Anonymous said...

miss your writing, miss this blog,
hope all is well. How is rocky, How is your mom??

Anonymous said...

I found your blog on open salon yesterday and loved it so much and was so disappointed you'd stopped posting, I wanted to see if I could find you else where. I am so glad I found this blog. You truly are a voice for the animals and I want to join others in hoping you'll come back. It's so wonderful to find spaces that radiate pure selfless love and humor on the internet.


Mostly though I want to send you mu deepest condolences for the loss of Stella. What a grand girl she was!! I was just beginning to fall in love with her through your eyes when I found the post of her passing. You were so lucky to have each other. She died in your arms. I can't imagine Stella would have wanted anything more than that.

Thank you thank you for the beautful stories of these beautiful spirits who come to rescue us.

Lynn said...

I come back here sometimes, still, to read about Stella. I just wanted to let you know, Fred, that you, Stella and Rocky are still in my thoughts.

bstrange said...

I still find myself coming back here to see if you've decided to write again. Hope you are well.

Just Ramblin' said...

I stumbled upon your blog this afternoon and was moved. I thought you may also like to know that we too lost our Maggie Mae...heartbreaking...several months ago. We haven't had a new "baby" in almost 13 years and have decided it is time. And guess what. Her name is Stella. We debated for weeks about it and settled on it a few weeks ago. I found it pretty cool to have found your blog. May Rocky live very well and comfortably and your heart heal.