Saving a Pigeon

by Cindy Robinson

Neither of these pigeons are the one in the story. These are photos I took before which are entitled “Stumpy & his girlfriend”

Neither of these pigeons are the one in the story. These are photos I took before which are entitled “Stumpy & his girlfriend”

I think I inadvertently saved a pigeon’s life over the weekend, or at least saved it from being maimed and minimized its trauma. Let me rewind a little bit first though.

My daughter and I had plans over the weekend which kept morphing and changing into different plans. Our first set of plans for Saturday didn’t work out the way we’d hoped but later in the day we did indeed have some good fun. Kudos to singers Troye Sivan and Nick Jonas for being awesome young men! We love you guys.

As our plans evolved we found ourselves in a different part of Los Angeles that we don’t normally frequent and in an area I normally consider a pretty nice area. We were hungry and opted for a quick stop to escape the traffic and avoid the long search for a new place to eat. We saw a Costco so decided “Yes, quick & easy.”

It was the craziest damn Costco we’ve ever been to! I won’t name the location because I probably know people who frequent this as their regular Costco. It was like all those bizarre people you see in the bad Wal-Mart photos and videos had escaped to Costco over the weekend!

It was a fest for people watching! There was what I assume, a homeless couple enjoying a pizza with their shopping cart of haphazardly packed belongings next to them. They seemed normal enough, until the man got up to go get something and proceeded to make this bizarre series of noises as he walked between the tables and again as he returned to his seat. But then he just engaged in normal conversation with his lady companion and the table next to him while he was seated.

At the  table next to us was a big guy with a hearty laugh, ear buds in, enjoying some show on his phone, who enjoyed burping – repeatedly, loudly, and without excusing himself, like he was at home on the sofa in his underwear watching TV.

A couple of tables away my daughter is certain she spied a popular Youtuber who had his hair up in a ridiculous man-bun with a woman’s little claw hair clip. I so wish I had scissors handy but my daughter thought it looked good!

At the table in front of us was an older man with grey hair and a boy or young man who appeared to be an older teenager with perhaps some sort of mental disability. At first the boy was sitting at the table with the man eating their pizza. Then the boy sat on the ground and began feeding his pizza crust to the pigeons which of course made them flock to him. At one point, the man got up and left the table to go get something. Then suddenly the boy had a pigeon in his hands! He’d caught one and it looked like we he was grabbing the wing with force like he had intent to do damage. I just automatically yelled out “What the hell are you doing?” And he released the bird while several large and small feathers remained in the boy’s hand. Everything seemed to go silent for a few seconds and then the normal chatter of people eating lunch returned. The man came back to the table and the boy showed him the feathers he’d gotten. I was just sitting there a bit stunned. The man didn’t acknowledge that he’d seen anything go awry but they left a few minutes later. Then it dawned on me that I’d actually said that out loud and I asked my daughter if I had been loud. She said I was and that people stopped to look for a moment but it got him to release the bird.

Some readers may think “it was just a bird” or “pigeons are totally annoying at Costco” or “well, the kid has a disability”. Just because it was one of millions of pigeons doesn’t mean it’s OK to harass and torture it. Just because someone has a disability doesn’t mean they get to skip knowing right from wrong if they are able to process that information. If pigeons are a pest at Costco it’s only because you, the patrons of Costco have taught them to be that way by feeding them and teaching them to seek food from humans instead of finding it as they should. I’m super guilty of this because I like birds, I like it when they are curious and come near me and I sure as hell wasn’t going to sit there and let some kid torture a bird or anything else for that matter.

As for the kid, he did seem to have some disability but did seem functional enough to know right from wrong if he had been taught that. I guess that was the scary part for me. The older man – father, caregiver or whatever he was didn’t even address the kid sitting on the ground trying to catch the pigeon, didn’t clarify to him anything about right or wrong so if the boy can’t grasp that it’s wrong to harm a small bird maybe some other time he won’t understand it’s not right to harm something or someone else.

We sat there kind of shocked for a few minutes and then we figured the poor bird probably flew off to a tree to shit himself crazy with fear after his little ordeal. I couldn’t help but wonder if other people would say something in a situation like this? I wish I’d said something to the man but they left before I came out of my shocked state. But that is me, if I see something strange happening, I will likely say something about it, whether it embarrasses the people I’m with or not.

I didn’t even intend to write about it, and it doesn’t really fit with most of the things we write about at Life On The Scene, but after a few days it’s still sitting in my thoughts going “damn, that was kind of crazy!” so here it is. I just hope the pigeon is OK.

Living in Broken America

By Cindy Robinson

The United States of America is broken. We live in a country that is failing its citizens. Growing up I learned about the different political parties representing our country, that each has its own ideals based on their moral beliefs. We learned the purpose of having a fairly equal representation of those parties in our governing offices is to work together, to compromise on issues affecting our country and its citizens – things like healthcare, wages, housing, and protecting our population.

However, our political parties of today have long forgotten the art of compromise, their primary goal is only to further their own agendas and keep the pockets of those already rolling in wealth well lined. Our parties no longer work together to help the American people. They merely work against the opposing party to prevent any positive change for the American people without any regard for the impact these decisions will have on Americans.

An article recently posted on PBS.org pictures hunger in America, showcasing how a variety of families survive on their meager earnings and the small amount of government assistance each receives.  http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/picturing-hunger-in-america/#the-rundown . The article also highlights how those in need spend endless hours waiting to get any assistance they are applying for. How is an unemployed person supposed to effectively search for a job that will sustain them when they spend half of one day waiting to turn in paperwork to apply for food stamps only to be told they need to wait further to actually receive the aid if they are approved? Then that person spends the better part of another day waiting to turn in paperwork for the next type of assistance they may be applying for.

Back in December Congress voted to end the extension of unemployment benefits for more than one million Americans. The rug was instantly pulled out from under anyone on unemployment. Instead of receiving a bi-weekly unemployment claim, they were mailed a surprise letter indicating their claim had ended, even if they had money remaining on their claim. While I understand, and support one of the opinions behind this move – to get those off unemployment that are just milking the system, its overall effect has been to send more Americans into the system of applying for benefits, increasing the burden on our already overtaxed economy.

I am one of the more than one million Americans affected by this vote. I was laid off by my employer of nearly 8 years in 2013 when they decided to close their California office and move operations east. In addition to constantly applying for as many jobs in my field as possible, I have spent the better part of the last two months seeking assistance of every kind possible that I could locate with almost no results. I started with dialing 211, the United Way, which is supposed to be a collective listing of resources that a person in need can contact in their area. The people that answer the phones are woefully under trained. I called twice in fact and each time they looked up resources by my zip code and simply told me there wasn’t any rental assistance available in my area and they also weren’t helping with gas bills right now. They neglected to tell me that there is an entire list of resources available on my county website and that while some agencies are approved to offer rental assistance, they are out of funding right now and the same goes for utility bill assistance. I only discovered that these resources existed because I am a tech savvy person. What happens when an elderly person or anyone who isn’t tech savvy calls and receives the same answer? Does that person just give up because they were told there aren’t resources available?

While I am finally being called in to interview for some great companies in Southern California, those who are hiring are also being very thorough and going through long lists of applicants to decide who is right for the job. Long gone are the days when you’d interview and be hired on the spot or within a couple days, organizations are now taking weeks to make a decision.

During my research for great resources to help sustain my household during these challenging times, I entered a contest on 102.7 KIIS FM, Los Angeles hit radio station hoping to win a $1,000 prize. I discovered there is also a Ryan Seacrest Foundation and sent in my information to them. I never heard back from them, even though I provided information on the deadline I was facing.

I’ve reached the point where I am losing everything. The long list of resources who’s primary goal is listed as preventing homelessness don’t have any assistance to offer, decisions on jobs applied to are moving forward slowly so I am losing my rental home of six years.

I’m a college educated administrative professional with strong computer skills combined with great social media and freelance photography skills looking for a job in the Inland Empire area of Southern California along with a needing a new home that will accept me, a child, cats, dogs and an alligator lizard.

 It seems the only true assistance out there today is community, people helping people as our government and assistance organizations continue to fail us. Today’s headlines focused on the story of Shanesha Taylor in Arizona, a homeless mother of two, who left her young sons in the car while she went into a job interview. While I don’t condone leaving young children unattended, why aren’t there more readily available resources in this situation? How is she supposed to get a job and take care of her family if there isn’t child care to support her so she can go on an interview? Luckily for Shanesha, Amanda Bishop stepped in and set up a fundraising effort on youcaring.com and quickly raised $70,000 for the mother of two.   http://ktla.com/2014/04/01/homeless-mom-arrested-after-leaving-kids-in-car-during-job-interview/#axzz2xhHpgbUy She’s one of the lucky ones who had a kind stranger step in to help her during her time of need.

So I’m asking each one of you that read this to please help those in need around you, even if you don’t know them. We’re all battling something but if more of us work together, lives can be saved, lives can be improved. Be grateful for what you have and share your extras with those who need it.

 

 

Treasured Tails Canine Rescue Raising Funds for Medical Expenses

Please consider helping Treasured Tails Canine Rescue in Canyon Lake, CA raise funds for medical care for the dogs they have rescued from high kill animal shelters in Southern California. Click on either of the photos or the link below to reach the donation page.

Kanga AKA Little from Kern shelter, Bakersfield, Ca | Medical Expenses – YouCaring.com.

Rescue founder, Theresa, recently saved a 14 week old Chihuahua mix puppy from the Kern Shelter in Bakersfield, CA. He had been found abandoned in a yard suffering from severe demodex mange which has left his entire little body hairless, scabby and itchy which turned into a secondary skin infection due to its severity. Living in a shelter environment until his recent rescue also left little Kanga (as he’s now called) with severe kennel cough which has progressed into pneumonia.

Treasured Tails Canine Rescue is a non-profit, 501c3 all breed rescue in Southern California. They are volunteer/foster based. They are committed to providing the best care possible for this little dog and giving him a second chance at life. Your tax-deductible donation can help them achieve this goal.

Please stop by their Facebook page for the latest updates on the dogs they have rescued and the progress they make on their journey from scared shelter dogs into loving family pets. Treasured Tails Canine Rescue has other dogs currently available for adoption and Chihuahua mix puppies that will be available soon!

The rescue is also always in need of items such as: dog beds, dog food, chew toys (small and large breed), crates, puppy pads, blankets, dog clothing (for sick/emaciated dogs), Nutri Cal (Tomlyn from Petco), dog treats, and groomers who will donate their services for doggy makeovers.

 

FREE Cat Food Sample UK

Fluffy

Purina One, a Nestle company, currently has an offer open for a FREE can of their new Purina One wet cat food formula. This freebie is only open to residents of the United Kingdom. You can visit the Purina UK site here to sign up for the sample pack of wet or dry cat food. You will need to register for the site, or log in if you’re already a member there. I love getting these sample packs here in the USA because they usually include some nice high dollar coupons for future purchases.

We’d love to hear about any current sample promotions or links to great printable coupons that you’ve come across recently in the comments below.

 

Seeking Donations to Help Tiny the Dog Get Healthy Again

Tiny

Last night when we arrived home for our day at work and summer camp, my daughter and I found a tiny, tiny emaciated female Chihuahua sitting on the sidewalk in our front yard. She immediately came to me with very little hesitation, her pencil thin tail slightly wagging.

She is very thin and weighs about 3-4 pounds right now. She definitely needs to gain a few pounds to be at a healthy weight again. Naturally we scooped her up and took her inside. A busy residential street is no place for a tiny dog to be, let alone any lost creature.

We offered her a variety of pet food – dog kibble, canned dog food, Pupperoni treats, peanut butter and finally, after a lot of sniffing around she decided the kitty kibble was to her liking. She drank a ton of water too.

After that we gave her a quick bath to wash off the first layer of dirt & grime and gave her a doggy t-shirt to wear and a blanket to snuggle up with and placed her in our extra-large pet carrier for sleeping (since we weren’t sure of her tinkle habits or if she’s been housetrained).

Lately I think the “barking chain” has been telling dogs in need the lady in the white house will help you! If you aren’t familiar with the barking chain, it’s the string of dogs barking in Disney‘s 101 Dalmatians that helps Pongo & Purdy locate their puppies and find safe hideouts and transportation along their journey.

Tiny is very thin right now. She needs a trip to the Vet’s office to make sure she is otherwise healthy, she needs to be de-wormed, receive flea medication, receive her vaccinations and eventually get her spay surgery once she gains some weight. She is super friendly and gets along with everyone in the household.

Won’t you consider skipping your venti Starbucks or big lunch out today and donate a few dollars to Tiny so she can become a healthy, happy dog again? We are always happy to help critters in need as they have no voice of their own in this scary world of crazy humans that neglect, beat and abandon them. We can’t save them all, but with the help of generous donors during this difficult economy we can make a difference to the dog or cat that is no longer sleeping under a bush tonight or foraging for food in a garbage can. Your help is appreciated! Please remember to spay and neuter your pets.

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GREENIES® Offering Buy One Get One FREE Coupons

GREENIES® is once again offering their great buy one get one FREE coupons on their #1 vet recommended dental chew! These are available just about everywhere including PetsMart, Petco, Wal-Mart, Target and more. Just fill out the short form here, fill your printer with paper and make sure it’s ready to go, then hit print. Remember to hit your back button once or twice as the first one prints and you should be able to get a second coupon as well.

We have both a dog and cats in our home and they love GREENIES®! They entertain the dog for quite a while and even the finicky among our cats enjoy the bite size cat treats they offer.

Pass this on to your animal loving friends and remember, you can subscribe to future posts by leaving a comment below and checking the box to subscribe.

Hello world!

Photos & story by Cindy Robinson

Welcome to Life On The Scene! We’re getting set up in our new online home with a new name and we hope to bring you many exciting features in the future.

We love to cover events across a broad spectrum including the latest in music, photography and sold out concert coverage along with red carpet premieres, theater coverage, sporting events and everyday life happening around us.

Robert Downey Jr.

We are animal lovers too so expect us to post about some cute furry critters along the way! Some of us have kids, so we may post kid friendly ideas & features, money saving tips, and even where to find the latest deals & coupons to get all the things kids need & crave these days!

Do you have a tip? a suggestion? a great idea for us to write about? Please send it in! We’d love to hear your thoughts & opinions.

kitten

 

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