SecondIron's Blog

Sharpening Iron to Live Second

An Interview: The Old Dog House

You may not be able to teach old dogs new tricks but you can give them a new lease on life at The Old Dog House.

I had the opportunity to talk with Kim from The Old Dog House, a nonprofit dog rescue located in Jacksonville Florida. They have been saving older dogs in our community for many years now. By rescuing the dogs that would otherwise be ignored at the shelters they provide them a place to live out their golden years. In doing so they save them as well as foster and provide adoption opportunities.

1. How did the old dog house first start out?
When I worked at the humane society about ten years ago, I realized that older and senior dogs were not getting the opportunity for adoption that they deserved. The shelter was open admission at this time, so space was always an issue and hard decisions had to be made. When I left the humane society, I decided to be an advocate for older and senior dogs. That is how The Old Dog House started in 2006.

2. How many senior dogs do you take in?
We have an average capacity of 15 dogs. Our adoption numbers are low with 4 to 8 getting placed in new homes each year. Dogs can stay with us anywhere from a few days to the remainder of their lives, which could be years. Adoption is our ultimate goal with each dog we bring into the rescue.

Do You Believe? Movie Review

Do You Believe takes 12 lives on separate paths that all converge at the foot of the cross.

Pure Flix films has once again made a movie to make Christians and non-Christians alike, evaluate and ask themselves the question “Do you Believe?” Undaunted by the reviews that came out earlier this week from the mainstream media, I took my family to see the movie. The theater as many Christian films these days was not that full. Disappointed but not surprised as many people would rather wait until these movies come out on DVD to watch them in the comfort of their own homes. Therefore they can believe in private.

Nonetheless, the movie began with a series of events that took the lives of 12 people and converged them toward the cross. There was the pastor (played by Ted McGinley) who is the thread that seems to bring all the lives together. He encounters a gentlemen Malachi(Delroy Lindo) in the street dragging a wooden cross, who challenges him in his belief in the cross. This chance encounter sets the story into motion, as the pastor encounters lives that are struggling.

The film is full of stars of years past that have performances that may bring them back to theatrical relevance. Brian Bosworth, known for his football career and movies like Stone Cold, plays a character my the name of Joe. A convict that is out on compassion leave as he is dying. His role intertwines with others in the movie, bringing others to decide if they

10,000 Steps has changed my life

10,000 Steps has changed my life.

Two years ago while listening to a podcast I heard about an exciting new book. If you’ve ever listened to a podcast you’ll know this is an excellent platform to launch a book.

The book “Eat Move Sleep” by Tom Rath. I was immediately intrigued by that title because at the time I was eating well. I wasn’t really moving and I wasn’t really sleeping.

I work at the U.S.P.S. on the night shift. I’ve worked there for six going on seven yeas and by now you would think I’d have my sleep pattern down. Wrong!!

As for moving I was working hard but sorting mail requires you to stand in one spot for up to four plus hours at a time. Not really moving around just swinging my arms to get mail to sort and stack tubs behind me.

Eating was what I was good at. I was eating four times that night and eating a meal before I left the house to go on my 30 minute drive one way commuting by car.

So if you haven’t figured it out yet. I was over eating. I wasn’t moving and I wasn’t sleeping well.

This author described all of this in this podcast. That next morning I bought the book and what an eye opening experience for me!

In the book it was recommended that everyone walk 10,000 steps a day. That’s around five miles give or take and to have at least 30 minutes of activity everyday.