people – In Brief Legal Writing Services

On Pit Bull ‘Attacks,’ Naughty Cats and Other Topics

Posted on April 28, 2018 by alexb2448

This vintage typwriter is our featured image.

The longer I live, the more I hate people.

Founder/owner of In Brief Legal Writing Services, Alexandra Bogdanovic. Photo by N. Bogdanovic

OK, that’s not entirely accurate. Let’s just say the longer I live, the less tolerance I have for human stupidity. And considering I that I never had much tolerance for that in the first place, that’s saying a lot.

So you’re probably wondering what triggered this little rant. Well, a few things to be honest. The first is a news story about a pit bull that recently “attacked” someone on a New York City subway. I put the word “attacked” in quotation marks because I wasn’t there so I don’t know exactly what happened. From what I can gather from the news accounts (which I would never rely upon to draw a conclusion) the owner claims the dog was provoked. Others dispute that. Authorities say the dog is a known menace.

Based on limited information, all I know is this: Something triggered that animal. Perhaps (and I stress perhaps) the person who got bitten did deliberately or inadvertently provoke the dog. Or perhaps the dog was simply stressed by being in a crowded, claustrophobic, noisy environment. Perhaps it was scared, or overstimulated by being in that subway car. I mean, let’s be honest. Riding the New York City subway is stressful for a human. Imagine how overwhelming it must be for any animal.

No, I am not making excuses. Frankly, I think the whole entire situation is inexcusable. I don’t care if it really is a “service animal” (which is another topic for another blog). That dog should never have been put in that situation. Ever. Period. End. Of. Story.

Allowing that to happen was clearly a recipe for disaster. It was irresponsible. And it was sad. It was sad because that owner should have known better — and if he didn’t he never should have been allowed to have the dog in the first place. It was sad because human stupidity may very well cost that dog its life.

Bad cat, or stupid people?

But that’s not all that’s bugging me. I’m also annoyed about a recent Facebook conversation with one of my cousins. To sum it up, she made a post about the action she planned to take against a neighbor’s cat that had used her garden as its personal latrine. I believe she mentioned the use of a “super-soaker” at least once.

Don’t get me wrong. I understand why she’s upset — especially since she has young children and there is clearly a double-standard regarding dogs and cats in her community. However, the point I made when I joined the discussion is that the cat is just being a cat. I seriously doubt that it has any malicious intent. That being stated, I as I also told my cousin, the owners are being irresponsible idiots by letting the cat run around unsupervised. In other words, don’t blame the animal. Blame the people.

As pet owners or pet “parents,” we are responsible for our animals. As long as they are in our lives, we are responsible for all aspects their health and well-being. We’re responsible for keeping them out of trouble… and like it or not, we’re responsible for their behavior. After all, we’re the ones with the consciences, and ability to reason. Allegedly.

I would take a bullet for my cat — and I am not alone

Posted on March 5, 2018March 4, 2018 by alexb2448

Hi everyone! Yes it is really me. And yes, I know it has been ages since I’ve done a post. In fact I think it’s been about six months.

The reason I’ve been away so long is because business is booming. I’ve been so busy blogging (and doing other assignments) for clients that I haven’t had time to concentrate on my own blog. I know, I know. It’s no excuse… but it’s true.

At any rate, the good news is I’ve been hoarding blog fodder, so finding a topic for today’s post was actually a cinch. My inspiration came from this article about the bond that people have with their pets, and the lengths they’ll go to for their furry friends. It turns out that some people will literally risk their own lives in order to save their dogs and cats. Some have even died while doing so.

The article gives several recent examples of people who perished while trying to save their pets from devastating injury or certain death. It also provides a lengthy explanation about why we are so attached to our canine and feline companions.

Nevertheless, to people who don’t have pets or don’t like animals, it is inexplicable. To them, a person’s life is way more valuable than a dog’s or cat’s. To them, dogs and cats and other pets, are well — “just animals.”

Eli, the In Brief Legal Writing Services mascot. — In Brief Legal Writing Services mascot Eli catching up on the latest news. Photo by Alexandra Bogdanovic

To me, that is sad. In fact, I think it’s very sad — because frankly I would take a bullet for my cat. I would throw myself in front of a car for him. I’d fend off a coyote or a dog for him. I’d run back into my house if it were on fire, and I’d never leave him to fend for himself in a storm. And have no doubt about it — I would beat the hell out of anyone who even thought about hurting him.

Yes, I love him. I love him fiercely — as fiercely as I have ever loved anyone. Perhaps it’s because he was abused before I got him. Perhaps it’s because, as long as he’s with me, he counts on me for everything — for food, for shelter, for medical care, for companionship and for protection. Perhaps it’s because of what he gives me in return — companionship, friendship, love, comfort. Perhaps it’s because I can’t imagine a day at work without him curled up nearby or an evening at home without him curled up on my lap. Perhaps it’s because he knows how to make me laugh, or how to cheer me up. Perhaps it’s because he’s quick to forgive me when I’m angry. Or perhaps it’s because he’s so damned smart… and so damned cute.

At the end of the day it doesn’t really matter why I feel the way I do. All you need to know is that I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my cat. And I am not alone.

New warnings about human greed and stupidity’s toll on wildlife

Posted on March 6, 2017March 5, 2017 by alexb2448

Anyone who knows me or reads this blog on a regular basis knows I am hardly a “sit around the campfire and sing Kumbaya” kind of girl. If anything, I am a cynic. I am a skeptic and I am a realist. I do not suffer fools gladly.

I have no patience whatsoever for Communists, socialists, climate change alarmists, environmental alarmists, extremists on either side of the political spectrum, or social justice warriors. Especially social justice warriors.

In fact I have little to no tolerance for anyone who engages in scare tactics and emotional blackmail to achieve their own agendas. It insults my intelligence.

So I take nothing at face value. Whenever I read, listen to or watch the news, I keep the following questions in mind: What’s the end game? What is the news outlet that is reporting the story trying to accomplish? What are the subjects of the story trying to accomplish?

It is called critical thinking.

The consequences of human stupidity and greed

Having said all of that, even the most hardened cynic has a heart. And as you all know, I have a huge soft spot when it comes to animals. It doesn’t matter whether they’re wild or tame. I love them.

So it should not come as a surprise that the following New York Post headline grabbed my attention: Terrifying prognosis for life on earth.

The recent article detailed the findings of a new report “commissioned for the a Biological Extinction conference.” The report found that “half of all animals on Earth will be extinct by the end of the century, and one in five are already at risk.”

Experts say human stupidity and greed are key factors in the assessment.

“We grab all the fish from the sea, wreck the coral reefs and put carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. We have triggered a major extinction event. The question is: How do we stop it?” Biologist Paul Ehrlich, of Stanford University in California, told the media.

Greed in the form of poaching is also to blame, according to the report.

As the New York Post reports, “There are, for example, only 5,000 black rhinos left in the wild. Hunters kill and bag them because their horns worth more than $120,000 per pound and are used in Chinese medicine.”

An exercise in critical thinking

Clearly this story is meant to tug at the heartstrings. Perhaps it is meant to make us think, or perhaps it is meant to scare us. Perhaps it is meant to do all three.

But as I take emotion out of the equation and concentrate on objective analysis, I am left with the following questions:

Which “experts” crafted this report?
What are their credentials or qualifications?
Where are they from?
How was the report funded?
Is more research necessary?
Has more funding been requested?
What happened at the Vatican conference on “how to prevent extinction”?

Something else to keep in mind is that all data and statistics can be manipulated. Did the experts who crafted this report do so to further their own agenda?

Think for yourself

Until I actually read the report (which I plan on doing whenever I have some free time) the preceding questions will remain unanswered.

For now it should go without saying that all actions have consequences, and that if we continue to rape our planet’s natural resources, the consequences will likely be dire.

Some might argue, and rightfully so, that we are already paying a steep price for our stupidity and greed.

What do you think?

Oh, no! Not the vet!

Posted on January 15, 2016January 19, 2016 by alexb2448

So I had to take Eli to the vet today. Actually I was supposed to take him on Wednesday, but luckily for him (or maybe for both of us), it was freezing and I was still recovering from the stomach flu so I decided to reschedule.

Of course that was simply delaying the inevitable.

It doesn’t matter whether he has to go to get his nails trimmed or whether it’s time for his annual shots. He does not like the vet. And, being a cat, he makes his feelings on the subject “purrfectly” clear.

Here’s what always happens: An hour or so before the appointment, I go down to the car and hit the control lever for the front passenger seat until the seat is flat and as far back as possible. Next I go into the basement, grab his carrier and stash it in the upstairs hallway. If I am lucky, I will then find my 15-and-a-half pound cat on my bed so I can easily apply a generous dose of herbal calming gel to his paws.

By this point, there’s usually about 30 minutes until the appointment. Assuming Eli has actually ingested some of the salmon-flavored calming gel (he should theoretically do so when he licks his paws) it is fairly easy to wrangle him into his large blue carrier. Of course the phrase, “fairly easy” is relative… after all, he is a cat.

Getting him into the carrier is one thing. Taking the carrier down a steep set of stairs without breaking my neck is another challenge altogether. By the time I finally get him situated in the car both of us are completely frazzled. By the time I start the engine, a pitiful mewing is sounding from his crate.

Fortunately the trip itself only takes five to ten minutes, depending on the traffic. I drive with one hand on the wheel and one hand on the crate, speaking softly the whole time. I know he’s upset and scared, and I want to offer all the comfort and reassurance I can. After all, I don’t like going to the doctor, either…

When we finally arrive, I wrestle the carrier into the lobby and put it on the floor while I sign in. By now, Eli knows where he is and makes his displeasure known — loudly. With paperwork completed, I take a seat, put the carrier on my lap and give Eli a pep talk — or a lecture, depending on how badly he’s behaving. I breathe a sigh of relief when the vet or vet tech finally takes him into the back room.

But the relief is short-lived. As the minutes tick by I glance between the wall-mounted TV and my cell phone, hoping that Eli is OK and praying that he’s being good. He’s a sweet boy — most of the time. But he has been known to bite, and he fought his old vet so much that she’d have to sedate him just to trim his nails.

Back in those days, Eli would emerge from the clinic looking miserable — and I would leave with a hefty bill.

I shared Eli’s history and my concerns about his behavior with his new vet when we moved back to Connecticut from Virginia. She said in her experience, cats seem to do better when they are not restrained during exams. She also asked whether Eli acts up more when I stay in the exam room — which he does.

Given that, we agreed that Eli would be treated in a separate area while I wait in the lobby. Because I haven’t witnessed any of the procedures, I can’t say exactly what transpires. Apparently it’s working though. To date he hasn’t been sedated and he hasn’t bitten anyone — that I know of. I’ve actually been told that he’s been a good boy.

Perhaps Eli (who just celebrated his 10th birthday) is mellowing in his old age. Or perhaps he’s simply decided to tolerate this new vet and her staff. I can’t say for sure.

I do know that there’s a growing trend towards making vet visits less stressful for pets. You can learn just how they’re doing so in a report on the subject that was recently published on abc.go.com.

Now if only they could do the same for people…