AVALANCHE RESCUE DOGS

An avalanche is a sudden, rapid flow of snow down a slope. They are classified by their morphological characteristics and are rated by either their destructive potential, or the mass of the downward flowing snow. Some of the morphological characteristics used to classify avalanches include the type of snow involved, the nature of the failure, the sliding surface, the propagation mechanism of the failure, the trigger of the avalanche, the slope angle, slope aspect, and elevation.

These characteristics weigh heavily on the way that search and rescue are carried out.

If human beings are trapped in an avalanche, rescue response time is of the essence in being able to save lives. Factored into that important timing, is getting the avalanche dogs on sight for search and rescue.

Both rescuers and dogs are putting their lives in potential danger to enter the avalanche field to rescue and recover victims, as they too can become victims with the surrounding snow instability.

These amazing canine rescuers live and breathe their job....literally! Their amazing sense of smell is unrivaled as the tool of success.

One of the top deployers of avalanche dogs is the 1^st Special Response Group, a rapid deployment search and rescue and disaster response unit available worldwide and dedicated to saving lives. Their motto is "Anywhere, anytime."

A well-known group in the United States is the Squaw Dogs, located in Squaw Valley, California, where 5 dogs and their teams are currently working the Squaw Valley and Lake Tahoe areas.

TheCalifornia Rescue Dogs Association is the largest and one of the oldest volunteer search and rescue organizations in the country. It is the most geographically dispersed organizations of the four search dog groups in California.

The Search and Rescue Dogs of the United States provides certification, training, and education for search and rescue dog teams.

"SA-LUTE" to the dogs and their handlers for the heroic services offered in saving so many lives.

Dog buried by AVALANCHE amazingly survives and finds its way home!

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The Big Waste 

~by Susi Pittman

Did you catch the Food Network's THE BIG WASTE on Sunday night? Let me catch you up on the jaw-dropping, monumental statistics.

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A challenging question indeed is Father Ron's subject matter this week.

Here I Am, Lord 

~by Sister Marie Rene, S.S.J.

Each day brings with it, busy obligations and responsibilities to attend to. Sister Marie Rene asks just one little question that could change your day, in this week's inspiration.

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Surf's Up for Conservation 

~by Frank Gromling

Surfing and "ocean protection"...is there a link? You bet, and Frank has the scoop on the answer that may be quite surprising! Included in his column this week, a video support from Frank's friend, Jean-Michel Cousteau.

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Never Look Back 

~by Mary Galvano-Bajohr

 

Mary asks, "Are you prepared to move out of your comfort zone?" There is a great reason you should...do you know what it is?

Optimistic Antidotes

~by Patti Maguire Armstrong

The grunt work of parenting and the worries of the world get to us sometimes. I began to realize early on, however, that if I did not actively work at enjoying the good, the bad would cloud family life for me. So, I have developed a habit of coming up with antidotes-positive thoughts to counteract the poison of pessimism.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE 

Mary, Mother of the Church

~by Joseph Kaiser

Our resident theologian, Joe Kaiser speaks to the title Mary, Mother of the Church. "Mother of the Church" was formally bestowed on Mary by Pope Paul VI in 1964 at the conclusion of the third session of the Second Vatican Council. Do you know the biblical background that backs this up?

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January's Recommended Reads: Fiction Writers of the West

Two great Catholic mystery writers of the great American West are the topic of Michele's reading and research this month. One was a former president of the Mystery Writers of America and whose last novel in 2006 was the Shape Shifter. The other was an expert historian on the Arapaho people. Who are they?

This week we introduce our NEW AFFILIATE SHOPPING section. We hope to have a small but, well focused group of vendors that offer products in line with stewardship of the earth and its creatures. By visiting these product sites from our page, you are helping to support our mission.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS

MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS has always taken a formidable and uncompromising stand when it comes to the protection and sustainability of our natural world and the delicate systems which balance all life as we know it. This complex and venerable planet produces all of the products we share with you, and it is simply a matter of appreciation and respect that must be given. Not only do we lead the industry in environmental stewardship, we also adhere to strict principles and protocols that ensure fair treatment and compensation for the people involved with the production of our products; both domestically and overseas.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MOUNTAIN ROSE HERBS

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A Division of Engineering Services & Products Company, FarmTek was founded in 1979 with the purpose of bringing the highest quality products at the most competitive prices with exceptional customer service directly to the agricultural, horticultural, building and retail trade communities.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT FARMTEK

EARTH: Home or Hotel?

There has been a great deal of media hype regarding 2012-END OF DAYS. But, what should we really be focusing on in our stewardship call to action? Take a Catholic spiritual journey through the cosmos to earth and answer that question.

$30 per person

Includes Buffet Lunch, study materials, notebook, and two books, RENEWING THE EARTH-USCCB and THE JOY OF CO-OPERATING WITH GOD, by Susi Pittman

Milan Radisics-Nature Photographer

MILAN RADISICS is one of Hungary 's best known nature photographers; his works are acknowledged internationally. A couple of his stories appeared in National Geographic's Hungarian and Serbian issues. Now he is working on several new projects.

Born of a Roman Catholic mother and Greek Catholic father, he has spent the last ten years of his life in nature photography. He is searching the connection between men and nature through sophisticated and personal photography.

Since 2006 he has been President of naturArt (the Hungarian Nature Photography Association). He is the founder and editor in chief of ZOOM magazine focused on photography and lifestyle trends, which received a Gold Award of the Pro Typographia competition in 2006 and 2007.

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BUCKLEY'S STORY: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher

Buckley's Story is a story about the important role animals play in our lives by teaching us universal lessons about opening the heart and living a joyful life. Author Ingrid King is a former veterinary hospital manager turned writer. Her online magazine News for You and Your Pet goes out to subscribers around the world. Her blog, The Conscious Cat, has been called "educational cat nip for the cat lover" and is a comprehensive resource for conscious living, health and happiness for pets and their people.

HELP End Childhood Hunger in America! See how you can help. 

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The Food Trust 

YOUTH STEWARDSHIP

This summer, New School Environmental Studies collegiate students Ace and Lili spent several days a week on Governors Island, the mysterious former military base located between Manhattan and Brooklyn, creating the islands first community garden. Listen as they discuss the solitude of their work, the value of community farming, and the importance of urban environmentalism.

CONTAINER GARDENING

Challenged for space to grow your vegetables, flowers or trees? Container gardening can yield you amazing results. We've "dug-up" some great tips from the folks at HGTV.

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CLEAN EATING

CleanEatingOnline.com  

Simply put, clean eating clean just means eating no processed foods, no alcohol, no sugar, no chemicals. Jennifer Gray, stay-at-home mother of two has founded an online website that is devoted to this philosophy. And you guessed it, it's called CLEAN EATING!

They have an informational website for people to discover, learn about, and discuss Clean Eating, wellness, nutrition, & fitness. They want to get the word out about how to Eat Clean and how it can change your life for the better. It can help you to feel so much healthier and so much more energetic than you ever have. They offer Clean Eating Recipes, Menu Planning and consulting.

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Which season is the longest?