In 1899 the plans were laid for a pulp and paper mill to be operated 12 miles east of Truckee, and in 1900 the Floriston Pulp and Paper Company began operation. The mill closed in 1930. Apparently the large quantities of acids and chemicals seeping into the Truckee River upset some folks. In 1947 San Francisco attorney Preston L. Wright bought the entire town of Floriston for $6,000 and began to sell home sites. More than 60 years later a discovery was made on a dirt road in that tiny town. It was a happy little Pit Bull mix named Jasmine.
While it is possible that historians will miss the importance of this discovery, it is one that I won’t soon forget. I’ve spent some time in Floriston and it is a lovely little town. One of their residents should have snapped up Jasmine when they had the chance. Oh well, it’s their loss.
Jasmine had two strikes against her when we met. She is a Pit Bull and she is young. I’m not crazy about hyper, jumpy dogs and I’m on the record as not being a huge fan of puppies. Jasmine is none of those things. She’s a fine example for her breed. She’s young but not young enough to classify as a puppy.
Jazz, as her friends call her, is a favorite with the staff and the animals at the shelter. When we arrived she was happily playing with Raffles, last month’s featured friend. We put her on a leash for our outing, and except for some pulling she walked like a model on the runway. Jasmine just likes to make friends and can pull in the direction of a canine companion when she sees one. Even when offered a treat she will turn her head instead in the direction of a friend.
Jasmine is great with people and other dogs. She has what we in the industry call a ‘strong prey drive’ which means when that chipmunk runs past you on your walk, look out. That may also apply to cats but we didn’t do any live simulations. We went on a nice walk along the Truckee River and met a few dogs and people enjoying a nice fall day. Jasmine was well behaved with everyone. She even met a small dog not much bigger than a chipmunk and was only interested in sniffing and making nice.
Jasmine is a little raw. She doesn’t know all the tricks yet, but clearly she is fast learner. She looks for direction and stays with her crew. They say she isn’t a swimmer but we hung out on the rocks by the river and she seemed to enjoy herself. She didn’t exactly swim but was happy to climb on the rocks and wade in the cool water. I think Jasmine would make a great addition to your family.
In other shelter news I met a big dude named Walter the other day. I like Walter because he doesn’t like puppies. He’s a gentle giant weighing in at around 100 pounds. Walter likes things on the mellow side and I can appreciate that. I also just love the name Walter.
If you are interested in a big fella like Walter or a more petite young lady like Jasmine check them out at hstt.org. Have a great month.
~ Discuss this article with the author. Email flip@moonshineink.com.
Walk for Farm Animals
October 10
Concerned citizens of North Tahoe Truckee will come together to walk from Truckee’s Regional Park to downtown, participating in the annual Walk for Farm Animals – a national campaign to raise public awareness about factory farmed animals and to raise monies for rescue and protection efforts. Wearing the Walk for Farm Animals t-shirts and carrying message signs, activists will take a positive and fun approach to an extremely serious issue. ‘This is North Tahoe Truckee’s second year participating in this national event. Last year, our group raised $3,000 for Farm Sanctuary. We were very pleased at the positive feedback we received from the community as we walked for some of the most abused animals on the planet, and we are looking forward to another great event,’ said walk coordinator Keaven Van Lom. Thousands of activists in over 30 cities and 20 states in the U.S. will participate in the yearly fall event which is sponsored by Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s largest farm animal rescue and protection organization, with shelters for rescued animals in New York and California. With over 100,000 members, including celebrities such as Casey Affleck, Mary Tyler Moore, Kim Basinger, Noah Wyle and Alicia Silverstone, Farm Sanctuary works to end farm animal suffering through legislative and legal actions, cruelty investigations, humane education and public awareness projects. Registration begins at 10 and the walk begins at 11 a.m. at Truckee Regional Park. Participate or donate by sponsoring a walker. keaven@suddenlink.net, farmsanctuary.org, 530-448-0491.
HSTT 2010 Calendar Photo Contest
October 15 Deadline
If would like to show off the happy, smiling face of your adopted or rescued dog, enter your best photos of your pet enjoying his/her new lifestyle in the Truckee-Tahoe area in HSTT’s 2010 Calendar Photo Contest. The calendar’s theme is ‘Rescued dogs of Truckee-Tahoe.’ Enter photos that capture the personality of your pet by October 15. Go out and snap some photos in the area or dig into your archives for photos from the past, including those of pets no longer with us. It would be a wonderful tribute to a beloved dog to be memorialized in a calendar. Winners will be rewarded with lots of praise, three free calendars and a 40 percent discount on additional copies. Hstt.org/events/calendar-photo-contest, 530-587-5948.
