So many, I feel overwhelmed, where do they all come from?

I've been in Georgia for one year and I have seen so many pit bull type dogs in my animal rescuing emails, newsletters, and personal pleas from individuals you mail to every rescue on the books (I thank you - especially the individual that is going above and beyond what is expected), kudos to every single key poking finger out in the world wide web.

If asked to guess how many dogs I've seen through my email  I would say around 500, without exaggerating one tiny bit. They are in the big cities (Atlanta), they are in the suburbs (Savannah), they are in rural towns (Ludowici), they are everywhere.

I was in the animal rescue field before the pit bull type dog took hold, then it was German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, Boxers, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels it is what ever the popular breed is at any given time in history. All the previous dogs were popular at one time or another, what ever is popular is mass produced so greedy humans can 1). feel god like in the ability to oversee animals breeding, and/or 2). so humans can make their $ off the backs of others (animals).

I've been guilty of both so yes I do have a right to speak out on this topic. I added my part in to the mix - one of the reasons I work so hard - to not only try and undo what I did, but also that I did it in the first place. I brought more animals into the world that has been over taxed on homeless animals.

I'm going to clear my computer files of a good portion of the dogs and cats I have networked for in 2015. If you see a sweet face you wish to know more about please contact me @ sheila_gar94@yahoo.com and I will let you know where the lucky chap is (if I have the information).

Question: How many dogs are in the above pictures of those networked for?

Organic Farmers (Certified) Numbers Are Growing - Fantastic!

(copied from a e-newsletter delivered to my inbox by U.S. Dept of Agriculture)

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that the organic industry continues to show remarkable growth domestically and globally, with 19,474 certified organic operations in the United States and a total of 27,814 certified organic operations around the world.

According to data released by the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP), the number of domestic certified organic operations increased by more than 5 percent over the last year. Since the count began in 2002, the number of domestic organic operations has increased by over 250 percent. The certified operations list is available at apps.ams.usda.gov/nop.

"As demand for organic products continues to soar, more and more producers are entering the organic market," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "USDA tools and resources have created opportunities for organic farmers and more options for organic consumers. Growing demand for organic goods can be especially helpful to smaller family operations. The more diverse type of operations and the more growing market sectors we have in American agriculture, the better off our country's rural economy will be."

USDA is committed to connecting organic farmers and businesses with resources to ensure the continued growth of the organic industry. Along with programs to support conservation, provide access to loans and grants, fund organic research and education, and integrated pest management, USDA administers organic certification cost share programs to offset the costs of organic certification for U.S. producers and handlers nationwide.

Now, USDA is using funding from the 2014 Farm Bill to develop the Organic Integrity Database, a modernized certified organic operations database that will provide accurate information about all certified operations that is updated on a regular basis. The modernized system will allow anyone to confirm organic certification status using the online tool, support market research and supply chain connections, allow international verification of operator status to streamline import and export certificates, and establish technology connections with certifiers to provide more accurate and timely data. The initial launch is planned for September 2015.

Additional information about USDA resources and support for the organic sector is available on the USDA Organics Resource page at www.usda.gov/organic.

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Get the latest Agricultural Marketing Service news at http://www.ams.usda.gov/news or follow us on Twitter@USDA_AMS. You can also read about us on the USDA blog.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

G.A.R. Organic Grow

SMR 58 Marketmore 76 Cukes & Beefsteak Tomatoes