Saturday, June 3, 2017

"Florida pet detective tracks down missing animals"

From Wisconsin Gazette.com:

Jamie Katz is a registered private eye with a degree in criminology.
Updated  

 

"Animal lover Jamie Katz, 36, has taken her passion for four-footed friends into the professional realm. Call her Private Investigator Katz. She’s a bona fide pet detective.

"Recently, Katz has helped track down a French bulldog that escaped a yard and a chihuahua stolen from an animal clinic.

"Another French bulldog went missing for 180 days — that’s 3 1/2 dog years — before Katz reunited him with owners earlier this year, a body-wagging reunion in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, that was caught on video.

"'Jamie is sharp. Jamie is amazing,' said Emmanuel Laboy, who got his French bulldog Bella back after two agonizing weeks.

"Katz is a registered private eye with a degree in criminology. She has trained her own dogs to catch the scent of missing pets. But arguably the key to her success is her skill at using new and old media to spotlight her mission.

"Katz’s ability to reunite cats, dogs, parrots and even ferrets with their owners, coupled with a recent surge of positive press, has made her South Florida’s most well-known pet detective. Savvy at gaining attention, Katz isn’t shy about highlighting her name — a serendipitous homonym — to publicize her growing business.

"Since creating her company less than two years ago, Katz said she’s taken on 240 cases and solved 150 of them. Most of the time, she reunites animals that have escaped homes. Stolen pets only account for about 10 percent of her business, she said.

"Last year, Katz received an anonymous call and was soon helping Jasmine Jordan — the daughter of the Chicago Bulls Hall of Famer Michael Jordan — find Mila, her missing Pomeranian Yorkie.

 The case of the stolen chihuahua

 "Earlier in May, Benny, a 4-year-old chihuahua owned by South Miami-Dade veterinarian Juan Fernandez Bravo, was retrieved. Two women and a man had snatched Benny inside the animal clinic as Bravo and others tended to 10 rescued animals. Shortly after Katz got a local television station to air the story, Bravo received a call saying his dog was safe. The dog was returned and Bravo paid a $1,500 reward.

"Maria Bravo, the clinic office manager and wife of the veterinarian, said Benny was missing for eight days. She believes the signs made by Katz and her media savvy led to his return.

"But Bravo was not entirely convinced the person who returned her chihuahua and gladly accepted the $1,500 reward had nothing to do with the dog’s abduction. Bravo said the man who somehow wound up with Benny was too frightened to return him to the animal clinic.

"'He parked far away behind a mall,' she said. 'Me and my husband met him and gave him a check.'

"The case of Brunno the French bulldog, who escaped from his Fort Lauderdale home, dragged on for six months, more than enough time for many missing animal trails to grow cold. But tips after a blast of internet outreach, using community-focused social media sites like Nextdoor.com, led Katz to a home. From there, she surveilled the scene and eventually retrieved Brunno after an exchange of $5,000.

"'I can find anybody,' said Katz. 'I love the research part of it — and I don’t give up.'

  Pet detective from an early age

 "Born in a small town named Sharon about 45 minutes outside of Boston, Katz finished high school in Baltimore. Her tracking interests started when her childhood pet cat Blackjack escaped.

"Katz rode her bike all over town in search of that cat. Years later, she caught a television show called Animal Cops on the Animal Planet channel. From then on, lost pets and how to find them became an imperative.

"'I never found Blackjack,' said Katz. 'My goal in life was then to put animals and investigations together.'

"After grade school, Katz and her dad moved to Baltimore, where she eventually earned a criminal justice degree from a community college. She said she spent the next decade working for pet rescue groups up and down the East Coast. During that time, Katz said began to focus on becoming a professional pet detective.

"Getting a private investigators license in 2014 taught Katz how to do important background checks. For the next 18 months, she worked as an independent contractor searching for animals.

"By September 2015, Katz was finally working on her own. She created P.I. Jamie Katz LLC. Last year, her work got some coverage on public radio. But in the last month, things have really taken off. In early May, a Washington Post story about her company spawned a slew of calls. A Broward New Times story two days later — detailing how she solved a fake kidnapping in which a dog was actually eaten by an alligator — raised her profile even higher.

"During an hourlong interview recently, Katz’s cellphone filled with 10 new emails.

 Hiring a P.I.

 "The cost of hiring Katz to find a pet: between $305 and $605, depending on exactly what needs to be done.

"For the minimum, a customer gets bright yellow signs with a picture of the lost or stolen pet that includes a phone number and the amount of any reward. The signs are set up strategically through the neighborhood.

"Katz will spend two weeks following up on any tips.

"Some of her signs, though, have caused problems. Some of Katz’s clients, particularly in Miami-Dade, have been fined in excess of $1,000. Zoning regulators say the signs are not permitted in public areas. They must be placed, with permission, on private property.

"For $605, Katz will put her 3 1/2-year-old Britain Spaniel Gable and her 3-year-old terrier mix Fletcher to work.

"Katz works out of her home, a small apartment just west of downtown Fort Lauderdale that is filled with dog cages and pictures of dogs and cats. The inside of the front door is appropriately scratched up. Her Facebook page is filled with reunion videos.

"Call her cellphone and if she doesn’t answer, the recording is right out of the Jim Carrey comedy Pet Detective: 'This is P.I. Jamie Katz. I’m on another line or on a case.'

"n May, she brought finality to a convoluted search for Bella, Laboy’s French bulldog, which had escaped his Fort Lauderdale home through an open gate April 26. Laboy said not long after he posted a notice on his local Nextdoor site about Bella, a woman contacted him saying she saw the dog for sale on Craigslist.

"After a series of back and forth phone calls, Laboy and Katz showed up at Bella’s new home and bought her back for $360 — the same price paid to acquire the dog. Katz’s fee for her service: A well-spent $405, Laboy said.

"'Jamie guided me through the entire process,' he said. 'It was all about, let’s get the dog back. It was well spent money and I don’t regret it one bit.'

"This is an AP member-exchange story."

From: http://www.wisconsingazette.com/lifestyle/florida-pet-detective-tracks-down-missing-animals/article_12fc081c-470b-11e7-9a3c-ef0e9310c8fd.html

Open Blog - Weekend


Enjoy your weekend.

Friday, June 2, 2017

Four for Fridays!

Hello and I hope everyone is enjoying the nice weather we are having. It is so nice to have the windows open in the house. Here are your questions.

1) Have you finished your spring cleaning?

2) When it is warm outside do you prefer to use the a/c or have windows open?

3) Do you have any allergies when you go outside?

4) What kind of allergies do you have when you go outside?

Have a great weekend!

Open Blog - Friday


Hooray for Friday!

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

"VALKA TO RIGA with the setting sun (cut bonus footage)"



Riga was my parents' hometown.

Happy First Birthday to "The Real Clubhouse"


Happy Birthday to "The Real Clubhouse."  https://therealclubhouse.blogspot.com/2017/05/happy-birthday-trc.html  It's hard to believe that it's been a year already.  I know that you folks are good at "moving on," but I still feel like I was kicked in the balls yesterday.

I'm also sorry to see one of our Irregulars "defect" to the site. 

Best wishes for your continued success.

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hi, gang!  How are you doing?  As usual, Memorial Day threw me for a loop and I can't remember what day it is.  I love the three-day weekends.  But then I'm lost for a few days.

I can't wait for lying John to leave Racine.  Is there any way we can push him?  He's crazy and I worry about one last humdinger from lying John before he leaves.  He's already conceded the power of the mayor to Amy Connolly, a criminal he brought in just for that purpose.  She must be thrown out, too.  Together these clowns manage about a billion dollars worth of Racine real estate.  When did City Hall become a real estate business?  As soon as lying John took over.  Everything in City Hall is for sale, at the right price.  I wonder what it cost to get the mayor's job?  After lying John has left we get to go through with a sham special election.  God, wouldn't it be nice if our mayor actually was honest and represented us?  Instead, City Hall is an ATM where the entitled can stop and grab all the taxpayer dough they need.They are so obvious about it.  They fear no repercussions from their violation of laws.  In fact, I suspect some are actually promoted for doing an excellent job of stealing our money.

There's been no response from City Hall about my suggestion that we first put up circus tent instead of a brick and mortar arena in order to gauge interest in the spot.  Personally, I'm not a sports fan, but even I would check out the new "arena."  Of course lying John and Amy Connolly would not stand for this.  They insist upon a multi-million dollar project that allows for a wide berth of bribes and kickbacks.  Poo on them!

I was really glad to hear that Mr. drewzeprmeister got pictures of two of his lifetime birds over the weekend.  With the bird migrations, Mr. drew must spend all of his spare time chasing chicks.  How nice that Ms. Tender Heart Bear is so understanding of his hobby. She gets in on it. too, taking nature pictures all of the time.  She also drives so that drew may look for birds.I believe that Ms. THB is owed a huge "thank you" for her efforts at helping friends and relatives.  Mr. OrbsCorbs has told me many times that THB has helped him out. We love you, Ms. THB.  Please don't leave the site.  Or me.

I agree with the Journal Times that the time has come for toll roads in Wisconsin; http://journaltimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/journal-times-editorial-the-time-for-toll-roads-has-arrived/article_f10e19fc-3549-535a-a1aa-500ab0e7d20a.html Our highways are crumbling messes and we don't have the money to maintain them.  Toll roads would supply the necessary cash to get the job done.  Unfortunately, that cash also attracts every felon in city government.  We need someone who will disperse the money honestly.  Decent roads means more tourists. More tourists means more money for local shops.

That's it, kiddos.  It's a remarkably nice day outside, but I must type with my windows closed because someone is  using a chainsaw nearby.  God, that noise is disruptive.  But don't let my bad luck ruin your day.  Get out there and enjoy the fun in the sun.

Matters of great import should be sent to: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com

As always, watch out for children playing near the street.  Be careful in Racine.  One wrong move might be your last.  I love you all and hope for the best for all of you.  Readers of my blog enter my heart..  That's a good place to be.
__________________________
Please donate: paypal.me/jgmazelis
If you don't like PayPal, send me a note at madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com and I'll send you my street address so you can send a check or money order.  Thank you.

Open Blog - Wednesday


I hear you.

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

"Yellow Press Fever"

From The Shepherd Express:

By Art Kumbalek 2 hours ago


I’m Art Kumbalek and man oh manischewitz what a world, ain’a? So listen, sorry to say I’m not able to squeeze out a lucid loaf of essay for you’s this week. Instead I’ve got to assess whether or not I got the bile in my belly so as to throw up my hat into the ring to be your next governor here in the great state of Wisgunsin, I shit you not.

I don’t have any big-time dough for the campaign yet, but I’ll tell you what I do have. Vision. Yes, sir. That’s what I got, ’cause if you don’t have vision, what do you got? You got a tin cup and a cane, that’s what you got. What the fock.

I’m supposed to meet with my brain trust over by the Uptowner tavern/charm school. But they’re not open yet, so I’m headed over to my favorite open-daily 23-hours-and-59-minutes restaurant. Come along if you want but you leave the tip. Let’s get going.

Bea: Hey there, Artie, nice to see you. What’s your pleasure?

Art: How ’bout a nice cup of the blackest, thickest and cheapest cup of whatever you’re calling plain-old American coffee today, thank you very kindly. And by thickest, Bea, I mean this coffee ought to come out of a mold, not a pot.

Bea: Coming right up, Artie. And here’s a fork and chisel to go with it. So what do you hear, what do you know.

Art: Went the other day by the doctor’s for a little checkup. He told me, “The best thing for you is to cut out the sweets, the fatty food, give up alcohol and stop smoking.” And I said, “Well sir, not to be overly humble, but I believe that I do not deserve the best. What’s second best?”

Bea: You got to have your health. He write you a prescription, Artie?

Art: That he did. Near novelistic it was, in scope and length. Upon fulfillment, sure to afford some honcho at Pfizer the cost of Mediterranean beachfront property. You ever write anything, Bea?

Bea: I write a shopping list. Every week. Like clockwork.

Art: You betcha. Writing’s hard work—discipline, dedication. It’s a lonely, solitary life. But at least you get to drink on the job; so I guess there’s worse ways to make your buck two-eighty. Anyways, I hear the new season of “Game of Thrones” is starting soon. You ever seen it, Bea?

Bea: Can’t say that I have, Artie.

Art: It’s a medieval fantasy show with kings, knights, incest and piss-ants based on about a hundred books by some guy named George R.R. Martin. It’s focking fabulous, but then you got your hoity-toity knuckleheads who always say: Don’t see the movie, the book is so much better.

Bea: I’ve heard that.

Art: HEYYY! The book is never better than the movie. Cripes, these days, the book costs three times what you fork out for a movie and it takes about five times longer to get through. Take that book Hamlet by what’s-his-name. You spend days reading it and all that happens is everybody sits around talking and then they all get killed one way or another.

Bea: Sounds familiar.

Art: Now, I could write a movie version of Hamlet that the people would say is better than the book. I’d have some snappy one-liners, a car chase with a little gunplay, couple of musical numbers with some stacked chorus gals and, bingo!—boy gets girl in the end, everybody’s happy and it only took 70 minutes, tops, to get to the focking point.

Bea: Is that right, Artie.

Art: Darn tootin’, Bea. People benefit more from the “craft” of writing than they do from the “art” of writing. Regular society benefits more from the writing of a parking ticket than it does from the writing of another weepy, mopey poem. Of course, when you combine craft with art, then everybody wins.

Bea: Really, Artie.

Art: I’m not joking, Bea. Listen: In olden days, when knights were bold, a beloved noble knight was to leave on crusade and called for his trusted squire. “I am leaving on crusade, trusted squire. I trust you with the key to my wife’s chastity belt. If, in 10 years, I have not returned, you may use this key to unlock said belt, as I am sure she will have needs.”

And so the beloved, noble knight sets forth upon the dusty road. He takes one last loving look at his castle. In the distance he sees a cloud of dust. Within this cloud rides the knight’s trusted squire, breathlessly calling to his master: “Stop! Stop! Noble knight! You’ve left me the wrong key!”

Bea: That’s art, all right.

Art: God bless you, Bea. I got to run, so thanks for the coffee and for letting me bend your ear there, Bea—utiful. See you next time.

Bea: My pleasure, Artie. Always nice getting talked at by you. Take care.

(OK, off to the Uptowner, where the show’s about to begin. If I see you there, then you buy me one ’cause I’m Art Kumbalek and I told you so.)

From:  http://shepherdexpress.com/article-29838-yellow-press-fever.html

My Hero


I've read that Steven Seagal primarily uses Akido as his martial art.  Akido is all about redirecting energy and joint locks.  I've also read that no martial artist considers Akido as a serious method of self-defense.  Fine.  Seagal has a black belt in karate, too.

Tongue


If I tried that with Chalie, I would lose a hand.

April Fools Day

Birds

This past weekend Drew and I took a trip to Horicon Marsh in Lomira Wi.. I just could not believe how many people showed up there to look for all the different birds. Drew was able to get some picture of two new life birds for himself when we went there. He was so excited about this and he talked about it all the way home and then when he downloaded the pictures and seen them he was so happy with how they turned out. Here are the pictures for are little adventure this past weekend.

                                                            This is an Eastern Kingbird

                                    This is a Glossy Ibis and this is one of Drew's life birds.

                                  This is a King Rail and this is the other life bird for Drew.

                                                               This is a Foresters Tern

                                      This is a Great Egret and he has something in his beak.

                                              These are Trumpeter Swans with the babies.

                                                         This is a Yellow Billed Cuckoo.

We hope everyone enjoys the pictures because we have fun going out and taking the pictures to share with all of you.

Understanding Women

Submitted by legal stranger:

Open Blog - Tuesday


Your bouncy eyes are making me nauseous.