A friend like Henry

Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. (from Wikipedia)

Nuala Gradner wrote a book called "A friend like Henry. The remarkable true story of an autistic boy and the dog that unlocked his world."

Her son Dale was born in 1988 at a time when not a lot was known about autism. Sometimes it was even said that it was all the fault of emotionally unbalanced mothers. Nuala has been fighting an epic struggle as she was confronted by a lack of help, comprehension and money while she was trying to get in touch with her son. At times she felt so completely lost she even considered killing herself. But where humans did not succeed, a dog did. A Golden Retriever called Henry could get through to a terribly frightened Dale. In the end it was even possible to communicate with Dale by making him think it was Henry who talked to him.

More than 20 years later we know a lot more about autism en the enormously positive influence dogs (and animals in general) can have on all sorts of our ailments.
And by Jove, do we have ailments! Look at what animals are doing for us, while we go on torturing billions of animals in the meat industry. A meat industry that is not only destroying the last bits of our Rain Forest but that is also condemning hundreds of millions of persons to a permanent state of obesity.

So, thank you for inviting me to a barbecue that is being organized by an animal protection society. I will not be there. I love animals. I do not eat them.

Saturday 24.09.2011

I have the honour and the privilege to invite all my dog walking friends to the Fira Alternativa in the centre of Benissa. On Saturday 24.09.2011, at 18.00, our school of Martial Arts (Escuela de Artes Marciales) will give a demonstration of traditional Okinawan karate and also of kobudo (martial art with old traditional weapons). You will be able to see how our youngest students are performing alongside the adults and one old man.
I am looking forward to seeing you there at 18.00

Rafol d'Almunia

This coming Sunday 25.09.2011 we will walk in Rafol d'Almunia, starting at 19.30 from the bar La Piscina.

LUV

Bruno