ANIMAL CONNECTION

Archive for the ‘Horses’ Category

Do you care about animals?  Would you like to find a new job, or need a job? Listening to the news I would think the economy is coming back, but not when I talk with a lot of people around the country.  Making a living still seems to be a challenge for most.  Many people are very unhappy doing the work they are doing everyday.  They have passions and desires that are not being fulfilled.  Others are out of work and say they want to find “anything” because they need the income.

This is the perfect time to evaluate what is really important to you, what your passions are AND help animals at the same time.

If you are out of work, or would like to do something else, this is the best time to open the doors for the kind of work YOU want to do.  Do you know what you’re really passionate about?  Most people have no idea.  Don’t think in terms of income but what kinds of things get you really excited and leave you happy and fulfilled when you are finished. It could be ANYTHING:

1. Walking in the woods

2.  Doing crossword puzzles

3. Meeting new people

4. Caring for animals

5. Gardening

6. Talking on the phone

7. Reading

8. Traveling…..the list goes on and on

Recently I’ve had a number of friends ask me to help them figure out what they should do, they are not happy doing what they are doing, or they got laid off and fear they won’t find a job in their industry.

If you know what you’re passionate about, you can use that passion to help animals and open doors for your next career.  Yes, CAREER, not job. The animal organizations, and charities, around the country need help now, more than ever before.  Funding has dried up so they can’t hire the people they need.  They also can’t afford to buy the food and supplies needed to care for the animals.  Everyday I get requests from these organizations for volunteers and donations.

Right now you are asking yourself, “How can helping an organization help me”?  It can, in MANY ways. You meet new people who might open the door to your next position.  You also get to do the things you are passionate about.  It’s a great way to find out if it’s something you want to do for a living.  If so, you can put the experience on your resume.  Most people have only worked in the field they have been trained in, but that is not what they love doing.                                                                                                    

Here are some ideas for you to think about:

1. Walking and caring for animals at a shelter (if you like being outside)

2. Help the staff with ideas about how to raise money and supplies (doing crossword puzzles)

3. Feeding baby animals or holding ones that are afraid (caring for animals)

4. Cleaning up and landscaping the facility (gardening)

5. Making calls for supplies, donations, volunteers, etc.  (talking on the phone)

6. Research and help find new ideas that can benefit the organization (reading)

7. Animals and supplies need to be transported to other locations (traveling)

These are only a few ideas.  I could go on for quite sometime.  There are also a lot of animals that need to be fostered until a permanent home can be found.  They can be cats, dogs, ferrets, iguanas, pigs, etc.

What kinds of animals do you like?

1. Tigers

2. Dogs

3. Cats

4. Birds

5. Horses

6. Monkeys

7. Deer

8. Pigs

There are organizations caring for any kind of animal you can think of, all over the country.  All of them need help. You can Google the kind of animal you want to help with “rescue” or “shelter”, then your area.  (Ex: ferret shelter Florida)  You will most likely find something in your area.  If not, call or email the ones that pop up.  The animal community is very small and we all help each other the best we can.

I hope that this post will inspire people to find their true passion, and use their passion in a way that will fulfill them personally and help animals that have a lot of needs.  At the very least, you will open doors by meeting other people who might know a company that needs a position filled with someone who has your qualifications.

Fall is approaching and that means lots of fun things to do.  I am working on an event that will take place in New Orleans. It will benefit the wildlife, pets and other animals that have been affected by the oil disaster in the Gulf.  Once I get more specifics finalized, I will be sending out information.  Stay tuned…….

If you, or someone you know, has an event coming up, please send me the information.  I will place it on this post, so please come back to see new announcements, anywhere in the world.

Here is information on an event that will take place on Saturday September 18th. It is an adoptathon put on by the Humane Society of Sarasota County. If you are on the West Coast of Florida, this is an event you might want to check out.  Click here for a website.

If you like golf and animals, this is the event for you. Saturday, September 25th in Sarasota, FL. It’s the Ron Gordon golf tournament. It’s always a fun event, which also happens to be in Sarasota, Florida. You can contact Ron at:  nuts4golf@verizon.net

Oak Street Pelican Block Party in New Orleans on Saturday October 23rd. This is a fundraiser for the Humane Society of Louisiana and the theme is “Everything Pelican”. To learn more click here to go to their website.

If you are in the Fairdealing Missouri area on Saturday Sept. 4th you might want to stop by and say hi to these guys. They are having an adopt-a-thon. This shelter is always saving animals, even ones that are dumped on the road and no longer wanted.  Any help you can give them is greatly appreciated.   Click here to learn more about them.

Saturday, Oct. 2nd in Cookeville, TN. there will be the 7th annual, walk-in-the-park.  It will be a lot of fun for everyone involved, including the animals.  Click here to learn more.

REGAP (Retired Greyhounds as Pets) of Illinois is hosting a Reunion Picnic on September 25th. Click here to learn more.

Greater Chicago Cavalier Rescue is having a 5th anniversary party on September 12. Click here to learn more.

Saturday, October 2nd at the Loose Screw Bar & Grill, 45 Church Street , German Valley, IL . 7pm to 1 am. Join the fun at this Benefit party for Critter Camp Director Beth’s 50th Birthday to raise funds.  Click here for more info.

The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri is hosting their annual Bark in the Park on Saturday, Sept. 25 at Kiwanis Park in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. This event helps raise money for the shelter. Click here for more info.

This is a very inspiring video that my mom sent me. I wanted to add it since it is uplifting and shows how connected humans are with animals.  Please enjoy!

Unfortunately, there are tragedies as well. Below is an email I got today.  We have had a number of really bad storms in my area.  These are stories about Greyhounds.  PLEASE KEEP YOUR ANIMALS SAFE!!!!

A greyhound got out because the storms had weakened the fence. Please check out your fenced areas if you plan to leave them out unsupervised.   This female grey pushed open the weakened area and was missing for what seemed an eternity for the frantic parents looking for her.  She was found in the river, but safe.

Other stories…… not so good an ending:

1) 2 greys get out of a gate left open – one is hit on a busy highway almost immediately – $ 2,000 later pinned and recovering. The other was found after 5 days of intense searching and she had been hit twice and required over $ 5,000 of treatments and huge help from the kennel owner

2) weaken fence with another 2 greyhounds getting out both get into a pond and 1 is bitten by a gator, but miraculously survives. Has had 2 very expensive procedures and now has a permanent pin.   Let’s make these learning moments to help us all protect our seemingly invincible greyhounds.  

Hurricane Preparedness Tips for your Pet

Now that we are into the heart of hurricane season, we would like to remind everyone to make sure and include your pets in your hurricane evacuation plan.  If you need to evacuate and cannot take your pets, make arrangements for them ahead of time at a local shelter or boarding facility.  Never leave pets at home alone.

Be Sure to:

Prepare adequate supplies of food, medications, and water for your pet.  Also, be sure to have medical records, leashes, collars, food bowls, bedding, toys, trash bags for waste, and a crate/carrier ready. Because sometimes our pets can get separated from us micro chipping is also a great idea. Many shelters are overwhelmed with found pets with no ID and a micro chip would get them back to you safely and quickly.

Would you and your family like to really get away this summer?  How about becoming one with nature again, if you could sleep in a comfortable bed and take a nice hot shower?  There is a place like that in the North Carolina Mountains.  It is called Clear Creek Ranch. Nestled in a quiet valley in the Great Smoky Mountains at an elevation of 3,200 feet, Clear Creek Dude Ranch is surrounded by the beautiful Pisgah National Forest.  They welcome guests from April to Thanksgiving.  Some of the activities you will enjoy are horseback riding, camp fires, golf, fishing, hiking, swimming and many more.

It is owned by some wonderful friends of mine, Rex and Aileen Frederick. Rex was a great basketball star at Auburn University.  He became only the 3rd Auburn Tiger to have his jersey (#32) retired.  Rex is in the Auburn Hall of Fame.

Rex and his wife, Aileen, have always had a passion for animals, especially horses.  They decided to buy a dude ranch. It has been a wonderful experience for them but it is time for them to move on.  They are at that age where they want to travel and enjoy other things life has to offer.

They have been running this ranch 24/7 for many years.  It is not as easy, and glamorous, as you might think. Can you imagine having to get up at the crack of dawn to meet your guests as they arrive for breakfast every morning?  Then organize the activities, make sure everyone is having fun, oversee the business of the ranch, etc. At the end of the night making sure you are still awake to tell your guests, having a nightcap in the Cantina, good night before turning in?  Talk about a long day, everyday.  They have wonderful staff that come back year after year because of the way they are treated.  Even in the winter, when it is closed to the public, they need to care for all of the horses and other animals, as well as continue to run the ranch.

I hope you will visit Rex and Aileen before they sell this beautiful ranch.  If you go, tell them I said hi.  If you, or someone you know, has interest in buying this ranch, please let me know.   I’m selling the ranch for them.

Please enjoy this video of the ranch.

I want Friday’s to bring awareness to other organizations that are doing wonderful things for animals. I also want to empower people. The best way to do that, give people options so they can make a difference.  All of my posts give you options to help.  If you have information you want to share, send me a paragraph on the topic with a link to the website, by 11am on Thursday.  I will do this each Friday.  Please pass this link on to bring awareness to these wonderful organizations, thanks!

At the end of this post is a wonderful, entertaining, loving, inspiring video from National Geographic.

My Adopter

1.  You’ve adopted animals but have you ever been adopted by an animal?  Here is a website where you can read stories about animals that have a happy ending.  Join the Story Club. It is totally free and safe. Just by joining you will be helping to save lives and ease the suffering of unfortunate animals.

Floyd the Dog writes, and encourages others to write, stories about animals and their interaction with each other and with humans. His concern and compassion for animals is the basis for the free website publication of these stories both here and on his Story Club.

Daphne adopted me. She hates the cold and was flying from the north of England, where she says she was born, to her winter home in the much kinder climate of southern Spain.  Click here read more about my adopter.

Greyhound Needing A Home

2. With the seasonal closing of the Melbourne track in Florida, it is wonderful how various Greyhound organizations have supported one another to ensure good homes for the Greyhounds. While Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions has already fostered a handful from Melbourne already, they need additional foster homes.

Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions is greyt to work with, as they pay for all expenses related to the care of the fostered Greyhound.  It includes food, medical, crate, etc.  All you do is supply the love.  It takes anywhere from 2 days to several weeks to find a home for a Greyhound.  You are not expected to adopt the fostered Greyhound, either.

Mombo Needs A Home

If you are able to foster, or know of someone interested in fostering a Greyhound, contact Joanne at: joanne.wuelfing@gmail.com

Update—April 14, 2010: Congratulations, New Hampshire advocates! At around noon today, the New Hampshire Senate overwhelmingly voted to end greyhound racing in the state forever. We expect that the governor will sign the bill into law. Click Here To Keep It Enforced and get the bill passed in your state!

3. This was sent to me by, Jacob Versnel, one of my contacts in the Netherlands. It’s a hard story to read but they are working towards a happy ending.  You can help.

No rest. No water. No care…  He traveled more than 1,000 miles to his death.

Bred only for food, he spent his life unloved and unnamed.  His final indignity was the tortuous journey from Romania to Italy to his slaughter.

Every year over 50,000 horses are transported from Eastern Europe to Italy for slaughter. Compassion has investigated the long distance transport of horses across Europe – we were shocked by what we found.

Just imagine being pushed and pulled into a truck, standing for hours on end, without water or a chance to rest. It is proven that horse welfare deteriorated after 8-12 hours of transport. Yet our investigators found that the truck filled with horses that they followed, traveled for over 24 hours.

What a sad reflection on modern Europe that this cruel practice is still allowed to continue. But you can help.

The final journey – When our investigators followed a truck transporting horses from Romania to Italy, they found the drivers broke an important EU regulation by not providing these animals with water. They also broke with basic human decency, in their cruel disregard for animal welfare.

If, like us, you believe that no farm animal should be transported for more than 8 hours, please support our work to end live transport and factory farming.

We want to stop to this heart-breaking disregard for animal welfare. Through investigations, lobbying and vigorous campaigning, we’re working to limit transports of farmed animals to 8 hours and ultimately to stop the long distance trade in live animals. At the very least, we want to see the existing welfare laws properly enforced.  YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY CLICKING HERE.

Tony the Tiger

4.  The eye of the Tiger.  Have you ever heard of Tony The Tiger?  He does exist.

Tony the Truck Stop Tiger is a 9 y/o Siberian/Bengal tiger who has lived his whole life at a truck stop in Grosse Tete Louisiana. His home is one of concrete and steel. In Dec 2009 the Louisiana Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries granted a permit to Tony’s owner to keep him at the Truck Stop. This permit is valid for 1 year.

Tony’s living conditions are abhorrent.  He is not living the life of a Tiger. He urgently needs to be rescued and allowed to live out his life in a sanctuary. Big Cat Rescue will take him in.  Tony needs heros, click here to help.

The people who have Tony say that they have had him since he was a baby and he’d be traumatized if he were sent to live someplace else. They also say the Big Cat Rescue would not love, and care for him, the way they do. They say they are providing him a good home.   The owner, Michael Sandlin, says: “People from out of state are telling the most outrageous lies and half truths about Louisiana’s Tiger Truck Stop. When they came to the Parish Council Meeting to argue against my rights, they resorted to yelling and name calling, finally stooping so low as to demean me and my family by labeling us as “inbreds”.  Classy talk from supposedly sophisticated activists.”  Michael’s family and friends extended every courtesy to those people and were repaid with ugly slurs and hate speech.

Please let us know your thoughts and ideas to resolve a situation like this.  There are a lot of issues like this in the US and around the world.

5. They lay on an ice pan, just a few feet apart — two seal pups sleeping quietly, blissfully unaware that a sealing vessel was bearing down on them, just 100 meters away.

As painful as it is to bear witness to this horror, the people with HSUS know they have to keep going there — because every picture, video, and word that they send out to the world touches the hearts and minds of people and governments. That’s why the sealing industry doesn’t want them there. And that’s why they need your help.

Give now and your donation will be tripled by the Giant Steps Foundation and other generous donors.

Watch this video of the beautiful harp seal nursery to see what your donations and support are working to protect.

6. “The Cove”, a documentary and winner of audience awards across the world, including Sundance, SilverDocs and Hot Docs. The Cove follows a team of activists and filmmakers as they infiltrate a heavily-guarded cove in Taiji, Japan. In this remote village they witness and document activities deliberately being hidden from the public: More than 20,000 dolphins and porpoises are being slaughtered each year and their meat, containing toxic levels of mercury, is being sold as food in Japan, often times labeled as whale meat.

Under the direction of the film’s Ric O’Barry, Save Japan Dolphins.org/Earth Island Institute is actively working in Japan to shut down this brutal practice.

There are ways you can help make a difference.  You can donate here or you can send letters, emails, sign petitions or help in other ways.  Learn about other options here.

7. What will happen to the rescued animals that Martina Navratilova has at the sanctuary she owns, but is selling?

Martina and her partner were very much in love when they paid more than $1 million for land where they could rescue 26 malnourished cows likely to be made into dog food.

They bought the land through their new company, MT Nest. M stood for tennis legend Martina Navratilova; T was her partner, Toni Layton.

The couple turned the 20-acre site in East Sarasota County into a sanctuary where about 100 cows, horses, pigs and other animals, many saved from slaughter, could live in peace.

But in 2008, the couple split and Navratilova threw Layton out of her luxury home on Casey Key, a claim by Layton based on lawsuit records.

Now Layton and other local animal lovers say Navratilova plans to sell the sanctuary and the animals with it. Animal activists who placed animals there are worried they will now be sold to farmers and slaughtered for meat.  Read the whole story here.

8.  Watch this video that was on National Geographic.  It is funny, heartwarming, educational and something that will make you feel good all over.

In the news there has been a lot of publicity about Jaycee Dugard and what she is doing to return to a “normal” life.  Part of her healing comes from an unexpected source, horses.  There is a very deep bond between a horse and a human.

Horses react as a mirror to the person who’s with him.  He’s a prey animal so he wants to feel safe and is always on the lookout for predators. A horse will become very fearful if he’s with someone who’s aggressive, noisy, disrespectful or too controlling. On the other hand, if the person makes requests rather than demands the horse will begin to cooperate. They are always looking for a leader.

Heart of a Horse Program

There is clinical evidence that being in the vicinity of horses changes our brainwave patterns. They have a calming effect which helps stop people becoming fixated on past or negative events – giving them a really positive experience.

Research shows that many cognitive disabled, physically disabled and “at risk” youth benefit from a therapeutic riding program. Therapeutic riding is particularly effective in dealing with a variety of disabilities, such as developmental delay, learning disabilities, emotional disturbances, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Multiple Sclerosis, stroke victims, Down Syndrome, and visual or hearing impairments.

A horse is a large, strong animal.  It deserves respect while also being guided.  The mix can be a very fine line.  People can learn how to deal with a variety of emotions from being around horses.  Someone might have a lot of hidden anger and hurt inside.  From spending time with horses, and learning how to interact with them, people can overcome these very difficult emotional challenges.

There is a fine line between learning trust and getting the certain behavior you want when working with horses.  That is no different that dealing with people in this world. Once there is trust, there is a very deep bond between a horse and a human.

There are a number of wonderful organizations that do this kind of training.  “Heart of a Horse” as well as “Above and Beyond Ordinary, Inc.” are just two of the many programs.

Many of these organizations are looking for volunteers who can help care for the horses.  If you have interest, please contact your local organization.

If you would like to add your program to our “Resource/ Organization” list, please feel free to do so.

Mill Creek Farm, A Retirement Horse Farm in Florida told me:   RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES INCREASE FEED COSTS!

An unusually cold Florida winter brought with it below freezing temperatures, several frosts and iced over water troughs.

To help our horses endure, we fed extra grain and hay. Here is what our costs were to keep our horses warm for the whole month of January: 550 bales of hay, 40 rolls of hay and 11.5 tons of senior feed costing a total of $15,713.00. That works out to over $125 per horse for feed alone.  To donate, or help, click here.

P.S.  Tonight on ABC, 20/20 they will talk about Jaycee Dugard and her horse therapy.

I want Friday’s to bring awareness to other organizations that are doing wonderful things for animals. If you have information you want to share, send me a paragraph on the topic with a link to the website, by 11am on Thursday.  I will do this each Friday.  Please pass this link on to bring awareness to these wonderful organizations, thanks!

Jake

Urgent: Jake needs a new home today, Friday! This dog is at Suncoast Humane Society in Englewood Florida. Jake is cage stressed and is going to be euthanized on Friday. He is a great dog and loves people and toys. He just doesn’t like being confined in a run and has damaged his tail. A great dog. We can help with transport from englewood to anyone that will take him. He is fully vetted.
If you can help email Michele at doggieresqr@yahoo.com

1.  A documentary on the pairing of seniors with seniors was recently completed.  The purpose is to raise awareness, and secure more homes, for older shelter pets as well as bring companionship to the elderly.  It’s called:  Old Friends… Timeless Love.  Perfect Pairings.

“Old Friends…Timeless Love” came about when Maureen Kelly realized the beautiful energy of pairing seniors with seniors: bringing companionship to the elderly, saving older pets from shelters, and honoring the magic that animals bring into our lives.

Working with a variety of organizations across the United States, she has had the great joy of meeting not only hard-working, loving people, but remarkable dogs, cats and horses.

This is a film in their honor.  Hopefully, it will ignite a spark that will inspire many more such pairings.

View the heartwarming video here.

2. Pattie Roberts has a ranch called Dudette Ranch. Pattie spent years promoting good causes with local radio station KFROG and then with her own agency, MarketingWithACause.com. Through the years she has served on various Board of Directors. She has worked tirelessly to promote organizations such as Exceed, work programs for Adults with Disabilities, Animal Friends of the Valley, the Memory Walk for Alzheimer’s awareness, she supports four school districts Student of the Month programs and many others good causes.

Last year she relocated her horse ranch to Murrieta and retired from advertising to pursue her lifelong passion of horses. She started the Dudette Ranch.  The concept is a local take off of the vacation destination Dude Ranch. “Although we aren’t wrangling cattle or sleeping under the stars, this is a working horse ranch and the monthly membership allows members daily access to hang out at the barn and work with the horses as we care for, train and ride.

Here is one great story: Dakota is a tall rangy bay Quarter horse gelding, he was a competitive working cow horse in his younger day.  A knee injury took him out of the show ring years ago. Dakota has been totally healed from his injury for years, but he still favored it not out of pain but out of fear.  This beautiful horse, with plenty of life left in him, was just standing in a stall.  This summer he became the best friend of a troubled teen.  She worked with him daily, riding him slow and easy until he got stronger and realized his knee didn’t hurt any more.  He thrived on the attention and got strong and muscled up again.  Unfortunately, the teenager went back to her old ways and left Dakota alone.  Lucky gelding though because he now has a brand new best friend!  A really nice lady named Micheal.  She has fallen in love with him and signed up to sponsor him.  She already takes lessons here and after riding him last Saturday well….no other horse would do she just had to have him!

Individual Sponsorship programs are one way you can have a horse without really owning one, there are horses available for Adoption and Lease and a Sponsorship Program Geared to the whole family!  To learn more click here.

3. Small Angels Rescue, a non-profit based in Frederick, MD, finds homes for rescued chinchillas, degus, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice and rats.

They do not have a shelter and use a network of foster homes for these rescued animals until they are permanently adopted.  They have very dedicated foster parents involved with this organization.  One guinea pig foster mother-in-charge has a wonderful web page (click here) where you can scroll through, looking at pictures and reading very engagingly written bios of rescued guinea pigs awaiting adoption.

Enzo and Eva, a bonded pair of guinea pigs, were adopted. I’ve been told the Small Angels vetting process is very meticulous.  The owners of Enzo and Eva had a process to go through before adopting.  They were invited to the foster mother-in-charge’s home to meet her and the guinea pigs. This kept Enzo and Eva from being subjected to undue stress by taking them from place to place to show to prospective adopters. Then they had to fill out a detailed, five-page questionnaire containing questions that would really screen the potential owners to be sure they’re responsible. It takes about a week for the application to be approved.  The new owners said, “Adopting from Small Angels Rescue has been one of the most satisfying things we’ve have ever done”.

To learn more about Small Angels Rescue, click here.

4.  Nature’s Variety Issues Nationwide Voluntary Recall

Nature’s Variety has initiated a voluntary recall of their Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet for dogs and cats with a “Best If Used By” date of 11/10/10 because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Click here to learn more.

Donna Paige and Rescued Horse

There are lots of horse issues rearing their heads.  From horses being bred then discarded for not performing, to horses being roundup in the wild, captured and kept in corrals.

This past weekend I asked my local TV station go with me to our local polo fields.  I wanted to do an interview with a local Restaurateur, Jaymie Klauber, who is a polo player but also rescues horses that need a home.  If she did not adopt them, they would be sent to the slaughter house. She takes them then trains them to play polo.  They have a wonderful home and a productive life playing polo.  The day I was with her she got a call that other horses needed to be rescued.  If she can’t take them she does find them homes.  She will not let them go to the slaughter house.  If you are looking for horses, let us know.  We can get you in touch with Jaymie.

Jaymie Klauber & Her Horse

I also met with Larry Robinson, NHL Hall of Fame, Stanley Cup winner and on the board of Animal Connection.  Larry is a polo player and also rescues animals that need a good home.  He was raised on a farm and has always had a special place in his heart for animals.

Donna Paige, Larry & Jeannette Robinson

Click Here to see the interview with Larry Robinson and Jaymie Klauber.

Not all horses are cared for as well as these polo ponies. There is an issue going on in the Wild West…..there has been a big roundup going on in Nevada.  There have been over 2,500 wild horses captured.  They use helicopters and horseback riders to herd them into corrals.  These corrals are in the Black Rock Range, a chain of mountains 100 miles North of Reno.  The local Land Management estimates there are nearly 37,000 wild mustangs. About half of them live in Nevada, with others concentrated in Arizona, California, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. The Land Management feels if this is not controlled now, the horse population will double in 4 years.  They also say that many of these horses are ill.  The challenge, where will these horses end up?  The plan is to have the horses adopted or sent to holding facilities in the Midwest since the space near Reno is full.

The roundup has upset a lot of people for many reasons.  Using helicopters frightens the horses which can cause injuries like broken legs, and is inhumane.  If a horse breaks its leg it has to be put down.  There is also the risk of respiratory illness to these horses.  Foals also can’t keep up and get separated from their mothers.

There are a number of celebrities who do not approve of this roundup.  Two of these include Willie Nelson and Sheryl Crow.  Willie Nelson has said he feels these animals will become extinct if this continues.

Please give us your feedback and thoughts in the “Comment” section below.

When most people think of Larry Robinson they think of the NHL Stanley Cup player, coach and inductee into the NHL Hall of Fame.   Most people are not aware of his passion and background with animals.

Larry was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on a dairy farm.  It was a working farm where they had cows, chickens, horses and dogs.  He would collect the eggs, milk the cows, etc.  The products were then sold to consumers.  He lived there until he was 17.  Then he left to play Junior Hockey in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.    The rest is history.  His older brother took over the farm but eventually it was sold.

Larry has always had a special bond, and connection, when it comes to animals.

He has had dogs throughout his life.  There was one Great Dane he adopted who was a Canadian Champion.  The couple that owned him was getting divorced and would not keep him.  Great Danes don’t live that long (average age is 8 ) but Larry still felt the dog needed a good home, so he took him.  A very strong bond was formed between the two of them.  The dog lived to the rip old age of 10.

One day a woman found a dog on the side of the road.  She brought the dog to Larry, knowing how he cared about animals.  Larry kept the dog and named him Cracker.  The dog was a mix breed, part Chow.  He lived to be 20+ years old.

Larry was also very involved with the Guide Dog organization in Ontario, where he volunteered and helped them raise money.

For the past 25+ years Larry has also been raising polo ponies and playing polo.  If he doesn’t have a hockey stick in his grip he substitutes a polo mallet.  Larry has owned up to 14 ponies at one time.  On his farm right now he has 7 ponies of his own.  13 other horses are housed there but belong to other people.

It seems that Larry’s always had a special touch, and talent, when it came to hockey.  He certainly has a gift when it comes to helping and caring for animals.

Larry supports our show, Animal Connection, as well as our mission of helping animals around the world.

How many people have gotten a puppy, kitten or rabbit as a gift?  Animals, especially babies, are cute and cuddly.  Most people love the feeling they get when they give an animal as a present.  They feel really good inside.  That feeling only lasts a short time, and then reality sets in.

The person realizes the new owner now has a responsibility, lasting long after the holiday, or special occasion, is over.  There are issues that have be dealt with as well.  Does the person know how to care for the animal properly?   Many pet owners are not aware of the kind of food their animal should eat.  I see countless ferret owners feeding their ferret cat food.  That is very unhealthy for ferrets.  Ferrets are carnivores.  Their food should have at least 3 out of the first 5 ingredients be meat products.  Not soy, grain or oats.  Same goes for other animals.  You should do research to be sure your animal is eating the proper diet.

There are also illnesses and disease that different animals have.  Do you know what to look for?  Do you have a veterinarian who has had extensive training for your type of pet?   Many veterinarians say they treat your type of animal, until a major illness arises.  Then you find out they don’t have the proper experience or training.  By then your animal could be seriously ill.

If you do decide to give an animal as a gift, where do you get it?  There are millions of animals that are in need of a home.  You can find these animals at rescues and shelters.  25% of these animals are pure bred.  If the organization near you doesn’t have the kind of animal you are looking for ask them to refer you to an organization that does have that kind of animal.  There are small, home based rescues all over the country.  I’m sure there is one near you.

Another thing that should be taken into consideration is personality, size and color.  You find an animal you think is sweet, beautiful color and small (at least right now).  You give it as a present and find that the animal cowers with its new owner.  Maybe the new pet was abused by someone that resembles that person.  Animals have personalities just like we do.  They don’t forget the bad times.  BUT, with time, patience and love they can learn to trust again.  Is the new owner willing to do what it takes to transition the pet into the new surroundings?  The puppy you got is a large breed dog.  It was really small at 8 weeks old, so you were not thinking how big it would get.  At 4 months it’s getting to be very large.  What if the new owner is not allowed to have an animal over 35 pounds in their home?  Will the animal be given up again?

If the animal develops an illness, does the new owner have the financial ability to pay for the bills and make sure the animal has a good, long life?

Are there other animals in the home already?  Many animals don’t get along.  The best thing to do, before bringing an animal home, is introduce them to each other.  You don’t want to get them home then there is the danger of one getting hurt because they don’t like each other.  If you have a hunting breed of dog, don’t get the family a new ferret or rabbit.   Do you have a small child?  Consider the size, strength and personality of the animal.

Another important issue is spay and neuter.   Is the animal fixed so there aren’t any other “surprises” that might come along?  Even if you have a fenced yard your animal could get out.  Look what happened during Hurricane Katrina.  A lot of animals that were in secure homes, and yards, got out.  They multiplied in a very short period of time.

There are a lot of considerations when giving a pet as a present.  If you have your heart set on giving one, think about a gift card.  In the card say “your present is the pet of their choice”.  Let them pick it out to be sure it’s one they really want.  I also recommend you get your pet from a rescue or shelter.

I look forward to any feedback, comments or recommendations you have.

I have always wanted to know what animals are thinking and how they feel.   Do you ever wonder about that as well?  I see shows about people talking to animals but I always thought it was a hoax to boost ratings.  Amy Phillips Penn contacted me and it got me thinking about this topic.

I will tell you a couple of personal stories then you can read about Amy Phillips Penn.  She’s a society/fashion columnist in Palm Beach, polo player and writes about polo.  Read more about her book, and communicating with her horse, below.

About 4 years ago I moved to Florida.  I had two ferrets at the time.  One of them became very ill and the veterinarian was not sure what was wrong.  He did say her fever was so high, that alone might kill her.  I called someone I knew who is an animal communicator.  I was desperate!  She told me that she would see what she could do and call me back.  Shortly after we hung up she called me back.  She told me that my ferrets stomach was hurting her really bad.  My ferret commented, she consumed something really bad.  I contacted the veterinarian to tell him what I was told.  (I did not tell him how I knew this).  He did another test and it seemed my ferret had consumed some pesticide.  He was not 100% positive, but he treated her for that.  Within a day she was back to normal.  It occurred to me she may have got pesticide on her nose when she walked on the grass.  The day before she got sick, the grass had been treated but there were not “pesticide” signs.

Another thing that caught my attention…..when the communicator was talking to my ferret she asked my ferret, “is there a funny story you can tell me to take your mind off of your pain”?  My ferret told her a real life story about her and her brother, then they laughed together.  The communicator told me the story and asked if it were true?  I told her the story actually happened the day before.  The only people, or animals, that would know that story were my two ferrets and me.  I WAS SOLD!

One other story that I know of….A friend was going to put her dog down.  I told her to call the animal communicator to see if the dog had any last wishes.  The dog wanted mashed potatoes.  My friend said the dog never liked mashed potatoes so she was not impressed with the communicator.  A few weeks after the dog was put down my friend had a dinner party.  At that party was a man who had owned that dog the first 4 years of its life.  My friend adopted the dog from him.  I asked him if the dog had a favorite “people” food?   He said she loved mashed potatoes.  My friend was so shocked!!  She could not believe her dog had to die without getting her final request, mashed potatoes.

I’m sure there are a lot of wonderful communicators.   I contacted Lori Michel at www.animalchit-chat.com

Diosa

One Mare’s Odyssey on the Planet Earth

INDIO, Calif. – “We live in an age of communication and information, so why on earth is it so difficult for a person to understand what her horse is trying to tell her?” These are the words of polo pony Diosa in the new book, Diosa: One Mare’s Odyssey on the Planet Earth (published by AuthorHouse), the whimsical new full-color book by Amy Phillips Penn.

Ideal for young readers, listeners and horse lovers everywhere, Amy’s polo mare, Diosa – whose name means “goddess” in Spanish – shares her story of family, friends and overcoming obstacles. She begins in Wellington, Fla., where she lives with Amy, her “b.p.f.” or “best person forever”; her friend Max, a former polo pony turned show horse; and Holly, a golden retriever. After weathering two hurricanes in Florida, Diosa, Amy, Max and Holly pack up and set off for California in search of better weather and more polo playing opportunities.

The group arrives safely and Diosa explores the lemon groves of Santa Barbara, reveling in the ocean and mountains around her. She also grows closer to Amy with the help of a pet psychic, who teaches them how to better communicate with one another. After a time in Santa Barbara, Diosa and her friends endure more natural disasters as wildfires engulf the land around them:

As if struck by a lightning bolt, the horse next to me became unhinged. He leapt into midair, and twisted and turned, like he was trying to get a fly off of him. Only this was no normal fly attack. These were hot embers! We all knew that where there was smoke, there was usually … well, you know the rest. We couldn’t see the fires but we could sense them and smell them, so we were okay, for right now. Right now didn’t last long, as our barns and polo fields changed into a haven for other horses who were in much worse situations than we were. California is so hospitable to its pets, especially in emergencies.

After escaping the wildfires, Diosa is grateful to move to the safety of the desert. She stresses the importance of taking care of our planet. “Life is a love story if only you let it be one. Please take care of our planet and all of us so that we can take the best possible care of you,” she says.

Illustrated with photographs by renowned polo photographer David Lominska, Diosa: One Mare’s Odyssey on the Planet Earth is a true story about real animals, real events and real people with an important message: live life to its fullest, keep hope alive to overcome obstacles, and always remember to protect the environment.

About the Author: An enthusiastic polo player, Amy Phillips Penn has written for the New York Post, the Palm Beach Daily News, numerous polo publications, Town and Country magazine and Interview magazine. She is currently working on a novel/screenplay, Seduced by Polo, which chronicles the wild adventures of a New York society writer turned polo player.