SECOND GLANCES

Beyond the Looking Glass

    Experiencing a true winter with snow, ice and subzero temperatures for days on end does help us appreciate the strength, resilience and "creativity" of nature. Lately I've had the fortune to observe turkeys gathering around two feeding stations near my home. (I am reluctant to call them bird feeders any longer due to their becoming a community hot spot for grey squirrels, red squirrels, rabbits, mice, and even an occasional deer.) At first the turkeys appeared content with allowing smaller relatives such as chickadees, nuthatches and even bluejays to shower them with seeds. One morning, possibly due to some fowl discontent, one enterprising bronzed hen leapt to the feeder, tipped the tray and delivered dinner to her awaiting friends. Intrigued, I began a daily ritual of observation what progressed from window-spying to actual strolls into the now not-so-dreaded winter. I rediscovered snowflakes, drifts, melts, tracks, winter-braced plants, and unexpected insights into the life of winter. I now place various types of natural "treats" throughout my property to entice, discover, witness, appreciate and learn.
    With my own revival and salvation in the recovery room, I happened to catch both my golden retriever and chocolate lab planted near the window I had recently vacated. Their noses were pressed against the pane, their thoughts locked on some event beyond the same looking glass. They joined me...rediscovering snowflakes, drifts, melts, tracks, plants, and far more unexpected sites and scents than even I could imagine. I have also started to place "treats" throughout my property to entice, discover, witness and appreciate my dogs even more!
    So...as the first "Pawprints" article....in our first issue...proclaimed....
    Winter, with or without snow and cold, is a great invigorating time to get outdoors with your dog.
The stroll, in town or out along a country path, is important to your dog's emotional health. A well-exercised dog is less likely to get bored and develop troublesome traits, such as persistent barking and destructive digging and chewing. Exercise also causes the release of endorphins in the brain. These chemicals give your dog a great feeling of well-being. This exercise also represents an outing with his family pack and you...the pack leader. New sights and more importantly new smells reacquaint him with old stimuli and prove to be very comforting. After a couple of trips you will probably beg him to let you tag along as well! 
Enjoy! Winter comes but once a year!

"Paw Prints" articles from Second Chance Sanctuaries are found in the ***
Wellsboro Gazette. Each article, based on sound advice from many 
sources, helps pets, pet owners and caring individuals. 
If you have a topic of interest for us to research and add
to this friendly advice column, we welcome your thoughts. 

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Dear friends,
    Since our last issue we appeared at Dickens of a Christmas in early December as well as held a "Pictures with Santa" fundraiser at the Wellsboro Agway. Craig Hampson generously offered a portion of his facility for the day as we offered pictures of pets with our own 'Santa' for a donation of $5. It was quite memorable as our Santa got the experience of posing with animals such as: a pet hermit crab, a rat, and many sizes, shapes and dispositions of dogs. (Anybody with a pet snake? Santa would LOVE that!) We had a ball and the pet owners were ecstatic with the Polaroid pictures they received on the spot, framed with cute cardboard frames donated by Mark Bixby. We intend to do a repeat performance of this successful fundraiser next December, perhaps even twice! 
    The winter months, with their chilling temperatures, have brought our fundraising activities to a standstill for now; however, we continue to receive calls weekly from those wishing to adopt or foster animals, as well as those looking for a home for animals they can no longer keep for varying reasons. We continue to place and match people with animals in our Perfect Match program.
    We have received good news and wish to pass it on! The local PSPCA in Wellsboro has become a "low-kill' facility. (See related article on this page). We are very excited about this recent turn of events. Of course, it would be much better in our minds if these Tioga County animals could find homes here, but it*s a step in the right direction! Hats off to you, folks at the local SPCA!
    Our Grandpaws program has assisted elderly people in our area with minor medical bills and food for their beloved four-legged family members. As mentioned in the last newsletter as well as in this issue, the funds for this program come from the canisters located throughout the county at various businesses. These canisters are placed on a seasonal basis and have provided us with much needed resources. We are seeking a grant this summer for assistance with this program. Keep your fingers crossed with us for this grant funding!
    Our next newsletter, scheduled to be sent to you in late May, will include our schedule of 'appearances' as well as an update on our education program and more success stories. Thank you, once again, for placing faith in us as you continue your membership with Second Chance.

Sue Cook, President

A final thought to ponder: Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at 
you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window? 

The Pennsylvania SPCA is now a low-kill shelter system. The PSPCA no longer euthanizes animals because of overcrowding. This is due to the Philadelphia Headquarters having turned over animal control to the city. This has allowed PSPCA Philadelphia to take animals from all 6 branches and the city shelter on a weekly basis. Each week the PSPCA Wellsboro transports 30-50 animals to Philadelphia where the demand is greater. This has also allowed the PSPCA to concentrate on more personal care for sick and injured animals. Only animals that are too sick or injured to help or too vicious to adopt out are euthanized. The PSPCA Wellsboro has also started the Cinderella Fund to help defray the cost of veterinary care and the Guardian Angel Fund to help with month to month expenses. For more information call 570-724-3687.

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Tributes to their friends... from the pens and hearts of young children.

Dancing With My Friends

An educational program of friendship,
compassion, understanding and responsibility
towards pets and animals.

A fundamental goal of Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries is the creation of an ongoing humane education program for our youth and community. Much of our emphasis during the upcoming year will be on the development of both the perception and presentation of this program. We welcome your ideas, your input from programs that you have experienced or located, and your involvement. 

"Much of the indifference, apathy, and even cruelty we see has its origin in the false education given the young concerning the rights of animals, and their duty towards them."
J Todd Ferier (1855-1943)

Second Chance Board of Directors Sue Cook      President Flossie Comstock      Vice President David Burket      Treasurer Violette McLitus      Secretary Pam Burket Ron Comstock Fay Driskell James Howe Bobbie Southard

Check our "Perfect Match" and "Grandpaws" program in the previous issue!

We Are Their Heroes

If you worry that you have not made a difference,
you have,
for only those who do not worry about it have not.
If you feel overwhelmed, if the weight of problems
is too heavy to bear,
remember it is a shared burden
and the strength of numbers can accomplish much.

If you consider that we cannot save them all,
and what difference does one make?
you ought to know the joy of the one who is saved.
Mourn those we cannot save, it is the eulogy of their being.
Do not let their loss be in vain.

Be proud of your accomplishments, not 
your opinions.
The quality of your efforts is more important 
than the quantity.
Forgive your own deficiencies -
sometimes your caring is sufficient.
Everyone can do something, it is up to you to
do the thing you can.
A kind word and a gentle touch can change a life.

If anger wells up within you, because people
are the problem,
remember your humanity and that people 
are also the solution.
Concentrate on specific needs, pay attention 
to the individual - 
they make up the whole.
See beyond the unlovable, the unattractive,
the impure and the wounded -
see that their spirit is as deserving as the rest.
Help them heal.
Their eyes are windows to their soul
and the mirror of your sincerity.

All species, all beings, share this Earth in
a chain of life.
Care more about what makes us alike
than what separates us. Policies, rules and regulations are not infallible.
Apply them judiciously, interpret them wisely.

Listen to your heart. Sometimes we have to
do that which
we are the most afraid of.
Be true to yourself and your beliefs. 
Family may abandon you,
friends may disappoint you, strangers
will ridicule you.
People shun what they do not understand.
Help them to understand - kindly, softly, gently.

Those who do not respect all life are to be pitied.
Often the wrongdoer is as in need of help as 
his victims.
Forgive, then teach by example.
Educate yourself or you cannot hope 
to teach others.
No action based in hatred is ever right
and anger drowns our wisdom.

Yours may be the voice crying in the wilderness, 
make it a voice to be respected.
Listen more than you talk, be courteous
and reliable.
Learn to ask for help. Never waiver from the truth.
Know that it takes a lot of strength to cry
And with every defeat, we learn.

The Children are our hope - nurture them.
Nature is our legacy - protect it.
The Animals are our brethren - learn from them.

Your rewards will not be material, but they
will be meaningful,
and the courage of your convictions can 
survive anything.
No matter how dark the storm clouds,
or deep the pain of heartbreak - never forget:
We are their heroes.

From "Pieces of My Heart: Writings inspired by Animals in Nature" by Jim Willis
e-mail:
tiergartenjim@yahoo.com