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Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries Number 3 Summer 2002 Issue
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Hot summer days may send chills whenever dogs are allowed to ride in the open beds of pick-up trucks. No matter how well trained, unexpected events may deliver the dog in the path of an oncoming car, over the edge to roadside obstacles, dangling from a lengthy tether or lost miles behind the unsuspecting owner. Although still with its share of dangers. allowing the pet to share the front seat is a far safer alternative. Besides, the dog is a best friend. Would you stick your best friend in danger?
Why do dogs stick their heads out of car windows, exposing their eyes to oncoming dust and bugs? In her book Why Do Dogs Do That? Kim Thornton suggests:
10. So they can smell what's going on around them.
9. So they can check out the beautiful gal in the Jaguar two lanes over.
8. Because they like to feel the wind ruffling their fur
7. Because the view is better
6. In case they get carsick and ha*ve to vomit
5. So they can howl along with the horns and sirens
4. So the wind can blow the slobber off their mouths
3. So they can grab any food that might be flying by
2. They're hoping the fresh air will clear away the smell of the last disgusting thing they sniffed.
1. Because dogs just wanna have fun
So, as you provide an endless available supply of fresh cool water for your pet each summer day, bring your pet inside the car in the air conditioning or at least invest in a pair of doggy goggles to protect you pet's eyes as he or she peeks through the cracked window to catch a passing whiff of summer.
Paw Prints articles from Second Chance Animal 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.
Dear Friends,
During the month of June I again had an opportunity to take another, for me, dream vacation. I spent one week working with the people and animals at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary just outside Kanab, Utah. I had the chance to speak with the founders, animal caregivers, adoption personnel. They assisted us in clarifying our vision of what we are striving for at Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries. Their perceptions will indeed help us mold practices, policies and perceptions that will benefit each and every animal that comes to us for help as well as the other pets around the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania. Future issues of Second Glance will highlight both our discussions and decisions. We welcome your input.
We have been busy here at home also. Many members have given their time, talents and energy visiting fairs and events for the Sanctuary during May, June and July. They all reported on meeting person after person supporting our cause, offering suggestions and exchanging great and sad tales about their animals and animals they knew. Our goal was to achieve exposure in our community. It seems our community has the goal of letting us know they are standing beside us.
As a note for the future. You will find us at the Tioga County Fair, Canton at the Apple Cheese Festival and the Dickens of a Christmas. We welcome your participation in many ways. Please give us a call or drop us a note by letter or email.
Our networking is starting to have its impact. We are receiving calls asking us to help more animals find home...as well as calls where people are seeking pets. We need families and individuals willing to provide temporary homes until permanent families can be found. Can you help?
It has been nearly a year since our group was first created. As we strive to become a tangible reality, we have used our membership and contribution monies wisely. We've networked with
other animal welfare groups and published printed materials to open the hearts of others to both our endeavors and the
welfare of animals. Our presence at
many public events has not only gained exposure but has also provided many contacts who give support and encouragement. As we move into the
second phase of our plan, which is to provide educational services in the schools and
work with area veterinarians in helping to control pet overpopulation, we will further utilize these initial
membership and contribution monies. Without these funds from people like yourself who truly care about the welfare of the animals, it would be nearly impossible to achieve our major goal of providing for lifetime care of animals in need.
We wish to express a heartfelt thank you to all of you who have placed faith in us by becoming members this first year. We also deeply appreciate those area businesses and individuals who have agreed to serve on our advisory network or who have unselfishly donated space or assistance in several ways. We are truly making a difference and will continue to do so, thanks to you and the many others who support us.
Sue Cook
A special thank you to recent additions to the " Friends of The Sanctuary" support family:
Ron Bowers (Bower's Gulf), Wellsboro Area School District,
Wellsboro Gazette,
Full Of It Thrift Shop, Painters Meat Market
What Do Dogs Do For Us?
Catch Frisbees.
Keep a lonely night from being truly lonely.
Keep our homes safe.
Get us outside on beautiful fall days.
Listen to our singing.
Treat us like celebrities when we come home.
Warm up our beds on cold nights.
Star in our home movies.
Make our hearts more vigorous.
Take us outdoors on snowy winter days.
Alert us to the arrival of the mail.
Help us live a little longer.
Make us smile.
Agree with everything we say.
Warm our knees with their chins.
Provide a use for old tennis balls.
Signal when a thunder storm is coming.
Pull sleds.
Help lower our blood pressure.
Test how fast we can run.
Keep the squirrels from over-taking our yards.
Teach us the meaning of unconditional love.
Take us out on rainy days.
Teach our children about responsibility.
What Do Cats Do For Us?
Warm our laps.
Give us someone to talk to.
Help reduce high blood pressure.
Bring the winter air inside, nestled in their coats.
Create a kindred feeling with other "cat people".
Turn common household objects like bottle caps into toys.
Make us more aware of birds.
Donate their services as alarm clocks.
Make a windowsill more beautiful.
Display daring acrobatic feats right in front of our eyes.
Contribute to living a longer life.
Keep mice on the run.
Make us smile.
Inspire poets and playwrights.
Teach us how to land on our feet.
Let us indulge our desires to really spoil someone.
Make our homes warmer.
Remind us that life is mysterious.
Share with us the all-is-well experience of purring.
Instruct us in the luxurious art of stretching.
Show us how to lick our wounds and go on.
Give us cool cartoon characters.
Make even an old worn out couch look beautiful.
Open our hearts.
What do one great calico cat, a wandering stray cat. a chinchilla, three ferrets, two Maltese dogs,
a Lhaso Apso, a dog with a special mix of Cocker Spaniel included in his heritage, two squirrels,
one duck and a mourning dove have in common? Each has found help or new homes through the work of Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries members and its network of caring people. If you were involved in their success
stories,
they thank you!
Meanwhile:
Oliver, a wonderful cat, and Casey, a terrific seven year old
black lab whose owners must move, are still looking
for just the right humans to take care of.
Visit with them and others
in need at: secondchanceas.tripod.com
(Don't type www)
No, we haven't lost one.
*The cans are located at many special businesses that have been kind enough to allow the cans to rest near their check-out counters. Customers may drop their change in the blue cans, thus contributing to Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries. Please thank them when you drop by!
Present locations include:
Pioneer Restaurant
Mansfield Dunkin' Donuts
Tioga Area Federal Credit Union
Mansfield Veterinary Medical Center
Tioga Office Products
Laurel Cafe
Wellsboro Small Animal Hospital
Owlett's Sunshine Market
Pit Stop Auto Sales
Native Bagel
Gramma's Kitchen
I can never forget my former cats,
No more than a long-time friend:
They weaved their way into my heart,
Enduring to life's end.
Each precious in his special way -
No two the same in likes;
Some loved to be held and cuddled,
Others figgity, playful tykes.
Some I had for quite a spell,
Others only a while:
Yet, the thought of each brings memories
Causing a tear and smile.
Striped Tommy and his brother Perkey,
Gray Man and Jasper, too;
Carpentier and Dempsey who had the fight,
And Blackie with that funny mew.
Bronzie, Mattie, Goldie, Paul,
And Vagabond of twenty pounds;
Snowball that roving warrior,
Who nightly made the rounds.
I like to think when life is over,
That up in heaven I shall see
My lovely four-footed friends
That were such a part of me.
Preposterous, did I hear you say?
Yet, I believe it just the same;
And I know I would remember them
And call each once by name.
provide humane, no-kill sanctuaries for the care and rehabilitation of abandoned and at-risk animals.
provide compassionate, animal-friendly
environments that respect the dignity and total
needs of all animals under our care and protection.
provide outreach programs and networks for animal adoptions, public respect and appreciation of animals, and an awareness of animals' needs as well as human responsibilities.
The memory of a human friend whose life reflected a compassion for animals or the
remembrance of an animal that forever touched our life becomes a cherished thought package we carry in our hearts forever. Recently we were asked if we accepted donations in memory of animals or people. Our response was that the bestowing of such a decision with us would be an honor.
Please contact us.
Can do! Can do! Can do! Sounds like the beginning of the childrens' story about the Little Engine That Could...and did find success. This summer Sue Cook and I traveled to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah to work with the caring team of people who each day fuel the train that is actually making a tremendous difference in saving the lives of abandoned and homeless pets. It is also sparking others to board the train that will eventually bring the humane treatment of animals as another badge and banner that all of us will proudly bear.
Even as the car door opened, we were greeted by ambassadors from the sanctuary. They were warm, friendly, and eager to welcome us, share with us their stories, their work and their passions for life. We continued to meet and work with hundreds of cats and dogs and rabbits. Each had a story of loss and sadness, but each was saved and gained a renewed chance for great futures thanks to the "Best Friends" and their network of friends and members. I walked with Sadie Mae, a small black dog about the size of a large grocery bag that loved to dance and squirm, but once the hot sands stung the pads of her feet, would plant herself in the shade under a trailside shrub. Eventually Sadie, whom I renamed Shade, insisted on my arms becoming the carriage for carrying her back home. I could just imagine the stories she would tell to her kennelmates about the human she convinced to lift her above the hot sands and darting lizards of southern Utah. I also met the eyes of Seth, a gentle loving gray giant that had the presence and voice of his wolf ancestors. I sat by the enclosure gate with Milo, whose sadness penetrated everyone. Milo had been locked away from contact with others for most of his year-and-a-half life. He searched for love but didn't yet understand how to communicate ...but his eyes!!! The gate had become his security. He had been adopted by terrific, caring people several times but when he couldn't bring himself to take the steps beyond the gate... he stayed. The Best Friends family maintained their vision. Milo will stay until his heart allows him to take the steps beyond the gate...no matter how long he needs!
We soon learned that the Best Friends human family never lets down its concern and assistance for animals. Each of them, with his or her own stories, became an ambassador of good tidings that matched their furry counterparts before them. They each naturally bubbled with the the love and care shared daily with each and every animal under his/her care. I worked with and learned from Carol, a tall, thin, strong-hearted woman who devoted herself to approximately fifty unique dogs living in two octagon-shaped buildings and enclosed yards. Through Carol I saw the heart and vision of a true Best Friend. Each dog, regardless of size, mix, background or personality became her top priority and received her utmost attention. She knew each dog by name and personality. She could tell their histories, quirks and even who they would select as friends. At feeding time and cleaning time her system of caregiving seemed understood and accepted and respected by each. Some more ambitious kennelmates were temporarily leashed to specific areas so others could enjoy their meals in peace. But Carol would stay "at the table" to ensure that all was well with the family. Often as I moved to another section and Carol would be working "with incredible efficiency" in another, I would find her sharing a one-on-one discussion with the dogs or taking the minutes to stop and observe or pet or check a paw. I learned that that was the nature of Carol, of Best Friends. Animals are not property to be housed or placed on a shelf. They are here with us, to share with and truly to experience life together.
Jim Howe
Taffy, Skippy, Sooty, Ring, Suzie, Jasmine, or PG with an "i" missing in the middle. It does not matter if they were dog, cat, rabbit, horse, bird, reptile or mammal, tame or wild. They could have been with any one of us and given a thousand names. Each life when gone left a shadow, a memory, an etching for us to relish and for a while to grieve. The following poems were sent to us and each holds a special message. Feel free to send us more.
"We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own, live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan. Irving Townsend.
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Sunlight streams through window pane
unto a spot on the floor.... |
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Our feet walk down a hall of carpet,
and muted echoes sound.... |
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A voice is heard along the road,
and up beyond the hill, |
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But I'll take that vacant spot of floor and empty muted hall
and lay them with the absent voice and unused dish along the wall.
I'll wrap these treasured memorials in a blanket of my love
and keep them for my best friend until we meet above.
Author Unknown
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