Animal Talk/News

As are all non-profits, The Equine Connection is completely dependent on the generosity of our citizens to continue it’s wonderful works. At this time, they are especially in need of hay. If you can contribute either your time, your money or if you just want to find out more about The Equine Connection, please drop by their office at 1104 Tusculum Blvd, Suite 219 or call them at 620-1494. Believe me, you’ll be so glad that you did!

We are extremely proud to announce the appointment of four wonderful folks to our Board of Directors. Darren LaFrance, Doris Goodwin, Gayle Rexroat and Carole Wainwright will be familiar names to many of you. Long time and tireless supporters of your Humane Society, we are indeed most fortunate to have them become Board members. Each having specific talents, all four bring a wealth of experience and ideas to our table and we are all extremely excited at their joining our team.

I know a lot of folks like to take their pets with them when they go shopping. PLEASE, even in relatively only warm weather leave them at home! With the windows partially rolled down, the heat in your vehicle can quickly reach extremely lethal levels in only a matter of minutes. No matter if you only spend ten or fifteen minutes in the store, you could nevertheless return to your vehicle to find a completely senseless tragedy. Though your intentions may have been good, your actions would be deemed inexcusable and demonstrate a complete lack of absolutely basic common sense. A person wouldn’t leave a young child under such conditions, so why would they leave an animal that has a complete fur coat under the same circumstances?

Also, insure that your out door animals ALWAYS have access to fresh water, and real shade from the sun (remember, many dog houses themselves can turn into veritable ovens in such heat). Please, THINK before your leave your pet or animals alone….anywhere! Should a person not adhere to the above basic common sense steps, they shouldn’t be surprised should they find themselves in court. Remember, legal representation is far more expensive than basic pet care. If you should notice that a friend or neighbor is keeping their pet under improper conditions, just take the time to give them a friendly reminder of the proper thing to do. They may be just simply unaware. If that doesn’t work or if such conditions continue, please come by our Animal Adoption Center anytime from 11am to 5 pm, Monday through Saturday and fill out a cruelty complaint.

Of course, all of this commotion only served to attract another feline child, Felix. He immediately jumped up on the bed to see what was going on. My watery red eyes, a result of my painful interaction with Winston and which probably themselves looked like those of a demon, combined with my guttural and frightening command to, “Go away!” and Felix was not only off the bed in a flash but he even dashed into the next room. Later on I overheard him mentioning to Fran that maybe we’d better watch a tape of The Exorcist just as a precaution as, “Daddy was looking an awful lot like that little girl in the movie that was possessed by the Devil except that his head wasn’t spinning around….at least I don’t think it was.”

Later, I couldn’t resist telling Felix, “Next time, watch more closely…heh-heh-heh.” I haven’t seen him out from under the bed in the last a day and a half.

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Now that warm weather is upon us, I urge you to please leave your pet home when you go out shopping. Even with the windows in your car cracked to let in air, if the temperature outside is 85 degrees the temperature in your car can rise so rapidly as to kill your beloved pet within ten or fifteen minutes. Also, if you keep animals outside, please insure they have shade and copious amounts of fresh water.

One special individual in particular, Humane Society Charter Member and long time Board member Osa Andersen, over two decades ago realized the importance that proper animal welfare would play in the future of our communities. Toward that end, she introduced The Kind News to our school systems and has worked tirelessly ever since to insure both its success and expansion. Ably assisted by numerous individuals over the years, Osa has doggedly focused on the simple yet frequently forgotten fact that it is education that provides the solution to our animal overpopulation and abuse problems. When few people expressed interest and despite being rebuffed countless times over the past two decades by elected officials who not only turned a deaf ear but even in a few instances, outwardly scorned her efforts, she has persevered.

An individual recently said to me that its been remarkable what the Humane Society has been able to accomplish in twenty years. I agreed and quickly added, that such success has been due in great part to Osa Andersen’s achievements.

A few weeks ago the Greeneville City Schools Foundation held it’s annual Character Education Awards luncheon at which students who were honored were allowed to designate a non-profit organization to which $100.00 would be awarded in their name. We also recognize all those who received Character Awards and specifically those three who designated their awards to our animals. They are: Highland Elementary fifth grader Sarah Mitchum of West Allen’s Bridge Road; Tusculum View fifth grader Zac Miller of Jonathan Lane and Tusculum View fifth grader Honoka Kawai of Alderman Drive. Congratulations to all the winners and a HUGE Woof/Meow to Sarah, Zac and Honoka!

Also when it comes to students, another giant Woof/Meow to The West Greene High Honor Society and the Glenwood Elementary School for their contribution of car loads of wonderful things to our animals.

It’s currently yard sale time and yard sales provide the perfect opportunity to help our animals. At least that’s what young Kelsie White, daughter of Terry White and Angie Hopson thought when she recently collected over $23 on behalf of our animals. Bless you Kelsie, for your efforts!

If we don’t see you there, we’ll catch you at Ella’s Restaurant on the By-Pass at the book signing on Saturday at 2:00 pm of Humane Society Board Member Matilda “‘Til” Green’s lavishly illustrated latest offering, Greeneville, Then and Now. I have been anticipating this book since the day I purchased ‘Til’s last volume of historical local photographs.