Monthly Archives: April 2010

ASPCA Anniversary-Yippee!

April 18, 2010

           This month is the 140th anniversary of the ASPCA; the first organization for animal welfare.

 

I am one of the lucky ones, and all because one man 140 years ago had a conscience.  So for me, this month is cause for hoorays and yippees.  Many don’t know or understand how my life was or could have ended up before I was let go from racing.   It was exciting, and I love to run, but read this from the ASPCA to see what I did and how I lived.    West Palm Beach society is not all it is cracked up to be; I looove riding in cars so race them not dogs!
History says, in 1866 a New York City cart driver was whipping his poor, withered horse when an elegant man stepped in and defended the horse.  A Mr. Henry Bergh was this gallant man who then went on to petition NY for a charter to protect all animals in the state naming it the American Society of Prevention and Cruelty to Animals.   And on April 10, 1866 the law passed, along with the right to enforce it.   It was begun for working animals but soon graduated to help us all, in any area where animals live and work.  There are no real federal laws regarding us; I think there should be.Their logo was created about Mr. Bergh’s meddling, showing a guardian angel helping a cart horse.  I think that is the best.   April licensing of pets today even stems from their mantra of responsible pet ownership.
Just so you know….the ASPCA today works to:

- Fight tirelessly on state and national levels to pass laws that protect animals.  Or rather, doggedly!
- Provide the latest medical care at the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital.
- Offer a 24/7 resource for animal poison-related emergencies through their Animal Poison Control Center.
- Operate an 8,000-square-foot state-of-the-art adoption facility.  Wow-that is big!
- Help at-risk horses with the ASPCA Equine Fund.
- Offer expert advice on common dog, cat and horse behavior issues.  I got over that, but so many of my friends are  confused still.
- Send out the ASPCA Disaster Response Team to help animals in times of emergency.  We get so lost in emergencies-especially when we lose our parents and home.
- Employ a Humane Law Enforcement department to uphold New York City’s animal cruelty laws.  These people rock!
- Provide a fleet of ASPCA mobile spay/neuter clinics to serve low-income communities throughout New York City.  There are sooo many puppies in the streets.
Cruelty is when an animal is intentionally harmed or not given food, water, and medical care.  Unfortunately we speak a different language and can’t really call for help when we need it-but you can.  Always keep an eye out for all animals in the human world-check out my friend’s video.  I told him the English language was tougher than rawhide!
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The main headquarters are still in New York City and operate entirely on donations and private funding from people just like my Lynn.    So please, please call your local ASPCA or police department if you ever see anything mean spirited.     For all my friends, xxoo Willow
Visit their website at www.aspca.org

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Save the Easter Plants

April 18, 2010

Plant or donate your Easter plants instead of tossing them.  Don’t sentence  them to a prison landfill.

I always worry at the fate of all the beautiful lilies and bulb gardens going out my door at Easter; and the 1000’s even more in the mega stores, gas stations, and garden centers.  Are they a momentary joy for the day?  Are they welcomed into the recipients family of other plants or…. shunned after 2 weeks?   Are any from years ago still entertaining every spring as they should be?  Does everyone realize these are a living entity?
Yes, I am the kind to buy those poor, ignored, on clearance, cypress trees in the grocery store the week after Christmas-they pull at my heart at their lack of care.  I know how hard they tried to live. All plants are living beings in my eyes, and I feel just as responsible for them as I would for my Willow.

1909 postcard

Unfortunately, in our saturated world of goods upon goods; there are millions of these plants grown every year-with the majority imported from Canada; and every year they are sentenced to a landfill after only a few weeks.  All that human energy and fuel to get them here picture perfect-seems a huge waste all around and an unjust reward for their sweet pleasure they so freely gave us.  I can never grasp why someone would carelessly toss them instead of taking a minute to plant outside.  Each Spring I drive by dumpsters loaded with spent lilies and headless, pots of tulips; abandoned and left to die.   I think we should start a community project in each town of ‘Save the Bubs”.  Think what a show it would make for our towns, parks, and government buildings every spring-and the money saved.
All your traditional Easter bulbs including lilies, tulips, hyacinth, daffodils, and narcissus, are perennials.   Which means….they bloom every year.  They are cold hardy, easy adapters, and faithful souls.   Each year at spring they will come back and bloom profusely without a bit of care.  They know what to do and when to do it all by themselves; and it is so easy to give them a chance.  As the leaves turn brown cut back the stem and just replant them outside when frost warnings are over. That’s it!
If you would prefer an early, indoor show next year; water them as any other houseplant through the summer.   Bulbs need a cold period to rest and rejuvenate so at summers end I store them in a cold basement or refrigerator to sleep.  Around late January I wake them up, repot, and start their diet of weekly watering  in a sunny spot.      And then…..they come alive.  This year my narcissus was blooming during our blizzard in February; it was just the best.
If you are not inclined toward dirt, potting and watering; then give them away to your favorite gardener, or better yet-a park or inner city area that needs beautification.    I have even seen them blooming in the woods-an obvious attempt to disown them-yet they lived on.
Always saving,  Lynn

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