The Giving Spirit
The animals, staff and friends of the Society send a heartfelt thank you and happy birthday wish to Connor H. of Gorham. Connor met many of the animals last year when his school class took a field trip to the Society’s River Road farm in South Windham. What he learned about the creatures there made an impression that will last a lifetime. Connor learned that the horses and other animals at the Society had been taken away from their previous owners who had abused or neglected them. In Maine, when animals are not being properly cared for, the Department of Agriculture’s Animal Welfare Program investigates the situation. When necessary, humane agents remove the animals and place them at the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals.
Children, since they are dependents themselves, can readily understand how animals are dependent on the people who own or care for them. After learning about the backgrounds of the animals, children frequently empathize with them. Often this experience motivates young people to want to help care for the animals. Connor, at age seven, is an experienced philanthropist. This birthday marked his third year of asking family and friends for donations in lieu of gifts to celebrate his birthday. Connor’s family shares their home with two greyhounds who were adopted from the Maine Greyhound Placement Service. For his fifth and sixth birthdays, Connor collected donations and gave them to the Greyhound Placement Service. This year Connor selected the Society as his charity of choice.
Connor, a Boy Scout who is active in sports and enjoys the second grade, was anxious to bring his family and friends to the Society to see what had impressed him on his class trip. He wanted to visit the animals again and tell his family what he learned about the horses. Recently, on a beautiful afternoon following his birthday celebration, Connor brought his gifts, cash donations, and family to the farm. While the birthday cake was reserved for the party guests, the rest of the loot went to benefit formerly abused and neglected animals.
From all the animals and people living and working on behalf of the Society, happy birthday, Connor! Your empathy and generosity set the kind of example that is rarely publicized enough. Everyone here is grateful for the gifts you have given; we think that you are a gift to animals. Thank you as well to Connor’s family and friends who support the good work done by this young man. Every horse knows that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.