Holiday Recipe for Happiness
Preheat the circumstances to critical, combine a few dozen second graders and their families with a half dozen creative, community minded teachers, blend with field trips on perfect autumn afternoons, some practical math lessons, and lot of very hard work. Slowly add the first ingredients to a barn full of once abused or neglected horses, dozens of throw away cats together with a sprinkle of abandoned dogs and set aside for a few weeks.
While the other ingredients marry, bring together the staff at Blue Seal Feeds in South Windham and the staff of the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals to create a list of practical items needed at the farm, like flat back buckets, halters, pig feed, and cat toys. Combine all ingredients at once, decorate with tie-dyed t-shirts from Bob Baiguy, the T-Shirt Guy, and serve up more that $1,000.00 worth of goods being delivered to the River Road farm operated by the MSSPA.
On December 15th , the combined second grades of the Windham-Raymond Schools traveled to Blue Seal Feeds in South Windham with their shopping list in hand. The children, with the help of their teachers, friends, and families raised more that $1,000.00 to be donated to the animals living at the MSSPA. Led by second grade teacher Kelly Rich, the children and all the second grade teachers made field trips to the Society’s farm and learned about the responsibilities that go along with owning animals. They also learned that animals need the very same things that children need to thrive, namely nutritious food, good medical care, lots of love and attention. The students listened carefully as barn manager Becky Jones told the children the stories of how each horse came to be placed at the MSSPA. Some of the horses weren’t fed or given water; they became so thin they were starving to death. Others were left to fend for themselves and their hooves grew so long that the horses were crippled and unable to walk or run. The children, many of whose families have pets, met cats and dogs who had been left behind when their owners moved. They were able to touch little kittens born to homeless mother cats as well as older cats whose owners had died without providing for them. The children were very sympathetic about the reasons the animals had come to the farm, nodding their heads as Becky spoke and asking questions like, “Why didn’t the owner feed the horses?’ or “How did the mama cat get the to farm?”
The students learned that in Maine animals are protected from abuse and neglect by laws passed in the legislature. Law enforcement officials such as animal control officers and police are responsible for making sure that animals are treated humanely. Under certain circumstances, law enforcement agents can remove animals from situations where the animals are being cruelly abused or neglected. People who mistreat animals may be ordered by the court to pay a fine or even go to jail. The court may also order that the animals be taken away from the person who harmed them and given to a shelter or rescue facility like the MSSPA. In some cases the court may order that the person never again own or possess animals.
The Windham second grade teachers, inspired by their colleague Kelly Rich began talking with students about the costs of operating a farm or caring for pets. The students wondered how they could help Clarke, the blind roan gelding or Nutmeg, the little filly who were so weak from hunger that she couldn’t stand up when she was rescued. As a group, they decided to raise money for the animals they had met at the Society’s River Road farm and buy holiday gifts, including grain and hay. And raise money they did! From collecting recyclable bottles and cans to paid household chores, selling t-shirts, and donating cash birthday gifts, the 2nd graders and their families amassed more than $1,100 with which to purchase needed items for the Society’s animals.
With some helpful suggestions from MSSPA staff and good shopping tips from the folks at Blue Seal Feeds in South Windham, Mrs. Rich and her second grade class made their list, checked it twice, and set about buying halters, lead lines, and future forks in bright, cheerful colors. Cuddly soft cat beds, bright new collars for the dogs, chew toys, and catnip mice in hand, the children patiently lined up at the cash register to purchase the selected items with their hard-earned money. One half of the money raised was spent on items to take to the farm and give to the animals; the other half was given to Blue Seal folks to pay for additional grain for the horses, goats, and pigs who make their home at the Society’s River Road farm. The generous folks at Blue Seal chipped in with several gifts of their own in the form of additional bags of grain and it was time for delivery!
Back onto the school bus and off to Society’s farm facility – when the children arrived, it was hard to tell who was more excited, the animals or the kids! Staff warmly greeted the children, some of whom had been to the farm several times and knew both staffers and animals by name. The children showed off the bright new halters and helped barn manager, Becky Jones select a beautiful blue one for Bravo. Bravo, a gentle chestnut was very cooperative and enjoyed modeling his new attire. One by one, the children approached the stall door to touch his velvety nose and let Bravo convey his thanks. The barn was filled with happy chatter as the excited students celebrated the success of their charitable mission. The horses whinnied to one another and their guests bearing gifts while the goats scampered down the center aisle. Parents snapped photos as their children, the Society staff and the animals experienced the true, giving spirit of the holiday season. It was a lesson that none of them are likely to forget any time soon.
The public is also cordially invited to visit the Society's South Windham, Maine farm and experience the spirit of the holiday. The farm is open to the public, without admission charge, daily from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. The barns close at 3:00 p.m. to permit night feeding of the horses.
The MSSPA is a tax-exempt, 501(c) (3) entity and receives no federal, state or local funding. The Society is entirely funded by membership dues, donations, bequests, grants, and fund-raising activities. The Society does not charge for its services and seeks no reimbursement from any public source. The MSSPA provides more than one million dollars in services annually to the taxpayers of Maine and salvation to abused animals.