Local “Gems” Help Support Animals
The staff of Windham’s G.M. Pollack & Sons jewelry store visited the Society’s farm at 279 River Road, South Windham on Sunday, January 17, 2010. Led by store manager Susan Brockett, store associates Lisa Jaques and Sara McDougall arrived with a very generous check in hand, along with a tub of treats for the horses.
Throughout the holiday shopping season, all 12 G. M. Pollack & Sons locations in Maine and New Hampshire participated in a community project with their customers. As shoppers came into the stores, staff invited customers to donate to a fund for an area charity. This project was slightly different from previous seasons as a result of new management in Maine’s only employee-owned jewelry store. Rather than a single combined gift raised from all stores being given to a single organization, the 2009 effort allowed each store to raise and donate the funds in their own neighborhoods. It just so happens that the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals is in the “neigh”borhood of the store managed by Susan.
Lisa began the search to select an area charity in late October 2009. She had heard a little about the Society’s work and called the farm to get additional information. During the call with Society staffer Eve Ladd, Lisa became so overwhelmed by the stories of the animals living at the MSSPA that she began to cry and was unable to complete the call. Fortunately, Susan was on hand and able to take over from Lisa. Horse owner and lover Sara added her support for selecting the Society as the recipient charity and the decision was final. Eve gave Lisa, Susan and Sara a brief history of New England’s largest equine rescue and rehabilitation facility. Founded in Portland, Maine in 1872, the Society operates its farm in South Windham for the purpose of serving as Maine’s de facto large animal shelter. The state of Maine does not operate any animal shelter; that responsibility is met primarily by non-profit organizations. Despite the word “state” in its name, the Society is not a state agency; it neither seeks nor receives any local, state or federal funding. The MSSPA is a 501(c)(3) public charity that derives the bulk of its revenues from individual gifts, sale of memberships and merchandise, and bequests.
The staff and customers of G.M. Pollack & Sons in Windham gave the impressive sum of $1,014.65 to help the animals living at the Society barns in South Windham. Given the very challenging economic conditions in Maine – and everywhere – it is amazing that so much good can be generated by the personal efforts of a small group of individuals. The money donated through G.M. Pollack & Sons' holiday giving initiative will be used in its entirety for the purchase of hay and grain for the animals. The Society is presently providing care to nearly 80 horses, several goats, two donkeys, two potbellied pigs, two chickens, a duck and a mule. A small number of dogs and numerous cats also await a new forever home. Any animals that cannot for whatever reason be re-homed live out their natural lives at MSSPA facilities. The generous check presented to Society President Marilyn L. Goodreau on Sunday represents the value of more than 200 bales of hay or 100 bags of processed feed. The donation couldn’t have come at a better time. In the winter months, the costs of maintaining large animals increase. With so many people unemployed and underemployed, greater numbers of animals go hungry and are at risk for malnourishment or starvation. Every bale of hay and every bag of grain given to the Society help to keep a formerly abused or neglected animal comfortable and well-fed.
The women of Windham’s G.M. Pollack & Sons store, along with MSSPA President Marilyn Goodreau and MSSPA board secretary Leah Hyler, walked into the big barn to meet Big Ben, Candy, Mikey, Melody, and the other horses who had been seized by Maine law enforcement agents from situations of abuse and neglect. Marilyn answered questions about the care of the recovering animals, the challenges of meeting the Society’s $1,000,000 plus annual budget, and the legal process that brings the rescued animals to the Society. Marilyn persuaded Lisa, whose self-proclaimed fear of such large animals was keeping her at a distance, to have a gentle personal encounter with gorgeous chestnut gelding Big Boy.
Susan, Lisa, and Sara listened intently as Marilyn, who has run the farm for more than 35 years, walked along with them, giving a bit of history about each animal as its stall was passed. They asked, “How can anyone treat an animal like that? How could you go to bed at night knowing that your horse was hungry, out in the barn with no food or water?” Marilyn, of course, had no answer to those questions.
Thank you to Susan, Lisa, Sara, and all the giving customers of G. M. Pollack & Sons at 770 Roosevelt Trail in Windham. You can always meet the animals of the MSSPA by visiting the 279 River Road, South Windham farm. The farm is open to the public without charge daily from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Barns close at 3:00 PM for night feeding.