"Keeping Secrets" Book Review

Are you looking for a great gift idea to give your favorite young horse lover?  Look no further!  This is a book review I wrote about a fantastic book by Maggie Dana titled, "Keeping Secrets".  This is a great read and perfect for readers in middle school and junior high.  ~Declan

“Keeping Secrets”, by Maggie Dana, is the first book in her Timber Ridge Riders Series.  The book is about a teenager, named Kate, who has a secret, and now never wants to have anything to do with horses again.

Kate’s new job, as a companion to Holly Chapman, an old star rider who was injured and put in a wheelchair, has Kate do what she never wanted to do again, go to the barn.

Kate gets into an accident and has to ride a horse to save her friend Holly.  After that her secret comes out in the open and Angela Dean who is only interested in teasing and being mean, quickly finds out about Kate’s secret!  Kate thinks her life is ruined, but is it really?  You will have to read the book to find out!  

Maggie Dana's story pulled me right in from the start and I had a hard time putting her book down.  I felt like I was part of everything that was happening and I love this book because it is so vivid with details!  Maggie Dana has written a wonderful book that is fast paced and will keep you wanting to read more.  I had a hard time putting it down and read every chance I got!

"Keeping Secrets" is definitely on the top of my list and I can't wait to read the next book of the Timber Ridge Riders Series, to see what will happen next.  Maggie Dana is a very talented writer and I look forward to continuing to learn more about her characters and how their stories develop. 

Read this awesome book to find out about Kate’s secret and enjoy good literature!  It’s a MUST read!!!


You can find "Keeping Secrets", by Maggie Dana for Kindle on Amazon here.

You can find "Keeping Secrets", by Maggie Dana in paperback on Amazon here.

And find Timber Ridge Riders on Facebook here.

For more information about the author, Maggie Dana, and her other books for young readers in her Timber Ridge Riders Series, check out Ms. Dana's website here.

Detroit Police Asks Students to Name New Horse

It's not too late choose a name - the deadline is December 20th!  I hope "Number 15" gets a new cool name!  ~Declan

Names may be submitted by phone by calling the Detroit Police Office of Public Information at (313) 596-2200; by email: pubinfo@detroitmi.gov; by facsimile: (313) 596-1450; or via mail, care of The Office Public Information, 1300 Beaubien, Room 203, Detroit MI 48226.

"Kids can also submit names through Facebook," Eide said. Names may be submitted through the Facebook pages of either the Mounted Unit or Detroit Police Department.



 November 20, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Detroit police asks students to name new horse
As posted on The Detroit News

Detroit Police Department Mounted Unit Sgt. Erik Eide trains police horse "“Number 15" which was donated to the department by Denise Lutz. The Detroit police is asking students to help name the new horse. )

Detroit — Wynn, Elmo, Baby, Tiny have a companion with no name, and police are asking Detroit Public Schools students for help.

The Detroit Police Mounted Unit's latest addition is a chestnut Selle Francais gelding formerly named Korus. The animal was donated in May 2011, by Denise Lutz, wife of retired automotive executive Bob Lutz, both of whom were instrumental in resurrecting the unit after it was disbanded in 2005 for budgetary reasons.

Normally, when horses join the Mounted Unit, they're stripped of their names and assigned numbers. The unit's fifth horse was given No. 15 while it underwent training to determine if it would make a good police horse.

Now that No. 15 has passed its rigorous training regimen, Detroit Police have launched a contest asking students to come up with a permanent name for the animal.

Naming a horse is usually an honor bestowed to the first officer it's assigned to after training, but police officials decided to let students in on the tradition, said Sgt. Erik Eide, head of the Mounted Unit.

"It's a chance to get the kids involved, and to let them see a different side to police officers," Eide said. "We've been working on this contest for some time, and we thought now would be a good time to kick off the contest, with our horses in the Thanksgiving Parade."

The student who picks the winning name will be invited to the Mounted Unit's barn on the city's east side for the naming ceremony.

"The ceremony will include placing the new name plate over the horse's stall," Detroit Police Sgt. Eren Stephens said in a written statement.

The mounted unit was closed seven years ago for budgetary reasons. It reopened in June 2009, thanks to donations from the Detroit Public Safety Foundation and Restore the Horse, private groups of philanthropists and horse lovers who pay for the training and upkeep of Wynn, Elmo, Baby, Tiny and No. 15.

The Detroit Mounted Unit was established in 1893. At its peak in the late 1970s, the unit had five barns, 80 officers and more than 60 horses.

Mounted units are still considered vital for crowd control, as well as public relations.

"We were at Comerica Park when the Tigers clinched the ALDS (against the Oakland A's); and we were down there when the Giants clinched the World Series," Eide said.

The deadline for name submissions is Dec. 20. Names may be submitted by phone by calling the Detroit Police Office of Public Information at (313) 596-2200; by email: pubinfo@detroitmi.gov; by facsimile: (313) 596-1450; or via mail, care of The Office Public Information, 1300 Beaubien, Room 203, Detroit MI 48226.

"Kids can also submit names through Facebook," Eide said. Names may be submitted through the Facebook pages of either the Mounted Unit or Detroit Police Department.

"Hopefully, this contest will get the public involved in what we do — and hopefully make a special memory for some kid," Eide said.

The practice of "soring" walking horses to make them step higher and higher is incredibly cruel and inhumane and needs to STOP!   ~Declan

Tennessee walking horse reform push continues

by Pam Sohn  As posted on timesfreepress.com
Monday, December 10, 2012

A lay inspector goes over a horse in the inspection area at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville, Tenn., in August.

Photo by Alyson Wright.

buy photo

The battle is still going on to reform the Tennessee walking horse industry.

The Humane Society of the United States called last week for 11 Tennessee district attorneys to acquire and test all "foreign substance swab samples" collected from Tennessee walking show horses during 2012 and to prosecute violations under state animal cruelty laws.

"We're hopeful with all public attention that soring walking horses and the Jackie McConnell case has generated, that these DAs will want to set an example and deterrent in their communities," said Keith Dane, director of equine protection for the Humane Society.

The action is the newest wrinkle in the sparring over the training of Tennessee's iconic high-stepping horses.

Soring is the use of chemicals and objects to make a walking horse's feet hurt so the animal will lift them higher in an exaggeration of its natural gait.

Trainer Jackie McConnell, of Collierville, Tenn., was caught on a hidden camera beating and helping to sore horses at his stable. The videos, shot by an undercover operative with the Humane Society, prompted a 52-count federal indictment early this year against McConnell and several other horse trainers.

McConnell and the others pleaded guilty. McConnell was sentenced to three years' probation and fined $75,000.

The video images were shown on prime-time television, setting off a wave of public outrage.

Now the Humane Society wants state cases brought against horse trainers and handlers who sore horses.

In letters dated Dec. 6, the group asked DAs handling prosecutions in 44 counties to request, or subpoena if necessary, the swabs U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Walking Horse Trainers Association made at horse shows this fall and the results of the tests.

The swabbing by the Walking Horse Trainers Association was touted as part of the industry's effort to demonstrate its commitment to reform.

Jamie Hankins, outgoing president and current board member of the Walking Horse Trainers Association, said he hadn't yet seen the letter.

Releasing the results to a requesting district attorney would be up to attorneys and the administrator of the swabbing initiative, Hankins said.

USDA officials could not be reached for comment Friday.

District Attorney Robert Carter, who handles cases in Bedford County where the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is held in Shelbyville, Tenn., did not return a call for comment.

But at least one district attorney said he will look into the question.

Russell Johnson, who prosecutes cases in Meigs, Roane, Loudon and Morgan counties, said his office is handling a number of horse malnutrition cases. He said he is turning the letter over to an assistant "who has a heart for these cases."

The McConnell criminal case made national news and set off a year of upheaval in the Tennessee walking horse industry.

Riding the wave of public outrage, the USDA adopted tougher minimum penalties for exhibitors and owners of walking horses found to be sored with chemicals or objects to exaggerate their gait.

The new rules prompted lawsuits and USDA decertifications of horse groups that act as lay show inspectors. Those legal actions are still playing out.

At the federal level, amendments have been introduced to toughen the 40-year-old Horse Protection Act to make soring a federal felony. It already is a felony under state law.

Aside from the legal ramifications, the attention hurt the 2012 Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, held each August in Shelbyville.

The stands were half empty at most of the Celebration's 11-day events.

"Save a Horse Australia" - Horses' Rescuing Angel

Read about this hero for horses in Australia, Amanda Vella.  She saves every horse she can from slaughter.  ~Declan

Horses' rescuing angel

Rebecca Lynch

 

 8th Dec 2012 2:08 PM

As posted on Warwick Daily News 

Amanda Vella holds Jet a rescue horse who has lost an eye. Amanda is the founder of Save A Horse, a horse rescue and sanctuary charity who rescue poorly treated and emaciated horses from the slaughter yard. Photo: Claudia Baxter / The Queensland TimesClaudia Baxter

IN A corral at the slaughterhouse sales, a bony mare stands watch over her foal, an equally skeletal heap, as its protruding ribcage heaves with each breath.

Amanda Vella's horse sanctuary is already full, but the sight of this pair has brought her back to the yards with a float in tow later in the week.

She is able to buy the mare, but the foal has been killed ahead of transport to another site. Many foals are injured in transit, Ms Vella said, so this practice makes death slightly cleaner.

This is just one of hundreds of cases Ms Vella remembers vividly - this foal, along with the hundreds of horses she can't afford to save, the animals too starved to digest food even if she does take them home, are all evidence of human cruelty.

"Horses usually go for between $50 to $400 at sales, depending on what they'd be worth in meat," Ms Vella said.

"There are a lot of ex-racehorses, horses from farms, and trail riding ponies that people don't know how to care for."

"With pets like dogs and cats there are rules to make sure they're treated humanely, but horses at these sales are mostly emaciated and often injured, and they're often slaughtered in front of each other and die slowly - there's nothing humane about that.

"Horses can be used to ride, race, do work on the farm, and they're pets, too, and then they can also be taken out into the backyard and shot, or sold for met."

Rescue horse Chyanne grazes in a Thagoona paddock. Amanda Vella founded Save A Horse, a horse rescue and sanctuary charity who rescue poorly treated and emaciated horses from the slaughter yard. Photo: Claudia Baxter / The Queensland TimesClaudia Baxter

Ms Vella said the practice of neglecting and then slaughtering horses was widespread, but not widely prosecuted.

"The RSPCA treats extreme cases of neglect that are reported to them, but if there's more than 10 head of livestock the responsibility goes to the DPI (now the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry), and it seems to be accepted that once the horses are at slaughterhouse yards they're going to die anyway, so what's the point?"

Outrage at this quietly but widely conducted slaughter of horses motivated Ms Vella not only to rescue and rehabilitate the animals, but also to advocate for stronger horse ownership and slaughtering regulations.

Ms Vella does this work under the banner of Save A Horse Australia, a self-funded project she began in 2002 that's since become a registered charity supported by hundreds of people across Australia.

The charity's critical cases are now sent to a newly founded Thagoona sanctuary before being assessed and fostered or adopted.

"Since starting, we've got 503 horses that are in our care or have been adopted out," she said.

"There are too many to rescue all of them though; once, over five days, we turned down 18 horses and accepted one.

"Most of our horses are now surrenders; we don't go to sales as much anymore because we're already full.

"We've also lost 27 horses we've tried to save - we've had to put some down that have severe injuries, and some have died a couple of days after we've got them because their bodies have started to shut down."

A wound heals on Promise's hind leg while she and Jet graze in a Thagoona paddock. Amanda Vella founded Save A Horse, a horse rescue and sanctuary charity who rescue poorly treated and emaciated horses from the slaughter yard. Photo: Claudia Baxter / The Queensland TimesClaudia Baxter

Ms Vella said it was heart-rending to accept that only a small number of horses could be saved.

"It drains your energy," she said.

"You have to focus on the ones you save."

The animals recovering at Thagoona help to affirm Ms Vella's mission.

Chyanne, aged 38, and Jet, 33, are the veterans of the sanctuary.

The two old horses won't be adopted out because of their age; instead, they'll live at Thagoona and help to calm down new arrivals.

"Jet's also missing an eye... when we got him he had an eye ulcer that was really, really deep and the vet said it would be best to take the whole eyeball," Ms Vella said.

Most of the other horses will only be here temporarily.

"Promise has been here since October. We paid $180 for her at the Gympie sales," Ms Vella said.

"She's got a deep wound on her leg and bone damage, so it'll take up to a year until she's healed."

Once rehabilitation is complete, horses are adopted out on a welfare contract and checked every three months.

The adoption cost is less than each animal's initial vet check, Ms Vella said.

"It costs about $11,000 a month to feed and treat all the horses in our care," she said.

"Horse ownership isn't cheap and there are lots of different costs, and our costs are even greater because of the extra vet care the animals require."

Find out more about Save a Horse Australia at saveahorseaustralia.blogspot.com.au.

The charity will also host a stall at Riverlink today and tomorrow.

Amanda Vella strokes rescue horse Chyanne. Amanda is the founder of Save A Horse, a horse rescue and sanctuary charity who rescue poorly treated and emaciated horses from the slaughter yard.Claudia Baxter

Saving Scarlet: Greenland Boy Raises Funds for Horse at NHSPCA

A BIG THANK YOU to Andrea Bulfinch for coming down to talk with me at the NHSPCA and helping me raise money to be Scarlet's Adoption Angel this Christmas!  And don't forget my challenge to other local kids to be Adoption Angels for their favorite kind of animal too!  ~Declan


IF YOU HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT, PLEASE SEND FUNDS DIRECTLY.  We just found out that PayPal is charging us quite a bit in fees and we want to be able to give all the money to Scarlet!  

HERE'S THE PAYPAL DIRECT LINK TO USE:  DG4HORSES@HOTMAIL.COM

                                                                                 

Saving Scarlet: Greenland boy raises funds for horse at NHSPCA

By Andrea Bulfinch As posted on Foster's Daily Democrat abulfinch@fosters.com

Saturday, December 8, 2012

John Huff/Staff photographer Declan Gregg stands with his favorite horse, Scarlet, at the SPCA in Stratham Friday morning. Declan hopes to raise $600 as Scarlet's “Adoption Angel.”

STRATHAM — He's spent the last few years of his young life raising awareness and encouraging peers to do the same against horse slaughtering, an issue that's become a priority for the Greenland boy.

Now Declan Gregg, 10, is making it even easier for people of any age to support his efforts in becoming an “Adoption Angel” for Scarlet the horse, an animal living at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Stratham.

Through his blog, www.children4horses.blogspot.com and his Facebook page under the same name, he's created a “chip-in” button where people can make a donation toward raising the $600 needed to become Scarlet's Adoption Angel.

“It's a lot of money to raise,” Sheila Ryan, marketing director for SPCA, said.

She said after a year of “adopting” an animal there, which is unusual, Ryan said normally a particular portion of the adoption center is adopted rather than an individual animal.

He also wants to see others his age make helping animals a priority in their lives as well.

“I want to have a goal of 20 kids to come down here to be Adoption Angels,” he said.

His mother, Stacie, has been volunteering at the SPCA for about a year now and Declan fell in love with Scarlet, a horse who was born at the shelter after her mother was taken in due to a cruelty case. Ryan said having a horse born at the shelter is a rarity, making Scarlet and her brother, Rhet, unique.

“We don't get horses here at the SPCA hardly ever,” Ryan said. “It's a very special thing to see them thriving and have kids like Declan helping out.”

Declan chose Scarlet, he said, because of her outgoing demeanor.

“She likes to be with you,” he said.

As much as Declan would like to bring Scarlet home, he and his mother have discussed responsible pet adoption and concluded that caring for her was not something they could do at home. Declan said he wants to make sure she is “in good hands” when Scarlet leaves the SPCA.

Declan also said there is no amount too big or too small to contribute, or any age that isn't effective.

“Kids can make a difference and I want to give the animals a special Christmas present,” Declan.

John Huff/Staff photographer Declan Gregg stands with his favorite horse, Scarlet, at the SPCA in Stratham Friday morning. Declan hopes to raise $600 as Scarlet’s “Adoption Angel.”

IF YOU HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT, PLEASE SEND FUNDS DIRECTLY.  We just found out that PayPal is charging us quite a bit in fees and we want to get all the money to Scarlet!  

HERE'S THE PAYPAL DIRECT LINK TO USE:  DG4HORSES@HOTMAIL.COM

December 4, 2012

Horse Slaughter and the Horsemeat Trade in Europe

Humane Society International/Europe


Europe lies at the centre of the global horsemeat trade.
Jennifer Kunz/HSUS


The European Union lies at the very heart of the global horsemeat trade.

Each year 200,000 horses are killed for their meat in Europe, with many tens of thousands of those horses suffering long-distance transportation to industrialised slaughter plants to feed European consumers.

In order to satisfy the demand, additional hundreds of thousands of kilos of horsemeat is imported into the EU annually from abattoirs in other countries, such as Canada and Mexico.

Horse slaughter is not only inhumane, but can also be a health concern due to the possible presence of veterinary drug residues.
Horsemeat consumption in Europe

While there is a lucrative trade in horsemeat in Europe, it is not necessarily consumed in all EU countries to an equal degree, if at all. Horsemeat is, for example, commonly eaten in (parts of) Italy, Belgium, France and Luxembourg, while, in the United Kingdom and Ireland, there has historically been a strong cultural aversion to eating it.

Even in the countries where horsemeat is widely available, not everyone believes that it isacceptable to eat it. A survey conducted by Ipsos MORI in July 2012 [1] found that only 50 per cent of respondents in France, 51 per cent in Belgium and 58 per cent in Italy believed that it was acceptable to eat horses.
The road to hell: Long-distance horse transport in the EU

Each year tens of thousands of horses endure long distance transport within the EU, by road and even by sea, often crammed into vehicles unsuitable for carrying equines.

Journeys can last for several days, and often cross a number of national borders before the horses reach the abattoir.

Not only can horses suffer during transportation, they are also subject to the stress of being unloaded and kept in holding pens, or lairage, at their final destination.
Industrialised slaughter

The European horsemeat industry centres around Italy with nearly half of all horses slaughtered for meat being killed in the country. The remainder are slaughtered primarily in Poland, Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands.

Industrial-scale slaughter of horses is highly problematic because horses are flight animals. The panic and instinctive desire to escape they experience in the slaughterhouse causes them to thrash their heads frantically making it difficult to effectively stun them prior to slaughter.
Importing cruelty

What many European horsemeat consumers do not know is that huge quantities of the meat are routinely imported to the EU from the other side of the globe.

In addition to the cruelty associated with horse slaughter, serious concerns have been raised about the safety of such imports, particularly meat derived from horses of US origin which are killed at slaughterhouses in Canada and Mexico.
Consumer safety & drug residues

To ensure consumer safety, the EU will only permit the importation of meat products that comply with EU food safety standards. Import regulations for horsemeat require it to be free from veterinary drug residues.

Despite both Canada and Mexico introducing steps to meet EU requirements, HSI believes that growing evidence shows those measures to be fundamentally flawed.

Humane Society International is urging the European Commission to take action to ensure that meat from US origin horses is no longer placed on the EU market.
What we're doing

HSI Europe is working with our Canada office and the Equine Protection Department of The Humane Society of the United States to stop the slaughter of these beautiful and intelligent animals, reduce the international demand for horsemeat, and raise awareness of the serious health risks that horsemeat contaminated with veterinary pharmaceuticals poses to consumers in Europe and elsewhere.

1. Ipsos MORI, Attitudes to Horsemeat Consumption, 20th August 2012. Survey in Italy, Belgium and France commissioned by Humane Society International.

HSUS Launches Safe Stalls Horse Rescue Network

What a GREAT program!!  Check out the new HSUS "Safe Stalls Horse Rescue Network".  ~Declan

December 5, 2012

The HSUS Launches Safe Stalls Horse Rescue Network

Program to connect equine professionals to help horses in crisis

The Humane Society of the United States is launching a new program to help horses rescued from cruelty and neglect cases or natural disasters. The HSUS’ Safe Stalls Horse Rescue Network will be a nationwide system of horse rescue groups, equine professionals and enthusiasts who can provide emergency care and shelter to horses in need.

When animals are suffering from neglect or abuse, or are in crisis because of a natural disaster, participants in the Safe Stalls program can provide law enforcement and communities a network of local resources to help horses needing immediate intervention and housing. The HSUS’s Safe Stalls partners will include pre-screened equine rescue groups, foster homes, trainers, farriers and other professionals across the country. Participants may also be individual horse owners and enthusiasts who can supply transport, food and other care for horses on their own property.

“Horse lovers across the country are joining together to find solutions and respond to the call for help when horses are in distress,” said Elizabeth Zarkos, Safe Stalls network coordinator for The HSUS. “The Humane Society of the United States is excited to launch the Safe Stalls network so that we and our partners are in the best possible position to address the critical needs of horses nationwide.”

Safe Stalls partners may be asked to assist The HSUS with horse rescues or in situations where local resources are needed. During a typical rescue, The HSUS collaborates with equine health professionals to evaluate horses, to triage and treat horses, and to document their age, health and environment. Depending on the nature of the emergency, horses may need temporary land and shelter until they are placed in a safe and permanent new home.

Organizations and individuals interested in becoming participants in The HSUS’ Safe Stalls Horse Rescue Network can apply online at humanesociety.org/safestalls.

Watch video about The HSUS’ work to rescue and rehabilitate horses through the network here.

Media Contact: Stephanie Twining, 301-258-1491, stwining@humanesociety.org

Seacoast Boy Who Fought for Horses Named ASPCA's Kid of the Year

Seacoast boy who fought for horses named ASPCA's Kid of the Year


Declan Gregg of Greenland pets Barney on an afternoon in February this year at the N.H. SPCA in Stratham. Gregg testified against horse slaughter this year before lawmakers in Washington, D.C.Ioanna Raptis/iraptis@seacoastonline.com

By Joey Cresta as posted on Seacoastonline.com
jcresta@seacoastonline.com
October 23, 2012 2:00 AM

GREENLAND — A 10-year-old local boy has been named winner of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Kid of the Year award for his efforts to fight horse slaughter in the United States.

Declan Gregg, of Greenland, who enjoys spending time with the horses at the N.H. SPCA office in Stratham, and who learned about horse slaughter earlier this year, has spent the better part of 2012 pushing lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to do something about the practice.

Horse slaughter is a controversial topic in the United States, with opponents saying the process is cruel toward horses and that the meat is not fit for human consumption. Though horse meat is not commonly consumed in this country, it is considered a delicacy in other parts of the world.

In response to the controversy, Gregg started a Web site, www.children4horses.blogspot.com, and began speaking with lawmakers about why he felt horse slaughter was wrong. He testified before the N.H. House Environment and Agriculture Committee and traveled to Washington to present letters to Congress as part of the Million Horse March children's letter-writing campaign to stop horse slaughter.

The ASPCA noted in its award announcement that Gregg's efforts garnered the support of Congressman Frank Guinta, R-N.H., who has co-sponsored the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.

"Declan spoke before celebrities, Congressmen and Senators to lobby against horse slaughter and advocate for the protection of horses under the Act. His blog, which has been visited by individuals in more than 80 countries, provides commentary on horse advocacy issues and also includes poetry, news, photos and artwork," the ASPCA noted.

The ASPCA's Kid of the Year award is dedicated to Tommy P. Monahan, a 9-year-old Staten Island, N.Y., boy who died in 2007 trying to save his dog from a house fire.

In total, the ASPCA gives out seven awards, including dog and cat of the year, as part of its annual Humane Awards. They will all be honored at a luncheon in New York City on Thursday, Nov. 8.

On his blog, Gregg expressed his appreciation to the ASPCA for the award.

"I am so honored to have been chosen to receive this year's ASPCA's Humane Kid of the Year Award," he wrote. "I can't wait to go to New York City to meet all the other wonderful award recipients and thank all the people who have supported me at the ASPCA."

Wisconsin Mini Rings Bell for Salvation Army

I love RT's "Feel Good Sunday" posts on his blog, Straight from the Horses Heart!   I would like to go to Wisconsin and meet Tinker!  How about you?  :-)  ~Declan

Wisconsin Mini Horse Rings Bell for Salvation Army

Posted: December 2, 2012 by R.T. Fitch in Horse News
Tags: Bell-ringer, Christmas Spirit, Miniature horse, Salvation Army

“It’s ‘Feel Good Sunday‘ folks and today’s installment, again, shows how our equine companions touch the hearts and spirits of so many…enjoy.” ~ R.T.

“He knows that this is his job and he does it very well…”

Nov. 17, 2012: In this photo Tinker, a miniature horse, rings a red bell for the Salvation Army outside a craft fair in West Bend, Wis. with his owners Carol and Joe Takacs. (AP)

WEST BEND, Wis. –  Tinker may be miniature — as in a miniature horse — but he’s a big money raiser for the Salvation Army.

He uses his mouth to hold and ring a red bell and also picks up with his mouth a “Thank You Merry Christmas” sign. He can also bow and give kisses.

Major Roger Ross, a Salvation Army commander, said Tinker is one of their biggest money raisers in the area: He brings in 10 times the amount of a regular bell ringer.

“A good kettle for a couple of hours brings in about $250, and for the same time period (Tinker and his owners) have been known to bring in $2,500,” he said. “They line up to put money in the kettle.”

The 13-year-old horse, who’s brown, black, grey and white, has been ringing for four seasons.

“I actually save up all my donation and give it to Tinker because I have such a soft place in my heart for him,” said Karen Hammen, who gave money while Tinker stood outside a West Bend craft show on a recent Saturday morning.

One of Tinker’s owners, Carol Takacs, said she and her husband got Tinker 12 years ago. She said she went to look at a property, fell in love with the miniature horses there and asked that one be part of the deal.

“About three or four years ago I was walking out of a store and there was a bell ringer and I gave,” she said. “I started thinking `I wonder if I can, if I can help make this even more interesting.’ So I went home and I started working with Tinker.”

His name was Tinker when they got him, Takacs said.

“As fate would have it, I could not have named him more appropriately if I had tried,” she said.

Before appearances, she spends a half-hour vacuuming his mane and fur and puts glitter on his hooves, a bell on his backside and a Santa hat on his head. And — of course — Tinker wears the Salvation Army apron.

She also made pins with his face on it — a gift for every $5 donation.

While most people are wooed by Tinker and his decorations, she said some don’t believe he actually holds and rings the bell.

“We don’t do that with Velcro or glue. There’s nothing on his bell. He knows that this is his job and he does it very well,” she said.

Declan's Adoption Angel Christmas Wish

Scarlet was rescued when she was still in her mom's belly and was born at our local shelter, the NHSPCA, in the Spring of 2011.  We are so blessed to have Scarlet and be there for her as she grows up.  There is an amazing, dedicated team, at the NHSPCA who work everyday to keep the horses safe, healthy and happy at the shelter.  Scarlet is one lucky girl!

Every Christmas, my brother Aidan and I go to the NHSPCA, to be Adoption Angels for a dog or cat as a Christmas present for the animals.  This year, I would like to be my favorite girl Scarlet's Adoption Angel and I need your help.  To sponsor Scarlet for a year, I need $600, which will be used to help provide her food, medical care and shelter for the year.  I have started a ChipIn to raise the money I need to help Scarlet and it would be great if you could help me reach my goal!

IF YOU HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT, PLEASE SEND FUNDS DIRECTLY.  We just found out that PayPal is charging us quite a bit in fees and we want all the money to go to Scarlet! 

HERE'S THE PAYPAL DIRECT LINK TO USE:  DG4HORSES@HOTMAIL.COM

                                                                                  

I cannot wait to help Scarlet!  I already have $60 to start my fund.  I am using money I have saved and earned for getting Highest Honors at school.  Helping take good care of Scarlet is important to me and I can't think of a better way to use the money I have earned! 

I will be collecting money for my ChipIn for Scarlet through the end of the year and will make the donation and sign her card before I go back to school after the break.  Please help the animals and be their special Christmas Angel this year!  Not only do I thank you, but I am sure that the animals will be forever grateful too!  And the best part, is how wonderful you will feel giving back and helping the animals!!   ~Declan