Who would have guessed that a press release about human tragedy would be what brought national press to Catskill Animal Sanctuary? People losing their farms--and their animals--due either to foreclosure or to an inability to care for their beloved 1,000-pound friends: horses, donkeys, mules. That story has captivated the national media. The rescue of 1,000 chickens left in crates to drown in city streets didn't pique their interest. Nor did the big starvation cases. But the ability to put a face on the price of all the grim economic news is bringing them here: the Daily News and NBC News today. The Associated Press and Fox News are also interested.

Last week, Joe Mahoney of the Albany bureau of the Daily News wrote a fine piece. I was concerned when he showed up in a suit, but despite being nuzzled by Hannah and Rambo the sheep, Hazel the pig, and an assortment of horses, Joe left looking exactly as he did when he arrived. I'll post a link to his article when I have a minute to locate it.

Today, we welcome Hilary Guy and Mike Taibbi from NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. They, too, want to put a human face on this sad, sad story. Their piece will air, unless it's bumped by breaking news, next Thursday, January 22, at 6:30 pm.

We'll post that link as well.

Meanwhile, volunteers are saying, "This is way cool!! Aren't you excited to be on national TV?"

Well, sort of. It's not about me. I feel the same way about TV as I feel about the book. It's not about being able to say, "I've published a book." It's certainly not about being able to say, "I'm on TV tonight!"--the 15 seconds of fame thing. It's about this and only this: voiceless animals--these beautiful friends whom we at CAS love at least as much as we love the humans in our lives. It's about highlighting the beauty and the love that Catskill Animal Sanctuary embodies, about revealing that farm animals are more than people know , and are entitled--simply by virtue of being alive on our shared planet--to happiness. It's about drawing attention to this place. It's about raising funds to respond effectively to a crisis.

For these reasons, YES....I'M EXCITED!!

When a film crew from NBC Nightly News came to Catskill Animal Sanctuary a couple weeks ago, producer Hilary Guy warned us, "We'll let you know when your piece is schedule to air, but keep in mind that stories get bumped by breaking news..."

First we got bumped by the Wall Street freefall.

Then, we got bumped by a Las Vegas casino fire.

Last week, Hilary told us that the piece wouldn't air until after Super Tuesday.

So, while vacationing in a stormy Hawaii--no sun or surf for this paleface, I'm afraid--I'm hoping for a good day for Obama, and also hoping that in addition to campaigning politicians, NBC will air the story of Catskill Animal Sanctuary by the end of the week.

In the meantime, the requests to take animals--mostly horses--that people can no longer afford keep coming at the rate of one or two a day.

Stay tuned!

Sorry to be absent!!

My trip halfway around the world to idyllic Hawaii turned out to be...um...a bit of a challenge. First, rain pelted the gorgeous North Shore of Kauai for virtually my entire stay. It was heavy; it was relentless. Second, I got sick--don't think I've been sick in over a decade, but bone-weary when I got on the plane and surrounded by coughing, sniffling children, I succumbed. Third: I came home with a SERIOUS case of "jungle funk." Four doctors, including two tropical disease specialists in Manhattan, are raising their eyebrows and saying "you got me."

What started as a freckle-sized red dot on the palm of my right hand became within two weeks a silver-dollar sized oozing blistery mass that itched like mad. It felt much like poison ivy but was UNDER the surface of the skin. As soon as I arrived back at CAS, it began spreading up my arm.

SHIT!! I must have had a tiny tear in my skin--a splinter? too much playtime with my boyfriend's pet goose--who loves sitting in one's lap for hours at a time, but who'll also peck and pinch one's palm....hmmm? a little tear when I slipped on a muddy hill and went backwards onto my hands? However it happened, there was an opening, and something VERY unwelcome entered and announced itself with flair.

I'll spare you the drama. Whatever it was could have been deadly. But while four doctors have no idea what it is, they all agree on what it isn't. And what it isn't are all the scary things -- you know, the stuff that can cause liver and kidney damage, loss of the affected limb, even, potentially, loss of life.

In the meantime, while we're anxiously awaiting the results of bacterial and viral cultures, I'm trying not to scratch, taking STEROIDS--which freaks me out--and antibiotics, and trying to dry this grossness on my hand with a topical powder diluted in water.

Anyone know a good liver and kidney cleanse? I want to be good to my poor organs once I get off this damned prednisone.

All this, by the way, is merely a long-winded apology for tuning out for the last ten days. I'm back, guys, festering hand and all, with lots of news!!

Wouldn't you know that the NBC piece aired while I was in Hawaii? I got a cell phone call, but not in time to contact more than just a few of my peeps. If you want to see it, go to our website: http://www.casanctuary.org, and click on "What's new at CAS" for their video. Also, be sure to check out all the great TV and radio coverage of the last couple months by clicking the "In the News" button.

Hmmm...the piece on Catskill Animal Sanctuary was a quick one. Would we hear from people?I wondered. Well, let me say to anyone who runs a nonprofit that if you have a story with national implications, three minutes on national news will do more for your organization than all your previous efforts combined!!

We've heard, to date, from over 200 people from at least thirty states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, New Mexico, Texas, California, Washington, and Oregon. Volunteer offers have flooded in, as have adoption applications, warm e-mails and letters of support and encouragement...and one marriage proposal.

Mostly, though, what's come are donations: $5, $10, $50, $500, $2,000--and one check for $25,000.

Thanks, NBC, from all of us at Catskill Animal Sanctuary. A new barn--our third this season in response to the foreclosure crisis--goes up beginning Wednesday.

I don't envy Custom Forest Products.

It's 15 degrees outside. Temperature's not expected to rise above freezing, and three lightly-dressed men are positioned at the site of our newest barn, ready to go with their generators and 2 x 4s and 6 x 6s and a pallet's worth of shingles.

Of the 27 (GOOD LORD!!) buildings we've erected since we moved to Fortune Valley (22 shelters, 2 hay storage buildings, one office, one house, and one "Welcome Hut"), eight of them have been put up by Custom Forest Products. They do sustainable, ecological logging, have their own sawmill, and build a solid building for a fair price--in the dead of winter.

Our newest barn, one of four being built in response to the foreclosure crisis that's forcing people to give up their animals, will be a 1,200 sq. foot pole barn. No stalls...they can be added later if necessary. Instead, lots of open space, front and back doors, 9' head clearance, and 12 windows.

We didn't budget for this crisis--how could one anticipate something like this? It's been the reach of the NBC Nightly News piece that is enabling us to build not three as originally planned, but four new shelters. Donations from $5 to $25,000 have poured in from around the country -- and all of them are needed, as the shelters will total just over $50,000.

Thank you to those of you who've extended yourselves so generously during a time of hardship for so many sad human beings....and a few animals fortunate enough to find love at Catskill Animal Sanctuary.

by Helen Heifer

SAUGERTIES, NY
September 25, 2008

Jubilant crowds were gathered this afternoon between the
rabbit and chicken yards at Catskill Animal Sanctuary as Green Pastures Party
candidate Nutmeg Hen and her running mate, Malibu the bunny, made an official
statement.

“It is our great pleasure to inform the animals of CAS that the Green Pastures Party candidates have been included in the upcoming Sanctuary Presidential debates,” Nutmeg clucked.

Supporters thumped their hind feet, flapped their wings, and generally made a triumphant clamor in response to this much awaited announcement.

“I didn't think they'd have the guts to do it!” honked Skylar, a large white goose who lives in the nearby pond. “I mean, the Veggie-Crats and the Barnyard Republic barely even acknowledge that other parties exist! It must mean that the Greenies have finally got enough support to be a threat. It's exciting!”

Still, not all gathered were energized. “It was a close race to begin with. Sure, the Green Pastures Party has some good ideas, but all they'll do is be spoilers this election. You wait and see,” commented Jangles the pig, a spectator. When pressed to elaborate, he added, “Maybe I am just mad because I thought there would be cake. It's a political party, you know? Parties have cake.”

“My running mate and I are eager to participate in a debate that is sure to be a turning point for many undecided voters. We will show our true colors, and they are green, green, green!” Nutmeg squawked to more applause.

She then read aloud, a chapter from Where The Blind Horse Sings, authored by Kathy Stevens, founder of Catskill Animal Sanctuary. The chapter chronicled events in the life of one of her heroes, and dear departed friend, Paulie the rooster. She was visibly moved during the reading.

“I am so grateful that this book is available to the public, as it shares much of what is beautiful about CAS. It's just one of the many items available at the sanctuary's online store, where each dollar spent helps the animals,” she added.

“This is a great day for all the sanctuary animals!” vice-presidential candidate Malibu Bunny chimed in. “More and more, our voices is being heard—and it’s not so easy to hear a rabbit! This last year we pushed for green, environmentally-friendly solutions at the sanctuary, and look what happened! Imagine what we could achieve with a new administration headed by the visionary leader Nutmeg!”

When pressed for examples on the party’s influence, Malibu cited several. “I hardly know where to begin! We have solar panels atop the barn that currently replace 35% of our conventional electricity. We successfully lobbied the director to apply for grants to convert to 100% solar usage by the end of 2009. We recycle fanatically to limit landfill waste. We use green cleaning products and natural alternatives to pest control, such as the distribution of fly-eating insect eggs. And in addition to urging humans to go vegetarian for compassionate reasons, we educate visitors as to the damage that meat production does to the environment. As all of us are well aware, agribusiness contributes to green house gases, polluted water, species extinction, topsoil erosion and so much more! We are making a difference through education.”

Nutmeg was quick to add, “Many educational materials are available at the sanctuary's Welcome Hut during the tour season, which runs on weekends through the end of October. Loads of information on the perils of factory farming and its connection to global warming and other hazards is available on site. You can also stay in touch with what's going on at the sanctuary, and animal issues in general as well, by signing up for Animail. You get it all in your email box!”

“Where Hearts Can Sing is a wonderful film shown to sanctuary visitors that expresses what we do here at the sanctuary. You can even watch it online now!” Malibu added.

“There's lots of fun and educational opportunities ahead too, like the upcoming Farm Fest event on October 25th! It's a kid friendly day for visiting us animals, and there's even going to be a play to watch!” Nutmeg said.

Nutmeg remained perky in front of the crowd, visibly straining to overcome her reputation of being reclusive and antisocial with other chickens. It was however, the Vice Presidential candidate who was taunted by an irate horse. The unnamed white pony with brown spots directed vulgar references to recycling and the consumption of feces at Malibu bunny. Malibu overcame her initial shock, but responded with composure.

“I am a rabbit, a member of a great species found on every continent except Antarctica. Though your reference was crude and meant to be insulting, yes it is true, I do sometimes chew my own droppings. All rabbits do. And you know what? I'm proud of who I am.”

Aside from scattered attempts by the rabbits present to raise applause, the crowd was uncomfortably silent. Nutmeg chose to usher Malibu into the chicken coop for a private conference.