Hawthorne Horsemen to the Rescue
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Local horsemen waited with anticipation on Thursday
afternoon. They were waiting for a horse van coming in from Florida that
contained special cargo. It wasn’t a famous stakes horse. It wasn’t a horse at
all. It had 80 legs.
Eighty legs?
Those 80 legs belonged to 20 cats that were taken, rescued
really, from Haven Acres Cat Rescue in Gainesville, Florida back in June.
Trainer Christine Janks has been actively involved for the
last five months in the rescue and adoption of approximately 700 cats that were
taken from that facility. The cats were living in deplorable conditions and
were virtually feral.
Various humane organizations pooled their resources to spay,
neuter, worm, vaccinate, and medicate every cat. Adoption fairs have been held
and almost all the cats have been placed.
Trainers from Hawthorne stepped up to the plate and adopted
20 of these cats. Some were destined to be barn cats; some would be taken home.
Barn cats, by the way, have a terrific life at the racetrack. They are well
taken care of and they have the freedom to interact with people, horses, other
animals, and they have warm offices to live in. They are generally pretty
spoiled. Plus, they help control other little furry critters. They travel from
track to track with their stables.
One expectant owner, Jan Ely, was waiting in the press box
for the newest members of her family. Her new house cat, Moe, is a carrier of
feline leukemia so he can’t be around other cats. She’s also adopting another
for the barn.
Looked at the list of trainers and other track personnel
adopting and it is impressive. These people work seven days a week, 365 a year,
taking care of their horses and they are still able to make room in their lives
to help another.
Hero is probably one of the most overused words in the
English language and some would question its use here but, in this case, it
just might fit.
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