What's New

Spring 2010 Newsletter

March came in like a lamb and is going out like a lion.  We will all be glad when spring sunshine is here to stay!

Animal News

Horses 

We have had the vet here three times because Honey colics when she eats any hay, usually on the weekends, when vets charge an extra after-hours emergency fee. They discovered all her grinding teeth are gone.  She gums hay until a ball is formed that causes an impaction colic when swallowed.  A member of the audience at our WalMart presentation suggested a type of ground hay.  We will check on that.  So now Honey is on Equine Senior entirely.  She seems to be thriving.  A couple of weeks ago Lynda left the gate open when she drove through with a load of fruits and vegetables from the Food Bank.  She thought that since Honey is 32 and does not see well that she would just follow the truck.  NO!  She bolted out the gate, down the road, through the neighbor’s field and onto the road. Wonderful passerby neighbors helped to stop the traffic.  Lynda had her knee brace on and was very slow.  A lady from traffic stopped her car and caught the runaway.  Someone called the sheriff and he came to ask if Lynda would claim the horse and asked how she got out.  Lynda had to say, “I left the gate open.”  That Senior really works!  Lynda thinks she will add that to her morning cereal!  Goldie is a good companion for Honey and they cherish their time out in the pasture.  Vern, the Gotlieb pony, has been at Terolyn Farms for training.  He has even carried a rider.

Llamas

They are all thriving.  They seem to enjoy the cold weather.  Their favorite game is king of the hill (manure pile).  Some of the girls play jousting games.  We will need help for shearing, toe trim and vaccinations done by Judy Glaser May 29^th at 9am.

Goats 

The kids Dusty and Sandy, the pygmy milk goats rescued from a slaughter truck, have doubled in size.  They both are sprouting residual horns.  With the help of Dr. Rice Dusty’s leg has healed.  Their heads itch and they love the head pushes.  In the cold, all the goats stay in the barn.  The Denver zoo donated big tubs that they "nest" in when bedded with straw.  Suli and Akia the Nubians, still play their butting goat games.  Togo and Ghana, pygmy goats from the Zoo Kraal exhibit, love to suck on volunteer clothes.  Whiskers, the black/white pygmy, though the smallest, is the dominant one.

Zebus

Chuck and Molly love standing under their stall heat lamp.  They came in from Terolyn for the winter.  A volunteer we met at the stock show came out to put a halter on Chuck and John K. and friends helped to trim Chuck’s toes.  Molly also got her toes trimmed.  Even though their coats are like mink, they still do not like the cold.

Ducks and chickens

They are doing well.  We put them all in the same fenced in area as the coyotes are very aggressive this time of the year.  The ducks love the mud and rain.  The chickens love the sun and are starting to lay more eggs.

Dogs

They are fine.  Vet check at Banfield showed ear yeast infection that cleared up with more frequent ear cleaning.  We now have a 9 year old yellow lab, Calvin that needs a foster home for a year as his owner took a job in South Korea.  Toby loves his runs with volunteers.

Cats are fine.  They need regular brushing to transition to spring coats.  Yellow cat, Tuffy, has lots of knots in his beautiful long coat that we are easing out.  White cat is getting in better shape and his new coat is quite good.   We have a new addition of a female black cat named Jenks.  One of foster kittens at Terolyn had a broken jaw and required his jaw to be glued together for 6 weeks at a cost of $1500.  So Jenks came here to give other kitten a quieter time for recuperation.

Volunteer Update

We could not do what we do without the aid of those have given so much in support, time, donations, and care.  Thank you!!!!!  We would like to mention just a few and in no specific order.

Dr. Lee Mueller of Mueller Equine comes ASAP when called

Dr. Dale Rice of Three Peaks Veterinary treated the foster goat, Dusty, gratis for a residual leg infection.

John K.  repaired the perimeter fence and tightened the dividing fences.

John W. was a general fixer upper

Ashley F. and Lindsey her dad Paul F are regular Saturday helpers rain or shine, sleet or snow.  Also they lead tours for special visitors.

Noelle S .helped to organize “office” space and files

Barbara S. helped with book keeping and government registrations

The Kime Ranch donated and delivered hay

Autem and Josh deep cleaned cat rooms and hung wild bird deterrent plaques over the stall doors

Linda E. from New Mexico made a generous contribution

Steve and Dawn continue to bring fresh apples and gave a good home to the cat Snickers,  Cydnee W. and Northeast Elementary for their generous donation

Bobbie C. who recommended us to the Parker Food Bank

The Parker Task Force Food Bank makes generous and ongoing donations.

Shelly and Mikaela K. and Brenda E. who help with pick up and dispersal of the Food Bank donations

Mason A. Ryann A. and Amber J. painted shiny, scary faces to keep stray birds out of the chicken feed

Renee E. and Scouts Troop #313 for continued support and bread delivery

Hay help crew: Sam B, Jason, Gary, Nick and Noelle

We know we have missed so many-- a big thank you to all who have helped us so much.  We apologize to those we have overlooked.

Upcoming Events

Bronze projects.

Scout Leader--Terri Newkirk--Troop #1189 Garden area and compost pile

Scout Leader--Susan Baber and Kelly Thompson—Troop#286 Art work mural on hay room door

Scout Leader-- Renee Ellison Troop #313 – Paint project.com

4-H

Leader of Pony Pals-Mindy Trautman —Scrapbook update and animal care

Tours

Parker Field house day camp May 5th 10-12 (need volunteer help)

Classes

Advanced Animal communication / Terri O’Hara Sept, 12 @8-4

Llama Shear/Judy Glaser –Rockwood Llamas June  29@9-12  (need volunteer help)

PR

Dan Wrona custom designed shirts with our logo on the front and a picture of our animals on the back. 

Debbie Tejada of TejadaDesign.com donated new business cards, glossy mail-able brochures, and continues to update our web page and links.

Jason Goettsch designed and printed Foundation Thank You cards and a Volunteer feedback form

Jason and Zella updated our newsletter e-mail list sent out spring newsletter

Needs

Gutter repair

Power wash barn aisle

Gravel to level stall mats

Paint aisle

Cement floor for hay room

Regular pick up and dispersal of food bank donations on Tues, Thurs and Sat @ 12:30

Animals to Place

Yellow lab 9 years owner in S Korea for year, will pay stipend or turn over ownership

Rescued mare with damaged knee, in foal.

We keep a list of animals needing homes and people needing to relinquish animals.

Constant repairs

John and Lynda

John continues to work nights at the Elizabeth Wal Mart from 10pm to 7am as cashier

Lynda has cataract eye surgery April 13^th and may need extra help for a few days

If you no longer wish to receive our mailings please e-mail Lynda324@gmail.com

December 2009 Newsletter

First a great big THANK YOU!!!!!  To all the volunteers who have given so much time and energy in helping us care for the animals….Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor mud …have deterred our dedicated helpers. 

Lynda is recovering nicely from her knee replacement surgery in July.  She says a double thank you to all who did double- triple extra help when she could not get to the barn.

In Loving Memory

We lost 5 animals this year. It is high risk to care for aging or infirm animals. 

GW aka Golden Wonder.  This famous 32 year old palomino Fox trotter went down to colic.  He had battled Cushing’s disease for so long. He is buried at Terolyn Farm (our acreage 13 miles to the east). A plaque saying “A True Golden Wonder Horse” and a tree have been dedicated to him.

Easy. our gentle giant also went down to colic. He built many miles of trails working for the Forest Service before he became too old for such vigorous work. One year he went to the Scout Camp in Elbert to greet inner city kids.  When a group of blind scouts met him they put their hands on him and signed “I love you”.  He taught everyone so much and was so giving. One volunteer, Guili Brunner, bought a beautiful book of photos for our library, The Forgotten Horses, and included a wonderful dedication to Easy. Another volunteer and her son, Lisa and Kevin Clark, bought an apple tree and planted it in Easy’s honor.  There is a plaque dedicated to Easy saying “Easy—He always gave his best”.  He was loved by all.  He is also buried at Terolyn.

Little Joe, the orphaned pygmy goat, left on his one year birthday to keep Easy company.  He was always the first to greet us in the early mornings.  We got a berry bush and a plaque to honor him saying “Little Joe—Full of wonder and joy of life”.

Rosita and Vincent Van Goat also went down.  This was a very sad year.

RE-HOMES

Max and Jenna the African burros went to live at a burro only rescue called Longhopes in the care of Kathy Dean in Bennett. www.longhopes.com They also welcome visitors. 

Max had gotten aggressive toward goats. Jenna went with Max  because they had been paired for 15 years. Ike and Cleopatra, twin pygmy goats, went to live with a family in Elbert.

Toby the big lab visited with three families and each decided he was too big and too energetic.  Soooo… we have decided to give him a home here for life along with Aspen the American Eskimo and Reggie the Dalmatian. 

Peter Cottontail the little Dutch rabbit has been renamed Henry and is a visitation rabbit at a senior center.

We have rehomed many others by keeping a list of animals needing homes and people willing and wanting to take in animals.  Most people will agree to keep their animals until a match can be made.  We also have a list of other no kill shelters that we work with.

NEW ANIMALS

Dusty and Sandy a pair of pygmy milk goats came to be foster “kids” until their “mom”, Joan, can make arrangements to take them back.  They were rescued from a group of dairy goats headed to slaughter.  They were the youngest and the weakest.  You should see them now!

Hannah and Sugar are two mini burros whose owner needed to move to Arizona due to health reasons.  Both girls are very timid and need special help from volunteers to build trust and confidence.

A truckload of aged chickens was placed in our care.  They were due to be euthanized due to reduced production.

Zebus, Chuck and Molly are not new but they came in from Terolyn to spend the winter here under an infrared heat lamp.  The barn here is easier to heat for them.

Fund Raisers

Our annual fund raiser at Tagawa’s Holiday for Pets and Their People was a success.  We took Sandy and Dusty.  She sty to a 5am TV promotional taping on Daybreak on the Deuce www.2thedeuce.com. They were so well behaved that the interviewer man called them hamsters.  This year a talented artist Char Davis choose to name us as her chosen rescue group and donated 10% of her sales to our Foundation.  We received more than $150 at this event in donations and Char earned a nice amount for us from her sales.  Information: www.CharDavisfineart.com.  Be thinking of what we can do for this event next year.

One of our volunteers, Leah Van Somner, a senior at Overland High School, was Miss Scarlett in their production of  Clue.  She arranger for us to set up a PR table and all proceeds from their dress rehershal went to our Foundation.  Not only did they raise over $100 for us but we also got to see a great play. 

Tagawa’s has donated pre-lit Christmas trees for us to give for donations.  Also metal fire pit inserts.  Please call for information 303-841-8338.

Volunteers, Special Thanks to:

Dawn Jacka www.NumbersRealty.com and Steve Fitzgerald www.thenewclassicband.com who get fresh produce from Safeway at Pierce and Mineral and wonderful apples from King Soopers at Ken Caryl and Simms.  They drive all the way here to bring special treats.  If you need realty services or band entertainment they would appreciate a call.

Renee Ellison and her group of scouts.  They bring day old bread, have helped with projects and Renee has sold some donation items on E Bay.

Ben Marris who cut and delivered several tons of hay.

Krystina and Lian Mosher who donated $100 from their college fund before leaving to take scholarships at eastern colleges.

There are many more, too many to list,  all are special and we could not do this without their help.

Many high school students help us and earn community service hours.  We work with many other groups offering community service hours.  Many volunteers give so generously of their time just because……….

Wish list

Money

Cover for tractor

Farrier to trim Zebu’s feet

Clean hay

Paper bedding

Scoop shovel

Cover for fowl enclosure

Grant writers

Ideas for fund raisers

Dog / cat food

Cordless drills, drill bits and basic tools

Leatherman –type pocket tools

Ladders-any size

Monetary gifts can be designated for purchase of items on wish list

Community Service Projects       

303-841-8338

Clerical / Interior

Peachtree

Grant writing

Design Thank You

PR

Fund Raiser

Duffy Rolls

Newsletter

Scrap book photos

Update newsletter subscribers

Sell for donations trees and fireplace inserts

Handicrafts to sell at November fund raiser

Create volunteer / visitor feedback form

Create photo folder

Clean cat / dog room

Special name tags / ID badges for volunteers

Exterior

Paint

Gutter

Fence Stretch

Fence repair

Barn repair

Back yard fence

Posthole NE corner front pasture

Fence hay barn south piece

Top chicken pen

Double fence front pasture

Name tags for stall doors

Animal care

Feed

Clean

Groom

Halter Zebus / Burros

Trim Zebu

Trim burros, llamas, goats

Talk to us about any other ideas you may have to help us.

Visit us @

www.edwardsanimals.com

Spring 2009 Newsletter

This was a really tough winter. The extreme temperature changes were hard on the animals. In March we lost GW our 32 year old palomino Fox trotter. He had Cushing’s disease for years and was on daily medication to control the tumor on his pituitary gland. This prevented him from shedding his winter coat and from properly digesting his food. On the day he coliced, I fed him an apple at 10:00 in the morning and when I returned at 3:00 that afternoon he was in severe colic distress. Our wonderful vet, Dr. Lee Mueller, was here in 1/2 an hour and treated him with pain medication and oil. As the temperature started dropping my daughter Teri Allen and our vet tech Tara Reid decided to transport GW to Teri’s Terolyn Farms facility 13 miles east of here. Teri had a stall with video monitors and heat lamps already set up in anticipation of her mares in foal. Even with the best care, GW could not recover and was euthanized. He is buried at Terolyn Farms on a ridge where he can see Pikes Peak. All the animals are missing GW.

The next week, Max the burro went on a rampage and stomped on Little Joe, our little fainting goat that had just turned a year old. Again Dr. Lee Mueller was on a farm call in the neighborhood and was here in minutes. He determined that the internal injures were severe and Little Joe was euthanized.

A week later at sunrise we found Easy in the pasture unable to get up. Again Dr. Mueller was here within the hour and we determined that Easy was not going to suffer. He and Little Joe are both buried beside GW on the ridge at Terolyn Farms. To honor Easy, Lisa and Kevin Clark, two of our longtime volunteers, bought and planted an apple tree in the field where Easy had loved to eat grass. Mason and Ryann Allen bought and planted a Red bark dogwood in memory of Little Joe because he followed them just like a little puppy. We have planted a flowering crab apple in honor of GW who was not a crab but loved apples and could pick pockets in his search for treats. We have ordered memorial plaques to mark each tree. We fervently hope that spring will bring a respite from all the loss and sadness. The rain has been cleansing and the greenness is welcomed.

Guili Brunner, one of the volunteers wrote a tribute to Easy and pasted it in the frontispiece of a beautiful picture book and presented it to us. The book, “The Forgotten Horses”, has photographs by Tony Stromberg, foreword by Robert Redford. This book is made up entirely of horse pictures at rescues and sanctuaries all over the world.

“This is for you in memory of the very most wonderful, incredible, horse that has graced this planet with his life—Easy. Gentle and kind is how I would humanize him in terms of my experience. The first horse I have ever gotten to know. I wonder if there is another that can ever measure up to the feeling of safety and peace I always felt when I was around him.” ---Guili Brunner

Thanks to all of you wonderful friends, volunteers, and supporters (the terms overlap) who have, so generously, given your time and support.

NEW ANIMALS

We have four new goats from the Denver Zoo. The Zoo is adding a new opportunity “A Night at the Zoo” and therefore is closing the Kraal Exhibit. They will create a camping area for this new, overnight, outdoor program. All of the goats are 7 years old and are neutered males. Since they are from the African farm exhibit their names are reflective of this. There are two Nubian—Akia (has long gray ears) and Suli (with dark brown ears and nose). When they stand up they look like relatives of JarJar Binks from Star Wars. There are two pygmy goats –Ghana (all white) and Togo (gray). They are named for countries in Africa. We had a 4-H group, Pony Pals out here working on leading skills with the goats. Ghana had a strategy of dropping to his front knees and crawling away and Togo loved to nibble on clothes. Some visitors wanted to go home and learn the song about Bill Groggin’s goat that ate the clothes off of the line and then coughed up a shirt and flagged down a train! All are becoming quite polite!

We brought a 32 year old Palomino, Honey Leia, from the Allen’s place where they were keeping her to keep Goldie company.

We have a sweet male Dutch 3 month old bunny named Thumper placed with us. He was placed with us because the owners could no longer care for him.

WISH LIST

• Someone to help us write grants
• Homes for animals needing rehoming, goats, horses,llamas, the current owners have agreed to keep them on their premises until homes can be found. We are full here.
• Volunteers for daily chores
• Continuous repair and maintenance
• Send stories for the next newsletter
Specialized help in Parker:
• Gutters need to be installed on hay barn
• Lightening rods purchased and installed on the hay barn
• Hay room floor cemented
• Painting of porch and re touch barn
• Netting over chicken coop
• Level stall mats
• Weld wire on Max’s pen to keep goats out
• Fence stretching and repair
Specialized help at Terolyn farms:
• fence repair
• Yucca removal

AND ALWAYS DONATIONS $$$$

Dates:
Llama sheer June 6, Saturday @ 9:00
Lynda’s knee replacement July 6th

AGAIN --- THANK YOU ALL—WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOUR HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Other helpers:

Good Samaritan-Dog/ Cat adoptions
Horse Protection League
Dawn Jacko and the fruit donations from King Soopers
Carol Vogel
Beth Springer
Tara Reid and Neighborhood Pet Care Center
Dr. Lee Mueller DVM
Dr. Roger Grimes DVM-Creekside Animal Hospital, Elizabeth, CO
Dr. Walters DVM
Dr. Kim Allyn DVM, Elizabeth Animal Hospital, Elizabeth, CO
Dr. Leon Anderson DVM, Elizabeth Animal Hospital, Elizabeth, CO
Dr. Marc R. McCall, Cherry Creek Animal Clinic
Dr. Jeri Holland DMV, Neighborhood Pet Care Center
And... all our wonderful Volunteers
Sorry if we have overlooked any one!!

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SPRING 2009 Newsletter

All the Foundation animals have done well during the winter months. We need lots of volunteers to help with brushing, as the weather warms, they will be shedding, due to the increased hours of sunlight.

We like the snow this winter, it adds moisture to the pastures.  It also helps us track our “invisible” cats, Tom, Ted and Cuddles. When the new concrete floors were poured in the barn, the cats changed their locations.  Cuddles and Tom moved to the hay barn, and Ted moved to the garage.  Sightings of the “invisible” trio are rare.  After a snow fall we can track them in their nightly ventures.

Little Joe has been on a diet and is more agile with the loss of a few pounds.  He still continues to freeze up when he is happy, usually around feeding time.

The llamas have their yearly scheduled beauty sheering appointment on June 6 at 9:00 am.  Volunteers are welcome.  The “beautician”  is Judy Glaser of Rockwood Llamas.  She brings a portable beauty stall.

We are looking for suggestions on how best to use the raw fiber from the sheering.  The Rocky Mountain Weavers Guild meets on the third Saturday of the month.  If any volunteers would like to join, we have further information.

A popular attraction continues to be our mini fair. Young scouts, brownies and school children research their animal from our web sight before their visit. When they arrive they find the project animal they have selected. They then groom, and present their chosen animal to the judges as they parade their animals through an obstacle course. Then they tell the group what they have learned. Lots of picture opportunities for the parents. Exhibitors are usually presented with a certificate or ribbon. Fun for all!

Chuck and Molly, the Zebu's, were moved to an inside stall on cold winter days.  In spite of their luxurious fur, the two African cattle need extra protection from extreme low temperatures. Chuck, the bull, stores winter fat in his hump which has grown to 14 inches in height.

Chores have been much easier this winter with the installation of concrete floors in the aisle way, tack room, and chicken room.

Projects for this spring include leveling the stall mats, enclosing the chicken and guinea yard with a mesh roof, a second coat of paint for the barn, installation of rain gutters and other repairs as they are needed.

Please put on your thinking caps and give us ideas for fund raisers.  With a tough economy the silly animals keep on eating up foundation resources. In the spirit of all the generous donations, Lynda and John have returned to substituting for Cherry Creek Schools.  The Foundation has received some very generous donations from patrons, and some really great items from other contributers, including Tawawa Gardens. Come help us decide how to use the materials.

The foundation always need articles, stories or pictures for future newsletters. Please submit items to ljmedwards@aol.com. You will receive a by line and a certificate of publication.

As always, a big THANK YOU to all our wonderful volunteers who deserve “postman” honors, because neither rain, nor wind, nor sleet, nor snow, nor below freezing temperatures could keep them away!!

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November 2008

Here's a picture of Sissy (black lab) with her new family!

With the help of Carol at Good Samaritan Pet Center in Denver, Sissy was spayed by a vet and ready to go home with her new family. Here she is with Diane and yellow lab Ralphie. Says Diane: "The spay went well. They gave me drugs for her for pain. She is healthy and 82 pounds. We couldn't be happier with her. She is very eager to please, so her training should go very well." Sissy likes to play tug-o-war with her new buddy Ralphie.

Thanks Diane for giving Sissy a wonderful new home!

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October 2008 - SEE UPDATE BELOW

We have recently acquired several animals. We received 10 lamas, 10 goats, and 2 horses. All these animals have been placed. We currently have a 3 yr old black lab mix, Skiba, looking for a home. He is very loving, and loves to take walks. Recently, Cub Scout pack 313 and parents painted the hay shed and barn. Also, Girl Scout troop 297 helped paint the barn. We have also recently acquired two fainting goats, a mama and a baby. We named the mama goat Sarah Plain and Tall, and the little goat Little Joe. Fainting goats don’t actually faint. It’s a muscle disorder in their legs. When the goats are startled or excited, their legs will stiffen up and they fall down. In Europe and Africa they use to use these goats to protect their sheep from wolfs. Since sheep are much more valuable than the goats, the goats would be put in with sheep. When wolves tried to kill the sheep the goat would faint, the wolves would eat the goat instead of the sheep. Sadly the mama goat died and Little Joe is lonely. So the little goat has found a new mama, a mama llama. The llamas protect the goat from harm from the other animals and warn it of coyotes. We would also like to thank all of the volunteers who have helped to get the barn winterized.

UPDATE ON SKIBA:

Skiba has a new home! Here's a letter from his new owners: "I just wanted to drop a note and say how happy Skiba seems to be and how happy we are to have him. He's so well behaved, especially in the house; he loves attention, our kids and their friends love him, and our younger son loves to wrap his arms around him and follows him everywhere. We didn't hear a sound from him his first night here, he's been having a blast in the back yard, playing fetch with us and shaking hands, he already knows which house is his when he comes in from his walks. He's met the dogs of our neighbors and he gets along fine with all of them." It sounds like Skiba is a very lucky dog!

Latest update: the image below is Skiba on Christmas morning with his best friend.

This newsletter was written and composed with photographs
by Kevin Clark

If you, or your group, would like to help with future newsletters, please contact Edwards Animals, all help is appreciated!