06/02/2026
First of all, I want to start with gratitude. In the stress of taking care animals for over twenty Pennsylvania winters, I truly appreciate the clients and friends that recognized , and some assisted with, the dedication and labor sacrificed to keeping these critters alive.
For those out there, chipping ice, freezing fingers, wearing through their gloves to make sure animals , horses, etc are well cared for. I SEE YOU. Stay Strong. This year having pinched a nerve in my neck, I am against doctors orders, battling this cold and snow to keep my critters fat, fluffy and most of all hydrated.
And for those driving by or looking at pictures, please keep your criticism to yourself...unless you yourself have chipped ice buckets, unfroze a frost free spigot, learned to properly drain a hose in winter, threw your back out throwing hay, had to freeze your fingers trying to soak, drain an abcess, shoveled out doors until every muscle in your body screams. Put fencing back up because they were having fun, burned your lungs trying to catch when they got out. And so on.
I love my animals. I dont mind educating anyone on how to assess the risks involved taking care of them, but any of us out here are, at this point, short tempered to accusations of neglect. I am aware that some people do neglect animals. Some people neglect people. But please, be aware of the accusation and do not burn out the people actually out here trying to do their best to keep them surviving.
That said, I am including a flow chart of when its appropriate to call the state police for horses. BTW state police have no background in animal care, unless it is out of the fence or clearly emaciated or wounded fatally, they really dont have anything they can, or want to do. Having a grudge against your neighbor is not a good reason to call them or spca.