The headline is an eye-catcher, isn’t it? Bet I could get just about anyone to click on the headline with that promise. Today, August 14, is my birthday. Birthdays are interesting days for me — if life is a carousel, where we sit on our horses and go round and round, birthdays are the brass ring dispenser we pass by each time around. I always pause and reflect on what has happened in my life and where I think things are headed. There is no question that I have led a charmed life — but that’s another story.
Pets Alive is all about life — the lives of animals who are always innocent — and about death, ever-present in the emails and calls we get asking us to save those innocent lives. Sometimes the juxtiposition of life and death is so amazing as to drop the meaning of life into your lap, which was my birthday present today.


We said goodbye to Maureen today. I really liked Maureen. She was a sweet, friendly horse with a great personality.
She had cancer, and the vets said she wasn’t going to survive the winter last year, but she made it through. We thought many times that she was not going to make it, but she always seemed to pull through until the very end when we all knew she was failing.
Our first glimpse into the meaning of life. It’s a cliche, but every single day is valuable. I desperately wanted another day for Maureen, and was heartbroken that she died on my birthday. I was reminded of all the things I’ve been putting off for another day for one reason or another — as the cliche says…life is just too short.
Yesterday I went over into her paddock and looked for Maureen. I found her in the shed at the back of the paddock, sandwiched between Moon Ray and Kingfish. It took me a few minutes and several crabapples to get me to Maureen, who seemed weaker and was breathing oddly.
Here’s where I got my second insight of the day. Life is about being with the people you love. The people who accept you despite your ailments and shortcomings, and like Moon and Kingfish extend your life and add meaning just by being there.
And really, what is life without having someone to care for, protect and extend the life of? Rest in peace Maureen. You will be missed.
This week the New York State Police seized 17 horses from the Black River Stables in Cherry Plain. Among them were the mare and foal you see here (named Kerry and Baxter) that are our latest additions. Baxter’s young life was off to a rocky start, as he was malnourished and his normal growth was stunted because of it.
You can see Baxter’s paddock from Maureen’s, and most of the Pets Alive staff and the veterinarians walked over to visit. I couldn’t do it, but I spent some time with Kerry and Baxter today. They are very sweet.
Each of us is fortunate to have a couple of very special animals in our lifetime. While we love all of our animals, there are a few that we absolutely cherish. One of those for me was Emma. Emma was a German Shepherd, the smallest of her litter at 60 pounds, and she was motivated by fear. Her fear made her unpredictable, and she scared many people away.
She was definitely not approachable, but she adored me. And I absolutely adored her. We were pretty much inseparable when I was home. She died last year and it broke my heart. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss her. More on the meaning of life. It’s about making those connections and remembering that you’re not going to be here forever, and making every day count. We all say we’re going to do it, but we never seem to.  We even shared a birthday.  Today.  Happy Birthday Emma.
A few weeks ago I picked up a little dog in Danbury, CT as part of a transport. His name is Tyson, and he looks like a miniature black lab. He’s about 30 pounds soaking wet. What struck me almost immediately is that he has the same kind of tentativeness as Emma did. He was here in the outdoor runs for about three hours, cowering in the corner. We decided to take him into the office for the day, and I decided that he was coming home with me.
We connected in a very similar way as Emma and I did, and now he’s right there wagging his tail when I get home and Roscoe tries to bite my shoes off me.
So what was my birthday all about this year? It was about life and death, love and loss, the passing of time and the fragility of life. It was about holding close what is the most important and understanding that while some things must be released they need never be forgotten.
So what of the meaning of life? How the heck do I know? This afternoon I went and scratched behind Baxter’s ears, talking softly to him and feeding him and his mother treats. Then I took Jasper and Jake for a hot dog. I’m getting closer to finding the answer. I have a feeling it’s right under my nose.
So grab your wife, fiance or girlfriend and go sit together listening to the rain on your front porch while your dog’s tail thumps gently against your feet.
Something tells me it will come to you.