Buck Hessler’s job is his passion

By DANA BROWN

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — At 6 feet tall and 270 pounds, Buck Hessler is a big man. But his heart is even bigger.

Hessler is a Humane Society Police Officer for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter. His job is to investigate animal cruelty complaints.

During his five years as a humane officer, Hessler has helped more than 500 animals, 150 this year alone. On average, he responds to 25 calls per month, he said. In July, that number jumped to more than 40 calls, he said.

His job is also his passion.
herald-mail.com

Tags: Helping Animals

A St. Joseph County girl faced a raging fire to save lives Monday morning after her family’s barn caught fire with 45 beloved animals inside. 14-year-old Sara Holderbaum had competed in local fairs for years with many of the 25 sheep and 20 bunnies inside the barn.

“I knew there were animals in the barn so I went to the side where my bunnies and sheep were penned in. I let the sheep out and chased them so I knew they were out of the barn,” Holderbaum said after saving all of her sheep and three of her bunnies.

Although fire officials urge people not to run into burning buildings, Holderbaum’s family says there was no stopping Sara.

“That is Sara, animals are a love of hers. She just loves every animal, really everything that crawls. She would do that,” Sara’s grandmother Janet Holderman said as she took a moment to laugh.
wndu.com

Tags: Helping Animals

Saved from doggy death row, 60 pooches flown to Canada for adoption

by SUE MANNING
Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES — Life after doggy death row was just a three-hour jet ride away for 60 pooches flown to Canada on Friday for adoption north of the border.

Canadian philanthropist Jan Folk watched as the small dogs were loaded into her private, 11-seat Gulfstream III headed for Edmonton, Alberta, where she said all of them would find new homes within three weeks. There will be a long line of people at the shelter early Monday, she said.
msn.com

Tags: Helping Animals

By ANDY RATHBUN
THE DAILY HERALD

MONTESANO, Wash. — Wayne Anderson didn’t mind cramming a dog crate into his tiny prison cell at the Monroe Correctional Complex.

In truth, the convicted murderer signed up for the honor.

For the past eight weeks, Anderson participated in a program where inmates helped train rescued dogs, to see if the animals could serve people with disabilities.

Anderson’s dog – a black-and-brown mutt named Ellie – didn’t make the cut. She was a bit too willful. Instead, his training may help the one-time stray find a home as a pet.

“She made me look good,” said Anderson, 45. “She’s really smart.”
seattlepi.com

Tags: Helping Animals

ANDY OURIEL

(AP) – CASTALIA, Ohio – Mona Rutger is the modern-day Mother Nature.

Twenty years ago, she founded Back to the Wild, a nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation and nature education center.

Rutger’s love of animals started when she grew up on a farm. Her first official rescue was an eastern screech owl struck by a moving vehicle.

It was these two experiences with animals that dictated the course of her life.

Rutger has gone from a person who cared for animals to an aggressive advocate, doing all she can to preserve wildlife and educate the public.

“She is ‘Back to the Wild’,” said Laura Pearson, who first met Rutger 15 years ago when she asked her to save a screech owl in a backyard. “That has been her passion. She is devoted to rehabilitating, educating and bringing peace to the world.”

Nursing animals back to health so they can be returned to their natural habitat has been Rutger’s mission. Over the past two decades, she’s helped rescued 37,000 wild animals, 23,000 of which were returned to their natural habitats.
cleveland.com

Tags: Helping Animals