Say Goodbye to Friendly

One of the very first residents of Cleveland Armory Black Beauty Ranch, a burro named Friendly passed away last week and a ceremony will be held in her honor at three special events May 14. (Source: The Fund for Animals).

"From her first encounter with Cleveland Armory on the rim of the Grand Canyon to the end of her long life, Friendly's good nature forged friendships with everyone she met," states a press release.

A spring open house will be held at the Cleveland Armory Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison, TX, rain or shine, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The ranch is the largest animal sanctuary in the country and the facility is only open to the public four open house days per year and during special events.

May 14 also marks the official grand opening day of the Doris Day Horse Rescue and Adoption Center which is located on the ranch grounds. The event will include inspirational horse training demos, mini seminars, live entertainment, and tours of the new facility which will handle abused, abandoned, and neglected horses as well as the rehabilitating and rehoming of them.

RSVPs are requested now but not required.

All activities are free but donations are appreciated, according to press materials.

As part of the festivities, special guest Wayne Pacelle of the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) will be at the Barnes & Noble in Tyler, TX at 5 p.m. on the 14th for a reading from his new book and a signing. Pacelle's newest, The Bond: Our Kinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them appeared on the best-seller lists this week. You can purchase his book online through amazon.com or at any major bookstore.

For more information on the May event at the ranch, call 903-469-3811 or email blackbeautyinfo@fundforanimals.org.

The ranch is located at CR 3806 in Murchison, approximately 95 miles east of Dallas and 25 miles west of Tyler.

In unrelated animal news, DFW Pug Rescue has launched a 2011 fundraising campaign to cover their enormous vet bills which have increased significantly over the past couple of years.

"We are asking our supporters to donate $12 per month for one year," said Jenna Hoffman, Facebook administrator of the group. "If all our supporters donated, we would cover the majority of our vets bills for the entire year."

The website is dfwpugs.com.

In other animal news, Defenders of Wildlife is asking concerned citizens to "adopt" a sea turtle or dolphin in memory of those that lost their lives in the oil rig explosion a year ago.

"Defenders has mobilized tens of thousands of people to speak out for new safety measures to stop the next oil disaster," states a mass email. "One year after the disaster, deaths of threatened and endangered sea turtles continue to mount in the Gulf."

To adopt a dolphin, access https://secure.defenders.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=wagc_dolphin&autologin=true&s_src=3WEE1107NBX1X&s_subsrc=042011_email_females&JServSessionIdr004=8yougp9ru2.app217a.

To adopt a sea turtle, click on https://secure.defenders.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=wagc_seaturtle&autologin=true&s_src=3WEE1107NBX1X&s_subsrc=042011_email_females.