Stories of Interest

This page is for items of interest concerning animals, funny stories, jokes, anything you would like to submit for viewing by the public. Please e-mail your items for consideration and inclusion on our web page.

This is a woodchuck. You will not see many of these in Alaska. This picture was taken along side the tracks for the Alaska Railroad next to the Old Richardson Highway.

Poem submitted by a old friend from Texas: Mary Tomilson

ONE BY ONE ...

One by One, they pass by my cage,
Too old, too worn, too broken, no way.
Way past her time, she can't run and play.
Then they shake their heads slowly and go on their way.

A little old lady, arthritic and sore,
It seems I am not wanted anymore.
I once had a home, I once had a bed,
A place that was warm, and where I was fed.

Now my muzzle is grey, and my eyes slowly fail.
Who wants a dog so old and so frail?
My family decided I didn't belong,
I got in their way, my attitude was wrong.

Whatever excuse they made in their head,
Can't justify how they left me for dead.
Now I sit in this cage, where day after day,
The younger dogs get adopted away.

When I had almost come to the end of my rope,
You saw my face, and I finally had hope.
You saw thru the grey, and the legs bent with age,
And felt I still had life beyond this cage.

You took me home, gave me food and a bed,
And shared your own pillow with my poor tired head.
We snuggle and play, and you talk to me low,
You love me so dearly, you want me to know.

I may have lived most of my life with another,
But you outshine them with a love so much stronger.
And I promise to return all the love I can give,
To you, my dear person, as long as I live.

I may be with you for a week, or for years,
We will share many smiles, you will no doubt shed tears.
And when the time comes that God deems I must leave,
I know you will cry and your heart ... it will grieve.

And when I arrive at the Bridge, all brand new,
My thoughts and my heart will still be with you.
And I will brag to all who will hear,
Of the person who made my last days so dear.

by Leslie Whalen

We had several members volunteer with the animals from the hurricane disaster in the south. We want to thank them for their hard work, we know it was not pleasant and the weather was a lot different in Louisana and Mississippi than they were use to. They brought back lots of pictures and have some great stories to tell from the front lines. We hope they find the time to do an article for us to share with everyone.

A year and a half ago I adopted "Princess" (we call her "Tundra") and brought her home to Palmer. She was afraid of people, especially men, then. She is a GREAT friend now, for my husband and me, and for lots of other people. She plays frisbee with people she doesn't know (one day last summer this even included a group of 12 men!) where I work. And we took her to North Carolina this past Christmas and she was completely comfortable in a house with 18 people including 4 kids under age 4! Thank you so much for helping us find this fantastic friend! Here are a few photos of her at home...

Shannon