Catch Rider by Jennifer Lyne

I've been really into reading these days and I wanted to recommend a book that I think you might enjoy.  It's written by Jennifer Lyne and it's called Catch Rider.

Sidney Criser, 14, pursues her dream of becoming a catch rider--a show rider who can ride anything--despite her poor background and ferocious competition from more privileged girls. Set in Virginia, Catch Rider is an authentic behind the scenes portrayal of a show barn and the elite, demanding world of equitation.  Catch Rider is not a horse book; it's a book about horse people. 

Sounds good, right?  Let me know if you read it and what you think.

The Cupcake Kids

For the holidays, a group of children who live nearby decided that they wanted to do a fundraiser for a no-kill animal shelter and wouldntyaknow, they picked us!  They baked a ton of delicious cupcakes and sold every single one.  They personally came over to make their donation and see HSNY.  I sang my "Thank You" song to them and introduced them to a bunch of animals.  At the end of the visit, they decided that the money they raised was going to go towards the spay and neuter of the Chihuahua puppies, Ginger & Nutmeg.  Here's a pic of them meeting! Thanks to my new friends, "The Cupcake Crew".

Brrrr! It's Cold Out There!

Dog clothes.  They can stir up quite a discussion!  Personally, I’m a little dude and when I go on walks in the winter, a coat (and sometimes an under layer) is helpful.   This winter, if you are going to layer up your pup, please make sure they are fitted properly.  A little snug is not good because it can not only be uncomfortable for the dog, but also irritate their fur and skin.  Just make sure it’s something loose fitting and seemingly comfortable for them!  

Parrot Confidential

"Meet Lou. Abandoned in a foreclosed home, Lou is one of thousands of parrots in need of rescue. From the wilds of Costa Rica to suburban America, a lovable, quirky cast of parrots will reveal their unforgettable tales and the bittersweet world they share with humans. Their outrageous intelligence and uncanny ability to communicate in any language has made parrots one of the world’s most popular pets. But unlike dogs and cats, parrots have not been domesticated. With high decible squawks and complex behavior, they are hardwired for the wild. Add a lifespan of up to 70+ years with their intense need to bond, and a life in captivity doesn’t always have a happy ending. With shelters and sanctuaries struggling to meet the demand, too many birds like Lou have no place to go."



For more information on Parrot Confidential: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/parrot-confidential/parrot-confidential/8496/

Swan Dance

Dr. Malka is our Avian & Exotics Veterinarian and he sees all kinds of animals.  Hedgehogs, pigeons, snakes, rabbits, sugar gliders, turtles and even swans!  

The other day, George came to see him.  George is a swan from a nature conservancy and he wasn't really feeling too good so he traveled into the city with some human friends to visit and see why he was sick.  He was a very good patient and luckily, it was nothing major.  He got some medicine and went back home with a tale of a concrete jungle for his friends.  

That is George, front and center in the photo.  Those are all of his buddies welcoming him back.  The video is him and his girlfriend.  How crazy is this swan dance they are doing?!  What beautiful animals! 

Richard Phibbs

Hey everyone!  Thanks for tuning in this week for another Willis Wednesday!  This week, I want to introduce you to my friend, Richard Phibbs, or as I like to call him, Mr. Phibbstastic.

That's me and Mr. Phibbstastic!

Who is Richard Phibbs?  He's a world-famous photographer.  He takes gorgeous photos of gorgeous people all over the planet.  He also happens to be a huge animal lover and he wanted to do something for HSNY, so he came up with the idea to combine his two passions together.  This is a great example of a volunteer thinking outside of the box.  No matter who you are or what you do, if you want to help, you can.  

Once a season, on his rare day off at home, he and his team come to the Society and from sunrise to sunset, they turn an itty bitty doctors office into a studio and take stunning portraits of all of the adoption dogs (and sometimes cats, birds and rabbits too!).  The end result is really something spectacular and I can say that I have met several people that have directly linked their adoption to the fact that they saw Richard's photo of the pet they adopted.  

Here are just some of them...

This is how the magic happens.   

Paper Magazine just posted the most recent batch so check it out here: http://www.papermag.com/view/gallery/526990bdbeea7308e1000007#1

For more information on Richard Phibbs photography, please visit his website at http://www.richardphibbs.com/main.html.  

Volunteers from New York Stock Exchange

The New York Stock Exchange has been sending not one but THREE groups of incredible volunteers every year to do everything from cleaning the park across the street to brushing my cat friends.  They are all always so excited to be here to help out and I had the best time singing to them.  THANK YOU so much for visiting!  See you again next year!