The Washington herald., 1909-05-14

In the great spread Of humanltaTlanlsIn
and altruism that has marked the carry
part Of this twentieth century. a salient
feature is that protecting, physieking' ana
housing OF the dumb creatures that
throng the streets, and the e6untry-Ways'
and that adorn the domestic freside- 50
cieties for the prevention OF cruelty 10
animals. hospitals. private and public. for
their treatment, and shelters, temporary
and permanent. have arisen with the
needs % the times. but they are so few
as Yet that they are a mere drop in the
bucket when compared with the needs OF
such.
There are three homes in the United
states for the aged and worn-out horses.
patterned. doubtless, after the one that
was established in Acton. England, IN
1855 the pioneer institution OF its kind
in the world. The ideas on which the
Acton work was based were that board
would be given worn-out horses on mod
crate terms until they had recuperated.
and II the owner Of the horse could not
afford 20 pay. the animal would be cared
for anyway; temporary loans Of horses
would be made 10 the owners OF horses.
taking the rest cure al the farms, and
old fayOTiIes or family driving and nd
ing horses would find a permanent home
wherein TO spend their last days
The first home for horses on American
soil was established near Philadelphia, in
1859. the sum Of S70,0o0 having been left
g. sr,s. r,.s--.og. -. -. h,---,-- - NJ
Ryerss. OF Philadelphia A beautiful
farm near Fox Chase, twelve miles from
Philadelphia. vas bought for the home,
the Ia acre tract being part woodland,
part in grain fields. and part used for
raising vegetables. The superintendent
lives in a two-eenturies Old stone house.
and the nearby barns have room for
thirty horses at time. Here are brought
the oveTworked and woTn-out horses. the
very old ones and the ones that are per
manently disabled by strain OF accident.
the Pennsylvania Society for Prevention
Of Cruelty 70 Animals. having supervision
% such work. and il is all free 70 the
owners OF the horses II IS q temporary
home for the overworked. a permanent
one for the aged and disabled
Six years ago the second farm of the
kind in the United States was established
I near Stowe Mass. twenty-three miles
I from Boston Miss Harriet Bird gave
I the farm and her services, only asking
/ that some organization raise means for
I supporting the institution The idea WIS
I Immediately taken Up by public
/ minded people OF Boston, and the farm
] OF ninety acres was incorporated under
( the name Of Red Acre Farm. and became
/ the immediate refuge OF the fiotsam and
/ tetsam OF hoTsedom for Boston
Formerly in that city the old horses.
worn-oUt in the service OF the fire de-
partment or municipal work were auc-
/ toned Of Now. by enactment OF the
I State legislature. they are taken TO the
farm 10 end their lives IN peace BY
a law enacted in Massachusetts, in 1907
I the officers or agents OF the Humane So
eiety may take possession OF and have
I condemned old work horses, a reasonable
price being named fo- the horse and its
/ purchase made by the society. Maine
and Ohio have similar laws. The ones
( so condemned IN Boston are sent 10 the
1 Red Acre Farm, and the average price
/ paid for these derelicts Is about g.
The lame. the sick. the oyer-worked.
/ the spawned, the foundered the blind.
/ the very old. and those suffering from
/ blood poison or disease ind refuge al
the farm, I92 being cared for the first
I winter, alone. Those owned By the farm
/ association are given the best medical
attention. fed, paSJuTed. and given q good
rest; then Il they have recovered suffl-
cieutIy 20 DO light work some are placed
Z with masters Of guaranteed kindness OF
disposition. the others remain as pen
sioneTs on the bounty OF the farm There
is a tale told OF q pitifUlly thin. bad-tem-
peTed. half-sick mare brought 20 the farm
for treatment and rest that had 50 far
Tecuperated in a months time that her
( temper was good and her strength re-
/ stored. but so fond had she grown Of the
farm that she promptly came back after
her owner had taken her back 10 the
city, and IN kindness OF heart he left
/ her there permanently.
In 1897 the third home for horses was
established at Pine Ridge. near Dedham,
I! Mass. within ten miles Of Boston, beins
a part Of the work Of the Animal Rescue
/ League Of Boston, q ten-year-oId or
F. ganizsJon that has also cared for Zoo
+ homeless dogs and cats during It's exist
/ ence. The Pine Ridge fam is used as
I. 2 vacation home for horses, taking
about a dozen out at a time.
/ A most excellent branch Of this assO-
I ciation's work is that which has taken