Tales from the old-timer

By Jane Thibodeau Martin,

daughter of the Old-Timer

I live in a semi-rural area, and quite a few of my neighbors have horses. We have two ourselves, our daughter’s retired registered show horse, a real gold-plater; and his pasture companion, a rescue horse we call Ugly Betty. One of my favorite games with first time visitors is to ask them to guess which of the two contentedly grazing horses cost a lot of money, and which was free. Most people can’t tell. Horses prefer to have another of their own kind for company, since they are herd animals. These two buddies are both 16 years old, and have a good life.

Unfortunately not all horses are so lucky. About a year ago, a new neighbor moved into the small house down the road, put up a small barbed wire enclosure, and then a pony appeared. At first the pony ate the grass in her small enclosure and all seemed well, but as the grass was depleted she became thin and I started to get concerned about her. It’s difficult to poke your nose into someone else’s business, but when the residents took a trip of a week’s duration the little mare got increasingly agitated when I was outdoors to feed my horses. I went over and knocked on their door but no one was there. I filled her empty water tank and left them a note, which was still there the next day. It was clear they’d gone away and left her with no food and no water, and I couldn’t watch her suffer any longer.

With a little trepidation, I left another note for them, and brought the pony to my house. My two horses looked the little visitor over and decided it was fine for her to stay here, so a week went by, and the neighbors came apologetically over and collected her. I assured them I didn’t mind having her visit and she was welcome whenever they needed to be away. It does no good to rail at people like this, it only creates a divide that makes it hard to help the animal.

This continued for months, with me checking to ensure the pony had water, feeding her twice a day, and on occasion relocating her to my house when hauling the water from my place got too difficult. The girl who was probably intended to be the guardian of the pony turned old enough to be driving cars and we saw less and less of her. When we traveled, the friend who cares for our horses took on the waif as well.

I had no problems with the situation, but eventually the pony took matters in hand herself. She pushed her way out of their poorly maintained fencing and repeatedly relocated herself to our house. They came and got her one time, and she was back here within hours, and they didn’t come and get her again.

I finally approached the neighbors carefully and respectfully with an offer to buy the pony. They surprised me by immediately agreeing to sell her, as they had no time for her, and so June Bug truly joined the Martin herd. I had her vetted, and my daughter borrowed a pony bridle and girth so she could ride her, and we were overjoyed to discover she was really trained. A quiet, small, healthy and well-trained pony of 4 years is actually an easy animal to find a home for, and within a week she found a good new home where she will never have to worry about having food or water again. I teared up a little as she trustingly followed me into their horse trailer for her ride to her new home. Ethically, I priced her at what I had paid for her, and know the new owner got a real bargain. In my concern for her well-being, I really never noticed how cute she was, nor did I expect she’d be so well-broken.

Animals, any animals, whether pets or livestock, are a responsibility. While it says in the Bible that man was given dominion, my belief is that that dominion comes with the grave responsibility to treat all animals humanely. Even a beef cow intended for the dinner table deserves shade or shelter, food and clean water. Standing by and watching someone neglect this basic obligation is to share in the responsibility for the suffering yourself.

Recent stories, opinions and photos

Issue Date	Department	Headline
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Myron Torzala
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Janette F. Tisch
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Rose Sokol
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Jeff R. Seguin
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Joyce Schick
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Donald Roach
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Gerald W. Pleau
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Edward S. Peterson
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Lois Palmer
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Susan M. Moore
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Michael Magnin
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Jane M. Lewandowski
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Shirley J. Leavens
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Irene M. Lang
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Richard J. Lacousiere
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Dorothy L. LaCombe
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Joyce Kostreva
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Alice C. Kartheiser
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Claude J. Hebert, Jr.
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Sharon L. Heberling
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Richard M. Desjarlais
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Mary E. Conder
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Norman J. Champeau
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Patricia A. Brenner
09-21-2016	Obituaries	Donna M. Bertrand
09-21-2016	Sports	Marines Maul Panthers for First Win Of Season
09-21-2016	Sports	CROSS COUNTRY
09-21-2016	Sports	M&O Volleyball
09-21-2016	Sports	M&O Football
09-21-2016	Front Page	County Board Keeps Sales Tax, Cuts Sunset Clause
09-21-2016	Front Page	USS Wichita Christened, USS Marinette Announced
09-21-2016	Front Page	Cemetery Board Delays Action on Burial Rates
09-21-2016	Front Page	Peshtigo Town Board Changes Plans Where to Gate Road
09-21-2016	Perspectives	Country Cousin
09-21-2016	Perspectives	From our readers
09-21-2016	Perspectives	From My Window
09-21-2016	Community - Wausaukee	Legion Post 66 Chili Fest Sept. 24
09-21-2016	Community - Wausaukee	Wausaukee Rangers Plan Tailgate Party
09-21-2016	Community - Wausaukee	Athelstane Fire Chief Asks To Replace Used Tanker
09-21-2016	Community - Wausaukee	Town of Wausaukee Population is 1107
09-21-2016	Community - Crivitz	Free Business Start Up in Crivitz Oct. 10
09-21-2016	Community - Crivitz	Transportation Meet at Crivitz Sept. 29
09-21-2016	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Legion Gun Show on Sept. 24
09-21-2016	Community - Crivitz	Car Seat Checkup at Frank Porth Chev
09-21-2016	Community - Coleman	Coleman Utility To Flush Water Mains
09-21-2016	Community - Coleman	Pound Woman's Club Pot Luck
09-21-2016	Community - Coleman	Kickers Fall Dance at Equity Sept. 24
09-21-2016	Community - Coleman	Coleman Am. Legion Flag Disposal Ceremony Sept. 24
09-14-2016	Sports	Area Runners Shine at Shawano Invite
09-14-2016	Perspectives	Country Cousin - Autumn is Here!...
09-14-2016	Sports	Marinette Golfers Have A Big Week
09-14-2016	Sports	Peshtigo/Niagara Post Early Season Wins
09-14-2016	Sports	Titans Dominate In Blowout Win
09-14-2016	Perspectives	From My Window - The High Price of Gasoline - In Rocking Oklahoma
09-14-2016	Perspectives
09-14-2016	Perspectives	From Our Readers
09-14-2016	Front Page	Westlund Bus Lines Receives Award
09-14-2016	Front Page	County Board Chair Criticized for Budget Information Request
09-14-2016	Front Page	Grover Hears Request for Fire Department Levy Hike
09-14-2016	Front Page	County Board Faces Sales Tax, Zoning Decisions On Sept. 20
09-14-2016	Front Page	Meeting Sept. 21 On Peshtigo High School Facilities Needs
09-14-2016	Perspectives	From Our Readers
09-14-2016	Perspectives	From Our Readers
09-14-2016	Obituaries	Edgar C. Voelker
09-14-2016	Obituaries	Trudy K. Schultz
09-14-2016	Obituaries	Ernest D. "Ernie" McCormick
09-14-2016	Obituaries	Angela Longsine
09-14-2016	Obituaries	Alma L. Kristopeit
09-14-2016	Obituaries	Betty J. Groesbeck
09-14-2016	Obituaries	Delores C. Grant
09-14-2016	Obituaries	Dennis C. Gilbertson
09-14-2016	Obituaries	Frank Duffeck
09-14-2016	Obituaries	Mary C. Brewer
09-14-2016	Obituaries	Lorraine E. Anders
09-14-2016	Community - Wausaukee	Legion Auxiliary Unit 66 Chili, Soup Fest Sept. 24
09-14-2016	Community - Wausaukee	Legion, Unit To Meet on Sept. 20
09-14-2016	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Pharmacy to Host PPK Event
09-14-2016	Community - Crivitz	New Garden Honors Wrightstown Teacher
09-14-2016	Community - Crivitz	Free Business Start Up in Crivitz Oct. 10
09-14-2016	Community - Crivitz	Car Seat Checkup at Frank Porth Chev
09-14-2016	Community - Coleman	Coleman Cougars Team Up To Tackle Cancer
09-14-2016	Community - Coleman	Coleman Am. Legion Flag Disposal Ceremony Sept. 24
09-14-2016	Community - Coleman	Coleman High School 1957 Class Reunion
09-14-2016	Community - Coleman	Coleman Annual, Regular School Board Meets Sept. 29
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Marsha D. Werlein
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Melvin L. Wenzel
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Donna M. Waschbisch
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Andrea A. Stamsta
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Eugene A. Staidl
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Pearl Spice
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Stanley Skrzypinski
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Jayne P. Shehow
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Gary A. Plewa
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Harry E. Olszewski
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Delores Nemetz
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Mark W. Miller
09-07-2016	Obituaries	John A. Miller
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Gene Martin
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Norman G. Marquardt
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Roy C. Hubbard Sr.
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Svea Hart
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Donald H. Hansen
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Edna J. Hanamann
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Johanna Groy
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Gloria S. Graham
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Ruth A. Fick
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Carol J. Ewald
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Joan Mary Dufresne
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Lynne A. Cavill
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Florence M. Belongia
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Marjorie Barlament
09-07-2016	Obituaries	Diane Bakotich
09-07-2016	Community - Wausaukee	Story Time, Bee Keeping at Library
09-07-2016	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Book Sale is Sept. 19-23
09-07-2016	Community - Crivitz	Goodman-Armstrong Creek Dedicate New Play Area
09-07-2016	Community - Crivitz	Silver Cliff Fire, Rescue Unit Meets
09-07-2016	Community - Crivitz	Car Seat Checkup at Frank Porth Chev
09-07-2016	Community - Coleman	Resurfacing US41 in Oconto County
09-07-2016	Community - Coleman	Lena Taste of Fall Cook-off Competition
09-07-2016	Community - Coleman	CCBA "Shop Local" Raffle Winners Listed
09-07-2016	Community - Coleman	Coleman Am. Legion Flag Disposal Ceremony Sept. 24
09-07-2016	Sports	Mustangs Too Much For Marines In Early NEC Conference Matchup
09-07-2016	Sports	CROSS COUNTRY
09-07-2016	Sports	Area Volleyball
09-07-2016	Sports	M&O Football
09-07-2016	Perspectives	Country Cousin
09-07-2016	Perspectives	From My Window
09-07-2016	Front Page	Approve Snowmobile Trail, Send Fish Platform Back To Committee
09-07-2016	Front Page	Peshtigo Family Losses All Belongings in Fire
09-07-2016	Front Page	Tom Behnke Named Coleman Fire Chief
09-07-2016	Front Page	Archaeologist Speaker on Name "Peshtigo" Sept. 12
08-31-2016	Front Page	County Taking Another Look At Borrowing, Budget Policy
08-31-2016	Front Page
08-31-2016	Front Page	Peshtigo School Board Sets District Goals
08-31-2016	Front Page	Snowmobile Trail Through Peshtigo Goes To Council
08-31-2016	Front Page	Marinette County Fair A Success, List Event Winners
08-31-2016	Community - Wausaukee	Legion Post 66 Meets Sept. 10
08-31-2016	Community - Wausaukee	17 Residents Attend Athelstane Board Meet
08-31-2016	Community - Wausaukee	Place 3 Defibrillators in Athelstane, SC Areas
08-31-2016	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Legion Trap Shoot on Sept. 3
08-31-2016	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Book Sale is Sept. 19-23
08-31-2016	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Ski Cats in National Figure 8 Barefoot Tourney
08-31-2016	Community - Crivitz	Crivitz Auxiliary To Host County Council
08-31-2016	Community - Coleman	Oconto Marsh Hike Sept. 8
08-31-2016	Community - Coleman	Open House At Hillside Assembly
08-31-2016	Community - Coleman	Coleman Village Board Sept. 6
08-31-2016	Community - Coleman	Beef Cow/Calf Meeting Sept. 12
08-31-2016	Sports	Champions Crowned at UPIR Season Finale
08-31-2016	Sports	M&O Volleyball
08-31-2016	Sports	M&O Football