Come to the source about animal care

To The Eagle:

Hello. My name is Sam Okawa (get it?) and I'm an elderly Anatolian shepherd (dog) who moved here about four years ago. I read with interest Kay Chamberlain's piece in last Thursday's Eagle because my home and Ursula (my "person") were mentioned in it. It appears that someone was concerned that the eight rescued cows living here after they were taken, almost dead from starvation, from an abandoned farm, were not being fed and that good Samaritan felt intervention was necessary to "save" them. How that person saved the bovines is a mystery because Ursula's been feeding them hay twice a day under the trees to keep them dry while dining since around October. That's on top of grain and hand-fed bread "treats" to gentle them. According to an expert we consult regularly, they have put on weight, are much more mellow than when they arrived here, and appear to be happy.

While there seem to be some folks who "help" primarily with their mouths, there are others who deserve our thanks for actions. These are Tom Bosch, whom Ursula consulted before agreeing to adopt the cows, and his family have always helped with asked-for and much-needed advice and hands-on deeds (hay, building fences, pulling a goat out of the creek), Vicky Allenback who put George the old Rottweiler out of his misery after he had a stroke and Ursula was unable to do anything other than weep, Julie Hammond who keeps an eye on all the animals, Bob Roche and friends who spent a Saturday morning rounding up grown, abandoned pigs that thought they were "free range," and got them ready for the local food bank; this was after he arranged for Lancelot, the fence-jumping, SR 4-traveling bull to be donated to the food bank. Last but not least, we are grateful to Skamokawa Center for contributing expired food to feed the many critters living the good life here in Skamokawa after having been abused/abandoned/orphaned.

We are less grateful to the "donors" of cats that are being tossed over the fence. They have been "fixed" and vaccinated (Ursula paid the vet fees) and if you loved them and want them back, please stop and pick them up - no questions asked.

If any persons have concerns about the animals living here or issues pertaining to our home, I invite them to stop at 1604 West SR 4 or call 360-795-3025 and voice these directly. Respectfully, Sam Okawa.

Ursula Petralia

Skamokawa