Sightless Hill teen has big heart
Paws-itively great gifts for blind,courageous Spot
by Barbara L. Sherf

Kate Katchen, of Chestnut Hill, member of Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue Board, last fall helped transport a rather pathetic looking dog to Golden Gateway following her rescue from a notorious Pennsylvania puppy mill. “JoJo” was adopted by Steve and Bonnie Jackson, renamed Katie, transformed into a talented obedience and therapy dog and was able to join Kate at the annual reunion in October.

As you sit down to fill out your holiday shopping list this season, think about adding a line for faithful four-legged companions in need of some extra TLC. There are many examples of furry friends in need throughout the greater Chestnut Hill area.

At Northwestern Equestrian Facility (NWEF) in Chestnut Hill, for example, barn staff and boarders are supporting a blind horse that has faithfully given lessons for many years. While he doesn’t have a spot on him, his name is Spot, and he is still teaching important lessons in the form of trust and courage.

A sign on Spot’s stall notes that Spot was born in the 1980s and served as a lesson horse for 20 years, taking riders over 3-foot fences, and allowing them to fulfill their passion. The flyer notes that Spot has no single owner, and so the good folks at NWEF are housing him and bearing the $500 monthly cost to keep him in food, board and veterinary care. There is a small donation box outside of Spot’s stall.

The barn manager says Spot is not depressed, and as far as she can tell, has no big issues with his lack of sight. A fundraiser held near Halloween raised $100 to help defray the cost of Spot’s care, but that doesn’t even cover his grain and hay.

When a photographer and I visited the stable to bring Spot treats and take his photo, we stumbled upon a group of students from the Crefeld School in Chestnut Hill, who visit Spot and the other horses once a week as part of their community service class. One student, 17-year-old Gabe Pfeiffer, stands out among the rest, for he too is blind. Pfeiffer gets close enough to groom Spot, and both he and Spot get help going outside to a field so Spot can graze on some fresh grass. Pfeiffer says there are many lessons sighted people can take away from being around a blind person or a blind horse.

“It’s really scary for a blind person or horse to have someone approach them from behind. You can’t hear the person until they are right on top of you, so always announce yourself,” says Pfeiffer as he brushes Spot’s neck. “But when you approach us, you don’t need to shout. We can hear; we just can’t see.”

To make a donation directly to Spot, make checks payable to Northwestern Stables and send to 120 W Northwestern Ave, Phila., PA 19118-3620; put “Spot” in the memo line.

Spot, the blind horse, gets some TLC from Crefeld School student Gabe Pfeiffer, 17, who is also blind, as part of a community service class. Crefeld students visit Northwestern Equestrian Facility once a month to groom Spot and other horses, and perform tasks around the stable. (Photos from CandidShotzby Denize.com; denizewc@msn.com; 215-402-0661)

There are so many other worthy animal causes out there, but one near and dear to the heart of Chestnut Hill resident Kate Katchen is the Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue (DVGRR), where she serves on the Board of Directors. Katchen, who has rescued a Golden Retriever for her family, is particularly concerned about the increasing number of dogs rescued from Pennsylvania’s notorious puppy mills.

“During the holidays, we encourage people to think of our many Goldens who have been rescued from puppy mills and who are spending their first holidays outside of a wire cage, and in a warm, safe place. We encourage people to donate simple items like nutritious training treats or cheese to help us help these dogs on their long journey back to being a ‘real dog.’ We also encourage people with some free time to volunteer as a caregiver at DVGRR. Our Golden Gateway facility is open 365 days a year, so at the holidays (and every day) we rely on volunteers to assist our tireless staff.”

In October, 2008, one horrific puppy mill was raided in the Lehigh Valley. A female Golden Retriever who was used as a breeder dog was among those in cages. Katchen picked her up at the Philadelphia SPCA and transported her to Golden Gateway, near Lancaster. She was named “Jo Jo” by the staff, and was adopted within weeks. Unbeknownst to Kate, her new family named her Katie. Katie has passed her Therapy Dog International and Canine Good Citizen tests and does therapy work with patients at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Kate caught up with the family and Katie at the DVGRR reunion in October and was thrilled with the results.

“She was like a new dog. Her owners clearly showed her that there are good people out there who were willing to take a chance and give her a ‘forever home.’”

To make a donation, volunteer or view their Wish List, visit www.dvgrr.org.

Barbara Sherf lives and writes in Flourtown. She recently befriended Spot, and she and her husband adopted a Golden Retriever, Simba, from DVGRR five years ago. Visit her at Barb@CommunicationsPro.com.