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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

1088.0. "Bosler Humane Society article" by BCSE::GOGOLIN () Tue Feb 02 1988 21:18

After reading a couple of recent notes which mentioned the Bosler
Humane Society, I remembered that I had an article about the shelter
tucked away in my "Interesting Articles" folder. It is rather long but,
I thought, sufficiently interesting and informative to justify putting it 
in this notes file. It was published in the Boston Globe on 27 July 1986
and is reprinted without permission (hope some of you will visit me in
jail!).

The photograph accompanying the article shows Ms Bosler with an armful
of three cats affectionately nuzzling her as if she were covered with
tuna juice. It would warm the cockles of the coldest heart!

Linda



DOG OFFICER HAS FOUND A HOME IN BARRE -- AND SO HAVE DOGS

By James Stack
Globe Staff

BARRE - Elaine Bosler was one of the best dog officers the central
Massachusetts town of Princeton had until she got fired for refusing
to put unwanted animals to sleep.

That was 11 years ago, and though it seemed like bad luck at the time,
the pink slip given Bosler turned out to be a passport to utopia for
thousands of dogs, cats, and other creatures she has since rescued.

Bosler took 37 dogs and 24 cats with her when she left Princeton to
build a country home a few miles away in Barre, where she was invited
to become dog officer.

"I accepted," she said, "but strictly on the condition that I would
never be asked or expected to kill an unwanted stray."

The deal cut by Bosler and Barre town officials made possible the
development of the Bosler Humane Society, the corporate name for the
biggest and, many animal protectionists feel, the best shelter anywhere
in New England.

Paul Salvas of Weymouth, long active in the South Shore Humane Society
and other animal rights groups, has high praise for Bosler and her staff.

"Elaine Bosler is an exceptional person," said Salvas. "Her commitment
to animal welfare is total and all-consuming. She is the most dedicated
animal protectionist I have ever met, and I know my admiration for her
is shared by everyone in the field.

"Elaine Bosler is really one in a million," he said.

Over the years, the operation rooted in Bosler's chalet-type home has
expanded into a network of neat buildings furnished with discarded
couches, bunk beds and other people's furniture.

Bosler concedes that these creature comforts, which include a television
set, may seem a little much, all things considered.

Spacious runs
-------------

"But the stuff is here and some of our animals are old and arthritic,"
she said. "Why make them sleep on a cold floor?"

The furnished kennels are connected by spacious runs, each providing
access to a fenced-in acre in which the dogs can romp all day long.

"We've found good, carefuly selected homes for about 4,000 dogs and
cats that would have been destroyed," Bosler said the other day between
chores.

Finding suitable homes for dogs and cats is not always easy,
particularly for someone like Bosler, who screens applicants carefully
and often rejects them as unfit to care for pets.

"I had to turn down a woman the other day," Bosler said. "The appearance
of the kids she had with her told me she wasn't taking very good care of
them, so what kind of care would she provide for a dog?"

To create the kind of traffic she needs to make room for more abandoned
animals arriving daily, Bosler has introduced programs such as Older
Pets for Older People. Under the plan, Bosler will guarantee all
medicine and veterinary care for any animals adopted by an elderly
person. If the person dies or becomes disabled, the pet comes back to
the shelter to live.

But some pets can't be placed.

Nursing dogs to health
----------------------

"Basically, it's a numbers game," Bosler said. "We've got literally
hundreds of animals to choose from, so the aging pet, the lame pet, the
pet flawed in any way, is seldom placed."

Bosler's staff includes Roland Halle who, before coming to work for
Bosler in 1981, spent several years at the Stetson School in Barre, a
private institution to which juvenile violators and other troubled
youths are referred.

"In a way," said Halle, 22, "I really picked the right place to look
for help because I'm kind of a stray myself. Elaine changed my life so
much I call her my mom. That's the way I think of her, so why not?"

Halle has become a specialist at nursing dogs such as Duchess and Yo-Yo,
both victims of cruelty before finding their way to Bosler.

Duchess, a German shepherd, was doused with lighter fluid and set afire
in 1975 by a gang of drunken teen-agers looking for kicks in the court
yard of a Worcester housing project.

The dog was nearly dead when Bosler, responding to a call from a
horrified onlooker, snatched her from her tormenters and nursed her back
to health. The ordeal left Duchess deeply scarred but, to Bosler, she's
as beautiful as any show dog.

Yo-Yo, a gangly garden-variety mongrel, bounces at the feet of visitors
in a mischievous way but never barks. Yo-Yo hasn't barked, Bosler said,
since his vocal cords were removed in an experiment performed without
anesthesia at a medical research laboratory in another state. The dog 
was brought to Bosler by a compassionate woman who stole him from the
laboratory.

Bosler receives no salary. The Barre shelter and the task of keeping
it going has become an all-consuming commitment.

Bosler worries a lot
--------------------

It costs about $3,000 a week on average to keep it going. That includes
$1,600 for food, and about $600 for staff payroll and the rest for
things such as medicine and veterinary bills.

Bosler says she does anything she has to do to raise the money. She
has recruited a couple of hundred sponsors who regularly send her $10
a month from as far away as Israel and Hong Kong.

One of the buildings is festooned with memorial plaques for dead
animals sponsored by their owners at $100 each. There are raffles,
bingo parties and Las Vegas nights.

Bosler begs if she has to and, if she can't beg enough, she borrows.
Right now, the shelter is about $40,000 in debt.

Bosler, 46, a short, dark-eyed woman, worries a lot, even cries a lot
when she gets to thinking about how long she can keep it going.

"You can write one thing down,", she said, "I'll never quit because
what I'm doing is too important. I'll find a way."
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
1088.1Wow!PARITY::WHALENAnd may the traffic be with youWed Feb 03 1988 00:279
    
        What a woman! She's a real saint.  The story is a rea tearjerker,
    though. Wish I had a million dollars to give her. 
        I always send in my $10 million dollar prize give away things,
    each year, hoping to win, because this is the way I would spend
    my money, helping animals.
        Thanks for sharing the story..
                                       Denise
1088.2More on BoslerBCSE::GOGOLINWed Feb 03 1988 13:5826
Re .1:  Yes, she certainly is dedicated, and brave, too! I suspect that
taking care of these animals is her life. I wonder how she keeps from
getting overwhelmed by it all? Maybe by other caring, generous people
who give money, time, support....

I just called for the shelter's mailing address, for those who might
like to donate a few bucks or some of their $10 million prize money
(well, *somebody* must have won it!). It is:

	Bosler Humane Society
	P. O. Box 520
	Barre, Mass. 01005

When I asked if there were things other than money they could use, Ms
Bosler said yes, she would send me a brochure. Is anyone else interested
in this? If so, please send me mail. I will either enter the information
here (if many are interested and the vital information is not too long)
or send you a copy (if the reverse is true; don't forget your mailstop).
Or you can always call/send for your own copy.

As for visits to the shelter, she asks that you just call first, to make
sure someone will be there to show you around. The telephone number is
617-882-3136. Is anyone interested in a field trip, say in a month or so
after snow season has ended?

Linda
1088.3coupons?VAXWRK::DUDLEYWed Feb 03 1988 16:099
    I've been sending the BHS coupons for several months or
    so now.  I think I read in a  "Letter to the Editor" in
    the Worcester paper that they could use these.  But I
    would be interested to know if that's true or not, so I
    don't continue sending them there if they just throw
    them out.  I'm interested in the information in the
    pamphlet too.
    
    Donna
1088.4I don't have extra money, but I try to help!FIDDLE::GERRYGo ahead, make me PURRR...Wed Feb 03 1988 16:4612
    I also clip the coupons...and have several people who clip them
    for me for any Dog or Cat product.  I donate them to the shelters,
    depending on where happens to be convenient at the time.  
    
    I don't use any of the grocery store products, 'cept occasionally
    a few cans of Amore'.  Would someone like to collect the coupons
    or should we send them there directly???
    
    Will they even use them???
    
    cin
1088.5CIRCUS::KOLLINGKaren, Sweetie, Holly; in Calif.Wed Feb 03 1988 16:583
    You might find that they can use coupons for cleaning supplies,
    such as paper towels and so forth.
1088.6Coupon QuestionsBCSE::GOGOLINFri Feb 05 1988 14:5214
Sorry, I can't answer your questions about whether the Bosler shelter
needs or uses coupons (I would guess it does). At the moment, I don't
know any more about the shelter than what was in the article. That's why
I want to visit! :-)  No date has been set yet for the field trip.

If the brochure (which I hope will arrive in the next week) mentions
coupons, I'll enter the information here. If it doesn't, I will ask
when we visit the shelter and post it then.

I'll be glad to deliver coupons if you want to send them to me
(mailstop: ZK3-2/X07). It might be faster to send them directly to the
shelter, though.

Linda
1088.7 Field TripREGENT::MICHAELSONWed Feb 10 1988 15:182
    Please keep us informed re: field trip.  I certainly would like
    to go along.
1088.8About the field trip....BCSE::GOGOLINThu Feb 11 1988 14:2415
Re: .7

Great! You're on the list.


Ooops, I neglected to mention in .2 that if you *would* like to go on
the field trip, please send mail to me directly (BCSE::GOGOLIN). Those
who respond in the next 2 weeks get to vote on the date and other details.

Right now we are aiming for a Saturday in March. When we know who's going,
say by the end of February, we can start to make final plans. Once the
details are nailed down I'll post them in this note (or perhaps a new
note so more people will see it) for any latecomers who might be interested.

Linda
1088.9The scoop on the couponsBCSE::GOGOLINThu Feb 11 1988 14:2928
Here is the information I got from the Bosler Humane Society on what
coupons they can use. From the December 1987 newsletter:

"Unfortunately, we are no longer able to use all coupons. Only send
canned cat food, Bounty Towels, Glad Trash Bag, Tide, Gainesburgers
and Top Choice dog food coupons."

Other items the shelter needs are:

towels				6" paper or plastic plates
sheets				blankets
cat beds			bed spreads
dog beds			dog houses
old dog licenses		leashes
FM radios			S&H Green Stamps
collars

trailer
chain link or stockade fence
portable building (cost new $2,000)
back hoe or tractor ("We can dream," she says.)


Some of these items might, at this very moment, be gathering dust in
your closet or garage. When spring-cleaning time rolls around, why not
put them to good use and help Elaine Bosler help the animals?

Linda
1088.10I'm curiousVAXWRK::SKALTSISDebThu Feb 11 1988 14:543
    old dog licences?  what are these used for?
                      
    Deb
1088.11I'm curious 2!!!JAWS::COTEIs he gonna buy? Or is he gonna pay?Thu Feb 11 1988 15:163
    And FM radios??? Don't dogs take care of their albums???
    
    Edd
1088.12And the next one right in here folksGYPSC::SHIPLEYIs there life after DECThu Feb 11 1988 15:224
    Old dog licences ??
    
    For old dogs naturally 8^)} 8^)} (an oldie but a goodie yuk yuk!)
1088.13yeah, DEC.CIRCUS::KOLLINGKaren, Sweetie, Holly; in Calif.Thu Feb 11 1988 17:2715
    Any coupons for pet food, cleaning supplies, etc. that the Bosler
    Humane Society can't use, would be of use to the Tree House Animal
    Foundation.  I will post their address, which I have at home, tonight
    or tomorrow.  The coupons Tree House can't use itself it distributes
    to low income owners of pets.  Tree House is a cageless, no-kill
    cat shelter in Chicage.  I've been a member for many years and they
    are good folks.  I have a picture of part of the cats' living area
    -- it's a spacious double room with big holes cut in the intervening
    wall and carpeted cat platforms everywhere, mostly all with magnificent
    pusses perched on or in them.  (Must look a lot like Elaine's living
    room :-)).
    
    When sending money to a charity, don't forget to include a matching
    gift form from DEC.
1088.14CIRCUS::KOLLINGKaren, Sweetie, Holly; in Calif.Fri Feb 12 1988 16:456
    Here's the address:
    
    Tree House Animal Foundation, Inc.
    1212 West Carmen Avenue
    Chicago, Illinois 60640
1088.15Bosler Field Trip, April 16thBCSE::GOGOLINFri Apr 08 1988 21:054
    The plans are made, the date is set.... please see note #1257 for
    details.
    
    Linda
1088.16To answer your question,BCSE::GOGOLINThu Apr 21 1988 20:537
    Re: .10
    
    A man in Kentucky collects dog license tags (NOT rabies tags) and
    will pay Elaine Bosler 15 cents per tag.
    
    (I liked .12's answer better, though!)
1088.17How did it go?58019::HTAYLORCat lovers are a special breedThu Apr 21 1988 20:555
    so, Linda,  How did the trip go?
    
    Holly (Who_wishes_she_could_have_gone_but_she_had_a_house_full_of_-
    teenagers_that_day)
1088.18BCSE::GOGOLINThu Apr 21 1988 21:137
    To find out, see note 1257.1.
    
    Sorry you couldn't make it, Holly. We missed you and your kitty
    pictures.
    
    Linda
1088.19Just curiousPOOL::MURPHYIs it Friday yet?Fri May 06 1988 16:578
    Don't get a chance to enter notes files much anymore.  Glad the
    trip to Elaine's was successful.
    
    I am now concerned as to what the man in Kentucky "collects" dog
    license tags for at .15/tag?  Did Elaine know?  Just suspicious
    I guess with puppy mill and laboratory dog compounds being found
    and investigated in some states.
1088.20dog tagsBCSE::GOGOLINFri May 27 1988 21:1720
Re: -.1
    
>    I am now concerned as to what the man in Kentucky "collects" dog
>    license tags for at .15/tag?  Did Elaine know?  Just suspicious
>    I guess with puppy mill and laboratory dog compounds being found
>    and investigated in some states.

Sorry for the delay in answering your question -- I've been heavily
involved in house-buying and -selling activities and moving, so haven't
been around much. 

No, I didn't ask and Elaine didn't mention why the man collected dog
tags. I assumed it was just another personal preference like collecting
elephant figurines, beer cans, auto license plates, Hummels, or any of
the millions of other things that people (Andy Warhol, for example)
like to acquire. I don't really see how old dog tags could be used for
anything else -- especially anything evil --  but then maybe I'm just
naive.

Linda
1088.21CURIE::MITAYLORFri Aug 12 1988 19:489
    Elaine is the most caring, compassionaite person around.  10 years
    ago due to an allergy my family had to get rid of 9 of our 10 cats.
    We took them to Elaine where they have either been adopted or are
    still living happily.  One of the nicest things about Elaine is
    that she will not let one of her animals be adopted by just anybody,
    they always go to good homes.  We have been sending here coupons
    and such for the last 10 years and will continue do so for as long
    as BHS exists.  Please do anything you can to help this special
    lady and all of her babies.
1088.22Christmas BenefitVAXWRK::DUDLEYWed Dec 07 1988 13:1858
    
			Christmas Benefit for

		      THE BOSLER HUMANE SOCIETY	

          at the Texas Country & Western Club located at
	          The Galleria at Worcester Center
			Wednesday, December 7th
			 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
			   Admission $10.00
			   Buffet & Dancing
		       Door Prizes and Surprises
		          Validated Parking





I just got my Bosler Humane Society newsletter in the mail yesterday.
I don't if any of you folks who visited BHS get Elaine's newsletter.
Here are some excerpts from it:

"Dear Friends:  First, I would like to thank all of the people who
continue to support my animals.  I have not mailed a newsletter out
since last Christmas.  We have so many problems.  However, we are
still here fighting for the animals and making sure they are taken
care of.  
.
.
.
We had a problem with the cats.  There are so many contagious diseases
with cats.  It's impossible to have a large number without eventually
being faced with an outbreak.  It finally hit us.  It's the most heart-
breaking problem to face.  We have lost several cats from leukemia.  We
are testing and trying to correct the problem.  It is extremely difficult.
A cat can be tested today and be negative, tested in three months and the
cat can be positive.  We cannot take any cats at this time, so please try
and place cats through the newspaper and know where the animal is going.
Most all shelters are destroying hundreds daily.  There are not enough
homes.
.
.
.
Talk about being depressed.  One of the veterinarians asked me to take
his personal dog, Ashley.  It was a stray he had taken several years ago
and had been hit by a car.  He did extensive surgery to save the leg.  
Ashley's leg is okay.  However, the dog was annoying his wife in the house
being destructive.  He was going to destroy the dog but couldn't because
he had fought so long to save her.  WOULD YOU BELIEVE THIS.  He gave me a
dog with Sarcoptic Mange which is contagious.  It caused me much work and
aggravation, dipping and treating all the dogs at the shelter.  I was ready
for the grave.  It is now finally getting under control.
.
.
.
With all the problems with leukemia, mange, land, the flu, I was ready to
just give up.  I didn't think I would survive another problem."
1088.23Spring 1990 newsletterPROSE::GOGOLINFri Jun 01 1990 18:3724
    In today's mail I got the Spring 1990 Newsletter for the Bosler Humane
    Society. Just thought I would pass some of the information on for those 
    who might be interested...

    In the newsletter, Elaine Bosler describes some of the difficulties --
    financial and otherwise -- she's had running the shelter in the past 
    year. She says they are "in desperate need of blankets, towels, kitty 
    litter liners, and all Gaines products Starred Price Markers...
    Every penny helps. Instead of spending $1.00 to send coupons, we would
    appreciate the $1.00 or stamps. We cannot use all the coupons."

    The newsletter also states "In 1988, 40,000 cats, dogs, kittens and
    puppies were turned into the MSPCA's eight shelters. Of these, only 
    8,000 found new homes."  This should be food for thought for anyone
    who has unspayed/unneutered pets. 

    If anyone would like a copy of the newsletter -- it's short, just
    one page --  let me know (Linda PROSE::GOGOLIN). 

    The mailing address for BHS is:

    	Bosler Humane Society
    	P.O. Box 520
    	Barre, Mass. 01005