By: Lana Hollenback

History… I never liked history when I was back in school. I used to think there was no need for it. It was about the past and we were the future. Since I now have a history and can look back, I see why it is so important for us to know and not only to know, but to understand. History teaches us how to go forward, and how not to make the same mistakes that have been made in the past. It takes us into the future with a new understanding of the world and what goes on and is going on around us. It utilizes all the places we have come from and where we are going…not only that but how we are going to get there.

How many know the old saying “Walk softly and carry a big stick”? Well, that’s not quite right. Theodore Roosevelt said in a speech he gave in 1903, “Speak softly and carry a big stick”. Funny how things over time can get started and people buy into it not knowing all the facts. We just spout off and go from there. The definition of the saying by President Roosevelt was that you speak softly and you only use the stick as a very last resort and he was speaking of dealing with other countries, and not people individually.

Today I spent time with a rescue person, who by the way, I love dearly. We had a good conversation about things going on in rescue and we have both seen what happens when the facts get distorted. Even when it gets straightened out over time, the worst is already done. People buy into things and then don’t follow up to learn the truth. A couple years ago I wrote a piece on how people sometimes need to go to the “horse’s mouth” and not take everything said as the gospel. This is very crucial to all of us in rescue. Each and every one of us can learn from the past…past

accomplishments and past failures. It is how we handle each that counts in the end.

When we jump in carrying and swinging a big stick about someone, it makes for long enduring pain for the pigs that need our help, and it never solves anything. It only keeps stirring the pot and causes people to choose sides. Sometimes because all of the truth isn’t out, we choose the

wrong side. Then the facts gets distorted and the falsehood goes on.  We see this so much in the world of rescue. Not just for pigs but for all animals and rescues. Rescues get their names dragged through the mud and destroyed even if they have done no wrong. Sometimes it is just that someone has a vendetta against someone. What better way to destroy someone or a rescue then to go to social media and start a rumor. As I’ve stated before, when was the last time you saw organizations like ASPCA or HS get on to social media and argue and fight? Many more also keep the animal they are working with first and other things and disagreements are settled  privately. Fighting and arguing about someone or rescue cuts funding and hurts the very animals we work so hard to help.

Another fact is that no one comes in and starts a rescue knowing all the facts and right and wrongs. Many or most of us learn as we go. I know I did. But thanks to many of those who had been doing it awhile, they encouraged me to keep going. Sometimes they would get on my case for something they thought I did wrong and really let me have it. Sometimes they were right and I was wrong but other times I was in the right.  So when they got around to it they’d pick up the phone and call me and ask why I did such a thing. After hearing my side of it, they saw that what was being said was totally wrong or at least leavened with untruth. One person that stands out is Phyllis Battoe who ran a sanctuary in Illinois. She has since passed on. Over the years we became

good friends and she told me on more then one occasion that she was glad she learned to pick up the phone and call me personally.  It is very hard to determine facts over the internet, social networks and emails. The best way is to go straight to the person or at least pick up the phone

and call. Many issues have been resolved by doing just that…place that call.

As rescue people, we are working to rescue the animal we love.  We should not use the internet, social media and e-mails as a stick to beat people up. We are not called upon as police. We have legal agencies for that.  If we think something is wrong, go check it out first hand. Talk it over with your board. Discuss and put together a plan to find the truth. If you live far away, maybe find someone closer to go check personally. Just be sure the people checking know what to look for and know the rights of wrongs of it.  Then don’t plaster it all over the web. Bring the facts back to your board and together decide what is the best way to help the animals.  Don’t use a stick (your mouth) to jump in and beat up people. By doing so you put all the animals involved and those yet to come in danger. Would you trust someone who you knew spread rumors and

caused havoc? I don’t think so. Again it is the matter of putting the animals first, the animals (pigs) you say you love so much. Think of them and what is not only the best for them but for those who will need help in the future.

Speak softly and carry a big stick. By speaking softly, it means you don’t raise your voice by plastering it all over the internet and social media. You work behind the scenes to help save and protect animals in need.  You use the stick for the big guys, but then only if needed (as

in those in authority).  Learn how to help and encourage those just starting or those who haven’t been rescuing long. Teach them the good ways and help them make the right choices. Help them help the animals. Walk with them and speak softly and use that stick only as a walking stick.  It helps you keep your balance so you do what is right for the animals you say you love. Prove it…speak softly!

One more thing…if you are new to rescue, meaning 3 years or less and you make a mistake or bad choice, own it and move on. Go to someone who has been rescuing awhile or someone you can trust and talk it over and find out how to solve or correct the problem. Do this in private and

reach a conclusion and follow through on it. Denying it or trying to cover it up won’t help.  We want to see people make good choices and to always put the animal first. We know mistakes are made but it’s how we react to them that counts in the end. And believe we, we all make ourshare of mistakes but it is how we deal with them that counts.

So the bottom line is, we need to learn our history and how to use it to help the animals. The day will come when you will become part of that history that others will look to for advice and we want to be sure we have done and said things the right way. It is what makes a good organization now and in the future. So reach back and take a hand and walk with that newer rescue person. Teach them the old ways and also explore newer ways of doing things just a little better for the animals. Allow that “big stick” to bring you the balance that is so needed. It works great!

The story of how far pig people and animal lover’s alike will go to rescue a pig. By Lana Hollenback

I have done lots of rescues for pigs. Mostly pigs that are dumped by their owners for lots of different reasons. Some from Animal Control where they are found after being turned loose by their owners. But this spring I had the wonderful opportunity to do a rescue in Ohio.

I left Florida on June 1 with my mom, three prairie dogs, one ten yr old pig, one five yr old female from our animal control and another one from Panama City animal control plus three babies from Noah’s Ark in New Port Richie Florida. What a trip it was.

I had received a phone call about a month prior to the trip stating that close to my hometown in Ohio was a potbellied pig that had been dumped out on a farm. I asked for the phone number and called the farmers. I ask if we could have permission to try and get someone to come rescue him.

I searched through the Internet for someone in the area and made several phone calls but no one was available to go and try to get him. I stayed in contact with the farmer over that month and told him that I was coming that way and if all else failed, I’d try to get him when I got there.

I tried desperately to find someone with a dart gun and darts. I call every vet in Pickaway County that I could find on the Internet and also in Amanda in Fairfield County. If I found the gun, I couldn’t get the darts since no one knew me. I was getting close to leaving and finally I posted to the TLC all animal rescue list of my problem. And here is where the story began to unfold and the rescue started coming together.

A very special lady named Ann Curry from Oxford Ohio whose email address was IGIVEHIMGLORY@aol.com, responded that she might know someone who could help and sent me the address of Janet Ambose who lived in Pomeroy Ohio and worked in animal rescue but not pet pigs. I called Janet who immediately asked just what I needed and said she thought her vet would work with her on it.

She stated she would be glad to meet me there and help when I explained that I would have a truck and carrier but that I had bad knees and couldn’t walk, let alone run to get this pig which by now had been running wild for three or four months and was totally wild. It meant a three-hour drive for her to come from Meigs County Ohio. She called later to say she had the dart gun, medicine and darts and we gave her directions to Bob and Dixie Winters farm on route 188 right outside of Amanda Ohio.

A pig rescue gal from Toledo also said she could come help but couldn’t on that day. She did say that if we failed to capture him, she could bring in a team of people from Toledo area to help. I made several calls to Bob and Dixie fine tuning the rescue and also Bonnie Tipton and Ron Crosby agreed to go along and help from Ashville Ohio. Neither of these people are pet pig owners but do love animals and so agreed to help.

Now I delivered the 10-year-old Salami to Mike and Leigh Anthony in Chatworth GA on the way to Ohio. I then delivered Ms Catherine from Panama City Animal Control to Jim and Tamara Schweitzer at Safe Harboar Pig Rescue and Sanctuary in KY and made arrangements for her to meet up with me in Hamilton, Ohio to collect the boar to take to the vet for neutering and taming.

After leaving there we ventured onto Hamilton where we met Chuck and Deanna Moon-Hennon who run a small animal rescue on their farm. They offered to keep my traveling pigs while I took my mom to her sisters and so I could visit for the night.

I returned the following morning and they reloaded our pigs and off we went to Groveport, Ohio where I spent the night and then picked up Bonnie Tipton and made the final delivery of pigs to Napoleon, Ohio where Charlie found a forever home and where Dana and Bob came from IN to pick up two of the babies and Matt and his family drove down from Ann Harbor, MI to pick up their newly adopted piglet. We also delivered the three prairie dogs to the gal who drove down and met us at Daine’s place. So six pigs found wonderful forever homes. Then I went back to Ashville to finalize the capturing of the boar running wild.

On Saturday, June 9th I got up early and readied the carrier with blankets to protect him once he was darted. Then off I went to meet up with the rescue team at the Winter’s farm. I arrived first and met Bob and he stated the pig was in the field with his cows but didn’t know how long he would hang around. So I waited and waited. Soon I was joined by Bonnie and Ron, but Janet was really one full hour late due to a detour.

I was frantic, fearful the boar would wonder off. Soon Janet arrived and handed me a box with the Tealazol and darts. Yikes, my vet always fills them and puts them together for me. Not so this time. I had never seen a dart before that was not put together. None of us knew how to put one together or how to get the Tealazol in it. But with the farmer threatening to get his own gun, I knew we were the only chance this pig had of having a life.

So we called the vet who referred us to a manual with a diagram on how to put them together. Even Bob Winters jumped in to help with his tools. Soon the dart was loaded and it was time to go and find the boar.

When we got to the field, he was no where to be seen. Dixie came out with binoculars and we began the search. Soon they found him napping in an old hay stack and out he came on the run. People had invaded his territory. He moved out through the pasture at a very determined gate with his tail straight in the air. He was a pig with a purpose and that was to get out of harms way. Little could he understand that we only wanted to save him.

He tried to make it to the woods, but Bob and Ron headed him off and turned him around always being careful not to cause him to break into a fast run. We wanted him relatively calm so the sedation would work better. Soon he headed for the cows which just didn’t like his loving ways and they began to head butt him. I was afraid of them breaking his back, but this did slow him down so that Bob could get off a clear shot right into the ham.

Five minutes later he was down for the count. I hurried to pull the truck into the next corn field to get as close as possible with the carrier. The rain had not helped in that the fields were really wet. Bob and Ron drug him to the fence and Bob held the hot wires up while we passed him through and into the carrier. He was beautiful and weighed about 80#. Hooves were in good shape. I was very fearful of having overdosed him and also of the heat. Janet found a small blanket and we wet it down and laid over him.

Dixie told Bonnie that although an avid animal lover, she just didn’t see anything beautiful about this pig. I thought he was just beautiful and said so. I scratched and rubbed on him a little while he slept knowing he wouldn’t allow it once he was awake. Then I thanked the team of people who helped. I really appreciated all of them since they were not pet pig people and had gone out of their way to help. I didn’t want to move him far until he was awake and so drove the 15 minutes back to Phil and Janet Karchnick’s place to await him waking up.

It didn’t take long and he was thrashing about coming out of the Tealazol. I cried and wished I could just hold him so he wouldn’t hurt himself. Soon he made the attempt to stand and Janet and I, in a different vehicle, started our trip to Hamilton. She was going on to Cincinnati and would follow me a ways in case I needed help.

I drove to Lebanon where I had to stop for gas. When I got out of the truck and walk back to pump the gas and he saw me, he went crazy knocking the carrier door plum off. I grabbed it and put on a bungee cord, got my gas and headed onto the Moon-Hennon farm where I was to meet up with Tamara from Safe Harboar.

While on the way Tamara called and said she had a sick pig and couldn’t possibly come there until the following day. When I arrived at the farm, I realized he was way to wild to just turn lose into a pen. He would get away. Chuck put on several other bungie cords to help hold him in while Deanna covered the carrier with the hopes that if he couldn’t see us, he would settle down some. It worked and then I called Tamara back explaining the problem.

She agreed that if I’d return to KY she would meet me in Sparta, KY with a horse trailer and take him back with her. So I was off again to KY. I was really worried of him breaking out but he seemed to settle down when the truck was moving.

We arrived at about the same time. Tamara said she’d just back up to my truck and turn him lose in her trailer. I laughed and said she better first look at how wild he was. We then decided the best thing to do was move the whole carrier into her horse trailer and leave it. Once we moved it into the trailer and brought up the door, she preceded to climb over and release the carrier door so he could come out in the hay. Wham, he was lose and took a flying leap at the back door where I was standing. Talk about “BOAR BREATH”; it would knock you over.

We blocked the door and went in for a cold soda before we both started our journey home. One of the things I worried about was my truck as the engine light had come on before starting my journey to get the boar and I had no idea what was wrong. But when it comes to saving a pig, you do what you have to do. I took it in the following day and it was a speed sensor to my transmission and they were able to fix it without any problems.

Today our Ohio boar has been named Little Richard and is safely residing at Safe Harboar Pig Rescue and Sanctuary in Frankfort, KY. He is no longer a boar as he has made his trip to the vet and that problem was corrected. He is now a barrow. It will take time for him to calm down, but is doing well.

Many thanks go to the people who helped with this rescue. They are: Ann Curry from Oxford, Ohio; Janet Ambrose who drove more than 3 hrs from Meigs County and her vet, Dr. David, Bonnie Tipton and Ron Crosby from Ashville, Oh, Bob and Dixie Winters who allowed us to rescue him from their farm on State Route 188 in Fairfield County, Ohio, and Jim and Tamara Schweitzer of Safe Harboar in Frankfort, KY.

Because of all their generosity, he now is living a very safe and happy life. Dixie couldn’t believe that people would travel so far just to rescue a pig. Now she knows how much we care about them and not just us pet pig owners, but animal lovers from every where that came to help. To them, “Little Richard” will be eternally grateful as I am also.

By: Lana Hollenback

I want to go back. Back to a simpler time. A time when families were held together with super glue and extended well beyond just mom, dad and grandpa and grandma. Where sisters actually hung out together and shared those timely secrets that only sisters can. A time when brothers looked out for their sisters and didn’t let anyone shove them around.

A time on weekends when families got together for cookouts and walks in the park. A time when we looked to our past to find our future.

We thrived on the wisdom of our parents and no nursing home was good enough for our parents. I want to go back.

To a time when families helped each other and their were no hidden secrets in the closets or under the bed. Where we could express our feelings without fear of ridicule from our loved ones. Where folks knew how to put in a full days work for a good days pay. A time when we really knew how to play. Remember Croquette and Dodge Ball or even Roll at the Bat? I want to go back.

To a time when mom didn’t have to work just so Dad could drive that fancy new car. And Dad made enough money to put groceries on the table and when the blessing was said, every head at the table bowed even if it was only beans and tators. To a time when families could laugh and play and love and just be families. I want go back.

I’m living way to fast you see and the weight of life is weighing me down. But not to worry, I won’t burden you with my problems. You’re much to busy, I know. You need those name brand clothes and the kids need that in-ground pool. They have to impress those friends at school. And lest we forget, there’s a church at the end of the street. I want to go back.

But it’s way to late and we can’t go back. So I’ll look to the future and to the crossing of the bridge of life. As I looked into the eyes of my aging mother with Alzheimer’s and realize she didn’t even really know me, I was not frightened. You see, none of us know each other any more. We’re living way to fast. I want to go back.

Birds and animals never cease to amaze me. Especially in the bird kingdom seeing that I have had a fear of chickens and birds for years. It has taken me years to get to where I really can be with or near them without fear. Who knows, maybe the day will come when I can enter our chicken pen and not be faced with that fear. But for now I enjoy the smaller birds. Dick and I both love just sitting on the porch and listening and watching them as they go about their day.

We also own cats. You don’t have to be smart to understand the humor there as our cats love to hunt. We have rescued lots of birds right out of their mouths as they try and sneak them into the house. We always are blessed when we have saved one and it can then fly away to resume it’s life in the wild.

A couple years ago was one of those saves but this time not just from the jaws of the cat but from Dick and the mower. I heard an unusual noise coming from the sun room so I went to inspect as our cats have a way of upsetting things as they play and chase an occasional bee that has gotten in. When I enter the room I just stopped. There was a baby robin trying to get into through the screen and my cat was on the inside trying to grab it. I hit panic mode as I knew I couldn’t open the screen and safely grab the bird. So I ran as fast as these old crippled legs could run out the front door, down the stairs and around the house. The bird was a robin and partially feathered out just hadn’t enough feathers to fly yet. Needed a few more days. When I round the house it was gone. I stood and listened for it and then fear struck. I heard it in the pasture not far on the other side of the fence but along with that, Dick was coming that way with the mower and I knew he wouldn’t see it in the tall grass and he’d run over it. I ran through the gate and got on the far side of it and it saw me and began to hop as fast as it could in to the pig pen. Talk about fear. I could just see Damien or Sammy having fresh meat for lunch. But they just stood and watched it has it continued on through their pen. I finally got Dick’s attention and he stopped the mower and came to see what I was doing. I told him about the baby bird and he went after it and finally caught up and picked it up. I thanked him and took it. It was so small and scared. I cuddled it and petted it and assured it we’d do all we could to help. I saw mamma and daddy not far off watching to see what I was going to do.

Now Dick, a couple years ago, nail up a basket on the side of a tree that we use to put some of the birds that are in shock but ok, so they can recover and fly away. I had hoped it might stay there and mamma could feed and care for it. But it had better ideas and hopped out and to the ground. I followed behind as mamma began to call to it. It would stop and just look at me and then hop on. Then it made it to the edge of the pasture where the weeds were high against the fence. Mamma began to gather a few worms and take it to it one at a time. I also knew there was a hole in the bottom of the old oak stump where it was hiding in the grass. I sat on the porch and watched it and mamma and daddy care for it. But also astounding was the fact that two finches came and helped to stand guard of it while mamma and daddy went worm hunting.

As evening fell, I went in praying that God would care for it and keep it safe. Next day I watched again as mamma fed it and it would then run back inside the old tree stump. About four days went by and I saw it in the yard and it flew up onto the fence. It was still alive. It looked my direction but just sat there and wasn’t afraid of me. I saw it off and on during that day. Then two days ago it was flying really good. But here is the heartwarming part of it all.
It landed in the yard as I stood on the porch and I began to talk to it. It hopped towards my voice and looked up from the ground and was really close to the porch. Then it flew away to the fence. Today as Dick and I sat on the porch listening and watching the birds, here it comes and landed just maybe 4 feet from the porch and chirps at us. Then mamma came and landed right beside it and just looked at us and then slowly hopped away and the baby followed. I got the feeling it knew we meant no harm. What a blessing that was. Never under estimate the beauty of nature. It is one of God’s most beautiful part of creation.

Before I begin, please let me say that I am not pointing a finger at anyone nor do we love anyone the less just because we are from the old school and they are from a newer school. We each have to find our own way to live our lives to the fullest, love each other, respect each other and so forth. But for Dick and I, we are from the old school.

When we traveled to Florida and back in May of 2009, I left there with a feeling of forlorn and not really understanding why I was feeling that way. I thought maybe it was because we were once again leaving our children behind as we traveled home to Tennessee. I was so confused over the feelings that I never mentioned them to Dick. I’m good at “stuffing” my feelings unless I have a good reason to expose them.

Well, we  made another trip to Florida because Dick wanted the chance to see his brother one more time before he died. So off we went and Dick got to spend several days with him in Hope Hospice and on Tuesday in his own home where they brought him to die. Deb, Dick’s sister had flew down from Ohio to take care of him.

Dick also enjoyed seeing our grand kids and being able to spend time with them. Then we were headed home. I was dealing once more with those feelings. On the way down we had heard a country song on the radio “We’re from the old school” and on the way home I began thinking about it and the words. Then to my surprise Dick began to talk about his feelings and how disappointed he was at how we were treated by some. So we began dialoguing about the “old school” and soon it was becoming clear to what we were feeling and we were able to discuss it openly. We readily agreed that we are from the “old school.”

Let me explain if I can. We were raised to respect each other in our families and to love them no matter what. We were taught to “open doors”, say “please” and “thank you” and to always favor those who were not always with us all the time. Company always came first. We would cancel plans just to be there with company and to show them good old school hospitality so to speak. Never would or could we ever think of telling someone that we had other plans or had to be at work if we knew their visit was a short one and that it would be awhile before we saw them again. We were raised that it was only fitting to cancel our own plans to accommodate whoever was visiting. No way would we get up and walk out of a room leaving company to fend for themselves. Just how we were raised.

Yet we found ourselves entertaining ourselves for the most part and leaving for home without anyone there to see us off. Left us with a feeling of void. Now we are not dumb and know that sometimes things just happen that we have no control over. Sometimes work takes top priority. But we would see that someone, somehow was there.

We were amazed that our niece not only greeted us outside as we drove to her place but they spent the entire time sitting with us and showing pictures. What a blessing. Then there was Greg who knew we would arrive late in the evening and we had planned on leaving when he left the next morning for work. But he also is from the old school and when we woke up, he had called into work to say he’d be late and he had prepared breakfast for us and then helped us load the car so that we could travel on to Fort Myers to see Todd. This gave us a feeling of being cared for and we really appreciated it. Yet others, although they love us and we love them, had their own lives to live and went on with it. Even our granddaughter that we had helped to raise, got up and went outside just leaving us sitting. Didn’t even bother to ask us to go outside with her. Just got up and went. We went back to our room with a feeling of not being wanted, yet we do understand that we are from the old school.

Dick and I agreed that we feel sorry for those who have not learned these lessons. They are missing out on so much of what family and friends are all about. We have a generation of children who will never know their extended families and relatives. They won’t know about their background or where they came from. They will have no connection to the past. And because they don’t know, they don’t want to know. They feel it is ok and life goes on. Dick and I wander who will tell their children who they really are and where they really came from. Who will tell them where their “roots” run.

Yes, we are from the “Old School.” We know where relatives live, died and are buried. We know where we come from and where our roots lie. We love visiting the “old home” places and cemeteries and learning who this person was that belonged to our family. Gives us a sense of belonging and worth that cannot be described in simple terms.

Dick has always had a time dealing with his feelings and it was no different this time. But by talking it through and seeing our family for who they are and not what we could make them be, finally put our feelings to rest. Our hurt turned to pity for things they will never know or feel. We are just two old folks from the Old School who love their kids and grand kids.

Here we will share our love of God, family and country. We hope you will enjoy some of what we share and we welcome comments. Even if you don’t agree with us. You will learn about God and His creation. We’ll share our love of family and how important they are to us. You’ll see our love of country and our belief that God is in control and He will lead us home to Him one day. You’ll also see poetry and other types of writings along with songs. We hope you will leave us feedback and come back often for love always last a life time.