On Tuesday February 1st, I found this post on Facebook
copied from a friends post.........52 thoroughbred horses need homes.Will go to Sugarcreek this Sat. for slaughter. Owner died and his son wants nothing to do with them. Most broodmares are broke. some are in foal weanling, yearlings, 2 and 3 yrs old most are gelded. *FREE and papered*. Friend of the deceased is trying to find homes 440-463-4288 or 440-...463-4288 Barnesville, OH.
I hit share and reposted. Seemed like the right thing to do. I love horses and I love helping people. I then sent out a Tweet about it.
I saw at least 5 Facebook friends repost it before I went to bed. At least that many ReTweeted it as well.
Today I wake up and people are contacting me wanting an update on the horses and sending me ideas on rescue programs. People care. Facebook and Twitter give them a place to put that into action.
I became intrigued about this story. I must admit there was a tinge of, "this better not be a hoax". I called the phone number. Mailbox was full.
I started Google searching. 23 pages of posts on every imaginable website. Sure there were the horse people sites but there was also dog people, cat people and then just people. Sites for consumer advocacy on pricing, catheters, virtual assistants, and one that had sex in the title. I didn't want to click there on my company's network!
I found the obituary on Dr. Stearns and comments about what a great man and veterinary business he ran. He was 89 and his wife Nancy had gone before him. He had owned the Euclid Vetinarian Hospital since 1948. His funeral is today.
My guess is he loved those horses. But none of the thousands of people that chose to spread the word about his beloved horses knew him or his bride Nancy, or had ever been to Euclid Veterinary Hospital. All we had was our human spirit that is bathed in kindness. And we had Facebook, Twitter and our websites and blogs. A way to connect our human spirit for the greater good.
So what about the horses. I found this Facebook update. I have left a message for Lynn asking to interview her about this story. I hope after the funeral today there is a huge dinner to honor Dr Stearns, and also to honor Lynn who cared enough to reach out for help and to the thousands that responded. The human spirit is alive and well in the social networks today.
Rest in Peace Dr. Stearns. Your horses will live on. Their colts will be born this spring, because people care.
DR STEARNS HORSES
by Lynn Boggs on Monday, January 31, 2011 at 9:40pm
UPDATE to everyone of my friend new and old, to all those that helped me in any way they could,wether you adopted to refered people or offered services. Typeing this is soo hard for me because an era has ended. Harmony hills farm is no more. i am proud that its legacy did not go down with these beautiful horses going to slaughter. thanks to all of YOU all horses are now adopted. Bless ALL of you for helping me!!!! Please everyone say a prayer that these horses are with loving people
special thanks to Katie who took so many. and to Bob and Teresa at the farm whom i ran ragged these past 3 days. BLESS YOU ALL
