Humane Society

Horses that pulled wagons loaded with strawberries and cantaloupe were put out to pasture Tuesday after city animal control and humane society officials closed the largest stable that had housed the animals. Baltimore City Health Department officials, in conjunction with the Humane Society of the United States, confiscated 19 horses owned by a-rabs, the name given to street vendors who sell produce from red wagons that have long swayed along city alleys and roads to the jingle of silver-toned bridle bells.

Unless you live in Western Maryland, it's rare to see a bear. And even there - home to more than 600 bears - it's pretty rare. To address the bruin identity crisis, Department of Natural Resources biologists worked with teachers seven years ago to develop black bear education trunks, a half-dozen wheeled, 30-gallon plastic storage bins stuffed full of the bear necessities for a tutorial. Each box contains a hide, a plastic skull, a rubber paw print and scat replica along with a lesson plan tailored to grade levels K-12, a slide show and a video.

SALARY: $40,000 AGE: 34 TIME ON THE JOB: Seven months HOW SHE GOT STARTED: Heather Hart graduated with a bachelor's degree in Spanish from the University of South Carolina. She said she was always interested in photography and opened her own business to take on freelance assignments and portrait photography. At the time, she also volunteered with a nonprofit known as Project Pet. In 2005, she went to the New Orleans area on a magazine photo assignment after Hurricane Katrina. "I didn't spend any time taking photographs and spent all my time rescuing animals," Hart said.

The NFL season has begun, and I know who I am rooting for. Michael Vick. Once the highest-paid and perhaps most dynamic player in professional football, Mr. Vick has paid the highest price in the history of animal cruelty. And he is still paying. Now working as a gadget guy and back-up quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, Mr. Vick has a target on his back and a price on his head - a Philadelphia animal rescue group will make a donation every time Mr. Vick is tackled. Nice. I guess animal loving doesn't extend to human beings.

A new program that redistributes shelter animals has left the Humane Society of Baltimore County atypically flush with yipping, yapping and springing small dogs and puppies. This weekend, 31 pups arrived at the Reisterstown shelter from rural Tennessee. Because that shelter was overflowing with animals and was prepared to euthanize them, the Humane Society agreed to take in the dogs. According to Heather Hart, the Humane Society's animal center director, the swap is a new initiative aimed to bring dogs from crowded Southern shelters to the North, where they're more in demand.

Peter John Wilkinson A Memorial Service is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Saturday June 13 at the Rachel Carson Conservation Park, 22201 Zion Road, Brookeville, MD 20833. In lieu of flowers the family requests that Memorial contributions be made in his name to Maryland Border Collie Rescue, The Humane Society, or Operation Family Fund.

Ex-church deacon arrested in molestation case A 48-year-old former church deacon was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexually molesting a boy who had been a member of his church, according to city police. Curtis Allen, 48, of the 5200 block of Cuthbert Ave. faces 13 charges of sexual abuse of a minor, rape and sexual assault. Allen is a former deacon at Beth-El Temple Church of Christ, in the 3900 block of W. Rogers Ave. Police began investigating the case after the 16-year-old contacted the department last year, a spokesman for the department said.

President Barack Obama fulfilled a campaign promise to his daughters with their new puppy, but the decision to forgo a shelter dog is sure to leave some animal activists growling. Bo, a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog, will make his public debut at the White House on Tuesday after months of intense speculation about his arrival. The first pooch is a gift from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat who owns three Porties and wanted the Obamas to follow suit. The housebroken puppy, which has been undergoing extensive training in recent weeks, was named Charlie by his original owners, but first daughters Malia and Sasha rechristened him Bo in honor of their cousin's cat of the same name.

On Wednesday, March 4, 2009, Milton E. Triplett, Sr. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens beginning at 10:00 A.M. In edition to flowers, friends are encouraged to make donations in Milton's name to: The Humane Society of Harford County, Inc., 2208 Connolly Road, Fallston, Maryland 21047.

On December 16, 2008, Thelma M. Donhauser Peddicord Friends may call at the family owned Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc., 1050 York Road (beltway exit 26), on Saturday from 11 AM until 12 PM, at which time a Funeral Service will be held. Interment Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. In lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her name to The Humane Society of Harford County, Inc., 2208 Connolly Road, Fallston, MD 21047.