Horseback Riding for Disabled Riders

Photo Courtesy of Spirt Farm

For some individuals who are confined to a wheelchair, experienced an injury, mentally disabled, or has special needs.  Horseback riding has been providing therapy to such individuals for several years.  Horses and the Handicapped of South Florida has served over 120 children and adult riders in Broward and Palm Beach County.  Their mission is to provide therapeutic riding and equine-assited activities for the handicapped so that they may improve physically, mentally, and emotionally.  

This organization hits close to home because my mother is involved in a riding association in Viera, Fl.  She started riding and volunteering at Harmony Farms about four years ago and it has helped her immensely.  Horseback riding has always been one of her favorite activities to do, but it was always difficult for her without help.  Disabled riding has improved her quality of life, balance, and love for horses.  

Horses and the Handicapped of South Florida provides disabled riders the opportunity to achieve goals, building self-confidence, self-awareness, and the enjoyment of riding horses.  This program offers people with special needs recreational therapy and an interaction with the world around them.  Along with fulfilling an ability that they thought they never had.  Employees and volunteers work hard to make sure the program offers pure enjoyment to all individuals.

This program is offered at Tradewinds Park, 3600 West Sample Road, Coconut Creek, Fl.    

Dog Adoption Month

It's that time of year again to make your way over to your local animal shelter or humane society.  October is the United States dog adoption month.  During the month of October, adoptions will be taking place at local parks, stores, and several adoption fairs. 

According to Dogs 4 Life, many dog pounds  will offer discounts or waive fees entirely on dog adoptions.  Another way you can help is visiting fundraising events and/or dog fairs,  where the money raised by several participants will be used to help support homeless dogs.  Other ways you can help is donate blankets, dog sweaters, supplies, money to local shelters or volunteer at a local dog pound.   

Spread the word to everyone you know about dog adoption month.  Homeless dogs and puppies need a loving family and home to go to.  

Pet Guardian Angels of America lists several south Florida animal shelters and dog pounds.

Florida Humane Society: Coral Springs, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Deerfield Beach

Pet Rescue Miami

Abandoned Pet Rescue: Fort Lauderdale

Animal Aid: Boca Raton

Animal Matters: Boca Raton

Get a Life Pet Rescue: Boynton Beach

Pets in Distress: Fort Lauderdale

Safe Harbor and Animal Sanctuary: Jupiter

Adopt A Pet: Miami

North Palm Beach: Palm Beach Pet Rescue

West Palm Beach: Paw 2 Help

Stray Aid and Rescue Promotes Spray/Neutering

With the continued recession and the declining economy, Stray Aid and Rescue is here to help for your lovable pets.  The rescue offers affordable spray/neutering services and adoptions from rescue groups and shelters.  The Stray Aid and Rescue is dedicated in preventing pet over-population and the killing of homeless pets that end up in county shelters.

According to the Humane Society, each year in america 6-8 million homeless animals end up in animal shelters.  Unfortunately, only half of these animals are adopted or moved to non-kill shelters. The other half of these animals who don’t find a home are euthanized to prevent over-population.  It is a pet owners best interest to get their animal sprayed and neutered, to help contain the large amount of animals going into these shelters.

Stray Aid and Rescue will educate you on the importance of getting your pets sprayed/neutered. There is little to no cost for the surgery, so there is no reason not to do it.

Come and visit Stray Aid and Rescue in Fort Lauderdale to see and bring home a sweet and loving pet. They are located at 101 Griffin Road in Dania, Fl.

Wood Stork Endangered or Not?

The wood stork, a native of south Florida, has a possibility of being taken off the endangered species list.  The wood storks are around 45 inches tall with a wingspan of over 60 inches and a long bill used as a killing device. These bird inhabit much of the Everglades and can be seen in marshes and in roadside canals.  Their nest can be found on the top branch of a cypress tree. According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, the wood stork has been on the endangered species list since February 28, 1984.

Environmentalists have raised concerns about housing developments taking over the wood stork's habitat.  According to the Sun Sentinal, "The Florida Home Builders Association last year petitioned the federal government to reclassify the species from endangered to threatened, as a step toward removing it from the list completely."  Environmentalists are taking advantage of this endangered bird, by stoping two home developments in Collier County.

The new housing developments is causing a conflict between the environmentalists and the home owners association. Environmentalists believe the storks habitats are still declining which should keep it at it's current endangered level. On the other hand the home owners feel like it's just excuses from the environmentalists.

Only 100 Florida Panthers Left

The beautiful Florida panther that resides in the southern tip of Florida, is one of the most endangered specie in the world.  As of right now, there are about only 100 panthers roaming around left.  According to the Defenders of Wildlife, panthers habitats are threatened by inbreeding, human development, territorial arguments between panthers, collision of vehicles, and diseases.


             

"Although we call them Florida panthers, these shy cats once roamed throughout the entire southeast from east Texas to the Atlantic and north to parts of Tennessee," said Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge. Right now you can see Florida panthers at Florida National Wildlife Refuge, Big Cypress National Preserve, or Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park.  However, panthers can also be seen crossing highways and around alligator alley in search of a new habitat.  

                           
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There are several organizations and ways that you can help save the Florida panther from becoming extinct.   Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge sells merchandise to support the Florida panther.  Such merchandise includes hats, shirts, coffee cups, and the Florida license plate.  In addition, the Big Cat Rescue, says you can always donate straight to the Florida Panther Refuge or you can adopt your own panther.. 

The beautiful birds at Butterfly World

Living in south Florida, we see a lot of birds flying around town.  However, some of the most beautiful birds are located in the aviaries at Butterfly World in Tradewinds Park.

Photo by Me

Photo By Me

Inside the Jewels of the Sky aviary, hummingbirds go by you with their wings beating 60 times a second.  The humming birds might be the smallest birds in the world, but they can reach speeds of 45 mph and fly in any direction. Butterfly World mentioned, "In proportion to their overall size, they have both the largest brain and heart of any animal, and an amazing heart rate of between 500 and 1200 beats per minute" .  Right now there are 328 known species of hummingbirds  and they can be found in North, Central, and South America.

"Don't forget to cross the Tinalandia suspension bridge to explore the Jewels of the Sky Hummingbird Aviary. Kids especially enjoy the Lorikeet Encounter, where visitors may interact with the "clowns of the bird world" and feed them by hand," advise from Parents Connect.  The lorikeets are known as the  "brush-tongued" parrot because of their long brush-like tongue that makes it easy to feed on nectar and pollen.  These parrots are very fast learners and they enjoy human interaction.  They develop new tricks each day and can also cause trouble in the park.  Lorikeets can be found in the wild or many enjoy owning them as pets.  Lorikeets are beautiful, playful energetic birds. According to Exotic Pet Birds, they love dancing to music which many owners find quite amusing.  

Photo By me

Other birds inside the Jewels of the Sky Aviary are the paradise tanager, gouldian finch, sunbird, and the red-legged honeycreeper.  Come check out these beautiful exotic birds!! 

Contact Info:

3600 W Sample Rd
Pompano Beach, Florida 33066
(954) 977-4400

A Trip to Butterfly World

Photo by me

Photo by Me

 This weekend I went down to Coconut Creek and had the pleasure of going to Butterfly World.  From the moment I entered the park, I was able to see the entire life cycle of the butterflies.  From there on I had the privilege of walking through 4 aviaries to see more butterflies then I have ever seen before.

Photo by Me

Each time I took a step, there was a different butterfly flying by me and being so close that I could see every detail on their wings.  Every time I went to take a photo of a butterfly, they became bigger and more beautiful.  This was one of the most unique experiences to be surrounded by more then 1,000 butterflies, under a beautiful aviary with a habitat unlike no other.

Butterfly World is the biggest butterfly garden in the world and the only one of its kind in the western hemisphere. In the park there is a research building and laboratory dedicated to studying the life of the butterfly.  Each butterfly is different by size, color, and wing span.  Butterflies rely on caterpillar food plants to live off of.  The female butterflies are attracted to the smell of the plants and this is where they lay their eggs.

Photo by Me

Photo by Me

Butterfly World offers classes in producing your own butterfly garden in your backyard.  The "Bring Back the Butterflies Campaign," offers plant guides for creating your own butterfly garden so you can enjoy watching these butterflies at home. The admission price to butterfly might seem a little high, but you can receive a $10 off coupon and learn more about this fantastic park.