SAVVYkids | October 2021

PHOTO BY BRIAN CHILSON

PET SOUNDS

ADOPTING THE RIGHT PET FOR YOUR FAMILY.

BY KATHERINE WYRICK PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN CHILSON

THE PULASKI COUNTY SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

Visual Arts students are

IS PROUD TO CELEBRATE ITS FINE ARTS PROGRAMS

represented in Young

ACROSS THE DISTRICT IN THE MAUMELLE, MILLS,

Artist Competitions and

ROBINSON, AND SYLVAN HILLS FEEDER ZONES.

service projects in the

PCSSD offers a wide variety of Performing and Visual Arts courses for our students. The District is

surrounding communities.

The students’

annually represented in All-Region Bands, Choirs, and

success is leading to an

Orchestras as well as participation in the All-State

increased interest in all

Music Conference, which includes Bands, Orchestras,

of the fine arts programs

and Choirs. Our Performing Arts ensembles also

across the District.

compete in Region Concert Performance Assessments

“The program has

and State Concert Performance Assessments,

grown from about 30

Region and State Marching Band Assessments,

kids in choir when

Forensic and Competitive Speech tournaments. Our

I started, to now 65,” said Joe T. Robinson High School Choir Director Mr. Edmond Hampton. “We have had students get statewide accolades and Superior ratings during assessments. We face some challenges but are still finding ways to be successful and give encouraging experiences to our students.”

In addition to band, choir, and orchestra, theatre programs are always popular among students.

“Enrollment and participation in theater is the highest it has been in years,” said Mills University Studies High Theater Director Patrick Laxson. “The energy and enthusiasm of our students will be evident for all to see on the stage in our productions this year!”

PCSSD also offers a number of visual arts programs, including drawing, pottery, painting, printmaking, and art history.

December 2019

ABOUT PCSSD Pulaski County Special School District spans more than 600 square miles in central Arkansas and requires highly skilled and passionate personnel to adapt educational policies and personalization to 25 schools.

Every school is accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. PCSSD has served schools across Pulaski County since July 1927.

PCSSD is committed to creating a nationally recognized school district that assures that all students achieve at their maximum potential through collaborative, supportive and continuous efforts of

501.234.2000

all stakeholders.

ON THE COVER, LONGTIME ANIMAL ADVOCATE AND NEW MOM CASEY CARTER WITH SON, BENJAMIN, AND DOG, SAMSON. LEFT, ALANA BUZATU WITH ADOPTED DOGS SAM AND EDDIE PLUS A RECENT ROADSIDE RESCUE.

I

t is said that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. I’ve always subscribed to the belief that the same goes for pets: When the person is ready, the dog will appear. A little metaphysical maybe, but my family’s experience bears that out. Our first dog came from the side of a highway in Nashville. He walked like a Tennessee walking horse, so when asked what breed he was, we responded “Tennessee walking dog.” We attributed his wonky gait to being run over by multiple cars, but who knows? A terrier mix, Lucky looked like a cross between a possum and a polecat. He barked for 17 years straight. He was my familiar, my first child. He tolerated the birth of my kids and gradually warmed to them, making it his mission to get them to school on time and generally keep them in line. He didn’t approve of dancing; he was puritanical in that way.

In recent years we had Leon, literally a junkyard dog, discovered under the rusted shell of a car as a puppy. A hound/Great Pyrenees mix — with the tell-tale double dew claws — he was standoffish but serene, dignified and steadfast. He had a spot shaped like a clover near his tail and died too young from cancer at the start of the pandemic. We emptied his ashes in the Little Maumelle during that brutal summer, and at that very moment, a hawk erupted into the air from the tree line and soared above us.

Thanks to one of the women interviewed below, Casey Carter of Rock City Rescue, we’ve had Tallulah (or Tü), a corgi/collie mix, for more than four years. I spotted her across a crowded Etsy fest, looking ill at ease in a sea of legs. She’s vulpine with a glorious, gratuitous plumed tail. She sits upright like a prairie dog on the couch. She lacks boundaries and loves her people with an ardor bordering on the neurotic.

Our most recent addition, Ruth, was dumped in our neighborhood a year ago, traumatized, emaciated, skittish, afflicted with every sort of parasite imaginable and infested with fleas and ticks. My husband reminds me often that when we first saw her, I turned to him and mouthed, “She’s the one.” She’s a pesky little sister to Tü, but the perfect match for an equally energetic, playful 9-year-old boy. She has the long, slow howl of a hound.

That’s our story. Here are a few from other parents who are passionate about their pets — who know that “pet” is really a misnomer; that “family member” is far more accurate.

CARE

JOHN HARDIN BALE WITH HIS RESCUE GIRL, BAILEY.

ADDITIONAL ADOPTION CENTERS: • • • •

Little Rock Animal Village The Humane Society of Pulaski County Jacksonville Animal Shelter North Little Rock Animal Shelter

Dina Buzatu is a lifelong animal lover who started rescuing while growing up in New Orleans. Her family eventually followed suit. Buzatu’s parents now have 10 rescues of their own at their home in Mississippi (where there’s ample space for running and roaming). When Dina’s family fled New Orleans during Katrina, they landed in Benton with 18 dogs and two cats in tow (one of whom they’d picked up on the way out of town). A very charitable hotel owner housed them all for free, even giving the dogs a room of their own.

Dina’s husband, Dan, a research chemist at UA Little Rock originally from Romania, had a purebred dog when they met, but soon came to understand the importance of adoption. Dina said she’s probably taken in 30 dogs over the years.

Her family — Dan and their 10-year-old daughter, Alana — had two senior dogs, both 14 and adopted from the Little Rock Animal Shelter as puppies, but lost one to cancer during the pandemic. “I was heartbroken,” said Dina.

The remaining dog, Eddie, was grieving and lonely, as was Alana, who was already feeling isolated due to the pandemic. It seemed like the right time to welcome another dog into the pack. Dina’s only criterion was adopting one who really needed a home. “I wanted a dog that was hard to place. I want the dog that no one wants.” Enter Sam, a 7-year-old large black hound/Lab mix.

With those three marks against him, Dina said, “His options were limited.”

(See “black dog syndrome.”)

Alana’s one request was getting a dog who could fetch. Sam fit the bill.

“The two of them are so cute together,” Dina said. “Not only does he fetch, but he chases Alana around the house and plays hide and seek with her. He also sleeps in her bed ... they have a very special bond.” Sam helped ease some of the loneliness that Alana — like so many kids — had been feeling during this time.

Eddie, the remaining senior dog (now 15), a Great Dane/black Lab mix, seems to enjoy having another dog around the house, and he’s happy to leave the fetching and playing to Sam. As a Paws in Prison graduate, Sam is obedient, well-mannered and loyal. He’s crazy about toys and likes to select a different one each day to present as an offering to his people. The two inmates who cared for him kept a detailed journal that they gave the family upon graduation. Dina said, “It was hugely helpful in understanding his personality.” For one thing, he had been surrendered by his owner and has some lingering issues related to that. “I feel like he still has hope they’re coming to get him,” Dina explained. Maybe it’s because of her background as a social worker or just her tender heartedness, but Dina seems very attuned to Sam’s feelings and needs. “When you look in Sam’s eyes, there are so many stories to tell. There’s so much behind those eyes.” Dina knows that big changes can be traumatic for people and dogs alike, so she reassures Sam that he’s in his forever home. “He’s just a light.” At first that light was difficult to detect, but then “you could just see it come back,” Dina said.

ROCK CITY RESCUE

When we asked Casey Carter to participate in a story about adoption, she replied, pet or child? Turns out, the founder of Rock City Rescue had recently adopted a baby boy, Benjamin, who is almost 1 and teething like crazy. Carter’s voice has that tired but giddy quality of a new mom.

Having been a “dog mom” for many years, you can tell she’s relishing her new role as mother to Ben. A licensed professional counselor in the Little Rock School District, Carter started Rock City Rescue during a stint with North Little Rock Animal Control about a decade ago. (She saved countless animals from being euthanized while there.) Carter has a “foster fail,” big brother to Benjamin, a handsome 6-year-old chocolate Lab/Chessie mix named Samson. He had a sister (Delilah, naturally) who was adopted. Samson initially went to a family in New Jersey for about a year but was sent back worse for the wear. He returned with major anxiety and had to be put on Prozac. He’s thriving under Carter’s care and is an integral part of her newly formed family.

“He loves Benjamin!” said Carter. The feeling is mutual. What Sam doesn’t love so much? The crying. “That baby cry is very insistent, and one day, I guess I just wasn’t moving fast enough, and he came into the room and looked at me like, ‘Are you going to do something about this?!’ ” You could say rescuing runs in the family. Carter’s mom, who was a rural mail carrier, frequently came across strays on her route. A young Carter hand raised a baby squirrel and bunny and welcomed a menagerie of cats and dogs into their home.

Carter strongly believes that it’s essential to find the right match when adopting a pet — and the onus is on the rescue organization to do that (many of them don’t). Rock City thoroughly vets potential adopters. “We work hard for what is in the best interest of the animal,” Carter said.

Ultimately, that’s what makes for happy pets and people.

OUT OF THE WOODS ANIMAL RESCUE (OOTW)

Kristy Bale admitted to being a bit distracted when answering our questions because her son, John Hardin, age 14, had just discovered that his 9-year-old tarantula, Rosie, passed away. The Bale household is a refuge for animals — and not just the furry and feathered.

Bale and John Hardin live in a rural area of Little Rock with their “rescue pooch, Bailey, her two cats, and countless other critters.”

Bailey, from Out of the Woods Animal Rescue, entered their lives at just the right time, during a very difficult period for their family. “We fell in love the first time we met her and knew she was the one to help us through and be there for us no matter what. Bailey is our mood sensor, our consoler, our teacher in loving others regardless.” Kristy’s husband and John Hardin’s dad, Hardin Bale, died two years ago after a long battle with cancer. Kristy said, “[Hardin] was a true dog lover and grinned ear to ear

when he first met her.”

Hardin and Kristy shared a love of animals. “We both grew up with pets, from cats and dogs to horses and frogs. Our love for animals goes beyond just being a companion. We cherish the responsibilities of being pet parent and an advocate for our furry and oftentimes scaly friends.”

John Hardin has clearly inherited his parents’ love for animals of all stripes (and spots, and scales). When they decided to get a dog, he knew he wanted to adopt. “John Hardin searched for ‘the one’ for a very long time. We were certain that we wanted a more mature dog. Because I work and he is in school, we knew that we should, responsibly, not adopt a puppy.” Bale is a school nurse.

And that’s where OOTW entered the picture. “A huge shout out of gratitude and appreciation to OOTW and their standards on behalf of each animal that comes through their care,” Bale said. During the adoption process, “The OOTW representative was there for all of us, making sure we were all comfortable, including Bailey.”

Bailey is now living her best life as part of a family that loves all things outdoors. Bale said, “From lazy days sitting on porch, to hikes around countryside, to fishing at the ponds, Bailey joins in contently at our side. If she’s aware that an adventure is in the works, she starts hopping and prancing around before we even say, ‘Let’s go, girl!’ ” Asked if she had any advice for those looking to adopt, Bale offered this bit of wisdom, “Be true to your own life and its demands so when your new family member/pet comes, you’ll give them the best of you.”

Most people who choose adoption know the answer to the question, “Who is rescuing whom?”

“Our Rescue Girl has changed our lives,” Bale said. “Our Miss Bailey Wren has proven that we really did have more love to give.”

OCTOBER ACTIVITIES & FUN Oct. 2-30 (except 10/23)

LITTLE ROCK ZOO HOWL-O-WEEN Head to the Zoo for a delightful, frightful Howl-O-Ween Party for three Saturdays in October. Come dressed in your Halloween best, marvel at a magic show, do the monster mash at a dance party or enjoy a ride on the scaredy cat carousel. There will also be keeper chats and animal feedings.

Each Saturday has a theme: 10/2 Super Heroes 10/9 Rock Star Day 10/16 Wild West Day 10/30 Wizards and Witches

Oct. 5

WORLD TEACHERS DAY Shower our beloved, beleaguered teachers with praise and gifts.

Oct. 16

FANCYFUL PRINCESS BALL 10-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3 p.m.

It’s a parade of princesses. At this event, brought to you by the Junior League of Little Rock, you’ll meet all your favorites: The Snow Queen, The Ice Princess, Cinderella, Beauty, The Frog Princess, Rapunzel, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, The Island Princess and Snow White.

To learn more, visit fancyful.com/princess-ball

October 21-31

THE 2021 SIX BRIDGES BOOK FESTIVAL This festival is all virtual this year, and offers an impressive lineup. Two highlights for kids include: Vashti Harrison’s Hello, Star (for young readers) and Sharon G. Flake’s The Life I’m In (for the YA set).

Oct. 30

Oct. 15-24

HILLCREST HARVEST FEST

ARKANSAS STATE FAIR We can still recall the jingle from decades ago, “Fun for all! Fair for all! Arkansas State Fair! Livestock shows! Rodeos!

Family fun! Thrilling rides! Win a prize!

Everybody come!”

It’s back! Maybe. After missing last year due to the pandemic, HarvestFest is planning to return (subject to public health conditions). You can expect all the popular happenings, including the live concert, dog show, food trucks, kids zone and gumbo cook-off. Complete lineup TBA.

Holiday Gifts for Young Dog Lovers!

Pat’s book picks at PatBeckerBooks.com

These beautifully illustrated books are autographed by the authors and are also available in audiobook (audio version available where indicated ) Pat Becker, author and hostess of DogTalkTV.com

Heartwarming stories of dogs finding their forever homes!

FREE SHIPPING for books purchased by Dec. 15!

www.PatBeckerBooks.com