{ WOMAN { SHIFT+CONTROL WHO INSPIRES } }
HELEN SERAFINE BY MARY KAY TANDLMAYER
It’s a beautiful late summer Sunday, driving down a back country road, lined with corn and hay fields in Liv-ingston County when I happen upon the non-descript farmhouse. From the road, it looks like any other farm house commonly seen on these rarely trodden roads; but this one is different. It is the house of love, ac-ceptance, and a chance on a new lease on life. This is the home of Helen Serafine. It is The Last Chance Ranch. The farmhouse is surrounded by cornfields, offering a private sanctuary for those that are fortunate to be of residence there. A red barn stands proudly against the back-drop of corn; surrounded by electric fence, and heralding an old Mobile sign with a red horse with wings. The horses are lazily grazing among the green pas-tures, fly masks shielding their delicate eyes, noses and ears from insects, occasionally stomping a foot to shoo away an aggravating bug. It is a peaceful herd, and they pay no mind to my presence. A single, purple petunia sprouts in a corner of the pasture; undisturbed by the grazing horses, signaling pure persistence, growing where it was not intended to, and flourishing among the grasses and pasture weeds. Along the front concrete walkway, old horseshoes have been lovingly preserved in the concrete, as if in trib-ute to this majestic animal. To the east of the horse barn, stands a smaller barn, completely fenced in, the ground below padded with a thick layer of hay. Behind the fence, a Great Pyranese eagerly wags his tail in greeting, and another, Shepard-mix runs along the fence line, happily announcing 306
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my arrival. Joy and con-tentment radiates from the canines. The back yard is an oasis. Gardens overflow with colorful cosmos, petunias and other plantings. A bubbling water garden breaks the silence of the otherwise silent sanctuary. A fire ring, that has been laser inscribed, hails the name of this nurturing place: “Last Chance Ranch”. Helen Serafine is the incredible woman behind it all. Pretty much anything with
a heartbeat can grace the doors of the ranch, and find a forever home that offers unconditional love, training, nurturing and rehabilita-tion. Serafine always had a love for all animals, and, as a child, was known to bring all kinds of creature’s home to her childhood residences in Penfield and Irondequoit. It’s no surprise that she now has a place of her own where she can do just that. Serafine’s first animal was a horse named
Penny. She had been riding Penny for quite some time, when Pen-ny’s owner told her that she was going to sell the horse. Helen was devastated, knowing she could never af-ford the animal. The next day, when Helen came to ride, Penny’s owner told Helen that the horse was now not being sold, and instead, gave the horse to Helen, citing “she will never have a home as good as the one you will give her.” Serafine was elated, and it was a prophetic beginning to where she is now. Currently, The Last Chance Ranch houses 3 horses: Thor, Big Red, and Pursa. 4 dogs: Hank, Floyd, Lucky and Levi. And three cats: Orphan, Booger, and Keets. Over the years, many humans have also found safe harbors within the walls of the farmhouse. Helen’s friends were the ones responsible for dubbing the property with it’s infamous name. Ask anyone that knows of an unwanted soul, and the answer you will get is “Helen will take it.” And ask Helen how she does it, and she responds ‘What’s one more plate? What’s one more bowl of dog food? What’s one more flea shot?” It’s this attitude that makes her the most genuine and giving person I have ever met. All different species have found a home at the ranch, although Helen had to re-home her chickens, lambs and goats. “We have a big problem with Coyotes, and I had to move the smaller animals to a safe place.”,she states. When asked about the most unusual guest she ever hosted” “A pair of peacocks. They were so cool, so beautiful, and very noisy.” she laughs. Her most challenging project: Buck, a mustang horse from Nevada.