News 2008

The Babies Get Their First Haircut - June, 2008

Although Thumbelina, a year-and-a-half old, didn't care for the blower used to initially get dust and hay out of her fiber, she behaved like a trouper for the rest of the process.

Isadora Junebug - Izzy for short - was a whole other story. We'll chalk it up to her youth. She turned one year old this week.

Thanks to Barbara Garlick for taking the pictures. (This is one of the few times you'll see Nancee Moster Pontious in front of the camera instead of behind it.) And thanks to Chrystal Chaddock of Sun Valley Llamas for recommending Leigh Snyder and her daughter Jaye, llama groomers par excellence!

Click each picture to display a larger image.

The Pontious Farm Kicks Off Blueberry Season with a Piatt County Animal Shelter Kitten Shower - June, 2008

The 2008 UPIK blueberry season at The Pontious Farm in White Heath, Illinois, is almost here.

"Everything has been late this year because of the cool, rainy spring," said Rick Pontious of the Pontious Farm. "But we should have enough ripe berries to formally open the blueberry field on Saturday, June 28th."

On the same day, the Piatt County Animal Shelter will kick off the opening of their portable facility at The Pontious Farm with a Kitten Shower & Adopt-a-thon.

"A kitten shower is like a wedding shower," said Diana McPheeters, shelter board president,"except we're asking people for pet food and supplies to help care for more than 50 cats and kittens we're fostering."

Shelter volunteers will be available at the Pontious Farm every Saturday from June 28th through August 30th to show adoptable animals to potential fur-ever families.

"The portable facility will give the shelter an actual presence at The Pontious Farm until our permanent structure is finished," said Peggy Currid, shelter volunteer. "We want people to know the Piatt County Animal Shelter is 'in business' at The Pontious Farm now!"

About the Piatt County Animal Shelter

The newly formed Piatt County Animal Shelter is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to establishing an animal shelter in Piatt County. Its short-term goals:

• Establish and run a facility to care for small animals abandoned in such Piatt County towns as Cerro Gordo, Cisco, Deland, Hammond, Lodge, Mansfield, and White Heath.
• Educate the public about the most important way to solve the problem of stray and abandoned animals: spay/neuter pets.

Its long-term goal: Establish a full-service humane society/SPCA organization with the capability to care for both large and small animals.

For more information...

Sweet Dreams, Peanut Butter - June, 2008

Sweet girl, you made so many friends during your too-short stay with us. We all miss you. Buddy, Squirt, Mikey, Ginger, and Louise, please look out for Peanut Butter and show her the ropes.

The Pontious Farm Made the News Again - June, 2008

Over six inches of rain in less than 24 hours - on top of the deluge the week before and after. Is it time to build an ark?

News-Gazette: Wet spring a boon for some plants

Nancee's Brother and Sister-in-law Say Hi - April, 2008

Nancee Moster Pontious's brother and sister-in-law paid a short visit in mid-April.

Neal and Jean Ann used to walk llamas at the Kansas City Zoo, so Rick and Nancee insisted they say hello to Thumbelina and Isadora Junebug.

Click each picture to display a larger image.

Isadora Junebug's First Day at the Pontious Farm - March, 2008

Nancee Moster Pontious asked Rick Pontious what he wanted for his birthday and he replied, "Just you, baby!"

Nancee had something a little more special in mind: A nine-month-old llama to keep thirteen-month-old Thumbelina company. Enter Isadora Junebug from Sun Valley Llamas in Canton, IL -- Izzy for short.

Click a picture to display a larger image.

Rick's Attitude Toward Cats - March, 2008

Richard Pontious says he's a dog person. He has always been a dog person. He has the typical farmer's attitude toward cats. "Yeah, right," says Nancee Moster Pontious. "Then explain this picture!" In 2004, when it became apparent that Moonbeam, a stunning white kitten with one blue eye and one brown eye, couldn't hear, Nancee moved her inside to ensure a chance at survival. Rick protested, "We have enough indoor cats!" A week later, you couldn't separate him from that cat! Moonbeam's favorite spot to this day: Curled up in Rick's arms.

Proud Father Announces Engagement - February, 2008

Richard Pontious is delighted to announce the engagement of his son, David Charles Pontious, to Megan Ashley Mehan. David is a First Lieutenant in the Air Force. He is currently stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina. Megan currently lives in Dadeville, Alabama and is studying to be an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). She plans to obtain her EMT license in the spring of 2008. Stepmother Nancee Moster Pontious is also delighted because Megan has already proven she can wrap David around her little finger. That's really important because Nancee knows firsthand that Pontious men are a handful!

Pontious Farm Welcomes Wesson - February, 2008

Meet Wesson, a nine-year-old Australian cattle dog Rick and Nancee Moster Pontious recently adopted. Wesson and Thumbelina are competing for herding rights to the Pontious Farm menagerie.

New Piatt County Animal Shelter Finds Home at the Pontious Farm - January, 2008

Diana McPheeters and Kimberly Spark, founders of a newly formed not-for-profit organization dedicated to establishing an animal shelter in Piatt County, have found a home for the fledgling facility in a building on the Pontious Farm in White Heath, Illinois.

The Piatt County Animal Shelter will care for animals abandoned in such Piatt County towns as Cerro Gordo, Cisco, Deland, Hammond, Lodge, Mansfield, and White Heath.

Historically these services were provided by the Animal Hospital of Monticello, even though the hospital’s contract with Piatt County Animal Control obligates it to care only for animals abandoned in Monticello and unincorporated areas of Piatt County. The hospital no longer has the resources to care for the increasing number of stray animals from other Piatt County towns.

Dr. Kay Lindsay, DVM, head of the hospital, has offered to work with the new shelter to provide veterinary care as well as spay/neuter and microchip services. And the entire hospital staff has worked to help the new shelter get started.

Diana McPheeters also heads Wild 4 Life, a not-for-profit, state and federally licensed, wildlife rehabilitation organization from her home. The University of Illinois and the Animal Hospital of Monticello provide medical services for the rescued mammals, small birds of prey, migratory birds, and reptiles native to Illnois until they are released back to the wild. Wild 4 Life, which will continue to operate from McPheeters’ home, cares for an average of 300 animals annually. The self-proclaimed “crazy cat lady” also runs a feline rescue service, finding homes for vaccinated and neutered cats and kittens.

“Piatt County has had a serious need for a shelter for a very long time,” said McPheeters. “Neighboring counties cannot take Piatt County animals because of overcrowding, and the Animal Hospital of Monticello is taxed for space. Kim and I decided we needed to do something.”

Kimberly Spark is a certified veterinary technician who works full time at The Animal Emergency Clinic in Champaign. She served her internship at The Animal Hospital of Monticello. Spark and her son also volunteer at Wild 4 Life and McPheeters’ feline rescue service.

Richard and Nancee Moster Pontious are leasing a building to the Piatt County Animal Shelter for one dollar per year. “Anyone who has ever visited the Pontious Farm knows how much Nancee and I love animals,” said Richard. “We’re glad we can help Diana and Kim focus on their mission as the shelter gets rolling and grows, and we hope the shelter and its animals will benefit from the hundreds of families that visit the farm each year.”

Diana and Kimberly, who plan to expand and remodel the building in phases, estimate they need at least $100,000 to open the doors. Their ultimate goal: create a full-service humane society/SPCA organization.

The new Piatt County Animal Shelter will be a registered 501c3 organization. It needs and welcomes donations of any kind, including money, building supplies and services, pet supplies and services, and the equally valuable donation of time. Donations are tax deductible.

For more information, see Word of Mouth/Piatt County Animal Shelter.

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