Sgt. Mark George, head of the Chicago Police Department’s Animal Crimes Unit, will be among the panelists at PAWS Chicago’s first Speaker Series event of the year.
Joining George at the forum, scheduled from 6-8 p.m. April 16 at the PAWS Chicago Training Center at 1933 N. Marcey St., will be Cari Meyers, founder of The Puppy Mill Project; Laurie Maxwell, PAWS Chicago’s community outreach manager, PAWS For Life; and John Caruso, PAWS Chicago’s humane education manager.
The series will focus on community outreach and animal welfare issues. Topics will include Chicago’s progress in achieving a no kill community, humane education, PAWS Chicago’s “PAWS For Life” initiative and efforts to combat puppy mills. Families are encouraged to attend and bring any questions they may have.
Animal abuse/neglect awareness
With April being Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, Animal Education and Rescue is hosting a timely event to raise awareness of animal abuse and neglect in Lake County.
The presentation, from 1-3 p.m. April 25 at Cook Park in Libertyville, will include animals that have survived abuse and are now thriving. In addition, people who are making a difference in helping animals will be honored. Sandy Kamen Wisniewski, founder of Animal Education and Rescue, will speak about the importance of animals in people’s lives.
The nonprofit AER (www.aear.org ) is a foster-based humane society located in Libertyville that not only finds home for rescued animals (including small mammals and birds), but also emphasizes community programs.
Birdiest botanical gardens
Chicago Botanic Garden has made the list of America’s top 10 “birdiest” botanical gardens.
Birds & Blooms magazine, a longtime favorite for bird, butterfly and garden enthusiasts, has chosen the top two gardens in each of five categories. The Chicago Botanic Garden made the list under Gardens for Migrants. According to Birds & Blooms, the Glencoe treasure “attracts waves of migratory songbirds, including sparrows and warblers in spring and fall. Key spots in the 385-acre garden include McDonald Woods, the Sensory Garden, the Picnic Glen and the Waterfall Garden. In winter, visit feeders at the Enabling Garden to observe pine siskins, common redpolls and other hardy birds.”
For the full list, visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/birdiest-botanical-gardens
Best plants to attract birds
Audubon Magazine has suggested 10 native plants to attract birds.
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On the list are flowering plants (purple coneflower, sunflower, milkweed, cardinal flower), vines (trumpet honeysuckle, Virginia creeper, buttonbush, elderberry) and trees (oak and dogwoods).
For a look at each of the 10, and excellent resources for further research, go to http://www.audubon.org/news/10-plants-bird-friendly-yard.
Hank bobbleheads, more for sale
Remember Hank, the injured stray who showed up at the Milwaukee Brewers’ Arizona spring training facility last year? He’s back for 2015.
Hank, a small white mixed breed, wasn’t in the best shape when he wandered into training camp. He’d apparently been hit by a car, suffered a cut and had two chipped teeth. The Brewers got him back to health, and when his owner couldn’t be found, he was adopted by a team official. He became an immediate hit among players and fans, a sort of unofficial Brewers mascot.
The team’s sale of Hank souvenirs is benefiting the Wisconsin Humane Society, which gets 20 percent of the revenue generated. So far Hank merchandise has brought in $200,000 to the Brewers.
Plans are for Hank — named after Milwaukee legend Hank Aaron — to be honored with a bobblehead doll, to be given to fans on Mother’s Day.
As Brewers chief operating officer Rick Schlesinger told the Associated Press, “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Hank is extremely popular.”