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Paws-Ability’s 2nd Annual Golf Tournament

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New Red Toe Day for Valentine’s Day

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Forming New Committees for our Golf Tournament

As they dig their way out of the nest, there is always an audience waiting anxiously to see these sweet creatures get ready for the swim of their lives.

The turtles seek light as a guide to the sea. The patrol will dig a trough to ease their treck to the ocean and provide a light to guide them. When they have imprinted long enough to know where to come back to their place of birth, the turtles are helped into a tub and brought to the water’s edge. The mother turtles usually lay their eggs in the lower part of the beach strand where beach goers walk. After the patrol spots a new nest, the nest is dug up and each egg is carefully placed in a new nest the same shape and in the same order they were laid, counting as they go. This new nest is in a safe place in the dunes, away from beach goers and covered with screening to keep out crabs, fox, opossum and racoons.
After this is done,the waiting begins. Since it’s been a very warm summer, the usual 55 days to hatching was a lot shorter. As soon as there is movement at the site, patrol members and visitors keep a nightly vigil waiting for them to hatch.

People who rent or live on the first row of homes on the ocean front are asked to keep their outside lights out so the turtles won’t travel in the wrong direction. Any visitors are told not to have their flashlights on and the awaiting crowd sits in the dark and talk or just enjoy the beautiful night sky – waiting.

When the boil (many turtles bubbling up to the surface at the same time) arrives, the patrol jumps into action to help their babies to the ocean. The visitors watch this wonderful site as I did tonight.

When the tub is brought to the ocean’s edge, all visitors will be asked to stay on the dry part of the strand and when the turtles are released, everyone stands firmly in place because the tide goes in and out and no one wants to step on any of them.
I’ve seen some turtles take 15 or more minutes to really get into the water because they kept on being swept back to land over and over.
Tonight, it was one wave and they were gone to make that dangerous swim way out in the ocean to the seaweed area called the sargassum sea. Sargassum is a type of seaweed.
It’s a long and dangerous trip and not many make it because they are a tasty dish to a lot of predators.

For the ones that do, the female will return many years later to the same beach to lay their eggs.

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Turtle Hatching

Despite earlier success after we made the switch to our new software, Brunswick Voice didn’t have the amount of interaction we would have liked. We are not going to continue BrunswickVoice.com and have decided to focus our efforts on other areas of coverage for Brunswick County.

One focus is our Brunswick Today Blog (http://brunswick.blogs.starnewsonline.com) started by Shelby Sebens. Shelby provided expanded coverage of the county, from government issues to items about people, events and quirky things that don’t always fit in the newspaper. She has recently handed the reins to Andrew Dunn, who looks to continue what Shelby started. Another change is Si Cantwell is coordinating our Neighbors content. People are encouraged to contact him at Si.Cantwell@StarNewsOnline.com for inclusion in the section.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in BrunswicVoice.com.

Wag Shag is coming! Volunteers are needed before and during the event. For more information or to order tickets to this event, go to http://www.paws-ability.org and click on the events page.

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Wag Shag Is Coming!

Cat Tails had 2 kitties adopted. One was a black cat. In case you are not aware, black cats are the LEAST likely cats to find homes! Imagine that! If you are ever looking to adopt a cat from Cat Tails, remember these “black beauties” and give them a chance. Black cats need love too! Cat Tails had a feral baby from OIB that has taught us all a lesson. The kitty was born feral and now lays on her back for tummy rubs! If you every thought feral cats are different from any other domestic cat, this certainly shows there is no difference. Isn’t it amazing what a little love will do!

NC Rescue League had a small dog adopted. He was a terrier mix and left with his new family actually smiling!

Adopt an Angel brought 2 adult, large dogs, Hannah and Blackie. They were surrendered by an elderly couple when their living arrangements changed due to health. The dogs were very loved and cared for and both were trained very well. Both dogs were adopted together. What a lucky family they are!

Our children’s program, PETUCATION, chaired by Cameron Brand handed out lots of brochures to introduce the program to elementary schools in the county.

Best Friends Biscuits, our new business member showed off their hand made dog treats. Her treats are sold at the Coffee dog in Calabash if you need more.

The day actually made about $400 for our shelters thanks in part to our raffle items that were donated and those fabulous hot dogs!

A rather large THANK YOU goes out to Cheri Hewitt and GreenUp! Cheri has worked on this adoption fair all year. Without the efforts of all volunteers and planners, Saturday would never have happened. Thank you for your time, efforts and your caring that made this day a success. Know that your efforts mean 5 animals have found forever homes! I am always so proud of this organization!

Janie Withers

To view a slide show of the Adoption fair or the First Annual Paws-Ability Golf Tournament, please click on the title of this post to be taken to http://www.paws-ability.org.

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Paws-Ability’s Adoption Fair