Blue Heron  International Pictures LLC 

BOGART

 "Mankind's true moral test consists of its attitudes toward those who are at its mercy -- animals."

                                                                     Milan Kundera    

 Bogart & Friends

                                                                                                             (Photos by Gary Lester)

Two heart-warming stories about the animals we love are featured in this short documentary film. The animals range from the tall to the small.

Viewers will both laugh and cry, as they reflect on their relationships with our fuzzy, furry and feathery friends.

Bogart: Episode 1

Bogart, an African gray parrot who thinks he is human (and calls his owner "Mom"), leads our first animal story.

As with Aesop's Fables throughout the ages, this animal story can teach us lessons about life.

Bogart's story is one of hope. In one sudden, violent moment, he was taken from the safety of  his home by a hawk. His mom hoped against hope for his safe return, and found that sometimes miracles do happen.  

The uplifting story of her "miracle bird" will warm your heart.

Bogart may now be seen on IMDb. Click here.

 Fuzzy Little People: Episode 2

The second story in our animal film is one we are releasing for a second time.

This award-winning short documentary about the plight of un-wanted shelter animals is even more timely today, as we read about people leaving beloved pets behind in foreclosed homes.

Fuzzy Little People is well worth a second look.

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For yet another look at what some of the fuzzy little people are doing to enrich our lives, visit Canine Companions for Independence .

They are a national nonprofit organization with a chapter in Orlando, Florida, and their canine companions are making a huge difference in the lives of disabled adults and children.

Just the type of heart-warming stories we like at  Blue Heron International Pictures.

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    Miss Scarlet Stars on PBS

The animal star of Henry Blackhart is Dead has been cast in a leading role on a new public television program, which debuted in the fall of 2009.

Miss Scarlet of New Smyrna Beach, Florida inked a PBS contract with her paw-print last winter, and her publicist recently announced that she has just completed filming Weird Florida: Roads Less Traveled for PBS.

Originally known as Dakota, Miss Scarlet is a seven year old female boxer born in Sumter County, Florida . She spent the first year of her life as a neglected pup chained to a tree in someone's backyard. Then her life changed for the better, when she was rescued by two animal lovers.

The lovable boxer soon joined the Charlie Carlson family, known throughout Florida as animal and environmental advocates. In their home, she found her mentor, a large, brindle boxer named “Bubba James,” from whom she learned her boxer etiquette.

Much of her charming personality comes from training by her human mother, the late Dottie Carlson. Because of her unique reddish coat, Charlie and Dottie renamed her "Scarlet."

In 2007, Miss Scarlet made her show business debut on stage in a magic show. In 2008, she was featured as a lap dog named “Dolly” in Blue Heron’s Blackhart film.

“We could see right away that she was one very talented boxer,” said executive producer Richard Lester. “She blew away her competition when it came time to present the 2008 Blue Heron Animal Choice Award.”

In 2009, Miss Scarlet, now a veteran canine film actress, began work as a co-star in the Florida PBS special, Weird Florida: Roads Less Traveled.

The program is a one hour, weird and wacky travelogue, featuring Charlie Carlson (known as Florida's Master of the Weird) and Miss Scarlet, who set out on a quest to find the Sunshine State 's most unusual places.

During the filming, Miss Scarlet traveled nearly 1500 miles in the Weird-Mobile, most of it with her head stuck out the window and her chops flapping in the breeze. Despite her sudden rise to fame, she has never lost touch with her canine roots.

Miss Scarlet is fond of walks on the beach, pork chops, and running in large circles. She now resides in luxury with her own six cats and a squirrel in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

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                                                               Freedom and Jeff

                                                                             By Jeff Guidry

 

Freedom and I have been together 10 years this summer. She came in as a baby in 1998 with two broken wings. Her left wing doesn't open all the way even after surgery. It was broken in four places. She's my baby. 

When Freedom came in, she could not stand. Both wings were broken, her left wing in four places. She was emaciated and covered in lice. We made the decision to give her a chance at life, so I took her to the vet’s office.

From then on, I was always around her. We had her in a huge dog carrier with the top off, and it was loaded up with shredded newspaper for her to lie in. I used to sit and talk to her, urging her to live, to fight. She would lay there looking at me with those big brown eyes. We also had to tube feed her for weeks. 

This went on for 4-6 weeks, and by then she still couldn't stand. It got to the point where the decision was made to euthanize her if she couldn't stand in a week.

You know you don't want to cross that line between torture and rehab, and it looked like death was winning. She was going to be put down that Friday, and I was supposed to come in on that Thursday afternoon.

I didn't want to go to the center that Thursday, because I couldn't bear the thought of her being euthanized; but I went anyway, and when I walked in everyone was grinning from ear to ear.

I went immediately back to her cage; and there she was, standing on her own, a big beautiful eagle. She was ready to live. I was just about in tears by then. That was a very good day. 

We knew she could never fly, so the director asked me to glove train her. I got her used to the glove, and then to jesses, and we started doing education programs for schools in western Washington. We wound up in the newspapers, radio (believe it or not), and some TV. Miracle Pets even did a show about us. 

In the spring of 2000, I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. I had Stage 3, which is not good (one major organ plus everywhere), so I wound up doing eight months of chemo. Lost the hair - the whole bit. I missed a lot of work.

When I felt good enough, I would go to Sarvey and take Freedom out for walks. Freedom would also come to me in my dreams, and help me fight the cancer. This happened time and time again. 

She looked at me and wrapped both her wings around me to where I could feel them pressing in on my back (I was engulfed in eagle wings), and she touched my nose with her beak and stared into my eyes, and we just stood there like that for I don't know how long. That was a magic moment.

We have been soul-mates ever since she came in. This is a very special bird. 

On a side note: I have had people who were sick come up to us when we are out, and Freedom has some kind of hold on them.

I once had a guy who was terminal come up to us and I let him hold her. His knees just about buckled and he swore he could feel her power coarse through his body. I have so many stories like that. 

I never forget the honor I have of being so close to such a magnificent spirit as Freedom’s. 

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Jeff Guidry and Freedom are at Sarvey Wildlife Center. Sarvey Wildlife Center is at http://www.sarveywildlife.org/  Since Jeff first wrote the e-mail, he has published a book, and we encourage you to learn more about this amazing story of compassion, and the bond of love that links us with our animals. Please click here.

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Special Feature

           Happy Habitats

                                                                                                                                 (Photos by Gary Lester)

Other lovable creatures we found busy in their natural "happy habitats" while filming Bogart & Friends. 

                                                                                                                (Photo by Adrian van Leen)

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Bogart Premieres At Club Med

Bogart & Friends had its world premiere on January 30, 2009 at The Treasure Coast International Film Festival in Port St Lucie, Florida.

The special screening was held at the luxurious Club Med Sandpiper in Port St Lucie.

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The mountains of North Carolina are the home of the largest cat refuge in the western part of the state.

Dr Harold Sims, known affectionately as Catman 2, has created an unusual feline environment which he describes as 'cats without cages.'

 

There is no doubt that Catman 2 has created the perfect 'happy habitat' for felines.

Please visit this wonderful refuge by clicking here. 

                                                                                         (Photo by Kim Lehmann) 

Feral cats in Oregon enjoy some human hospitality.  Looks like they even have a little cat carrier for napping near the door. Quite the happy habitat!

  
                                                                                        (Photo by Kim Lehmann)  

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         "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."

                                          Anatole France 

    A happy habitat in New Mexico

Wildlife West resident, Sticks, with Roger Alink 

A happy habitat is exactly what Wildlife West Nature Park provides for animals in distress in  the Southwest. 

Wildlife West is a  project created by Roger Alink, who tells us, "Wildlife West Nature Park provides a very special look into the animals and plants that are part of the ecosystems of New Mexico and the Southwestern United States."

"All of the birds and animals at Wildlife West Nature Park are non-releasable, in keeping with our philosophy of bringing education to the public without harming ecological balances in other parts of the region."

For a closer look at Wildlife West Nature Park, click here