Ophelia's Winter

by Sarah Ann Hill


Formats

Softcover
£9.75
Softcover
£9.75

Book Details

Language : English
Publication Date : 07/09/2000

Format : Softcover
Dimensions : 5x8
Page Count : 148
ISBN : 9781587216817

About the Book

After an owner's death, many companion animals are abandoned or forgotten. They are given to friends or relatives of the deceased who may or may not want to care for them. More often, they are surrendered to an animal shelter. Every person who owns a pet should be concerned with what will happen to them when we die. This is a growing problem that needs to be addressed in one's lifetime.

Ophelia G. McMahon was an American Brown Tabby cat who was adopted from the Clearwater, Florida Animal Shelter. During the "Big Snowstorm of 1993" she became an orphan and ended up in an abusive home. The first time I saw Ophelia, she had been confined in a small bedroom for several months, sharing her home with a ball python. Cowering in a chair beneath a table, she looked up at me with her sad green eyes as if to say, "Help me, please." There was no way I could leave without her.

A growing area of law today in estate planning for pets is the care of one's pet upon the owner's death or incapacity. People are always concerned with passing on wealth to children or other relatives with as little consequences as possible, but what about taking care of a pet! If you die and your pet survives you, the issue is not going to be just leaving enough money for the pet to be cared for in the long run. Who is going to take care of your pet today and tomorrow?

Back in 1946, humorist H. Allen Smith wrote the fictional tale of a cat named Rhubarb who inherited all his owner's wealth and a baseball team. His story contained more truth than fiction.

Benny, Betty and Rambo's owner left a will so detailed that it included instructions for the disposition of her Seiko watch. What about her beloved pets? Philanthropist Jenny Smith's pets ended up in the very animal shelter she'd established a trust fund for. Most recently, JFK Jr's dog Friday and cat Ruby weren't even mentioned in his Last Will and Testament.


About the Author

One of the most famous historical events in Appalachia was the "Miner's March" and confrontation with federal troops which took place at Lens Creek. This event was depicted in the movie MATEWAN. I was born on Sunday, October, 17, 1948 in Charleston, West Virginia and grew up on Lens Creek, three miles from where the famous confrontation took place.

My pseudonym, Sarah Ann Hill, was my great-grandmother's name. She was a family storyteller back in the 1800's.

Since my great-grandfather was West Virginia's first forest ranger, I come by my love for animals naturally. He was a kind, gentleman with soft blue eyes who never met a stranger. He lived until the early 1960's, so I was fortunate enough to have known him.

After my high school graduation at age seventeen, I moved to Washington, D.C., where I worked as a federal employee for a brief period of time. I returned to West Virginia, where I spent the next eight years working for Charleston Newspapers, Inc. In addition to being a senior accounting clerk, I also did my first technical and general writing while training people. I was exposed to reporters on a daily basis. During this time, I earned A.S. and B.S. degrees in Accounting from Morris Harvey College/The University of Charleston.

I have spent twenty plus years in the field of Accounting as a manager/cost accountant, tax accountant, etc., having worked for both Fortune 250 and Fortune 500 companies. My accounting jobs have not only given me extensive experience in technical and general writing, but much travel experience throughout the United States. I also have presentation and teaching experience from my corporate background(s).

In addition to OPHELIA'S WINTER, I am also in the process of completing MISTY THE FREEWAY FOXHOUND. Misty was named so, because she was first sighted maintaining her vigil on a cold, misty morning. Her house was stolen, her barrel was stolen, but she still maintained her vigil for her dead owner near the interstate for several years.

I've never considered myself an activist, but the more I learned about Ophelia and Miss Janet, the angrier I became. All life is a divine gift and cruelty should not be tolerated in any form.