The Woman Who Took Chickens Under Her Wing

 

Minnie Blumfield never lost her enthusiasm. She believed that with age came courage, vision and a true appreciation of life--all life. That’s why, at the age of eighty-six, Minnie became the sole caretaker of a flock of1) chickens abandoned alongside one of Southern California’s busiest freeways after a poultry2) truck mishap. For reasons known only to the bureaucracy3) of the day, the chickens were never rescued. Instead, they simply took up residence in the roadside brush, becoming known to locals as the Hollywood Freeway Chickens.

 

Like many seniors4), Minnie lived alone and survived on a meager pension. But to her, life was precious and not to be callously surrendered or ignored not even the lives of slaughter-bound livestock. Minnie simply saw creatures in need and without hesitation, stepped into action. For nine years, while others sped past unaware and unconcerned, Minnie made two pilgrimages5) a day to provide food and water for the abandoned chickens, using what little money she had available.

 

As the years passed, she worried about the day when she would no longer be able to care for her adopted flock. Who would look after these poor helpless creatures if she could no longer make her journey？

 

At ninety-five, just when the cruelties6) of time began to ravage Minnie’s body, a heroine appeared. Jodie Mann, a young actress and a founding member of the organization Actors and Others for Animals, was Minnie’s neighbor. Jodie had observed Minnie on her sojourns7) and noticed the old woman also fed many of the homeless cats in the neighborhood. Jodie approached Minnie to see if her neighbor could identify the owner of a stray dog that Jodie had recently rescued. A quick and lasting friendship resulted.

 

Learning of Minnie’s concern for the fate of her flock, Jodie vowed to“fight City Hall”and find the chickens a new home.

 

Jodie located a ranch where the chickens would be able to live out their natural lives, and organized a rescue party to capture the birds. This was a daunting task that tested Jodie’s patience and determination and Minnie’s will to live. As the chickens settled into their new home, Minnie was forced to relocate to a convalescent8) hospital after a series of debilitating strokes.

 

Jodie maintained a close and loving relationship with Minnie, visiting her often. She found a good home for Minnie’s cat, Blacky, and made sure that the stray cats that had come to depend on the older woman’s kindness were still provided with care.

 

Later, as president of Actors and Others for Animals, I was honored to present Minnie Blimfield-then ninety-six years old-with our organization’s inaugural Humanitarian Award.

 

Inspired by and aptly named for Minnie, the award is a delicate bronze statue of a graceful, straw-hatted woman with robust chickens standing sentry at her feet, and a dozing cat nestled safely in her arms. To all of us in attendance that day, the bizarre plight of the cast-off chickens, superimposed with Minnie’s undaunted spirit, was awe-inspiring9). Many were moved to tears by the soft heart of this frail but determined woman, who with tears streaming down her own paralyzed face, managed to whisper, “Thank you. ”

 

Minnie is gone now, but her concern for her fellow creatures lives on in the award that bears her name and likeness. Her courage and selfless example continue to be a source of inspiration and strength for me, for Jodie and for everyone within our organization, as we continue our work of caring for all living creatures who share our planet, our homes and our hearts.