horse Archives - The Baytown Project

Animal lover has quite the menagerie at feed store

David Berkowitz — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 01:32:00 +0000

Paula Winters and her husband, Thom, have owned PJ’s Backlot Feed and Emporium in Baytown since 1996.

“Because I’ve gotten a little bit older and it’s a little harder for me to get around, I don’t take in as many animals these days. We did just recently have someone offload a mother dog with seven puppies. We found a home for the puppies. We could not find a home for the mother dog, so I took her home with me. I plan to get her spayed and, hopefully, find her a permanent home.

“We do have a few other animals here at the store. We have a cat that showed up after Hurricane Harvey. We have chinchillas. We have a resident rabbit that all the kids like to come see. We had a parrot but it was sad, so we sent it to be with other parrots. Right now, I think that’s our animal base here.

“I also have seven horses at home. I love to ride them whenever I get the chance. We just took in one from an elderly man down the road from us. We always had kind of a gentleman’s agreement that if he got hurt or became sick, we would take care of the horse until he could get back. So we got a call one day, and he says, ‘Paula, does that offer still stand?’ And I said, ‘Absolutely. I would love to have Streak.’ So we went and got his horse, and he says, ‘Oh, by the way, would you take my chickens, too?’ So we took the chickens, too. They’re at the house.

“I guess I’ve always had a heart for animals. I probably get along better with animals than I do with people. I mean, they don’t talk back.”

— Paula Winters

His heart is in helping others through police work

David Berkowitz — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 02:44:15 +0000

Norman Anderson is an original member of Baytown Police Department’s Mounted Patrol.

“I’ve had my badge in Baytown for almost 26 years, but I left for five years to work as an operator at Bayer. One day at the plant, there was a sight glass blowout. Sight glass allows you to see the material going through the pipe. We were clearing the line, which had hot water and steam in it. Luckily, we had flushed the chemical already. But while we were waiting for everything else to clear, it blew up in my face. I got burned over 40 percent. I spent 18 days in the hospital burn unit.

“During that time, I gave a lot thought to what I was doing. I realized I was only in the plant for the money. It wasn’t something that I really liked anymore. I had worked in the schools for a few years as a resource officer, and I enjoyed that more than anything I’d ever done. So I came back to the police department, and within a year and a half a position came open at the new Goose Creek Memorial.

“I was there until the school district started its own police department a few years ago. I loved working the schools. I worked a basketball game the other night, and it made me realize how much I miss being in there with the kids.

“I’m back on the street full time now, but I do the mounted patrol whenever I get a chance.”

— Norman Anderson

Mounted patrol officer at home in the saddle

David Berkowitz — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 02:35:36 +0000

Norman Anderson with his Baytown Police Department Mounted Patrol horse, Sam.

“I’ve been on mounted patrol since it started, almost 22 years ago. I remember because it was the same year my son was born.

“Growing up, my grandfather rode and I used to go on trail rides with him. I also rode a lot with my friends. I was always around horses, so me becoming part of the mounted patrol was a natural fit.

“I’m working out in my Tahoe whenever they won’t let me ride my horse. But I’m always looking for a reason to be on my horse.”

What do you like most about it?
“Just the freedom of being out in the open. I love it. And then the bond with the horse. I mean, it’s one thing to just go ride. But when you spend time with them and you bond with them, it’s pretty special. If I could be on my horse every day, I’d be a very happy man.”

— Norman Anderson

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