09/19/2021
Haven't been posting as much as usual for my mind has been going in alot of directions with horses, work, health, pg stray cats, new puppy and taking care of gkids but here's an update of reflections and rescue happenings.
Sometimes rescue life catches up with me and that combined with some health issues has been challenging. On the positive, looking like my health may have me feeling more energetic and healthy soon.
But the rescue never closes and the horses, donkeys and minis depend on us every day. And while we volunteer our time providing the daily care, needed one on one and chores, the expenses are ongoing. Sat the farrier was $350, ongoing Thrive each week at $150, 50 small bales still need to be purchased for approx $300, plus wormer, new fly masks, fly spray, medications, teeth floating, etc.. ....We personally just bought a bigger, used tractor for the rescue so we can move and off load bales which is always a huge obstacle but it's needing repairs to get it running well. More Volunteers are needed. Pasture weeds need to be cut. Hot tape fencing needs replaced. The list is endless.
But good things are happening.!! We are very thankful for recent donations helping to pay for $1,600 for our pasture to be baled into big bales. Harold now has an Angel of his own to cover his monthly care..Woo hoo!! And we have two new volunteers!!
Yet, The world of rescue is changing....and rescues are struggling.
Changes with ASPCA and similar grants requiring rescues to transfer ownership of horses leaving no safety net and ethical dilemmas regarding premature euthanasia or quick turnaround times for adoptions, etc. make it more unlikely for grant support for those of us trying to do rescue right and in the best interest of the horse to insure long term safety.
Rescues in partnership with Kill buyers promoting fundraising for bail up to $1500 or more then sending the horse to a third party offering a "home" somewhere else who gets a free horse. Liklihood of that horse staying in that home long term? ? My network of rescue friends and myself get calls weekly of horses in need; horses once "bailed" from kill pens, horses deemed unsound, horses with medical issues, too old, unhandled, etc...
I've been rescuing for 20 +years. How much longer can we survive on decreasing donations, trying to get the bare bones budget down even more with expenses increasing?
I don't have the answer to that. I do know we have wonderfully, supportive rescue friends who have been the reason we've survived this long. We need that times 100. Last time we thankfully had one hoof trim donated --I paid the remainder. I just know something's gotta give.
Please consider supporting those rescues who have a history of ethical practices, who have consistently fought to advocate against slaughter and those who line their pockets with blood money with inflated prices where they're laughing all the way to the bank. There is nothing humane or acceptable about the kill pen, kill buyer, or slaughter practices. Until their lucrative gold mine of bailing practices comes to a halt, the same number of "other" horses lose their lives being shipped.
Responsible rescues need support to continue offering "rescue done right", where the horses needs come first.
Our paypal is [email protected] if you'd like to support a hoof trim or two at $35 each. Or sponsor one.of our sanctuary horses...or join us as a volunteer😉
(And we now have venmo..)
Thanks~ Careen
