Abandoned animals at rescue.

[snkstacres]

I am much more heartbroken than i am angry sadly. Two horses, a pony and a dog all appeared here on Friday evening.

I noticed a few piles of horse poop on up the road when coming home but....... thought maybe there was a ride or something going on. I wish.

I pulled into the yard and had a very large black lab mix and my guys were not pleased about this. He was skinny as a bean pole. As much as I didnt want to, I fed him and thought I would call the shelter in the morning Oh ya right, its now the weekend.

So, along comes the morning. As I head out to feed, I can see the old stallion does not want to come in. He is going back and forth along the fence line. And why, yup, there are three horses in my pasture which is closed off due to being flooded still. I get my horses up and go check out this situation after all, the gate is locked. In my field are what appears to be, two older horses and one a bit younger. One just an ancient old pony. So, how did they get in. Further inspection shows me the fence was cut right beside the gate, horses put in and then the fence was tied back. Simple. So now there problem is my problem. Simple as that.

With the economy the way it is and nonprofits are hurting really bad, there is simply no way to afford three more mouths I didnt choose to take on. Sadly, that leaves me only a few options. I can have them all euthanized and buried at great expense, I can maybe run them through the dept of ag auction and they will recieve the proceeds but I have to support them until then as well as get a coggins pulled. Sadly, one doesnt need to look long to see, none of these are adoptable.
As for the dog, well, yes, I absolutely believe he came with them. He knows horses and he knows these ones even better. I called animal control to come and pick him up and they told me it would be at least 5 days before they could get him they are so over full. 50 dogs in a 35 dog shelter and they have to hold them for 72 hours so..................I can either wait, or at my expense, take him to the vets to be euthanized.

I know I am venting to the wrong crowd here but what the heck, what makes people think I can afford all there animals or want them. I work my butt off here to look after the ones I have.

I think this is going to be a sad trend for a lot of rescues this year unfortunately. And we are being cautioned to pull in our belts as nonprofit is really going to be hit hard in the next year. Can we get it any worse. This is a tragedy. Either financially or emotionally or both. I shouldnt have to make this decision for whomever owned these horses. It is not my repsonsibilty even if I am a rescue.

I am crushed. Absolutely crushed.

[My2cents]

i know every little bit helps and i'm hoping that my donation can ease a bit of the burden. thank god for your big heart and many thanks from the one's that can't thank you with words. i am donating in the memory of my dear departed furry friends and the ones that are still with me. i wish you were closer, i would find the dog a home.

[RainyDayRide]

I'm so sorry ... seems like a lot of this is going on in all parts of the country these days.

[Joanne]

I sent a little donation also. Please see PM.

I hope everything can work out for the abandoned horses and dog.

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Not so much speechless, as saddened. I suspect there will be more of this, and it is always the ones like you who have to be responsible when someone else is not.

[Bluehorsesjp]

Oh I am so sorry.
For you, for the dog, for the horses. It absolutely sucks that you have to make the call and take the responsibility for these animals.
I am hoping that the dog can find a home and maybe our dribbles from COTH can help a bit.
I just lost my amazing heart dog, so the dog has me most upset right now. I know how confused my dogs would be if they were just dropped off somewhere. I wish I was closer.
I am just so sorry that you have been put in this situation.

[pAin't_Misbehavin']

So, not only did these lowlifes feel perfectly free to dump their animals on you, they also vandalized your property in the process?:mad:

If I weren't out looking for them personally, I'd definitely make a report to law enforcement. It can't be that hard, in a small town, to figure out who did it. They should at least have to pay for your fence, if not also for the risk they imposed on you. I'm sure they wouldn't be responsible enough to do the (semi-)right thing and donate for the temporary care of their animals.

Something somewhat similar happened to a friend of mine once, only her fence wasn't damaged - just a horse dropped off. She was in high dudgeon over her horses possibly being exposed to whatever disease the abandoned horse might have had and tracked the abandonor down.

It takes a very special person to do rescue, which is why I admire snkstacres and all y'all who do this. I tried it for a couple of years (with border collies). I wound up with such an attitude towards lousy dog-dumpers that I really wasn't helping matters much after awhile.:no:

[lawndart]

Lori, I know this is awful, you don't need more of a burden. But, just perhaps these people saw you as their last chance Angel for their animals. Would it be better if they left them behind a fence to starve? We just have to search the Coth threads to see how many times that has happened.

There are also those who think that its a rescues JOB to take these animals, not realizing its a non-profit, volunteer position, often self-funded.

Unfortunately, times suck financially for a lot of people. Does that make it right to dump these animals on Lori? No, of course not. But if it was me in that position, I'd be on my hands and knees BEGGING her to take them.

God help all the animals out there now, and in the near future that won't have an Angel to help them.

Sending you a donation snail mail Lori, don't worry about the thank you note you always send, I know you have more important things to do. :sadsmile:

[ChocoMare]

.... But if it was me in that position, I'd be on my hands and knees BEGGING her to take them.

Ah but you see, LD. If those people had knocked on Lori's door and "begged" for her help, she would have done whatever she could to truly Help them get through whatever it was. I know Lori and I know her heart. She'll help anything/anyone!

But to have them illegally dumped on her property? Well, it's enough to make anyone angry, hurt and discouraged :cry: but especially one who gives self-less-ly 24/7/365.

[equineartworks]

Lori, I am so sorry. I know you were dreading the day this would happen. What makes it so much worse is that you knew it would happen, just a matter of when :(

I think what makes me so angry is that people wait. They wait until there is nothing left to do but to take desperate measures. If the financial situation was so dire that the dog is near death and the horses in rough shape then the financial situation has been dire for at least a few months if not longer. The sad fact is that miracles are few and far between these days, and folks need to stop waiting for one while letting their animals starve. I know in some strange way they must think that starving them and then waiting until the last minute to abandon them is somehow "better". But it just isn't.

I hope the COTH miracle happens again for you and these poor beasts as well as all the others in your care. I am starting to switch my thoughts of if to when as well. :( There had to be 50 free of very cheap horses on CL this past couple of weeks.

[dawglover]

Sending my dribble by PayPal, Lori.

My heart goes out to you and to those poor abandoned creatures.

[bird4416]

That sucks that you have been put iin this postion. This is such a multi-facted problem. I can't feel too much anger at the people dumping the animals as they were probably desperate. But it is so unfair to dump this in your lap. You already have more then your share to take care of.

[Dispatcher]

The things people do constantly appall me. I think you should write a letter to your local newspaper. You can use the same words as in your post. Get this published somehow. Surely, somebody know of the person who now no longer has his 3 horses and his dog.

[sdlbredfan]

Dispatcher had a good point, and filing a report of the fence vandalism may be a good idea too. This is a very sad situation...
Jeanie

[moonriverfarm]

I may be able to take the pony IF we can get him to Alabama. PM me, Lori.

[Rider in Training]

I also sent a little $$ your way via paypal.
Good luck to you and to these poor horses and dog.

[monstrpony]

Will contact all of my POP collectors and try to send a dribble along.

One moves right past angry to just very, very sad about this kind of thing.

I still don't know how Lori does it ... :(

[ChocoMare]

I may be able to take the pony IF we can get him to Alabama. PM me, Lori.

If you need hauling assistance to make this happen, let me know. I'll gladly go up and get him.

[Trevelyan96]

Lori, so sorry you have to deal with this heartbreak. Sending a dribble via paypal. If nothing else, hopefully it will offset some of the cost of euth if you have to go that route.

[FatPalomino]

And people wonder why we don't have a sign and use a PO Box....

:(

Lots of hugs Lori.

[MVR]

I am sorry this has happened to you and them Lori. We had a similar situation happen to us in 2007. We had a press release done locally we were moving to a new location. I had not moved any horses there yet, but had begun removing unsafe fencing and revamping for our arrival. I went to NC to visit family and got a call from the landlord saying there was an injured horse in the pasture.

I immediately rushed back to KY to find a young mare who we named Lily had been abandoned there. Thankfully we had good grass and a pond. But the reason she was abandoned was because she had a nasty injury that had now been in a wrap for ??? days in the height of summer and was grossly infected. Pics are here(second horse down): http://www.mountainviewrescue.com/Before%20&%20After.htm

We did train her and place her, but it took over a year. I wish you & the horses who have been dumped on you the best. Times are tough, but that shouldn't mean that we have to turn animals like these away.

Please let me know if you would like links to emergency grants for them. I did receive a few this year for abandoned and emaciated horses. I'll be glad to help in that department.

[RHdobes563]

Maybe to prevent future dumping, you could put up signs (DON'T have to have the electronics to go with them) saying there are survelance/security cameras on the property.

[pAin't_Misbehavin']

This kind of thing used to happen a lot at some of the shelters I pulled border collies out of.

I don't know if it was because people were too spineless to face another human and admit they were dumping their responsibilities onto the shelter, or if they just couldn't be bothered to wait until the shelter was open. Whatever. Despite all kinds of dire warning signs posted, people would still dump dogs, cats, litters of kittens and puppies in front of the gate and take off.

Which was stupid, because animal abandonment is a crime and many of these losers were fined for it, once the local police started hiding out in the woods and catching these jerks after hours. If the morons had just brought their animal in and surrendered it, they'd have saved themselves a lot of money.

[JanM]

The shelter where I used to live had cages out front for dumpees that were available 24/7, and when the cages were full people still crammed more animals in there, or simply turned them lose in the parking lot. Before they built the new facility there was a locked chain link fence and gate with surveillance cameras. There were many people on video dumping or throwing animals over the fence (and it was a tall fence) and they had the identity of the driver and the car-not one was ever prosecuted by the idiot D.A. Don't get me started on that D.A.-she didn't even jail repeated child abusers either.

[Nezzy]

i'm so sorry. i would have called the news crews, i'm sure someone knows who owned those animals.

[CAH]

First off, let me say Lori I am sorry you have to deal with this.

Now, for all you people who think only scum of the earth could possibly do this, please think for a minute.

Someone took the time and energy to plan this out. Three horses and a dog did not get tossed over a fence out of a car. They took the time and energy to get them there.

Maybe, just maybe, they did not have the 750 bucks to euthanize.

Maybe, just maybe, the owners thought their personal situation might improve. A call for an interview, a job offer. Let's try and keep the horses a little longer.

Maybe, just maybe, they didn't care about the couple hundred bucks they might have received if they sent them to auction, knowing full well where they would wind up.

Maybe, just maybe they were afraid you might say no to their request to take in three more mouths to feed.

How would you have felt walking three horses and a dog up the lane in the dark of night knowing that maybe, just maybe, they might find a home with Lori vs. living with you, their owner, who could no longer support them. Sucks, doesn't it?

[sdlbredfan]

That is a good and thought-provoking perspective, CAH.

[harveyhorses]

My in-laws had a small herd (6) show up in their yard. They called all the horse owners they knew, did not belong to anyone they could find. they had a good 6 acres or so of good pasture, they put water out and left it to the people they had called to find them a place. They would not call animal control because it was certain death. They are also fairly certain they were 'put' on their property. The horses were there for two weeks, then were gone, but one of the people they had called suddenly had a larger herd. They told the feed store owners, hardware store people, it is a small comunity.

It stinks that people can do this, but we have not walked that mile in their shoes.
Thank you Lori

[pAin't_Misbehavin']

CAH, I wish you were right. But in my three years in rescue, I never met an animal-dumper who really truly gave that much of a crap. In fact, it was rare to meet one who gave even a miniscule infinitesimal amount of a crap.

Cause most people who do give a crap, find homes for animals they can no longer care for.

There are emergency situations, yes. And I've met them. But IME they're really rare. And NONE of those rare, good-hearted, but unfortunate folks would have trespassed, vandalized, and abandoned their animals on someone else's property. NONE.

[JSwan]

Lori - I know you're crushed and strapped and God knows you've got your hands full.

We've had a lot of foreclosures around here and some people have left their animals behind. Locked in the home with no food or water.

My rescue is still full to bursting - and every day we get requests to take in dogs from people who have lost their homes or jobs. That in addition to the requests from shelters.

It's just so sad. So very sad..... and I simply don't know what to say to you. Except.... keep your chin up.

[chaltagor]

Lots of eye rolling-inducing posts in this thread. No one who cares about an animal abandons it like that. It's a crappy thing to do and it's always done for selfish reasons. The people who did this are JERKS and now Lori is saddled with the misery of euthing these animals or sending the dog to the shelter where it will be euthed. They put their problems onto someone else and ran away.

The known facts are trespassing, destruction of property, illegal abandonment and animal abuse. Don't make excuses for these people because you think they're poor. That doesn't give anyone the right to break the law and burden someone else with financial woes.

[snkstacres]

There were many many good points hit here. Every single day, I get 5 phone calls from very sad people. People who have done everything they could to home there horses or dogs and couldnt. People who are picking up cans along side the road to feed there kids and cant. Each day my email is enough to make me cry. People begging for help and I mean begging. I want so much to help them all and I cant.

For several years now, I have known, I help the horses I have to, the rest of the room is saved for the person with the saddest story. I dont pick the horses, I pick the people. I love every horse and know they all need the help. Yes, many people wait way too long and many people try all along to place them.

I became so despondent with people as well when I did animal control that I could no longer do any good, I had to leave.

I know whomever did this was probably desperate, and likely someone I had to turn down already. They absolutely thought this out. They must have walked the horses up this road but how did they get the dog to stay or did he simply stay with his horses. Or, did someone come and pick the people up in a vehicle? It definitely was planned.

As for identifying the owners, Lord knows, I have posted the pics in the newspapers and no one says a word. There motto is to keep there mouths shut here. Four horses were abandoned just a month ago and I knew who it was. I tried like heck to get animal control to charge him since this was literally and open and shut case. He said it was more trouble than it was worth. I donated the four horses to him. One was a stallion, the other three were pregnant mares. The police will do nothing, nope, I am the person they call when stuff like this happens.

Its sad but today looks better than yesterday did for sure. Two of the horses are very very old. One is probably about 15-20 yrs old which to me is not old. They seem healthy enough so I assume they were on a pasture somewhere. There feet need trimming but not horrible at least and they seem friendly enough.

The dog though is sick. Not only skinny, when I fed him ( fantastic food) he immediately started to spew out both ends. So, today, I picked him up medication for what I believe is a gastric infection. He is too old to have parvo. He is quiet and wants just to be loved. ITs very very sad because, this poor boy does not come under the adoptable sort either. Big, black, unnuetered, untrained, dog. But, he has a heart as big as he is.

I have come to realize that a lot of our local farmers got hit hard by our flooding. They have lost all there hay in this area. Not just what was in the field, worse than that, what was in the barns. There is no hay for sale around here at all now.

Chocomare is so right, had they called me, while I cant take peoples horses all the time, I can help them by listing them on our website and providing hay if necessary. I wont let anyones animals starve. I long ago started a food bank for dogs and cats here and the horses are no different. I will find feed for them.

Somehow or the other though, people need to be educated, they need to realize that I do have to take care of these animals where they leave off and even I can only do so much. I had two people offer to foster a horse each and if they realize that these guys are likely never going to be adopted, then there lives will probably be spared. I dont know if I could find it in me to simply put down a healthy horse. There is enough death of sick or injured ones.

I want to thank all of you for not only your donations, but your caring thoughts. As I said, I know I am preaching to the wrong choir but clearly, the owners were not thinking enough in advance of what they were doing.

AS for the dog and the shelter I am pretty good at math. I thought long and hard about this dilema. App 200 dogs a month are euthanized at our shelter, app. 100 a month go to rescue up north. Summerville is a small community, can someone please tell me how we get these numbers all the time. Surely our dog population must be going down. I only spayed 6 dogs this month.
Are they coming from another county are or there still so many having pups that we can keep up with these numbers for a long long time. It makes no sense at all. On top of horses, I happen to be an avid dog lover and so, this boy breaks my heart. Some kid would have loved this guy.

Yup, its time for the newspaper guys to make another trip to Sunkissed Acres. Hopefully, someone will recognize a horse and give it up. My fear is always though that they will recognize a horse and say, hey, she kept it.

If this is an indication of what is to come, I better put up a solid wall alongside the road.

thankyou to all for allowing me to vent and to likely introduce you to the "New old folks."

[Chardavej]

Dribble sent to you Lori, God bless you...Leo is doing great and is very fat, if that will bring a smile to your face. Wish I had room for another but I'm full.

[onthebit]

This thread makes me so sad Lori. Sad for you, sad for the horses, sad for the dog. I sent you a donation, wish it had a few more zeros on the end.

[HealingHeart]

Lori, I too appreciate and feel for your situation. I would like to also help with expenses and send you some money, how do you do this. I will PM you ...

Blessings to you and your animal friend.

[snkstacres]

I cant believe how you guys have rallied for this little group of unwanted friends. I am truly amazed but dont know why I should be after all I have seen done by the cothers.

Roscoe, as he has been now named in honor of a Cothers former friend will absolutely hang here till he has a home. Animal control need not pick him up. He has recieved himself a sponsor whom I wont name unless she chooses.

the three old folks are also safe. Space is not what we are short of, rather funds and the generosity of you guys means that I need not worry about feeding there three mouths for a couple of months for sure. they are safe. They are safe because of you guys.

I just wanted to die last night thinking that I would have to put three horses down and trying to decide who goes. I dont value any life more or less than the other and putting down a healthy horse because it is old, to me is not sitting so well.

In 24 hours, you guy pulled off a miracle. You bought me the time I needed and I feel more blessed than you can ever imagine. Thankyou for caring about these old souls and the not so old Roscoe.

[My2cents]

Yay. :)

[snkstacres]

I dont know if this can really be summed up simply but....................this morning when I woke to Roscoes diareah, it was with a feeling of its ok, this too shall pass. Given two weeks. Roscoe will be all better and he will find a home and an xmas tree to call his own.

The three old folks, well, I can dig through the blankets and find them a warmie. I am going out the door with a whole new attitude and that changes everything. I am not facing a hopeless situation.

Here it is summed up.

You guys absolutely changed the lives of not only these four animals, but mine. Where there is life, there is HOPE.

Bless you all.

[shea'smom]

Wow! I just found this and read it through. Talk about making a full circle! In just how many hours? 24? We have a miracle here. I am off to send my help. Rock on, COTH!

[Rider in Training]

And of course please do let us know when you run out of cash to feed these extra 3 mouths! so that cothers can buy them more time in your care- I can't think of a better place for them to be living at!

[monstrpony]

I'm riding in a clinic this weekend, and have asked those who will be there and feed TC to bring me some POPs, which I will send on next week, along with a dribble.

[classicsporthorses]

Lori you were send by God for all of these animals you care for. As for the dog, oh, let me tell you from personal experience, he'll make someone a wonderful pet. We rescued a big dog years ago-part of a prosecuted case in our county-not neutered, not housebroke, starved and abused. Well barney turned out to be the worlds best dog.

He even passed his canine good citizenship test, with flying colors and became a therapy dog. He was also the keeper of babies here from kittens, rabbits to foals.

I'll send along some $ too. I wish you were closer for me to help out.

[Kaleigh007]

I was so relieved to read this today! Things are so bad right now for the animals. When I moved to Fla. I had 3 dogs and 3 horses. I now have 6 dogs and had 6 horses until recently. I don't know if I could do what you do, the requests must be heartbreaking and to have to turn them down must be even harder.

[Underthebridge]

What is the snailmail?

[equineartworks]

Underthebridge it is on the contact page of the Sunkissed site at

http://sunkissedacres.com

thanks!

[JanM]

Lori-maybe the dog's tummy isn't used to decent food yet, and the problems will go away (I certainly hope so). And being a lab mix he might be true to his breed and gulp down anything that looks remotely edible, especially since he's been hungry for so long. I'm glad things are looking up for you and your new charges. And wish the usual COTH curse on the dumpers.

[gieriscm]

What is the snailmail?

Snail mail = post office mail.

[Threebars]

Facebook members, don't forget that Sunkissed acres qualifies for Chase community giving -

http://www.facebook.com/ChaseCommunityGiving?ref=mf

You can select up to 20 charities (one vote each) to help put Lori et all in the running for a grant.

[CAH]

Lots of eye rolling-inducing posts in this thread.

No one who cares about an animal abandons it like that.

Don't make excuses for these people because you think they're poor.


Now, IMO if someone didn't care, they would just send the three to an auction and pocket a couple of hundred bucks, vs. planning this out and taking the chance.

And for all those sitting out there saying "if you can't afford a horse (dog, cat, pig) then don't get one in the first place", yes I totally agree. But you are all missing the boat here. There is a group out there now that could afford their horse (dog, cat, pig) when they got it. Several years later, bam they loose their job(s) and all of all sudden the money is not there. And Dobbin, who is now one of the family, has to go.

Many, many of us are one step away from what happened here. May it never happen to you.

[equineartworks]

CAH, you need to bear in mind that the nearest auction to Sunkissed is pretty darn far and lack of care for animals in her neck of the woods is pretty much the norm. Eta...Lily the horse found walking along the highway with the wind blowing through her and her face smashed...but she had shoes! Then there is Heart the Hinny who was tied to a tree in a public park and was found covered in maggots with dogs eating her alive. Then Little Leo...it's damn hard to starve a mini, but by God they manage down there.

I'm about 2 hours from Unadilla and it would cost me about $200 to have a horse trailered there. The horses are going for about $75 right now.

They are cowards. Everyone in that town knows Lori would give her heart to anyone who asks. There is no need for cruelty in her community. They do it for sport.

[foundationmare]

This is a terribly sad thread. I'm so sorry, Lori, that you have been burdened with the care of these poor souls, but there couldn't be a better place for them. COTHers are generous and amazing individuals and I truly hope that the burden has been eased a bit. I'm not in a financial position to offer dribbles, but I would work my arse off for you if I was able. Maybe I'll move (said while a central NY winter is bearing down on us).

It is true that many people who were once able to afford their animals have had setbacks that change the game. It's horribly sad when dogs can't be fed, as that seems to be a much more dire situation. It's understandable that horses can quickly tip the scales for a family because their needs are so much greater and expensive.

These horses could easily have been sold to a dealer or starved to death. TG that didn't happen for them, although it happens to so many more that we never hear about. This is a horrible time for animals and their people and it keeps me sleepless at night.

[Chardavej]

Lori, give me a blanket size for one of the oldsters, let me see if I have one that will fit and can send it to you. I'm a blanket ho and sure I might have something, although if theyre small I wont. (60-74 or so, I need more that size myself)

[snkstacres]

CAH, you are absolutely correct. Each day, I meet people who are in a bad situation now, but, when they got there animals, they were in a position to afford them.
It is not often that I meet an intentionally cruel person, but I sure meet ignorant ones and a lot who use ignorance as an excuse. I can much easier understand abandoning the horses at my house than I can the dog. The dog could have gone to a shelter no matter what. The horses, yes, they may have run out of options and they didnt abandon them in the state park. They knew where they abandoned these.

I do understand how people fall into this situation, oh yes I do. Every day, it kills me to hear peoples stories. They are not bad people but even I , who dedicate my life to helping them, can only help so many and these people gave me no choices. They could have called me or come to my face better yet, I would have helped no matter what.

As for an auction around here, well, we do have two in fairly close proximity. There is no meat dealer there because..............we are too far to make it at all profitable. In fact, to take a horse to auction here means you need to pay a cash deposit of $125.00. That is because so many horses got left behind after a no sale. So, you pay for euthanazia and disposal when you register your horse. That closed the sale for many. Heres another thing you do when you go to an auction here. YOu hire someone to watch your trailer. If you dont, guaranteed, you will have a free horse when you come out. This truly is a different part of the world from anywhere else in the US.

Equally though, a lot of people call me wanting me to help them with there old horses because they cant afford to feed them. But..............they are keeping the young ones because they are worth money if they need to sell them. I try and tell them they are attempting to place the wrong horses but.............it falls on deaf ears.

I sympathize, I do. I have helped a few cothers here who did fall into horrible situations through no fault of there own. Circumstances. But you know what the difference is, they had healthy horses. I placed some, and they know whom and where and can keep in touch. I have placed some who are simply being used and kept till there situations change. Never is a word said on the board, but, they know. There is a difference in the people. I would never have to come on here and ask for help for those horses because, the people made sure of it.

But the dog, Roscoe, nope, no excuse. I had him to the vet today and he is on his way to being mended. He got his shots and a collar and a warm place to rest his weary bones. He will be nuetered next week and a group called Dogs on Death Row has kindly offered to provide his transport to any place in the US if he is adopted.

The vet will be here on Saturday to examine the horses and hopefully get a closer idea to there age. I think the pony is going to take the position of the oldest horse on the farm. If not, awfully darn close. The younger of the three is clearly lame but whether it is permanent or not, I am not sure. The other old lady, appears to be a smallish araby type of horse. None of them are overweight but.....................they are not starving so I assume they have been on a pasture somewhere.

They are all going to be ok here for now anyhow. I think for sure two of them have reached there final destination but its possible that one can be adopted. Look for pics tomorrow. I sent out pics of Roscoe already and hopefully they will be posted shortly. I will definitely sleep well tonight. They are warm.

[Marshfield]

Bless you for the work you do. I cannot imagine your frustration. I'm guessing the local feed store might know who they belonged to if you're looking into having charges pressed.

[moonriverfarm]

Lori, PM me with blanket needs. I have a few old, maybe not so pretty ones I don't need. If they can help these oldsters keep warm this winter, who cares how ugly they are?

[My2cents]

Just going to bump this back up, so that it's not lost to the second page.

[moonriverfarm]

If everybody on this thread sent $5, think of how much that would help....the cost of a Starbucks......mines on the way!
And if Sunkissed takes paypal will somebody provide that info?

[ChocoMare]

This Page (http://sunkissedacres.com/?page_id=61) from SKA's website has the PayPal Donation link on it :D see Donate Now

[equineartworks]

This Page (http://sunkissedacres.com/?page_id=61) from SKA's website has the PayPal Donation link on it :D see Donate Now

Thanks Choco :)

[Ted the Peep 'Ho]

If everybody on this thread sent $5, think of how much that would help....the cost of a Starbucks......mines on the way!
And if Sunkissed takes paypal will somebody provide that info?

This is the whole point behind Secret Santa. Sunkissed is one of the organizations. But if you know a group that is local to you, it's the same idea.

It can be such small things. When my mom sends a dribble, it is $10. Ten dollars is not a lot. It will not buy an Uncle Jimmy's hanging ball. You need two dribbles for that. But if 10 people send $10, or $20 people send $5...that is $100 and that takes a chunk out of a vet, feed, or farrier bill.

So...if you feel tempted...just go to the page www.specialhorses.org, and if you click on the groups' names you will go right to the page with their wishlists, which includes their paypal. Anything and everything you send goes directly to the organization, Special Horses Inc. just organizes things, all the money, and anything else you send, goes to help the groups!

[Underthebridge]

Underthebridge it is on the contact page of the Sunkissed site at

http://sunkissedacres.com

thanks!
Thanks, I am putting a check in the mail.

[In the Air]

I just sent a paypal donation in honor of Furgie, the wonderful dog that Lori sent me. I clicked on the trailer fund link, I didn't read through before I started clicking, nothing new there. Lori use it for anything you want...
Thanks
In the Air

[snkstacres]

Oh God ITA, how is Furgie. I thought of her the other day, and a few of the other doggies that have gone on to Coth homes. Roscoe here will get a coth home as well cause that is where he will be listed when he is ready. Dogs on Death Row has offered to transport him anywhere in the US on there tab when someone steps up to the plate for this guy.

ON a very very good note, someone recognized these horses. There was an ad in the newspaper a few weeks ago with 5 horses for free, had to go. Those people lived a hop skip and a jump from me apparently and a lady in the store today recognized them as she had gone to see them. They obviously gave two of them away. And yes, they were advertising a lab mix as well. the house is now empty but......................they must have transfered there utilities. Clearly there were horses on that property. I gave it to one of our neighboring police officers to find out who owns the house, if it was rented and all the rest. Could it possibly be that someone might face charges for this? I can only hope so.

In the meantime, I got each of them settled into a paddock on the right side of the fence today. They didnt much like being separated but............I have to balance the fields and match them up with the correct pasture pals. One may even have a home as a companion for a while.

And the dog, well, he is doing well. He got his butt kicked today for trying to eat Nellies rabbit, but..................he wont make that mistake again. He is adjusting wonderfully to the temporary digs. Next tuesday, he will have his brain surgery and be an it.

The family is doing well thanks to you all. Blessings.

[In the Air]

Furgie is lying here at my feet, with our 5 month old insane rescue kitty wrapped around her head chewing on her face. She has been the most amazing dog I have ever known (which is saying alot). She is glued to me 24/7 which can be annoying but it is out of love. She is kind and gentle, well behaved and a perfect fit for our family and farm. Our kitty thinks she is just here on earth to play with her. I am not sure Furgie actually plays with her but does let her maul her all the time and hasn't eaten her yet. All good. She is now a year and a half post surgery and going strong. A year longer than anyone thought. The vets are very surprised but I'm not. She was sent for a reason and it is not time yet. My older Aussie loves her, they groom each other and are quite devoted. Thank you for all you do, I know you get discouraged but look what a difference you make in so many lives. It's the ripples that you may never see that sometimes are the most important ones.

[YoTambien]

Lori - that is absolutely terrible but sadly not unexpected. While not quite as sneaky, The Exceller Fund got hit with a rash of prior adopters who returned their horses, and a couple of them stuck us with the shipping expenses! Kind of an involved story on how that happened, but the expenses are now on my credit card, the one that husband doesn't know about (yet.) God help me when he does.

I've never felt as depressed and unoptomistic as I feel now. I am almost at the point of thinking - what the hell IS the point?

Sorry - I'm just really heavy sighs tonight and no words of hope or inspiration right now.

But bless you for doing what you do.

[gwenrowdy]

I just Paypalled a few bucks, too. Scary times.

[My2cents]

Just a bumpity bump back to the top.

[snkstacres]

You Tambien, please hang in there. If I got a dollar for everytime I thought of just hanging it all up, well, I wouldnt have to fundraise for a while for sure.
Often, what keeps me going is knowing that even if I give up, I wont be rescue horseless for 15 years or so. I love them, and wont give them up even if I give up. Its not in these bones to send them out there at there age.

And hearing how much previous adoptess like Fergie and Little Leo are loved, makes it all so worthwhile. I know its worthwhile but yes, the asshats can sure make it rough cant they.

Here is what i have found on my new three kids. The pony is 35-36 years old. Ok, not going anywhere. The arab mix is about 28, likely not going anywhere. The QH cross is 18 but has a major stifle issue. Hopefully can go somewhere further down the road at least.

And the best news yet, Roscoe is going to a Coth home in MA. Now, they are getting one heck of a dog. One week at our home and I tell you, he is kind, smart and one good dog. Not quite as bright as Fergie but..........he is much younger. He thinks he died and went to heaven. His face when I gave him a bed of his own in the warm and dry was nothing short of amazing. He gets into his bed and doesnt move a muscle all night long until we get up. Oh he so loves it.

All of us are facing ridiculously hard times. Please please please, hang in there. Even one life is worth the effort. And we have the Cothers behind us. They are the reason I have been able to keep going.

[Trevelyan96]

And we want pictures of Rosco and the 'old ones'.

[Nuguum]

Go to www.UAN.org they do emergancy grants. Maybe you can get a greant from them to either care for these horses, or to have them humanely put down.

I am much more heartbroken than i am angry sadly. Two horses, a pony and a dog all appeared here on Friday evening.

I noticed a few piles of horse poop on up the road when coming home but....... thought maybe there was a ride or something going on. I wish.

I pulled into the yard and had a very large black lab mix and my guys were not pleased about this. He was skinny as a bean pole. As much as I didnt want to, I fed him and thought I would call the shelter in the morning Oh ya right, its now the weekend.

So, along comes the morning. As I head out to feed, I can see the old stallion does not want to come in. He is going back and forth along the fence line. And why, yup, there are three horses in my pasture which is closed off due to being flooded still. I get my horses up and go check out this situation after all, the gate is locked. In my field are what appears to be, two older horses and one a bit younger. One just an ancient old pony. So, how did they get in. Further inspection shows me the fence was cut right beside the gate, horses put in and then the fence was tied back. Simple. So now there problem is my problem. Simple as that.

With the economy the way it is and nonprofits are hurting really bad, there is simply no way to afford three more mouths I didnt choose to take on. Sadly, that leaves me only a few options. I can have them all euthanized and buried at great expense, I can maybe run them through the dept of ag auction and they will recieve the proceeds but I have to support them until then as well as get a coggins pulled. Sadly, one doesnt need to look long to see, none of these are adoptable.
As for the dog, well, yes, I absolutely believe he came with them. He knows horses and he knows these ones even better. I called animal control to come and pick him up and they told me it would be at least 5 days before they could get him they are so over full. 50 dogs in a 35 dog shelter and they have to hold them for 72 hours so..................I can either wait, or at my expense, take him to the vets to be euthanized.

I know I am venting to the wrong crowd here but what the heck, what makes people think I can afford all there animals or want them. I work my butt off here to look after the ones I have.

I think this is going to be a sad trend for a lot of rescues this year unfortunately. And we are being cautioned to pull in our belts as nonprofit is really going to be hit hard in the next year. Can we get it any worse. This is a tragedy. Either financially or emotionally or both. I shouldnt have to make this decision for whomever owned these horses. It is not my repsonsibilty even if I am a rescue.

I am crushed. Absolutely crushed.

[Rider in Training]

He thinks he died and went to heaven. His face when I gave him a bed of his own in the warm and dry was nothing short of amazing. He gets into his bed and doesnt move a muscle all night long until we get up. Oh he so loves it.



Thanks for the visual- this is very very cute!

[moonriverfarm]

Lori, all I can say is thank you for all the ones who have no voice. Because of your kindness, they know love.

[BelladonnaLily]

I will paypal something next week right after payday.

Very sad...but how lucky for them that they were dumped in someone's field that cares...

[Crosswinds Rescue]

Sunkst,
If any of them have a poor quality of life (such as the pony), there is an option you may not have considered. We have been lucky enough not to need to use this option yet, but it is helpful to know it is in our back pocket and a choice if we need it.

We have an exotic feline rescue a few hours from us. If a horse has no quality of life and does not have something contagious, they will allow you to donate the animal to them. They euthanize without chemicals and the meat is used to support their rescued species. She absolutely WILL NOT take in a healthy horse -- "I will not kill one species to feed another" -- but she will take owners horses who cannot afford to care for their infirmities.

I'm wondering if perhaps there is any other type of carnivor rescue, or even a zoo in your region who might have the same approach or be willing to consider it?

We know the idea isn't heartwarming and fuzzy, but we also feel there is real value in our animal being able to help others to live (close as we can get to horsey organ donation, I guess), AND there also is the avoidance of the significant expenses of euthanasia not to mention all the discussion of how bad it is for our soil to put all those chemicals in the ground...

Wishing you all the best,
AMC
cwer.org

[YoTambien]

Lori,
Thank you for the words of encouragement! I loved your description of Roscoe and his bed. All of my personal pets are rescues that I took in from the local city shelter. My dog did the exact same thing when I took her home and showed her the artificial lambswool bed that was her new bed. She jumped right in, layed down and sighed a deep, deep sigh and wouldn't get up until morning.

I know, we'll keep working on it and take things one day at a time.

[AiryFairy]

I sent your story to a friend of mine, she sent a donation via pay pal, didn't get an acknowledgment, and the email to your paypal account bounced back. She just wants to make sure you're aware of it and that you're actually getting the donation. You can PM me if there's a problem, I'll put you in contact with her. Thanks!

[equineartworks]

AiryFairy I know that she has some issues sometimes with Charter.net and her email. I'll try to get in touch with her today, thanks for posting :)

[Widget]

I read through this thread and it went from terrible to miracle in such a short time! Lori is one amazing person and as bad as it sounds I'm glad the animals found their way to you for help.

I have to agree that the dumping was planned out. I am in no way saying it was right, but I have to think that the owner cared a little. As Lori mentioned, their feet weren't too bad and neither is/was their body condidtions. The owner apparently knew things were tanking and made what s/he thought was a good decision. It could have been worse.

[My2cents]

bump

[Pelican Bay]

Wow that is amazing that someone would cut your fence and put their horses in your field. It sounds like someone was desperate, but these are desperate times. I am sad for all parties involved.

[titan]

There are now 4 more animals that have you to be thankful for tomorrow. Well done. Paypal sent.

[snkstacres]

I have been off here for a couple of days so catching up. i will have EAW post pics of the kids for you guys. hahaha I sent off lots of Roscoe or RJ. He was neutered today, his ear repaired yesterday and he is laying around pretty quietly. What a great great dog.

the wee pony is as cute as a button. Old as he is, he is healthy as only a pony can be. He is definitely a cushinoid boy but..................arent they all at that age.

The little mare is sweet as can be. Well on the ground that is. Dont know if she can be ridden but we will find out next week and see if she even holds up.

The lame QH is still a question. My vet is going to do a bit further exam to see if we can see what is up there and then make a decision on him.

As for using the horses for feeding of wildlife, I am definitely not apposed to such a thing but....................................while we have a large cat rescue here (or supposed to be) I have worked for them and wouldnt give them a dead goldfish. It is much more humane for me to walk out and shoot them. These guys are also too healthy. And too, these animals used to feed large cats are not euthanized, they are shot. You simply cant feed them animals that have been euthanized so dont be fooled. Not that I think shooting is inhamen when done properly anyhow.

These guys sustained a miracle. They are safe and I can now care for them for the winter irreguardless. They are fitting in.

Blessings to all of you.

[My2cents]

just a bump.

[prudence]

Another bump, for those reading My2cents' new thread about the big black dog.