08-18-08
This weekend and today has been a particularly disappointing few days for everyone at the rescue and the few supporters that have known about it. On Friday, Pregnant Mare Rescue launched a vicious public attack against us, our supporters, and indirectly encouraged horses to be sent to slaughter, and vigorously begged the public to cease financially supporting NorCal Equine Rescue. You can read the the thread in a public forum where this occurred (the thread has been wisely locked by the moderaters for further comment) by clicking here. They accused of us blanketly euthanizing any horse that has been in our program for 60 days regardless of its health or condition, and they accused us of euthanizing a healthy, pregnant mare. This is an absolute fabrication meant to cast doubt and confusion in peoples minds. They had absolutely no knowledge of how our Last Act of Kindness program works or the great deal of good that it does. In the entire time our organization has been in existence only 28 horses have passed away while in our rescue program. 22 have been humanely euthanized and 6 passed away of natural causes. Less than 4% of equines that come into our rescue are euthanized, and the majority are in great pain and have no chance of a good quality of life, and we have never euthanized a healthy, sound, non-dangerous equine. Since 2003 we have rescued 639 equines. Another accusation is that the information regarding the LAK program has been kept secret and has just become public knowledge thanks to a secret spy revealing it. This is preposterous as the LAK program has been detailed on our front page since April when it started and we sent out an e-news to almost 2000 supporters when it was started. Click Here to read the e-news.
Since the LAK program was voted in by our Board of Directors, and the public support has been so overwhelming, thanks to your generosity over 20 horses have been brought into the LAK program, and then surprisingly enough been adopted within a short time. These 20+ LAK horses are ones that previously we were forced to watch load onto the killer trucks or tell their owners “Sorry, we can’t take them, we do not have resources to care for unadoptable horses.” These are 20+ horses that would be dead right now if it was not for the LAK program. 13 of the horses were planned to be euthanized by their owners if we did not take them. Now they have found new loving forever homes, thanks to the Last Act of Kindness program enabling us to take these horses on. For anyone that does not understand the Last Act of Kindness program, it was inspired by the site of unwanted, unadoptable horses being loaded into killer trucks for the long ride to Mexico or Canada. Click here for more information. Purchasing them, giving them love and the best shot we can of finding them a home, and then being humanely euthanized if no home can be found, is far better than walking away and leaving them to die a brutal death.
In addition to Pregnant Mare Rescue’s attack, today Down Under Mustang sent out an e-mail entitled “NorCal Equine Rescue Policies” to their list telling people that “Wanted to give you a heads up – do you personally know someone at NorCal? They routinely euthanize horses if they deem them ‘unadoptable‘ – so I didn’t know if you wanted to be including them in your mailing list. A friend of mine told me about this a few months ago, but it just became public as well.I did not know that – ” Once again, this has been public ever since this wonderful program that gives unwanted horses a great chance at finding a new home, and if not a humane and loving end to their lives has started.
On a far brighter note, which brings much joy to us and shows the true meaning of the Last Act of Kindness, read on to todays events.
On the 15th, Diane first contacted us asking if we could possibly take in a blind Appy mare that was free on Craigslist. After Diane spoke to the owner, she became very concerned as the owner was very uncaring what happened to the horse, just “Come get her!” On Saturday, Diane’s birthday, she became determined to help this poor girl. We explained our Last Act of Kindness program, and Diane agreed that humane euthanasia was far better than being given to people inexperienced in dealing with blind horses or even worse, a killer buyer, they just love free horses, more profit on the hoof.
We agreed on Sunday to bring Daisy (the Appy) into our LAK program, and today Diane brought her down. Previous to our LAK program, we would have been forced to say “No, we cannot take her in, our facility cannot be filled up with unadoptable horses, sorry we cannot help you.” What would have been the end fate of Daisy? Her blood at the butchers would have been on our hands.
This morning Diane brought Daisy to our rescue trusting that we would do what was best for Daisy, while hoping we could find her a home. We unloaded her out of the trailer and led her gently to her new stall.
Diane said “Goodbye” to Daisy and left.
After Diane left, we received a very sad phone call from Home At Last that Randy the pony had laid down for the last time this morning. Unable to regain mobility, a veterinarian was called and he was humanely euthanized. He fell asleep knowing that he was loved, with food in his tummy and almost a month of continuous care and love. We asked them if they would be interested in caring for Daisy in memory of Randy, and to our great joy they said “Yes!” Less than 5 hours after Daisy, a horse we could not have brought into our rescue prior to the LAK program, arrived, she was on her way to her forever home. Another life saved by the Last Act of Kindness.
We received an update on Buddy, Dasha and Half Pint, who were adopted yesterday. Buddy is a horse that when we rescued him from the auction we did not know if we could find this guy a home or not. But, since we are not held back by being forced to only rescue horses we have an extremely high chance of finding homes, we were able to bring him in, and the right family stepped forward and said “Yes, we want a senior horse to love and care for!”
Earlier today, Jason worked on the 3000 gallon tank and it is ready for water! A local fire department is going to be filling it up so our well doesn’t fall over dead forever trying to pump that much water.
Deb came out today and worked with the horses, and Tawnee showed horses to potential adopters and helped Deb evaluate horses. Thanks so much for your hard work Deb!
Thank you, our supporters, for all of your support financially, emotionally, and by spreading the word! We look at the big picture in the equine world, and do what we know is best for all horses that we come in contact with, even if that means simply sparing them the cruel fate of slaughter or abuse and giving them a peaceful, loving and dignified ending to their magnificent lives.