Horse Shelter Heroes – S4E46
This week at Horse Plus Humane Society has been a whirlwind of emotions. We’ve faced the heartbreak of saying goodbye to old friends, the adrenaline of massive rescue intakes and the pure joy of seeing animals reunite with their families.
It’s a stark reminder that in the world of animal rescue, every day is a balance of sorrow and hope…
🎥 Watch the full episode here: Never Giving Up! 56 Horses Saved – Horse Shelter Heroes S4E46
Farewell to Sir Galahad
We started our week with heavy hearts after finding that Sir Galahad, one of our sweet senior residents, passed away peacefully in the night.
Galahad arrived with significant health challenges including severe dental issues and chronic lung infections.
Dr. Lydia performed a necropsy (an animal autopsy) which revealed extensive, walled-off pockets of infection in his lungs that antibiotics simply couldn’t reach.
While we are deeply saddened, we take comfort in knowing he spent his final days surrounded by friends and comfort, safely out of the slaughter pipeline.
The Buyout Program: 57 Lives Intercepted
Our Buyout Program hit high gear this week as we intercepted 57 horses directly from the slaughter pipeline!
This program remains vital because it allows us to step in and provide a safety net before these animals are forced to endure the trauma and exhaustion of the auction ring.
It was a particularly rough arrival for this group, as one trailer arrived with several animals already down, we even found a terrified mini horse being crushed underneath a larger horse in the cramped space.
During our critical triage process, we have seen the devastating reality of the pipeline, ranging from “neurological” behaviors and broken hips to severe cases of DSLD.
For a few of these souls, including a completely blind horse and a mare in agonizing pain, the injuries were too far progressed for recovery and the only remaining act of kindness was a peaceful goodbye.
While these moments are heavy, we are deeply grateful that we could intercept them in time to relieve their constant suffering.
Miracles & Reunions
It wasn’t all heavy news! We had a beautiful reunion for Belle and Zeus, two dogs who were caught in a legal battle after a neighbor’s dispute. After months of waiting, a judge ruled they could return to their loving family.
Seeing them head home for the holidays was the best Christmas present we could ask for!
We also welcomed 12 tiny puppies who were surrendered in laundry baskets! These five-week-old “balls of cuteness” have already been microchipped and are settled into a warm, festive stall filled with toys.
Advocacy Alert: The Ejiao Act
While in Washington D.C., Tawnee learned about the critical legislation known as the Ejiao Act, which aims to stop the global slaughter of donkeys for their hides.
These hides are used to produce a gelatin protein and the demand has fueled a heartbreaking global crisis where donkeys are being stolen from villages worldwide and shipped to Mexico for slaughter.
Shockingly, these products can even be found on major retailers like Amazon, bringing this cruel trade directly into the domestic market.
Our mission is to stand firmly behind this act to ensure donkeys are protected from this exploitation and to guarantee that they are never exported from the United States for butchery!
Help on the Way
The sheer volume of medical cases this week highlighted our desperate need for more hands. We are thrilled to announce that in just a few weeks, we will have two full-time veterinarians on-site!
This will allow us to diagnose issues faster and provide immediate relief to animals in the slaughter pipeline who are suffering from respiratory diseases and chronic pain.
Your support makes this life-saving work possible. From donating pizza for our hardworking crew to funding critical medical care, you are the heroes these animals need!
To wrap up this incredible year, our team took a well-deserved break to celebrate with a hilarious “human snowman” building contest and a festive party. We are so proud of our hardworking staff and grateful for the unwavering support that allows us to meet every challenge head-on.
We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a successful Happy New Year!
Want to help more horses like the ones in this episode? Visit the Horse Plus Humane Society website to learn how you can support rescue, rehabilitation, and healing.
🎥 Watch the full episode here: Never Giving Up! 56 Horses Saved – Horse Shelter Heroes S4E46
Your donations and shares truly make a difference — one horse, one rescue, and one story at a time.