Fallon Feedlot Rescue
What can I say other than this has been a most amazing effort by a group of absolutely wonderful and caring horse people. It started when I received an email about young horses that were on a feedlot in Fallon NV, heading to a slaughter plant in Canada. A lady named, Debra Hawk, was trying to get the word out because 33 yearlings and 2 year olds had been dropped there by a Quarter Horse breeder who was going out of business.
A week prior, Jill Starr and her crew from Lifesavers rescue had taken in a livestock trailer of mares in foal, mares with foals by their sides and weanlings. But there was neither room nor the funds to also help the one and two year olds. So Debra stepped in.
In response to that email, I went to Debra’s Facebook page and found the album with pictures of all 33 horses. I chose a Palomino filly and put a comment under her picture that Equine WellBeing Rescue would be raising funds for her bail (the fee the feedlot wanted for us to purchase the horse) and transporting her to San Diego. Within two days, Facebook friends and others had pledged and donated enough funds that we could save her life.
Then Pam (a friend of Debra’s who lives in Reno), made a post asking if we can continue raising funds and donating through Equine Well Being Rescue? I thought we might get the funds to save one or two more horses, but you proved me wrong. Within a week, we had received the funds and pledges, and had enough people step forward to provide homes for 19 of the 33 horses. The remaining where either picked up directly at the feedlot by other working with Debra or by Pam who trailered them to her place in Reno and they were picked up from there.
As these sorts of last minute rescues can be, this was a whirlwind. The community of Ramona in San Diego County stepped in full force providing funds and homes for 10 of the horses, then 3 others going to Winchester, 3 going to Anza, 2 going to Yucca Valley and one going to Fallbrook. With many folks donating funds if someone else could take the horse. What a huge team effort.
Getting the horses bailed out was one thing, the logistics of how to get them from Fallon, NV, to southern California was quite another. Debra played such a huge roll here because she drove her trailer back and forth from Bishop, CA, to Fallon and found temporary quarantine space in Bishop allowing us to drive to Bishop and pick the horses up saving hundreds of miles and interstate travel. Several people are making trips from southern CA to pick up those 19 horses. The last of which will be picked up the weekend of August 20-21st.
When Debra and I first spoke on the phone, it was after about 10 of the horses were spoken for and funds raised. We both admitted that what was happening was beyond our understanding and we both felt we were just intermediaries in a plan that was so much bigger than what we anticipated, divine intervention at its best. I know the Lord played a big role in this because there is nothing that I possess or have to offer that could bring people out of the woodwork to help as has happened for these young horses. Not only are they going to homes, but they are going to homes where they are wanted and people are excited about getting them, some given names before even being seen for the first time by their new owners.
Some of these are becoming part of the family and others are going to be handled, trained and then a permanent adoptive home will be found. The hardest horses to find homes for are untrained horses and elderly horses with physical needs. This training will give these young horses a step up in life and a chance at more successful relationship with people.
This time and these young horses will be forever etched in our minds. A successful triumph of caring people working together for the good of innocent animals that were dumped by their breeder destined for slaughter. A new lease on life these sweet horses will have a chance at a long life with happy relationships with people. Like a graduating class of students we will watch how they mature and what they become as they grow up, rather than meat on someone’s plate.
There are so many people to thank, so many people who cared to step up and make a difference. You are all angels to these horses. You all saved lives. God bless you all for your part in this amazing rescue effort. We are still raising funds to help cover the transport of the horses.
Horses saved through our efforts and their new homes are:
#2
#3 yearling filly to Steve and family in Santa Ysabel
Wow! Is all I can say!
ReplyDeleteFANTASTIC, Christine! I shared on Facebook, but had no idea you would accomplish this amazing feat with so many horses! Congratulations and thank you for saving all these precious youngsters! Great work!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful news!
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