Expansion of Horse Program for 30 Horses

Our end year update begins with a thank you to all who have donated in assisting with the nutritional and medical care for 6 neglected/abused horses this year to come into our program, and $5,000+ donated for this Global Giving project this year thus far!  Your support has been crucial in supplying needs for these horses requiring immediate care to alleviate their suffering from neglect and abuse.    

The sixth horse this project has assisted is one an owner surrendered on November 5, 2011 from a county cruelty case in North Carolina.  USERL was contacted by concerned citizens and animal control asking for assistance for a very thin horse with medical issues.  The gelding, now named Baron, had profuse diarrhea and a body score of a 1 ½.  His condition had worsened since the summer months when a pond, the only water source on the property, became stagnant and filled with bacteria.   Many of the horses became ill on the property, and recovered, but Baron was struggling to overcome it and the stronger competition for food in the herd.  The owner, realizing he could not cope with the care and expense, willingly surrendered Baron to USERL so he could receive proper medical and nutritional care.

Baron has just cleared quarantine and is doing much better!  His severe diarrhea has resolved and he is gaining much needed weight, but another issue has appeared.  Baron apparently ate whatever he could find since he couldn’t compete with the herd for the hay provided.  Broken ceramic, glass, string, etc. has been found in his manure.  Thus far, this hasn’t caused any medical issues, but he is being watched carefully for any signs of trouble.

2011 has been a difficult year, the worst yet, for donations due to the poor economy.  Your support through this project has assisted with the funding for 6 horses this year to come into our program, and Baron makes number 28 helped through this project since it began!   Please consider sharing your success with us and pass along our project to friends and family. 

Thank you for your support and best wishes for the Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!

Links:

• Read the full story of Baron at his webpage!
• Enjoy a holiday video from us to you!

USERL is so thankful for our supporters in our mission to assist neglected, abused and abandoned horses, donkeys and mules!  Since our last report, funds through this project have come in to continue to assist Stori, an orphan foal who tragically lost her mother to severe neglect, as well as a mare named Nizzy who came to USERL needing assistance from financial issues.  So many families are struggling in this down economy, and horses are the first of pets to suffer as a result due to high expenses related to horse ownership. 

USERL volunteers assisted Nizzy's owner in finding suitable homes for 4 of her 5 horses.  Nizzy, however, was very thin, older and no home was able to be found by the deadline for the owners eviction from her home.  USERL took Nizzy into the Horse Program and started her on a quality feed program for weight gain and dental float to correct issues relating to her weight loss.  She has been gaining weight steadily and will be evaluated soon to ready for adoption into a new home - a second chance.  

With your help, USERL can help many more like Stori, Nizzy and others in our project reports.  So many have already been given that second chance through this project.  Can you help us help more?  No donation amount or effort is too small!  Every donation goes toward the direct care of the horses in the program for feed, hay, bedding, veterinary and farrier care.  Share our reports with others to expand awareness of this need, so large now due to economical pressures on horse owners today.  Help USERL give them a second chance at life!

Links:

• Nizzy's webpage
• Stori's page with updates on her battle for life

It’s been a busy summer with many community needs.  Through generous donations from supporters via Global Giving, USERL was able to immediately assist two cases needing critical assistance.

Lil Gypsy arrived to the USERL Horse Program April 14, 2011.  She was found abandoned in a NC county.  When no one came forward to claim her, the county contacted USERL to assist her.  She was very thin, had been clipped/sheared (probably due to a severe skin condition she had) and was lame in 3 of her limbs.  Lil’ Gypsy was accepted into the USERL Horse Program and received medical care, nutrition and socialization (she is very timid) and has now fully recovered.  She will be available for adoption soon thanks to your donations!

A second recipient of our Global Giving donator’s generosity was a mare and foal from a cruelty case in Virginia.  The mare, very weak from starvation, was too far gone and humanely euthanized within days of coming into USERL.  Her two month old foal, now an orphan, is severely stunted from lack of milk, has limb deformities from malnutrition and an umbilical hernia that may need surgical treatment.  Transported to a critical care foster rehab farm, the foal who is now named “Stori” is getting stronger every day.  Although she is two months old, she is being cared for like a newborn since her body is so fragile and receives formula every two hours (many small meals), a supplement for her severe anemia and daily exercise with her companion mare to strengthen her legs.  She now runs and acts more like a healthy foal every day! 

Cases such as Lil’ Gypsy and Stori exemplify what USERL offers to counties, providing immediate shelter, veterinary care and nutrition for neglect/abuse cases.  The counties call needing help right then, with no time to fundraise prior to their arrival.  Their need is immediate.  With your help, USERL was able to help the same day the counties called about Lil’ Gypsy and Stori.  With your support, USERL can help the next horse in need, the next county that calls.

Links:

• Lil' Gypsy's webpage with her story.
• Stori's webpage.
• A touching video about Stori's fight.