Tuesday was another great day in the office. As usual, I logged into the UHC email account to find about 40 articles related to horses. Google Alerts sure makes the search easier. While skimming through the good, the bad, and the ugly to find articles about the programs and people making a difference in the lives of unwanted horses, I ran across an article published on January 5, 2017, in the Sentinel-Standard. The author was reporting on the status of a seizure in Ionia County, Michigan, that occurred back in December. The title made the point: 8 rescued horses still need homes. So, I skim… “We did a search warrant… the association helped with transporting… 16 horses and all 10 goats have gone to homes… some had bad teeth… of the eight left, there are five stallions and three mares.” Ah ha! There is no need for those stallions to be stallions, and there was something we could do to help. I immediately sent a message to Ionia County Animal Control (ICAC). They responded within three hours, and an hour later they had submitted the Operation Gelding voucher application. Approval in hand, the vet performed the procedures yesterday. The ICAC Manager was then able to fund vaccinations so that the rescue organization taking over the horses’ care wouldn’t have to. Like paying it forward. Now, these boys can find new homes. What made the day even better was knowing that because the UHC has very generous donors, I could spend less time pounding the pavement to solicit funds and more time proactively searching for horses and organizations that we can help. So, THANK YOU to the amazing donors from the DeWitt Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, the American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation, the Noah Foundation, and the National Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association, plus the individuals who support our work. Our youngest donor’s lemonade stand earnings are just as valuable to the horses! I learned something else on Tuesday as well. We obviously need to do a better job of advertising the Operation Gelding program. But, for now, I’ll continue to monitor the news and reach out when we can help. If you know an individual or organization that needs gelding assistance, please have them contact me, or just check out the information at http://www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org/operation-gelding/. JENNIFER P.S. See the photo slide show below.
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AuthorAshley Furst is Director of the Unwanted Horse Coalition Archives
July 2017
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