The past few months, I’ve been super engrossed in trying to help these horse, donkey and pony rescues. As most of you know, I’ve been taking orders for scrunchies that benefit Sweet Mercies Rescue Ranch in Texas. I’m currently in the process of trying to figure out how I can do something with Tahlia at All Seated In A Barn in California.
You know, it’s actually sad that just 6 months ago, I had NO idea, whatsoever, that there were these rescues for horses, donkey’s, and ponies.
I was oblivious.
I knew of rescues for dogs, cats, birds and exotic animals, but never in my wildest dreams did I think that these beautiful creatures were being treated like they are.
I grew up in farming communities in Illinois and would see horses all the time! I had a friend in high school that had horses and he invited me over to go riding one day. That was the first time I’d ever ridden a horse. It’s name was Snickers, a beautiful brown horse. I was in love! Now, we live close to a small farm and we see cows and horses, in the pasture, all the time! It makes mine and my son’s day whenever we see them and just see the horses literally frolicking sometimes!
I happened to come across a Dodo post, on Instagram, of a sweet video of a mom posting a video of her son and his “brother” (pony) that visits him every day at his window. That was my introduction to Mariah and Sweet Mercies Rescue Ranch! Which in turn helped me discover All Seated In A Barn and Tahlia. And most recently, I’ve discovered Fairytale Farm Horse Rescue in California and The Gifted Equine in Texas. All are rescues for donkeys, horses, ponies, dogs, goats, chickens, turkeys, cows, you name it!
After watching some of Mariah’s videos and posts from the auction in Texas, I was appalled and horrified at the conditions these horses and donkey’s are left in when they are literally dumped or “flipped”. I felt it in my heart and soul that I had to help these animals, in some way.
A lot of these horses and donkey’s are sold and bought buy traders that in turn “flip” these animals for a higher profit. They lie about the conditions and state they are healthy or rideable or some other garbage statements. When in fact, these animals are neglected, sick, malnourished, dehydrated, scared, starved, injured or worse, on death’s door steps.
Why or how is this happening you may ask. Well, it’s because these animals are considered livestock and not pets. Now yes, most people that own horses use them as a piece of equipment for a lack of a better word or for showing/equine competitions. AND those animals are usually taken care of, fed, treated properly, given veterinary treatments, loved and just cared for, and some own them as pets, companions, a part of the family.
A lot of these horses that aren’t rescued by these ladies or other rescues, end up being bought up by other traders, like I said, or worse…..they get bought by kill pens and sent to slaughter in Mexico and Canada!!!! I just saw a post on ASIAB’s Instagram that Canada ships horses to Japan for slaughter!
Horses and donkeys are livestock in the law’s eyes. According to the http://www.humanesociety.org, it states “Auctions provide the only public place where humane agents can observe sale horses’ condition. Auctions indirectly promote neglect by providing outlets for the sale of abused or neglected horses. Without auctions, irresponsible horse owners and unscrupulous dealers would have no place to sell their horses.” This is sickening!
Another great article on these HORRIBLE auctions is on “Horse Plus Humane Society” website. They state:
“The way to stop the chronic suffering of horses in the slaughter pipeline being sold at multiple auctions and experiencing long transports with no food and water is for the export of horses for Slaughter to end. There is hope that that could happen, but it’s going to take a lot of public awareness to get support for the SAFE Act. The Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 961/S. 2006) is federal legislation that would prevent the horse slaughter industry from reestablishing operations in the U.S. and prohibit the export of American horses abroad for slaughter. To learn more about the Safe Act at this link: https://secure.aspca.org/action/safe-act-2019 We have hope that someday the Safe Act will be passed and the horror that we see these horses going through in the slaughter pipeline will be put to an end.”
Here is a direct link to the SAFE Act (Save America’s Forgotten Equines).
These images are hard to look at but this is the reality that is horse/donkey auctions.
It’s despicable.
It’s unfathomable.
It’s disgusting.
It’s horrifying.
It’s heartbreaking.
It needs to S T O P!
As one of Tahlia’s shirts say ” The horse industry is Shit!” Such truth to that statement.
And just for fun, here is a picture I painted of Tahlia and one of the rescued horses, as well as the picture I based it on.
If you can find it in your heart, please donate to these rescues! I’ll link their donation sites below. If you can’t donate, just share their posts or this blog!! We need to bring an end to the slaughter of these poor animals. They didn’t ask for this. They didn’t do anything wrong.
All Seated in a Barn: https://linktr.ee/allseatedinabarn
The Gifted Equine Foundation: Paypal
Sweet Mercies Rescue Ranch: Venmo & Paypal
Fairytale Mini’s: Paypal, Venmo, Zelle
And as always, you can buy scrunchies from my shop here. Any of the horse and/or donkey scrunchies sold, all proceeds go to Sweet Mercies.