In Memorium
Most folks think of rescue as "SAVING" in capital letters: Removing an animal from a bad situation and giving them a new life. We do that as best we can. Most of our rescues go on to live full, useful, loving lives with their new families/owners. Some, like our beloved Oliver, are so high maintenance due to long term neglect, starvation or other issues, that they are not adoptable and will spend the rest of their lives with us. Whatever time they have left, we make sure they are loved and cared for. And, sometimes, 'saving' is not 'capital letters', but small letters. Those are the individuals we take in to ease their pain and suffering and to give them a peaceful end in a loving setting, rather than having to endure a horrific trip to a horrific ending in a compromised physical condition. Our main concern is their comfort and well-being. But also, with this page, we want to make sure that they are not forgotten. We pay tribute to them, and hold their memories close. These horses are as important as those that we are able to "SAVE" and we honor them here - --
REST IN PEACE TROY - - November 10, 2009
Nov. 9: Update on Troy - -The biopsy results came back this evening on Troy's nose, and it isn't good. It's an aggressive form of squamous cell carcinoma. The smell is the actual tissue dying and going necrotic. We could try the surgery, very expensive, and we would have to excise so much tissue to make sure we got it all . . .with no real guarantee . . . . just not very feasible and the recovery would be painful, at 18 yrs of age . . . Sooooo, sadly, we'll be putting him down tomorrow.
He's such a sweet, sweet boy. At least he'll go gently and loved and not 'the other way'.
Nov. 4: The wound on Troy's nostril continues to be non-healing, though the Naxcel (stronger antibiotic) seems to be getting the infection under control - - it doesn't smell as rancid anymore. Today the vet took some tissue and fluid for pathology to see what we're dealing with It's looking less and less like a 'normal' abcess or puncture wound -- the inside of the nostril cavity is just ragged and raw. We may need to make a decision for Troy, if we need to excise all of the infected/damaged tissue, he'll need to go to surgery at a clinic - - which will most likely be in excess of $1,200, probably closer to $2K - - HHER doesn't have the funds . . . . all donations are tax deductible and will go directly towards Troy's needs.
Sept. 21 - We went to pick up "Benji" this a.m., and Frank showed me this guy - -
Sept. 23: Sad News on the HHER front - - Finnigan went down again at noontime; he had a very, very difficult time getting back up, if Rigo hadn't steadied him on his last attempt, he probably would have flopped back down again- - When he got up, he was limping on his right front, so he did hurt himself . . .and then walking him, he was really 'listing' to one side, side-walking, not really able to support himself. Eli came out and he went very peacefully and quickly. We can comfort ourselves in knowing that Finnigan spent the last two months of his life loved, totally spoiled with a best friend to spend his time with. . . he stayed quite chipper 'til the end, but ultimately was ready for the transition . . .
8/5: Finnigan (L) & Gulliver (R), are proving to have formed quite a strong friendship. When turned out, they spend every moment shoulder to shoulder. Once they're ready, I would love to see them adopted out together. See their stories on the 'Our Rescues' Page.
~~~~~~~~~Summer ~~ Rest in Peace - July 20.
A Sad Day . . .
June 30 ~ Thanks to the generous response from our "Email-Team", we were able to pick up "Summer" from the horse dealer today. Summer went thru the auction last week and was purchased for slaughter. She is a gorgeous palomino QH mare, blind in one eye, but reportedly rode thru the auction very quiet. I can tell you that she is very sweet, and though worried at the auction-house, immediately became calm and relaxed upon arriving "home". We will bathe her tomorrow and treat her for rainrot and scratches.July 1: Butch Dase was here and so he worked on Summer's teeth for us. Unbelievably, Summer was aged at mid-20's!! This lady is in great shape!
July 3: Got on her today, lovely lovely horse. Walks out fine, neck reins; willinglytrots, but feels arthritic - - gonna start her on glucosamine--didn't ask
her to canter or do too much - - her back is raw from the rainrot scabs
coming off. She's going to be fine light riding/walk trail horse.
Angel passed July 2, 2009 - -
is approx. 15 yrs old and is blind in her right eye. This poor girl is proving to be very sweet and is deserving of a kind home with lots of love. Thank You to my Helping Hearts: ~Pat & Chris Davis
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Belle -
Pulled from the Kill Pen Dec. 17, 2009 - - Passed on May 21, 2009.
Belle was a very sweet and gentle lady. She had a lot of dignity and was always gentle and kind.
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"McCain" was found wandering loose in Manalapan on 11/13. Animal Control was contacted and they called us. He's suffering from starvation and pnuemonia, is approx. 30 years old. There's no need for this folks - - this guy's a 0 - 1 on the Heinecke scale. Just because he's old, doesn't mean he deserves to be starved. We hope to nurse him back to health and make his Golden Years truly Golden: .See the News Story on McCain:
http://examiner.
These are 'before' and 'after', covered with feces and filth upon arrival (above), and after Ida Howell scrubbed the crud off of him.
Weds., Nov. 19: It is with great sadness that I must share the news that we lost McCain this afternoon. Rigo called me into the barn, McCain had gone down and couldn't get back up--we tried several times to help him up, but he just didn't have the strength. He just looked so drawn and tired. Goodness knows what this poor guy endured in the last few weeks and months of his life. Eli Perris, our vet, was only a few minutes away as he was on his way for Simon, and he quickly arrived. Between the 3 men, they got him to his feet, but McCain was so shakey and weak, we knew he'd go down again without us there to hold him up. And so we decided to let him go. It was only 7 days, but it was seven days of being warm, dry, clean, with a full belly and I think, knowing that he was with people that cared about him. The consensus here is that he knew that he was safe, and it was now OK to 'let go'. Thank You everyone for your support and well-wishes for McCain in the past week.
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KIRBY ~ Laid to Rest ~ ~ Nov 3, 2008
Thank you everyone for your support during Kirby's time with us and during his illness, both emotional and financial. Especially The Schneller family and Aimee French and her family - -both these families had expressed interest in adopting this wonderful boy.
In the Kill Pen on 9/29. I met "Kirby", when I went to pay Mason's pull fee. While helping a friend record the brands on a couple of mustangs that had been abandoned at the auction house, this lovely Arab gelding came over and put his head on my shoulder. At that moment, I knew that I could not let him go to slaughter. After publicizing his plight, several folks came forward offering to help and/or pull him - - -after receiving a specific phone call, I thought that a private pull had been arranged for this guy. The morning of Oct 2, the day that the horses in the kill-pen were due to ship out, I decided to call to make sure this guy had been claimed. Thank God I did, the woman who was so enthusiastic about pulling him, never did. I ran over and paid his $350 pull fee; and I brought him to safety on Oct. 6. If I hadn't made that phone call, this lovely, sweet, 15 yr old Arabian would have shipped to slaughter. Folks, if you tell me that you're going to pull a horse that I'm networking to save, then change your mind, please email or call me back to let me know. Kirby was saved, but a friendly and sound Appaloosa gelding did ship to slaughter because ANOTHER party told me they were taking him; and didn't. I did not have the resources or facility to save 2 horses that day . . . . .
Oct 24 ~ We are currently evaluating Kirby under saddle. He's going to be a very nice ride. He's proving to have nice basics, but he shows signs of having been 'waa-hooed' around, initially very tense, he's quickly realizing he can trust his rider not to be rough and/or scarey! He's a super guy!!!! A month of training sessions should have him swingy and relaxed!!
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Oliver Twist ~ ~~ Rest in Peace Sweet Boy - August 21, 2008
Thank you to my "Helping Hearts" Ida Howell and Toni Monar!
Oliver became out 'Poster-boy'. Pulled from a backyard on Oct. 6, 2007, he was a victim of long-term starvation and neglect:
May, '08: Oliver's gained approx. 300 lbs and is shedding out his winter coat. We've leveled off his feed as we don't want him gaining any more. Don't want to put too much weight on his joints and ligaments. His body structure hasn't carried this much weight in years!! He's had some aches and pains, I believe, associated with carrying a normal weight. A little Bute keeps him comfortable and happy. He loves attention and apples!
Update: January 9, 2008
February 18, 2008 -Well over 100 lbs gained October 7, the day after he arrived
Oliver w/Toni M., his Helping Heart!
Meet Oliver Twist, one tough pony. Oliver arrived Sat., Oct., 6, '07 - - a long-term case of neglect and starvation. A friend found him locally, existing in a backyard situation. His body condition was a number 1 on the Henneke Scale-an objective evaluation of a horse's body condition. Horses are rated on a scale of 1 to 10. 5 is an ideal weight. Our Vet, Dr. Perris said that he had never seen a horse so emaciated that was still alive.
It was 'touch and go' when Oliver first arrived. While he was very enthusiastic about eating anything offered, we had to be careful to only feed small amounts several times a day. Due to long-term starvation, his digestive tract was not fully functioning and didn't have the muscular strength to push food thru and push the waste out. A few days after he arrived, Oliver's G.I. tract did indeed shut down and we were very afraid we were going to lose him.
Thanks to intensive emergency vet care administered by Dr. Elias Perris and his assistant Lisa, as well as to all of the hands-on assistance from everyone in the barn Oliver pulled through a very harrowing week. And I must give a special Thank You to Chris, my hubby, for rolling up his sleeves and manually evacuating Oliver's rectal cavity every few hours, to keep this horse alive while I was on an overnight roadtrip to retrieve another good equine friend. We wound up doing this for several days until Oliver's digestive system was able to "re-boot" and start doing the job itself again.
Oliver is now doing very well and loving life. He even occasionally canters up the hill when we call him in to eat!! It's a sight to behold! As you can see by the photos, he has probably gained at least 100 lbs so far. I think another 75 -100 pounds should do the trick! He is down to eating 5 meals a day, 2 lbs of Hay Stretcher and 1/2 lb of Carb-Guard at each meal, mixed with hot water to make a mush that he can easily eat and digest. Due to the condition of his teeth, Oliver cannot chew hay, though he has no problem grazing and eating grass. The Hay Stretcher pellets are a hay substitute and gives him the fiber that his body needs to keep his digestive tract functioning properly. Oliver also arrived with a whopping case of rain rot, a bacterial and fungal infection of the skin, that is nearly cleared up. I think we'll have a round, shiney guy strolling around the farm come spring.
Butch Dase, equine dentist, came out this week and did some dentistry to follow up the work that Dr. Perris performed upon Oliver's arrival. He asked me how old the horse was, I told him YOU tell ME! He looked at his teeth and said OLD and when pressed as to how old, said "30", give or take. You would never know it to see the sparkle in Oliver's eye, he's got a very young face. He's very expressive and very opinionated!! Let's hope he continues to express his opinions at Chestnut Ridge for a very long time!!
Oliver, upon arrival, skinny and dehydrated - Oct. 6, 2007:
WEEBLES ~ July 14, 2008
Pictured with Bruce in this kill pen photos is "Weebles" (on L., w/halter). He was the last horse pulled from the kill pen on Monday, 7/7. Weebles was left behind several times as he showed signs of neurological impairment. Several people donated funds to cover his pull fee and we brought him home to a safe haven. (Pull fee:$450.00)
A vet exam diagnosed EPM - a serious neurologic deterioration caused by a parasite. Treatment with Marquis was begun (Thank you Barb C. for donating his treatment). Weebles' condition continued to deteriorate for the first 3 days, then stabilized temporarily with the use of IV steriods, DMSO and Banamine--these drugs are routinely administered for 3 days w/the Marquis until it hits a blood level and begins to eliminate the parasites and the horse begins to show recovery. Unfortunately, as the anti-inflammatories flushed from Weebles' system, he exhibited increased neurological deterioration. With a heavy heart, the decision was made to euthanize. Weebles left this world on Mon., 7/14 - - no longer unwanted, many prayers went with him. He was a sweet and affectionate horse who deserved more than being 'dumped' by his owner in his time of need. Though we lost him, he died in a safe haven with dignity, not collapsing and being trampled on a trailer on his way to Canada or dragged into a slaughter plant via tractor and chain.
Heavey Harvey ~August 15, 2008
Sometimes "Rescue" doesn't entail "SAVING" a life, but bringing them "home" to enable the animal to pass with dignity. "Harvey" was in the local kill pen--he would have shipped to slaughter--a good, sweet QH gelding in his '20s, relinquished to the pen owner by an owner who just couldn't be bothered anymore. He was afflicted with advanced heaves as well as a possibly cancerous condition in his left eye. Helping Hearts picked him up on 8/9 on behalf of NEER and the Alex Brown Forum FOB's (Friends of Barbaro), who was alerted to his condition; gave him plenty of food and affection and then put him gently to sleep on 8/15. Rest in Peace . . . . .
My Sweet, Impish Abigail ~
30+ yrs old - recovered from starvation and neglect, lost too soon to heart failure
We picked up this sweetheart on a cold, rainy Sunday in November of ’06—a victim of neglect and starvation. She was soaking wet and hypothermic. It took hours to get her core body temperature up. The first photo doesn't do justice to how thin she was, having a thick haircoat due to Cushings. If I rubbed my hands on both sides of her neck at the same time, I could feel the opposite fingers/knuckles thru her neck!!
Abigail had severely overgrown hooves with rotated coffin bones from re-occuring bouts of laminitis, She initially was very weak, couldn’t stand for long periods, but she was always very chipper and had a strong will. She slowly gained weight, In January of ’07 she went thru a surgery to improve her comfort level in her feet. Always gentle and affectionate, she basked in everyone’s attention and affection. Abigail proved to have almost no teeth, and it was estimated that she was between 30-40 yrs. Old. We fed her a Timothy pellet/senior feed / supplements mash several times a day. We perfected this mash with Abigail and are using it successfully again with Oliver.
My goal was to have this girl again enjoy the warm, sunny days of Spring. She continued to recover steadily. Spring began to arrive and she did enjoy the warmth and sunshine of those days. However, the end of March of ’07, she began to again lose weight and energy. We nursed her thru it, but when she began showing signs of distress which was diagnosed as symptoms of a straining heart, she was humanely euthanized. Although she was with us only a few months, she made a lasting impression. To have lived such a long life, she must have once been some child’s (perhaps several children) much loved pony. To find her in the condition she was in---that after years of care she then endured years of neglect and starvation is incredible . . . .though we lost her too soon, we are grateful that she was again able to experience love and security before she left us.
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Jasmine - - A Horse we never had the chance to meet, but will never forget.
Sometimes, we're just too late . . . .. this mare never made it to our farm. I spotted her on the Broker Page of Another Chance 4 Horses website Dec. '07 and contacted Christy to pull her. We planned on making her Helping Hearts' first "official" pull. Christy had first seen this mare in the summer of '07 and she was listed on the Broker page back then. At the time she was offered with another mare - - a matched team, I guess. The mares went thru another auction, and probably made the rounds of auctions for several months. In December another broker bought her, now alone, no longer with her team-mate. Christy remembered her from the summer, and put her on the site a second time. I told Christy we wanted her and named her Jasmine in anticipation of bringing her home. But then Christy contacted me -- the mare was failing, she was just giving up, possibly broken-hearted from being separated from her partner, and most likely the last few months were just too much for her . . . . . . we lost her before we ever got her 'home'.
