HORSE RESCUE

Read Horse Rescue Tales because it's not all bad and sad.
For many decades, the BC SPCA ignored many starving horses, forcing private citizens to save the horses from severe starvation, dehydration, freezing, cruelty, abuse and neglect. The SPCA at least once seized rescued horses after the rescuer got media exposure for the SPCA's callous neglect of suffering horses. Until some time in the mid-2000s, when stopped by internet exposure, many livestock, "heroically saved from cruelty" by the SPCA, were sold for meat though BC livestock auction houses. The SPCA probably didn't get much money for each animal, perhaps only a few hundred dollars or less, but some profit would have been better than the expense of humanely rehabilitating the livestock; and seizures that are promoted in the media can garner many thousands of dollars in donations, as long as the public doesn't know that some are then killed or sold at auction.
AAS has received many reports from horse-lovers and horse-rescuers over the years about suffering horses they have told the SPCA about only to have nothing change. As recently as 2011 we were told this...

I just wanted to ask how or what i do if i know of 5 horses that are in bad condition. they are all kept in 1 barn that is full of mud and manure. they have been eating their own fecal matter. today they have no water.  They get hay but 5 horses should not live in a barn 24/7.
 

Others have called the SPCA and all they got back was that the horses are being fed there was nothing to be done....  

They have been in this state for at least 3 months or longer. The barn is always full of manure and the small outside opening is mud and guck to their knees.  I cannot just sit by and not say anything while these horses are being treated like this.

Because the SPCA does not answer us, we sent the above report to animal control in the municipality the horses live in. Here is her update: There is just one horse there at the moment and the barn is clean and the horse on rubber matting and I am pretty sure it is the one going to a new home soon where there will be a donkey or goat to keep it company. The others are already at new places.  We don't know if this good news is the result of the SPCA after repeated pressure, finally putting pressure on the owner.  We would be happy to credit the SPCA if we did know.

These are photos of horses the SPCA threatened to seize in a case against a person with a connection to the SPCA. The warrant revealed the name of the complainant, also a person with a connection to the SPCA. The SPCA dropped the prosecution against the owner of the horses after refusing to produce documents that revealed the connection and the possible improper reason to seize.

And these photos are of horses the SPCA did not seize...
Send us your photos and story of horses that need rescuing.
 

There has been such a flood of appeals for help this year that we may not be able to reply very quickly or at all to more appeals.  AAS is now so well-known for its experience in all animal welfare and rescue matters that we are asked for advice and help from all over BC, Canada, the U.S. and the world.  For years I have answered each and every appeal with detailed advice that I have learned from 20 years of rescue, advocacy and animal law. Our high standards are well-known to the public, that is why we are so often asked for help and advice.


We are currently working on so many projects that I am sorry to have to say that we may not be able to respond to all the cries for help we hear as quickly as we want to.

AAS ethical standards are simple and straightforward, but a lot of work: Every rescued dog is given the exact same love and care that I give my own dogs.  Anything less can't be morally justified.  To weigh the costs, to kill, or to rehome without paying to make the dog well in body and spirit, is not true animal welfare: it's moving as much product as fast as possible and to demand money for unwell product is a business, not a calling. 

Judy Stone

Please donate if you want to help us help more needy animals.
 Restore your faith in humanity. Heart warming stories of brave people and how they have rescued abused and neglected dogs. Many happy ending stories and video too, right here.