Worth Waiting For The Right Home

Jester is a 20 'something' Thoroughbred/Appaloosa cross. 


 As you can see by the pictures, Jester does not want to be a white horse. He loves mud stuck to him and he can then pose as a paint. There have been many times that I glances out in the pastures and would say to myself, "Who is that horse?". Then I'd realize, it is Jester. 

He has been here since 1998. His owner loved him but being transferred to Arizona wasn't ideal for a white horse. After looking around AZ, most horses turn out was a 12x12 paneled stall in the sun. Jester loves to be out and run around, play in mud and flirt with mares. In the summer in GA, he is the last one out and the first on in so he doesn't get cancer. It's always a problem with white/gray horses. His owner decided he would be better off living at the rescue farm. All these years, the right person never came along to adopt Jester until now. He has upper and lower ring bone so he can't be ridden and needs special care and supplements to keep him comfortable. One of our young volunteers, Stephanie,  has always loved him but she went off to college and hasn't visited much lately. To my surprise, her parents gave her permission to adopt Jester and move him to a near by farm so the family can care for him. I am so excited for Jester and Stephanie. What a great adoption to end a year. He'll be moving about Jan 6th. Come and kiss him goodbye if he is one of your favorites. Be happy for him. He will have 50 acres of grass and many new friends. I am sure he'll find a nice pretty mare to flirt with.  It is always worth waiting for the right person to adopt a horse. It is what makes a truly happy ending. 

Rest In Peace, Albert the Great Goat!

December 3rd seemed like a regular night at the rescue farm. The moon was making shadows of the trees. It was cool and crisp, just like winter nights setting in. I mixed food for the old timer horses that get special night feedings. Albert, our Nubian goat, was begging for food so I handed him a few broken up alfalfa cubes. He was just Albert that night, normal...or I thought.

Albert, the Great goat!    Lovely photo by Julia Lewis. 

The next morning, Albert was in his regular bed, the shaving pile. Something was wrong though. He couldn't move his head forward. We later found out it is called 'stargazing'. He spent a week at University of Georgia large animal clinic. They were able to do blood work, test spinal fluids and through elimination, decided it was goat polio. We brought him home with medications and iv fluids, sub.q injections and everything needed to see if he'd get better, The many volunteers who came helped out so much. We picked him up with a sling, did physical therapy, every kind of treatment we could find. People from around the world sent prayers and good wishes for him. Some days we thought we were making progress, then he would take a turn backwards. Everyone spent time with him, comforting him, loving him, feeding him and offering him treats. When you have a critical animal you tend to become very close to them. Your heart aches for them. You lay beside them, you think of all the times they made you smile. You want desperately to make them well. You search for answers, cures, ideas. You try to realize you may have to make a decision you never want to make but you have to know you can never let them suffer. You look for a sign, you hope they tell you. You can't be selfish but it is a decision you cannot reverse so it is vital to weigh every positive sign  as well as every negative sign. You look for hope constantly. After 22 days of not walking, Albert was losing all muscle even with our efforts. He still stargazed, he lost weight. He wanted so badly to get up and walk away. Now he seemed to have discomfort. We washed him, kept ointment of him, made sure he didn't get a rash by keeping his under pads changed and cleaned. We looked to make sure he didn't get bed sores. We moved him from side to side and he fought less and less. We could not let him die from dehydration or letting his organs shut down. The last thing anyone wanted was for him to have any pain. 

Dr Amanda knew Albert for several years so I asked her to come by this morning and help Albert leave us in peace. It was gentle and fast for Albert. It is hard and painful for everyone who knew and loved him. We sure will miss the 280 pound goat of love! Rest In Peace, Albert. Dec 26, 2012

Santa and Mrs Santa help Sandman

Sandman at what we hoped was his new home.

It finally happened. Sandman found his family. All they had to do was find the right pasture for him. He needed a smaller pasture for a few months until he was willing to trust his new human, Mom, Laura. Once he knew her, he would be able to go to a larger pasture. Sandman is a 'special needs' horse. After meeting Sandman, Laura feel in love. She has no problem with special needs, she and her husband, Jim, adopted 6 special needs children. Jim told me how Laura really needs a horse to love and to care for. She's always loved horses and is such a giving person, she'd be the perfect partner for Sandman. After searching for the perfect farm, the called and asked me to deliver him to a boarding stable in Calhoun, GA.  When I drove down the driveway, I could see big smiles on faces big and small. Sandman is a big horse and handsome. He would make anyone smile. Everyone gathered around as he stepped out of the trailer. I walked him into his paddock and met the owner of the farm. He was a sweet older gentleman, then his daughter, Angela, introduced herself and told me she recently took over the farm and is in charge. She asked about riding Sandman and I explained he should be ridden. Then she asked about lunging him. I said he is big and small circles can hurt him so I discouraged that for now. She asked a few more times about riding him and I kept saying 'No'. Then Laura told her she didn't want to ride anyway, she just wanted to love him. Everyone was happy, including Sandman. He had his own roll of hay. 

About two hours later, Jim called me to tell me, Angela, said she doesn't want Sandman there or all the children. It was a big disappointment for sure. Jim, Laura and I all started calling other places to bring Sandman. We all wanted a happy ending, it was such a great start. 

Jim and Laura dressed up the children and took them to see Santa. Knowing they all wanted electronics and toys they were surprised when Santa asked Ben, who is in a wheelchair, what he wanted for Christmas. Ben's reply was 'Sandman' He told Santa that Sandman needed a family and they needed him. Jim had tears in his eyes as he told Santa and Mrs Santa about the plight of them trying to find a place for Sandman. Santa and Mrs Santa got involved and helped find a place so Sandman can be part of this wonderful family that sees perfection instead of imperfection.  As soon as some fencing is repaired, I am going to bring Sandman to his new home. I am sure Sandman is just a useless burden to Angela. She doesn't seem to see the beauty in giving love in it's purest form. 

Some of the Chapman children telling Santa they want Sandman.

Poor Sandman. his fetlock joints are not strong enough to carry a rider. Under 4 years old, already discarded like trash. He had a bad start nutritionally which caused problems so he was being sold for meat prices per pound. Why would someone breed their animal then not take care of it?  

Very thin on arrival to rescue farm

He is a big Belgiun draft horse and sweet but you need to take time to win his trust. He was treated unkindly because the owner saw no other value in him except a few hundred dollars. Volunteer Elizabeth McPeek put out the word on this guy needing help. Thanks to generous donations from compassionate people, we were able to save him from death. We were able to buy him from the kill pen. He was very underweight, dirty, had bad feet and was terrified of humans. When I arrived at the auction barn, only one man was there. It wasn't an auction day so not much was going on. He told me he knows very little about horses but he would help me get him. He thought he should chase the horse around the pen to catch him so he continued that for a while. I am sure he saw this done many times and knew no better way. All it did was frighten the already frightened horse even more. There were a series of shoots and gates to get horses through to the auction so I went in and got behind Sandman and just guided him by being behind him. He finally got to a small shoot area and the man helping closed both the front and back gate. It restrained him but the poor horse was trembling bad. I had to climb the side fencing to try and get a halter on him. He was so large and fearful. He kept going up and down with his head, it took about 10 minutes to finally get the halter on his head and buckled. I climbed down the side of the fence and held tightly onto the lead rope. Gently touching his face, I whispered, "You are going to be safe now, I promise." With his eyes wide with anxiety of what was going to happen to him, he let out a nice deep breath and walked with me out the barn door. I had the trailer door opened and showed him the good hay waiting for him. There was no hay or water in his holding area so he walked right in to the trailer. I guess he was starting to believe my words about being safe. An hour later, we arrived at the Chickamauga, Georgia farm. He unloaded well, we took some pictures to document his progress. In the pasture, he found another draft horse to buddy up with. The kind volunteers at the farm give him hope that humans are not bad. He has come a long way in the year he has been with us. He gained weight, learned to pick up his feet for the Farrier (hoof trimmer) and is going to get his teeth worked on soon. Yes, horses go to dentists too. 

Volunteers showing kindness

 Our goal is not how many horses find homes, it is to improve the life of each horse, get to know it's needs and search for the best home possible. We get to know each horse and can honestly let a prospective adopter know the needs of each horse. We want long term forever love each horse deserves. That is our mission to Save The Horses. With all the wonderful volunteers, it is done 365 days a year. No one gets a salary, everyone gets more than they give. It is a little sad to send a horse to to a new home but it gives your heart such a lift knowing you are part of something so much bigger than yourself. Some of our volunteers have been here several years, if brings such joy. It make humans human.

TACK SALE Dec 15 11-2 PM

SaveTheHorses Rescue Farm cleaned out the barn so you can find a great deal on our tack. It is all priced to sell! 

Lunch Available! 

Stop by and grab a dog, a hot dog that is!

While you are here, enjoy Pete Dillingham train some horse and riders. Pete owner FireFly Acres in Sparta, TN.

Saddles, mostly English. Blankets, halters, buckets, hay racks, bits, saddle pads, English and Western, bridles, leads, wraps, and more. 

Walk around and meet the horses at the rescue. 

Have you ever seen a dwarf miniature horse?

All Proceeds Benefit the Horses!

1768 Newt Green Rd 

Cumming, GA 30028 

770 886 5419

Life Is Short, Often Too Short

Albert the Great Goat

Weinie the Wonderdog

Starting the day unrested was bad enough. Tossed and turned all night mourning the loss of our beloved 'Weinie' our weiner dog. He was a little hound dog with a big personality. Everyone was his friend unless you were  a varmint. 

Something attacked him Sunday. The Emergency vet said it was an animal attack. He was on the porch with Lea and Bella, 5 minutes later bleeding and wounded. No sound, no screaming or growling. After moving two horses Sunday, driving for 4 hours to almost Alabama then Tennessee, we stopped on the way home and picked up Weinie. The vet explained what he suspected about the wounds. He went over the xrays, said his heart and lungs sound strong so I took him home with a compression bandage. He was painful all night but quiet and at home. We went back to the vet in the morning. He was going to stay until 5 to get another look to make sure everything was healing, possibly stitch the lacerations.  We were pretty confident he'd recover.  I was ready to go pick him up when Dr Cipullo called and told me that Weinie was fine 5 minutes ago but now he's is dead. It was heartbreaking. Life can change so fast.

                                                                                                                

Getting Albert into the sling



This morning Albert was in his usual resting place in the barn but was in a strange position. He head would not come forward nor could he stand. I gave him an anti-inflammatory. After talking with a few vets and goat people, we decided to rush him to UGA Veterinary Hospital in Athens. First we had to get him up into the sling and into the trailer. He weighs 280 pounds! The wonderful volunteers who are dedicated to all of these animals were there to help every minute. Alisha, Sam and I headed out for a long day. I am going to let the pictures (Thanks for taking them Alisha) tell the story. 

Now moving him through the barn

Gently getting him into the trailer

Placing Albert in a comfortable position . 2  hour ride to University.

Gurney ready for Albert

Looks like a Code Blue, the are serious about his health

Albert weighing in at 280 pounds

Examining his eye

Getting a catheter put in

Albert's head still up

Getting medications

A spinal tap test is painful but necessary

He was starting to eat hay. 

Comforting pillows for his head

Albert's tests came back fairly normal. We hope to see improvement with in 24 hours. He is being treated for 3 suspected problems that have similar symptoms. There is no test that gives an exact diagnosis. I am trying to be hopeful but it is scary to not be realistic. I really thought Weinie was going to be with us for a long time. I am hoping for many more years for Albert. Life is short. 

Native American Christmas Celebration

Nothing like it! 

Come and have a Cherokee Christmas!

Bring your friends and family!

Meet Sandman or Meat Sandman?

Sandman learning all humans are not unkind.

Should this horse be sent to slaughter because it will not be ride able?
       
  Meet Sandman 


His fetlock joints are not strong enough to carry a rider. Under 4 years old, already discarded like trash. He had a bad start nutritionally which caused problems so he was being sold for meat prices per pound. Why would someone breed their animal then not take care of it?  

Very thin on arrival to rescue farm

He is a big Belgiun draft horse and sweet but you need to take time to win his trust. He was treated unkindly because the owner saw no other value in him except a few hundred dollars. Volunteer Elizabeth McPeek put out the word on this guy needing help. Thanks to generous donations from compassionate people, we were able to save him from death. We were able to buy him from the kill pen. He was very underweight, dirty, had bad feet and was terrified of humans. When I arrived at the auction barn, only one man was there. It wasn't an auction day so not much was going on. He told me he knows very little about horses but he would help me get him. He thought he should chase the horse around the pen to catch him so he continued that for a while. I am sure he saw this done many times and knew no better way. All it did was frighten the already frightened horse even more. There were a series of shoots and gates to get horses through to the auction so I went in and got behind Sandman and just guided him by being behind him. He finally got to a small shoot area and the man helping closed both the front and back gate. It restrained him but the poor horse was trembling bad. I had to climb the side fencing to try and get a halter on him. He was so large and fearful. He kept going up and down with his head, it took about 10 minutes to finally get the halter on his head and buckled. I climbed down the side of the fence and held tightly onto the lead rope. Gently touching his face, I whispered, "You are going to be safe now, I promise." With his eyes wide with anxiety of what was going to happen to him, he let out a nice deep breath and walked with me out the barn door. I had the trailer door opened and showed him the good hay waiting for him. There was no hay or water in his holding area so he walked right in to the trailer. I guess he was starting to believe my words about being safe. An hour later, we arrived at the Chickamauga, Georgia farm. He unloaded well, we took some pictures to document his progress. In the pasture, he found another draft horse to buddy up with. The kind volunteers at the farm give him hope that humans are not bad. He has come a long way in the year he has been with us. He gained weight, learned to pick up his feet for the Farrier (hoof trimmer) and is going to get his teeth worked on soon. Yes, horses go to dentists too. 

Volunteers showing kindness

 Our goal is not how many horses find homes, it is to improve the life of each horse, get to know it's needs and search for the best home possible. We get to know each horse and can honestly let a prospective adopter know the needs of each horse. We want long term forever love each horse deserves. That is our mission to Save The Horses. With all the wonderful volunteers, it is done 365 days a year. No one gets a salary, everyone gets more than they give. It is a little sad to see a horse to to a new home but it gives your heart such a lift knowing you are part of something so much bigger than yourself. Some of our volunteers have been here several years, if brings such joy. It make humans human.


Sandman is healthy but does need some dental work which will will have done. He is available for adoption to a loving home who appreciates his majesty and grace he possesses. 

Majestic Sandman

Sad, heartbreaking but not illegal. Thousands of horses are sold to be slaughtered for human consumption every year. Though America does not have a slaughter plant on our soil, horses are sent to Mexico and Canada to be killed. 

Fear in of the unknown is seen in his eye

www.SaveTheHorses.org is against horse slaughter. Horse owners need to be responsible for their animals, stop breeding horses and take to time to find safe homes if they no longer want their once beloved horse. The difference between life and death in only a few hundred dollars. We purchased Sandman for $350. 

Thank you for your continued support to Save The Horses. Your generosity saves lives everyday. Do not ever think your donation is too small. 70 people donating $5.00 each  could save Sandman.
10 people donating $35.00 each and so on. 
It all ads up to saving horses! 

Gwen from New Jersey to Georgia

Jason with Gwen at SaveTheHorses Farm

 Gwen went to a foster home with Lisa and Jen on Sunday. These two ladies have experience in rehabilitating and working with draft horses. We do not know if she has ever been ridden but we do think she drives a cart. Does it matter? Not to all the SaveTheHorses volunteers nor Lisa and Jen. Our theory is all horses need loving safe homes. We honor them all no matter what ability or disability each horse may have. 

Even if a horse becomes a giant yard ornament, we love and honor each one the same. SaveTheHorses sees the value of life in each horse, not a dollar value. In the Spring, they will decide if we should put her up for adoption or if they just can't let her go. You know how easy it is to fall in love when you are with a horse everyday!

Gwen's history? She was saved by many compassionate donors who gathered together enough money to get Gwen from the kill buyer auction in New Jersey inappropriately named Camelot. When you think of Camelot, you think of idealism, adventure and romance. This Camelot is an auction full of horses that are thrown away for a per pound price. With the help of the Internet and those willing to donate, horses are saved from slaughter. Gwen was used up by her Amish owners. There is always another horse to replace another. People are always breeding animals for profit. What happens to the horse after the money changes hands is not important to most people. Those of you reading this are so empathetic for the suffering of horses but realistically, are a small group compared to all Americans. As hard as we work to educate others, most do not know that the fate of many horses is a horrible death then butchered for human consumption. 

This is a happy time from Gwen. She has been in the care of SaveTheHorses since Nov 2010. We let her enjoy being a horse and living on 100 acres of peace and comfort. It isn't about a turnover of horse to new homes, it is about the quality and love each horse deserves. It is costly but it is our promise to every horse. How can we put a price on that? 

Thank you all for being a part of SaveTheHorses.org It is all of you that contribute in every way that makes it all work to Save The Horses.

RIP Arnold Swartzenhogger

Arnold Swartzenhogger

It was about 8 years ago, when Fulton County Animal Services called and left a message. They found a large pig that was unclaimed. They would have to euthanize if they couldn't find a place for him. I only had one pig, Annie, at the time, so I agreed to take him. Annie is sweet and loving so I didn't expect anything different from another pig. 

The animal control officer told me they found him wandering the streets terrorizing local residents. When I saw him, it was easy to see why everyone was scared of him. He was a couple of hundred pounds of a white hog looking animal with large tusks . He surely resembled a wild boar. If any human approached him, he would scream. An adult pig screaming is loud, low a sort of growling, like "I am going to eat you" sound. I can imagine people running into to him in the street and hearing him then running the other way. Both pig and human scared to death. It took while for 5 men to catch him in a stall at animal control. He was just as afraid as the humans he met on the street. People must have thrown things at him trying to make him go away and teased him as well. It was sad to see the mental condition he was in, as well as his physical appearance. He was filthy, covered with ticks and his skin looked like he had poor nutrition.We finally managed to get him by wrapping him in a tarp and everyone picking it up and pushing him into the trailer. Once I got back to the farm, he was too frightened to get off the trailer. It took a couple of brave volunteers to help push him down the ramp of the trailer. He sounded so ferocious. 

I named him Arnold Swartzenhogger. The goal was to get him in great condition, all muscle, like the other Arnold of movie fame. This was our movie star! Everyday, I would approach him, as I got closer, he would let out a loud cry of fear. Eventually I could gently touch him and he learned it was good to be at the rescue farm. His health improved, his tusks were removed and he became Annie's BFF. 

 Arnold became very gentle. He was an older pig but no way to tell his age. Now an older gentleman, our Arnold. 

In the past few months, Arnold lost weight and seemed to become arthritic. Volunteers had to actually lift in up so he could stand. He lost interest in food. He was deteriorating and he quality of life was decreasing fast. You can see he lost his muscle. I was time to help him gently cross the Rainbow Bridge. Finding a veterinarian that knows how to gently euthanize a pig turned out to be difficult but after 20 phone calls, two of our equine vets agreed to the sad task. 

Rest In Peace Arnold Swartzenhogger.

You will be missed, you were very loved. We shed tears for all animals here when we lose them. We are honored he came to us and stayed so long. He brought understanding about pigs to all who knew him. These are gently souls and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. 

Jake Loves (and needs) Food

Jake has been with us 2 weeks. He is a 26 y o Arabian that the owners said always did well on pasture. I guess they didn't think to buy grain or call a vet. He weighted 742 pounds when we picked him up and brought him to SaveTheHorses Rescue farm. He gets Senior feed several times a day. He makes sure because he gets to walk around free rather than in a pasture and when he sees a human head toward the feed barn, he comes over and whinnies, 'Feed me, please!'. He is a sweet horse and has probably been taken care of most of his life until recently. I don't know what happened that he lost so much weight and it was just ignored but he surely suffered for it. He was starving. I doubt he would have lived much longer without grain or hay. He was on about a 2 acre pasture with green grass, lovely black board fencing in a very well to do neighborhood. 

We couldn't put shavings in his stall because he was so starved, he'd eat them. We let him just be staled on rubber mats and put food grade diaomaceous earth on it to absorb the smell. If he was in the stall and we took a shovel of shavings and put it on the urine pool to absorb it so we could shovel it out, so he could have a clean stall, he would start gobbling the shavings. He couldn't help himself he was so hungry. The other day, he walked into a few stalls that the horses who occupy them were turned out, he was looking in their feed buckets for left overs. Then he rolled in a stall and he was covered in shavings. It was a breakthrough, he is past the starving point. We realized he was ready for shavings in his own stall, to keep it clean and to keep him comfortable. It was a simple thing, shaving in his stall. It was joyous for everyone at the rescue farm. Jake had taken a step forward. 

The day he was brought to the farm, started out bad. He ate some grain in the 30 minute trailer ride from his home back to the farm. He  was so starved he gulped the food down. When the trailer door opened for him to get out to the safety of the rescue farm, food was coming out of his nose. He was choking. Dr Laura Duvall Mohoney came out quickly to get a tube down his throat and clear his choke. He is on antibiotics for any aspirating that easily happen]s when you wash water down a horses esophagus. 

He loves his new girlfriend, Lady Jane. They look like Jack Sprat (who could eat not fat) and his wife (who could eat not lean). You have to love their relationship. He loves her, she could care less. 
She actually love to tease little Humphrey, a miniature horse with a hump on his back. 

Drama sat the rescue farm! 

Thank you for your compassion and support! 

You save lives of horses like Jake, Lady Jane and Lil Humphrey everyday!  Thank you so much! 

Our Farm Inspector is a Goat!

Pebbles the Inspector!

Getting things ready around the farm makes some animals take notice. What was going on here? 


We were going to paint the picnic tables  so we turned them over to paint the underside hoping to make them last longer. Your donations are needed to buy food and hay and pay vet bills for the horses. We really don't want to spend any extra money on picnic tables so we try and make everything last as long as possible. One of the volunteers replaced some rotted wood so we were ready to start painting. 

Pebbles and Goliath

Along comes Pebbles, a very nosy goat who appointed herself  'Picnic Table Inspector'. She knew something was going on and she needed to make sure we 'humans' knew what we were doing. Right behind Pebbles, was Goliath, the Chihuahua, who Pebbles appointed 'Vice Inspector' of picnic tables. 


Pebbles didn't have a mother to teach her so I am guessing she was born a genius. She was found by some city folks who took her to a wildlife sanctuary in Stone Mountain, Georgia called AWARE.  The family thought they had found an abandoned baby deer. It was a good rescue on their part. They wanted to save this little innocent soul and got involved. AWARE called and told us the mistake, it is a baby goat not a fawn, and that they do not do farm animals. One of the AWARE volunteers brought Pebbles to SaveTheHorses Farm and she quickly became a favorite to all visitors. 


We 'humans' have an election coming up in  a little over a week. Zillions of dollars are spent on campaigns ads, truths are told, lies are told and we 'humans' have to make major decisions and pick our leaders. The world at the rescue farm is not like that. These animals take it upon themselves to 'get the job' done when they see a job needing help. No campaigning, no voting, no money spend. They just appoint themselves and take over.  They are leaders!  

Pebbles watching over Roy

When our retired Carriage horse, Roy, was having some physical problems, Pebbles was there to make sure he was safe. 

We 'humans' learn a lot from the animals here are the farm everyday. 

SaveTheHorses.org is a all volunteer, non profit organization that cares for unwanted horses and farm animals. A no-kill shelter located in Cumming GA.

A Horses Destiny is Our Choice

Destiny, a Craigslist find

Craigslist posts has free and inexpensive horses needing new homes everyday. Some horse owners are willing to dump their horses to the first person with a horse transport trailer who shows up. Where is the horse going? Some people don't care, just take it away and they are free of their responsibly. A horses fate is in our hands if we are willing to help. There are people who can walk away from an animal in danger. There are those who find a way to help. 


One local family was looking for a horse when they came across this big mare. Destiny is a Percheron mare that a family saved from Craigslist. She was very thin, had bad feet but she was not the horse they needed for their little 6 year old. They couldn't leave her behind. They didn't feel she was safe where she was but they didn't feel they were knowledgeable enough to make her healthy. Instead of walking away, they found a solution. They brought Destiny home and called SaveTheHorses.org and asked for help. 

Destiny loves carrots. Sandra is enjoying feeding her treats. 

 We have gotten many malnourished many horses and changed their lives. It was a 'yes' we will come and get her when this family called. Destiny was a handful, hard to handle and pushy on the ground  She is big and strong, surely not a 6 year old child's horse. Destiny needs to gain a few hundred pounds to fill on each rib and get strong enough to carry a rider and become healthy. After a month of good nutrition, plus good farrier work by Mele Miller, we moved her to our 100 acre grass pasture in Chickamuaga Georgia. She can gain weight and get her body exercised and build muscle on that big pasture.  

Destiny getting love at Chickamauga

This family still wants a perfect horse for their 6 year old. We have a 'yes' to that too. Caraway is a 20 something Appaloosa mare.

Caraway

 She came to us through animal control a few years ago. It didn't take us long to find her a home. She was adopted to a 10 year old boy named Wiley. She was a perfect, gentle horse for Wiley because he was fragile from the brain cancer that was he was fighting at the time. It was in remission and Wiley spent many hours with Caraway. They were both gentle souls and loved one another. Within 2 years, the cancer overtook Wiley and he passed away. It was so heartbreaking to be involved in this. How can this happen to a child? Life is so unfair. I am so grateful that SaveTheHorses could make Wiley's life happy even for such a short time. Partnering a special boy with a special horse is such an honor. 

After Wiley's was laid to rest. his family knew Caraway could give another child the love she gave Wiley. They were right. Caraway is now the constant companion of that little 6 year old , Meg, and she is making another child smile everyday. 

Caraway and Meg

Rescue is many things. Rescue is everything. It is a fragile circle that rescuers live within. You all know and join in that circle even though we know it can bring heartache and pain at anytime but the moments of joy make it all worth the efforts. 

There is a home for every horse. It takes time and effort and compassionate people like you to keep a rescue running and helping more and more horses. 

SaveTheHorses.org 

This Piggy Needs a Piggy Bank!

When I pulled up at animal control, they were already closed. It was Saturday after 5. They had called and asked SaveTheHorses.org to please take a young potbellied pig. I understand employees want to go home but I hoped someone was around. I walked around toward the back of the building and saw an Officer I recently picked up two neglected horses with. He opened the door and one of the ladies was holding this cute little piggy in her arms.  

He quietly sat in the basket all the way back to the farm. He was in instant hit with all volunteers and visitors. 

Kressa loves Junior

We have a wonderful white pig who came from Fulton County Animal services several years ago. He is aging and is having a harder time getting up to eat. Sometimes, we have to help him up. His name is Arnold Swartzenhogger. Everyone wants to know what we will call this new little guy. I think in honor of old Arnold, we should call him Junior, Arnold Swartezhogger , Jr. People come and Junior oinks at them, especially when you have Cheerios. He is like a little vacuum cleaner. You put Cheerios in your hand and his little snout wiggles and poof, they are gone that fast. He was doing well until one of the little visitors didn't close his gate and he thought he's go on a farm adventure and disappeared. He was lost. When the volunteers discovered him missing, we organized a search party! After searching in the barn, for what seemed like hours,  he was found burrowed in the shavings in a back stall. Most of the horses were out in the pastures enjoying the great weather so we didn't think they hurt him. He walked fine. He seemed very frightened and just trembled when we put him back in his piggy area. We left him alone so he could relax again. Later he ate a little fresh food and seemed to drink extra water but nothing too much to worry about. The next morning he still wasn't his Cheerio loving self. Everyone came and held him gently, cuddling him like the baby his is. He seems to enjoy the attention but still was acting lethargic. It was now Sunday so any veterinarian charge was going to be an emergency call but he needed some help.   After examining him, the vet said his temperature was low. He gave him some antibiotics and anti inflammatory medicines and told me to keep him warm tonight. No real answer but he slept comfortably. 

Dr Kim Parker and Junior

After making an appointment with a Roswell veterinarian, I took him to  Dr Kim Parker, who, after an hour of examining him,  discovered he had a broken jaw. She made an appointment for yet another veterinarian who is more familiar with pigs and will do surgery today, Oct. 16th. She said it would be a two hour surgery. From examining him, it looks like two fractures but she didn't want to sedate him unnecessarily so she will xray him before she the surgery. Of course, sedating any pig is dangerous. Please she a prayer for our little guy.

Since the surgeon is 20 miles away, they said I could leave him but I decided to bring him home. I wanted to love on him last night and make sure he had some nutrition and strength for the surgery  We need to give him every chance. 
I have him some oral vitamins along with soaked Cheerios with bananas. He slowly ate it out of my hand. His little jaw will feel much better after today. 

We don't have the answer as to how he broke his jaw. Only a few horses were in the barn. Could it have been a donkey or one of the goats? It could have or he could have gotten caught under a stall or or something. At least we know the problem and it is solvable. Costly, yes. Three vets and a surgery. He needs a big piggy bank, literally! 

If you can help fill this Piggy's piggy bank to pay the vet bills, please help.
Thank you.