A former race horse was rescued from neglect thanks to the collective effort of The Homes for Horses Coalition, Fleet of Angels, Second Chance Thoroughbreds and transporter Brian McRae.
Racing Thoroughbred horses
A former race horse was rescued from neglect thanks to the collective effort of The Homes for Horses Coalition, Fleet of Angels, Second Chance Thoroughbreds and transporter Brian McRae.
© 2013 by Jarrett Campbell
The rescue effort began when Nichole Busik, an animal control officer in Hancock County, W.V., called the Homes for Horses Coalition for help finding a new home for Dunwoody Girl, a 7 year old mare who earned more than $250,000 on the race track during her career but was suffering from neglect.
The Homes for Horses Coalition is a program jointly supported by The Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Welfare Institute, and the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) to serve as a recognized national network of experts in equine care and government policy affecting equines.
Cindy Gendron, coordinator of the Homes for Horses Coalition called on coalition members as far away as New York to find a home for Dunwoody Girl. Collette Duddy, executive director of Second Chance Thoroughbreds in Spencer, N.Y., agreed to take the mare, but funds were still needed to transport her from West Virginia.
Elaine Nash of Fleet of Angels, a transportation network for at-risk equines, was able to coordinate the transportation and Dunwoody Girl finally made her way to a safe home in New York.
“We had to get this horse more than 350 miles, but it was accomplished through the teamwork of the equine rescue and protection community,” Gendron said. “It’s amazing what people will do when called on to help an animal in need. We are so happy to be able to give horses who come from an abusive or neglectful situation a chance at a happier, healthier and more productive future.”
“Dunwoody Girl is absolutely gorgeous, a stunning mover and a sweetheart,” Duddy said. “I am very grateful for everyone who helped get this mare to my rescue. Without them, Dunwoody Girl would still be in West Virginia waiting for a place to go.”
“Fleet of Angels is comprised of people all over America who have agreed to help transport at-risk equines from danger to safety,” Nash said. “We hope that someday practically everyone who owns a horse trailer will join us in this effort to get every at-risk equine into a good home. Teamwork works.”
About The Homes for Horses Coalition
The Homes for Horses Coalition is dedicated to ending horse slaughter and other forms of equine abuse, while promoting growth, collaboration and professionalism in the equine rescue and protection community