Thanks to Stolen Horse International and NetPosse, the First Baptist Church of Westwood Lake’s Circle C Youth Ranch camp has confirmed the recovery and return of two ponies stolen nearly two weeks ago. According to the camps director Wayne Hershbeger both horses are back safe on camp grounds. Hershbeger credits the media blitz which was set in motion by the press releases from Stolen Horse International as the reason Rusty and Sundae were recovered.
Recovery of ponies through NetPosse
A $500 reward was offered by the South Florida SPCA and is going to be paid to Stolen Horse International for the recovery of the horses.
In a phone call with Hershbeger stated, “We got them back! We got a call last night. Somebody said they think they have our ponies and we went and investigated and they were our ponies and we got them back.”
Hershberger filed a report on July 11th with Stolen Horse International’s website for the Rusty and Sundae. The organization immediately flew into action sending out NetPosse Alerts and press releases to news media in the local Miami area as well as nationwide through the American Horse Publications Association. Tens of thousands of NetPosse Alerts were sent out by mailing list to NetPosse Volunteers who sent them to their friends and posted them on public mediums such as facebook and twitter.
Debi Metcalfe, founder of Stolen Horse International states, “I knew that this could be a critical if not fatal situation for these ponies given the climate with the butchered horses in the Miami-Dade communities. We simply could not waste any more time. We had to make sure we made every effort to seek the help of the news media. We are so thankful to them for their cooperation and for their part in this recovery. “
In an email to Debi Metcalfe this morning Jeanette Jordan, President of the SFSPCA Horse Rescue commended the efforts of NetPosse.com.
“Miracles do still happen! Just got off the phone with Wayne,” she said. “They're in good shape! Thank God for NetPosse!”
A $500 reward was offered by the South Florida SPCA and is going to be paid to Stolen Horse International for the recovery of the horses.
“Money that has never been better spent! “Jordan continued.
Horse theft is a crime that is alive and thriving in the U.S. today. It is estimated that thousands of horses are missing each year, and thieves often take horse tack, vehicles, or other items from the same location. It is happening more in Miami-Dade County than any county in the United States!
With the help of volunteers through Stolen Horse International, aka NetPosse.com, many horses are recovered, and there is hope for victims like Circle C Youth Ranch. And in the case of their recently stolen Miami camp ponies hope did prevail!
Stolen Horse International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. SHI was founded in 1998 by Debi Metcalfe after she and her family spent nearly a year trying to locate Idaho, their spotted racking horse mare. Idaho was recovered when a flyer they had posted at a convenience store resulted in the tip that led them to their horse in another state.
Metcalfe concludes by stating, “There is no other organization like this in the world and we are so proud when all of our hard work makes a difference. There are no paid employees here, only volunteers with huge caring hearts. We live by the motto; Never underestimate the power of one!”
“In this case it as one victim, one alert, one press release, one news station, one volunteer and one recovery. It doesn’t get any better than that!”