According to Shirley Puga, Executive Director of National Equine Resource Network, an owner assistance program known as Project Safety Net for Horses is capable of rescuing thousands of horses from neglect this winter through an owner assistance program.
Project Safety Net participants
Allen Warren of Project Safety Net with participant Nataley Fidler and her horses, Brandi and Brodi.
A pilot horse owner assistance program operated last winter by three independent nonprofit equine rescue sanctuaries in the Pacific Northwest had a 100 percent success rate in keeping horses in safe homes with financially struggling but committed owners and is now ready to expand nationwide.
Project Safety Net for Horses has the potential of saving literally thousands of horses from neglect, abandonment, premature euthanasia or the brutality of equine slaughter for a minimal investment per animal, according to Allen Warren of the Horse Harbor Foundation (HHF) who developed and implemented the innovative program along with two other horse rescuers, Sara Penhallogen and Janean Doezal, in response to sanctuary capacity being at or beyond capacity in their three-county area.
"Perhaps more importantly, we were able to do this at a cost per horse of just under $250 for six months over the winter, a fraction of what it would have cost us to rescue them and care for them at our own facilities for that amount of time," Warren said.
Using funds from a grant, the group tested the concept of in-place rescue and were very happy with the results. "There is now absolutely no question that there are thousands of dedicated horse owners struggling to keep their horses properly in the current economy but who need just a little help to do so."
Participation in Project Safety Net is based on approval of a detailed application form with proof of income plus an on-site inspection including verification of ownership of horses and the conditions under which they were being kept prior to approval.
A precondition to any assistance is the gelding of all stallions and colts on a premise. "We were determined that everyone receiving this assistance was a dedicated horse owner and that our help would insure that the animals would stay in safe home," Warren stated.
Warren recently approached the National Equine Resource Network (NERN) with the idea of establishing a Project Safety Net fund that can receive donated money both from private individuals and other equine welfare organizations and breed registries, to distribute to equine rescue operators across the country willing to launch similar programs in their areas. This proposal is now under review by NERN.
As envisioned by Warren, administrative costs would be minimal and for every $250 donated to the fund, one horse would be saved by in-place rescue.
For further details, contact Shirley Puga at 760-419-2462 or visit:
http://www.nationalequine.org
http://www.facebook.com/national.equine
Additional Information:
In accompanying photo, Allen Warren, founder of Project Safety Net for Horses, meets with client Nataley Fidler of Poulsbo, WA, and her two horses Brandi, 14, and Brodi, 5, about her current need for financial assistance.
Fidler would not have been able to keep both horses without help from the program last winter. The 18-year-old college student acquired Brandi five years ago and has worked at part-time jobs since to support her and later Brodi, who she rescued from being sent to auction. Warren describes Fidler as exactly the kind of dedicated but financially challenged horse owner Project Safety Net was created to help.