Wyandot County Humane Society

Equine Rescue Program

Currently in Rehabilitation

Updated December 6, 2007

On March 16, 2007, we received a call from the Marion County Humane Society, with a plea for help. They had just impounded 20 horses, a donkey, a sheep, 2 goats, and two rabbits on the owner's property and needed someone to step forward to help these animals. As we have numerous times before, we sprang into action, mobilizing our equine rescue team, and transported 7 animals to our farm near Carey that night. We knew the sight of the animals would be appalling, but what we encountered that day will stick in our memories, along with all the other enormous cruelties we've been called to deal with over the past 22 years. We took 6 more the next day and by the end of the week we had taken in 17 animals.

One donkey, whom we have named Caleb, had slipper hooves usually seen only in textbooks. The poor donkey's hooves had grown around -- and around -- his feet, resulting in a "ram's horn" appearance. He is completely emaciated and full of parasites, and just one example of what we found. Another miniature horse, as yet unnamed, has painfully overgrown hooves which greatly restrict her ability to move without severe pain. All of the animals have medical problems ranging from the debilitation of Caleb, to the less critical but still serious condition of some of the horses that haven't been at the location as long. All of the animals are now receiving veterinary care, and will be for some time as they travel the long road to recovery.

We have also been contacted by a southern Ohio county to possibly help with 14 more horses, and one near death arrived that week from Crawford County. This is all aside from the 18 horses that already lived at our farm, and are cared for on a daily basis.

Our wish is to provide for Caleb and all the others food and vet care, peace and relief from pain. It costs thousands of dollars to rescue and rehabilitate a horse or donkey. With your help we can continue to provide for the many who come to us hungry, desperate, frightened and reaching out with hope. Average routine care per horse for a year comes to around $3,000. Broken down throughout the year, it is $250 per month.

Please know that any donations are appreciated -- $5 provides grain for a horse for one day!

At this time, none of the animals pictured are available for adoption. 

Animals released to WCHS from the Marion County Cruelty Case, March 2007 which are still in rehab:

(more pictures will be available soon)

Caleb 03-16-07 Caleb the miniature donkey arrived in this fragile, pitiful state. He could barely lift his head due to the tremendous pain he was in. He was emaciated, full of parasites, and his hooves had grown around like ram's horns.	Caleb's front hooves 3-16-07 Within just a few days of arriving at WCHS, Caleb was visited by our farrier. Never again will his hooves look like this.	Caleb, Summer of 2007 As you can see, Caleb's health has improved dramatically since he came to WCER. He will continue to receive corrective hoof care and is constantly evaluated to assure that he has the best possible life . He is not yet available for adoption.
Emmy Emmy is a 1 year old paint filly that came to us with a huge area of infection around an umbilical hernia on her abdomen. We have since taken her to the University of Findlay to have surgery. We are operating under extremely limited funds, but this is just too nice of a filly not to try to get her healed and into a home. We are currently hoping to get some donated funds to help pay for her surgery.