Wyandot County Humane Society

General Lifetime Lease Policies

Horses and other equines are available for lifetime lease only to approved homes as determined by the WCER Board of Directors, and only after the prospective caregiver has proved to the Board’s satisfaction that they will not only agree to all lease contract terms and conditions but that they understand the basic care needs of the animal being leased and can demonstrate that they can handle and work with the leased animal safely.
Leased animals remain the property of WCER for the rest of their lives – should the caregiver ever be unable or unwilling to keep the animal, it must be returned to WCER. This means that an animal can never be sold, traded or given away, nor can it be sent to auction or slaughter. Animals who become seriously ill or suffer in advanced age must be returned to WCER or humanely euthanized by a licensed veterinarian or a WCER certified euthanasia technician.
No animal leased may ever be used for breeding under any circumstances.
All leases come with a 30 day “trial period”, meaning that the animal can be returned by the caregiver (for a full refund of the lease fee) for any reason within that time, and WCER can demand the return of the animal for any reason (with a full refund of the lease fee).
All caregivers are required to provide the leased animal with adequate care (i.e. feeding, housing, shelter, exercise, vaccinations, worming, farrier care, medical attention, etc.)
All caregivers must demonstrate that they have an adequate facility in which to house the leased animal (with adequate shelter from the elements, availability of a stall in case of illness or injury, minimum acreage for grazing/exercise, etc.).
Animals arrive at WCER for various reasons, some having suffered mild to severe emotional and/or physical abuse. Therefore, some animals will have very special needs in terms of the care they require and the uses to which they can be put. WCER expects caregivers to abide by the limitations set on the animal leased and to provide it with whatever special care needs it requires, if any. This also means that WCER cannot make any guarantees about any animal’s health, soundness, training, disposition, experience, suitability for any discipline, etc.
The most important element of the lease process is that the right animal be matched up with the right home, so as to ensure the long-term health and happiness of both the animal and the caregiver. Therefore, while you may be interested in a particular animal, WCER will only approve the lease if that animal is right for you. Please understand that this is not a negative reflection on your or your abilities, it is the result of the long hours of time we have spent getting to know the animal’s personality and quirks; we will do our best to match you up with an animal that is more suited to you.