NEWSLETTER 124 Rescues Get Their Second Chance & Four Horses Living the Life in Retirement Bring the Animals Two by Two As 2018 drew to a close, South Florida SPCA Horse Rescue (SFSPCA) was teeming with a full house of 60 rescue horses and livestock (including the group’s first camel), straining the ranch staff and volunteers physically, and the organization financially. Then, just before the ball dropped on 2018, the countdown changed and we all began counting two by two. SFSPCA was called to assist in an animal cruelty investigation with Miami-Dade Police Department’s Agricultural Patrol Division (MDPD), Animal Services (MDAS), State Attorney’s Office and Florida Department of Agriculture at a property nearby, located deep in the heart of South Florida’s agricul - tural area. There, we discovered over 200 farm and exotic animals in need of rescue due to confinement in inadequate conditions, and lack of proper shelter, food and water. DECEMBER 2019 From horses and donkeys to geese and goats, the SFSPCA found 124 rescues their forever homes in 2019. Read the heartwarming tale of two of our horses, Maple & Walker, who are still in search of their permanent home as companion animals. Fun Fact: In 2019, the SFSPCA welcomed the birth of 35 sheep, 23 goats, one cow, one horse and one donkey to the herd on the ranch, receiving the mothers already pregnant, and absorbing the additional care and costs. Noah’s Ark Statistics 10 Donkeys 2 Horses 4 Miniature horses 5 Cows 12 Pigs 10 Turkeys 11 Chickens 6 Guineas 6 Pekin ducks 2 Emus 10 Alpacas 24 Goats 85 sheep 04 03 03 Operation Code Name: Noah’s Ark IN THIS ISSUE Letter From the President ................. 2 Noah’s Ark Continued ...................... 3 Staff & Key Contacts ..................... 3 Rescues & Recoveries .................. 4 New Lives & Forever Homes ....... 5 Bubba’s Story ............................... 6 Sponsor A Rescue Program ........ 7 Donation Form .............................. 7 MAILING ADDRESS & PHONE P.O. Box 924088, Homestead, FL 33092 305-825-8826 South Florida SPCA Horse Rescue is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization located in Miami- Dade, Florida. Founded in 1992, it is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of abused and abandoned horses and other livestock. SFSPCA also educates the community about responsible equine care and ownership, and promotes the welfare of equines through local and national advocacy. Since 2008, Miami-Dade Animal Services Department (ASD) has provided partial funding to SFSPCA for the care and rescue of abandoned and stray horses and other large farm animals. SFSPCA’s Combined Federal Campaign number is: South Florida SPCA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - 13214. EIN: 65-0338657. WWW.HELPTHEHORSES.ORG BOARD OF DIRECTORS David Bialski, President Julie Shelton, Vice President Emily Marquez Dulin, Secretary Roy Pressman, Treasurer Melissa Peacock Leonardo Ferrari Christine Septer, Executive Director Laurie Waggoner Founder, Director of Rescue Operations & Chief Investigator NEWSLETTER 2 As the newly elected Board Presi- dent of the SFSPCA it’s a privilege for me to lead such a dedicated team of talented professionals and horse enthusiasts. SFSPCA is a diverse group of people, rang - ing from equine veterinarians and rescue/shelter professionals, to horse enthusiasts. With a goal of maximizing rescue efforts and gaining community support for horses and other livestock in South Florida, their passion is ev - ident in all they do. Living in the world of equine res- cue is an awakening. There are so many uplifting moments, like when you take in a horse that is so emaciated you don’t know how it is still standing, and you bring that horse back to health and vitality. The ultimate is when you witness that horse choose its forever human soul-mate. I have seen this dozens of times now and it never loses its magic. Anyway, all of my ramblings aside, Rescuing these horses is my life’s passion...Making sure they have long, happy and safe lives is my goal... As the Holidays approach, we ask that you remember the SFSPCA in your remaining plans for 2019. While preparing for joyous cele- brations with family and friends, it is important to also reflect on our blessings while also being aware that there are animals, many times forgotten, in need. While celebrating with loved ones, please consider a tax-deductible donation to our organization. As you know, 2019 has been a challenging year for the SFSP- CA with more animals than ever in our care; meaning more food, increased veterinary services, and added personnel expenses. In fact, on average, we are caring for 50 equines and a myriad of other farm animals on a daily ba- sis. Let’s remember that these are animals who would not have any other life saving option without the SFSPCA. Our work has a powerful impact and plays an important role in our community as we are the only op- tion for abandoned, abused and displaced horses and other large animals in Miami-Dade County. Please make that lifesaving gift today, tell your friends and fam- ily about our work, and share in- formation on your social media. Every gift matters. Please make a difference today. Thank you for your continued support! Warmest regards and Happy Holidays, David Bialski, DVM Letter From The President 3 WWW.HELPTHEHORSES.ORG STAFF & KEY CONTACTS Adoption : Laurie Waggoner, Julie Shelton, Marlene Trujillo, Melisa Peacock adoption@helpthehorses.org Communications, Donations, Events, Grants and Ranch Operations: Chris Septer c hris@helpthehorses.org Education/Outreach: Susie Martell susie@helpthehorses.org Membership & Volunteering: Ashley Batista ashley@helpthehorses.org Your 100% Tax Deductible Gift Helps Us Help Them While the number was astounding, the variety was extraordinary. There were horses, mini horses, donkeys, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, alpacas, a llama, emus, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, geese and chickens. SFSPCA personnel, with its veterinarian, initially identified and removed 19 animals in the most critical condition for immediate care. One – a llama – died due to complications from malnutrition. Three goats and a ram had to be humanely euthanized. It took 17 long, arduous hours for SFSPCA, MDAS and MDPD personnel to tag, document and photograph the vast menagerie, then load, transport, segregate and secure them all at the SFSPCA Rescue Ranch. Ten donkeys were the last of the animals to arrive, stepping off the trailer shortly after 12:30 am. Overnight, the number of horses and animals in SFSPCA’s care increased by near- ly 400%, and earned the name Operation Noah’s Ark. Ranch staff dove into immediate action, creating special areas for each type of ani- mal, including restricted quarantine spaces. The initial order of feed, hay and triage care items was staggering, as was the need for immediate and extensive veterinary care, which is continual and ongoing. It was your donations that spurred the SFSPCA to take immediate action—specialized and safe feeding and watering mechanisms were constructed and installed, suiting the large number of animals of varied sizes and nutritional needs. We have worked diligently to not only help the varying animals with their over- all health, but also to begin the rehoming process. Together we raised over $10,000 in 2019, but the already strained financial and human resources are running low as we care for Noah’s Ark and maintain our prom- ise to stay on call 24/7 to rescue any other horses and livestock in need in Miami-Dade County. The animals need YOU. Please donate any amount you can today toward the care and feeding of these innocent animals. Their lives depend on all of us. To make your end of year gift, please visit HelpTheHorses.org or mail the pledge card located on page seven of this newslet - ter. Your 100% tax-deductible gift will make all the difference for these animals as we close out 2019 and continue our good work rehoming, rehabilitation and retraining in 2020. On behalf of all the rescues, thank you for your support. We’re Going to Need a Bigger Boat Noah’s Ark: Continued from Page 1 Not Out of the Ark Yet... Caring for the large number of goats and sheep has been arguably the most challenging and labor intensive, but all the hard work is paying off. Many ar- rived with foot rot, a painful, life-threat- ening and contagious condition that is treated with daily injections of penicil- lin, constant hoof trimming and topical medication Our efforts continue to ensure their health, welfare and overall safety. Goat Fun Facts: • Goats can be taught their name and to come when called. • Goats have a gestation period of five month and the average birth rate for goats is 2.2 kids per year. (Explaining our new additions!) • Goats are very good at climbing; they’ve been known to climb to the tops of trees, fortunately they haven’t set their sights that high here at our ranch. • Goats are burpers! Our goats can fre- quently be heard burping in the barn. DON’T ACT THE GOAT - DONATE TO HELP FUND THEIR CARE Maple and Walker were found abandoned in the 8.5/East Everglades on August 16, 2019 along with two cows. All of the abandoned animals were tied to trees and were deep in the middle of dense sawgrass. Maple and Walker were terribly mal- nourished and left with no food or water. Walker was so desperate for water that he dragged Founder of the SFSPCA Laurie Waggoner to a muddy puddle to guzzle as much water as he could get as soon as he was released from his tie to the tree. These chestnut buddies are over 25 years of age, and they are extremely bonded to one another. It is our sincerest hope that this duo will be adopted together to live out their retirement years as companion horses. The cows were adopted by a long-time supporter, and they are living a great life on a farm in Okeechobee. If you are interested in adopting these chestnut beau- ties, and giving them their forever home, please complete an adoption application and reach out to the adoption commit- tee by emailing adoption@helpthehorses.org. If you would like to see more of our available horses for adoption, please visit www.helpthehorses.org. • OUR RESCUE STORY • Walker • Tennessee Walking Horse • Gelding • Chestnut • 25+ y/o Maple • Quarter Horse Type • Mare • Chestnut • 25+ y/o NEWSLETTER 4 Rescue. Rehabilitate. Rehome. T he physical transformations our rescue horses undergo never cease to amaze and inspire us. Most of those we save arrive malnourished, and require a careful refeeding program to restore them to a healthy weight. Other conditions may exist, such as injuries and/or lameness, which receive immediate care. While physical rehabilitaton can take months, restoring an abused horse’s trust and confidence can be a long process that requires patience and skill. We are proud to share some of our rescues’ with you here, and we have many more on our web- site at helpthehorses.org. Consider adopting a horse or helping us to continue funding our work. Join & Volunteer! We offer several different Membership levels that come with lots of goodies and special perks, including eligibility to visit the ranch, meet the rescues and volunteer! Volunteer Opportunities abound, ranging from hands-on work with the horses and around the ranch, to pitching in at events and fundraising. No experience? No problem, we’ll train you! Visit our website and click “Become A Member” and “Get Involved!” Upcoming Volunteer Orientation Dates: 2019: DEC 14 2020: JAN 11, FEB 8, MARCH 14, APR 11, MAY 9, JUN 13, JUL 11, AUG 8, SEP 12, OCT 10, NOV 14, DEC 12 *Subject to change, please confirm with Ashley Batista at ashley@helpthehorses.org. How to Help? Adopt! Many of our adopters say they’re not sure who rescued who? Adopting a rescue from SFSPCA is fulfilling on so many different levels, from the soul-warming gratification of giving a formerly abused or neglected horse a forever home, to knowing it allows us to save even more from cruelty. We have a wonderful variety of equines available. Our Adoption Committee is ready to help and advise. See our our Adoption Gallery and requirements at helpthehorses.org. Sponsor! Sponsoring a horse is the next best thing to owning one! If you have limited time and just can’t commit to a lifetime of horse care, becoming a Sponsor allows you to take an active role in providing a safe space for our rescues. See the form on page 7 or visit our website for complete details. Advocate! Don’t hesitate to report horses or other livestock animals that appear to be abandoned, abused or neglected. Always contact your local police first. For emergencies, where there is imminent danger to horses and humans, call 911. For non-emergencies in Miami-Dade, call 305-4-POLICE (476-5423). To remain anonymous, call 305-471-TIPS (8477). Donate! Besides making tax-deductible contributions when so moved, there are several other creative ways to help the horses financially, such as: Donor Naming Opportunities, Personal Fundraising, Honor & Memorial Donations, Planned Giving, Corporate Matching Funds, In-Kind Donations and more. Contact Chris Septer, Executive Director, at chris@helpthehorses.org to consult on all our different options. Go Digital! You can fundraise for the horses through social media, shop on Amazon Smile and contribute to the SFSPCA on #GiveMiamiDay and #GivingTuesday. 5 WWW.HELPTHEHORSES.ORG 124 Rescues in 2019 Found Their Forever Homes! 1 Congratulations to Bojangles and Fergus for winning the hearts of George and Deborah. 4 The handsome Ajax is enjoying green pastures and the love of Mady. 3 Snowflake and Linda enjoy their moment of union when Linda picked up the little mare to go home. 2 Bring Charlie Check has a new home in 2019 thanks to the love and passion of Christine. 1 2 3 4 We just wanted to give Bubba the life he deserves. NEWSLE T T E R 6 Happy, Healthy & Living The Big Life Bubba the camel came to the SFSPCA emaciated and untrusting. The staff believed that he may have been used for a petting zoo and children’s amusement. He was so starved that his humps could no longer stand up, and wilted over. His eyes showed his desperation, and the SFSPCA made it our mission to save him. The first step of helping Bubba was to help him start eating again. His teeth were so rotted that he couldn’t chew, and was unable to consume the required 60 lbs. of food per day to help him achieve the veterinarian’s goal weight. Dr. Nate Heidbrink of Scott Equine Services come to the ranch the day after Christmas to begin the work on his teeth. The process proved a unique challenge, especially since Dr. Heidbrink had never sedated a camel before. After several hours of work, Bubba’s mouth was back in working action, and the new task became finding a food he would enjoy. Ranch safety liaison Vice President of the SFSPCA, Julie Shelton, worked closely with Bubba, testing different treats to peak his interest, and finally, there was a winner—a horse treat! Once he discovered his taste buds he wanted to eat everything the SFSPCA put in front of him. After three months of rehabilitation, equating to 5,400 lbs of food, Bubba’s hump began to stand up. The major goal of the SFSPCA was to rehabilitate Bubba and iden- tify a sanctuary that could take him in and give him the freedom he so desperately craved after years of being kept in a small pen being poked and prodded. At his three-month check-up he was loaded into a trailer and brought to a gas station to be weighed. He weighed in at 1,400 lbs and that was the cue for the SFSPCA to start his transfer to the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Texas. After 30 days of quarantine, Bubba would be released into his forever home, a pasture with 14 acres of roaming and living space. We are thrilled to announce that Bubba is fitting in with his new friends at Black Beauty Ranch, and has even befriended antelopes! His story was a new one for our books, being the first camel we have ever rescued; however, it is stories such as his that make our mission to be the animals’ heroes worth every moment. Follow Bubba’s story through The Dodo. Continue helping the SFSPCA to raise the necessary funds to change the lives of horses and livestock in Miami-Dade County with your end of year gift. 7 WWW.HELPTHEHORSES.ORG YES! I WANT TO SAVE HORSES FROM CRUELTY! Please use my tax-deductible contribution indicated below, or the sponsorship option checked above, to positively impact the lives of South Florida SPCA rescues in need, and help provide safety, shelter, food, veterinary care and training. Choose Your Horse! Little Dee Euphoria Free Pinto Bean Jodi Gitana Shakira Katie Martini Sponsoring a horse is a fantastic way to make a difference in the lives of one of our rescues. Your donation helps provide a SFSPCA rescue with feed, board, medical care (including dental and farrier), as well as rehabilitation work and training. Rescue horses typically have unique needs and can cost over $11,000 a year just for one! Sponsorship packages make lovely birthday or holiday gifts. You can Sponsor a Rescue in honor of a friend or in memory of a loved one. (We’ll send them a letter notifying them of your thoughtful gift!) And, schools and businesses can sponsor our rescues, too! Choose Your Sponsorship Package! Buckaroo - $50 Month __ 3 months ($150) __ 6 months ($300) __ 9 months ($450) __ 12 months ($600) Trail Rider - $100 Month __ 3 months ($300) __ 6 months ($600) __ 9 months ($900) __ 12 months ($1,200) Cowboy/Cowgirl - $200 Month __ 3 months ($600) __ 6 months ($1,200) __ 9 months ($1,800) __ 12 months ($2,400) Wrangler - $300 Month __ 3 months ($900) __ 6 months ($1,800) __ 9 months ($2,700) __ 12 months ($3,600) Herd Boss - $500 Month __ 3 months ($1,500) __ 6 months ($3,000) __ 9 months ($4,500) __ 12 months ($6,000) Exclusive Rescue Sponsors’ Additional Benefits: Periodic updates from your “virtual” horse; Opportunity of exclusivity for your horse selection and sponsorship; Name included on SFSPCA Donor Wall designating your maximum cumulative gift; Annual gift renewal reminder (sent two months prior to renewal anniversary); Opportunity to schedule a private tour of the ranch to visit your “virtual” horse along with photo opportunities. Ultimate Rescue Sponsors’ Additional Benefits: All Exclusive benefits, PLUS, mutually agreed upon Special Event at the rescue ranch, i.e. Picnic Lunch, Wine & Cheese Reception for up to 10 guests; Specially Designed Invitation from your sponsored horse; Private VIP Golf Cart tour of our ranch; Special Meet & Greet and photos with our minis, the SFSPCA Ambassadors; Hands-on experience such as haltering, bathing, grooming or walking one or more of our rescues (under the supervision of our trainer); Opportunity for a supervised guided horse ride around our circular arena; and, a Professional Photo Shoot commemorating this special experience. *SPONSORSHIPS: SFSPCA is not a sanctuary. Our goal is to find permanent loving homes for as many horses as possible. We are on call to rescue horses 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and provide care for a large number of animals. The funds raised through this program will be used to offset the feed, board, medical, dental, farrier care and training of all the rescue horses. Due to the constant influx and adopting out of horses, the funds are not guaranteed to be applied to a specific horse. If you wish to make a one-time donation for the special needs of a specific horse, email ashley@helpthehorses.org. South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, has complied with the registration requirements of Chapter 496, Florida Statutes, the Solicitation of Contributions Act Registration #CH-9651. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free 1.800.435.7352 within the state of Florida. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the State. EIN #65-0338657 May we add your name to our website, social media acknowledgements and/or campaign announcements? __ YES __ NO May we add you to our email list? __ YES __ NO All Sponsors Receive: Sponsorship Certificate; Thank you “gift” letter and photo of your sponsored SFSPCA rescue horse; Name mention on your sponsored rescued horse’s bio on our website; Tax deductible receipt acknowledging your cumulative annual donation and inclusion in SFSPCA’s Annual Report; Recognition in our e-newsletter and social media (minimum $1,200 annual cumulative donation required); Name included on SFSPCA Donor Wall (minimum $1,200 annual cumulative donation required). Exclusive Sponsorship - $8,500/Year __ 1 annual donation of $8,500 __ 12 monthly donations @ $708.34/month Ultimate Sponsorship - $10,00/Year __ 1 annual donation of $10,000 __ 12 monthly donations @ $708.34/month Note: In the joyous occasion that your sponsored horse is adopted, you will be offered the opportunity to select another rescue to fulfill your annual commit- ment. $25 $50 $100 $250 $500 $1,000 Other _________________ $2,500 $5,000 __________________________________________ _________________________________________________ __________________________ _______________ _________________________________________________ __________________________________________ _______________________ __________________ CHARGE MY CREDIT CARD, NUMBER ABOVE EXP. DATE SECURITY CODE __________________________________________ _________________________________________________ NAME ON CARD (IF DIFFERENT THAN ABOVE) SIGNATURE Or, check enclosed $ ___________________________ ________________________________________________ Please make payable to South Florida SPCA TRIBUTE DONATION OR SPONSORSHIP? PLEASE PRINT HONOREE NAME ABOVE NAME EMAIL TEL CITY/STATE/ZIP STREET ADDRESS OR P.O. BOX --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS NEWSLETTER 8 REPORT ABUSE & NEGLECT! Report horses or other livestock animals that appear to be abandoned, abused or neglected. Call 911 for emergencies. For non-emergencies in Miami-Dade, call 305-4-POLICE (476-5423). To remain anony- mous call, 305-471-TIPS (8477). P.O. Box 942088 Homestead, FL 33092 305-825-8826 • helpthehorses.org Dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of abused and abandoned horses and other livestock in Miami-Dade, Florida since 1992.