Nevada Rescue Effort (www.refugefarms.org)

Through the world of email, a young lady I have never met but seem to have gotten to know fairly well, informed me of a "holding pen" or "staging area" in Nevada. Now, my initial reaction was that there are kill pens scattered all around the country. But as I read on, my heart ached and the tears rolled.

Mares with day old foals, dying foals separated from their mothers, and very, very pregnant mares were being loaded and shipped. All were "very, very skinny", she said. Could Refuge Farms help in the rescue of only a few? Could we help to save some from this pathetic journey to a terrible end? Maybe, could we lend some time and energy to the task? Could we just help?

Refuge Farms will help in any way that we can. But I must say that as I write this, I truly don't know what we can do that will be beneficial. Nevada is a very long way from Wisconsin and the trip will cost lives on the way home, I'm sure. But I do know that I cannot just not reply to her email. I must act. I have to or I won't be able to sleep tonight.

In our emails, I have found Lynda to be sensitive, caring, worried, and a great advocate for getting the word out and motivating others to take action. She and I are meeting on Sunday, the 26th, to discuss the situation, our options, and how do we best act? Just what can we do that will be practical and save as many as possible? Who are the players that we will need and what will we need from them?

Stay in touch with this blog! I will key as I know more and more. I will key as we are victorious or as we lose a few. I will key as the plans develop - whatever they may be! I will use this mechanism to post needs for trailers? haulers? vet services? adoptions? stopovers on the route there and back? Whatever comes up will be posted here. All in the faith that someone out there will respond because they are sensitive, caring, and also worried.

It's always for the love of horses,
Sandy Gilbert
Executive Director, Refuge Farms