Here we will do our best to answer some common questions we get. They are in no particular order, but if you still have questions, feel free to email us at the link at the bottom!
Questions about Reporting Abuse/Neglect
I want to report neglect/abuse but I can’t find your number. Why?
This is a multi part answer, so buckle in!
A) All reports of abuse or neglect need to be done through the law enforcement office who has jurisdiction where the issue is located. We have no police powers, so we cannot respond without law enforcement.
B) Without trying to sound flippant, it is their job to investigate a welfare concern. Deputies and officers get paid to perform these duties. We do not. We provide assistance should they deem it necessary or have questions. Many times there are calls that go nowhere (neighbor drama, misinformation, misplaced concern, etc) that would take us away from our families and run up expenses if we went personally to each report. So we let law enforcement do their job and weed out what they can or cannot handle.
C) We don’t keep business hours, but law enforcement has our number and we will answer 24/7.
D) We have received harassment, threats, and bizarre calls at all times of the day and night over the years when our number was given out.
E) Although our number isn’t listed, you can still contact us via email or through Facebook messenger. We check these multiple times a day and are usually quick to respond.
A) All reports of abuse or neglect need to be done through the law enforcement office who has jurisdiction where the issue is located. We have no police powers, so we cannot respond without law enforcement.
B) Without trying to sound flippant, it is their job to investigate a welfare concern. Deputies and officers get paid to perform these duties. We do not. We provide assistance should they deem it necessary or have questions. Many times there are calls that go nowhere (neighbor drama, misinformation, misplaced concern, etc) that would take us away from our families and run up expenses if we went personally to each report. So we let law enforcement do their job and weed out what they can or cannot handle.
C) We don’t keep business hours, but law enforcement has our number and we will answer 24/7.
D) We have received harassment, threats, and bizarre calls at all times of the day and night over the years when our number was given out.
E) Although our number isn’t listed, you can still contact us via email or through Facebook messenger. We check these multiple times a day and are usually quick to respond.
What is required by law for horses?
Access to nourishing food and drinkable water.
It is not illegal to tie a horse and there is no time limit on how long it can be tied.
Shelter is not required by law for horses.
There is no set acreage amount by law.
It is not illegal to tie a horse and there is no time limit on how long it can be tied.
Shelter is not required by law for horses.
There is no set acreage amount by law.
I see something I don't think is right, should I report it?
What are your hours and can we bring the kids to pet the animals?
We do not have business hours like a typical animal shelter. Our address for the rescue is unlisted to keep our animals safe due to the situations they come from and the possibility that some may be part of court cases. Think of it as witness protection for horses. We do accept volunteers, but we do not do tours and we do not have a petting zoo. Volunteers must be 13 or older to volunteer. There are simply too many ways for kids to get hurt around large animals and on a farm, so the property owners set an age limit we must abide by.
Can I feed a horse I think is starving?
No. No. And No. Please do not ever feed someone else's animals. Especially an emaciated one. Horses are very delicate, and you can kill one by feeding it. As tempting as it may be, it can cause so many problems. Horses can have allergies, have bad teeth and choke on the food, you can cause refeeding syndrome and colic, or if there is an active investigation you putting it over the fence can cause complications in the investigation. Not to mention possible trespassing charges. Report, take notes, pictures from a public road if it is safe to do so, and report again if necessary.
I reported a neglectful situation. What is taking so long?
We see this a lot. And we understand. It is distressing to see an animal not cared for by the standards we would care for them. Sometimes, the holdup is law enforcement. They are busy answering human calls, the deputy who gets the call doesn't like or isn't knowledgeable about horses, or they spoke to the owner and whatever the owner told them was deemed sufficient. Sometimes, the holdup is us. We are full and the situation, while not ideal, is not life threatening. Many times in order to get action taken by the courts if the owner will not surrender or cannot be found the situation has to be serious enough to be life threatening to the animal. Other times it is that what the caller deems as unacceptable or neglectful is within the confines of the law and there is nothing that can be done...even if we don't like it.
What are the yellow chains on the horses' necks in some of the pictures?
We call them our tornado tags. Because we live in an area where tornadoes and hurricanes are the norm, we came up with a cheap way of tagging the horses in the event that there was an emergency, or they got out. They are made of lightweight plastic chain, a cattle ear tag, and one of the smallest zip ties so they are breakaway if the horse gets tangled and spooked. The cattle tag has their name on the front and any important information about the horse someone might need, and our phone numbers and address on the back. They also are a good handhold for catching or guiding the horses and make them easy to identify for new volunteers. There are some fancy and expensive versions online, but with horses coming and going, this is cheap and interchangeable.