URGENT-The Equine Rescue League needs your help!
Phone: 703-771-1240
Email Address: bubbasays2(at)aol.comv
Date Added: 6/13/2007
The Equine Rescue League in Leesburg, Virginia is one
of the oldest equine welfare groups in this part of
the country, founded in 1990. ERL's founder, Pat
Rogers, prior to opening this particular facility was
the Farm Manager of the American Horse Protection
Association's farm in Lucketts, VA before AHPA closed
the farm and became more of a lobbying group. Pat had
experience at this before most of the rest of us even
heard of "horse rescue." She also attended auctions
with Gail Eisnetz (author of Slaughterhouse) back in
the 80's so was (and is) very committed to this
mission.
ERL, in its first year of operation, took in a herd of
32 neglected Morgans from a case prosecuted in a
nearby county. The owner received the harshest
punishment ever given for a cruelty case at that time. The community rallied, providing funds,
supplies, and volunteer labor. If not for that
support, caring for 32 starving (and many pregnant)
horses would have been next to impossible.
In later cases, one involving 19 Appaloosas arriving
at one time, one involving several starved foals only
a few months old, and one case that inspired all who
visited........The Gold One........the community again
came together and helped ERL provide intensive care.
At other times, arrivals were not as dramatic, one
horse here, two there, but ERL was always there,
plugging away feeding, watering, treating injuries
and, sadly, offering peaceful ends to those for whom
help came too late.
ERL set the stage for most of Virginia's other equine
rescue operations. They've allowed many of us to
adapt their contracts, for example, for our own use
rather than making us reinvent the wheel. They've
done more than most people realize to raise awareness
of equine humane issues.
Now, their occupation of Churchland Farm, which has
always been a temporary arrangement, is coming to an
end. Loudoun County, one of the fastest growing in
the nation, must reclaim the property for landfill
expansion. ERL has until September 22, 2007 to find a
new home. In an area of such rapid development, land
prices have skyrocketed over the last 5 years. The
current market is not one easily entered by a
charitable organization whose primary
mission.....caring for neglected horses.......puts
every donated dollar to immediate use. Saving the
amount of money needed to purchase suitable acreage
has been difficult.
Its time to rally the community again.
ERL and its residents need your help. The
organization is asking for your assistance in
procuring a property, raising funds, and soliciting
donations or grants.
Please help ERL find a property that will allow them
to continue their work. Losing this groundbreaking
organization that led the way in the area would be a
tragic occurrence. With no ERL, there would have been
no Flower, no Bob, no Churchill, Goldie, or countless
others.
The Real Heroes
Although the Equine Rescue League depends on
volunteers and private donations to help horses in
need of our services and to maintain its farm shelter,
the real heroes of our stories are the horses
themselves.
Regardless of past mistreatments or abuses, these
horses continue to trust, and even like, people. Each
one seems to believe that the next stage in its life
will be better than the last; that the next caregiver
will treat him with kindness and respect.
It is always inspiring to see how quickly a horse can
recover from total neglect once appropriate care is
administered. The convalescent period is tackled with
a "gusto" not seen in most human patients.
These pages are dedicated to those victims who would
not resign themselves to an unpleasant fate.
How can we give up when they do not?
Please contact the Equine Rescue League office at
703-771-1240 if you can help them continue to help
horses like those mentioned above. We can't afford
not to.
http://www.equinerescueleague.org
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