Journey’s End - The Reality of Equine Rescue

We just wanted you to know that we euthanized your horse today. We wish you could have been there to see the pain in his big, beautiful eyes, slowly going blind with cataracts. We wish you could have been there to see the giant tumor hanging from his penis, crusted and bleeding from fly bites. We wish you could have seen his teeth, so neglected he came to us severely emaciated, unable to chew properly, and foaming at the mouth from dehydration. We wish you could have been here to feel the heartbreak because this wasn't our responsibility, it was yours! He suffered so much because YOU walked away from the responsibility of horse ownership. When your old horse started having medical problems, did you really think throwing him out in a field to fend for himself was a good idea? When he didn't die fast enough, did you really think dumping him at an auction to be scooped into the slaughter pipeline was you being a responsible horse owner?

We are so sick and tired of people who walk away from their suffering animals. Get your animal to a vet, follow your vet's advice, and if nothing can be done, please have your animal euthanized. If your horse is chronically lame, it is in chronic pain, if he is wasting away from an unseen illness like cancer, do the right thing. Don't give your horse away to be someone else's problem or dump him into the slaughter pipeline just to make a few measly bucks. DO. THE. RIGHT. THING.

 We are so frustrated by so many irresponsible horse owners who walk away from a horse experiencing underlying health problems. When you abandon your old horse to fate, he could experience unfathomable cruelty and pain. If you could see the horses we see and the conditions we find them in, you might think twice about shirking your responsibilities by abandoning your old, lame, blind or sick horse so that you can paint a pretty picture in your head about the great life you think your horse will have without you.

We beg you, if you own a horse that has medical problems, please be responsible and talk to your vet. We don't want to find your horse in the slaughter pipeline, in horrific pain, and have to hold your horse's head in our lap while he takes his last breath when it should have been YOU, long ago.

RIP, sweet Journey. You deserved so much better. We were only able to give you a week of love and kindness, a full belly, and a soft bed to sleep in. When there was no more hope, we gave you the Last Act of Kindness to see you off to greener pastures. We are so sorry the people you loved and trusted let you down.