help if you can, and thank you if you already are.

URGENT:

I know things are tough all over, and If you are already giving all you can, to whatever mission you choose, thank you thank you thank you.
maybe we'll catch up with you next year.
But, if you are feeling somewhat fortunate and have been thinking about "giving" to a good cause, this would be a good time now.
DoubleHP recently has assisted Law Enforcement in the rescue, transportation, Vet appts., deworming, and providing foster homes and stall bedding for 10 horses. Several different cases.

One pinto colt, Rocket, and one pony, TooLoo, are available for adoption but the others are all in "legal limbo" right now.
They all have some legal stuff going on so we don't have much for details for you right now.
the 2 available for adoption can be seen on our website. http://www.doublehphorses.org/

the others are in a warm, safe off-site foster home with shelter, water, and lots of good food. We may need to move some of those in the next week though. It's a lot of extra horses for one family.
plus we do have 6 long-time foster horses here at DoubleHP horse shelter that we continue to care for.
That's 16 in foster care right now!
We desparately need bags of stall bedding.
If you have any extras or could afford to buy a few, please let me know.

Or, if you can provide excellent foster care, preferably for 2 horses but possibly just 1. They are all pretty young. this would include 24-hour access to shelter preferably to be able to get in a building, 24-hour access to water that does not freeze, you know, just all of the normal things we do for our horsey friends. except that these are not normal horses. they need some extra help getting through this winter.
money donations are good too. (I know I don't have to tell you that, I just feel bad asking the same people for help over and over again.)

also, 3 of our part-time chore helpers are all going to be gone the next couple of weeks but all at the same time! This will make it somewhat difficult for me to be here and at the other foster locations all at the same time.
anyone got any free time to clean some stalls? (volunteer opportunities only I'm afraid)

If you can help in any of these ways, please just let me know.
DoubleHP (Horse Help Providers, Inc) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization operating totally through volunteers and donations.
thanks you so much.
Darci, www.doublehphorses.org
605 359-0961.
25337 470 Ave, Crooks SD 57020

caring for other peoples' animals

The 2 new rescues (the horses, not this kitty, you'll read about the kitty at the end of this post) went to the Vet last Friday. And spent the night. Rocket, the pinto, needed to become a gelding. They were both excellent for their shots and both hopped right in the trailer for us. Today Andy at the Humane Society called me and asked about Rocket. He is swollen. Bigger than a grapefruit size. She called the vet and they discussed what's going on and he told her not to worry. I know what that's like though. We rescue these guys from horrible situations and it seems we have to do more bad things to them to make them better. So yes, we feel bad and we worry for them. We'll see what tomorrow brings, but I'm guessing he'll be okay. The pony TooLoo is only about 8 years old. She is getting really nice now too. They are 2 really nice horses and they need homes! Please!

Here's the deal about my attitude. I get a call from a lady asking if we are the "horse rescue assistance place." I knew what kind of a call this was going to be. Seems her mother is in the hospital and her mother's horses will be without feed at the end of this month or sooner. She would be happy to drop them off someplace and not let her mother know where they went. She didn't want anyone to go to where the horses are. She would not give me her name or tell me where the horses are. She said there are 6 to 8 of them, 6-7 years old (so far it didn't sound too bad but I knew the bad part was coming). sure enough, none of them are broke. they are broodmares. Pregnant? not sure. no stallion there now. You have to know that I never know how much of any of this is true. okay. there is some reason she doesn't want anyone to go there. couldn't someone take them another round bale? couldn't a neighbor take care of them for a while? could you find one little stupid ounce of ambition and post a FREE ad on keloland.com, or something????????? But, at this point, I was still trying to find out the location of the horses. All I got was "near Miller." that was odd. the phone number was Mitchell. but I didn't ask.

"Are they registered?"

"I believe some are, but you won't be getting the papers with them."

"WHAT???????"

okay, here comes my attitude.

"listen lady, you called for help, do you have any idea how much money it will cost to get all of these horses trained? we are trying to find something marketable about them. Papers might make them marketable.

"Nope, we won't be signing them over."

she should have just told me they were all grade mares. then I wouldn't have exposed my "attitude." well, not as much anyway.

things went downhill fast at that point. She hung up on me because she didn't like "my attitude."

Here is the traceback number: 996-1212. It's the 1st Reformed Church in Mitchell. My thought is maybe the lady who called works there (there's a recording that sounds an awful lot like the voice that called me) and her mother's horses are near Miller. I forwarded this info. on to a Humane Officer and the Animal Industry Board. The AIB told me when they get a formal complaint they can check it out.

Okay, I understand it all. I understand how it works. but I was kind of wondering, could we get just a little creative, a little unscientific for just a moment? could a deputy or anyone who might just know this woman go find out where the horses are so someone can go check on them? I am sorry that I cannot just let everyone dump these untrained horses off here. How can people still be so fogged over about the horse industry and how the bad breeders (yes, there are good breeders too) have bred themselves right out of business? and placed the blame on us "do-gooders" as they like to call us. And, okay, really, how much effort does it take to post a free ad, or find someone to do it for you. anyone with a computer can do it!

Have I vented yet? I guess.

and then, this morning, I thought he was kidding but he wasn't. Greg says, "we have a new cat."

or something like that.

anyway, here she is. photo at the top of this post. She can barely walk so someone must have dumped her off here.

hey, thanks a lot! next time could you tie about $200 on to her bones please? just to get me started with her?

my my my my my. what a weekend I'd say. I did get her to eat some kitten chow in warm water. we'll see what tomorrow brings for her.

TooLoo and Rocket need new homes

We are helping a Humane Officer with placement of the cutest little pony, TooLoo. And the friendliest 2-year-old horse, Rocket. Rocket has 2 names so far. Rocket and Lucky. We'll call him Rocket for now. Though he is a very lucky boy. We don't know a lot about them yet. There are some legal things going on that we are not involved with. But they have both been signed over to authorities and they are available for adoption.

TooLoo is a little pony mare. seems to be okay. sound. etc. The farrier said she was good to work with. She needs to have a vet exam though. shots, age estimate, etc. She was basically abandoned. A little thin but not bad.

Rocket was extremely thin. He was rescued from starvation. But after 2 weeks he is doing better. He is a pretty grullo paint color. seems to be sound and okay now. He too will get a thorough Vet check soon. next week we hope.

We will get you more info. as we get it. For now, if you think you might be interested in adopting one or both of these sweeties, just give me a call. Thanks, Darci. 605 359-0961.

Earlier this week I received emails from people about some horses in trouble in Emery SD. I had heard about this last year too I think. I forwarded the info. on to Rosey at 2nd Chance Rescue and to the SD Animal Industry Board. And Holy Horses if they didn't do a rescue over there too. I think 8 horses, some doggies and some bunnies. There have already been arrests in this case.

It was all on the news today.

Will it ever end? no, probably not. There are people who lock their 2-legged children in closets and starve them and beat them and worse. of course there will always be animal neglect.

But, we need to keep reporting, keep arresting, keep punishing, keep decreasing the numbers of cases of animal neglect. We need to keep saying

(1) it's okay and necessary to report suspected animal neglect

(2) it's not okay to let your horses starve to death or let their hooves curl up into their knees or die from parasite infestitation, and you will be punished if you get caught doing this.

This is a good time to do my lecture again about bailing people out whether it's from them directly or from one of the horrible little neighborhood salebarns that still exist (you know the salebarns I am talking about in our state). If you go to one of these salebarns and see skinny, sick, foundered, or otherwise neglected horses. REPORT IT! It's neglect! Why should neglect be lawful just because it's at a salebarn? It's not! REPORT IT! Take the poor babies home if you want to. That is wonderful of you. But REPORT IT! They should be able to find out who consigned the poor babies, and deal with it and for sure go check on other animals they most likely have at home. REPORT IT!

End of lecture. I'm sure I made my point.