Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue, Inc. Annual Report for 2011 The Angel Acres Adoption Program Updates for 2011: A brief description of our rescue and adoption program is below. A horse, usually a Thoroughbred, is purchased from the kill buyer, a Coggins test is immediately pulled at the sale. The horse is then transported to a quarantine facility that we use in Maryland, where he or she is boarded for minimum of 30 days. He or she is then transported to a training facility we have been generously granted use of. At the training farm each horse receives his or her vetting, shots, teeth exam and floating if needed. The horse is then visited by our Blacksmith for his or her tootsie check, and then it s off to the main farm. Each horse then receives a minimum 60 days training (usually 90 days) in addition to ground work, and their prior track training, etc. Our prices average from $1800 to $3500. Each horse is brought up to date on teeth, feet, shots, deworming, etc. We run the rescue like a business, we need to be solvent in order to save more horses. We run an above board, transparent rescue and pride ourselves on our honesty and integrity. We do not pull horses from the sale and make them available the next day...our program is thorough, we pay attention to detail, pay attention to the horse s behavior, handling, riding and other details that help us make a great match for both horse and adopter. We do NOT deal with broker horses, we feel this blurs the line between horses truly in need of assistance and those horses being sold for a commission to the seller/website hoster. We write for grants, hold fundraisers, and have adoption fees, etc. Additionally, our adoption fees include the price to save another horse from the kill buyer/slaughter house. The main difference between adopting (with a transfer of ownership in most cases) an Angel
Acres rescue horse and purchasing from a horse dealer is that you have our personal guarantee on each and every horse. We strive to ensure an excellent match between horse and adopter. We also offer after adoption support for the new horse owner. Mattie's Legacy Fund Initiated June 2009 Is a larger fund encompassing several direct support funds! Mattie's Rescue Fund Mattie's Fund will be used to pull horses from kill pens and for transport of horses in immediate danger. Mattie's Bridge The Gap Fund Mattie's Bridge The Gap Fund will be used to help horse owners in urgent need of assistance with hay, grain or farrier care. No one is immune to misfortune or an occasional bad spell. As all horse owners know, horses aren't cheap! This fund will be available to help assist those individuals or families with the care of their horse(s) on a short term basis during these times. In a sense, bridging the gap when it is most needed. I guess we now have our own version of a stimulus plan...we are hoping that our many readers will spread the word and will join in and help Angel Acres help other less fortunate members of our horse community. Angel Acres would not be here today if it were not for the wonderful support, care, kindness and generosity of many people and organizations. We are strong believers in the need to "pass it on"...it, in this case, being the kindness shown to us over the past 8+ years. We field calls weekly from people that do not want to send their horses to auction, but simply see no way out as they do not have the funds to feed or care for them properly. This fund will allow private horse owners facing short term financial hardship to apply for help with hay, grain and farrier care until their financial situation changes or a new home can be found for their horse. We have searched high and low for such a program (one to help private owners for the short term) and have been unable to find any available in our area. Anti Horse Slaughter Billboard Campaign & Companion Website
We started the Angel Acres Anti Horse Slaughter Billboard Campaign to raise awareness that over 130,000 horses (on average) are sent to Mexico and Canada to be brutally slaughtered each year to feed human consumers in foreign countries. The effort has been successful! We have 30+ boards up in The United States and have 2 billboards up in Canada. The billboards companion website is receiving approximately 16,000 hits each week as of June 2012. The first boards went up in January of 2011 and have had a huge impact on our awareness efforts. The billboards companion, non graphic website is www.stopslaughteringus.com and directs readers on how to help in their community and on a larger, nationwide level. Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries: Angel Acres became the 2 nd accredited horse rescue in the nation during 2009! The actual date for official accreditation was January 8, 2010 the process was started in May of 2009 and completed in November 2009 and was voted on in December 2009. Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue is second equine sanctuary accredited by GFAS Accreditation establishes high standards of credibility and recognition for global sanctuaries On January 8, 2010 the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the only globally recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries, announced Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue became the second equine rescue and sanctuary accredited to its standards and, thereby, recognized by GFAS, joining Habitat for Horses of Texas in attaining equine accreditation. The accreditation signifies the official implementation of clear and respected international standards for the public, donors and government agencies to recognize credible sanctuaries that adhere to the true mission of providing safe haven and humane care for abused animals. "It is a privilege to bring this well-deserved recognition to Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue. This facility represents what sanctuaries and rescues are intended to be, and our accreditation assures donors that this organization deserves their support," said Adam Roberts, President of the GFAS Board of Directors and Senior Vice President of Born Free USA.
Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue, dedicated to saving horses bound for slaughter for human consumption, earned its GFAS accreditation after being certified as adhering to the GFAS standards for sanctuary operations, administration and veterinary and equine care. Trained GFAS verifiers made onsite visits to the sanctuary to analyze its operations, the animals' health and the quality of the sanctuary grounds. Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue also completed a rigorous written application process, including sending copies of key documents, policies and financial statements to GFAS for an analysis by the accreditation committee, which includes two veterinarians. "When I first learned the horrors of horse slaughter, I knew I had to do something. When adopting my first horse as an adult, I accidently found out about slaughter and decided to start Angel Acres. Now, we have saved and adopted out more than 600 once slaughter bound horses. We are honored to be accredited by GFAS. The accreditation will assist us in promoting our mission and will help in savings the lives of even more horses," said Jo Deibel, Founder of Angel Acres. Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue was founded in 2004 and is a 501 3 nonprofit organization chartered by the State of Pennsylvania. A flagship program of Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue is Mattie's Legacy Fund. Funds are used to save horses from slaughter and to assist local horse owners in urgent need of assistance with hay, grain or farrier care. As the fund grows, so will the geographic outreach of this innovative program that helps private owners for the short term, so that horses are saved from relinquishment or worse. "We are exceptionally proud to work with Angel Acres Horse Haven. We expect to only see this organization gain in national reputation and outreach, especially through its Mattie's Legacy Fund. The GFAS accreditation will further strengthen its credibility and reputation with the public and donors," said Patty Finch, GFAS Executive Director. The Thoroughbred: YOUR Next Sport Horse:
Angel Acres, in collaboration with several other, well-established, well-run horse rescue organizations has been working tirelessly to promote the Thoroughbred racehorse as what he or she truly is: a sport horse. We believe their careers should not be over at 4 years of age. We believe that there are many opportunities for Thoroughbreds to be retrained and given second chances at careers, a loving home and life in general. We campaign to raise awareness about Thoroughbreds and work constantly to dispel the Thoroughbred myth. The Myth: All Thoroughbreds are crazy, hot, wired etc and basically only good for running. We are working on a daily basis to promote the truth about Thoroughbreds. They are kind, willing, intelligent animals that are deserving of better care and treatment than what is generally afforded to them. By raising awareness in different areas of the country and the local community we are helping accomplish this goal, one person at a time. Homes For Horses Coalition 2011: Jo Deibel is a Homes For Horses Steering Committee Member and works with other horse rescue groups, large and small animal welfare organizations and others to promote humane horse care and responsible horse ownership. Jo Deibel attended the HFH conference and the Animal Care Expo in Las Vegas, NV in April of 2011 and gave several horse related and animal welfare related presentations to other members and the viewing audience, which consisted of rescue and animal welfare groups from around the nation and the world. Jo Deibel is an active member of several welfare groups and works with local humane officers in cases of equine neglect, abuse and abandonment. Successful Year 2011: Angel Acres had a successful year and was on target for both fiscal budget and horse placement! End Report :o)