In late February 2008, SAFE was called on to help Animal Control agencies on an enormous neglect case involving a large group of horses. They belonged to a breeder producing Saddlebreds and National Show Horses with exotic coloring: palominos, cremellos, buckskins, and pintos. Sixteen horses, mostly mares and foals, survived horrific starvation and neglect before being seized from their owner and turned over to SAFE. We would experience the joy of seeing two foals born shortly after their mothers’ rescue, and the heartache of two other young horses who would not survive due to the neglect they suffered. The surviving horses would recover their health and eventually find new homes — some of them after just a few months, others who stayed with us for as long as six years. 

The Elledge seizure would transform SAFE and shape our path for many years to come. Through it, we experienced both joyful blessings and tremendous loss. The joy came in the form of two healthy foals born not long after their neglected dams were rescued: Ariel, who arrived just 11 days after Amber came to SAFE, and Biscotti, born to Hope a few weeks later. It was remarkable to see how healthy and normal these two foals were, despite their dams’ starvation and neglect, a testament to the resilience of motherhood. Heartbreak came in the guise of two sweet filly foals who arrived at SAFE at their mothers’ sides. The damage caused by their neglect couldn’t be seen from the outside. Ella’s heart failed her a month after her rescue, and Lily would fall ill two months later and reveal a life-threatening immunodeficiency disorder. Ariel and Biscotti live happy lives with people who love them, and Ella and Lily live on in our memories as two precious souls who will never be forgotten.

Whisper’s story has a very happy ending, but getting there nearly took a miracle. This diminutive pinto filly came to SAFE in the dead of a very cold winter, barely clinging to life. Keeping her on her feet was just one of many challenges we faced to save this girl. Whisper’s story is one of perseverance, teamwork, and an extraordinary will to survive. Click here to read Whisper’s story in its entirety 

“It rained the day we decided to let Sunny go, but when the vet arrived, the clouds suddenly parted and the sun shined down, as if to reassure us that we were doing the right thing. I held his head, told him not to be afraid and cried for him as he passed away. And although I’m glad I was there for him, I couldn’t help but feel that it shouldn’t have been me. Sunny spent his life serving someone, and that someone wasn’t there at the end to comfort him, to say goodbye. Whoever had owned him had thrown him away, so in the end, there was only me.” Click here to read Sunny’s story