Hay Donation Drive to feed Rescue Horses & Burros

It is my pleasure to share our first report via GlobalGiving on the progress of our project to help feed numerous starved and homeless horses, ponies, foals and burros, by providing urgently needed hay.

Our Hay Drive to Aid Starved & Homeless Horses was launched in late September and though we experienced a sluggish start through the first three months, we saw a dramatic increase in the support that came in for the project through December. (A total of $53 was received for the months of Sept – Nov., while $715 was received in December.)
While we have quite a ways to go to reach our fund raising goal of $25 thousand for this project, we are deeply touched and encouraged by the recent increase and showing of compassionate support from the caring GlobalGiving community. This very welcome increase in donations is helping tremendously toward the provision of crucially needed winter hay and grains that feed starved and homeless horses in desperate need.

We are an all volunteer charity working around the clock on behalf of the horses, and during emergencies and crisis situations it’s an all-hands-on-deck operation and we literally put our lives on hold to rescue, recover and evacuate horses and burros from starvation and displacement.

Your thoughtful donations are vital for the lifesaving work that we do. Over this last year for example, we were able to feed and save over 200 starved and homeless horses, and we were able to re-home over 120 of these victims into new permanent safe haven habitats. Indeed, we would not have been able to sustain these vital lifesaving rescue missions without the necessary funds to purchase enough nutritious hay to feed them. At Wild For Life Foundation (WFLF) we take the placement of rescue horses into new loving homes very seriously. Through the charter of our rescue and recovery mission we are able to secure the forever health and safety of each and every rescued equine that comes through our doors and assure that these victims will never be placed at risk of starvation or displacement again. And at WFLF, for those victims whom we are not able to place into new loving homes, we welcome into our own rescue and sanctuary facilities where they receive ongoing feed, tender loving care and shelter as needed. We would not be able to do this lifesaving work and carry out our mission if not for the kind and generous support of people like you.

“I am heartbroken when I look into the faces of these helpless sentient beings whose lives have been jeopardized because of a shortage of hay,” said Rocky Randall of the Wild For Life Foundation. “Without adequate hay supplies, numerous horses, ponies, foals and burros face starvation.”

In September WFLF issued a stark warning about the many equines that will suffer starvation through the winter due to skyrocketing hay prices compounded by drought conditions and neglectful owners who have not provided adequate feed during tough economic times. Indeed the cost of hay has more than doubled over the past few years and prices have continued to rise. Charity missions like the ‘WFLF Hay Drive to Aid Starved & Homeless Horses’ help raise awareness and essential funds, to aid equines that need urgent care after being starved, neglected, rounded up or discarded and left to die. A bale of hay can make all the difference!

“It takes a great deal of hay to bring just one starved horse back to health and even more to feed a large number of homeless rescue horses through the winter,” says Katia Louise, President of the Wild For Life Foundation (WFLF). “Hay is the single highest ongoing expense and most crucial lifesaving resource in operating a horse rescue and sanctuary.” “Without adequate hay supplies, we would not be able to carry out our mission, and would be forced to turn away needy starving and homeless horses,” added Ms. Randall.

The number of animals coming into our program has grown exponentially since we began, from just a few animals annually to more than one hundred each year. Although we realize that not all animals can be saved, our commitment is to do our utmost for all incoming animals. And though we have met that challenge, as a charity that relies 100% on donations, this tremendous influx of animals means that Wild For Life Foundation (WFLF) is constantly stretched in our ability to feed these desperate horses in need.

This project delivers an important public service by providing urgently needed essential provisions for victimized horses. It's helping to raise awareness and essential funds, for the rescue and recovery of countless horses, ponies, donkeys and foals that urgently need hay after being starved, neglected, rounded up or discarded and left to die. As victimized horses heal, their successful transformation provides an educational platform with a lasting impact on the public for more humane and positive care.

If you would like to support our project again, one great way is by setting up recurring donations through our GlobalGiving platform.  Through monthly gifts you can help secure nutritious hay for the neediest animals that come into our rescue and sanctuary program. Monthly giving is the easiest way to support our lifesaving mission. Your monthly gifts provide a consistent, reliable income stream that allows us to assure that these vulnerable victimized animals receive the quality hay they need and that they will never be at risk of starvation or displacement again!

In the coming months, we’ll keep you updated about our vital hay drive project, its victories, and the many lives that will benefit from the success of this project. Thank you very much for your interest and support for all you do to make this incredible aid for at-risk horses possible.

Best wishes,

Katia Louise

WFLF Executive Director and Project Leader