Mar 7, 2008 5:59 pm US/Eastern
Struggling Economy Impacts Horse Rescue
MT. AIRY, Md. (WJZ) ―
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In Mt. Airy, a horse rescue is struggling to make ends meet, thanks to a sagging economy.
In Mt. Airy, a horse rescue is struggling to make ends meet, thanks to a sagging economy.
Jessica Kartalija reports the cost of feeding them has skyrocketed. Now, they are in desperate need of help.
Horses sail through the wind as it blows across the Mt. Airy farm. They all have a story. Some are blind and others are malnourished.
"We work a lot with animal control. We have a lot of starvation cases, animal cruelty kinds of things," said Michelle Sithithavorn, fundraising director.
HorseNet Horse Rescue is a volunteer organization that cares for 100 horses and donkeys.
Due to a struggling economy, less donations are coming in, while the cost of keeping the horses is going up.
"With the drought last summer, the hay prices have increased to over double. Last year, we were paying $25 for a big round barrel. This year, $60," said Sithithavorn.
It used to cost HorseNet about $10,000 a month. Now it's $15,000 to rehab the horses before they can be adopted.
Now, volunteers are asking for help and good homes.
"They have different experiences, training, life lessons, so every one that comes into us can teach us something new," said Executive Director Elle Williams.
There are 100 horses that need to be adopted. If you are interested, there is an open house in Mt. Airy on May 17.
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