On January 11, 2017, we got a call late at night about a horse down asking if we could help. A friend lived close who was familiar with the horse and family so she drove over to help. We called the vet to go help the horse, but the owners turned him down. By morning the horse had died and they asked if we could come get the other horse.

The next morning I went and pick up this sweet mare we named Hope and brought her to the rescue. Sadly her state of emaciation was so great that her organs shut down within a day and she too perished. Hope was only five years old.

This was so heartbreaking for us and the many people that came to visit her and followed her story on Facebook and maddening that anyone would starve two young horses.

In an effort to be sure something like this didn't happen again, we reached out to local businesses to create an emergency food fund for the horses, donkeys, mules and minis in the White Mountains of Arizona. Through their donations we started the fund with $1250.

To get the word out people helped us put up flyers at the feed stores, post offices and other businesses around the White Mountains. We also posted on Craigslist and numerous pages on Facebook.

Huge thanks to the businesses that let us put of flyers.

Soon the request for assistance started coming in. Since 1/18/17 we have had 23 requests for emergency food. Most were legitimate and a few...not so much. I think the funniest one was a lady that got a speeding ticket and wanted us to buy a months worth of hay for her four horses. When I pointed out she could take a class and not have to pay the ticket she said that wouldn't work because this was like her fourth speeding ticket in a short time. She never did submit the application for assistance.

The $1250 has all be spent, in addition Equine WellBeing Rescue covered the cost of transportation to do site inspections and deliver hay/feed and the printing of posters displayed all over the White Mountains, an additional $319.20 for a total of this program of $1569.20.

Here are the results:

23 Contacts about the program.

17 families were approved for feed/hay.

47 horses, donkeys, mules or minis and 2 goats were fed.

407 miles were traveled doing site checks and delivering hay/feed.

On January 19th,2017, two days after the start of the program, Copper Rose came to live with us because her family had some financial hardships. She was 26 years old at the time.

She spent some time keeping Holly William's gelding company as a fostered companion horse and when he passed away she came back to the rescue, but she was depressed and not wanting to eat after the loss of her dear friend. Copper Rose passed peacefully we think of a broken heart.

In August, we also took in an older donkey that or followers named Naomi. In her mid-teens and very friendly she was adopted shortly after by our friend Linda Lucas who lives here at the ranch so we get to see Naomi every day.

Naomi will greet anyone who walks to the fence and has a very cheery nature. Her and Bud, another older donkey are best friends at the rescue.

We thank very much the businesses that each donated $250 to create this fund along with a private party who asked to remain anonymous. Additionally we want to thank Stock Up Feed and Tack in Taylor, Hectors Hay and Feed in Snowflake and All American Feed in Concho, all three gave us discounts on our purchases to stretch the funds farther. Every bit helped to feed those 47 hungry lives.

While Hope's fund may be exhausted we will continue to assist if we find an emergency need for hay or feed assistance and from time to time with euthanasia funds....each considered on a case by case basis.

Finally I would like to once again honor Hope. She was here only a few hours but she touch so many hearts and even for those few hours knew love and gave love.

She is running in paradise, fat, happy and pain free. Hopefully looking down on what we do in her honor and watching over those in our care.