Justice for Fire Dancer

 

Yesterday was National Horse Protection Day, and we want to share with you how we step forward to help protect horses, donkeys, mules and minis from abuse, neglect, slaughter and in so many other ways.  Please take a moment and read Fire Dancer's story.  On November 6, 2025, we got several calls regarding an animal neglect situation in St. Johns.  Not only did two livestock brand inspectors reach out to me, Deputy Snyder, of the Apache County Sheriff's Office called us for help.  He was on the scene where a large number of cats, dogs, goats, poultry and one horse had been abandoned and the conditions they were in were horrid conditions.  He asked us if we could come get the horse immediately.   We stopped what we were doing, loaded up the trailer and headed to St. Johns (about 35 miles away).   We then got a call from a woman named Emma, who wanted to let us know to bring sedative because she didn't think the horse would get in the trailer without it.   She was the person who called the authorities about the situation and had brought some food and water because the animals had none.  She also let us know there were deceased animals so to be prepared for how bad things were when we arrived.    Upon arrival it was clear to see many things, there was no power, no running water, buildings were in shambles, there were abandoned vehicles and trash every where. The living conditions were extremely unsanitary.  It was horrible.    By the grace of God we were able to get the horse named Wind Dancer, into the trailer without too much difficulty.  It was almost as if she knew she was getting out of that hell-hole and could not wait to leave.   When we arrived at the rescue, she was quite sweaty, obviously upset by all that had happened.      As we unloaded her we noticed she walked with a very strange gait, sore on her front feet and as though her back end wasn't in line with her front end.  We took a video and sent it to our vet asking if we could have her examined as soon as possible.     Our intake assessment noted that her feet were overlong, she was mildly dehydrated, her coat was dull and she was missing spots of hair on her face and other places.  Her body condition score we put a 3 out of 9.  Very thin, but not emaciated.  She was difficult to handle and really didn't want us touching her, though she would come stand by us and I was able to pet her and calmly rub her, but that was it.  She was very defensive in her nature.  Deputy Snyder let us know that charges were being filed against the owner for neglect so we put Fire Dancer in an outside stall that we use for quarantine and gave her time to decompress.  We monitored her for possible colic, measured her hay and water consumption and any sighs of further stress.  After a few days we were able to transport her to the vet for a complete exam, radiographs of her feet and lameness assessment.  The news was not good.   Fire Dancer had clearly foundered and in addition to her feet being way over long, the coffin bone on both her front feet had rotated to a very painful angle and one that is extremely difficult to recover from.  This was not recent, the hoof growth indicated she had foundered quite some time ago.  We learned from Emma that this horse had no veterinary care and limited hoof care.  She was difficult to handle so she was basically left in a small stall with no interaction except for goats.   We immediately started her on pain meds and our farrier came out the next day.  We were able to get her sedated to safely get her feet trimmed and to give her more IV pain meds.   We quickly learned how difficult she was to get medicine into.  She would not let us near her mouth so we tried hiding medicine inside carrots, horse muffins, powdered medicine mixed into applesauce, with sugar-free maple syrup, sprinkled on food, across alfalfa and she would not eat any of it.  It took two of us to try to give her an injection and that was a total rodeo.  We would have to sedate her to give her an IV injection.      She was sorer after her feet were trimmed so we had to increase her pain meds.  We brought her in the barn, padded her stall with lots of bedding so it would be soft and she had an area in her turnout with deep sand.  We never saw her lay down to give her feet a break and we continued to have trouble getting pain medicine into her.    After discussion with our vet, a phone call was made to Deputy Snyder, who comes from a horse family himself so he understood what pain Fire Dancer was dealing with and the difficulty in pain management with her angry, self-preservation behavior.  As evidence in the County's case against the owner, the prosecution team was also consulted.  A very tough decision was made to humanely let her go.  Not what any of us thought would be the outcome the day we got her.  Deputy Snyder made a very good point when he said that not doing anything and her not getting the pain meds she needed would continue the neglect she already endured.    On November 20, 2025, Fire Dancer was humanely euthanized and released from her pain.  None of this would have been necessary if her owner would have provided the proper care for her in the first place.  Our anger, disappointment and sadness for what Fire Dancer went through was palpable.   But sometimes, as in her case, the damage is done and so bad before their arrival, there is little we can do but give them a loving good-bye.   Last week, Sheri Dotson had her day in court.  She demanded a trial and probably felt she could lie her way out of what happened to all the animals she left in horrific condition when she took off for New Mexico.  We were not asked to appear in court, but our veterinarian was and because of her testimony, our thoroughness with detailed care notes, along with all of Deputy Snyder's evidence and Emma's testimony, there was a lot for the prosecution to present to the judge.  She was full of excuses, but the judge himself had horses and other animals so her lies didn't work.  She was found guilty, fined and given probation.  She currently lives in New Mexico, so it is unlikely she will be back here to commit crimes of animal neglect again.     While we wish she would have been given jail time, being guilty is on her record and we are glad that Apache County prosecuted her.       We want to say thank you to Concho Animal Advocates and Good Dog Rez-Q, both of whom took in the small animals and poultry.  We donated $250 to each organization to help offset their costs of food and immediate medical care.  Working with other animal rescues makes a big difference when these situations arise and the teamwork is greatly appreciated.   Huge thank you also to Deputy Snyder for all of his efforts to save the animals and get the guilty prosecuted.    Special thanks to Dr Laird for all that she did to help Fire Dancer,  to Stratton our farrier who was so patient with her and to all of our volunteers who showed her love for the short time she was with us.  We all are saddened by what happened to her.    For Fire Dancer, we are sorry you endured so much pain for so long.  She now runs in paradise, pain free enjoying a heavenly life where she will never be neglected again.    God Speed Beautiful! Thanks to all of you for your continued support.  Without you, we would not be able to help so many horses, donkeys and minis in need.  YOU make all the difference in the world.     If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to help, you can click the button below,   Checks can be sent to EqWBR, 8369 Buckskin Trail, Snowflake AZ 85937 Zelle:  donate@equinewellbeing.org Venmo:  @equine-wellbeing     Last for of the phone is 4860.    Thank you again so very much!!!   Christine & All of us at EqWBR

EQUINE WELLBEING RESCUE INC 8369 Buckskin Trl Snowflake, AZ 85937 Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser Unsubscribe Donate Now!

Two new donkeys rescued

 

Dear Friends,   The work continues right up to the close of 2025.  Yesterday we made the long trek to pick up two donkeys who had been seen wandering out in the wild, around a very rural area where not many homes exist,.  We made a very slow drive down an unmaintained bumpy, rutted out road.  It took us an hour to go seven miles pulling a horse trailer.  At the end of this very long road, with only a house or two insight the entire drive, we pulled into a ranch we had been to five or six years ago.  Someone we had helped in the past, had now helped these two lost donkeys by gathering them in their corral.     A slender, elderly man, probably in his mid-seventies, walked up to the truck and showed us where to back our trailer.  Once we got the trailer situated we realized it was going to be a difficult task to get two unhandled donkeys into our trailer.  There was just the three of us, the enclosure was quite large and there were two other donkeys in the midst. Klaus got some sweet feed and lured his donkeys to the far end of the enclosure.  Now we just had to figure out how to get the other two to head towards the trailer with its door wide open and get in.  Having done this so many times, Lary and I realized this was going to be very difficult.  We were told it would be easy to load the donkeys, had we known how large the area was, we would have brought more people with us.  I said a prayer because I felt that was the only way we could accomplish this task.     We put a little sweet feed on the back of the trailer and poured a trail of it into the middle of the trailer in hopes that would entice the donkeys to get close to the trailer.  After the third or fourth try moving the donkeys along the fences edge, the little jenny smelled the sweet feed and stopped at the back of the trailer to take a nibble.  We all walked foward just a little and to our amazement, she jumped in.  We closed the door and decided we would try to put a halter on her.  Lary got in the trailer and she moved to the very front and stood pretty still.  It was clear though, that she was unsure and a little scared.  Not wanting to get kicked, and we both know how accurately donkeys can kick, we decided not to try to halter her.  Instead, we noticed a pipe panel leaning up against the fence that was the perfect size tie inside as if it were a divider, something we had done many times.   Once the panel was secured, she settled down and now we had to see if we could get her companion in the trailer too.     He was a little more skeptical than she, but she was inside the trailer and brayed to him as if to say, here I am.  While Klaus's donkeys were still eating away at the other end of the pen, we again moved him along the fence line.  This time he went behind the trailer door instead of in front of it, so he was stuck in a corner.   We patiently waited for him to work his way out and tried to guide him to the back of the trailer.  Our movements had to be so slow and steady so he would not bolt right past us.  I am saying silent prayers, "please Lord, let him get in the trailer".    She brayed again and he walked to the back of the trailer, sniffed at the food and then looked up at her.  She was looking at him with such trust in her eyes, clearly they were communicating in a language that comes with long-time companionship.  Then to our surprise, he jumped in the trailer.  We closed the trailer door and with a sigh of relief, said,  "Thank you Lord!".      Another hour to get the seven miles to the main road and we were on our way back to the resuce.  We set up their stall with water, salt and mineral blocks, put hay nets around the stall and then backed the trailer in the barn to unload them.  They quietly walked into the stall and started sniffing around.  They went to the outside part of the stall to check out that area and in a short time both started to drop to the ground and roll.  To us, a sign that they knew they were safe and could stop the worry of being out in the wild.  We watched with happiness, knowing that even though our day had been completely rearranged, the trip was long and the task seemingly an uphill battle, we made a difference for these two donkeys and the look on their faces seemed to say, "thank you". As the year comes to a close, all of us at the rescue want to say thank you for standing with us and our horses, donkeys and minis throughout the year. Your kindness, generosity, and belief in our mission have made a real difference in the lives of the equines we care for every single day.   Because of your support, horses, donkeys and minis in need received safety, medical care, nourishment, and—most importantly—hope. We truly could not do this work without you.   As we look toward the year ahead, we invite you to consider making a year-end donation to help us continue this important work. Year-end gifts are especially impactful and help us start the new year prepared to meet the needs of incoming equines and ongoing care.   If you have already given this year, please know how deeply grateful we are. If you’re able to give again, your contribution will help ensure even more horses, donkeys and minis receive the second chances they deserve, like the two lost souls we rescued today.  You can do so by clicking the Donate Now button below and we want you to know how meaninful each and every dollar is.    Thank you for being part of our rescue family. We wish you and your loved ones a joyful, peaceful holiday season and a wonderful New Year filled with many blessings.    With heartfelt gratitude, Christine and all of us at the rescue.

EQUINE WELLBEING RESCUE INC 8369 Buckskin Trl Snowflake, AZ 85937 Christine@EquineWellBeing.com View it in your browser Unsubscribe Donate Now!

2025 Ornaments are available

 

The 2025 ornaments are on their way here!    This years ornament is baby Junebug, born at the rescue on June 4, 2025.  Her mom, Ellie, came to the rescue on January 17, 2025 as part of a group of nine equines saved from a hoarding situation in Texas.  Of the 80 plus equines, we committed to taking in 8 donkeys and a mini horse.   Ellie came in with her 2024 son, Manny at her side.  Both were malnourished, but with our rehabilitation program, all nine recovered from the neglect they suffered in Texas.   This years ornament is bamboo, so the pictures just don't do it justice.  Junebug, Ellie and Manny are doing awesome and she has grown like a weed.  She is quite the spitfire too.    We have 8 ornaments available.  If you are interested in purchasing one or more, please reply to this email.  They cost us $20 and that is what we are asking for their purchase, plus postage, which is $5.    If you want us to ship them to friends or family for you, we will need their names and shipping address, you can email us at Christine@EquineWellBeing.com.   Junebug would love for you to have her ornament!     If you have any questions at all, you can email, call or text us.   Christine@EquineWellBeing.com or 760-703-4860.     YOU make a difference to the lives of all the horses, donkeys and minis at the rescue and others we are able to help.   Equine WellBeing Rescue Inc. is a 501c3 public charity #45-2835562 100% volunteer run organzation.  To make a tax-deductible donation via Credit/Debit card, PayPal, Google Pay can be made by clicking the button below. Zelle: donate@equinewellbeing.org Venmo:  equine-wellbeing Checks: EqWBR, 8369 Buckskin Trail, Snowflake AZ 85937   EQUINE WELLBEING RESCUE INC 8369 Buckskin Trl Snowflake, AZ 85937 christine@equinewellbeing.com View it in your browser Unsubscribe Donate Now