Equine WellBeing Rescue, Inc.: A loving Goodbye to Audrey

Dear friends,

On October 12, we made the heartbreaking decision to let sweet Audrey cross the rainbow bridge. She passed peacefully, with prayers being said and gentle, tender care surrounding her.

We want to share her story, because providing rescue and hospice care sometimes means making a decision we desperately wish we did not have to make.

Our longtime friend and trainer, Lisa Sevilla, contacted us after getting Audrey from the BLM. Audrey already had a large mass on her face. Lisa asked whether Equine WellBeing Rescue could provide financial help for veterinary care to diagnose the problem.

After spending time training Audrey to be somewhat handleable, Lisa arranged a September 15 veterinary appointment. Audrey was anesthetized for examination and X-rays, and the findings were devastating.

Rather than a removable soft tissue mass, Audrey had a large bone mass that extended into her right sinus area and the palate of her mouth. Any attempt at removal would have required incredibly invasive surgery, followed by an extensive and painful recovery, with no guarantee the mass would not return. During the examination, a bone fragment was found and removed.

We decided to give Audrey a little time to see how her condition progressed and bring her to the rescue for hospice care rather than euthanize her that day.

Audrey arrived September 26. We immediately noticed significant drainage from both nostrils that appeared badly infected. We contacted the veterinarians who had examined her, started antibiotics and pain medication, and discussed whether the infection could realistically resolve.

The recommendation was to allow 10 days of treatment. If it did not resolve, euthanasia was appropriate.

We also consulted Dr. L here, sending photographs, veterinary records and X-rays, and arranged a follow-up visit for October 12.

Each morning and evening, Audrey ate 27 antibiotic pills mixed into her senior feed, along with receiving daily pain medication. We gave her her own shelter and pen, hay available 24/7 in a slow-feed net, and treats every day.

She was still shy. She moved away when we approached and did not allow us to touch her, but she remained curious about our activities. We respected her boundaries while doing everything we could to keep her comfortable through the rainy, windy and cold weather.

At her October 12 examination, it was clear to Dr. L and to us that the infection had not resolved. There was no assurance that continued, long-term treatment would resolve it. The facial swelling, pain, added weight of the enormous mass and blockage of her right nasal passage all affected her comfort. She could not breathe through her right nostril, and we knew her condition would only get worse.

Long-term treatment also meant considering the possibility of additional medicines to manage medication side effects, including ulcers or intestinal imbalances. We call that “chasing the medicines”—adding another medicine to offset problems caused by the current ones. That burden matters, too, when considering an animal’s quality of life.

Ultimately, Audrey’s comfort had to guide us. With broken hearts, we let her go.

Some animals are with us for years and years. Others may be here only hours. The length of their stay does not make their lives less precious or their loss less painful.

We wish we could have had more time with Audrey. But wanting more time could not outweigh her need for relief from pain and suffering.

Today the weather is bitterly cold, rainy and very windy. It is hard to look out the window and not see her in her pen. Yet there is comfort in knowing she no longer has to endure that weather on top of her pain and discomfort. In my heart, I know we made the right decision for her.

We thank Lisa for reaching out to us for help. This was not the outcome any of us hoped for, and her heart is broken along with ours.

Thank you to everyone whose support allows us to provide care, shelter and compassion—including a peaceful goodbye when that is the kindest care we can give.

After 20 years in rescue, saying goodbye never gets easier. Even writing to tell you about this very sweet donkey is difficult. Many tears have been shed, and they are still falling.

If you would like to help honor Audrey’s memory, we would be grateful for a donation toward the expenses of her initial veterinary examination, humane euthanasia and burial. We estimate these costs at approximately $1,000, with the final amount still pending as we wait for Dr. L’s bill.

Donations can be made through our website: EquineWellBeing.org. Any amount helps. Thank you for helping us give Audrey compassionate care and a peaceful, loving goodbye.

Run In Paradise, sweet Audrey.
2017–October 12, 2026

Your time on earth was too short. We sent you with prayers and much love.

With heavy hearts,
Christine and Lary Griffin
Equine WellBeing Rescue