Video: Horse-rescue organizations barely surviving

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MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. - The number of horse abuse and neglect cases is skyrocketing in Western Washington, leaving animal control agencies struggling to find rescue organizations to take the horses in.

It's become so expensive to save horses that some rescues are barely surviving themselves.

People Helping Horses of Arlington has spent $45,000 in three months caring for them. In Monroe, Save a Forgotten Equine has 28 rescue horses including 10 seized in a recent Carnation cruelty case.

In Maple Valley, Serenity Equine Rescue is rehabilitating 27 neglected horses.

Retired college teacher Patricia Clark says she's spent more than $200,000 of her retirement money since forming Serenity a year ago.

"Because I don't feel I have a choice, I'm not gonna leave those animals behind. I can't do it," she said.

Clark says she's on her last credit card and has already sold her jewelry. She depends on donations, but there's little coming in.

There is some financial help from the county for horses seized in cruelty cases, but in many cases horses were just voluntarily signed over by the owner. In that case the county provides no financial support.

Yet Animal Control is increasingly relying on rescues and acknowledges some may not survive without the public's support.

KING

Yet Animal Control is increasingly relying on rescues.

"Donations of time, goods, services would help - helps us and helps the horses most importantly," said Al Dams.

Like most rescues, Serenity is full. Clark says some of the rescue horses are now well enough to be adopted out. Unfortunately, the families planning to take them had to back out. They decided they couldn't afford them.

King County has no facility for horses. It's placed 30 horses seized in recent animal cruelty cases with various rescues where they are being cared for.

Contact information for anyone interested in adopting horses and/or supporting the rescues:

Serenity Equine Rescue & Rehabilitation
Maple Valley
Tel. 425-432-9697
E-mail: serenity@cowgirlyranch.com

People Helping Horses
Arlington
Tel. 360-435-9393
www.peoplehelpinghorses.org/

Save a Forgotten Equine
Monroe
E-mail: adopt@safehorses.org