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Horses Give Thanks
For Immediate Release
Help Us........Help Them
November 7, 2007West Palm Beach, Florida.- Pure Thoughts Inc. Horse and Foal Rescue has announced a new rescue project. Pure Thoughts Inc. will be purchasing horses from two auctions that are attended by kill buyers who sell horses to Canadian and Mexican slaughterhouses for human consumption.
"Horses Gives Thanks 2007" will take place beginning the day after Thanksgiving November 23, 2007 at Sugarcreek Livestock Auction in Ohio and will end on Monday November 26, 2007 at the New Holland Auction in south east Pennsylvania. Pure Thoughts Inc. is looking to raise money to save as many horses as possible. Since the opening of the Pure Thoughts, Inc. South Carolina facility, the ability to help horses through the rescue has doubled. South Carolina's farm director Tracy Steiger, will also be driving one the two horse trailers being utilized on the trip. Steiger is a seasoned horse transporter who is highly respected among horses owners and rescue throughout the east coast.
Pure Thoughts has asked several rescues to assist in taking in horses, including Another Chance 4 Horses to join them in the save. Rescue Founder Christy Sheidy has agreed to have stalls open for horses in need and with be at the New Holland auction on Monday, November 26th . Another Chance 4 Horses goes to New Holland every week, when asked about attending the New Holland auction Sheidy stated "It is frustrating, the kill buyers have deeper pockets and more immediate space to take the horses. They do not have to worry about care of the horses. As a rescue we go in with limited funds and limited space." In response to Sheidy's comment, Swanson stated "This time it is going to be different, this time we are going to do everything in our power to make sure the rescues have more money and the ability to house and care for more horses, this time the horses will win.. not the slaughterhouses."
This is not the first time AC4H and Pure Thoughts, Inc have worked together to pull horses from an inhumane end. Most recently on October 22, 2007, the two rescues were able to save discarded race horses bound for slaughter. This event was covered by the nationally syndicated news show Inside Edition. The crew of Inside Edition not only interviewed several rescue founders but they spent an entire day filming the save at the New Holland Livestock Auction in south east Pennsylvania, the same sale where "Horses Gives Thanks 2007" will be on Monday, November 26th.
We are hoping to spread the word and expand our fundraising efforts exponentially. Pure Thoughts Inc. is an all-volunteer 501c3 non -profit organization. When asked about fundraising Swanson said" We have been very fortunate. The Emily Vernon Foundation has helped the horses immensely and aided in helping the saving of many orphaned foals this year. In the past, The Green Foundation helped us build an additional 6 stalls so that we can house more horses and Petsmart issued us a grant to handle castrations of colts and stallions. Richard Schecter and Jennifer Reid both horse enthusiasts and long time supporters will be playing a large role in this rescue effort. In addition to donating to the rescue efforts they will be matching up to $5000 in additional donations." Swanson added. "This is the largest single rescue effort we have ever done and we need to spread the word and expand our fundraising arena. In a perfect world we would have 30 acres, 60 stalls and limitless funds. But we do not live in a perfect world. If we did, these horses would not need saving. Our goal is to raise at least $35,000 and save over 50 horses over the Thanksgiving weekend."
In most circles this day is considered Black Friday, the traditional kick off for Christmas shopping across the country. This year, Black Friday will be a new beginning, a ray of hope for horses that would have ended up on the cold floor of a slaughterhouse if it weren't for those who have the ability to change their lives. It is common to find healthy sound horses in direct to slaughter kill pens alongside horses that have obviously suffered long term neglect or abuse.
Since the closing of the last foreign owned slaughter house in Dekalb, IL, kill buyers travel to Canada and Mexico to sell to slaughterhouses there. Currently there are bills both in the House and Senate to end this practice completely. The horrific trailer accident on October 27, 2007 showed even though the slaughter has currently ended on American soil the cruelty has not. Cheryl Hanna long time advocate against slaughter remarked.” The inhumanity and cruelty of the auctions, the feedlots/kill pens, the double decker trucks used for transport with barely a 5 foot height clearance and the 24+ hour trips that the horses are trucked to Canada and Mexico clearly demonstrate the need to pass federal legislation to finally end horse slaughter for our American horses. There are 2 bills HR. 501 and S. 311 which will finally end the despicable slaughter of these American icons." When learning of this rescue effort, John Holland, long time anti slaughter advocate said, "This rescue effort could not come at a more crucial time. Thousands of our horses are being exported to tortuous slaughter in Mexican and Canadian slaughter houses while powerful slaughter groups like the AVMA continue to obstruct the passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. Until we can get this legislation passed, every horse saved is a spared from a vicious and cruel death."
You can read more about this rescue effort for the horses at www.PureThoughtsHorseRescue.com. In order to make this landmark event successful the rescue and its supporters call on horse owners and horse lovers everywhere to help in anyway they can.
Donations can be made through the rescue's web site via Pay Pal. For donors who prefer to mail in their donations they can send a check payable to:
Pure Thoughts Inc. Horse and Foal Rescue Horses Give Thanks 19181 Capet Creek Loxahatchee, FL 33470 561-254-0415 Email: Jennifer@PureThoughtsHorseRescue.comPure Thoughts Inc also urges those who cannot donate to help by spreading the word. Every time someone emails this request we get closer to achieving our goal. This Holiday Season could mean a new beginning fro many horses. Help Pure Thoughts change the lives of the horses and the people who are determined to help make a difference. Pure thoughts, Inc is also looking for on sight support and local sponsors from businesses and volunteers in the South Florida area. If your business would like to participate please contact Jennifer Swanson, Founder, at jennifer@PureThoughtsHorseRescue.comPure Thoughts Inc. Horse and Foal Rescue Mission Statement
Pure Thoughts is an all volunteer 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to saving the lives of horses, yearlings and foals that were bound for the foreign owned slaughterhouses in our country in addition to starvation, neglect and abuse cases. Horses, yearlings and foals bound for slaughter would have been brutally tortured and slaughtered so that they could be served as a delicacy in foreign countries. After arriving at Pure Thoughts the horses are quarantined and evaluated, they are medically tended to, put on a healthy nutritional program and most importantly they are shown that they are loved and humans will not harm them, they have a second chance. They have gone on to become show horses; trail horses, family pets and forever companions. We have saved over 675 innocent equines and as long as this cruel act continues we will continue to fight for the horses. We cannot do this alone...we need your help!! Please help us and others save these beautiful animals and please remember in your thoughts the ones we were unable to reach. . Both the horses and the kids at Pure Thoughts will walk together the path that is ahead of them. One will teach the other about life’s rules, expectations, caring and compassion.Pure Thoughts Inc. has the advantage of having a fantastic rehab trainer Brad Gaver M.Ed, Co-Founder of Pure Thoughts Inc. Horse & Foal Rescue, has a history of success working with youths. His conceptual dream, “Pure Thoughts Horsemanship” which has turned into a reality, was started so that he may lead and guide our children on a path of success through equine therapy. Mr. Gaver has spent years studying the animal / human connection and has developed a program that unitizes horses as his means for not only reaching these children but also as a catalyst for each youth to grow within their selves, understand their true self and know that their future is for them to discover…. and decide the path they wish to take. The horses deserve a second chance to be loved and so do our children. Bradley Gaver is also an accomplished horseman, farrier and trainer specializing in the "Art of Equine Communication for the Competitive Edge." Brad trains both human and horse to communicate on the same level so that their experience together is a rewarding one. In his words..."There isn't a horse out of reach.... time, patience and repetition are the key. Before anything a bond and mutual trust must be formed.