Shooting Star Equine Rescue, Inc
From AlexBrownRacing
Contents |
Basics
Web Address: Shooting Star Equine Rescue,Inc
Physical Address: 10527 sw Indian Hills Wakarusa, Ks NE KS
Phone:785-249-1760
E-mail:careenc@msn.com
Paypal link careenc@msn.com
Fundraising Drives on TWR: Horses from Local auction, Black Velvet, Ks weanlings, Ks 45 plus 2, Bucky, George, Legacy, Black Beauty, Heaven
Careen makes one of a kind Horse Hair jewelry including bracelets, necklaces, key chains and pendants from the hair of rescue horses or your personal horse..Beaded horseshoes or horse pendants with your horse or a rescue horse are also available. Equine themed Jewelry is also available.
Duni's Horse Splash horse paintings are offered for a donation to the rescue. Duni, Careen's personal horse, paints acrylics on canvas by holding the brush in his mouth and has been featured in several articles.
Media stories: (link to stories about rescue)
Stories about Careen's work against slaughter and with the rescue of horses may be found with the following links.
http://www.ksnt.com/home/ticker/7384676.html Brian Dorman KSNT news 5-7-2007
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4179/is_20080622/ai_n27518531 Jan Biles 6-22-08
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4179/is_20030619/ai_n11797706 Catcher Capital Journal Article 6-19-2003
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkQavY6kkjY
Description of Rescue
Located on 40 acres of rolling hills overlooking the Wakarusa Valley in NE KS, Shooting Star provides a safe haven for 10-20 equines. Shooting Star began operating in 2001 as "Rock'n Horse Rescue", a private rescue operated by Careen Cain, LMSW, who lives on the farm with her husband, son, and numerous pets. "Rock'n Horse" evolved by chance after a student of Careen's asked for her help with her family's horses, as she was concerned. Upon visiting, Careen found 50 reg. QH from a large breeding operation that had been badly starved and without water. One had recently died and other remains were observed. After many phone calls to authorities, legal folks and anyone who would listen, 23 in the worst shape were initially surrendered by the owner upon pressure from animal conrol. (The remainer were provided "free" to his local community within a month.)Another 50 had already been shipped to slaughter.
The catch??? The county had no place to put them, no money to care for them and was convinced they shouldn't pursue it criminally for he may get them back. So......all 23 were officially surrendered through the sheriff's dept. to Careen and calls to all of her horse buddies insured horses went to homes willing to work on rehabilitation and eventual adoption if desired. Careen, who had been peacefully living with just one trail horse as an adult, now was faced with this overwhelming responsibility and did a crash course on educating herself about the care and rehab of the rescue horse, as well as began learning about the horrors of slaughter. The rescue formally incorporated in Aug. 2008 as Buckshot's Legacy, Shooting Star Stables and Equine Rescue, Inc. to honor Buckshot, Careen's first horse as a child. She was able to purchase Buckshot, an overworked cowboy's horse, after earning $150 painting street numbers for neighbors at $ 1.00 each when she was 12. With the 501 (c-3) application, the name was shortened to Shooting Star Equine Rescue, Inc.
Our mission is to offer rescue, rehabilitation and eventual placement with abused or neglected equines through owner surrender or seizure through animal control. Slaughterbound equines are also rescued through auction or directly from the KB when possible. Our horses are now "placed" into homes for hopefully "forever" placement. They are not however, "adopted", as Shooting Star does retain legal ownership of all placed equines. We have found this helps wording helps to clarify who "owns" the horse in the event of future concerns needing to be addressed. Many equines come to us in need of intensive care both physically and mentally, requiring many months of loving care & training to rebuild strength, trust,and skills which will help them become more easily placed. Daily contact to encourage a healthy body, mind and spirit involves many nurturing and stimulating activities. Safety and a high standard of care (medical, farrier, proper nutrition, vaccinations, worming, etc.) are essential. Rescue horses and donkeys are given the same love, attention, and quality care that Careen's 2 personal horses receive. All have access to pasture(hay when necessary), a barn or shelter, and are grained daily. Several smaller paddocks and a large foaling stall are available for special situations. Several orphan foals, including a NMF, have called Shooting Star their home. Catcher(a NMF), now one of Careen's personal horses, was transported from KY when he was only a week old in 2003. Due to blindness, medical issues, or geriatric needs, a few horses will remain at Shooting Star as sanctuary horses. Otherwise, a strict placement contract with references, a home check, and thorough assessment process is required for all placements. All horses will return to SSS if unable to remain with their family, unless other placement arrangements are arranged.There ia a strict NO BREEDING policy and gelding is required on all colts. Owner education for horse care including safety and nutritional guidelines are also provided.
Our mission also includes community education and advocacy of equine issues which support healty equine care and humane treatment. Shooting Star Equine Rescue, Inc. is against the slaughter of equines under any circumstance. Owner responsibility and accountability is expected in situations when equines must be humanely euthanized by a veterinarian. We are also strong advocates to insure prosecution in animal abandonment/cruelty cases as well supporting any legislation creating harsher penalties for offenders.
We believe anyone having knowledge of cruelty or neglect to an animal has an obligation to report it to the proper authorities.
Volunteers are encouraged to participate in many capacities, and visitors are always welcome. There are 2 foster facilities for emergency overflow situations, but it is preferred for all rescue equines to reside at the Wakarusa location.
We are thankful to now have a on site volunteer trainer working with horses on ground work as well as starting under saddle. We have access to a huge, state of the art indoor arena for use in training as well as for offering short term training assistance for new placements.
Rescue Network
Shooting Star has had networking and rescue to rescue transfers occur with several rescues, including Rainbow Meadows in Sedan, KS. Over time we have learned it is best to provide transfers to only local rescues. Some of the work being done has involved Shooting Star assisting in coordination of efforts between owners of horses in need due to extenuating circumstances(can't afford, health issues, divorce, etc)and connecting them with potential adopters by means of assisting with communication or transportation. These horses are high risk for ending up as casualties in the slaughter pipeline without intervention.
Networking and support has been received from Savinghorses.inc., One Horse at a Time and many generous FOB's/Rescues. Our local community is supportive through many local events and volunteers are an essential element to our program.
Much networking has been done on behalf of advocacy or horse situations with many additional credible rescues that strive to improve conditions for horses. Careen is always open to assisting when possible and looks forward to talking with others who are passionate about horses.
FOB Horses
Currently Shooting Star cares for 11 FOB horses and 1 donkey. Of these, Jazz and her foal Whisper were planning to relocate to the farm of their FOB sponser after being with Shooting Star 15 months. Jazz was purchased to save her from imminent slaughter in winter of '07. She was pregnant and foaled a healthy filly 2 months later. No adoption fee was requested as this FOB ransomed Jazz initially and had been unable to care for her at SSS. (Unfortunately, 5 mo after arriving at her new adoptive home, a decision was made by both the rescue and the home to have them return to the rescue due to unforseen medical and life changing circimstances for the family..)
Ruby, the jenny donkey was rescued late last summer with new baby, Peter Rabbit, who was lucky to get a perfect forever home this spring. Ruby remains a noisy greeter to all who visit and also acts as the alarm clock for everyone within a mile radius.
George, a 3 yo gelding, is also a Shooting Star resident after he was rescued with the KS 45 plus 2 save June '07. George was placed in a foster home with 4 other KS 45 saves in Sept of '07, however returned to Shooting Star after a puncture wound became horribly septic and his life was in jeopardy. He spent several weeks at K-State prior to discharge.
Honey Brown gave birth to a beautiful paint foal(Carmella) this spring after her save last June with the KS 45 plus 2. Harold and Blondie who also were part of the save, accompany them in foster care, where a formal transfer has been requested. While in his foster home, Hershey suffered a spinal injury through a pasture accident in April, which was fatal.The loss of Hershey was very hard on everyone who grew to know and love him. All other Ks 45 plus 2 horses that remained in Ks after the save have been adopted into approved adoptive homes.
With great relief, Black Beauty arrived at Shooting Star on 1-15-09. She had been a KS 45 TW mare placed in Ne, who narrowly escaped death on numerous occasions from slaughter, colic and starvation. She was adopted by a family who had taken her to the vet to be euthanized for a serious cut to her leg which they could not afford to treat. She was a mare who won the hearts of many and the FOB's stepped up to see that her vet bill was paid.
Careen has been involved on the front end of many FOB saves or adoptions including Black Velvet and several others with Rainbow Meadows, Maggie and Gary's beloved Star, Rose and Sonny, and Black Beauty, above. Beauty was transported to Ne along with 25 others from the KS 45 plus 2 rescue. Sadly, of these horses that went to the two rescues involved with this large save, 5 are confirmed to have died and many others were reportedly taken to slaughter by one rescue as per a NE State Patrol investigation. Follow up has only confirmed a handful are accounted for. Neither rescue has cooperated with requests for direct updates or follow up information. We do know the Ne sheriff in Pawnee Cnty seized 5 starved horses in March '08(3 were FOB KS 45 plus 2 horses) and the owner of this "sanctuary" where the Ne rescue housed them is being charged with 5 counts of abandonment and cruelty. Two of the additonal dead horses (FOB horses) were presumed starved to death and it is unclear what charges are being filed for their deaths. A trial was set for July 3rd. These 3 horses were eventually able to be placed with Shooting Star, where 2 of them have already found a wonderful forever home..
Shooting Star also provides care to 9 additional rescue horses, plus Careen's 2 personal horses. Although the majority of expenses have been supported primarily through personal funding by Careen's employment as a school social worker and therapist, funding is an ongoing need due to unexpected medical expenses and the rising costs of many needs such as fuel, grain and hay. Farrier work alone is nearly $ 500. Two horses have some sponsorship angels, George by the Buckaroo Boosters and Black Beauty by some gracious FOB's. Other local fundraising efforts are ongoing with needs for donations of items such as fly spray, masks, wormers, strategy/Equine SR. grain, and identified medical supplements. Help with volunteering/training and Public Events are current needs. Monetary donations for feed may always be directly sent to Premier Farm and Home in Topeka.
Feedback from FOBs
From volunteers who have visited the rescue etc which may include relevant links to the discussion board about the visit.
Questions from FOBs
This this space available for FOBs to ask questions. Answers can then be worked into the above content if appropriate.
FOB Questionnaire for Rescue and Sanctuary Officials
Related Links:
Notice to Question Responders:
The FOBs have developed these questions as a way of getting to know the rescues through information pertaining to business and operating practices. Completion of the questions is not required or necessary in order to request and receive funding. However, it is suggested that you do so as individual ABR donors may use the questions as a determining factor regarding their support. Questions are to be addressed only by the person with legal authority to represent the rescue or (in cases of unincorporated rescues) the owner. Supporters and/or volunteers should not address the questions. Answer all questions. Failure to answer all questions could result in a negative perception of the management and operation of the rescue. By answering the questions on your rescue’s WIKI, you are attesting that all information provided by you is absolutely true and correct to the best of your knowledge. The person responding to these questions has the obligation to amend any and all responses that are no longer correct based on changes in business and/or operating processes. Questionnaire (33 Questions)
1. As the person completing this questionnaire, what is your position with regard to the rescue?
2. Is the rescue incorporated? If so, do you have the legal authority to speak for the Board of Directors? Who are the members of the Board of Directors (please provide an email or other contact information; if your website provides this information, please identify your website URL in this answer) (Note: The names of the Board of Directors for incorporated businesses may be validated by calling the office of the Secretary of State.)
3. Is the rescue a 501 c 3 IRS rescue? When was this exemption granted? If the exemption has not been granted, when did the rescue commence the application process?
4. What is the physical address of the rescue (Note: Satellite views of most, but not all, locations are available at www.googleearth.com)?
5. What is the legal nature of the property upon which the rescue animals reside (personal property, property of the corporation, rented property, other as described.) How many foster facilities are associated with the rescue?
6. Is the facility a rescue, sanctuary or both?
7. At the time of this questionnaire, how many equines reside at the rescue and any foster facilities associated with the rescue?
8. What is the date on which the rescue or sanctuary took in the first animal and since that date, how many have been adopted out or officially transferred to another rescue?
9. What is the primary source of financial resources which pay for the maintenance and emergency needs of the rescue’s equine residents? What is the source of any supplemental funding (please separate local fundraising, ABR fundraising and any other internet fundraising such as Facebook)? Approximately what percentage does each source make up for the total funding of the rescue?
10. What percentage of your budget do you spend on each of the following: bail; feed. hay and supplements; veterinarian; farrier; land (purchased or rented); maintenance of facility (equipment and structures.)
11. Who physically provides for the care of the rescue’s equines? Is there an attendant at the rescue 24/7? During an emergency affecting the primary caretaker(s) , who would provide care for the animals.
12. What information is discussed with the Board of Directors and at what intervals do you have meetings.
13. How many volunteers do you have and what is the nature of duties they perform? How often are you assisted by volunteers?
14. Who is your primary veterinarian? Is he/she available as a reference?
15. Who is your farrier? Is he/she available as a reference?
16. Where do you shop for grain? Who is the manager? Is he/she available as a reference?
17. What is your primary source of hay?
18. Describe what the status of the animals would be if the primary caretaker(s) became suddenly unable to provide care for both the short-term and long-term?
19. What is your procedure for adopting animals (please discuss your pre-adoption and post-adoption processes.)
20. Once an equine is at the new home, how do you approach follow-up of the animal?
21. Do you have an adoption contract? If so, how is the subject of breeding handled?
22. Once an animal is taken into the rescue, how is its level of training evaluated?
23. What is the rescue’s program for basic ground training of equines that have that initial level of need?
24. What is the rescue’s program for starting horses that have that level of need (please include at what age you would start an individual horse.)
25. What is the rescue’s program for the retraining of horses to make them more adoptable because their present training level is not conducive to adoption (e.g., the OTTB who needs to be training for another activity?)
26. What is your experience with regard to initial training and retraining of horses and other equines that serves to support that you possess the ability to be successful with such activities?
27. What is the rescue’s program for the retraining of horses that exhibit traits likely brought on by improper training?
28. How does the leadership of the rescue approach end-of-life decision for the equine residents (please discuss the circumstances for which such decisions would be necessary and what life-ending procedure(s) would be utilized?)
29. Would the rescue’s leadership and/or caretaker(s) consider shipping to slaughter as a possible life-ending method?
30. Are you open to a request from donors for pictures and/or other information about a rescue animal that has received funding via ABR?
31. What ABR members have you personally requested to assist with fundraising posting (please name them by ABR call name.)
32. Do these ABR volunteers have their own WIKIs (if not, please ensure that they secure them.)
33. This questionnaire is entirely voluntary but could have bearing on decisions made by donors to provide the rescue with financial support or not. Given this reality, is there any additional information you would like to provide to heighten a positive perception of your
