Shooting Star Stables and Equine Rescue,Inc.
From AlexBrownRacing
Contents |
Basics
Web Address: Under construction. May access www.buckysblessing.t83.net for my Buckaroo Boosters group Physical Address: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.
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. One of the original rescues, a beautiful palomino mare, recently returned to Shooting Star after her adopter was no longer able to keep her & she will be availabe for adoption with many others currently awaiting a forever home. 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.
Not a 501 c-3 currently. Our mission is to offer rescue, rehabilitation and adoption to 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. Many equines come to us in need of intensive care both physically and mentally, requiring many months of loving care & training to rebuild strength and trust. Daily contact to encourage a healthy body, mind and spirit involves many nurturing and stimulating activities such as massage and grooming. 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 adoption contract with references, a home check, and thorough assessment process is required for all adoptions. 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 Stables and 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.
A future goal is to work with several of the horses utilizing Careen's experience as a therapist to offer a therapeutic program of equine assisted therapy for children with emotional and or behaviorial needs that are in out of home placements or who are at risk for placement. This is currently in the planning stages with a community agency who would provide referrals. Securing funding for necessary physical additions such as a small arena create some challenges and any suggestions are appreciated.
Rescue Network
Shooting Star has had networking and rescue to rescue transfers occur with many rescues, with some present on ABR. Over time we have learned it is best to provide transfers to rescues primarily within the midwest and have had positive experiences with several including Rainbow Meadows, Winding Road, and Bourbon Street Animal Sanctuary in KS. Horsefeathers in OK helped provide placement for an emaciated mare and many of the NE rescues have been most helpful such as Epona, Heartland, Best Little Horse House, Lone Cedar, Angel Hearts and Phoenix Rising Horse Rescue.(none of these mentioned NE rescues became involved until after the save of the KS 45 plus 2 in June of '07)
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.
Shooting Star is involved with and is the rescue arm of the Buckaroo Boosters who offer support to identified horses through MM4H. Networking and support has been received from Savinghorses.inc.
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 7 FOB horses and 1 donkey. Of these, Jazz and her foal Whisper are planning to relocate to the farm of their FOB sponser in the near future 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 will be requested as this FOB ransomed Jazz initially and has been unable to care for her in her present location. 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 2 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(Boo) 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.
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. 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(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 will be set July 3rd.
Shooting Star also provides care to 9 additional rescue 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. Three horses are sponsored, George by the Buckaroo Boosters and Jazz and Whisper by their future adopter. Other local fundraising efforts are ongoing with needs for donations of items such as fly spray, masks, wormers, strategy grain, and identified medical supplements. Help with training and web design 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.
