Mar 8, 2009 6:46 pm US/Central
Horse Rescue Putting Up 'No Vacancy' Sign
COLLEGE STATION (AP) ―
Economic woes are hurting even our four legged friends.
The recession has a horse sanctuary near the Collin County town of Princeton on its last legs.
"The Need is still there, unfortunately there are not enough places, not enough rescues to take in the animals."
Former Vet Tech Judith Homer and her husband Tommy rescue far more than horses at the Creekside Farm. Donkeys, ponies, pot-bellied pigs, and dogs round out their menagerie of 50 animals. Sadly, the economy has changed the status of many pets.
"Animals are classed as a luxury. So, they're an extra mouth to feed. A lot of people don't want to do that. They've got the families to think of first."
"With circumstances the way they are, not know where to turn, I think they just dump them a lot in the country."
Dumped, says Tommy, or sometimes worse according to Judith. "A horse less than two miles from here locked in a barn and emaciated; a real estate agent found it."
The Homers are now preparing for the unthinkable. They are full, nearly broke, and can't save any more animals. Sad, given how successful they have been says Judith.
Some of the animals can be adopted here for riding purposes. Still other horses here are so injured they can't be adopted at all.
With the price of hay and grain skyrocketing, there won't be any more adoptions until some of the animals at the rescue are placed in new homes. "We've tried to take in as many as we can but we've had to draw the line and say, 'We're sorry folks, but the door is closed right now.'"
And no one can say when it will reopen.
If you would like to help, check out their website at www.creeksidefarmhorserescue.org, or call them at (972) 978-7651.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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