This Week on Rescue TV!

Animals Rescued from Backyard Butcher Operation.


On October 10th, 2015, we stood in the doorways of the ramshackle barns and by barren pastures, overwhelmed by the smell of ammonia and decay. Dozens of sheep, goats, and pigs were crammed in the barns and looking for food in bare yards, a futile search.

Over 120 animals were on the property -- many were hiding and terrified. They obviously had never been treated kindly by humans and didn't yet trust us even though we were there to help.

Our rescue team was on the scene, along with other farm sanctuaries, to save the living. And we all knew we wouldn’t leave until we had saved them all.

The man who owned them had bought them at livestock auctions and was breeding and slaughtering them on his leased farm land and serving their remains at his restaurant.

The conditions they were being kept in were squalid and they were allowed to breed, so many of the animals being rescued are pregnant or nursing babies. 

Others were isolated in their own small runs, up to their knees in their own feces. Severed heads and hooves littered a makeshift slaughterhouse stocked with blood-soaked chain saws and reciprocating saws. Goat remains – with front legs crossed and tied to the tops of fences – rotted where they’d been left to die tethered in agony. The living were made to live among the dead. 

Overcoming our sense of horror, we gently ushered the animals out of that hell and into the transport trucks bound for sanctuary. As we loaded them into the trucks we told them that that they were safe, that we loved them, and that we were so sorry.

OinkEvery living animal was saved. We left with 20: nine goats, five sheep, and one mother pig nursing her five tiny baby piglets. They are all getting emergency vet care to treat their malnutrition, internal and external parasites, and other maladies resulting from neglect and abuse. 

As you know, we just moved to a much larger property, so I was able to say yes to this rescue. But we now have immediate urgent costs we didn’t plan on — extra staff time, food and bedding, materials for housing. And very large vet bills. 

This rescue will end up being very costly—but I knew you would want us to save them. Can you please help today?

Please help us give these precious animals the second chance they so rightly deserve. http://donate.woodstocksanctuary.org/...

Why Compassion is Key in Helping to Rehabilitate Rescued Horses.
Horses are powerful animals, there is no doubt about that. They require a certain amount of confidence to handle and interact with. Being too complacent in their presence can result in injury or worse. This especially holds true with horses that have been rescued – horses whose past experiences are relatively unknown.

The rehabilitation process is dependent on the training style used. The old school training methods focus on asserting dominance over the horse and sometimes requiring a heavy-hand to ensure absolute control. The goal: to make the horse do exactly what you ask of them, forgetting that they are living, breathing animal with far more emotions than humans give them credit for. Dealing with horses that have past histories of abuse and neglect, does this type of “training” aid in their rehabilitation or inhibit their ability to move past their experiences?

Old School Training
Horses are flight or fight animals, that is, they are largely fear-based. If something is perceived to be a threat, they will simply flee in the opposite direction.  The domestic horse has long complied with the desires of its human companions, whether by choice or by force, in order to avoid conflict.

Being deeply involved in the care of rescued horses, I have found my way into the complicated life of the “horse world.”  It is a highly competitive one filled with individuals that believe they know best and have grown up treating horses as they seem fit.  The belief that the individual is in charge at all times, dominant over the animal, controlling it as if it were a mere machine is a common one.  I have witnessed horses being violently hit, screamed at and forced into submission as part of their ”training” sessions.  There always seems to be an urgency on the part of the human – the horse must be ready to ride in a set number of days.  The term is to “break” a horse – to break its spirit is more appropriate.  Examples of severe methods can be found in all sorts of disciplines including soring, racing and competitive riding.  That is not to say that all horses used for these purposes are mistreated or abused.  For horses that have experienced past torment are best handled with a gentler, more compassionate hand – a new wave of training known as positive reinforcement.

Positive reinforcement is a reward-based system.  The horse is asked (not ordered) to complete a specific task and is rewarded for doing so.  Eventually, after repetition, the horse will associate the given task as a favorable one.  The ultimate goal is to strengthen the bond and relationship between horse and human in order to achieve a high level of trust on both sides.

According to a study that was conducted in 2010 by Sankey et all, “the association of a reward with a learning task in an interactional context, which in this case was the training of young horses by humans, induced positive reactions towards humans during training. It also increased contact and interest, not only just after training but also several months later, despite no further interaction with humans.” Creating a positive learning environment strengthens the horse’s bond with humans, including building new relationships.  It produces a lasting memory in the horse resulting in a more visibility content animal.
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Nikita arrived at the sanctuary after being pulled from the slaughter pipeline.  She was being loaded onto the slaughter-bound trailer when she happened to sneeze.  As it is against regulations to slaughter a sick animal, Nikita was taken off the truck at the last minute.  The plan was to make her healthy and ship her again.  Thankfully, she was spared this fate.

Her past was completely unknown – a mystery. She was young, vibrant and full of life. The first “trainer” to work with Nikita deemed her as “too much horse” and stated that she would always be difficult to control and manage. Believing in old school training methods, this trainer decided that what Nikita needed was to be dominated, to be told what to do, how to behave.  When the physical contact started, that was it.  These methods were not appropriate in rehabilitating a horse that had clearly suffered some type of abuse in her past.  She was terrified.

The second trainer to come in and help with Nikita practiced more of the Natural Horsemanship ways – that is, less aggressive but still asserting dominance over the animal.  Progress was made however it soon became apparent that Nikita was not reacting positively.  She seemed disinterested in the learning process, unwilling to establish any type of bond with the trainer.  A third method was then introduced involving positive reinforcement.

The tasks are simple to begin with: Nikita is asked to back up, move forward and receives a small treat as a reward.  She is beginning to associate learning with positive interactions.  She is an extremely curious horse and very quick to catch on to new challenges.  Her demeanor has changed drastically over the last few months.  It is as though she looks forward to her sessions.  She waits patiently at the gate when it is training time isn’t forced to do anything she does not want to do and there is no strict time frame. Patience is key and so important to helping a horse recover from past abuses.  Nikita reacts to everyone the same way – she is friendly and approachable.  There are no specific plans to make Nikita rideable.  Working with her on a daily basis is a means of establishing trust and strengthen bonds.  It is amazing feeling to connect with a horse on a balanced playing field in a stress-free environment.

In Nikita’s life, there are no leaders, just equals.  This is particularly evident in how she interacts with her fellow herd mates.  There is no “lead” horse in the group.  They have learned to interact in a positive way and have formed bonds that will likely last a life time.

A Kinder Way 
There are many ways to train a horse and many people with opinions on what is right and wrong.  Using violence and strict methods to enforce dominance is unacceptable and crosses the line into abuse.  There seems to be a shift towards positive reinforcement and creating bonds by mutual interaction.  More and more people are coming to the realization that you can do far more with your horse than simply ride.  Horses are amazing creatures, almost spiritual in nature and definitely therapeutic and having a little patience goes a long way.  Take the time to build a solid relationship with your horse.  We are forever learning from our horses as they are learning from us.

“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” – Nelson Mandela - All image source: Penny Lane Sanctuary

This Man Stumbled Upon an Injured ‘Trash Monster’ and Found a Friend for Life.

Lending a hand to animals in need is just something that Green Monsters do. It’s almost second nature for us to drop whatever we’re doing if we spot a lost dog or cat and do everything in our power to get them to safety.

In this instance, one kind man took it upon himself to give an injured stray dog a loving forever home. On Imgur, this man explains that he came across a “huge mop of fur” three days after he moved to Los Angeles. Upon closer inspection, he found that the mop was an injured dog that was struggling to walk.

After waiting a few minutes to see if anyone was coming to claim the little dog, he flagged down a cop to see what he should do. The cop told him to either take the dog home or leave it on the street, so he packed up the pup with the help of his friends and went home.
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The dog’s fur was so matted he couldn’t tell whether it was a boy or a girl, but he opted to go with girl for the moment and dubbed her “Lady.”
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He called animal control and they didn’t have any records of a missing dog that matched Lady’s description, so he set about giving her a hair cut and adjusting to the idea of adopting a new friend.
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It took two hours, but when the grooming process was done Lady was a whole new dog! Literally, he also discovered that Lady was, in fact, a boy. So, “Mr.” Lady he became.
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Next day, Mr. Lady was off to the vet. He didn’t even flinch when getting all his shots. After this check up, he was headed straight to the groomer for a proper haircut.
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Can you even recognize him??
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Mr. Lady’s rescuer was in the midst of launching a new business and managing an incredibly busy work schedule, so the thought of adopting a pet had never crossed his mind. After falling in love with this “little cheeseburger” (as he calls him), he made it work.
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“I found this little trash-monster in the streets of LA, only two days after moving here. I feel like it was meant to be and I’m meant to own this dog, for whatever reason that ripples into the future I don’t know,” he writes on Imgur.
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Enjoy the future together, friends!
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All image source: Imgur
100 Pit Bulls in 100 Seconds
100 Pit Bulls in 100 Seconds
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
Elephant Rescued From Life in the Tourism Industry Greeted Like an Old Friend in Her Sanctuary Home

Elephant Nature Park (ENP) is a large animal sanctuary located in Chai Mai, Northern Thailand that takes in elephants who have been the victim of Thailand’s many cruel elephant fueled industries. For old and injured elephants like Jai Dee and Mee Sook, the kind people at ENP are their only hope for rescue.
elephant mee sook in chainsMee Sook, who was most likely stolen from her mother at an early age, spent the majority of her life giving rides to tourists in southern Thailand. Despite her age and injuries, she was forced to work every day in the searing heat, with a barbed chain around her leg. Luckily for her, she was found by the people at ENP and they were able to arrange her rescue.

Rescuing an elephant is never an easy thing, but the good folks at ENP have rescued so many elephants that they are quickly becoming pros.
elephant mee sook on truck
After 40 long hours in the back of a truck, she arrived at the animal sanctuary and was taken to a shaded corral, where she was greeted by Jai Dee, another rescued elephant.

These graceful and highly intelligent animals are reported to have a complex social structure and incredible memories. They may also have impeccable manners, as we see in this video, where Jai Dee politely extend her trunk to welcome the newcomer. Then, in a moment of pure excitement, they clearly recognize each other, and go in for a big hug! Although it is as of yet unclear to ENP, it seems that Jai Dee and Mee Sok might have worked together in the past – or they simply recognized the shared suffering they had each experienced in their lives and instantly bonded. Either way, there is no denying the amazing empathy and joy they show for one another in this video.

This heartwarming video is proof positive that elephants do have feelings and may even remember their friends, just like people. It is impossible to say when these two elephants met or what experiences they shared. But it is clear that the shared experience will be the foundation of a new friendship, as these two ladies enjoy their retirement together at ENP.

If you would like to donate to Elephant Nature Park, visit their website of click here. All image source: Elephant Nature Park

What Inspired Me to Start a Sanctuary for Abused and Neglected Horses by Karyn Boswell. Owning a horse is something that many children dream of. Some grow up to realize this dream by entering the competitive world, others follow a completely different path.  I chose the road less traveled, the one leading to a sanctuary for those in need of a safe haven, protection and a place to call home.

Starting a horse sanctuary has been an uphill battle and one that planted its roots very early on in my life.  To be honest, it has been a bit of a roller coaster ride with many bumps along the way.  Every day it continues to grow into an ever more amazing experience and I would not change it for anything.

What Inspired me to Start a Horse Sanctuary?
Growing up in the city, my exposure to horses was very limited.  Raised as a vegetarian, I had a reputation for bringing home every stray animal in need.  It only got worse when I started my first job at a small animal veterinary practice.  I saw the dark side of humanity – those uncaring individuals that thought nothing of abandoning their elderly cat or dog, simply walking away from a life they chose to protect.  My heart was constantly broken.  It was then that I knew what direction my life would eventually take, I just did not know how to get there.

After moving to the country, I gained a deeper awareness of the plight of farm animals.  It was nearly impossible to avoid driving by a factory farm or passing a live animal transport truck on the highway where I lived, but I still didn’t have much insight into what was happening to the animals.  I was oblivious to the suffering of one particular large animal – the horse.  I had no idea how many horses were sent to slaughter on an annual basis or that they even suffered the same cruel fates as other farmed animals. It wasn’t until I was asked to help a horse in need that the reality hit me … and hard.

Chances was the first horse to make her way into my life.  She was a race horse on death row, about to make the horrific journey to the slaughter plant.  Through the help of my understanding landlord, I was able to reach her in time and bring her home to safety.  The idea that such a majestic animal that had given so much of her life for entertainment would be tossed away like garbage sickened me beyond belief.  I began to investigate equine welfare issues and the truth astonished me.  No matter what age, breed, or condition no horse was safe from slaughter.  Nearly 80,000 horses are killed inhumanely every single year.  I had to do something.

A True Sanctuary
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Running a sanctuary is not the same thing as operating a “rescue.”  Unfortunately in today’s cruel world, the word “rescue” does not always mean safe.  There are those seeking to make a profit off the misfortune of others, those willing to rescue a horse and sell it for monetary gain.  Kill buyers will often pose as potential adopters, only their intent is to ship the horse to slaughter for profit.  Bouncing a soul from one place to another is not my idea of providing protection.  I believe that animals that have been victims and suffered unimaginable cruelties should be allowed to live out their lives in peace, knowing nothing but love and understanding.  This is sanctuary.

There are ten horses at my sanctuary currently, all with their own stories of past horror and future hope.  They are happy and live in harmony with their herd mates.  They are not asked to perform or entertain; they are allowed to live as horses.

A Day in the Life
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Operating a Penny Lane Farm Sanctuary is a daily commitment with no breaks.  It has been a rewarding experience to watch the horses recover and find their place.  They have all developed their own personal sense of being – they have come a long way and so have I.  The sanctuary is now a registered not-for-profit organization with the intent of gaining charitable status in the near future as well as opening its doors to all types of farm animals.  It is entirely volunteer-run and nearly 80 percent privately funded.  Every day more and more people are discovering the sanctuary and it is those that truly understand its purpose that remain – the ones that want nothing in return aside from spending time with the horses.  The visitors that come expecting to ride the horses never come back.

Every day the sanctuary evolves a little – more are beginning to see the therapeutic side of being involved with rescued horses.  Not only are we helping horses to heal but those people suffering from depression and illness as well.  My hope for the future is for people to see horses are unique and sentient beings and not just objects to be exploited.  There is no reason to discard a horse that can no longer be ridden or used.  They have just as much right to live as we do.  I like to think that I have changed the minds of at least a few individuals that have had the chance to meet the horses at Penny Lane Farm Sanctuary.

How You Can Help
Although I have devoted my life to running a sanctuary for horses, not everyone can do the same. This, however, doesn’t mean that you can’t help horses and other animals in a similar way.

If you have not had the opportunity to visit your local farm sanctuary or equine rescue, take some time to do so.  There are many reputable ones all over the United States and Canada, with more appearing every day.  They are the true definition of peace in a chaotic world – providing protection to gentle creatures.  Educate yourself and others about animal welfare issues and always practice compassion.   As the Beatles once said, “living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.”  Life is so much more fulfilling if you do not turn away from those that need our help the most.  Speak up for the voiceless.

“Life is life’s greatest gift. Guard the life of another creature as you would your own because it is your own. On life’s scale of values, the smallest is no less precious to the creature who owns it than the largest.” - Lloyd Biggle Jr.

When They Found This Homeless Puppy, He Was Too Sick to Even Eat. You Won’t Believe What He Looks Like Now!
Animal Aid Unlimited is an animal charity that rescues animals in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. Like in the U.S., there is a huge population of homeless animals in India and in many places, sick stray animals crowd the streets, begging for food. Just when you think all hope is lost for the street animals of Udaipur,  Animal Aid Unlimited saves the day!

When this amazing organization found Perry the dog, he was suffering from an extreme case of mange. By the time they rescued him, infection had spread throughout his whole body and he was too sick to even eat. Back at the shelter, the loving staff put him on antibiotics and he received an IV drip. Before long his fur grew back and Perry was as good as new, running happily with all of the other dogs in the shelter.

The amazing people at Animal Aid Unlimited work tirelessly to help ease the suffering of India’s millions of stray animals, proving every day that a little kindness goes a long way. 

Dog Chained Down In Junk Pile But Help Arrived In Nick Of Time.
At first, PETA fieldworker Heather Johnson thought the dog's leg was broken: Athena's tether was wrapped so tightly around her hind leg that it was painfully swollen. Heather had stopped by the home in rural North Carolina on one of her regular visits to the area to check on the beautiful Australian shepherd mix who was tied up in the backyard.
Athena is one of hundreds of "backyard dogs" PETA fieldworkers visit every week, delivering free doghouses and straw bedding to help them survive the winter cold; erecting tarps to shade them from the summer sun; refilling empty water bowls; treating them for fleas, flystrike, and internal parasites; and providing them with low—or no—cost spay/neuter surgeries as well as food, toys, and treats. Perhaps most important of all to these desperately lonely dogs, they also get plenty of scratches under the chin and reassurances that they're the very best dogs in the whole wide world. 
PETA cares for neglected dogs who are left outside 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in all weather extremes. Many of the remote, impoverished areas that PETA fieldworkers visit have no animal shelters — and some don't even have a veterinarian, which means that PETA's fleet of mobile low-cost spay/neuter clinics are the only veterinary service available for many. 
Fieldworkers often encounter horrific cases of neglect, including (WARNING: Graphic photo) dogs eaten alive by maggots or suffering from advanced heartworm disease, mange, deadly parvovirus, infected wounds, embedded collars, or even deliberate starvation. For some of the animals who are turned over to us, giving them a painless death through euthanasia is the kindest thing that anyone can do for them. We're proud to be able to provide this service, even though a meat-industry front group exploits this aspect of our work with its "PETA kills animals" scam.
It was immediately apparent that Athena needed much more than what's on the usual "chained-dog checklist." Her tether had become entangled in the piles of junk surrounding her doghouse, virtually immobilizing her. She couldn't reach food, water, or shade and was panting heavily in the blazing sun.
She had obviously been in this condition for some time — perhaps for days — as evidenced by her swollen leg. Heather gently freed her from the tangled rope but knew she needed veterinary care right away. Athena's owner, belatedly realizing that she was unable to care for the dog properly, surrendered her to PETA, and Heather rushed her to the closest veterinarian.
Thankfully, her leg wasn't broken, but it was severely infected, and she was in so much pain that she couldn't put any weight on it. She was also dehydrated and had a raging fever of 106 degrees, probably because of the infection and her prolonged inability to seek water and shelter from the sun. It was a miracle that Heather found her when she did: Athena probably wouldn't have survived much longer.

The vet prescribed antibiotics, and Heather took Athena back to PETA's Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters, the Sam Simon Center, to recuperate before transferring her to the Virginia Beach SPCA, a high-traffic open-admission shelter with which PETA frequently partners. We later learned that she was adopted by a Navy veteran through Pets for Patriots, a group that works with the SPCA to place animals with military service members.


Pets for Patriots, Inc.; all rights reserved


Athena's new guardian has aptly changed her name to Leia, which means "child of heaven"— perfect for a pup who apparently has angels watching over her.

Rescued Camel Can't Hide His Joy
Rescued Camel Can't Hide His Joy
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)

Kent Abandoned and All Alone

In Defense of Animals
Sharon Stone, IDA's Operations Manager at Hope Animal Sanctuary in Grenada, Mississippi, received a message through social media reporting a "tiny" yorkie who had been found on a close by farm property all alone, covered in fleas and with his hair matted with cockleburs.

The caring woman who  found this small dog had bathed him and searched for his guardians with no success.  She now asked that we take him since her large dogs did not care for him and she was afraid he might get injured.

When Sharon met and examined the little dog, she found that he was a senior, at least 10 years old, and that his poor teeth were in horrendous condition and his nails were overgrown. We named him Kent and the first thing the next morning, he was taken to our veterinarian.  Kent weighed only five pounds, and he had an enlarged heart which may have been caused by the severe infection in his mouth or could have been due to his age. He is also heartworm positive.


This poor dog had been on his own for some time, and his feces told us he had been eating gravel and chicken feathers.  Now he is safely housed at our Hope Animal Sanctuary where he is being given antibiotics for the infection in his mouth.  Ideally he will be able to have a dental cleaning in a few weeks.  We would love to find a home for Kent locally where he can live his remaining years in comfort and where he will never be alone or hungry again.