With the onslaught of horse rescue organizations and places trying to adopt out horses on Facebook and the Internet, there are a few important facts that you need to know. Voices4Horses is dedicated to the humane and ethical treatment of the equine population. We aim to expose the rampant abuse and misinformation available and help you make educated decisions. There is a reason Voices4Horses does not list every rescue organization on Facebook or on the Internet on our website; it is because we cannot stand behind all of them or verify their business or rescue as being credible.
Not all rescues or organizations are on the up and up, several have been charged with animal cruelty, fraud and other abuses. Some have accepted donations for horses to save them from slaughter and then never actually bought the horse. And more still have requested money to help a horse get necessary surgery and never actually gave the money to have the horse saved.
This brings up a huge problem with the way people decide to give money or offer services to horses. Non Profit does not mean they are checked or actually taking care of horses in an approved way. There has been a mass insurge of people opening Non Profits since the laws changed on horse slaughter in the USA and many of these people are associated with kill buyers and feed lots to turn horses over for profit. Or are not treating horses in a humane and compassionate way.
An Example: Kill buyers bring a selection of horses to a feed lot. The feed lot fattens up many of them and gives them back to the kill buyer to sell for slaughter. Horses that are meaty garner the most money on the auction floor. Some of the remaining horses that are not fat enough to sell are then given to a so called rescue to be adopted out. They are in it for profit only. They pay $75 for the horse, turn around and sell it with a sympathy story for $500 to $800 and reap the profits. And then the circle of kill buying, feed lotting and unscrupulous rescue selling starts over again. Out of the 3 parties involved, each is part of the problem and not in it for the greater good of horses.
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There is a lot of money in the “slaughter for consumption” business, fat horses make kill buyers and feet lots a ton of money. When they partner up with “unscrupulous rescue’s” that are only in it to make money off the unsuspecting public, the problem is made worse. The circle of slaughterhouse profit is being fed by the public’s need to save horses and their inability to either research the place they are donating to or understanding how things work in the background. Non Profit accreditation does not ensure the rescue organization is doing things the right way. It is simply an accreditation of a grant that has been provided to an individual or individuals to run a rescue org. The government or local services do not have enough manpower to ensure the rescue is actually doing good work
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Another example is horse hoarders who try to garner public sympathy for a horse in their care to illicit donations. Thirdly, Facebook groups who ask for donations to help horses find homes but are not transparent with their financial statements or mission.
It is paramount that the pubic know this and understand how to spot problems or issues. Additionally, sending donations to save horses only works to save them if the money is going to the right people doing the right work. This article is designed to help you understand what to look for in a Rescue and what you need to know before helping.
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Some Facts:
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Did you know: Many people will hide behind their cover of a 501 c 3 Federal IRS tax exempt status. The IRS liberally grants the 501 c 3 designation to animal welfare organizations. Just because they tricked the IRS into receiving that designation does not mean they are credible. The questions the IRS asks to receive this ability to collect tax free money is not necessarily an indicator nor deterrent to those that plan to misuse this status to fraudulently steal your cash. In fact these unsavory rescues are literally banking on that status to gain your instant trust and as a lure since donations are tax deductible to the contributor.
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Did you know: that there are many Rescue/Horse Groups that use pictures they have found on the internet to get you to feel sorry for a horse and send them money?
Did you know: there are People who work with kill buyers and feedlots to make a profit on horses while pretending to be a rescue?
Did you know: there are people who ask for donations for sick, injured or abused horses that are not even in their care or do not exist?
Did you know: that many people are charged with horse hoarding, abuse and neglect while under the guise of a “Non Profit” accreditation?
Did you know: the words “humane society” is a generic term? The HSUS does not operate shelters or rescues. They do not own the term “humane society” so anyone can use it. That doesn’t mean any particular group using that term is good or bad, just that none of them are actually affiliated with HSUS.
Did you know: a new rescue that just received a 501 status might not have a 990 (tax statement) for review, but they should, however, have records showing their donations and their expenditures.
Did you know: it isn’t enough to verify that a group has 501(c)(3) status. One must also check what category the 501 is under. One famous puppy mill “rescue” went several years with their 501(c)(3) status listed as N60 Sports rather than D20 Animal Rescue.
You can check a rescues 501(c)(3) category here: http://www.irs.gov
