Here is a sad case along the line of the OP’s subject line: http://www.ratemyhorsepro.com/news/equine-cruelty-investigator-quits-due-to-lack-of-prosecution-of-larry-browning-case.aspx
[QUOTE=Angelico;7956850]
I think realism went out the window along with $20,000 that could have been used to help a lot of horses without so many problems. Being curmudgeon is better than being a bleeding heart, IMO.[/QUOTE]
Thank you.
I can not imagine that this horse has yet cost $20k or even the original estimate of $8k to help so far.
That’s my ‘problem’ with this situation, they’ve let the meter run on that donation page, to almost 3 times the original goal.
Letting it go a bit, because there is concern of future problems is one thing… to raise $9k instead of the stated goal of $8k, for example. We all know how fast one can burn through a grand. But THREE TIMES?
That makes me suspicious [easily done] and concerned that this horse is just a poster boy being used to fill pockets. Whether his prognosis is ‘pasture ornament’ or other is one thing… where the rest of the donations are going is another.
IF there are other things that the funds are being raised to cover, other than Rudy, say so.
To not say a word about how high the donations have reached, while the meter continues to run? That’s a flag to me, of a shade of red, that may or may not indicate funny business.
JMHO, by the way.
ETA part of my thinking stems from the cost of hay and the lack of support the local rescue I vol. with is getting this year. They have lovely horses with no management issues whatsoever that can. Not. Find. Homes.
I’m sure someone will step up and take this Rudy horse in, because of his acclaim/story… but it’s not realistic, and there are so many horses looking for homes.
ETA2: I see that the rescue has suggested that the care of Rudy and the rest of their herd has kept them from the computer to update. Horses are work, and lots of it, no questions.
Perhaps they have no idea the account has run so high?
Perhaps when they check it and see how high it’s gotten they will comment, realizing that their goal is well past satisfied?
One thing that has not been brought up, and probably because most of you are not familiar with the OKC area, is the fact that treating horses with devastating injuries like this is VERY common there. Why? Tornados.
Every vet in the OKC area has dealt with, treated and seen the injuries that happen after an F5 or F6 hit a stable - barn - pasture - etc. Same with the people that live there - they have seen it too, and the news channels do stories and follow ups on the horses all the time. One of my horses was a post-tornado poster horse for the same new channel that has been doing stories on Rudy. They even contacted me 10 years after the tornado to do a follow up.
The people and the vets there KNOW when a horse wants to live, and when it’s time to let it go. They’ve seen it WAY more than any other region of the country. This horse wants to live.
I will also say that there are honest vets in the area that keep a “donation account” on hand at all times, until the next tornado hits and those funds get used up. And there are other vets who do use the $ to pad their own pockets and build their own facilities. I have dealt with both kinds in the area.
[QUOTE=moving to dc;7957167]
I will also say that there are honest vets in the area that keep a “donation account” on hand at all times, until the next tornado hits and those funds get used up. And there are other vets who do use the $ to pad their own pockets and build their own facilities. I have dealt with both kinds in the area.[/QUOTE]
The donation page is not an account of the Vet afaik.
It’s going into the rescues coffers, again afaik.
Relevant or not? No idea.
[QUOTE=moving to dc;7957163]
The people and the vets there KNOW when a horse wants to live, and when it’s time to let it go. They’ve seen it WAY more than any other region of the country. This horse wants to live.[/QUOTE]
I don’t think any of us really know. We’d like to think we can or we will, but realistically we can’t and we just have to make the best decision for the horse at the time. I have seen a lot of tornado horses and they generally all look like they’ve had enough for the first few days after the event, no matter how superficial their injuries.
If that was the case then people would be donating directly to that vet, not “Rudy”. There is no way that a bunch of “superficial” wounds on a pasture puff are going to amount to anything near $20k. This horse does not need that much $. I find it very deceptive in nature for these people to let this Go Fund Me thing keep on going and going. The people donating think their money is going to Rudy, and at this point it isn’t.
I am pretty familiar with that area, I raced at Remington for many years and I have in-laws and an uncle that actually live in Jones (same small town where this rescue is located), I’ve helped vets treat horses after tornados. I had some very close friends lose their horses in the last big tornado that ripped through Celestial Acres, and I have never heard of one that keeps a donation account for tornados. I’m not saying you are wrong, I just find that a little odd. Either way, the people donating believe they are donating to Rudy, not a disaster relief fund.
This organizations 990s are on Guidestar for the last 3-4 years.
Worth looking at.
