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August 6, 2010

HSI Canada Selects First Animal Rescue Fund Grant Recipients

Praises Refuge RR for Horses and Second Chance Animal Rescue Society for their work

Humane Society International/Canada

HSI Canada is proud to announce Refuge RR for Horses and Second Chance Animal Rescue Society as the first beneficiaries of the Animal Rescue Fund. HSI Canada’s Animal Rescue Fund is a grant program geared toward helping small, established rescue organizations in their work of saving animals by funding either some of their operational costs or a special project. Read more about the program.

Refuge RR for Horses

Refuge RR for Horses, a horse refuge located in Eastern Canada, has saved thousands of animals since it was founded 20 years ago. Refuge RR staff take in horses and other animals and care for them either at their refuge farm or through their foster home network. They are actively involved in public education and are part of the Canadian Horse Defense Coalition. The refuge works hard to promote messages of awareness and respect for animals and the environment.

A moving example of the fantastic work they do occurred in June 2009, when they were contacted by a girl who had investigated an online advertisement for a horse. She had found the horse, Aurore, in an extremely emaciated state. She took her and contacted refuge staff, who then moved Aurore to their facility. A veterinary check revealed that the horse was not only starving, but had been smashed over the head with a hard object--her skull was broken between the eyes. A four inch by two inch scar going through her neck was also discovered, suggesting she had been struck in the neck with an axe. Living at the refuge, she has been given special care and is slowly being brought back to health. Aurore has now bonded with another horse at the refuge, where she will be able to live out the rest of her days in peace. It is through donations, volunteer work and the dedication of Refuge RR President Rose Gergely that horses like Aurore are saved.

Second Chance Animal Rescue Society

Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) is a small, Edmonton/Athabasca-based group that takes in animals slated for euthanasia at municipal pounds and places them in the SCARS foster network. The organization actively works in communities to promote responsible companion animal guardianship, as well as partnering with other rescue organizations, municipalities and First Nations communities to assist in crisis situations throughout Alberta.

A prime example of their great work is an incident which took place in May 2008, when SCARS received a call from a nearby First Nations community. A small dog had been spotted with what appeared to be a neck wound. SCARS volunteers quickly went to collect the dog and found her with a gaping neck wound filled with maggots, so ill that she was no longer moving. They rushed her to the Edmonton Emergency Vet clinic. After hours of surgery and the removal of all surrounding tissue, fear remained that the infection had spread to the animal’s spinal cord and since her body had stopped producing red cells, there was serious concern that she might not be able to fight the infection. She received a plasma transfusion to help boost her system. While dealing with her injuries, veterinarians discovered that the dog had been shot five times - four pellets were lodged in her chest and one in her hind leg. She also had rotting teeth and mammary gland tumours. Through the kindness of SCARS donors and volunteers, the efforts and in-kind donations of several veterinarians and the tireless efforts of her adoptive family, the dog—now named Lilly—had her medical conditions remedied and she now lives happily in her loving new home.

Humane Society International/Canada congratulates Refuge RR and SCARS on being chosen as our first grant recipients! We are honoured to be able to facilitate more vital work like what they are doing, and encourage everyone to visit their websites to learn more about these remarkable groups.