It’s been almost a year since that dramatic snowy day in late February. In the middle of the one of the coldest winters on record, In Defense of Animals Hope Animal Sanctuary was alerted to the plight of a herd of horses left to starve to death in the freezing temperatures in nearby Yalobusha County, Mississippi. Immediate support for the rescue of these poor horses was nearly overwhelming; generous donations for food and veterinary care came pouring in from supporters around the globe. From a herd that was estimated to be numbered at 27, only 19 survivors were left when rescuers from Hope Animal Sanctuary were able to seize the desperate and emaciated animals and remove them from their dire situation.

The road to recovery has been long; many of the horses had become near feral and distrustful of humans due to suffering for weeks on from hunger and neglect during those first frigid snowy months of 2014. Twelve members of the Yalobusha herd were placed in the foster care of a dedicated guardian who has patiently spent weeks and months guiding and training the horses to once again trust in people.

At first the horses in her care would run as far away as they could whenever a person approached, hiding fearfully, miles away in a back pasture. After countless slow and patient treks to their hiding spots, with lots of love and affection, these horses have once again learned that the world can be a place of caring and tenderness. The transformative power of kindness has brought these frightened, starving horses new lives of brightness and hope. Today all are healthy and happy. Four have found loving forever homes with a fifth adoption pending.

Your belief in our mission makes it possible for us to accomplish life saving rescues such as this throughout the entire year. Thank you.