Coalition Program Establishes First of Its Kind Joint Project To Save Arizona Horses

Petsmart Charities Grant Makes Possible Program to Save Arizona Horses

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PHOENIX, September 11, 2003 -- The Southwest Office of In Defense of Animals announced today that it is the recipient of a more than $16 thousand dollar grant from Petsmart Charities to construct facilities for 35 horses in need in Maricopa and Navajo Counties and to fund educational material on equine issues in Arizona. The grant makes it possible to establish a coalition rescue program that will save at least 35 horses in its first year and in subsequent years and that is expected to expand to save more horses in the future. The Petsmart grant seeds a first-of-its-kind program in Arizona to establish a coalition of several animal welfare organizations specifically to save Arizona horses from death because of abuse, abandonment, neglect and homelessness and to involve the public, through education, in assisting Arizona horses.

The coalition includes In Defense of Animals, the Arizona Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and equine rescues in Maricopa County and Heinz Site Equine Sanctuary of the Silver Creek Regional Humane Society serving both Navajo and Apache Counties.

The Arizona Conquistador Equine Rescue Program is named for Conquistador, a magnificent nine-year-old registered Peruvian Paso gelding, rescued from severe abuse and neglect in 2001 by In Defense of Animals with the assistance of many of the coalition members.

The Conquistador program will be sustained and expanded after the first year from adoption fees for rehabilitated horses taken in during year one, revenue from the annual IDA Arizona gala each Spring to benefit rescued horses, dogs, and other Arizona animals, IDA’s ongoing web auction for Arizona animals, and from other sources including grants and community donations. The Petsmart Grant also provides funding for the creation of PSA’s and educational material to bring to the Arizona public critical information on equine neglect, abuse, abandonment, auctions, killer buyers, equine slaughter, and the current bill in Congress to prohibit equine slaughter in the United States.

The IDA southwest office of In Defense of Animals is located in Tempe, Arizona. Dr. Pat Haight, Director of the Southwest Region and of the Conquistador Program said,” We are so grateful to Petsmart Charities for recognizing the seriousness of the problem for equines in Arizona and for helping us move toward solving the problem.”

For information on the Conquistador Program call 480-394-0578. The program will begin when construction of stalls is completed. Donations for veterinary care and of feed, tack and other supplies are needed and gratefully accepted.

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Contacts: Pat Haight, PhD, (480) 394-05
Elliot Katz, DVM, (415) 388-9641
Email: pat@idausa.org

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In Defense of Animals, located in Mill Valley, CA, is a national, animal protection organization dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by protecting their rights and welfare.