Due to internet problems, please continue to enjoy Phoenix's amazing story. May 5th is a special day. It is Phoenix's 1 Year Anniversary with us. Please enjoy the blog from the day that Phoenix was rescued.
It all started yesterday afternoon, a woman named Diane was driving down a road in central California, when a horse caught her eye. It was standing in a field, all alone. He was very skinny and didn't look healthy in the least. She turned the car around for a closer look. She almost didn't, but something inside her head told her she needed to investigate.









The owner of the horse was contacted by Animal Control. He didn't speak any English, so the neighbour had to interpret the phone call. He stated that he would be willing to surrender the horse over to us. Immediately we went into action. The officer gave us the owner's phone #. Thankfully we have a bilingual speaking volunteer, so arrangements were made for the owner to meet Diane at 5:00 to sign the horse over.
By late morning Tawnee was in contact with a local veterinarian office to get a vet out as soon as possible to evaluate the horse and determine what would be best. The vet office soon called back, they were really great and they offered to reduce the bill by 25% since it was a rescue situation, and they could have a vet out by 1:30. The horse wasn't surrendered to us at this point, but the horse had to get help right away, even if the owner changed his mind.
The vet arrived, and started her evaluation. She was horrified by what she found.







We have been in contact with a film production company that is making a documentary titled "Facing the Future of America's Horses." They were planning on visiting the rescue on Thursday and Friday to film part of the documentary, but they were only a little over 100 miles from the emaciated horse, so Tawnee called them to cover it. Like a flash they stopped filming where they were, jumped into their car and headed to the site.
At 5:00 the owner was there to meet Diane and surrender the horse. But he had changed his mind and showed up with 5 bales of hay and 2 sacks of grain. He told Diane that he had changed his mind and going to keep the horse. Diane, being translated by the neighbour, talked him out of it, reminded him that Animal Control was involved, told him there was a film crew that was going to be documenting it, etc. He decided to sign him over and head out as quick as he could. Shortly after the previous owner left, the vet arrived with the trailer to take him to the vet hospital.
There was a short wait for the film crew to arrive, but they were able to make the horse, by now named Pheonix, feel loved and cared for.
Poor Pheonix, he is just so skinny and in such terrible condition.
Soon the film crew arrived and began documenting the rescue.
They were saddened by the terrible condition that Phoenix was in, and they were brought to the reality of horse abuse by filming one of the worst cases we have ever seen of abuse by starvation.
Soon Phoenix was being led to the waiting trailer.
He was carefully loaded into the trailer. It's always a huge worry with an emaciated horse that they will fall over and be unable to get up.
He had enough inner strength to make it the short ride to the vet, where he is resting comfortably now, and enjoying the luxuries of shavings once again. The film crew followed him to the vet office and documented him getting settled in. The vet also gave us a report and states that he was very happy to see some green grass when he got out of the trailer, and was more than delighted to see a fresh clean stall. His blood tests show that he is anemic, among other things, but he must know that life is looking up!
Diane is the true hero in this rescue. She didn't have to stop her car and turn around. She could have kept on driving and Phoenix would die soon. She could have taken a couple pictures and not looked for help. Click here to visit her blog.
Please take a minute to stop over at Diane's blog and thank her for saving this horses life. Yes it takes a rescue team, donations, a good vet, and a lot of people to save this horses life, but if it wasn't for Diane, no one would know about this horses plight. Please click here to visit her blog and leave her a thank - you comment.










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Update after the rescue.
Update after the rescue.
Phoenix was at a vet hospital from when he was rescued in early May 2009 until late October 2009. He was first at Taylor Vet, and once he was strong enough to travel, Look Ahead Vet. He had a rough start to his recovery, he had severe diarrhea and other complications due to his starvation. He had to have a lot of medical attention including a plasma transfustion. Now, Phoenix is recovered and doing extremely well.
Phoenix has been given a lifetime sponsorship by a very generous donor so he will be living his life out at the rescue. He has a friend named Napoleon and they share a home together.
He looks like a completely different horse now.
We are so glad that Phoenix was given a 2nd chance at life. We know he is glad too!




To watch a video about Phoenix's journey to life, click the play button below or click here to watch it on Youtube.
Please make a donation in honor of Phoenix for his 1st Anniversary to help save horses like him.
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