MSPCA Seeks Donor Aid for Horse Care
Thursday, January 29, 2009

Horse Surrenders Continue to Climb as Economy Declines

UPDATE: The article below was first published in November 2008 when horse surrenders were steadily climbing as the economy worsened. Since this article was first published, the MSPCA’s Nevins Farm has received additional horses which continue to strain the funds available for their care. Please consider making a contribution to Ashton’s Fund for the care of these often forgotten farm animals.

Originally published on November 21, 2008:
The MSPCA is requesting community based financial assistance to help cover the cost of medical assistance and daily care for the extraordinary number of horses being surrendered to the non-profit’s Equine Center at Nevins Farm. This weekend the Nevins Farm facility will have 30 horses under its care, 43% more than in 2007. This is causing the MSPCA to seek temporary foster homes for some horses until acceptable, permanent homes are found for each horse.

“It is heart wrenching to witness the surrender of a horse that can no longer be cared for by its owner due to financial hardships,” said Nevins Farm Barn Manager Melissa Ghareeb. “It is our responsibility to care for and champion these animals as we seek out their new homes. Caring for 30 horses on our farm and through temporary foster homes at an average monthly cost of $320 per horse has brought our Ashton’s Fund barn animal funding dangerously low.”

The MSPCA continues to receive horses at an alarming average rate of nearly one per week with a total of five horses that will have arrived this week further stretching the MSPCA’s limited resources. Many of the surrendered horses require medical care ranging from simple vaccinations to costly surgeries, and without any funding from state or federal government the MSPCA is hoping that individuals will step forward to help.

Ashton’s Fund is designated for the medical care for horses and farm animals and is named in honor of a young foal that arrived at Nevins Farm in 2006, requiring expensive surgery. 

Even as individual owners are facing the increased cost of farriers, hay, grain and veterinary services, the Equine Center is also impacted by these very same factors. Housing is also a concern since horse adoptions are less frequent than adoptions for small animals. Some horses have been at Nevins Farm from one to four years.

Contributions to Ashton’s Fund may be donated online by clicking here or mailed to the MSPCA’s Equine Center, 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844, attention Ashton’s Fund.