As a little girl growing up in New York City I did not have much interaction with horses. I recall seeing the carriage horses waiting for tourists outside of Central Park and felt a sadness as I knew if they had a choice they’d likely choose to be running in pastures with their kin.
Through my work in rescue, I’ve become increasingly aware of the plight of these sensitive, majestic creatures. Too often the needs of humans trump even the basic needs of these gentle giants. And it takes gentle humans with giant dedication to remedy this. Tawnee and Jason Preisner, founders of NorCal Equine Rescue, are just such dedicated souls. They live and breathe their commitment to all animals and are true angels to horses in need.
1 At age 9 Tawnee met, secretly fell in love with, and hoped to marry then-13-year-old Jason. They now have 4 kids, and together they co-founded NorCal Equine Rescue!
2 If Tawnee is not at an auction trying to save horses or other animals being sold for slaughter, she is answering their call in another way.
3 In May of 2009, Tawnee received a call about an emaciated horse a woman had discovered living on a property in central California.
4 Phoenix's transformation is one among many similar stories that NorCal Resue is responsible for.
5 When they got the call, NorCal Equine Rescue did not miss a beat, contacting a local vet to assess the horse. Phoenix (a name he earned for obvious reasons) was as malnourished and weak as a horse can be without dying.
6 The local animal control organization refused to seize the horse as they said he was simply old and had foliage to eat. They were wrong on both counts.
7 The field he was living in was comprised of poisonous weeds (star thistle) and Phoenix was in fact only 14 years old.
8 Phoenix's frail body was not getting enough nutrition to even sustain the hair on his back, and he had multiple old racing injuries, The tattoo on his hind quarters indicates he was bred by a racehorse breeder.
9 Thankfully, Phonix's owner was willing to sign him over to the care of NorCal. While he was headed for a very long recovery, he was also facing a bright and happy future thanks to Tawnee and her crew!
10 Thankfully Phoenix still showed interest in food and was as kind and sweet as could be.
11 After a 6 month hospitalization, Phoenix was fully recovered and practically unrecognizable compared to how he was found. Yes, this is the same horse!
12 Thanks to generous donations from supporters like those at http://www.rosiesremedies.com/, Phoenix is now the happy, healthy and very loved horse he was born to be.
13 While many of the horses at NorCal Rescue are up for adoption, one generous donor decided it was best for Phoenix to stay put and live out his life with his new best friend -- so he is putting up the $2,000 needed per year for Phoenix's care.
14 The lovely and angelic Button, on the other hand, is looking for a forever home! See link to Button and other adoptable horses at bottom of post.
15 Sadly, Button was left behind when her movie-star owner died. With no will in place to assure their care, she and 33 others were rescued by NorCal Equine Rescue. Believe it or not, Tawnee and her crew have placed all but 9 of them into forever homes!
While the contribution made by Tawnee, Jason and everyone at NorCal Rescue to the greater good for horses is far-reaching in and of itself, this duo’s commitment to making a difference permeates everything they do. Having seen how hard it was to adopt out pairs of horses who loved each other and needed to stay together, Tawnee and Jason decided to adopt a sibling group of humans so they could be together!
They also live a compassionate lifestyle that includes not eating animals and always rescuing others in need if the situation presents itself. Just this week they bought an emaciated goat being sold for $5 at auction. Sadly, the little guy was so weak that he did not make it through the night. At least he passed away amid kindness, with Tawnee stroking his head.
According to Tawnee, horses are the first to go if a family is hit by the economic downturn. The cost of their care is sacrificed, it is hard to find others who can re-home them, and land foreclosures result in thousands of horses being left behind or sold to slaughter at auctions.
This does not include the thousands regularly cast aside by the horse racing industry, or the wild ones unnecessarily rounded up and sold to slaughter to make room for cattle feed lots.
Currently NorCal Equine Rescue will accept any horse being relinquished to them for a $150 fee to cover initial veterinary assessment and costs. Additionally, anyone can sponsor a horse for that amount, enabling them to take in ones whose fees are not available for various reasons. And as we all know, any amount is of use in our shared effort to help those who cannot help themselves. If you'd like to donate to NorCal Equine Rescue, you can do so here.
So the magnitude of what Tawnee and Jason are up against is clear. And yet they are really making a difference, not only for the horses they help directly, but also for many others as they expand the scope of assistance through education and other worthwhile initiatives.
Tawnee, Jason and NorCal Equine Rescue have struck a nice balance between helping those who cross their path without losing sight of their big-picture goals for humane and compassionate change. In many ways their mission is quite simple: "If you are somewhere you can prevent cruelty, than you should if you can," in Tawnee's words.
I have no doubt that the amazing woman, who has already succeeded in meeting goals she set at age 8, will continue to have success in all she endeavors. And there are thousands of animals who are -- and will be -- better for her efforts and those of the entire NorCal Equine Rescue family. I feel honored to have been given a window into their world.
In Kinship,
Dr.Pia Salk
Please take a moment to look at Button and the many other beautiful horses currently needing homes at NorCal Equine Rescue.
From: Zoe | 1/14/10 at 7:27 am
Dr. Pia
My mom and I couldn't look at the pictures, once we got past the first two they started to make us sick to our stomachs and very sad, those poor horses. How can people be so cruel?
My Mom told me a story that one year when she was in Aruba laying on the beach a dog came walking down the beach. It's not uncommon to see a dog once in a while on the beach. Well this dog was very friendly and of course my mom gave it a few pretzels she had in her bag and the dog sat with her a few minutes then moved on. Well it went over to another Beach Hut and this woman got up and kicked the dog, needless to say my mom went crazy. She ran over to this woman and told her if she ever saw her kick another animal she'd kick her. Then upon leaving my mom kick sand all over her - wish I was there to see that.
I think that if people are convicted of animal cruelty they should receive the same treatment that they did to the animals. The old "eye for eye - tooth for tooth" theory. Then maybe people would think twice about hurting an innocent animal.
Well I survived my visit to the Vet yesterday. Two needles, blood test and having my temperature taken which I'm not very fond of even a little bit. I gained almost 2 pounds (mom wasn't happy about that)and I'm in very good health. Of course my breakfast portion was a bit smaller this morning, she wants me at 20 pounds. I think I'll remind her about her dinner portions since I heard her telling dad she wanted to lose weight, her plate looked the same to me last night
Have a nice day...
Zoe
From: Pia | 1/14/10 at 7:56 am
Hi Zoe! Glad you survived the vet! Please go back and look at the horse photos as you'll be pleasantly surprised! Phoenix's 'after' pictures are amazing and he is having a very happy life now thanks to the NorCal Equine Rescue troop.
-Pia
From: delia | 1/14/10 at 10:21 am
ok, ok I did what Zoe did, I could not go on, but deep inside felt you would not post those pictures if it where not a good out come...ahhh my tears are all over the desk and keyboard crying like a baby...it hurts so, so bad to see this, as you know my heart lies with horses (please forgive me for being repetitive)
In 2007-2008 I dedicated a whole year of my life, designing a Mosaic Mural, painting, building, shipping and dealing with 200 artists...all this for a woman in Texas that I never met, it turned out after I finishing and prepared for the unveiling, this woman was sick(in the head) and it unraveled. I shipped her the whole thing to wash my hands...but worse of all, a year later I was informed that she was arrested for neglecting her own 59 horses, several died and they where confiscated by a rescue organization in Texas(she was nothing but a scam)I believe she has been convicted....what irony, my own horse died of a freak thing that happen during this time because of the rushing & pressure to mail back the mural art. Odd, I was trying to help other horses through this woman/mural and ironically ended up donating to help her horses through the rescue organization.
The reason for my comment, is that I have been working on not hardening my heart and being suspicious of people...it's wonderful seeing NorCal is well respected, and that is a good thing...Thank You Tawnee and Jason for saving Phoenix and all the work you do!
Now I paint for myself to make the money for donating to help animals in particular the horse.
I have noticed that many readers from here have gone to my Mural site from the link I left about Martyns passing.
I wish I could stop this cruelty in this world, I feel so helpless...if people just even send one dollar giving up a hamburger or a candy bar, it would be better then nothing...put away that dollar every time you want to buy junk food and see how fast that adds up...
The world is in bad shape, we need help for so many things, Haiti, Africa and it just goes on, not only humans but the innocent animals.
Laws need to be changed in this country to help stop over population by indiscriminate breeding of pets and other animals
From: Kirby Bear | 1/14/10 at 10:55 am
Hello ladies, Kirby here.
And hello to you Dr.Pia Salk. Thanks for sharing the story about the horses; I love to watch horses, they are so big. Yes, people can be cruel to animals. One time when I was walking with mommy and daddy, a woman hit a small dog with a newspaper. Boy was I excited and wanted to go and help the poor little dog. Daddy told me that the dog was misbehaving and the woman was using the newspaper just to scare the dog and didn’t hit it hard at all. My daddy and mommy don’t hit me with anything, just the sound of their voice expressing displeasure with me is enough to make me unhappy.
Catch you later, Kirby.
From: Edgar & Mandy's mommie, Cindy Bricker (Edgar went to Heaven on 07/30/09) | 1/14/10 at 10:33 pm
God...
bless...
these wonderful two - Tawnee and Jason!
Phoenix's before-n-after photos are remarkable, and it does my heart such good to be assured of a positive outcome for Phoenix. Can you imagine?!! I know for many animals the 'after' never comes. I recognize, too, that my remarks are repetitive week after week about adoption/adoptive parents, but I'm so thankful for selfless and big-hearted folks like Tawnee and Jason and the numerous others that have been featured here on TheDailyWag. May the Lord richly bless them for their goodness and provide for their needs to perpetuate their finefine rescue efforts and organization.
I know that it's not an equitable comparison - a horse and a cat, but I've got to go find my beautiful little Mandy and give her a hug (the umpteenth one of the day) and tell her mommie loves her (again - for the zillionth time today!) after seeing these photos this evening.
=^..^=
From: DDR & animallover jan | 1/14/10 at 10:47 pm
Hi Dr. Pia, Like Zoe said it was hard to look at some of these photos, but after I did, I was so happy to see Phoenix doing so well and being able to live the rest of his like where he is now!! This was a super blog and it's so great to see that there are more people who care as much as you do about ALL animals and do something about it!!! Thanks again for sharing. Jan (Dudley Do Right's Mom)
From: Sid Korpi, author of "Good Grief: Finding Peace After Pet Loss" | 1/15/10 at 2:01 am
As an animal chaplain, I found Tawnee's actions toward the weak, emaciated goat who passed away with her stroking its head profoundly moving. It is an illustration of just how our animal companions both teach us how to be—and give us opportunities to practice being—the best human beings possible. She had not known this goat long enough to have bonded in the way many of us do with our domestic pets over many years' time, yet her heart would not let this poor creature pass away without at least this once receiving unconditional love and compassion from a human being.
In a perfect world, such kindness toward all living beings, animals and humans alike, would be the norm. Alas, given the number of animals of all species being abused, neglected and abandoned by their human caregivers proves that kindness is more often the aberration. What a sad commentary on the human race.
Thank you for bringing to light the plight of these horses and other animals. I personally live in the inner city, so my rescues are substantially smaller: three dogs, two cats and two birds. Any more than this and I think I'll need a zoo license. But even though my home is at capacity for my own furry (or feathered) family members, it gives me great pleasure to know I've occasionally had a hand in facilitating the adoptions of other animals in need. Networking with various no-kill animal shelters in my area and helping to spread the word for their rescue animals is most fulfilling.
It can be quite overwhelming, however, when you think of how very many animals are in need. Each of us can only do so much. But I am reminded of the story of the starfish:
A man was walking along the beach and he saw a woman in the distance, repeatedly bending down and throwing something out to sea. As he got closer, he discovered she was picking up starfish that were in jeopardy of dying because the tide had gone out, leaving them trapped on the shore. Seeing starfish scattered everywhere over the sand, he shook his head sadly and said to the woman, "What do you really hope to accomplish here? There are thousands of starfish you'll never save. What possible difference can it make?"
The woman continued her task, saying as she delivered another tiny starfish into the ocean and safety, "It made a difference to that one."
That's precisely how we animal lovers have to approach rescue efforts. If we even help just one cat or dog or horse or turtle or...it matters. Giving love and kindness and food and shelter to our animal companions always matters! Our very souls are rewarded for the smallest effort.
It is this intense human-animal bond that led to my writing my own stories and collecting those of people the world over for my book. I included a story of a loving goodbye called "The Mares" submitted by Liz Tufte that would no doubt touch the hearts of any horse lover. Through it, we learn of the animal's viewpoint as it faces transitioning from this life to the next and how a human tuning into the horse's feelings could facilitate that passage as peacefully and painlessly as possible, and at exactly the right time for that noble creature.
But the time is not right when the animal would not be ill or hurt or starved were it not for its neglect or mistreatment by humans. For all they give us, animals deserve a loving human presence to comfort them in life and in death. Thank you again, Tawnee, for being that human presence for that poor goat and all the other creatures you help to rescue.
From: Carrie Schrader | 1/21/10 at 3:00 pm
I think this is a wonderful site!!! first time I have read through it and am impressed with the caring of people who take in rescue animals. Kudos to you all1