Let's talk about rescue.

Leelanau Horse Rescue stepped in when other horse rescue groups refused, saying that this was not a case that needed a rescue, not neglect, not at all what they had been led to believe by JCAC.

A little background on LHR:

Gayle
4/7/2007 3:30 PM

Leelanau Horse Rescue was formed back in the fall of 2001/spring 2002, after the seizure of the Kasben Herd of over 50 horses in Leelanau county, that took place in Oct/Nov of 2001. Two groups of people took care of those horses, and one of those groups formed the Leelanau Horse Rescue. I helped with that rescue, from start to finish, but did not become a member of LHR. I have not been in contact with any of them in awhile, so I am not sure who or who isn't in that group any more.
Here is my personal experience with them:

When we did the Kasben rescue, Neither Leelanau County, nor the Leelanau County horse rescue were the slightest bit interested in getting the registration papers on those horses, which included Registered Arabians, Paints, and Quarter Horses. The value of the horses, with or without their papers, was not brought up, as the only thing that mattered was getting the horses healthy and handlable, plus making sure the pregnant mares had healthy foals. In the end, the horses sold at public auction, sealed bid, in two groups. One group went to Leelanau horse rescue, and the other group to the other caretakers. No big dollars were made by the county, as they still owed for over five months of care for the horses, and that is what they sold for: the money spent out of pocket by all the caretakers, which was used as credit in the bids. No profit was made by the private sale of any of the horses afterwards, because the total amount out of pocket exceeded what the horses could sell for, and frankly, we just wanted to get them into good, loving homes, not make money. At one time Leelanau Horse Rescue had a website, but I see its no longer around.

What I don't understand is why they are turning away volunteers, and turning down donations of feed. I don't understand why financial contributions are being asked to be sent to Leland, instead of to the county or animal control, or a local bank account earmarked as for the horses. I don't understand why any of them are concerned with values and registration papers right now, when the primary concern should have been removing the horses from the premises if the premises are really that unsafe, and getting any ill horses healthy again. I am scratching my head over a few of the things that I have read, and wondering about this whole mess.

More on this soon. I have heard that people were asked to deliver donated hay to another location, and that many people did not receive a receipt for their tax-deductible donations. More information about LHR is welcomed. Comments please.