register |  login
› ARVADA
Loading Ad
Visit Other Hubs:
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Tower
RECENT STORIES

Horses rescued from slaughter thrive

Contributed by: Vicki Christensen on 11/1/2007

Since 1994, The Horse Protection League (HPL) has rescued and nursed dozens of unwanted, neglected and abused horses back to health and has gotten them adopted to safe, loving homes. Each of those horses has its own endearing story of hardship and unique personality traits, which make them super lovable.

On April 7, 2007, the day before Easter, a drama unfolded at the HPL ranch that will live forever in the hearts of the volunteers. It was one of those kind of events where the HPL mission to contribute to the welfare of horses becomes so needed you can feel it in the air. The atmosphere was charged with the excitement of saving lives and making miracles happen.

That Saturday was bitter cold and snowy when three sick, injured and traumatized horses arrived at the ranch. The Illinois Senate had voted to shut down the last active horse slaughterhouse in the country. The Dekalb, Ill., operation was ordered to cease killing. Suddenly, more than 34 horses needed a place to go. However they weren't safe yet. There was high possibility that they could end up at slaughterhouses in Mexico or Canada.

After intense round-the-clock negotiations, The Humane Society of the United States persuaded the driver of a cattle truck, full of horses, to take them to Cheyenne, Wyo. In Cheyenne, they received immediate veterinarian care, food and water. In the meantime, The Humane Society was busy finding horse rescue organizations that could take the horses.

After much consideration and preparation, The HPL decided they could take three. On that wintery Saturday, the HPL barn manager and two board members drove to Cheyenne on treacherous roads, retrieved our three new friends and had them home to HPL by sundown.

Ever since that night, the common refrain you hear around the barn from volunteers is "this is what it's all about." One volunteer said, "These beautiful horses, Magic, Lily and Lucy, have touched our souls and have given as much to us, as we have given to them. Saving their lives gives our lives profound meaning. They've reminded us to always persevere, even in the face of hopelessness. They are living proof that miracles do happen."

To meet the Miracle Horses, and 18 other sweet horses, you can visit HPL on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon, and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Horse Protection League is located at historic Churches Ranch, 17999 W. 60th Ave. Call 303-216-0141or visit www.cohpl.org for more information.

Join HPL for our annual Silent Auction to raise funds Nov. 8 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at the D Note, 7519 Grandview Ave. in Old Town Arvada. Live music by O.T.C. VarmitZ. Cost is $10 per person, children under 12 are free. It's great fun and it's all to benefit the horses!





SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above story



Current Rating
Based on 2 user ratings.

Talk Back : submit comments to the story

*Note: you need to log-in to add a comment or rating.

Showing 1 of 1 comments
Submitted By: Sara Jankowiak
posted on 11/2/2007 @ 3:59:38 PM
Rated Story
This is a wonderful story - I hope you continue to post stories like this in the future, and I hope to volunteer for HPL sometime in the future. Sara Jankowiak sjankowiak@jacolorado.org
[Report as objectionable]
Showing 1 of 1 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Vicki Christensen

Lakewood , CO

Vicki Christensen has posted 10 stories and 0 comments since joining on 7/18/2007. Vicki Christensen 's average story rating is 5.
SAVE AND SHARE THIS STORY
STORY RSS FEEDS
WANT TO WRITE FOR YOURHUB.COM?
Want to see the stories you write and the photos you shoot featured in the YourHub.com Thursday print section available all over the Front Range and with home subscriptions of the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post? All you have to do is register, then post a story or column, start a blog or tell everyone what events are happening in town. We will print the best stories, columns, event listings, photos and blog entries in our print sections.

ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Ad

Loading Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Loading Ad

This YourHub.com community is produced by The Denver Newspaper Agency
Web Development and Channel Analytics provided by Indigio

terms of use //  privacy policy
the staff //  advertise //  help & faq
buy photos