Disclosure: Greatful Moments received information from Paws of War about the rescue of two horses from a Pennsylvania auction. This article shares their story to help raise awareness about the rescue effort and the work of Humane Warriors.
Sometimes when I’m online looking things up or reading a magazine or newspaper sometimes a story stops me in my tracks. This happened when I read about Wren and Baxter, two horses recently rescued from a Pennsylvania horse auction, I couldn’t help but think about how different their lives could have been.
Instead of being given another chance, they could have disappeared into the slaughter pipeline. Instead, they are now on their way to a rescue ranch where, once they are healthy, they may one day help veterans. That is quite a second chance. I can’t wait to learn more about there story and see the veteran who gets the horses.
Meet Wren and Baxter– A team of veterans and volunteers with Humane Warriors, a Paws of War initiative, traveled to a Pennsylvania horse auction where horses are purchased by dealers known as kill buyers. They were able to rescue two horses. Isn’t that amazing?
They named them Wren and Baxter and brought them back to Humane Warriors Rescue Ranch in Preston, Connecticut. Both horses arrived in extremely poor condition and need extensive care. Wren is nine years old and reportedly has broken teeth believed to have resulted from restraints used during breeding. She also suffered a severe injury to her tail that extended into the muscle.
Baxter arrived emaciated, with deep scars and gouges and severely neglected hooves. Together, the horses need to gain approximately 1,000 pounds before they reach a healthy weight. But perhaps the most important thing is that they are finally somewhere safe. They have veterinarians, caretakers, food, and people who are committed to giving them the time they need to heal.
One of the terms you may hear when reading about horse rescue is kill buyer. The term generally refers to a dealer who purchases horses at auctions or other sales with the intention of entering them into the slaughter supply chain. Horses can be transported long distances before ultimately being sent to slaughter facilities outside the United States. That means a horse entering an auction can face a very uncertain future. For Wren and Baxter, a rescue organization intervened before that happened.
The goal isn’t simply to save these horses and give them a place to live. Once Wren and Baxter have recovered, Humane Warriors hopes they can become therapy horses at the ranch. That creates an incredible circle of healing. The horses get another chance at life, while veterans can benefit from the connection that develops between people and animals.
Humane Warriors has already seen this happen with two other rescued horses, Tobias and Darla. They were also headed toward slaughter after their owner no longer wanted them. After arriving at the ranch in poor condition, they were given care and a safe place to live.
Today, they are part of the ranch community and have helped veterans who came looking for a way forward. One of those veterans was U.S. Marine Corps veteran Chris Aubin. You never really know what will happen when you save a life. You may save one horse. You may help one veteran. And then that horse may help another person.
What caught my attention about this story is that it isn’t only about horses. It is about second chances. It is about what can happen when someone sees value in a life that someone else has discarded. And it is about giving veterans another avenue for healing and connection.
For families, this could also become an opportunity to talk with children about animal welfare, responsible pet and animal ownership, compassion, and what it means to care for an animal that depends upon people. If your family has children who love horses, this could be a starting point for a research project.
Learn about horse rescue. Research how horses have worked alongside people throughout history. Study what horses need to remain healthy. Learn about therapy animals and equine-assisted programs. And perhaps most importantly, talk about what it means to give an animal a second chance.
Paws of War is asking people to learn more about the horse slaughter trade and the challenges faced by horses entering auctions. The organization also encourages people who want to help to support rescue efforts and learn more about the laws surrounding the transportation of horses for slaughter.
There are many ways families can teach children to make a difference without doing something complicated. You can support an animal rescue. You can volunteer when you are old enough. You can learn about responsible animal ownership. You can visit a rescue or sanctuary. You can share the story of an animal that needs a home. Sometimes awareness is the first step toward compassion. And compassion can lead to action.
Wren and Baxter still have a long road ahead of them. They need veterinary care, food, rehabilitation, and plenty of time to regain their strength. But their story has already changed. They aren’t at the auction anymore. They aren’t facing the future they were headed toward. They are at a place where someone is willing to invest the time and resources necessary to help them heal.
And someday, if they are healthy enough, they may be able to help veterans in return. I think there is something beautiful about that. A horse that needed someone to step in and help could eventually become the animal that helps someone else. That is what a second chance can look like.
Paws of War works with military members, veterans, and animals through a variety of programs, including pet rescue and relocation, service and support animals, veterinary assistance, and its Humane Warriors initiative. You can learn more about the Humane Warriors Rescue Ranch and ways to support the rescue mission.
To learn more about the broader work of Paws of War, including programs supporting military members, veterans, and animals, visit their website.
Wren and Baxter’s story is a reminder that sometimes a second chance begins with one person deciding that a life is worth saving.
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
