A Realistic Rescue

I want to clarify what Heart of Phoenix is and what are we Not.

We are a realistic rescue.

We have hope, but we still know the world we operate within. We know what horses go through. We knows the odds.

Our goal is to save as many horses as possible. It should be the goal of “most” horse advocacy organizations. It is important to remember, saving means keeping an animal from pain. We want to adopt out as many “rehome-able” horses as possible.

We are not a sanctuary. Few places are; at least, few do it well.

We are not grounded in harmful idealism, and that is to our merit. We work in a real world, and we know the cold, hard and literal facts.

We are a VERY real equine rescue operating in a unbelievably high needs area in America.

We do not maintain horses that are in pain from medical conditions or living with psychological problems that are deep to make our “human minds” feel better at the cost of what is actually decent to the animal.

We do not put extremely neglected, sick, aged horses through long term rehab knowing how hard that journey is when the cost is too high to the end result that arrives at “no home” and “no peace.”

If we could, and you should all know this, we would step in and humanely put down any horse in danger of slaughter and abuse. Any horse to prevent that.

It is a mercy.

I want you all to know, eventually, all horses perish. Some, too many. . .unkindly. The Passing of a life is entirely okay. Living in pain, in fear, in hunger, in wait. . .that isn’t okay.

What we ask of you here, if you stick with following or supporting HOP, do please understand, passing is kind and okay. It is all the horrors that can come between that we must fear. We do not need to fear a humane passing.

I am glad everyone hasn’t seen all we’ve seen or had to turn away the thousands we have had to, to in turn fully understand what I’m talking about here. As always, I ask for respect and understanding that we have seen enough to know what horses face and believe we know when “letting them go” is entirely decent.

I’ve sat with so many as they passed. I’ve been there for so many. I’ve stood in the gap that so many couldn’t stand in, as have MANY in our team. When this kindness is questioned when some believe “all lives” can and should be kept “alive,” it hurts my heart so much.

I understand why you ask. I am not saying do not ask, and I am not saying to feel bad you’ve asked, but I am saying please ask willing to understand when you hear the truth.

I only wish MORE of our horses had this grace offered to them. Please understand until we’ve walked this close, it is hard to fathom how it really is here.

Sadly, it is the mentality that life at all costs is better than no life that keeps this mercy from so many of our horses.