1. Talk to your local animal control agency or humane society.
- Do they have a specific program which deals with equine welfare?
- Are staff knowledgeable in equine care, investigation, and the prosecution of equine cases?
- Is the facility equipped to house and care for an abused equine?
- How many equines are they able to handle at one time?
- Are they familiar with rehabilitation techniques?
- Do they have an equine veterinarian?
- Do they have protocol that places court confiscated equines in homes, assuring that the animals are not being purchased for slaughter?
- Do they have an equine education program?
If the agency or society does not have equine programs or is not familiar with equine abuse and you are knowledgeable in these areas, volunteer to help organize the programs. If you are not knowledgeable yourself, find an individual or group in your area that would be willing to help.
2. Do you know what your local equine laws are?
3. Do you know what your State laws are regarding equines?
4. Donate your time, skills, in-kind gifts such as used tack, sponsor a horse or burro in the process of being rehabilitated or in retirement to your local tax exempt nonprofit equine rescue organization. These organizations will be listed with the IRS as 501 (c) (3) organizations. You may ask for a copy of the organization's status. Although a 501 (c) (3) organization is not required to file a report unless their income average over a three year period is over $25,000.00, all will have information you will want to know about before donating. Go to: www.nonprofits.org/library/gov/irs/search_irs.shtml; it is the one place on the web to check the name of a charity and see if it really is registered with IRS as a 501(c)(3). The site also gives other information about each charity, such as assets and income.
