[spyro1]

Does anyone know what the guidelines are for running a non for profit equine rescue?? Let me start from teh beginning here. Over the weekend I went up to a friend of mine's about 40 minutes from here to see her new horse that she got from a "rescue". She is a beginner in the hroses but willing to learn anything and everything that she can get her hands on about them.
So she takes me over to this "rescue" to show me what kind of operation this girl is running and if she is doing what needs to be done. Let me tell you, I have never left a rescue ranch in tears like this before. She had about 10-12 horses there, on 10 acres, all sand. No hay in sight, I would go so far as to say that all of the horses there except her own 2 were prob a BS of about 2. Ribs definatley prominent, hip bones and back bones sticking up, listless coats and eyes. All 3 of the ones that I went in paddock with had severe rain rot. She blamed it on the hurricanes, yet is doing nothing to clear it up she said. Feet were HORRIBLE. Most of them looked like if you wormed them, they would die, they were so full of worms.
Now, here is what I need help on. This gal claims to be a non for profit rescue. The "adoption fees" on the horses are OUTRAGOUS, considering the condition that they are in. None of the horses have been there for less than 4 months either, I asked her. I know that these horses should not look the way that they do. Talking to some people familiar with her and her "work", I found out that she is in it for the money, not the horses. She has adopted horses out with no coggins or current vacc, needing teeth adn feet done for outragous fees. (This is what my friend went through when seh adopted this mare from her). SHe does not follow up on any horses, paperwork, etc.
What kind of guidelines must she follow?? I am gathering as much knowledge on this as I can so I can contact the proper people to investigate her. She really needs it.
She tried to sell me a TB mare with a BS of about 2, crack in hoof all teh way up to her coronet band, severe rain rot, for 1200......

[Kar]

Good Morning
Id call animal control and the hooved animal society up in wisconsin and ask them. Id report her ASAP. All rescue operations take a monetary loss, if they really thiink about it. But it sounds like this gal is charging way to much. If she was really a non profit, she would have gov. grants and whatnot. And her horses would be under vet care to better thier condition.
It must have been very frustrating and upsetting for you to go up there. Hugs to ya Let us know what happens.

[Lucky Duck]

You can check the non-profit status of the place at www.guidestar.org or even at the IRS website (www.irs.gov). If she is non-profit, than she has to answer to a board of directors... they may be interested to know what is going on. Definitely contact the local SPCA either way...

luvs2ride79 and Gretajack know a lot about horse rescues... they may be able to provide you some advice.

[Cntrysass20]

I dont think we have those guidelines (we=us here in Fla). Where is this? PM me. I might go take a drive. Fla law = she CANNOT SELL (or remove the horse from her property) WITHOUT CURRENT NEGATIVE COGGINS!! That I do know. The ONE exception to this rule, is if you are trailering the horse TO THE VET to PULL THE COGGINS. But, I dont think we have much guidelines for non-profit here. At least not from what I have seen. Most of the rescues that I know of here, do it out of kindness. Its not cheap, but God bless them, they do it anyways. I know a lady that runs a retirement farm. She feeds and brushes and supplements as needed and the horse has a place to live till death. My vet even recomends her. Anyways, if someone is willing to tell Animal Control that they bought a horse from her without Neg coggins, I believe it is a felony charge here in Fla. I am not one that willingly calls AC on others, unless its needed. Sounds like its very needed. BS of 2 and AC will jump in. If she has had them for at least 4 months, they should not be at a 2 or less. Jessie

[Lucky Duck]

If the place is non-profit it falls under federal guidelines, not state... but that is only for financial/tax regulations, not "moral" guidelines regarding care.

As far as the State is concerned, you can look at the Anti-Cruelty Statutes for Florida here: http://www.animal-law.org/statutes/florida.htm

[Abbie22057]

That's sad. Someone making money from "rescuing" horses? Come on, why doesn't she just get into drugs or something. Than at least she'd be hurting those who deserve it! Probably make a lot more money at it too. Ugh, that makes me angry. And she's pretty much taken away any chance of their lives getting better if she's charging that much for them and won't take care of them herself.

Call the ASPCA. I don't think it would matter if she's a shelter, those horses are abused and neglected and someone needs to do something. I am glad you are following up on this. Too many people would just think it's sad, close their eyes, and walk away.

[Gretajack]

If this rescue is a legitamate 501(c) not for profit agency there must be, according to federal law, a board of directors. I believe the board must consist of at least 3 members, but I am not for sure. If she is legitamately licensed as a 501(c) organization she can't be in it for the money. Any money that would be brought into the organization must stay in the organization. If there were any paid positions with in the organization, it must be approved by the board of directors and that person can not be a board member at any time while receiving monetary compensation, due to conflict of interests. If she is a 501(c) agency she should be more than willing to produce the paperwork. All, if she is registered at 501(c) there would have to be a organizational name which all the donations/adoption fee should be made out to. Not the indiviual. There has to be bylaws submitted, a mission statement given, etc.

If I had to guess, this woman is claiming to be not for profit but that is not legally the case. She probably started out with a couple of rescued horses and then called herself a rescue. I hope for your friend's sake, that she has a heathy wonderful horse that she rescued from a rescue. And that this woman doesn't cause her any problems in the future.

Unfortunately, other than monetary audits, there is not guidelines that can be enforced through a 501 (c) status. 501(c) applies to many different organizations other than those that involve animals. I would definitely call that ASPCA. This woman should care about the conditions of these animals. She should be ashamed to call herself a rescue when these horses need rescuing from her.

[spyro1]

Ok, sass, yes, I do have a couple of different people who got horses from her with no coggins, and yes, they will make a statement regarding that. I am doing my homework regarding this situation because I really need to get this woman punished/shut down.
I went to the Guide Star site LD, thanks, she is not registered there, but I think that only those who want to register can do it. I dont think that was a list of all orgs. out there that are 501 (c).
According to FL statute 828.12, I think there is something there. She has no shelter, and she is dfinately depriving these horses of necessary sustinance (by my standards anyway).
My call to the Colombia county animal services is being made after I cover all my bases here. I dont want to call and sound like I dont know what I am doing!!
Oh, countrysass, the name of this gal's org is Not Enough Acres, in Ft White. I dont have a prob putting here, everything I have stated above is true to fact and cant in any way be misconstrued as slander!! I am telling you, if you have the gas, you should take a visit up here and we will go over there!!

[monica-n-shiloh]

Originally Posted by spyro1

Ok, sass, yes, I do have a couple of different people who got horses from her with no coggins, and yes, they will make a statement regarding that. I am doing my homework regarding this situation because I really need to get this woman punished/shut down.
I went to the Guide Star site LD, thanks, she is not registered there, but I think that only those who want to register can do it. I dont think that was a list of all orgs. out there that are 501 (c).
According to FL statute 828.12, I think there is something there. She has no shelter, and she is dfinately depriving these horses of necessary sustinance (by my standards anyway).
My call to the Colombia county animal services is being made after I cover all my bases here. I dont want to call and sound like I dont know what I am doing!!
Oh, countrysass, the name of this gal's org is Not Enough Acres, in Ft White. I dont have a prob putting here, everything I have stated above is true to fact and cant in any way be misconstrued as slander!! I am telling you, if you have the gas, you should take a visit up here and we will go over there!!

Not Enough Acres huh??? Does the name not enough come into play with not enough food or care???? Sorry...things like this just tick me off. Definitely report her Beth. Thats garbage....poor animals. And $1200 for that?!?!?! Jeeze!!! Maybe I should ask $10,000 for Ghost then!!!

[Cntrysass20]

See? I told you I suck at explaining things with written words. LOL. What I was trying to say is that we dont have guidelines for what you do with your 501 except with the money. LOL. I didnt know if other states did monitor the 501's like that. Guess they dont. Thanks for fixing that for me. They other thing that I was trying to say is that in Fla, you can "claim" non-profit, without actually being with the 501 deal. I dont know how that works, but here, you are advised to actualyl check and make sure that a claim is actually registered. Mainly for donations cause a donation is not tax detuctable unless the group is registered with 501 and if its not, you have no idea if the money is actually being used for.

Yeah, I can take a ride to Ft. White. Heck, I might as well come to your place and meet you and then we can go "visit". Jessie