| VEA NEWS September 2005 Vol 1 issue 1 Volunteer Equine Advocates, Inc. P O Box 112 Gallatin, TN 37066 615-832-3005 Volequine@aol.com www.vea-tnhorserescue.org |
| INVESTIGATION TRAINING Two VEA Board members completed training provided by the University of Tennessee Agriculture Extension service in Knoxville in April 2005. The class was the first of it’s kind provided in Tennessee. Although Tennessee does not certify livestock animal cruelty investigators at this time, the training will go along way to give VEA the credibility needed to be accepted as witnesses in court proceeding when required. November 3, 4, and 5th the Equine Cruelty Investigator’s Short Course will be offered in Middle Tennessee at Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, TN. The course fee is $135 with early registration ($160 if registering after Oct 20), which includes snacks and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. The course is limited to the first 28 enrollees. Anyone interested in participating in the class can call or email VEA for an application. The Course is sponsored by the University of Tennessee Agriculture Extension Service, The Tennessee Horse Council, Horse Haven of Tennessee and co-sponsored by Volunteer Equine Advocates. |
| VEA INVESTIGATIONS All VEA investigations are conducted in compliance with TCA 39-14-200, the Animal Cruelty Law for Tennessee. For all complaints involving livestock, a county’s agriculture extension agent must make an inspection and recommendation before any action is taken against an offender. A veterinarian may be called for the inspection only if the ag agent is unable to respond within 24 hours of the complaint. Unless a case involves an animal in imminent danger, VEA will work with the extension office to allow more time, as most veterinarians are hesitant to get involved in an investigation. During 2004 two cases were prosecuted in Sumner County. One of these involved a horse that was reported down, and was found dead in the pasture. The care giver admitted he knew there was a problem but had not notified the owner or called a veterinarian. This case resulted in a guilty verdict. The second case involved 5 equine kept in a barn without sufficient water or sufficient space. A plea bargain agreement for this case required the owner to forfeit his right to own the animals. He was required to sell two mules through a third party, relinquish 3 horses and pay $1000 in restitution to VEA for providing the care pending the court’s disposition of the case. All three animals have been adopted. 2005 investigations to date have seen one horse seized by Sumner County authorities due to it’s malnourished condition. The owner pled guilty to animal cruelty and was placed on probation for 11 months and 29 days. He is also required to pay restitution before the end of his probation and cannot ever own another horse. The seized horse was placed in the custody of VEA and is currently in foster care pending her adoption. During these two years, over 50 other cases have been investigated involving more than 200 horses. Most cases are resolved by educating either the complainant or the owner / caregiver. Often, the animals are in poor management situations … but do not involve cruelty or neglect. |
| Booth at the Tennessee Horse Council Horse Fair |
SURGERY FOR ALEX - 4 year old TWH Alex came to VEA on July 10th, with his buddy, Charlie
Brown. They were “ransomed” from a horse trader who claimed to have purchased them in
Kentucky a few weeks earlier. Charlie Brown was extremely malnourished and it was feared his
recovery would be hampered if he was taken away from his buddy so we picked them up
together. Both horses were diagnosed with strangles during their initial Vet exam. Charlie Brown
quickly began to recover and moved to his new home as soon as he was determined to be well
enough. Alex has since been diagnosed with a severe infection in the bone surrounding his
eye. It is thought that this infection may have lingered for as long as several months and has
resulted in loss of vision in the left eye. Surgery is required to remove all infected tissue from
the bone and surrounding area. Antibiotic treatment is expected to take several months
following the surgery. So far the costs for testing have amounted to about $350. The surgery
and aftercare will be between $1500 and $2000. This amount exceeds the total allowed by the
VEA’s Financial Limits Policy. Sponsorships and donations will be required to give this horse a
chance to live. Please help us by sending a special donation for Alex.
Brown. They were “ransomed” from a horse trader who claimed to have purchased them in
Kentucky a few weeks earlier. Charlie Brown was extremely malnourished and it was feared his
recovery would be hampered if he was taken away from his buddy so we picked them up
together. Both horses were diagnosed with strangles during their initial Vet exam. Charlie Brown
quickly began to recover and moved to his new home as soon as he was determined to be well
enough. Alex has since been diagnosed with a severe infection in the bone surrounding his
eye. It is thought that this infection may have lingered for as long as several months and has
resulted in loss of vision in the left eye. Surgery is required to remove all infected tissue from
the bone and surrounding area. Antibiotic treatment is expected to take several months
following the surgery. So far the costs for testing have amounted to about $350. The surgery
and aftercare will be between $1500 and $2000. This amount exceeds the total allowed by the
VEA’s Financial Limits Policy. Sponsorships and donations will be required to give this horse a
chance to live. Please help us by sending a special donation for Alex.
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| Volunteer Equine Advocates, Inc. P O Box 112 Gallatin, TN 37066 615-832-3005 Send Email |
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| VEA Is an IRS 501c3 Non-Profit Incorporated in Tennessee to: Assist law enforcement when equine are seized from neglectful, abusive owners Provide foster care and adoption placement for seized equine Educate the public on proper equine care Offer help to equine owners in times of natural or personal disaster Rehabilitating neglected and abused equine Accept donations of unwanted, healthy equine for adoption into new homes |
FUNDRAISING
As with all non-profit organizations, fundraising is a very important issue. Without memberships
and donations, VEA cannot help the horses. Feed, hay, vet and farrier fees add up really fast,
especially for an animal that is malnourished or has a health problem. During intake VEA is
responsible for all expenses for an animal in our care. (We hope to receive restitution, but this is
not always the case) After a case goes to court and VEA has custody, the animal can go into
foster care. At that time the foster home is responsible for day to day expenses of feed, hay,
farrier, vaccines and wormer until adoption is complete. Fundraising efforts have included a silent
auction, county fair educational exhibits, booths at Volunteer Horse Fair sponsored by the
Tennessee Horse Council and at the Sumner County CO-OP. Last year’s Christmas Tree for VEA
at the CO-OP was successful and they have offered to allow VEA to again seek donations by
selling ornaments. Monies from this project go directly into the VEA account at the CO-OP.
The 2nd Annual VEA Benefit Trail ride will be held at LONG C TRAILS in Westmoreland
September 23 - 25th. ( A flyer for this event is included with newsletter) VEA is hopeful that this
trail ride will become an event participants will look forward to attending every year.
Membership dues are a vital part of the operating income for the organization. If you are not
currently a member of VEA, please consider joining NOW! Annual Membership runs from January
thru December. All new members will receive an 11 x 17 copy of the Historic Sumner Horses print
and the opportunity to purchase a VEA t-shirt for $6.50. Foster and Adoption homes must maintain
VEA membership and will receive first consideration for available adoptions.
As with all non-profit organizations, fundraising is a very important issue. Without memberships
and donations, VEA cannot help the horses. Feed, hay, vet and farrier fees add up really fast,
especially for an animal that is malnourished or has a health problem. During intake VEA is
responsible for all expenses for an animal in our care. (We hope to receive restitution, but this is
not always the case) After a case goes to court and VEA has custody, the animal can go into
foster care. At that time the foster home is responsible for day to day expenses of feed, hay,
farrier, vaccines and wormer until adoption is complete. Fundraising efforts have included a silent
auction, county fair educational exhibits, booths at Volunteer Horse Fair sponsored by the
Tennessee Horse Council and at the Sumner County CO-OP. Last year’s Christmas Tree for VEA
at the CO-OP was successful and they have offered to allow VEA to again seek donations by
selling ornaments. Monies from this project go directly into the VEA account at the CO-OP.
The 2nd Annual VEA Benefit Trail ride will be held at LONG C TRAILS in Westmoreland
September 23 - 25th. ( A flyer for this event is included with newsletter) VEA is hopeful that this
trail ride will become an event participants will look forward to attending every year.
Membership dues are a vital part of the operating income for the organization. If you are not
currently a member of VEA, please consider joining NOW! Annual Membership runs from January
thru December. All new members will receive an 11 x 17 copy of the Historic Sumner Horses print
and the opportunity to purchase a VEA t-shirt for $6.50. Foster and Adoption homes must maintain
VEA membership and will receive first consideration for available adoptions.
| Please return this section with membership and/or donation NAME________________________________________________________ ADDRESS_____________________________________________________ CITY, / STATE / ZIP_____________________________________________ I am interested in: FOSTER CARE ADOPTION DONATING HAY SPONSORSHIP DONATING EQUIPMENT DONATING PASTURE DONATING BARN SPACE _____________________ |
| VEA HISTORY For several years, a group of individuals had shared a common goal… to improve the lives of horses that were being neglected. During the summer of 2003 these individuals decided to band together to form an organization that could work as one ….. to better accomplish their goals. Articles of Incorporation were developed; bylaws were written and adopted; the long, complicated process of becoming a registered non-profit humane organization for the protection of equines was begun. Volunteer Equine Advocates, Inc. was incorporated in Tennessee in December of 2003. In October of 2004, Volunteer Equine Advocates, Inc. (VEA for short) received a determination letter from the IRS…. finally approved as an IRS 501c3 non-profit organization. This was a huge milestone for the group. In the beginning, VEA worked almost entirely with the Sumner County Sheriff’s Department and Agriculture Extension Office. The goal was to establish a working relationship with county authorities one county at a time, from Sumner County to surrounding counties and eventually cover all of Middle Tennessee if needed. VEA’s participation the Volunteer Horse Fair sponsored by the Tennessee Horse Council has helped to spread the word about VEA’s mission. In two years ,VEA has assisted with cases in Cheatham, Davidson, Dekalb, Macon, Putnam, Sumner, Trousdale, and Wilson Counties. Operating entirely with volunteers and donations from the general public, VEA is quickly growing into a respected humane organization, one of the few in Tennessee that specializes in the care of equine. |