Ozzy is a 22-year-old Standardbred bay gelding who came to us via Snohomish County Animal Control. He was seized due to neglect and came to us with a body condition score of 1.5, which is essentially emaciated. So far, his foster home says he has been easy to handle and he is dealing with the re-feeding program well. And we're happy to report that he has improved to a body condition score of 4+ (with 5 being ideal).
He is gaining strength, is bright-eyed, and is interested in engaging socially. On arrival, he was unable to whinny properly but now has a beautiful, strong whinny.
His teeth are in pretty terrible shape. Now that he's gotten stronger, we'll be scheduling his dental soon.
May 2024 Update: Ozzy has gained more weight and is doing really well. We want to assess him for riding before making him adoptable. We were told he had been ridden previously. His freeze brand is more visible now that he has shed out more. We were unable to identify him using the online horse search tool on the US Trotting Association’s website, but we have sent an email inquiry to see if he can be identified. Thanks to Teri Reinemer who researched his freeze brand, we now know his registered name is Red Star Dusty and he was raced at Fraser Downs in BC. And in his heyday, he was a winner! In our book, he's still a winner.
UPDATE 7/12/2024: Thanks to Teri Reinemer who researched his freeze brand, we now know his registered name is Red Star Dusty and he was raced at Fraser Downs in BC. And in his heyday, he was a winner! In our book, he's still a winner.
April 8, 2024: Red is now available for adoption. Scroll down to read more about the circumstances by which he came to SAIN. He is full of personality and energy, in a really great way. He's got a bit of knee and hock arthritis, but he is pasture sound. He'll make an awesome companion horse, friends.
Red is a Quarter Horse gelding, estimated to be about 22 years old and standing at 16 hands. He recently joined the ranks here at Skagit Animals in Need. He is a gentle, well-mannered fellow. Only slightly underweight when he came to us, he did have some loss of muscling along his topline from lack of work and, as is nearly always the case with horses who come to us, he hadn't seen the farrier in a while.
He came in with some thrush and rain rot -- but nothing too serious and we expect it to resolve with proper care and shelter. He also had conjunctivitis. This Quarter Horse gelding has not had great dental care -- his teeth are super worn, so we'll be supplementing his food with mashes of soaked pellets to help him put on and maintain the right amount of weight. He has since had a proper dental.
He is currently on Equioxx for some lameness. As with all horses new to us, we're keeping a close eye on him in foster care.
Lovely Shakira is an Arab mare, one of two Arabs who came together to SAIN on June 16, 2023. She and Khalil were both born on their prior owner's property and have lived their entire lives there. We are told she is about 19 and was a broodmare. Neither had seen a vet or farrier on a very long time. As far as we know, she was never started under saddle.
Shakira is putting on weight and looking good. Best of all, she's becoming more relaxed and friendly and enjoys attention. We've had a trainer working with both Khalil and Shakira, gettting them reacquainted with picking up their feet in preparation for their first farrier appointment in some time and -- success! -- the appointment went great.
January 2024 Update: Shakira has become quite snuggly since coming into our care, and is currently in training for basic handling and trailer loading.
Once she has learned a few more life skills, she will be available for adoption as a companion/pasture pet.
March 2024 Update: Well, she'd done it! Shakira has learned to load and ride in the trailer, so she's ready to find her forever home as a companion horse/pasture pet.
We recently received new information about Shakira’s history, including her registration information. She
is registered as Bahijah, and was foaled on 4/6/04. Her last foal, Buckminster Bey, was born in 2018,
and is currently owned by Sanoma Blakeley, who is the youngest female to with the Tevis Cup (at age
18, in 2019), which is a one-day 100 mile endurance ride through the Sierras. Shakira’s dam was also
Khalil’s granddam, making him her nephew. Shakira’s sire’s sire was Thee Desperado, an influential
Straight Egyptian Arabian sire whose portrait was made into a Breyer model
Now available for adoption!
Handsome Hopper came to us from Save a Forgotten Equine (SAFE). This Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse gelding was part of the Graham 27 horse Pierce County Animal Control seizure in November of 2022. We have great admiration for SAFE and have been partnering with with them in horse rescue when we have capacity.
Hopper is approximately 20 years old and 14.2 hands. He sure doesn't seem to have let his run of bad-owner-luck get him down. He's quite adorable, sweet, and friendly. Social and inquisitive, he's always interested in making new friends.
His natural second gear is set to gait rather than trot. This easy-going guy has been diagnosed with Cushings, so he needs daily medication combined with a low sugar/starch diet.
Thor is one of two Swiss Shepherds (along with Frigg -- who is now adopted!!) who came to our rescue from the recent puppy mill seizure of more than 100 dogs here in Skagit County. Thor is a male thought to be between 1 and 2 years old. These beautiful dogs were in the worst of that terrible situation of cruelty and neglect, kept essentially in solitary confinement: an outbuilding with no windows, air conditioning or ventilation without proper food and certainly without even meager socialization or love. The woman responsible has been charged with felony animal cruelty in the first degree.
Thor has been receiving diligent care and rehabbing slowly, carefully re-entering a better world. But given his history, it's slow going. So SAIN stepped in on the heels of the work done by the Humane Society of Skagit Valley. We are providing safe, patient, loving foster homes and all the food and veterinary care these dogs need while they learn to trust humans first, and then move on to the other things dogs need to be good companions, like training. Since they have been getting proper nutrition, they have started to put on weight and were both recently neutered.
Watch the video below...You can see that Thor is really making progress in the trust department with his foster dad. Just look at his eyes. Dogs are made to connect with humans, but it can be difficult for those that have experienced such terrible cruelty and neglect. Thor and Frigg were essentially feral when they came to rescue. Great progress, pup! We have a lot of hope for Thor.
We will support Thor for as long as it takes. We anticipate he will be in rehabilitation for quite some time.
UPDATE 6/12/2023: Thor's foster dad reports that he is sweet and friendly, though still not a huge fan of being touched. He has learned to sit, stay, catch treats, and will lick your hand. He loves to run around in the play yard and hang out with his foster dad's dog, but doesn't really play with the dog. He hasn't yet been able to get a leash on him and he's still working on potty training, among other things.
UPDATE January 2024: Thor is doing well in his new foster home. He is still cautious about people, but is very curious and likes companionship. He is learning to accept the touch of a human hand and other objects, in preparation for leash training. He has shown no aggressive behavior toward humans or other dogs.
UPDATE July 2024: Thor has moved into a foster-to-adopt situation and we couldn't be happier. He's made so much progress! After spending so much time outdoors, Thor sauntered right into his new home and was comfortable checking it out. We're rooting for you, Thor!
