Blaze’s Tribute Equine Rescue – October 12, 2015

Blaze’s Tribute Equine Rescue, Inc. located in Jones, Oklahoma, is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that strives to improve the lives of neglected, starved, and abused horses.  We provide equine rescue regardless of age or disability.  We promote and teach horse care and humane, natural methods of training horses.  Our primary focus is Animal Cruelty Cases.  We work closely with the Oklahoma City Animal Welfare Division and the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office with their Equine related Animal Cruelty Cases.  We also assist any other local/rural county sheriff’s office who request our assistance.

Urgent Assistance Needed:

Blaze’s Tribute Equine Rescue is asking for your assistance.  We understand that times are tight for many right now, but the smallest amount can go a long way in the rehabilitation of our rescued horses.  Our Donations and Adoptions have dropped dramatically and we are having to turn horses away that need rescued.  We have several horses that are waiting for much needed surgeries.  Please help, any amount that you can spare is greatly appreciated.  All donations are tax deductible and 100% of your donation goes towards the horses in our care.  Please consider making a donation today!  

Or Donate online at:

www.blazesequinerescue.com

If you are new to our program, please watch our video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SkqZy8lQm4

Here is a breakdown of our immediate needs:

Many of you may know Double D.  A beautiful horse that came into our rescue program shortly after Rudy arrived in January.  Double D and Rudy are best friends.  They both rely on each other for emotional support.  Double D has gone through 2 surgeries to remove squamous cell carcinoma from his eyelids and his penis.  He had several large masses on his penis that were excised by our Veterinarians.  We treated the cancer with cryosurgery and implantation of chemotherapy slow release beads on his eyelids and his penis.  Both appeared to be a huge success, however, the mass on his penis has returned and once again, he will need surgery.  This surgery will need to be much more aggressive to make sure they are able to get all the way to the cells that are producing the cancer, after the removal of the tumors, he will again be treated with the cryosurgery and implantation of chemotherapy slow release beads.  We are praying that this surgery will be successful and the mass will not grow back.  Double D is a happy horse and enjoys his days with Rudy.

In case you are just now learning of Rudy or Double D.  Please follow their stories here:

http://blazesequinerescue.com/Rudy.html or http://blazesequinerescue.com/Double%20D.html

You can also see a wonderful video of Rudy and Double D here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym6SMrLDB_s

We also have another rare case!  Shemar came into our rescue program in April from the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office.  Shemar is a beautiful, Black, Quarter Horse Stud.  He is estimated to be 7 years of age.  He came in very thin, body score of a 3, infested with internal/external parasites.  Shemar appears to be a double crypt-orchid and will need surgery.  However, before we can address his needed surgery to remove his testicles, we have ran into some liver conditions.  Shemar shows no signs of being ill.  He is a happy go lucky horse and we would never know he was having any form of complications had we not pulled blood work prior to sending him to surgery.  Shemar’s blood work shows that he is going into some form of liver failure.  However, we don’t know what would be causing this.  We have taken Shemar to OSU for diagnosis and possible treatment.  However, I came back from OSU just as confused as I was before going.  If you have been following us for a while, you know that we always seem to have the rare cases.  OSU diagnosed Shemar with a rare disease, so rare, OSU has only seen it 3 times in the last 20 years.    

Sadly, we just didn’t find the positive answers we were hoping for. Shemar has been diagnosed with a severe Pulmonary Disease Due to “Multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic Disease” (MEED). MEED occurs primarily in young horses, ranging in age from 3 to 13 years. The disease is histologically characterized by eosinophilic and lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates and the formation of eosinophilic granulomas in different organs. The clinical signs vary according to the organs affected. The prognosis of horses with MEED is invariably poor. However, attempted clinical management includes treatment with hydroxyurea and dexamethasone.

They still have a few tests that we are waiting on results to come back from, but we aren’t expecting any different of a diagnosis. Shemar’s liver is smaller than normal and due to the location we didn’t feel necessary to risk pulling a liver biopsy. So, that leaves us with a lot of thinking and deciding what is best for Shemar. We still have the fact that he is a stud and surgery is still needed.  His last diagnosis leaves me more confused, as he has done incredibly well since we returned home.  He has gained about 100 pounds, he looks amazing, and he seems to be feeling just as good as he looks.  However, his blood work still shows him to be in some form of liver failure.  If you know me, you know that I don’t give up easily on our horses.  I want to see Shemar live out the life he deserves.  I want him to be able to run in the pasture and play with other horses.  Before I can do that, we must prepare him for surgery.  At this time, OSU felt that he could still undergo surgery, as nothing shows that he physically can’t endure the surgery.  We need assistance to continue to proceed with getting Shemar the care he needs.  I just feel like there should be more answers available than what I am finding.  I am asking for you to please help me, help Shemar!

First picture is Shemar upon arrival, Second & Third picture is Shemar today!

Blaze’s Equine Rescue purchases grain weekly.  We spend $925.34 each week on the required grain we need to feed the horses in our rehabilitation program.

We purchase 24 round bales of hay weekly.  24 round bales with delivery cost us $1400.00 a week.  Sadly, we don’t have grass and have to feed hay year round.

We purchase shavings and fat supplements weekly.  Cost $294.75 a week

Our veterinarian expenses are much higher than our typical years past, due to the extreme medical cases that we have seen this year.  Typically we spend $30,773.92 a year.  We have currently already spent $40,570.45 this year alone on medical expenses and this is only October and we still have extreme cases that require a lot of medical care and expenses.  On average we spend $2500.00 to $5000.00 a month for veterinary care.  Keep in mind that is not only surgeries, etc., but also basic care such as pulling a negative coggins, vaccinations, deworming, teeth floating, castrations, injuries, physical examinations, lameness issues, etc.,  

Our farrier expenses average $500.00 every 2 weeks. 

It is an expensive endeavor caring for over 100 horses daily.  We can’t do this alone and we are asking for your assistance.  Please help us continue our rescue efforts. 

Of course that is only part of our everyday needs.  We also have many projects that we need completing, such as repairing structures and fencing for our rescued horses.  Our needs are always great.  We have saved over 1,290 horses in the last 15 years and we have adopted out One Thousand and Fifty Six horses to forever, loving homes. 

If you or anyone you know is looking to add a horse to their family, please check out our adoptable horses.  We have so many great horses seeking their forever, loving family.  Adoption is another great way of helping.  All adoption fee’s go back into the program to continue to assist other horses in need.  Adoption saves 2 lives.  The one you adopted and the one you opened up a place for a neglected horse to enter our program. 

Remember every little bit helps tremendously and we simply cannot thank you enough for your continued support.

Donations can be sent to:

17667 Markita Dr.  Jones, OK  73049

(405) 399-3084 or (405) 615-5267

[email protected] www.blazesequinerescue.com

Federal I.D. 43-2024364