United States Equine Rescue League, Inc.
From AlexBrownRacing
Contents |
Basics
Web Address: http://www.userl.org Phone: 800-650-8549
E-mail: info@userl.org / jenniferuserl@live.com
Paypal link http://www.userl.org/DonateToUSERL.html
Contact Person: Jennifer Hack/Executive Director/ jenniferuserl@live.com
Media stories: http://www.userl.org
Description of Rescue
Include: Corporate Status; Location; Size; Years of Operations; Type of Rescue (terminal, temporary, rehab); Fostering procedures; Adoption policies (contracts?); Source of Horses (auction; kill pen; feedlot etc.); Operating procedures; Visitor hours; Volunteer information; Education programs (girlscouts, school programs, etc).
United States Equine Rescue League, Inc. (USERL) is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the compassionate care of equines. Our mission is to save, protect, and rehabilitate equines in need. We rescue abused, neglected, or abandoned equines; provide them with care and rehabilitation; and finally find them a compatible, loving home. We believe that education is the long-term solution to improving the lives of equines. See "Questions from FOB" for additional information, go to www.guidestar.org for specific financial and program information.
Rescue Network
USERL works in cooperation with any reputable rescue throughout the United States.
FOB Horses
Add updates of horses rescued with FOB fundraising money. Keep a running total on the number of successful FOB rescues ... all helps build a reputation with FOBs.
See an update on "Focus", the OTTB USERL foster horse that was involved in a freak storm in Laurinburg, NC. Thanks to donations raised for his medical care, he is almost fully recovered. See his story update at www.userl.org/FocusFund.html .
Feedback from FOBs
From volunteers who have visited the rescue etc which may include relevant links to the discussion board about the visit.
Questions from FOBs
1. What is your position with regard to the rescue? Board Chair
2. Is the rescue incorporated? If so, do you have the legal authority to speak for the Board of Directors? Who are the members of the Board of Directors (please provide an email or other contact information; if your website provides this information, please identify your website URL in this answer) (Note: The names of the Board of Directors for incorporated businesses may be validated by calling the office of the Secretary of State.) Incorporated in 1997. I have legal authority as Board Chair to speak for the Board of Directors. The List of Board Members is at NC Secretary of State website: http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/corporations/Corp.aspx?PitemId=4628137
3. Is the rescue a 501 c 3 IRS rescue? When was this exemption granted? If the exemption has not been granted, when did the rescue commence the application process? Yes, federal recognized 501(c)(3) granted in September of 1998 (name changed from North Carolina Rescue League, Inc. to United States Equine Rescue League, Inc. in February/2004). Letter of Determination is on the USERL website: http://www.userl.org/userl-irsdeterminationletter.pdf
4. What is the physical address of the rescue (Note: Satellite views of most, but not all, locations are available at www.googleearth.com )? USERL is a volunteer based organization where pre-screened fosters are used to house and care for neglected/abused/abandoned horses. Therefore, there is no facility address. Interested person’s can visit USERL foster farms in their area via contact with the Regional Director. Our corporate address is listed on the website: www.userl.org/contactus.html . Using a foster network enables USERL to utilize donations more efficiently, giving 91%of your dollar directly to the horses in need rather than for overhead facility costs (Read more about USERL financials and other info at www.guidestar.org ).
5. What is the legal nature of the property upon which the rescue animals reside (personal property, property of the corporation, rented property, other as described.) How many foster facilities are associated with the rescue? All horses reside at pre-screened foster homes. USERL has 500+ foster homes in our network in NC, VA, IN, KY and Iowa.
6. Is the facility a rescue, sanctuary or both? Rescue only; all horses are adopted into new homes with a few permanent fosters (7 currently) used for events and educational purposes.
7. At the time of this questionnaire, how many equines reside at the rescue and any foster facilities associated with the rescue? 438 horses are currently in foster homes in rehab, awaiting training or court custody, or available for adoption.
8. What is the date on which the rescue or sanctuary took in the first animal and since that date, how many have been adopted out or officially transferred to another rescue? The first horse came into the program on May 9, 1998, and since then over 500 horses have been adopted into new homes.
9. What is the primary source of financial resources which pay for the maintenance and emergency needs of the rescue’s equine residents? What is the source of any supplemental funding (please separate local fundraising, ABR fundraising and any other internet fundraising such as Facebook)? Approximately what percentage does each source make up for the total funding of the rescue? The primary source of funding is public donations. Supplemental funding is from small grants (to start or expand an existing program) as well as specific fundraising (i.e. for a special needs horse). General donations make up 51% of income, fundraising 31% (mostly regional fundraising; includes corporate fundraising as well), Program Revenue (adoption fees) 10% and Grant income 8%.
10. What percentage of your budget do you spend on each of the following: bail; feed. hay and supplements; veterinarian; farrier; land (purchased or rented); maintenance of facility (equipment and structures.)
Bail 0%: (USERL rarely purchases horses). Horses coming into the Horse Program are from cruelty investigations.
Feed: 20% (most fosters cover basic feed, hay and farrier costs for a tax deduction. USERL Funds are used for first 3-6 months of rehab – the most expensive time period for feed intake).
Hay: 20%
Supplements: 1% (many products are donated or bought at reduced price/discount in bulk).
Veterinary expenses: 36% (By far our biggest expense; all veterinarians used provide discounted services of min. 10%).
Farrier 3% (many farriers provide heavily discounted or free services for USERL horses).
Land 0.4 % (no owned/rented property, although occasionally, rental of property is used temporarily for large groups of horses in need).
Maintenance of facility /equipment 0.6% (most items used for USERL horses are donated; occasionally, equipment such as corral panels is needed for seizures).
Medical supplies/dewormer: 10%
11. Who physically provides for the care of the rescue’s equines? Is there an attendant at the rescue 24/7? During an emergency affecting the primary caretaker(s) , who would provide care for the animals. Horses coming into the USERL program first go to a qualified foster quarantine/rehab farm that can provide care/supervision 24hrs/day during quarantine and the first critical weeks of beginning a feeding program (and addressing any medical needs). If an emergency occurs with the primary caretaker, the Regional Director is responsible for continuing the care needed for the horse(s), or finding a capable foster/rehab farm that can continue the care.
12. What information is discussed with the Board of Directors and at what intervals do you have meetings. Monthly meetings. All aspects are discussed (financials, fundraising, addressing current needs).
13. How many volunteers do you have and what is the nature of duties they perform? How often are you assisted by volunteers? USERL has just over 1000 “active” volunteers that cover everything from officer positions (Regional Directors, Volunteer/Adoption/Foster Coordinators) to fundraising, marketing and horse care. USERL has only 2 part-time paid positions (secretary and grant coordinator).
14. What is your primary source of hay? USERL operates in 5 states, so hay sources are dependent on location of quarantine/rehab farms and quality/cost of hay.
15. Describe what the status of the animals would be if the primary caretaker(s) became suddenly unable to provide care for both the short-term and long-term? Any adopted horse in the USERL program comes back into the program if the primary caregiver can longer care for the horse, and the horse is found a new adoptive home. If a foster caregiver can no longer care for the horse, a new foster is found that matches the horses needs.
16. What is your procedure for adopting animals (please discuss your pre-adoption and post-adoption processes.) Potential adopters must fill out an adoption application. Then a veterinary reference is checked before interviewing the potential adopter for their horse care experience and riding level so that we can appropriately match the owner to a horse. A facility check is required to check for safe fencing (no barbed-wire allowed) and adequate shelter (stable or run-in). Once approved, a potential adopter can make an appointment to visit/ride a horse. If the horse is ridable, adopters are required to ride the horse before adoption (and have a 30 day period for return with refund if it doesn’t work out).
17. Once an equine is at the new home, how do you approach follow-up of the animal? Adopted horses are followed up in the next few weeks after adoption to ensure all is well, then at 6 months. Afterwards, an annual check is made (either in person or via their vet).
18. Do you have an adoption contract? If so, how is the subject of breeding handled? Yes, USERL uses an adoption contract. Breeding is not allowed with USERL horses (stated in the contract). USERL is not against responsible breeding, but the offspring would also need to be monitored and would be difficult to keep up with over 900 horses in the program currently. All stallions/colts are castrated before adoption and mares are not allowed to be bred.
19. Once an animal is taken into the rescue, how is its level of training evaluated? Training of the horse is evaluated once they are at full body weight by regional professional trainers that volunteer their services to USERL. Once evaluated, they are either put up for adoption or put on a waitlist for professional training.
20. What is the rescue’s program for basic ground training of equines that have that initial level of need? In most cases, the foster farm provides the basic training and is why USERL matches horses to foster homes according to their needs (feral/untrained horse would be matched with experienced fosters with training capabilities only). This training usually has to begin right away, despite their poor health, in order to properly treat them for their neglect.
21. What is the rescue’s program for starting horses that have that level of need (please include at what age you would start an individual horse.) USERL policies state that no horse can be started under saddle until 3 years of age (ground training, ground driving, etc is allowed). In some specific breeds, USERL will expand it to 4-5 years (i.e. warmbloods – later maturity age). If the horse is under 3 yrs, the adopter is responsible for future training. If the horse comes into the USERL Program over 3 yrs of age, it is put on a waitlist for a trainer to start under saddle once it completes rehabilitation and/or court litigation and then put up for adoption.
22. What is the rescue’s program for the retraining of horses to make them more adoptable because their present training level is not conducive to adoption (e.g., the OTTB who needs to be training for another activity?) Any horse in the program that is not considered adoptable “as is” (i.e. no saddle training or behavior issues under saddle) is waitlisted for a professional trainer. USERL has a small network of humane trainers that give their time and skills for a USERL horse (or at a greatly reduced price) in order to give back to their community and help a horse have a second chance.
23. What is your experience with regard to initial training and retraining of horses and other equines that serves to support that you possess the ability to be successful with such activities? Each USERL regional director makes the decision about type of training needed (or confers with a network of experienced horse people/trainers to help make that decision).
24. What is the rescue’s program for the retraining of horses that exhibit traits likely brought on by improper training? Trainers that work with USERL have different skill/experience levels. USERL would choose a trainer that is experienced in training (re-training) a difficult or poorly trained horse.
25. How does the leadership of the rescue approach end-of-life decision for the equine residents (please discuss the circumstances for which such decisions would be necessary and what life-ending procedure(s) would be utilized?) Horses that do not have a quality of life (able to eat, drink and enjoy herd life in a relatively pain-free existence) or that have a small chance of recovering and having a quality life are humanely euthanized by a licensed veterinarian. Each case is unique and requires the Regional Directors and/or Executive Director’s confirmation (unless it’s an emergency; i.e. unresolvable colic or fractured leg). If a case is controversial, it is put to the board of directors to research and find the right answer for the horse in a timely manner.
26. Would the rescue’s leadership and/or caretaker(s) consider shipping to slaughter as a possible life-ending method? No - Not an option.
27. Are you open to a request from donors for pictures and/or other information about a rescue animal that has received funding via ABR? Yes, and many of the USERL horse cases are posted on the main userl website as well as regional USERL websites for supporters to follow their stories.
28. What ABR members have you personally requested to assist with fundraising posting (please name them by ABR call name.) In the past, our Executive Director has directly asked on the board for special fundraising consideration for horses, such as Focus and the Fair Dinkum horses.
29. Do these ABR volunteers have their own WIKIs (if not, please ensure that they secure them.)
30. Is there any additional information you would like to provide?
USERL is a community based organization utilizing volunteers and pre-screened foster homes to assist neglected/abused horses in need in an organized and professional manner. This successful approach makes it possible for most of your donation (91%) to go directly to the horses and their needs rather than into overhead costs for owned property/facilities. USERL focuses it’s funds on veterinary/feed/hay/farrier care during the first critical and expensive 3-6 months of rehabilitation as this is the financial commitment most cannot cover, while fosters cover basic feed/hay/farrier care (for a tax deduction) after the initial costly rehabilitation is done. USERL covers veterinary care (both routine and injury/illness) costs for all horses in the Horse Program. For those with the ability to give back to the horse community, USERL is a great way to get involved directly with equine rescue - whether through fund support, fostering, volunteering or adoption!
