The shelters where abandoned horses are saved

A fantastic 1969 film by Sydney Pollack is titled "They Shoot Horses Like That, Don't They?" A phrase that comes to mind every time we witness, with shock and anger, the carnage of abandoned horses . It happens often, much more often than one might imagine. And sometimes there are many, all at once. As happened in the province of Ferrara, in the Lepri Valley , where about fifty abandoned horses were saved by the intervention of a group of courageous volunteers . Yes, in Italy it is also difficult to help abandoned horses and donkeys: if you do it yourself, as happened in the Lepri Valley, and after attempting a hundred phone calls to ask for assistance, you also risk being accused of embezzlement or of having set foot on private property without authorization.

But where does this incredible outrage come from? How is it possible that there are people capable of wasting the beauty and life of a horse or a donkey? In reality, horses and donkeys are often exploited and then abandoned, perhaps because they are no longer young and perfectly healthy or because people are no longer able to support them, and sooner or later they end up in slaughterhouses, especially illegal ones.

Several organizations are fighting against this phenomenon , and among them we recommend the Montaione center , in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, just a few dozen kilometers from Florence. Here, the animals have a shelter , are cared for, and can roam freely in large spaces. The center also welcomes volunteers to help care for the horses and donkeys, as well as visitors who want to spend a day with them and have a very healthy experience. All the information can be found on the website www.horseprotection.it

Another very interesting initiative is that of Legambiente and Progetto Islander , who began working together after the sad incident that occurred in Lunghezza , in the eastern area of ​​Rome, when the Carabinieri sealed off a concentration camp breeding farm and seized around 60 horses in a state of malnutrition and mistreatment.

The two associations will continue to collaborate with the non-profit organizations Il Rifugio degli Asinelli and Italian Horse Protection Onlus , with which they have repeatedly denounced the situation in Lunghezza, where for years, horses, donkeys, and ponies, illegally kept, were abandoned, injured, sick, without food, drinking water, or medical care. Many of them, approximately twenty, died.

Legambiente and Progetto Islander have also launched an appeal to all animal lovers who wish to contribute and collaborate in the well-being of the horses, by offering to adopt them or by making a donation to cover the costs of their upkeep, care, hospital stays, transportation, and food, currently covered by the associations, to ensure a better future for these animals. All information can be found on the Progetto Islander website www.progettoislander

The Horse Shelter is a nonprofit organization founded to protect and care for horses, which are often mistreated or even destined for slaughter . Here's their story.

The protagonists of this initiative are Laura and Tino Zonca , two siblings who, after spending their lives working as owners of a Milanese printing company, decided to sell their business in Milan and become farmers. With the proceeds from the sale, they purchased and renovated a farmhouse in Arena Po and decided to create a holiday farm with a lawn, umbrellas, and a swimming pool.

Then one day, they received a call from an acquaintance, asking to temporarily park his two horses with them while they found a suitable home. When they saw them galloping freely on the English lawn, the Zonca brothers immediately fell in love with these beautiful animals and decided to adopt them. Soon, the number of adopted horses increased, as did their passion and desire to help other four-legged friends in need. To learn more, visit the official website www.ilrifugiodelcavallo.it

The Rifugio degli Asinelli Onlus is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the health and well-being of donkeys, mules, and hinnies . Its headquarters are located in Sala Biellese (in the province of Biella), northern Piedmont, and the center currently houses 134 donkeys, mules, and hinnies. Many of the animals were born after being abused or abandoned; some, fortunately, were donated by owners who, for various reasons, were no longer able to adequately care for them.

Once they enter the Shelter, they are guaranteed a future of care and respect from specialized staff. No donkey owned by the Shelter will ever be sold, loaned, or bred; all males are sterilized. Once fully rehabilitated, they may be placed with families who request it. To learn more, visit the official website www.ilrifugiodegliasinelli.org

Horse Angels is another association, founded in 2009 and based in Cesenatico, which aims to combat all forms of horse abuse and exploitation and to promote aid and assistance to prevent illegal slaughter and abandonment. It also promotes adoption as an alternative for horse and donkey owners who, unable to care for them, wish to find them a home as pets. To learn more, visit the official website www.horse-angels.it

Finally, don't miss the website www.incontraglianimali.org where you can find all the useful information for saving animals (and even adopting them remotely), organized by species and by individual associations and locations. Ultimately, saving a donkey or a horse, like a dog or a cat, depends first and foremost on us.

( Video credits : Youtube )

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