RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, May 5, 2009.  United States Equine Rescue Investigators and Volunteers assisted Bedford County Animal Control yesterday in removing 24 horses from two properties near Goodview, Virginia. The horses, owned by Gary Chisom were seized when no progress was made to improve their living conditions after an earlier investigation.  The majority of the horses were housed on less than 3 acres. The horses, underweight and in need of veterinary and farrier care, are timid and fearful of humans. The horses were removed and placed in undisclosed quarantine facilities in the Richmond, Tidewater, and Northeast NC regions of USERL where their health will be evaluated by veterinarians and they will be placed on a careful rehabilitation program. In addition they will receive needed veterinary and farrier services.

USERL, a 501(c) 3 non-profit volunteer organization, was created in 1997 to educate the public about the proper care of their equines and to rehabilitate and eventually find safe and loving permanent homes for neglected and abused horses. With an all-volunteer staff, USERL relies on donations to care for and rehabilitate horses in need until they can be placed in a safe permanent home. Donations can be mailed to:

USERL

PO BOX 1630

Wendell, NC 27591

Contact:  Susan White

               Regional Director/Investigator – Richmond Region

               804-402-2490

               Amy Woodard

               Regional Director/Investigator – Tidewater/NENC Regions

               252-205-2260

United States Equine Rescue League of Tidewater Va in conjunction with Isle of Wight Animal Control and the VA Dept of Agriculture received 23 new horses into the program from a farm in Zuni, VA. The horses are underweight and suffer from neglected hooves. This mostly stems from the fact that most were not easily handled by their owners. Sheer numbers of animals limited the ability of the owners to properly care for the animals. The owners voluntarily surrendered these horses to USERL to find them appropriate care. We now need YOUR help to do that. Vet bills are already mounting. Normal care will add $150/perhorse/month. All of these funds must be raised. Please help us help them!  ALso looking for foster homes for these and other animals in desperate need.  Thanks in advance for considering to assist us in our never ending struggle to save a horse.

Donations can be mailed to:

USERL (Pleae note IOW Horses on check memo)

PO BOX 1630

Wendell, NC 27591

Or picked up locally by contacting Regional Director Amy Woodard at the following email address

cody1571@yahoo.com

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

The horses of USERL are profoundly grateful for everything they have received in 2008.

Information on events for 2009 coming soon!

Greetings! This is the Tidewater Region of  the United States Equine Rescue League webpage. 

The United States Equine Rescue League is a registered 501(c)3  non-profit organization that rescues abandoned, abused, and neglected Equines with the sole purpose of  rehabing them and finding them loving adoptive homes.  It was started in 1997 in NC and has spread throughout Virginia, Indiana, and Kentucky so far.... 

The Tidewater Region  made up of  the folllowing regions: Prince George, Surry, Sussex, Isle of Wright, Greensville, Southhampton, Suffolk, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach.

All of our work is made possible by loving volunteers.  So if you are a Equine lover or just a animal lover that is willing to donate some of your love and time to a very worthy cause contact us.  Foster homes with training experience are especially needed.

25 local horses have been given a second chance at a happy life in 2008. Donations of feed, hay, shavings and grooming supplies are needed.

Email contact: cody1571@yahoo.com