06/11/2026
Folks, we need to give you an honest update on where things stand with the Citrus County case.
First, thank you. The response to our request for donations and supplies was immediate and generous, as it always is with our HWH family of supporters. You showed up before we even finished asking.
When we were first contacted by the Citrus County Animal Shelter, we responded. That is what we do. We picked up Champagne and Fizzy and we were glad to receive them. There were some details about their situation that were not communicated to us ahead of time. We believe that was an oversight born of inexperience rather than intent. When we raised those concerns with staff, the conversations did not go well. We offered to take additional horses once they were stabilized and ready for training and adoption. That offer was declined. We have also learned that a placement has been found for Champagne and Fizzy and we are arranging transportation today.
Today, three of our staff members rearranged their day and drove out at first light to pick up the orphaned filly we had been asked to intake. We had coordinated the trip, prepared the accommodations, and were already on the road when we were notified that the filly had been adopted out. We were no longer needed.
What we cannot leave unsaid is this. This case has not been handled the way a partnership between organizations should be handled. We came when we were called. Our staff gave their time, their mornings, and their energy. You gave your dollars and your prayers within hours of us asking. That deserves better than what this situation has delivered.
HWH Rescue has been a resource for several counties over the years, for advice, for intake, for the hard cases no one else wants to take. That will not change. But our finances, our inventory, our staff, and our time are not unlimited. Going forward, we will be more careful about where we direct those resources. When we say yes to a case, we need the people on the other end to be working toward the same goal we are.
We sincerely hope every horse from this case recovers fully and finds a good home. That has always been the only point.
Now, here is what we know about your contributions.
If you sent items through our Chewy Wish List, good news. Chewy will credit those returns directly back to you. Please follow the directions at chewy.com/customer-care/returns.
If you made a donation to our campaign and would like a refund, please contact us directly and we will make it right. No questions asked. If you would like your donation to stay with HWH, it will go directly toward future neglect cases. There is no shortage of horses that need us, and when the next call comes, your generosity will already be there.
Please reach us at [email protected] to let us know your preference.
Thank you for trusting us with your support.
We do not take that lightly.
Yvonne
