06/11/2026
Many “501c3 charitable organizations” prey on people with big hearts who are unaware of good and bad practices within the animal rescue network.
The people who create fear based urgency and emotional manipulation to raise funds in the name of the slaughter cycle are a huge part of the problem.
And responsible small rescues who do good work within their community struggle.
The really sad thing is that most of the irresponsible rescues are closed to the public. It’s how they get away with bad practices and end up hoarding.
Good organizations who provide access and transparency have so much more to manage and overcome. They do it for the animals and for the community.
We recently had an issue with county where we discovered exactly how unfair this dynamic is. In an effort to serve my community, give access, and show transparency, I ended up in trouble with the county.  We’re already in the process of becoming compliant as we, of course, would have done if we had known regulations.
Point being, no good deed goes unpunished while the exploiters fill their bank account.
With the borders currently closed, horses are not shipping to slaughter right now. Because of that, people need to start asking harder questions and paying closer attention to where their donations are going.
There are way too many “rescues” buying horses from the slaughter pipeline, posting heartbreaking stories, collecting donations, and then turning around and selling those same horses. Having a 501(c)(3) does not automatically make you a legitimate rescue.
The same goes for many of these “ship pens.” If a horse doesn’t sell online, many aren’t loading onto a truck headed for slaughter. They’re often just headed to another auction. The urgency being marketed isn’t always the reality.
If you’re doing good work, this post isn’t about you. There are incredible rescues out there that are transparent, accountable, and truly dedicated to helping horses.
But there are also people who have figured out that fear, guilt, and emotional fundraising can be extremely profitable.
Before you donate, ask questions. Ask where the horse came from. Ask where the money goes. Ask what happened to the horses they’ve previously fundraised for. A legitimate rescue should have no problem providing answers.
The horse world has enough problems without people turning horse lovers into a revenue stream.
Stay informed -
