I have an announcement I wish I didnt have to make. Im being pressed by a few unhappy people and now the time has come. Thunder Mountain is no longer affiliated with the original orphanage due to money handling and accounting issues. We are seeking the return of our initial $3100 investment ($2500 from a donor, $400 from TMF, $200 from my own pocket) that was to be used solely for the revolving purchase of foals. Despite the emphasis to do so, no accounting records were being kept at the orphanage and the funds were reportedly intermingled with household and other business accounts. Being a 501c3, I can not do business that way. Our original donor was very specific about what the funds were to be used for; not for feed, or vet bills, or fuel. The funds were specified to be a loan only and would return to the rescue to help other horses in need. I will be taking steps to recover our investment which as one foal is purchased and sold, the money was to remain separate and in a revolving pool which now is unaccounted for. The rescue, in conjunction with the orphanage and others involved, built in the $25 extra fee to support fuel, milk replacer, and hay. In addition, we raised $1000 which was also forwarded for that purpose. An additional $500 was also sent to purchase hay. When you take the volume of foals passing through the orphanage in just 4 weeks time, multiplied by $25 each, thats a whole lot of milk, fuel, and hay money for babies. Any request for accounting of funds was met with hostility. It became apparent that payments were being diverted to personal paypal accounts and bypassing the rescue. Any suggestion or offer of more people to help with the hands on work with the foals, was also unwelcomed despite repeated attempts and voicing that no one person can do it all. The last straw for me was last weekend when a woman drove to my house to pay $125 for a foal after someone that was in the area of the orphanage offered to haul it back to Puget Sound and the orphanage refused to load the foal because I personally collected the payment and not her. That was unforgivable in my book, especially considering this was a Thunder Mountain Farms Equine Rescue project and given our own investment in the operation. I have since set up two satellite orphanages to service the Zillah feedlot foals. The volume is not as great, and the level of care is much improved with the smaller groups at each facility. Foals are being handled, haltered, and tended to with love. Photos are also being provided. If you are interested in a foal going forward, we are accepting applications. Instructions are provided in the post pinned at the top of this page. The feedlot owner and Samantha are in close contact with the catchers bringing horses to the feedlot. This very tragic situation is not expected to end until theyre down to 5,000 horses; only then will they consider slowing down and being more selective about what they send to slaughter. Its going to be a long, long ordeal which we have to buck up and endure to save what we can and are allowed to save. I hate drama, I hate politics, I hate deceitfulness and the more I have to deal with it, the more I love just being with my horses....
Posted on: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 07:00:22 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015