Three Strikes Ranch press release

[pnp4kidz]

Just got this mass email update...

I know some of you have been following the 3 Strikes Rescue story and here is anew press release from this morning...More Than One Hundred Neglected Mustangs Rescued from Nebraska RanchRanch Owner Signs Over Horses to
Rescue AgenciesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jerry Finch 409-682-6621 JillStarr 661-727-004922 April 2009Alliance, NE – More than one hundred emaciated horses found at MorrillCounty 3-Strikes Ranch were legally surrendered Tuesday to horse rescue groupsHabitat for Horses and Lifesavers Foundation. The agreement to sign over theanimals was coordinated by the Morrill County Sheriff’s office, which earlierin the week arrested the owner, Jason Meduna, on one county of animal cruelty.3-Strikes Ranch, according to its web site, is a "Mustang outpost… ahabitat to hundreds of mustangs from all over the United States… a naturalenvironment for wild horses to run on the open prairies of the Sand Hills." Mustangs captured by the US Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) that were notadopted after three attempts -- three strikers -- were sent to Jason Meduna at3-Strikes Ranch.Jerry Finch of Texas-based Habitat for Horses found that Meduna’s ranch hadpastures devoid of grass with little or no edible grazing. On Sunday, Finchaccompanied a sheriff's deputy in a flyover of the property. It was thenthat the bodies of more than 60 dead horses were discovered. Nearly all of theanimals on the ranch were malnourished, their back, ribs and hip bones were verypronounced. Two animals were so compromised, it was determined that humaneeuthanasia was necessary. Lab reports on the cause of death will be returned byFriday of this week.Finch applauded Meduna’s decision to surrender custody of the animals,stating “we can now give these horses the medical treatment they need to getthem on their feet again.” The horses have been moved to the
Bridgeport RodeoGrounds where veterinarians and volunteers will examine and treat each horse asneeded. Finch estimates that more than 30 stallions were comingled in herds,indicating that many of the mares may be pregnant. According to Jill Starr ofLifesavers Foundation, “the ultimate goal is to place these animals in homesand facilities capable of addressing their needs and where they will have theopportunity to thrive.”Donations are urgently needed to help cover the cost of medical care. Donations are being collected by Front Range Equine Rescue inColorado. Creditcard donations can be made online at www.frontrangeequinerescue.org/. Donations can also be mailed to: Front Range Equine Rescue, P.O. Box 307,Larkspur, CO 80118. Please notate on your check and/or credit card donationsthat it is for "3-Strikes Mustangs". Any and all help is
greatlyappreciated.~Habitat for Horses (HfH) is a not-for-profit equine protection agency committedto the prevention, rescue and rehabilitation of neglected, abused and homelesshorses. The largest organization of its kind in North America, HfH operates arehabilitation ranch inTexas . The organization has taken a leadership role inhorse protection issues and has been instrumental in developing and promotinglegislation to eliminate the slaughter of American horses. To learn more, visitwww.habitatforhorses.orgLifesavers specializes in the rescue of American Mustangs. Since 1997,Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue, a program of nonprofit organization, Lifesavers,Inc., has provided refuge, training and adoption placement for hundreds ofhorses in need. To learn more, visit www.wildhorserescue.org

[Tockita]

Emergency in Nebraska Prayers Needed
Posted by: "cvilmer"
Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:18 am (PDT)


www.facebook .com/ext/ share.php? sid=68649076148& h=5XJ_R&u= lqmSv&ref= mf

An unfortunate tragedy has taken place in Nebraska at the 3 strikes ranch. Many wild horses have already lost their lives. Jill Starr is on her way to ground zero.

Lifesavers has taken co-ownership of the more than 100 horses along with Habitat for Horses. Hopefully it's not to late and the remaining horses will survive.

We need your prayers for the horses. We also need volunteers. If anyone has some spare time during the day next week. Lifesavers needs to fence off 5 acres in preparation for the arrival of some of the horses to our facility. Call me at [phone] if you are available to assist us. Time is short and it is a big job.

If anyone is interested in making a donation to help us feed these animals, you can do that on our website www.wildhorserescue .org. Lifesavers has already arranged for 22 tons of hay to be delivered to the site of the surviving horses.

This is tearing my heart out. I just don't understand why this happens. More than 60 horses have already died, apparently of starvation. Toxicology reports are due Friday.

Thanks in advance for your support and prayers.

Best wishes,
Chris

As many of you know we have been going to clinics and volunteering at Lifesavers for almost 4 years now..

It is a wonderfully safe place for horses to land. They are experienced in these types of rescues as is Habitat for Horses, and have been working for 12 years to be a safe haven for mustangs and other horses at risk.

I have seen them do so much, not just for their own horses, but to assist other rescues as well.

Please spread the word.

The horses are being cared for by some wonderful folks but will need a place to come to.

If you are in So Cal and can spare a day, or even just a few hours to help with the fencing come on up! Ranch is at 240th st East and Ave J. If you want to crash here.. I am located 17 miles from the ranch just let me know.

Kathy

[swissgrl]

I've been kinda following it before I left for my trip, very sad story indeed, I'm glad somebody stepped in to help the reminder of horses.

[Tockita]

We were at Lifesavers for a clinic this weekend,(I finally replaced my smashy crashy truck.)

Jill is back and I spoke to her briefly today. (she also posted on their webbie about her experience in Nebraska.) She is still unsure what she said or did that upset some of the drivers. She worked really hard talking to Jason, going around the ranch with him, just to keep the sign over deal alive but it sounds like he went sideways the morning and so it became a seizure.

Sorting and loading wild horses... well she does have 200 plus wild ones in her care and has been at this 12 years at least.. so yeah I think she's pretty handy at it ;D

When they rescued the horses from Fish Creek years ago. They just did what needed to be done. (paid for the horses, paid the overdue feed bills, bought them more hay and moved them to Cali as soon as possible, and she did it with just a few volunteers. HSUS probably wasn't prepared to help a bunch of mustangs back then, I think they have grown a lot post Katrina! It's nice they are able to help now and that the horses are safe.

Hopefully there will be homes found for these horses when they are ready to go. Jill said many of them are friendly/gentle. She is happy to be back taking care of stuff back at her ranch. (She was exercising some recently gelded boys)

Since the 3X horses are seized and their future dispersal is unknown the fencing party is off.

If you would like to visit their webbie it's at wildhorserescue.org


Oh and Jenn.. Jerry and friends stopped by lifesavers on Saturday.

[Tockita]

25 Three Strikes horses (mares, yearlings, and two Mustang mules) arrived at Lifesavers on Mothers day morning.
One of the mares (named Daisy) delivered a filly that same afteroon. She is thin and had a little trouble, but Jill and Dave were able to asist her and welcomed Wildflower to the world. (she's a tiny little thing!) They were worried Daisy may not have enough milk but so far Wildflower seems to be doing well, and not interested in the bottles they have offered beyond playing with it a bit and a few sips. Some of these horses are even now still way too thin, others who were kept near the house look fit and fine already.

They joined the more then 200 horses Lifesavers already had in their care.

The Nevada Range babies are in the QT area, The 3xers are in the holding pen built or the Fishcreek horses. I saw some of the horses they took in recently from AC. Reedo looked FABULOUS! I thought he was Elsie (a plumpy mare Marty has been riding)

For those who remember the PMU mares they took in last year.. Hoogs, Paches, (draftie foals) and Nickel (from the Equus siezure) as well as a couple of the Virginia Range babies from last year were all playing with humans in the arena on a recent visit.

This is a place where horses can stay for the long term if needed, or adopted out when they are ready if the right match for them is found.

They need to fence in additional acreage for the 3X mares, and have added to their feed, vet, and farrier needs by taking them in. They are having a fundraiser on May 30th (was already planned before 3x came to light) It is called Club Wild and is a prehistoric themed event, with poker, caveman games, band/dancing, raffle and silent auction.

Tickets are $25. Pre purchase required as it is being held at a secret location in Lancaster, CA

Go to www.wildhorserescue.org to purchase tickets, or for updates/pics of the horses, and Happy Horse Funshop info.

[Tockita]

Some pics of the 3xers at Lifesavers from last week

They need food, vet care, and more room!

They need to fence an area for these mares to live on, the pen they are in now is too small and only used for new arrivals, not long term living.





and Wildflower Born a few hours after their Mothers Day arrival



It looks like atleast 3 more babies are due anytime.